Indiana RadioWatch: October 20, 2007
Northeast
With Russ Oasis announcing his $3.8 million purchase of Artistic Media
Partners' Fort Wayne properties: Country/WBTU (93.3fm, Kendallville) and
Oldies/WSHY (106.3fm, Columbia City), an LMA was worked out on Monday 5
March. That LMA took effect on Tuesday 6 March, and at 12:01AM that day,
Oasis flipped the format on WSHY to Regional Mexican. This brief
competition with Three Amigos-owned "Mega" WGBJ (102.3fm, Auburn) lasted
until Wednesday 11 April, when WSHY flipped formats again - to classic
dance. The new "Vibe 106.3" debuted at 6:00PM that evening, under PD Phil
Becker, with the first song (a most logical choice) Donna Summer's "On the
Radio". New call letters are WVBB, and their website is
http://www.1063thevibe.com/.
Back at sister Rhythmic CHR/WJFX (107.9fm, New Haven), Becker is replaced
in middays is Mia Amini, who was last in promotions at WBTS in Atlanta,
Georgia. Replacing Alomar in Afternoons is Pierre Moussa, who was last
doing weekends at WPYO in Orlando, Florida (and worked with Becker when he
was PD down there.)
C&W/WADM (1540am, Decatur) is sold by Holden Broadcasting, Inc. for
$110,000 to Lewis Broadcasting, LLC.
After stunting most of the afternoon and all evening on Thursday 24 May,
with various renditions of the The Star-Spangled Banner, Russ Oasis'
Country/WBTU (93.3fm, Kendallville) relaunched at Midnight as "US 93.3"
under GM Roger Diehm, GSM Dave Turpchinoff, and PD Scott Roddy ("Sam
Adams"). The station kicked off at midnight with Brooks & Dunn's "Only in
America"
US 93.3 has a new website at http://www.us933.us/
We have more details on Northeast Indiana Public Radio's purchase of WCKZ
(94.1fm, Roanoke). The change happened in May, with the WBNI call letters
and format moving to 94.1fm and the WCKZ call letters replaced WBNI's
(91.3fm, Orland). On Monday night (9 April), the classic rock format
disappeared from 94.1fm and was replaced by a loop of various arrangements
of Pachelbel's Canon in D.
Federated Media N-T/WOWO (1190am, Fort Wayne), OM/PD/News Director Jon
Zimney exits for APD/News Director duties at KTAR-FM in Phoenix, Arizona.
Replacing Zimney in all those roles at WOWO is APD Andy Ober, who also
remains PD of sister Sports/WKJG (1380am, Fort Wayne). Ober has been with
Federated Media since March, 2006.
Contemporary Christian/WBCL (90.3fm, Fort Wayne) welcomes Jill Johnston as
Promotions Director.
Federated Media Rock/WBYR (98.9fm, Van Wert, Ohio) PD Chuck Wright ("DJ
Manic") exits, after a brief tenure programming "98.9 The Bear." Before
"The Bear," Wright programmed Rhythmic CHR/WYPW (95.7fm, Nappanee).
Northcentral
Adding to our story we reported last issue, AllAccess reports that LeSEA
Broadcasting sold WDOW(AM) (1440am, Dowagiac, Michigan) to Larry Langford
for $90,001 ($90,000 for the property; $1 for the equipment and license).
Artistic Media Partners adds Jack Swart as Market Manager for both
Artistic's South Bend and Lafayette stations. Swart was last Market
Manager for Cumulus in the Quad Cities. Swart replaces Greg DeRue, who
left in May for Market Manager for the Cumulus properties in Columbia and
Jefferson City, Missouri. Also, CHR/WNDV-FM (92.9fm, South Bend) morning
duo Scotty Wylde and Lindsey Bauer exit for mornings at KHTT in Tulsa,
Oklahoma. Replacing Wylde and Bauer in mornings is former WWXM/Myrtle
Beach, South Carolina duo Rob Sparks and AJ Seliga. At WWXM, Rob was
APD/Imaging Director and Middays, while AJ was PD/Afternoons.
Clear Channel (through its Capstar TX L.P.) sells FM translator W242BM
(96.3fm, Kokomo) for $4000 to Friends of Christian Radio, Inc.
Northwest
Logansport Radio's Soft AC/WSAL & Adult Hits/WLHM (1230am & 102.3fm, both
Logansport) will be sold to Mid-America Radio for $1.1 million, plus a
$240,000 three year non-compete. Ed Henson of Henson Media, Inc. brokered
this deal.
KVB Broadcasting's Hot AC/WGLM (106.7fm, West Lafayette) promotes Ken
Stapleton to Director of Traffic and Operations. Before joining WGLM,
Stapleton was Assistant Director of Operations and APD at Brothers
Broadcasting Corp's Oldies/WIBN (98.1fm, Earl Park).
AllAccess reports that Artistic Media Partners CHR/WAZY (96.5fm,
Lafayette) morning co-host Kim Iverson adds Music Director duties.
Eastcentral
Whitewater Broadcasting, Inc. buys Country/WKWH (94.3fm, Rushville) for
$1.5 million from RSE Broadcasting. The station retained its country
format, now as "Hometown Country 94.3" and the call letters changed in
July to WIFE-FM. Inside Radio reports that RSE Broadcasting also sells
Classic Hits/WKWH (1520am, Shelbyville) for $225,000 to Scott Huber's
Three Towers Broadcasting.
Dave Stout is now News Director for Backyard Broadcasting Eastcentral
Indiana (WLBC/WERK/WURK/WHTI/WHTY/WHBU/WXFN). Stout replaces Tom Hammond,
who unexpectedly passed away in March at entirely too young age of 40.
Also at Backyard, Bruce Law is now Market Manager and Amy Dillon is
General Sales Manager.
Central
Let's take those very minor changes in the Indianapolis radio dial in
sequential order:
Emmis' CHR/WNOU (93.1fm, Indianapolis) PD Chris Edge has been named
Program Director for sister stations KGSR and KLBJ in Austin, Texas. Edge
has been with "Radio Now 93.1" since October, 2003 when he arrived from PD
at WDCG in Raleigh, North Carolina.
In June, Chris Pickett was named PD at WNOU. Pickett arrived from PD at
KVUU and KKLI in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Two weeks ago, everything changed. Let's recap 8 October 2007:
At 4:30pm, 93.1fm switched from "Radio Now" to Christmas music, ending
seven and a half years as a CHR. After his brief tenure, PD Chris Pickett
returned to KVUU/Colorado Springs, Colorado as PD. Also out at Radio Now
are the morning show of Marco, Shannon, and Super Phat Mikey, along with
afternoon jock Nigel. (We later learned that the morning trio will debut
at a station in Atlanta in early January, 2008)
On Wednesday 10 October, Emmis announced the sale of the Radio Now
intellectual property to Radio One. "Radio Now 100.9" soon debuted on the
former Jazz/WYJZ (100.9fm, Speedway). AllAccess reports that Tim "Rayne"
Rainey is the new PD at "Radio Now @ 100.9." He was the APD/MD/night guy
at the former "Radio Now 93.1."
We read in several places that the future of 93.1fm after Christmas will
be what is now N-T/WIBC (1070am, Indianapolis). AllAccess reports that
this will happen on 7 January 2008. The AM will become an ESPN Sports
affiliate. AllAccess also says all of the play by play on 1070am (Colts,
Pacers, and IU Football) will continue. Finally, Colts games, the Indy
500, and the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard will remain simulcast on sister
Country/WLHK (97.1fm, Shelbyville).
What becomes of the current ESPN affiliate - WXLW (950am, Indianapolis),
after its affiliation runs out? We have heard no official answer yet,
though the format speculation could easily fill our next column.
Veteran Cumulus/Indianapolis Market Manager Charlie Morgan exits after
over 20 years. Replacing him is another veteran Market Manager - Chris
Wheat. Wheat was VP/Market Manager at Clear Channel/Indianapolis for 21
years before leaving in November, 2006. Before returning to Indianapolis,
Wheat was VP/Market Manager for Entercom's stations in Norfolk, Virginia.
After over fifteen years spent pursuing a radio license, Kids First, Inc.
now has a CP for WITT (91.9fm, Zionsville). The station expects to sign
on from studios in Zionsville sometime in 2008.
A pair of PD departures at Entercom Indianapolis. First, Adult Hits/WNTR
(107.9fm, Indianapolis) PD Tom Watson exits. Second, Talk/WXNT (1430am,
Indianapolis) PD Andrew Lee exits. Cluster OM Scott Sands adds PD duties
for WXNT.
Amber Stearns exits after eleven years with Mid-America Radio's WIOU/WZWZ
(1350am, 92.5fm; both Kokomo) for news reporting and hosting the Noon news
program at Emmis' WIBC (1070am, Indianapolis). WIBC News Director Sherry
Fisher tells IRW: "WIBC/Network Indiana is thrilled to have a news person
of Amber Stearns talent and experience to our news team. Amber will bring
great energy to the the station, both on and off the air. We couldn't be
happier to have her."
AllAccess mentions that Emmis' Country/WLHK (97.1fm, Shelbyville) adds Dan
Pantos as APD/middays. Pantos returns to Emmis Communications after about
ten years outside of radio.
The Yolanda Adams Morning Show - syndicated by Radio One from their
station KROI in Houston, Texas - is now airing in mornings at Radio One's
Gospel WTLC (1310am, Indianapolis).
Clear Channel RVP/Programming Kelly Carls adds Indianapolis to his RVP
duties. Carls is also PD at N-T/WHAS in Louisville, Kentucky.
Where Are They Now? Former WISG (93.9fm, Fishers; now WWFT) morning man
Kurt Wallace is now PD and nights at WCVO in Columbus, Ohio.
Southeast
Radio One sells Alternative/WLRX (104.3fm, Charlestown) to Colorado
Springs-based WAY-FM for $1 million dollars. They also sell Urban/WGZB
(96.5fm, Lanesville) to Main Line Broadcasting, along with the remainder
of their Louisville cluster (WLRX/WMJM/WDJX/WXMA). The total price of $76
million includes those five Louisville cluster stations, and five Dayton,
Ohio stations.
C.J. Miller, PD/mornings co-host at Hot AC/WRZQ (107.3fm, Greensburg)
exits, as of last Thursday (18 October). Miller was also PD at sister
Country/WYGB (100.3fm, Edinburgh). Miller has been with owner Reising
Radio Partners for the last three years. In the interim, Station Manager
Mike King, OM Dave Wineland and Keith Maddox will rotate filling in on the
morning show.
Clear Channel's CHR/WZKF (98.9fm, Salem) gets a FCC Notice of Apparent
Liability for $10,000 regarding public-file problems. IRW Public Service
Announcement: Is your stations' public file in order?
Southcentral
Artistic Media Partners welcomes Brandon Scott as PD of CHR/WBWB (96.7fm,
Bloomington). Scott last was APD/MD and Middays at WPIA in Peoria,
Illinois.
Southwest
Mark Elliot is now PD at South Central's AC/WIKY (104.1fm, Evansville).
Elliott was last PD at WFCX/WFDX in Traverse City, Michigan.
Dave Crooks, a state lawmaker (House 63rd District, D-Washington), and
owner of DLC Media, Inc. has begun a weekly talk show. Crooks' show began
1 September and airs Saturday mornings on both Standards/WAMW and Classic
Hits/WAMW-FM (1580am & 107.9fm, both Washington).
Cindy Patrick, PD at Regent Oldies/WJLT (105.3fm, Evansville), exits as of
14 September. The Main Street Tattler reports that she has been with the
station since its sign on with oldies in mid-February, 2005.
Austin Henry ("Rooster"), night jock at South Central's Country/WLFW
(93.5fm, Chandler) exits.
That's it for this issue. See you in a week!
Back to the Archive Index
All pages Copyright Blaine Thompson. Articles, photos, corrections, and
other contributions should be
e-mailed to the editors.