iHeartMedia’s aggressive roll-out of the Woody Show to mornings at its Alternative stations continues as the show debuted on Monday at “Alt 99.1” W256CD Fultondale/WQEN-HD3.
Carl Grapentine is retiring from mornings at Window To The World Communications Classical 98.7 WFMT Chicago after 26 years in two stints with the station. Grapentine joined WFMT in 1986 from 105.1 WQRS Detroit, but exited in 1990 for mornings at 97.1 WNIB Chicago. He returned for mornings in 1996 where he has remained to this day. Grapentine will continue to contribute a daily classical music almanac segment for the morning show and will launch a podcast for the station in 2019.
Nick Wize has exited his position as APD/MD/Afternoon host at iHeartMedia CHR “Channel 95.5” WKQI Detroit. Wize joined WKQI in 2016 from afternoons at sister CHR “97.9 Kiss-FM” WKSL Jacksonville FL and has also worked at “98.7 Amp Radio” WDZH Detroit, “92.3 Now” WNOW-FM New York, and “Hot 107.9” WPFM Panama City in his career.
The Buffalo News reports that former 930 WBEN Buffalo newscaster Steve Cichon has joined Radio One Buffalo Full Service Standards 1230 WECK/102.9 W275BB Cheektowaga/Buffalo as News Director and morning newscaster.
Media Creek Inc., a newly formed holding company for audio-centric companies including Live 365, Empire Streaming and Abovecast, has announced its management staff
Media Creek’s partners/co-founders include Rockie Thomas, Sean Lozensky and Jon Stephenson. Thomas, who will serve as Chief Revenue Officer and Lozensky will take the reins of Chief Technical Officer. Both join the company from executive positions at AdsWizz. Jon Stephenson, who owned Empire Streaming and Live 365 remains in position as CEO.
Other new additions include Johnie Floater as General Manager, Jason Stoddard as VP/Broadcasting, and Dragos Pana as Head of Demand. Floater will oversee the corporate infrastructure and royalty compliance. Stoddard will lead the reboot of Live365 focusing on the publish platform development, while Pana focuses on publisher yield optimization and ad operation services.
Live365, a pioneer in internet radio and broadcasting services, and EmpireStreaming, a leading audio-centric CDN and services company, announced today that both are now part of Media Creek, Inc., a newly-formed Delaware holding company of audio-centric companies.
As part of the acquisitions, Media Creek recently added a roster of new leadership team members with substantial digital audio experience. Digital Audio industry vets ROCKIE THOMAS and SEAN LOZENSKY, both formerly with AdsWizz, will join JON STEPHENSON as Media Creek partners, co-founders, and executive leadership. Thomas will lead business and revenue efforts as Chief Revenue Officer, Lozensky will lead technology and development efforts as Chief Technology Officer, and Stephenson remains Media Creek’s Chief Executive Officer.
Also joining the team as Media Creek’s General Manager overseeing the company’s corporate infrastructure and leading royalty compliance is industry vet JOHNIE FLOATER. In addition, JASON STODDARD has joined Media Creek as Vice President of Broadcasting, leading the reboot of Live365 focusing on publisher platform development and satisfaction while DRAGOS PANA joins as Head of Demand, focusing on total publisher yield optimization and managing ad operation services.
“Our goal is to assemble the most talented and innovative team in Digital Audio. Thomas and Lozensky are known in the industry as the ‘Dream Team’ for their 20 plus years of digital audio business, technology innovation, and experience with literally every angle of our industry”, said Stephenson, Media Creek Inc.’s CEO. “Floater’s musical licensing experience spans to before collection societies even had licenses for streaming; he will be instrumental in ensuring Media Creek’s companies continue to provide legal pathways for royalty compliance for webcasters. Stoddard was with Live365 during the early, mid, and late years. Bringing him back from eBay will provide the bridge of large historical Live365 knowledge with future Live365 innovation. Pana, also a former AdsWizz staffer, brings an immense background in audio ad tech and recently lead development of a native ad SSP for a large gaming platform” said Stephenson, Media Creek Inc.’s CEO. “When you add this new leadership to our already strong staff of full blown digital audiophiles, expect some pretty incredible innovation from Media Creek companies”, Stephenson continued.
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