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| Before news breaks, it must bend... and that’s where we come in. |
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Madonna & Taylor Dominate VMAs
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| Madonna was named Artist of the Year, while Taylor became the most awarded artist in VMA history at last night MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles.
Madonna also went home with awards for Best Dance Video, Best Cinematography, Best Choreography and Best Long Form Video for "Confessions II -- The Film," and Best Collaboration for "Bring Your Love" with Sabrina Carpenter, while Taylor, in addition to her Video of the Year award for for "The Fate of Ophelia," and Best Direction award for "Opalite," was honored with the first-ever Artist Director award for her extensive work behind the camera. And speaking of her directing skills, Taylor also used her VMA platform to world premiere the video that she directed for her new song, "Patient Zero," starring Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell.
Sienna Spiro was named Best New Artist, while Country superstar Ella Langley, who just set a Billboard record for most weeks (23!) atop the Hot 100 with "Choosin' Texas," won the well deserved Best Country award for that song. Multiple winners included Sabrina Carpenter for Best Editing, in addition to her collaboration award with Madonna, Ariana Grande won Song of Summer and Best Visual Effects for "hate that i made you love me," and BTS won Song of the Year and Best K-Pop awards for "Swim." The complete VMA winners list is posted HERE.
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Executive Realignment At WMG
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| Warner Music Group (WMG) announced updates to its recorded music leadership structure "to power the company’s next chapter of growth."
• Val Blavatnik joins the executive team in the new role of Managing Director, Warner Music North America, UK, & Corporate Development. Blavatnik is the 28-year-old son of Len Blavatnik, majority owner and Vice Chairman of Warner Music Group.
• Alejandro Duque is elevated to President, Warner Music International, adding the APAC and EMEA regions to his responsibilities after quadrupling Warner Music Latin America's frontline US Latin market share over his five-year tenure.
• Elliot Grainge is named Chairman of ADA in the U.S. in addition to his current role as Chairman & CEO of Atlantic Music Group, and appoints Zach Friedman as Vice Chairman of ADA in addition to his COO role at AMG. Grainge and Friedman will continue to operate ADA as a standalone business serving the independent community.
• Aaron Bay-Schuck, who has served as Co-Chairman & CEO since 2018, officially becomes the sole Chairman & CEO of Warner Records Group, as former Warner Records Co-Chairman & COO Tom Corson was elevated to Chief Operating Officer of Warner Music Group in August.
• Guillermo Gonzalez is promoted to President, Warner Music EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa) after six years powering standout growth at Warner Music Iberia. Andrés Rothschild will take over as President of Warner Music Iberia.
It was concurrently announced that Simon Robson will step down as President, EMEA, Recorded Music in December after nearly 30 years with the company to pursue new opportunities.
A more in-depth version of this story is posted at RAMP247.com.
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Major Free Agent: New York's Race Taylor
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| In a surprising development, veteran New York air personality Race Taylor ended his morning show on Audacy Classic Hits WCBS-FM last Friday by announcing he had done his final show for the station, before delivering what has to be one of the most eloquent farewell addresses we have ever heard. Taylor's heartfelt goodbye is posted HERE.
Taylor famously spent nearly two decades in afternoon drive at the late, legendary WPLJ/New York, and presided over that station's bittersweet sign-off on May 31, 2019, before being hired to do middays at WCBS-FM in July of that year, moving up to mornings in June 2025, extending his New York tenure to 27 years. Earlier in his career Taylor worked at KDMX (Mix 102.9)/Dallas and WKRQ (Q102)/Cincinnati.
In closing, Taylor said, "I'm certainly planning on another opportunity somewhere here in New York City... but it is goodbye from CBS, and for a little while...good bye to all the small stuff we shared -- the small stuff that turned out to be the whole point." Audacy tells us to expect more information this week.
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iHeart Announces 2026 Jingle Ball Tour
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| iHeartMedia revealed the artist lineups for its annual iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour Presented by Capital One, featuring various configurations of Olivia Rodrigo, Jonas Brothers, Charlie Puth, SOMBR, Hilary Duff, Alex Warren, RAYE, KATSEYE, OneRepublic, Ludacris, Teddy Swims, SIENNA SPIRO, all skillfully blended with several other artists.
• The tour kicks off Dec. 1 at Dickies Arena in Dallas-Ft Worth, as KHKS (106.1 Kiss FM) welcomes KATSEYE, RAYE, Ludacris, Myles Smith, Tove Lo, Kylie Cantrall, The Beaches and JYT.
• Friday, Dec. 4 -- Los Angeles -- 102.7 KIIS FM welcomes Olivia Rodrigo, Hilary Duff, RAYE, OneRepublic, SIENNA SPIRO, Freya Skye, Bella Kay, Stella Lefty and The Beaches to the Intuit Dome.
• Monday, Dec. 7 -- Chicago – WKSC (103.5 KISS FM) presents RAYE, OneRepublic, Ludacris, Dominic Fike, Tove Lo, Freya Skye, The Beaches and JYT at Allstate Arena.
• Tuesday, Dec. 8 -- Detroit – WKQI (Channel 95.5) welcomes Alex Warren, OneRepublic, Ludacris, Tove Lo, Jason Derulo, Bella Kay, Freya Skye, The Beaches and JYT at Little Caesars Arena.
• Friday, Dec. 11 -- New York -- Z100 presents SOMBR, Alex Warren, Charlie Puth, Hilary Duff, Teddy Swims, SIENNA SPIRO, TOMORROW X TOGETHER & YEONJUN, Stella Lefty and Freya Skye with special guest performances from Bella Kay and The Beaches at Madison Square Garden.
• Sunday, Dec. 13 -- Boston -- WXKS (Kiss 108) welcomes SOMBR, Hilary Duff, Nickelback, TOMORROW X TOGETHER & YEONJUN, Freya Skye, Stella Lefty, ADÉLA, The Beaches and JYT at TD Garden.
• Monday, Dec. 14 -- Washington, D.C. – WIHT (HOT 99.5) presents Jonas Brothers, SOMBR, OneRepublic, Ludacris, Nickelback, TOMORROW X TOGETHER & YEONJUN, Kylie Cantrall, The Beaches and JYT at Capital One Arena.
• Tuesday, Dec. 15 -- Philadelphia – WIOQ (Q102) welcomes SOMBR, Charlie Puth, OneRepublic, Ludacris, ADÉLA, Jason Derulo, Kylie Cantrall, The Beaches and JYT at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
• Thursday, Dec. 17 -- Nashville -- WRVW (107.5 The River) presents Alex Warren, Hilary Duff, Teddy Swims, OneRepublic, Nickelback, Stella Lefty, The Beaches and JYT at Bridgestone Arena.
iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour stops will be part of the exclusive network special airing on ABC in December and next day on Hulu, Disney+ and VOD. The Capital One Cardholder Pre-Sale begins tomorrow, Sept. 29 at 10am local time through Thursday, Oct. 1 at 10am local time at iHeartRadio.com/CapitalOne. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, Oct. 2 at 12pm local time at Ticketmaster.
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Dogs & Cats, Living Together....
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| Mass Hysteria... highly unlikely! This week, two very familiar voices are returning to Baltimore morning radio -- Intern John and Shelby Sos, best known and loved for their years of service as castmates on Intern John & Your Morning Show on iHeart Top 40 duo WIHT (Hot 99.5)/Washington and WZFT (Z104.3)/Baltimore -- until their unscheduled exit in April -- will magically reappear this morning on the airwaves of a former rival.
That's right -- John and Shelby will spend the week as the special guest hosts of The Kramer Show on Audacy Hot AC WWMX (Mix 106.5)/Baltimore. This week promises to feature plenty of conversation, stories, laughs and a few moments longtime listeners probably won't see coming. The guest-hosting appearance also marks one of the first times the pair will be heard together on Baltimore morning radio since their previous show unceremoniously ended.
"For years, they were literally our competition," Kramer said. "So, the fact that we're now going to be sitting in the same studio together is pretty surreal. More than anything, I'm just excited for Baltimore to hear them again and have some fun with us."
Kramer added, "Radio has a funny way of bringing people together. This is one of those things I never thought I'd get to announce, which is exactly why I think it's going to be so much fun."
This unique audio adventure kicks off at 6am today! Be there!
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Zach Sang Launches On WAPE/Jacksonville
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| The Zach Sang Show continues to expand its national radio footprint with today's launch on Cox Media Group's heritage Top 40 95.1 WAPE/Jacksonville, FL, where it will air weeknights from 10pm-2am.
"WAPE has always been a station built around personality, energy and a real connection with Jacksonville listeners, and Zach Sang brings exactly that," said Jud Heussler, WAPE Director of Branding and Programming. "His interviews feel authentic, his love of music comes through in every conversation, and his show gives our audience a fresh, entertaining way to end the night with the artists and culture they care about most."
"I grew up believing in the magic of radio, the idea that you could turn it on at any time and feel like you were hanging out with someone who understood your world," said Sang (left), who began his broadcasting career from his childhood bedroom at age 14 and has since built The Zach Sang Show into a multi-platform entertainment franchise spanning radio, YouTube, TikTok and social platforms.
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| Sang added, "WAPE is an incredible station with a real history in Jacksonville, and I'm excited and honored that we get to become part of that relationship with its listeners every night."
The Jacksonville launch comes as The Zach Sang Show continues its expansion across broadcast radio and digital platforms, and recently surpassed one million subscribers on YouTube.
Stations looking for call letter and audience-first programming from The Zach Sang Show can contact Samantha Brenner, Head of Partnerships, at sam@zachsangshow.com.
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Pros In Motion: Life After Radio
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| • Matt Sparx is relinquishing his duties as Brand Manager of Townsquare Country KUAD (K99)/Fort Collins, CO for one of those mythical "real jobs" outside of radio. The good news is that he will continue to track his afternoon shift.
Sparx, a Colorado native, joined KUAD in 2015, transitioning from nights at Alpha Media Country KUPL (98.7 The Bull)/Portland. He was elevated to APD/MD in Sept. 2018, and upped to Brand Manager in March 2021.Sparx previously spent three years doing nights at Cox Media Top 40 WAPE/Jacksonville. His earlier stops include WFLZ & WXTB (98 Rock)/Tampa and KDUK/Eugene, OR.
Townsquare is now seeking Sparx's replacement -- a new Director of Digital & Radio Content who has at least three years of management experience. The complete job description and application link can be accessed HERE. As the posting notes, "This is a fulltime, in-office opportunity."
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| • Nice to hear from our friend Tori Thomas, the pride of PA's Lehigh Valley, who has made her welcome return to radio, this time doing part-time/fill-in for Times-Shamrock Classic Rock WEZX (Rock 107)/Scranton, PA.
You may recall that Ms. Thomas famously spent 16 years at WZZO/Allentown, PA, followed by five years with Cumulus as morning co-host on 100.7 WLEV/Allentown and three years as "Afternoon Drive Wench" on Active Rock WBSX (97.9X)/Wilkes Barre-Scranton, and was downsized out of her most recent position as Promotions Director for Audacy Top 40 WKRZ, Country WGGY (Froggy 101), News-Talk WILK-AM/FM and Spanish Tropical WLMZ (La Mega 102.3)/Wilkes Barre-Scranton in March after eight years.
The new gig also marks a mini reunion with Thomas and her former 'KRZ colleague "Fishboy" -- now all grown up as "Flounder" -- across the hall on Classic Hits WQFM (92 Mix FM).
PS: Proving there is life after radio, Thomas is now working fulltime as a Housing Specialist for PA Inclusive, a non-profit that works with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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