Monday's Radio & Media News - July 1, 2013

Tulsa's '94.1 The Sound' Flips to AC '94.1 The Breeze' KTSO-FM, Tulsa, flips from Classic Hits "94.1 The Sound" to a new "Refreshing Lite Rock" Adult Contemporary format as "94.1 The Breeze" as Stephens Media Group officially takes over the station and sister KMYZ-FM. Stephens is acquiring the stations from Shamrock Communications and begins operating them under an LMA. "The Breeze" debuted this morning with Michael Buble's "Everything" followed by a welcome from morning host Eric Steiner. "94.1 The Breeze is not the adult contemporary station of previous generations," says Stephens Media Group National Program Director Bob Thornton. "Our focus is on the listener experience and not gimmicky promises that only radio people understand. We want this station to be a vibrant part of the community and deeply personal for our listeners." He tells us that current artists like Josh Groban, OneRepublic and Michael Buble will air along with past favorites from artists such as Celine Dion, Rod Stewart and Journey. "There’s definitely a void in Tulsa for a contemporary radio station created for adult women," says station owner David Stephens. "We’re making a significant marketing investment to launch The Breeze, and as more and more people tune in, I believe they will realize 94.1 The Breeze as being a breath of fresh air for Tulsa radio." Middays are being hosted part-time by Terese Taylor, who worked for Stepehns previously at "Warm 101.3" WRMM-FM, Rochester, NY. Afternoons are hosted by Doug Hannah. The current staff, we're told, is subject to change as Thornton searches for a full-time staff. "We are looking for all positions and all dayparts -- a great morning team, middays, afternoons, evenings, APD, promotions, imaging, production, weekends. We need great people in every position and we are hiring." Meanwhile, Thorton says Alternative "Z104.5 The Edge" KMYZ-FM will debut its new morning show -- "The KMYZ Morning Edge" -- on July 15 with Chuck Stikl and Assistant PD Bobby Butler. There, Drew McKenna remains in middays, while Nik Rivers will take music calls at sister WZNE-FM, Rochester, until a fulltime Music Director is hired for KMYZ-FM. 'Hula 97.3 FM' Replaces 'The Zone' in Birmingham Summit Media’s WZNN-FM, Birmingham, is stunting with Hawaiian Music as "Hula 97.3 FM" ahead of a new format yet to be announced. Last week (June 25), we reported that "a format change is coming soon" at Sports Talk "97.3 The Zone" WZNN-FM, Birmingham, now owned by Summit Media which obtained the station from Cox Media Group. Friday, the Sports Talk format ended, and the stunting began. Last week, Summit Media COO David Dubose said, "We have been evaluating the sports format in light of multiple factors, including [Paul] Finebaum’s placement. After nearly two years, it became clear the market did not support two competing sports stations. Therefore, we have determined we should focus on other format opportunities." There's no official word on the coming new format at WZNN-FM, and we don't know how long "Hula 97.3" will last. Will there be other stunt formats to follow before the permanent new programming is introduced? There's not even a temporary logo for "Hula 97.3" -- but you can listen to it here. And as you'll hear, there is some customized imaging for the "Hula" stunt format. TJ Lubinsky Re-Joins Greater Media NJ WJRZ-FM T.J. Lubinsky, known for his nationally televised PBS Classic Hits specials, will re-join the ranks of Greater Media New Jersey beginning Sunday, July 7, with the return of his "Sunday Night Request Show" that pays tribute to artists of the '60s, '70s, and '80s. The show will be heard each week 7pm-12midnight on Classic Hits WJRZ-FM, Manahawkin, in the Monmouth-Ocean market. Greater Media New Jersey tells us, "He'll spin Jersey's greatest hits by request, share behind-the-scenes stories, and talk to many of the artists he's recorded and produced over the year across all musical genres from the 60s, 70s and 80s. Lubinsky created and hosted WJRZ's Sunday Night Request Show every week from 2005-2009." Says WJRZ-FM Program Director Glenn Kalina, "T J Lubinsky is a Jersey Shore treasure! His knowledge of music and love for the artists he plays and listeners he entertains is evident every time he opens the microphone, plus he's a local guy! I'm thrilled that he is returning to 100.1 WJRZ on Sunday nights!" A native of Bradley Beach, NJ, Lubinsky continues to make television specials, uniting the original voices of Motown, folk rock, R&B, classic soul, disco, 60s rock, 70s singer/songwriters, 80s pop and more. In addition, he is an executive producer of "The Very Best of the Ed Sullivan Show" as seen on public television, and has produced and supervised mixes for many audio CD compilation box set releases since 1998. Chicago's '93.9 MYfm' Adds Brooke Hunter and Mario Lopez The recently re-branded "93.9 MYfm" WLIT-FM, Chicago, brings in Brooke Hunter, and adds the syndicated Mario Lopez to the revamped Clear Channel station's on-air line-up, effective immediately. WLIT-FM moved toward Hot AC as it dropped its longtime "Lite" logo. Hunter will host middays 10am-3pm and Premiere's "On with Mario Lopez" will air evenings 7-11pm. Hunter has been on Chicago radio for more than 15 years, starting at the former "Q101" WKXQ-FM. She subsequently worked at "The Mix" WTMX-FM, hosted mornings at "94.7 The Zone" and most recently hosted middays at the former "Fresh FM." Lopez is a syndicated radio show host, New York Times best-selling author and host of "The X Factor" and the daily TV show "Extra." He also danced his way to the finals in the third season of "Dancing with the Stars," is a recurring commentator on HBO Boxing and currently appears on several television programs. Says Clear Channel Chicago VP of Programming Tommy Austin, "The MYfm target listener knows Brooke and she knows what they want from radio. This makes her connectedness to them second to none. Our audience has grown up with Mario and he is a perfect fit for Chicago." NY Radio Ad Sales Up 7.6 % for 2013's First Five Months New York Market Radio advertising revenues for the first months of 2013 increased 7.6% over the comparable period of 2012 according to the New York Market Revenue Report, prepared by Miller, Kaplan, Arase & Co., CPAs, and released by New York Market Radio (NYMRAD). New York Market Radio is a marketing association supported by the New York area Radio stations. "It’s quite a story to see New York Radio Market Revenues up by over 7% year to date through May 2013," says NYMRAD Executive Director Deborah Beagan. "That’s the fastest growth among the Top 10 markets in what is -- outside of New York -- a flat growth scenario nationwide. "The key to New York Market Radio’s success is live and local content that engages the audience," she continued. "For the 92% of New Yorkers who listen to Radio, this is their hometown and their favorite stations. In addition, NY Market Radio stations have significantly invested in the digital arena to provide multiplatform options to advertisers. The future of effective advertising lies in the smart integration of traditional and digital media. I am extremely enthusiastic about the second half of 2013." May 2013 New York Local Spot Revenues were up 8.3% to $40,703. The National Spot Revenues were up 11.2% to $9,002. The Total Spot were up 8.8% to $49,705. The Total Revenues, including Digital and Network/NTR/Other, were up 7.2% to $56,874. For the five months ended May 2013, market growth was up 6.1% for Local Spot, up 14.3% for National Spot, up 7.6% for Total Spot and up 6.7% for grand total market revenue according to Miller, Kaplan and Arase. The market’s 6.7% YTD increase over 2012 is spread across three categories -- Local Spot (+6%, over $9M); National Spot (+14.3%, nearly $5M); and, Digital (+19%, nearly $2M). Country Music Association CEO Steve Moore Resigns The Country Music Association Board of Directors announced today that Steve Moore, who has led the CMA for nearly four years, has resigned his position, effective immediately. Moore was named CEO two and a half years ago, but had served as interim director before that. He replaced Tammy Genovese, who resigned her position in late 2009. The organization did not immediately announce plans regarding new leadership, but spokeswoman Wendy Pearl said the board would be making an announcement regarding a transition plan soon. Under Moore, the 2013 CMA Music Festival hit a record attendance with an increase of 13 percent. He also created and led the newly formed CMA Foundation. In addition, Moore was instrumental in securing an extension of the television partnership for the annual CMA Awards, the CMA Music Festival special, and the "CMA Country Christmas" special, which all appear on the ABC Television Network. "Steve Moore's dedication and hard work" has "taken our organization to new levels of success," says CMA Chairman of the Board Troy Tomlinson. "He's been a tremendous asset to CMA due to his high regard in the industry as a resourceful and tenacious advocate for country music." Moore has been in the music business in Nashville for more than two decades. He came to Nashville as the first executive director of the Starwood Amphitheater. In addition, Moore ran his own entertainment companies, and also served as SVP for AEG Live!, one of the world's largest concert promotion, special events and touring companies. Clear Channel Spends $1.17M on Q1 Lobbying Clear Channel Communications spent $1.17 million on lobbying in the first quarter of this year according to a report filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives. The lobbying report shows that money spent on radio-related lobbying included Congressional oversight and legislative proposals regarding the FCC proceedings on broadcast localism, proposals regarding the FCC proceeding on local radio ownership rules, proposals regarding broadcast decency enforcement, legislative proposals regarding tax incentives and loan guarantees to encourage diversity of ownership of telecommunications businesses., proposals regarding low power FM stations, legislative proposals regarding privacy and proposals regarding emergency communications systems as pertaining to EAS and FCC oversight. 'Shotgun Tom' Kelly to Host Marconi Radio Awards and Dinner The NAB announces that the 2013 NAB Marconi Radio Awards Dinner and Show will be hosted by legendary radio personality "Shotgun Tom" Kelly. The event will take place September 19 at the 2013 Radio Show at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in Orlando. "Shotgun's energy and vibrant personality will keep the show moving. Nobody loves Radio and Radio people more than 'Shotgun'!" says NAB EVP of Radio John David. Kelly, who received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in April, has had a 40-year career in radio and television including 16-years in Los Angeles radio where he anchors the highly-rated afternoon drive shift at CBS Radio's "K-Earth 101" KRTH-FM. Before joining KRTH-FM, Kelly deejayed at legendary stations in San Diego, including KGB-AM, KCBQ-AM and KFMB-FM. Kelly has also been recognized for his work in television, hosting popular children's programs, "Words-a-Poppin," which was syndicated nationally and "Kids Club," which ran for twelve seasons. He won multiple Emmy Awards as outstanding host. His voice has long been featured in national TV and radio commercials, and he also appeared in the motion picture "Déjà Vu" with Denzel Washington. Most recently, "Shotgun Tom" is narrator of the worldwide TV show "A 1000 Ways to Die" and voice of the long-running television program, "America's Most Wanted." Kelly has contributed to numerous community causes, including the MDA Labor Day Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy, the Bob Hope USO and the L.A. Police Department's "Cops for Tots" campaign benefiting Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. Established in 1989 and named after inventor and Nobel Prize winner Guglielmo Marconi, the NAB Marconi Radio Awards are given to radio stations and outstanding on-air personalities to recognize excellence in radio. Winners will be announced at the NAB Marconi Radio Awards Dinner and Show. The 2013 Radio Show, produced by the RAB and the NAB, will be held September 18-20 in Orlando. Adam Bomb Explodes in Perez Hilton's Face Cumulus Media Networks drops Perez Hilton's one-year old show, and announces the new syndicated program "Nights Live with Adam Bomb." Hilton will be heard as a feature on the new show with nightly entertainment gossip. "Nights Live with Adam Bomb" airs weeknights from 7-11pm ET -- featuring "top hits, entertainment news and exclusive celebrity interviews," says Cumulus Media Networks. "Adam Bomb delivers a nightly dose of pop culture through great music, insider Hollywood scoop and interactive features that keep listeners connected." Bomb had been co-hosting with Hilton until the just-announced big change which more or less switches their roles. (Will Hilton be reporting this one on his gossip-filled website? Probably not.) iHeartRadio Makes A Splash at 'Ultimate Pool Party' Clear Channel's iHeartRadio and the Fontainebleau Miami Beach hosted the iHeartRadio Ultimate Pool Party presented by VisitFlorida.com, a two-day musical weekend in Miami, Friday and Saturday, as part of the Fontainebleau's BleauLive concert series. The weekend festivities included a daytime pool party featuring performances by Krewella, Jason Derulo and a DJ set by Icona Pop. Throughout the weekend, fans enjoyed live poolside sets by DJ Prostyle, DJ Skee and DJ Obscene. The event culminated in a live concert that evening featuring Afrojack, Ke$ha and Pitbull, as well as co-hosts LL Cool J and Miley Cyrus with a surprise guest appearance by Enrique Iglesias. During the weekend, Krewella debuted their new single "Live For The Night," and Grand Prize winner Natalie Bergen from Montgomery, NY, was treated to a weekend-long fantasy all-access experience including being "Ke$hafied" by the Pop star herself. The evening performances streamed live on iHeart.Yahoo.com and more than 120 Clear Channel CHR-Top40, Rhythmic CHR and Electronic Dance Music stations nationwide, which also featured live report updates every hour throughout the day. The exclusive television broadcast of the two day event will air nationally on The CW Network July 15, 8-10pm ET. 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander and Lancer Include HD Radio Audio and Data HD Radio developer iBiquity Digital tells us that Mitsubishi Motors North America is the first automaker to have vehicles with integrated audio entertainment and real-time traffic and data services using HD Radio Technology on dealer lots. The 2014 Outlander and 2014 Lancer are now at dealerships offering both real-time traffic information integrated into its navigation system as well as the expanded audio features of HD Radio Technology. Says iBiquity COO Jeff Jury, "We were happy to announce Mitsubishi's launch of HD Radio audio and data services back at the L.A. Auto Show in November and are even more excited now to have the first vehicles available at dealerships across the country. We are confident that Mitsubishi drivers will find the 'here' traffic, weather and fuel services broadcast by the BTC and HD Radio Technology to be fast, efficient, reliable and best of all subscription-free." Also, we're told, Nokia's "here" has partnered with a group of radio companies called the Broadcaster Traffic Consortium (BTC) to create a nationwide network set-up to broadcast the real-time traffic and data information using the HD Radio digital AM and FM system. Mitsubishi has selected "here" as the service provider and will receive their digital traffic, weather and fuel information over the BTC network via the HD Radio broadcast on all 2014 Outlander and Lancer vehicles equipped with the navigation system. iHeartRadio App Launches on Windows Phone 8 Clear Channel Media and Entertainment has rolled out iHeartRadio's Windows Phone 8 app. The app has already amassed more than 180 million downloads across a variety of platforms. "We're excited to showcase the best apps available on Windows Phone 8, says Microsoft Retail Stores Senior Director of Marketing and Experiences Kelly Soligon. As part of the Summer of Appiness program, we're inviting our customers to come into their local Microsoft retail store for the opportunity to experience apps, like iHeartRadio App, first hand." Says CCME President of Digital Brian Lakamp, "Adding Windows Phone 8 to iHeartRadio's mobile platform portfolio reflects our commitment to be available everywhere our listeners are with the ultimate radio listening experience they expect. We are thrilled to have worked with Microsoft in developing a product that capitalizes on Windows Phone's innovative Live Tiles and are excited to bring iHeartRadio to even more mobile users." NPR Expands 'Here and Now' in Deal with Boston's WBUR-FM More than 300 NPR member stations will now broadcast a new, expanded "Here and Now," intended to meet a growing audience demand for midday news and analysis. The live program, hosted by Robin Young for more than a decade and now also with co-host Jeremy Hobson, expands from one to two hours with updates for different time zones across the country as part of a partnership between NPR and WBUR-FM, Boston, which has been producing the program since 1997. This marks the first time NPR has collaborated with a member station on a daily news program. NPR selected "Here and Now" specifically to serve as a bridge in midday between its signature news magazines, "Morning Edition" and "All Things Considered." Says NPR President and CEO Gary Knell, "Through this partnership with WBUR, we're creating what will very quickly become the next two hours of must-hear radio for millions of listeners. This show represents an entirely new way of working across public radio to produce the best news content possible and reflect a broad range of American interests." The program's daily lineup will now include interviews with NPR hosts, reporters, editors and bloggers as well as news from stations across the nation. Meanwhile, just in time for the expanded role of WBUR-FM, Tom Melville is appointed News Director at the station. He's served as Executive Editor of Content since joining the station in 2011, after moving from News Director at New England Cable News (NECN), a 24-hour news cable outlet. What has now begun was first announced in late March, when we reported that NPR is partnering with member station WBUR-FM, Boston, to expand the midday "Here and Now" to two hours, and add a co-host, Jeremy Hobson, who hosted the "Marketplace Morning Report," and that "Talk of the Nation," broadcast by more than 400 stations nationwide, would stop production at the end of June. Behind the Microphone: The Ins and Outs of Radio AC "101.5 Lite FM" WLYF-FM, Miami, names Kimba Assistant PD. The longtime South Florida broadcaster is coming aboard from crosstown Hot AC "97.3 The Coast" WFLC-FM. Kimba will also add afternoon hosting when her non-compete ends ... Following the exit of morning co-host Mickey Cucchiella, as reported here last week, "98 Rock" WIYY-FM, Baltimore, says it will debut its new morning show July 8. For now, the station is airing listener-selected music via "Mobcast" ... Salem News Talk "560 The Answer" WIND-AM, Chicago, afternoon host Steve Cochran exits after declining a contract renewal ... Cox Country "Y100" KCYY-FM, San Antonio, APD/MD and afternoon host Brian Hatfield "steps down" and exits, seeking his next opportunity ... Hot AC "Y 107.9" WXYY-FM, Savannah, Georgia, midday host Maunalee is joining sister Country "Bob 106.9" WUBB-FM (across the hall) as morning co-host ... Christmas comes early to Chickasha, Oklahoma, as FM translator K291BR and KWCO-FM HD2 drops Classic Hits and begins stunting as "Christmas 106.1" ahead of a new format later this week ... Sports Talk KMZQ-AM, Las Vegas, re-brands as "Fox Sports 670" adding Fox Sports Radio's programming, replacing Yahoo! Sports Radio, but keeping the syndicated "Mancow Experience" in mornings ... News Talk WLS-AM, Chicago, hires former crosstown "CBS 2" WBBM-TV morning anchor Susan Carlson as afternoon news anchor for the Roe Conn and Richard Roeper show.