FCC Expands Local LPFM Opportunities

The FCC Friday (Nov. 30) released a Fifth Order on Reconsideration and Sixth Report and Order that expands low power radio opportunities. The Commission said that processing approximately 6,000 FM translator applications and setting the rules of the road for LPFM are the last steps necessary before opening a window for community groups to seek new low power FM licenses starting in October 2013. The Orders follow the Commission's Fourth Report and Order and Fourth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking adopted on March 19, 2012. A number of petitions were filed for reconsideration of the Fourth Report and Order, challenging the per-market or the national caps on translator applications that will be processed. The Fifth Order on Reconsideration establishes a national limit of 70 applications so long as no more than 50 of them are inside of the Appendix A markets. It also increases the per-market cap in 156 larger markets from one application to up to three applications for each market and clarifies the application of the per-market cap in "embedded" markets.

The Sixth Report and Order lays the groundwork for introduction of LPFM stations into major urban markets for the first time. It establishes, as mandated by the Local Community Radio Act, a second-adjacent channel spacing waiver standard and an interference-remediation scheme to ensure that operations of stations with these waivers will not cause interference to other stations. The Order also creates separate third-adjacent channel interference remediation regimes for short-spaced and fully-spaced LPFM stations. The rules address the potential for predicted interference to FM translator input signals from LPFM stations operating on third-adjacent channels. The Sixth Report and Order additionally makes a number of rule changes to better promote the core localism and diversity goals of LPFM service. Specifically, the revised rules modify the point system used to select from among mutually exclusive LPFM applications by adding new criteria to promote the establishment and staffing of a main studio, radio service proposals by Tribal Nations to serve Tribal lands, and new entry into radio broadcasting. Additionally, a "bonus" point is added for applicants that are eligible for both the local program origination and main studio points; clarify that the localism requirement applies not just to LPFM applicants but also to LPFM permittees and licensees. Additionally, it would permit cross-ownership of an LPFM station and up to two FM translator stations, but impose restrictions on such cross-ownership in order to ensure that the LPFM service retains its extremely local focus.

Larry Wilson Buying Triad Broadcasting

The official announcement has now been made. Alpha Broadcasting CEO Larry Wilson has purchased Triad Broadcasting. Although the price of $21 million is being widely reported, an official announcement of the sale price has yet to be made. Triad currently has 32 radio stations in five markets -- Peoria, Fargo, Biloxi, Hilton Head, and Bluefield. The Triad group will be renamed L&L Radio for "Live and Local" and will be run separately from Alpha Broadcasting. A longtime Wilson associate, Bob Fuller, will be part of the new company as will Bob Proffitt, along with Donna Heffner, and Scott Mahalick. Wilson, the original founder and former CEO of Citadel Broadcasting, formed Alpha Broadcasting to acquire six stations in Portland, Oregon. This will be Wilson's first latter day venture outside of the Portland market. Confirming the deal, Wilson says in a statement, "We are very excited about the acquisition of the radio assets of Triad. After visiting each market and meeting with the great people David has assembled, we are more energized than ever to grow dominant clusters, assemble world-class talent and develop even more live and local programming to serve the wonderful communities that are home to these radio stations." Triad CEO David Benjamin says, "We could not be more proud of our stations and the great people who staff them. Our quality personnel, service to our communities, and financial track record have truly set a standard for small- and mid-market radio. We are absolutely delighted to turn these properties over to L&L CEO Larry Wilson and his team, with whom we are like-minded regarding both the critical importance of professional local staffing and the necessity of excellence in local programming. We wish Larry every success as he builds on this Triad foundation." The transaction, which now goes to the FCC for approval, is anticipated to close in the spring of 2013. Waller Capital was the sole financial advisor to Triad. Piper Jaffray & Co. assisted L&L Broadcasting in the transaction.

News Briefs

Kenny Jay Named Minneapolis 'BUZN@102.9' APD. Kenny Jay is named Assistant Program Director at CBS Radio Country "BUZN@102.9" KMNB-FM, Minneapolis, effective December 17. Jay, a Milwaukee native, comes to the Twin Cities from Savannah, Georgia, where he was Program Director of "Bob 106.9" WUBB-FM. Operations Manager Rob Morris tells us, "I believe Kenny is a great, up and coming programmer who understands all facets of what it takes to win and compete in today's media. I'm very excited that he is joining the team at the new BUZN@102.9 and CBS Radio Twin Cities." Says Jay, "Rob Morris and Mick Anselmo have a great vision for the BUZ'N brand and I'm thrilled to be part of such a talented staff. Plus, relocating my family close to home is icing on the cake."

Todd Schnitt Leaving Tampa's WFLA-AM. Syndicated talker Todd Schnitt says he will leave his home base for his show, WFLA-AM, Tampa. His final day there, he says, will be December 18. He emphasizes, though, that his syndicated talk show will continue via Compass Media Networks. Schnitt had previously worked for two stations in Tampa, WFLA-AM with the talk show, and sister CHR-Top40 WFLZ-FM, hosting mornings as MJ Kelli. He eventually gave up the morning show in favor of his afternoon talk show. So far there's no explanation of why he's leaving WFLA-AM, or where he will be based for the syndicated show, although he says his network of affiliate stations will soon expand.

Jen Hobby Crosses the Hall in Atlanta. Earlier this week, we were told (and reported) that Jenn Hobby will leave the "Bert Show" morning program at "Q100" WWWQ-FM, Atlanta, December 7, to become a fulltime mother. It is true she's leaving the "Bert Show" and it's true that she's pregnant with her first child, but she's not leaving radio. We now learn Hobby will be the new midday host at "Q100" sister Country "Kicks 101.5" WKHX-FM, Atlanta. That was kept under wraps until Sari Rose was let go, with Hobby to replace her. Rose joined "Kicks 101.5" as a fill-in in 2007 and became midday host a couple of years later. Hobby's new gig, her first solo hosting job, has now been announced on the "Bert Show" with Bert Weiss commenting, "I'm jealous of all the sleep you’re going to get." Hobby says she wanted a new challenge.

Clear Channel Dallas Names Chris Daly VP of Sales. Clear Channel Dallas appoints Chris Daly as VP of Sales, responsible for advertising, brand partnerships and sales operations for the six station cluster. Daly, a veteran of the market, joins Clear Channel Dallas from KDAF-TV, where he was a Local Sales Manager. "Chris is a proven leader in the industry and is recognized throughout the market," says Clear Channel Dallas President and Market Manager Kelly Kibler. "I am thrilled to have Chris join our team. He will definitely give our Sales Team a unique advantage to create winning relationships with our partners in Dallas." EVP of Operations for Major Markets West Hartley Adkins adds, "We are excited to have Chris Daly join the Clear Channel Media Entertainment Dallas team. He is an accomplished sales leader and his background will be a tremendous asset to the future success of the Dallas market."

Laura Ingraham Says She Will Be Back on Radio 'Very Soon'. Following her expected "surprise" exit from Talk Radio Network, Laura Ingraham says she will be back on radio within a week, but hints her new show may be different than the one she hosted on TRN. Although the syndicator says her sudden exit several days ago caught them by "surprise," Ingraham says she told them months ago that she'd be leaving when her contract ended in late November. She now says she's "very close" to "signing a new deal." Ingraham was neither confirmed nor denied reports she's working out the final details of a deal with Clear Channel that would have she show distributed by Premiere Networks with a provision for an iHeartRadio platform as part of the agreement. Her new show, she hints, may be "more entertainment oriented" than her former TRN program.

NPR's TED Radio Hour Expands with New Host. NPR and TED are expanding the "TED Radio Hour" to make it a weekly program while adding a new host. NPR's Guy Raz joins the show from "All Things Considered," where he's been the weekend host since July 2009. The program has aired on more than 250 NPR member stations since it debuted as a 10-episode pilot earlier this year. The new season is scheduled to start in March. NPR describes the show as "A journey through fascinating ideas, astonishing inventions, and new ways to think and create, based on riveting TEDTalks from the world's most remarkable minds." NPR VP of Programming Eric Nuzum tells us, "The audience's response to the concepts and energy generated by this show was, quite simply, overwhelming. With 'the idea' as its only mandate, there's an infinite well for Guy and our producers to draw from -- the perfect recipe for great radio."

NAB Favors Easing Cross-Ownership Rules. No surprise here. NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith says the broadcasters association favors the FCC's plans to ease media cross-ownership rules. In an on-air interview with Jim Bohannon, Smith said it's time to rethink the "antiquated" rules that have, as a general rule, prevented newspapers from owning radio and TV stations or broadcast media also operating newspapers in the same market. The FCC is reportedly close to easing those rules for the Top 20 markets. Smith told Bonannon that "there's concern out there about the survivability of hard journalism" because of the onslaught of information the Internet now provides. Smith said, "We don't think the rules should be totally eliminated. But we think the rules were developed in the days of 'I Love Lucy' and are completely antiquated for the purposes of today's marketplace of information."

Critics to FCC: Slow Down on Easing Media Cross-Ownership Restrictions. Critics of media ownership concentration – including civil rights organizations, unions and public interest groups – are demanding the FCC to slow down on "lifting longstanding media ownership limits" and urging the Commission to first finish diversity studies. In a news conference, or more correctly teleconference, Free Press President Craig Aaron threatened to sue the FCC again, as they did in 2007, if new media ownership rules are approved before the Commission completes diversity studies. "If they move forward without public input, then I believe we will have no choice but to take them to court again." He added, "Diversity is not something that we can deal with later after changing the rules, after allowing more concentration. Diversity needs to come first. As we have reported, the Commission is reportedly on the verge of easing ownership restrictions on stations in the top 20 markets by loosening the broadcast-newspaper cross-ownership ban. After two previously failed attempts to eases the restrictions begun in the 1950's, the FCC is reportedly soon going to approve a new proposal that would allow newspapers and TV or radio stations in the top 20 markets to consolidate.

Listener Driven Radio Continues International Growth. Listener Driven Radio continues to expand internationally, as Virgin Radio Italy launches a new show using the LDR.Takeover platform. Gruppo Finelco, S.p.A. manages Virgin Radio Italy, and the network has been actively using the LDR.1 platform to power an interactive benchmark called "Radio Comando" online and on air. Building on the success of Radio Comando, Virgin Radio Italy recently launched Radio Comando Total Control powered by LDR.Takeover. Weeknights at 9pm, every song is crowdsourced and the songs with the highest voting play on the air. Since Radio Comando launched with LDR.1, the website has received over 50 million votes, and still counting. Listener Driven Radio CEO Daniel Anstandig tells us, "We've had a great partnership with Virgin Radio Italy for a long time, and it's exciting to see the platform grow on such a massive scale with incredible support throughout the entire country."

AWMF Names 'Gracies Scholars'. The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation announces that two of its Gracies judging student volunteers will be named "Gracies Scholars." College student volunteers are integral to the annual Gracies judging process, in which pros from a variety of media outlets convene to participate in the peer review, deliberation and scoring necessary to select the Gracie Award winners. This year's judging weekend will take place January 26-27 at the National Press Club in Washington DC. All student volunteers who complete their duties during the judging weekend will receive a complimentary ticket to the 2013 Gracies Luncheon, being held June 26 in New York. The student volunteers are also invited to submit an essay about their Gracies judging experience, along with a resume. The Foundation will select two Gracies Scholars, who will each win a travel stipend to attend the event. "The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation is pleased to offer yet another opportunity for our student members to become involved with the Gracies," says AWMF President Erin Fuller. "Our Honorary Trustees recognize the value in providing emerging media professionals with these important learning and networking opportunities."

Arbitron: Winter 2013 Station Information Packets Due December 3. Arbitron is reminding stations that Winter 2013 Station Information Packets for stations in markets Arbitron measures for the Winter 2013 Diary survey and for the January, February and March PPM report periods (January 3-March 27) are due back to Arbitron on December 3. The packet was mailed to clients on November 15. It contains a Station Information Form that includes information the station submitted the previous survey, along with other information important for the Winter quarter. The information collected on the Station Information Form is used by Arbitron to credit Diary entries and serves as a basis for reporting audience estimates in the Diary and PPM services. All stations are asked to complete the forms and return them by Monday, December 3. Stations may further update their submitted station information at any time during the survey or report period.

Salem Communications Declares Q4 Dividend. Salem Communications announced that its Board of Directors has declared a dividend for the fourth quarter of 2012 in the amount of $0.035 per share of its Class A and Class B common stock. The cash dividend will be paid on December 28, 2012 to all common stockholders of record as of December 14, 2012.

New 'Radio and Media News' Page Under Development at Our TotalPopularMusic.com Website

Back at our dot com website, we announced that this blog will become a major part of that website. Here's the announcement published at at this url:

A new "Radio and Media News" page -- to replace the current page -- is now under development. Mark Harris Broadcast Consulting, which operates this website, announces that the new page will feature an embedded Inline Frame (IFrame) of MHBC's new "Radio and Media News" blog at Blogspot.com, which will be a major part of the future of TPM. Much of the content currently appearing in the left column of this page will be found below the IFrame. Mark Harris says the adoption of the new TPMedia NewsPage will allow focusing exclusively on updating news content on the Blogger site which will appear here instantly, "effectively a self-updating page." A prototype for the new page that will soon be found [there] is currently available at this test page location. Once the change is formally made, we will be able to concentrate on posting updated news exclusively on the "new home" of what has been known as TPMedia News, rather than giving that a secondary priority while working on this page. Harris also notes that a "Radio and Media News" site, separate from "Total Popular Music" has long been under consideration. "In the future, I expect to move TotalPopularMusic.com to our new home at Google's Blogger, where we now have two Blogspot.com sites -- one for 'Radio and Media News' and one for 'Total Popular Music' -- both of which will be greatly expanded in the near future." MHBC also announces that a new rss feed of "Radio and Media" news, which amounts to a constantly updated "newsletter," is currently available at this location. "When, as is all too common, this website is not available because of server errors, our readers can find the latest content at the new Blogspot sites," says Harris. "It is also my hope to migrate our followers to the new locations over the next 30 to 40 days before the current TotalPopularMusic.com website may be discontinued. Still under consideration is whether to have our current doman url redirected to one of our new Blogger locations or to move the entire current site to new hosting." MHBC says an announcement will be forthcoming when a final decision is made.

Vision Critical Study Shows Online Radio Doesn't Compete with AM-FM Radio

Despite the success of Pandora their gains are not at the expense of terrestrial radio, according to a recent online survey of 1,017 adult Americans conducted by Vision Critical. The results actually show that Pandora listeners report spending 50% more time listening to AM-FM radio than non-Pandora listeners. The study also tells us that Pandora listeners were slightly more likely to say that they are listening to more versus less broadcast radio than they were two years ago, with 24% responding that they are now listening to more radio, and only 22% saying they listen to less. And 26% of online Americans said they listen to Pandora on a weekly basis, while 15% said they listen on a daily basis. Pandora users are also more likely than other Americans to listen to AM-FM radio stations streaming online and on mobile devices. Says Vision Critical SVP of Media and Entertainment Research Jeff Vidler, "Pandora users are musical omnivores who want all the music that they can get, however they can get it. They not only listen to more broadcast radio, they listen to more music on their iPod, on CDs and satellite radio. It's additive. Rather than displacing other ways of listening to music, Pandora is just another way for music fans to indulge their passion for music."

Mort Greenberg Named TTN President as TTN Realigns Sales Operations

Total Traffic Network announces a new, unified Sales Division which will "realign and refocus TTN's sales operations into one dedicated team." Effective immediately, Mort Greenberg, currently President of Digital Affiliation and Location Advertising for Katz 360, will take on a second role as the new President of TTN, with Bob Milhizer leading its new unified Sales Division as SVP of Sales. Greenberg will report to Kevin Dorsey, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment's President of National Media Groups. The new division will realign TTN's sales leadership team and ensure all regions across the country will operate with a dedicated focus to exclusively selling traffic inventory and growing its affiliate partner base. To further accelerate TTN's ability to provide advertisers and partners with the best and most innovative services and support, the sales management team has been realigned under Milhizer who will lead two dedicated National and Local Teams creating a more streamlined sales approach. TTN's live on-air spots showcase advertisers directly within the information consumers rely on, with specialization allowing them to be as relevant to consumers as possible. "I am confident the new alignment of our unified TTN Sales Division will strengthen our ability to facilitate collaboration amongst our regions to create the best opportunities for our advertisers and affiliates," says Greenberg. "Our move to one unified sales team will make it easier for advertisers to engage consumers using our multi-platform radio, TV, online and mobile campaigns."

JB Wilde Named PD for Two Hartford-New Haven Stations

Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Hartford-New Haven names JB Wilde as Program Director of CHR-Top40 "Kiss 95.7" WKSS-FM and CHR-Top40 "KC101" WKCI-FM, effective Monday (Dec. 3). "We have two powerful youth targeted brands in the market and I cannot think of anyone more qualified to lead these stations," says CCME Hartford-New Haven President and Market Manager Steve Honeycomb. "I know JB Wilde will help WKSS and WKCI continue to be a leader in ratings and revenue. His knowledge of the business and pop culture makes him the perfect candidate to lead the programming efforts for these great stations." Wilde tells us, "Kiss and KCI are huge brands and I'm thrilled to join the team. I look forward to working with Mike Wheeler, Jon Zellner, Steve Honeycomb and the talented programming, promotional, digital and sales teams to maximize our ratings and revenue." In his new position, Wilde will oversee all programming for the broadcast and digital operations of Kiss 95.7 and KC101, and will be responsible for programming and executing the stations' imaging and promotional campaigns for both on-air and digital platforms. Wilde has more than 16 years of experience in the radio industry and most recently was Program Director and midday host at Clear Channel's WWVA-FM, Atlanta.

Northern Colorado's KMAX-FM to Flip to 'Loudwire' Rock

Townsquare Media Classic Hits "Max-FM 94.3" KMAX-FM, Wellington-Fort Collins, Colorado, will flip to Rock as "94.3 Loudwire" using the branding of Townsquare's Loudwire.com online service. "Northern Colorado has been longing for a station delivering this type of content, focusing specifically on the communities of Fort Collins, Loveland and Greeley, playing the best current rock music," says Townsquare Media Northern Colorado Operations Manager George King. He also tells us that the new Rock station will air the syndicated "Free Beer & Hot Wings" morning show from 5-10am weekdays.

Country Radio Seminar Announces New Faces Lineup

Country Radio Seminar announces that Easton Corbin, Florida Georgia Line, Brantley Gilbert, Jana Kramer and Kip Moore are the "CRS 2013 New Faces of Country Music Show" performers. The 2013 New Faces of Country Music Show will be held March 1, 2013, at Country Radio Seminar inside the downtown Nashville Convention Center. Co-sponsored by the Academy of Country Music and Muscular Dystrophy Association, the annual new artist showcase event officially closes out the three-day CRS seminar. Event organizers say it remains one of the most anticipated performances each year at CRS. CRS Board President Mike Culotta tells us, "The response we received from Country radio during the voting process this year was superb. The five acts chosen finished extremely strong in the voting and are certainly deserving of an appearance on our New Faces lineup. We’re looking forward to another dynamite evening of entertainment at Country Radio Seminar from these up and coming stars."

Jeff Zucker Named CNN Worldwide President

Former NBC Universal Television Group President and CEO Jeff Zucker will join CNN Worldwide as President of the multi-platform global news enterprise, it's announced by Phil Kent, Chairman and CEO of CNN parent company Turner Broadcasting System. In January, Zucker will assume executive oversight of a portfolio of 23 branded news and information businesses that includes CNN/U.S., CNN International, CNN.com and HLN and reaches more than 2 billion people in some 200 countries around the world. Zucker will report to Kent and will be based at CNN in New York. Zucker started his 25-year career with NBC as a researcher for NBC Sports' coverage of the 1988 Summer Olympic Games and rose to President and CEO of NBC Universal. He was named executive producer of Today in January 1992. The CNN announcement notes that "under his eight-year leadership, the program was the most-watched morning news show and the most profitable program on television." Zucker went on to executive-produce NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw and the network's coverage of the Persian Gulf War, the 1993 and 1997 presidential inaugurations and the 2000 elections. He was promoted to President of NBC Entertainment, president of the NBC Entertainment, News & Cable group and president and CEO of the NBC Universal Television Group. Currently, Zucker is Executive Producer of the syndicated daytime show Katie.

"Jeff's experience as a news executive is unmatched for its breadth and success," says Kent. "He built and sustained the number-one brand in morning news, and under his watch NBC's signature news programming set a standard for quality and professionalism. As a programmer, a brand-builder and a leader, he will bring energy and new thinking to CNN. I couldn’t be happier to welcome him or more excited about what he’ll accomplish here." Says Zucker, "I am thrilled to join the distinguished team of journalists across the worldwide platforms of CNN. The global reach and scale of the CNN brand is unparalleled in all of news. Outside of my family and the Miami Dolphins, there is nothing I am as passionate about as journalism. I spent the most rewarding years of my career as a journalist, and it’s where I look forward to spending many more. I am grateful to Phil Kent for this opportunity, and I’m excited to return to daily news gathering and compelling storytelling in a place that values those above all else."

Triton Digital Teams with Xbox Music Service

Triton Digital will provide several services for Microsoft's new free streaming Xbox Music service. The service is available on Xbox 360 consoles, Windows 8 and Windows RT tablets and PC's, as well as Windows Phone 8. The all-in-one music service allows users to discover, buy, and stream music on popular devices. Triton Digital will serve audio ads within Xbox music, as well as its Webcast Metrics measurements and its Advertising Platform including campaign measurement and ad insertion. Personalized music streams will be enabled for targeting by geographic, demographic, and other criteria for more relevant ads and better measurement. Says Triton Digital COO Mike Agovino, "Digital audio is bursting at the seams, and some very big names are joining the competition. We're very proud to serve the audio advertising needs of Microsoft's new Xbox Music streaming service and have them further validate Triton’s platform to measure, manage and monetize."

Michael Savage to Air on NYC's WABC and DC's WMAL

Thanks to his new deal with Cumulus, Michael Savage will soon air live in New York City and Washington DC. "The Savage Nation" will return to the New York City market on WABC-AM, and will be heard in the nation's capital on WMAL-AM-FM. Savage, whose show is broadcast on more than 150 Cumulus Media affiliates, will air from 9-11pm weeknights in New York and DC, beginning December 3. Says Savage, "After many years on another station where I dominated ratings in my time slot, I am back on a much more powerful station, the venerable WABC. Few know this: When I first began in New York City, I was carried on WABC and I beat the New York Yankees in the ratings!" Regarding WMAL, Savage says, “What can be better than to try to keep the K Street gang somewhat responsive to the people?” He notes that except for a "marginal station," he's never been heard in Washington DC. "WMAL brings my voice into the consciousness, the geography of the geopolitical leadership."

News Briefs - Nov. 28, 2012

L.A. Radio Host Frank Pastore Improves, Still in Intensive Care Salem Christian "99.5 The Spirit of Los Angeles" KKLA-FM, Los Angeles, 4-7pm host Frank Pastore's condition has now improved. He had been in critical condition with injuries suffered when his motorcycle and a car collided on the 210 Freeway in Duarte, California. In an update on Pastore's condition, KKLA-FM says, "Frank remains in the intensive care unit and currently stable in his condition. As soon as we are able, we will post new updates here. Please continue to pray for him and his family; it’s truly a blessing to know how much Frank is loved, and his family is very grateful for all the support." As we previously reported, Pastore, 56, a former Cincinnati Reds pitcher, was thrown from the motorcycle and found unconscious on the freeway. Police say that a car suddenly drifted from the number 2 lane towards the center divider, hitting Pastore's motorcycle as he rode in the car pool lane. He was taken by helicopter to Los Angeles County USC Medical Center. Last week, his wife of 34 years, Gina, said he remained hospitalized in critical condition in intensive care, and was in a coma.

San Francisco's '95.7 The Game' Names Guy Haberman for Evenings. Entercom's "95.7 The Game" KGMZ-FM, San Francisco, names Guy Haberman, currently the afternoon host at KFIG-AM, Fresno, to host KGMZ-FM's evening show, being vacated by Chris Townsend, who moves to afternoons at "95.7 The Game." Program Director Jason Barrett tells us, "Guy has strong passion for our Bay Area teams, understands what local fans want, and delivers an entertaining, interactive sports show. Having been in the broadcast booth calling games, he's a great fit to lead into our Athletics play-by-play programming and be an outlet for fans following the game.” Haberman will also host the weekday Oakland Athletics pre-game "Dugout Show" and post-game "A's Talk" programs during baseball season.

Tim Moore Joining Clear Channel New Hampshire as Portsmouth PD. Tim Moore will join Clear Channel Portsmouth, New Hampshire, December 3, as Program Director for CHR-Top40 "Z107" WERZ-FM, Adult Hits "95.3 The Coast" WSKX-FM, and "The Sports Animal" duo WPKX-AM and WMFY-AM. Moore, who most recently was the Operations Manager at Cumulus Portland, Maine, will be reporting to Clear Channel New Hampshire Operations Manager Jeff Pierce, and will have the promotional support of Jadd Naamani who will report to Moore. Clear Channel New Hampshire VP and General Manager Joseph Graham says Pierce will assume programming responsibilities for "Rock 101" WHEB-FM, and "our News Talk network, in addition to his role as Operations Manager."

Anne Doyle Promoted to Production Manager at Research Director. Research Director has promoted Anne Doyle to Production Manager of the Annapolis, Maryland, based media consulting firm. She will lead a research production team that analyzes audience estimates and provides sales and programming consulting services. Doyle joined Research Director in 2007 as a Research Assistant. Shortly after that, she began a multi-year overhaul of the company's PPM systems and procedures. Since completion, she has been serving as a Programming Research Consultant. Prior to working at Research Director, Anne held positions as Marketing Manager for an independent publishing company, and in the Promotions Department at WBIG-FM, Washington DC. Says Research Director Managing Partner Marc Greenspan, "Anne has worn many hats in her five-plus years with our company. Her unique understanding of our production environment, in addition to her superb analytical skills, makes her the ideal candidate to lead our production team to great success."

Katz 360 Expands International Sales Team. Katz Media Group's digital sales arm, Katz 360 Sales, has expanded its sales team to focus on its newly enhanced global interactive advertising network, adding seven new ad sales execs in Brazil, Germany, London, New York, San Francisco and Singapore to its leadership team. Brent Fraser joins Katz 360 as VP of Global Advertising Sales, based in San Francisco. Most recently, he was the Head of Advertising Sales, Americas, at Nokia Location and Commerce. Jon Sandak is named VP of Regional Sales. He previously led Eastern and Midwest ad sales for Nokia. Ian Ross is named VP of Regional Sales. He was formerly VP Eastern Region, Partner Marketing, for six years at Orbitz Worldwide. John Yang joins Katz 360 as Director, Business Operations. All three will be based in New York. Eduardo Ferreira joins Katz 360 as Director, LATAM Advertising Sales, based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, from Nokia where he worked to expand its mobile display inventory and revenue streams. Michael Kremer is appointed Director, Central and Eastern European Advertising Sales, based in Frankfurt, Germany. Miguel Tatay is named Director, Western European Advertising Sales, based in London. Most recently, he was the Head of Western European Advertising Sales at Nokia.

Arbitron Sports Introduces New Event Metric. Arbitron's Custom Sports Services introduces a new PPM metric -- the Event Retention Index. Arbitron says the ERI can provide more clarity on the extent to which audiences stayed tuned to sports broadcasts. The ERI estimates the proportion of a station's audience that stays tuned for the complete quarter hours during a game, relative to the average of the top 20 stations in its market, Monday-Friday, 6am-7pm. Says Arbitron Sports Manager Chris Meinhardt, "The Event Retention Index can provide tangible evidence that people who listen to sports broadcasts 'stick around' during games and are more likely to be exposed to advertising during the broadcast."

Vevo Shells Out $200M in Royalty Revenue. Online music video company Vevo says it has paid $200 million in revenue back to the music industry since it was founded in 2009. Vevo President/CEO Rio Caraeff made that announcement at this week's Business Insider IGNITION Conference in New York City. Caraeff says Vevo generates more money for the music industry than any other service focused on music video, adding that "the audience that loves music should be treated and valued the same way as the audience that loves the Super Bowl, and revenue should flow as such." Vevo, he said, paid out more in royalty revenues in 2012 than its first two years combined.

The Ins and Outs of Radio
Clear Channel Sacramento News Talk KFBK-AM-FM and Talk KSTE-AM Operations Manager Alan Eisenson exits. Eisenson had been Program Director for those stations since February 2004 ... Bryan Truta exits as Program Director at Kansas City's Adult Variety Hits "105.1 Jack FM" KCJK-FM, Classic Hits KCMO-FM, and "Talk Radio 710" KCMO-AM, and is now seeking "a new challenge" ... Dave “Boomer” Mazur joins "Frog Country 92.3" WJMQ-FM, Madison, Wisconsin, as night host, Music Director and imaging staffer.

Bruce Reese Testifies at Subcommittee Internet Radio Royalties Hearing

Hubbard Radio President and CEO Bruce Reese testified at the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition and the Internet hearing on Music Licensing, Wednesday (Nov. 28), on behalf of the NAB and local broadcast radio, which, he notes, is made up of 14,000 U.S. stations and reaches 240 million people each week in every local community across the country. "Local radio is responsible for hundreds of thousands of American jobs and has been shown time and time again to be a lifeline during times of emergency," he said. "What makes broadcast radio so successful is the local flavor of our programming, which forges a unique connection with listeners in a way that other media do not. In a constant cycle of new technology, broadcast AM and FM radio has remained part of the fabric of American culture for more than 90 years." However, he noted that today many radio stations still do not stream their music over the web, which does not help broadcasters or artists. "There is one primary reason for the low adoption of Internet streaming by broadcasters – unaffordable royalty rates. For music-based radio stations, the advertising revenue simply does not cover the streaming costs. Further, no matter how popular your Internet service becomes, the cost curve never bends in a favorable direction."

"At Hubbard," Reese continued, "we pay these high rates to stream our stations over the web because we believe our listeners expect us to be there. But in our best years, we do no better than break even in our music webcasting business... [but] the majority of broadcast radio stations, and the local services they provide, remain outside the reach of Internet listeners." Reese said that when initially set in 2007, the rates set by the Copyright Royalty Board were universally decried as being outrageously high. "Four problems at the CRB contribute most significantly to these high royalties. First, the "willing buyer -- willing seller" rate standard provides the judges with no explicit guidance on how to determine a fair market value. Second, the process by which the parties present evidence of a fair market rate to the CRB is insufficient. Third, the CRB appointment and rate setting processes do not afford adequate congressional oversight, allowing these rate decisions to proceed essentially unchecked. And fourth, the CRB process itself is riddled with uncertainty."

"We are here today to begin a dialogue with this Subcommittee on how best to address these problems," Resse continued. "NAB has members who are very supportive of the bill introduced by Congressmen Chaffetz and Polis. Other members are still seeking a better understanding of how the bill would impact their businesses. So while NAB has not yet endorsed any specific legislative approach, it is fair to say that NAB supports congressional efforts to ensure fair webcasting rates and needed CRB process reforms." He concluded, "Regardless of your position on the performance fee issue, Congress can and should act to resolve the important webcasting rate-making problems. The alternative – inaction – risks stifling the growth of Internet radio to the detriment of broadcasters, listeners and artists." The text of Reese's testimony was provided by the NAB.

Julian Nieh Suddenly Exits Chicago's 'B96'

CHR-Top40 "B96" WBBM-FM, Chicago, morning show co-host Julian Nieh ("Julian On the Radio") says he's leaving the show and the station. In a surprise on-air announcement, Nieh told listeners he wants to pursue other opportunities that he can't go after while he's still on WBBM-FM. Chicagoland Radio and Media reports that although he's now officially off the air, he's parting on good terms with the station, and "will be paid through the completion of his current contract, which expires at the end of this year." Nieh has been with "B96" since the summer of 2006 when he began hosting evenings. He went to mornings in early 2009, teamed with then midday host Jamar "J Niice" McNeil, who, we're told will continue solo in mornings for the foreseeable future. In a statement to CRM Nieh says, "I cannot put into words how I felt when I made this decision but all I can say is I never felt my heart beating so fast in my entire life! If my heart could speak it would say nothing but the best things for CBS Chicago. My PD, Todd Cavanah, Erik Bradley, Rod Zimmerman, the creative brains Mike Horn, and Josh R are all top notch pro's and have been nothing but spectacular to work with these past seven years. Who knows we could reunite again down the road, but I feel I must do this right now for my career." Before Chicago, Nieh, a DC native, spent five years at WIHT-FM, Washington.

News Briefs - Nov. 27, 2012

NAB Show to Host News Corporation's Chase Carey for Opening Keynote Event. The NAB tells us that News Corporation President and COO Chase Carey will participate in a question-and-answer session with NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith during the 2013 NAB Show opening event, April 8 in Las Vegas. The session will also include a "State of the Broadcast Industry" address by Smith. "As a leading executive of one of the world's preeminent media companies, Chase Carey has valuable insight into today's multi-platform global media environment," says Smith. "I look forward to our conversation at the NAB Show and hearing Mr. Carey's vision of what the future holds for the media business worldwide." Carey has been President and COO of News Corporation since July 2009, overseeing "diversified global operations spanning five continents, including the production and distribution of film and television programming; television, satellite and cable broadcasting; newspaper and book publishing and digital media." He also sits on the company's Board of Directors.

BFA Launches Holiday Campaign. The Broadcasters Foundation of America, which provides aid to broadcasters in acute need, launches its "2012 Holiday Giving Campaign." The BFA is asking broadcasters to spread the word about the mission of the Foundation to those who may need its assistance, and encourages donations and memberships at the broadcastersfoundation.org website. "The Broadcasters Foundation exists solely to provide financial relief to broadcasters in need," says BFA Chairman Phil Lombardo. "These are individuals who we have worked with over the years, and whose lives have been devastated by unthinkable circumstances. Aid from the Broadcasters Foundation can be life-saving, in many cases. I urge every broadcaster to consider making a donation or becoming a member." BFA President Jim Thompson adds, "The Broadcasters Foundation is a safety net for our most destitute colleagues, many of whom have nowhere else to turn. With help from individuals and corporations in our industry, these hard-working broadcasters are not alone – the Broadcasters Foundation can be there when they need us most." Over the past year, the foundation disbursed more than $675,000 in assistance, up 35 percent from the previous year.

Daniel Dennis Exits Orlando's 'Real Radio 104.1' Morning Show. Longtime Orlando radio personality Daniel Dennis, who most recently has been heard on the "Monsters in the Morning" show on "Real Radio 104.1" WTKS-FM , exits the Clear Channel station in a contract dispute. Dennis says Clear Channel offered him a three-year deal, but he wanted to work for the company without a contract. "That just wasn't something they wanted me to do," says Dennis. "They were pretty dead-set on me signing a deal. I didn't want to sign a deal. I would have just rather worked." Remaining morning personalities Russ "Triple R" Rollins and "Dirty Jim" Colbert each accepted a three-year contract from the station, according to a blog post by Rollins on the Real Radio website. The "Monsters in the Morning" show has aired on "Real Radio 104.1" since 2004. The show is a mix of current events, comedy, and stunts.

Internet Radio Fairness Act on DC Agenda. The House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition and the Internet will take up the topic of Internet royalties at a Wednesday (Nov. 28) hearing. Utah Republican Congressman Jason Chaffetz, the sponsor of the Internet Radio Fairness Act, says his proposed legislation will be on the agenda. Although this will be the first congressional airing of the IRFA, it is expected to be only a preliminary discussion of the measure. The legislation will likely not receive any serious consideration until the next Congress in 2013. The Chaffetz bill would create a royalty system that puts fees paid by Internet broadcasters on the same basis as the royalties paid by satellite radio and cable. The November 28 subcommittee session is billed as "Hearing on: 'Music Licensing Part One: Legislation in the 112th Congress'."

Arbitron Updates Sandy Impact Information. Arbitron has issued updated information regarding the impact of Hurricane Sandy on PPM ratings.. Arbitron says it has reviewed In-Tab and other performance metrics for Week 1 of the December PPM report period (November 8-November 14), and has determined that these metrics support the release of Week 1 Weeklies data. The company will be releasing PPM Weeklies data for December Week 1 for all markets as scheduled. Week 1 will also be included in all PPM December 2012 monthly reports.

The Ins and Outs of Radio
Keola Lui-Kwan will join Country KILT-FM, Houston, as Assistant PD/Music Director and afternoon host December 10. He was most recently at Country KYGO-FM, Denver ... "Cat Country" WPLZ-FM, Chattanooga, appoints Kris Van Dyke as Operations Manager and afternoon host. He replaces Longneck, who remains with the cluster in another capacity. Van Dyke previously was at crosstown Country competitor "US 101" WUSY-FM ... CHR-Top40 "107.5 The River" WRVW-FM, Nashville, adds Riley Couture to the "Woody and Jim Morning Show," arriving from Memphis where she most recently hosted afternoons at CHR-Top40 WHBQ-FM. Couture will also voicetrack nights for her new station ... Former WHBQ-FM, Memphis, night host Jay Sparxx joins CHR-Top40 "Kiss 95.1" WNKS-FM, Charlotte, for nights, starting December 17 ... Jenn Hobby will leave the "Bert Show" morning program at "Q100" WWWQ-FM, Atlanta, December 7, to become a fulltime mother. Hobby is pregnant with her first child ... "95.7 The Game" KGMZ-FM, San Francisco, names Ric Bucher and Chris Townsend for afternoons effective December 3. Bucher previously was a Bay Area-based NBA Reporter for ESPN's SportsCenter and NBA studio shows. Townsend previously hosted "The Pulse" and "The Chris Townsend Show." He replaces Brandon Tierney, who is returning to New York for mornings on CBS Sports Radio ... Jason Steiner is in for Program Director and morning host at Country KYSN-FM, Wenatchee, Washington, beginning December 17.

Univision Debuts 'Mami 92.7' in New York

We previously reported, in a News Brief last week: Univision Regional Mexican "Que Buena 92.7" WQBU-FM, New York (licensed to Garden City, Long Island), flips to Spanish Tropical "Mami 92.7" -- targeting Dominicans and other population groups with roots in the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean. "Mami 92.7" is billed as "Los Palos Mas Grandes de Todos los Tiempos." It's offering a mix of Spanish bachata, salsa, and merengue, and is seen as targeting the older demos of SBS "Mega 97.9" WSKQ-FM. Now comes the official announcement in a news release. Univision Radio New York VP and General Manager Felix Perez tells us, "We are thrilled to offer Mami 92.7 FM's high-energy tropical hit music to the New York-area radio listener." We're also told that Alipio "Coco" Cabrera and Federico "El Pacha" Martinez will debut daily shows on December 3. Perez adds, "New York is a hub of Hispanic cultures, and Univision Radio provides the most complete entertainment offering with WXNY 96.3 FM featuring Luis Jimenez; Radio WADO 1280 AM, which is home to the New York Yankees and Brooklyn Nets; and now Mami 92.7 FM, featuring the greatest hits ever from salsa, merengue, bachata, and more." The new "Mami 92.7" is online at www.mami927.com. And as we told you in last week's report, the abandoned Regional Mexican format remains available online at LaQueBuenaNY.com.

'Cadillac Jack' to Exit Clear Channel at Year's End

Clear Channel Media and Entertainment New York Operations Manager "Cadillac Jack" McCartney will step down from his position and exit Clear Channel at the end of this year. McCartney, who has spent the last 22 years with Clear Channel, also has served as Program Director of Urban "Power 105.1" WWPR-FM. CCME New York President and Market Manager Joe Puglise made the announcement of Cadillac Jack's pending exit in a memo to his staffers Tuesday (Nov. 27): "It’s with very mixed emotions that I share with you the news that Cadillac Jack McCartney will be leaving Clear Channel at the end of this year to continue his life's journey and pursue some of his passions. Cadillac began his radio career in New Haven at KC101, 30 years ago as an on-air personality. Since then he has served in variety of on-air, programming and operational positions, and for the past 22 years has played a vital role within Clear Channel including his most recent position as OM here in New York. Cadillac has been an extremely instrumental part of our team. Please join me in wishing him the best with his new endeavors. These are some big shoes to fill and we plan to begin an active search for highly qualified candidates today." Says Cadillac Jack, "I want to thank Clear Channel for the opportunity to serve as OM and PD for the past 22 years, especially the last five here in New York. The many friendships I’ve formed over the years are truly special, and I am grateful that we were able to achieve notable success with each of our brands and their ratings. As proud as I am of these accomplishments, I am now ready to take some time to relax, travel and pursue some long-held interests as I transition into the next phase of my personal and professional life."

Clear Channel Partners with Special Olympics, Launches iHeartRadio Christmas Channel

Clear Channel Communities, the community engagement brand of Clear Channel Media and Entertainment and iHeartRadio, partners with the Special Olympics for a multi-platform campaign celebrating 25 years of the "A Very Special Christmas" series of albums, which have generated over $109 million in royalties for the Special Olympics. The iHeartRadio digital radio platform is launching an exclusive digital radio station that features the entire collection of "A Very Special Christmas" – with songs by U2, Madonna, Sting, Bon Jovi, Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson, Wyclef Jean, Sheryl Crow, Mary J. Blige, No Doubt, Eric Clapton, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Vanessa Williams, Bryan Adams and more, all of whom have contributed to previous albums. The station will also include all-new songs from this year's two-album releases, "A Very Special Christmas 25th Anniversary: Joy To The World" on Big Machine Records and "A Very Special Christmas: Bringing Peace on Earth" on Word Records. The all-new iHeartRadio holiday digital station will be promoted across all of Clear Channel's 850 radio stations, with a series of public service announcements that combine Special Olympics athlete stories with information on how to access the free station at iHeartRadio.com. The spots also feature a number of celebrities and recording artists, including Ryan Seacrest, Martina McBride, Train, Hunter Hayes, Michelle Kwan and Vanessa Williams. In addition, a 30-minute public affairs radio special is set to air across multiple formats during the month of December, featuring audio from Special Olympics Chairman/CEO Timothy Shriver and Special Olympics athletes, among others.

"iHeartRadio is giving our listeners a special holiday gift by offering them the opportunity to listen to all of their favorite multi-genre A Very Special Christmas songs on one free, easy to use platform," says Jessica King, Director of Community Engagement for Clear Channel. "Our on-air holiday campaign will encourage listeners to visit iHeartRadio, where they can find and enjoy the holiday songs they love, and be inspired to purchase this year's 25th anniversary albums in support of Special Olympics." Special Olympics Chief of Strategic Properties Peter Wheeler tells us, "We could not be more grateful to Clear Channel for their support of this album series, which is so important to our Special Olympics athletes. Thanks to this partnership, we will reach millions of Clear Channel listeners who will learn about the legacy from the A Very Special Christmas album series that continues to sustain our work to bring the joy of sport to people with intellectual disabilities worldwide."

Laura Ingraham Exits Talk Radio Network

Laura Ingraham has exited Talk Radio Network, and her show is off the air, at least temporarily. Her Monday show (Nov. 26) was her last one for TRN. So far, there's been no official word from TRN. Today (Tuesday), Tammy Bruce was heard in place of Ingraham. Ingraham herself now confirms her exit from Talk Radio Network after more than nine years. She says today (Tuesday) that she has indeed exited TRN – because her contract is up. Ingraham says she's in discussions with other distributors. She doesn't, however, confirm or deny rumors that she may abandon over-the-air radio in favor of a streaming service. Her show on TRN has been airing on 325 stations nationally. And now Ingraham has posted a "Shut Up & Blog" message to her listeners on her website: "After more than 9 years with the distributor Talk Radio Network, I decided it was time to move on. After much thought and reflection, I have decided to pursue my first loves--modern dance and the xylophone. In the highly unlikely event that these efforts do not prove fruitful, I intend to return to radio. Seriously--to the more than 300 stations that carry the Laura Ingraham Show and to all my loyal listeners, I feel the time is right to expand and retool my radio program and to explore other syndication options, which I am now actively pursuing. During this brief hiatus, my team and I will continue to deliver thought-provoking and entertaining analysis via my website lauraingraham.com and twitter @IngrahamAngle. And of course, I'll be doing my regular appearances on Fox News. I anticipate making an announcement concerning the show in the near future. Stay tuned!"

James VanOsdol Publishes 'Oral History Of Q101'

Former Chicago radio personality James VanOsdol has released his new book about the Windy City's late Alternative "Q101" WKQX-FM. The book -- "We Appreciate Your Enthusiasm: The Oral History of Q101" -- "looks at the 1992-2011 modern rock era of the station via the recollections of staffers who worked there during that time," reports Chicagoland Radio and Media. CRM's Larz writes, "James VanOsdol (nicknamed "JVO") had been a staple at WKQX-FM, spending most of his radio career there on and off since 1993. He began as an intern at Q101, was hired as a Programming Assistant, and eventually made it on to the air as the host of 'Local 101.' In his first seven-year stint with the station, he did almost every position there, from on-air host to producer to Assistant Music Director to webmaster. After working at competing stations for a few years, JVO returned to Q101 for almost two years, working overnights and taking over as morning show host after the release of Erich "Mancow" Muller. With his most current two-year stint at the station -- his third -- he was working weekends and fill-in shifts since the Fall of 2009. In all, JVO worked over eleven years at Q101. At the start of June 2011, he voluntarily left the station, supposedly for the final time, claiming to have retired from radio for good." That was right before Emmis sold the station to Merlin Media, which flipped it to the failed "FM News" format.

Over at Time Out Chicago, veteran media reporter Robert Feder writes, "A lot of people had high hopes when Chicago radio veteran and author James VanOsdol announced he was writing the definitive story of Q101 (including more than 385 fans who contributed to his Kickstarter.com project). Now that We Appreciate Your Enthusiasm: The Oral History of Q101 has been published, I can report that it exceeds all expectations." Says Feder, VanOsdol "spent hundreds of hours over 16 months interviewing 75 fellow alums of the legendary modern rocker. The result is a riveting, you-are-there account of a Chicago radio treasure from its flip to alternative music in 1992 to its demise in July 2011. No one has ever captured the story of a local radio station with as much candor and insight."

News Briefs - November 26, 2012

NPR Posts $6 Million FY 2012 Deficit. NPR posts an operating deficit of $6.2 million for fiscal 2012, reports Current.org. That includes being down on corporate sponsorships $8.6 million from the fiscal year goal. The 2012 deficit follows a reported $2.4 million profit in 2011. NPR lost one of its biggest underwriters in 2012, Ally Bank. Current.org's report says that high turnover, or churn, of 45% among corporate clients hurt its underwriting revenue. NPR does report better results in other areas, including that its development staff beat its goal by 5%, for a total of $31.2 million. Gifts from individuals rose 18% to $10.3 million. But those "ups" couldn't overcome the "downs" when the net result for the fiscal year was finalized. The full report is here.

Peter van de Graaff Upped to PD at Chicago's WFMT-FM. Peter van de Graaff is promoted to Program Director of Classical WFMT-FM, Chicago, effective December 3. A 25-year veteran of the station, de Graaff succeeds Peter Whorf, who resigned last July to become Station Manager of pubcaster WKAR-AM-FM at Michigan State University in East Lansing. In addition to a program host at WFMT-FM, van de Graaff has been Program Director and the sole voice of the Beethoven Satellite Network, WFMT Radio Network’s overnight classical format service, which airs on 150 stations nationwide. “Given Peter’s long association with the station, the high regard his colleagues have for him, and his deep and intimate knowledge of all aspects of classical music, I'm delighted he has accepted the position,” Says WFMT-FM General Manager Steve Robinson in a memo to staffers. “I’m eager to begin working with him in this new capacity, and I know we’ll all give him the support he'll need as he begins his new duties.”

Longtime Tulsa Morning Host Phil Stone Dies at 57. Phil Stone, whose real name is Phillip Wayne Riddle, has died at the age of 57. He'd been half of "Phil and Brent" on Rock KMOD-FM, Tulsa, with a show that ran for 27 years until just last month. Stone and Brent Douglas were unable to reach a new contract agreement with Clear Channel, and their show ended in October. The cause of death has not been made public. Stone's family says they are considering a memorial service to "celebrate his life with his fans, family and friends." KMOD-FM Program Director Don Cristi says Phil Stone "had to be the greatest radio personality in this market."

Dothan's 'Farm' Flips to Classic Country 'Dixie 700'. "700 The Farm" WCNF-AM, Dothan, Alabama, flips to Classic Country as "Dixie 700". For the past year WCNF-AM had aired a mix of conservative Talk, Sports, News, and agricultural information as "The Farm." The station cites a lack of advertiser support for the abandoned format. "Dixie 700" returns the Classic Country format to the Dothan area for the first time in several years since "Country Legends 105.3" WDBT-FM flipped to "News Talk 105.3". Station management says it hopes "Dixie 700" will be more successful in gaining local advertising support

Bangor Maine's 'The Pulse' Ends FM Simulcast. Stephen King's The Zone Corporation ends its Liberal Talk "The Pulse" simulcast on WZON-AM, Bangor, and WZON-FM, Dover-Foxcroft, Maine. The FM, with new call letters WZLO-FM, flips to All Christmas music, promising a new format "after the holidays." Speculation in the market is a return to the FM's former Triple-A format. The AM programming, which also includes high school and professional play-by-play, continues unchanged. "The two stations have simulcast since January 2010, when 103.1 dropped its AAA format to simulcast what was then an All-Sports format on 620," reports RadioInsight.com. "The pair flipped to Liberal Talk in November 2010, while retaining play-by-play of local high schools and all four of Boston’s professional teams." Author Stephen King also owns Classic Rock WKIT-FM, licensed to Brewer, Maine, with studios and offices in Bangor.

The Ins and Outs of Radio
Detroit market Alternative "89X" CIMX-FM, Windsor, Ontario, Program Director and morning co-host Dave Hunter has exited the station. Also gone are morning co-hosts Chuch "The Freak" Urguhart and Lisa Reid. They have all accepted an offer from another as yet unnamed station in the market where they will start after sitting out a six month noncompete agreement ... CHR-Top40 "Wild 104" WWYL-FM, Binghampton, NY, Program Director/Brand Manager Matt "Matty J" Johnson will exit the station and the radio industry, November 30, to relocate with his wife to the New York City area where she's accepted a TV reporter job ... Doug Groff is in as morning co-host at "98 Country" WWJO-FM, St. Cloud, Minnesota, starting December 3. He will join Cindy Wear and Producer Katie for the new "Cindy and Doug Morning Show" filling the gap created by the previous exit of Chris Chapman and Ricky Woods ... The "Wink 103" brand is out at Hot AC WARM-FM, York, Pennsylvania, as the station returns to its former “Warm 103.3” identity.

FCC to Hold Post-Sandy Emergency Communications Hearings

The FCC will hold a series of field hearings in the coming months to review the challenges to communications in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, which ultimately became Superstorm Sandy. The Commissioon hearings are set to start in early 2013. Says Chairman Julius Genachowski, "This unprecedented storm has revealed new challenges that will require a national dialogue around ideas and actions to ensure the resilience of communications networks. As our thoughts and sympathies remain with those who have suffered loss and damage as a result of Superstorm Sandy, I urge all stakeholders to engage constructively in the period ahead." Genachowski also thanked New York Republican Senator Chuck Schumer who urged the FCC to look into the post-Sandy communications problems and possible solutions for future emergency situations. Genachowski says the series of field hearings will "examine new challenges to the nation’s communications networks" that were presented by Superstorm Sandy. Among the topics to be addressed in those field hearings is how can communications providers work together in emergencies, including sharing resources; back-up power resources; and restoration of service.

JT Batson Named Cumulus Media's First CRO

Cumulus Media appoints JT Batson as the company's first Chief Revenue Officer. Batson, based in New York, where the company's national, network and digital ad sales are based, will oversee sales strategy and sales operations for broadcast, digital, commerce, event and publishing activities -- including owned-and-operated radio stations, the 4,500-station Cumulus Media Network and local commerce platform SweetJack. "Our acquisition of Citadel combined with our new strategic partnerships in content and commerce have transformed Cumulus into a nationwide advertising platform," says Cumulus Media President and CEO Lew Dickey. "We are pleased to have JT join our team to help our advertising partners take full advantage of the tremendous scale and scope of our growing multimedia platform." Says Batson, "I see great potential in the opportunity to leverage great radio, print, web and video content that Cumulus offers, particularly at the local level, and I'm excited to help the 1,600 sales professionals at Cumulus become even more successful." Prior to joining Cumulus, Batson was Chief Strategy Officer at Mediaocean, which he helped create through the merger of Donovan Data Systems and MediaBank.

Tiki Barber, Brandon Tierney, Dana Jacobsen to Host CBS Sports Radio Mornings

CBS Sports Radio announces "an exciting triumvirate of media veterans as hosts of morning drive" when the new network launches on January 2. Tiki Barber, Brandon Tierney and Dana Jacobson will anchor the program live from the new radio network's New York City studio in Tribeca. The program will be broadcast weekdays from 6-9am. "CBS Sports Radio has been able to attract some of the most renowned names in the business, and Tiki, Brandon and Dana are just the latest example of the network’s star-power," says CBS Radio President and CEO Dan Mason. "We’ve assembled an impressive group of professional athletes and accomplished broadcasters to bring fans unrivaled sports commentary, and the most entertaining lineup in all of sports radio. The launch of CBS Sports Radio provides an additional way for us to use our content, debuting original programs to millions of listeners across the country on day one. The network's reach in the major markets is unsurpassed, and the marketplace has taken notice of our depth and broad range of offerings." CBS Sports Radio will offer "around-the-clock national sports coverage and programming, harnessing the power and resources of CBS Radio and the award-winning CBS Sports," says a news release. "High-profile personalities from CBS Sports, CBS Sports Network and CBSSports.com will play a prominent role on CBS Sports Radio which will reach more than 10 million listeners when it debuts. Original programs across multiple weekday and weekend time periods will feature expert sports commentary and interviews with major sports figures along with listener calls and fan interaction. Cumulus Media Networks serves as the exclusive syndicator and sales partner for CBS Sports Radio." Brooklyn native Brandon Tierney makes a return to his hometown in joining CBS Sports Radio. He currently hosts "The Drive with Tierney and Bucher," broadcast weekdays in San Francisco on "95.7 The Game" KGMZ-FM. Prior to moving west, Tierney was a popular staple at 1050 ESPN Radio in New York City for nearly nine years. Barber began his broadcasting career in 1998 at Sports Radio WFAN-AM in New York. Jacobson is an award-winning anchor and reporter. In addition to her role at CBS Sports Radio, Jacobson will contribute to studio programming for CBS Sports Network, the cable home of CBS Sports, debuting in January. She is best known for the versatile roles she filled during nearly a decade of work at ESPN.

BIA/Kelsey: Social Media Ad Revs to Reach $9.2B

U.S. Social Media Ad Revenues Expected to Double 2012-2016.
U.S. social media ad revenues will reach $9.2 billion in 2016, up from $4.6 billion in 2012, representing a compound annual growth rate of 19.2%, according to BIA/Kelsey's new fall update. Their latest U.S. Local Media Forecast projects that the local segment of U.S. social media advertising revenues will grow from $1.1 billion in 2012 to $3 billion in 2016, a 28% CAGR. "The year 2012 can be viewed as social advertising's 'coming of age'," says BIA/Kelsey Social Local Media Program Director Jed Williams. "The continued development of native ads, such as Facebook’s Sponsored Stories and Twitter’s Promoted Tweets, and the acceleration of mobile monetization will be the primary drivers of social advertising growth through 2016." BIA/Kelsey defines social media advertising as money spent on advertising formats across social networks. Social display advertising will continue to account for a higher percentage of revenues, due in large part to Facebook’s Marketplace Ads and YouTube’s multiple display units (video, traditional banners). Spending on social display advertising will increase from $3 billion in 2012 to $5.4 billion in 2016 (CAGR: 15.2%), according to the forecast.

BIA/Kelsey expects robust growth during the forecast period from native social ad formats, which are emerging as viable display alternatives. The firm defines native social advertising as branded content integrated within a social network experience (e.g., the newsfeed or content stream). Spending on native social advertising will grow from $1.5 billion in 2012 to $3.9 billion in 2016 (CAGR: 26%). Growth will be driven by the higher premiums native social ad units command. The forecast also identifies mobile as a key growth area for social media. BIA/Kelsey estimates social-mobile ad revenues will increase from $500 million in 2012 to $1.5 billion in 2016 (CAGR: 28.5%). The report also predicts that a variety of forces will influence this growth, including rapid social-mobile consumer usage growth, active experimentation by vendors and deep integration of native ad units on the platform.

U.S. Labor Department Suing Mt. Rushmore Broadcasting

The U.S. Department of Labor is suing Mt. Rushmore Broadcasting, claiming workers received less than federal minimum wage and weren't paid overtime when they worked more than 40 hours a week. Mt. Rushmore Broadcasting, based in Casper, Wyoming, is solely owned by Jan Charles Gray, and has 14 radio stations in Wyoming, South Dakota and Nevada. The suit alleges the violations go back to August 2008. Federal authorities also accuse the company of failing to keep adequate records related to employee work hours. However, in a statement, Gray disputes the charges. "The filing is bogus and unfortunate. The accusations themselves are not accurate, from disgruntled former employees, some of whom are convicted felons." There are six former employees involved in the suit with varying tenure at Mt. Rushmore. One worked for the company for as brief a period as two weeks, while one was employed for three years. Gray says that even if the allegations were accurate, exemptions in the Fair Labor Standards Act prevent the rules from applying to his company. "This is an unconstitutional action by the Department of Labor to target small business," says Gray.

Rich Lieberman Starting New Radio Show

Rich Lieberman is starting a new radio show in California. Lieberman, a former broadcaster, operates his "415 Media" blog, reporting on radio and media news. He's now beginning a weekly radio show on co-owned "News Talk Radio 1080" KSCO-AM, Santa Cruz, and Adult Standards "Memories and Magic 1340" KOMY-AM, licensed to La Selva Beach in Santa Cruz County, airing weekends. Both stations are operated by the family-owned Zwerling Broadcasting. Lieberman says his new show will feature topical discussions. "Lieberman Live - The Rich Lieberman Show" debuts this Saturday and Sunday Night, November 24 and 25 from 8-11pm, live on KOMY-AM, says Liberman. He says he has hopes of syndicating the show in the future, but for now it will be streamed live online. He tells us, "My radio show is going to be good. You're going to like it because it's going to be original, live, local, national, international. That's a lot of chest-thumping, yes it is and because I know that it will resonate, I'm already thinking ahead of the game and look forward to my readers, and others, enjoying the show."

L.A.'s 'Exitos 93.9' Changes Its Tune

Grupo Radio Centro's "Exitos 93.9" KXOS-FM, Los Angeles, has changed its music completely to English, although all other elements of its programming remain in Spanish. "Exitos" had been airing a Spanish CHR format. Sister "Alfa 91.3" XHFAJ-FM, Mexico City, morning host Tono Esquinca will also air on KXOS-FM. "The music mix at Exitos is similar to that of Alfa, with a mix of current CHR hits from the United States and England and 90s/2000s gold," reports Lance Venta at RadioInsight.com.

UPDATED: L.A. Radio Host Remains Critical After Accident, In A Coma

Salem Christian "99.5 The Spirit of Los Angeles" KKLA-FM, Los Angeles, 4-7pm host Frank Pastore remains in critical condition with injuries suffered when his motorcycle and a car collided on the 210 Freeway in Duarte, California. Pastore, 56, a former Cincinnati Reds pitcher, was thrown from the motorcycle and found unconscious on the freeway. Police say that a car suddenly drifted from the number 2 lane towards the center divider, hitting Pastore's motorcycle as he rode in the car pool lane. He was taken by helicopter to Los Angeles County USC Medical Center. Thursday (Nov. 22), his wife of 34 years, Gina, said he remained hospitalized in critical condition in intensive care, and was in a coma. "Right now, he's still in critical condition, and we're remaining hopeful for a good outcome. It's such a fresh injury that we're still not sure. It's a roller coaster," Gina Pastore said. "He's a man of strong faith. He's prepared to go be with the Lord if that's what God desires." Pastore has been a host on KKLA-FM, licensed to Glendale, California, since 2004. The station Tuesday (Nov. 20) posted on its website, "Dear Listeners: Last night Frank Pastore was in a motorcycle accident. We do not know how extensive his injuries are, but we know they are serious. Please keep him and his family in your prayers." Later in the day it was reported that the host was in critical condition. The driver of the car wasn't injured.

News Briefs - Nov. 22, 2012

Hitchin' A Radio Ride with 'Hitch Radio'. Hitch Radio is a new social media listening platform that aggregates broadcast radio streams online, allowing users to discover and share music in real-time through Facebook and Twitter. The mission, we're told, is to create a "journey" of a listening experience by combining social media and real-time search technologies. Founded by a former account manager for CBS Radio and Clear Channel, Hitch Radio asks registered users "where do you want to hitch a ride?" It's funded through private investors, and is now first available on the Web, with iOs and Android apps and more to follow. Targeted especially at a 14-29 demographic, the new free service provides "Hitchers" a unique way to bring an unlimited number of friends on a real-time worldwide journey of music, sports, news and talk. Hitch Radio is on Facebook here.

iBiquity Partners with Totsy to Promote HD Radio. HD Radio developer iBiquity Digital signs a promotional deal with the new pop band Totsy. That band will join Brian Setzer's Christmas Rocks! Extravaganza Tour for 22 shows through December. The partnership will center on the shows in cities from Los Angeles to Atlantic City and will utilize HD Radio outlets in promotional opportunities that highlight Totsy and HD Radio technology. Says iBiquity CEO Bob Struble, "Totsy comes out of L.A. with a completely unique sound and we couldn't be more excited to work with them on this tour. They're a band that understands the importance innovation, the power of radio and the new outlets HD Radio broadcasting brings to new artists." Totsy co-founder Brett Boyett tells us, "We're really excited to work the HD Radio team on this tour. We appreciate what HD Radio Technology does for bands like Totsy. They've given artists like us creative new ways to reach and build our audience. HD Radio Broadcasting is the future of our industry."

Boston.com's RadioBDC Launches Fall Programming. Boston.com's new online radio station RadioBDC is launching, what they call, "a diverse line-up of new shows this fall, highlighting a wide array of local and international music and an eclectic mix of exclusive programs." The interactive live-streaming station, which launched in August, has quickly become a listening destination for the region's Alternative music fans. "We're introducing the first wave of innovative new programs that will expose our listeners to ground-breaking music they won't hear anywhere else," says Program Director Paul Driscoll. "We're really proud to offer such an eclectic mix, giving local and emerging artists around the globe critical exposure and allowing our listeners to experience truly unique mix of music." RadioBDC's air personalities include Driscoll, Henry Santoro, Julie Kramer and Adam 12. New weekend hosts joining in November are Christine Hayden (Saturday, noon-3pm), Jenny Tyrrell (Saturday, 3-6pm), Jason Layne (Sunday, noon-3pm), Alaina Riccardi (Sunday, 3-6pm), well-known DJ of Fenway Park TJ Connelly (weekend TBD/fill-in) and Priest (weekend fill-in). RadioBDC streams around-the-clock and features alternative music, exclusive musician interviews, journalis

The Ins and Outs of Radio
News Talk is out at WTDY-AM-FM, Madison, Wisconsin, as is the entire on-air, news, and traffic staff, including morning host John "Sly" Sylvester. For now the simulcasting stations are airing All Christmas music. What's planned after the holidays has yet to be announced, and some reports from the market say yet to be decided by managment ... Classic Hits and the branding "95.9 The Greatest Hits Of All Time" are out at WICL-FM, Williamsport, Maryland, while Country "95.9 The Big Dawg" is in ... Spanish Adult Hits "Juan" is in at KEJY-AM, Eureka, California, while syndicated News Talk, simulcast from sister KWSW-AM, is out at KEJY-AM (but continues on KWSW-AM). "Juan" is the new Spanish offering from SparkNet Communications of "Jack" fame ... Alicia Tyler is named midday host at Adult Variety Hits "Fickle 93.3" WFKL-FM, Rochester, NY, but will also continue with sister Alternative "The Zone @ 94.1" WZNE-FM where she hosts weekends and swings ... In Erie, Pennsylvania, WEHP-FM launches as CHR-Top40 "Happi 92-7" with the slogan "Erie's New #1 Hit Spot" ... Alternative "New Rock 106,5 The End" WEND-FM, Charlotte, Promotion Director Shelia Taylor exits after 12 Years at the station. Recently she had also been handling promotions for CHR-Top40 clustermate "Channel 96.1" WHQC-FM. She says she's now seeking her next opportunity ... Country "K 105" WQHK-FM, Fort Wayne, Indiana Operations Manager Rob Kelley exits after more than nine years with the station.

Friday's TPM Hit Music Daily Dozen
Despite continuing total plays losses, Maroon 5's ONE MORE NIGHT remains dominant at TPM Number One. It starts the day today 1574 ahead of also declining runner-up SOME NIGHTS (fun.), and with 3142 more than the first gaining contender -- Ke$ha's DIE YOUNG (up 5-3 so far this week) -- which has now taken over the top spot at our CHR-Top40 component ... Bruno Mars' LOCKED OUT OF HEAVEN is up 6-5 today as its skyrocketing total plays tally across our components gives it a higher Total Popular Music ranking than at either of the chart-influencing components ... Only four of the Dozen post gains today; seven show losses; one previous gainer stalls out ... As Justin Bieber's AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME sees its plays total continue to rapidly decline, it should soon exit the Twelve, but the next gaining song below the Dozen -- Flo Rida's I CRY at 13 -- is still 674 total plays behind today ... The Top 12 Songs of the Day, every day, from TOTAL Popular Music - 'The NEW Mass Appeal Hit Music Radio Format!' from Mark Harris Broadcast Consulting. [Online now at TotalPopularMusic.Blogspot.com and at TotalPopularMusic.com]

Happy Thanksgiving!

News Briefs - Nov. 21, 2012

Los Angeles Radio Host Critical After Motorcycle-Car Collision. Salem Christian "99.5 The Spirit of Los Angeles" KKLA-FM, Los Angeles, 4-7pm host Frank Pastore is in critical condition with injuries suffered when his motorcycle and a car collided on the 210 Freeway in Duarte, California. Pastore, 56, a former Cincinnati Reds pitcher, was thrown from the motorcycle and found unconscious on the freeway. Police say that a car suddenly drifted from the number 2 lane towards the center divider, hitting Pastore's motorcycle as he rode in the car pool lane. He was taken by helicopter to Los Angeles County USC Medical Center. Pastore has been a host on KKLA-FM, licensed to Glendale, California, since 2004. The station Tuesday (Nov. 20) posted on its website, "Dear Listeners: Last night Frank Pastore was in a motorcycle accident. We do not know how extensive his injuries are, but we know they are serious. Please keep him and his family in your prayers." Later in the day it was reported that the host was in critical condition. The driver of the car was wasn't injured.

Kelly Mac Moving from Philadelphia to Chicago. Clear Channel Chicago names Kelley Mac Assistant Program Director for Urban WGCI-FM and midday host for Urban AC "V103" WVAZ-FM, effective December 3. Mac will join Clear Channel Chicago from Clear Channel's Philadelphia cluster where she's been Assistant PD and Music Director for Urban "Power 99" WUSL-FM and Urban AC WDAS-FM. "Kelly Mac is an innovative and creative talent – her passion and energy creates a natural connection with listeners," says CCME Chicago Director of Urban Programming Derrick Brown. "Kelly's extensive programming expertise will help strengthen our brands. I am thrilled to have Kelly join the Clear Channel Chicago team."

Clear Channel Toledo GM Resigns. Another change at Clear Channel Toledo, as General Manager Andy Stuart resigns. This comes following the recent exit of the cluster's Talk WSPD-AM afternoon host Brian Wilson. Stuart says he's leaving to head a new technology company, but doesn't provide any specifics other than to say the new venture should be up and running in early 2013. Otherwise, he says only, "I can confirm that I resigned from Clear Channel." Stuart has also overseen 30 stations in northern Ohio including stations in Toledo, Akron, Canton and Youngstown as Midwest Regional Market Manager. Prior to joining Clear Channel in 1996, Stuart managed Noble Broadcast Group's Toledo cluster from 1989-1996.

CBS Sports Radio 'Wooing ESPN Radio's John Kincade'? CBS Sports Radio is "wooing ESPN Radio's John Kincade," according to Rich Lieberman at his 415 Media. "Various industry sources are buzzing me about a possible defection from ESPN Radio Network to the new CBS Sports Radio Network," writes Liberman. He says his sources "indicate CBS Sports Radio Network has targeted the services of John Kincade, currently the host of 'The John Kincade Show' on ESPN Radio heard nationally Sundays from 7-10am ET." The 415 Media report adds that the "logical link is that Kincade has been the co-host of 'Buck and Kincade' in Atlanta since 2000. The station is operated by Dickey Broadcasting, the same Dickey family that operates Cumulus Broadcasting. Cumulus is the business partner of CBS Sports Radio in their new sports talk radio network so it would make sense for them to want to add one of their own." Read Rich Lieberman's full report here.

Salem to Launch 'Conservative Talk 94.5' in Greenville SC. Salem will launch a new Conservative Talk format on WMUU-FM, Greenville, SC, December 3. Salem is acquiring the station from Bob Jones University as first announced in August. The sale price as listed with the FCC was $3 million. In announcing its plans for WMUU-FM, Salem says it will be "Conservative Talk 94.5" when the new owner takes over operating the station in early December. Salem's familiar syndicated conservative talkers will air on "Conservative Talk 94.5“ including Salem Radio Network's Mike Gallagher, whose show has already been pulled from Entercom's crosstown News Talk "News Radio 106.3" WORD-FM.

ESPN Signs New College Football Playoff Deal. ESPN and the group that will administer the new college football playoff have reached an agreement to present the playoff games and selected other games for 12 years on an exclusive basis across ESPN's platforms including ESPN Radio. The agreement will begin after the 2014 regular season (including January 2015), and continue through after the 2025 regular season. The new agreement includes the national championship game and semifinals, as well as other bowl games that will be part of the rotation to host the semifinals. Combined with previous deals for the Rose, Sugar and Orange Bowls, the arrangement provide ESPN with rights to all games that are involved in the new post-season arrangement to determine a college football national champion.