Friday's Radio & Media News - August 23, 2013

Rush Limbaugh Announces New Cumulus Deal On-Air, Will Remain On Cumulus Stations, Except New York Rush Limbaugh today told his radio audience that he indeed will be staying on Cumulus Media radio stations, with only the one expected exception, New York City. In the number one market, the Clear Channel Premiere-syndicated show will move to Clear Channel's newly acquired WOR-AM, moving from WABC-AM, where the Limbaugh show currently airs. At the start of his syndicated show today, Limbaugh announced that he has signed a three year extension to keep his program on Cumulus owned stations across the country. That includes WLS-AM, Chicago; WBAP-AM-FM, Dallas; WMAL-AM-FM, Washington DC; and WJR-AM Detroit. The move in New York is set for January 1, 2014. As we've previously reported, the new deal between Limbaugh and Cumulus was expected. We've also reported that Michael Savage has said on-air he will replace Sean Hannity on Cumulus radio stations, after Hannity exits. He's said he didn't want to renew with Cumulus Media. Several reports have said that only after Premiere agreed to unbundle the Limbaugh and Hannity shows, allowing each to have their own agreements (or lack of one), was a stalemate in negotiations with Cumulus ended, allowing the renewal of Limbaugh without Hannity. They are respectively the number one and number two syndicated Conservative Talk hosts. Savage has said he hopes to become the new number two after exiting TRN and moving to Cumulus Media Networks. Limbaugh today told his listeners, "On either Wednesday night or Thursday, we completed our negotiations with Cumulus Media, and there will not be any changes. I will continue to be on their radio stations for the next three years. It was really never in doubt, but I don't want to do my own version of negotiating here. The only change that's going to happen is that on January 1st we are going to leave WABC and move to WOR in New York. My syndication partner is Clear Channel Communications, and they own WOR, and so we're gonna go to our own radio station in New York. And this has been mutually agreed to." Pandora to End Monthly 40 Hour Free Listening Limit Move Comes Ahead of Apple iTunes Radio Launch Pandora plans to drop its free 40-hour-per-month mobile listening limit September 1, six months after starting the cap in March. The move is seen as intended to combat competition from Apple who will be launching iTunes Radio alongside iOS 7 in September, although Pandora doesn't mention Apple's coming competition. The announcement came from Pandora CFO Mike Herring, after reporting "record" financial results for the second quarter of their fiscal 2014 year, with total revenue up 55 percent from a year earlier. Says Herring, "Our investment in advertising infrastructure and implementing smart levers such as reducing song skipping and limiting mobile listening have helped us drive monetization and manage content costs, as reflected by the increase in RPM and a decrease in content costs as a percentage of revenue. When we introduced the 40 hour mobile listening limit, we were confident that our scale – over 7% of total radio listening and Pandora’s number one ranking in most major markets – would allow us to take this action without impacting our key monetization initiatives in driving the disruption of the radio advertising market and driving our mobile advertising leadership. As our results have shown, the continued strong growth in our advertising revenue allowed us to cover the increased royalty costs with dollars left over to invest back into the business. With these tools in hand, and insight into how they work, we are resetting our levers in September. Notably, Pandora plans to eliminate the blanket 40-hour-per-month limit on free mobile listening effective September 1st. In the 6 months since we first implemented the free mobile listening limitation, we have gained critical insights into our user population that has given us greater control of our business. Because of these insights Pandora has implemented both other surgical levers to control content cost and new features that will allow for greater product usage. With these tools in place we are well positioned to continue to both optimize the cost structure of the business and further monetization progress." John Crenshaw Joins Cumulus as Michigan Regional Program Director John Crenshaw is named Regional Program Director for Cumulus Media in Michigan. He will be responsible for the 32 Michigan properties that are outside of Detroit. He will also serve as Operations Manager for the company's Grand Rapids cluster and as direct PD for WTNR-FM, Grand Rapids. Previously, Crenshaw was Director of Programming for Clear Channel Columbus and PD of Country WCOL-FM. Says Crenshaw, "When Mike McVay introduced me to Cumulus CEO Lew Dickey at the most recent Country Radio Seminar, he invited me to join their company. I couldn't be happier to lead the Cumulus team in Grand Rapids and across Michigan. With an on-air footprint that is second to none and a vibrant digital platform to boot, I look forward to growing our exciting, compelling, local brands for listeners and customers alike." McVay tells us, "John-Boy is a well-known fixture in the country radio industry. He brings a wealth of experience and a management style that makes him a perfect addition to our corporate programming staff. His knowledge of the state, and of the Grand Rapids market, should be very beneficial to us. I believe that our PD's will enjoy working with John." The RPD position has been unoccupied since Ron Harrell left Cumulus for KVIL-FM, Dallas, almost a year ago. Binghamton' s Alternative/Triple-A 'The Drive' Moves, Resurrects the WDRE-FM Call Letters on 100.5 FM Equinox Broadcasting Binghamton, NY, moves its Alternative/Triple-A hybrid format "The Drive" to 100.5 from 104.5, and gives the station new call letters, resurrecting the WDRE-FM calls previously used in Philadelphia and Long Island. The new full power signal for "The Drive" had been the home of WCDW-FM, Susquehanna. "The Drive" with its Alternative/Triple-A hybrid has been on the HD multicast channel of WRRQ-FM and FM translator W283AG at 104.5 FM. "The Drive" first launched in 2011 on the WRRQ-FM (106.7) HD2 channel and was carried on the 104.5 translator. The station says the move of the Alternative/Triple-A hybrid format is to give it a "bigger signal" with, more coverage to reach their "younger demo, and college students." Meanwhile, Equinox has moved Oldies "Cool" from 100.5 to become "Cool 106.7" keeping its WCDW-FM call letters, on the frequency of the former WRRQ-FM. The 104.5 translator signal continues simulcasting "The Drive" for the next month, after which a new format will launch. Clear Channel Begins Syndicating 'Power 105.1' NYC Morning Show As Clear Channel Rhythmic CHR "Hot 98.3" KOHT-FM, Tucson, begins airing "The Breakfast Club" from Urban "Power 105.1" WWPR-FM, New York, for mornings next week, the show unofficially launches into syndication by Clear Channel. The show is also adding affiliates in Milwaukee, Norfolk and Birmingham. The piped-in simulcast in Tucson starts Monday (Aug. 26). The show features DJ Envy, Angela Yee, and Charlamagne Tha God. In addition to KOHT-FM, "The Breakfast Club" is also being added at "V100" WKKV-FM, Milwaukee, replacing Steve Harvey in mornings, and on "103 Jamz" WOWI-FM, Norfolk, Virginia. The show will also be added at Birmingham's "104.1 The Beat" on FM translator W281AB. Clear Channel’s Premiere Networks began syndicating a weekend countdown show with the three hosts earlier this year. And, of course, the morning show is already available nationwide via Clear Channel's iHeartRadio. Charlamagne may also host a late night show on MTV. A test run for the show was seen earlier this week. Meanwhile, Premiere will take the "Power" morning show into full national syndication if the Charlamagne TV program does indeed get a permanent position on MTV. Premiere Announces September 'After MidNite' Celebrity Hosts Since the exit of original "After MidNite" host Blair Garner, Premiere Networks has been celebrating the show’s 20th anniversary with country artist guest hosts. Garner left the show he started to host mornings at Cumulus Media’s Country "Nash FM" WNSH-FM, New York -- which is expected to be distributed nationally by Cumulus Media Networks. Premiere tells us that "Country music stars Dierks Bentley, Justin Moore, Craig Morgan and Chris Young will take over hosting duties for their syndicated overnight show in September. Each artist will sit behind the microphone and give fans their unique, week-long take as host of the program. The 20-week takeover, which began on August 1 and runs through the end of 2013, also features special guest appearances and interviews." Craig Morgan will host the show from September 2-8, followed by Dierks Bentley (9-15), Justin Moore (16-22) and Chris Young (23-29). The celebrity takeover kicked off in August with Carrie Underwood. Additional hosts will be announced in the near future. Joshua Jackson Named WBGO-FM/Newark VP of Content Newark Public Radio in New Jersey appoints Joshua Jackson to the newly created position VP of Content for "Jazz 88.3" WBGO-FM. Says station acting President and CEO Amy Niles, "I am pleased to name Josh as our vice president of content. This new position reflects the evolving nature of WBGO as both a creator and distributor of content for our communities of jazz and news. Josh has a keen understanding and respect for the past, present and future of jazz. He is the personification of WBGO’s mission to continue the vibrancy of this music as a cultural art form and his enthusiasm for broadcasting is contagious.” Jackson also hosts WBGO-FM’s hour-long music magazine "The Checkout" which he will continue. Jackson, says the station, "began his radio career at WWOZ in New Orleans, worked as a production assistant at American Routes, and moved to New York to become the associate producer of Jazz From Lincoln Center with Ed Bradley. Josh joined the WBGO team in 2001 and is currently the station’s Special Projects Producer, blogger-in-chief and an unparalleled enthusiast for modern expressions in jazz." WBGO-FM also tells us he's been responsible for a number of new media projects. "The Checkout" -- an hour-long music magazine -- is also available as a podcast. "The multimedia show features what’s new in the New York jazz scene. The Checkout includes a dedicated website with on-demand content, including featured new music selections, sessions from the WBGO performance studio, as well as interviews and experiences recorded in the studio or on location throughout the New York area." Envision Launches New 'The Finest' Format from Mike Marino Envision Radio Networks introduces "The Finest Radio," a new 24/7 format from Los Angeles programmer Mike Marino. With success at KHHT-FM/Los Angeles, KJHM-FM/Denver and KMRJ-FM/Palm Springs, Marino has developed a "proven old school and smooth R&B music formula blending classic and contemporary R&B from the 70s to the 2000s," says Envision. "The format also attracts disenfranchised 25-54 female radio listeners." Marino tells us, "The Finest super-serves a segment of the audience that feels ignored by their local radio outlets. A crucial ingredient of our secret sauce is the music flow and message. Sure, other stations may play some of the same artists, but it's what we don't play that makes the difference." The new format, we're told, "takes a more mainstream approach to the Urban format, bringing together contemporary artists (Mariah Carey, Usher, Alicia Keys, Robin Thicke and Beyonce) and mixing them with old school R&B artists (Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Earth Wind & Fire, Diana Ross and Prince) along with a strong core of 90s favorites (Boyz II Men, Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton, Selena and Brian McKnight)." Says Envision Radio Networks President/CEO Danno Wolkoff, "The Finest provides a proven musical experience for radio stations to offer their listeners. The format supplies a new musical choice in the crowded 25-54 female demo and best of all it keeps listeners coming back for more! Mike Marino has created another winning format for radio." Behind the Microphone: The Ins and Outs of Radio SummitMedia Sports Talk "The Zone" WZZN-FM, Birmingham Program Director John Olsen is named National Program Director for the company, and will assist SVP of Programming Bill Tanner in overseeing the division ... "Fox Sports 910" KGME-AM, Phoenix, names Jody Oehler as its new afternoon host, joining Cardinals Insider Mike Jurecki and Michael "Jak" Bauer from 2-6pm beginning September 3. Oehler is currently the afternoon host at "The Fan 1490" KFFN-AM, Tucson ... Rex McNeill joins "New Country 105.1" KNCI-FM, Sacramento, for weekends. Most recently, he was at "Kat Country 103.3" KATM-FM, Modesto, California ... At L&L Broadcasting's Savannah cluster, Oldies "Big 98.3" WGCO-FM morning host and Program Director Jeff Taylor exits along with Hot AC "Y107.9" WXYY-FM afternooner and PD Brad Wells who also is out ... CHR/Top 40 "93.7 Now" WAZR-FM, Harrisonburg, Virginia, Program Director Chris Kash exits to relocate to Detroit to be with his girlfriend Virginia Rothwell, who handles regional promotion duties there for Capitol Records.