XPost: rec.radio.info

RadioInsight

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Kat Corbett Announces Departure From KROQ

Posted: 03 Aug 2021 01:18 PM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/211342/kat-corbett-announces-departure-from-kroq/



Another longtime staffer has departed Audacy Alternative 106.7 KROQ Pasadena/Los Angeles.

Kat Corbett wrote on her blog that she has quit the station she has been
part of for over two decades. Corbett joined KROQ as a part-timer in 1999
and then hosted middays from 2005 to April 2019. She then moved back to weekends/fill-ins including the Locals Only show she ran for over twenty
years. Prior to KROQ, Corbett worked at WFNX Boston and “Y107” KLYY Los Angeles.

Corbett writes, Sooooo I quit KROQ.

Its all good! I am eternally grateful for my long and crazy KROQ life. I
was leaving the World Famous a while back actually, but Covid hit, deals
fell through, yada yada. Now with things opening up, Im having exciting conversations again.

If you ever listened when I hosted middays, thank you. It was truly an
honor to follow the Kevin Bean show all those years. Thanks to the record
reps and managers who trusted me with artists in many delicate situations.
Ill still be bugging you of course, but for now, thank you for introducing
me to my heroes.

Corbett continues to host afternoons on SiriusXMs 90s Alternative Lithium channel and hosts a weekly show on LoopTV.

Sooooo I quit KROQ. https://t.co/uRHIVnpigP

- Kat Corbett (@KatCorbett) August 3, 2021





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Amber Glaze Departs KVOO Mornings

Posted: 03 Aug 2021 12:02 PM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/211334/amber-glaze-departs-kvoo-mornings/



Amber Glaze has announced her departure from Griffin Communications Country 98.5 The Bull KVOO Tulsa.

Glaze noted on Instagram that she was told two weeks ago that she was told
she would no longer be part of the morning show she co-hosted with Tige
Rodgers and Daniel Baker. She was offered another position within the
company, but after taking a week to decide chose to depart the company.

Glaze joined KVOO in November 2018 from “106.7 The Ride” KHLR Little Rock where she was co-hosting mornings. She moved to mornings a month later and
has been paired with Tige and Daniel since last November. Glaze started her career at CHR 105.9 KLAZ Hot Springs and also co-hosted mornings at Classic Rock “104.5 The Fox” KFXJ Wichita.












View this post on Instagram
























A post shared by Amber Glaze (@amberonamic)







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Boost Radio: A Narrated First Listen

Posted: 03 Aug 2021 11:00 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/ross/211177/boost-radio-a-narrated-first-listen/



By Mike Couchman as told to Sean Ross

“You haven’t met them yet, but you have new friends all over the country.”
So begins a promo for Boost Radio, the St. Louis-based Christian Rhythmic
CHR format celebrating a momentous year. Last November, Boost moved from a trimulcast of two outlying signals and a translator to the 95.5 former frequency of Urban AC WFUN. In March, it debuted on a translator in
Chicago. Since then, the station has added frequencies in the Twin Cities; Pittsburgh; Portland, Ore.; and Fayetteville, N.C.

Seven years ago, Boost debuted as one of a relative handful of Christian
CHRs at a time when that format often comprised anything that wouldn’t fit
at Christian AC — whether that was Hip-Hop or Alternative. Since then, PD Mike Couchman has overseen the station’s evolution to a format more comparable to Rhythmic CHR, albeit one that still has some pop component.
(The station bills itself as “pop, Hip-Hop, and hope.”) Couchman is now PD of successful Christian AC sister KLJY (99.1 Joy FM) as well.

Given the station’s rapid expansion, it was time for a First Listen to
Boost on its new frequencies. Ross on Radio asked Couchman to narrate the monitor for somebody who might be familiar with the Rhythmic and Hip-Hop formats, but not their Christian counterpart. Here’s an hour of the station just before 1:30 p.m., July 22, with Couchman’s notes on each song:

Tori Kelly, “Unbothered”: As you might imagine, one of our biggest challenges is familiarity. Toris voice is a helpful onramp for people who
might be familiar with her mainstream hits (we actually have her two
biggest, Nobody Love and Shouldve Been Us, in Gold). Unbothered is in Power Recurrent for us; its from her most recent project. It had a good run as a current in late 2020. On top of Tori Kelly being a familiar voice for new
and longtime listeners, we dont have a lot of female pop superstars in our genre. She checks that box, and has always been super-helpful in voicing liners, Behind the Song promos, etc. The song is about being unflappable in
the face of challenging people/relationships.

Swoope, “All the Time”: Swoope is a rapper whose vocals might be considered in between Kanye West and Common. Hes known for his intellectual bars, like Common, but has a flow like Kanye. All the Time (added in 2017) has the
classic hit-song ingredients, a hook before the actual hook so that theres anticipation building all the way through. It riffs on a phrase thats
almost become a meme in church culture: One person says God is good, and
others respond all the time. This song was ahead of its time, capitalizing
on the phrases low key and high key before they became part of mainstream
pop culture a year or more later.

Marcus Rogers, “Drippin’”: This song was a TikTok find. We kept seeing influencers in our format make dance videos to this song. Its got a real
fun summer vibe to it. Singable hook, danceable beat. Hip-Hop song with a
taste of Latino culture in the music. Were bumping it to Power this week. Theres no easy direct mainstream comparison with this song. Marcus is
in his own lane, but has a sound thats definitely accessible for Hip-Hop
fans. That sums up Boost too: were not trying to be a copycat of anything mainstream; we simply want to be a place that feels culturally familiar/friendly/fun, even if you dont know our music.

Gawvi, “Not Too Far”: Gawvi has become a core artist for Boost. He got his start producing for our first generation of core artists (like Lecrae and
Andy Mineo), helping them win Grammy awards. Theres probably no genre Gawvi cant create smash hits for, from EDM to Hip Hop to Pop. Not Too Far is a
pop ballad, and helped move him from being the guy that produces for my favorite artists to the guy whos one of my favorite artists.  He has the versatility of Drake, but by no means is he a clone. Not Too Far tested
great right out of the gate in the spring of 2020, and still does well
enough to retain a spot in Power Recurrent. The message rings true for our faith-oriented listeners: Youre never too far gone; no matter what youve
done, redemption is always one choice and one prayer away.

Social Club Misfits, “Dive”: These guys had a cult following before Boost got to them. In fact, when we were brand new seven years ago, their fans
would constantly ask, Why dont you play Social Club? They were indie back
then and didnt have anyone working their music to radio; it was a chore
trying to cop a legit WAV file. These days, theyre with Capitol Records, so servicing is not a problem. The act is two guys, Fern and Marty. Fern spent three years in prison for drug trafficking before finding God and
connecting with Marty. Dive dropped three or so years ago, when some of mainstream Hip-Hops hottest sounds came from Travis Scott and Migos. This
song has a similar feel. In fact, it features a guy named Beam, whos
collabbed with 21 Savage, Yo Gotti, and a variety of Boost artists.

KB f/Bizzle, “Let It Reign”: Our current top testing song (online research). The hook samples an obscure Michael W. Smith song (Let It Rain),
and pitches it up, kind of like how Akon pitched up Mr. Lonely back in the
day. KB is hands-down the biggest artist thats exclusive to Boost right
now. Hes found this really interesting space where he takes songs that are popular in church culture and on Christian AC stations and smothers them in
Hip Hop. And not that KB needs street cred, but putting Bizzle on this song gives him even more. Bizzle is seen as an OG in modern Christian Hip-Hop.

Mission, “Struggle”: When I first heard this song, my mind went to a couple Hip-Hop ballads I loved in the ‘90s: I Seen a Man Die by Scarface and Mind Playing Tricks on Me from Geto Boys. Mission doesnt sound like them
musically, but Struggle has the same raw realism. Its about how difficult
it can be to truly live the love your neighbor as yourself command,
especially when somebody has done everything possible to disrespect the
love youve offered. Struggle immediately tested strong for us in 2019 and
had a nice long life as a current for us. These days, its a recurrent.
Mission himself is quite the chameleon; he can have a Childish Gambino vibe
one minute and a Pop Smoke vocal the next.

Kurtis Hoppie, “Vegan Burgers”: Kurtis is an up-and-coming indie rapper whos been on our radar for a while. This is his most radio-friendly song so far. Its essentially a love song everything is better when hes with his
lady. As with Swoope, its got that good old catchy
pre-chorus-before-the-chorus thing going. (Since Christian Hip-Hop has
never had radio as a major force for the genre until now, some artists are still learning the value of structuring songs for radio.) Relationship
songs are rare in Christian radio, and Boost hopes songs like this help
change that. God made us for relationships with each other, not just with
Him. So why shouldnt songs in our format reflect those relationships? We
hope “Vegan Burgers” helps make Boost more three-dimensional. Its a newer song that we just put into sub-Power.

NF, “Change”: If KB is Boost’s biggest exclusive artist, NF is probably our
biggest artist overall at least if you go by streaming stats and
mainstream exposure. Change is from NFs most recent full project (not his
newer mixtape). The message is on point for the lyrical center lane of
Boost. Forget the charts, Ive been focusin on holdin my head up/Moment I
get up, I just wanna know Im doin my best/And if Im not, Lord forgive me,
you can have the regrets.” “Change” spent much of 2020 in Power, and currently resides in Power Recurrent. Like Tori Kelly, NF is an on-ramp for
our format, and rarely gets bad scores in our surveys.

Angie Rose, “Unstoppable”: The album version had some structural issues that made it not as radio-friendly, but this is a just-released remix. She interpolates part of Michael Jacksons “Wanna Be Startin’ Something” in the
hook. So many people have been like, What is that? Where have I heard it before? Their faces light up when they find out the source. Its a fun pop
song that moves quick. “Unstoppable” is all about how your faith empowers you, with a subtle female-empowerment vibe too, thanks in part to a feature from Wande (Wahn-dey), who has quickly become our formats biggest female MC.

Flame, “#Escrow”:  This was the end-of-the-hour fill-song! Flame is from St. Louis, where Boost was born. Not only does he have a huge local
following, Flame was a titan in Christian Hip-Hop a decade ago. Hes still
in the scene but has split his focus up a bit and isnt as core for us as he once was. #Escrow was new in 2016 and had a great run as a current. Its
very much in the Hip-Hop lane sonically. Easy to rap and chant with, but
not sing. The success of this song helped confirm that Boosts move towards Rhythmic and away from Pop/Rock/Rhythm was a healthy move. 

KB f/Koryn Hawthorne, “The Name”: Two big names one big hit, right? Koryn Hawthorne has already made a huge splash in the Gospel format, though weve
also been playing her pop-leaning stuff since Sony signed her a few years
ago. The Name is a ballad from KBs newest project that fuses church songs
and worship music with Hip-Hop. As far as hits go, it was a solid one for
us, though not a smash like Let It Reign, but it was still strong enough to
be a Power Recurrent. 

Hulvey, “We Against the World”: This is from Hulveys first full project, and hes already a core artist for Boost. Thats thanks to his previous EP
and features with other artists. A lot of people have compared Hulvey to
Post Malone. I definitely hear some similarities both in style and in their versatility. But Hulvey is his own man and not trying to be “clean Post Malone. We Against the World is a collab with Andy Mineo. It sticks
out as one of the few guitar-driven songs on Boost, though its a mild
guitar vibe. Sonically this falls somewhere between Without You by The Kid Laroi and Mood by 24kGoldn. We Against the World is about having friends
who will celebrate your God-given uniqueness instead of pressuring you to
be like everyone else.

Hollyn, “Alone”: In a format without a lot of female superstars, Hollyn was on her way to being the next one, then stepped back from releasing music a
few years ago, after she got married. This was her breakout single. Its
fun. It has energy. A touch of sass. Infectious pop-rock song with a rap
bridge by the late son of TobyMac. Alone came out in 2015 from Hollyns debut project, which also gave us a few other hits. Alone is in our Gold category that spins once an hour.  If she was still around now, theres no telling how massive shed be in our format and with BOOST listeners. Hollyn
was doing what Olivia Rodrigo is famous for now before Olivia was even on Bizaardvark.

Tauren Wells f/Kirk Franklin, “Millionaire”: Another song where Boost and Gospel merge. Wells’ work has been nominated for almost a dozen Grammy and Billboard Music Awards. Hes also received a handful of Dove Awards from the Christian-music world. He has a similar voice to Bruno Mars, but he seems
to go out of his way to make songs that cant fall into the if you like
Bruno, youd like this trap. He has been a core artist for Boost since his
days with the group Royal Tailor, and as a solo act from day one. Hes also managed to become almost as core for Joy FM. Millionaire is in “stay current” for us — we burned it pretty good, but expect it to be a definitive song for Boost over the next year or so.

Byron Juane, “Attention”: This one came out in fall 2018 and was a pleasant surprise for us!  We thought it was good enough to give a shot, but since
the song kind of stays in one sonic spot most of the way through, we didnt
have high hopes for it as a “radio record.” The audience loved it, though. Its a straight-ahead hip-hop song. The chorus isnt singable, but its easy enough to remember and chant with. Byron is on an indie label thats become
very reliable for delivering hits to Boost.

Evan Craft, “Montaña”: Despite St. Louiss small percentage of Spanish-speaking residents, weve had success with a handful of
English-Spanish songs over the years. When we learned Boost was going to Chicago and other markets where the demographics split differently, we got
a bit more deliberate about hunting for songs that could connect multiculturally. Hidden in plain sight was Evan Craft. Despite having
almost no exposure on English-language stations or Christian radio, he
already had millions of followers online by the time we got to him. Montaña
is a collab with Gawvi and Sam Rivera. Its a ballad that bounces just a
bit. So far so good; its testing well enough to be in Power. Weve also
added his song Desesperado to our “new” category and that one has earworm written all over it.

We Are the Good, “Young Wild and Free”: This is a brand-new add for us. I’m
hoping the center-lane pop feel this song has makes it a big hit going into
the fall. So far, the ideal blend for us seems to be [like] what the
Rhythmic Top 40 format was before Hip-Hop was the dominant genre. Our
audience rates a certain flavor of pop just as high in surveys as their favorite Hip-Hop bangers.

Pop also helps smooth the path for new listeners who find us from
CCM/Christian AC; (we share as much cume with them as mainstream R&B and
pop stations. Its a pretty even split.) Christian radio P1s who have only experienced Christian AC tend to have negative assumptions about Hip-Hop
until they hear us play it. Then they end up loving it. But pop helps get
them in the door in the first place.



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Texas Radio Hall of Fame Announces 2021 Inductees

Posted: 03 Aug 2021 10:44 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/211328/texas-radio-hall-of-fame-announces-2021-inductees/



Voting has ended and the ballots have been tallied. Twenty Texas
broadcasters have been added to the Class of 2021 to be inducted into the
Texas Radio Hall of Fame at the Texas Museum of Broadcasting and
Communications in Kilgore, Texas on November 6, 2021.

The inductees are (in alphabetical order:

Randy Carroll

Mac Daniels

Don Day

Joel Folger

Ron Foster

Roger Gray

Dale Hansen

Jamie Hildreth

Judy Lakin

Rich Lord

Johnny Marks

Bill Mayne

Charlie Ochs

Jammin’ Jimmy Olson

Greg “Grego” Onofrio

Ronnie Renfrow

Randy Schell

Marc Sherman

“Cactus Jack” Talley

Bill Zak

INDUCTEES REPRESENT A CROSS-SECTION OF THE RADIO INDUSTRY

After a spirited season of balloting, our voting members have selected
twenty broadcast professionals to join the group of Lone Star veterans who
have distinguished themselves in the radio industry, said Doug Harris, Executive Director of the Texas Radio Hall of Fame.

This list of inductees represents award-winning sellers, programmers,
on-air talent, and production aces along with masterful ratings and revenue generators across the industry, representing a variety of formats.

TEXAS MUSEUM OF BROADCASTING & HOSTS GALA CEREMONY

The annual induction ceremony will be held on Saturday afternoon, November
6, 2021, at the Texas Museum of Broadcasting and Communications in Kilgore, Texas.

Tickets for the event go on sale on August 23 at www.trhof.net.

ABOUT THE TEXAS RADIO HALL OF FAME

The Texas Radio Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding achievement by
broadcast professionals who have contributed to the success of the
communities they serve and whose efforts have reinforced radio’s role in providing, news, information, and entertainment to listeners in the Lone
Star State.  The organization’s activities are governed by a volunteer
board of directors and supervised by an Executive Director. Headquartered
in Houston, Texas, and allied with the Texas Museum of Broadcasting and Communications in Kilgore, Texas, the Texas Radio Hall of Fame will
celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2022.



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WEEI Names Jeff Rickard As New Brand Manager; Promotes Ken Laird To
Assistant Brand Manager

Posted: 03 Aug 2021 08:12 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/211323/weei-names-jeff-rickard-as-new-brand-manager-promotes-ken-laird-to-assistant-brand-manager/



Audacy has appointed 107.5 The Fan WFNI Indianapolis PD/Morning Host Jeff Rickard as the new Brand Manager for Sports 93.7 WEEI-FM Lawrence/Boston MA
and its regional network.

Rickard has programmed WFNI since August 2018 and added morning co-host
duties in May 2019. He also hosts shows for SiriusXMs sports channels. He
has previously served as a a host for ESPN Radio, Sporting News Radio, KKFN Denver, and Comcasts CN8 regional television network in the northeast. He
also programmed KFNZ Salt Lake City from 1999 to 2004.

WEEI has also promoted Ken Laird from morning show executive producer and update anchor to Assistant Brand Manager. Laird began his career at WEEI as
an intern in 2001. Following a long run at ESPNs 1250 WEAE Pittsburgh and
the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Lair returned to WEEI in 2014 and held
multiple producer and contributor roles before joining the morning show.

Audacy welcomes Jeff Rickard as Brand Manager for Boston’s WEEI-FM,
effective August 11. In this role, Rickard will oversee content operations
for WEEI-FM and the WEEI radio network, which spans the New England
region. Rickard had previously served as the program director and morning
show host of all-sports WFNI in Indianapolis.

“Having worked in sports radio for virtually my entire career, I am
thrilled to join the team at WEEI,” said Rickard. “Its rich history is well documented as is the unmatched passion of the Boston sports fan. I’m looking forward to pairing this talented team with fresh, new ideas to both reflect and match that passion.”

No stranger to New England, Rickard spent almost a decade in the region
while hosting ESPN Radio’s “Gamenight” and later as the managing editor and
anchor of the Boston based program “Out of Bounds Latenight” on the Comcast Network. He also had a successful five-year stint as the program director
of KFNZ in Salt Lake City, the flagship station of the Utah Jazz.
Following that, Rickard went on to host the “Jeff Rickard Show” on the nationally syndicated Sporting News Radio. While at Sporting News, he was tapped to host live shows for sporting events such as the Super Bowl, the
Final Four and boxing title fights. Rickard has also hosted shows
regularly for numerous Sirius XM channels including NFL Radio, ESPNU, MLB Network Radio, and Mad Dog Sports Radio. He has served as the host of NFL Radio’s “The Sunday Kickoff” during the NFL season for the past five years
and is the host of College Football Overtime on ESPNU. He was recognized
by SI.com as a “national radio personality of the year” in both 2006 and 2007.

“I am thrilled to welcome Jeff to the team,” said Tim Clarke, SVP and Market Manager for Audacy Boston. “His deep expertise and experience in sports media plus his passion for our New England teams make him perfectly suited to lead one of America’s most legendary local sports brands.”

Additionally, Ken Laird, currently Executive Producer for WEEI will be
promoted to Assistant Brand Manager.

Laird is an Electrical/Computer Engineering graduate of Northeastern
University (02) who broke into radio as an intern at WEEI in 2001. After graduating, Laird moved to Pittsburgh and climbed the ladder at ESPN Radio 1250, eventually hosting a nightly talk show while covering the Steelers
and Penguins. Also served as ESPN’s national Steelers correspondent during this time. In 2011, Laird joined the Pittsburgh Tribune Review as a
reporter and daily web-radio host on TribLIVE Radio. He then re-joined
WEEI, holding various producer and contributor roles before eventually
becoming morning drive executive producer and update anchor.

I am thrilled to continue working with the Greg Hill Show while also
partnering with Jeff Rickard. Hopefully it will give me options should Greg come to his senses and kick me off of his show,” said Laird. “A sincere thanks to Mark Hannon and Tim Clarke for the opportunity to grow my career
with Audacy and WEEI, a brand I am proud to represent.”

“Ken is a supremely talented, up-and-coming programming leader and will
have a huge impact on WEEI in this expanded role,” said Clarke. “I am extremely optimistic and excited for WEEI’s continued evolution under the leadership of both Jeff and Ken.”

Listeners can tune in to WEEI in the Boston area on 93.7FM, throughout New England on the WEEI Radio Network, as well as nationwide on the Audacy app
and website.



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SiriusXM Launches Lucille Ball Tribute Channel

Posted: 03 Aug 2021 07:24 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/211317/siriusxm-launches-lucille-ball-tribute-channel/



SiriusXM today announced a new channel dedicated to one of the funniest
women in the history of comedy: Lucille Ball. “Let’s Talk to Lucy,” named after her 1960s CBS Radio show, will be available on channel 104 starting
on August 5. The special programming will also be available on the SXM App, Pandora, and Stitcher.

A star of stage, screen, television and radio, Lucille Ball is an
indisputable American legend whose comedic talent and work ethic combined
to make her a living legend. Her work is still beloved worldwide, almost
ninety years after she arrived in Hollywood.

In-between starring in four television series and more than 70 films, Lucy would frequently jump from set to set, tape recorder in hand, and talk
about all aspects of life with some of the biggest names in Hollywood
history, including Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Dean Martin, Carol Burnett, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, and dozens more. These recordings eventually
made it onto air when CBS Radio broadcast them as “Let’s Talk to Lucy” from
1964-1965. However, for the last 50-plus years they’ve never been heard publicly again until now.

On the new, limited-run SiriusXM channel Let’s Talk to Lucy, listeners will finally get to experience these amazing conversations in their entirety. In addition to hearing from classic Hollywood icons, modern day stars will
also join the channel to pay tribute to the five-time Emmy Award winner.
Amy Poehler, Rosie O’Donnell, Tiffany Haddish, Ron Howard, Carol Burnett, Debra Messing, Joy Behar, Robert Klein, Barry Manilow, Sean Astin, Kathie
Lee Gifford, Seth Rudetsky, Danny Burnstein, Randy Rainbow, among many
others, will answer some of the original questions asked by Lucy, herself,
in the day.

“Although I have been care-taking these ancient tapes for over thirty
years, I had never really listened to them all and had no idea how many remarkable people Mom had talked to on these radio shows” said Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz’s daughter. “Its a treasure trove of personal information from some of the greatest talents of American Entertainment and
my family and I cant wait to share them with the rest of the planet.”

“Few stars reach a level of worldwide fame that they need only be known by one name. Lucy is one such star,” said Jack Vaughn, SiriusXM’s Senior Vice President of Comedy Programming. “Always a trailblazer, Lucy can arguably
add ‘one of America’s first podcasters’ to her vast repertoire. Hearing her
conversations with some of the world’s biggest names, full of her signature wit, charm, and intelligence, is truly a surreal experience, and I can’t
wait for listeners to tune in.”



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KGAY & KHCV Palm Springs Get New Operators Ahead Of Sales

Posted: 03 Aug 2021 07:21 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/211314/kgay-khcv-palm-springs-get-new-operators-ahead-of-sales/



Sunnylands Broadcasting is preparing to sell its two Palm Springs area
stations with new operators taking control via Time Brokerage Agreement on August 1.

Soft Oldies CV 104.3 KHCV Mecca will be sold to Spanish Christian
non-profit Iglesia Pentecostal Vispera Del Fin and has flipped to their Estacion de la Familia Radio network based at 93.7 KLSY Belfair/Seattle WA. PD/morning host Jimi Fitz Fitzgerald, afternoon host Patrick Evans, and
weekend host Kris Long have exited.

Brad Fuhr, who was previously involved in the launch of LGBTQ+ Dance 106.5
KGAY 1270 KGAY/106.5 K293CL Thousand Palms in December 2018, will acquire
the station merging it with his Gay Desert Guide. Fuhr has held many programming and sales positions over the past 40 years including General Manager of WPGU Champaign IL, affiliate relations for MJI Broadcasting,
Board Member of The Conclave, Director of Clear Channel’s Pride Radio and sales positions for Bonneville Chicago and Emmis Los Angeles.

With Fuhr resuming operations control, PD Chris Shebel will move to
afternoons from mornings. Shebel was the original PD of the station and has also programmed AC K103 KKCW and Classic Hits 106.7 The Eagle KLTH
Portland, Dance “Energy 92.7/5” WKIE Chicago, “Energy 92.7” KNGY San Francisco, “103.1 The Eighties Channel” WXXY Chicago, 92.3 WPRO-FM Provdience, and served multiple terms as Operations Manager of Clear
Channel Raleigh during his career. John Taylor, who exited as morning host
when Fuhr left in October 2019, will return to mornings. Taylor also
co-hosts the I Love Gay Palm Springs podcast.

Nearly three years ago, when radio veteran and founder of Gay Desert Guide
Brad Fuhr helped launch KGAY 106.5, the airwaves and audience responded –
big time! Now, in a new agreement, Sunnylands Broadcasting has sold the popular franchise ensuring that “KGAY stays Gay”. LGBTQ+ programming will be expanded with popular KGAY hosts returning to the airwaves today,
Monday, August 2: John Taylor in the mornings and Chris Shebel in the afternoons.

Fuhr is operating, then purchasing, the popular KGAY AM 1270 and FM 106.5
radio stations from Sunnylands Broadcasting, combining with his established digital and social brand, Gay Desert Guide.

“Today’s audience accesses information and entertainment 24/7 across multiple platforms and with multiple devices. The new combination of KGAY
Palm Springs and GayDesertGuide.LGBT meets that need, in real time, and in every medium”, said Fuhr, who is leading the two companies.

The new entity is organized as a California benefit corporation and
provides multiple programming streams including the well-known and popular KGAYPalmSprings.com, AM 1270 and 106.5 FM music channel in addition to the #ILoveGayPalmSprings podcast. Expanded programming will follow. The
station will launch a new public service campaign called “KGAY Cares” for local non-profits.

“KGAY should stay gay and this plan does just that,” said Greg Smith, co-owner of Sunnylands Broadcasting. “We have always been and remain committed to keeping the radio station in the ownership of an LGBTQ+
company. We are thrilled that the radio station will be operated by Brad
who is both an experienced broadcaster and a successful champion of the
LGBTQ+ communities.

Understanding the challenge of reaching the LGBTQ+ audience, Fuhr and his
team are taking an integrated approach to the new venture. The popular
website and social media platforms GayDesertGuide and #ILoveGayPalmSprings
will be re-integrated into KGAY radio for content, promotions and
advertising plans.

Locally, KGAY entered the marketplace on Christmas Day 2018 with an
immediate fan base. “KGAY has been remarkably successful” says Fuhr, noting that the station has worldwide listeners via its streaming platform and
easy discovery as ‘K-GAY,’ the best call letters in the world. “This will
only expand and improve with new ownership and our integrated marketing plan.”

The station plays dance hits from the disco era to today. Brand manager
Chris Shebel originally concepted the dance hits format nationally. He
notes, “I was fortunate to be the first programmer of KGAY Palm Springs and
I look forward to resuming that role. KGAY is a unique radio station with a strong role in our diverse Coachella valley communities. I’m excited to return to KGAY to oversee the music we play and help make our performers a strong part of the community. Thanks to the current owners’ desire to keep the station in LGBTQ+ hands, we have an opportunity now to make KGAY a part
of our communities for years to come.” Shebel will host afternoons on KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs.

With the highest concentration of LGBTQ+ residents in the USA, the
Coachella Valley has proven that KGAY is a winning radio format. Add to it
the nearly eight years of GayDesertGuide.LGBT being a top digital
destination and the future bodes well. The new on-air, social media and
digital platforms combine during a moment when Palm Springs and the
Coachella Valley are emerging from the pandemic.

The takeover was effective at midnight August 1, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the launch of MTV, which declared ‘Video Killed the Radio Star’ with its first song. Fuhr believes radio is still alive and kicking,

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--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)