RadioInsight

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Newsradio 106.7 Atlanta Adds Brian Joyce For Afternoons

Posted: 01 Feb 2017 01:13 PM PST
http://radioinsight.com/headlines/11...or-afternoons/


Newsradio 106.7 WYAY Gainesville/Atlanta is replacing its afternoon news
block with a talk show hosted by Brian Joyce.
Joyce joins WYAY from sister Talk Radio 102.3 WGOW-FM
Soddy-Daisy/Chattanooga where he currently hosts 1-3pm and will continue to
do that show from Atlanta in addition to his new 3-6pm show on WYAY. The
Boston native previously was a fill-in host at both 680 WRKO and 96.9 WTKK
in his home market as well as the Money Matters Radio Network.
Joyce replaces the 3-7pm news block anchored by Cheryl Castro, John Lisk
and Greg Tantum. This leaves the former All News 106.7 with only news
content from 5-9am remaining.
Cumulus Media announces that it has named
Brian Joyce as Afternoon Host on NewsRadio 106.7/WYAY-FM in Atlanta, GA.
Joyce’s show will air weekdays from 3PM-6PM, and will debut on Monday,
February 13, 2017.Â*Joyce’s addition follows the continued explosion of
popularity for WYAY-FM’s entertaining and informative on-air team of
Shannon Burke, The Kimmer, Rob Stadler and Cheryl White.Â*Joyce will
continue to host his current midday show from 1PM-3PM on Cumulus
Media-Chattanooga, TN’s Talk Radio 102.3/WGOW-FM and will then follow the
Kimmer on NewsRadio 106.7 for Atlanta’s afternoon commute.Â*
Before heading south, Joyce grew up in Boston and was on-air talent for
several New England stations including WRKO. In Chattanooga, his show
regularly outperforms nationally syndicated news/talk personality Rush
Limbaugh.Â*Joyce is a regular contributor on Fox News and a featured blogger
on Huffington Post. He has been named to Talkers Magazine’s “Heavy Hundred�
list and was named one of talk radio’s Top 5 “Rising Stars� at Talk Show
Boot Camp.Â*
Sean Shannon, Vice President/Market Manager for Cumulus Media-Atlanta said:
“We live in a world where dialogue on matters of substance has become
increasingly difficult, with politically-slanted news/talk outlets and
social media platforms that feed consumers with stories that confirm their
existing political belief systems. NewsRadio 106.7 breaks that confounding
and polarizing mold. We are committed to delivering a forum ruled not by
any agenda or by an algorithm, but by the unique value we can create for
our listeners. We present multiple sides of the story when we’re delivering
the news, ensuring we both inform existing opinions and provoke opposing
opinions on every side of the story. In the process, we create a rare media
experience facilitating respectful and spirited discourse where there is as
much value in listening as there is in talking.�
Greg Tantum, Program Director for News Radio 106.7, said: “From Shannon
Burke to The Kimmer to now Brian Joyce, NewsRadio 106.7 provides Atlantans
with a diversity of viewpoints. Brian’s background as a truck driver,
teacher, bouncer, bartender, comedian and Senior Derivatives Analyst for a
Fortune 20 company is a natural follow to the eclectic talents and
backgrounds of our diverse news/talk team.Â*No syndicated, one-note
political mumbo jumbo here – NewsRadio 106.7 stands as a different kind of
place and a stimulating and thought-provoking break from the echo chambers
that populate news/talk today.â€�Â*Â*
Â*
Joyce said: “(INSERT A QUOTE FROM BRIAN).�


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Sovereign Communications Expands Into Escanaba

Posted: 01 Feb 2017 11:54 AM PST
http://radioinsight.com/headlines/11...into-escanaba/


Sovereign Communications has announced it will acquire Talk/Standards 680
WDBC and Country Kix Country 104.7 WYKX Escanaba MI from KMB Broadcasting
for an undisclosed amount.
The deal will give Sovereign seventeen stations across five markets on
Michigans Upper Peninsula including Iron Mountain, Marquette, Newberry, and
Sault Saint Marie. KMB Broadcasting has owned the stations since 1978, with
a failed $850,000 sale to Catholic operator Starboard Media Foundation in
2002.
Upper Peninsula based Sovereign Communications has reached an agreement
with KMB Broadcasting to purchase their Escanaba Michigan radio stations,
WYKX-FM and WDBC-AM. The two station acquisition will give Sovereign a
total of seventeen stations in the Upper Peninsula region of Michigan,
where the company already owns fifteen radio stations, including stations
in Sault Sainte Marie, Newberry, Marquette and Iron Mountain.
Bill Curtis, President of Sovereign Communications, said: “We couldn’t be
more excited about this purchase. We’ve wanted to own these heritage
stations for a long time and I’m delighted Mr. Cooke decided to sell them
to us. Having WYKX-FM and WDBC-AM in our company will allow us to serve the
local communities as well as our advertisers and listeners in even greater
ways. I look forward to a smooth transition as we bring the Escanaba staff
and operations into the Sovereign family. We’re extremely fortunate to have
some of the best people in the radio business on our team. They’re
passionate radio professionals that are excited about our growth and are
ready to take on additional responsibilities and play an even more
important role in the larger company. Personally, as a kid that grew up in
the U.P. and started in the radio business at 15 years old, seeing
Sovereign Communications continue to grow is a real dream come true for me.�
James Cooke, President of KMB Broadcasting, commented: “It’s with mixed
emotions that we decided to sell WDBC and WYKX. We have owned the stations
since 1978 – longer than any other owners in their histories, dating all
the way back to 1941 in the case of WDBC. Over the years, our dedicated and
talented staffs have enabled both stations to provide the highest quality
broadcast service to listeners and advertisers in Delta County and the
surrounding counties. The quality of that service has been recognized by
both the National Association of Broadcasters (WDBC won its prestigious
Crystal Award) and the Michigan Association of Broadcasters (WYKX won its
Station of the Year Award, two years in a row). We much appreciate the
service of those employees over the many years. However, my wife Betsy and
I have both reached retirement age and are pleased to have reached an
agreement to sell the stations to Sovereign Communications, a respected
U.P. broadcaster who we fully expect will continue the station’s award
winning service to the Central U.P.�


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WLOR Brings Classic Hip-Hop To Huntsville

Posted: 01 Feb 2017 10:19 AM PST
http://radioinsight.com/headlines/11...to-huntsville/


Southern Stone Communications Urban Oldies Sunny 98.1 1550 WLOR
Huntsville/98.1 W251AC Capshaw AL flipped to Classic Hip-Hop 98.1 The Beat
at 12pm today.
The station stunted for two hours with television theme songs following the
conclusion of the Steve Harvey show this morning. Program Director/Midday
host Ed Gaines and afternoon host Rick Lee remain in place with the format
change.
The new format positions WLOR between Cumulus Urban AC 94.1 WHRP and
Broadcast One rimshot Urban 103.1 WEUP-FM. WLOR held a 2.2 share in the
Fall 2016 Nielsen Audio ratings.


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Sean Strife Named PD at KOSY

Posted: 01 Feb 2017 10:05 AM PST
http://radioinsight.com/headlines/11...ed-pd-at-kosy/


iHeartMedia CHR Y95.7 KOSY-FM Anamosa/Cedar Rapids IA has named Sean Strife
their new Program Director/Midday host.
Strife joins KOSY from iHeartMedias Los Angeles cluster where he worked on
Ryan Seacrests morning show at 102.7 KIIS-FM and on-air at Sports AM 570
KLAC. Strife has previously worked in Gainesville and West Palm Beach FL.
Strife succeeds Josh Martinez, who was promoted to iHeartMedias Dayton OH
cluster in late 2016.
iHeartMedia Cedar Rapids announced today that Sean Strife has been named
Program Director for Y957 FM, Cedar Rapids’ New Hit Music Station,
effective immediately. iHeartMedia Cedar Rapids has a strong cross-platform
presence and includes a number of iconic brands and franchises — both
broadcast and digital including 600 WMT, 100.7 The Fox, 96.5 Kiss Country,
800 KXIC, 1360 KMJM.
iHeartMedia has massive consumer reach and influence across multiple
platforms and delivers more live programming than any other media company.
Strife will work with on-air personalities, sales and the digital team to
oversee programming content and music for Y957 FM, one of the fastest
growing radio station brands in the Cedar Rapids market and home to the
Elvis Duran in the Morning Show.
“Sean was the obvious choice for this role he brings his major market
experience, format knowledge and industry connections with him to help Y957
FM continue its strong growth in the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City markets,�
said JJ Cook, Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia Cedar
Rapids. “He knows what our listeners want and I know he’ll enjoy his first
real taste of winter with the Y957 FM family!�
Previously Strife worked as the Producer for KIIS FM’s On Air With Ryan
Seacrest in Los Angeles. He also produced the Jesse Lozano in the Morning
show and was an on-air personality for iHeartMedia Los Angeles’ Sports Talk
station brand, AM 570 LA Sports – Home of the Dodgers. Strife is originally
from Boca Raton, Fl. and began his career in the radio industry in
Gainesville and West Palm Beach before moving to LA in 2013.
Y957 FM is a leading media outlet in the Cedar Rapids/ Iowa City market and
its content is available across multiple platforms, including its broadcast
station; online via its branded digital site; mobile; and social, with
nationwide listening through iHeartRadio, the all-in-one streaming music
and live radio service – with its more than a billion downloads and 95
million registered users.


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Saga Brings Outlaw To New Hampshire

Posted: 01 Feb 2017 07:10 AM PST
http://radioinsight.com/headlines/11...new-hampshire/


Saga Communications has broken up its Hot Hits New Hampshire simulcast 94.1
W231BR Manchester/103.1 W276BJ Concord NH to launch Country 103.1 The
Outlaw.
Joining its similar gold based Outlaws in Asheville, Clarksville TN, Des
Moines, and Springfield IL, the station is using the same Legends Young
Guns positioning. It joins Townsquare Medias 97.5 WOKQ and Binnie Medias
93.3 The Wolf WNHW in the Concord market in the Country arena.
The CHR format remains on W231BR/95.7 WZID-HD2 Manchester, while the Outlaw
is fed by WZID-HD3.


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Buck Sexton Takes Over America Now

Posted: 01 Feb 2017 06:17 AM PST
http://radioinsight.com/headlines/11...r-america-now/


Premiere Networks has tabbed Buck Sexton as the new host of America Now.
Sexton replaces Meghan McCain whose contract expired on January 31 and will
focus on her Fox News duties. He joins from Glenn Becks Blaze network where
he hosted a daily 12-3pm show. The 35 year-old Sexton previously hosted a
TV show on Blaze and served as a commentator for CNN following a career
with the CIA and NYPD in their counterterrorism units.
The newly branded Buck Sexton with America Now airs live from 6-9pm
eastern/3-6pm pacific.
Premiere Networks announced today that former CIA-turned radio and TV
personality Buck Sexton has joined the network as host ofÂ*Buck Sexton with
America Now.Â* Beginning February 6, 2017, the former CNN commentator and
radio/TV host for TheBlaze will debut as host of the popular News/Talk
radio program, which broadcasts live on weekdays from 3 6 p.m. PT/6 9
p.m. ET on more than 100 affiliates nationwide.Â* Based in New York, Buck
Sexton with America Now will also be available on iHeartRadio.com and the
iHeartRadio mobile app, iHeartMedias all-in-one streaming music and live
digital radio service, and AmericaNowRadio.com. Â*
Each day on Buck Sexton with America Now, Sexton will discuss the news,
information and events that matter most to the daily lives of Americans.Â*
From business and politics, to entertainment and social issues, he will
share his candid, passionate takes on the latest local, national and global
headlines, and welcome a variety of guests and experts.
“I could not be more excited for this opportunity with Premiere Networks,�
shared Sexton. “The time I spend on radio is the best part of every day,
and I look forward to getting to know the America Now audience and
partnering with Premiere to bring new listeners across the U.S. on to Team
Buck.�
“We couldn’t be happier to welcome Buck as host of America Now,� stated
Premiere Networks President Julie Talbott.Â*“He’s smart and engaging, and
his previous work with the U.S. Intelligence Community makes him uniquely
qualified to lead conversations about the news, events and issues that
affect all Americans. We’re confident Buck’s distinct perspective will
resonate with America Now’s national audience and create powerful
multi-platform opportunities for our partners.�
Buck Sexton is a former political commentator for CNN, and previously
served as national security editor for TheBlaze.com and host of “The Buck
Sexton Show� on TheBlazeTV and TheBlazeRadio. He’s a frequent guest host
for The Rush Limbaugh Show, The Sean Hannity Show and The Glenn Beck
Program.
Sexton formerly served as a CIA officer in the Counterterrorism Center
(CTC) and the Office of Iraq Analysis. He completed tours of duty as an
intelligence officer in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as other hotspots
around the globe, and led intelligence briefings for senior U.S. officials
including President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. Sexton
also served in the New York Police Department (NYPD) Intelligence Division
working on counterterrorism and counter-radicalization issues.
A native of New York City, Sexton is the author of Occupy: America Spring,
a behind-the-scenes exploration of Occupy Wall Street, including the
radical roots and revolutionary goals that lie beneath the not-so-ragtag
movement. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Amherst College. Fans
can follow Sexton on Facebook, or @BuckSexton on Twitter and Instagram.