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RadioInsight

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ESPN San Antonio Rebrands As Sports Star

Posted: 19 Jul 2021 10:41 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/210935/espn-san-antonio-rebrands-as-sports-star/



Alpha Media rebranded its Sports ESPN San Antonio 1250 KZDC/94.5 K233DB San Antonio TX today.

Now branded as Sports Star, the change comes with the addition of a third
local show to the lineup. PD/morning host Rob Thompson and Karl Schoening
will host Halftime from 12-2pm. Thompson and Rudy Jay will continue to host
RR In The Morning from 7-10am and Jason Minnix The Blitz remains from
4-7pm. ESPN Radio programming will fill other timeslots.



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Fresh Listen: NRJ At 40 And Around The World

Posted: 19 Jul 2021 08:00 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/ross/210772/fresh-listen-nrj-at-40-and-around-the-world/



When I first heard French CHR NRJ in summer 1988, it sounded different,
more intense than its American counterparts. I also recall thinking that
the music was hipper, which at that time meant more new-wave crossovers.
NRJ was also my introduction to Europe’s national brands, at that time a truly foreign concept when even affiliates of America’s satellite radio networks were still locally branded.

These days, NRJ is an international brand heard from Russia to Egypt,
Belgium to Tahiti. The French flagship celebrated its 40th anniversary on
July 15. Besides being one (or several) of the world’s great CHR brands,
NRJ has long offered a robust and frequently updated lineup of online side channels — 140 different ones this month, ranging from Disney Hits to BTS
to New Hits Friday. In honor of its anniversary, I took a Fresh Listen in
five different territories.

Listening to NRJ across Europe (and around the world) gave me a few
insights on hit music outside the U.S.:

DJ/producer-driven dance pop is still the major category that it was internationally in the mid-2010s. Even on the more AC-leaning NRJ Zurich,
you will hear Robin Schulz into Joel Corry;
Latin pop was a force long before “Despacito,” and remains so;
Largely because of dance music, NRJ lives up to its name for tempo and
energy in a way that our Top 40 radio is still grappling with;
Imagine Dragons’ “Follow You” is a worldwide hit that Mainstream CHR in America missed; Pink’s “Cover Me in Sunshine” is a worldwide smash, even though it would have been as hard to imagine on Top 40 here as “Shallow” once was.


I came away from the exercise with a dozen or so European hits that felt
like they could work in America, or at least bolster the format. Some of
those songs have already been added to my (coincidentally named) “Summer Energy 2021” playlist.

In the Q1 Mediametrie, NRJ is up 3.3-3.6 in Paris for its best share since spring 2018. It is eighth overall, but is the top music station in a market dominated by spoken word. Nationally, NRJ went 6.1-6.5 and is the top music station as well.

Here’s NRJ France at 2 p.m., July 13:

Bella Porch, “Build a Bitch”
Ofenbach f/Lagique, “Wasted Love”
Hatik, “Ma P’tite Etoile”
Katy Perry, “Firework”
Gims f/Dhurta Dora, “Only You” (similar feeling to Trevor Daniel, “Falling”)
Iman Es, “Essaie Encore”
Walter Talib & Diva Surprise f/YMCA, “On the Top of the World” (retro disco that indeed samples the Village People, as implied by the billing)
Martin Garrix f/Bono & the Edge, “We Are the People”
Were-Vanna, “Bombardé” (French-language reggaeton)
Pink & Willow Sage Hart “Cover Me in Sunshine”
Reik f/Rocco Hunt & Ana Mena, “A un Paso de la Luna”
Amel Beat, “Le Chant des Colombes”
Maroon 5 f/Megan Thee Stallion, “Beautiful Mistakes”
DJ Snake & Selena Gomez, “Selfish Love”
Jeremy Ferot, “Fais-le”
Shouse, “Love Tonight” (more ‘70s retro dance)
Sexion D’Assault, “Wati House” (turbo-pop from 2012)
Imagine Dragons, “Follow You” 


NRJ Norway is often the station I listen to when I want to hear a lot of
new music that I’m not familiar with from U.S. or UK radio, and it did not disappoint in this 5 p.m. hour on July 13:

Mimi Webb, “Good Without”
Weeknd, “Save Your Tears”
Majestic f/Boney M, “Rasputin”
Astrid S f/Brett Young, “I Do”
Calvin Harris f/Tom Grennan, “By Your Side”
Dua Lipa, “We’re Good”
Vinai f/Vamero, “Rise Up”
Sigrid, “Strangers”
Chris Holsten, “Smilet I Ditt Eget Speil”
Keiino, “Monument”
Alan Walker & Imanbek, “Sweet Dreams”
Skinny Davis & CLMD, “Voices in My Head”
Ed Sheeran, “Bad Habits”
Leony, “Faded” (samples “Dragosta Din Tea”)
Ruben, “Running”
Topic & A7S, “Breaking Me”
Kygo f/James Gillespie, “Gone Are the Days”


NRJ Zurich has slightly more of a Hot AC/AC feel. The afternoon show is
billed as “NRJ Downtown.” There was also news at both :00 and :30 in the 4 p.m. hour I listened to on July 14:

Rihanna, “Umbrella”
Tom Grennan, “Little Bit of Love”
John Legend, “Love Me Now”
Toto Cutgno, “L’Italiano”
Imagine Dragons, “Follow You”
Ofenbach f/Quarterhead & Norma Jean Martine, “Head Shoulders Knees & Toes” Nea, “Some Say” (interpolates Eiffel 65, “Blue,” a song I first heard on
NRJ Hamburg)
No Doubt, “Don’t Speak”
Martin Garrix f/Bono & the Edge, “We Are the People”
Trinidad Cardona, “Dinero”
James Blunt, “The Truth”
Robin Schulz & Kiddo, “All We Got”
Joel Corry, Raye & David Guetta, “Bed”
Karol G & Nicki Minaj, “Tusa”
Alessia Cara, “Scars to Your Beautiful”


Bauer Media-operated NRJ Sweden is also more Mainstream AC than Top 40 by
U.S. standards in terms of era. Here’s the station just before 3 p.m. on
July 13:

Katy Perry, “Firework”
Miss Li, “Komplicerad”
Paul Simon, “You Can Call Me Al”
Pink f/Willow Sage Hart, “Cover Me With Sunshine”
Peps Persson, “Oh Boy” (‘90s Swedish Ska!)
Imagine Dragons, “Follow You”
Per Gessle, “Här Kommer Alla Känslorna (På en Och Samma Gang)” (the Roxette
mastermind with a ‘60s sunshine-pop-feeling hit from the early 2000s)
Newkid, “Aldrig Haft Något Annat Val”
Ricky Martin, “Livin’ la Vida Loca”
Molly Sandén, “Nån Annan Nu” (mid-to-up pop with a similar feel to “Love
You Like a Love Song”)
Culture Club, “Karma Chameleon”
Coldplay, “Higher Power”
Dotter, “Little Tot”
Undressd, “Forever Young” (Swedish remake of the Alphaville standard)
Kid Laroi, “Without You”
Alexandra Stan, “Mr. Saxobeat”


And for something very different, there’s NRJ Antilles/Guadaloupe,
featuring a mix that is primarily Caribbean and Afrobeat, with only one
song that’s familiar to most U.S. pop audiences. The NRJ jingle is one of
the few common threads with the other stations, along with the “Radio No. 1” slogan, modified here for vacationers to “Radio No. 1 en vacance.” Here’s the station on July 14 around 11 a.m.

DJ Gil & LMK, “Blessed Love”
Pop Smoke, “What You Know Bout Love”
Ata Nakamura, “Bobo”
Dasha, “Doudou”
Zum f/Shenseaa, “Rebel”
Kenzy f/Misie Sadik, “Love You Twop”
Motto, “Shots (One for di Radio)”
Kalipsxau, “Corps à Corps”
Omah Lay, “Godly”
Teenyah, “En Secret”
X-Man, “Love”
Davido, “Jowb”
Bamby, “Haffi Buss”
Dadju f/Tiakda, “Dieu Merci”
Gmbnutron & DJ Spider “Down Dey”
Olamide f/Omah Lay, “Infinity”
Matieu White f/Maurane Voyer, “Sa Fini”




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WTPT's Rise Guys Expand To Chattanooga

Posted: 19 Jul 2021 07:39 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/210929/wtpts-rise-guys-expand-to-chattanooga/



Following the exit of morning host Sean Stewart last week, Audacys Rock 105 105.5 WRXR-FM Rossville GA/Chattanooga TN has begun carrying The Rise Guys based at 93.3 The Planet WTPT Greenville SC.

Hosted by Mattman, Nine, Paige and Fat Boy, the Rise Guys debuted on WTPT
in 2003. Greg Rambin remains in middays and Randy Boner Smith in
afternoons. Stewart had hosted mornings in addition to serving as
PD/afternoon host at CHR 103.7 Kiss-FM WKXJ.

Audacy has expanded the footprint of Greenville’s top-rated morning show “The Rise Guys.” Effective immediately, the show will now be heard on Rock 105 (WRXR-FM) in Chattanooga from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. ET, in addition
to 93.3 The Planet (WTPT-FM).

“We’re thrilled to welcome ‘The Rise Guys’ to our weekday programming slate
on Rock 105 and introduce this wildly entertaining show to our audience,” said Nichole Hartman, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Audacy Chattanooga. “We’re hoping this expanded footprint will not only help grow the show’s loyal fanbase – the P1s – but give Mattman, Nine, Paige and Fat
Boy a larger platform to take their show to new heights.”

Originating in 2003 from Greenville, South Carolina, hosts Mattman, Nine,
Paige and Fat Boy combine to deliver the Souths #1 Morning Radio Show among M25-54 and serve as the leaders of the esteemed “P1 Family.” The show launched After Hours with the Rise Guys, a weekly podcast featuring
co-hosts Mattman and Nine, in 2020. In 2018, the show teamed up with Thomas Creek Brewery on the launch of the Rise Guys P1 Pilsner. The partnership expanded in 2020 with the launch of two additional beers.



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Nugget Joins Q102 As Evening Host

Posted: 19 Jul 2021 06:19 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/210924/nugget-joins-q102-as-evening-host/



iHeartMedia CHR Q102 WIOQ Philadelphia has filled it night show opening
with the addition of Sam Nugget Dababneh.

Nugget most recently worked at 97.8 Dance-FM in Dubai. He began his career
in his native Detroit at Channel 95.5 WKQI and 98.7 Amp Radio WDZH. After hosting nights at Hot 107.9 WJFX Fort Wayne IN, Nugget served as night show producer and co-host at 92.3 Now WNOW-FM New York before returning to Fort Wayne as morning host at 106.3 Clickhop WHPP. After a stint in Tulsa at
106.9 KHTT, he hosted mornings at 94.1 KTFM San Antonio and Q107.5 WHBQ-FM Memphis before moving to Dubai in 2019.

Q102, Philly’s #1 Hit Music Station, announced today that Sam “Nugget” Dababneh will join the station as the new nighttime personality, effective August 2. Nugget will broadcast weeknights from 7 p.m. to midnight.

Nugget will cover the latest pop culture headlines, including a variety of music and lifestyle topics and celebrity interviews. In addition, the night show will be heavily interactive, encouraging listeners to call, text and
DM the show.

Nugget joins Q102 from Radio 1 in Dubai and has served as a morning show
host at WSNX-FM in San Antonio and WHBQ-FM in Memphis. Originally from
Detroit, Nugget got his start at WKQI FM. The multi-talented Nugget says he knows standup comedy, DJing, and making homemade Chick-fil-A style
sandwiches.

“Nugget’s personality is incredibly charismatic and we’re certain he’ll bring a level of excitement to nights on Q102,” said Program Director and On-Air Personality Brandon (Buster) Satterfield. “Not only will his show round out an already stacked lineup in our daily programming, but the
market will embrace Nugget’s humor every weeknight.”

“Q102 is legendary, and I can’t wait to join the team,” said Nugget. “I’m
ready to show Philly what I got. Working with Buster is exciting and I’m
sure we’re going to make some noise. Big thank you to iHeart Radio for
giving me this opportunity.”



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WFNI To Move To Translators Only Following Land Sale

Posted: 19 Jul 2021 05:54 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/210922/wfni-to-move-to-translators-only-following-land-sale/



Emmis Communications will turn off 1070 WFNI Indianapolis on August 2 as
the company prepares for the redevelopment and sales of the 70 acres
hosting its six towers.

Sports 93.5/107.5 The Fan will continue to be heard on 93.5 W228CX and
107.5 W298BB Indianapolis in the greater Indianapolis area fed via 93.1 WIBC-HD2 despite losing its regional 50kW day/10kW night facility for the foreseeable future.

Indiana Business Journal reported last month that IG Development will be
using 57 acres to develop a mixed-use facility 10 apartment buildings. Community Reinvestment Foundation purchased five acres to build an
assistive living facility. The current WFNI site has been used by the
former WIBC since the mid-1960s and is located in Whitestown IN northwest
of Indianapolis off of I-65.

Emmis chairman Jeff Smulyan told WIBC, “As long time owners of the 1070, we are working diligently on finding the next great use for the signal. We
were offered a wonderful opportunity to monetize the property, and felt it
was our obligation to explore that. Ultimately, it made the most sense.”

The company states it intends to explore new sites for WFNI to resume operations, however nothing has been filed with the FCC yet.

Emmis Communications, owners of WFNI-AM, 1070 AM/107.5 FM/93.5 FM The Fan,
has announced that it has closed on the sale of a portion of land in Whitestown, Indiana housing the radio towers for 1070 AM. While Emmis works
to find the best solution for the future of the 1070 signal, effective
August 2, audio content will broadcast solely on 107.5 FM and 93.5 FM, as
well as on its streaming app and online at www.1075thefan.com.

“As long-time owners of 1070, we are working diligently on finding the next great use for the signal,” said Jeff Smulyan, founder and chairman of the board of Emmis. “We were offered a wonderful opportunity to monetize the property and felt it was our obligation to explore that. Ultimately, it
made the most sense.”

More than one year ago, Emmis had the tower site for 1070 AM rezoned for mixed-use commercial, office and residential developments. The area
comprises 70 acres on Perry Worth Road near I-65 in Whitestown, Indiana and
is listed for sale by Cushman Wakefield. While Emmis has a number of
acres under contract, sites are still available. Please contact Bo Leffel
at Cushman Wakefield if you are interested (317-639-0441).



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A Few More LPTV's Gain Permission To Keep Operating Radio Signals

Posted: 18 Jul 2021 03:00 PM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/210909/a-few-more-lptvs-gain-permission-to-keep-operating-radio-signals/



On Tuesday, July 13, all analog low power television stations were required
to cease operations whether or not they were ready to sign-on their
replacement digital signal. This was to be the end of the so-called
Franken-FMs on channel 6 using their aural channel on 87.75 to serve as a defacto radio station.

Last month Venture Technologies Group received temporary permission to
operate 87.7 KBKF-LD San Jose CA with an analog audio signal on 87.75 FM in
its ATSC 3.0 digital video signal through January 2022 as long as its
continues to meet eight conditions. KBKF-LD, which is leased to Educational Media Foundation to air its “Air 1” network, ended up just being the first of a few LPTVs to be given similar STAs.

Venture Technologies Group was also given an identical STA to WRME-LP
Chicago to allow Weigel Broadcastings Soft Oldies 87.7 MeTV-FM to keep broadcasting. Syncom Media Group received the STA for Hip Hop Streetz 87.7 WMTO-LP Norfolk VA, which simulcasts Core Radio Groups 102.1 WXTG-FM
Virginia Beach and Regional Mexican La Invasora 87.7 KXDP-LP Denver.
Atlanta Prism Broadcasting Network received the STA for Regional Mexican La
Que Buena 101.9/87.7 which simulcasts WAZX-FM Cleveland GA.

Ventures KZNO-LP Big Bear Lake/Los Angeles has converted to ATSC 3
operation, but has not yet filed for the STA to operate its audio signal. KZNO-LP had been operating as Spanish Christian Guadalupe Radio 87.7.

Sound of Long Island Inc. has applied for an STA for its Korean FM 87.7
WNYZ-LP New York, but has also begun airing its programming on 101.5 W268BY Queens/93.5 WVIP-HD4 New Rochelle while awaiting permission to do so.
Signal Above Medias 87.7 WDCN-LP Fairfax VA/Washington DC Spanish Tropical
La Nueva 87.7 has gone silent, but intends to return with ATSC 3 operation allowing for the audio channel when it completes construction of the new facility.

The rest of the analog signals should be gone, but a few have moved their brands to new signals.

Regional Mexican Fiesta 87.7 KGHD-LP Las Vegas moved its programming to
98.1 K251BS North Las Vegas/KLUC-HD3 Las Vegas last month following the purchase of the translator by Latino Hustle Grou.

Flinn Broadcasting Classic Rock Drake Hall Memphis Radio WPGF-LP Memphis
moved to 96.1 WIVG Tunica MS.

Kids Television LLC Classic Hits 87.7 The Bridge WJMF-LP Jackson MS moved
to 1240 WZQK Flowood/94.3 W232DD Jackson.

Delta Media Corporation Regional Mexican Radio Lazer lost its coverage on KXKW-LP Lafayette LA, but remains on former simulcaster 105.3 KSLO-FM Simmesport.

Metro TV Inc. merged the programming of Christian Love Radio WVOA-LP Westvale/Syracuse NY with its co-owned The Voice 1540 WSIV East
Syracuse/106.3 W292EY Syracuse.

Walker Broadcast Group took Alternative Hella Radio KNNN-LP Redding off the
air when required on the 13th, however states it will soon relaunch the
audio brand on a new, yet-to-be disclosed signal, but also rebrand its TV signal as Hellavision.

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