Nick Cannon Joins WXRK “92.3 Now” New York For Mornings

Buried in the middle of an article about his other ventures The Hollywood Reporter has broken open the news that Comedian/Musician/Actor Nick Cannon has been hired as the morning host at CBS’ CHR “92.3 Now” WXRK New York starting January 19, 2010. Cannon aka. Mr. Mariah Carey, is also the host of NBC’s America’s Got Talent as well as producer for a number of shows in development at MTV, Nickelodeon, and Adult Swim.

Thanks to @NewBernsKevinG to breaking this story to the radio industry.

More Magic On Jersey Shore

Update 12/26: WJRZ made the flip to Hot AC “Magic 100.1” at 12:00am with Bon Jovi’s “Who Says You Can’t Go Home”.

Original Entry 12/16: Greater Media’s Classic Hits 100.1 WJRZ Manahawkin, NJ has announced it will flip to Adult Contemporary after its run with Christmas Music ends after the holidays. The new “Magic 100.1” will share many of its on-air personalities with sister “Magic 98.3” WMGQ New Brunswick, NJ. It has yet been confirmed whether there will be a complete simulcast or voice tracks unique to each station.

WJRZ joins competitors 107.1 WWZY/99.7 WBHX “The Breeze” and 92.7 WOBM in the crowded AC field in the Monmouth/Ocean market.

ESPN Making Moves in New England?

When ESPN dropped 890 WAMG/1400 WLLH Boston from its affiliate roster it set-off a chain of events that brought the ESPN affiliation to Entercom’s 850 WEEI amid rumors that 850 would eventually become a full-time ESPN outlet while WEEI’s local programming shifted to FM. BostonSportsMedia.com’s Bruce Allen Tweeted that one of WEEI’s hosts has been dropping many hints about that move today.

Meanwhile, a few neighboring markets could also be involved. Citadel Communications recently registered ESPNRadio1001.com and ESPNRadio997.com. Classic Hits “100.1 The Pike” WWFX Worcester, MA is one of two Citadel owned stations on 100.1, the other WVIB Muskegon, MI which has an all-Sports sister already. 99.7 WEAN-FM Wakefield-Peacedale, RI is a 24/7 simulcast of sister News/Talk 630 WPRO and the only 99.7 in Citadel’s portfolio.

How this would affect current ESPN affiliates “ESPN Providence” 1450 WLKW West Warwick, RI and 1340 WNBH New Bedford, MA? What Entercom FM is flipping to Sports? 93.7 WMKK? 107.3 WAAF? 97.7 WKAF? Will WEEI add local shows in overnights and weekends so its network stations don’t overlap with these and other networks programming? As we have answers to these questions, we’ll fill you in.

More Classic Hits Coming to Columbus

Update 12/21/09: At 12:00pm WTDA made the expected flip to “Classic Hits 103.9” using Dial Global’s “Classic Hits” satellite delivered format.

Original Post 12/19: The Columbus, OH market will soon be home to a second Classic Hits station thanks to them impending flip of “FM Talk 103.9” WTDA to the format. NABCO’s recently registered ClassicHits1039.com and ClassicHits1039WTDA.com for use with the new format. While WTDA rimshots Columbus from 12 miles northeast of the city, it is closer to the market than Saga’s “Big Hits B104.3” WODB, which is 28 miles northwest of downtown.

Spokane Frequency Swap

On January 1, Spokane Television’s “Coyote Country” 96.9 KEZE and AAA “99.9 The River” KXLY-FM will swap formats. The swap places the Country format on a signal that reaches more of the rural and outlying areas in the Spokane market while placing AAA on the slightly weaker signal.

“100.3 The Sound” St. Louis Launches

Update 12/26: At 12:00am, the holiday music stunting came to an end leading into the debut of “100.3 The Sound – St. Louis’ Modern Music” and new WSDD call letters. The station’s first hour consisted of:

Owl City – Fireflies
Gin Blossoms – Follow You Down
Matt Nathanson – Come On Get Higher
Daughtry – No Surprise
Jimmy Eat World – The Middle
Kings Of Leon – Sex On Fire
The All-American Rejects – Gives You Hell
Sugar Ray – Someday
Plain White T’s – 1,2,3,4
Nickelback – Never Gonna Be Alone
The Black Crowes – Hard To Handle
KT Tunstall – Suddenly I See
Blues Traveler – Run-Around
Five For Fighting – 100 Years
Midnight Oil – Beds Are Burning

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WNWV “The Wave” Cleveland Flips To AAA “107.3 Boom!”

Update 12/28: After stunting with a ticking clock for 12 hours, WNWV flipped to AAA “107.3 Boom!” at Noon today. First five songs:

Thievery Corporation – Radio Retaliation
Bruce Springsteen – Radio Nowhere
Coldplay – Clocks
Sarah McLachlan – Possession
Train – Hey Soul Sister

Original Post 12/23: Yet another Smooth Jazz station will bite the dust fairly soon. Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting’s “107.3 The Wave” WNWV Cleveland will flip to AAA “107.3 Boom!” by January 4. That format is currently available on 107.3-HD2, which will become home to “The Wave” following the flip.

My 107.9 Indianapolis Runs Over The Track

Update 12/28/09: WNTR relaunched as “My 107.9” at 12:28pm. Still Variety Hits, but it appears at first glance to be more Pop leaning than the previous Rock leaning “The Track” First Five Songs:

Journey – Don’t Stop Believin’
George Michael – Freedom 90
McFadden & Whitehead – Ain’t Not Stopping Us Now
Bryan Adams – Cuts Like A Knife
Richard Marx – Satisfied

Update 12/17/09: A few weeks ago a pair of domains were registered by WNTR Operations Manager Scott Sands: LightRock1079.com and 1079TheWolf.com. These had all the trappings of being decoys as Entercom registers all its domains using its corporate registrar. Today, three domains were registered by Entercom for future use at the former “Track”: My1079Online.com, My107Online.com, and My107Live.com. The “My” branding is generally used with AC, Hot AC, or Classic Hits formats, any of which could be in play at WNTR.

Original Entry 11/13/09: Entercom has flipped Variety Hits “107.9 The Track” WNTR Indianpolis to All-Christmas today as “107.9 The Christmas Channel“. A format flip after the holidays looks likely as all references to “The Track” have been removed from the station’s site.

GenXRadio Comes To Tulsa

Update 12/28: As expected, “Gen X Radio” launched on 106.1 at 12:00pm today. Sporting new KTGX calls, the station features 90’s hits with a sprinkling of late 80’s and early 2000’s. First song was Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”.

Original Post 12/17/09: The former “Kool 106.1” will shift from 60’s/70’s Classic Hits to 90’s Hits as “Gen X Radio Tulsa”, following in the footsteps of sister WLGX Louisville, KY. GenXTulsa.com was registered by Clear Channel in November, and while the site currently redirects to Yahoo any subpage will point to KQLL’s site.

Format Change Quick Hits

Woodward Communications’ “104.3 The Breeze” WECB Appleton/Green Bay, WI is teasing a new format to debut on 12/31 at 3:00pm.

Equity Communications’ 93.1 WEZW Wildwood Crest, NJ flipped Monday to Soft AC “Easy 93.1” featuring among core artists Tony Bennett, Celine Dion, Johnny Mathis, Carole King, and Michael Bolton. Prior to stunting with Christmas music, the station had simulcast sister Urban AC “96.1 The Touch” WTTH Atlantic City.

New Northwest Broadcasting’s AC “95.7 Star-FM” KKSR Walla Walla, WA flipped to Classic Hits “95.7 Fun-FM“.

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