RadioInsight

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A Great Mix Appears In Chattanooga

Posted: 13 Jan 2021 01:00 PM PST
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/2...n-chattanooga/



After acquiring Adult RB “Jet 95.7� 1480 WJTW Bridgeport AL/95.7 W239CO
Chattanooga TN last year for $30,000, Marshall Bandy’s Bridgeport Inc. has
flipped the station to a mix of Classic Country and Southern Gospel Mix
106.1/95.7

The 106.1 comes from the addition of W291CF Bridgeport GA to rebroadcasting
WJTW. The signal mostly cover the areas southwest of Chattanooga including
Trenton GA and South Pittsburg TN, while 95.7 adds parts of Chattanooga
itself.

WJTWs programming is branded as A Great Mix of Faith, Family and Country
also features This Morning with Gordon Deal in mornings and local high
school and Auburn University sports.

W291CF previously rebroadcasted Conservative Talk 101.3 KWN 1420 WKWN/101.3
W267CX Trenton GA.



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First Listen: Throwback 2K with Chris Cruise

Posted: 13 Jan 2021 12:15 PM PST
https://radioinsight.com/ross/203795...-chris-cruise/



Last year, amidst their other challenges, broadcasters tried to figure out
whether the ‘90s and early ‘00s were a format (as at “Totally 93.9� WMIA
Miami) or a special weekend (as at WKCI [KC101] New Haven, Conn., and
numerous others). Clearly, that era is becoming a bigger part of other
formats’ music mixes. Alternative WFUZ Wilkes-Barre, Pa., switched to
gold-based AC after Christmas as WQFM (Q92.1), billed as “‘90s and more,�
but also playing recent music.

While that debate continues, Tony Lorino is staking out the ‘00s. Lorino’s
Throwback Nation Radio is a nightly shift-replacement show geared to
Classic Hits stations. Last weekend Lorino and Dan Holiday’s Throwback
Brands launched Throwback 2K with Chris Cruise, a five-hour weekly show
billed as “the first weekly tribute to the 2000s� and targeted more to
Adult CHR stations.

The ‘00s are really four eras—the tail end of the teen-pop/dance-driven
‘90s CHR comeback; the early ‘00s Linkin Park/novelty Hip-Hop era; Kelly
Clarkson/Pink power-pop and Panic! At the Disco teen punk in the
mid-decade, and the “turbo-pop� that incorporated everything before it. The
early ‘00s were considered both extremes and doldrums at the time, but
they’ve spawned a surprising number of enduring hits. As a whole, the ‘00s
are easier than the ‘90s for an Adult (or Mainstream) CHR to play now. And
it all sounds pretty good now during CHR’s worst product shortage in nearly
30 years.Â*

Cruise began working in radio in the early ‘00s. I became really familiar
with him in recent years through his presence on Twitter. Most syndicated
show hosts promise stations customized liners;Â* Cruise will be available to
stations for “personal consultation and content creation� to help them
promote the show on social media. There’s also a Spotify podcast version of
the show made possible by last year’s decision to allow users to combine
their talk breaks with Spotify’s music.

Here’s the first hour of Throwback 2K as heard January 2 on WWMX (Mix
106.5) Baltimo

Beyoncé, “Crazy In Love�
Panic! At The Disco, “I Write Sins Not Tragedies�
Black Eyed Peas, “I Gotta Feeling�
No Doubt, “Hey Baby�
Ke$ha, “Tik Tok�
Usher f/Lil Jon & Ludacris, “Yeah!�
Avril Lavigne, “Sk8r Boi� (“nothing says the 2000s like an emo Canadian
girl dating the lead singer of Nickelback,� Cruise noted)
50 Cent, “In Da Club�
Killers, “Mr. Brightside�
Kanye West, “Stronger�
P. Diddy f/Usher & Loon, “I Need A Girl (Pt. 1)�
Lady Gaga, “Alejandro�
Justin Timberlake, “Sexyback�
Missy Elliott, “Work It�


And here’s WQFM on Dec. 26 as “’90s and Now� Q92.1

Green Day, “Wake Me Up When September Ends�
Savage Garden, “Truly Madly Deeply�
Imagine Dragons, “Radioactive’
No Doubt, “Just A Girl�
OneRepublic, “Counting Stars�
Black Crowes, “She Talks to Angels�
Adele, “Rolling in the Deep�
Marky Mark & Funky Bunch, “Good Vibrations�
Capital Cities, “Safe and Sound�
‘NSync, “Bye Bye Bye�
Fitz & Tantrums, “Handclap�
Sugar Ray, “Fly�
311, “Amber�
Spin Doctors, “Two Princes�
David Guetta f/Sia, “Titanium�
Cracker, “Low�
Gwen Stefani, “Hollaback Girl�
Paula Abdul, “Opposites Attract�




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Domain Insight 1/13: Is There A Phantom In Cumulus' Midst

Posted: 13 Jan 2021 10:59 AM PST
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/2...cumulus-midst/



Is Cumulus Media preparing to rebrand one of their Classic Rockers as 98.1
The Phantom? Plus a potential Townsquare flip in Wyoming.
This content is for Premium Annual and Premium Monthly members only. Visit
the site and log in/register to read.



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WAMU's Kojo Nnamdi Show To End April 1

Posted: 13 Jan 2021 07:27 AM PST
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/2...o-end-april-1/



American University Public News/Talk 88.5 WAMU Washington DC has announced
that the Kojo Nnamdi Show will end on Thursday, April 1.

Nnamdi has hosted the Monday through Thursday program at WAMU since 1998 in
the 12-1pm hour. He will continue to co-host The Politics Hour with Tom
Sherwood on Fridays in that timeslot. The WNYC New York produced The
Takeaway will fill the slot beginning on Monday, April 5.

Nnamdi began his radio career in 1969 at 1450 WOL Washington. He worked at
Howard Universitys 96.3 WHUR from 1973 to 1985 eventually rising to News
Director of the station. He would return to radio in 1998 to join WAMU for
what was then titled Public Interest, which featured a national hour on NPR
and then a local hour just for WAMU. It would be renamed The Kojo Nnamdi
Show when the national hour was dropped in 2002. Nnamdi also hosted a
nightly public affairs program for WHMM-TV from 1985 until 2011.

After 23 years delivering vital, regional news programming to the D.C.
region, The Kojo Nnamdi Show will end production this spring. WAMU
announced today that the final live show will air on Thursday, April 1,
2021. Host Kojo Nnamdi approached WAMU over a year ago with his desire to
step back from his daily duties on the mic but still stay engaged with the
community. With his four-decades-long commitment to journalism, he will
continue to host the popular The Politics Hour on Fridays.

The Politics Hour, featuring resident analyst Tom Sherwood, provides a
valuable community service by creating a forum for the public to engage
with and hold accountable their elected public officials. As 2021 presents
statewide and legislative elections in Virginia, continuing to hold these
conversations is vital to WAMU’s mission as a public media organization and
to serving the needs of the Washington, D.C., metro region.

Additionally, Kojo will continue to serve as an ambassador for the station
through his revamped “Kojo In Our Community� event series. These events —
about six per year — will stay true to the original format, allowing Kojo
to convene conversations in communities across the region on topics that
are urgent and top-of-mind for those residents. Each event will be recorded
and offered to our on-air listeners as “WAMU Presents� special programming.

“My relationship with WAMU started with me as a listener, was strengthened
through my friendship with Diane Rehm, and was bonded when Mark Plotkin,
Steve Martin and Diane convinced me that I could play a significant role at
WAMU,� says Kojo Nnamdi. “That role owed a great deal to WAMU’s commitments
to understanding the Washington region across racial lines — the lines
which too often divide us. That commitment continues, and I will continue
to be a part of it as host of The Politics Hour and as a frequent broadcast
presence in our community through the Kojo In Our Community events. I’m
grateful to all of the amazing producers and support staff who contributed
to my impact over the years — and hopeful they never reveal that they do
most of the work — and I am very much looking forward to this next chapter
in my relationship with WAMU.�

Beginning April 5, the noon to 1 p.m. hour Monday through Thursday will be
filled by The Takeaway from WNYC Studios. WAMU has made the decision to
delay the launch of a new regionally-focused show in an effort to spend
time reflecting and assessing the changing needs of our community —
including changes to lifestyles, media consumption and community priorities
due to the pandemic.

“We’re so grateful to Kojo for all of his contributions to WAMU and the
legacy of outstanding local journalism that he and his team have created
with The Kojo Nnamdi Show,� said Monna Kashfi, WAMU’s chief content
officer. “He has been an essential and powerful voice for our local
communities for the past 23 years, and I’m delighted that he’ll stay
connected to the station and the community both on-air and through the
upcoming event series. I’m also confident that WAMU will continue our
mission of bringing vital news to our region through our regional
newsroom’s thorough and impactful coverage as well as our local podcasts
while WAMU reflects on the best ways to meet our members’ and listeners’
on-air needs.�

A full event line-up and special broadcasts schedule will be released
shortly.




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Frank Beckmann To Retire From WJR Detroit

Posted: 13 Jan 2021 07:10 AM PST
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/2...m-wjr-detroit/



Frank Beckmann has announced he will retire from his 9am-12pm show on
Cumulus Media News/Talk 760 WJR Detroit on March 26.

Beckmann has hosted the late morning show on WJR since 2003. He began his
career with the station as a sportscaster in 1972 and is best known for his
play-by-play work in the region serving as voice of University of Michigan
football from 1981-2013 while also working on Detroit Lions football from
1979-1988 and Detroit Tigers baseball from 1995-2003.

News Talk 760 WJR Mid-Morning On-Air Host Frank Beckmann announces his
retirement after a brilliant 48-year radio career with the Detroit station.
A sports broadcasting legend, Beckmann has hosted “The Frank Beckmann Show�
on WJR weekdays from 9:00am-Noon for the last 18 years. His last show will
air on Friday, March 26, 2021. Named “Best Midday Personality� by the
Michigan Association of Broadcasters, Beckmann has been cited as Michigan’s
top sportscaster for his work as the only person to broadcast games for all
four of Detroit’s major sports teams and his creation of Detroit’s first
Sports Talk show, “Sportswrap�, in 1981. He was inducted into the Michigan
Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 and has also been inducted into the Michigan
Associations of Broadcasters Hall of Fame, and the VIP Mentoring Coaches
Challenge Hall of Fame.

Beckmann first signed on to News Talk 760 WJR in 1972. In 1981, he
succeeded Bob Ufer as the University of Michigan football play-by-play
announcer, a job he did for 33 seasons. He was honored as “Top Michigan
Sportscaster� numerous times, and in 2014, he received the Chris Schenkel
Award by the National Football Foundation, making Beckmann a member of the
College Football Hall of Fame.

Over the course of his storied career, Beckmann has helped raise 10’s of
millions of dollars for Detroit area charities, including The Fallen and
Wounded Soldiers Fund; Dutton Farm, which serves those with Down Syndrome;
the Autism Alliance of Michigan; and numerous other nonprofit
organizations. Beckmann is also a longtime major supporter of the March of
Dimes, and has hosted an annual golf tournament fundraiser for the charity
for 37 years.

Steve Finateri, Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus Detroit, said:
“Frank Beckmann is a radio legend who became a legend because he does
everything “full throttle�. As a play-by-play announcer, Frank electrified
audiences with his memorable style of calling all the action. As a midday
talk personality, he prides himself on having the “best informed audience�
and always delivers on that promise to them. As a philanthropist, his
overwhelming generosity has fortified countless worthy causes. As a
spokesperson, his integrity and personal endorsements have fueled so many
businesses. As an indispensable member of our team, he has helped WJR
become a mega-brand in Michigan, the Midwest and throughout the country.�

Finateri continued: “Frank’s career over the past 48 years has made him one
of the most elite members of the media, and deservedly so. Most
importantly, Frank Beckmann is one of the kindest, most honorable and
passionate individuals to those who know him. He will be sorely missed, but
we wish him all the best as he enjoys his next chapter as full-time family
member and avid golfer!�

Beckmann commented: “I will be forever grateful to WJR for helping all of
my boyhood dreams to come true. As a youngster growing up on the east side
of Detroit, I always imagined sitting behind a microphone, announcing Lions
and Tigers games.Â*It was surreal for me to actually have been able to do
that, along with experiencing the other great opportunities this radio
giant known as WJR provided me. I only hope I’ve met some of the
expectations of me, and I thank every person I’ve worked for, or with, at
WJR�

He added: “It’s been an amazing ride and while I look forward to all the
upcoming additional golf time, I also know I will deeply miss the
incredible, best in the business professionals I’ve worked for and with
these past 48+ years. My co-workers and our clients are not only my
friends; they are my family. I’d like to thank them, along with our loyal
audience. Without their support, I would not have had this run. Finally,
I’d like to give thanks to my family: my wife, Karen, son Jon, and daughter
Tori, for the selfless sacrifices they’ve made through the years. And now
that my professional sunset beckons, and while I say so long to my job, I
say thanks to all of you for making my career and life more complete. My
best wishes to my WJR colleagues and listeners.�