Radio-Info News

CBS Radio properties lead the Summer "Internet Audio Top 20" from Ando Media

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:15:00 -0500

The sites under the CBS banner generated more than 35 million “Session Starts”, as Ando introduces a number of new categories for its “Webcast Metrics Audience Ratings.” This latest report covers May through September, and the 35 million figure is for Internet radio’s most-popular daypart. That’s 6am to 8pm, Monday through Friday.

Making Moves: Early Christmas

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:50:00 -0500

Two Detroit AC stations have already jumped to all-Christmas: Clear Channel’s WNIC and Greater Media’s WMGC … At the Jersey Shore, Greater Media’s WJRZ (100.1) is now all-Santa … Christmas is coming soon to New York City. WLTW-FM (106.7) is running promos saying “Not yet – but the continuous Christmas music starts soon” … Another Clear Channel “Lite-FM” station, WLZT-FM (93.3) in Columbus, Ohio has started playing holiday music … Suburban Boston’s 1000-watt WLLH-AM (1400), formerly an ESPN Radio affiliate before going dark in September, is back on the air playing Spanish music … Radio-Info confirms the soon-to-be syndicated Tony & Kris morning show will have Heather Cramsie as its producer. There’s now a countdown clock on the Tony & Kris website for their new show debut … Citing family reasons, Steve Lloyd-Jones says after just one season he won’t return as the radio voice of minor league baseball’s West Michigan Whitecaps … Sirius XM’s Playboy Channel will air the “Legends of Porn” during the “Night Calls” show for five days starting on Monday.

Fernando and Greg are "Movin" to San Francisco's KMVQ

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:41:00 -0500

The morning duo recently left the market’s KREV-FM (92.7) when it flipped from the dance-formatted “Energy” in September. The new home for Fernando & Greg will be rhythmic AC KMVQ-FM “Movin' 99.7”, where they begin morning drive on Monday. KMVQ cut loose morning host Maria Todd and producer “Chunk” Bonfiglio on Thursday. Fernando and Greg are no strangers to the market, having been named in 2007 as one of OUT Magazine’s Top 100 most influential people in gay culture. Doug Harvill, CBS Radio San Francisco SVP & Market Manager, tells Examiner.com, “I’m going to hide under my desk and not answer the phone."

Clear Channel Chicago changes urban sales strategy and realigns programming staff

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:38:00 -0500

In Chicago, Derrick Brown, OM for Clear Channel’s urban trio urban AC WVAZ “V103”, Urban WGCI (107.5), and gospel WGRB (1390), will add PD duties for urban WGCI. He also serves as PD of WVAZ. PD/midday personality Kris Kelly will assume APD duties under Brown. In addition, the Chicago Tribune reports that Clear Channel announced it will unify the three stations under one single advertising banner called the Urban Network, meaning they will “offer marketers a single cross-platform opportunity to reach Chicago’s African-American audience through radio, digital and event marketing even as programming on WGCI, “V103" and “Inspiration 1390” continue to target different parts of that group.” Earl Jones, President and Market Manager for Clear Channel Chicago told the newspaper “For African Americans (age 18 and older) we beat ABC, Fox, CBS and NBC in this market,” Jones said. “If you want to reach an African American … you cannot overlook this capacity here that we have.” Previously, Clear Channel Radio Chicago had WGCI, top 40 WKSC-FM (103.5) and Spanish-language WNUA-FM 95.5 grouped together based on their penetration in the age 18-34 and 18-49 demographics, while WVAZ, WGRB and AC WLIT-FM 93.9 were sold as a way to reach listeners age 25 to 54.

Beasley names two new PDs for Southwest Florida's WJBX & WWCN

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:35:00 -0500

In Fort Myers, morning co-host Bob Garrett on WJBX-FM (99.3) “New Rock 99X” is promoted to PD, taking over for Matt Johnson, who remains as PD for sister-station WXKB-FM (103.9) in nearby Cape Coral. At Beasley’s “770 ESPN Radio,” John Cassio, the producer of the Miller & Moulton Show on WWCN-AM (770), is also promoted and becomes the new program director, replacing Mark “Steele” Matthews. Steele remains in charge of WRXK-FM (96.1) in Bonita Springs.

Tampa talker Dan Sileo's suspension ends as he quietly returns to radio

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:34:00 -0500

On October 29, WDAE-AM (620) morning host Dan Sileo announced that he'd heard from a friend who worked at the Securities and Exchange Commission that Tampa Bay Buccaneers' owners lost $440 million in the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme, and speculated the NFL team might be for sale. Calling that report “baseless, irresponsible and slanderous,” the co-chairman of the Buccaneers threatened legal action against Sileo and the Clear Channel-owned radio station, which led to Sileo’s immediate suspension. The St. Petersburg Times says Sileo returned to his morning show today, with no mention of the events that led to his week-long suspension.

Radio in the U.K.:

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:54:00 -0500

ENGLAND: The BBC has come under fire for spending $41.5 million on the Birmingham-based digital station Asian Network, which “hardly anyone listens to” … BBC Radio Leeds mid-morning host Graham Liver is named as the replacement for Tony Livesey when he departs BBC Radio Lancashire in January … Real Radio’s exclusive X-Factor correspondent Tony Cowell will also be heard on London’s Smooth Radio (102.2) every Monday morning … SCOTLAND: There’s a battle for control of Lanarkshire’s L-107 FM, as managing director Alan Shields is fighting local businessman George Fulston over the station’s debt.

Format change in Vancouver: a second all-sports "Team"

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:15:00 -0500

CFUN (1410) has been talk since 1996 and now CTVglobemedia explains that after “many ups and downs”, it’s decided to make it a companion to its existing sports station, “Team 1040” CKST. They won’t simulcast, and having a second sports signal lets the owner put Jim Rome and Dan Patrick on the air every day, along with large doses of play by play from the B.C. Lions to the NFL to soccer, baseball and even U.S. NCAA basketball. One poster on the Canada Board of Radio-Info says the company is “showing virtually the entire staff the door.” More on the Canada Board here.

CBS Radio revenues fall 19% in the most recent quarter

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:30:00 -0500

The drop was from $392 million to $319 million, while OIBDA (a measure akin to cash flow) dropped 33%, to $93.1 million. A year ago, CBS took a huge $3.32 billion impairment charge on the value of goodwill and intangible assets (the market value of its licenses). This year CBS valuation experts take a much smaller writedown, or $31.7 million – related, the CFO tells the conference call, to the sale of the Portland, Oregon stations to Larry Wilson’s Alpha Broadcasting.

Radio Around the World:

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:53:00 -0500

CANADA: CBC Radio Two is changing their drive-time lineup, taking Tom Allen, who had been doing both mornings and afternoons into just PM drive, and bringing in Bob Mackowycz for mornings, starting Monday … VENEZUELA: The nation’s Supreme Court upheld the orders to close Caracas-based radio station CNB (102.3), and said the government was within its rights to revoke the licenses of other radio and TV stations … HONDURAS: An unidentified person threw a fragmentation grenade at the building housing HRN Radio in Tegucigalpa, injuring two people and causing minor damage … HUNGARY: Laszlo Majtenyi, chairman of Hungary’s communications regulator resigned after the government agreed to terminate the licenses of two foreign-owned radio stations, giving them to bidders he considered weaker … UGANDA: Members of Parliament are demanding the government reopen Radio CBS FM in Kampala, which remains closed following riots in September, which the government blamed on the media … AUSTRALIA: On the North Shore, community station 2NSB-FM (99.3) has shut down, due to a lack of funding, but will continue to air BBC programming so as to not lose their license …

Fisher joins the chorus of radio companies with revenue declines, plunging 49%

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:30:00 -0500

At Seattle-based Fisher Communications, overall revenues were down 18%, but radio was the big drag, falling 49% to $6 million from $11.7 million. The blame for such a drastic drop goes to the loss of advertising for Seattle Mariners baseball. If the baseball ads weren’t factored in, the overall revenue loss would have been 22%. Fisher President/CEO Colleen Brown says “we remain confident in our business,” and touted the company’s new technologies, including “hyperlocal websites” and a “broadcast-to-broadband initiative” which she claims “will play an important role” in the future of the company. Fisher owns a radio cluster in Seattle and five stations in Great Falls, Montana.

The government of Uganda debates banning witch doctor ads on the radio

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:36:00 -0500

It seems Ugandan witch-doctors have found radio a very good way to advertise their healing powers. However, that may change, as the government’s ethics minister, James Buturo wants to put a stop to it. Buturo says that airing advertising from witch doctors is contravening the 1957 Witchcraft Act, and according to a report by ScreenAfrica.com, “are promoting witchcraft-related activities to the detriment of Uganda’s integrity.” Witchcraft and witchcraft-related activities are widespread in Uganda and the government wants radio to stop promoting it.

Compromise on HD Radio FM-transmitter power between NPR and tech developer iBiquity

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:55:00 -0500

iBiquity had sought a 10 dB increase in transmitter power levels, while National Public Radio was worried about interference and had produced an earlier research report that got the FCC’s attention. Now both sides announce a compromise to recommend a blanket 6 dB hike to the FCC. That’s not the end of the matter, since they'll continue to work on ways to make even more power available to the digital signal, “depending on spacing criteria and conditions that limit harmful interference.” NPR Labs executive director Mike Starling says “we are optimistic about the future of HD Radio” and are “eager to work with iBiquity.” iBiquity’s Bob Struble is “delighted” and says “we've found practical and balanced solutions” that limit interference to existing analog operations.

Grafton, West Virginia AM will sell, or go dark

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:25:00 -0500

WVUS (1190) has been on the air for 52 years in Grafton, but unless it is sold, it will turn off the transmitter on December 31 and go silent. The station, which currently has a “Timeless Favorites” format, has gone through a number of format changes, including adult contemporary, CHR and rhythmic AC in just the last 22 months. WVUS owner Steven Tocco tells WBOY-TV he’s asking $59,000 for the station, but has yet to get a serious offer. Tocco says right now, he can’t sell enough ads to cover the costs of running the station, and says unless it’s sold soon, he will have to shut WVUS down.

Radio-Info.com debuts New Media column "Radio3D"

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:02:00 -0500

Radio-Info.com welcomes Daniel Anstandig to its family as a feature columnist for our New Media section. Daniel will write the weekly column Radio3D, with his first entry “Radio3D – FutureVision Realized”, debuting today. Daniel is the President of McVay New Media and Listener Driven Radio. He was recognized two years in a row (2007 & 2008) in Edison Research’s “30 Under 30,” a celebration of the 30 brightest broadcasters under age 30 in an industry in search of young talent. He joins the Radio-Info.com team of editors, along with New Media columinist Jim Kerr, VP of Strategy for Triton Digital Media, who writes the weekly column “The Future is Now”. In the weeks to come, Radio-Info.com will debut more outstanding new content for you.

Missoula, Montana's KMPT stays talk, but flips from progressive to conservative

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:25:00 -0500

Before election day, you'd tune in to KMPT-AM (930) and hear talk hosts like Stephanie Miller and the Air America lineup. After election day, KMPT is now the home of “The Best Conservative Talk.” KPAX-TV reports that GapWest Broadcasting market manager Scott Lindahl says the reason KMPT flipped direction was because the station “under-performed” with progressive talk, and “they had to either turn it off, sell it or change formats.” Along with syndicated shows including Michael Savage and Bill Bennett, KMPT is also the home of “Voices of Montana” with Aaron Flint.

Radio Remembers: Canada's Peter Hall

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:00:00 -0500

He spent 37 years on the air, all in the same town on CJXX-FM (93.1) and also CFGP in Grande Prairie, Alberta. Peter Hall was the longest-serving radio personality in town, was very community minded and had a voice that was “smooth-like-butter.” Hall passed away in his Grande Prairie home. He was 62.

Making Moves: Thursday, November 5, 2009

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:36:00 -0500

Premiere Radio Networks brings Jason Wilberding on-board as Vice President of Western Region Sales … It’s “Jersey in Alabama”, as former Hartford, Connecticut WTIC-FM (96.5) drive-time host Jeannine Jersey moves south, joining Birmingham, Alabama’s WMJJ-FM (96.5) as a morning drive co-host … Former Westwood One syndicated “Don and Mike” producer Beth Ann McBride joins the Tom Kent Radio Network as Director of Affiliate Relations … He started out as an announcer making $1.65 per hour. After 40 years with Wisconsin Public Radio, Jim Fleming announced his retirement … Greater Media’s VP of Corporate Communications Heidi Raphael is named one of the “25 Women to Watch in Sales and Marketing” by the American Women in Radio & Television … Chicago’s Loyola University Ramblers basketball games will air on WNTD-AM (950), WAUR-AM (930) & WLUW-FM (88.7) … Longtime Springfield, Massachusetts radio & TV news director Durham Caldwell has written a book about his time covering politics, called “Tumultuous Affairs – Uncertain Politics and Unlikely Romance during a Turbulent Time.”

Clear Channel names a new SVP of Sales to head their new "Sales Operations Center"

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:12:00 -0500

Clear Channel takes Tampa’s Director of Sales and promotes Chris Soechtig to Senior Vice President of Sales Operations, reporting directly to CEO John Hogan. Soechtig will be responsible for the creation of a corporate “Sales Operation Center,” focusing on all facets of sales strategy, communications, training, sales material, processes and technology for use by Clear Channel sales teams. Soechtig will oversee all 150 Clear Channel markets, and supervise sharing and exchange of sales between markets. Says Soechtig, “Having a sales operations center will give local markets an outstanding opportunity to focus on growing revenue.”

Sirius XM has 102,000 more subscribers than three months ago

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500

But it has 400,000 fewer subs than a year ago, at the end of the third quarter of 2008. The satellite radio service depends heavily on new car sales, but is making its most concerted move yet toward signing up customers buying used cars, and toward “winbacks” of previous subscribers. CEO Mel Karmazin tells this morning’s third-quarter conference call “the subscription radio business model is very alive and very well.” Revenue is up 3% to $630 million, and Karmazin re-affirmed his full-2009 guidance of at least $400 million in adjusted income from operations. He even volunteered guidance for 2010: growth of 20% in adjusted income from operations. The CEO teased, but didn’t elaborate on, “the most aggressive brand-marketing campaign in our history.” That’s due the week before Thanksgiving. Follow the trading for Sirius XM stock (“SIRI”).

Radio-Info is tracking a number of people moves in Phoenix

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:13:00 -0500

The merry-go-round of moves starts at CBS Radio-owned KZON-FM (101.5), where budget cuts claim morning host/APD Strawberry. No replacement has been named at “105 Jamz.” Across town at Riviera-owned KEDJ-FM (103.9), Jamie Cooley moves to Arizona after a 13-year run in Portland, to co-host the morning show with Gadger. At Clear Channel’s KFYI-AM (550), Nicole Franks is named to anchor afternoon drive news, effective immediately.

The "Clear Channel Chicago Urban Network" will combine sales for its three urban stations

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:35:00 -0500

Clear Channel is taking their three urban-formatted radio stations and placing the three sales departments under one banner. The “Clear Channel Chicago Urban Network” comprises WGCI-FM (107.5), WVAZ-FM (102.7) & WGRB-AM (1390), allowing advertisers a broader reach into the urban market. The Chicago Tribune reports Clear Channel will have Darlene Park oversee the Urban Network as general sales manager, while Carla Ross will be the local sales manager. Both Park and Ross have sales management experience with Clear Channel Chicago, and Joe Gersh was named GSM for Clear Channel Chicago’s three other stations (WLIT 93.9, WNUA 95.5 & WKSC 103.5).

Greater Media names Bill White as the new OM for Charlotte's WBT & "The Link"

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:10:00 -0500

It’s a promotion for the Director of Programming and News at WBT-AM/FM (1110 / 99.3), where’s been at the helm for the last nine years. Bill White now becomes Operations Manager for the news/talk market leader, and also will oversee WLNK-FM (107.9) “The Link.” With Smith’s promotion comes a promotion for longtime WBT Asst. PD Carl East, who now becomes the PD for WBT. Neal Sharpe will remain as PD of WLNK-FM. White’s resume includes stops as PD of Pittsburgh’s KDKA-AM (1020), along with management roles in Kansas City, Columbus, and Bridgeport & Hartford.

Regent reports third quarter revenues down about 14%

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:45:00 -0500

CEO Bill Stakelin says the CIncinnati-based owner of small and medium market stations “did out-perform the industry, a feat we've achieved for five years in a row now.” Like other radio CEOs, Stakelin identifies automotive, down nearly 40% from a year earlier, as the largest single factor in the 13.9% decline in net revenues. The problem isn’t the lack of commercials from car companies, but the rate Regent is able to get for the spots. Unemployment in Regent markets such as Grand Rapids, Flint and Peoria (where Caterpillar laid off 4,000 people) is a macro-level problem. Regent has been in default with its lenders since April, and it’s spending extra money on outside advisors as it negotiates with its lenders. Regent stock (“RGCI”) was down on this morning’s opening, after the pre-opening bell release of the third quarter results and the 9am conference call.

New October PPMs for L.A. restore CHR KIIS-FM to #1

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:20:00 -0500

September-book #1 KFI, the Clear Channel talk station, has moved 4.9 (August) to 5.0 (September) to 4.3 in October, viewing age 6+ AQH share. While CHR KIIS (102.7) grows 4.7 to 4.8 to 5.2. Its CBS-owned rival, “Amp 97.1” KAMP-FM, has apparently found a groove, going 3.6 to 3.8 to 3.7. Meanwhile the Arbitron PPM continues to favor classic hits stations like “K-Earth 101” KRTH, up 4.2 to 4.7 to 4.7, and this month’s #2 station, overall. Arbitron’s “October” book started September 17 and ended October 14. Also out today along with Los Angeles – New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia, Nassau-Suffolk, Riverside-San Bernardino, San Jose, and Middlesex-Somerset-Union, NJ. See all the new October markets on the Ratings page of Radio-Info.com.

Glenn Beck forced to leave Wednesday's radio show by an attack of appendicitis

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:25:00 -0500

The sudden and severe pain hit him live, during his Premiere Radio-syndicated program, and led to an emergency appendectomy. Beck missed his early-evening Fox News Channel show and will presumably be off the air while he recuperates. Complications from Beck’s January 2008 hemorrhoid surgery produced a much-viewed YouTube clip taped at a hospital, where a woozy Glenn Beck rambled on about the poor medical care and the pain he was enduring.

WorldSpace satellite radio attracts the attention of Liberty Media, part owner of Sirius XM

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:55:00 -0500

John Malone’s Liberty Media is also a creditor of Sirius XM, thanks to a $530 million deal earlier this year that came at a critical time for Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin. It’s also a critical time for international satellite radio operator WorldSpace, which is in Chapter 11 and is struggling to pay its own bankruptcy advisors. Malone’s company is offering debtor-in-possession financing as “a potential bridge to a strategic transaction.” It’s hoping a Delaware bankruptcy judge will give his permission to enter into such an agreement, which might give it effective control of the company. WorldSpace has a functioning satellite system that covers many countries, but it has had difficulty generating cash from a subscription radio business model. RapidTVNews reports the interest by Malone, who hasn’t discussed his strategy or motivation.

Format flips on Long Island and in New York's Hudson Valley

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:20:00 -0500

The message on the website of contemporary Christian WNYG, Babylon, New York (1440) said it all – “Due to circumstances beyond our control, The Spirit of New York will no longer be broadcasting on WNYG.” For now, WNYG will carry the ethnic and brokered programs from its Multicultural Radio Broadcasting sister-station WNSW-AM (1430), which is based in Newark, New Jersey. About two hours drive up the Hudson River, Clear Channel is ceasing the simulcast of WRWD-FM (107.3) on WKIP-FM (99.3), and will debut talk on FM in the market with “News/Talk 99.3.” WKIP-FM is expected to carry their sister-station talk format from WKIP-AM (1450), which includes the syndicated Glenn Beck, Don Imus and Mark Levin.

Crowd-sourced programming at Dial Global gets input from Jacobs Media, Joel Salkowitz

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:45:00 -0500

Dial Global parent Triton Media has a new multi-level relationship with Jelli, which has developed strategies for stations to let listeners drive the music programming for specific hours, while holding online conversations in a social networking context. The offerings from Dial Global launch in January and can work with any daypart across a number of formats. The Jacobs Media consultancy will work with Dial Global on developing suitable content for rock formats using Jelli. CHR consultant and major market programmer Joel Salkowitz will do the same for that format.

Eastlan Ratings gets a new partner and call center, from FMR Associates

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:35:00 -0500

FMR’s Bruce Fohr is investing in the Eastlan Ratings company, bringing his 32 years of research experience to the service run by Mike Gould. Fohr also brings his existing call center in Tucson, and that operation will handle “the entire fielding operations” of Eastlan. Fohr began as a research associate with Frank Magid Associates in 1977 and left in 1980 to start up Communications Research in Tucson with Surrey’s Ken Dennis. A year later, Fohr launched FMR Associates to do perceptual and programming research. Eastlan is privately held and says it’s now doing work for subscribers in more than 90 U.S. markets.

Radio Around the World:

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:55:00 -0500

CANADA: Satellite’s Hardcore Sports Radio and host Gabriel Morency have parted ways, according to Morency’s Facebook page … NEW ZEALAND: Radio NZ morning host Sean Plunket has lost his Employment Relations Authority case. He filed suit claiming Radio NZ refused him opportunities for work in newspaper and TV, but gave the same opportunities to others … ENGLAND: Absolute Radio is launching a digital station called “Absolute 80’s,” for “reluctant adults who want to reconnect with the tunes of their youth.” It replaces the modern rock “Extreme” … AUSTRALIA: The latest ratings in Sydney showed a boost for 2DAY-FM’s Kyle Sandilands & Jackie O, despite two suspensions during the ratings period … UGANDA: Under conditions, the government allowed Kampala-based Radio Two to open. It was shut down seven weeks ago, blamed for inciting riots … IRELAND: ‘The Apprentice’ star Jennifer Maguire, ‘Fair City’ actress Celia Murphy, television presenter Geri Maye and ‘Gerry Ryan Show’ reporter Evelyn O'Rourke will host the new “Girl Talk” show on RTE’s digital radio station, RTE Choice … For the latest on radio in the Far East, check out the Radio-Info Asia board – Discuss it.

BBC Radio One's Chris Moyles facing the axe over low ratings

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:55:00 -0500

London’s Daily Mail reveals that there may be changes upcoming for BBC Radio One. Highly-paid morning host Chris Moyles, who took a 20% pay cut when he signed a one year deal for approximately $850,000 to stay on Radio One, may be bounced from the highly-coveted morning shift due to low ratings. The 35-year old Moyles has been at the center of a number of controversies during his five-year run, including making jokes about Auschwitz and using abusive language on the air. Moyles' morning show dropped 700,000 listeners in the last quarter. TV host Vernon Kay, who already has a weekend show on BBC Radio One and good relations with management, is considered a potential front runner for Moyles' morning slot.

Clear Channel begins stunting on KATZ-FM “100.3 the Beat” St. Louis

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0500

The Urban station briefly went all-Halloween, then it looked some Thanksgiving songs, then it segued to all-Christmas with Brenda Lee’s “Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree.” Inside sources have confirmed that the entire on air staff was laid off. The Radio-Info.com boards predict a permanent new format starting in January. In the market’s first PPM ratings, KATZ-FM earned a 3.6, 12-plus share for September. The urban leader in the market is Radio One’s WHHL “Hot 104.1”, which had a 4.9.