FCC Chairman Michael Powell said
in an interview with Reuters, regarding the agency's forthcoming
vote to relax ownership limits, "As long as this country is
diverse," Powell said, "you're going to have a very difficult time
making money being a one-note station." He added that
Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein have yet to
make any "substantive alternative proposals" — something staffers
for both commissioners disputed. Speaking on radio ownership
limits, Powell said a proposal is still up for consideration that
would allow a company to own 10 stations in a market where there
are at least 60 stations remaining. But, he said, "I don't have a
strong position about it yet."
(5/28)
Meanwhile...
FCC Commissioner Michael Copps joined fellow Democrat Jonathan
Adelstein at an unofficial afternoon hearing at FCC headquarters
yesterday. Those in attendance at the session included
representatives of the Consumers Union, the Catholic Conference of
Bishops and the Parents Television Council. "I ask the chairman, I
plead with him, give us time," Copps said. But while FCC Chairman
Michael Powell was in the building, he was absent from the
session. Black Assn. of Journalists President Condace Pressley
spoke out against eased media-ownership restrictions by arguing
that they'll not only result in less journalists, but will also
create fewer opportunities for minority journalists. "Just as our
nation gets more and more brown," she said, "the only color big
media is seeing is green." (5/28)
The FCC’s biennial
regulatory review of broadcast ownership rules and other rules
adopted pursuant to Section 202 of the Telecommunications Act of
1996 will be held Monday (6/2) at 9:30am.
The meeting is open to the public and will be held at 445 12th
Street SW, room TW-C305, Washington, D.C.
Leah Bassett is the
new morning show co-host at KADI Springfield, MO joining Rod
Kittleman. She was formerly with the Springfield Little Theatre.
Leah also is a graduate of Southwest Missouri State in theatre.
(5/28)
A Christian radio
internet pioneer calls it quits. After six years Christian Pirate
Radio in a statement on the internet stations website (mycpr.com)
reads as follows "Decreased
Internet advertising, the sluggish economy and the failure of the
Librarian of Congress to enact a fair and affordable music
licensing agreement with the RIAA has resulted in hundreds of
Internet only radio stations closing their doors for good. Needing
to be good stewards with our finances, we can no longer justify
the monthly operational expenses, including the cost of delivering
the streams to you, and the substantial amount of money that would
have to be paid to the record companies, just for the privilege of
promoting their artists’ music. Therefore our seven radio stations
will no longer be web cast. We will continue to provide you with
Christian music and entertainment news and information through our
website, mycpr.com. We pray that one day, the landscape will again
change and provide an opportunity for CPR to return on the air."
(5/28)
Lots
of Movement:
Denise Harper will exit the GM/PD position at WXPZ Salisbury,
DE June 9th to take a fulltime ministry position with her church.
Mike Sommers will assume the responsibilities as the new Market
OM/PD for WXPZ as well as WAFL and WYUS Ocean City.....Lori Walden
gets upped to MD/Middays at WIBI Springfield, IL.....Michael
Dee exits the MD position at WBVM Tampa....Michael Sirrianni is
the new afternoon jock at WCSG Grand Rapids....Morning personality
Scott Herrold is named Music Director at "the Kross" KCXR
Tulsa."The Kross has experienced overwhelming support since
signing on in January, and Scott has been a major factor in that
success" stated Bob Thornton, National Program Director for Adonai
Radio Group, owners of KCXR,
(5/23)
Morning
personality Scott Herrold has been named Music Director at "the
Kross" KCXR Tulsa."The Kross has experienced overwhelming support
since signing on in January, and Scott has been a major factor in
that success" stated Bob Thornton, National Program Director for
Adonai Radio Group, owners of KCXR. KCXR is Adonai's 5th Christian
music formatted station, and first rock station. The company also
owns multi-Dove award winning KXOJ/Tulsa as well as KTLI/Wichita,
KOFR Lubbock and KAEZ Amarillo. (5/22)
Music
News from CMCentral.com:
Kingdom Bound sponsors American Idol-like
Christian talent search...Warren
Barfield makes big debut with first single...GMA
forms Latin Task Force...Sonicflood
launches Christian radio scavenger contest...(5/22)
Christian
Radio has a new home in Indianapolis. Pilgrim Communications,
owner of 7 stations in Indiana and Colorado, will change one of
it's Indy stations to Christian AC on July 1st coinciding with
WXIR (Love 98's) final day as a CCM station. WXIR was purchased in
March by Clear Channel and announced it will change to Radio
Disney. WPZZ (95.9 FM) will drop business talk in favor of CCM and
call itself Joy 96 with plans to change call letters to WIJY.
Jeremy Bialek has been named PD coming from Love 98 as Sales Rep.
He was previously the WXIR MD/PM drive personality as well. Bialek
commented "This is an answer to prayer for many loyal Christian
music listeners in the area and I'm excited that Christian
businesses will continue to have a voice as well." (5/21)
Christian
Music Broadcasters
announces its first-ever Shirtsleeve Seminar, in Monterey, CA on
June 12-14. The peer-to-peer networking event will feature
roundtable discussions, daily group excursions and more. Contact
Yvonne Roe for more information at
yroe@emfbroadcasting.com. (5/21)
KAFC in Anchorage
makes changes switching from AC to CHR. Also Mike Carrier is the
new Music Director night jock. (5/20)
Albany, GA. has two
new Christian stations. WBJY becomes "Free 89.3" playing South
Georgia's Positive music with a mix of AC and P&W. And WAEF is
"90.3 The Hook" programming CHR. Matt Baldridge is PD for both
stations. His contact info is 113 College St. Ashburn, GA. 31714
and the phone is 229-567-8081. (5/19)
Biblia Husema
Broadcasting signs on 90.9 FM in Nairobi, Kenya with plans for 3
more stations this year.
Rev Christopher Arap Mutai says 96.9
in Machakos should be on the air by June.
Click to check out their website. (5/19)
Salem
VP/Operations and GM Dave Armstrong is relocating to New York for
same duties at WMCA and WWDJ and WEZE/WROL Boston effective May
23. (5/15)
Lisa Williams exits
the morning slot at Star 99.1 New York to return to WPOZ Orlando.
She'll be on the air 2-7PM while PD Dean O'Neal will cover a noon
to 2pm shift. And back at Star 99.1 PD Scott Taylor is looking for
Lisa's replacement. Contact him if you're interested. (5/14)
KAXF
Houston adds new programming in the form of a 6-hour Alternative
show hosted by Colin Cruz, formerly with KSBJ Houston. The show is
called "The Alternative X Factor" and airs Saturday nights from
7pm till 1am. Colin is in need of servicing for all formats
though. Please send all material to Colin Cruz c/o KAXF, The
Conroe Tower, 300 W. Davis # 420, Conroe, TX 77301. Or contact
Colin at
ColinCruz@earthlink.net. (5/12)
Movement:
Mark Lindeman leaves the Radio U (WUFM) Columbus PD position to
pursue other opportunities. Reach Mark at 614-899-7589. (5/12)
Angie Westin will exit her Promotion Director position at WFSH
Atlanta on May 21st for the same at Atlanta CHR WWWQ. (5/11)
WAYG Grand Rapids moves Heather Erbe from middays to PM Drive.
(5/8)
William Bauer comes
out of a 23 year retirement from radio and is named Operations
Manager at KRNG (Renegade Radio) in Fallon/Reno Nevada. Bauer was
formerly with KROY and KXOA in Sacramento. (5/8)
Mike Carrier joins
KAFC Anchorage as MD from WNCB Duluth. (5/8)
Music
News from CMCentral.com:
Louie Weaver parts ways with Petra...Kathy
Troccoli to release greatest hits album in July...BuzzWord-
newsbytes on Kristy Starling, Point of Grace, Jaci Velasquez, &
more (5/7)
Congratulations to
voice over guy
Sean
Caldwell on becoming a Dad for the third time. Sean and wife
Kim welcomed Matthew Joseph Caldwell weighing in at 8 pounds 3
ounces just after midnite! (5/6)
Salem
Communications announced the acquisition of two radio AM
stations.The Company will be acquiring WAMG-AM in Boston,
Massachusetts, from Mega Communications for approximately $8.6
million. Salem will also be acquiring KKCS-AM in Colorado Springs,
Colorado, from Walton Stations - Colorado, Inc. for approximately
$1.5 million. The stations will broadcast a conservative news/talk
format. Salem also announced that the FCC denied a motion to
increase the night-time coverage of WGKA AM1190, Salem's southern
gospel radio station in the Atlanta market. The company intends to
appeal this decision. (5/5)
Movement:
Jennifer Page is now PD at WQCK
Baton Rouge. KTLI Wichita adds Michelle Rae to the on air line up
in middays. WMRZ Columbus GA is now programming
gospel/inspirational. (5/5)
Greg
McNey has been elevated to VP/Development & Operations at Word
Music. Greg will oversee all general operations, budgeting and
administration of Word Entertainment's print music division and
the sales and marketing activities of Word Music Ministry
Resources. John Jennings gets promoted to Dir./Event & Workshop
Promotions. Also Tracy Fesko moves up to Sr. Manager/Marketing and
will oversee the creation and distribution of advertising and
marketing materials promoting Word Music's products. Doug Bright
is upped to the new position of Manager/Hymnal & Choral Sales.
(5/2)
