February 18, 2013

Grace Blazer Named PD of Miami's WIOD-AM and WINZ-AM Veteran spoken word programmer Grace Blazer is named Program Director for Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Miami stations "NewsRadio 610AM" WIOD-AM and "940 The Sports Animal" WINZ-AM, effective immediately. Blazer, we're told, "will oversee all broadcast and digital operations" of the two stations. "We are thrilled to have Grace join our team," says CCME Miami VP of Programming Alex Tear. "She is a format visionary with a wide range of programming and digital expertise that will help WIOD and WINZ move to the next level." Blazer spent the past five years as Program Director of Greater Media's WTKK-FM, Boston, until the station ended its News Talk format. Previously, Blazer programmed CBS Radio's WPHT-AM, Philadelphia, for 11 years. "The depth of Clear Channel Media and Entertainment's resources is phenomenal. Working for our industry's leading media company and programming WIOD and WINZ is a superb opportunity," says Blazer. "I'm excited to partner with Alex Tear, Lonny Anger and the talented staffs of News Radio 610/100.3 FM and 940's Sports Animal to grow these stations." In Miami, Blazer replaces Ken Charles who transferred to Clear Channel's Sacramento cluster as VP of Programming. Birmingham's WYDE Becomes 'Superstation 101' Crawford Broadcasting's conservative News Talk “The Source” WYDE-FM, Birmingham, also simulcast on WYDE-AM, relaunches as “Superstation 101” with a new lineup and a "new attitude" designed for its coverage area. The new lineup includes Michael Hart in mornings, moving from afternoons, followed by the syndicated Andrea Tanteros 10am-1pm, and Dave Ramsey 1-4pm. . Program Director Leland Whaley, who arrives from hosting middays on WAPI-FM, Birmingham, takes 4-7pm, and Steve West remains in evenings. WYDE is promoting the new “Superstation 101" as "100,000 watts of Southern Fried Freedom." The powerful FM signal, licensed to Cullman, Alabama, covers nearly all of north-central Alabama, including the Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Gadsden and Florence markets. PD Steve Cannon Exits Indianapolis 'Classic Hits 104.5' Veteran programmer Steve Cannon exits after nine years as Progran Director of "Classic Hits 104.5" WJJK-FM, as Cumulus Indianapolis decides to make a change. Clustermate Hot AC "i94" WRWM-FM Program Director Jay Michaels adds programming for WJKK-FM. Previously, Cannon also programmed sister Country WFMS-FM. He joined the Indianapolis cluster in 2004 as Program Director of then "Gold 104.5" WGLD-FM. He later added programming duties for other stations in the cluster. Before joining what is now the Cumulus Indianapolis group, Cannon was Operations Manager and Program Director at Clear Channel in Tallahassee, Florida, from 1998-2004. Cannon tells us he will be actively seeking his next position -- in programming or management. He notes that he has over 35 years experience in a wide array of radio positions -- including programming, sales, talent coaching, traffic and engineering. Michigan's WGRY Flips to CBS Sports Radio Blarney Stone Broadcasting's AC "Y101.1" WGRY-FM and Adult Standards WGRY-AM, Grayling, Michigan, both flip to Sports Talk, airing the entire CBS Sports Radio network lineup. The FM covers central and northern Michigan. The stations will also air the Detroit Tigers and Red Wings as well as Grayling High School sports. The current WGRY-FM was previously WQON-FM, until a flip of call letters and formats last month. Despite the change of format, WGRY-FM is retaining its "Y101.1" identity. Says Blarney Stone President/CEO Sheryl Coyne, “We are pleased to partner with CBS to provide central and northern Michigan a Sports Talk format that will engage local audience participation with passionate dialog and debate. WGRY-AM-FM will deliver compelling content that will soon be regionalized with a focus on Michigan sports." Texas' KZTK-FM Launches 'Power 99.3' Talk KZTK-FM, Tyler, Texas, flips to bilingual CHR-Top40 as "Power 99.3" -- launching with "10,000 hits in a row" for its first month. A new website displays a splash screen with the new logo, and has a countdown clock to the end of the 10,000 hits, and the expected start of the new regular programming for the station. The Reynolds Radio station dropped its "99.3 Talk FM" format a day before launching the new "Power 99.3" with one day of stunting. The end of "99.3 Talk FM" resulted in the ouster of two local talk shows and their hosts, Terry Miller and Bryan Houston. The remainder of the former format had been filled by syndicated shows. KZTK-FM is licensed to White Oak, Texas, and serves the Longview-Marshall area. Reynolds Radio is based in Tyler. Doug MacAskill Joins Boston's 'Hot 96.9' for Creative Services Production and imaging pro Doug MacAskill joins Greater Media's "Hot 96.9" WTKK-FM, Boston, for Creative Services duties. He just exited CBS Radio Boston where he'd been Imaging Director for "103.3 Amp Radio" WODS-FM. "Although it is sad to leave the great people at CBS Radio, I'm very excited to be part of the incredible team at Hot," says MacAskill. "I've worked with Cadillac Jack for years at Clear Channel, and now that he's back in Boston to take over programming at Greater Media, it was a move I had to make. Plus throw in Pebbles and Melissa and you have the beginnings of something great! Look out Boston -- Hot 96.9 is in the building!" Late last week, as he exited WODS-FM, MacAskill said he was leaving for a "new opportunity" that would be announced soon.