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From Radio Insight: A little over a year after she joined Cumulus Media Hot AC 96.3 WDVD Detroit as Program Director, Michelle Matthews has confirmed her departure from the station earlier this month as part of the company’s current staff reductions. Matthews joined WDVD in July 2023 after an eight year run as Operations Manager for Saga Communications? Columbus OH cluster where she programmed AC ?Sunny 95? 94.7 WSNY and Hot AC ?Mix 107.9? WVMX from 2015 until April 2023. She previously served as Program Director of Classic Hits 103.3 KLOU St. Louis, Digital Program Director for iHeartMedia St. Louis, OM/Regional Programming Manager for Clear Channel Omaha, Wichita and Sioux City, Operations Manager for Saga Springfield IL, PD of KTOZ/KXUS Springfield MO, APD of KXPK Denver, and MD of KALC Denver during her career. She wrote, “Well, Motor City? what can I say? It has been an amazing time in your city, and I loved every single moment of it. (Well, maybe not your driving, Detroit, but we can talk about that at another time) Perfect time to discover the Lions, and everything else this town has to offer. I even got addicted to a grocery store??? My job was eliminated. So much love to everyone at Cumulus Detroit and my corporate team. I learned a ton, and so many great memories made in a short period of time. For now I am back with the family in Columbus in search of my next adventure, and have enjoyed the quality time I have had with them as we discuss what?s in store for each of us.” more

From Radio Insight: Two Spotify chart-toppers that radio is ignoring and two of the “whitest songs ever”!* Gigi Perez –*“Sailor Song”:*In my October 23 edition, I*acknowledged the obvious potential this song has for Top 40 radio. It*still*hasn’t left the top 10 on Spotify, and right now it’s #3. CHR always thrives with diversity, which is why 2024 was such an incredible year for hit music. Strong recurrents of the past year and multiple genres represented: Country – “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”, Alternative – “Too Sweet”, Rap – “Not Like Us”, Retro – “Die With A Smile”, Dance – “Apple” and all the Chappell, Sabrina and Billie for a perfect amount of Pop to join it all together. “Sailor Song” by Gigi Perez appears to be ticking all the boxes of a major radio hit with its strong hook, 3 minutes long, romantic, nostalgic and massive with Gen Z all over TikTok and streaming. It just needs one or two major market stations to open the door! Current leaders are KUDD/Salt Lake City (30x/4x overnight), WPLW/Raleigh (28x/3x overnight) and KDUK/Eugene (22x, 4x overnight). Gracie Abrams –*“That’s So True”:*See comments from last week about this song here.*We?ve got an update: “That’s So True” is #1 on Spotify in America and #4 in the world, but Interscope apparently still isn’t pushing it. Yet with no radio support it finally cracked our Top 20 requests this week at #15. In recent years, a few major market stations have lead the charge in playing “album cuts” that were streaming well but not being worked by the label. Major format leaders Z100/New York and KMVQ/San Francisco are the only top 30 market stations on it. KMVQ 18 times in the past 7 days, and Z100/New York with 25 spins this week. Aside from them, WARQ/Columbia SC is the only other CHR station playing it AT ALL.**The “radio hype”*“Close To You”*is #21 in spins this week, but still isn’t in the top 70 on Spotify. We’ve only had one request ever. Spotify vs Requests vs Airplay Spins: Some of our observations might lead you to believe that we endorse anything doing well on Spotify, regardless of radio airplay or genre. A few weeks ago*we pointed out that “Timeless” by The Weeknd is getting consistent requests and appeared to be the real hit, and not “Dancing In The Flames” for which we still haven’t received any requests. *Within two weeks of a major release or Spotify success we’ll often get requests for new songs that haven’t even been on the radio while others sit on the airplay charts for months with no requests on Liveline nor drawing any streaming numbers. Why is radio even playing them? Tyler, The Creator’s “CHROMAKOPIA” is currently #1 on the Billboard 200 and every song on the album occupied the top 14 spots on Spotify upon its release. But our Top 40 audience isn?t hopping on the trend of this new Tyler album. The lead single is “NOID” and we’ve had no requests for it or any of his others. He currently occupies six of the top 30 spots in Spotify. For a Rhythmic niche, he is a major artist, but it isn?t a majority of Mainstream Top 40 listeners, though we’ve always been successful with Rhythmic nighttime records like “Not Like Us”, “Timeless”, “All My Life” and “Boy’s a liar”.* FYI: The majority of Liveline requests this year are for songs from pre-2015.* Buried Treasures of the Week: The Killers – Mr. Brightside: Both tracks featured this week are often labeled two of the whitest songs ever. Released in 2003, it became a top 10 song in 2005 where it reached #16 for the year. Today, it’s one of our ten most-requested Golds of all time. It’s the perfect sing-a-long packed with nostalgia, familiarity, and broad demo appeal. Generating nightly text and phone requests from all ages, men and women. Funny enough, a lot of people think The Killers are a British band as “Mr. Brightside” is one of the most successful songs in UK Chart history and STILL lingering in the UK daily top 50 most-streamed on Spotify. Globally, the song still rests in the top 50 in multiple countries including the US, especially after weekends of partying. As far as radio airplay, it’s still played as a Gold on nearly every Alternative station. Top 40 still plays it a fair amount in medium to smaller markets, but the top 20 markets don’t seem to believe in it. Liveline listeners are often treated with the fabulous ?Thin White Duke remix?, which you can check out here. (?and yes, we get specific requests for that one too! Read the song?s YouTube comments) Backstreet Boys – I Want It That Way:*25 years ago, the BBs solidified themselves as the biggest boyband in history and one of the most successful groups ever. The secret to this song’s longevity could be attributed to it’s production and lyrics by the legendary Max Martin, but most of the Boy’s other songs featured him too. This is a cheesy but beautiful ballad that has never died. In fact, I remember hearing it for the first time EVER as an 11 year old listening to John Garabedian Open House Party in 2012, when a group of screaming girls on a school bus requested it. Fast forward to today, it’s still widely loved and requested multiple times a week. The ONLY other song of theirs which people still request (and frequently) is 1997’s “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” which ironically was their first hit in America, after a successful early career start in Germany and Canada. AJ McClean once said in an interview that “‘I Want It That Way’ doesn’t even make any sense. Listen to the words. It has nothing to do with anything”. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Liveline with Mason more

From Radio Insight: TM Studios has launched a new custom jingle package for Audacy Hot AC “99.7 The Point” KZPT Kansas City. “TM 12-Pack Hot AC Vol. 2” is he dozen cut jingle package sequel to TM?s first Hot AC 12-Pack released in 2021. TM says the package is designed to brand effectively around the biggest artists in Hot AC and Adult CHR, sitting in the sweet spot between standing out and keeping momentum going throughout the clock hour. KZPT Program Director JR Ammons said, “We turned to TM to refresh the sound of 99.7 The Point, and they Knocked it out of the park! We?re loving the new jingles ? they fit today?s Hot AC music perfectly and people are already singing them.” TM Studios COO/Creative Director Dave Bethell added, ?I?m a big fan of JR and his programming style ? he gets it, he understands the importance and value of a sonic brand identity, it?s scientifically proven, research proven the evidence speaks for itself ? jingles are the most effective way to connect with listeners?. more

From Radio Insight: It?s my third day of Christmas radio listening this season, and I?ve just heard Christian AC KSRC (Star 101.5) Denversay something that I haven?t heard during holiday programming in recent memory. A sweeper promises that the station is ?connecting you to your favorite Christmas songs and some brand-new ones, too.? After six months, Star 101.5 is still new to a market that now has six stations in either that format or Praise/Worship. Since it?s introducing artists and (in fewer instances) songs unfamiliar outside the format, it has more reason than most to talk about new Christmas music than most stations. But it?s nice to hear a station unafraid to use the word ?new? in conjunction with holiday music, since it doesn?t happen often. I?m writing this story on Monday, November 4 ? three days after Radioinsight noted a larger-than-usual number of early holiday launches this year. So far in my listening, I would have already lost Whamageddon twice ? although the official avoidance of ?Last Christmas? doesn?t start until December 1. I?ve also heard the song I?m always most waiting for, ?This Christmas? by Donny Hathaway, on AC KBEB (The Breeze) Sacramento.* In general, I feel like I?ve heard a few different titles/versions to keep Christmas from sounding like Groundhog Day. Some of that is because I divided my listening between Christian AC, AC (also including WHUD Hudson Valley, N.Y.),and SiriusXM?s newest celebrity-hosted channel, Jimmy Fallon?s Holiday Seasoning Radio. My ?First Listen? to the earliest Christmas format flips always looks for a theme in how stations are talking about the holidays and themselves. In 2020, it was unsurprisingly somber. In 2021, it was more sentimental. In 2022, like Mainstream AC itself, there was more of a whimsy to the positioners. Think of it as ?An Observational Comedy Christmas.? Last year, Christmas stations sounded brighter. So far, that seems to be the pattern for this year as well. I?ve long appreciated holiday radio as a time when AC radio sounded its hottest and most foreground. As more AC stations across North America take up the ?feel good? positioning being heard elsewhere, it makes sense that there would be noticeable energy. Like Top 40 sister WSPK (K104) Poughkeepsie, N.Y., WHUD is a good-sounding radio station considered to be punching above its market size even before Hudson Valley became market No. 41. On Friday, the holiday music was punctuated by a ?Go Army Update,? a day before the station?s Mike Bennett was set to broadcast from outside Michie Stadium for the Army/Air Force game. Here?s WHUD with p.m. driver Andy Bale, just before 4 p.m. on November 1: Elton John, ?Step Into Christmas? John Lennon, ?Happy Xmas (War Is Over)? Mariah Carey, ?All I Want for Christmas Is You? Chuck Berry, ?Run Rudolph Run? New Christy Minstrels, ?We Need a Little Christmas? Faith Hill, ?Where Are You Christmas?? Andy Williams, ?Sleigh Ride? Dean Martin, ?Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer? Burl Ives, ?A Holly Jolly Christmas? Thurl Ravenscroft, ?You?re a Mean One Mr. Grinch? Eartha Kitt, ?Santa Baby? Vince Guaraldi, ?Linus and Lucy? Trans-Siberian Orchestra, ?Christmas Canon? Brenda Lee, ?Rockin? Around the Christmas Tree? Kelly Clarkson, ?I?ll Be Home for Christmas? Paul McCartney, ?Wonderful Christmastime? Idina Menzel, ?Baby It?s Cold Outside? iHeart?s Soft AC KBEB had a strong variety of imaging ? one ID declares it to be ?live from atop the North Pole.? I?ve noticed recently that stations have been doing a better job of following up on their :00 text-to-win contests. There were two different ?Christmas Cash? winners heard in the hour, and both of them talked about listening specifically to iHeart Radio ? the first time I?ve come across that in my listening.* Here?s The Breeze just before 4 p.m. on November 1 with Chris Davis: Ray Conniff Orchestra, ?Twelve Days of Christmas? Vince Vance & Valiants, ?All I Want for Christmas Is You? Crystals, ?Santa Claus Is Coming to Town? Martina McBride, ?Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow? Perry Como, ?Home for the Holidays? Toni Braxton, ?The Christmas Song? Brenda Lee, ?Rockin? Around the Christmas Tree? Goo Goo Dolls, ?Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas? Dean Martin, ?Silver Bells? Amy Grant, ?Winter Wonderland? Vince Guaraldi, ?Linus and Lucy? Beach Boys, ?Frosty the Snowman? Bing Crosby, ?It?s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas? Donny Hathaway, ?This Christmas? Percy Faith Orchestra, ?Deck the Halls? Air Supply, ?Sleigh Ride? Ronettes, ?I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus? Holiday music was indeed a good introduction to Star 101.5. (In previous years, I?ve listened to owner Pillar of Fire?s WAWZ Middlesex/Union, N.J., and WAKW Cincinnati, which also launch holiday music early.) It?s a good-sounding radio station. It was also notable to hear middayer Slim talking six times an hour (although that could have been a function of shorter songs and 55 minutes of music that hour). Here?s Star 101.5 at 10 a.m., November 4: Burl Ives, ?A Holly Jolly Christmas? Amy Grant, ?Rockin? Around the Christmas Tree? Mercy Me, ?Gloria (Angels We Have Heard on High)? Sidewalk Prophets, ?Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas? Beach Boys, ?Little Saint Nick? Chris Tomlin, ?Emmanuel (Hallowed Manger Ground)? Plumb, ?Christmas Vacation? ? cover of the Mavis Staples soundtrack song Mariah Carey, ?All I Want for Christmas Is You? Frank Sinatra, ?I?ll Be Home for Christmas? For King + Country, ?Joy to the World? Michael Bubl?, ?Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow? Harry Connick Jr., ?Sleigh Ride? BarlowGirl, ?Carol of the Bells/Sing We Now of Christmas??a vocal version Colton Dixon, ?Jingle Bells??rockin?/uptempo; a similarly hot version of ?Rockin? Around the Christmas Tree? by MercyMe played a little while later ?N Sync, ?Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays? Daryl Hall & John Oates, ?Jingle Bell Rock? SXM?s latest artist-driven channel is promoting Fallon?s new Holiday Seasoning album, featuring the Jonas Brothers on lead single ?Holiday.? The station is promising a ?12 Days of Christmas? with a different themed playlist each day, (along with a Thanksgiving-dinner playlist), but so far it?s a mix of new and old, as well as a few songs that you wouldn?t hear on Mainstream AC Christmas.* Some of Fallon?s bits are indeed observational comedy Christmas, including a rant about holiday family newsletters. (?Look, I?m glad your kids are in college, okay??) There was also a stager for a previous holiday single with Ariana Grande and Megan Thee Stallion that came about after Fallon?s collaborators heard his attempt to do the rap himself. Here?s Jimmy Fallon?s Holiday Seasoning just before 10:30 a.m., November 4: Johnny Mathis, ?It?s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas? Jimmy Buffett, ?Mele Kalikimaka? Michael Bubl?, ?Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow? Stevie Nicks, ?Silent Night? Jimmy Fallon f/Ariana Grande & Meghan thee Stallion, ?It Was a ? (Masked Christmas? Eartha Kitt, ?Santa Baby? Pogues f/Kirsty MacColl, ?Fairytale of New York? ? unedited Kelly Clarkson, ?Underneath the Tree? Temptations, ?My Christmas Tree? Pretenders, ?2000 Miles? Bobby Helms, ?Jingle Bell Rock? Andy Williams, ?Happy Holiday/The Holiday Season? Kinks, ?Father Christmas? more

From Radio Insight: Audacy has promoted Kieran Geffert to SVP/Market Manager for its San Francisco operations. Geffert has been with the CBS Radio turned Audacy cluster since 1991. During her career she has risen from sales assistant to account executive, Local Sales Manager, General Sales Manager, Vice President of Sales, and most recently Vice President of Sales for San Francisco and Sacramento. Geffert commented, “I am honored to step into this role. Having been part of this exceptional team for over three decades, I have witnessed firsthand the dedication, creativity and resilience that fuel our success. I am eager to lead our iconic brands and passionate team into this new chapter.? Audacy COO Susan Larkin added, “Kieran?s experience, leadership and deep engagement in the San Francisco market and with our team make her the perfect candidate to lead the team forward. We look forward to the continuing momentum and success she will bring to our team, listeners and advertisers across the Bay Area.? Geffert fills the San Francisco market leadership role that had been held by Stacey Kauffman until her departure last month. more

From Radio Online: Table andamp; Twine, a provider of chef-prepared, ready-to-enjoy meal deliveries, has teamed up with Overflowing Hands and iHeartMedia's Carolina Region for "A Thanksgiving to Remember" initiative. The campaign aims to bring Thanksgiving meals to families in western North Carolina and surrounding mountain areas, More...

From Radio Online: Country Radio Seminar (CRS) 2025 is offering a reduced registration rate to support industry professionals affected by job loss. The special $299 "unemployment rate" registration fee is available exclusively to those who have faced unemployment since the last CRS, allowing them to participate in CRS 2025 as More...

From Radio Online: Wondercraft, an AI-driven creative audio studio, and audio management platform Frequency have partnered to streamline the creation and deployment of personalized audio ads. The new integration enables brands and media publishers to scale up personalized audio More...

From Radio Online: The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF) paid tribute to industry leaders for lifetime achievements during the 2024 Giants of Broadcasting andamp; Electronic Arts luncheon and awards ceremony. The annual event took place from 11:30am to 2pm on Tuesday, November 12 at Gotham Hall in New York City. The More...

From Radio Insight: Results Radio flipped CHR “Power 95.5” K238AV Yuba City/KKCY-HD2 Colusa CA to Oldies “95.5 YTO” utilizing the “True Oldies Channel” network on Monday, November 4. The CHR brand had launched in February 2018. With its demise, Results is directing listeners to co-owned “Power 102.1” KCEZ Los Molinos/Chico, which also carries Premiere Networks’ John Jay & Rich in mornings. more

From Radio Online: Edison Research has released the Top 50 U.S. podcasts among weekly podcast listeners age 13and#43; for the third quarter of 2024. Remaining in the same order in the top three since the second quarter are "The Joe Rogan Experience," "Crime Junkie" and "The Daily." "SmartLess," now part of the SiriusXM Podcast More...

From Radio Insight: Another iHeartMedia talent is moving to a new role as part of the company’s ongoing restructuring. News/Talk 570 WKBN Youngstown late morning host Dan Rivers will no longer host a daily program after Wednesday, November 27. Rivers will return to the station in the new year launching a local podcast, serving as fill-in for afternoon host Ron Verb, and continue to serve as a spokesperson for local businesses. The 76-year-old Rivers has been at WKBN since 1981 and has hosted the late-morning show since 1999. The station is planning an open house on his final day on-air to celebrate Rivers. more

From Radio Online: Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio (MIW) has announced Nikki Kuniej as the inaugural mentee for the newly established 'Digital Sales Mentorship' program. Sponsored by Beasley Media, the program is dedicated to fostering growth and opportunity for women in digital radio sales. As the 2024-2025 mentee, More...

From Radio Online: Talk KFI-AM in Los Angeles has significantly reduced its news team, affecting 13 employees and cutting the staff in half. The layoffs were part of a broader initiative by parent iHeartMedia to trim its workforce nationwide, amidst financial challenges including a substantial debt of approximately $5.21 More...

From Radio Online: Lemonada Media has announced the inclusion of "Pantsuit Politics" to its portfolio. The news and culture podcast, hosted by Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers, is celebrated for its approach to current events, earning the hosts commendations as "America's political therapists." The addition of More...

From Radio Online: PodcastOne has officially announced its acquisition of the popular "Stassi" podcast, led by reality TV star and author Stassi Schroeder. The deal, described as a multi-year contract worth seven figures, marks a significant addition to PodcastOne's offerings, particularly in content aimed at women. Stassi More...

From Radio Online: In a move to boost radio stations' digital revenue, jacapps, a mobile app provider for the radio, has partnered with Jacobs Media to introduce a new product, jacapps DR. This three-step program is designed to help radio stations of all sizes and capabilities enhance their digital More...

From Radio Online: Nielsen has announced that starting January, its Nielsen Audio division will adjust the duration needed to count a radio listener from five minutes to three minutes. The ratings giant explained that this update will enable radio broadcasters and advertisers to better account for More...

From Radio Online: After an eight-year hiatus, the radio show "Charlie Tuna The '70s" is making a return, now being broadcast exclusively through TalentFarm.net. Charlie Tuna, a radio legend revered for his vibrant personality, distinctive voice, and deep passion for the '70s music scene, is posthumously gracing the airwaves More...

From Radio Insight: Nielsen continues its releases of the October 2024 diary surveys today. Today’s markets include monthly ratings for Albuquerque, Allentown/Bethlehem, El Paso, Fresno, Honolulu, Knoxville, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The next three releases will feature: On Wednesday, November 13: Monthly ratings for Akron, Bakersfield, Charleston SC, Harrisburg/Lebanon/Carlisle, and Omaha/Council Bluffs. On Thursday, November 14: Monthly ratings for Columbia SC, Des Moines, Little Rock, Monterey/Salinas/Santa Cruz, Spokane, and Springfield MA. On Friday, November 15: Monthly ratings for Colorado Springs, Madison, Mobile, Toledo and Wichita. more

From Radio Online: Urban One reported a decrease in net revenues and a significant operational loss for the third quarter of 2024. The company's net revenue fell by 6.3% to $110.4 million, down from $117.8 million in the same quarter last year. This decline reflects a broader contraction across several More...

From Radio Online: In a unique mix of annoyance and generosity, WPLR (99.1 PLR) in New Haven, CT, successfully concluded its "Battle of the Box" fundraiser, amassing just shy of $52,000. The event, part of the Chaz and AJ McDermott Chevrolet and Lexus of New Haven Toy Drive, took place on November 7th and 8th and featured More...

From Radio Online: Mike Lee joins Hot AC WCLE-FM (Mix 1041) in Chattanooga, TN as Program Director and afternoon drive duties. Lee is no stranger to the market, as previously served as morning co-host on "Mike andamp; Ed in the Morning" on Brewer Broadcasting CHR WALV-FM (Alive 95) for 11 years and hosted afternoons on CCM WBDX-FM More...

From Radio Insight: It seems like an inevitability. Having been last year?s most-played Christmas song, according to Mediabase, wouldn?t Mariah Carey?s ?All I Want for Christmas? be the first song played by most stations flipping to an all-holiday format? Not for everybody. Soft AC WLIT (Lite FM) Chicago, one of the most successful and closely watched Christmas stations, signed on last Friday at 3 p.m. with Mariah. But none of its iHeart brethren among the early holiday launches did. On Tuesday afternoon, Mediabase shows 20 stations around the country having gone all-Christmas, most of them Mainstream ACs, but also a few Hot ACs and two Christian AC stations. Mariah launched the largest number of those ? five stations ? but there were actually 10 different songs used to kick off the holidays. ?All I Want for Christmas Is You? ? So saturated that I always wonder if this is the year people are going to lose their enthusiasm. But I?ve asked that question before. Besides WLIT, Mariah had the first song on Cox?s WDUV Tampa; Townsquare?s WTSS (The New 96.1) Buffalo, N.Y.; WYJB (B95.5) Albany, N.Y.; and WLTC (103.7) Columbus, Ga. ?It?s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year? is second, but only if you count both of its best-known versions. WHUD Hudson Valley, N.Y., and WJKK (Mix 98.7) Jackson, Miss., launched with Andy Williams. (So did KESZ Phoenix a day later and WTOJ Watertown, N.Y.) Soft AC KBEB (The Breeze) Sacramento, Calif., went with Johnny Mathis. (To some extent, which version you choose may depend on which other songs by either artist you want to play during the first hour.) ?The Christmas Song? was the first song on two stations, but while WFBC-HD-4 (Magic 106.3) Greenville, S.C., played it by Nat King Cole, Christian AC WAKW (Star 93.3) Cincinnati went with Michael Bubl?.* ?Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!? was the first song for WXMA Louisville, Ky., and WMHX Madison, Wis., and both opted for the Dean Martin version. * ?Santa Claus Is Coming to Town? ? The Jackson 5 version was a very cool choice for iHeart?s WMAG Greensboro, N.C., and WMXL (Mix 94.5) Lexington, Ky. Because of Michael Jackson, they?re the holiday artist probably most represented on Mainstream AC during the rest of the year. ?We Wish You a Merry Christmas? ? Both Summit holiday stations so far, KSRZ Omaha and WVEZ Louisville, launched at Midnight Friday with the Kenny G version. ?Rockin? Around the Christmas Tree? received almost as much attention as ?All I Want for Christmas Is You? last year, finally making it to No. 1 on the Hot 100. But only WMOV (Movin? 107.7) Norfolk, Va., has used it so far, and by LeAnn Rimes, not Brenda Lee. ?Jingle Bells? by Frank Sinatra has been on the ascent in recent years. It was the first song on WSHH (Wish 99.7) Pittsburgh.* ?Step Into Christmas? by Elton John was, for a while, one of those songs that waned a little when stations began testing their holiday music. It seems more prominent again, in part because of John?s own resurgence. It was the launch song for WSRW (Star 105.7) Grand Rapids, Mich., although that station played it coming out of a stopset at 6:57 a.m. Friday and then went into ?All I Want for Christmas.? ?We Need a Little Christmas? ? the Percy Faith Orchestra version ? was the song that KFIS (The Fish) Portland, Ore., played at 9 a.m. Tuesday, as it positioned its Christmas-music flip as an answer to Election Day anxiety.* At this writing, there are other holiday stations planning to launch tomorrow. Some of the surprise omissions from the above list will have likely been used by then. But in the first five days, nobody had used ?Last Christmas? ? last year?s most-played Christmas song at AC. Also missing, so far: ?Feliz Navidad,? ?A Holly Jolly Christmas,? ?Jingle Bell Rock,? ?Sleigh Ride,? and ?It?s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas? ? one that I?ve used before as the first holiday song. (The Bobby Helms version of “Jingle Bell Rock” was the first song on*WJJR Rutland, Vt.) Ross on Radio is covering holiday-music programming all season long. We?ve taken a more in-depth look at four of the first Christmas outlets, getting a sense of not just the music, but the tone that stations are taking this holiday. You can also read our own perennial holiday favorite: ?What I Learned from Scheduling Christmas Music.? more

From Radio Insight: Up at the top of the Olympic Peninsula, Radio Pacific has made some changes at Classic Hits “Z104.9” KZQM Sequim WA. In order to remove confusion with Sequim Community Broadcasting’s 91.5 KSQM Sequim, the station has changed call letters to KZEG. The station, which launched in May 2018, will continue to feature programming mostly from Westwood One’s 24/7 network, but is now adding Compass Media Networks’ Anna & Raven for mornings from 5-10am Monday through Saturday. more

From Radio Online: Spanish-language Media company Reyes Media Group has agreed to acquire 100kW CHR KKSW-FM (105.9 Kiss FM) from Great Plains Media for $2.25 million, according to filings with the FCC. The station, covering the Topeka and Kansas City areas, may potentially transition to a Spanish-language format More...

From Radio Online: Public radio KVPR in Fresno, WQLN in Erie, and KRCL in Salt Lake City are set to receive a significant financial boost aimed at enhancing their emergency alert capabilities. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has earmarked a total of $587,704 for these stations as part of More...

From Radio Insight: Former iHeartMedia Classic Hip Hop ?95.3 The Beat? W237BZ/WDCG-HD2 Raleigh Program Director/afternoon host Brian ‘B’ Paiz is joining Curtis Media CHR “Pulse-FM” 96.9 WPLW-FM Goldsboro and its four translator signals in the Raleigh/Durham market starting Monday, November 18 in a role to be announced. Pulse-FM Program Director Matt ‘MJ’ Johnson said, ?I?m thrilled to bring B.Paiz into the new Pulse-FM?s family. With his enthusiasm and market experience, we look forward to doing great things? Paiz added, ?I am very excited to join the Pulse team. I appreciate MJ and Curtis Media giving me this great opportunity. I love living in Raleigh with my family and this gives me the opportunity to be heard in the Triangle.” Paiz is also now available for voicetracking opportunities through G Networks’ “Personality On Demand” for Hip Hop, Adult R&B, CHR, and Throwback formats. He had joined “95.3 The Beat” in April 2022 as afternoon host and also served as local producer for ?The Fred Show? on CHR ?G105? WDCG before being promoted to Program Director in March 2024 until his exit in August. Paiz began his career at WPEG Charlotte and has also programmed WMNX Wilmington NC, WLZN, WIBB, and WRBV Macon, WRHD-HD2 Greenville NC, was Director of Urban Programming for Clear Channel Columbia SC, and SVP/Programming for iHeartMedia Albany and Columbus GA. He also was Programming and Brand Content Consultant for the syndicated Chubb Rock Show. more

From Radio Online: CNN Audio has announced the debut of "Terms of Service," a weekly podcast aimed at unraveling the complexities of emerging technologies that are becoming integral to daily life. Hosted by CNN tech writer Clare Duffy, the series promises to shed light on a range of technologies from facial recognition to More...

From Radio Online: iHeartMedia appoints Katie Ewell as Market President of its 5-station cluster in Wilmington, DE, effective immediately. Prior to her expanded role as Market President, Ewell served as the Vice President of Sales for iHeartMedia in Salisbury, MD. She began her career at MediaOnePA, part of the USA Today More...