Detroit Radio: Chadd & Kristi Land Mornings On WDZH

Chadd & Kristi Get Wake-Up Duty

Entercom has announced husband and wife duo Chadd and Kristi Thomas as morning show co-hosts for SoftAC WDZH 987 The Breeze. “The Chadd & Kristi Morning Show” will be heard on Detroit’s station for relaxing favorites at work, weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. ET, beginning February 18.

“As a husband and wife team, Chadd and Kristi will bring a unique perspective to our airwaves and we are excited to welcome them to The Breeze,” said Debbie Kenyon, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Entercom Detroit. “They are both full of energy and our listeners can look forward to hearing all of their entertaining relationship and family life stories every workday.”

“We are ecstatic to bring our brand of an upbeat husband and wife morning show to the Motor City,” said Chadd and Kristi. “The show will give Detroiters the information they need to get their workday started, filled with laughs and great music.”

WDZH 98.7 FM (50 Kw) Red=54dBu Coverage Area

Chadd and Kristi began their 18-year morning show career in 2001, holding on-air roles for WWRM and most recently at WPBB in Tampa Bay, FL.

Smart Speaker Sales Will Exceed 64M By 2022

Parks Associates research estimates U.S. households will buy more than 64 million smart speakers with voice assistants in 2022, part of the smart home trend driving widespread adoption of voice control. Strategies for Integrating Voice in the Smart Home finds adoption of these devices increased by 800% from 2016 to 2018, reaching nearly one-third of U.S. broadband households by the end of 2018.

“Voice is emerging as a key complement to smart home device adoption and ownership, as it provides a simple method of interaction and creates opportunities for a centralized user interface and interoperability among multiple devices,” said Dina Abdelrazik, Research Analyst, Parks Associates. “The next step will be integration of voice among multiple device categories, which will help to alleviate smart home fragmentation.”

Use of voice in conjunction with smart home devices is increasing. The report finds 21% of smart home owners have used voice to turn their devices on/off, while 18% have used voice to check a device’s status. With voice popularity and use cases expanding, device makers and service providers are looking to capitalize on the current market opportunity by integrating a voice experience with their current offerings. The first decision a company must make before doing so is to decide whether to create its own proprietary solution or to integrate with a readily available solution.

“Major tech giants have entered the voice-first market providing companies with the opportunity to leverage their voice-based solutions, with Amazon and Google leading the market,” Abdelrazik said. “They have made it easier for companies to enable voice-based solutions while creating competition for consumer mindshare, with Apple, Samsung, and Harman Kardon promoting their own solutions in an increasingly crowded market. This diversity gives companies more choices when considering partnerships or whether to develop their own proprietary in-house solution.”

Strategies for Integrating Voice in the Smart Home  profiles the key technology partners that can help companies integrate voice and evaluates different strategies for implementation. The report also includes a five-year forecast of voice technologies in the home.

Parks Associates will host CONNECTIONS™: The Premier Connected Home Conference on May 21-23, 2019, in San Francisco, where analysts and IoT executives will examine the impact of voice along with other solutions in shaping demand, adoption, and new business strategies within the smart home ecosystem. Register now at www.connectionsus.com.

Amazon To NYC: Drop Dead

Photo by Natt Garun / The Verge

Amazon on Thursday announced that it has canceled plans to open its second headquarters, dubbed "HQ2," in New York City following aggressive push-back from some local lawmakers and activists, reports The Hill.

"After much thought and deliberation, we’ve decided not to move forward with our plans to build a headquarters for Amazon in Long Island City, Queens," a company spokesperson said in a statement.

"While polls show that 70 percent of New Yorkers support our plans and investment, a number of state and local politicians have made it clear that they oppose our presence and will not work with us to build the type of relationships that are required to go forward with the project we and many others envisioned in Long Island City," the statement said.

New York lawmakers, including progressive superstar Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D), for months have been drumming up resistance to Amazon's decision to bring half of its second headquarters to Queens.

AOC

The activists and politicians have raised concerns that Amazon's new headquarters would displace poor residents and raise rents. They also have criticized New York City's decision to offer $3 billion in state and city incentives to lure Amazon to the area.

"We are disappointed to have reached this conclusion," Amazon said in its statement, noting that it intends to continue growing the group of 5,000 employees already in New York City.

New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio (D) and Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) had both hailed Amazon's second headquarters as an economic boon to the city, claiming it would attract significant investments and other tech companies.

Fox News is reporting New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo lambasted politicians such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and others over Amazon's decision to leave New York City. Opponents of the deal with the tech giant had "put their own narrow political interests above their community," he said.

"[A] small group [of] politicians put their own narrow political interests above their community -- which poll after poll showed overwhelmingly supported bringing Amazon to Long Island City -- the state's economic future and the best interests of the people of this state," Cuomo said in the statement, which did not mention Ocasio-Cortez or other lawmakers by name. "The New York State Senate has done tremendous damage. They should be held accountable for this lost economic opportunity."

Report: NY Political Infighting Killed Amazon Deal

NY Post cover

The watershed moment that led Amazon to reconsider coming to Queens came on Feb. 4 — when a fierce political foe was appointed to a state board with the power to thwart the project, reports The NY Post citing sources involved in the discussions.

That was the day state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins nominated Sen. Michael Gianaris as her appointee to NY's obscure Public Authorities Control Board.

Gianaris, who represents Long Island City, where Amazon was planning to build one of its new headquarters, bitterly opposed the $3 billion in subsidies offered by the city and state and was miffed that Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio didn’t consult him on the deal, according to sources.

Gianaris’ selection rattled the company.

“Amazon saw it as a sign that the state Senate was against the deal. It put the deal over the cliff,” the insider said.

A second source said, “That really shook them up. It had a chilling effect.”

Three days later, Gianaris went on Fox 5’s “Good Day New York” to demand the deal be scrapped and renegotiated.

And the following day, the Washington Post — owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos — reported that the e-tail giant was considering pulling out of the project.

Taxing Day For Amazon

Amazon will not pay any federal income taxes for the second year in a row, according to a report released Wednesday.

The Hill reports the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy found that the online retailer, which reported $11.2 billion in profits in 2018, did not pay income tax because of unnamed “tax credits” in their disclosure.

The company will reportedly receive a $129 million federal income tax rebate, effectively making their tax rate -1 percent.

A spokesperson from Amazon challenged report, saying the company did in fact specify what tax credits they used and that the report made mistakes in calculating 2016 tax expenses.

“Amazon pays all the taxes we are required to pay in the U.S. and every country where we operate, including paying $2.6 billion in corporate tax and reporting $3.4 billion in tax expense over the last three years,” they said. “Corporate tax is based on profits, not revenues, and our profits remain modest given retail is a highly competitive, low-margin business and our continued heavy investment.”

The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a liberal think tank, says the Trump administration's 2017 tax plan is partially responsible by failing to "broaden the tax base or close a slew of tax loopholes that allow profitable companies to routinely avoid paying federal and state income taxes on almost half of their profit."

Ousting Trump via 25th Amendment is ‘an attempt at a coup d’etat’

Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz on Thursday said the Department of Justice’s discussions to employ the 25th Amendment to oust President Trump-- if true-- amounted to a coup.

Alan Dershowitz

Dershowitz appeared on Fox News’ “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” to give his take on former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe’s descriptions of Justice Department meetings where he said officials discussed ousting the president.

Evoking the 25th Amendment, Dershowitz said, would be a fundamental misuse of its original purpose. It was originally “about Woodrow Wilson having a stroke. It’s about a president being shot and not being able to perform his office,” Dershowitz added.

“Trying to use the 25th Amendment to try and circumvent the Election is a despicable act of unconstitutional power grabbing...which happens in third world countries. You have to obey the law. This is an attack on our system & Constitution.” Alan Dershowitz. @TuckerCarlson

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 15, 2019

Dershowitz said any DOJ official who discussed the 25th Amendment in the context of ousting the president “has committed a grievous offense against the Constitution.” Dershowitz further argued that using the 25th Amendment to circumvent the impeachment process or an election, “is a despicable act of unconstitutional power grabbing.”

Dershowitz' comments start at the 18:30 Time-Mark:

Report: Tensions Mount At Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

At the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, tensions between the newsroom and the newspaper’s publisher and editor-in-chief, John Robinson Block, remain on edge after an intense and belligerent exchange with several journalists over the weekend.

According to philly.com,  Block entered the newsroom in an agitated state with his 12-year-old daughter Saturday night and appeared out of control as he ranted about the newspaper’s union and its employees.

John Robinson Block

“Nobody has ever seen him in that kind of state, which was very agitated and possibly intoxicated,” Michael A. Fuoco, a Post-Gazette reporter and president of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, told the Inquirer. “It was so disturbing, the HR director had to order the publisher out of the building. I’ve been here 35 years. This is unprecedented.”

The Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, the union representing newsroom employees at the Post-Gazette, filed a complaint Wednesday with the National Labor Relations Board over Block’s actions, alleging the longtime publisher threatened to unjustly fire journalists engaging in union activity. The guild also released eyewitness accounts from four employees who were in the newsroom and on the receiving end of Block’s rant. Action News 4 in Pittsburgh also obtained audio recording of the episode.

Andrew Goldstein, a police reporter at the paper, said in his account that Block was “ranting like a madman,” upset over a “Shame on the Blocks” sign on the guild’s bulletin board, put up amid contentious contract negotiations. Web editor Marianne Mizera said she felt threatened and “started to shake” when Block began manhandling his 12-year-old daughter, whom Mizera described as “crying, shaking and pleading.”

“I’ve been working in newsrooms for more than a decade, and this is the most bizarre thing I’ve seen,” said paginator Alex Miller. “He appeared totally out of control. He was loud and violent, and it was frightening to witness because he was so erratic.”

No one at Block Communications, which owns the Post-Gazette, the Toledo Blade, and several local television stations, responded to a request for comment. Block Communications Chairman Allan Block — John Block’s twin brother — said in a statement to NEXTpittsburgh that “frustration over financial and other challenges in the newspaper industry” led to the heated episode with employees, which he described as an “unfortunate exchange.”

February 15 Radio History

➦In 1926...Mary Lee Robb Cline was born. She  was a radio actress during the 1940s and 1950s.

Robb made her radio debut in 1947 on the Lum and Abner program.
She is best known for playing Marjorie, Gildersleeve's niece, on The Great Gildersleeve, replacing Louise Erickson in that role. A small role in a 1948 episode led to the full-time role of Marjorie, which she played until 1954. She also appeared on The Penny Singleton Show and with Burns & Allen.

She died of heart failure Aug. 26 2006 at age 80.




➦In 1932…George burns & Gracis became regulars on The Guy Lombardo Show on CBS. When Lombardo switched to NBC, Burns and Allen took over his CBS spot with The Adventures of Gracie beginning September 19, 1934,  Burns and Allen's radio show was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 1994.

➦In 1943…The radio drama 'My True Story' made its debut  ABC Radio Network. It was the start of a 19-year run on daily radio.  

➦In 1965…Singer Nat King Cole died in 1965 from cancer at age 45.

On November 5, 1956, The Nat 'King' Cole Show debuted on NBC TV . The variety program was one of the first hosted by an African American, and started at a length of fifteen-minutes but was increased to a half-hour in July 1957. Rheingold Beer was a regional sponsor, but a national sponsor was never found.

The show was in trouble financially despite efforts by NBC, Harry Belafonte, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Eartha Kitt, Frankie Laine, Peggy Lee, and Mel Tormé.  Cole decided to end the program. The last episode aired on December 17, 1957. Commenting on the lack of sponsorship, Cole said shortly after its demise, "Madison Avenue is afraid of the dark."

➦In 2002...former CBS Radio correspondent and ABC TV anchorman Howard K. Smith died of pneumonia at age 87.  He was one of the original members of the team of WW2 correspondents known as the Murrow Boys.

Upon graduating, Smith worked for the New Orleans Item, with United Press in London, and with The New York Times. In January 1940, Smith was sent to Berlin, where he joined the Columbia Broadcasting System under Edward R. Murrow. He visited Hitler's mountain retreat at Berchtesgaden and interviewed many leading Nazis, including Hitler himself, Schutzstaffel or "SS" leader Heinrich Himmler and Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels. When Smith refused to include Nazi propaganda in his reports, the Gestapo seized his notebooks and threw him out of the country. He left for Switzerland on December 6, 1941, the day before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

He was one of the last American reporters to leave Berlin before Germany and the United States went to war.

➦In 2014…Journalist and Detroit radio personality (WCHB 1200 AM) Angelo Henderson, died at the age of 51. At the time of his death he was recovering from surgery conducted a month earlier. Henderson died from venous thromboembolism – a blood clot that starts in a vein – that included pulmonary embolism, when the clot breaks free and travels to the lung.

In 1999, Henderson won the Pulitzer Prize for Distinguished Feature Writing. Henderson remains the only African American journalist to win the Pulitzer Prize for The Wall Street Journal.


➦Click Here for more Historical Events that accurred on February 15

Boston Radio: MLB Red Sox Unveil Broadcast Team

Joe Castiglione

Entercom today announced the new all-star team of play-by-play sportscasters for 2019 Boston Red Sox games on WEEI in Boston, the flagship station of the team.

Broadcasters participating this season will include Sean McDonough, Josh Lewin and Mario Impemba, who will rotate in the radio booth alongside veteran broadcaster and Red Sox Hall of Famer Joe Castiglione, who has signed a multi-year extension with the WEEI Red Sox Radio Network and will begin his 37th season.

“As the flagship radio home of the world champion Boston Red Sox, WEEI is proud to extend our relationship with Joe Castiglione and to welcome this elite group of broadcasters to join him in the booth,” said Mark Hannon, Regional President and Market Manager, Entercom Boston. “We are committed to providing listeners with premier and innovative coverage of the Sox and are looking forward to a great season.”

“We’re pleased to welcome Sean, Josh, and Mario to the Red Sox broadcast family and sharing another great season of Red Sox baseball with our fans on WEEI,” said Sam Kennedy, President and CEO, Boston Red Sox.

The move marks a return home for McDonough, who served as the television play-by-play announcer for the Red Sox from 1988-2004. During this time, he was honored four times with the New England Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Play-by-Play. The Hingham, MA native is currently a leading play-by-play voice on ESPN college sports broadcasts and previously served as the play-by-play voice of Monday Night Football from 2016 to 2017.

Lewin has served as an on-air broadcaster since 1995, calling Major League Baseball, National Football League and National Hockey League games, including most recently for the New York Mets on WOR in New York. He is also currently the radio play-by-play voice for University of California, Los Angeles football and basketball.

Impemba has 32 years of professional baseball broadcasting experience, including the last 17 years as television play-by-play voice of the Detroit Tigers. He has also served as radio play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Angels from 1995 to 2001. Impemba has earned multiple accolades throughout his career, including Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association’s (now Detroit Sports Media) 2014 Ty Tyson Award for excellence in sports broadcasting.

In adition to McDonough, Lewin and Impemba, Chris Berman, broadcaster for ESPN; Lou Merloni, on-air personality for WEEI; Dale Arnold, on-air personality for WEEI; Tom Caron, studio host for NESN; and Dave O’Brien, television voice of the Red Sox for NESN, will also call select games as part of the broadcast play-by-play committee. O’Brien will call a select number of nationally televised Red Sox games.

LMAs Begin March 1 In Blockbuster Radio Deals

Cumulus Media radio deal announcement Wednesday will impact portfolios, station personnel and listeners in New York City, Atlanta, and Indianapolis.

Cumulus Media Inc. Wednesday announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell six radio stations to Educational Media Foundation for $103.5 million in cash. Cumulus also announced that it has entered into a swap agreement with Entercom Communications Corp. under which Cumulus will obtain three stations in Indianapolis, lifting Cumulus into the leading ratings position in that market, in exchange for three Cumulus stations in two markets.

Mary G. Berner, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cumulus Media, said, “These transactions are consistent with our portfolio optimization strategy and both deals are accretive. The Entercom swap significantly bolsters our competitive position in Indianapolis and the EMF transaction generates substantial cash for debt repayment and investment in other business opportunities.”

Each party will commence a local marketing agreement to program the other party's stations beginning March 1 and pending FCC approval the transactions are expected to close this spring.

In New York City: Entercom Communications will acquire Country  WNSH NASH 94.7 FM 94.7.
Entercom’s portfolio currently includes All-News 1010 WINS and Sports WFAN 660 AM  / 101.9 FM, as well as Classic Hits WCBS 101.1 FM, News WCBS 880 AM, Alternative WNYL 92.3 FM and Hot AC WNEW 102.7 FM.

Entercom will also add two stations in Springfield, Mass. from Cumulus Media Inc. in exchange for its three-station cluster in Indianapolis. Entercom stations in Indianapolis are AC WNTR 107.9 FM, CHR WZPL 99.5 FM and Sports WXNT 1430 AM.

“We are excited to add NASH FM 94.7 to our outstanding lineup in New York City and to add WMAS and WHLL to our cluster in Springfield. These additions will enhance our ability to serve our listeners, partners and communities,” said David Field, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Entercom. “We are saddened to part ways with our colleagues in Indianapolis, but know that they will be in great hands.”

EMF's acquisition means format changes for all these stations. HotAC WPLJ 95.5 FM in New York, Talk WYAY 106.7FM,  HotAC WRQX 107.3 FM in Washington, DC, Alternative KFFG 97.7 in San Jose (which simulcasts Cumulus' KFOG in San Francisco), Classic Rock WXTL 105.9 FM in Syracuse, NY and Hot AC WZAT 102.1 in Savannah, GA.

"We are thrilled to add these stations to the K-LOVE network and for the opportunity to continue to bring people closer to Jesus," said Alan Mason, EMF president and interim CEO, in a statement. "Our mission is to create compelling media that inspires and encourages listeners to have a meaningful relationship with Christ. These are legendary stations that will enable us to enter new markets in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Savannah and Syracuse and expand our footprint in New York."

In Atlanta, EMF's K-Love will have a stronger signal that Salem Media's WFSH Fish 104.7.

With these new stations, the format juggernaut will soon be on a whopping 565 stations nationwide.

Under the terms of the agreement with EMF, the Christian Radio Broadcaster will acquire all transmission equipment and assume all tower leases associated with the stations which collectively contribute approximately $5 to $7 million of EBITDA to Cumulus annually.

Cumulus will retain the intellectual property of all six stations it is selling to EMF.

Mary Berner

During a Town Hall video Wednesday afternoon as the news rocketed through the industry, InsideRadio reports CEO Mary Berner told employees cash from the sale to Educational Media Foundation will “result in meaningful reduction of our debt.”

Berner used yesterday’s nine-minute appearance to address the rumors the twin transactions will likely spark. “I’ll cut to the chase and answer some questions,” Berner said before attempting to “put to rest the inevitable speculation.”

• Rumor No.1: Cumulus is selling because the company isn’t doing well. “Not at all,” Berner said, gesturing emphatically, noting that Cumulus is meeting or surpassing all of its financial goals and expects to hit all of its financial targets in 2018 once the books are closed. Digital revenues are up 45%. 

• Rumor No. 2: Cumulus plans to exit all of it big markets. “Absolutely not,” she insisted. The stations involved in yesterday’s portfolio moves “were specific to this particular opportunity.” Besides, Cumulus shelled out $18 million while in bankruptcy to buy WKQX Chicago, Berner reminded employees, to strengthen its position in radio’s third largest market. 
• Rumor No. 3: Cumulus is getting out of the “Nash” country format business. “No!” Berner asserted. While two of the stations being divested are Nash outlets, both “were driven by the particular opportunity with Entercom. It had nothing to do with the fact that those stations had Nash brands.”

Meet The Country Radio Hall of Fame Class Of 2019

(Clockwise, L-R): Charlie Monk, Mac Daniels, Bobby Denton, Kyle Cantrell, Gregg Dahl, Jeff Garrison 
(photos courteous of Music Row)

Six broadcasters were inducted Wednesday into the Country Radio Hall of Fame during opening ceremonies at the Country Radio Seminar.

The 2019 Country Radio Hall of Fame Class includes Radio category honorees include

• Mac Daniels (KPLX and KSCS/Dallas) formerly KALM, KBOX/Dallas, KPLX, WMXQ/Washington, KASE & KVET/Austin, WYCD/Detroit, iHeartMedia, KSKS/Fresno, and NASH-FM/San Francisco
• Bobby Denton (WIVK/Knoxville)
• Jeff Garrison (KCYY/Cox Media), formerly KKBQ, WESC, WFNQ/Greenville, KMLE/Phoenix, KILT
• Gregg Lindahl (Cox Media) formerly KOMA/Oklahoma City, WSM-AM/FM, WKY, WSOC-A/F/Charlotte, KUPL/Portland, and WKXK/Chicago.

The Air Personality category includes:

• Charlie Monk (SiriusXM’s “Willie’s Roadhouse”) formerly of WGEA/Geneva, AL, WMTS
• Kyle Cantrell (SiriusXM) formerly WMTS/Murfreesboro, WSM-AM/Nashville, and WKDF/Nashville.

The Country Radio Hall of Fame is dedicated to the recognition of those individuals who have made significant contributions to the radio industry over a 20-year period, 15 of which must be in the country format.

CRS 2019 kicked off the event's 50th year during Opening Ceremonies Wednesday as outgoing Executive Dir. Bill Mayne thanked the CRB staff – "know that it is these people who work 51 weeks a year to make this happen" – and, especially, attendees. "Without you we have absolutely no reason to be," he said.  Incoming Exec. Dir. RJ Curtis was officially introduced.

"I don't believe there is a silver bullet to correct all ills," said Tom Rivers Humanitarian recipient WDXB Birmingham radio personality Dollar Bill Lawson.  Lawson was applauded for his efforts that have included helping raise $3 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and many other accomlishments.

Also Wednesday, Blake Shelton was recognized for his philanthropic work during the 50th Country Radio Seminar. The country singer was given the 2019 Artist Humanitarian Award for his continued outreach in helping to raise millions of dollars for children’s hospitals as well as Oklahoma tornado and flood victims, and countless other causes. During Warner Music Nashville’s inaugural CRS Lunch and Performance held at Omni Nashville Hotel’s Broadway Ballroom, Shelton was presented his trophy from 2018 recipient Dierks Bentley, who praised his fellow country singer.

For more on CRS: Click Here and Here.

Country Consultants A&O&B Report 25% Increase Of Mobile TSL

Country Radio Consultants Albright & O'Malley & Brenner kicked off their 25th Annual Pre-CRS Seminar Wednesday with a look at its Roadmap 2019 study.

Key takeaways from the study, which included 10,221 respondents in the 25-54 demo, included:

• The rise of Instagram, both in users and interaction with radio station profiles
• An increase in Spotify and Pandora for in-car listening
• Pure play and owned music becoming the two largest switching destinations, surpassing AM/FM Country radio and that of other formats
• An increase of weekly TSL on mobile devices of approximately 25%
• And radio remaining as a leading source of music discovery 

Also during the free seminar CEO of Ethos3 Scott Schwertly spoke on "The Presentation Revolution: How To Build, Design, and Deliver Compelling Presentations," and Big & Rich's Big Kenny shared his perspective on "Building A Larger Than Life Brand."

Even as in-car listening to services like Spotify and Pandora increases, country radio stations have three important non-music listener “wants.” According to survey respondents, they are: The human factor adds the ability to make me feel good; DJs that are like friends; and audible title and artist identification. “Leveraging these assets is an important, pro-active response to digital intrusion,” Consultant Mike O’Malley said in a release on the findings. “Prioritize working with your talent. The payoffs are huge.”

A huge opportunity for engagement and revenue is texting, which is popular across all demos, the study found. “Stations should look at texting as one of the most personal ways you can connect with your listeners,” partner Becky Brenner noted.

Buffalo Radio: Iconic Dan Neaverth Added To WECK Morning Show

Buffalo radio personality Danny Neaverth, the legendary morning man at WKBW-AM, WWKB-AM and WHTT-FM, will be joining WECK’s “Gail (Gail Ann Huber) and Tom (Donahue) in the Morning” from 6 to 9 a.m. every Monday morning starting Feb. 25.

Neaverth had been working a 3 to 7 p.m. shift on Fridays at the station, according to The Buffalo News.

Dan Neaverth

“Dan Neaverth is without a doubt the most popular DJ in Buffalo history. It will be nice to have him, along with his unmistakable slogan ‘Danny Moves Your Fanny in the Morning’ back in morning drive,” wrote station owner Buddy Shula in a release.

Neaverth’s radio career began in 1956. He was the morning man at WKBW for 26 years; WHTT for 13 years; and WWKB (formerly WKBW) for three years.

“Many people in Buffalo remember and grew up listening to me in the mornings on Buffalo radio,” wrote Neaverth in a release. “Unfortunately, I never grew up.”

WI Radio: Stuart Wattles Named News Director At WVTY, WRJN

Stuart Wattles

Magnum.Media has named Kenosha native Stuart J. Wattles News Director of radio stations WRJN and WVTY.

“Oldies & Info” WRJN is heard on three frequencies, AM 1400 Racine, FM 99.9 Racine and FM 98.1 Kenosha. Sister station WVTY, “VTY Country” is heard on 92.1 FM.

Wattles has worked in Kenosha-Racine local radio since 2002. He is a 1996 graduate of Mary D. Bradford High School in Kenosha and attended Kenosha’s Gateway Technical College.

Wattles stated, “For me, News became a passion at age 11 and has been my career goal ever since. Having grown up in Kenosha and now raising two kids here with my wife, I have a genuine interest in both the present and future of our communities. I’ve seen a lot of change over the years, but never so much happening all at once as there is these days. I look forward to interviewing, writing and reporting the News to our listeners."

Magnum.Media Group News Director, Rick Jensen, who joined Magnum in 1994, said, "Over its 93 year history, WRJN has been fortunate to have a number of talented and dedicated News reporters. We had applicants for this position from across the country and were most impressed with Stuart's talents, coupled with his local roots and desire to carry forward the WRJN news tradition.”

Magnum.Media owner, Dave Magnum, added, “We’re pleased Stuart applied for this important position. In the interview, he really struck Rick and me as possessing an inquisitive mind and deep curiosity -- traits vital to an effective newsperson.”

Jensen, who has been covering News on the stations since October, will continue to anchor WRJN afternoon Newscasts during Van McNeil’s air shift, while Wattles will anchor morning and midday News, working alongside orning host Mike Clemens and midday host Lew Turner. Jensen will continue to deliver morning Newscasts for “92.1 VTY Country.”

Dundee IL Radio: Alpha Media To Acquire Matrix Stations

Matrix Broadcasting has sold the Dundee, IL radio station WFXF 103.9 FM The Fox and Crystal Lake-based WZSR Star 105.5 to Alpha Media, according to a filing with the Federal Communications Commission.

The $4.7 million sale is in connection with a proposed settlement to the former station owner’s bankruptcy case, according to the filing. Matrix and Matrix Broadcasting Holdings LLC, a Texas-based company, filed bankruptcy petitions March 27.

Matrix and Alpha Media entered into a sales agreement Feb. 7, according to the FCC.

Alpha Media cannot legally own more than five stations in the Chicago area and has subsequently agreed to sell The Fox for $900,000 to Educational Media Foundation, which runs contemporary Christian music stations K-Love and Air1. Alpha also will sell its Coal City-based station WRXQ to Walnut Radio in the deal, according to the filing.