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RadioInsight

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Gen Media Partners Launches Initiative To Promote Multicultural Owned & Targeted Radio Stations

Posted: 01 Sep 2021 12:22 PM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/212371/gen-media-partners-launches-initiative-to-promote-multicultural-owned-targeted-radio-stations/


Gen Media Partners has announced the formation of a strategic task force to champion the power and influence of certified minority-owned and -targeted radio stations to advertisers and agencies. The task force will advocate on behalf of the largely overlooked multicultural-owned and -targeted radio stations across all market sizes, including non-metro, and demonstrate multicultural radio’s remarkable power to connect with audiences. Ann-Marie Figueira, whose promotion to Senior Vice President of Hispanic Platforms
and Multicultural Initiatives was announced recently, will lead the
initiative.

“Our goal – our job is to make sure advertisers and their agencies look beyond the large-scale companies and include independent, certified minority-owned and -targeted radio groups in their plans,” asserted Kevin Garrity, Chief Executive Officer of Gen Media Partners. “We’re already seeing a receptiveness to learning more about these stations and their effectiveness at reaching multicultural audiences with content that is
relevant to their specific lifestyles, tastes, and cultures.”

“Our team has a passion for and an understanding of owners and operators of independent multicultural radio whether its urban, Indigenous, Asian, or Hispanic and we’re excited to tell their story,” Figueira stated. “Most independent minority owners are heavily involved, personally and professionally, with their communities. They serve on local boards and
actively participate in local events. That deep level of direct engagement
with the community enhances the already strong connection with audiences
that radio is known for and builds an extra layer of trust that can enhance
the effectiveness of an advertiser’s message.”

“These radio stations are a cornerstone in multicultural communities, and their listeners buy millions of dollars of products each year,” Garrity pointed out. It’s a great story, and if we don’t tell it no one will. “

Representing 1,176 radio stations in 168 markets, either minority-owned or -targeted to Hispanic, African American, Asian, or Indigenous audiences,
Gen Media Partners has one of the strongest multicultural platforms in
radio, reaching  95% of the multicultural segment of the US population. 


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KFYN Goes In Rewind

Posted: 01 Sep 2021 11:30 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/212364/kfyn-goes-in-rewind/


Vision Media Group has completed the frequency shift of its translator for
1420 KFYN Bonham TX and used it as an opportunity to debut a new format.

The former Classic Country 95.7 The Warrior K239CG Bonham moved to 103.9
K280GZ at noon today with the station becoming Classic Hits Rewind 103.9 focusing on hits from the 1970s and 80s.

KFYN serves areas northeast of Dallas between Sherman and Paris TX. The
company also owns Christian AC 98.9 Trumpet Radio KLOW Reno/Paris and
Country 104.3 The River KFYN-FM Detroit/Paris TX.


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Final Listen: WROZ (Fun 101.3) Lancaster

Posted: 01 Sep 2021 10:00 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/ross/212077/final-listen-wroz-fun-101-3-lancaster/


In January 2012, I wrote about Mainstream AC WROZ Lancaster, Pa., then
known as the Rose, twice in one week. 

On a Friday, I profiled the station and its evolution to a hotter, more
current mix that landed somewhere between the AC norm and Adult CHR. On the following Tuesday, they were included in an article about “The Hardest Rockin’ Songs at AC,” because they included songs such as Guns N’ Roses’
“Sweet Child O’Mine” and Lita Ford’s “Kiss Me Deadly” on their Flashback
Friday and lunch hour programming. (In 2012, it was still remarkable for an
AC station to play “Pour Some Sugar on Me” or “Here I Go Again.”)

Here’s WROZ at 11 a.m. on Jan. 13, 2012:

Club Nouveau, “Lean on Me”
Kelly Clarkson, “Mr. Know It All”
Sugar Ray, “When It’s Over”
Katy Perry, “Firework”
Timbaland f/Onerepublic, “Apologize”
Adele, “Set Fire to the Rain”
Orinathi, “According to You”
Dave Matthews Band, “Crash Into Me”
Pink, “Perfect”
Matchbox Twenty, “How Far We’ve Come”
Proclaimers, “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)”
Tim McGraw, “Live Like You Were Dying”
Lady Gaga, “Born This Way”
Aerosmith, “Dude (Looks Like A Lady)”


At the time, I thought WROZ was better executed than similar stations that
were trying to modernize. Before long, AC taking its cues from the late ‘00s/early ‘10s success of CHR would be the norm. Some, as in this monitor of WROZ, limited the ‘80s to two songs an hour. A few tried to become “millennial ACs,” just in time for the pipeline from Top 40 to start drying up. In 2015, WROZ would reimage as Fun 101.3, influenced by WBEB Philadelphia’s recent rebranding from B101 to More-FM.

In mid-July, WROZ was sold to Educational Media Foundation, owner of the Christian AC K-Love Network. Current PD Ronnie Ramone and the entire programming staff, along with GSM Loren Good, will exit when the sale
closes in mid-to-late September.

In the interim, WROZ has segued to a more ‘90s-to-now approach—again at the seam of Mainstream and Hot AC. In the spring Nielsen ratings, WROZ was up 3.8-4.1 12-plus but first in 25-54 women with a 9.2, according to Ramone,
and strongest in its third month when the station was at its most
contemporary.

Here’s a “Final Listen” to the station at 6 a.m., August 19, with morning team Dennis (Mitchell) & Michelle (Cruz) whose main topic that morning was flooding the night before and continued traffic issues and closures:

BTS, “Butter”
Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande, “Rain on Me”
Third Eye Blind, “Semi-Charmed Life”
Britney Spears, “Toxic”
Ed Sheeran, “Bad Habits”
Bruno Mars, “Treasure”
Def Leppard, “Pour Some Sugar On Me”
Harry Styles, “Watermelon Sugar”
Nelly Furtado, “Say It Right”
Magic!, “Rude”
Alanis Morisette, “You Oughta Know”
Nelly & Florida Georgia Line, “Little Bit”


WROZ has also reinstituted the Flashback Friday feature, launched in 2001,
but discontinued in 2019. Here’s the station at 2 p.m., on August 20:

Rick Astley, “Never Gonna Give You Up”
Go-Go’s, “Our Lips Are Sealed”
Icehouse, “Electric Blue”
Kenny Loggins, “Footloose”
C&C Music Factory, “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)”
John Cougar Mellencamp, “Hurts So Good”
Janet Jackson, “Nasty”
Phil Collins, “In the Air Tonight”
Amy Grant, “Good For Me”
Jets, “Crush on You”
Def Leppard, “Love Bites”
Technotronic, “Pump Up the Jam”
Michael Jackson, “Billie Jean”


WROZ is planning a farewell week in advance of the format change, featuring former staffers and listener tributes along the lines of WPLJ New York’s sign-off. Ramone can be reached at RonnieRamone73@gmail.com.


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WTTS PD Laura Duncan To Join WXRT Chicago

Posted: 01 Sep 2021 09:59 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/212358/wtts-pd-laura-duncan-to-join-wxrt-chicago/


Audacy AAA 93.1 WXRT Chicago has announced the appointment of Laura Duncan
as Brand Manager.

Duncan joins WTTS from Sarkes Tarzian where she served in the role of PD/afternoon host at AAA 92.3 WTTS Bloomington/Indianapolis, and PD of News/Talk 1370 WGCL/W254DP Bloomington and Alternative Alt 102.3 WGBJ Auburn/Fort Wayne IN. Duncan had been with WTTS since 2002 mostly as APD/MD until rising to PD in September 2018. During her tenure at WTTS, Duncan previously tracked middays at AAA 102.1 KPRI San Diego and currently serves
as the imaging voice of 105.5 The Colorado Sound KJAC Timnath/Denver CO.

Duncan will start at WXRT on October 4, succeeding Greg Solk following his
July promotion to Vice President of Programming and Operations for Audacy Chicago.

Audacy welcomes Laura Duncan as Brand Manager of 93 WXRT (WXRT-FM) in
Chicago, effective October 4. In this role, Duncan will oversee all
programming efforts for the station.

“Those who know Laura and her work will understand why she was a top candidate to assume the reins at XRT” said Greg Solk, Vice President of Programming Operations, Audacy Chicago. “Her gifted sensibilities as a leader and a programmer are only matched by her kindness and generous
heart. Laura will do amazing things at XRT and continue the success of this legendary and format leading station.”

“Having listened since the 1970s, WXRT has provided a lifetime of
influence, shaping me personally and professionally,” said Duncan. “It will be my honor to walk hand in hand with the poets of the airwaves, the
legends who provide the magic and the memories. My thanks to Greg Solk and Rachel Williamson for extending an invitation to the most iconic party in
the world. I passionately accept.”

Duncan comes back home after 19 years at WTTS-FM in Indianapolis, where she most recently spent the last three years as program director and afternoon host. In addition to her experience at WTTS-FM, Duncan has been program director and music director of WGBJ (Alt 102.3) in Fort Wayne, IN since
2019. Duncan succeeds Greg Solk, who recently assumed the new role of Vice President of Programming Operations for Audacy Chicago.



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Delilah Documents KDUN Relaunch

Posted: 01 Sep 2021 08:10 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/212353/delilah-documents-kdun-relaunch/


After purchasing the station where her radio career began as a child,
Premiere Networks’ syndicated evening host Delilah Rene will relaunch 1030 KDUN Reedsport OR on Monday at 10:30am.

While not disclosing programming plans, the station will emphasize informational elements such as news, weather, and local events. Delilah has been heavily documenting the rebuilding efforts of the station noting that
the stations new studio will be in her former fifth grade classroom at what
has recently been repurposed as The Oregon Coast School of Art.














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SiriusXM Launches Limited Run SoundCloud Radio

Posted: 01 Sep 2021 06:25 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/212347/siriusxm-launches-limited-run-soundcloud-radio/


On the heels of its launch of Tik Tok Radio as a permanent addition to its lineup, SiriusXM is partnering with another social audio platform for a limited-run channel.

The Hip Hop based SoundCloud Radio will run on the SiriusXM app/streaming platforms for the month of September and will be heard on channel 105 from September 8 17. The channel builds off the weekly ‘The Lookout by Soundcloud,’ hosted by Sowmya K. that airs on Hip-Hop Nation (channel 44).

The channel is described as featuring the biggest names and new releases
from the artists who came up on SoundCloud such as Megan thee Stallion,
Trippie Redd, Doja Cat, Lil Tecca and NLE Choppa plus up and comers
currently big on SoundCloud such as Rico Nasty, Roddy Rich, YoungBoy Never Broke Again and others.

SiriusXM and SoundCloud announced the launch ofSoundCloud Radio, starting
today on the SXM App.  SoundCloud Radio is a new limited-engagement channel featuring all the SoundCloud hip-hop hits that paved the way and the new
tracks driving culture today.

SoundCloud Radio’s exclusive window captures what’s hot and happening right now in music on SoundCloud. SoundCloud Radio is specially curated to
highlight both the biggest names and new releases from the artists who came
up on SoundCloud, such as Megan Thee Stallion, Trippie Redd, Doja Cat, Lil Tecca, NLE Choppa, CJ, and introducing the most exciting emerging talent in hip-hop today before they reach mainstream stardom, Rico Nasty,Lil Tecca,
Roddy Ricch, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Don Toliver, Lil Tjay, Rod
Wave,Denzel Curry, Fase Yoda and more.

SoundCloud Radio follows the cross-over success of SoundCloud’s
trend-setting hip-hop music show on SiriusXM’s Hip-Hop Nation, The Lookout
by Soundcloud.  Listeners, artists and fans are eager to hear, share and engage more with what’s happening today in hip-hop and a first-listen into what’s next.

Star rapper, Lil Tecca, who just dropped his sophomore album, We Love You
Tecca 2, said about the launch of SoundCloud Radio, “Being an artist that grew up listening to SoundCloud and uploading my first songs on the
platform that are some of my biggest to this day it’s crazy and exciting to be one of the first artists on the SoundCloud channel on SiriusXM. Thank
you SC
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Louisiana rapper, Fase Yoda, who is already garnering millions of views and streams with his newly released first single ‘Butterflies’, said, “I’ve been working so hard for the last few years and to hear the first song I
ever drop on the radio [The Lookout by SoundCloud on SiriusXM] was mind blowing! SoundCloud is always looking out for us new artists and I can’t
wait to watch other fire and deserving artists get the same opportunity for radio exposure. It inspires me to go harder and make better music for more people to hear!”

“With The Lookout by SoundCloud driving new music discovery for artists we are hyped to be partnering once again with SiriusXM on the launch of
SoundCloud Radio,” said Caiaffa, Interim Head of Music, SoundCloud.  “The influence of SoundCloud’s young, diverse community of artists and fans in breaking music is unmatched and SoundCloud Radio is one more way to share
their influence and incredible talent with even more fans.”

The channel begins today, and airs through September 30th, available
anytime online or on the SXM App. SoundCloud Radio will be available on satellite and in vehicles, on channel 105 from September 8 17.

Subscribers are able to listen to SoundCloud Radio online, on-the-go with
the SXM App, and at home on a wide variety of connected devices including
smart TVs, devices with Amazon Alexa or the Google Assistant, Apple TV, PlayStation, Roku, Sonos speakers and more. Go to www.siriusxm.com/ways-to-listen to learn more.

‘The Lookout by Soundcloud,’ hosted by SoundCloud curator Sowmya K., airs weekly at 9 pm ET on SiriusXM’s Hip-Hop Nation, (ch. 44), with encores on Saturday 2pm ET and Sunday 11pm ET.

To listen to SoundCloud Radio please visit:  https://siriusxm.us/soundcloudradioSXM.


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WGR Extends Deal With Buffalo Bills & Sabres

Posted: 01 Sep 2021 05:17 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/212341/wgr-extends-deal-with-buffalo-bills-sabres/


Audacy Sports 550 WGR Buffalo has announced it has signed multi-year
contract extensions with Pegula Sports Entertainment, the owner of the
NFLs Buffalo Bills and NHLs Buffalo Sabres.

Audacy today announces multiyear radio broadcast contract extensions with
the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres. As part of the partnership, WGR 550 (WGR-AM) will continue as the flagship radio station for the Bills and
Sabres, airing all pre-, regular and postseason games for both teams.

“We’re delighted to extend our partnerships with the Bills and Sabres to continue delivering premier gameday and supporting content,” said Tim
Holly, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Audacy Buffalo. “These partnerships will allow WGR 550 to continue to serve as the home for
everything fans need to stay up to date surrounding these two iconic
franchises and we look forward to entertaining and informing our listeners throughout both teams’ seasons.”

“As the home for all Buffalo sports fans, WGR is the right place for Bills and Sabres game broadcasts and team content,” said Mark Preisler, Executive Vice President, Pegula Sports Entertainment, which oversees the teams’
media rights. “We’re pleased to continue our relationship with Audacy and connect to our fans through Western New York’s sports leader.”

WGR 550 will kick off its Bills gameday broadcasts with three pregame
shows, “Breakfast with the Bills Fantasy Style,” “Bills Game Day,” “Countdown to Kickoff,” and wrap up with two postgame shows “Bills Network
Postgame Show” and “The Overtime Show.” In addition to gameday content, the
station will air “Buffalo Bills Football Monday” and “Football Friday,” which will feature team-focused content with special guests. Morning show “Howard and Jeremy” will welcome Bills play-by-play announcer John Murphy on Monday and Friday mornings and Bills head coach Sean McDermott each
Friday morning. Afternoon show “Schopp Bulldog” will speak with former Bills center Eric Wood every Monday and professional football writer John Clayton every Thursday.

WGR 550 will also air pregame and postgame shows for its Sabres gameday broadcasts. “Howard and Jeremy” will welcome head coach Don Granato each Tuesday morning. “Schopp and Bulldog” will speak with Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams each month.


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Rumba 97.7 Boston Adds Enrique Santos For Mornings; Names Tony Banana PD

Posted: 01 Sep 2021 05:13 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/212339/rumba-97-7-boston-adds-enrique-santos-for-mornings-names-tony-banana-pd/


iHeartMedia Spanish CHR Rumba 97.7 WZRM Brockton/Boston has announced the appointment of Tony Banana as Program Director/afternoon host and the
addition of the Enrique Santos Show in mornings.

Santos, Chairman/Chief Creative Officer of iHeartLatino for the company,
joined iHeartMedia in 2016. His Miami based morning show also airs in
markets including Atlanta, Jacksonville, and Tampa.

Banana previously programmed WMEG and WQBS in San Juan and worked with
Santos at Univision Miami, where he co-hosted afternoons and served as
Santos morning show producer at Mix 98.3 WRTO.

iHeartMedia Boston announced today two major additions to its
Spanish-language station Rumba 97.7. Hispanic radio legend Enrique Santos
will anchor mornings with the top-rated “Enrique Santos Morning Show,” weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Additionally, Tony Banana will take the
helm as Program Director and PM Drive host. Santos and Banana will both
start on September 7.

As one of the most popular and trusted Hispanic radio hosts in America,
Santos has built true connections with his audience. “The Enrique Santos Morning Show” combines humor, social satire and political commentary to bridge the cultural and generational divide of a diverse cosmopolitan
audience. Santos has built an enthusiastic following with a comedic
repertoire consisting of phone pranks, interviews and a trademark form of unique interaction amongst celebrities.

“I’m incredibly psyched to bring our vibe to Boston mornings and add the voices of such an incredible and culturally rich city to our topics and family,” said Santos. “With ‘The Enrique Santos Morning Show’ listeners will wake up well-informed, with the best music and always the best vibes. Boston Pa’lla Voy!”

Banana is a program format veteran with Program Director success at WMEG-FM
La Mega 106.9 FM and Mix 107.7 FM in Puerto Rico. Tony has also spent time
at Univision Miami where he co-hosted and produced the PM Drive show “El Jangueo,” and produced the Morning Drive show “La Gozadera.”

“For Hispanics, our family and our heritage are what matter the most regardless of where we are. Now in Boston, Rumba 97.7 is part of this family,” said Tony Banana, Program Director of Rumba 97.7. “Our Music, Hispanic representation and the needs of the community are Rumbas priority
and I am excited and grateful to be able to serve our community through
Rumba. Enrique Santos is a trailblazer and the nationwide voice of
Hispanics on the radio and has earned the credibility and the love of his audience. His show, in addition to being entertaining, keeps us informed on important issues for the Hispanic community.”

“We expect the Boston community to embrace Enrique and Tony as they did
Rumba 97.7 when we launched earlier this summer,” said Dylan Sprague,
Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia Boston. “I am excited
to watch the station grow as Enrique and Tony entrench themselves in
Boston’s Hispanic community.”

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