WTMJ/Milwaukee and its sister television outlet (TMJ4) have teamed as the Brewtown sponsors of the national tour of “Your Money Bus,” a coast-to-coast promotion launched by the National Association of Financial Advisors, the Consumer Education Foundation, TD Ameritrade and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. The bus tour rolls into southeastern Wisconsin on April 22nd to give WTMJ listeners an opportunity to meet one-on-one with personal financial advisors for free during these challenging days when Milwaukee has seen record unemployment levels and nearby Racine, WI has posted a double-digit jobless rate — the second highest in the Dairy State. “This is a tough time for our listeners and viewers and we’re committed to finding ways to help,” says Journal Broadcast Group EVP/GM Steve Wexler. “‘Your Money Bus’ is a great way for people to get one-on-one answers at a time when there are certainly a lot of financial questions.”

Good news for News/Talk radio where banking and financial services ads and programming are a staple of the format. A recent Nielsen IAG study reports that “consumer confidence in banks and other financial institutions is dramatically increased the more those companies advertise” even during what most would call the worst crisis of confidence in the financial industry in decades. Marketwatch.com reports the survey showed that 55% of those who’d noticed increased advertising by banks, insurance companies and investment firms in the past six months recorded “complete confidence” in those companies, while only 18% had “little or no confidence.” Those figures are nearly reversed among those who reported seeing or hearing little or no advertising over the same period. The report also notes what most broadcast sellers already knew — that financial services and insurance companies cut ad spending more than 25%, combined, last year vs. 2007 spending. The study could provide some “stimulus” to media sellers seeking to motivate reluctant advertisers in the financial sector to rethink their advertising cutbacks and resume ad spending.

The legendary WCCO/Minneapolis personality was an afternoon drive fixture in the Twin Cities for nearly three decades before his retirement in 1997. The 47-year radio veteran died yesterday (4/6) from cancer. He was 81. The Pavek Museum of Broadcasting reports that Cannon, who grew up on the Minnesota Iron Range, began his broadcast career in Mason City, IA, before moving to WMIN/Minneapolis in 1953. Moving to the west coast in the 1960’s, Cannon worked in Los Angeles and San Francisco radio before returning to the Twin Cities, where he held stints at both WLOL and KSTP before moving to WCCO in 1971. The beloved hometown radio personality, who gave voice to a cast of familiar characters including Morgan Mundane, Ma Linger and Backlash LaRue, was also well-known for his roles as the play-by-play voice of University of Minnesota Gophers hockey and as the color commentator for the NHL Minnesota North Stars. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Radio America weekend show host Ben Ferguson (pictured) has formed Icon Radio Network to takeover syndication of his weekly national radio show. Effective May 3rd the Sunday night show will expand to three hours, airing 7-10 (ET) on the newly formed entity. Ferguson will also continue hosting his daily local show on WREC/Memphis from 8-11am. Ferguson says the formation of the new network has long been his personal dream. “I’m really excited about spreading my wings and building this network,” he says. “I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had at Radio America, but it’s been a longtime dream of mine to head up my show on my own network. We have a lot of great projects in development at Icon Radio Network, this is just the beginning and I can’t wait to get started.” You can get more info at www.iconradionetwork.com.

The Associated Press reports that NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams will be the recipient of the 2009 Walter Cronkite Award for excellence in journalism. Williams will be feted at a luncheon scheduled to be held November 18, in Phoenix, hosted by Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. Williams, who succeeded Tom Brokaw as anchor of NBC’s nightly flagship news broadcast two years ago, reports he grew up idolizing Cronkite, saying there is “no greater name in broadcast journalism.” Williams joins a roster of past recipients of the award that includes Brokaw, Turner Broadcasting founder Ted Turner and Washington Post publisher Katherine Graham.