G105 To Add Seacrest?
Rumor has it, G105 will be going with Ryan Seacrest’s “On-Air” syndicated show in the afternoon. Apparently the company will be making other cuts beyond live, local talent, shedding several sales and managerial staff members this week.
The show is synicated in around 125 North American cities, however is not carried in Seacrest’s hometown of Atlanta. I have not heard his radio show yet, however if it is as good as his work filling in for Larry King, this will be a positive move for the station.
Jack Boston: 1958-2008
Yes, You Can ID That Song
Cnet’s Buzz Out Loud podcast this week featured yes.com. The site allows users to see a list of the most recent songs played on a radio station, the most frequently played songs, and a chat space to discuss the radio station. I’m not sure if this validates my fears or my hopes for radio. Here are some of the area stations on yes.com, listed in Arbitron (25-54) order:
- WRAL (101.5)
- WFXC (107.1)
- WQDR (94.7)
- WQOK (97.5)
- WYMY (96.9)
- WBBB (96.1)
- WNNL (103.9)
- WDCG (105.1)
- WRVA (100.7)
- WRDU (106.1)
- WWMY (102.9)
- WKSL (93.9)
- WZTK (101.1)
- WKRR (92.3)
- WJMH
- WQMG (97.1)
- WNCT (107.9)
Scott Fitzgerald To Take WPTF Morning Helm
WPTF (680am) has hired Scott Fitzgerald away from Cincinnati’s WLW (700am). Fitzgerald’s father, Jim Scott, has been the 40-year morning host at WLW, but Fitzgerald is putting his dreams of taking his father’s seat one day on hold. This will be Fitzgerald’s first full time on-air gig.
Solarte Back at 850…For One Day
Fans of 850 The Buzz’s “bartender”, Mike Solarte, will be excited to know that the bar will be open! On Tuesday, June 10, Solarte will take the mic from 10am until Noon. Perhaps there will be an appearance by The Undertaker and/or Garth. Who knows…?
The special show is part of the station’s year-long 10th anniversary celebration. In April the station welcomed back The Fabulous Sports Babe for one show. No word yet on whether Kayla will be returning for a show 😉
WQDR Still Rules Ratings
The Arbitron ratings for radio in the area during the winter have been released and WQDR has once again finished first. This time, though, they beat Foxy by just 0.1 points (1%). Most stations improved their ratings while others took small dips. WRAL took the biggest plunge since the last ratings period, 17%. One thing is for sure, the ratings don’t appear to offer any motive for changing the state of Raleigh radio.
Radio Station For Sale
Anyone want to jump into the AM market? Now is your chance (via):
NORTH CAROLINA… mid size market near Raliegh,NC. 10,000 watts day, some small power at night. Doing new talk format. Doing GREAT business. Very nice equipment. New owner will have to relocate tower site. Owner wants to retire, asking $500,000 cash and you move tower, or $600,000 and the present owner will move tower. Call Ted Gray for more information (336) 570-9133. This is a very good market with lots of potential. If you are looking for a good radio station to buy, this would be one to consider.
850 The Buzz Seeks Female Host
This ad at Radio and Records (who incidentally has a great collection of music charts) states that 850 is seeking a female radio host who "must have strong opinions and can handle lots of calls." I wonder what time slot they are filling…
WPTF Morning Slot Open
Apparently WPTF is seeking a morning radio show personality. According to the Curtis Media Website:
We’re NewsTalk 680 WPTF, and we’re seeking our next great morning host. If you love local radio, prepare like crazy, immerse yourself in the community and are a selfless team player, this could be your last job. Morning zoos and in-your-face instigators need not apply; this a fast-paced, news-intensive, politically-neutral show with a contributing cast of six.
Unfortunately Jack Boston was diagnosed with a leukemia recurrence right after he took the job a year and a half ago. I can only assume that Boston and/or Curtis decided that it wouldn’t work out. Hang in there, Jack!!!
The Fabulous Sports Babe Returns for One Show
To celebrate 850 the Buzz’ 10th Anniversary, The Fabulous Sports Babe is coming to Raleigh on April 10 for one show; 10am to Noon. The Babe’s national radio show was a lunchtime staple when 850am began its conversion to the Sports Talk format. Her weekday show was not only carried by more than 250 national radio stations, it was also shown live on ESPN2 during its peak.
I won 850’s big trip to eat lunch with the Fabulous Sports Babe in 1999. The programming manager at the time, Craig Schwalb, and his girlfriend flew my fiance and me up to NYC. We stayed at the Helmsley Park Central hotel for three nights, watched Babe do her show, and ate together at the All-Star Cafe. The station also supplied us with tickets for both the Rangers/Bruins hockey game and Saturday Night Live (Ray Romano/The Corrs). On Friday night Craig and Michelle ate at Windows on the World and got engaged, so 9/11 was difficult for them in a unique way. It was a trip for the ages for everyone involved, and we made lifelong friends in the Schwalbs.
Our trip had to be postponed three months because Babe was diagnosed with cancer. Soon after my trip she moved to Tampa and did her show from down there. ESPN radio dropped her and while she did find another syndicator, stations did not follow, and The Babe faded into the “I hope she’s doing well” category. To this day her website still reads “Gone Fishing”.
It will be great to hear her again. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to thank her for sending my fiance and me the Kiss of the Babe-ino on our wedding day. Nine years later, The Kiss works like a charm!
Relive "Oldies 100.7"
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