iHeartMedia's Allentown-Harrisburg Region yesterday held a massive regional programming promotion party (free balloons for the kids!) to celebrate the simultaneous upgrades of Dave Hovel, Derrick "DC" Cole, Jeff Hurley, Kathryn Alt... and a man known simply as "Newman."

Let's start with Mr. Hovel (left), SVP of Programming for iHeartMedia's Salisbury, MD cluster, who now annexes similar duties for the company's Wilmington, DE group. Those stripes had belonged to Derrick "DC" Cole (center), who was also programming Top 40 WLAN/Lancaster, PA. Cole has now been tapped to fill the PD vacancies at Top 40 WAEB (B104) and Mainstream Rock WZZO/Allentown, PA, succeeding "Kyle Anthony" Due, who in July was named PD of Country KAJA (KJ97) and Classic Country KRPT (92.5/93.3 The Bull)/San Antonio. Coles bequeaths his WLAN duties to Jeff Hurley (right), who remains Regional SVP of Programming and PD of WHKF (93.3 Kiss FM)/Harrisburg.

Hovel said, "This is a homecoming for me, having spent nearly a quarter-century in the market and having already worked side-by-side with Sky Phillips, Christa Cooper, Kat Alt and Buzz Arnold... We are hitting the ground running!" Cole commented, "Over the past five years I've been able to work with some great brands in this region, and with some of the best people who are passionate about what we do. To those I say, thank you! Going to Allentown was always the next step in my mind and I'm beyond excited for this opportunity."

And the fun continues....Kathryn Alt (left), PD of Adult Hits WRDX (92.9 TomFM)/Dover, DE is awarded bonus PD duties for Country clustermate WDSD. "I can't begin to express what an honor this is," said Alt. "I can still remember the day I started at iHeartRadio Wilmington -- my sole responsibilities were to get coffee and book morning show guests. Almost 20 years later, I'm so proud to be overseeing 94.7 WDSD. The station is an integral part of our market and our community. It is such an amazing opportunity."

Mr. Newman (right), longtime APD/MD of Country WRBT (Bob 94.9)/Harrisburg, has been upped to PD. "I am beyond excited to be trusted with WRBT, the station I've called my home for nearly 17 years," said Newman. "I look forward to working with some of the finest programmers in the business."

iHeartMedia has tapped Todd Moskowitz and Marc Siegel as Vice Presidents of Sales for the company's New York Region. Moskowitz will serve as VP of Sales for heritage News-Talk 710 WOR, while Siegel is upped from Sales Manager to VP of Sales for Classic Rock WAXQ (Q104.3). Both gentlemen report to Bernie Weiss, SVP of Sales for iHeartMedia New York, who said, "Both Marc and Todd are proven sales leaders with a long track record of delivering results for clients, teams and stations. They have the talent and experience to coach their teams in coming up with the most effective marketing solutions to maximize the ROI for their clients."

Moskowitz (left) spent the past five years with Townsquare Media, most recently as Market President for the company's Danbury, CT group. He started his career with CBS Radio Hartford, before joining Cumulus Media in Bridgeport, CT and eventually, CBS Radio's venerable 1010 WINS/New York. "I'm excited to lead Sales for one the most legendary radio stations in New York City and work with some of the best and brightest people in our business," said Moskowitz.

Before joining iHeartMedia NYC at the end of 2016, Siegel (right) was Head of Global Audio Sales at Bloomberg Media and Local Sales Manager for New York Public Radio's WNYC-AM/FM. Siegel said, "Classic Rock is a format that transcends time and is as popular as it has ever been. I'm very excited for this opportunity and I look forward to the next step in the journey with my iHeartMedia colleagues."

• iHeartMedia has named Bobbie Loesch as Regional SVP of Sales for its 24-station Pittsburgh-West Virginia Region, effective October 16. She will report to Tim McAleer, Region President for iHeartMedia's Pittsburgh-West Virginia Region, who commented, "Bobbie's extensive experience in our region makes her the perfect fit to oversee sales for our robust media and entertainment assets. We're lucky to have her -- she's an expert at multiplatform sales and consistently helps our partners reach their goals."

Loesch (left) has been with the Pittsburgh cluster since 2004 and was most recently General Sales Manager for Classic Rock WDVE and Country WPGB (Big 104.7). She has also worked as the region's Director of Digital, National Sales Manager and Director of New Business for iHeartMedia Pittsburgh, as well as Local Sales Manager and Account Exec for WKST (96.1 Kiss). Loesch began her career as an Account Exec for Townsquare Media.

"I've worked with the iHeartMedia Pittsburgh team for over a decade, so I'm excited to lead such a talented group," said Loesch. "It's great that we're such a tight-knit team and that we're all passionate about helping our partners succeed."

• On a related note, WDVE's 10th annual DVE Rocks for Children's Radiothon raised over $814,000 to benefit Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation, the fundraising arm of Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. The Radiothon took place Thursday and Friday, Sept. 28 and 29 from 6am-7pm.

For the past 10 years, the DVE Rocks for Children's Radiothon has raised nearly $5 million to benefit Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, leading provider of pediatric care in the Pittsburgh community. Last year's Radiothon raised $605,000.

• The EW Scripps Company is now seeking a new PD for Country KVOO and Classic Country KXBL (Big Country 99.5)/Tulsa, OK, as Greg Mozingo tendered his resignation. His last day was Friday, Oct. 6. In a staff memo, OM Steve Hunter explained, "Greg is going to return to the Memphis area to be closer to his family. We wish him the best and thank him very much for his work over the last 1 1/2 years at Scripps. We will immediately begin the search for his replacement." Hunter added, "During the interim, I will be working closely with KVOO APD Kristina Carlyle on the day-to-day operation of KVOO." Hunter is still seeking a morning co-host for KVOO.

Mozingo (pictured) arrived in Tulsa in March 2016, following a 13-year run as PD of Hubbard Radio Country WIL/St. Louis. His earlier programming stops include WGKX/Memphis, KSSN & KDDK/Little Rock, AR, WCOS & WHKZ/Columbia, SC and WESC/Greenville-Spartanburg, SC. "It was a tough decision to leave KVOO," Mozingo tells RAMP. "I loved working for Scripps but I'm excited to be near family." Mozingo can be contacted at gregmozingo541@gmail.com.

• RAMP has learned of several major changes at Bryan Broadcasting Top 40 KNDE (Candy 95)/Bryan-College Station, TX -- first, longtime PD/morning co-host Tucker "Frito" Young recently exited to accept one of those mythical "real jobs" we've heard rumors about -- he's the new Area Sales Manager, Southern Region for Stylecraft Builders.

Tucker's former morning co-host Katy Dempsey has been upped to PD and will be joined by an experienced major market co-host -- while the offiical announcement is stil in the works, it's OK to say hello to Atom Smasher (left), longtime Texas radio pro who broke the news himself in a Facebook post that read, in part, "I'm excited to get back on the air as it is the only thing I truly love to do and I think I'm OK at it. The job is with Bryan Broadcasting Company. Their CHR Candy 95 is a monster there and just won the Marconi for Small Market Station of the Year."

Smasher most recently did mornings for iHeartMedia Alternative KDGE (102.1 The Edge)/Dallas. He previously co-hosted mornings with Shawnda McNeal at CBS Radio Hot AC KHMX (Mix 96.5)/Houston and at South Central Top 40 WSTO/Evansville, IN. Earlier in his career Smasher spent eight years with KRBE/Houston, followed by a run with KHKS/Dallas.

• Entercom Top 40 KUDL (106.5 The End)/Sacramento welcomes Jordan Teklay back to his hometown to host Jordan's Bouncehouse, weeknights from 7-midnight.

Teklay (pictured) grew up in Sacramento and attended Florin High School, but for the past eight years has been plying his trade out of town, doing nights on Cumulus Top 40 WNFN (i106.7)/Nashville and afternoons at ZFZZ (Z99)/Grand Cayman. "After an incredible search, I knew Jordan was the right candidate for the job," said KUDL PD Tim "Rayne" Rainey. "His delivery, sarcasm and sense of humor cuts through and provides a live and local night show that continues the tradition of what Sacramento listeners expect from 106.5 The End."

Teklay remarked, "It's taken me eight years in the business to get back home, but mama I made it! Thanks to Rayne, [VP of Programming] Jim Fox, [VP/Market Manager] Lance Richard and the other five people that were at dinner asking me all the tough questions... Here's to making radio great, local and compelling again!" The End has been without a permanent night show since Ashley Z left earlier this year.

• How cool is this? Veteran air personality and v/o pro Heidi West has been inducted into the elite crew of voice talent represented by The Mix Group. Ms. West (left), who is married to fellow New England radio icon, Jay Beau Jones, is currently working from her home studio in Massachusetts as the signature promo voice for SiriusXM's 90s on 9 and handling middays on WVNV (Wild Country 96.5)/Malone, NY.

As her official Mix Group bio reads, in part, "Heidi was also heard as the female promo voice to thousands on radio outlets in Boston, Providence, Connecticut and Worcester, Massachusetts. Outside of broadcast radio, Heidi's bright and smooth commercial read was heard across the country in BJ's and currently in Savers stores as an in-store voice." Check out Heidi's Mix Group demo, and reach out to her via email at heidiwestmix@gmail.com.

• CBS Radio Triple A WXRT/Chicago proudly presents its ninth annual 93XRT/Goose Island Holiday Jam, featuring Spoon with special guest Real Estate on Sunday, December 10, at the landmark Chicago Theatre.

"The 93XRT/Goose Island Holiday Jam was created to showcase some of the most dynamic talents around, and to offer a memorable annual holiday event for Chicago music fans," said Greg Solk, OM/PD of 93XRT, adding, "This year's fabulous double bill of Spoon and Real Estate will certainly accomplish that goal!"

A 93XRT ticket presale is happening Thursday, October 12 from 10am-10pm CT. The top-secret presale password is "XRTHOLIDAY." General tickets go on sale this Friday, October 13 at 9am CT via Ticketmaster.com and at the Chicago Theatre box office.

• Entercom Alternative KNDD (107.7 The End)/Seattle announced its 25th annual Deck The Hall Ball holiday concert -- the 2017 edition features The Killers, The Lumineers, ODESZA, Portugal. The Man, Joywave, J Roddy Walston and the Business and J GRGRY, among others artists.

The big show is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 5 at KeyArena. "We cannot wait to celebrate 25 years of Deck the Hall Ball with this stellar lineup in December," said Leslie Scott, PD of 107.7 The End. "This diverse set of bands is an excellent example of the New Music Discovery we've been perfecting on The End since the first Deck the Hall Ball in 1992."

Tickets to Deck the Hall Ball are on now on sale at ticketmaster.com. Two dollars from every Deck The Hall Ball ticket purchased will be donated to Pearl Jam's Vitalogy Foundation. In turn, The Vitalogy Foundation will allocate the funds to Treehouse. For more information about the 25th Deck the Hall Ball concert, visit deckthehallball.com.

Local Media San Diego Top 40 XHTZ (Z90)/San Diego announced the third edition of EPIC 48, which has been modestly dubbed as "the biggest promotion in radio history," which promises to deliver the most incredible 48-hour experience for one winner and their guest.

Hosted by Z90's Rick Morton and Morton in the Morning, EPIC 48 is driven by three key rules: 1) Be ready to leave at a moment's notice; 2) Be ready to go ANYWHERE, and 3) Be ready to do ANYTHING. It's also driven by one simple guarantee: The most EPIC 48 hours of your life!

Previous winners have enjoyed a bunch of once-in-a-lifetime and money-can't-buy experiences, including flying in private jets, shopping for diamonds, floor seats and admission to the Chairman's Club at a Lakers game, being given a $1,000 casino chip by Pitbull, being picked up by a helicopter on the USS Midway, helping critique DJ Mustard's new album in studio (with him!), being served dinner by a personal chef inside their own private Malibu beach mansion, attending the "Big Game" and hanging out with Lady Gaga after her halftime show. You know... ordinary average stuff like that.

"EPIC 48 has been the absolute biggest promotion in radio -- not just in San Diego, but in the world -- and I get the jitters knowing we're doing it all over again," said Z90 Director of Programming R Dub! He added, "The challenge is always how to make it bigger and better. Challenge accepted." Listeners may apply to win EPIC 48 3.0 at epic48hours.com, and listen to Morton in the Morning for additional methods to win.

Digital audio streaming platform Mixcloud announced a direct licensing agreement with Warner Music Group, its first direct deal with a major record label. Mixcloud offers a diverse collection of serialized, long-form and exclusive audio content -- over 12 million radio shows, DJ sets and podcasts, produced by over 1 million of the best tastemakers and curators in the business, including DJs Carl Cox and Tiesto, Talking Heads' frontman David Byrne, independent radio stations like London's NTS, and The Guardian Podcasts.

Mixcloud's proprietary Content ID system is capable of identifying individual tracks within long-form user-generated audio, tracks usage data, and currently pays out royalties to local collecting societies like SoundExchange and the performing rights societies in the U.S. Mixcloud's agreement with Warner Music Group will help enable an innovative subscription offering that allows fans to subscribe to individual creator channels for a more interactive listening experience. This approach will help audio creators on the platform monetize their content by developing a new marketplace for audio subscriptions.

"We are excited to partner with Warner Music Group," said Nico Perez, co-Founder and Director of Content at Mixcloud. "Since the beginning, we have worked with rights holders to both monetize long-form audio and champion the importance of curation in the streaming industry. As we embark on direct licensing relationships with the major labels, we are committed to doing what is best for artists, curators, music fans and the industry." Ole Obermann, EVP, Business Development & Chief Digital Officer, Warner Music Group remarked, "This deal is a good example of our willingness to experiment and lead in embracing differentiated new business models. As streaming opens up access to a vast universe of music, we are seeing a complimentary rise in fans' engagement with curated experiences, such as playlists, on-demand radio shows and DJ sets. Mixcloud's success is driven by the curiosity and passion of its community, as they engage with new music and rediscover timeless older songs. As we see that user base expand, this partnership will unlock new commercial value for our artists and their music."

Elvis Duran will be in Los Angeles for The 3rd Annual Carney Awards on Sunday, October 29 and is inviting all of his radio friends to attend. This event, hosted by TV's Tom Bergeron, happens at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica, CA and honors Hollywood’s unsung heroes -- character actors. This year's distinguished honorees are William H. Macy, Wendie Malick, William Fichtner, Richard Kind and Xander Berkeley. [Ed. note: We've taken the liberty of linking to their individual IMDB pages so you can see their faces and go, "Ohhhh, riiiight!"]

Named in honor of the late, legendary Oscar and Emmy-winning actor Art Carney, the Carney Awards were created three years ago by David Katz, CEO of the Elvis Duran Group, his brother Jim Katz, an Emmy-winning producer, and Art Carney's son Brian Carney, an actor & voiceover artist.

Duran commented, "I never understood why the hardest working actors in Hollywood were almost always excluded from receiving awards and recognition for the great work that they do. We created the Carney Awards to rectify that injustice. Character actors are the backbone of almost every movie and television show ever made. It's time for them to get the recognition they so deserve. I don't want people pointing anymore saying, 'Hey, it's that guy!' I want them saying, 'Hey, that's William H. Macy, William Fichtner, Wendie Malick, Xander Berkeley or Richard Kind.'" David Katz added, "Elvis is the first to admit that his co-hosts are the backbone of his radio show. Our desire to celebrate those in supporting roles has picked up great momentum and has caught the attention of Hollywood, which is always good for radio."

• The red carpet begins at 3pm and the show begins promptly at 5pm, with a cocktail reception to follow. Tickets are complimentary to radio industry members. Please RSVP to: david@elvisdurangroup.com or amir@foresterpublicrelations.com. The Carney Awards is a joint production between The Elvis Duran Group and Radcliffe Road Pictures. Executive Producers are Elvis Duran, David Katz, Jim Katz and Brian Carney. For more information, visit thecarneyawards.com or follow @CarneyAwards on Twitter. 

Last Thursday evening broadcast legend Charles Osgood was presented with the lifetime achievement award from the News and Documentary Emmys at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall.

Osgood, the former host of CBS Sunday Morning and the longtime host of The Osgood File on Westwood One, received several longstanding ovations during the packed event. He later celebrated backstage with family and colleagues, including Westwood One EVP News and Talk, Bart Tessler (back row, 4th from right), and SVP Affiliate Sales, Dennis Green (back row, 3rd from right).