Indiana RadioWatch: May 31, 2005

Congratulations to Byrd Brothers/Panther Racing and driver Buddy Lazier on their fifth place finish at Sunday's Indianapolis 500. The connection here is that the Byrd brothers own Sports/WXLW (950am, Indianapolis).

Now, onto the news...

Northeast

After two and a half days of stunting with construction noises and liners saying: "Auburn and Garrett - just days until your new live, local radio station hits the air," the former Jazz/WFJZ (106.7fm, Hicksville, Ohio) segues to Hot AC as "Froggy 106.7." Under new PD "Woody" Zimmerman, the station debuted at 3:00pm on Friday 27 May, with new call letters WFGA. The Fallen Timbers-owned station will target DeKalb County with a broad mix of music. Their first hour:

Joy to the World - Three Dog Night (Why? First line = "Jeremiah was a bullfrog...")
Collide - Howie Day
Hey Baby - No Doubt
Who I Am - Jessica Andrews
Shine - Collective Soul
Chariot - Gavin Degraw
Rhythm of my Heart - Rod Stewart
With You - Jessica Simpson
Let Her Cry - Hootie and the Blowfish
Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Green Day
Don't Stop - Fleetwood Mac
Incomplete - Backstreet Boys
Tell it to My Heart - Taylor Dane

The new airstaff lineup:

Mornings: (PD) Woodrow and the Froggy Morning Show (5:30AM - 10:00AM)
Middays: (GM) Ron Davis (10:00AM - 2:00PM)
Afternoons: Jim Irizarry ("Chris Cord") (2:00PM - 7:00PM)
Nights: Dan Bader ("Dan Sterling") (7:00PM - 12:00AM)

Irizarry is also the station Production Director and Sterling (Dan Bader) is Promotions Director. Cord was recently at Metro Traffic/Fort Wayne. Also, Dave Turpchinoff will be LSM. Finally, the whole station recently moved into its new "pad" if you will - new studios were recently built in the Auburn Cord Plaza on North Grandstaff Drive in Auburn.

Morning (married) duo Davin and Ana Fesmire (Davin and Ana Friendly, on-air) exit at Summit City Radio's CHR/WYLT (103.9fm, Fort Wayne). Ana's last day was Monday, while Davin resigned on Wednesday, live on the air.

Northcentral

Federated Media President and CEO John Dille III will receive the NAB National Radio Award at the Radio Luncheon during the 2005 NAB Radio Show. Federated Media is a 15 station radio group with properties in Indiana and Michigan. Dille's accomplishments include serving twice as NAB Radio Board Chairman, past chair of the Radio Advertising Bureau and past president of the Indiana Broadcasters Association.

Northwest

IRW sends condolences to family and friends of Jermoe Ingwersen, who passed away on Sunday 1 May. Ingwersen, 82, worked at several south suburban Chicago radio stations, including WJOB (1230am, Hammond).

Central

In addition to the Indy 500 success mentioned above, ABC News Radio turned to Sports/WXLW (950am, Indianapolis) afternoon host Greg Rakestraw for the Indy 500 story - this was ABC's lead story at 4:00pm on Sunday.

Emmis CHR/WNOU (93.1fm, Indianapolis) PD Chris Edge adds APD duties to MD/night guy Dylan.

Ben Davis High School station WBDG (90.9fm, Indianapolis) adds the weekly Radio Goethe (German music) program on Saturday night's at 7pm. The show features bands from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Southcentral

APD + morning man Miles Flynn exits Ad-Venture Media's N-T/WBIW (1340am, Bedford).

Employment Opportunities

Do these statements describe you?

* I always look for ways to improve performance and enhance teamwork among my staff.
* I create a positive work environment and focus on the good aspects of people and situations.
* I am a listener and know what's important to each person on my staff. I like to win and hate to lose.
* I am seen as a take-charge person and have good intuitions and street smarts.

If they do, come lead the sales team at America's top-rated A/C station, WIKY. We're South Central Radio Group, a family-owned company with the resources and tools to win and grow your career skills. If you're up to the challenge, e-mail jobs at sccradio.com. EOE.

Does your ability to multi-task fascinate and amaze your friends? Are you highly motivated to work hard and play hard? Do you thrive on a fast-paced continuously changing environment and have motivation and always feel a sense of urgency to "Get it done"?

Then one of Fort Wayne's best radio stations is where you need to be! We're looking for a dedicated, promotions director committed to excellence. If you're a "Make-it-Happen" kind of person with promotions experience, event planning under your belt, and the ability to do a dozen things at once, and do them well, then send your resume STAT to: Federated Media, P.O. Box 6000, Fort Wayne, IN 46896.

That's it for this issue. See you in a week!

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All pages Copyright Blaine Thompson. Articles, photos, corrections, and other contributions should be e-mailed to the editors.