Emmis fired the entire on air staff and began stunting on Wednesday, Nov. 18. .A new format is expected to debut this Friday, and some are speculating it will be Spanish while others are saying Talk. This morning’s Taylor on Radio-Info, the daily newsletter from Radio-Info.com, reports that the move out of the Hip-hop heavy rhythmic format was a move possibly prompted by the arrival of Arbitron’s PPM meter in mid 2010.
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The former syndicated radio talk host, who’s 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 syndicated radio show behind to concentrate on the television show.
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Lee Cagle, PD of Rhythmic WBTS “95.5 the Beat” adds PD duties over AC WSB (98.5) while Jay Dixon, PD of Urban AC WALR “Kiss 104.1” adds PD oversight of Classic Hits WSRV “97.1 the River.” Both stations were previously programmed by Jeff McHugh, who exited earlier this month
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Radio-Info.com's Urban First newsletter got a quick few minutes with Ken Johnson, newly appointed Director of Urban programming for Clear Channel Philadelphia, where he will oversee Urban WUSL "Power 99" and Urban AC WDAS. Here's what he had to say:
On working for two heritage stations that have a long legacy in their market -
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Over the past two years, Radio-Info.com has become a respected source for news and information. But it also has another unique element. The Discussion forums. These forums are a great source of information for me by providing news leads - which I can then confirm or deny by making follow up calls. But they’re also a great source of ideas for feature stories and a barometer for what radio people are thinking about our industry. Each week I’ll take a look at what the hot topics are in the Urban world, straight from the Radio-Info.com boards.
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The St. Louis urban “Hot 104.1” WHHL welcomes the veteran programmer, who previously was the long time PD of Cox Urban WBHJ Birmingham. He replaces Boogie D, now at Radio One's urban WPHI "100.3 the Beat" in Philadelphia. Johnson had been consulting radio stations and syndicated programs since he left Cox in September 2007.
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What are the best radio websites you’ve visited recently? What makes them interesting, usable, and visually pleasing?
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Police say a fistfight that started during a concert held by KMEL-FM (106.1) escalated into gunfire, leaving nine concertgoers shot and wounded. The shooting happened outside the Regency Ballroom, where KMEL was hosting its sold-out "House of Soul" concert.
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Johnson will be Director of Urban Programming, overseeing Urban WUSL “Power 99” and Urban AC WDAS (105.3). He starts his new job on Monday, Novemeber 16. Johnson recently left Citadel Media in Dallas, where he was Director of Urban Programming.
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RadioTime is the online directory of terrestrial and Internet-only radio for computer and mobile users, and it issues another in its line of "19" most popular lists. This time it's for hip-hop stations, and the top ten are #1, Hot 97/WQHT. #2, Sky Rock FM 96.0. #3, Choice FM/107.1 of London. #4, KXOL-FM 96.3 of Los Angeles. #5, Nairobi, Kenya’s Homeboyz Radio. #6, 181.FM the Beat (internet stream). #7, Kiss 100 FM, London. #8, DWAV-FM, Wave 89.1 from Manila. #9, Ado 97.8 FM of Paris. And #10, WKYS, Washington, D.C.
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Each will hold a key sales position within the group. Carolin jons as Director of Sales, while Moore will serve as Digital Sales Manager. Carolin has worked in Chicago and Atlanta over the course of a 25 year career. Most recently, Carolin was the VP of Affiliate Sales for Westwood One Metro Networks. Moore will oversee the cluster's online advertising and Interactive One products, including Blackplanet.com and Hellobeautiful.com. Bretland has worked for AOL, Tribune Interactive, Urban Sports and Entertainment, and most recently Adgroups.com.
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Radio-Info.com is sad to report the passing of Mark Raymond, former PD at Cumulus urban ac WHRP (94.1) Huntsville, which he left in May of 2008. He also programmed in Winston-Salem, NC, and Killeen, TX. Raymond was found dead in his home. Radio-Info.com will report details on services for Mark, as they become available.
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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.
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Former TV owner Eddie Edwards, Sr. was recently hospitalized, [says the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette](http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09307/1010281-67.stm), and won't proceed with his $500,000 purchase of WPYT (660) from Alex Langer.
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He spent just six months on Radio One’s Urban WPHI “100.3 the Beat." Charlamagne announced the change on his [Twitter page ](http://twitter.com/CthaGOD)saying “I just got fired from 100.3 The Beat in Philly. Salute to Philly I hope you all enjoyed me the past 6 months … The Beat said they want to move in a different direction. God bless them. Thanks for the past 6 months.”
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A “landmark study” released today on commercial radio ownership claims that just 61% of minority station owners have just a single station, “in an industry that until very recently has experienced steadily increasing consolidation.” The study by two Santa Clara University law school professors and David Honig of the Minority Media & Telecommunications Council also lists a number of minority owners who have lost stations for financial reasons.
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Ken Johnson’s last day with Citadel Media as Director of Urban programming is today. He resigned his position earlier this month, and will have an announcement on his new gig next week.
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The Clear Channel station quickly progressed through Halloween music (beginning Friday morning), then did a looped all-Thanksgiving set, and now it’s settled into being all-Christmas.
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Longtime morning man **Frank Ski** will get at least another year on CBS Radio Urban WVEE "V103" Atlanta. According to Rodney Ho of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Ski has resigned with "V103" due to extraordinary ratings.
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CEO Alfred Liggins says third quarter revenue continued to improve from previous quarters – “but not as strongly as I would have liked.” Combined revenue from radio and other divisions was down 12% to $75.5 million. Liggins says he’s “pleased that our radio division outperformed their markets once again, this time by 300 basis points”, or 3%. Some advertising categories “are showing signs of recovery”, with Food & Beverage down about 1.5%, retail down about 2.5% and healthcare down about 4.5%. But the important automotive category is stuck in reverse – down over 37% compared to the third quarter of 2008.
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WQNC becomes “My 92.7 - R&B from the ‘80s, ‘90s, and Now.” Previously the station used the moniker “Q92.7.” Musically, the station shifts slightly, dropping its older ‘70s gold titles. WQNC has been competing directly with CBS Radio’s market leader Urban AC WBAV (101.9), which uses the positioner “Charlotte’s best variety of hits & oldies”.
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Last month, after being sold, heritage Pittsburgh Urban WAMO (106.7) went dark. Now, former PD Ron Atkins has taken the format online as "101 the Blaze - Pittsburgh real hip-hop station." It features streaming music (via 365live.com), local news & information, contests & a listener club, artist news, and more. It stays local for Pittsburgh with information on the Steelers and more. Atkins was also VP of programming for WAMO owner Sheridan Broadcasting’s American Urban Radio Networks- based in Pittsburgh.
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R&B and Jazz singer Phil Perry collapsed on stage last Friday, while performing at the Southern Connecticut State University. The New Haven City News reports that Perry is still in critical condition at Yale-New Haven Hospital. The reason for his collapse has not yet been released by the hospital.
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Another Friday and there are more changes at Citadel Media. Gone are New York-based rep Allie Carrington, Chicago-based Anthony Mootry, and Atlanta-based Pandora Yeargin-Johnson. In addition, an Urban Sales assistant is reportedly going to be re-assigned with the company. These changes come in the wake of Citadel Media announcing it will sever ties with at least two of its syndicated shows under the Urban umbrella – Doug Banks' afternoon show “The Ride” with DeDe Mcguire, and “The Brian McKnight Show,” both of which have major market flag ship stations (WVAZ Chicago for Doug, and WRKS New York for Brian).
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With Halloween around the corner, it goes without saying that your airwaves are already filled (or will be soon) with the sounds of Halloween. Yes, you can pitch, delay, filter, and add reverb to your VO to get it sounding spooky, but why do that when the folks at SSL already have? No, this isn’t a substitute for your super-secret recipe of plugins and production tricks to get something sounding horrifying, but rather a quick and simple substitute. And just like the candy that you hijacked from your kid’s trick-or-treat bag, this tasty treat is FREE.
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