Saturday, January 5, 2013

R.I.P.: Bridgeport Radio..Gary Peters, Longtime PD/DJ, Dies

For more than 40 years, disc jockey Gary Peters enlivened drive time for thousands of Connecticut listeners -- once even taking his radio show airborne aboard his colleague Morgan Kaolian's airplane.

"He always wanted to try new things," said Kaolian, who worked with Peters at radio station WICC 600 AM in Bridgeport. "His innovative techniques made him a terrific program director."

According to ctpost.com, Peters, whose real name was Gary Almeida, died Thursday in Bridgeport Hospital following a lengthy battle with emphysema and while awaiting a lung transplant. 

He was 64 and lived with his wife, Susan in Stratford.

Peters worked at a number of area radio stations, including WEZN in Bridgeport, WDRC in Hartford, WATR in Waterbury, Kool 96.7 in Stamford and CD 101.9 in New York. Back in the early ‘90s, he was also GM of WVKZ AM & FM in the Albany, NY market.  In 1988-1990 he was OM for then-Tribune owned CD101.9 FM in New York. While there, Peters created new radio format that made CD 101.9 America’s #1 Contemporary Jazz station.

Most recently he owned Gary Peters Music and Media.

"Big" Al Warren remembers the November 1976 day Peters joined WICC as the program director.

"He brought in boxes of color-coded music based on style," said Warren, a Milford resident. "He had a great ear for music, picking hits and balancing the play list."

But Warren also remembers never seeing Peters without a cup of coffee and a cigarette, working from sun-rise to nighttime.

NYC Radio: Rita Cosby Gets WOR Gig

Clear Channel’s WOR 710 AM has added TV/Radio personality to its afternoon line-up.

Cosby’s Show will air 4p to 6p, slotted between Dave Ramsey and Andy Dean.

She is currently a Special Correspondent for the CBS syndicated program Inside Edition and fills-in for Nancy Grace on HLN, specializing in interviewing newsmakers and political figures.

Cosby has received three Emmy Awards, the Jack Anderson Award for investigative excellence, the Matrix Award, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and the Lech Walesa Freedom Award.

NYC Radio: For Mike Gallagher, The Answer Is The Answer

The Mike Gallagher Show, canceled on WOR 710 by new owners Clear Channel, has found a new home.

Mike starts Monday on Salem’s WNYM 970 AM The Answer.

Gallagher will originate his Monday show from Salem’s studios at the Empire State Building and is excited at being reunited with programmer Phil Boyce.  Boyce had once hired Gallagher for afternoons on WABC 770 AM. Gallagher was then at WGY 810 AM in AlbanyNY.


"I brought Mike to New Years years ago when I programmed WABC and am delighted to have a chance to get him on my station," said Boyce, who is Salem’s VP/Director of Spokne Words Fromats fro Salem Communication.

To shoe-horn Mike into The Answer’s line-up, Curtis Sliwa will end morning drive at 9am, Dial Global’s Dennis Miller will air starting at 11am, Salem’s Dennis Prager moves to 1p to 3p.

Chicago Radio: Dave Fogel Lands Mornings At WJMK

Dave Fogel, who stepped down last fall as morning host on WLS-FM (94.7), is stepping up to mornings on WJMK-FM (104.3), the CBS Radio classic hits station known as K-Hits.

According to Robert Feder at timeoutchicago.com, starting Monday, he’ll succeed the duo of Ed Volkman and Joe Bohannon, forced out after 20 months because of underperforming ratings. The station has gone jockless in mornings since December 6.

A familiar voice on Chicago radio since 1996, when he was hired to replace Danny Bonaduce on classic rock WLUP-FM (97.9), Fogel also hosted afternoons for eight years on hot adult-contemporary WTMX-FM (101.9). After a stint hosting mornings in Kansas City, he returned to Chicago in 2010 to join WLS-FM.

Last September, Fogel was forced out and replaced as morning host at WLS-FM by Brant Miller, the same jock he had replaced more than two years earlier. The Cumulus Media station subsequently shifted from oldies to classic hits, becoming a direct competitor of K-Hits. Fogel has been hosting evenings on K-Hits since October.

In the latest Arbitron Portable People Meter survey, K-Hits tied for 16th place in mornings with a 2.3 percent audience share overall and a 2.7 percent share of listeners between the ages of 25 and 54.

Maine Radio: Brown Back Doing AM Drive


Starting bright and early Monday morning, folks turning on their radios in Augustua-Gardiner, Maine will hear a familiar voice talking to them.

For many years folks have woken up to the unmistakable voice of Don Brown, who spent 44 years as the radio personality on the WABK 104.3 FM morning show.

"WABK became an integral part of my life because it was built from the ground floor," Brown said. "Everybody there was all brand new. It was a different style of radio that was very community oriented. It was personality oriented but it was music oriented too."

That was until Brown's tenure ended last June. It was a move that shocked Brown and his listeners.

Brown told WABI TV5, "To be honest with you, it's the toughest thing that ever happened to me, other than the loss of my wife many years ago. It was unexpected. It's very difficult to say we're gonna change what we're doing and you're no longer with us."

Because of a non-compete contract Brown had signed, he's had to stay away from radio for the past six months. He says the sabbatical has given him time to think and reflect on a broadcasting career that started in television in 1957 and spanned more than half a century.

Starting Monday morning, Don Brown, now 72, will be back doing what he loves, waking up central Maine radio listeners on WCTB 93.5 FM’s morning show playing music he says fits his personality to a tee: oldies.

Melbourne Radio: WAOA Taps Elaina Smith For AM Drive

Starting Monday from 6 to 10 a.m. weekdays, radio listeners will hear a new voice on CHR WAOA 107.1 FM WA1A. Cumulus Media Melbourne announced Friday that Elaina Smith is the new co-host for the longtime radio show.

According to Florida Today, Elaina, who is in her early 20s, joins veteran radio host Timmy Vee, who has been doing the show solo for more than three months.

“We looked, we talked to people, we interviewed people,” Vee said. “Nobody really fit our mold. We needed to get it right, and she is a perfect fit.”

More than 200 people applied for the radio show co-host position, he added, but there were a few things that really stood out about Elaina: “I think one, obviously, her personality,” Vee said. “Two, she has the same feeling toward this area that I do — it’s real important that we help the community and give back. It’s a big deal to her like it is to me. Plus,” he said, “she’s just flat out creative and fun and quick.”

“We’re just real excited to have her on board,” said Jennifer Armstrong, promotions director for Cumulus, adding Elaina will also be involved with the station’s social networking responsibilities.


California native Elaina most recently worked with Dave, Shelly and Chainsaw on KFMB (100.7 Jack FM)/San Diego.

The new radio host graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in journalism and media studies.

Saturday Aircheck: Dan Ingram, WABC NYC 1970

Dan Ingram, born September 7, 1934 in Oceanside, New York, had a career which spanned more than 40-years WABC 770AM  and WCBS-FM 101.1 FM in New York.

"Big Dan" started broadcasting at WHCH Hofstra College, Hempstead, New York, WNRC, New Rochelle, New York, and WALK-FM, Patchogue, New York.

Ingram is regarded by many as the best Top 40 DJ of all time. He's noted for his quick wit and ability to convey a humorous or satiric idea with quick pacing and an economy of words--a skill which has made him uniquely suited to, and successful within, modern personality-driven music radio.

He is among the most frequently emulated radio personalities, cited as an influence or inspiration by numerous current broadcasters.



For much more from Dan Ingram and to hear the evolution of Musicradio 77 WABC, America’s Greatest Top 40 Station, Click Here for Musicradio77.com.

Checkout Big Dan, 31-years later at WCBS 101.1 NYC:

Daytona Beach Radio: Former Owner Nabbed For Soliciting

A former radio-station owner who owns a marketing business and is active in the community was arrested for soliciting a prostitute on Ridgewood Avenue, Daytona Beach police said.

According to the News-Journal, Tony Welch, 77, of Ormond Beach, was charged Wednesday night after he offered an undercover policewoman $20 and told her "I want everything," an arrest report stated. He also told the officer that he was "cheap," the report said.

When the officer told Welch to meet her across the street at the motel, Welch drove to another block to turn around and was nabbed by a waiting policeman, the report said.

When the officer told Welch that he was under arrest, he responded with, "Is this about that girl? I didn't do anything. I told her I was cheap."

Welch, who owns Tony Welch Marketing and is the former owner and general manager of local radio station WROD 1340 AM.

Friday, January 4, 2013

Official: Cadillac Jack Joins Greater Media’s 96.9 FM Boston

Street talk for the past week has now been confirmed.

Veteran radio programmer Cadillac Jack McCartney has been named as the Director of Programming at Greater Media Boston. He will officially begin his new position on Monday, January 7, 2013.

An accomplished and seasoned radio veteran, Cadillac Jack most recently served as Vice President of Programming at Clear Channel Media & Entertainment in New York City, where he was responsible for Z100-FM, WLTW-FM, WKTU-FM, WAXQ-FM and WWPR-FM.

In his new role, he will oversee 96.9 FM, WMJX-FM, WKLB-FM, WBOS-FM and WROR-FM.

Cadillac Jack is no stranger to the Boston market. He spent over 20 years working in Boston radio in the 1990’s and 2000’s, programming both JAM’N 94.5 and KISS 108, and overseeing the entire Clear Channel Boston cluster for a decade through 2010, the last 3 years of which he also programmed WWPR-FM/Power 105.1 in NYC.

“I have been fortunate to work with many of the best programmers in our business, and Cadillac ranks at the top,” said Greater Media Boston Market Manager Rob Williams. “It is Greater Media’s good fortune to attract an all-star talent like Cadillac. As a program director, manager, strategic thinker, and leader, he is the best. Like Cadillac, Greater Media has a tremendous heritage of success in Boston radio and I am excited to work together on writing another great chapter.”

“A month ago, I would have bet anything I’d be on my way to Rwanda right now for some gorilla tracking and a good dose of rest and relaxation,” said Cadillac Jack. “Today, I’m outrageously happy that instead, I’m able to rejoin and partner with the very best manager in the radio industry, Rob Williams in Boston’s newly-created Director of Programming position.”

Greater Media Today is "Mike" On 96.9 FM

Starting Friday at noon,The Wheel of Formats landed on Adult Hits as "Playing Anything We Want" as Greater Media continues to stunt on 96.9 FM in Boston.


To Listen, Click Here.

Veteran RI TV Anchor Gene Valicenti Turns PRO

WPRO 630 AM and 99.7 FM (WEAN) has inked a deal with veteran Rhode Island newsman Gene Valicenti.  He’s sign-on for a morning show on the Providence N/T simulcast, beginning Monday.

Gene Valicenti is one of the most watched personalities in Rhode Island where he co-anchors the WJAR-TV 5:30 pm and 6:00 pm newscasts. 

In a news release the Cumulus station notes Valicenti brings more than 20 years of Rhode Island news broadcasting experience to the WPRO Morning News each and every weekday. With an intimate knowledge of Rhode Island and neighboring Massachusetts, the “WPRO Morning News with Gene Valicenti” will help listeners get their weekday started with news, traffic, weather and the unique touch of Gene Valicenti.

Gene’s radio appearances at WPRO began in 2010 hosting “The Gene Valicenti Show” on Saturday mornings. Gene Valicenti said, “Rhode Island has been waking up to WPRO since the days of Salty Brine. It goes without saying that hosting the WPRO Morning News is a real honor for me.”

Cumulus Media Senior Vice President, Programming Mike McVay said, “We are very pleased to welcome Gene Valicenti to WPRO-AM. The addition of Gene to the lineup is an important part of Cumulus’ commitment to providing compelling live and local talk programming to Rhode Island and the Southern New England listeners.”

Current morning news host, Tara Granahan, has been promoted to Assistant Program Director of WPRO-AM. Tara has spent 20 years at various news outlets in Rhode Island and co hosted the WPRO Morning News since 2005.

New WOR Website Posted

WOR 710 AM today started using Clear Channel's new redesigned template for its New/Talk stations.  It definitely is cleaner that the previous WOR710.com website.


Mayor Bloomberg joined host John Gambling for his weekly appearance on WOR's Morning Show to discuss Sandy relief organizations, the fiscal cliff, cab fares and public transportation in New York City.


Mark Simone Joins WOR-NYC For Talk Show

In a move that took many by surprise, veteran market radio personality has signed-on with Clear Channel’s WOR 710=AM.  Simone will be holding down the 10a-12n time slot.  It was unexpected.

Simone reisgn his most recent position at WABC.

The betting man had his money placed on Glenn Beck airing in the time lot.

What happened?

Well, the Simone move appears to be WOR’s attempt at flanking WABC with local talk. 

At least for the time-being. 

The question remains, will Glenn Beck air on WOR and when?  Reportedly, the Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity contracts with Cumulus-owned WABC 770-AM have another year to run.

If so, I suppose we can expect 90days notices to go out around October 1st.


The Simone signing follows  the addition Wednesday of the John & Ken Show via CC-LA’s KFI.  The Dave Ramsey contract was renewed Wednesday of this week.

At WABC, Simone has been hosting a Saturday night show and filling-in at WABC. He is a longtime fixture in New York radio having spent time at WPIX-FM 101.9 FM and WNEW 1130 AM among other stations.

The WOR lineup now features John Gambling 6-10am, Mark Simone 10am-12pm, Joan Hamburg from 12-2pm, Dave Ramsey from 2-4pm, fill-in hosts from 4-6pm, America Now with Andy Dean from 6-9pm, and John & Ken from 9-11pm.

FCC Okays Control Transfer of SiriusXM

Liberty Media has all but taken control of Sirius XM Radio.

The conglomerate said late Thursday it has received approval from the FCC for its request for the "transer of de jure control" of the satellite-radio firm, and it expects the complete transfer to occur within 60 days.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Liberty intends on converting preferred securities and debt in order to obtain enough shares to own more than 50 percent of Sirius, and FCC said it expects that to happen before the 60 days are up.

Liberty has been buying shares for several months and is already very close to the 50-percent threshold. The buying spree has been a catalyst for a surge in Sirius XM's stock price, which closed Thursday at $3.08, up 47 percent in six months.

Liberty has already replaced Mel Karmazin as CEO, installing James Meyer as Sirius XM's interim chief, and it has suggested that after it takes control of the radio company it will spin it off.

Sirius has more than 23 million subscribers to its service, which includes dozens of commercial-free channels as well as dozens of ad-supported channels dedicated to sports, comedy and politics.

WTOP Signs 4-Year Deal With CBS Radio

DCRTV is reorting that Hubbard all-newser WTOP 103.5 FM Washington, DC has renewed its deal to carry CBS radio newscasts, including "MarketWatch," until April 2017.

The station has an unbroken relationship with CBS since 1929, back when he DC area radio outlet was called WJSV.

 "We highly value our relationship with Harvey Nagler and his full team at CBS News and we're very happy it will continue," says Jim Farley, top programmer for WTOP, in a Thursday afternoon station memo.

There had been speculation that CBS's radio newscasts would eventually move to CBS-owned all-newser WNEW 99.1 FM, which launched in January 2012.

Newsday's Handelsman Nails News Cycle


From editorial cartoonist Matt Handelsman.

Phil Hendrie Sez Traditional Radio On Way Out

Blames Low Talent Pay

Phil Hendrie, Los Angeles syndicated talk radio show host ranted Wednesday night on his comedy radio program that radio is on it's way out. Hendrie, who does comedy character voices on his long running show blames radio station management for cheapening radio programming.

According to swflorida.blogspot.com, Hendrie, a 40-year veteran of talk and entertainment radio, said radio station owners refuse to pay talent fairly and hints that online internet radio will eventually  take over as traditional radio broadcasting is left behind.

Hendrie says he make more money from his internet blog and online downloadable shows than he does from his live on air radio nightly broadcast.

Hendrie has been involved in television and movies for more than a decade appears in the movie, “This Is 40.”  Hendrie has also had a recurring role in the TV sitcom “New Girl,” and appeared in the movie “Last Call” and does voice work for the animated version of “Napoleon Dynamite.”

He also plays a character on the ABC-TV hit show “Modern Family” in which he plays the recurring character “Boots.”

His first broadcasting job was at WBJW 1440 AM in Winter Park, Fla., a suburb of Orlando from 1973–1975. From 1976 to 1988, Hendrie was a disc jockey (DJ) on AOR-format rock music stations in Utica, NY, New Orleans, LA, Miami, FL, San Diego, CA, Los Angeles, CA and Fresno, CA.

He says he's now "totally divorced" from conventional talk radio and refuses to talk about traditional political topics anymore calling it "garbage" entertainment, "a garbage can filled with meaningless" political talk. Hendrie says he's never talked to anyone who's impressed him with their political opinions. In the coming year he says he's going to talk about everything other than politics.

He says radio is no longer fun to do and there's no money in it.

Dilbert Hits Home


Dilbert from Scott Adams.

George Noory Celebrates 10 Years as Host of C2C

George Noory will celebrate his 10th Anniversary as host of Coast To Coast AM his weekened with a special show this Sunday, January 6.

The special will feature appearances by many fan-favorite guests, including paranormal investigator Joshua P. Warren and internationally known psychic Joseph Jacobs. Noory will also share memorable interviews and highlights from the past decade.

"It's amazing how fast ten years goes by and I'm looking forward to ten more," stated Noory. "We have grown the affiliate base from 445 stations when I came on to 564, and have increased our digital, multi-platform audiences tremendously. I want to thank my staff of dedicated producers and engineers, our affiliates, as well as the entire Premiere Networks team - they are the best in the business."

"After 10 successful years, George continues to take Coast to Coast AM to new heights," stated Carl Anderson, Executive Vice President of News, Talk and Sports Programming for Premiere Networks. "His ability to not only entertain and engage his loyal following of sleep-deprived listeners across multiple platforms, but also deliver positive results for stations and sponsors, is what makes him a stand-out star in the world of talk radio. We look forward to celebrating many more milestones together."

Coast to Coast AM can be heard on more 560 stations in the U.S., Canada, Guam and Mexico. It's the #1 overnight radio program in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Denver, Sacramento, Cleveland, Salt Lake, Austin, Providence, and many other markets (Source: Arbitron, PPM, NOV'12, Exact Times, AQH Rank, P12+), and continues to be heard by nearly three million weekly listeners.

The Coast to Coast AM audience also stays connected beyond airwaves. CoastToCoastAM.com has more than 1.2 million unique visitors per month, averaging more than 11 million monthly page views. On-demand audio and video on the website also averages more than two million hits a month, while the CoastZone e-newsletter receives more than one million monthly page views.

R.I.P.: Former WBAP Host/Pilot Dick Siegel

Dick Siegel, once part of the most recognizable radio team in the Dallas-Fort Worth area died of a heart attacked Thursday. He was 75.

WBAP Website
Siegel was teamed with Hal Jay on WBAP-AM 820 from 1981 to 2003 for the top-rated morning radio show in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Hal and Dick, as they were commonly known, had 3 million listeners within 100 miles of their Fort Worth-licensed station.

They had countless other listeners around the nation as WBAP's clear-channel signal reached pretty much from coast to coast and border to border.

With Hal in the studio and Dick in his helicopter providing traffic reports, the duo shared an uncanny camaraderie. Besides news, weather and traffic, Hal and Dick supplied listeners with an endless stream of jokes and hilarious fictitious characters. They even had their own comic strip in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram called "The Adventures of Hal 'n Dick."

Although his radio reputation was built as a helicopter pilot, traffic reporter and comic, Siegel had been a weekend disc jockey at KLIF radio in Dallas before moving to WBAP.

In an interview last May with gosanangelo.com, Siegel recalled "I flew that helicopter by myself," Siegel said of his D/FW radio days. "I had the stick between my knees, I was writing down traffic notes on a clipboard, and I had another clipboard mounted to the instrument panel with all my jokes on it. Five radio and TV stations had helicopters flying around (giving traffic updates), plus the police and EMS helicopters. I had a radio going back to my control tower at Meacham Field, plus all the other radio chatter from the other stations.

"If you lose a part or something else goes wrong with your engine, you've got eight seconds to land before you crash. You've got to know where all the other helicopters are, where the electrical high line wires are and which direction the wind's blowing. There's no way you can do all that if you drink."

One close call Siegel remembers came when his helicopter lost a part, forcing him to land at the Interstate 30 and Interstate 35W Mixmaster in Fort Worth, where multiple highways overpass and merge.

"I got down through the wires and landed on one of those grassy areas next to an overpass," Siegel said. "A police helicopter landed, and they came running over to see if I was OK. I had just quit smoking a week earlier, but the first thing I said to the police officer was to ask him for a cigarette."

Siegel's reputation with his helicopter landed him in some unusual spots. He once was called to fly Elvis Presley from a concert to his hotel after he was mobbed by fans after a Fort Worth performance. He also shot the flyovers of Southfork Ranch during the introduction of the TV show "Dallas."

Once while providing traffic reports in D/FW, Siegel even rescued a woman and her two daughters from a car that was about to tip over a bridge railing during a flood.

"He balanced the helicopter on the trunk to steady the car," Paula Boyer said. "He told the two kids to climb out and get in with him, and they did. The mom was scared to get out of her car. Dick finally said, 'Lady, I've got your kids, and that's all I need. But I'd like you to get in, too. I can't wait any longer.' She finally got in with Dick. As soon as he flew off, the car toppled over the rail."

For that rescue, Siegel received the Pilot of the Year Award in 1989 from Helicopter Association International. The award recognizes an outstanding single feat by an active civilian pilot.

Several fictitious characters visited Hal and Dick during their shows, but "Sam from Sales" was the original WBAP character and the most popular, lasting 16 years. He was a high-pressure salesman with funny stories about his large family of cousins.

"Sam from Sales" was actually voiced by John Hanson, a former WBAP production manager. "He'd walk up and down the hallways at WBAP, impersonating Eddie Murphy from that movie "Beverly Hills Cop," and he was hilarious," Siegel said. "Hal and I both said, 'We've got to get that on the air.'"

KLDE Photo
Hal and Dick were so popular that, from 1981 to 1994, they were the only Dallas/Fort Worth area radio team to do the afternoon drive-time show in addition to the morning show. They also kept their audience after WBAP switched its format from country music to news/talk in 1993. Jay still does the morning show after 30-plus years, and according to Arbitron Ratings, WBAP still is the top news/talk station in D/FW.

"We were on so much, the audience thought they knew us personally," Siegel said. "They knew when I went through all my divorces and all my ex-wives' names."

More recently, Siegel played oldies in rural West Texas. KLDE-FM 104.9 reaches a 70-mile radius around Eldorado — from Sonora to Ozona to Big Lake to San Angelo.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Greater Media-Boston Hires Pebbles for 96.9FM

Veteran Boston radio personality Pebbles has been named as the new morning show host of 96.9 FM in Boston. She officially joined the station on January 2, 2013 and has been busy preparing for the launch of her brand new show.

Pebbles, real name Susan Lynne Semedo,  is no stranger to the Boston radio market. She most recently was heard co-hosting the morning show on JAM’N 94.5 with Ramiro Torres. In addition, Pebbles also served as a news anchor, traffic reporter and entertainment reporter for the top-rated hip hop station where she spent the past 17 years.

“I am beyond thrilled to become a member of the Greater Media family, and am extremely grateful to Rob Williams for giving me the opportunity to continue my journey in radio doing what I love,” said Pebbles. “I am deeply thankful for the support of the listeners who have followed my career over the years and I hope that they will continue to support me in my new venture.”

“Pebbles has been a consistent top performer in Boston radio for years,” said Greater Media Market Manager Rob Williams. “I had the pleasure to work with her at JAM’N and I was pleasantly surprised that she was available to join our team as we launch our new station on 96.9 FM. Her on-air talents, her commitment to working in the Boston community, and her incredible personality make a rare combination.”

A graduate of Northeastern University, Pebbles has always had a deep and strong commitment to community. Over the years she has donated her time to numerous organizations such as the Girl Scouts, First Book Boston, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston. With a passion for youth literacy, she started the program “Pebbles Reading Rockstars” to encourage kids to read more and develop a love of books. The Wareham native continues to visit classrooms as part of the literacy program. In addition, Pebbles is an aspiring children’s book author, is an avid reader, and movie buff.

She started her radio career in 1988 in Boston at WILD (AM) 1090, a station with a predominantly African-American audience, first as a midday on-air personality, before becoming part of the station's morning show.

In 1995, Pebbles left WILD for WJMN JAM'N 94.5, a Boston hip-hop FM radio station, to co-host the "Baltazar & Pebbles Morning Show." While Baltazar left the morning show in 2001, Pebbles remained at WJMN and was paired with Ramiro Torres to form the "Ramiro & Pebbles Morning Show."

She interviews celebrities and reports on traffic, news, and entertainment gossip, with segments including Entertainment Update, Fast Facts, and The Ladies Room. She is known for her "big-sister" aura at a station where 18 to 34-year-old women are the largest audience. Her Ladies Room segment includes advice for women on relationships, styles, and careers.

In January 2011, WJMN (FM) was ranked fourth in the Boston area, with 1,063,800 listeners, according to Arbitron.

Pebbles also runs her own communications company providing vocals for commercials, web presentations, audio books and phone systems.

December 6, 2012 marked Pebbles last day at Jamn945 after being released from her contract from Clear Channel.

Dallas Radio: Gene & Julie Gone From KVIL-FM

Longtime Dallas morning hosts Gene & Julie Gates found out just before Christmas that their contract wouldn't be renewed with CBS Radio’s KVIL 103.7 Lite FM.

The husband and wife team had been on-air for 8-years and were told the station was "Going in a different direction."

That direction apparently is Tony Zazza, who shifts from middays.

Gene released a statement that read "Right before Christmas, we were disappointed to learn from our new boss that we would no longer be working at 103.7 Lite FM .. It has been an honor to host mornings at the legendary KVIL for nearly 8 years and we never took that responsibility lightly. "

As for the future, they added: "We don't know. We love radio and North Texas is our home ... While we try to figure it out, we will concentrate on opening our restaurant Battuto Italian Kitchen in Far North Dallas (hopefully a late-February launch)."

FLASHBACK: Gene & Julie at KVIL-FM

Wheel of Formats Spins In Boston

Yesterday it was Urban Contemporary, today it’s EDM..tomorrow?  Stay tuned.

Greater Media’s WTKK 96.9 FM Thursday became NOVA – Electronic Dance Music Format. 

It appears Greater Media is going to stunt for a week or so before settling on a format for its former news/talk outlet WTKK, Boston. 

As the company news release issued Wednesday states, “Plan on more surprises to be unveiled throughout the week!”

See Wednesday's Original Posting, Click Here.  

Where the format wheel will stop is anybody’s guess.  A survey of the market shows it has successful CHR, hot AC, urban, classic hits and sports talk stations already.


Tom’s Take: Format stunting is for radio geeks and getting attention from media.  The average potential listen doesn’t give a crap.

KFI's John & Ken Added To WOR-NYC Line-Up

The evolution slowly continues at Clear Channel-owned WOR 710 AM in NYC.



On the day that syndicated Salem talker Mike Gallagher got the word that ‘the new owners’ had cancelled his 10a-12n airing, WOR started airing KFI Los Angeles’ John and Ken from 9p to 11p.

The first hour was a simulcast of their PM Drive show on CC’s KFI and the 10p hour was a custom-live hour for WOR.   They have not yet been added to the website line-up.  And WOR has yet to adopt the Clear Channel website template.

John Koblyt and Ken Chiampou have history in the New York metro area. They did afternoon drive on WKXW New Jersey 101.5 (Trenton) from 1990 through late ’92, when they left for KFI.  While at NJ101, they gained national notoriety for heavily criticizing New Jersey governor Jim Florio for passing the largest state tax hike in United States history immediately after taking office. During this period, their ratings quadrupled to 600,000 listeners. Kobylt criticized Florio for reneging on his promise not to raise taxes. A caller, postal worker John Budzash, then suggested the idea of Hands Across New Jersey, a protest that would symbolically cut the state in half.. When other callers noted that blocking traffic was illegal, the movement turned into a rally in front of the State House in Trenton.

The duo eschew any party labels or loyalties. Kobylt has indicated that his role is "to identify who the bad guy is and what the bad act is so that people feel it viscerally... pointing out how they were screwed in some way."

Mostly fiscally conservative on issues like taxes, they also frequently lean conservative with regard to crime.  They are staunch opponents of illegal immigration and government employee labor unions. They support strong sentences for child molesters and murderers, the death penalty, Megan's Law and Jessica's Law. They also oppose driver's licenses for illegal immigrants. They are libertarian in other aspects, such as being pro-choice, supporting gays in the military and gay marriage, opposing the influence of the Religious Right on American politics, opposing the Iraq War, opposing funds for public transportation, and opposing tax increases.

Also Wednesday, WOR and syndicated talker Dave Ramsey reached agreement on a new contract.  Ramsey will hold down his usual 2p to 4p time slot on WOR.

Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity are expected to eventually move from WABC 770 AM to WOR.  The term of the Ramsey contract was not announced. What happens to Ramsey remains to be seen.

It has been reported that Limbaugh and Hannity each have another year remaning on their deals with Cumulus-owned WABC.

As for Gallagher, he expects to find himself back on Salem's secular talker, WNYM 970 AM The Answer soon.   

Philly Radio: Merlin, Mendte Part Ways

Larry Mendte posted on his Facebook page that he had been let go from conservative talk radio station WWIQ IQ 106.9, where the former anchor had been serving as morning drive host. In the post, the gracious Mendte makes it clear that his departure from the station was not his decision.

In an interview with the Daily News, Mendte said there was no indication why he was let go from the station, who gave Mendte his walking papers on December 21. Mendte believed his show had solid ratings and loyal fanbase. "It just never really had a spot. They were trying to find a place for it," Mendte said. Mendte, unlike the other hosts, did not have a contract.

Mendte doesn't know what's in store for IQ 106.9, although rumors have swirled that the station might be sold. Mendte himself has another gig to fall back on: He does commentary pieces for New York's Pix11.

"IQ" morning co-host Al Gardner is now paired with veteran talk host Lionel.

Atlanta Radio: Ryan Cameron Talks About His New Show

Ryan Cameron may come across as jokey and fun on air, but he takes his job ultra seriously.

And he seriously wants to grow V-103’s already huge morning audience.

Rodney Ho at ajc.com reports, he opened his first official morning show on V103 Wednesday on a low-key note. No inordinate bravado, no fan-fare or big celebrity buddies calling in (though his son Cayden did.) His most prominent in-studio guest was Atlanta’s own R&B singer Ciara, who joked with his team during the 9 a.m. hour.

“My goal is for the city to understand that we want to be as local as possible,” Cameron said. “We’re going to cover all the things [my syndicated rivals] can’t.”

Despite his lighthearted on-air persona, he said he is well aware of the target demographics of his audience (25 to 54) and the fact he’s 47 himself and a father of three.

His staff is still evolving. The only hold-over from the Frank and Wanda show is Jean Ross, the news reader. Cameron added a writer, comic Ronnie Jordan, and will keep his new man-on-the-street comic character he’s dubbed Funny Boo Boo, who Clark dubs “a sweet, endearing, naive kid.”

NYDN Vividly Displays Anger At Congress

The New York Daily News used a creative and, some consider, gruesome front page Thursday to portray their story about failure of the House of Representatives to vote to help Superstorm Sandy victims.


WMVP Blocks ‘Mongo’ From Bears’ Pre-Game Show

Former Chicago Bear Steve "Mongo" McMichael’s decision to run for mayor of Romeoville, Illinois has cost him his spot on a Bears pregame show on Chicago’s ESPN radio affiliate.

The Chicago Tribune is reporting McMichael, a member of the 1985 Super Bowl champion Bears and a longtime analyst for a pregame show on WMVP-AM 1000, filed paperwork Dec. 26 to get on the ballot for the April 9 election.

Two days later, an election law attorney representing one of McMichael’s opponents, Romeoville Mayor John Noak, sent a letter to the station stating that Noak was reserving the right to request equal air time.

McMichael said an official at the station called him Saturday and told him he would not be allowed on the air the next day for the show before the Bears’ season finale against the Detroit Lions.

“I was ready to go on and talk football,” McMichael said. “I by no means used that pregame show as a political platform this year. But if that’s the law, it’s the law, and I have to accept it. I even told ESPN I’m sorry I got them into this.”

Fogarty said his letter to the station didn’t request that McMichael be kept off the air.

“I was simply alerting them to the fact that he had run and we were reserving our right as a candidate to request equal time,” Fogarty said. “But any decision (about McMichael) was solely the station’s.”

Read More Now.

Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News

Cincy Radio: WQRT Stops Talking, Will Go Dark

“Real Talk 1160″ WQRT-AM fired its local staff today after Dean Miuccio finished his “Cincinnality” morning show. Also gone are newsman T.C. Summers, and afternoon sports hosts Dennis “Wildman” Walker (3-5 p.m.) and Jeff Piecoro (5-7 p.m.).  They will be replaced by syndicated shows through Monday.

According to a story at Cincinnati.com, the station will go dark — off the air — after the Notre Dame football game Monday night. A new format will debut Feb. 1.

Dean Miuccio
In recent years, “Real Talk 1160″ has tried to compete with the Clear Channel talk empire with Andy Furman, Eric Deters, Wildman Walker, Piecoro and Miuccio. They gave up Wednesday, when the old WCFN-FM  Mojo 100.3  launched the Cincinnati Fan FM sports talk format and the CBS Sports Radio Network programming. 

1160 operations manager Rob Williams and sports talk host/producer Rick Ucchino quit and jumped to WCFN-FMfor today’s start-up.

Jon Yinger says he might announce a new format as early as Friday. It’s not clear what will happen to NKU basketball games broadcasts.

Cumulus, Arbitron Do Deal

Arbitron Inc. and Cumulus Media have signed a multi-year agreement for Arbitron diary and Portable People Meter™ radio ratings services covering all 450 Cumulus stations in the 100 Cumulus radio markets currently surveyed by Arbitron.

The agreement provides Cumulus stations in 44 diary markets access to the Arbitron radio ratings service for the first time in more than three years. It also renews ratings agreements in 17 PPM markets and 39 diary markets.

In addition to diary and PPM local market ratings, the agreement also provides Cumulus with access to Arbitron software applications, Scarborough consumer profile services, and national and network radio ratings for Cumulus Media Networks.

Cumulus has also agreed to collaborate with Arbitron on cross-platform services that would quantify the total impact of the Cumulus radio brand.

Idaho's KTVB Believes In Free

They airing promos knocking newspaper's paywalls.

Delilah, St. Martin's Press Launch New National Book Club

"Home Front," Kristin Hannah's #1 New York Times bestselling novel, has been selected as the inaugural book club pick by famed radio personality, Delilah, Premiere's most listened-to-woman on U.S. radio.

An exciting new venture between the beloved "Oprah of Radio" and publisher St. Martin's Press, the national book club will launch on January 8, 2013 to coincide with the paperback release of "Home Front," and will feature an innovative multimedia format, including on-air discussions on Delilah's nationally-syndicated evening radio program, extensive online outreach and active engagement with fans and readers through a variety of social media platforms.

Of her new book club, Delilah says "The sensation of reading a great book, and being able to share it with friends, is one of those great connections in life.  I hear from so many listeners with the names and stories of books they've discovered and wanted to share. Starting our own book club in the New Year with 'Home Front' by Kristin Hannah is the perfect story to share with my listeners for all kinds of reasons."

Matthew Shear, executive vice-president and publisher at St. Martin's Press, adds, "I was thrilled to hear that Delilah wanted to start an on-air book club and even more excited when she chose Kristin Hannah's 'Home Front' as her debut selection. Both Delilah and Kristin have such strong connections to women, Delilah through her immense radio show and Kristin through her very emotional stories. It seems to me they are a perfect match."

"Home Front," the powerful story of a young family dealing with the emotional fallout of military deployment, was a #1 New York Times bestseller in hardcover and has been optioned for a feature film by 1492 Films, with Chris Columbus attached to direct.

Julianne Hough Reveals Childhood Abuse

Though Julianne Hough is known for her bubbly personality, it turns out not everything in her life has been so charmed, according to Antoinette Bueno at ET Online.

Julianne covers Cosmopolitan's February issue, where she reveals she suffered mental and physical abuse while living in London as a young girl to pursue her dancing career. She attended the prestigious Italia Conti Academy of Arts on a five-year scholarship, along with her brother Derek.

"While I was in London, I was abused, mentally, physically, everything," she reveals, and it didn't stop there -- she says it got worse when she "started hitting puberty, when I started becoming a woman and stopped being a little girl."

Julianne of course did return to the United States, where she became a star thanks to her winning performances on Dancing with the Stars.

On a lighter note, Julianne also dishes to the magazine about her relationship with KIIS 102.7 FM morning host and host of American Idol, Ryan Seacrest.

"We love what we do. We take pride in giving it our all, but then when we're alone, we really focus in on going to dinners and being extra-romantic and affectionate and just being there for each other," she says.

Channel No One Watches Buys Channel No One Watches

Al-Jazeera Buys Current TV From Al Gore

Former Vice President Al Gore confirmed Wednesday that the left-leaning news network he co-founded, Current TV, has been bought by Al-Jazeera, boosting the Pan-Arab news channel's reach in the U.S. by nearly nine times to some 40 million homes.

Gore said in a statement that Al-Jazeera, which is owned by the government of Qatar, shares Current TV's mission, quote, "to give voice to those who are not typically heard; to speak truth to power; to provide independent and diverse points of view; and to tell the stories that no one else is telling."

Al Jazeera did not disclose the purchase price, but people with direct knowledge of the deal pegged it at around $500 million, indicating a $100 million payout for Mr. Gore, who owned 20 percent of Current. Mr. Gore and his partners were eager to complete the deal by Dec. 31, lest it be subject to higher tax rates that took effect on Jan. 1, according to several people who insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. But the deal was not signed until Wednesday.

It is reported Glenn Beck's media company, The Blaze, wanted to buy the cable TV company Current TV, which is part-owned by Al Gore.

But, according to a WSJ report citing a person familiar with the negotiations, Current TV refused The Blaze's offer because "the legacy of who the network goes to is important to us and we are sensitive to networks not aligned with our point of view."

So instead, it sold to mid-east cable company Al Jazeera for $500 million.

Al-Jazeera plans to gradually transform Current into a network called Al-Jazeera America by adding five to 10 new U.S. bureaus beyond the five it has now. More than half of the content will be U.S. news and the network will have its headquarters in New York. Al-Jazeera English has earned respect for its serious news coverage, for which it's won numerous journalism awards.

Tom's Take: So let me get this straight...Al-Jazeera is 'more aligned' with Current's point-of-view than another American's point-of-view?   Okay, got it.

UPDATE 12NOON 01/03/2013  Glenn Beck comments on his radio show.


Oak Ridge Boys Cheer Up Ailing President Bush

The Oak Ridge Boys may have had a hand in helping former President George H. W. Bush recover from his recent ailment last week. Bush was hospitalized in intensive care suffering from bronchitis and other related problems.

The legendary group got a call from Barbara Bush on Friday (December 28th) asking them to sing for the former President. The guys met up at their Nashville-area office where they serenaded him over the phone with "Elvira" -- at his request -- and "Amazing Grace."



The office of George H.W. Bush issued a statement saying, "Words cannot properly express how much The Oaks' special performance meant to the President and the Bush family. This friendship goes back many years, and what happened . . . gave the President a real shot in the arm as he, thankfully, continues to improve. The Bushes continue to feel so blessed to have so many friends like The Oaks, and wish to thank one and all for their prayers and good wishes."

On Saturday (December 29th), President Bush was moved out of intensive care and continues to improve.