So, I dial up the streaming link on North Florida’s “WOW-FM” this afternoon and who do I hear? JoJo Kincaid! No, not a shameless imitator. I’m talking about THE JoJo Kincaid, CHR Jock Extraordinaire! In 1989, I was doing afternoons on Q94 in Bend, Oregon. JoJo Cookin’ Kincaid was doing afternoons at Q106 in San… Read More »
Sad news out of South Dakota: Dave Diamond has passed away. Dave was one of the nine original “Boss Jocks” in the 1960s and early 1970s. His resume reads like a “who’s who” of AM Top 40 radio in California: KHJ/Los Angeles, KBLA/Los Angeles, KFWB/Los Angeles, KFI/Los Angeles, KRLA/Los Angeles, KDAY/Los Angeles, KIIS/Los Angeles, KCBS-FM/Los… Read More »
My old Placement Director at Brown College has finally retired! After over four decades of helping students become broadcasters, Mike Kronforst sent this message earlier today on his Facebook page: “After working at Brown Institute, Brown College and Sanford Brown College for 41.5 years, I retired officially on May 6th.” There will be an informal… Read More »
Big news out of the Upper Midwest: Three Eagles Communications has sold all 48 of their Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and South Dakota radio stations to Digity Companies. Headquartered in south Florida, Digity was founded by CEO Dean Goodman and Garrison Investment Group, through the merger of Palm Beach Broadcasting and GoodRadio.TV. After completion of 4… Read More »
Sadly, the earlier rumors have come true: Radio Shack will be closing as many as 1,100 stores in the coming months. This represents approximately 20% of the total and will leave the company with slightly more than 4,000 remaining locations. For this geeky kid of the 1970s & 80s who loved radio and electronics, Radio… Read More »
Sad news out of Santa Fe, New Mexico this evening: legendary broadcaster Larry Lujack has passed away at age 73. Larry had been battling esophageal cancer for the last year and was in hospice care at the time of his death. Larry is best known for his work at Chicago’s WLS-AM 890 and WCFL-AM 1000… Read More »
Today, a Twin Cities radio legend hung up his headphones. I remember being 9 years old in the summer of 1973, eagerly tuning the dial on my new Wards Airline 6 Band portable and soaking up every station I could hear. As I approached the right end of the dial, I noticed something new and… Read More »
Sad news out of Western Wisconsin and the Twin Cities: Michael W. Wegner of Osceola, also known as Michael J. ‘Donuts’ Douglas has left us. His was a household name in Minneapolis/St. Paul radio during the 1970s and 80s. I first heard Michael J. when I was about 9 or 10 years old. He was… Read More »
I read an article over the weekend and it’s taken a few days to sink in. Radio Ink Magazine has reported on three automotive industry representatives who appeared at a conference last week. One of their statements attracted immediate attention, followed by shock waves throughout the broadcasting industry: “AM and FM are being eliminated from… Read More »
Rich Hawk, legendary PD of KILO-FM 94.3 (originally on 93.9) in Colorado Springs has died. This follows his lapse into a coma, back on February 19. His career with the station spanned 30 years, beginning in 1976 when it was known as KPIK. Rich retired in 2006. During his tenure, KILO became known as one… Read More »
BREAKING NEWS: Jim Ingstad’s Radio Fargo Moorhead of Fargo, North Dakota has been sold to Duke Wright’s Midwest Communications, based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. This deal includes all 6 Radio Fargo Moorhead stations: KVOX-AM 740 Fargo, ND (740 The Fan) KFGO-AM 790 Fargo, ND (The Mighty 790) WDAY-FM 93.7 Fargo, ND (Y94 #1 Hit Music)… Read More »
Most of you are aware of Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day, taking place at restaurants across the country today. Organized by former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, it’s a response those who are trying to ban Chick-Fil-A from certain cities, due to their stance against gay marriage. Early reports show Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day to be a success. Photos… Read More »
Shocker of the day: morning man Tony Fly has walked out the door after 11 years with Minneapolis/St. Paul’s 96.3, currently known as K-TWIN. The station is owned by Northern Lights Broadcasting, owned by the Pohlad family. Prior to this, he spent 9 years in nights and then afternoons as Tone E. Fly across town… Read More »
The radio landscape just got a whole lot more interesting in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Duke Wright’s Midwest Communications has agreed to acquire KELO-AM 1320, KELO-FM 92.5, KSQB-FM 95.7, KXQL-FM 107.9, KRRO-FM 103.7, KTWB-FM 101.9 and KWSN-AM 1230 from Backyard Broadcasting. Midwest Communications currently owns 47 stations throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois and Indiana. So,… Read More »
Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by the wildfires in the Colorado Springs area. KRDO AM/FM is providing continuous news coverage and information via this link:
Former Fleetwood Mac member and solo artist Bob Welch has died of a self-inflicted gun wound. According to Nashville, Tennessee police spokesman Don Aaron, Welch was found dead with a chest wound by his wife at their home at around 12:15PM local time on Thursday, June 7. In addition to being a guitarist and vocalist… Read More »
If you lived in Southern California during the 1980s, you no doubt remember ‘The Mighty 690’ as the place to tune for the hottest hits! This station was one of America’s last big Top 40 AM outlets, ruling the airwaves with the latest tunes, exciting contests, and strong air personalities. Technically, ‘The Mighty 690’ was… Read More »
Former KTAR-AM 620 Phoenix morning host Bill Heywood and his wife, Susan, were found dead Wednesday afternoon in a Scottsdale hotel room, police said. Scottsdale, Arizona police Sergeant Mark Clark said that a note was found in the hotel room and they believe it was a murder-suicide. Sergeant Clark would not say what the note… Read More »
Former Clear Channel Top 40 KDWB-FM 101.3 Minneapolis/St. Paul PD Rob Morris has been named OM of CBS Radio’s KMNB-FM 102.9 (BUZ’N 102.9) and KZJK-FM 104.1 (104.1 Jack FM.) Rob will become PD of BUZ’N once his non-compete clause expires on July 2, 2012. While he’s waiting, Rob will join CBS cousin WJHM-101.9 Daytona Beach/Orlando… Read More »
The last time the KTWN call letters were heard on Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota was over 28 years ago on 107.9. Northern Lights has confirmed they will be returning as ‘96.3 NOW’ KHTC becomes Adult CHR ‘K-TWIN’ on January 1, 2012. Here is the official press release: “Steve Woodbury, the President and CEO of Northern Lights… Read More »