Entercom Names Adam Wolfson Dir/Sale For Channel Q

Adam Wolfson

Entercom has named Adam Wolfson as Director of Sales for CHANNEL Q.

In this role, Wolfson will oversee sales efforts for the premiere LGBTQ+ Talk Radio Network dedicated to celebrating the LGBTQ+ community and their allies. The network brings the latest in LGBTQ+ news and information, pop culture and new music to listeners on air in 13 markets and via the RADIO.COM app and website

nationwide.

“CHANNEL Q has become such a powerful voice for the LGBTQ community as well as advertisers,” said Jeff Federman, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Entercom Southern California. “Adam has been the catalyst in leading our sales charge across the country. He is the perfect choice to lead sales for the network from coast to coast.”

“Giving the LGBTQ+ community a voice has long been overdue,” said Wolfson. “CHANNEL Q is an innovative media destination offering exceptional programming to the LGBTQ+ community, and its allies through over the air radio and digitally via RADIO.COM, and I’m thrilled to be part of its spectacular growth.”

Wolfson has served as General Sales Manager for Entercom since 2014. Prior to joining the company, Wolfson served in multiple sales roles for Cox Media Group, including Director of Sales and General Sales Manager of Music/Digital, dating back to 2004.

SiriusXM Radio: To Air Extensive Coverage of Indy 500

SiriusXM, the Official Satellite Radio Partner of INDYCAR, the sanctioning body for the NTT IndyCar Series, will offer extensive coverage of the 103rd Running of the Indianapolis 500.

SiriusXM listeners will have access to the live call of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” from Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 26, on Sirius channel 219, XM channel 209 and on the SiriusXM app.

SiriusXM’s race-day coverage begins at 10:00 am ET. Leading up to the green flag, listeners will hear expert commentary and analysis from the Advance Auto Parts INDYCAR Radio Network broadcast team, plus interviews with drivers and others. When the green flag drops shortly after 12:00 pm ET, SiriusXM will air the race live in its entirety, followed by a post-race recap and interviews. The race broadcast will also air live on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio (channel 82).

In addition to the Indianapolis 500, SiriusXM will broadcast the Indy Lights Freedom 100 race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, May 24 (12:30 pm ET on Sirius channel 214, XM channel 209). The 100-mile race from the Road to Indy series features some of the world’s best young open-wheel drivers.

Also on Friday, former IndyCar driver A.J. Allmendinger and veteran motorsports broadcaster Jack Arute will host an Indy 500 Carb Day Special from outside the Pagoda at the speedway, featuring interviews with drivers and a preview of Sunday’s race. Their show will air Friday night (6:00-8:00 pm ET) on the Dan Patrick Radio channel on SiriusXM (channel 211) and replay several times over the weekend.

SiriusXM personality Jason Ellis will also be at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Carb Day to host a special edition of The Jason Ellis Show from the infield at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Jason Ellis Show will air Friday (5:00-8:00 pm ET) on SiriusXM’s Faction Talk (channel 103).

On Saturday, May 25, listeners will hear a special Indianapolis 500 preview edition of The Real Spin with Danny Sullivan and Bill Armour (8:00-10:00 am ET). The weekly show, hosted by former open-wheel racing star and 1985 Indy 500 winner Danny Sullivan and longtime journalist and racing insider Bill Armour, airs nationwide on the Dan Patrick Radio channel on SiriusXM (channel 211).

NYTimes Wants Access To Net Neutrality Comments

The New York Times Company is urging a judge to order the Federal Communications Commission to disclose information about net neutrality commenters, despite the agency's objections that doing so could compromise people's privacy, reports MediaPost.

“The FCC’s claims dramatically overstate the potential for harm,” the Times writes in court papers filed Wednesday with U.S. District Court Judge Lorna Schofield in the Southern District of New York.

"The FCC both overstates the intrusion on personal privacy that may result from release of the server log and understates the public interest in release of the information,” the newspaper writes.

The Times, which is investigating potential Russian meddling in the 2017 net neutrality proceeding, recently sued the FCC in an effort to uncover information about people who filed comments with the agency. The newspaper is seeking a host of data -- including users' IP addresses and time stamps -- for all public comments regarding net neutrality submitted between April 26, 2017 and June 7, 2017.

The Times argues that it's entitled to the information under the Freedom of Information Act.

“Because the server log will disclose, for instance, to what degree a small number of IP addresses were used to post comments, its release will help explain how the net neutrality rulemaking was hijacked by Russians and others to create the lie that millions of citizens were demanding that the FCC’s net neutrality rules be repealed,” the Times writes.

The court battle stems from the 2017 net neutrality proceeding, which resulted in the repeal of the Obama-era net neutrality rules. Those rules prohibited broadband providers from blocking or throttling traffic and from charging higher fees for fast-lane service.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's revocation proposal, issued in April of 2017, drew a record-breaking 22 million comments. But many were submitted under fake names, or by Russian bots. The precise number of fake comments is unclear, but around 450,000 came from Russian email addresses.

Cincy Radio: WGRR's Chris O'Brien Named 'Man of the Year'

Cumulus Media announces that Chris O’Brien, Co-Host of the Classic Hits WGRR 103.5 FM morning show in Cincinnati, was named the 2019 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Man of the Year for the Tri-State Southern Chapter.

O’Brien captured the title for his efforts to fight blood cancer by raising funds and awareness for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society during a 10-week campaign that kicked off in February. His team “No Bad Days” raised $82,694 and the total effort by all involved raised $1,000,028 for the charity. The effort culminated in an event announcing the fundraising results on Saturday, May 18th at Jack Casino in Cincinnati.

The O'Briens

Dave Crowl, Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus Cincinnati, said: “All of us at WGRR and the entire Cumulus Cincinnati operation congratulate Chris O’Brien on his recognition as 2019 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Man of the Year for the Tri-State Southern Chapter. The award was earned with a great deal of effort from Chris, his wife and on-air partner Janeen Coyle, as well as other members of the No Bad Days team. Their contributions led to a first-time ever total of $1,000,000+ raised to help this important cause.”

Keith Mitchell, 103.5 WGRR Program Director and Operations Manager, Cumulus Cincinnati, said: “Not only are Chris and Janeen the longest running morning show in Cincinnati, but they are continually giving back to the community in many ways and this honor for Chris was hard earned and well deserved.”

Chris O’Brien said: “This was a challenging, fun and inspiring 10-week campaign. I was surrounded by a great team of friends, family (including my wife and morning co-host Janeen Coyle) and co-workers. Fundraisers around Cincinnati and donations from all over, including listeners and even well known industry folks, made it a success for our team and LLS.”

'I am so proud of my husband!" said WGRR'S Janeen Coyle. "It was such an humbling honor to raise $82,694 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Tri-State Southern Chapter and honor the life of 26-year-old Brad Hawley. Team #NoBadDays is eternally grateful to our Market Manager Dave Crowl and our entire Cumulus Cincinnati family for their endless support and time."

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. Its mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Man & Woman of the Year program is a philanthropic competition to support blood cancer research among a group of motivated and dedicated individuals in communities across the United States.

May 24 Radio History

➦In 1844...Samuel F.B. Morse gave the first public demonstration of his telegraph by sending a message from the Supreme Court Chamber in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. to the B&O Railroad "outer depot" (now the B&O Railroad Museum) in Baltimore. The famous message was, "What hath God wrought?"

➦In 1935...The Mutual Broadcasting System network aired its inaugural live event—the first-ever night baseball game, between the Cincinnati Reds and the Philadelphia Phillies. That October, the network began a decades-long run as broadcaster of baseball's World Series, with airtime responsibilities shared between WGN's Bob Elson and Quin Ryan and WLW's Red Barber (NBC and CBS also carried the series that year; the Fall Classic would air on all three networks through 1938).

➦In 1958…Formally named "United Press Associations" for incorporation and legal purposes, but publicly known and identified as United Press or UP, the news agency was created by the 1907 uniting of three smaller news syndicates. It became United Press International after absorbing the International News Service (INS). As either UP or UPI, the agency was among the largest newswire services in the world, competing domestically for about 90 years with the Associated Press and internationally with AP, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.

➦In 1963...The Beatles recorded the first program of their own BBC radio series, “Pop Go the Beatles”. The theme song was a version of “Pop Goes the Weasel”.

➦In 1981...Radio, TV Actor and personality George Jessel, who often performed with the nickname “America’s Toastmaster General,” died after a heart attack at age 83.

➦In 2008...Comedian Dick Martin, a co-star with Dan Rowan on NBC TV’s iconic “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In”, died of respiratory problems at age 86.  Early in his career, Martin was a staff writer for Duffy's Tavern, a radio situation comedy.

➦In 2011…Veteran broadcaster Hugh Copland died at age 79.  He had stints at WJJJD-AM and WAIT-AM in Chicago, WXYZ-AM and WWJ-TV in Detroit.

San Diego Radio: The Ben & Woods Show To Air On KWFN

One of the shows at the late-Mighty 1090 sports-talk station has found a home.

“The Ben & Woods Show,” which aired on 1090-AM for 13 months before the station was shut down last month, will resurface at Entercom's KWFN 97.3 The Fan beginning June 10, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Ben Higgins, longtime sports director at KGTV Channel 10, and Steven Woods, a veteran radio host, will take over the 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. slot on 97.3-FM. That spot was held until last month by Dan Sileo, the same person Higgins and Woods replaced last year at 1090.

Bob Bolinger, senior vice president and market manager for Entercom San Diego, which owns 97.3-FM, declined comment on the hiring or whether there would be any other moves at the station. The only other regular local show on 97.3-FM features Tony Gwynn and Chris Ello from 3-7 p.m. Syndicated programming airs the rest of the time.

Higgins and Woods worked mornings at 1090. Darren Smith, who hosted a show in the early afternoon, and late-afternoon hosts Scott Kaplan and Billy Ray Smith, have not announced any future plans. Kaplan and Smith are still doing an online show from Callaway Golf headquarters in Carlsbad that’s available on YouTube.

The Mighty 1090, the highest-rated sports talk station in San Diego and a fixture in the market since 2003, went off the air April 10 after failing to make lease payments since January, according to the owner of the company that operated the signal.

The station continued to stream programming online and via mobile app for about three weeks before its parent company ceased operations April 29.

Boston Radio: Kirk Minihane EXITS Entercom

Kirk Minihane

Kirk Minihane, who brought big ratings and frequent controversy to the morning show at WEEI 93.7 boston.com.

FM before leaving in November, announced Tuesday he is no longer an employee of parent company Entercom, reports

Minihane had been in limbo since departing the “Kirk and Callahan” program, where he was a co-host since 2013.

He was supposed to host his own show on the Entercom-owned Radio.com app, and was still producing his popular podcast, “Enough About Me.”

But the Radio.com role was slow to materialize, and last week Minihane gave the company an ultimatum with a Periscope video in which he said he wanted his own channel on Radio.com and did not want to be involved with their sports-only programming.

“We have mutually agreed to part ways with Kirk and allow him to pursue other opportunities,’’ Entercom said in a statement. “Over the years, Kirk has been a valuable member of the WEEI team, and a host of the ‘Enough About Me’ podcast.

“We wish him all the best on his future endeavors.”

Minihane predicted on his Periscope, which aired live while he was walking the aisles of a CVS in Lexington, that Entercom would wish him well in those future endeavors. The sentiment was not mutual.

Goodbye forever, I will root hard for your failure at every turn. pic.twitter.com/gqgkbuj67m

— Kirk Minihane (@kirkmin) May 22, 2019

Minihane was front and center in WEEI’s morning show’s rise to a stretch of No. 1 finishes in the Nielsen Audio ratings, including the spring of 2017. “Mut and Callahan” was second in the winter ratings period released in April, but finished a significant distance behind rival station 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Toucher and Rich” program (12.2 to 7.7).

Minihane, who has been candid about his battles with depression and has said in the past that the stress of his work situation was a factor, said on his video that he has no intention of trying to find a similar role in this market.

Boston Radio: WBOS Adds Adam 12 for Middays

Adam 12

Beasley Media Group has announced Boston radio veteran Adam 12 has been named as the new Midday On-Air Personality at WBOS  Rock92.9 FM in Boston. His new show will air live Monday – Friday 11am-4pm beginning Monday June 3, 2019.

Mr. Adam12 most recently served as an on-air personality, imaging director and social media director at on-line station Indie617. He is best known for his on-air work at WFNX-FM and WBCN-FM in Boston.

“Adam 12 defines “The Next Generation of Classic Rock,” said Rock92.9 Program Director Ken West. “He’s a smart and witty local talent who’ll keep Rock92.9 listeners entertained with the right balance of music geekery and infotainment throughout the workday!”

“Rock92.9 captures so many of the sounds I grew up listening to and playing on the air in Boston,” said Adam 12. “I’m looking forward to getting back on the FM dial and helping Ken West and the team at Beasley make some noise on the airwaves with Rock92.9!”

“Adam 12 is a Boston Rock institution and we are so happy to be able to bring him back to the airwaves on a powerful FM station for all to hear,” said Beasley Boston Vice President and Market Manager, Mary Menna.

“As we assemble our air staff on the New Rock92.9, Adam 12 is a perfect fit,” said Director of Programming, Cadillac Jack. “Having been a fan of his for many years, I look forward to many more with us working and building a great brand together.”

Sacramento Radio: Joey Tack To Program Country KNCI

Joey Tack

Joey Tack has departed  SummMedia in Knoxville after 15 years to go to Bonneville's New Country  KNCI 105.1 FM in Sacramento.  He will be PD and host for middays starting July 1.

In Knoxville, Tack has been programming Top 40/Rhythmic WKHT Hot 104.5 FM.

"I am  both humbled and thrilled to be entrusted with the opportunity to take the experience I have gained and lead KNCI,” said Tack. “This is a heritage station with an incredible team of professionals, and I am excited to work with everyone at Bonneville International.” 
             
“We’ve spent a long time searching for the next programming leader of KNCI, but adding Joey to our team here in Sacramento makes the wait worth it” said Rufer. “His creativity and passion for creating remarkable radio is simply unmatched.”

MI Radio: Scotty Gunther Joins WCDY For PM Drive

Up North Radio’s Adult Hits WCDY 107.9 FM in Cadillac, MI has teamed up with Comedian, Author, and Speaker Scotty Gunther to create a very different PM Drive show on 1079 CDY. Gunther, simply known as “Scotty” will host the show weekdays from 3-6 PM.

Scotty Gunther

“We are experimenting to find a completely different style of radio content,” says Up North Radio owner Dom Theodore, “I’ve been very vocal about the need for radio to recapture its experimental roots, and Scotty and I have talked for years about the opportunity to completely change how radio content is done. Think of this as a laboratory for personality radio.”

“It was worth it for me to come out of the woods and upend the notion that radio personalities can’t be true performers,” said Scotty, “This industry needs a dose of actual entertainment, and this is the best place to do it without rules.”

Scotty’s previous work includes hosting the #1 rated PM Drive show on WKST in Pittsburgh, and Morning Host on WIOG and WTCF in Saginaw, MI, as well as many other stations across the country.

L-A Radio: Meruelo Media To Acquire KXOS-FM

Meruelo Media, a division of the Meruelo Group, announced Wednesday that it entered into agreement with 93.9 Holdings, Inc. and Grupo Radio Centro Los Angeles to purchase FM radio station KXOS 93.9 FM in Los Angeles. 

KXOS-FM will join the company’s existing cluster of KPWR, KDAY, KDEY-FM, KWHY-TV, and KBEH. The acquisition of KXOS follows Meruelo Media’s recent acquisition of station KLOS, Los Angeles which is expected to close in the third quarter of 2019. After customary government approvals, KXOS will be the seventh station in Meruelo’s Los Angeles broadcast station cluster.

“The acquisition of 93.9 FM KXOS is a key piece in our media division expansion strategy,” stated Alex Meruelo, Chairman and CEO. “Our group has done an amazing job curating some of the most recognizable local media brands into one extremely powerful portfolio.”

Otto Padron, President and COO of Meruelo Media added: “What an amazing few weeks these have been! Adding these spectacular call-letters to our full-market FM radio station SOCAL cluster authenticates our hyper-local media strategy to super-serve clients, partners and our community. We are also looking forward to a productive multimedia content relationship with our friends of Grupo Radio Centro Mexico.”

KXOS 93.9 FM (18.5 Kw) Courtesy of  RecNet.com.

Padron stated that Meruelo Media will also launch with Grupo Radio Centro an all-news Spanish language format using one of 93.9 KXOS’s HD Radio channels. In addition, they will work with the Mexican broadcaster to develop other multimedia content for Meruelo’s KWHY 22-TV. Meruelo Media expects the transaction to be completed in the third quarter of 2019, after customary regulatory approvals are obtained.

Reading Radio: Deep Cuts Anticipated At The Reading Eagle

Yesterday, we learned that the potential new owner plans to shutdown WEEU 830 AM upon closing.  Unless a buyer is found. Today, we're learning extensive personnel cuts are anticipated at The Reading Eagle in Reading, PA.

MediaNews, also known as Digital First Media, is acquiring the Reading Eagle Co. as an asset purchase and does not have to retain employees or match their compensation and benefits. Digital First will hire new employees and those not rehired won’t receive severance, according to philly.com.

Even before Digital First Media became the lone qualified bidder last week, Reading Eagle Co. -- it includes WEEU radio, a weekly and an events division, in addition to the Eagle -- warned of the possibility of massive layoffs in a WARN notice filed with the state Department of Labor and Industry.

“They haven’t told us anything,” said an Eagle newsroom staffer who spoke of Digital First Media’s plans. “They are keeping everyone in the dark. People are pissed.” The staffer was not authorized to speak and asked to remain anonymous.

MediaNews was the only qualified bidder for the Reading Eagle, which has lost $2 million through March 31. Other newspapers that MediaNews has acquired out of bankruptcy include the Boston Herald and the Orange County Register in California.

Peter Barbey, the Reading Eagle’s chief executive officer and one of the richest men in America, had subsidized the newspaper with $250,000 a month to keep it operating but threw in the towel in March. His family is worth billions of dollars through clothing manufacturer and marketer VF Corp.

The Eagle was founded by Jesse G. Hawley and William S. Ritter in 1868 and has been owned by Hawley’s descendants since then. In the 1950s, author John Updike worked several summers as a copy boy at the Eagle and also wrote several feature articles.

ESPN Radio Reports More Growth For Stephen A Smith

According to ESPN The Stephen A. Smith Show, 1-3 p.m. ET every weekday on ESPN Radio and simulcast on ESPNEWS since August, has added a fourth consecutive month to its trend of year-over-year growth. The show was up 6 percent in audience (M25-54, AQH) for PPM terrestrial radio markets during the month of April over 2018, according to Nielsen.

The Stephen A. Smith Show in the Los Angeles and New York markets also saw significant, double-digit, year-over-year audience increases in April of 41 percent and 30 percent, respectively.

In April, time spent listening for the Stephen A. Smith Show was up 15 percent over 2018 – also marking the fourth consecutive month of year-over-year growth in that category.

Hartford Radio: Mike Crispino Renews With iHM's WUCS

iHeartMedia/Hartford has reached a new agreement with Mike Crispino  as UConn Football & Basketball play-by-play announcer on Sports WUCS 97.9 ESPN.

Mike Crispino

He's a member of the UConn Radio Broadcast Team and covers play-by-play for UConn Football, UConn Men's Basketball and UConn Baseball. Crispino is also known for his work on the MSG Network as the radio voice for the NBA's New York Knicks as well as the NHL's New York Rangers, the NFL's New York Giants and Rutgers Football.

"I'm thrilled to extend my agreement with iHeartMedia and UConn for the next several years," said Crispino. "It's been a pleasure and a privilege to work with sports broadcast pros like Wayne Norman this past year as well as insightful and charismatic coaches and administrators like Randy Edsall, Dan Hurley, Jim Penders and David Benedict. I truly look forward to contributing to the expansion of the UConn brand and fan base across the region."

"We're thrilled that Mike Crispino will continue to make 97.9 ESPN and the UConn Radio Network his home for many years to come," said added iHeartMedia Hartford Region President Steve Honeycomb. "His passion for the team, our listeners and the UConn community is remarkable."