Nationally-syndicated radio personality Elvis Duran will be inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Broadcasting Hall of Fame at the upcoming 2018 NAB Show. The induction ceremony will occur during the new "Achievement in Broadcasting Dinner" on Monday, April 9 at the Encore in Las Vegas. "Elvis Duran represents great radio," said John David, NAB Executive Vice President of Radio. "He has endured as one of America's top radio talents and gets high ratings in syndication as well. We are honored to recognize his successful radio career and add him to our distinguished NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame."

Duran's radio career spans more than 30 years and includes earlier stops in Philadelphia, Austin, San Antonio, Atlanta and Houston. Duran's role at iHeartMedia expanded in 2012 to included talent and programming development, as well as serving as a spokesperson for the company. Outside the studio, Duran is a committed philanthropist, supporting non-profit organizations providing care and enrichment programs for children and animals. He also champions causes aimed at fighting poverty and hunger, and he is an advocate for the LGBT community.

Elvis Duran and the Morning Show is based at iHeartMedia Top 40 WHTZ (Z100)/New York and is distributed by Premiere Radio Networks to over 80 radio stations nationwide. It's also available on SiriusXM, iHeartRadio, and The Elvis Duran Channel at ElvisDuran.com.

The announcement was made jointly by Atlantic Chairman & CEO Craig Kallman and Chairman & COO Julie Greenwald, who said, "Atlantic is, above all, an A&R-driven company, and Pete is the consummate A&R person. He has all the elements that go into great A&R -- ears, instinct, taste, and experience -- combined with the qualities that make him an extraordinary leader and mentor. Over the past decade, Pete has expertly championed our mission to bring best-in-class artists in every genre into the Atlantic family, and give them the environment to do their best and most creative work. Everything we do stems directly from the artists and the music that Pete and his incredible team sign, nurture, and develop -- from brand new acts to superstars. We are thrilled to announce this richly deserved promotion for one of the most valued members of the Atlantic family."

Since joining Atlantic, Ganbarg has personally signed and/or shepherded recordings by twenty one pilots, Halestorm, Jason Mraz, Skillet, Christina Perri and Theory of a Deadman, among others. He's also been instrumental in Atlantic's burgeoning success in the Broadway arena, including signing and A&R'ing the massive Hamilton Original Broadway Cast Recording. He's also a Grammy nominee this year as a producer of the Original Broadway Cast Recording of Dear Evan Hansen, and he recently signed the show's original lead, Ben Platt, to an Atlantic solo deal. Ganbarg also co-produced this week's No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 album chart, The Greatest Showman Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, which features the 2018 Golden Globe winning song, "This Is Me." Ganbarg said, "Having the opportunity to lead Atlantic's A&R efforts for the last ten years has truly been a career high for me. Craig and Julie are the absolute best at what they do, and I'm thrilled to be able to continue this amazing journey with them. I'm so grateful for their belief and support."   

• Adam Kurtz has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Sales for iHeartMedia's six-station Chicago Region, effective immediately. He will report to Matt Scarano, President of the Chicago Region for iHeartMedia, who commented, "Adam is a dynamic leader with an unparalleled skill set that makes him the perfect choice to lead our sales team. Adam is a proven winner with an amazing track record. His wealth of knowledge, passion and superior business acumen will serve him well in his new role."

Kurtz is a graduate of Indiana University Bloomington who joined iHeartMedia's Chicago Region in 2001 and has worked his way up from AE to Local Sales Manager and General Sales Manager before his promotion to VP of Sales in 2015. Kurtz remarked, "I'm extremely excited to lead such a talented sales team and continue representing the very best media and entertainment brands in Chicago and across the country."

• Beatport, billed as the world's leading DJ music platform, announced two executive promotions: Jonathan Steffan is now Chief Information Officer and Terry Weerasinghe is upped to Chief Product Officer. The announcement was made by Robb McDaniels, who joined the company as CEO in October 2017.

Steffan (left), who was SVP, Technology, will now oversee Infrastructure Engineering, Data Services, Content Operations and IT from Beatport's Denver office. Steffan joined Beatport in 2008 and is one of the company's longest serving employees. Weerasinghe (right) joined Beatport in 2013 and was most recently SVP, Music, Marketing & Analytics. In his new role, he will oversee all Product Development, Marketing & Artist and Label Relations from Beatport's Berlin office.

"Successful companies are born from intelligent, passionate people, and Jonathan and Terry exemplify these traits," said McDaniels. "If we are going to transform Beatport from a simple download store to a next generation ecommerce platform, we need leadership and vision from experienced executives like these two gentlemen."

Capitol Christian Music Group (CCMG) has promoted Brad O'Donnell to Chief Creative Officer and Hudson Plachy to Chief Marketing Officer. In his new position, O'Donnell (left) will be responsible for all A&R and Creative-related strategic objectives, as well as overseeing A&R Administration and the Creative staff for both the recorded music and music publishing businesses. Plachy (right) will oversee all of the company's marketing and promotion campaigns, as well as video content creation and management of Commercial Partnerships. He will also direct the creation and implementation of all music consumption and artist development growth strategies.

Both gentlemen are based at the company's headquarters in Nashville and report directly to CCMG Chairman & CEO Peter York, who commented, "These promotions and strategic organizational changes are designed to enable Brad and Hudson to provide even better services to our company's artists and songwriters in this rapidly changing recorded music and publishing business. I congratulate Brad and Hudson on their well-deserved promotions and elevated roles within our company as we empower this next generation of leaders to guide CCMG successfully and well into the future."

O'Donnell has held A&R leadership positions at CCMG since joining the company in 2001, overseeing the label group roster and the production of numerous chart-topping projects at radio and retail, as well as playing significant roles in the careers of numerous Platinum and Gold artists, including Chris Tomlin, Mandisa, TobyMac and many others. He was also instrumental in the development of sixstepsrecords.

Plachy began his career at CCMG in 2002 as a marketing coordinator and worked on the team handling Steven Curtis Chapman, Nichole Nordeman and many others. He was promoted to Manager of International Sales and Distribution in 2008, upped to Director of Product Marketing in 2011, VP of Marketing in 2015, and SVP of Marketing in 2016.

• Seattle market vet John Fisher has been hired as the new morning host on Entercom's recently launched soft rock station KSWD (94.1 The Sound), with a start date of Monday, January 22. The move marks a return to Entercom for Fisher (pictured), who originally joined the company in 1992 as morning host for KMTT (103.7 The Mountain), a position he held for over 20 years. Fisher spent the next three years on-air across the street on Hubbard AC KRWM (Warm 106.9).

"We couldn't be more excited to announce John Fisher as the inaugural host of mornings on 94.1 The Sound," said Jack Hutchison, SVP/Market Manager of Entercom Seattle. "With his 20-plus-year relationship with the Seattle community, John is morning radio royalty to the Puget Sound."

Fisher remarked, "There's nothing more exciting in the radio business than building a relationship with listeners via a brand new station. I'm excited and honored to be returning to Entercom Seattle as we launch 94.1 The Sound." He added, "The team is talented, forward-looking and shares a passion for working hard and creating great radio. I can't wait to rejoin the team and contribute to making The Sound Seattle's new favorite station."

94.1 The Sound launched on December 4, 2017 on the site of former CBS Radio Country KMPS.

• KC Armstrong, best known for his many years on The Howard Stern Show, is joining JVC Media News-Talk WRCN (103.9 Long Island News Radio) weeknights from 7-8pm starting January 22. Armstrong (left) arrives on Long Island toting some dramatic baggage, as he explains, "I had a real bad drinking problem. I had pancreatitis. I had been in and out of the hospital over 30 times. I bled out one time and almost died." However, Armstrong continued, "I don't want to say that I had an epiphany, but I realized that there are some really positive things you have to look for."

JVC EVP/GM Bruce Shepard said, "Having someone like KC with his talent and skill set is a complete win for us. As KC's audience on LI News Radio builds and his inspirational interviews continue to spread good vibes, his on-air style is still comfortably reminiscent of his days working with 'The King of All Media.' This is fun live, local and hometown radio the way it is supposed to be." He added, "KC will broadcast live every weekday from 7-8pm live from our window studio at Long Island MacArthur Airport, and I can't wait to hear how he incorporates the live and local with the two million people that come through the airport... that will be fun radio."

On an optimistic note, Armstrong said, "I'm thrilled to be part of such a dynamic, live and local radio organization like LI News Radio. I'm looking forward to bringing out the best in other people on the air. I feel that that’s what my role here is. I know I make a lot of people feel really good. And selfishly, it makes me feel good too."

• Joey V On The Loose: After 3 1/2 years as APD/Imaging Director and morning show co-host at Entercom Classic Hip Hop KRBQ (Q102)/San Francisco, Joe Vlazny, a.k.a. Joey V has exited and is looking for his next radio opportunity. Mia Amor is currently rolling solo in morning drive.

Vlazny (left) is a longtime Bay Area radio pro whose previous market stops include KNGY (Energy 92.7), KOSF (Big 103.7) and KBWF (95.7 The Wolf). As he told RAMP, "I'm very thankful to Trevor Simpson, Elroy Smith, Stacy Cunningham, Steve DiNardo, Susan Larkin and Michael Martin for believing in me and encouraging me to grow and develop my skills as a morning show host, manager and Imaging Director. I'm excited and hopeful for the future and am ready to find my next challenge." Joey V can be reached at 312-735-5013 or jvlazny@gmail.com.

Futuri Media, a global leader in SaaS technology designed to drive audience and revenue growth for broadcasters, announced a wide-ranging partnership with Alpha Media that empowers Alpha Media's 228 radio stations with multiple tools from Futuri Media's audience engagement suite.

All Alpha Media stations will now have access to podcasting system POST, which instantly turns broadcasts into PPM-encoded on-demand audio, complete with fully licensed images and distributes on multiple platforms; and customized Alexa Skills, enabling all stations to make streams, on-demand content, and interactive features accessible in the hugely-growing Alexa-enabled device market. More than 50 select Alpha stations will also have access to TopicPulse, Futuri's revolutionary story discovery and show prep tool that analyzes social media and 100k+ sources of verified news and information to deliver audience-specific insights.

Daniel Anstandig, CEO of Futuri Media said, "Alpha Media is a fast-growing, diverse media company, and it's a privilege to extend their brands' reach and engagement as their technology partner. Marrying Alpha Media's content and local media expertise with Futuri's audience engagement technology gives their brands reliable, real-time consumer intelligence and distribution on multiple key platforms, like smart speakers. We look forward to powering their programming innovations."

Alpha Media President/CEO Bob Proffitt commented, "Like Alpha Media, Futuri Media prioritizes quality and innovation, and you can see that in their products. That made this partnership a natural fit. I was impressed by Futuri Media's commitment to training services, round-the-clock support, and ongoing consultation. They understand the industry and how to engage fans of every demographic."

"I'm proud to join the team at Radio One Atlanta," Faulkner said. "Classix 102.9 plays the music I grew up with and it's refreshing to work with a company that 'gets' Urban radio -- and they do it right! Plus, to work with a management team I've known and watched over the years, I feel this year will be the best of my career."

Tim Davies, RVP/GM of Radio One Atlanta, said, "The response to the DL Hughley Show has been great over the past two weeks. Now, with Tom Joyner in the mornings, Mitch Faulkner's community connection and our fresh RnB, it's like a one-two-three punch for our listeners and advertisers... and a perfect complement to our amazing cluster."

• Congrats to Kevin Harlan. Westwood One Sports' Monday Night Football announcer, who was just named "2017 National Sportscaster of the Year" by the National Sports Media Hall of Fame. Harlan will be behind the mic for Westwood One's coverage of the NFC Championship game this Sunday and for Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis on February 4; his eighth straight Super Bowl broadcast for Westwood One. Harlan currently does play-by-play for CBS Sports' coverage of the NFL and NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.

Harlan joined CBS Sports in 1998 as an NFL play-by-play announcer, after having served in the same capacity for Fox Sports since 1994. This was his 33rd consecutive season broadcasting the NFL, and with his additional role as play-by-play announcer for the NBA on TNT, this also marks his 30th season broadcasting the NBA. Harlan spent nine seasons as the voice of the Kansas City Chiefs and nine seasons as the voice of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

• The Ace & TJ Show has promoted longtime producer Rob Miller to the fancy, fully functional, and newly created role of Vice President of Affiliate Relations. Adam Goodman, COO of ATJ, Inc., said, "As the needs of our affiliates continued to increase, the key for us was a singular method for near immediate responses. Rob's existing relationships with all of our affiliates made this an easy decision to centralize everything."

Now in its 20th year of syndication, The Ace & TJ Show is syndicated by The Radio Button Network to Charlotte, Columbia, SC, Greenville, NC and SC, Birmingham, AL and many more. For more info, email ALG@RadioButtonNetwork.com.

Triton Digital® and Edison Research announced the expansion of the long-running and influential study of consumer adoption of digital media, The Infinite Dial, to Canada. The study, currently being fielded using a telephone survey representative of all Canadians, will provide a comprehensive look at the digital media consumption habits of Canadian consumers, including time spent with digital audio, podcasts, smart speakers, social media, video, mobile, and more.

"The Infinite Dial studies explore the penetration of online audio and other digital media in a way that no other study does," said Tom Webster, SVP of Edison Research. "A wide audience across the world, including broadcasters, ad agencies, and the financial community at large, have come to rely on the insights that the Infinite Dial provides year after year. With data derived using the highest-quality research standards, we are proud to be expanding our insights to Canada in 2018, in addition to our parallel work in the U.S. and Australia."

The Infinite Dial is one of the most cited and highly regarded studies on digital media usage, and has been tracking Americans' use of audio since 1998. Edison Research and Triton Digital expanded the study outside of the U.S. for the first time last June, with the unveiling of Infinite Dial Australia. Both companies look forward to further expanding the survey to Canada this year. The full results of the Infinite Dial Canada study will be made available in both a free online webinar and as a downloadable report.  Edison Research and Triton Digital will reveal the results of the Infinite Dial Canada study on April 4, 2018.

Hugh Wilson, who created the seminal sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati -- the show that made many of us want to pursue a career in radio -- died over the weekend at his home in Albemarle County, VA. He was 74. That's the sad word from The Hollywood Reporter. Wilson, who also directed The First Wives Club, Guarding Tess and two Brendan Fraser films, Blast From the Past and Dudley Do-Right, to name a few, will best be remembered as the creator of WKRP in Cincinnati, which was set at a fictional rock station in Cincinnati and ran on CBS from 1978-82.

WKRP starred Howard Hesseman as Dr. Johnny Fever and Tim Reid as Venus Flytrap; Gary Sandy as the PD, Gordon Jump as GM Arthur Carlson; Frank Bonner as sales manager Herb Tarlek; Richard Sanders as mousey newsman Les Nessman; Jan Smithers as traffic girl/aspiring reporter Bailey Quarters and Loni Anderson as WKRP's beautiful receptionist, Jennifer Marlowe.

Wilson was a writer at MTM Enterprises, working on The Tony Randall Show when he approached then MTM head Grant Tinker with an idea for another comedy based on his experience as a sales executive at a Top 40 station in Atlanta. "I told Grant, and we went over to CBS, and they all said, 'Yeah, hey, great,'" Wilson said during a 2012 oral-history discussion about one of the series' greatest episodes, the immortal Turkeys Away. "What was lucky for me was that most of those guys... had at one time or another been in the radio business. I hadn't counted on having that kind of built-in affection for the idea."

Probably because it was shifted 12 times on the CBS schedule, WKRP -- always a critical darling -- had trouble finding a sizable network audience. However, it became a huge hit in first-run syndication after its original airing and spawned The New WKRP in Cincinnati, which aired another two years on local stations.