Veteran programmer Justin Chase has been rewarded for his success at Beasley Broadcasting by being named the company’s first-ever Vice President/Programming. In the newly created position Chase (pictured) will oversee all programming operations for the company’s multi-formatted stations located in eleven markets nationwide. Additionally he’ll be charged with developing creative campaigns to extend the stations’ on-air brands to the growing digital space. Most recently OM for Beasley’s Las Vegas cluster, Chase’s resume also includes prior programming stints at Entercom/Greenville, SC, CBS Radio/Sacramento and Clear Channel/Modesto-Stockton. “Justin possesses all the traits and strengths we were we looking for in a Vice President of Programming when we decided to create the position at Beasley’s corporate level,” said company President/COO Bruce Beasley, to whom Chase will report. “Over the last four years with our company, he has demonstrated his ability to program numerous formats, develop & maintain strong relationships within the industry and create campaigns that extend stations’ on-air brands to digital platforms. We believe Justin is the perfect fit for this new position.”
Longtime WBT-AM & FM/Charlotte evening personality John Hancock will swap hours with current afternoon drivers Brad Krantz and Britt Whitmire beginning July 16th. It’s a return to PM drive for Hancock, who joined the station for middays in 1990, moving to afternoons in 1996. After leaving the station in 1999, the popular local personality returned to WBT in 2001, where he’s held down the 6-9pm slot ever since. “John Hancock has been a staple of WBT for years, earning him the title of ‘Charlotte’s Most Beloved,’” said Greater Media/Charlotte SVP/Market Manager Rick Feinblatt. “We’re excited to have him with our listeners for the drive home.”
A cryptic message posted on independently syndicated talker Dave Ramsey’s website indicates that “big changes are coming to the Dave Ramsey Show.” The page further states that the pending changes will help listeners “see the show in a whole new way” beginning later this summer. Check out a “sneak peek” video to see what Dave (pictured) and his crew are up to HERE … Fishbowl DC reporter Austin Price shares pictures and commentary from a tour he took of NPR’s new 400,000 square foot facility in the nation’s capitol, 100,000 of those devoted to a two-story newsroom and 2,400 square-feet assigned to Studio One, which can seat up to 250 guests. The new building — expected to soon be LEED certified for its green construction — even has its own beehives to help pollinate the facility’s green roofs. Employees at commercial radio stations nationwide can drool over pics of the new Public Radio facility and read more of Price’s story HERE.
Dial Global names former NFL executive Ronald Furman as Chief Revenue Officer for the company. Furman, most recently EVP/Managing Director of Insignia Sports Entertainment, will be based in NYC where he’ll report directly to recently named DG CEO Paul Caine … Midwest Communications’ Sheboygan Market Manager Jon Schweitzer is named VP/Sales for Cumulus Media’s Kansas City cluster that includes Talk radio KCMO-AM & FM, Sports Radio 102.5 and the Kansas City Chiefs Radio Network … Congrats to Bloomquist Media founder Randall Bloomquist (pictured) on his recent win of a New York Festivals Gold Award at the prestigious International Radio Programs and Promos Awards. The Atlanta-based marketing and communications firm was honored for its work on A Grateful Nation, a Memorial Day weekend special to raise awareness and funds for the non-profit Fisher Foundation.
ABC News Radio Entertainment Correspondent Jason Nathanson caught up with Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner — just ahead of Sunday night’s season finale.
Veteran talent agents Marc Guss and Phil Sutfin, co-founders of leading talent management company ACM, have partnered with broadcast pro John McConnell (pictured) to launch ACM Broadcast. Based in New York City, the new venture aims to create a unique business environment where established and burgeoning talent strategize on using radio and other audio broadcast platforms as the foundation to build their brand. “I’ve always believed in the power of radio and am a proponent of making that a priority in a performer’s career,” says McConnell — who also remains President of Entertainment Radio Network and founder of McConnell Media, LLC, a traditional and new media consultancy. “I look forward to working with talented individuals and helping them to realize their full potential as they soar to new heights.” Meanwhile ACM co-founder Guss adds, “John has always been one of my main go-to radio programming executives because of his innovative thinking. What a thrill it is to now be working together under the same roof with the same objectives.”
Following his recent split with Talk Radio Network, talk host Phil Hendrie will return to national syndication beginning June 25th in a new nightly 10pm-1am (ET) time slot. Spearheading Phil’s latest national syndication effort and overall brand expansion is network radio veteran Ron Hartenbaum, founder of WYD and WYM Media Management. Effective immediately, WYM Media Management is handling affiliate sales, with Dial Global managing ad sales and satellite distribution. From June 25th through July 5th, listener will be treated to Hendrie’s Comedy Gold broadcasts, with Phil (pictured) returning to live broadcasts on July 8th. “Broadcast radio needs the breadth depth and creativity of Phil Hendrie,” said Hartenbaum about the latest addition to his company’s roster of shows. “He’s a comic genius who is going to grow in ways most people can’t even imagine … stay tuned!”
As our Facebook friends and Twitter followers first learned late Monday, 790 The Zone (WQXI/Atlanta) SVP/GM Rick Mack first offered a heartfelt apology to listeners, then issued pink-slips to all three on-air members of the Sports/Talker’s Mayhem in The AM hosts — Steak Shapiro, Chris Dimino and Nick Cellini – after the trio ran a bit making fun of former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason, who suffers from ALS. While none of the bit’s content was illegal, it’s hard to imagine anyone not being offended by its crassness and the downright mean-spirited mocking of Gleason and how his ALS (a.k.a. Lou Gehrig’s Disease) has impacted his speech and confined him to a wheel chair. Deadspin.com’s Barry Petchesky has archived audio of the bit HERE – but we warn you, it’s a pretty unpleasant and uncomfortable listen.
Former ESPN Radio programming exec and major market PD Larry Gifford — now a consultant and talent coach — weighed in on his blog about the aforementioned Mayhem In The AM bit, offering his four-point, common sense plan for all on-air hosts to help you avoid “a journey into instant unemployment.”
• Don’t Get Personal: Being edgy is okay (depending on your station brand), but know your target. Keep your sights on actions, decisions and behaviors and avoid getting personal. Nobody likes a bully. Attacking people’s traits, conditions, impediments, handicaps, etc. is just mean, not humorous. While there are some exceptions, people generally do not respond well when you ridicule or are disrespectful to someone who has been touched by misfortune
• Appoint someone the content filter: One person on the show has to have 51% control and veto power on all content. If you don’t, no one on the team has the authority to kill a bit. If that person doesn’t green light the proposed piece, then re-edit, re-write and/or re-record it or trash the bit. Get it right before you air it.
• Be Consistent: Make sure the bit is reflective of your show and station’s brand. The Atlanta guys say this bit wasn’t what they typically do – so why do it? Be authentic to yourself and serve the expectations of the listeners.
• Have pure intentions: If your intentions are to honor someone with a parody, are all in jest, and in the spirit of camaraderie – listeners will pick up on that. If you’re vengeful, spiteful and trying to bring tear someone down – that too will come across. If you find yourself preparing a bit with a negative intention, might I suggest canning the bit? Otherwise, it’s likely to cost you your job.
Fox News Radio host Todd Starnes and NFL quarterback Tim Tebow were both guest speakers at the recent Gridiron Men’s Conference held in Birmingham, Alabama. More than 8,000 fathers and sons attended the Christian gathering, where Starnes also signed hundreds of copies of his latest book, Dispatches From Bitter America. Todd’s daily one-minute feature, FOX News & Commentary, now airs on a reported 250 radio stations nationwide.
