Radio in Canada:

Former Virgin Radio 95.3 Vancouver host Buzz Bishop is moving to Calgary, taking over mornings on CFUL-FM (90.3) “Amp Radio” … Former CHED-AM (630) & CHQT-FM (92.5) promotions coordinator Khazma Tichon joins Edmonton’s former “Power 92” and now “Joe-FM” CKNG-FM (92.5) as Promotions Director … Radio-Info checks in with Winnipeg’s new CIUR-FM (104.7). We are told that the official launch date for “Winnipeg’s Illest Urban” is about December 11. Until then, “Streetz FM” is in test-mode, available in Winnipeg, but you can also listen to them online here … For the latest talk on radio in Ontario, check out the Radio-Info Toronto board – Discuss it.

Orlando's WMFE-FM will drop classical music for talk on Friday

Starting Friday afternoon at 4:00pm, Orlando radio listeners will gain a new full-time news/talk format on non-commercial WMFE-FM (90.7). President and CEO Jose Fajardo writes, “People are increasingly interested in knowing what’s happening around the world … Now, they will be able to count on us through the day to connect them to what’s happening in their world – be it Central Florida or around the globe.” Florida Today reports the new programming will include shows such as the BBC World Update, The Diane Rehm Show, Fresh Air with Terry Gross and All Things Considered. WMFE will move its existing classical music format to their HD-2 radio channel starting Friday afternoon.

Wendy Williams gets a new commitment from Fox TV

The former syndicated radio host, whose show originated from Inner City’s Urban WBLS (107.5) New York, has learned that her TV-talk show has a commitment from Fox TV to run through the 2011-2012 season. Williams left WBLS and her Westwood syndicated radio show behind this past summer to concentrate on the television show. She was also recently inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame at the November 7th gala in Chicago. Williams' talk show is one of several which hit the television airwaves this year. BET (which also airs Williams show at night) debuted the Mo’Nique Show, hosted by comedian and former radio show host Mo’Nique. Singer/Songwriter and current syndicated radio show host Brian McKnight (whose night show is based out of Emmis Urban AC WRKS New York) has a syndicated variety/talk show. One who is no longer in the TV-talk show biz? Citadel Media’s syndicated afternoon man Michael Baisden, whose former show was dropped by TV One.

Owen Murphy promoted to PD of "ESPN 710" Seattle

Bonneville gives the PD duties at all-sports KIRO-AM to APD Murphy. He’s been with the station since January 2009. Past gigs have included a stint as producer at MLB.com, and at ESPN Radio as producer for the Mike & Mike show. Murphy was part of the team that helped transform KIRO to its all sports format when the News & Talk format moved over to the FM dial at 97.3.

Never Lose A Listener

If your very life depended on keeping a listener: Would you still put that on the radio that way? Think about it. How do you keep that person glued to the radio, listening to you? With People Meter measurement just around the corner, and the technological shift making offering many choices available, it becomes more important than ever not to lose a listener. If they're bored, you've lost the listener. So you can't be boring, not even for a minute! If we know that listeners leave when they are bored, either mentally, or tuning out physically and their attention goes elsewhere, what can you do?

It’s the Content, Stupid: Time to Work on “The Vision Thing”

Anybody remember the Bush/Clinton election? It shouldn’t have been close. George Bush Sr. was coming off a massive victory in the Gulf War. But the economy was in recession. The Bush strategy was to ignore it – sort of pretend it didn’t exist. But voters vote with their wallets, and Democratic strategist James Carville observed, “It’s the economy, stupid.”

Honesty Is The Best Policy

Honesty is the best policy. I am sure everyone has heard this statement delivered by a parent, school teacher or even a minister. It is a simplistic statement that is difficult to adhere too 100% of the time because we all have fell short by exaggerating a fact or blurring fact from fiction. The ad industry has been called out on a few occasions for not being honest, with some brands even being ordered to stop advertising a particular message. Is it possible for honesty to be the best policy in an industry that is built on convincing consumers by any means necessary? Are advertisers and their ad agencies capable of being honest in everything that they do? I know I am being naïve because the advertising industry is a microcosm of America.

The Power of Urban Radio Returns

Sherman Kizart, President of Kizart Media Partners and founder of the annual “Power of Urban Radio” summit, talks with Radio-Info.com’s Dana Hall about the upcoming event scheduled during the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB) convention (Sept. 24 & 25) in Washington D.C. The conversation also touches on an “old” issue that had left the press headlines in recent years, but which still continues to be a burden on ethnic broadcasters: Non-Urban and Non-Hispanic Dictates within the advertising community. That issue recently reared its ugly head again, thrusting the topic back into the spotlight and informing the industry that it in fact, had not been eradicated.