6-23-14
Country is out and Alternative is in for CMG in Atlanta. The new station is "X107.1 FM, Atlanta?s New Alternative." Like most new launches these days the station will kick off with 10,000 songs in a row. The format will feature alternative artists such as The Tantrums, Imagine Dragons, Passion Pit, Avicii, The Black Keys, The Lumineers, Vampire Weekend, and many more. CMG VP of Programming Steve Smith says research shows Atlanta is ripe for an Alt40 radio station like X107.1.
6-10-14
Cox Media Group is adding WTSH to its cluster in Atlanta with an LMA of WTSH-FM, also known as South 107.1. The Rome, Georgia station is owned by Woman's World Broadcasting with and plays country music. Cox says no decision has been made regarding any format change. CMG Atlanta Radio currently operates News WSB 95.5 FM/750 AM, B 98.5 FM, WSRV The River 97.1 FM, and WALR Kiss 104.1 FM.
3-4-14
Ronald Robinson, also known as DJ Beestroh, was charged with aggravated assault following a shootout with police officers outside an Atlanta nightclub. The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports Robinson is in stable condition after the incident at the Velvet Room. The club was the location of an album release party for Rick Ross and Sean Combs when off-duty officers heard gunshots in the back of the club. They responded and one subject turned toward them firing shots. The subject was then hit in the leg by gunfire.
10-15-13
CMG Atlanta has named Kris Lucas co-GSM for WSB-FM, WALR-FM, and WSRV-FM. On November 18, Lucas will partner with co-GSM Adam Wolfson to lead the cluster?s sales teams. Lucas has seven years of sales management experience, formerly with Summit Media Corp in Richmond as GSM for WKHK, WKLR, WURV, and WHTI. Lucas was previously with CMG before it sold the Richmond cluster to Summit in May. Prior to Summit and CMG, Lucas was with Clear Channel in Tampa for 12 years as a sales manager and AE.
8-26-13
Today at Noon, Cumulus will flip 98.9-FM THE WALK to TRUE OLDIES which is distributed by Cumulus Media Networks. The Walk is currently airing Country/Christian AC format. The change to True Oldies is a return to Atlanta for Scott Shannon. True Oldies is a format programmed and hosted by Shannon focusing on music from the 50's to the 70's. The Radio Ink Radio Discussion Board talks about the change HERE
7-18-13
6-20-13
Cox Media Group Atlanta radio has named 20-year market veteran and midday personality Steve Craig as Assistant Program Director/Music Director at Atlanta?s Classic Hits Station WSRV 97.1 The River. Craig returned to Atlanta after a run as APD and Midday Host at New York City?s WRXP. Prior to that, he was APD/Middays for the entire 17-year history of Atlanta?s legendary Alternative Rock 99X.
?It?s like hitting the lottery, getting someone of Steve?s caliber to join the River,? said WSRV Program Director Dave Clapper. ?His knowledge for music, enthusiasm for the business, and his reputation in Atlanta, makes it a no-brainer for The River. We are so excited to have him as part of our team and look forward to continuing the success of the River with him on board!?
?I?m proud and grateful to be surrounded by the amazing management and talent at Cox Media Group,? said Craig. ?The company culture and programming philosophies are second to none. I?m incredibly excited about working with Clapper and The River team and looking forward to helping exceed the standard we?ve set for engaging rock radio in Atlanta.?
6-17-13
Radio received national attention Monday for all the wrong reasons. But, the punishment was quick and severe. Lincoln Financial Media Atlanta Senior Vice President and General Manager Rick Mack says Nick Cellini, Chris Dimino, and Steak Shapiro, formerly known as "Mayhem in the AM," on 790-AM The Zone in Atlanta have been fired. The three were let go after making fun of former new Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason. Gleason is suffering from ALS, is in a wheelchair, and has lost most of his motor skills.
The hosts did a bit pretending Gleason called in to their show so they could ask him questions. Most of the responses in the bit were knock-knock jokes, and at one point the caller says he doesn?t know if he will be alive next Thursday. Mack and Lincoln are now left to deal with the fallout of the show's cruel prank which was quickly criticized on social media. Here's the statement from Rick Mack.
"We deeply regret the offensive programming that aired this morning on 'Mayhem In The AM' on 790 The Zone, related to former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason and his battle with ALS. We suspended the three individuals involved immediately following their comments and have since terminated their employment. 790 The Zone, our owners, sponsors, and partners in no way endorse or support this kind of content. We sincerely apologize to Mr. Gleason, his family, and all those touched by ALS."
More Coverage HERE at USA Today, NFL.com and CBSSports.com.
(6/18/2013 6:27:23 AM)
Management's reponse was quick and decisive. 3 people lost their jobs. Would you have the managers quit and shut down the station, too?
(6/18/2013 5:13:16 AM)
Oh look, ANOTHER comment from Ronald T. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
(6/18/2013 1:06:31 AM)
Management sure knows how to get distance in a hurry. Even as disagreeable as the comments might have been, these guys were not hired to be creamy butter tarts-of-the-air. So, they crossed an unspecified but still expertly camouflaged line. So, what. It's part of the turf.
Delivering superficial and even (possibly) insincere apologies for a crew that was making the station money five minutes before contains another brand of hypocrisy.
6-13-13
The Atlanta Hawks announced that beginning July 1 CBS radio's SportsRadio 92-9 The Game will become the official flagship station of the team. As part of a multi-year agreement, beginning with the 2013-14 season, 92-9 The Game will broadcast all NBA regular season and postseason basketball games, all pregame and postgame broadcasts and create dedicated Hawks programming with their on-air basketball talent including Rick Kamla, Sam Mitchell and Dennis Scott. Long-time voice of the Atlanta Hawks, Steve Holman, will continue his role as play-by-play announcer with 92-9 The Game, adding to his 2,050th consecutive game broadcast.
6-13-13
CMG Atlanta's B98.5 morning show with hosts Vikki Locke and Kelly Stevens is being canceled. Locke announced she's leaving the station to spend more time with her family and to pursue her own media coaching company. Locke has been with the station for five years, Stevens has been co-host with Vikki for the past two years. Prior to that, he was part of the Kelly and Alpha Show on the station. A search is now underway for a new morning show.
Cox is looking for a hyper-topical / locally focused show that can engage and entertain a female-targeted audience. Applicants should have at least five years morning show experience in a medium to major market. This job will be filled fast, interested applicants should rush their demo and resumes to WorkForCoxATL@gmail.com. All inquiries will be 100 percent confidential.
3-29-13
It was a rhythmic CHR but now 105.7 in Atlanta is Alternative. Clear Channel announced the flip yesterday, saying the station will now be called "Radio 105.7." Market Manager Matt Scarano said, ?Our goal is to offer Atlanta listeners a different genre of music while providing the best programming and listening experience available. The area is home to Talk, Hip Hop, Country, Top 40 and Classic Hits formats, but Radio 105.7 will bring fresh alternative music back to Atlanta ? which is something our listeners are currently missing.?
The new format will include Foo Fighters, Muse, Mumford & Sons, Green Day, Dave Matthews, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Black Keys, Linkin Park, The Lumineers, Coldplay, Weezer and more.
3-8-13
Adam Wolfson becomes the new co-GSM for WSB-FM, WALR-FM and WSRV-FM. Wolfson will partner with co-GSM Karyn Cerulli to lead the cluster?s sales teams. Wolfson most recently was CMG?s GSM for WBLI and WBAB in Long Island, where he led two LSM's, one NSM, 17 Account Managers, two sales assistants and two traffic managers. Wolfson joined CMG in 2004 as an AE, became the Digital SM in 2006 and in 2007 was made LSM at WBAB. He advanced to GSM of WBLI and GSM of the cluster in 2009.
9-30-2012
It's official, WGST-AM is now carrying ESPN Deportes. The former talker flipped to the Spanish-language sports station Friday afternoon. It was clear a format change was coming to WGST after the Cox picked up Rush Limbaugh. ESPN has been aggressively seeking affiliates for ESPN Deportes, most notably picking up New York City just a few weeks ago.
ESPN says an official release about the Atlanta affiliate will go out on Monday. The WGST website has not even been changed yet to reflect the change.
8-28-2012
Matt Scarano has been named President and Market Manager, effective immediately. Scarano joins the market from Clear Channel Chicago, where he most recently served as Director of Sales. Melissa Forrest, former Atlanta Market Manager, will remain with the company in a senior role in a soon-to-be-announced position.
Scarano has more than 20 years of experience in the radio industry and has served as Director of Sales for Clear Channel Chicago since 2009. In Chicago he oversaw all sales initiatives for Clear Channel?s seven stations. Prior to joining Clear Channel Chicago, Scarano worked in Atlanta radio sales holding various positions including General Sales Manager for ABC Radio and Local Sales Manager for Big League Broadcasting.
8-1-2012
Another Music FM is flipping over to sports and the company that excels in sports programming is making the move. The announcement was made by Market Manager Rick Caffey to the Atlanta CBS staff on Tuesday. "Today I am pleased to announce that we will be launching a new station in the fall ? Sports Radio 92.9FM."
And to help with that transition Caffey announced the hiring of Terry Foxx, the former PD at KDKA "The Fan in Pittsburgh. "We've had many conversations about the potential of Sports Radio 92.9 and his vision is exactly what we need to win in this market. Working with him will be inspiring and I'm confident you'll also be motivated by his work ethic and energetic personality."
Caffey says CBS is already working on a talent lineup, a new website and mobile apps. "But we have a lot more work to do between now and the station's debut. In the meantime, we remain focused on delivering a great music experience on "DAVE-FM" and will take care to ensure the transition goes smoothly. I can't thank the staff at "DAVE" enough for their contributions over the past eight years." The city of Atlanta has an NFL, NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball team. CBS Radio is also in the process of launching a national all-sports network that will launch in January.
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5-15-2012
Last week about 120 managers from Cumulus gathered at the Buckhead Theater in Atlanta for the first high level meeting since the Citadel merger. At the get together, managers had a chance to spend time with the Dickeys and Jon Pinch, they were given demonstrations from vendors and the meeting concluded with a performance by Rascal Flatts. We were given access to all the managers to ask them about the meeting and the company, with no strings attached. According to several managers who attended the meeting, and despite some of what you may hear about Cumulus, they are pumped up about the future of the company. Cumulus CEO Lew Dickey said, ?To get a chance to meet all these guys and to spend time with them over 2 and half days was invaluable for us.?
WPLJ New York General Manager Steve Borneman is a former Citadel Manager who remained with the company 
after the merger. He says the meeting was absolutely awesome. ?I said to Lew (Dickey) as I was walking out of one of the meetings, I don't throw this word around very often, but it was actually inspiring. That is the word that really sort of set the tone for me. It was an inspiring meeting. It was informative. It was motivational. It was productive. It's a good feeling to have a a good feeling about your company. All the things that had been in the rumor mill prior to sale, all the negativity, you are going to get that, but Lew and John are smart operators. Jon Pinch is a smart operator. They are very passionate about what they want to do. They are a company that is being very aggressive in acquisitions as opposed to companies selling off radio stations. You fight the systems and it's not going to work. The systems that they have are phenomenal. They are cutting edge. Some of the systems that they presented to us over the course of the meetings, the demonstrations were tremendous. They?ll help us to do a better job. It?s a great company to work for. They care about their people. They treat us well. It was really a wonderful meeting. I hadn't been to a corporate meeting since, really, the ABC days. We didn't have them at Citadel.?
Donna Baker is a market manager for Cumulus on Houston. ?This isn't fluff. It really genuinely isn't. I have been to a lot of meetings in my career, and I can genuinely say I feel more positive and uplifted about the forward focus than I have in many, many years in my career. I see that we truly are on the verge of making something incredible happen in our industry. It was all forward focus. It was so positive. We get beat to death day to day in the media and the critics. It's big stuff and it's happening fast. They want everybody to understand it and be a part of it. I think they are so well positioned to take advantage of the opportunity. I really believe that Lew is brilliant. I genuinely think that he's the most brilliant mind in radio. He thinks so far forward. But he is also not one to just knee-jerk react. He put a lot of thought into how the execution, for the long term, needs to be set up to win.?
Ann McManus is the market manager for Cumulus in Bridgeport Connecticut. McManus was named market manager of the year - for medium markets - at the Atlanta meeting and says she absolutely loved what she heard. ?I can't say
enough good things about what I saw down there. I have been with Cumulus for ten years. I am a huge fan of Lew Dickey. I am absolutely crazy about working for them. They have given me some opportunities to meet with the Citadel people during the introduction period. It was such an eye-opener for the people from Citadel to see how great Cumulus is. There was so much rumor out there, and all this innuendo. Then to see how brilliant and visionary Cumulus is, I think that they were blown away by it. They are the most visionary people that I have ever worked for. I have been in the radio business since I as 12 years old. I have seen the mom and pop's. I have seen the big companies. I worked for a jackass (name deleted) and I worked for a wonderful man named Marty Pompadur. There is no company like Cumulus.?
Also at the meeting, Dan Bennet was market manager of the year for large markets and Jim Christopherson for small.
(5/15/2012 7:15:17 AM)
How much did Cumulus pay for this article? This is insulting to your readers.
(5/15/2012 7:11:48 AM)
I was also there...and share the same feelings about the meetings.They were great meetings with great information. The company is not looking at next year, they are looking forward five and ten years out. Lew Dickey and his senior team have a great vision for the company, I am glad to be on their team
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4-2-2012
WGUN-AM, a family owned 50,000 watt station broadcasting to Metro Atlanta?s twenty eight counties since 1947 has flipped to an all progressive/liberal leaning format. The new lineup features Warren Ballentine, Ed Schultz, Randi Rhodes, Tom Hartmann, Mike Malloy, Gary Sullivan and Jesse Jackson. GM Kevin Hemmings says, ?Atlanta?s 1010 is excited to be able to offer this incredible lineup to our rapidly growing audience. For the first time in a very long while, the listeners of Atlanta now have a diverse choice of viewpoints and opinions.?
You can check out the station at http://www.atlantas1010.com/.
9/12/11
A 22-year veteran of the media industry, Moore joined Cox Radio in 2007 as Local Sales Manager for WALR-FM, and her responsibilities were expanded to include all three Atlanta FM stations in 2010. Before joining Cox, Charlsie was GSM for WQMG and WJMH, Greensboro, N.C. She says ?I am very excited about this tremendous opportunity. It has been my goal to grow within Cox Media Group, and I?m honored to be a part of this great company and industry leader.
?Charlsie is a proven sales coach and has done an incredible job of developing sales talent,? said Rob Babin, VP of Sales for CMG Atlanta?s radio operations. ?I?m confident that she will continue to lead our sales team to higher levels and ensure that our stations are among the top billing stations in the country.?
After 14 years as the Program Director of Sports Talk 790 the Zone (WQXI) in Atlanta Matt Edgar turned in his gloves and spikes and called it a day. Edgar started out as a producer at the station and worked his up to program director. He's been replaced by Bob Richards. Our Atlanta Blogger Chadd Scott caught up with Edgar about his time in Atlanta. Here's Chadd's latest Blog Post.
In your 14 years with 790, what is the biggest change you've noticed at the station?
Matt Edgar: Being bought out by a much larger radio company, Lincoln Financial Media, is by far the biggest change. I don't think people truly realize what Steak Shapiro, Andrew Saltzman and Beau Bock did back in 1997. They started a radio station from scratch...and in a large market! It will never be duplicated again.
How about with sports talk radio in general?
Edgar: I started in this business 17 years ago I would have laughed at you if had told me how big FM sports talk would become.
What are you most proud of having accomplished at 790?
Edgar: Our annual Camp Twin Lakes Radiothon which is in its 5th year. Our listeners have helped us raise over a million dollars and the awareness we've created has been sensational. And how my guys handle it every year is the amazing part. This is not your typical radio or TV fundraiser with sappy stories and boring time fillers.
What do you wish you'd been able to accomplish that you were not?
Edgar: Ratings! 790 The Zone never received the ratings it deserved. We sold tens of millions of dollars in advertising, brought hundreds of thousands of our listeners out to events, BUT we never had much in the ratings column to show for it. Very frustrating!
RI: What is your favorite memory from your time there?
Edgar: It seems silly and idealistic but that's easy.....the people. We were a family and it is one of those special places, truly special places in the world. My favorite memory is the people of 790 The Zone.
RI: Why are you leaving now?
Edgar: The past year I have commuted 130 miles round trip each day and I just couldn't do it anymore. I now live in the country community of Sonoraville and love it!
RI: What do you think should be the top priority for your replacement?
Edgar: Giving the station some new sizzle. My message started falling on deaf ears, much a like a coach who's been there too long. Bob Richards will do a sensational job and I look forward to listening each and every day!
RI: What do you see as the biggest coming trend in sports talk radio?
Edgar: FM, FM, FM! It is where sports talk belongs and as the results have shown, it works. 790 The Zone belongs on the FM dial as well.
RI: What most concerns you about the industry?
Edgar: Too much syndication and conglomeration. This is not an original answer for sure but being in a big market for well over a decade I see it all the time. No one wants to swing and miss anymore. That was one of the fantastic things about Big League Broadcasting, the willingness to not be too afraid to try something new. There is nothing wrong with failing.
RI: What are your plans for the future?
Edgar: I'm starting a website to cover the local sports scene up here in Sonoraville. It is called SonoravilleSports.com. We may be a smaller town but our high school sports appetite is as big as anyone's.
Chadd Scott is a blogger for Radio Ink from Atlanta. Follow him on Twitter @ChaddScott
or on Facebook
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June 15, 2011
by Chadd Scott
(By Chad Scott) Last week, I told you about Mitch Evans who lost his job at 680 the Fan due to the relocation of the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers. This week, I had hoped to update you on the future of the team's play-by-play voice Dan Kamal. I reached out to Kamal who politely declined comment on his situation until he was provided more clarity on it by the team. To put a bow on this story, I sought out the opinions of 680's John Kincade (pictured), co-host of the station's afternoon drive show, "Buck and Kincade," occasional Thrashers pre-game show host, and Atlanta's most visible - and audible - hockey advocate. Here's that interview.
What, if anything, do you think 680 the Fan or the sports media in Atlanta in general might have been able to do differently over the years to keep the Thrashers in town?
John Kincade: I had this debate many times with folks in the Thrashers fan base. The sports media, especially sports radio, is about covering the teams and stories that the largest groupings of people care about! We have a job that requires us to get listeners to tune in and it is not to ?create? a buzz or ?educate? people to a particular sport. When the Thrashers were a viable contender in 2007, Atlanta fans and the media flocked to them. We traveled with the team and did shows and devoted a little more time every day to the team. In the last few years Dan Kamal had the 3:50pm time slot every day to bring us the latest in Thrashers news. I am the biggest NHL fan there is in the local media, but I am a bigger fan of doing my job and getting ratings and advertisers which keeps me employed.
As a huge hockey fan yourself and the face of hockey in the Atlanta media, how personally disappointing is it for you that the team is leaving?
Kincade: I am heartbroken that the team will not be here any longer. I believe that the main culprit was the mismanagement of the franchise by the ASG and their inability to put money into the product the last few years. I enjoyed being a part of the radio and TV broadcasts out of my love for the game. I always wished that Atlanta would become a hockey crazy town like other Southeast markets have become when presented with a winning product. That never happened and it is a huge disappointment for me.
Strictly from a radio programming perspective, how would you characterize the partnership between the Thrashers and 680 the Fan.
Kincade: 680 The Fan constantly got attacked from the hockey zealots for us not spending more time on the product on a daily basis. In fact, 680 gave MORE prime time programming minutes to hockey than other markets. On the flagship stations in markets like Boston, NY and Philly they did not clear a spot every weekday in afternoon drive for team interviews and information. That was a collaborative effort between 680 and the Thrashers. It was appointment radio and was quality content for the hockey fans. 680 tried various promotions over the partnership and I was a part of most of them. The attendance was lukewarm at many and very successful at others. Unfortunately, the fans have to step up when presented with these events or management will believe they are not worthy and advertisers won?t support them. The station sets the stage and it is up to the fans to support them.
As a talk host, how do you personally balance your coverage and comments when discussing a team for which your station serves as the flagship?
Kincade: I can say that I was never told what I could or could not say in my role as the pre and post game host or on ?Buck and Kincade?.I had many strong opinions against actions of the ASG. What I will always do is be mindful of the fact that the station is a ?Dickey Broadcasting Company? station and does not have the name Kincade on it. I voice my opinions to management and was always allowed to speak my mind but was told to be professional and fair so both sides were presented. I respected that and exercised that opportunity.
One final note I'd like to share in this week's blog surrounds outgoing 680 the Fan production ace Josh Kluchka. I had the great pleasure of working with Kluchka during my tenure at 680 the Fan and found him at all times cooperative, attentive and passionate about his work. He's exactly the sort of production guy we all wish we had access to. Kluchka recently accepted a position with Turner Broadcasting and I wish him all the luck in the world. Josh's situation on a small scale speaks to an enormous problem in the industry. Radio is losing an astounding amount of talent to other media, or other professions all together, and has been for a decade. I know dozens of great radio people who are no longer in radio for one reason or another and until the entire industry does a better job retaining its top people, our future is not as bright as it should be.
Chadd Scott is a blogger for Radio Ink from Atlanta. Follow him on Twitter @ChaddScott
or on Facebook
(6/15/2011 2:40:08 PM)
Good stuff and nice comment on Josh...
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