Chattanooga Radio: Nichole Hartman to Manage Entercom Cluster

Nichole Hartman

Entercom today announced the appointment of Nichole Hartman as Senior Vice President and Market Manager for Entercom Chattanooga overseeing CHR WKXJ 103.7 Kiss FM, AC WLND 98.1 The Lake, Rock WRXR 105.5 FM and CountryWUSY  100.7 FM US101 effective December 18, 2017.

Hartman previously served as the General Sales Manager for Cox Media Group Jacksonville.

“Nichole’s leadership and business expertise will be instrumental in Chattanooga and we are thrilled to have her back at Entercom,” said Brian Purdy, Entercom’s Regional President.

“I am honored to join the Entercom team in Chattanooga. I admire the values of the company and their leadership, and I am excited about where we are heading,” said Hartman. “I am looking forward to working with an amazing group of brands and A-level talent in East Tennessee.”

Hartmant is a seasoned radio executive who was a General Sales Manager at Entercom Greenville from 2007-2013 prior to joining Cox Media Group. While at Entercom, she was recognized for her efforts with a President’s Circle award in 2010. In 2016, she was a Radio Wayne award finalist.

Disney-Fox Deal: Iger Likely to Stay On as CEO

Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Robert Iger will likely stay on past his 2019 retirement date if the entertainment company wins its bid to buy the entertainment assets of 21st Century Fox Inc., according to people familiar with the negotiations.

According to The Wall Street Journal, 21st Century Fox and its executive chairman, Rupert Murdoch, requested as part of the potential sale that Mr. Iger stay on past his planned July 2019 retirement to assist with the integration of assets, valued today at $40 billion, and strategic repositioning of the combined businesses, according to some of these people.

A deal could be announced as soon as late next week, people with knowledge of the talks said.

If the deal goes through, it likely wouldn’t close until late 2018. Disney would then spend much of 2019 integrating the two companies’ assets, including cable-television networks, international TV distributors and a film and television studio.

Disney’s aim is to use all those assets to transform itself into a powerhouse in the online, direct-to-consumer media business capable of taking on rivals like Netflix Inc. Mr. Iger has staked his legacy as CEO on leading that transformation.

Iger has previously announced four different retirement dates during his 12-year tenure: In 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019.

The Disney-Fox deal isn’t guaranteed to go through, and if it doesn’t, Mr. Iger could proceed with his current retirement plan. Comcast Corp. is also pursuing Fox assets, The Wall Street Journal has reported.

Miami Radio: Andy Holt To Program AC WLYF, Classic Hits WMXJ

Andy Holt

Entercom has named 33-year industry vet Andy Holt as Program Director for AC WLYF 101.5 FM and Classic Hits WMXJ 102.7 FM The Beach)/Miami, effective January 2.

Holt was most recently Program Director at co-owned KOSI-FM/Denver and prior to that, he was with KOIT-FM/San Francisco. He previously served as OM of WLMG-FM (Magic 101.9)/New Orleans, and Classic Rock WKBU-FM (Bayou 95.7) where he spent 11 years. Holt began his career at KSCS/Dallas.

"I couldn't be more excited to bring Andy Holt back to Entercom. His coaching style, leadership skills, and proven track record with the Adult Contemporary format will ensure WLYF Lite FM and WMXJ-FM The Beach continue to dominate the Miami market," said Entercom South Florida Market Manager and Senior VP Keriann Worley.

"Ecstatic, grateful. Those two words best describe how I feel to be returning to Entercom. I spent thirteen terrific years with the company from 2000-2013. The Miami-Ft. Lauderdale group comprises an amazing array of brands," said Holt. "With Lite, I'll have the privilege of continuing the growth and evolution of one of America's premier AC brands. My thanks to SVP/Market Manager Keriann Worley, Regional VP Doug Abernethy and President of Programming Pat Paxton for this great opportunity."

WLYF 101.5 AM (100 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area

Philly Radio: Angelo Cataldi Re-Ups At WIP

Angelo Cataldi

Off and on for the past seven years, SportsRadio 94.1 WIP’s Angelo Cataldi has been threatening to retire from his popular Angelo Cataldi and the Morning Team show, which he’s hosted for nearly 30 years.

But, according to philly.com, despite emergency gallbladder surgery that knocked him off the air for nearly two weeks in November, Cataldi isn’t ready to walk away from the microphone just yet.

Sports WIP 94.1 announced Wednesday morning that it has renewed the contract of its most marketable radio star. He will remain in his familiar role hosting the station’s morning show alongside Al Morganti, Rhea Hughes and Keith Jones.

Terms were not disclosed. His contract was set to expire at the end of the month.

Despite threats of retirement, Cataldi himself had been hinting lately that he’d be around longer. He’s been pushing for contestants to compete in February in Wing Bowl, the 26th year of the popular glutinous event Cataldi created and hosts.

Cataldi’s decision to remain at the station is a relief to program director Spike Eskin, who already had to plug a big hole in his lineup last month when afternoon host Chris Carlin was plucked by WIP’s sister station, WFAN in New York City, to join a three-man team replacing the retiring Mike Francesa. Fortunately, Eskin had stashed former 97.5 The Fanatic host Jon Marks in the evenings, and was able to slide him into the afternoon slot easily.

Cataldi remains a ratings powerhouse for WIP. During the 2017 summer ratings book, which uses data gathered for a three-month period to measure the popularity of stations and shows, Cataldi grew his ratings 22 percent over last year, easily outpacing rival Anthony Gargano at WPEN 97.5 The Fanatic.

Des Moines Radio: KDXA Adds The Woody Show

iHeartMedia/Des Moines announced Wednesday the debut of The Woody Show, effective December 11, 2017 on KDXA ALT 106.3, Des Moines’ Alternative Rock. The top-rated morning show will broadcast Monday through Saturday from 6 – 10 a.m. CT.

The Woody Show is highly-interactive, socially-engaging appointment radio.  Featuring Woody, along with co-hosts Ravey, Greg Gory, Menace and Sebas, The Woody Show is described by listeners as “authentic,” “raw,” “unapologetic,” and “recess/happy hour on the radio.” In 2016, the popular program was a NAB Marconi Radio Award finalist for “Major Market Personality of the Year,” and it was launched into national syndication by Premiere Networks in 2017. Fans can follow the show on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

“Thanks to all the ALT 106.3 muckity mucks who had the bright idea to add us to the line-up,” stated Woody. “We are excited to expose Des Moines to our unique brand of…whatever this is.”

KDXA 106.3 FM (25 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area

“Alternative Rock fans in Des Moines have been dying to have a morning show to call their own,” stated Dustin Fletcher, Director of Alternative Rock Programming for iHeartMedia’s St. Louis Region.  “We are ecstatic to bring in Woody, Ravey, Greg, Menace, and Sebas to completely shake up mornings in one of America’s coolest and fastest-growing cities.”

NOLA Radio: WEZB Pulls Plug On 'Afternoon Swirl'

"The Afternoon Swirl," the daily show on New Orleans radio station CHR WEZB B97.1 featuring on-air personalities Stevie G and TPot, has come to an end after 11 years.

Stevie G, whose real name is Steven Guggenheimer, confirmed the news on his personal Facebook page this week, according to nola.com.

He followed that up with posts revealing that he is no longer with the station -- along with taking a few shots at station management -- although it was unclear whether he left on his own accord or if he was let go. Wednesday afternoon (Dec. 6), station management confirmed Guggenheimer's departure and the cancellation of "The Afternoon Swirl," a daily look at pop culture, news and relationships that started in 2006.

TPot, whose real name is Tierza Guggenhemier -- and who this year announced her off-air separation from Steven Guggenheimer, the father of her two children -- is still with the station. Wednesday, she was hosting solo during the old "Afternoon Swirl" time slot.

Earlier in the day, she addressed the end of "The Afternoon Swirl" with a message posted to the B97 website.

"Stevie is my best friend," she wrote. "It has been an honor to do the Afternoon Swirl with him since March 6th 2006. We did our best to help New Orleans heal and rebuild after Katrina with our engagement stories, and we opened our family and our lives up to all of our listeners. He will be greatly missed....even tho I'm gonna see him daily. Our family would love for you to keep us in your prayers as we move into a new phase of our relationship as forever friends and coparents to our two children Natty and Chloe."

Detroit Radio: Cumulus Promotes Kendall Taylor, 3 Others

Cumulus Media announces that it has promoted four programming professionals across its Detroit radio station group. Concurrently:

• Matt Laurenic rises from Producer to Executive Producer of the Blaine Fowler Morning Show on WDVD-FM. 
• Mike Gagliano becomes FM Production Director and Programming Coordinator from his previous role as Production Director
• Adam Ficorelli, formerly with the Street Team, was named Promotions Manager/Swing Air Talent for WDRQ-FM.
• Cumulus also announces the promotion of Kendall Taylor as Assistant Program Director and Midday Host for Hot AC radio station WDVD-FM. Taylor was previously WDVD weekend personality and interim Midday Host. She has held on-air positions at radio stations in Dallas, Norfolk, and Myrtle Beach and was overnight jock at WDVD in 2005. In addition to her duties at WDVD, Taylor will continue to be heard as a host on Westwood One’s 24-hour Hot AC format.

Kendall Taylor

Robby Bridges, Director of FM Programming, Cumulus Media-Detroit, said: “To better reflect the scope of their existing duties at Cumulus Detroit, we are excited to promote Matt Laurenic from Producer to Executive Producer of the Blaine Fowler Morning Show, Mike Gagliano to FM Production Director and Programming Coordinator and Adam Ficorelli to Promotions Manager/Swing air talent for WDRQ. Congratulations to our all-star team!”

Bridges added: “From her mad social media and production skills to her ability to create meaningful, memorable content over 10-second song intros, and her positive team-oriented attitude, Kendall has it all and really stood out as the perfect choice to compliment our personality-driven line-up at 96.3 WDVD.”

Taylor said: “I couldn’t be prouder or more excited to be part of the WDVD team. I gotta thank John Shomby and Mike McVay for being long-time believers in me and thanks to Robby Bridges, Mike Wheeler and Rob Roberts for this amazing opportunity in Detroit. Let’s rock this!”

Richmond Radio: John Reid Added To WRVA Morning Show

Entercom has announced John Reid as the new morning show host of NewsRadio WRVA 1140 AM, Richmond’s No. 1 News, Weather and Traffic Station. The show airs weekdays from 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

John Reid

“John is a Richmond area native and has already developed a great connection with Richmond during his tenure at Channel 8, WRIC,” said Zac Davis, Entercom Richmond’s Senior Vice President of Programming. “We’re ecstatic to be able to secure someone of John’s stature and pedigree for WRVA.”

“It’s a full circle for me to return home. Former Host Tim Timberlake gave me my first on air interview on the WRVA Morning Show when I was growing up back in 1986,” said Reid. “I’m excited to become WRVA’s newest Morning Show Host, especially following Jimmy Barrett.”

John Reid joins WRVA from the Veterans Administration and Sirius Radio’s “The Patriot Channel.”

WRVA 1140 AM (50 Kw, DA)

Entercom Richmond owns and operates WRVA-AM, WRNL-AM, WRVQ-FM, WTVR-FM, WRXL-FM, WBTJ-FM, WRVQ-HD2 and WRXL-HD2.

NYC Radio: WNYC Suspends Lopate, Schwartz

Leonard Lopate

The crisis at WNYC over workplace harassment deepened on Wednesday, as two longtime hosts, Leonard Lopate and Jonathan Schwartz, were placed on immediate leave, “pending an investigation into accusations of inappropriate conduct," according to a statement from Laura Walker, president and CEO of New York Public Radio.

Lopate has hosted the Leonard Lopate Show for 32 years. Jonathan Schwartz hosts The Jonathan Channel online, and has a music show on Sundays. The suspensions come on the heels of news that a former WNYC host, John Hockenberry, bullied and harassed colleagues over the course of almost a decade. Hockenberry has apologized.

WNYC management did not clarify what Lopate and Schwartz are accused of. Lopate was escorted from the building on Wednesday morning after meeting with Chief Content Officer Dean Cappello.

“I have done nothing wrong, and I am really sad that my reputation may be damaged, despite the fact that I have not done anything that I know of that could have led to this situation,” Lopate said in an interview with WNYC News.

Jonathan Schwartz

Schwartz declined to comment.

WNYC News has spoken with several women who have made complaints about Schwartz and Lopate. On Tuesday, a new complaint was filed against Lopate.

According to The NYTimes, Lopate and Schwartz have been part of the fabric of New York cultural life for decades.

“The Leonard Lopate Show,” with its often leisurely interviews of politicians, authors, composers and chefs, has featured guests including Joseph R. Biden Jr., Catherine Deneuve, Ang Lee, Alice Munro, Barack Obama, Stephen Sondheim and John Updike.

Schwartz, a onetime cabaret singer who has published fiction and criticism in his time away from the microphone, first appeared on New York City radio in 1958, when he played a Frank Sinatra song on WBAI. He is known as an authority on Sinatra and the standards of jazz and pop.