Randy Michaels-run Merlin Media begins to announce its new staff: yesterday, Andy Friedman as VP of Internet Initiatives, and today, former WINS, New York GM and GSM Greg Janoff as Executive VP of Revenue for the group. Janoff spent 15 years inside the Group W/CBS Radio world, starting at Group W's Boston news/talk WBZ (1030) and then moving to New York at all-news "1010 WINS." He had been running WINS until late 2008, when a re-structuring led him to return to being the general sales manager. He left in mid-2009. Since then Janoff has been working with My Damn Channel as VP of Branded Entertainment Sales for RAMP Video, and as the head of his own Next Wave LLC, putting charities together with appropriate technologies to help generate revenue.

Merlin Chairman/CEO Randy Michaels says "Greg's superior talent in broadcast, especially within the digital arena, is a valuable asset to our company." Merlin Media is acquiring a majority interest in three stations it will co-own with Emmis. Those are Chicago FMs, alternative "Q101" WKQX and classic rock "Loop" WLUP (97.9), plus New York's rock WRXP (101.9). Both markets expect at least some format changes when Merlin begins an LMA in the next 45 days. Merlin indicates that it intends to "develop a network of radio stations across the country."