RadioInsight

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KGFM Goes Big With Variety Hits

Posted: 01 Apr 2021 12:37 PM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/2...-variety-hits/



American General Media has flipped Hot AC 101.5 KGFM Bakersfield to Variety
Hits 101.5 Big-FM at noon today.

Positioning as We Play Everything, the move brings Variety Hits back to the
market for the first time since Buck Owens Broadcasting flipped 97.3
Jack-FM KRJK to Country in 2016. KGFM has been the heritage AC in the
Bakersfield market as it gradually evolved from Beautiful Music to Easy
Listening to AC. The station then shifted to Hot AC in the past few years.
The move leaves iHeartMedias Sunny 105.3 KBFP-FM as the only AC in the
market while giving more breathing space to AGM CHR Hits 93.1 KKXX.

The new format launched with AC/DC You Shook Me All Night Long, Cars You
Might Think, Walk The Moon Shut Up And Dance, Corey Hart Sunglasses At
Night, and Wild Cherry Play That Funky Music.

KGFM ranked seventh in the Bakersfield market with a 3.4 share in the
January 2021 Nielsen Audio ratings.



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WFBE Drops Nash To Return To B95 Identity

Posted: 01 Apr 2021 10:13 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/2...-b95-identity/



After seven years as 95.1 Nash-FM, Cumulus Medias WFBE Flint MI has
returned to its heritage B95 moniker.

The stations on-air lineup remains the same with Westwood Ones Morning
Koffy, Program Director April Rose in middays, Thomas Ray in afternoons,
and Nights with Elaina. The B95 Country brand launched in October 1997
after the station was sold by the Flint Board of Education and dropped its
non-commercial programming. It then became one of Cumulus first Nash-FM
properties in February 2014.

The move brings the number of Cumulus Country stations still utilizing the
Nash-FM branding down to ten not counting Nash Icon stations.

CUMULUS MEDIA announces that Country radio station WFBE-FM in Flint, MI,
rebrands today as B95, Your Hit Country. The station, previously known as
95.1 NASH FM, kicked off the next generation of Flint’s best Country music,
with a return to its popular heritage brand. B95 will continue to deliver
hit Country music to Country fans in Genesee, Lapeer, Shiawassee, North
Oakland and Livingston Counties. The station also launched its new website
today at: https://www.wfbe95.com/.

Chris Monk, Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus Flint, said: “We’re
thrilled to re-establish this heritage brand in the Greater Flint area,
kicking off today. This will not be a change to the music our listeners
enjoy on the station, but simply a return to the much-loved B95 brand.
Country fans can count on B95 to play more of the Country music they love!�

April Rose, Program Director, WFBE-FM, commented: “We are excited to bring
B95 back to our loyal listeners, clients, and the community!Â*B95 will allow
us to give our fans their favorite Country music, with new opportunities to
win prizes, and we are pleased that our mascot Buzz Bee will be
reintroduced to a new generation of fans! Beginning today,Â*B95, Your Hit
CountryÂ*willÂ*be heard on 95.1 FM on your radio, office computer, phone, and
smart speaker.




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Ace & TJ On The Move In Birmingham

Posted: 01 Apr 2021 10:03 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/2...in-birmingham/



After nineteen years in mornings on iHeartMedia CHR 103.7 The Q WQEN
Trussville/Birmingham AL, Radio Button Networks Ace TJ Show was missing in
action today.

Based at iHearts Hits 96.1 WHQC Charlotte, WQEN had been one of the shows
longest running affiliates. The show will not be off the air in Birmingham
for long as it will move across-town to SummitMedia Hot AC Play 97.3 WPYA
Gardendale/Birmingham on Monday, April 5. The move to WPYA follows
SummitMedia adding the show at Classic Hits Awesome 100.9 WJSR Richmond and
Alternative X98.5 W253BG Greenville SC in recent weeks. Expect a rebranding
at WPYA to accompany the launch of the show.

Alabama Cole, most recently part of the Carla Marie Anthony Show at
iHeartMedias 106.1 Kiss-FM KBKS Seattle, debut in mornings this morning at
WQEN. No word yet if this is temporary or permanent. Cole has also hosted
middays and mornings at Country “Big 95.5� WEBG Chicago, MD/afternoon host
at “Now 105.3� WNOH Norfolk and on-air at “Now 97.5� WJIM-FM Lansing.

Birmingham Radio Family… Pack up your stuff because we’re moving!! Starting
Monday, the Radio Family’s new home in Birmingham is 97.3! We’ll see you
Monday morning starting at 5am on 97.3, the new home for the Ace & TJ Show
in Birmingham! #alabama #birmingham

- The Ace & TJ Show (@TheAceTJShow) April 1, 2021






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Tom Calococci To Program Jammin 105.7 Las Vegas

Posted: 01 Apr 2021 09:40 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/2...5-7-las-vegas/



Beasley Media Group has hired Tom Calococci as Program Director for Adult
RB Jammin 105.7 KOAS Dolan Springs AZ/Las Vegas.

Calococci most recently served as Affiliate Relations Ambassador for Sheet
Happens Prep. He has previously programmed KJMZ Dallas, WERQ Baltimore,
KZZP Phoenix, KBXX Houston, KKBT Los Angeles, and both WPOW and WFLC Miami.

He fills the opening created following the exit of Cat Thomas after a brief
stint as Operations Manager of Beasley Las Vegas and PD of KOAS.

Beasley Media Group announces Tom Calococci has been named as the new
Program Director at JAMMIN’ 105.7/KOAS-FM in Las Vegas. He will officially
begin his new position on Monday, April 5, 2021.

Calococci most recently served as Affiliate relations ambassador at Sheet
Happens in Dallas, Texas.

“We spoke with many talented programmers across the country,� said Beasley
Media Group Las Vegas Vice President and Market Manager, Peter Burton.
“Tom’s energy, experience and knowledge of the format came out on top. He
is the perfect choice to complement our incredible team here in Las Vegas!�

“We know Tom Calococci well, from his time successfully programming
Beasley’s Power 96 in Miami several years ago,� said Beasley Media Group
Chief Content Officer, Justin Chase. “KOAS is in good hands with this
capable programmer. Welcome back, Tom!�

I am beyond thrilled to be rejoining the Beasley team,� said Colococci. “Im
looking forward to working with Peter Burton, Justin Chase and the
wonderful people in Las Vegas. I can’t wait to get started!�




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Supreme Court Unanimously Overturns Block On FCC Ownership Rule Change

Posted: 01 Apr 2021 08:24 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/2...p-rule-change/



The Supreme Court has unanimously ruled to overturn the U.S. Third Circuit
Court of Appeals ruling against the FCC’s 2017 changes to the broadcast
ownership rules.

As the proposed rules were proposed to be adopted by former FCC
Commissioner Ajit Pai and opposed by current acting Commissioner Jessica
Rosenworcel, the ruling does not mean the new rules will go into effect.

The appeals court ruling had prevented the FCC from implementing rule
changes that would have eliminated the newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership
rule preventing a company from operating a newspaper and a broadcast outlet
in the same market, eliminating the ownership subcaps so a television
station no longer counts towards the limit of eight radio stations (maximum
of five on each band) that a company can own, the requirement that at least
eight independently owned television stations must remain in the market
following the combination of two television stations in a market, the ban
against common ownership of two top-four rated tv stations in a market to
allow waivers on a case-by-case basis, and liminating the JSA Attribution
Rule requiring television stations to count a station it sells more than
15% of ad time for under the ownership cap.

The courts ruling states, In assessing the effects of the rule changes on
minority and female ownership, the FCC did not have perfect empirical or
statistical data. But that is not unusual in day-to-day agency
decisionmaking within the Executive Branch. The APA imposes no general
obligation on agencies to conduct or commission their own empirical or
statistical studies. And nothing in the Telecommunications Act requires the
FCC to conduct such studies before exercising its discretion under Section
202(h). In light of the sparse record on minority and female ownership and
the FCC’s findings with respect to competition, localism, and view- point
diversity, the Court cannot say that the agency’s decision to re- peal or
modify the ownership rules fell outside the zone of reasonable- ness for
purposes of the APA.

This story is developing and will be updated.



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SiriusXM Adds Limited Run Comedy Classics Channel

Posted: 01 Apr 2021 07:09 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/2...ssics-channel/




SiriusXM has launched a limited-run channel dedicated to Comedy from the
1950s through 70s.

Comedy Classics is described as airing Classic stand-up from icons of the
past, who paved the way for the greats we love today. Timeless comedy that
shaped the landscape and defined generations. Featuring legends like Bob
Newhart, Joan Rivers, Jackie Gleason and Redd Foxx, as well as exclusive
classic archives. The channel will air contents from Friars Club Roasts,
Bob Hope’s Thanks for The Memories special, stand-up from The Garry Moore
Show, and the Colgate Comedy Special featuring Nipsey Russel, Rowan
Martin, Carl Reiner, and Mel Brooks.

This is not a prank: SiriusXM announced today a new channel, Comedy
Classics, that will honor timeless stand-up from the 1950s-1970s. The
line-up includes iconic moments from legends who shaped the landscape and
defined comedy for generations. The limited run channel is available now on
SiriusXM channel 104.

Building on SiriusXM’s enormous classic stand-up library, the channel will
add material from legendary comedians like Bob Hope, Jonathan Winters, and
the infamous Friars Club Roasts that paved the way for the comedy that we
love today. SiriusXM’s Comedy Classics now pays tribute to these icons
showcasing their immense talent and funniest moments. In addition to the
aforementioned legends, each week the channel will spotlight both
never-before-heard and rare stand-up highlights that haven’t been heard in
decades, featuring comedy from Jackie Gleason, Buddy Hackett, The Smothers
Brothers, Flip Wilson, and more.

Also not to be missed are Bob Hope’s Thanks for The Memories special,
stand-up from The Garry Moore Show, and the Colgate Comedy Special
featuring Nipsey Russel, Rowan Martin, Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks, and more.

“Whether you’re feeling nostalgic, looking to discover the roots of
modern-day comedy, or just hankering for a great laugh, Comedy Classics
will appeal to a wide range of listeners,� said Jack Vaughn, SiriusXM’s
Senior Vice President of Comedy Programming. “The era provided such a
wealth of amazing talent, material, and inspiration that we had to properly
honor it with its very own channel.�

Comedy Classics is available now on channel 104, and will subsequently be
available exclusively on the SiriusXM app and desktop player.

The Comedy Classics channel is available to listeners nationwide on
SiriusXM channel 104, the SiriusXM app, and at home with Amazon Alexa, the
Google Assistant, or however they stream in their house. Streaming access
is included for most subscribers. Go to www.siriusxm.com/ways-to-listen to
learn more.