WYCD's Lee Records Milestone. When WYCD afternoon drive talent
Linda Lee celebrated her 20th year on the
CBS Radio outlet yesterday (Thursday, 6/29), she became the longest-running consecutive female country air personality in Detroit history. Senior vice president and market manager of CBS Radio Detroit
Debbie Kenyon notes, "Linda's longstanding career with WYCD is a testament to her talent and ability. She truly is one of the greatest
air personalities in the business." Operations manager/program director
Tim Roberts remarks, "For 20 great years, Detroit country music fans have laughed, cried, loved, and jammed to great music in their lives with Linda always by their side. She has been the champion of the community through her devotion to charities and fans in general and an awesome asset for the entire country music industry." Detroit native Lee adds, "This is my home and I raised my own family here. I will forever be grateful to CBS Radio for this opportunity to do what I love and live my dream for over two decades here in my hometown. I was a loyal WYCD listener prior to starting my on-air career in country radio. My time here has been a blessing beyond measure. I am humbled – and beyond grateful – for all the love and support I have always been given from my WYCD family and our loyal listeners." Lee began her career at WYCD as a member of the morning show, later teaming for 16 years with
Chuck Edwards on the "Edwards & Lee" afternoon drive show. When Edwards moved to mornings late last year, Lee and
Rob Stone were paired for the (3:00 pm – 7:00 pm) "Rob & Linda" show. Part of an April three-way logjam at #10, WYCD piles on one full-share in
Nielsen Audio's May
PPM sweep to April's six-tenths gain (3.7 – 4.3 – 5.3, 6+) and rockets to a fifth-place tie; 5.3 is the best 6+-stat for "99.5 Detroit's Country" in nearly a year (5.3, July 2015). With a 7.3 (6+), WYCD sports sibling WXYT-FM "The Ticket" is the market pacesetter;
Cumulus Media's WDRQ "Detroit's Hottest Country Hits" is at #18 (2.5, 6+).
KFMB-FM Names Vasquez APD. In addition to assistant program director duties at KFMB-FM "100.7 KFM-BFM,"
Mike Vasquez will be the 7:00 pm – 12:00 midnight on-air talent of the San Diego rocker. Program director
Garett Michaels remarks, "With Mike's deep knowledge of the San Diego market, his strong record of ratings success, and his unbridled passion for rock and roll, he is the
outstanding choice to join 'KFM-BFM' as our assistant program director. I am stoked to have him as a collaborator and teammate." Vasquez comments, "I am so pumped to be joining the 'KFM-BFM' team. There is a winner's mentality here and everybody brings [his or her] 'A'-game on a daily basis. I thrive in this type of environment and look forward to contributing to our team's success." For the past 16 years, Vasquez has worked at cross-town smooth jazz-turned-adult contemporary KXSN "Sunny" (formerly KIFM). He began his radio career in the mid-1980s at Fresno's KEZL. KFMB-FM has been in the 3.4 – 3.8 range the past five
Nielsen Audio ratings sweeps (3.4 – 3.8 – 3.5 – 3.7 – 3.5, 6+) and ranks #12 in May; "Sunny" is on top with a 6.6 (6+).
iHeartMedia Charlotte, Martz Media Team for "Ke Buena." For the past two years,
iHeartMedia Charlotte has been airing a sports format on translator W254AZ (98.7), but as a result of a multi-year agreement with
Martz Media, it transitions that programming to Latin contemporary as "Ke Buena 98.7 FM." According to the president of iHeartMedia's Carolina region
Dave Carwile, "We are very excited to have the opportunity to help support and
broaden the entertainment spectrum for the Hispanic/Latino community in the Charlotte area." Martz Media president
Roger Martinez comments, "We are thoroughly excited to provide our Charlotte Hispanic community a diversified taste in Hispanic radio programming. Charlotte has grown substantially these past several years, including its Hispanic/Latino population. From huge community events to the overwhelming positive audience response, we have seen such great activity coming from Charlotte. We are excited to be part of the community and provide a fresh music and community engagement perspective to the Hispanic and Latino population in the Charlotte area." Led by iHeartMedia classic rock and country siblings WRFX "The Fox" (7.2, +1.1 from April, #1, 6+) and WKKT "Cat Country" (7.1, +1.1, #2, 6+), an even 20 stations are listed in
Nielsen Audio's May 2016
PPM report, with none possessing an Hispanic/Latino-geared format label; W254AZ did not appear in print.
Black Crown Initiate Visits WSOU. Earlier this week, progressive metal band
Black Crown Initiate dropped in on WSOU, the student-run radio station of
Seton Hall University, for an on-air interview with music director
Mike Colantuoni. Group members
Andy Thomas and
Jesse Beahler commented on the writing process; the meaning of their latest album ("Selves We Cannot Forgive"); their upcoming tour; and pros/cons of streaming services. Colantuoni states that, "Having Black Crown Initiate at WSOU was an incredible experience. I greatly value having newer, promising bands in our studios. WSOU is known for being tastemakers in the metal community and I embrace that opportunity to provide our listeners an insider's perspective to the music." WSOU's signal reaches all five New York City boroughs, as well as much of northern and central New Jersey. Andy Thomas (left) and Jesse Beahler (right) of Reading, Pennsylvania's Black Crown Initiate with WSOU music director Mike Colantuoni (center).
