Category: Industry News

Monday, November 10, 2014

Cumulus and Music Choice Partner for NASH Multi-Platform Programming.  A big new avenue for the distribution of NASH-branded content is announced by Cumulus Media and Music Choice as the two announce a deal that will bring the former’s “NASH Country music and lifestyle brand” into 57 million homes beginning November 24.  The deal means NASH content will be part of Music Choice’s Video On Demand TV, Cable TV Music Choice Music Channels, as well as its online and mobile apps.  The Video on Demand TV will include a dedicated NASH TV category (including original country artist interviews filmed at the NASH campus in Nashville).  The cable TV channels “Today’s Country” and “Country Hits” will feature NASH and NASH Icon programming blocks daily from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm ET.  Cumulus Media CEO Lew Dickey comments, “Our partnership with Music Choice to distribute NASH content to 57 million homes across America is yet another important platform in establishing NASH as the definitive lifestyle and entertainment brand for fans of country music.”  The image here shows how NASH content will be integrated into what Music Choice viewers will see.

Borchetta Explains Taylor Swift-Spotify Move on Premiere’s ‘Sixx Sense’ Show.  On the November 7 edition of the “Sixx Sense” program, Big Machine Label Group president and CEO Scott Borchetta gave his company’s side of the decision to pull Taylor Swift’s catalogue from Spotify.  From his conversation with Sixx, Borchetta makes it clear that loss of control over the artist’s music is what bugs him about Spotify’s business model and its lack of a premium service.  “Now if you are a premium subscriber to Beats or Rdio or any of the other services that don’t offer just a free-only, then you will find [Swift’s] catalogue.  So the problem we have with Spotify is, they don’t allow you to do anything with your music.  They take it, and they say we’re going to put it everywhere we want to put it, and we really don’t care about what you want to do. Give us everything that you have and we’re going to do what we want with it.  And that doesn’t work for us.”   Borchetta says Spotify has a good player, but it comes down to the premium service issue.  “If you’re going to do an ad-supported free service, why would anybody pay for the premium service?  The premium service that you pay for, which they do have a premium service, has to mean something.  So, what we’re saying is it can’t be endless free.  Give people a 30-day trial, and then make them convert.  Music has never been free.  It’s always cost something and it’s time to make a stand and this is the time to do it.”   Borchetta says he understands the value free services have to young acts just getting started but he says Spotify will have to “be a better partner” to the music industry.

Hill Climbs to VP/Programming of iHeartMedia Portland. Twelve-year Hearst Broadcasting Baltimore operations manager Dave Hill will join iHeartMedia Portland, Oregon in three weeks (12/1) as vice president of programming.  Market president Robert Dove comments, “After a year of consistent ratings growth, I am pleased to have Dave Hill as my partner and new vice president of programming.  Dave brings a record of success in Baltimore and I am sure he will continue to build on the forward trajectory of our strong brands in Portland.”  Executive vice president of programming Brad Hardin remarks, “We have been wanting to recruit Dave to our team for quite some time.  The brands he has managed in Baltimore have been industry leaders in their formats.  We are very excited to have him join iHeartMedia and grow our Portland cluster.”  Prior to becoming OM of Hearst Baltimore’s four-station operation – and programming the company’s WIYY “98 Rock” there – Hill programmed in Hartford (WMRQ) and in Albany, New York (WQBK and WQBJ).  The iHeartMedia Portland cluster consists of talk KEX-AM (and K272EL); KFBW “Portland’s Rock Station – The Brew”; adult contemporary KKCW “K-103″; CHR KKRZ “Z-100″; classic hits-oldies KLTH “The Eagle”; sports KPOJ; and rhythmic CHR KXJM “Jam’n 107.5.”

More RadioInfo Career Moves.  The nationally syndicated Bobby Bones morning show is added to the program lineup at Alpha Media’s country WLFV, Richmond “98.9 The Wolf.”  Alpha Media station manager Bill West says, “We couldn’t be more excited to have the Bobby Bones Show on ‘98.9 The Wolf’ in Richmond!  The show is such a great fit for our new hit country station and it’s going to set the bar higher for all morning shows in the market!…..Joining Pamal Broadcasting’s Albany station group as general manager is Bryan Hollenbaugh.  He most recently was the vice president and regional market manager for Adelante Media Group in charge of the Eastern Washington markets of Yakima, the Tri-Cities and Wenatchee plus Boise, Idaho.

Is Your LinkedIn Profile Killing Your Career?  Media consultant Walter Sabo writes in his piece published today (11/10) in RadioInfo that there is a definite style to presenting yourself on LinkedIn that will help you get more work, and doing the opposite could be hurting your career.  Unlike other social media, LinkedIn is a “serious” social site and your presentation of yourself should reflect that tone for prospective employers.  “They are looking for service, knowledge, courage, dependability and prudence.  Every entry needs to be figuratively wrapped in a Brooks Brothers suit regardless of your skills and position.”  Your LinkedIn profile really is a living resume and you should treat it as such.  Sabo notes, “Employers and clients are looking for results.  They want to see how your actions improved the business.  The more results you show, the more companies will find you to be an attractive candidate including companies far beyond the radio industry.”  Read Walter Sabo’s enlightening piece here.

‘Y108’ in Pittsburgh Hosts Girls with Guitars.  The local breast cancer research foundation Glimmer of Hope was the beneficiary of last week’s “Y108 Girls with Guitars” event that was held at Heinz Field on Thursday (11/6).  More than 1,500 listeners of CBS RADIO’s WDSY “Y108” and guests attended the free, invitation-only event.  Pictured here are (from left to right): “Y108” station promotion manager Jeff Davidson, “Y108” midday personality Ally, “Y108” evening personality Elista, Warner Atlantic Reprise’s Anna Cage, “Y108” morning personality Monty, WAR’s Jana Kramer, Universal Republic’s Angie Coonrod, Valory’s RaeLynn, Dot Records’ Maddie & Tae, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ John Wodarek, Universal Republic’s Casadee Pope, Dot Records’ Michelle Kammerer,  Valory’s Shari Roth, “Y108” morning personality Jimmy Roach, and Black River Entertainment’s Jane O’Malia.

New Austin Webb Single Launched.  Music and radio industry execs gathered in Nashville last week to celebrate the launch of Streamsound Records’ new single by Austin Webb.  The song, “All Country On You,” has been shipped to radio and is going for adds January 5.  Webb is currently on a nationwide radio tour to support the new single.  Pictured here (from left to right) are: Teddi Bonadies, Streamsound VP/promotion & strategic marketing; Austin Webb; Charlie Cook, operations manager/Cumulus Nashville/PD NASH FM 103.3/NASH Icon; Sharon Kilgo; Cumulus VP/label relations John Kilgo; and Steve Richardson, Streamsound president/CEO.

Friday, November 7, 2014

PPM Analysis: Urban-Rhythmic Oldies.  This month, RadioInfo managing editor and West Coast bureau chief Mike Kinosian presents his PPM analysis of three urban formats.  Today (11/7), we wrap up the reports with a look at urban-rhythmic oldies.  During the past two days, we’ve published analyses of urban AC and urban contemporary (or hip hop).  The number of stations airing the urban-rhythmic oldies format is about two-thirds the size of those airing the other two urban formats already discussed.  That said, October was neither good nor bad to the format as a whole with 50% of stations achieving increases in their weekly share (6+) and the other half experiencing dips.  iHeartMedia’s KISQ, San Franciso leads the gainer’s pack with a 0.4-share increase, according to Nielsen Audio data.  In this report, see more September to October share fluctuations, comparisons to PPM ratings from October of last year, market rank for urban-rhythmic oldies stations, market share for the past six ratings periods, and a comparison of their performances alongside their urban AC, and urban contemporary cousins.  See Mike Kinosian’s entire analysis here.

Radio One Flips ‘Hot 107.9’ in Philly to Throwback Hip Hop ‘Boom 107.9.’  As a result of the format flip of Radio One’s WPHI, Philadelphia to classic hip hop as “Boom 107.9,” the entire air staff is let go.  The station is described on its website as “a throwback hip hop station that features artist like: Jay Z, Biggie, 2Pac, Dr. Dre, Missy Elliott, The Roots and more!  The only station that represents the hip hop you grew up with 24-7.”  Radio One Philly general manager Shawneen Thompson says in a statement, “We take the loss of employees seriously.  We are working to ensure all of our impacted employees are transitioned with the dignity and respect they deserve…Though disappointed by this unfortunate, but necessary decision, we are excited about our future with ‘Boom 107.9.’”

CBS RADIO Ousts ‘Zazza Mornings’ on KVIL, Dallas.  The morning team of Tony Zazza (left) and Julie Fisk (right) are out at CBS RADIO’s hot AC KVIL, Dallas.  The two had been paired up in AM drive since April of 2013.  There is no announced morning drive replacement as of yet but there are other moves at the station.  Leigh Ann Adam and Courtney Kerr move from the midday slot to afternoon drive, bumping DJ Kory to evenings.  There is no announcement of a permanent replacement in the midday slot either.

‘Y108’ in Pittsburgh Names Elista Evening Personality.  With the recent promotion of Wookie to afternoon drive personality, CBS RADIO’s country WDSY “Y108” announces Elista moves over from sister hot AC WBZZ “100.7 Star” to take on the night jock and assistant music director role.  Elista has been serving as evening personality and AMD at “100.7 Star” for the past two years.  OM and WDSY and WBZZ program director Mark Anderson says, “Elista rocks on social media and also has a hunting and a boating license; she is as comfortable at a tailgate as she is in a nightclub.  She’s the embodiment of what is exciting about our format right now, and never fails to be the life of the party!  I’m thrilled that we can offer her this new challenge as she grows within our organization.”

More RadioInfo Career Moves.  At Hubbard Radio’s CHR KQMV, Seattle “MOViN 92.5,” midday personality and music director Ricky Villa is named program director.  Market manager Marc Kaye comments, “After an extensive three-month, nationwide search, we kept coming back to the same conclusion: The absolute best person for the job was in house.”…..The new morning show at Lotus Corporation’s alternative KFMA, Tucson “Rock 102” is Shmonty & Carolina.  They replace Fook and Mishell, who exited in August to join Cumulus Media’s KHTB, Salt Lake City “Alt 94.9.”  Shmonty most recently was with Hubbard’s KDKB, Phoenix…..Bringing aboard Andrew Katz to serve as its first digital director of sales is Lincoln Financial Media.  Katz comes to the company from Thumb Friendly – a digital marketing firm he founded in 2010.  Katz’s duties will include working with digital sales managers at the company’s station groups.  He’ll report to VP of digital strategy Tim Windsor…..In Kansas City, Carter Broadcast Group brings Chris Harris aboard to serve as programming assistant and music director for urban contemporary KPRS “Hot 103 Jamz.”…..Digity Media names Leo Baldwin operations manager at the West Palm Beach station group.  In addition to this role, Baldwin will program hot AC WRMF, taking over for Steve Richards…