It remains relatively early in the 2024 campaign season, with the bulk of ad spending yet to come. But among the ads placed so far, including during the primary season, AdImpact says the radio format where the most money has been spent is news-talk, followed by two music formats — country and classic rock. Read moreTop Radio Formats For Political Ads So Far? News-Talk And Country.
Most of the sports radio world spent Tuesday paying tribute to basketball great Bill Walton, who died of cancer Monday at the age of 71. An exception was Fred Toucher of the Toucher and Hardy show, which airs on “98.5 The Sports Hub” (WBZ-FM) in Boston, who mocked the Hall of Famer and called him a “phony hippie.” Read moreBoston Radio Host Criticized For Mocking The Late Bill Walton.
Alpha Media has rebranded the Chicago-area “Q Country 98.3” WCCQ Crest Hill, IL, as “Free Country” and added a second signal by flipping the former hot AC WXLC Waukegan, IL (102.3) to a simulcast. Drew Walker, former midday host at Audacy “US 99” WUSN Chicago, joins as Assistant Content Director and Music Director. The station’s full talent lineup debuts today. Read moreAlpha Media Gives Chicago Free Country.
Audacy entered the country field in Austin’s radio market on Friday, flipping hip-hop “The New Hot 95.9” to “Austin’s 95.9 Texas Country.” According to a release, the station “will now play a blend of classic country and contemporary artists from the Texas music scene.” The station broadcasts on KKMJ-HD3 and simulcasts on the Austin-licensed FM translator K240EG at 95.9. Read moreAudacy Brings ‘Texas Country’ To The Austin Airwaves.
Inside Radio salutes the 2024 nominees for induction to the Radio Hall of Fame — and reminds our readers of their legacies of excellence. Today: Larry Elder, the longtime host of “The Larry Elder Show,” and Phil Hendrie, a noted radio host and satirist. Read moreMeet The Radio Hall of Fame Nominees.
Jim Loftus left Seven Mountains Media last December to become CEO of Times-Shamrock Communications. Turns out he is taking an FM with him. Times-Shamrock has struck a deal to buy a Wilkes Barre-Scranton, PA market FM — classic country “Big Foot Legends 107.7” WLGD — from Seven Mountains in a deal that will grow Times-Shamrock’s cluster in market No. 79 to seven stations. Read moreTimes-Shamrock Picks Up Wilkes Barre-Scranton FM Spin-Off From Seven Mountains.
Roger W. Holler is creating a radio-television cluster in Gainesville, FL, a market where his MARC Radio Group currently owns seven stations. Holler’s Hometown TV Network has just struck a deal to buy a low-power television station in the market. It will pay $500,000 to seller Budd Broadcasting for WGVT-LD. Read moreGainesville Radio Cluster Gets Sister TV Station.
Memorial Day Weekend format flips include WERV Aurora, IL, and WWCT Peoria, IL… WRVW Nashville unveils the lineup for its “River on the Rooftop” concert series… The NABLF will present Robert De Niro with the 2024 Service to America Leadership Award… KEYN Wichita, KS kicks off the Summer Concert Series on June 14… Xperi’s Juan Galdamez will be featured during an MAB webinar. Read moreNews Bites: WERV/WWCT, ‘River on the Rooftop,’ Robert De Niro, KEYN, Juan Galdamez.
Audacy flips rhythmic CHR WPOW Miami to classic hip-hop, playing hits from artists including 2Pac, Pitbull, Notorious B.I.G., Usher, and Jay-Z. WPOW retains the “Power 96” branding that has been used since its debut in the mid-1980s. “Our listeners have been asking for it, and we’re excited to announce the next chapter of Power 96 as Miami’s new home for throwbacks,” Brand Manager Will Calder said. Read more‘Power 96’ Miami Shifts To Classic Hip-Hop.
The National Association of Broadcasters is welcoming what it says will be “essential legal clarity” from Congress on how broadcasters and other businesses can collect, retain and use online data for advertising purposes. Just last week, the House advanced the American Privacy Rights Act, which would create national standards and eliminate the existing patchwork of state-by-state comprehensive data privacy laws. Read moreNAB Welcomes Advancement Of Bill To Create National Privacy Standards.
Christian Kligora joins Salem Media Group as the West Region Digital Sales Director on the company’s digital marketing firm, Salem Surround. He previously served as Senior VP of Client Success at Marketron, exiting in April 2023 to open his own consulting business. Earlier in his career, Kligora served as VP of Client Success at Gannett | USA Today. Read moreChristian Kligora
PD/morning host D-Wayne Taylor exits NRG Media’s rhythmic CHR “Red 94.5,” which airs on the Lincoln, NE-licensed FM translator K233AN at 94.5 with programming originating on KBBK-HD2. Taylor joined the station in October 2022from Alpha Media crosstown CHR KFRX (106.3), where he hosted afternoons. Read moreD-Wayne Taylor
Bryan Broadcasting CHR “Candy 95.1” KNDE College Station, TX debuts “Morning Candy” as current morning host Ted Hallowell is joined by Mikaylee Supak. Supak had been working part-time at co-owned news/talk WTAW (1620) while attending college. Read moreTed Hallowell, Mikaylee Supak
Carrie Evans has stepped down from her role as PD of Baltimore Public Media adult alternative WTMD Townson, MD (89.7). She had been on a leave of absence since her father’s death in December 2023. Evans has been with WTMD since 2019 and was officially named PD in June 2022. Read moreCarrie Evans
Robbie Owens has been named PD of Reno Media Group country KOLC Carson City, NV (97.3). Owens joined the station last fall from KTWB Sioux Falls, SD, and co-hosts mornings with Cat Bellah. He assumed the PD role from Mike Bushey, who will continue to program three other stations in the cluster. Read moreRobbie Owens
