| If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may see it online. |
|
|
|
|
| Before news breaks, it must bend... and that’s where we come in. |
|
|
| |
Meet The Rock Hall Class Of '18
| |
| The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is proud to announce that Bon Jovi, The Cars, Dire Straits, The Moody Blues and Nina Simone are the five artists selected for induction in the Performer category, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe will be recognized with the Award for Early Influence. This year's nominees also included Kate Bush, Depeche Mode, Eurythmics, The J. Geils Band, Judas Priest, LL Cool J, MC5, The Meters, Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan and The Zombies. According to Variety, Bon Jovi received more than 1 million fan votes. The rest of the top five fan vote winners were the Moody Blues (950,000), Dire Straits (616,000), The Cars (553,000) and Judas Priest (539,000). Artists can be nominated 25 years after the release of their first commercial recording.
The 33rd Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by Klipsch Audio, will take place on Saturday, April 14, 2018 at the Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Ticket on-sale dates will be announced in January. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2018 Induction ceremony will again have its television premiere on HBO, and a radio broadcast on SiriusXM. Broadcast details will be announced in early 2018.
| |
| |
There, But For The Grace Of God...
| |
| As you are no doubt aware, Southern California has been ravaged by a series of raging wildfires that have scorched hundreds of thousands of acres of land and destroyed over 1,200 structures, most of them people's homes. RAMP's own Steve Resnik came within mere moments of becoming yet another tragic statistic as one of these monster wildfires, this one dubbed the "Creek Fire," cut a path of destruction through his neighborhood, setting trees and homes on fire. "Oni and I came within minutes of losing our home," Steve said. By way of all-too-dramatic illustration, Oni managed to take this photo out of their dining room window as she and Steve frantically packed possessions into duffel bags and loaded up the car.
"Half the trees on the property, the wood fence on the side of the house, our pool furniture and much more were ablaze in minutes," he said. "The wind was gusting as high as 80 mph, and you couldn't see 20 feet because the smoke was so thick. After putting out two fires on our wooden deck that would have easily spread to the house, we gave up. The fire was just too close, and we were convinced that the house would soon be gone."
Steve and Oni packed the car and tried to leave, but found their driveway was blocked by all the fire equipment. "The firemen instructed us to go back inside, and told us if the house started burning, we were to come down and sit in the fire truck. We went back into the house and found that two more fires had broken out on the back decks. Thankfully, we were able to put those out," he said, adding, "The firemen came back every hour for the next 15 hours, until 3am, putting out additional fires that sprung up from the burning embers blowing everywhere. They were amazing!"
Looking back, Steve is convinced that it was a "blessing in disguise" that they were unable evacuate. "If we had been allowed to leave when we tried, the fires on our deck would most certainly have led to the house being destroyed. It was bad enough that we lost two houses on our block, including the house right next door. But our house was spared," he said. "My collection is still intact. Our dogs are still alive and Oni and I are grateful to God." Your good wishes can be shared with Steve at the45king@aol.com.
| |
| • Radio vet Michael Chase is joining Sony's RED Music as Southeast Director of Promotion. Chase (left) transitions to the label side of the business after 25+ years of working at radio, most recently with WSTR (Star 94.1)/Atlanta, where he served in the dual role of APD/MD and Director of Marketing and Promotions.
In his new RED Music gig, the Atlanta-based Chase will handle multi-format promotional efforts in the Southeast region. Chase reports to Danny Buch, Senior Vice President of Promotion at RED Music, who commented, "Our department's development continues with the addition of Michael Chase. With Michael's addition, we are further building a passionate and experienced team that is well positioned to break talent and drive success for RED Music artists at radio."
| |
|
• Arizona Lotus Corp welcomes marketing and promotions pro Monchai Pungaew to its Tucson leadership team as Director of Marketing and Promotions for Classic Rock KLPX, Alternative KFMA (Rock 102.1), KCMT (La Caliente 92.1/95.7) and KTKT (La Buena 94.3FM/990AM). Pungaew's radio journey to-date includes promotions and marketing management roles with Clear Channel and Emmis Communications in Phoenix, Peak Broadcasting and Townsquare Media in Boise, ID and XHTZ (Z90.3)/San Diego back in the day.
"I'm very grateful for this opportunity to work in Tucson with some of the most passionate radio folks in the business," Pungaew commented. "The entrepreneurial vibe here is infectious. I'm super excited about my new home and ready to dig in!" Ken Kwilosz, GM of Arizona Lotus Corp Tucson, said, "Monchai is a great addition to our team. His knowledge of marketing and managing a promotions department is exactly what we need for our future success."
• And on a related note, we are told to stand by for the announcement of a new morning show debuting soon on KFMA -- as we reported earlier this week, former morning host Eric "Shmonty" Ashmont and his Producer/sidekick "Beef Vegan" have left the building.
| |
| |
Let's Talk News-Talk-Sports
| |
| • Entercom's WFAN (Sports Radio 660/101.9)/New York will bid a very public farewell to longtime afternoon host Mike Francesa today as he does his show from New York's Paley Center For Media in front of a live audience. Media members are invited to attend this special show and to interview the sports talk legend onsite prior to Francesa's second-to-last show for WFAN, closing the book on a remarkable 30-year run. One-on-one media interviews will happen between 11:15am and 12:15pm, and Francesca's show will roll live from 1-6:30pm. The Paley Center for Media is located at 25 West 52nd Street in New York. Members of the press can request interviews by contacting Jennifer Morales at Jennifer.Morales@entercom.com.
| |
|
• Cumulus News-Talk WLS-AM 890/Chicago announced a revised personality line-up for 2018 -- beginning January 1, The Chris Plante Show, nationally syndicated by Westwood One, will air live on WLS-AM weekdays from 9-11am, followed by the Premiere-syndicated Rush Limbaugh Show, which returns to a live feed from 11am-2pm weekdays.
Peter Bolger, OM/PD of WLS-AM 890, said, "Listeners made it very clear they wanted to hear Rush Limbaugh live. People want to call in to the show. And in this busy news cycle, it's important he talk about what's happening in real time." Marv Nyren, VP/Market Manager of Cumulus Media Chicago commented, "With the addition of Chris Plante, I'm pleased that we have great continuity between the end of Big John and Ramblin' Ray's show at 9, and the start of Rush at 11. It just makes good sense." Plante remarked, "I look forward to being the Washington embed, giving a firsthand description of what's happening in Washington and what it can mean to my hometown of Chicago, where I grew up listening to WLS!"
| |
| |
Awesome Opportunities Await!
| |
| • Entercom Charlotte is still looking for a Digital Program Director to oversee the digital strategy and execution for News-Talk WBT, AC WLNK (107.9 The Link) and Sports-Talk WFNZ (The Fan). The successful candidate will spearhead the creation, execution and marketing of the digital sales content and promotions of all digital platforms -- social media, websites, text campaigns, email campaigns, online radio streams, audio on demand, E-Commerce, apps, etc.
The digital PD will also be responsible for making sure the user experience is positive by working with the Program Directors, Digital Content Managers and Promotion Directors. You will also be responsible for ensuring that all sales presentations include digital elements and will participate in sales and promotional planning sessions. To properly apply for this EOE position, please rush your amazingly attractive package to Director of Operations Darrin Arriens at Darrin.arriens@entercom.com.
| |
| • Mid-West Family Rhythmic Top 40 KOSP (92.9 The Beat)/Springfield, MO is looking for an entertaining afternoon drive personality with a side of Imaging! Current afternoon talent Amber Nix recently moved up to morning drive, joining existing host Lauren Gordon to create a kick-ass all-female morning show; thus, creating this opportunity in afternoons. In your bonus capacity as Imaging Director, you will work closely with the PD to write and produce on-air promotions and imaging.
Can you relate to and connect with women 18-49? Do you love being the life of the party? Do you have a winning track record? If you like to work hard and have fun and win, then we would love to talk to you. This individual needs to be a people person, as well as a strong interviewer, and be adept at relating topical and local content. Writing and imaging skills are also strongly encouraged.
To apply, send your aircheck/demo and resume to PD "Bailey On The Beat" at Bailey@929TheBeat.com. Mid-West Family Broadcasting is an Equal Opportunity Employer. No phone calls, please.
| |
| A Bay Area bride moved her wedding day up five months so that her ailing father could walk her down the aisle. Vieneese Stanton surprised her stepfather, Preston Rolan by holding her wedding last month inside UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco. Mr. Stanton, who had raised Vieneese since she was 3 years old, had been in failing health since he was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this year. Vieneese and her fiancé decided to push up their wedding, and with the help of the UCSF hospital staff, they were able to make their dreams come true and Preston walked Vieneese down the aisle. Sadly, Mr. Roland passed away on the morning of December 4. Needless to say, Ms. Stanton's emotional journey captured the hearts of thousands of Bay Area residents, including The Morning Dream Team on Bonneville Urban AC KBLX/San Francisco, who invited her in to share her story. As OM/PD Elroy Smith relates to RAMP, "Our morning co-host, Kimmie Tee, reached out to Viennese on Facebook and asked her to come in for a live interview on KBLX. She was shocked and instantly said yes. During her visit to the radio station, Viennese expressed that she and her husband are huge fans of KBLX. As a gift to these newlyweds, The Dream Team gave them tickets to see Boyz II Men and an upcoming comedy show, featuring our own Tony Roberts." Video of Ms. Stanton's visit with The Dream Team is posted online. Pictured, (l-r): Morning Dream Team co-hosts Tony Sco and Kimmie Tee, Viennese Stanton and Dream Team co-host Tony Roberts. In closing, Elroy added, "This type of experience is what makes a brand like KBLX special and connected locally to our community." Please note Elroy's new email address: elsmith@sflocalmedia.com.
| |
| • Another day, another new Woody Show affiliate... this week's lucky winner is iHeartMedia's WDTW (ALT 106.7)/Detroit, which will debut the syndicated show on January 3.
"We're really excited to bring The Woody Show to Detroit," said a really excited Tony Travatto, Regional SVP of Programming for iHeartMedia Detroit. "The show is real and funny and we think it's a perfect fit for ALT 106.7. To add Woody to an all-star lineup of talent in Detroit, like Mojo In The Morning, Jay Towers In The Morning, The Steve Harvey Morning Show and The Breakfast Club, is really going to be special for our clients and listeners." Woody commented, "I was convinced that I must have been pocket-dialed, because there was NO WAY that we would be asked to do mornings on the new ALT 106.7... But I wasn't. Clearly, it was a drunk-dial. Endless thanks to Casey Krukowski, Gene Romano, Tony Travatto and Lisa Worden for being #ALLIN on The Woody Show!"
| |
| |
WOGL Breaks $300K Barrier
| |
| Entercom Classic Hits WOGL/Philadelphia successfully raised over $300,000 for The Children's Miracle Network at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia during its 16th annual 98.1 WOGL Loves Our Kids Radiothon, sponsored by the Philadelphia Area Mazda dealerships. The Radiothon rolled live on Thursday, December 7 and Friday, December 8 from the Ryan Seacrest Foundation's Seacrest Studios, located in the Colket Atrium at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "We are immensely grateful to our generous community of listeners, fans and clients who supported the 16th annual 98.1 WOGL Loves Our Kids Radiothon to help the kids at Children’s Hospital," said David Yadgaroff, SVP/Market Manager of Entercom Philadelphia. "We sincerely thank each and every person who contributed to making this year's event a huge success, including all of the volunteers and the on-air personalities who donated their time and talent."
Pictured, during the presentation of the ceremonial giant cardboard check, (l-r): Grace McIntosh, Meghan Wright, Francesca Cosmi and Lena O'Malley, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; WOGL midday personality Harvey Holiday; David Yadgaroff, SVP/Market Manager, Entercom Philadelphia; Julia Wicoff, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; WOGL morning host Marilyn Russell and Monica Taylor Lotty, EVP/Chief Development Officer, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
| |
| |
Radio Stories? Raleigh Wrote The Book
| |
| Semi-retired radio pro Bob Raleigh, former Cumulus/Westwood One Corporate PD and former PD of WIVK/Knoxville has collected his extensive radio memoirs in convenient book form -- the aptly named Better Than Digging Ditches (Except The Pay And Benefits Aren't As Good).
The book covers 50 years of rubbing elbows with everyone from Walt Disney to Kelsea Ballerini. From Elvis and The Beatles to Brad Paisley and Rascal Flatts. True inside stories of local and corporate radio are told with a somewhat humorous twist and no-holds-barred candor. During Raleigh's storied career he worked as an on-air talent, an award winning programmer and manager, sold advertising time, served as a Corporate Programmer, and consulted or had an influence with over 200 radio stations around the country -- in addition to working with three broadcast networks and three nationally syndicated air personalities. This is the story of his travels. His experiences. And the artists, celebrities, and radio talent that he crossed paths with that had an impact on his life.
Better Than Digging Ditches (Except The Pay And Benefits Aren't As Good) is available from Amazon.com in both a print version and eBook version -- both make excellent stocking stuffers! For more information, contact Bob at 770-757-0646 or BRaleigh@aol.com.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
