RadioInsight

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WFUV Debuts EQFM Initiative For 50% Female Representation

Posted: 26 May 2020 10:52 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/1...epresentation/



Fordham University AAA 90.7 WFUV New York has announced the launch of and
initiative to focus on gender balance in the music they play and to
encourage other media outlets to do the same.

Dubbed EQFM, the station says it aims to shift its playlist from 60/40
leaning male to 50/50. The station states, Rock and alt-rock radio has been
far behind the curve of equal representation since its inception.
Alternative rock stations in the US play 10 male artists for every woman,
and even the best of the bunch in Triple A stations runs at about 3-to-1.
Just 10.4% of Grammy nominees from 2013-2019 were female and of that small
percentage, just 6.6% of Album of the Year nominees were women. In a
similar vein, only 8% percent of all of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
inductees are women.

As part of the launch, WFUV will add on-air and online content that
celebrates important, influential albums by women artists, while promoting
the expertise of their female DJs and staffers. The station will also seek
equality for station concerts, events and festival coverage.

WFUV Public Media is doing its part to help resolve the longstanding issue
of gender disparity in the music industry by rolling out the new EQFM
initiative, striving toward a goal of 50 percent representation of women
and gender minorities in its music programming, events and online features.

To kick off the new initiative, WFUV is excited to host an online panel
discussion on June 2 at 7:00 p.m. ET on the subject of gender equality
within the music and radio industries. Moderated by WNYC’s Julianne Welby,
panelists include WFUV Program Director Rita Houston, CMT’s Sr. VP of Music
Strategy Leslie Fram, NPR Music correspondent Ann Powers, music critic Alan
Light, critically acclaimed artist Amanda Shires and Margi Cheske,
President of Fantasy Records. Links and additional info to come shortly.

“WFUV has always steadfastly supported new and legacy female artists, and
we’re now planting a flag and asking others to join us in ensuring
diversity in programming,� says Houston. “It’s part of our DNA as
open-minded music lovers. Good songs come from everywhere, across race, age
and gender. Good radio should celebrate that, without bias.�

As part of the EQFM initiative—partly inspired by CMT’s recent Equal Play
initiative—WFUV is launching an on-air and online series that celebrates
important, influential albums by women artists, while promoting the
expertise of their female DJs and staffers. WFUV will also keep an even
closer eye on equality when planning FUV Live concerts and sessions,
Holiday Cheer for FUV, the WFUV High Line Bash and festival coverage.

“I’m proud to see us embracing gender equality in our programming,� adds
General Manager Chuck Singleton. “The station has long made a place for
strong women—in the artists it supports, in its air staff, and among its
leadership—and this is a natural step. Some might suggest this may not be
the time for such an initiative. I think it’s exactly the right time to
take this on, as we focus our vision beyond our most basic of daily
challenges to a future that’s more equitable.�

Rock and alt-rock radio has been far behind the curve of equal
representation since its inception. Alternative rock stations in the US
play 10 male artists for every woman, and even the best of the bunch in
Triple A stations runs at about 3-to-1. Just 10.4% of Grammy nominees from
2013-2019 were female and of that small percentage, just 6.6% of Album of
the Year nominees were women. In a similar vein, only 8% percent of all of
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees are women.

While WFUV has carried a 60/40 balance in its playlists in recent years,
the station aims to do better. Times have changed and voices must be fairly
represented. WFUV’s music programming will reflect gender parity in the
artists and bands we play and support. We can’t change the past, but we can
change the present and future sound of radio, for all generations.


The post WFUV Debuts EQFM Initiative For 50% Female Representation appeared
first on RadioInsight.


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KOIL Debuts Local 1290 Focusing On Local Businesses Reopening

Posted: 26 May 2020 10:42 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/187756/187756/



NRG Media News/Talk 1290 KOIL Omaha has announced the addition of a new
daily show focusing on local businesses and people and how they are
handling reopening following the pandemic.

Local 1290 will be hosted NRG AM Operations Manager Neil Nelkin and a
rotating group of hosts from the companys other stations including 101.9
The Keg KOOO morning host Matt Tompkins, Sweet 98.5 KQKQ morning hosts
Laura Blenkush and Nikki Oswald, and 1620 The Zone KOZN morning hosts Mikel
Severe and Damon Benning.

Local 1290 will air from 10am-12pm weekdays replacing one hour each of Fox
News Radios Brian Kilmeade and Westwood Ones Chris Plante.

Omaha’s News Talk leader News Talk 1290-KOIL has launched a daily two-hour
program focusing on the local community as our friends, neighbors and
businesses begin to face the new normal. The program will be live and
local, and hosted by legendary broadcaster Neil Nelkin. Each day the
two-hour program will focus on everything “local� in Omaha, Nebraska and
Council Bluffs, Iowa as businesses start to re-open and figure out how to
go forward.

The program will be co-hosted by other NRG Media on-air talent and biggest
morning radio personalities on a daily basis. Nikki and Laura from Sweet
98.5, Mike’l Severe and Damon Benning from 1620 The Zone, and Matt Tompkins
from the New 101.9 The Keg.

AM Program Director and Executive Producer for Local 1290 Mike Thompson
stated, “There has certainly been a lot of doom and gloom in this
pandemic’s new normal – so it’s time for an uplifting, informative and
entertaining celebration of all of us in Omaha and Council Bluffs.�

Neil Nelkin commented, “Finally a positive show about our listeners, our
community and businesses within the Omaha and Council Bluffs area. We want
to highlight the local business and hear their stories about how they are
doing and re-opening. It’s a community feel good, as we are all in this
together.�



The post KOIL Debuts Local 1290 Focusing On Local Businesses Reopening
appeared first on RadioInsight.


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Radio 104.5 Philadelphia Rebrands As Alt 104.5

Posted: 26 May 2020 09:06 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/1...-as-alt-104-5/



As we first reported would happen in our February 11 Domain Insight,
iHeartMedia has relaunched Alternative Radio 104.5 WRFF Philadelphia as Alt
104.5.

WRFFs 2007 launch triggered the gradual rebirth of the Alternative Rock
format following the shift away from the format in many markets earlier in
that decade (WRFF filled the hole created by the demise of Y100 WPLY in
2005). iHeart would launch Radio� branded clones in Atlanta, Cincinnati and
Portland, while other companies followed suit in markets like Boston and
Cleveland.

Amber Miller, who has served as Assistant Program Director and midday host
since August 2016, has officially been promoted to Program Director. She
fills the vacancy created by the exit of former PD/morning host John Allers
in iHearts January layoffs. Miller previously served as National Director
of Promotion for Caroline Records, APD/MD and PD/Afternoon host at
Alternative 102.7 WEQX Manchester VT/Albany NY and worked on-air at 96.3
WDVD Detroit, 98.1 WQSM Fayetteville, and “G105� WDCG Raleigh.

While mornings remain officially vacant, Premiere Networks syndicated
morning host Woody is teasing the addition of The Woody Show to a new
market.

In the coronavirus impacted April 2020 Nielsen Audio ratings, WRFF ranked
tenth in the market with a 3.5 share.

iHeartMedia Philadelphia announced today the debut of the new ALT 104.5,
Philly’s Alternative Rock, effective immediately. Beginning today,
Alternative Rock radio leader, Radio 104.5, is now ALT 104.5 and will
continue its legacy for breaking new Alternative Rock music for the Greater
Philadelphia region.

To kick off the launch, the station will broadcast uninterrupted songs from
12 p.m. to 12 a.m. Listeners can tune in to hear songs from top Alternative
Rock artists including twenty one pilots, The Killers, Cage The Elephant,
The Lumineers, Panic! At The Disco and more. The station will also feature
top on-air personalities including Amber Miller, Mike Jones, Jessie and
more.

“Who doesn’t love the big reveal at the end of a makeover show,� said Amber
Miller, Program Director for ALT 104.5. “Well, ta-da! Philly’s Alternative
Rock station is now sounding bigger and better than ever, combining the
music and personalities our listeners love with this fresh, energetic new
aesthetic. The station offers listeners the same music and entertainment
they crave, just with a fresh new coat of paint.�

“It’s incredible for us to be able to give the people of Philadelphia an
even bigger and stronger brand of the Alternative Rock format with the new
ALT 104.5,� said Derrick Corbett, Senior Vice President of Programming for
iHeartMedia Philadelphia. “The foundation for this music started right here
over a decade ago, so to watch it evolve in the manner that we’re planning
is something the city deserves and that we’re excited to provide.�

Full Programming Lineup:

Amber Miller 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Mike Jones 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Jammin’ Jessie 7 p.m. – 12 a.m.


The post Radio 104.5 Philadelphia Rebrands As Alt 104.5 appeared first on
RadioInsight.


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The Lake Brings More Classic Hits To Burlington/Plattsburgh

Posted: 26 May 2020 06:00 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/1...n-plattsburgh/



Loud Media flipped Rock 107.1 Plattsburgh Rocks WPLA Dannemora NY to
Classic Hits 107.1 Lake-FM on Memorial Day.

The move resurrects the brand and format that had been on the companys
102.1 WRGR Tupper Lake NY until it was LMAd to North Country Radio and
flipped to a simulcast of AC 93.3 WSLP Saranac Lake last July. WPLA is
owned by Randy Michaels RadioActive LLC and operated by the recently
rebranded Loud Media.

While focusing on the New York side of Lake Champlain and the
Burlington/Plattsburgh market, WPLA joins a Classic Hits battle that
includes Hall Communications Kool 105.1 WKOL Plattsburgh, NBZ LLCs 106.3
WNBZ-FM Saranac NY, Radio Vermonts 101 The One 101.7 WCVT Stowe VT, Vox
Medias 92.1 WVTK Port Henry NY and Soft Oldies 96.7 MeTV-FM WXZO Willsboro
NY. To differentiate, WPLAs playlist stretches beyond the usual 70s/80s
based Classic Hits format on the other stations to also include songs from
the 1990s and early 2000s.


The post The Lake Brings More Classic Hits To Burlington/Plattsburgh
appeared first on RadioInsight.


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Courtney Kelley Moves To Mornings At WCTK As Maddie Grimaldi Jumps To WFHN

Posted: 26 May 2020 05:07 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/1...jumps-to-wfhn/



Hall Communications Country Cat Country 98.1 WCTK New Bedford MA/Providence
RI has announced that Courtney Kelley will move from middays to join Brian
Mulhern starting today.

Kelley has been with the station since 2013 and has worked at multiple
stations in Providence and nearby New London CT during her career. Last
July she moved up from weekends/fill-in to midday host.

Kelley succeeds Madelyn ‘Maddie’ Grimaldi in mornings. Grimaldi, who had
moved from middays to mornings in July, has moved over to Townsquare Media
CHR Fun 107 WFHN Fairhaven/New Bedford to join Michael Rock in mornings.
Grimaldi will use her soon-to-be married name of Maddie Levine at WFHN
where she succeeds Christine Fox, who stepped down from mornings to focus
on the womens gym she owns. Fox will continue to voicetrack 10am-12pm for
WFHN.

Hall Communications announces that Courtney Kelley will join Brian Mulhern
for Cat Country mornings effective immediately on WCTK-FM (Cat Country
98.1). Kelley replaces Madelyn Grimaldi who resigned to pursue other
interests.

“Brian and I have known each other for years,� said Kelley. “While that is
basically true for all native Rhode Islanders,� we’ve been friends for a
long time.� Kelley continued, “I’ve had my Cat Country On now for 7
years. I’m grateful for the opportunity that Hall Communications has given
me to take this next big step in my career.�

“Courtney has been with us since 2013,� said Hall VP/Programming and WCTK
Program Director Bob Walker. “As long as I have known her, she has wanted
to host a morning show. We are beyond excited to have her living out that
dream every morning on Cat Country.�

Kelley’s previous midday position will be filled by Walker for now.



The post Courtney Kelley Moves To Mornings At WCTK As Maddie Grimaldi Jumps
To WFHN appeared first on RadioInsight.


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Binnie VP/Programming Stan Bennett Acquires Silent Maine Cluster

Posted: 26 May 2020 04:23 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/1...maine-cluster/



Binnie Media VP/Programming Stan Bennett is making the move to station
ownership with the purchase of the silent Gleason Media cluster in
Lewiston/Auburn ME for $300,000.

Bennett Radio Group will purchase the former “WOXO Country� 92.7 WOXO-FM
Norway/100.7 WRMO-FM Mexico, Hot AC “Maine’s Big Z� 1240 WEZR/105.5 W288CW
Lewiston (with CP for 95.3 W237ET Norway) and 1450 WPNO/96.9 W245CQ South
Paris and Sports 780 WTME Rumford ME (with CP for 98.3 W252DS Rumford) in
the deal. The entire cluster went silent at the end of March when the
company ceased business operations.

Bennett has been with the current Binnie Media cluster in Portland since
1994 and rose from Operations Manager to the companys Vice President of
Programming last July. He stepped down from his role as morning host at
Classic Hits 107.5 Frank-FM WFNK Lewiston/Portland at the end of April


The post Binnie VP/Programming Stan Bennett Acquires Silent Maine Cluster
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