Headlines
Party Rock Is In The House Again: Summer Song Week 3
It was weird to look out over the field of Summer Song 2017 contenders and realize that there was no party song. Once the Song of Summer became a phenomenon, part of the calculation in the battle for Summer Song became building in usage. “Party Rock Anthem” had a clear mission statement. “I Gotta Feeling,” by pitching weddings, parties, and bar/bat mitzvahs, guaranteed itself an audience beyond the radio. And reaching people beyond the usual footprint of CHR is part the shared experience that helps a song become the song of summer. Summer songs didn’t have to be about partying like there was no tomorrow—see “Call Me Maybe,” “Blurred Lines,” “Cheerleader.” EDM took on new seriousness of purpose; the Chainsmokers, for all their alleged frat-bro vapidity, were never frivolous again after “Sel...Read More
KLTD Flips To Classic Rock; Adds Walton & Johnson
Townsquare Media Classic Hits “K101.7” KLTD Temple/Killeen TX has shifted to Classic Rock with the addition of the syndicated Walton & Johnson morning show. The addition marks a return to the market and frequency for the show as it aired on then “Eagle 101.7” through its flip to Sports in 2010. With the move, KLTD is now branding itself as “K-Rock 101.7” and also adds Townsquare’s Ultimate Classic Rock with Zach Martin for nights.
Station Sales Week Of 6/23: Sinclair Purchases KOMO-FM
Sinclair Broadcasting is exercising its option to purchase 97.7 KOMO-FM Oakville and 97.7 K249DX Redmond WA from South Sound Broadcasting for $6.75 million. Sinclair and predecessor Fisher Broadcasting have operated KOMO-FM since May 2009 via LMA as a simulcast of News 1000 KOMO Seattle. Hunt Broadcasting sells AAA “105.9 The Wave” KYSJ Coos Bay OR back to former owner Lighthouse Radio Group for $5,000 and the cancellation of all debts and financial obligations owed by Hunt to Lighthouse for the original purchase and studio and tower rental. Lighthouse, which also owns Christian “98.7 K-Light” KYTT Coos Bay, sold KYSJ to Hunt in 2015 for $135,000. John Hunt took KYSJ silent earlier this month due to his failing health. Educational Media Foundation is swapping 97.9 K...Read More
KOUL Flips To CHR Power 103.3
Lerma Communications and Easton-Mark Media have flipped Country “Young Country 107.7/93.5” KOUL Agua Dulce TX to CHR “Power 103.3“. The move comes with a change in translators as KOUL ends its rebroadcast on 93.5 K228XM Corpus Christi and adds 103.3 K277BL Corpus Christi. The new format goes up against ICA Broadcasting CHR “Planet 102.3” KKPN and Malkan Broadcasting Rhythmic CHR “Z95” KZFM. The “Power 103.3” format briefly appeared in April on K277BL and 93.3 KNPI-LP Padre Island.
Alexa: Play Me Some PSAs
Among the one-on-one interviews featured as part of Edison Research’s “The Smart Audio Report,” unveiled yesterday (6/22) at RAIN’s Podcast Business Summit, the most encouraging comment for broadcasters was the one from the Philadelphia man using smart speakers to listen to sports/talk on WPEN (the Fanatic) Philadelphia. “Now that the Alexa radio is connected to the Internet,” he said, “the reception is always great.” I tweeted that one out. Within minutes, reader Richard Horsman (@leedsjourno) tweeted back, “Ha. If only.” And then he added: #ErrorAtLine400 #WindowsHasEncounteredAnError #Loading #StillLoading #ConnectedNoInternet I retweeted that one and added the message, “If smart speakers are putting radio back in the living room, then this is a good time to fix the streaming experience...Read More
Kicks 101.5 Atlanta Sets New On-Air Lineup
Cumulus Country “Kicks 101.5” WKHX Atlanta has reset its on-air lineup. With Dallas McCade announcing her move out of mornings earlier this week to become Music Director, she will also debut today in the midday 10am-3pm timeslot. To replace McCade in mornings, WKHX is revamping its morning show as “Caddy, CJ and Ali”. Incumbent morning host Cadillac Jack will be joined by afternoon host CJ Lusk and midday host Ali Mac. Afternoons will be jockless until a new host is named. Kicks 101.5 is also debuting a new positioning statement as it takes on the company’s Nash-FM slogan with a local twist as “Georgia’s Country For Life”. Cumulus Media announces that Country radio station Kicks 101.5 (WKHX-FM) in Atlanta debuted its new morning show today. T...Read More
Damon Scott Jumps From WTIC-FM To Join Cory Myers At WWYZ Mornings
“The Electric Barnyard” is out and Damon Scott is in at iHeartMedia’s “Country 92.5” WWYZ Waterbury/Hartford CT. Scott, who has spent the past 27 years in afternoons at CBS Radio Hot AC 96.5 WTIC-FM, will join WWYZ as morning host on Wednesday, July 5. He will be joined by incumbent co-host Cory Myers. Broadway, who led the morning show under his “Electric Barnyard” name, exits. Broadway had also been tracking nights at his longtime home “B93” 93.7 WBCT Grand Rapids. Country 92-5, Connecticut Country Music, announced today the debut of its new morning show “Damon & Cory,” effective July 5. “Damon & Cory” will broadcast weekdays from 5 – 10 a.m. Hosted by Connecticut radio veteran Damon Scott and long-time morning host Cory Mye...Read More
WGHT To Sign-Off This Summer
Another AM will go silent rather attempt to “revitalize” as Mariana Broadcasting’s Full Service Oldies “North Jersey 1500” WGHT Pompton Lakes NJ has announced its intent to sign-off at the end of this summer. An AM daytimer operating with 1kW in the shadows of New York City, WGHT was unable to keep competing with the plethora of media options available in the area. Owner/GM/Midday Host John Silliman intends to attempt to donate the license to a local school or non-profit. WGHT has been in its current format since 1993 when Mariana purchased then WKER from the estate of station founder Robert Kerr. The station’s most famous alumnus is current Fox Sports studio host and NFL play-by-play man Kevin Burkhardt, who started his career at WGHT out of college.
Jim Philips To Retire From Afternoons At Real Radio 104.1 Orlando
The Philips Phile will come to an end in January 2018. Jim Philips, who has hosted afternoons on iHeartMedia Hot Talk “Real Radio 104.1” WTKS Cocoa Beach/Orlando FL since 1992, will retire from the station next January. Philips has worked in the Orlando market since 1972 first as a news reporter at 740 WKIS and later News Director. He became afternoon talk host in 1986 through its call letter change to WWNZ and the 1992 addition of a simulcast on 104.1. When the stations were split in 1993 following the sale of 104.1 to Press Communications, Philips stayed with the FM where he has been ever since. Listen to Philips make his announcement below:
Rex Long Moves To KKMG Colorado Springs
Cumulus Media CHR “98.9 Magic-FM” KKMG Colorado Springs has appointed Rex Long as their new Program Director. Long transfers to KKMG from Cumulus’ “Y102” 101.9 WHHY Montgomery AL where he served as PD/Afternoon host since 2010. He also has programmed for the company at “Power 103” KCDD Abilene TX. He fills the opening created by the departure of Nikki Landry earlier this year. Cumulus Media announces that it has appointed radio programming professional and on-air personality Rex Long as Program Director and On-Air Talent for 98.9 Magic FM in Colorado Springs, CO. Long joins 98.9 Magic FM from Cumulus Media-Montgomery, AL, where he has been Program Director for the past seven years at CHR station Y-102 (WHHY-FM). He was also Program Director for Cum...Read More
Peter Thiele To Program KARN-FM Little Rock
Cumulus News/Talk 102.9 KARN-FM Sheridan/Little Rock AR has appointed Peter Thiele as Program Director. Thiele most recently served as an Account Executive/Host as Salem Media Conservative Talk “930 The Answer” KLUP San Antonio, but has previously programmed Salem’s Christian 570 WMCA and Conservative Talk “970 The Answer” WNYM New York, 1220 KNTS San Francisco, and Entercom’s 1330 WORD Greenville SC. Cumulus Media announces that it has named media professional Peter Thiele as Program Director for Newsradio 102.9 KARN in Little Rock, AR. Thiele, who has successfully programmed numerous spoken-word radio stations, has held previous positions leading award-winning teams in New York City, San Francisco, Minneapolis, San Antonio, Greenville/Spartanburg, SC, ...Read More
