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Radio Hall of Fame Announces Celebrity Induction Presenters
| RADIO ONLINE | Sunday, October 20, 2019 |
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"The Tonight Show" host Jimmy Fallon will lead a star-studded lineup of presenters slated for the 31st Annual Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremony in New York on November 8. Joining Fallon at Gotham Hall include actor Christian Slater ("Mr. Robot"), Entertainment Tonight co-host Kevin Frazier, veteran radio and cable TV programmer Andy Schuon, SiriusXM VP/GM Talk Programming Dave Gorab, WYNY-FM/New York retired general manager Frank Osborne, longtime WCBS-FM Program Director Joe McCoy and actress/radio host Connie Sellecca.
"This event is traditionally heartfelt and emotionally charged as the talented inductees are honored for accomplishments that most only dream of," said Radio Hall of Fame Chairman Kraig Kitchin. "But this year will be even more magical with this A-list group of presenters who share a special connection with our inductees."
The 2019 inductees include Sean "Hollywood" Hamilton, Harry Harrison, Kevin Ryder and Gene "Bean" Baxter (Kevin & Bean), Joe Madison, Jim Rome, Ryan Seacrest, John Tesh and Dr. Ruth Westheimer.
Tickets are available at www.radiohalloffame.com. A portion of the ticket is a tax-deductible charitable donation to the Museum of Broadcast Communications.
Rich Bailey Joins Cumulus Knoxville as WIVK Program Director
| RADIO ONLINE | Friday, October 18, 2019 |
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Cumulus Media appoints Rich Bailey as Program Director for Country WIVK-FM/Knoxville, TN. He joins the local Knoxville cluster after 23 years as Program Director for WWST-FM (Star 102.1). Bailey has also programmed Mix 95.1/Charleston, SC and KISS 98.7/Greensboro as well as being a popular air talent in Knoxville for over 20 years.
VP/Market Manager Ken Salyer said, "The opportunity to have Rich join our team in Knoxville was simply too good to pass up. His dedication to detail and drive to win is known industry wide. This elevates our group to an entirely new level."
Operations Manager Jeff Jarnigan added, "The good fortune to have Rich Bailey sitting in our back yard and available was beyond comprehension. His success in Knoxville and vast market knowledge brings an entirely different level of competition capabilities to WIVK. A CMA win and a tremendous PD hire... It's been a great October for WIVK."
Bailey said, "I am very excited about the opportunity to join a legendary and award-winning station like WIVK. I look forward to working with the team there and growing the market share even more. I want to thank Jeff Jarnigan, Ken Salyer, Doug Hamand and Brian Philips for allowing me this opportunity. Now the fun begins."
WGZB-FM/Louisville Content Director Juan Hustle Exits
| RADIO ONLINE | Friday, October 18, 2019 |
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WGZB-FM/Louisville Content Director and afternoon talent Juan Hustle exits after over four years with the Alpha Media Urban outlet. The 15-year veteran radio programmer and air personality's previous stops include WTMG-FM/Gainesville FL as Digital Content Director and afternoon host, WJZE-FM/Toledo OH as a night personality, WHHH-FM/Indianapolis in weekends and WXXB-FM/Lafayette IN as morning producer and weekender.
Hustle said, "After 4-plus years with Alpha Media/Louisville, things have come to an end. I want to thank GM Steve Bearance, OM Ben Davis and PDs Phillip David March, Al Payne and Brown. I also want to thank Johnathan Higgins of the corporate digital team."
Reach Hustle at juanhustle@gmail.com.
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WWMP-FM/Burlington VT Flips to Rock as ''Rock 103.3''
| RADIO ONLINE | Friday, October 18, 2019 |
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Northeast Broadcasting's Adult Hits WWMP-FM (Free 103.3) serving Burlington-Plattsburgh, VT-NY, flips to Rock, as "Rock 103.3" with the positioning slogan ""Everything That Rocks." The new format debuted with 10,000 songs commercial free. Artists include bands such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Jimi Hendrix, Papa Roach, Rage Against The Machine, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana and the Foo Fighters.
Men Behind American Radio Empire Scam Get to Prison Time
| RADIO ONLINE | Friday, October 18, 2019 |
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The two former radio personalities that defrauded investors out of millions of dollars have been sentenced to prison, reports the Las Cruces Sun News. Both Dain Schult and Joel Hixon were charged with trying to convince investors they were assembling a iHeartRadio-type multimedia conglomerate. They were convicted in June of fraud over $20,000, securities fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, the sale of unregistered security and the sale of security by an unlicensed agent.
Schult received a four year sentence and Hixon was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Both were ordered to make restitution of $25,000. "These men violated the trust of their investors with lies and deception. Their prison sentences send a loud and clear message of deterrence to criminals committing fraud in New Mexico," said New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department Superintendent Marguerite Salazar.
The newspaper originally reported that the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department claimed Schult, who lives in Austin, TX, used his companies -- American Radio Empire Inc. and American Wireless and Entertainment Inc. -- to recruit experienced radio personalities such as Hixon of Las Cruces to solicit investments from unsuspecting friends, with offers of future employment.
Schult and Hixon allegedly led investors to believe that the money they raised was being used to pay for services aimed at funding an initial public offering of Schult's company, said the state of New Mexico. Additionally, Schult and Hixon told investors that the money from the sale of promissory notes would be used to purchase smaller radio stations around the U.S. while placing them on the Internet.
"All told from 1998 to present, we estimate Schult earned $1.4 million strictly from convincing people to give it to him," said Bouillon-Mascarenas. "This case involving religion and radio demonstrates that affinity fraud can affect anyone, no matter their line of work."
Christian Music Broadcasters Announces Match Program
| RADIO ONLINE | Friday, October 18, 2019 |
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Due to the recent threat of Hurricane Dorian, the board of Christian Music Broadcasters announced the cancellation Momentum 2019 on August 30. The ramifications of canceling Momentum started out as a $561,993 loss and is now down to $252,609 because of considerate attendees donating their Momentum registrations and sponsors donating their sponsorships, as well as radio stations, label partners and artists giving generously above and beyond.
In the past week, CMB has been given a $20,000 matching opportunity from a friend of The Presidential Prayer Team who supports Christian broadcasting as a way to promote prayer for our nation. The money raised will be matched and will go directly to CMB.
CMB is now asking broadcasters to consider a gift to the trade group to help match what these friends are doing. CMB says "our prayer is to fully match this amount by Thanksgiving, November 28." The match helps CMB year-round to host webinars, summits and forums to equip them, and to develop new initiatives like CMB University that benefit its future.
Paul Shaffer's Day in Rock Host was ''The Masked Singer''
| RADIO ONLINE | Friday, October 18, 2019 |
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On a world stage with millions watching and the tension thick enough to cut with a knife, Paul Shaffer, musician and host of Envision Networks' "Paul Shaffer's Day in Rock," was unmasked as the skeleton on the FOX TV show, "The Masked Singer." "It gave me a chance to try songs that I never would've thought I could pull off in real life," said Shaffer on stage after the unveiling. "And then you say, 'Hey, I'll give it a shot. Nobody can see me anyway.'"
Shaffer's daily vignettes, distributed by Envision Networks, draw on his vast musical knowledge, while providing his unique brand of wit and sarcasm of rock history and zingers. For more info on the program, email paulshaffer@envisionnetworks.com.
KZOK's 22nd Rock The Harvest Event Raises Over $101,000
| RADIO ONLINE | Friday, October 18, 2019 |
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iHeartMedia Classic Rock KZOK-FM/Seattle raised over $101,000 at its 22nd annual Rock The Harvest radiothon to benefit Northwest Harvest, Washington's leading hunger relief agency -- supporting a statewide network of 375 food banks, meal programs and high-needs schools.
The event featured KZOK air personalities Danny Bonaduce & Sarah, Scott Vanderpool and Nate Connors who broadcast live from the event and encouraged listeners to donate. Over the last 22 years, KZOK raised over $1.2 million to benefit Northwest Harvest.
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Legendary Country Radio Host Bob Kingsley Dies at Age 80
| RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, October 17, 2019 |
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Legendary Country music broadcaster and host Bob Kingsley has died at his home in Weatherford, TX, from bladder cancer. He was 80. Kingsley's 60-year career began in the Air Force, when he got his start in radio working for Armed Forces Radio. His long radio journey also included stints at KFOX, KGBS, KFI and KLAC in Los Angeles. Additionally, Kingsley served as the voice of Drake-Chenault's "Great American Country" format and he hosted the syndicated "American Country Countdown" beginning in 1978.
Kingsley was inducted into the Country Radio Broadcasters Hall Of Fame in 1998 and The Radio Hall Of Fame in 2016. He was the namesake and the first recipient of the Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award, presented every year since 2014 at the Grand Ole Opry House, which benefited the OPRY Trust Fund.
"American Country Countdown" was named Network/Syndicated Country Program of the Year by Billboard's Radio Awards for 16 consecutive years. In 2006, Westwood One launched "Bob Kingsley's Country Top 40" which now has more than 320 affiliates.
A celebration of his life will be held in Nashville on Thursday, November 14 at 1pm CT at The CMA Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Kingsley's name to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum or the Grand Ole Opry Trust Fund. He is survived by his wife of 30 years and business partner Nan Kingsley.
Beasley Media Group Names Todd Handy Chief Digital Officer
| RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, October 17, 2019 |
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Beasley Media Group names Todd Handy to the newly created post of Chief Digital Officer, beginning Friday, November 1. The Utah native's previously stops include VP/Digital Media & Ad Tech at MarketStar, VP/Publisher Development at Tout and VP/Advertising Strategy & Products at Deseret Digital Media. In addition, he's served on various sales and digital marketing advisory boards as well as the Executive Committee of the Local Media Consortium and the Local Media Association's Chief Digital Club. Handy currently is a member of the Dream Local Digital Board of Directors.
"I'm grateful for the opportunity to join Beasley Media Group in this role," said Handy. "I've been impressed by the alignment and focus of the executive team and know of Caroline's commitment to diversifying revenue and growing the company overall. I look forward to bringing my prior experience together with Beasley's people, culture and properties to develop solutions that will benefit our listeners, advertisers and employees. I can't wait to get started."
"We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Todd Handy to our Beasley Media Group family," added CEO Caroline Beasley. "Todd's strategic thinking and clear understanding of our long-term goals, combined with his extensive digital media advertising experience and passion for innovation, made him the perfect choice to help us achieve success well into the future."
Curtis Media Names Brandon Fanney GSM at Raleigh Outlets
| RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, October 17, 2019 |
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Curtis Media Group appoints Brandon Fanney as General Sales Manager of CHR WWPL-FM and WPLW-FM (92.9 & 102.5 Pulse FM) and Hot AC (92.9 Star FM)/Raleigh, effective Monday, October 21. Most recently, he was VP/Sales at Voice Media, where he handled sales efforts in Wilmington NC, Virginia Beach and Williamsburg VA.
Curtis Media Group President/COO Trip Savery commented, "We are very pleased to welcome Brandon to Curtis Media Group. His experiences working on successful campaigns with local businesses in markets across the region will serve him well as he begins this new role in the Triangle."
Fanney added, "I am extremely excited to be joining Curtis Media Group and to have the opportunity to lead the sales effort for Pulse FM and Star 92.9. As a native of the Triangle area, I look forward to working with the local businesses that I grew up with, as well as those that are new to market."
Entercom Expands Distribution Partnerships for RADIO.COM
| RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, October 17, 2019 |
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Entercom is expanding its distribution partnerships for RADIO.COM. These new partners include Autonomic Controls, DTS Play-Fi and the BluOS hi-res wireless multiroom platform, each fully integrating RADIO.COM and its portfolio of on-demand and live digital audio content on their platforms.
"We are committed to our position as a premiere destination for live and on-demand audio news, entertainment, music and sports content in the U.S.," said Entercom VP/Corporate Business Development David Rosenbloom. "The partnerships with Autonomic Controls, DTS Play-Fi and BluOS mark yet another expansion to the distribution footprint for RADIO.COM, ensuring that we are delivering the audio content our listeners want wherever and however they want it."
As part of the partnership, Autonomic Controls and BluOS will integrate RADIO.COM and its audio content throughout the entire home via Autonomic's Tune Bridge application and any speakers or amplifiers from NAD Electronics, Bluesound and DALI Loudspeakers that contain the BluOS platform. DTS Play-Fi users will be able to use RADIO.COM on more than 200 products across 30 brands in the DTS Play-Fi ecosystem, including Onkyo, Pioneer, Klipsch and Dish TV, among others.
Autonomic Controls, DTS Play-Fi and BluOS join a roster of home and auto-connected devices that carry RADIO.COM, including Amazon Echo, Amazon FireTV, Sonos, Roku, Google Home, Google Chromecast, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, among others.
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Marc Radio Launches New R&B Station in Gainesville FL
| RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, October 17, 2019 |
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Marc Radio flips Classic Country WDVH-AM (980) and W231DH/Gainesville, FL, to R&B Oldies as R&B 94.1, featuring R&B hits from the '70s, '80s and '90s. Artists ranges from Marvin Gaye, Mary Blige and Whitney Houston to Prince along with Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, Michael Jackson and Luther Vandross. The station says its filling a niche that was missing from the local broadcast repertoire.
"You'll know who is listening when you see fellow adults belting out songs from behind their steering wheels at red lights," said General Manager Dave Cobb. "We feature hit music from three decades that are forever memorable, and people can't help but want to join in." He added, "This format will help influence listeners' purchasing decisions for a myriad of products and businesses."
Cobb credits colleague Vinny Foo for the strategic development of the new station, and co-owned Marc Radio's Hip-Hop Magic 101.3. "As people in our industry know, Vinny knows radio, and how to build audiences. We're fortunate to have him on our R&B 94.1 team."
"MARC Radio marches on in this market, working hard to connect and super-serve our community with the kind of music and other programming this area and its advertisers crave," said Cobb. "Our goal is to have listeners feel as if they are missing something if they're not tuned to 94.1."
ESPN Radio Set to Broadcast the World Series
| RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, October 17, 2019 |
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ESPN Radio will broadcast the World Series for the 22nd consecutive year, starting Tuesday, October 22. Dan Shulman, the national radio voice of the "Fall Classic," will describe the action for the ninth consecutive season. He'll be joined by analyst Chris Singleton and reporter Buster Olney. Commentators Marc Kestecher, Kevin Winter and Tim Kurkjian will host hour-long pregame shows prior to each game.
Kyle Peterson will voice over Statcast data-driven vignettes that will air on all of ESPN's platforms. The vignettes will focus on the outstanding pitchers that could participate in the World Series: Max Scherzer, Aroldis Chapman and Gerrit Cole, and what made them successful in getting to the World Series.
Editorial: Radio Personalities Need More Presence
| RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, October 17, 2019 |
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Developing a winning radio personality is like building a relationship with listeners. It takes time to grow a bond. It can't be rushed, but managers can accelerate growth through the five stages of my Personality Success Path. But that takes courage to allow personalities to have more presence on the air.
The 5 stages of personality growth are:
- Introduction
- Familiarity
- Growth
- Like
- Love
The goal is to advance to Growth (Stage 3) as quickly as possible. But it's impossible to jump from brand new (Stage 1) to Stage 3 without passing through Stage 2 (Familiarity).
Radio stations have to change their approach to get through those first two stages. But without creating more opportunities to expose a personality brand, talent remains invisible to the audience. We need to increase their on-air presence.
Why Personalities Need More Presence
When launching a new radio show, most programmers proceed with extreme caution, for good reason.
They limit talk breaks, which is a good idea. The new personalities don't have a relationship with listeners yet.
But they also reduce opportunities to perform to a handful of times per hour. One client limits their morning show to opening the microphone to just four times per hour. That's not four full breaks. It's four total impressions per hour. Two of those breaks are positions to talk over songs.
If the goal is to develop on-air superstars (as it should be), this station is going to be disappointed. The show will never get traction because they're simply not on often enough.
New personalities should be on as often as possible. But they should not be on for long, extended segments. More opportunities for listeners to get to know the talent will speed growth from Introduction to Familiarity (Stage 1 to Stage 2).
Do it right, and it won't even change the music count.
How Much Presence
I can make a case that new personalities should be on more often than personalities in any other stage of development.
Established stars in Stage 4 (Like) or 5 (Love) should be on for longer segments. But they don't need to be on as frequently. At this point in the Personality Success Path, listeners are tuning in primarily for the personalities. This is where you give them what they crave: more!
But new personalities have to be exposed to become known. And known to become liked. Yet listen to how many radio shows are formatted.
My client's morning show stops twice per hour for commercials. The personalities talk for a couple of minutes into each break. There are two other slots in the hour to talk between songs. Other than that, there's almost no presence. The rest is music and imaging. Some of the imaging positions the talent, but doesn't showcase them.
Imagine how that impacts a typical listener. In this market, the average commute time is about 20 minutes. Let's say a listener tunes in as a stop set has started. If they make it through the commercials, they then hear:
- Stop Set (5 minutes)
- Traffic (1 minute)
- Imaging
- Song (4 minutes)
- Imaging that says name of the show
- Song (4 minutes)
- Imaging to promote station
- Song (4 minutes)
- Personalities (2 minutes)
- Song (4 minutes)
That's 24 minutes and one exposure (2 minutes) of the air talent. And we wonder why many radio personalities never catch on and are stuck in Stage 1 or 2. How can we expect a relationship to develop?
The Solution Is More Presence Here are a few guidelines when launching a new personality oriented show.
Talk between every song. That's right, every song. All of them. It doesn't have to be in place of imaging. Use both. Make them work together.
Talk into every stop set. So many stations are now segueing into a promo going into a stop set and imaging coming out with no personality presence. At all.
Talk out of stop sets. It doesn't have to be long. Use the opportunity to introduce the next song or promote the next content. Or just say hello and make a connection by IZE-ing the content. The four Ize-s are: Personal-ize, Local-ize, Energ-ize and Commercial-ize.
Conclusion
Teach air talent to execute a game plan that includes a lot of music, with more personality presence. But without a lot of talk, at least in Stage 1 and 2. This is a great discipline. And yes, programmers, it takes time to coach this discipline. And yes, personalities, it takes a commitment to have something to say every time you open the microphone, even if it's for a short period of time.
Most radio stations interrupt the listening experience with spoken word elements between nearly every song, and before and after every stop set already. Promos and imaging are just as disruptive as personalities. The only difference is that it's recorded elements.
I'm not suggesting PD's add a lot of talk in Stage 1 and 2. Far from it. But we have to introduce talent to listeners if there's any hope of them becoming meaningful, difference making air talent. But without frequent exposure, personalities may never make it to Stage 3. Increase their presence to accelerate growth.
by Tracy Johnson
President, CEO Tracy Johnson Media Group
Westwood One to Distribute McLaughlin Group Radio Show
| RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, October 17, 2019 |
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Cumulus Media's Westwood One has announced it will distribute and sell a new podcast and weekend radio show with The McLaughlin Group. The podcast joins the Westwood One Podcast Network on November 1 and the radio show will debut the weekend of December 7-8. Political writer and commentator Tom Rogan hosts the series, alongside original panel members Pat Buchanan, Eleanor Clift and Clarence Page. A new generation of panelists will also join the group, providing conversations around politics, culture and foreign policy issues.
Rogan said, "I'm excited that we have joined the Westwood One family and will reach new audiences across the nation. Our panelists are friends who disagree, agreeably. Their intellectual camaraderie is needed now more than ever."
"We're proud to provide access to this legendary show as we gear up for what will certainly be one of the most heated election years in American history," added Cumulus Media EVP/Marketing and Westwood One President Suzanne Grimes. "The McLaughlin Group was a pioneer among political talk shows, and this distinguished iteration lead by Tom Rogan offers important commentary at a significant time."
Listeners can expect to hear content from the TV program as well as original bonus content in both the radio show and the podcast. The McLaughlin Group, produced by BL Sports & Media Group, returned to public television in September.
KMZK-FM/Grand Junction CO Appoints Kris Kain as PD
| RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, October 17, 2019 |
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Active Rock KMZK-FM/Grand Junction, CO, taps 11-year market vet and current morning talent Kris Kain as its new Program Director. He replaces OM Christian "Ravin'" Herrera, who exits to pursue new opportunities. Prior to KMZK, Kain worked at crosstown Rock KKNN-FM (95 Rock) for several years. The Colorado Springs native also worked at Rock KILO-FM and CHR KKMG-FM.
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