• [RadioInsight] Val Townsend Departs WYRK/WMSX Buffalo

    From RadioInsight via rec.radio.broadcas@21:1/5 to All on Tue Jul 6 16:47:57 2021
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    RadioInsight

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    Val Townsend Departs WYRK/WMSX Buffalo

    Posted: 06 Jul 2021 11:34 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/210439/val-townsend-departs-wyrk-wmsx-buffalo/



    Val Townsend took to Twitter to reveal she was fired from the morning show
    at Townsquare Media Country 106.5 WYRK Buffalo in late May.

    In the Twitter thread, Townsend depicts issues with co-hosts Clay Moden and
    Rob Banks and the local Human Resources department claiming that her
    co-hosts were openly discussing how to get her fired and accusing her of
    being inconsistent with COVID precautions.

    Here’s why I haven’t been at work the last few weeks pic.twitter.com/UZ0AXHImiz

    - Val (@716Val) June 22, 2021



    Townsend joined WYRK in 2016 after stints at Alternative 103.3 The Edge
    WEDG from 1996 to 2006 and Classic Hits 104.1 WHTT full-time from 2006-2008
    and as part-timer until 2016. She has also been an Associate Professor at Genesee Community College.

    Townsend also hosted afternoons on Soft AC 96.1 The Breeze WMSX. She has
    since been replaced with 94.3 Lite-FM WKXP Poughkeepsie NY morning host
    Brandi Hunter.



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    WLZN Rebrands As Macon 92.3

    Posted: 06 Jul 2021 11:04 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/210436/wlzn-rebrands-as-macon-92-3/



    Cumulus Media has rebranded Hip Hop Blazin 92.3 WLZN Macon GA as Macon 92.3.

    The station continues to feature the Steve Harvey Morning Show and APD DJ Blakjak in afternoon/evenings from 3-9pm.

    WLZN currently ranks fifth in the Macon market with a 4.6 share in the Fall 2020 Nielsen Audio ratings. That places it well behind iHeartMedias market leading duo of Hip Hop 97.9 WIBBs 10.8 and Adult RB V101.7 WRBVs 10.1.



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    Big 100 Washington DC Seeks New Morning Host

    Posted: 06 Jul 2021 09:00 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/210443/big-100-washington-dc-seeks-new-morning-host/



    iHeartMedia Classic Rock Big 100 WBIG-FM Washington DC is on the hunt for a
    new morning host.

    The vacancy comes as current 98 Rock WXTB Tampa based morning host Ron Big
    Rig Michaels will shift to afternoons following the upcoming relocation of current WBIG-FM APD/afternoon host Brent Bodhi Ebright to a role to be announced at Rock 105.3 KIOZ San Diego.

    WBIG-FM Program Director Dustin Matthews seeks a creative storyteller who
    can be engage with our audience on-air, on social, and at events around the Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia listening area, who lives the
    lifestyle, is obsessed with rock music and all things Washington D.C. More
    info at the following link.



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    Matt 'Sparks' Sparker Joins KCFX As Afternoon Host

    Posted: 06 Jul 2021 06:33 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/210428/matt-sparks-sparker-joins-kcfx-as-afternoon-host/



    Cumulus Media Classic Rock 101 The Fox KCFX Kansas City has announced the addition of Matt Sparks Sparker as afternoon host to fill the slot created
    by the retirement of Skid Roadie in May.

    Sparker most recently spent six years at Rock 92.3 KOMP Las Vegas as part
    of BS In The Morning until last year. He has also hosted afternoons at Hot
    AC 98.5 KQKQ Omaha and was PD/afternoon host at Rock Q105.1 KQWB-FM Fargo
    ND.

    CUMULUS MEDIA (NASDAQ: CMLS) announces that it has appointed veteran
    Afternoon Drive on-air talent Matt ‘Sparks’ Sparker as On-Air Host, Afternoon Drive, for Cumulus Kansas City Classic Rock station 101 The Fox/KCFX-FM. Sparks steps into the role left by Skid Roadie, who retired at
    the end of May. Sparker was previously Morning Show Host for Las Vegas, NV, Rock station KOMP 92.3 FM for six years and prior to that, was Afternoon
    Drive Personality for Omaha, NE, Modern AC station Q98.5/KQKQ-FM. Sparker
    was also Program Director and Afternoon Drive Personality for KQWB-FM in
    Fargo, ND. He holds a B.A. degree in Mass Media Communication from the University of Akron in Akron, OH.

    Jim Fox, Operations Manager, Cumulus Kansas City, said: “Replacing heritage talent has become a big challenge, but Sparks is that guy. He’s a talented fresh voice who can step into big shoes in a big daypart on a big station
    and we never skip a beat.”

    Matt “Sparks” Sparker commented: ““The word excitement doesnt begin to describe what Im feeling about working at such a legendary station as 101
    The Fox! I truly appreciate being trusted with such an amazing opportunity.
    So a BIG THANK YOU goes out to the people that made it happen Donna Baker, Doug Hamand, Wade Linder, Jim Fox, and of course, Dave Hill, who by the
    way, said there were going to be pony ridesstill waiting on those, Dave”

    Dave Hill, Program Director, 101 The Fox/KCFX-FM, added: “The right fit for this incredible opportunity was obvious when Sparks entered the
    conversation. What a WIN! And if you know anyone with a pony in the KC
    metro, DM me…thanks.”




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    1400 WINC Gets New Operator & Calls

    Posted: 06 Jul 2021 05:37 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/210425/1400-winc-gets-new-operator-calls/



    Following the closing of the sale of Hot AC WINC 105 105.5 WINC-FM Berryville/104.9 WZFC Strasburg VA to Metro Radio LLC, Centennial
    Broadcasting has found a new operator for Conservative Talk 1400 WINC Winchester VA.

    Todd Bartleys Colonial Radio Group has begun operating WINC via LMA ahead
    of a $25,000 sale. The station is now operating under the WZFC call letters
    as Metro Radio gained exclusive rights to WINC in the purchase of the FMs.
    To facilitate the call letter change, 104.9 WZFC is now WKDV-FM. Bartley previously owned stations in Williamsport PA until losing them to a
    bankruptcy receivership and subsequent sale to Seven Mountains Media last
    year.

    Bartley told the Winchester Star that he intends to expand local
    programming on WZFC, which currently features an all-syndicated lineup.
    Bartley also will need to find a new tower site for the station as
    Centennial intends to sell the property hosting the current tower and the studios of WINC-FM/WKDV-FM and WZFC.

    The Star also reports that had Bartley not agreed to purchase the station, Centennial was likely to eventually surrender the license for the AM as
    Metro declined to take it as part of its purchase of the FMs for free.



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    Megyn Kelly Show Moves To SiriusXM

    Posted: 06 Jul 2021 05:12 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/210422/megyn-kelly-show-moves-to-siriusxm/



    Former Fox News Channel and NBC host Megyn Kelly is moving her podcast to SiriusXM.

    The Megyn Kelly Show will begin airing on Triumph (channel 111) from 12-2pm eastern on September 7. The show will continue to be made available as a podcast to all listeners following its airing on Triumph. SiriusXM
    subscribers will get exclusive access to video of the show on its app.

    SiriusXM today announced that veteran broadcaster, journalist and legal
    expert Megyn Kelly has signed an exclusive agreement to host a new, live
    talk program starting September 7. The Megyn Kelly Show will air weekdays
    from 12-2pm ET on SiriusXM Triumph channel 111.

    Megyn Kelly is one of the most respected, accomplished journalists in the
    news industry. A world-class broadcaster with millions of dedicated fans,
    her current successful podcast has a large and passionate audience in the
    U.S. as well as internationally, where Kelly is one of the world’s most recognized news stars. Fans will now be able to listen to Kelly on
    SiriusXM the only place to hear her live and engage with her directly. Her singular voice joins an array of talent that bolsters SiriusXM’s commitment to offering the broadest range of political and news programming in all of audio.

    The Megyn Kelly Show will broadcast live five days a week and will feature Kelly’s viewpoints on the day’s top stories, as well as listeners’ calls and Kelly’s signature groundbreaking interviews with top cultural and political newsmakers. Beginning August 16, SiriusXM’s Triumph channel will air best-of shows from Kelly before the program’s live premiere on
    September 7.

    “I’m thrilled to be taking our program to the next level by broadcasting it live for SiriusXM’s massive audience,” Kelly said. “My team and I have been
    grateful to see our show, in less than a year, become one of the most successful podcasts in America — proving that there is a thirst for open, honest and more meaningful conversations about current events. I can’t
    think of a better partner to help us expand that reach even further than a blue-chip brand like SiriusXM, which has always been a leader in predicting market trends and is perfectly positioned for the evolving manner in which Americans consume their news.”

    As part of the multi-platform agreement, SiriusXM subscribers will gain
    access to video of the show, which will be available on the SXM App and
    social platforms. In addition, following its premiere on the Triumph
    channel, The Megyn Kelly Show will be made available as a podcast to
    Kelly’s listeners on the SXM App, Pandora, Stitcher, and all other major podcast platforms.

    Red Seat Ventures, who previously handled production and distribution of
    The Megyn Kelly Show podcast, will continue to produce Kelly’s new SiriusXM program.

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