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.
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.
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.
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.
SiriusXM CEO Mel Karmazin Sets Up Charity.
SiriusXM CEO Mel Karmazin has adopted a trading plan for SiriusXM securities in connection with his philanthropic efforts.
The trading plan, under Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, will begin in April. Karmazin is expected to exercise 60 million options to purchase SiriusXM shares. Shares underlying the options will be sold to cover the price to exercise the options and the remaining shares will be sold with the proceeds delivered to Karmazin. With a recent closing price of $2.15 the proceeds would be $103.2 million before taxes and brokerage fees. Rule 10b5-1 allows corporate executives to adopt prearranged trading plans when they are not in possession of material, non-public information. Following the sale of shares, Karmazin will still own over 68 million shares and options of SiriusXM.
John and Ken Suspended for Whitney Houston Comments.
Talk KFI-AM, Los Angeles, has suspended afternoon hosts John and Ken — John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou — for “insensitive and inappropriate comments about the late Whitney Houston.” Kobylt made comments concerning Houston’s reputed drug use. “She’s been cracked out for 20 years,” was only the start of a series of remarks about the late singer. And it got worse. “KFI-AM 640 management does not condone, support or tolerate statements of this kind,” says a statement issued by the station. Kobylt now says, “We made a mistake, and we accept the station’s decision. We used language that was inappropriate, and we sincerely apologize to our listeners and to the family of Ms. Houston.” John and Ken will return to the air Monday.
New York’s ‘Kiss FM’ Will Broadcast Whitney Houston Funeral Service.
Emmis Urban AC “98.7 Kiss FM” WRKS-FM, New York, will broadcast Saturday’s Whitney Houston funeral service from
the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark. Program Director Jay Dixon says, “On behalf of the family of Whitney Elizabeth Houston, 98.7 Kiss FM will broadcast her service this Saturday starting at noon. We’re providing this service to our community and for her fans that are unable to attend, but want to celebrate her going home. We are thankful for the honor.”
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.
Super PAC Aims for Conservative Talk Listeners.
The “Winning Our Future” Super PAC, which promotes the candidacy of Newt Gingrich, is targeting conservative talk shows including those of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Mark Levin. The PAC is buying spots on those shows including one that asks if the listeners are “tired of the Republican establishment telling you to hold your nose and vote for their moderate candidates.”
U.S. Attorney Files Objection To Inner City Bankruptcy Sale.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York has filed an objection in bankruptcy court to the proposed sale of the assets of Inner City Broadcasting Corporation. U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara says the sale is being pursued to avoid taxes without cash flowing to the estate. The filing alleges that the Inner City Chapter 11 petition doesn’t “appear to have been maintained in good faith.” The filing adds, “Debtors have no intention of even attempting to reorganize under chapter 11. Nor do they intend to even seek to file a liquidating plan under chapter 11. Rather, the only purpose of this chapter 11 proceeding appears to be to allow the Senior Lenders to foreclose upon their collateral – an action which they could have pursued outside of bankruptcy – while obtaining the benefits of the ‘free and clear’ provisions that are unique to chapter 363 sales.”
Dial Global Appoints Jacqueline Cohen National Account Manager.
Dial Global appoints Jacqueline Cohen as National Account Manager, based in Los Angles and reporting directly to EVP of National Sales Chris Long. Cohen was most recently with Cumulus Media Networks where she held various sales positions since 2001. “It’s exciting whenever you can add someone as talented as Jacqueline to your team,” says Long. “She is a perfect fit for Dial Global and will do a great job representing us to the major agencies and advertisers on the West Coast.” Cohen adds, “I am excited to join the team at Dial Global and for the opportunity to help advertisers meet their challenges through an impressive lineup of programming.”
Learfield Names Marty Gausvik CFO.
Learfield Communications names former Cumulus CFO Marty Gausvik as Learfield’s Chief Financial Officer.
Learfield Communications CEO Greg Brown tells us, “Marty brings to Learfield a wealth of experience as a seasoned veteran in the media industry, and he will be a perfect addition to our senior management team at Learfield. This is an exciting time for our company, and we are thrilled to have Marty join us.” Gausvik adds, “I’m excited to join Learfield, a company that has a tremendous culture and great relationships with its employees, partners and sponsors. This is a terrific opportunity for me, and I look forward to working with the Learfield team in continuing to build a great business.”
Gausvik was Cumulus Media EVP/CFO for nine years until 2009.
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