Longtime Louisville radio personality Vicki Rogers will join 100.5 MYfm for middays starting Monday, the 26th. Jonathan Shuford, Program Director, 100.5 MYfm notes, "Adding a wonderful, well-known personality like Vicki Rogers is an incredible asset. She's been a mainstay in the local media for nearly 15 years, and I can't wait for our listeners to hear her back on the air every day."
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12-8-14
For 25 years he was one half of the successful "Mark and Brian" morning show on KLOS-FM before retiring back in 2012. At the time, Thompson told Radio Ink he was ready to move on and do other things, including making movies and podcasting. Beginning in February, Thompson will return to L.A. on Bonneville's KSWD-FM "The Sound" and compete against his former station. And Thompson says he's putting some of his old crew back together. "I will once again embrace my dear friends Joe Benson, Rita Wilde, and Cynthia Fox from my KLOS days." Benson, who had been doing mornings, will move to middays.
Thompson added, "For me to return to mornings on L.A.'s white-hot radio station, The Sound, is beyond exciting," said Thompson. "I want to thank (VP/GM) Peter Burton and (PD) Dave Beasing for their unbridled passion in making this happen. To all my old and new listening friends in LA: You should brace yourself, my people, because there is an entertainment storm coming and an umbrella won't help you." Burton added, "Mark's return is probably the biggest thing to happen to L.A. radio since his departure. There's been a huge void in local morning radio." And Beasing said, "The Sound will continue to be all about the music, and Mark will create a daily shared experience that classic rock fans won't want to miss."
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9-2-14
Tammy O?Dell is the new director of sales for Curtis Media in Raleigh. She'll now be responsible for the revenue at WQDR-FM, WBBB-FM, WYMY-FM, and WPLW/WWPLFM. O?Dell most recently served as market manager for Townsquare in Albany, New York. She has previously worked in Raleigh as director of sales for Clear Channel from 2003 to 2006. O?Dell starts her new position with Curtis Media Group on September 15.
3-25-14
The radio network will broadcast 2014 regular-season games every Sunday night, starting with March 30?s Sunday Night Baseball game between the Dodgers and Padres at 7:30 p.m. Coverage also includes the broadcast of The Home Run Derby and All-Star Game in July, as well as the League Championship Series and the World Series in October. ESPN Deportes New York 1050 will serve as the flagship radio station for the New York Mets.
In the March 10 issue:
Special Conference Issue
On The Cover:
Chris Oliviero
On the Cover:
Jose Feliciano 
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Radio Ink Writers
3-14-14
Former 710 ESPN Morning Host Mike Salk is moving back to Seattle to take over as PD and host at 710 ESPN Seattle. One year ago, Salk accepted a position as co-host of the afternoon drive show at WEEI in Boston. Salk is heading back to Seattle because the station recruited him and offered him the PD gig as well as a hosting job. The station has not announced what shift Salk will host.
2-21-14
Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Portland brought JAM'N 107.5 back to Portland Thursday, featuring hits from acts such as Drake, Jason Derulo, Chris Brown, Jay Z, Beyonce, Macklemore, Pharrell Williams, Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, and Flo Rida. The new station will also embrace its hip hop and R&B legacy, featuring jams from back in the day like Dr. Dre, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, 2 Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., Ice Cube, Ja Rule, Ludacris, 50 Cent, Aaliyah, and more. Mark Adams, vice president of programming for CCM+E in Portland, said, "We?re keeping all of the things our listeners loved about Wild, while embracing the musical heritage of the JAM'N brand in Portland."
"By bringing JAM'N back to town, we are meeting a need for a musical genre that is not being adequately met in the market right now," said Market President Robert Dove. "This is the perfect station for listeners who love hip hop and R&B from back in the day, as well as the newest rhythmic hits. It?s the both of best worlds."
Fans can lalso isten to JAM'N 107.5 via the station's website www.JAMN1075.com, as well as on iHeartRadio.
1-1614
Country Radio Seminar has announced the return of the Grand Ole Opry for the kick-off night of CRS 2014 on Feb. 19, 2014, at the Nashville Convention Center. The lineup includes Opry members Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, and Old Crow Medicine Show, along with Thompson Square, Love & Theft, Brandy Clark, Will Hoge, and Eric Paslay. The event will begin at 7 p.m., immediately following the annual CRS Opening Night Welcome Reception. All CRS attendees can attend, with both seating and standing room available.
Country music?s most famous show made its CRS debut last year to a standing room only crowd. With the Opry?s signature barn backdrop and famous microphone stands on stage, the Nashville Convention Center was transformed to give audience members a real taste of the Opry and the Grand Ole Opry House in the middle of CRS. To see a preview of the Opry at CRS 2014, click here.
The Opry, radio?s longest-running program, has rarely staged shows outside its regular program schedule and its permanent home (the Grand Ole Opry House) or its winter residence (Ryman Auditorium). Past Opry performances played outside the show?s home venues include performances staged at prestigious theaters such as New York City?s Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
CRS 2014 will be held February 19-21 at the Nashville Convention Center. To register for CRS visit www.CountryRadioSeminar.com.
12-27-13
After nearly 17 months (last heard on WZMJ-FM), ESPN Radio is returning to Columbia, SC, as of January 1. The new location is L&L Broadcasting's WOIC-AM (1230) which will shift to sports from News/Talk. Market Manager Bill McElveen said, ?We?re excited to bring the iconic ESPN brand back to the thousands of sports fans in Columbia. ESPN?s dominance in the sports arena is unparalleled, and we are delighted to be partnering with them in this venture.?
The lineup of ESPN Columbia 1230 AM will include nationally syndicated shows Mike & Mike in the Morning (6 a.m. - 10 a.m.), The Herd with Colin Cowherd (10 a.m. - 1 p.m.), and SVP & Rusillo (1 p.m. - 4 p.m.). Locally, The Zone hosted by Duane "The Shot Doctor" Everett will air 4 p.m. - 6 p.m., and Sports Hotline with Bobby Gist and Ernest Robinson will be heard 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
In addition, ESPN Columbia 1230 AM will bring listeners every Charlotte Bobcats game broadcast and a full slate of national NBA games from ESPN Radio.
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12-4-13
Entercom's KFOX-FM in San Francisco announced long-time Bay Area and KFOX morning personality Chris Jackson will return to host mornings starting December 10. Jackson, a San Jose native, is a 20-year Bay Area radio veteran. He was a member of KFOX?s Morning Show from 1996 to 2010, serving as co-host, creative director, and lead writer for the show. Entercom also announced that morning show host, Annalisa, is no longer with KFOX.
?We?re excited to bring Chris Jackson back to KFOX. A South Bay native and original member of the air staff, Chris has been a fixture in the local rock and radio scene for decades and he knows how to entertain KFOX?s loyal fans. His deep rock and roll background will connect with listeners starting on Day One,? said KFOX Program Director Chris Hoffman.
?KFOX was my home for so many years and I couldn?t be more excited to be back at The Rock Station in the Bay Area,? said Jackson. ?KFOX has some of the most amazing rock fans in the country and I look forward to starting their day with the music we are both so passionate about.?
11-26-13
ESPN Deportes Radio has reached a sub-license agreement with Fox to broadcast the UEFA Champions League. Coverage includes all stages, semifinals, and the final. ESPN Deportes GM Oscar Ramos said, ?We are very proud of this accomplishment, which not only strengthens our play-by-play offering but also makes a big difference in our continued mission of serving the U.S. Hispanic sports fan. We are very confident that this coveted soccer tournament will provide an experience that heavily resonates with our fans and with our advertisers.?
10-23-13
CBS RADIO, Washington, DC 106.7 The Fan (WJFK-FM) announced today that long-time market veteran Don Geronimo is returning to the station?s lineup with a new show, starting Thursday, October 24 at 7 p.m. ?The Don Geronimo Show? will air weekday evenings from 7-10 p.m., Saturday mornings from 9 to noon, and Geronimo will contribute to the station?s Sunday football programming, ?Washington Gameday Uncensored.?
?I am thrilled to continue my relationship with CBS Radio and return to my roots at 106.7 The Fan,? said Geronimo. ?It's good to be back, it's good to be home and I can't wait to be a part of 106.7 The Fan. Radio is my life and I'm elated the next chapter will continue on WJFK in DC.?
?Don built an incredible following over two decades in Washington, and I?m excited to bring him back home to WJFK. Don is a passionate D.C. sports fan and will bring a unique perspective and approach to his new show.? said 106.7 The Fan Program Director Chris Kinard.
10-10-13
Starting tomorrow, the legendary Joe McCoy will debut a new show, "Joe McCoy's Jukebox Saturday Night," on Cumulus' WICC-AM in Bridgeport, CT. McCoy started in radio at WADS Ansonia,CT in 1967. He went to WAVZ in New Haven in 1968, WOR-FM in NYC 1969 through 1974 and onto WCBS-FM, where he was PD for more than 20 years. McCoy is widely credited with defining the Oldies format.
9-24-13.Larry Wilson, who built and sold Citadel Communications to Wall Street investment firm Forstmann Little & Co. in 2001 for $2.1 billion, is one of those rare individuals who?s on a first-name basis with the industry. As DEFcom.Advisors? Doug Ferber, who in 2009 helped broker Larry?s first post-Citadel acquisition, reflects, ?How many people in our business do we know instantly when we hear their first name? Not many. We had Mel for a while, but he?s out of the business. There was Carl, but unfortunately he passed away prematurely. We still have Larry.?
It?s a status stemming from an incredible winning track record, both for Larry and for his investors. It began in 1984, when the CPA and attorney-turned-radio guy and two partners established Citadel Associates Limited Partnership, with two Tucson radio stations. That partnership was followed in 1990 by another, Citadel Associates Montana Limited Partnership, adding Montana stations to Wilson?s growing empire. By 1992, Citadel Communications was incorporated, and within a decade, it had stations in 26 states. Citadel eventually grew to 205 stations in 42 markets, with Larry Wilson holding the reins as president, chief executive officer, and chairman, until the sale to Forstmann.
In the years that followed Wilson?s exit from the industry, a lot happened, to Larry and to the business he had come to love. The economy tanked, operators grappled with new realities and new media, and Larry lost his wife after a long battle with cancer. No longer content to fish, ranch, and ride horses, he decided to get back in the saddle in radio. Along with Portland-based Endeavour Capital, he formed Alpha Broadcasting in 2009, negotiating a sweet six-station deal in Portland with Paul Allen. Since that time a new company, Live and Local, has been established to bring in outside investors. Under the L&L umbrella, Wilson has rolled up about 30 stations across the country, from the Dakotas to West Virginia, Illinois, South Carolina, and Mississippi.
While many 68-year-olds are ready to wind down, Larry Wilson is on a roll, energized by the opportunities he
believes continue to exist in radio. A ?local content? evangelist, Larry has this to say about radio: ?I love it, and I love the results it gets for people.? And his goal is to turn L&L into a cash machine, generating $50 million in cash flow every year. To do that, he?ll need more stations. Which is exactly what he spends the majority of his time looking at, reading about, and analyzing. In case you missed it, here's our cover story interview with Larry Wilson
RI: Take us back to 2001. Why did you decide to sell Citadel?
WILSON: Well, it was a great offer. I would like to say I was a genius and saw everything coming, but I didn?t. I saw that business had slowed down. But it really slowed down, mostly after we made the deal in January of 2001. I just felt it was a good offer. I did think that multiples were awfully high. I didn?t see any way they were going up. The only thing I saw that could happen was they could go down. But I never dreamed that they could go down as much as they did.
RI: For somebody who loves radio the way you do, you see those high multiples, how do you separate the two and say, ?I have to do this business deal?? That had to be difficult.
WILSON: It is. Probably just as important, or maybe more important, I loved the people. I hated to leave the people. My wife was ill, so that was another factor. She was very, very ill, and she got worse. Right after the deal was done, she had a fifth brain surgery, and that was really awful. That?s when I really had to leave. I just told Ted Forstmann that I couldn?t do it anymore. I had to stay home and take care of her. It did hurt a little bit. But when you are a public company ? even if you are a private company, you still usually have shareholders. I am not rich enough to just make my own deal. So you have to think of the shareholders. Ted Forstmann?s offer presented us with a tremendous opportunity.
?Larry Wilson is part of a vanishing breed of radio operators who ?get it.? All of us should welcome him back as he hires and grows radio professionals who are so important for the future of radio.?
Saga CEO Ed Christian
RI: After selling, you watched what happened to the company you built. What did you think?
WILSON: It was appalling. I probably shouldn?t say this, but I saw the money [former Citadel Chairman/CEO] Farid [Suleman] was taking out of there, and it was ridiculous. The shareholders got a horrible deal. It really disturbed me. I talked to a few employees. I knew them all, as far as the Citadel group goes. I felt very sorry for them, because they were miserable. Farid and [former Citadel COO] Judy [Ellis] treated many of them very badly. Both of them went off into the sunset with a lot of money, especially Farid. That?s not right. It shouldn?t have happened.
RI: Did you ever run into Farid or Judy and say anything to them?
WILSON: No. I told Ted I had to go. He said, ?Well, give me a little time.? I said, ?Fine, you?ve got as much as you want.? I retreated to my ranch in Montana to take care of my wife. He called me and asked me to meet him in Vegas. I did. We met at the Bellagio. I met him at the VIP check-in area. He said, ?I want to sit down and tell you what I?m doing.? I said, ?I know what you?re doing.? He said, ?How do you know that?? I said, ?I saw Farid at the regular-people check-in counter.? He just laughed and asked, ?What do you think?? I said, ?Well, it?s your company. I think it?s a bad decision, but it?s your company.?
RI: Did Forstmann ever tell you that you were right?
WILSON: No, he didn?t. That would not be in Ted?s DNA. God rest his soul, I did really like Ted. He had some enemies that I have read about, but to me, he was the consummate businessman.
RI: Is there any way to be prepared for a recession like the one we went through?
WILSON: Well, the only way to be prepared for that was to not have a bunch of debt. And all of us had debt.
That was what was feeding everybody, the debt. Myself included at Citadel. My last deal I did was $290 million for Dick Broadcasting. It was a great deal, as long as multiples stayed up. But you had to borrow the money to do deals of that size. That?s what everybody did. The Clear Channel deal is history. That?s what happened there. They borrowed so much money to do that deal. Of course, Cumulus has just borrowed and borrowed and borrowed. The only way you could?ve been prepared to weather it, and a good reason why [Saga CEO Ed] Christian is still around, is he has been very judicious on his debt. He didn?t do a lot of acquisitions. And he?s still out there operating.
RI: You talk about the deals. How do you spot a good one?
WILSON: Oh, boy. It?s 40 years of experience, I guess. These days, I look at tons of deals. A big portion of my time I spend looking at deals. I would say 70 percent I can eliminate in a half hour. It?s not the right cluster, they are bad signals, there are a lot of reasons it just doesn?t click for me. In the old days, we had the luxury of being the consolidators, and you could hand-pick your stations, as I did in Albuquerque, Modesto, Providence, Knoxville. If you didn?t run into Lowry Mays, you were golden.
Mays was an expert at this. He was the best there ever was. Anything Clear Channel owns, for the most part, is pretty darn good. Today, you can?t do that. Clear Channel has so many stations. Cumulus has a lot of stations. A lot of them were Citadel stations, and those were really good clusters. I am really selectively looking for properties that I think are underutilized, that I think our teams could bring expertise to and make them grow.
RI: What made Lowry Mays an expert?
WILSON: He started out the hard way. He did it himself. I learned a lot from watching Lowry Mays. He knew about Class C. He knew about clear channel AMs. He picked great facilities. And he did it himself. He built relationships. That?s the way I did it, or I?m trying to do it today. I?m trying to get to know these owners and let them know that we treat our people really well. Most owners care about their people and who they are going to when they sell out. I felt good about it, when I sold out to Ted Forstmann, because I loved the guy. I think he was a true gentleman and a man of his word, a quick study. But then when I saw what happened, I got very disappointed.
?Larry and I have been close friends for over 20 years. He is loyal and a straight shooter. His handshake is a deal. Double-cross him, and you?ll be sorry. He?s a tough guy, but has a big heart and is very fair.?
Bob Fuller (pictured here with Wilson)
RI: In a couple of years, it will be 20 years since consolidation. Good or bad for radio?
RI: Should there be more consolidation, or are we at the right place?
WILSON: I think we are probably at the right place. What do you want to do, let one company own all the stations? That doesn?t make any sense. What you?ve locked in to here, for the most part, with the legislation that was enacted, is three major competitors in each market. That?s what it is in most places. If you compete really well, you could have one person doing 50 percent of the business, but not much more than that. I don?t see how you consolidate any more.
RI: At some point, you decided you were getting back in. Why was it the right time?
WILSON: Well, it wasn?t the right time. 2009 was not the right time to get back in. 2013 is probably the right time. I hope it?s the right time, because I?m doubling down right now. But I did a lot of studying. I did a lot of soul-searching, and just regular searching, of, ?Do I want to get back in this? Is it still a viable business?? And I concluded back in 2009 that I thought it was still very viable. My old partners at Endeavour Capital joined me and encouraged me to do it. We were a little early, but I don?t regret getting back in.
We acquired some wonderful stations in Portland, Oregon [for $50 million]. We have six stations. But we had to do a lot of fix-up on them ? a lot more than we had anticipated. We had to change formats. We had to switch the News/Talk from AM to FM. We did about every gyration you could do in Portland. That was really Bob Proffitt and his team that did it. Yes, I was in the strategy sessions, but they did it. They did a phenomenal job. What we have there now is a wonderful machine. It?s fantastic. It?s doing well. It is live and local at its best. We?ve got a place in that community, and revenues are starting to show it. We?re doing very, very well.
RI: After Alpha in Portland, you kind of went quiet.
WILSON: We totally put our head down and focused on fixing Portland. It was kind of the petri dish to see if this was really still a vibrant business. It?s not quite as vibrant as it was, but it is still an excellent business. The whole proof in the pudding is that it still gets phenomenal results for advertisers. As long as that keeps happening, they will keep buying advertising.
The other thing is, as long as you supply super-good content, people will come to you. There is no substitute for great content. I see a lot of local talent being terminated, and that?s not a good sign. These people in local markets are stars. Come to Portland and go out to lunch with one of our stars, you will find out what big stars they are, because people recognize them and want to talk to them. That?s a big deal. It?s going to continue to be a big deal with L&L and Alpha.
RI: So with Alpha, you had your head down. When did it come back up?
WILSON: Prices kept going down and down and down. In 2012, I finally decided I would start looking again. I knew I would have to put together a new team, because Endeavour Capital?s investment in us was through a fund that is fully invested. I aligned myself with some of my old friends in the radio business, Bob Fuller and Steve Cody, and Kit Snyder at Little Rock. A group of us put up the money and we started L&L.
WILSON: RI: You got a great deal on Triad. Take us through that one.
It was a busted deal. They put it on the market. They had great expectations of multiples. I declined it. Six months later, nothing had happened. I decided to go back and dust it off and take another look. It was obvious they were going nowhere. [Former Triad CEO] David Benjamin obviously did not want to sell. It was a very contentious deal. Fortunately, we persevered. It tried our patience, big time. But we persevered and we got the deal. It was well worth it, especially after we sold Fargo. Our net cost on that was, I don?t even want to talk about it, it was so low. It was a great deal.
They?ve got some superb stations in Peoria and Bloomfield, and even in Fargo. Jim Ingstad knew what he was doing when he bought them. They?ve got great operations down in Gulfport and Biloxi. Savannah and Hilton Head was all messed up, but we think we?ve got that figured out. We are on a course to move forward with that. We are really happy with it. I am not sure exactly how we got the deal. I think we got the deal because we could get the money and nobody else could.
?Larry possesses old-school attributes. He is an astute businessman who is fair in his dealings and whose word is his bond. He is one of those people with whom you feel comfortable to conduct business on a handshake. He is a man of character who knows how to operate radio stations!?
Beasley Broadcast Group Chairman/CEO George G. Beasley
RI: Where do you want to take all this?
WILSON: I thought you were going to tell me. We are little guys, and we are just picking our way. We?re being very selective in what we buy. I don?t have a goal of a few hundred stations, or 500 stations. All I know is I?ve got a team together that knows how to do this. I feel extremely confident in them, and I want to give them resources to let them do their thing.
RI: It?s safe to say you?re looking at deals.
WILSON: No doubt about it. I would like to get this to $50 million to $75 million in cash flow. That?s the only real goal I have. That?s what drives me, the bottom line, and really providing a great operation in a local community, serving that community yet still making a nice profit for the shareholders. We?re going to keep going as long as I can continue to attract equity, attract debt, and borrow more money. We are not going to borrow crazily. We kind of all drank the Kool-Aid, and it was pretty cool at the time. It was a great run, but looking back in hindsight, it was bound to slow down. You can?t do double-digit growth in any business forever. But I think now, the growth is decent.
RI: Do you have an eye on any particular markets?
WILSON: It doesn?t matter where. We are not focused on the little tiny markets. I think that?s a good business. It?s just not one that we want to be in. But if we find a small situation where you?ve got a dominant cluster, we will look at that. Bloomfield is a great example. Bloomfield, West Virginia. We love it there. The guy that runs it is fantastic. He?s been there a long time. It just keeps on cranking. I don?t set out to say, ?I?ve got to be in New York,? or something like that. My wife said, ?What book are you reading right now?? I said, ?The BIA database.? I?ve got three or four books on my desk that I haven?t started. I am totally immersed in this right now. My office is nothing but notebooks. It?s notebooks of potential targets, not that have come up, but things that I would like to own. There are a lot of notebooks.
RI: What is the real multiple in radio right now?
WILSON: I think no matter what they say, the top end for the biggest markets would be 6 1/2-times. You can look at the deal that was just done for Seattle and Phoenix, and those were ?beachfront property,? and I think the multiple was in that area. Then it gets lower as the markets get smaller, in my opinion. I think probably, overall, you would say it is a 6-multiple deal. Some owners are realistic, and some are not.
Some are hoping for higher multiples, and once I get all these bought, I hope they?re right. I?m not sure that if you?re looking to get it on the multiple side, it?s going up much. I don?t think it is. It might go up a little over time. But to me the key is to be a really good operator and produce margins of 30 percent-plus. If you do that and you keep your debt manageable at a 3- to 4-times cash-flow level, I don?t see you getting hurt, and I think you would make a really good return on your investment down the road.
RI: Could you see yourself buying a company somewhere near the top 15 to 20?
WILSON: I would definitely look at that, if that became an opportunity. It really comes down to our confidence in our ability and my confidence in my team. I really want to give them things to work. If there were a bigger one that comes available at the right price, you could buy just about any of them if they had a big multiple, but I am not going to do that. But if I found one that I thought was reasonably priced for what they have, I definitely would take a hard run at that. I have access to a lot of capital.
That would be very interesting. If we did get that opportunity, I could get the money. But I can only get the money if the deal is right. I couldn?t get the money to pay 8-times. No investor in their right mind is going to pay 8-times.
"Every now and then you see someone who has deep experience in an industry, a knack for timing, and an eye for a good deal buck "conventional wisdom" and make a move that goes against the trend. Larry's reentry into the business demonstrates his belief that there is a lot of life (and money to be made ) in the radio business if you buy right and know how to operate. And he's got skin in the game which sends a strong message to his people and fellow investors. I wouldn't bet against him."
..........Dick Ferguson
RI: So L&L stands for ?Live and Local,? not ?Larry and Larry.?
WILSON: Some people think it?s ?Larry and Lynn.? My new wife, her name is Lynn. But it?s not.
RI: You?re basically making a statement with that. Talk about why you picked that name.
WILSON: It?s just the heart and soul of what we believe is important now. Not to say that national programming isn?t good in some instances. It is good. Rush Limbaugh has done really well. Hannity has done well. There are lot of examples of national programming, syndicated programming, that does well. But when I?m talking about live and local, it?s not just on the air. It?s about our people getting involved in the community: being on the board of the Pioneer Square in Portland.
Pioneer Square influences a lot of great things that happen in that community. We?re very much involved with the Rose Festival and the Jazz Festival. That?s what I mean by live and local.
We believe in having live morning shows where it fits, and live all kinds of shows during the day. That really works because if you are syndicated, the difficulty with that is you don?t have somebody who can go out on remotes, or go out in the community and be MCs at concerts. I think all of that is really the heart and soul of radio. You?ve got to be out in the community and be visible and really make life better in these places. That?s what I mean by ?Live and Local.?
RI: Let?s talk about the industry. What happens, in your opinion, to Clear Channel in the five years?
WILSON: The speculation is that they will end up with just the big markets at some point, and sell off the others. I honestly don?t know. We compete against them, but that doesn?t really give me any insight. You can either keep operating the way it is and hope to pay down debt, or you can sell off some stuff and pay off some debt. Or you can sell to a bigger company. I think the latter is probably unlikely in that they are so big, it would be hard to swallow.
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RI: What about Cumulus?
WILSON: I think their focus appears to be trying to fix the big markets. They?ve got a pretty ugly situation in the old ABC markets. That?s just what I read. I don?t know much about them. I think they are just trying to fix what they?ve got.
RI: Does digital play a role at L&L?
WILSON: It?s very important. In Portland, where we?ve really had some time to let it percolate, we are doing very well on that front. In the other markets, one of the things that we tell the people we will bring to them is some ideas on digital. Frankly, none of them that we?ve bought have been very far advanced in digital. We hope, over time, to change that. I think it?s really important. I think some people write that it?s all over because of digital. I don?t buy that. I think that?s not the correct thinking. What I still see is a lot of texting with young people ? an unbelievable amount of texting. I have a lot of grandkids. They are still fighting over which radio station we are going to listen to when we drive in the car. That, to me, is a very good sign that young people are still listening. Listenership is still very, very good in radio.
RI: How are old are you? How is your health? Do you think you are going to be doing this until you take your last breath?
WILSON: I don?t know. I think that?s a long time from now. I hope it?s a long time from now. I?m 68 years old. I?m in good health. I work out as often as I can. When I?m on the road, I try to make it a practice to walk for an hour every day in the early morning. I plan to do this as long as Bob, [CFO] Donna Heffner, and [Director of Programming Scott [Mahalick] will put up with me. I guess in many ways, I am awfully demanding. I am very impatient. But I try to be good to the people I?m with. I do push pretty hard.
As long as I?m able to keep pushing and driving the ship, that?s what I want to do. I?m very fortunate to have the people I have with me. I wouldn?t want to be doing this quite like I did at Citadel. I?m not saying I?m not involved in operations now, because I am, but I have trust in Bob and Scott and all the others to hit it the right way. I can operate from 30,000 feet and be part of the big decisions, and I am perfectly content. I let them drive the rest of it. I think I am going to do it for quite a while.
RI: Are you saying that in your Citadel days you would call the studio to ream out the morning man?
WILSON: No. I never did that. I might after the show. I was probably on the phone with Bob Profitt more then than I am now. I make the same decisions he makes and he makes the same decisions I would make, when we don?t even talk to each other. I see it over and over and over again. I have developed a trait that I can stand back a little farther. I think that really helps an organization if someone is looking from 30,000 feet. I might see something that nobody else sees, because down in those trees, you don?t see everything.
RI: Is the radio industry in a good place right now?
WILSON: I think it is. I wouldn?t be here if I didn?t think it was. I just hope that this centralization doesn?t run too far. People are what makes this business work. If you don?t treat your people right, or you don?t have enough people, people will wear out. You can only have somebody voicetracking on five stations for so long, and then they are going to get tired and go sell cars or go do something else. That is probably the biggest concern I have ? if things are cut back so far to save costs that the people are getting worn down. We just used LinkedIn to find a manager in Savannah. She reached out to me, I read her profile and told her to call me. We started talking and found a spot for her. People are unhappy in this business, and we?re going to try to capitalize on that.
Reach out to Larry Wilson at larry@wilran.com
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Jack ?Big Jack? Armstrong returns to his 2 to 6 p.m. shift Thursday after suffering a stroke May 17 on the station how owns Oldies 1380 KSRV-AM in Ontario, OR. The stroke did not cause permanent physical damage, centering on the part of the brain that controls speech, leaving Armstrong unable to go on the air. After four months, doctors have cleared Armstrong to return to the radio.
7-3-13
Clear Channel Jacksonville announced the return of Planet Radio, Jacksonville's Real Rock, on 106.9 W295AZ and WNWW-HD2. Market Manager Marv Nyren said, "We are thrilled to bring back Planet Radio and a brand that has been missed by rock music fans in Jacksonville." Planet Radio will feature artists like Foo Fighters, Alice In Chains, Shinedown, Three Days Grace, and rock from the 80s and 90s. The station returns to the market after three years and will broadcast commercial-free through Labor Day weekend.
5-10-13
Jacobs Media announced today that programmer, researcher, talent coach, and writer Mike Stern will rejoin the company as a consultant. Stern worked for Jacobs back in the early ?90s during the launch of the company?s Edge format. Since that time, he has programmed Alternative, Rock, and Classic Rock in markets as diverse as Dayton, Las Vegas, and Chicago.
?Mike brings a wealth of experience and new thinking to our company. Beside his Rock background, Mike has focused on talent coaching, writing, and ratings ? three important components that can help Jacobs Media better serve its clients,? noted Jacobs Media President Fred Jacobs.
Stern?s programming resume includes VP/Programming for Q101 in Chicago (Emmis), as well as successful runs at WLZR/Milwaukee (Saga), the Peak/Denver (Emmis), KXTE/Las Vegas (CBS), and the sign-on of The Edge/Dayton (ARS).
5-10-13
Beginning Monday Summit Media will transition The Rickey Smiley Morning Show, to the station where Smiley began his career in radio, 95.7 Jamz WBHJ, Birmingham. The Show moves from Power 102.1. Executive VP/COO of Summit Media David DuBose said, ?We are super excited to welcome Rickey back home to 95.7 Jamz. Rickey started his radio career here in Birmingham with us, and we know listeners will love hearing Bernice, Lil Darryl, Granny, and his entire cast of characters as well as Ebony , who is also an alum of 95.7 Jamz.
Smiley said, ?I was the one of the first talent on the station when it came on the air working as a comedian on the Buck Wilde Morning Show and the station has continued to do great things. I am really excited about helping to take it to another level with Dave DuBose and team. The Rickey Smiley Morning Show team will be heavily involved in all things Birmingham.?
3-15-13
"A Grateful Nation," debuted in 2012 as a one-hour program, but was expanded to a three-hour format in its second year due to popular demand. News/talk stations can support military families Memorial Day weekend by airing the show which is a spoken-word program honoring those who have fought and died to defend America, and the loved ones who share the burden. ?A Grateful Nation? is a project of Fisher House Foundation, which provides no-cost housing and other support for the families of wounded warriors while their loved ones are being treated at military and VA hospitals.
The program is distributed by Premiere Networks. For more information and to sign-up for ?A Grateful Nation,? contact Kurt Kretzschmar at Premiere Networks at 602-374-6351 or kkretzschmar@premiereradio.com.
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3-1-2013
Greater Media says Baltazar will co-host mornings with Pebbles on Hot 96.9 FM in Boston. Baltazar hosted mornings on JAMN 94.5 in Boston with Pebbles from 1994-2001. After 12 years apart the duo will be back together starting Monday. Baltazar has been out west hosting mornings on CBS radio's NOW 100.5 in Sacramento.
?I had to pinch myself and ask if this was a dream to reunite with my radio soul mate, Pebbles, who I enjoyed such great chemistry and success with in Boston,? said Baltazar. ?What a winning formula: Rob Williams as front office genius, Cadillac Jack as the masterful coach & Pebbles as my playmaker. I can't wait to say hello to Boston & rekindle our amazing relationship!?