Cumulus Files Countersuit Against Paul Finebaum.
Cumulus Media has now filed a countersuit against Sports Talk afternoon host Paul Finebaum, in the ongoing contract dispute between him and former Citadel station WJOX-FM, Birmingham. The Cumulus suit charges that Finebaum violated his contract by talking to a competing station about moving his show as early as 2009, disclosing confidential information in the process. Finebaum’s suit against Citadel, before the Cumulus acquisition, which moved from state to federal court and back again, has now been reassigned by a Circuit Judge to the county’s commercial litigation docket.
Finebaum’s suit claims that Citadel used coercion to get him to sign an unfavorable amendment to his contract and threatened to cancel his show if he did not sign. Popular belief is that the sports talker wants to exit WJOX-FM to join Cox crosstown “97.3 The Zone” WNCB-FM. For now, however, despite the legal battles, he remains in afternoons at the Cumulus station.
Bryan Suits Exits KOGO-AM-FM, San Diego.
Talker Bryan Suits has exited Clear Channel News Talk KOGO-AM-FM, San Diego. Suits, who had done the show from his home in Seattle, posted news of his exit on Twitter and Facebook: “So, just to be clear, KOGO and I agreed that I could do the Noon-2 (eventually 3) show from Seattle. When a change to 3-6p was floated, we couldn’t agree on what it would take to move to San Diego.”
Bev Rainey Upped to PD at KBQI-FM, Albuquerque.
Clear Channel Country “Big I 107.9″ KBQI-FM, Albuquerque, promotes Assistant PD and afternoon host Bev Rainey to Program Director. She will also continue her afternoon show. “I’m very excited for Bev, and this is something that has been a long time coming,” says Operations Manager Tony Manero. “She’s worked and learned so much over the last several years, and is ready to unleash that knowledge into making KBQI the dominant Country music station in the market.” Regional Market Manager Chuck Hammond adds, “Bev has been a big part of the Big I since it signed on. She will make Big I once again the leader in the Albuquerque Country battle.”
Rover’s Morning Glory Extends in Cleveland.
Rock WMMS-FM, Cleveland, announces a multi-year contract extension for Rover’s Morning Glory, led by Shane “Rover” French, a 15 year radio veteran. The show is also heard in Rochester, broadcasting from WMMS-FM. “We’re extremely excited to extend our relationship with Rover and his team for several more years,” says Clear Channel Cleveland Operations Manager Keith Abrams. “Cleveland listeners and many more iHeartRadio listeners clearly love Rover’s Morning Glory. We’re thrilled to have such a popular morning show on 100.7 WMMS.” Rover tells us, “The last few years went by quickly. When we moved to WMMS in 2008, we felt that Clear Channel believed in our vision and was focused on growing the show in a major way. We are happy with our joint success over the last few years and look forward to continued morning dominance.”
Cumulus Brings ‘Great Country’ to Kalamazoo.
Cumulus brings its new “Great Country” featuring “The 90s to Now” to Kalamazoo, Michigan, on a translator as “Great Country 102.5″ launches with 10,000 songs in a row. The station is on translator W273AR, licensed to Paw Paw,
operating with 250 watts. The translator is fed by the HD2 multicast channel of WKFR-FM (103.3). “Great Country 102.5″ directly competes with Clear Channel Country “B93″ WBCT-FM, Grand Rapids, which also serves Kalamazoo. “Great Country” also is offering some competition to Midwest Communications “Win 98.5″ WNWN-FM, Coldwater, which has a fringe signal in Kalamazoo. Cumulus has previously launched the “Great Country” brand in Cincinnati and is expected to expand it to additional areas in the future.
WABB-FM Mobile Set to Flip Under New Owner.
Longtime CHR-Top40 WABB-FM, Mobile, is coming to an end. The station is set to flip formats March 1, after being sold to non-profit Christian broadcaster Educational Media Foundation. Founder Bernie Dittman bought WABB-AM in 1959 and put WABB-FM on the air in 1973. Dittman passed away 2006, but the stations remained in the Dittman family. However, they no longer live in the Mobile area. The founder’s widow Judith Dittman says, “This was a very difficult and emotional decision for our family. WABB-FM has enjoyed decades of success and being an integral part of the Mobile-Pensacola communities. But the time has come for us to move into another phase of life and spend more time together as a family. WABB has appreciated the support that its listeners, the city of Mobile and its advertisers have shown us over the years.”
EMF, which offers Christian networks K-Love and Air-1, will begin operating the station under an LMA March 1.
Final ‘MJ’ Show Airs.
Todd “MJ Kelli” Schnitt ends his morning show at CHR-Top40 WFLZ-FM, Tampa, and retires the MJ identity. He’s now signed off from his final “MJ Morning Show,” after 18 years, saying: “We had a great run here.” As previously reported,
Schnitt is retiring from morning radio to concentrate on his syndicated afternoon talk “Schnitt Show” that originates from WFLA-AM, and airs in 50 other markets around the country. “If it weren’t for the listeners, then I wouldn’t have been here doing the MJ Morning Show for 18 years,” says Schnitt’s alter ego MJ Kelli.
CBS Local Digital Media Launches New Facebook App.
CBS Local Digital Media launches a new app for users to add to their Facebook timeline to share news, traffic and weather with their friends and learn more about the day’s headlines and what’s happening locally or in other major markets across the country. Anyone who visits CBS Local Digital Media’s New York (www.cbsnewyork.com) or Los Angeles (www.cbsla.com) websites can add the app to enhance their Facebook timeline in real time with links to stories they’ve read, as well as local conditions in their hometown or places they’re planning on visiting. “Sharing with your friends what you’re learning about the world outside your door has more meaning today than it ever has, and this app makes it easy to build connections by telling the story of your life through your activities online,” says Ezra Kucharz at CBS Local Digital Media.
Most Listeners Satisfied with Radio.
In a follow-up to the recent report on listeners satisfaction with their favorite radio station, Mark Kassof Co. says the majority – but not an overwhelming majority – are satisfied with radio in general. Some 34% rate their satisfaction “five” on a five-point scale, representing “100% satisfied.” An additional 26% are mostly satisfied, rating their satisfaction “four.” Overt dissatisfaction with radio is low. Only 10% rate their satisfaction “two,” and only 5% rate their satisfaction “one” – “not at all satisfied.” Overall listener satisfaction averages 3.7 on the five-point scale.
Passings. Clear Channel “101 The Beat” WUBT-FM, Nashville, morning co-host Curtis “Scooby” Senior has died at the age of 33. Senior has worked at the station as one half of the “Dolewite and Scooby” morning show since “The Beat” signed on in Nashville in 2001 … Longtime Birmingham Country radio personality Patti Wheeler has died following surgery for the removal of brain tumors at UAB Hospital in Birmingham. She was 71. Wheeler is best known from the “Patti and the Doc” show with the late Tom “Doc” Atkinson on WZZK-FM.
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