Tag: "WDAE"
Monday, January 4, 2021
Monday Memo: Who Will Replace Rush? Consultant Holland Cooke says the short answer is, of course, nobody. However, he points out that affiliate stations may soon have to find a solution for those 15 hours per week that they didn’t have to worry about before. He also asks, “Who will replace Clark Howard?” Find out what he has to say here.
Pending Business: This Year in Review. Sales and marketing pro, and Lapcom Communications Corp president, Steve Lapa says that just many aspects of our daily lives changed after 9/11, so too has the pandemic changed much about our lives – including how we work and consume media. In today’s column, he offers some thoughts about how selling radio will be different this year. Read it here.
WTIC, Hartford’s Joe D’Ambrosio Exits Morning Show. After stating back in early November that he was disillusioned with management’s directives about political opinion on the air, WTIC-AM, Hartford, morning drive co-host Joe D’Ambrosio said he would leave the station when his contract was up in June of 2021 after 28 years with the Entercom station. However, he and management reached an agreement on an early buyout and D’Ambrosio’s last shift was December 31. D’Ambrosio co-hosted the morning drive show with Ray Dunaway. The Hartford Courant reports D’Ambrosio saying he never adapted to waking up for the program’s 5:30 am start and he found it difficult to work within station’s conservative political framework.
Chris Ryan Takes Over ‘New Hampshire Today’ Morning Show. New Hampshire radio pro Chris Ryan is named the new host of the “New Hampshire Today” program heard on iHeartMedia’s news/talk WGIR-AM, Manchester and WQSO-FM, Portsmouth. Ryan fills the role previously held by Jack Heath, who exited “NH Today” to join Binnie Media’s three-station simulcast in New Hampshire for the late morning daypart back in October. iHeartMedia says that Ryan is an award-winning talk show host and political commentator based in Concord who most recently served as general manager for New Hampshire Family Radio’s news/talk WKXL, Concord. iHeartMedia New Hampshire market president Joe Graham says, “It was of utmost importance that the new host of ‘NH Today’ would be a person of integrity and character, someone who would hold themselves to the highest professional standards. We are thrilled that Chris will be joining our iHeart NH team!” The “New Hampshire Today” program is also heard on WKXL.
Leila Rahimi Named Co-Host for WSCR, Chicago’s Late Morning Show. Radio and television sports personality Leila Rahimi is promoted to regular co-host of the late morning program alongside Dan Bernstein on Entercom’s WSCR, Chicago “670 The Score.” Entercom Chicago regional president and market manager Rachel Williamson says, “We are thrilled to be amplifying Lelia’s role at ‘The Score.’ She’s a seasoned professional with experience engaging with sports fans across multiple platforms and cities and has built a great reputation with Chicago’s sports fans. Adding her voice and perspective consistently creates a more dynamic midday lineup for ‘Score’ listeners.” She assumes the role left vacant when Entercom let co-host Connor McKnight go back in April. Rahimi has appeared on “670 The Score” both as a contributor to various shows on the station, and as a co-host since 2017. She’s also hosted, reported and anchored for NBC Sports Chicago. She was a rink-side reporter for NBC Sports’ coverage of the Women’s Hockey Tournament at the PyeongChang Olympics in 2018. She’s also served with NBC Sports Philadelphia, CSN Houston, the San Diego Padres, FOX Sports Southwest, and KLIF-AM and KTCK-FM/AM in Dallas.
Ian Beckles & Jay Recher New Afternoon Hosts on Sports Talk WDAE, Tampa. Sports talk WDAE, Tampa announces that Ian Beckles and Jay Recher are the new afternoon drive program co-hosts, taking over the daypart from retiring Tampa Bay radio icon Ron Diaz. WDAE program director John Mamola says, “We are thrilled to announce our new afternoon drive program featuring Ian Beckles and Jay Recher. Teaming Ian’s long-standing history in the market both as a player, entrepreneur, and radio personality with the knowledge and passion for Tampa Bay sports from Jay Recher will provide a dynamic program for sports fans in Tampa Bay to embrace. This announcement further enhances and strengthens WDAE’s standing as the voice for Tampa Bay sports fans.” Beckles was a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles during his eight-year NFL career and he joined WDAE in 2002. Recher began his career at WDAE in 2014 and has served as executive producer of multiple programs including the previous “Ron and Ian Show.”
David Rubini Launches Conspiracy Radio Network. Former Art Bell and John B. Wells producer David Rubini is launching the Conspiracy Radio Network. Rubini officially leaves Dark Matter Digital Network and “Midnight In The Desert” to begin “his own unique vision” and take his “pioneering spirit to the all-new 24/7 digital streaming platform and subscription archive service in the new radio landscape of 2021.” Rubini is now hosting his own program titled “David Rubini After Midnight AM” that will broadcast “two to three live shows each week on alternating days from 1:00 am to 5:00 am ET with “The Best of David Rubini After Midnight AM” on all Rubini off days. He says, “Unlike what we did with Art, we will get political at CRN, that’s for sure. The political climate has drastically changed since we left ‘Dark Matter.’ And with the 2020 election
confusion and rise of ‘fake news’ awareness and questioning, uncensored alternative news, info, and talk are more in-demand right now than any time in modern history. Our staff of professionals are convinced CRN will absolutely fill this void in the digital content delivery space.” Terrestrial radio affiliate relations expert Ted Edwards says, “What programmers have to realize is that variety in political talk is hot right now and the political landscape has never been more fascinating to discuss and to share opinions about both like-minded and dissenting talk radio voices. CRN should have remarkable growth over the next four to eight years. I love David Rubini’s pioneering vision and I plan to help see it all the way through to fruition, responsibly performed by Rubini on-air in terrestrial syndication.” Joining this new venture are: Jordan Maxwell, Dr. Richard Alan Miller, Flat Earther Math Powerland, and controversial and polarizing YouTube sensation, Russianvids, as well as former Art Bell Network News anchor Leo Ashcraft, Ross Mitchell, Dr. John Illias, Michael Decon, Blake Walley, and Joshua Chaires
TALKERS News Notes. At Starnes Media Group’s KWAM, Memphis, Brodee Scott joins to serve as operations director. Scott previously served at iHeartMedia in Memphis. He is a longtime Memphis radio pro having also served at Flinn Broadcasting and Rebel Radio in Oxford, Mississippi. In this new role, Scott will also oversee KWAM’s growing podcast and digital platforms. KWAM general manager Dalton Glasscock says, “Brodee was born and raised in Memphis and he understands how important it is to have a locally owned, locally run news/talk radio station.”…..Indianapolis talk radio personality
Tony Katz shifts his syndicated “Tony Katz Today” program from the late morning daypart to the 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm slot. Katz is host of the morning drive show at Emmis Communications’ WIBC-FM, Indianapolis. He says, “The numbers in Indianapolis have been incredible. The show has been doing great in its current setup, it was just in a weird place, bridging two standard time slots being 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. This move shows a lot of faith in the show from WIBC and opens up a lot of opportunity.”…..WBT-AM/FM, Charlotte afternoon drive talk host Brett Winterble achieved what he calls a career milestone on December 30 when he
filled in for Rush Limbaugh. About sitting in for Limbaugh on his Premiere Networks syndicated show, Winterble says, “I am just overjoyed at the chance to connect with the greatest audience in all of talk radio. It is a homecoming. I have kept in close touch with everyone at the Rush Limbaugh show over these years and nothing could be more special than to sit in that legendary seat for a man I consider a friend and mentor.” Winterble started his career with Limbaugh’s original syndicator EIB/EFM Media in 1995 and was with the show until early 2006…..Cumulus Media’s news/talk WLS-AM, Chicago is adds an hour to Big John Howell’s afternoon drive show. The program now airs from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Howell takes the 4:00 pm hour from Westwood One’s syndicated Ben Shapiro program that continues to air from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm…..iHeartMedia’s news/talk WRKO, Boston announces the new program schedule that takes effect with the new year that includes the addition of Grace Curley and Jesse Kelly. Curley’s program airs from
12:15 pm to 3:00 pm and Key Networks’ syndicated Jesse Kelly airs from 10:00 pm to 1:00 am (Kelly’s show will move to the 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm daypart effective February 15. iHeartMedia Boston VP of news, talk, and sports Rob Sanchez says, “We’re excited about the addition of Grace and Jesse to WRKO’s lineup. Their talents complement the established success of Jeff Kuhner in the morning and the legendary Howie Carr in afternoons.”…..Cumulus Media promotes Jon Laing to vice president and market manager for its Cincinnati cluster. Laing rises from his previous role as vice president of sales for the station group. He takes the market leadership reins from Dave Crowl, who
retired in December…..Salem Radio Network and TOWNHALL news White House correspondent Greg Clugston is traveling aboard Air Force One with President Trump today (1/4) to cover a campaign rally for the Republican U.S. Senate candidates ahead of tomorrow’s runoff elections. In addition to filing special reports for SRN News and TOWNHALL News, Clugston will also serve as White House pool reporter for all other national radio networks…..VSiN, The Sports Betting Network, expands its partnership with iHeartMedia by moving its dedicated streaming radio station to digital platform iHeartRadio. VSiN had previously broadcast its content via SiriusXM Satellite Radio.
Skyview Networks OM Andy Luberda Passes After COVID Battle. Condolences to the family, friends, and co-workers of Skyview Networks operations manager Andy Luberda, who died on December 29 of complications from COVID-19. Luberda joined Skyview Networks in the broadcast operations department as a board operator in 2012. In 2015, Luberda was promoted to operations manager in which he focused on managing one of the company’s largest clients, TuneIn. In 2016, Luberda’s son, Kade, joined Skyview’s operations team as a board operator. Aaron Mellis, Luberda’s longtime friend and manager shares, “We were fortunate to have Andy on the team, and as his role grew, it made a positive impact on our company and our clients. Andy’s warm heart and genuine care for his colleagues will continue to be a part of the Skyview Networks culture.” Skyview has set up a GoFundMe page for his family to help raise funds for medical and memorial costs and to provide financial support for Kade during this difficult time.
GOP Senators to Challenge Election Results/Trump Georgia Phone Call, COVID-19 Stats & Vaccines, Georgia Runoff Elections, Pelosi Keeps Speaker Post, and Texas Church Shooting Among Top News/Talk Stories Over the Weekend. The move by a group of GOP senators to challenge the election results and the recording of President Trumpasking the Georgia Secretary of State to “find” votes in his favor; the fast-rising number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the U.S. and the rollout of vaccines; the Georgia runoff election for its two U.S. Senate seats; Nancy Pelosi retains her House Speaker position; and the fatal shooting at a Texas church were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio over the weekend, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
KTRH, Houston’s Michael Berry Reports In; ‘Proud of Station’s Efforts.’ The radio stations that are on the air in Houston are all working around the clock to get information out to listeners, but iHeartMedia’s KTRH – the well-recognized news/talker in the market – is “the station the nation is turning to,” according to KTRH talk show host Michael Berry. He tells TALKERS magazine his personal story as a resident of the area with a family whose job is to be at the station keeping the public informed. “We’re going through what our listeners
are suffering also. I put my family up at the Omni Hotel. Then the Omni had to be evacuated. I was visiting our affiliate in Louisiana doing a fundraiser there. I couldn’t get back into the city due to road closures. My wife and kids had to be rescued by boat and waded in chest deep water. This is my whole world in the picture you see here – that’s my wife and my two kids on a boat driven by a good Samaritan who pulled them from the hotel and deposited them on the freeway. From there a volunteer put them in the back of a truck and drove them to high ground. Getting to be on the radio these last few days and help other people is actually cathartic. My own home flooded on the first floor and it took until today (8/28) to be able to get to see it. But despite all of this we are seeing the best of our people as we come together as a community.”
Broadcasters in Gear Raising Funds for Harvey Victims. Just a sample of the Harvey relief efforts underway at radio stations and radio groups across the country include the work of E.W. Scripps’ Milwaukee duo news/talk WTMJ and country WKTI (and sister television station WTMJ-TV) leading a fundraiser. Yesterday afternoon (8/28), the stations hosted a fundraising phone bank to collect donations for the American Red Cross. Vice president and GM for the
Milwaukee stations, Tom Langmyer, states, “People in Wisconsin are looking for a way that they can help the victims of the Hurricane. Using the power of local media, we can combine our efforts to enable giving on a large scale and truly make a difference to support the American Red Cross.” Urban One’s Reach Media has been using its radio talent to call attention to the needs of Harvey victims. Nationally syndicated personalities including Tom Joyner, Rickey Smiley, Willie Moore Jr., Darlene McCoy, Erica Campbell, Russ Parr and Ed Lover have been interviewing people affected, news people covering the storm, and elected officials. The “Tom Joyner Morning Show” launched the BlackAmericaWeb.com Relief Fund to provide financial support to families impacted by the storm Hurricane Harvey.
WDAE, Tampa Returns to Local Morning Show. Tampa sports talk outlet WDAE returns to live and local mornings, dropping ESPN’s “Mike & Mike” show and sliding late morning duo Ronnie “Night Train” Lane and Tom “TKras” Krasniqi into the daypart. The iHeartMedia station fills the late morning slot with FOX Sports Radio/DirecTV’s Dan Patrick. It was just last October that the station in what was seen as a budgetary decision, let Tampa Bay Times sportswriters Rick Stroud and Tom Jones go and installed the “Mike & Mike” program.
Boston’s Emerson College the Site of Next Summer’s Radio Talent Institute. Next summer, Beasley Media Group is partnering with Xperi and Marketron Interactive and the National Radio Talent System to present the 10-day Beasley Radio Talent Institute program at Emerson College in Boston. The immersion program will bring broadcasting students together with more than 30 radio professionals who teach classes based on their individual areas of expertise. Session topics will range from on-air, production, news, sports, interactive to social media, engineering, promotions and sales, and includes the Radio Advertising Bureau’s “Radio Marketing Professional” certification course. WERS, Boston general manager and Emerson adjunct professor Jack Casey states, “The Radio Talent Institute builds upon the quality education students are already receiving at their academic institutions and through working at their college radio stations. We are grateful to Beasley Media Group for providing this incredible opportunity, along with other forward-thinking companies such as Xperi and Marketron Interactive.”
TALKERS News Notes. Chicago media writer Robert Feder reports that longtime Chicago sports talk personality Mike North has announced he’s retiring from sports talk radio. North is famous for having been a hot dog stand owner who morphed into one of the first personalities on CBS RADIO’s sports talk WSCR. He exited “The Score” in 2008 and for a time co-hosted “FOX Sports Daybreak” with Andy Furman on the FOX Sports Radio Network. Feder reports that North told WTTW-TV, Chicago’s Phil Ponce, “I’m heading in another direction because I think the timing is right. I’m not leaving broadcasting. I’m leaving sports radio.” Read Feder’s column here…..Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch is reporting that ESPN Radio personality Ryen Russillo is serving a two-week suspension after an
incident at a Wyoming condominium in which a drunk Russillo entered the unit of another couple and basically passed out on a bed in a state of partial undress. He was charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass and ESPN reportedly says he’ll return to the air on September 5…..CBS RADIO’s all-news KNX, Los Angeles is prepping for the NFL season with its daily “Pro Football Insiders Report” that will feature five pro football experts giving their reports four times per day. Former Chargers great Dan Fouts’ reports air on Mondays, FOX broadcaster Chris Myers airs on Tuesday, former Rams star Jackie Slater’s reports air on Wednesday, broadcast pro Andrew Siciliano’s reports air on Thursdays, and Rams great Vince Ferragamo’s reports air on Fridays…..Ed Esposito is retiring from Rubber City Radio where he’s been serving as vice president/information media. Esposito handled news duties on Jeff Kinzbach’s morning program on rock WONE, Akron in addition to his responsibilities managing the news and public affairs on sister stations country WQMX, and news/talk WAKR. Esposito is also a former chair of the Radio Television Digital News Association…..SiriusXM and ESPN announce their deal to serve college sports fans via ESPNU Radio on SiriusXM. The channel launches on Thursday (8/31)…..FOX Sports Radio’s NFL insider Jay Glazer is hosting a special three-hour football season preview tomorrow (8/30) during the Doug Gottlieb show. Glazer will be joined by FOX Sports Radio host Dan Beyer. Glazer recently renewed his multi-year deal with FSR to serve as its NFL insider and he’ll appear regularly across the network’s programs…..TuneIn is offering free coverage of live play-by-play of college football all season long. TuneIn features the home and away calls of every game for more than 140 schools. This programming comes via partnerships with ESPN, FOX Sports, IMG College, JMI Sports, Learfield, and Outfront…..AdLarge Media brings Gina Suarez aboard as director of affiliate marketing and promotes Frank DeSantis to SVP of business development…..iHeartMedia news/talk KALZ, “PowerTalk 96.7 and AM1400” is serving as the official Los Angeles Chargers affiliate for Fresno and Visalia. “PowerTalk” program director Jay Bohannon states, “We’re always looking for ways for ‘Powertalk 96.7’ to diversify our programming, particularly on a stage as large as the NFL. It’s a dawn of a new era for the Chargers franchise and their fans and we’re thrilled to be a part of it.”
WPHT’s Chris Stigall Hosts Sharyl Attkisson at Live Event. Pictured above are WPHT, Philadelphia morning personality Chris Stigall (right) speaking with Emmy award-winning journalist and author Sharyl Attkisson (left) before a sold-out audience at the Colonial Theatre. Stigall tells TALKERS the conversation was “a blunt assessment of journalism today.” Attkisson greeted fans and signed copied of her book, The Smear: How Shady Political Operatives and Fake News Control What You See, What You Think and How You Vote (Harper 2017).
Harvey Hammers Houston, Federal Flood Insurance Troubles, Trump’s Pardon of Joe Arpaio, North Korea’s Nuclear Threats, Trump-Russia Investigation, ‘Game of Thrones’ Finale, Mayweather-McGregor Aftermath, MLB Action, and NFL Pre-Season Activity Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday. Houston’s challenge dealing with the effects of Harvey and the threat of more rain; the shaky state of the federal flood insurance program; reactions to President Trump’s pardon of former Maricopa County sheriff Joe Arpaio; North Korea’s nuclear threats and the launch of a missile over Japan; the investigation into possible connections between Trump operatives and Russia including the recent allegations Trump was looking into building a Trump Tower in Moscow; the season finale of “Game of Thrones”; the aftermath of the Floyd Mayweather–Conor McGregor fight; Major League Baseball action; and NFL pre-season activity were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.
Music Radio News and Career Moves. WAXQ, New York morning duo Jim Kerr and Shelli Sonstein are celebrating 40 years together on the New York City airwaves. Kerr’s career began 50 years ago at the tender age of 21 hosting mornings on WPLJ. On August
29, 1977, Sonstein became Kerr’s morning drive partner. As Kerr puts it, one morning Sonstein surprised him by showing up at the WPLJ studios. “I saw this woman and I didn’t know what she was doing there. No one told me who she was and why she was there!” Sonstein says, “When people ask Jim and me when we plan to retire, we both respond the same way, ‘why would we ever want to stop doing what we love?’”…..Changes take place at Meruelo Media’s
Los Angeles operations as rhythmic AC KDAY/KDEY program director Adrian Scott resigns and hip hop KPWR PD Jimmy Steal becomes vice president of programming for KDAY/KDEY…..Purchased from the SLC Divestiture Trust for $1.1 million by Aerostar Communications is former Simmons Media Group signal KEGH-FM, Salt Lake City. With that station come four booster signals: KEGH-FM1, Ogden; KEGH-FM2, Bountiful; KEGH-FM3, Salt Lake City; and KEGH-FM4, Provo. Aerostar is operating KEGH-FM under an LMA airing a Spanish music format…..SiriusXM is debuting a new, monthly show called “Off the Cuff,” hosted by Keith Richards’ daughter Theodora Richards. The program will feature Richards chatting with musical guests and friends such as Sean Lennon, The Rolling Stones back-up singer Lisa Fischer and musician Peter Wolf, as they “discuss their love of music, latest obsessions and biggest musical influences.” She’ll play music from a diverse range of artists such as Howlin’ Wolf, Luther Vandross, Chuck Berry and The Rolling Stones.
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Dennis Prager Guests on This Week’s Harrison Podcast. Longtime Salem Radio Network radio host Dennis Prager joins Michael Harrison as this week’s guest on the PodcastOne award-winning series, “Up Close and Far Out.” The two seasoned broadcasters get into an in-depth discussion about “snowflakes” and the erosion of free speech on college and
university campuses across the nation. The conversation focuses on a forthcoming documentary examining the phenomenon. The film, No Safe Spaces, currently in production and scheduled for release in 2018, features the unlikely pairing of religious scholar and conservative pundit Prager with satirist, podcaster and self-proclaimed atheist Adam Carolla. The unlikely duo has joined forces in the crowd-funded project based on their common concerns about the state of free speech on university campuses in America today. Harrison and Prager also discuss the state of religion, media, politics and raising children in today’s increasingly frenzied culture. To listen to the entire podcast, please click here or click on the “Up Close and Far Out” player box located in the right-hand column on every page of Talkers.com.
TALKERS News Notes. TALKERS magazine hears that WPRO-AM/WEAN-FM, Providence program director Tony Mascaro has exited the station, though there’s been no public explanation by Mascaro or station management. It’s unclear what WPRO’s plans are for replacing Mascaro…..Today and tomorrow (6/27-
28), KHOW, Denver morning drive personality Ross Kaminsky is sitting in for Joe “Pags” Pagliarulo on his WOAI, San Antonio-based, nationally syndicated program…..In Tampa, John Mamola tweets that he’s been promoted from his APD/executive producer/online content coordinator role at iHeartMedia’s sports talk WDAE to program director. He’s been with the station for the past six years. The Chicago native previously served with CBS RADIO in the Windy City…..ABC Radio is debuting a new podcast titled “Motivated” hosted by ABC News Correspondent
Mara Schiavocampo. The podcast addresses all things health, wellness, nutrition and spirituality. ABC Radio says, “After struggling with her weight her entire life, Schiavocampo finally discovered the keys to living a healthier, happier life and losing 90 pounds along the way. She shares her journey in her bestselling weight loss memoir, Thinspired: How I Lost 90 Pounds: My Plan for Lasting Weight Loss & Self-Acceptance.
Will WFAN (and Sports Talk) Exist 30 Years from Now? Those are the questions asked by Newsday columnist Neil Best, who reflects on the state of sports talk radio in New York as CBS RADIO’s WFAN celebrates its 30th anniversary as a sports talk station. Original WFAN staffer Suzyn Waldman says that while it’s true that social media has changed the game, two people talking is what makes sports talk radio. “It’s a person, and you can hear the feelings. And I think if you’re a host, this never goes away: If you’re on the radio, fans know immediately whether you’re full of baloney or you’re not. They can love you, they can hate you, but they know whether you’re honest. You can’t hide.” Read Best’s Newsday piece here.
TALKERS 2017 Convention Videos Begin Posting Today (6/27). The entire agenda of the recent Talkers 2017: A New Era national talk media convention has been video recorded and, beginning today (6/27), its sessions will be posted to Talkers.com starting with the “Welcoming Remarks” by WMAL, Washington, DC afternoon drive host Larry O’ Connor. Tomorrow (6/28), the special presentation “You HAVE Options” by consultant Holland Cooke will be posted. On Thursday (6/29) the “Fireside Chat” between Michael Harrison and Premiere Networks/Fox News Channel host Sean Hannity will be posted. Closing out the week on Friday (6/30) the “Fireside Chat” between Mike Kinosian and WFAN, New York sports talk show host Mike Francesa will be posted. Within the following weeks, every session will be posted and will remain on Talkers.com for the rest of the year. To view the video page of Talkers 2017: A New Era, please click here.
WILK-AM/FM, Wilkes-Barre’s L.A. Tarone Dies at 58. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton talk show host Louis Alfred Tarone, a.k.a. L.A. Tarone, died at age 58 on Sunday (6/25) after a 19-month battle with lung cancer. Tarone hosted the afternoon drive show on the Entercom news/talk station during the last two years. He’d also worked during his career as a reporter for the Hazleton Standard-Speaker.
SCOTUS Travel Ban Ruling, GOP Health Care Plan, CNN Journos Resign After Retracted Story, U.S. Warns Syria on Chemical Attack, Changes at Pandora, and MLB Action Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (6/26). The Supreme Court’s ruling allowing a portion of President Donald Trump’s travel ban from seven predominantly Muslim nations to take effect; analysis of the GOP’s proposed overhaul of the Affordable Care Act; the resignation of three CNN journalists after the news organization retracts a Trump official-Russia connection story; the White House warns Syria’s Bashar al Assad on threats of new chemical weapons attack; the recent investment in Pandora by SiriusXM and Pandora CEO Tim Westergren’s decision to step down from that post; and Major League Baseball action were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.
Music Radio News and Career Moves. Seattle rhythmic oldies outlet KHTP “HOT 103.7” announces the addition of Seattle radio pro Eric Power as program director and afternoon drive personality plus
the addition of award-winning rap artist Anthony Ray, a.k.a. Sir Mix-A-Lot to serve as morning drive personality. Both start July 5. Entercom Seattle VP of programming and operations Dave Richards comments, “We’re so excited to
have Eric Powers on board to lead ‘HOT 103.7.’ He is the guy who made all the songs ‘HOT 103.7’ now play, hits in the first place. With two local Seattle icons, Sir Mix-A-Lot in mornings and Powers in afternoons, ‘HOT 103.7’ is ready to launch into the next stratosphere.”…..Two promotions take place at Cumulus Media’s hot AC WRQX, Washington, DC. First, midday
personality and music director Ashley Nickels adds assistant program director duties, and the station ups part-timer Seth King to permanent evening host, handling the 7:00 pm to 12:00 midnight daypart. Nickels has been with the station since she joined from KDND,
Sacramento in 2014. King became a WRQX personality after working on air at CHR WXXX, Burlington, Vermont…..Midday air personality Sunni moves to mornings at CBS RADIO’s hip hop WPGC, Washington. She becomes part of the “Joe Clair Morning Show” after six years with the station. CBS Washington VP of programming Steve Davis states, “Sunni is the perfect fit for the ‘Joe
Clair Morning Show’ and we are incredibly fortunate she wanted to get up early and make the transition to mornings…..The Cromwell Group names Tara Nickerson general manager for its eight-station Decatur, Illinois cluster. Nickerson rises from the programming and operations ranks with Cromwell to lead the cluster, taking over for Chris Bullock…..Tim Westergren officially exits the CEO role at Pandora. The company announces that chief financial officer Naveen Chopra will serve as interim CEO…..Alpha Media country WFLS, Fredericksburg, Virginia is honored with three Reader’s Choice awards from the local Discover magazine. The station took home 1st Place awards for Favorite Radio Station, Favorite Local Radio Personality – Steve Waters and Jessica Cash, and Favorite Weather and Traffic on Radio.
MIW and Nielsen Music Unveil Mentoring Program. The Mentoring & Inspiring Women in Radio Group executive committee and Nielsen Music announce a collaborative effort to open doors for women interested in management positions in music broadcast programming across the country. The MIW-Nielsen Music Mentoring Program matches a female programming candidate with key mentors from both the MIW Radio Group and Nielsen Music to sharpen her programming and professional skills and further her career in music programming. MIW Group executive committee member and Presslaff Interactive Revenue president Ruth Presslaff says, “Improving the number of women in programming has been on our radar for several years. With the generous support of Nielsen Music, the MIW Group is now keenly focused on the challenge of increasing the percentage of growth in this vitally important sector. We are so appreciative of Nielsen Music’s backing in this endeavor.”