Ty Bentli and Chuck Wicks with a NASH FM 103.3 Listener at Toy Field
Cumulus Nashville’s NASH FM 103.3, 95.5 NASH ICON, 104-5 The Zone, Super Talk 99.7 WTN and 92Q came together on Tuesday to collect thousands of toys and gifts for those in need in Nashville this holiday season.
The toys and gifts collected were donated to The Salvation Army’s Forgotten Angel Program.
This holiday, The Salvation Army will reach over 6,800 “angels” – less fortunate children and elderly. According to Major Ethan Frizzell, Area Commander - The Salvation Army Nashville Area Command, several hundred of those “angels” may not be adopted or be returned to the Angel Tree.
Santa and Major Ethan Frizzell, Area Commander The Salvation Army Nashville Area Command
“We would not be able to provide for all these children, without the support of Cumulus Broadcasting and our community,” said Major Ethan Frizzell, Area Commander, The Salvation Army Nashville Area Command.
WBZZ Star 100.7 and WDSY Y108’s Concert for Unity to benefit: To Rebuild and Reopen Tree of Life at the Byham Theater Sunday was an overwhelming success.
The sold out show headlined by country duo Dan + Shay raised $50,000 from ticket sales and donations. An additional $11,000 was made from custom created Dan + Shay merchandize. That money will go to Tree of Life as well.
All of the $61,000 raised will go directly to the Tree of Life.
Michael Spacciapolli, Senior Vice President and Market Manager of Entercom Pittsburgh, said “The Concert for Unity is yet another example of how the City of Pittsburgh comes together after a tragedy, even one as devastating as the Tree of Life shooting. We’re thankful to everyone who gave their time, money and services to making this show a success and are pleased to be donating over $60,000 to help rebuild and reopen the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill”
If you were unable to attend Sunday’s show, there is still time to donate online. 100% of your donation will go directly to the Tree of Life.
Star and Y want to thank Dan + Shay, FRZY, The Andy Davis Band, The Byham Theater and The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust for generously donating their services for this benefit concert.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced Thursday that Jane Hinckley Halprin will serve as the agency’s administrative law judge. She succeeds Judge Richard Sippel, who retired on Dec. 1.
“Jane has done tremendous work at the FCC, and I congratulate her on this new role,” Pai said. “The good judgment she displayed working on ethics issues at the agency for over a decade will serve her well as our administrative law judge. I’d also like to thank Judge Sippel for his 32 years of service as an administrative law judge at the FCC. He served this agency with honor and distinction, and I wish him well in retirement.”
According to TVNewsCheck, Halprin joined the FCC in 1987 as a staff attorney in the former Common Carrier Bureau and has occupied positions in the former Mass Media Bureau, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and the Office of General Counsel.
For the past 14 years, she has served in the Office of General Counsel as an ethics counsel and for the past year has led the agency’s ethics team as assistant general counsel for ethics.
The Office of Administrative Law Judges is responsible for conducting the hearings ordered by the commission. An administrative law judge acts on interlocutory requests filed in the proceedings such as contested discovery requests. Administrative Law Judges are appointed by a vote of all commissioners.
➦In 1907...writer Arch Oboler was born in Chicago. His most noteworthy career achievement was his frightening radio scripts for the NBC horror series Lights Out, for which he also acted as host. Praised as one of broadcasting’s top talents, he is regarded today as a key innovator of radio drama. He died March 19 1987 at age 79.
Virginia Payne
➦In 1909...actress Virginia Payne, for 27 years the star of the radio soap opera Ma Perkins was born in Cincinnati. For much of the 1933 to 1960 run she was paid more than any other daytime radio actress at $50,000 annually, a lot of money in those days. From 1942 to ’49 Ma Perkins was heard daily on both NBC & CBS radio. Ms. Payne succumbed to cancer Feb. 9 1977 at age 67. ➦In 1921...KWG (now 1230 AM) in Stockton, CA is one of the oldest broadcasting stations in USA. It was licensed on December 7, 1921. It is considered the first commercially licensed radio station west of the Mississippi River.
Until 1988, KWG used a T-antenna type transmitting antenna mounted on two 60-meter tall wooden poles, making KWG one of the last broadcast stations to use this type of antenna. The KWG transmitter has been located at Weber and E Streets in Stockton for many years.
➦In 1930…In Boston, W1XAV aired video from the CBS radio orchestra program "The Fox Trappers." The broadcast included the first television commercial, an ad for I.J. Fox Furriers, the radio show's sponsor.
➦In 1938...The St. Louis Dispatch begins a two-year experiment to deliver newspapers by radio facsimile, first transmission via W9XZY
➦In 1941... For most Americans, news of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor came as an interruption to their favorite radio programs on an otherwise tranquil Sunday afternoon on December 7th, 1941. An Associated Press bulletin at 2:22 PM Eastern Standard Time first reported the attack to mainland news organizations and radio networks. After confirming the initial bulletin with the government, the major radio networks interrupted regular programming beginning at 2:30 PM, bringing news of the attack which was still in progress,
In New York City, station WOR broke into the local broadcast of the Giants and Dodgers game while CBS informed listeners of the attack at 2:25 PM EST. NBC broadcast their first bulletin nearly 4 minutes later at 2:29:50 PM . Within minutes the CBS radio network broke into normal programming with more information read by announcer John Daly.
Honolulu NBC radio affiliate KGU, provided the first and most comprehensive radio coverage of the event. What was not known at the time was that Japanese planes, still swarming overhead in Honolulu, had used the station's signal to guide their planes to Hawaii.
While the attack was still in progress a reporter for KGU radio climbed to the roof of the Advertiser Building in downtown Honolulu with microphone in hand and called the NBC Blue Network on the phone with the first eyewitness account of the attack, "This battle has been going on for nearly three hours... It's no joke, it's a real war" said the reporter. Ironically, a Honolulu telephone operator interrupted the broadcast after 2 ½ minutes declaring a need for the line for an emergency call.
The broadcast starts at the :50-mark...
The attack on Pearl Harbor was an unannounced military strike conducted by the Japanese navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on the morning of December 7, 1941. It resulted in the United States' entry into World War II. The attack was intended as a preventive action in order to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from influencing the war that the Empire of Japan was planning in Southeast Asia against Britain and the Netherlands, as well as the U.S. in the Philippines. The attack consisted of two aerial attack waves totaling 353 aircraft, launched from six Japanese aircraft carriers.
The attack sank four U.S. Navy battleships (two of which were raised and returned to service later in the war) and damaged four more. The Japanese also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, and one minelayer, destroyed 188 aircraft, and killed 2,402 and wounded 1,282. Japanese losses were minimal, with 29 aircraft and five midget submarines lost, and 65 servicemen killed or wounded. One Japanese sailor was captured.
The nation's only Sunday afternoon newspaper was the only paper in the country that got word of the attack on Pearl Harbor into its regular edition. On Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, Publisher George B. Utter stopped the presses to get the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on the front page. While the attack occurred at 2:22 p.m. EST, the Sun reported it as 2:23 p.m. in its headline. With history altered by a minute, the Sun got the story in its regular Sunday edition.
Click Here for a Timeline of attack Coverage on US Radio.
Note: America First Committee, referenced at the end of the story above, was an isolationist organization that was opposed to America becoming involved on the War in Europe.
The committee claimed a membership of 800,000 and attracted such leaders as General Robert E. Wood, the aviator Charles A. Lindbergh, and Senator Gerald P. Nye. Though failing in its campaigns to block the Lend-Lease Act, the use of the U.S. Navy for convoys, and the repeal of the Neutrality Act, its public pressure undoubtedly discouraged greater direct military aid to a Great Britain beleaguered by Nazi Germany. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the committee dissolved and urged its members to support the war effort.
➦In 1941...Chattanooga Choo Choo by The Glenn Miller Orchestra was #1. ➦In 1943...Folk singer/songwriter Harry Chapin, whose songs include "Cat's in the Cradle," was born. He died in a car accident on July 16, 1981 at 38.
➦In 1947...NBC Radio presented the “Horace Heidt Youth Opportunity Program” for the first time. The talent show earned Dick Contino, an accordionist, the $5,000 prize as the program’s first national winner. Over the years Heidt gave some big stars their big starts: Art Carney, Frankie Carle, Gordon MacRae, the King Sisters, Alvino Rey, Ken Berry, Frank DeVol, Al Hirt and many others.
➦In 1955...Robert Sarnoff was elected president/CEO of NBC. Sarnoff, the eldest son of network founder David Sarnoff, was promoted to put NBC on the road to economic self-sufficiency, replacing the rather flamboyant (and big spending) president/CEO Pat Weaver.
➦In 1960...WABC-AM, debuted its "Top 40" format. Courtesy of musicradio77.com, the Top40 WABC tribute site. Here's the Day One line-up:
6AM HERB OSCAR ANDERSON
10:00 Breakfast Club - Don McNeill
11:00 CHARLIE GREER
1:00 FARRELL SMITH
3:00 JACK CARNEY
6:00 Newscope
7:30 CHUCK DUNAWAY
10:00 SCOTT MUNI
12Mid BIG JOE'S HAPPINESS EXCHANGE
4:00A BILL OWEN
Plus, here's an early WABC aircheck. July 3, 1961 was Dan Ingram's first day on-air at WABC.
➦In 1977…Peter Goldmark, developer of the LP (long playing) 33 1/3 rpm record and the first commercial color television system, was killed in a car accident at the age of 71.
➦In 1994...Radio personality Howard Stern talked a man out of trying to kill himself.
➦In 2014...New York radio/TV personality John Bartholomew Tucker died at age 84. Along with Big Wilson, Tucker was one of the last two hosts of the long-running NBC Radio feature Monitor. On TV in the early 70’s he hosted a morning show on WABC-TV called A.M. New York, which served as the genesis for what is now Good Morning America.
Forbes has released their list of the Highwest Paid Radio Personalities and Howard Stern, the self-proclaimed “King of All Media”, reigns supreme in the radio world.
Howard Stern, on the third year of his eight-figure contract with SiriusXM, earned an estimated $90 million in our 12-month scoring period, before taxes and fees. The shock jock is once again the world’s highest-paid radio host.
# 2 Rush Limbaugh
Stern narrowly beats America’s most-listened-to radio host Rush Limbaugh, who made $84.5 million. Both Stern and Limbaugh are making moves in the digital space. Devoted fans can now watch Stern on SiriusXM’s new video service which features highlights from Stern’s 30-year-plus video library. This past January, Limbaugh released his first mobile app, which gave a subscription boost to his digital platform, Rush 24/7.
#3 Ryan Seacrest
iHeartMedia host Ryan Seacrest rounds out the top three with a $74 million haul, a massive uptick over last year’s $58 million due to the return of American Idol—and his eight-figure paycheck. The host and producer is busier than ever despite an accusation of sexual misconduct surfacing earlier this year. (Seacrest denied the claims; an investigation found insufficient evidence to support the allegations, which came from a former stylist.)
Fox News star Sean Hannity, who places fourth, is one of the few radio hosts whose radio earnings are on the rise. Hannity earned $36 million in our scoring period with contracts for Fox and Premiere estimated at $15 million and $20 million respectively and adding to his bottom line with speaker fees.
Glenn Beck’s earnings stumbled once again, sliding to $8.5 million from last year’s $10 million due to the struggles of his conservative media company TheBlaze. Beck made the news this week after announcing a merger with fellow conservative host Mark Levin’s CRTV.
Christmas classic and Academy Award winning song 'Baby It’s Cold Outside' will no longer be played on some Canadian radio stations amid concerns over what some people say are inappropriate lyrics in the wake of the MeToo movement, reports Global News.
On Tuesday, a handful of all-Christmas music stations owned by Canadian broadcasters, including Corus Entertainment, Bell Media, Rogers and CBC Radio, said the 1940s song will not be played during its holiday programming.
The CBC said Tuesday while it recognizes “Song lyrics are always open to interpretation,” the broadcaster won’t play the holiday song.
“While we consider both points of view, and in light of the times we are living in, we have chosen to remove the song, for the time being, from two of our holiday music streams,” public affairs head Chuck Thompson said.
Corus Entertainment won’t air the song on its five holiday format stations across the country.
Last week, a Cleveland radio station WDOK Christmas 102.1 yanked Baby It’s Cold Outside, citing concerns over the MeToo movement.
The 1940s duet is usually performed by a male, who tries to persuade a female to stay at his place during wintry weather.
Concern over the song has existed for years, leading to many reinterpretations of the lyrics.
And two years ago, Minnesota couple Lydia Liza and Josiah Lemanski rewrote the lyrics to include lines about consent, such as a response to the woman’s line “I ought to say no, no, no” with the man saying: “You reserve the right to say no.”
WDOK’s listeners chimed in on the station’s decision to pull the song last week.
“Then I guess you should stop playing Santa baby, I saw mommy kissing Santa, Grandma got run over, because people think those are offensive too,” Michelle Nicola commented. This PC stuff is getting ridiculous, play whatever if people don’t like it they will turn the knob. You will never please everyone 100 per cent.”
“This song IS inappropriate, but I also understand it was written in the 40’s,” Arlyn Frances Wheatcraft commented. “Erasing history won’t change the future, education will.”
“You have that song all wrong. It is a love song, a conversation between a couple,” Maryann Tyukodi Langille chimed in. “He would like her to stay and she wants to go home. It is a conversation that probably happens a lot. This is total nonsense and you guys should be ashamed of your selves.”
Canadian music journalist and Corus Radio personality Alan Cross chimed in on the tune, “defending what many consider a song that many find offensive.”
“It’s very true that the current generation will look at the art of previous generations differently,” Cross wrote in a blog post Wednesday. “We are never obligated to accept the standards and practices that were once considered okay. Times and attitudes change. We’ve jettisoned many things from the past because they clearly no longer align with modernity.”
The journalist also went on to caution “we also have to be very careful about how we apply modern standards to other Christmas songs.”
In 1944, Frank Loesser wrote "Baby, It's Cold Outside" for his wife, Lynn Garland, and himself to sing at a housewarming party in New York City. They sang the song to indicate to guests that it was time to leave a party.
In 1948, after years of performing the song, Loesser sold it to MGM for the 1949 romantic comedy Neptune's Daughter.
In the film, "Baby, It's Cold Outside" was sung by Esther Williams and Ricardo Montalbán, then by Betty Garrett and Red Skelton, who reversed the roles. The song won the Academy Award.
Meanwhile, Bay Area radio station KOIT said it was banning the holiday staple "Baby, It's Cold Outside,"
"I made the decision, it's off for now," Brian Figula, program manager at KOIT radio told CBS San Francisco, adding he is considering leaving the ultimate decision up to the people.
Since Figula announced the decision, the station has received many angry emails and social media posts from people upset with the decision, accusing the station of political correctness.
"They're upset!" said KOIT radio DJ Freska Griarte who has heard from lots of listeners from phone calls and social media posts.
"They're like, 'why are you guys doing this? What is going on? It's just a song. While for some people, it means something more," Griarte said.
"I could definitely see where it's a little uncomfortable when you think about the lyrics being said," said Genevieve Ellison of San Francisco. "But then so are most of the songs on the radio today, right?"
The station launched a poll on their website Tuesday. Listeners can weigh in on whether or not to bring the song back through this coming weekend. KOIT will announce the results of the poll Monday, Dec. 10 at 7:20 a.m.
However in New York, WCBS 101.1 FM’s Broadway Bill says the station has seen a handful of complaints over the last couple years.
“Older Americans say that’s the way adults deal with each other, but younger women are afraid and I understand that,” Broadway Bill said.
Some people say the song’s controversy is as much about its tone as it is about its lyrics. Singers have the ability to reshape how we all hear it.
The ongoing debate about the lack of female artists on country radio just hit a new milestone—and it’s hardly a positive. For the first time since Billboard launched its radio-based Country Airplay chart in 1990, there are no female acts within the top 20, for the list dated Dec. 8, 2018.
Carrie Underwood ranks highest, at No. 22, with “Love Wins,” climbing 25-22, according to Nielsen Music. Among the total 60 positions on Country Airplay, seven other female artists appear: Mindy Smith (featured on Kenny Chesney's "Better Boat," at No. 27); Kelsea Ballerini ("Miss Me More," No. 32); Hillary Lindsey (featured on Randy Houser's "What Whiskey Does," No. 40); duo Maddie & Tae ("Friends Don't," No. 41); trio Runaway June ("Buy My Own Drinks," No. 44); Lauren Alaina ("Ladies of the '90s," No. 47); and Carly Pearce ("Closer to You," No. 53), according to InsideRadio citing Billboard.
Carrie Underwood
This week in 1990, there were five female artists in the top 20, in 1995 there were three, in 2000 there were seven, in 2010 there were six, and in 2015, there were four. Comparing 2016 to today, four women (Underwood, Maren Morris, Rhiannon Giddens and Alaina) ranked in the top 20 on the Dec. 3, 2016 chart, and three (Pearce, Morris and Ballerini) did on Dec. 2, 2017, Billboard reports.
"Unfortunately, I wish I could say I'm shocked by this statistic, but I'm not," says Johnny Chiang, director of operations, Cox Media Group Houston, which includes country “93 Q” KKBQ. "It's sad, really. In all other aspects of life, we're seeing women thrive by becoming CEOs, film directors, best-selling authors, etc. In country music, we really don't have the female talent to compete? That's just ridiculous."
He adds, "The disparity on the country charts just doesn't make sense and doesn't reflect the female talent we have in our midst. I don't know whose fault it is, but everyone needs to look at themselves in the mirror and ask if they're contributing to this issue."
Cumulus announces that Urban AC KMEZ in New Orleans, will move from its current 106.7 frequency back to its original home at 102.9 FM today.
The station replaces HipHop KKND Power 102.9, and will be known as “Z 102.9”. Z102.9 will retain its Urban AC format, with great national and local personalities including: Papa Smurf, D.L. Hughley, and Downtown Lesli Brown.
Pat Galloway, Regional Vice President and Market Manager, Cumulus New Orleans, said: “102.9 FM is where KMEZ had its most successful ratings and we are looking forward to making KMEZ bigger and better than ever. At Z 102.9, we will be all about New Orleans and continuing to provide New Orleanians with incredible music and entertainment, and timely local News, Sports, Weather and Traffic that they can rely on. KMEZ is a very strong brand in the New Orleans market and our goal is to simply make it better!”
KKND 102.9 FM (4.7 Kw) Red=60dBU Coverage Area
J’Michael Francois, Program Director, KMEZ, said: “During the first 30 days, Z 102.9 will be heard both on Z 102.9 and on 106.7 FM so that all our current listeners will know that KMEZ will now be heard on 102.9 FM. The goal at Cumulus New Orleans is to provide our listeners with great products and make our stations as strong as possible for both our listeners and our advertisers. The combination of our four radio stations and our digital platforms leads to great success for both our listeners and our sponsors.”
KMEZ 106.7 FM (100 Kw) Red=60dBU Coverage Area
Cumulus plans to simulcast 106.7 FM and 102.9 FM for 30 days prior to debuting a new format on 106.7 on Monday, January 7.
SummitMedia has promoted Janelle Moffett from General Sales Manager to Market President of its cluster in Springfield, MO, including Country KTTS 94.7, CHR Power 96.5 KSPW, Adult htis 106.7 The River KRVI, and News Talk 104.1 & 1260 KSGF, effective upon Rex Hansen’s retirement.
During her 17-year career in Springfield, she has served in a sales leadership role, most recently as General Sales Manager.
Moffett stated, “We have great stations and a talented, committed team here. We will make certain we continue to entertain and inform our listeners, deliver results for our clients and serve our wonderful Springfield community. I’m very excited about all the possibilities ahead for us!”
Rex Hansen
SummitMedia CEO Carl Parmer added, “We are extremely pleased to name Janelle President of our Springfield cluster and are very confident in her ability to inspire success for our team.”
Hansen announced he plans to retire by the end of January 2019. Hansen, 63, joined KTTS in 2000 as VP & General Manager. Previously, he pioneered the Mid-West Family stations in Springfield, starting with KOSP in 1992.
Hansen was recognized by the Missouri Broadcast Association as the state’s “Distinguished Broadcaster” in 2011 after serving as the state association chairman from 2000 to 2002.
“Working with these stations for the last two decades has been a dream come true,” said Hansen.
Cumulus Media announces that it has appointed Josh (JAY JAY) Gebhart as Program Director of Eugene, OR, HOT AC KEHK Star 102.3.
He will also serve as Program Director for Willamette Valley’s Hits Radio, KSCR, 1320 AM/98.1 FM.
Gebhart rejoins Cumulus Media from iHeartMedia in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN, where he was Producer and On-Air Talent. Prior to that, he was On-Air Talent for Cumulus Minneapolis and was also On-Air Talent for Ingstad Broadcasting in New Prague, MN.
Kathy Smith, Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus Eugene, said: “We’re thrilled to have Josh join our radio family here at Cumulus Radio Group Eugene! He brings positive energy, a can-do attitude and an earnest thirst to serve our listeners and clients. “
Al Scott, Operations Manager, Cumulus Eugene, said: “It’s great to finally have a PD here in the building to steer KEHK through this very competitive radio market. Josh brings a lot of enthusiasm to the table and is breathing fresh life into the station! Josh will also be taking on the duties of PD for our Lite A/C, KSCR-AM & FM.”
KEHK 102.3 FM (100 Kw) Red=60dBu Coverage Area
Gebhart said: "I'm thankful for this leadership opportunity, to be under the stewardship of experienced individuals like Al and Kathy and once again to be a part of the Cumulus family. Here in Eugene we'll re-foster the relationship between listener and station in ways that can be emulated across all markets and breathe life into radio as a whole."
NewsTalk WHO 1040 AM is returning longtime radio personality Maxwell Schaeffer to its weekend lineup with “Maxwell & Friends,” a program scheduled to run Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., starting Jan. 5, 2019.
For 23 years, Schaeffer co-hosted a popular morning program on Classic Hits KIOA 93.3 FM. The station parted ways with Schaeffer earlier this year.
According to the Des Moines Register. he joined WHO parent company iHeartMedia in August as director of promotions and marketing, filling occasional WHO on-air slots before launching the new program.
"I kind of want the show to feel like we're having a brunch party. Maybe without the mimosas — or at least visually,” Sheaffer told the Register. “It is the radio, after all.”
Other changes, effective Jan. 5, 2019, to WHO weekend programming:
Moving "Outdoors Dan," a local hunting show hosted by Dan Young, from 7-9 a.m. Saturdays to 7-9 p.m. Sundays.
Eliminating "Saturday Morning Live," which aired Saturdays 9-11 a.m. Morning live co-host Justin Brady moves to Saturday afternoons; his on-air partner, Adrianne Branstad, remains with the station as a fill-in.
A syndicated financial show, hosted by Ric Edelman, plans to air Saturdays 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
“It really just seemed like the wise move for us was to let (Schaeffer) get settled then find where’s the right place to get him in an on-air role,” said Michael Dorwart, WHO program director. “Saturday morning seemed like a really good fit. We’re really not looking for a hardcore talk show.”
The Orlando Apollos have announced a partnership with iHeart Media that will bring the Alliance of American Football team’s games to WTKS 104.1 FM.
The Apollos’ 10 regular-season games will feature WKMG-6 sports director Jamie Seh calling the play-by-play, according to The Orlando Sentinel.
Joining Seh on the broadcast team will be longtime ESPN college football analyst Rene Ingoglia and wYGM 96.9 FM drive-time host Jerry O’Neill, known for his work with the station’s coverage of UCF football games.
Seh also will host the Apollos’ weekly radio show featuring head coach Steve Spurrier.
“I am beyond excited and honored to be the ‘Voice of The Orlando Apollos,’” she said in the press release. “To be part of this outstanding broadcast team, having the chance to work with legendary coach Steve Spurrier and the amazing football talent in The Alliance, is like a dream come true. I cannot wait for launch in February and look forward to announcing many, many thrilling moments in the Apollos' inaugural campaign.”
Ingoglia, who’s also an Orlando police officer, calls nationally televised college football games weekly on ESPNU and serves as the network’s studio analyst for the FCS selection and pregame championship shows.
In addition to his work with UCF coverage, O’Neill also hosts “The Finish Line” afternoon radio show with fellow 96.9 personality The Shot Doctor.
Team president Michael Waddell called the crew “a group of talented broadcasters who each bring something special to the broadcast, which will result in a one-of-a-kind sound and an energy level that will be second to none.
Each game will be preceded by a 30-minute pregame show and followed by a half-hour postgame show, featuring Spurrier and Apollos’ players, according to a press release.
The Apollos open their inaugural season against the Atlanta Legends on Saturday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. at Spectrum Stadium.
Brent Johnson has joined Classic Hits WZMJ 93.1 The Lake as program director and morning show host.
Johnson, who will make his on-air debut on Jan. 2, 2019 at 6 am, has spent most of his 40-year radio career in the Columbia market, where he’s built a track record of broadcasting excellence and community service.
Midlands Media Group, LLC, led by Columbia residents Kirk Litton and Keith Stover, recently purchased WZMJ 93.1 The Lake.
Stover, managing partner of Midlands Media Group, said: “We’re excited to welcome an award-winning on-air personality with a huge, loyal following to our team. Brent has been a fixture in the Columbia community for many years. He’s a beloved, house-hold name with our listeners. In addition to his on-air talent, his programming expertise and knowledge of the market is a terrific asset for The Lake.”
WZMJ 93.1 (2.1 Kw) Red=60dBu Coverage Area
Johnson most recently served as operations manager for five stations in Columbia, where he’s been a morning personality for 27 years and host of a daily sports-talk show for 11 years. He has won the prestigious National Association of Broadcasters Marconi Award, was the youngest ever on-air inductee into the South Carolina Broadcaster’s Association Hall of Fame and was selected for the 2018 South Carolina Broadcasters Association Merit Award for “Radio Sportscaster of the Year.”
"I am thrilled to be joining the locally owned team at 93.1 The Lake, which gives me a fresh start to do a live and local morning show again. January can't come soon enough" remarked Johnson.
Earlier this week, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Ajit Pai flatly admitted that Russian operatives were actively attempting to persuade the agency to repeal net neutrality, with the agency’s open commenting period gamed with thousands of fake comments from Russian accounts.
In a court filing issued this week, Pai admitted that it was a “fact” that a “half-million comments [were] submitted from Russian e-mail addresses and… nearly eight million comments [were] filed by e-mail addresses from e-mail domains associated with FakeMailGenerator.com…”
Ajit Pai
Digital Music News reports the admission marks a strong shift for Pai, who previously denied or negated the importance of fake comments during the FCC’s open commenting period.
The filing itself is part of a broader lawsuit against the FCC by The New York Times and Buzzfeed, both of whom are seeking access to FCC documents under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The FCC, led by Pai, has pushed back on those requests, arguing that the release of sensitive internal documents could open the agency to security threats.
An earlier report found that nearly 100 percent of verified comments from actual citizens were in favor of preserving net neutrality.
Separately, FCC's Jessica Rosenworcel has sharply criticized her own agency, while calling for the release of the documents in question. She also pointed to extreme spamming of the FCC’s comment system, with Russian interference a major contributing factor.
“As many as nine and a half million people had their identities stolen and used to file fake comments, which is a crime under both federal and state laws,” Rosenworcel declared. “Nearly eight million comments were filed from e-mail domains associated with FakeMailGenerator.com. On top of this, roughly half a million comments were filed from Russian e-mail addresses.
The open commenting period occurred in 2017, ahead of the FCC’s momentous rollback of net neutrality rules.
