Activity Stream

From Radio Insight: Jon Pole and Andrew Dickson’s Border Broadcasting has flipped Gold AC “102.7 The Lake” WLYK Cape Vincent NY to Classic Hits “102.7 Wow-FM“. The move comes ahead of Pole and Dickson’s My Broadcasting Company completing the acquisition of AC ?Move 98.3? CFLY-FM and ?Pure Country 99? CKLC-FM Kingston ON from Bell Media. The change at WLYK moves the station into its own lane away from CFLY-FM under My Broadcasting VP/Content Rob Mise. Border Broadcasting had acquired WLYK in early 2023 for $322,000. The “Lake-FM” brand launched in March 2023 targeting Kingston ON after a couple weeks stunting with “stripper music” as “102.7 The Pole“. The new “Wow-FM” will feature Kingston market stalwarts Gary ‘Big G’ McColman and Wayne ‘Matty’ Mathews in mornings and “Throwback Nation Radio” with Tony Lorino at night. “Big G & Matty” previously spent sixteen years at Rogers Sports & Entertainment’s “Country 93.5” CKXC-FM Kingston from 2004 to 2020. more

From Radio Insight: Meredith Communications Country 96.5 KSOM Audubon/Atlantic IA has appointed Chris Varney as Sports Director. Varney joins the company after previously spending thirteen years as Sports Director at Alpha Media Grinnell IA when he was part of the company’s cuts in May. A Maryland native, Varney has also worked at KSCJ Sioux City IA and has done play-by-play for Briar Cliff University and Grinnell College sports. He was the 2023 Iowa Athletic Directors “Broadcaster of the Year”. Varney fills the opening created by Zach Collins departing to move to Indiana to pursue a career in education. more

From Radio Insight: Sacred Heart University had appointed Brad Dancer as General Manager of its “WSHU Public Radio” and its three programming services in Connecticut and Lons Island. Dancer joins WSHU after a brief stint as EVP/Research and Insights for Canela Media. He has also served as SVP/Global Data & Analytics for WWE and spent two decades at National Geographic rising to EVP/Global Data, Insights & Brand Standards. Dancer began his career in local television research for stations in Detroit, Raleigh and Washington DC. Dancer has been an adjunct professor at Roosevelt University teaching technology strategy in the performing arts and serves on the boards of All People Marketplace, Modal Learning and CT Gift of Adoption. Dancer earned his master?s in business administration from the University of Maryland and a bachelor?s degree in communications and film studies from Purdue University, where he has often been a guest lecturer. He previously served on the department of communication advisory board there. Sacred Heart University President John Petillo said, “WSHU is a unique organization whose mission is to serve our community with extraordinary programming that informs and inspires. I am confident that Dancer will foster a culture of innovation and shepherd the station into a new era of content creation that goes well beyond the radio.? Dancer commented, ?WSHU has a remarkable legacy of excellence, and I am honored to be part of this community. The collective talent and passion of the WSHU team has earned us the loyalty of our dedicated audience as well as countless prestigious awards. This uniquely positions us for success, and I am confident that, together, we will achieve even greater things.? WSHU operates three programming services. Public News/Talk on 89.9 WSUF Noyack NY, 1260 WSHU Westport, 1340 WYBC New Haven, 1400 WYBC Stamford, and translators in Danbury, Derby, and Northford CT and Selden NY. Public News/Talk and Classical music on 91.1 WSHU-FM Fairfield CT and translators in Stamford CT, Huntington Station NY, and Ridge NY. Classical music on WSUF-HD2 and a translator in Noyack NY. more

From Radio Insight: Connoisseur Media has agreed to sell Country 99.9 WFRE and News/Talk 930 WFMD Frederick MD to Williamsburg VA based Local Daily Media. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Previously known as Davis Media, Frederick will become the company’s third market after it recently walked away from its purchase of JAM Media Solutions seven stations in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and Muscatine IA out of Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation. The company owns Country “93.7 The Dude” WNTB and AAA “98.3 The Penguin” WUIN in Wilmington NC and AAA “92.3 The Tide” WTYD and “107.9 Cannon Country” WBQK in the Williamsburg VA area. The company also operates local news platforms in both markets. Connoisseur Media CEO Jeff Warshaw stated, ?While it?s difficult for us to part with our Frederick stations, we were convinced that Local Daily Media?s management leadership and its focus in the Maryland/Virginia region could move these stations forward in a way we would be proud of. Senior management of Local Daily Media includes longtime Connoisseur partner Mike Dufort, who we have worked with closely and respect. Mike understands local radio and shares our view on the need for radio to be involved with and serve the local community.? Dufort, President of Local Daily Media followed, “With my nearly 11 years of working with Jeff and the entire Connoisseur team, I deeply understand and appreciate the care and nurturing that went into building these stations and I?m excited for the opportunity to continue along their journey to reaching even greater heights.? Local Daily Media CFO Adam Crotty said, “We?re incredibly fortunate to welcome these legendary stations, along with their talented and dedicated teams, to our growing organization. Their rich history of supporting and improving the vibrant Frederick community will undoubtedly inspire our entire team to find new ways to positively impact each community we serve.? Connoisseur Media retains its eleven stations in Fairfield County and New Haven CT and Long Island NY. It had acquired the two stations in Frederick in 2019 from iHeartMedia’s Aloha Stations Trust in exchange for its cluster in Erie PA. more

From Radio Online: Good Karma Brands has announced that WKTI-FM (94.5 ESPN)/Milwaukee will remain the official radio home of Marquette University basketball through the 2027-28 season. This longstanding partnership ensures that Marquette Golden Eagles fans will continue to enjoy coverage of their team More...

From Radio Insight: For the second day in-a-row, Mid-West Family Broadcasting has made a format change at its South Bend IN cluster as CHR “Live 99.9” WQLQ Benton Harbor MI has flipped to Alternative. Positioning as “The Alternative”, the station is spotlighting artists including The Killers, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Weezer, and Pearl Jam. The new identity debuted at 12pm today with Foo Fighters “Best of You”, Smashing Pumpkins “Disarm”, and Alien Ant Farm “Smooth Criminal”. WQLQ had debuted its CHR brand in October 2016. The station had been dropping in the ratings over the past few years from a 4.9 share in Fall 2022 to 2.7 in Fall 2023. The flip leaves Sound Management’s “U93” 92.9 WNDV-FM as the only CHR in the market. WNDV-FM had a 7.7 share in Fall 2023. The new format positions the station closest to Federated Media Rock “103.9 The Bear” WRBR, which was fifth in the market with a 5.4. The flip at WQLQ follows the company dropping its Country “96.1 The Ton” brand on 96.1 W241AD/WQLQ-HD3 in favor of a simulcast of Sports 960 WSBT on Tuesday. more

From Radio Insight: The ongoing cutbacks across Alpha Media stations has ended the 10am-12pm talk show on 1460 WHBC Canton OH as host Jordan Miller as been let go from the company. Miller has hosted “Live and Local” on WHBC for the past three years, which has now been placed by the Dave Ramsey Show. WHBC Content Director Pam Cook told the Canton Repository, “It was a really tough decision but something that had to be done due to the financial issues with Alpha Media.” Miller also hosted weekends/fill-ins at sister Hot AC “Mix 94.1” WHBC-FM and was the only cut at the two stations. Miller shared on Facebook, “My radio show on WHBC was unexpectedly cut due to financial reasons last week. A show I had for three years is over. I was shocked and stunned about the news but forever grateful for my time on air at WHBC and Mix 94.1. I in no way believe this was the decision of my bosses at the radio station, but a corporate move out of their control. No ill feelings towards the station, they gave me such a strong stepping stone if I decide to pursue radio again.” Prior to joining WHBC, Miller served as a reporter for WTOV-TV Wheeling WV and WKYC Cleveland. He also serves as editor of three weekly newspapers and runs JordanMiller.News covering the Canton area. more

From Radio Insight: Roy Leavitt’s Faith Broadcasting Inc. will cease operations of Christian AC “106.9 The Heart” KHRT-FM and Southern Gospel 1320 KHRT Minot ND on July 31. Leavitt, whose family has owned the AM since 1982 and launched the FM in 1992, said that support and advertising has fallen to a level where Faith Broadcasting is no longer able to continue operating the stations. He told KMOT-TV that they are seeking a buyer. The FM currently features programming mostly from Salem Music Network, while the AM features a full-service local morning show hosted by Jonas Nelson and a local afternoon show with Chad Olson. Nelson, who has been with KHRT since 1996, also serves as Program Director of both stations. The stations were in heavily competitive Christian marketplace in Minot with nearly a third of the signals in town featuring religious programming. In a message shared on KHRT.com, Leavitt writes: Ecclesiastes says there is a time and a season for everything. Today I’m here to let you know that the season for KHRT Radio has come to an end. In this very difficult economy that we live in, support and advertising has fallen to a level where Faith Broadcasting is no longer able to continue operating the stations. July 31st will be the final day of broadcasting for 1320 KHRT and The Heart 106.9. I want to say a huge “thank you” to listeners, prayer warriors, Sharathon givers, and the many advertisers who have helped to sustain this ministry for decades. We have appreciated your partnership in proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel as local Christian stations. May God bless you and keep you. more

From Radio Insight: Nielsen continues its releases of the June 2024 continuous diary market and Spring 2024 biannual ratings surveys today. Today’s markets include June monthly ratings for Dayton, Fort Myers, Grand Rapids, Metro Fairfield County, Tucson and Tulsa. Spring ratings for Danbury, Fort Smith, Kalamazoo, Lima/Van Wert, McAllen/Brownsville/Harlingen, Muskegon, New Haven, and Sarasota. Other markets coming this week: On Wednesday, July 24: June monthly ratings for Albuquerque, Allentown/Bethlehem, El Paso, Fresno, Honolulu, Knoxville, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Spring ratings for Johnson City/Kingsport/Bristol, Las Cruces, and Williamsport. On Thursday, July 25: June monthly ratings for Akron, Bakersfield, Charleston SC, Harrisburg/Lebanon/Carlisle, and Omaha/Council Bluffs. Spring ratings for Canton, Hagerstown/Chambersburg, Lancaster PA, Lincoln, Myrtle Beach, New London, Wilmington DE, and York. On Friday, July 26: June monthly ratings for Columbia SC, Des Moines, Greenville/New Bern/Jacksonville NC, Little Rock, Monterey/Salinas/Santa Cruz, Spokane, and Springfield MA. Spring ratings for Gainesville/Ocala, Hot Springs, and Stockton. more

From Radio Online: iHeartPodcasts and Pushkin Industries announced a new six-part true crime podcast that will dive into the 2020 disappearance of Lydia "Dia" Abrams in the beautiful mountain town of Idyllwild, CA. Throughout the series, journalist Lucy Sherriff will reveal the culmination of her four-year investigation into More...

From Radio Online: Cumulus Media promotes Mike Hohler to Program Director for its San Francisco Bay Area Sports stations KNBR-AM (680), KGO-FM (104.5), KGO-AM (The Spread 810 AM) and KTCT (1050). Hohler is currently Assistant Program Director for the stations, and joined the San Francisco cluster in 2002 as midday producer for More...

From Radio Insight: Mid-West Family Broadcasting has flipped Country “96.1 The Ton” W241AD South Bend IN/99.9 WQLQ-HD3 Benton Harbor MI to a simulcast of Sports 960 WSBT South Bend. The flip reverses the move made in June 2021 when the translator broke off of its simulcast of WSBT to create an in-market competitor to Federated Media’s “B100” 100.7 WBYT. In the Fall 2023 Nielsen Audio ratings, WBYT had a 7.2 share with “The Ton” at a 0.9. The station is currently running promos during breaks redirecting Country listeners to co-owned “97.5 Y Country” WYTZ Bridgman/Benton Harbor MI, which is a rimshot signal at best in South Bend. WSBT, which is the local affiliate of South Bend’s Notre Dame football and basketball and South Bend Cubs basbeall, currently carries a mix of programming from Fox Sports Radio and Infinity Sports Network along with a local 5-7pm show hosted by Darin Pritchett focusing on Fighting Irish football. With just the AM signal, WSBT had a 1.4 share last Fall. more