Friday, Feb. 22, 2013

Nashville's 'River' Names John Mayer APD/Afternoon Host Clear Channel CHR-Top40 "107.5 The River" WRVW-FM, Nashville, announces that John Mayer is the new Assistant Program Director and afternoon host, effective immediately. Mayer will be on air weekdays 3-7pm. As APD he will assist in music scheduling and research, record relations, branding concepts, executive production and new talent training. Mayer transfers from sister CHR-Top40 "KC101" WKCI-FM, New Haven, Connecticut, where he's been an on-air host for more than seven years. "After a month long search with several great candidates, we’re excited to have John join the WRVW on-air/programming team. His audition alone made it seem as though he’s worked here for months," says WRVW-FM Program Director Brian Mack. "When I coupled his on-air ability with his programming skills it was very clear we were adding another all-star to this team and cluster." Says Mayer, "I could not be happier to join the Clear Channel Media and Entertainment team in Nashville at the legendary River. The station is amazing, the city is great and there are big things on the horizon that I can’t wait to be a part of." New Beginnings at Seattle's 'The End' Corey O'Brien Joins for APD/Mornings, Pepper Smith Returns for AMD/Middays Entercom Alternative "107.7 The End" KNDD-FM, Seattle, hires Corey O'Brien for Assistant PD and mornings, and Pepper Smith for Assistant MD and middays. Both start Monday (Feb. 25). Meanwhile, morning host Red exits after three years. Longtime APD/MD and midday host Harms exited last November after nearly 14 years. O'Brien joins from APD/MD and night host at Simmons Media Alternative "X96" KXRK-FM, Salt Lake City, where he spent nearly 15 years. For Pepper, this is a return to Seattle and "The End" after she most recently was at Hot AC "Mix 100.9" KMXW-FM, Reno, as APD/MD and afternoon host. She joined the Wilks cluster there with the original Alternative KRZQ-FM. Says KNDD-FM Program Director Mike Kaplan, "As the evolution of The End continues, I'm looking forward to both Corey and Pepper being part of our next steps. They both come with a great amount of skill sets that will help us further evolve The End." FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai Wants Commission Process Changes FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai says that the Commission needs "to be as nimble as the industry we oversee," adding, "We can’t let regulatory inertia stand in the way of technological progress or deter innovation." Pai made his comments on what Commission process changes he sees as needed at a Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA) luncheon. According to a transcript provided by the FCC, among changes Pai said he would like to see is a process for handling applications for review similar to how the U.S. Supreme Court handles "certiorari requests" with automatic affirming of Bureau decisions if the full Commission doesn't act within 90 days. Others include: adding to the list of categories of small transactions that qualify for streamlined treatment; circulating a draft order addressing forbearance petitions at least four weeks before the one-year statutory deadline and requiring a vote of the full Commission to extend that deadline; and enacting the 180-day shot-clock for transactional review, a nine-month deadline for acting on petitions for reconsideration and applications for review, and a six-month deadline for acting on waiver requests. Pai says he'd also like to see a "dashboard" on the FCC website to track the Commission's performance. Pai also said that Congress should move to consolidate the Commission’s reporting obligations to Congress, block the Commission from adopting new rules based on Notices of Proposed Rulemaking more than three years old, allow more collaboration between Commissioners under the Sunshine Act, and modernize application fee statutes. "FCC responsiveness isn’t a Republican or Democratic issue," Pai said. "It's not a conservative, moderate, or liberal issue. Whether the matter before us involves a Fortune 500 company, a small start-up, a public interest group, or an individual consumer, the Commission should strive to respond promptly. Parties might not like the answer that we give them. But they deserve an answer. As one person said to me recently, “Tell me yes, tell me no, but just tell me." Survey Shows Disaster Victims Turn to Radio A new J.D. Power survey shows that disaster victims turn to radio for information on what is happening. The study specifically focuses on Hurricane-turned-Superstorm Sandy, and many see its results as another reenforcement for radio's call for activated FM chips in cellphones. A study, after the superstorm focused on Government and utilities, found that radio was among the top ways unility customers learned about power outages during the Superstorm. In the weeks following Sandy, three-in-ten people living in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut say they received most of their information regarding power outages from radio or television. J.D. Power reports, "Obtaining timely outage information is critical to utility customers. Customers received most of their information regarding the outage by calling their utility directly (37%); listening to radio or watching TV (29%); and going directly to their utility’s website (17%). Nearly three-fourths (71%) of customers who made contact with their utility during the outage used their mobile cellphone or smartphone. Satisfaction is highest among customers who say they received proactive outbound communications, in which their utility sent emails, text messages or outbound phone calls." The study is based on interviews of more than 5,900 U.S. residential customers in 31 utility territories impacted by Sandy. The online survey was conducted from January 4-11. During the October 2012 storm, approximately 8.5 million customers lost power, and 65,000 utility workers responded from 80 utilities from nearly every state and Canada, dispatching crews and equipment to impacted areas. During the hurricane, 43% of all customers surveyed experienced a power outage lasting 24 hours or longer. The average outage duration among all customers surveyed was 48 hours. Behind the Microphone: The Ins and Outs of Radio "ESPN Dallas-Fort Worth 103.3" KESN-FM midday hosts Ben Rogers and Jeff "Skin" Wade exit the station,saying: "We have declined a final offer from ESPN on a new deal" ... Clear Channel's Classic Rock "101.3 The Fox" WGFX-FM, Grand Rapids, re-brands as "101.3 The Brew" with a revamp of music, hosts and presentation ... WGN-AM, Chicago, debuts the Sunday 12noon-2pm "Let's Be Frank," a lifestyle program hosted by TV personality Frank Fontana ... Rock "The Drive" KHDR-FM/KHRQ-FM, Barstow, California, taps Jeremy James as morning host, effective March 1. James previously was Program Director at KTRZ-FM, Riverton, Wyoming ... Country KAWO-FM, Boise, Idaho, Assistant PD/Music Director and midday host Dan Matthews exits ... Great Eastern Radio appoints Ken Cail to host afternoons 2-5pm on New Hampshire's "The Pulse" WTPL-FM and WTSL-AM-FM. A well-known New England radio personality, Cail had been co-hosting mornings with Peter St. James ... Fox Sports Radio launches on KGGS-AM, Garden City, Kansas, as the station flips to "Big Dog Sports 1340" airing the full FSR lineup ... "Sports Talk 790" KBME-AM, Houston, evening host Dylan Gwinn is moving to Yahoo! Sports Radio for noon-4pm CT Saturdays and Sundays, starting March 2 ... "97.1 The Fan" WBNS-FM, Columbus, Ohio, Promotions Dir. Todd Reigle is exiting the station after 12 years to join Goodwill Columbus as Director of Marketing ... Hot AC "100.5 Now FM" KZZO-FM, Sacramento, and morning host Baltazar "have parted ways." Morning show co-host Nina Hajian will continue solo until a replacement is named. An active search is now underway.