XPost: alt.radio.broadcasting

RadioInsight

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WNFA Thrives With New Identity

Posted: 22 Jun 2022 01:39 PM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/229755/wnfa-thrives-with-new-identity/



Ross Bible Church has flipped Christian CHR Power 88.3 WNFA Port Huron MI
to Christian Preaching/Worship Thrive Radio.

The move will be the first of two changes made in the region as sister 90.7 Hope-FM WNFR Sandusky MI will broaden its playlist to add some of the
artists WNFA played such as For King Country, Crowder, Social Club, Apollo LTD, Toby Mac, and Elevation Worship. WNFA midday host Brett Hager will
also move to WNFR as afternoon host.

WNFA, Port Huron has embarked on a season of change. The frequency 88.3 FM
has shifted formats to provide the Blue Water Area with a station of
worship, teaching, and talk; focusing on multiple different ways for individuals in our community to grow in their faith. The station: Thrive
Radio launched on the airwaves Wednesday, June 22nd at 9:00AM EST.

Station Director, Brian Smith shared: “It’s not every day you get to launch a new station so this is special for our entire team. After a year of
prayer, hard work, and creativity…we’re excited to see how God uses Thrive! Our prayer is that listeners would have the opportunity to grow in their
faith through listening. I’m so very proud of our staff!”

Interested in listening…tune in at 88.3 FM, stream on Alexa with the
command “Play My Thrive Radio,” or visit www.mythriveradio.net!


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G Networks Launches Back In The Day Replay With Paco Lopez

Posted: 22 Jun 2022 01:26 PM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/229750/g-networks-launches-back-in-the-day-replay-with-paco-lopez/



G Networks has launched the Classic Hip Hop Back In The Day Replay hosted
by Paco Lopez in three markets.

The new three-hour weekend show will be heard on Beasley Media Adult RB
Jammin 105.7 KOAS Las Vegas, Hill Broadcasting Classic Hits Rewind 98.1
KRWI Bakersfield, and Rosebud Sioux Tribe CHR Hits 96.1 KINI Rosebud SD.

Lopez most recently programmed KOAS and has previously worked at stations including WQHT and WNEW New York, WPGC Washington, KKFR Phoenix, WJHM and
WOCL Orlando and WSNA Memphis.

G Audio Networks newest offering, The Back In The Day Replay, hosted by
major market radio veteran Paco Lopez (Hot 97/NY, WPGC/Wash DC,
Y-100/Miami, KKFR/Phoenix, 102Jamz/Orlando) adds three new affiliates:
Beasley Media Rhythmic AC KOAS (Jammin’ 105.7)/Las Vegas, NV; Hill Broadcasting Classic Hits KRWI (Rewind 98.1)/Bakersfield CA; and Rosebud
Sioux Tribe Top 40 KINI (Hits 96.1)/Rosebud SD.

The specialty show is three hours long, focusing on RB and Hip Hop from 1990-2009 and includes artist info and interviews plus special mini-mixes
from some of Americas best turntable wizards. Core artists include 2Pac, Aaliyah, Beyonce, Biggie, Brandy, Jay-Z, Mary J, Rihanna, Snoop, TLC, Dr.
Dre and Usher. The Back In The Day Replay with Paco Lopez debuted June
4th weekend.

After leaving my last programming gig, I began looking at what was missing
in RB and Hip Hop. I realized it was a show targeting the underserved
A35-54 demo. In the past two years G Audio Networks and I have been working together to develop a show that would not only focus on that demo, but
would still be engaging with the 25-34 year olds. Remember, 1992 was 30
years ago, Paco Lopez said.



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Domain Insight 6/22: Is Orlando's Wolf Looking For New Prey?

Posted: 22 Jun 2022 12:00 PM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/netgnomes/229732/domain-insight-6-22-is-orlandos-wolf-looking-for-new-prey/




This content is for Premium Annual and Premium Monthly members only. Visit
the site and log in/register to read.


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Christmas Comes To High Point

Posted: 22 Jun 2022 10:48 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/229712/christmas-comes-to-high-point/



Following the closing of their purchase of 1230 WMFR and 104.5 W283CV High Point NC, Triad Media Partners has begun stunting with Country based
Christmas Music as The Christmas Channel.

Triad Media Partners agreed to acquire WMFR/W283CV along with 920 WPCM Burlington-Graham/104.5 W283BT Burlington in January from Curtis Media for $925,000. WPCM/W283BT flipped to Christian AC Hope 104.5 in April.
WMFR/W283CV had been simulcasting Sports 600 WSJS Winston-Salem.


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Classic Hits and the Multiverse of Madness

Posted: 22 Jun 2022 08:00 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/blogs/228953/classic-hits-and-the-multiverse-of-madness/



Not every Top 40 or Hot AC programmer is sure what to do about Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” since its phenomenal Stranger Things resurgence, but many are. “Running Up That Hill” has been serviced, but isn’t being actively promoted to pop, which is often an excuse for radio not to
acknowledge a phenomenal record, but this week, BDSradio shows it getting
443 spins (No. 50) at Top 40—where it got about 50 adds this week—and 276 spins (No. 37) at Hot AC.

“Running Up That Hill” would seem to be a gift to the Classic Hits and Adult Hits formats—a “new” ‘80s oldie catapulted into the format mainstream. So far, the gold-based formats have been more tentative. At
Adult Hits, it got 28 spins this week, off slightly from 30 last week. At Classic Hits, it’s up from 21 spins to 70. That’s a spin less than “You Are
the Woman” by Firefall and “It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi got last week, although perhaps the best comparison is “Blue Monday” by New Order, an Alternative-only hit in 1983 that has become a retroactive classic hit for
some stations in some markets.

As somebody who has researched the Classic Hits format for nearly 20 years
and tracked the Oldies/Classic Hits evolution through multiple cycles, it’s safe to say that the format is all about songs moving in to and out of prominence. It’s one reason that readers have responded so well to our look at the “Lost Factor” of once major titles. The Top 100 most played Classic Hits include songs that were secondary rotation at best as currents (“Don’t Stop Believin’,” “In the Air Tonight,” “Old Time Rock and Roll”). Some were
big hits, but unlikely G.O.A.T. candidates (“Take on Me,” “Your Love,” “(I
Just) Died in Your Arms).” At No. 38 is “I Melt with You,” not even a top 40 hit in 1983.

Those songs got to find their place in the firmament over the course of
years. Some came back into the pop mainstream by gradually ending up in
more CHR gold libraries. When Billy Idol finally became a regular CHR
presence, “Dancing with Myself” and “Mony Mony” both found a place at Top
40 stations that had never played them as currents, leading to the live “Mony” at No. 1 in 1987 that basically cemented the studio version’s place
in gold libraries.

Over the last decade, a combination of syncs and streaming has propelled
more gold titles back into pop culture. How Classic Hits has dealt with
them has been both a function of how quickly those songs are coming at
them, plus what the format was going to do anyway. Should “Come and Get
Your Love” by Redbone have come back into the format because of Guardians
of the Galaxy? Those soundtracks happened just as Classic Hits was moving
away from the pop ‘70s. (It did seem to further cement the place of “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” on the radio, though.)

Now, Classic Hits has to deal with songs being given new prominence almost
as often as contemporary programmers have to triage new streaming
phenomena. “Running Up That Hill” happened just as “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)” was leaving. Before PDs could decide what to do with it, Stranger Things had put Musical Youth’s “Pass the Dutchie” back into circulation as well.

As programmers try to parse the Classic Hits multiverse, here are some
things to consider that impact not only how we deal with monthly outliers
but how we look at our libraries altogether:

The format’s “slide rule” is long broken, or at least bent. We have programmed Oldies, then Classic Hits, for years by determining our target listener’s age in high-school. Those calculations will still explain 80% of what is a playable record for Classic Hits now, but the combination of
syncs, streaming, and younger listeners who are less tied to their own era
all affect things, and mostly in a good way.   

We’ve already stopped programming only for people who remember the songs as currents. The Classic Hits target group is heavily dependent on kids of the ‘90s now. It’s true that the Beatles and Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” are before their time, but so are “I Love Rock & Roll” and “Summer of ’69.” A
35-year-old wasn’t around for any of those songs as currents. Program directors hear more currency in Bryan Adams than the Beatles, but do
listeners? Your 17-year-old has likely gravitated to both those songs specifically because neither of them sound like today’s pop.

This coincides with the ongoing discussion about hits vs. variety. On
Monday, Classic Hits WCBS-FM New York returned to No. 1 after an ongoing process of tightening its playlist and increasing spins. On Tuesday, KXBG (100.7 Big FM) San Diego continued to grow at No. 1 after promoting variety
on the air against much-tighter Classic Hits KXSN (Sunny 98.1), until
recently dominant at No. 1 itself. Moving forward, both hits and variety
will likely be sustainable positions, and perhaps Classic Hits and Adult
Hits will diverge again, rather than sounding as similar as they do now in
many places.

With great variety comes great responsibility. I’m already on the record as an advocate of “hits, plus.” I’ve always been a fan of playing enough hits
to allow yourself some variety, and playing enough variety to keep the hits from being destroyed. Doing that means taking on extra responsibility as a programmer. Knowing what to do with “Running Up That Hill” or “Pass the Dutchie” is part of the job now for all gold-based programmers, although I hope that acknowledging streaming and syncs won’t be the full extent of
their creativity.

Research can help. Outliers don’t wait for your once-a-year music test. PDs are going to have to use their best judgment on a regular basis going
forward. But having an ongoing picture of which songs took hold, and which classic hits are growing and declining on a more typical trajectory, is important, too. If you’re not in Classic Hits, “Break My Stride” by Matthew
Wilder was a left-field TikTok phenomenon. But it had actually been growing
in playability over the years at Classic Hits and AC. I don’t think that Stranger Things has made, say, Olivia Newton-John’s “Twist of Fate” a phenomenon of the same magnitude as “Running,” but I’d still want to ask the listeners.

The Classic Hits multiverse is a good thing for programmers. Classic Rock
got all the attention for its infusion of younger listeners, which in turn allowed it to be less self-conscious about pushing out the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. But, of course, the infusion of younger listeners who are open
to more music than their own high-school years is a good thing. Classic
Hits programmers aren’t used to thinking about “new oldies,” but the nature
of the format is really such that we’ve been doing it all along.


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Bud & Broadway Move To Oceanic Tradewinds

Posted: 22 Jun 2022 04:00 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/229644/bud-broadway-move-to-oceanic-tradewinds/



After less than two years at SuiteRadio, the syndicated Bud Broadway
morning show has moved to Oceanic Tradewinds.

The show is continued to be led by Jerry Broadway following Bud Fords exit
last year to become a meteorologist for KTUL-TV Tulsa. Broadway is now
joined by new co-host Mitch English, Becca Walls and T. Wall. English
joined the show last June after hosting television shows in markets
including San Diego, Salt Lake City, Oklahoma City, Dothan and the
syndicated The Daily Buzz from 2002-2012.

Prior to entering syndication in August 2020, Bud Broadway hosted mornings
at 92.3 WIL St. Louis, 106.1 The Twister KTGX Tulsa and in the Dothan AL
market at both “B105.3” WECB and 95.5 WTVY.

The new look award-winning Bud and Broadway program has just signed a deal
with syndication powerhouse Oceanic Tradewinds with additional strategic players being announced shortly.

The 12-year ratings juggernaut country program is the brainchild of Jerry Broadway with new co-host Mitch English, Nashville Insider Becca Walls, as
well as the historically celebrated award- winning personality and king of
the one-liners T. Wall. The CMA/ACM winning show recently won another ACM
award for National Daily Country Air personality of the Year.

Show host Jerry Broadway says, “I have always felt that we could be the biggest and most successful national country show because of the superior entertainment value we consistently deliver. We already have 20 plus ecstatically happy affiliates. Thankfully, we are getting more backing
now. We are excited to have Gary Bernstein’s Oceanic Tradewinds in our corner lining up both new radio stations and powerfully influential
strategic partners.”

Oceanic Tradewinds CEO Gary Bernstein says, “The current program has set a new bar in country radio for truly fun mornings. When every single content break is so uniquely funny and fresh, it makes it very easy to see why
there is so much passion for this program. The show was amazing when it
came to national prominence as the #1 Country show in St. Louis for over 3 years. Now, it’s performing on a whole new level getting ready for even bigger stages in both radio and TV.”

For more info on the show, contact Gary Bernstein at 508-245-1776 or gary@oceanictradewinds.com.



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iHeartMedia Cuts Continue

Posted: 21 Jun 2022 03:30 PM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/227954/iheartmedia-initiates-round-of-layoffs/



The layoffs across the country at iHeartMedia are still ongoing.

KJMS/WDIA Memphis personality Earle Augustus noted that he was released
this morning indicating that the company is not yet done with its current
round of staff reductions.

While only a handful of names are listed, there are many others that for multiple reasons have not yet made their departures public. We have heard
of many in production roles in particular that were let go including a few
who held regional or national duties on the commercial production side and
on the local digital content teams.

More people who have gone public with their departure have been added to
the list below.

Original Report 6/8: A round of position cuts is underway at iHeartMedia
this week.

Sources tell us that revenue projections for the rest of the year are
trending downward, which is leading to this round of cutbacks at iHearts
local station operations as the company sets their budgets for the rest of
the year. We are told the cuts are going to be made over a multiple day
period, much like the companys last round of layoffs in the fall of 2020.
So far we have heard of dismissals from programming, on-air, and digital departments across the country.

Among the people whose departures have been made public so far are:
Boston

Lance Houston exits as Program Director of Country 101.7 The Bull WBWL. The Atlanta based Houston was also a member of the National Programming Team
and had previously programmed WPOC Baltimore and WEBG Chicago and had a previous six year stint programming WBWL and two tenures on-air at WUBL
Atlanta during his fifteen year run with the company.
Chicago

Bart Shore departs as a traffic reporter for Total Traffic & Weather
Network and weekend host at AC 93.9 Lite-FM WLIT. Shore previously spent seventeen years as a traffic reporter for News 780 WBBM and earlier in his career programmed KRNA Iowa City.

Jordan ‘JRDN’ Foster is out as night host at CHR 103.5 Kiss-FM WKSC. JRDN joined Kiss-FM in 2015 and was promoted from overnights and fill-ins to
evening host in October 2019.

Dave Hilton exits as Production Director after 23 years. Hilton joined the company in 1999 after seventeen years at 101.9 WCLR/WTMX where he hosted middays.
Denver

Greg Foster exits as SVP/Talk Programming overseeing News/Talk 850/94.1
KOA, Talk 630 KHOW, and Conservative Talk Freedom 93.7 760 KDFD. Foster was also corporate News/Talk Brand Coordinator. He previously served as SVP/Programming for the Denver market and programmed KNRS Salt Lake City
and WGY Albany prior to coming to Denver in 2010.

Tim Spence exits as PD of KHOW and 600 KCOL Fort Collins, APD of KOA and Affiliate Relations Director for the Colorado Rockies and Denver Broncos networks. Spence joined the cluster in 2016 after programming the companys
Talk and Sports stations in Hartford and New Haven CT. He previously spent
15 years as PD of Sports 104.3 The Fan and predecessor 950 KKFN from 1995
to 2005 and Operations Manager at Front Range Sports Network from 2010 to
2014.

Robbyn Hart departs as News and Public Affairs Director and morning
newscaster for AAA 97.3 KBCO and Classic Rock 103.5 The Fox KRFX after 26
years at the cluster. Hart also tracked nights on KBCO and served as an anchor/reporter for KOA. Before joining KBCO in 1997, Hart worked at
multiple stations in Colorado Springs and Portland OR.

Roger Rocket Keeler exits as Imaging Director after 28 years with the
cluster. Keeler also hosted the 12pm Throwback Lunch on Alternative Channel 93.3 KTCL.
Fresno

Amanda McGraw Burd exits as Program Director/afternoon host at Country
102.7 The Wolf KHGE Fresno and Program Director of Alternative 106.1 KRAB Bakersfield, Country 92.9 The Big Dog KOSO Modesto, and 107.1 The Bull
K296GB Sacramento. Burd previously served as APD/midday host of Country
92.5 The Bull KBEB Sacramento, morning co-host at CHR 104.7 KDUK Eugene OR
and midday host at CHR “107.5 Kiss-FM” KIFS Medford OR.
Jacksonville

Toni Foxx departs The Big Show in mornings at Country 99.1 WQIK after
nineteen years. Robbie Rose and John Scott remain in mornings.
Memphis

Earle Augustus exits as morning co-host on Adult RB V101 KJMS and afternoon host on RB Oldies 1070 WDIA. Augustus joined the company after a long run
at Cumulus 103.5 WRBO where he served as APD and evening host and then
Program Director from 2005 to 2018. Augustus also worked in the market at
98.1 WSRR and 98.9 WJZN along with a previous stint at WRBO.
Minot

Jess Aleshire exits as Regional Production Director for Minot, Bismarck Dickinson ND and midday host on Rock 105.3 The Fox KZPR Minot.
New Hampshire

Tim Moore is out as SVP/Programming for the companys Manchester and
Portsmouth NH clusters. Moore joined the company in 2012 as Program
Director for their Portsmouth stations and rose to his now former role in
2015. Moore previously spent 21 years in Portland ME programming AC 94.9
WHOM and CHR Q97.9 WJBQ, and has also worked in Columbus OH and Bangor ME. Norfolk

DJ Bee departs as midday host at Classic Hip Hop 92.1 The Beat WHBT-FM and afternoon host and mixer at Hip Hop 103 Jamz WOWI after 25 years. Bee previously has hosted mornings and nights at WOWI and has mixed at WXYV Baltimore, WBTJ Richmond and SiriusXM.
Rochester

Peter The Mayor Kennedy exits his dual role as 9-11am co-host on Hot Talk
Radio 95.1 WAIO and afternoon host on regional ACs Y94 WYYY Syracuse, Mix
103.3 WMXW Binghamton, and Sunny 102.3 WVOR Canandaigua. Kennedy joined the company as morning host on Hot AC 100.5 The Drive WDVI in 2012 after 20
years at CHR 97.9 WPXY and three years in middays at Variety Hits 98.9 the
Buzz WBZA.
St. Louis

Gail Austin is out as Program Director and midday host at Country 93.7 The
Bull KSD-FM. Austin joined KSD-FM in December 2018 after previously serving
as VP/Programming for Clear Channel Jacksonville and programming WCOL
Columbus OH and WQIK Jacksonville.
Tampa

Mychal Maguire departs as Program Director at Hip Hop 95.7 The Beat WBTP
after seven years. Maguire previously served as SVP/Programming for iHeart Montgomery AL, Director of Urban Programming in Maco and PD of WPHH
Hartford for the company. He has also worked in Shreveport, Charleston and Killeen TX.
Youngstown

Brian Price exits as afternoon host at Classic Rock 93.3 The Wolf WNCD and Creative Production Designer for the National Programming Group. Price previously hosted mornings on sister AC Mix 98.9 WMXY with his tenure at
the company beginning in 2001.

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