RadioInsight

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Westwood One To Carry Women's College World Series For First Time

Posted: 02 Jun 2021 01:19 PM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/2...or-first-time/



CUMULUS MEDIA’s Westwood One (NASDAQ: CMLS), the largest audio network in
the U.S. and the official network radio partner of the NCAA will present
live audio broadcasts of every game of the Women’s College World Series
(WCWS) for the first time ever. The network, which has broadcast the
Championship Series since 2011, will expand coverage to include all the
preliminary games for the 2021 Series.

Live coverage, from USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium OGE Energy Field in
Oklahoma City, will begin Thursday, June 3 with four games, followed by a
doubleheader Friday, June 4, four more games on Saturday, June 5, and the
conclusion of the preliminary round on Sunday, June 6. The best-of-three
championship series will air between Monday, June 7 and Wednesday, June 9.

The WCWS broadcast crew will feature play-by-play announcers Ryan Radtke
and Chris Plank. Analysts will include former Oklahoma and Team USA
outfielder Destinee Martinez and Softball Hall of Famer Leah (O’Brien)
Amico. Amico, a three-time WCWS Champion while at Arizona and a three-time
U.S. Olympic Softball Gold medalist, still holds the NCAA record for
highest batting average in a single tournament, hitting .750 in 1994.

The Westwood One / NCAA Radio Network will also broadcast every moment of
the Men’s College World Series live from TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, NE,
beginning on Saturday, June 19, and concluding with the best-of-three
championship series from Monday, June 28 through Wednesday, June 30.
Westwood One affiliate KOZN, 1620 AM The Zone, will co-produce coverage of
the preliminary games during the Men’s College World Series.

The broadcast crew will include play-by-play announcers Kevin Kugler, John
Bishop, and Scott Graham as well as analysts Damon Benning and Jeff Leise.

All women’s and men’s games can be heard across the country on terrestrial
stations, SiriusXM, TuneIn, and Alexa-enabled devices. The broadcasts can
also be streamed on westwoodonesports.com and NCAA.com or accessed on the
official NCAA Womens’ and Mens’ College World Series apps.

NCAA is a registered trademark of the National Collegiate Athletic
Association.



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Magic Moves As Seven Mountains Media Begins Second Annual Elmira Shuffle

Posted: 02 Jun 2021 01:14 PM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/2...lmira-shuffle/



With the three-way deal between Seven Mountains Media, Family Life
Ministries, and Sound Communications involving stations in the
Elmira/Corning and Olean NY markets closing on Tuesday, June 1, the
companies have begun moving brands to new frequencies.

The AC Magic format that had been on 92.7 WENI-FM South Waverly PA and 97.7
WENY-FM Big Flats NY has been dropped from 97.7 as that frequency moves to
Family Lifes ownership. Replacing 97.7 in the simulcast is 1230 WENY Elmira
and 106.7 W294BU Corning. 1230 had been simulcasting Conservative Talk The
Patriot that remains on 1450 WENI/103.3 W277DG Corning. 106.7 W294BU had
been rebroadcasting Kickin Country 105.3 WKPQ Hornell.

The Sound Communications properties are the third cluster in Elmira
acquired by Seven Mountains Media since entering the market in 2019 with
the purchase of Community Broadcasters properties. They added Equinox
Broadcastings stations in December 2019 leading to signal and format
changes for five of their brands last July.

The Sound Communications acquisition will see Seven Mountains Media add
92.7 WENI-FM South Waverly PA, 98.7 WGMM Corning, 105.3 WKPQ Hornell, 1230
WENY Elmira, 1450 WENI Corning, 103.3 W277DG Corning, 106.7 W294BU Corning,
and 106.9 W295BY Elmira in the market along with stations in Olean. They
also divested 97.7 WENY-FM Big Flats, 820 WMTT Horseheads, 104.9 WPHD
Montour Falls and 100.9 WMTT-FM Horseheads NY (to be moved to 101.1
Enfield/Ithaca) to Family Life.

The latter deal will require frequency shifts for Classic Rock “101 The
Met� 100.9 WMTT-FM/820 WMTT and Classic Hits “Cool 104.9� WPHD Montour
Falls/Elmira. WPHDs format also overlaps with Sounds 98.7 Gem-FM WGMM
although while WPHD is 1970s and 1980s focused Classic Hits, WGMM is
centered on the 80s and 1990s. The deal also gives Seven Mountains two
Country brands in the market with WKPQ joining the Bigfoot quadcast heard
on 94.7 WQBF Tioga PA, 95.1 W236AK Corning, 96.1 WCBF Elmira, and 97.1 WOBF
Canaseraga/Hornell.



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Country Radio Hall Of Fame Announces Eight Members Of 2021 Induction Class

Posted: 02 Jun 2021 12:17 PM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/2...duction-class/



The Country Radio Broadcasters have announced the Class of 2021 Country
Radio Hall of Fame inductees. This year’s list includes four off-air radio
broadcasters and four on-air radio personalities. The off-air honorees are
Bob Call, RJ Curtis, Bill Hagy, and Norm Schrutt. The on-air honorees are
Heather Froglear, Buzz Jackson, Bob Pickett, and Angie Ward.

CRBs Country Radio Hall of Fame Committee Chairman, Joel Raab, commented,
“Country Radio should be extremely proud of this year’s 2021 Hall of Fame
Inductees. They represent the best of the best from a large group of
excellent nominees.�

The Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction and Dinner will be held on
Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, at the Westin Nashville. Exact times and ticket
information will be released closer to the event. Tickets go on sale on
Sept. 8.

The Country Radio Hall of Fame is dedicated to the recognition of those
individuals who have made significant contributions to the radio industry
over a 20-year period, 15 of which must be in the Country format.

For a list of past inductees, please visit
https://www.countryradioseminar.com.

About the 2021 Inductees:

Radio (off-air) Category

Bob Call has been directly involved in the Country music format as an air
personality, Program Director, or Market Manager for 44 years, the last 41
at KYGO/Denver. Call was the first-ever Program Director at KYGO, signing
on the station in 1980. He was elevated to Operations Manager in 1987 and
has served as KYGO’s GM/Market Manager since 1989, leading the station to
local ratings and revenue success, while establishing KYGO as a
highly-respected national Country radio brand. He is responsible for
establishing successful careers for generations of artists and exposing
listeners to their music. KYGO has earned numerous industry honors during
Call’s tenure, including CMA and Marconi Station of the Year honors, plus
individual awards for its personalities and Program Directors.

RJ Curtis is a 41-year Country radio/Music Row executive whose career has
impacted nearly every aspect of the format. His resume features 30 years in
major market radio (Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Antonio), where he served as
Program Director, Operations Manager, Music Director, and on-air talent for
iconic radio brands such as KNIX/Phoenix, KCYY/San Antonio and KZLA/Los
Angeles, as well as the nationally syndicated “After Midnite� show. Curtis
later spent 13 years providing insight, analysis, and commentary on the
Country music industry while writing and reporting for Radio Records
Magazine, Billboard, Country Aircheck, and All Access Music Group. His
experience includes time in the record industry, too, with Arista
Nashville, as Dir./Regional Promotion. A 20-year CRB Board member and the
organization’s past President, VP, Secretary, and Treasurer, Curtis
transitioned to his current role as CRB Executive Director in 2018. He has
served on the Board of Directors of both ACM and CMA and has served on the
St. Jude Children’s Hospital Radio Advisory Board since 2015.

Bill Hagy had already established himself as a successful radio programmer
when he assumed Head of Programming responsibilities for Bristol
Broadcasting Company in 1984. While anchored in Bristol, Tenn., Hagy took
direct oversight of Country outlet WXBQ, leading the station to decades of
overwhelming ratings and revenue success, with audience listening shares
consistently reaching North of the 20s, often making WXBQ the highest-rated
radio station in America. During his career, Hagy has been instrumental in
launching the careers of artists like Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley,
Montgomery Gentry, and many others, while maintaining WXBQ’s dominance and
influence in the promotion of live and local music in the Tri-Cities. Even
in retirement, Hagy continues to serve as a programming consultant for
Bristol Broadcasting Company, where his influence continues to lead WXBQ to
market success and national prominence.

Norm Schrutt joined Capital Cities in 1963 as WKBW/Buffalo Account
Executive. In 1971, Schrutt was named LSM and was elevated to GSM in 1974
before taking the VP/GM role in 1977. In 1980, Capital Cities sent Schrutt
to manage the company’s two Los Angeles-based radio stations – including
KZLA, which he flipped from AC to Country, making it the first FM Country
station in the market. The following year, he was transferred to Atlanta to
manage the company’s new purchase of WKHX-AM/FM and WYAY. Schrutt also
oversaw KSCS/Dallas, where he hired Country Radio Hall of Famer Terry
Dorsey for mornings. Schrutt was named to his final post in 1987 due to
restructuring following the acquisition of the American Broadcasting
Companies by Capital Cities, Inc. He retired from radio in 1996 as Capital
Cities/ABC Pres./Owned Radio Stations, where his corporate responsibilities
included supervision of the company’s stations in Chicago, Washington,
Dallas, Atlanta, and Minneapolis. He served on the board of the CMA,
Georgia Association of Broadcasters, Atlanta Radio Association, and the All
Radio Negotiating Committee. He was inducted into the Broadcasters Hall of
Fame of Western New York in 2006. Schrutt passed away in 2020 and will
enter the Country Radio Hall of Fame posthumously.

Personality (on-air) Category

Heather Froglear has been an important member of the KFRG/Riverside on-air
and programming team since 1993, currently serving as APD/MD/West Coast
Talent, co-hosting a nationally syndicated afternoon show for Audacy.
Froglear began her career at KFRG, doubling as Dir./Promotions and middays,
eventually co-hosting morning drive and segueing to a programming role as
KFRG MD, rising to APD in 2019. She has received multiple Best Radio
Personality honors in the Riverside-San Bernardino market, while staying
active in her community, serving on the Loma Linda University Children’s
Hospital Board of Directors. Froglear has also been active in national
industry events, as a four-time CRS Agenda Committee member, and is an
architect of the popular and always well attended Woman’s Mentoring
Breakfast.

Buzz Jackson is the longtime PD/afternoon personality for KIIM/Tucson,
where he has enjoyed consistent ratings dominance, and garnered national
industry recognition, winning ACM (2009) and CMA (2014) Broadcast
Personality of the Year honors, in addition to CRS/Country Aircheck Awards
for both PD and Air Personality of the Year. Jackson also hosts a
nationally syndicated show for three-dozen Westwood One Mainstream Country
affiliates. Prior to establishing himself as a Tucson radio staple, Jackson
enjoyed programming and on-air success at WCFB/Orlando and
WROO/Jacksonville.

Bob Pickett has been a member of the Texas Radio Hall of Fame since 2015
and a programming/on-air fixture in the Austin radio market since 1981 when
he first arrived at KOKE. He joined crosstown KVET in 1984, then moved to
Country sister KASE in 1988. While at KASE, Pickett helped lead the station
to four CMA Station of the Year trophies before transitioning back to KVET
in 2011. As PD and MD for both over many years, he’s been honored with
multiple CRS/Country Aircheck Large Market PD honors. Pickett began his
radio career in Swee****er, TX in 1977 at KXOX, and currently hosts the
“Tales of the Broken Spoke� podcast.

Angie Ward is the APD/Midday personality for WUBL/Atlanta, where she moved
in 2009, following success at WTQR/Greensboro, NC, where she served as
MD/middays and morning drive. Her resume includes time at WNEU/High Point,
NC, WSTH/Columbus, GA, and WMXA/Auburn, AL. In addition to her day-to-day
duties in Atlanta, Ward voice tracks shows for ten iHeart Country sister
stations, including WKKT/Charlotte, KVET/Austin, WFUS/Tampa, and
WESC/Greenville, SC. Ward has earned multiple industry awards for both
programming and air personality achievements, including 2000 CMA Large
Market Personality of the Year. She has also volunteered her time with
numerous local and national charitable organizations and received honors
from the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the “Can Do� Media Award from the
Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina.

About Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. ®: The Country Radio Broadcasters,
Inc.® is a 501 © 3 non-profit organization founded in 1969 to bring radio
broadcasters worldwide together with the Country Music Industry to ensure
vitality and promote growth in the Country Radio format.



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Lookout Santa Cruz: The youngest pig in the sty: Kiana Lee and KPIGs
generational shift

Posted: 02 Jun 2021 12:07 PM PDT
https://lookout.co/santacruz/wallace...dio-santa-cruz





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Beasley Media Founder/Chairman George Beasley Dies At 89

Posted: 02 Jun 2021 09:38 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/2...ey-dies-at-89/



Beasley Media Group has announced that company founder and Executive
Chairman George Beasley died this morning at the age of 89.

Beasley founded the company with the purchase of 1130 WPYB Benson NC in
1961. He served as CEO until 2016 when he was succeeded by his daughter
Caroline Beasley. Many of his children and grandchildren hold roles within
the company and other industry related organizations.

It is with a heavy heart Beasley Media Group announces the passing of
Company Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board, George G. Beasley.
George died on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Naples, Florida. He was 89 years
old.

While best known for his many trailblazing achievements in the radio
broadcasting industry, George will be most remembered for his humility,
kindness, integrity, work-ethic and love of family and friends.

Born on April 9, 1932, George grew up working in the tobacco fields in his
hometown of Ararat, Virginia. His drive and determination led him to enlist
in the army to pursue a degree in Education through the G.I. Bill. Upon
completing his B.A. and M.A. from Appalachian State University, he taught
in Virginia, before moving to North Carolina in the late 50’s to become a
high school principal and coach.

Inspired by a commitment to provide a voice for the voiceless in his local
community, George built his very first station (WPYB-AM) in Benson, North
Carolina in December of 1961. Over the next 60 years, his hard work and
vision paved the way for what Beasley Media Group has become today one of
America’s premiere publicly traded media companies, consisting of 62 radio
properties located in 15 large and medium-sized markets with digital
offerings and an esports division.

While George stepped back from his role as Chief Executive Officer in 2016,
he continued to serve as Executive Chairman of the Company’s Board of
Directors.

An avid philanthropist, George served on the board of the North Carolina
Association of Broadcasters (NCAB) for eight years as President, Vice
President and as a member of the Board of Directors. In 1996, he received
the NCAB’s organization’s Distinguished Service Award and was inducted into
NCAB’s Hall of Fame in 1998 upon accepting the prestigious “Distinguished
Broadcaster of North Carolina� Award. In 2019, he was inducted into the
Pennsylvania Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

George received numerous awards and accolades throughout his life. In 2020,
he was inducted into the Country Radio Broadcasters Hall of Fame and
received the Broadcasters Foundation of America Lifetime Achievement Award.
In addition, George was recognized as a “Giant� by the Library of American
Broadcasting in 2012. The Florida Association of Broadcasters named him
“Broadcaster of the Year� in 2011 and the Country Radio Broadcasters
presented him with the distinguished “Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award� in
2010. The Nevada Broadcasters Association also inducted George into the
organization’s Hall of Fame in 2008.

In 1990 his alma mater, Appalachian State University, designated George as
one of the institution’s Distinguished Alumni, and George served as
Chairman of the Appalachian State University Foundation Board of Directors
and as a member of the Appalachian State University Board of Trustees for
many years.

Among his proudest professional accomplishments was receiving an honorary
doctorate and the unveiling of the George G. Beasley Media Complex on
campus to provide future generations of ASU students with the opportunity
pursue their entrepreneurial dreams in broadcasting.

The many challenges that George faced over the years, he did with humility,
dignity and grace. A loving husband, father, grandfather, and great
grandfather, his legacy serves as a reminder that anything is possible with
dedication, hard work and respect for one another. George is survived by
his wife of 67 years Ann, five children, 16 grandchildren and 12 great
grandchildren.

“George’s unconditional love for our mother, Ann and our family, along with
his passion for the radio industry, helped to guide him throughout his
lifetime, Beasley Media Group Chief Executive Officer Caroline Beasley. “A
loving father, mentor, and friend, I will especially miss his incredible
wisdom, keen insight and gentle smile.�

A memorial service will take place for family and friends in Naples,
Florida. Details will be forthcoming. A private burial service will be held
for the family in Ararat, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, the Beasley family requests donations be made in his
name to The Broadcasters Foundation of America, 125 West 55th Street, 4th
Floor New York, New York 10019. Online donations may also be made at
www.broadcastersfoundation.org.



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Hardbody Kiotti Joins 93.7 The Beat Houston

Posted: 02 Jun 2021 08:17 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/2...-beat-houston/



Former 97.9 The Box KBXX Houston evening and morning host Jerrel ‘Hardbody
Kiotti’ Brown has returned to the market hosting nights on iHeartMedia Hip
Hop 93.7 The Beat KQBT.

Kiotti spent over a decade at KBXX hosting nights at the station before
moving to mornings in January 2020 with Keisha Nicole. He then exited the
station last October and began hosting a morning show on his social media
platforms. Prior to joining KBXX, he competed in on-air freesytle rap
battles which led to him being signed to a recording contract. He then
hosted nights Univision Rhythmic “Party 104.9� KPTY.

Kiotti takes the 6-10pm slot that had been held by DJ Mr. Rogers since 2014.












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Vanessa Gomez Joins Mix 100.9 Yuma As APD/Midday Host

Posted: 02 Jun 2021 05:00 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/2...d-midday-host/



El Dorado Broadcasters Hot AC Mix 100.9 KQSR Yuma AZ has announced the
addition of Vanessa V Gomez as Assistant Program Director and midday host.

Gomez most recently worked at iHeartMedia San Diego and Riverside where she
was on-air at Rhythmic CHRs Jamn 95.7 KSSX San Diego and 99.1 KGGI
Riverside from 2016 to 2020. She had a previous stint at that cluster
hosting weekends on CHR Channel 93.3 KHTS-FM and 95.7 Kiss-FM KSSX and has
also worked at Hip Hop Blazin 98.9 XHMOR Tijuana/San Diego and Wild 96.1
KWIE Riverside.

El Dorado Broadcasters, owners of market-leading radio stations in Yuma,
Arizona, hires V (Vanessa) Gomez as Assistant Program Director/Midday air
personality for KQSR-FM, Mix 100.9.

Ms. Gomez began her career in San Diego at XMOR-FM, later at KWIE-FM in
Riverside, California and most recently at iHeart in San Diego. Ms. Gomez
realized her love for radio at a young age, inspired by listening to local
radio station from her hometown of San Diego. She is a graduate of
California State University Los Angeles and will now call Yuma home. I am
so excited to join El Dorado Broadcasters and be a part of the Mix 100.9FM
team! I cant wait to meet everyone and to create a daily bond with the Yuma
community!

“Ms. Gomez is an enthusiastic and energetic personality,� said Mark
Mitchell, VP Programming for El Dorado Broadcasters. “We had no shortage of
quality candidates for this position. Ms. Gomez will give another strong,
local presence in our market.�



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WWSC Flips To Classic Rock

Posted: 02 Jun 2021 04:30 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/2...-classic-rock/



Regional Radio Group flipped Conservative Talk 1450 WWSC/93.1 W226CP Glens
Falls NY to Classic Rock 93 WSC The Legend on May 14.

The station will feature Jason Irwin in mornings. Irwin has been hosting a
weekly local music show on sister Hot AC Hits 95.9 WCQL and previously was
MD/midday host at Alternative 102.7 WEQX Manchester VT. BB Rock will host
middays and Shawn Kelly in afternoons. Kelly previously programmed and
hosted mornings at Classic Hits Q101.7 WNYQ and mornings at WCQL.