Just 2 days after WLTE-FM Minneapolis flips to BUZ’N Country 102.9 (see previous story), another heritage Lite AC in the Upper Midwest puts on their cowboy boots. This time, it’s Clear Channel’s WMT-FM, Mix 96.5. The switch took place December 27 at 9:00AM, a day and a half after Mix 96.5 ended it’s seasonal Christmas… Read More »
The world’s newest Country station has just been born! BUZ’N 102.9 debuted at 6:00PM on December 25, 2011 in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. CBS decided to jump the gun by 14 hours. (Advertised time of arrival was 8:00AM on December 26.) First song played: Jason Aldean’s My Kinda Party. LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!!!
Radio in the Twin Cities is about to get interesting again! This morning, CBS Radio announced that longtime A/C WLTE-FM “102.9 Lite FM” is about to become BUZ’N 102.9, the “New Buz’n Country.” Ever since Colfax’s BOB 100FM left the local airwaves more than 14 years ago, there has been speculation that someone would fill… Read More »
Radio Geek Heaven has just learned that Red Lewis has died unexpectedly at the age of 46. Red worked for KTOE-AM 1420 in Mankato, Minnesota. Along with Don Rivet, Barry Wortel, and Pete Steiner, he hosted ‘The Morning Blend’ from 6:30-10:00AM each weekday. Red Lewis also served as Production Director for the Minnesota Valley Broadcasting/Radio… Read More »
After serving East Central Minnesota for 16 years, Mora’s KBEK-FM 95.5 falls silent today (Friday, September 30, 2011.) KBEK’s 25,000 watt signal provided primary coverage to the communities of Mora, Princeton, Cambridge, and Milaca. They aired a unique mix of Oldies, featuring live and local air personalities. KBEK owner Colleen McKinney confirmed to the local… Read More »
Our prayers and thoughts go out to the residents of Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, and Cullman, Alabama this morning. Yesterday’s severe weather (April 27, 2011) produced massive tornadoes which killed or injured many people. At the time of this writing, the Alabama death toll from these storms stands at 128. That number is expected to rise. Live,… Read More »
Turns out, the rumors out of Kansas City are true. Entercom will be blowing up it’s “forever” A/C KUDL-FM 98.1 and creating an FM simulcast for Newsradio 980 KMBZ. The flip takes place on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 2:00PM CDT. The new combo will reportedly be marketed as “Newsradio 980 and now 98.1, KMBZ.”… Read More »
A small Wisconsin town is about to witness the return of local radio to their community. Durand Broadcasting, owned by Karla and Brian Winnekins, has purchased WQOQ-AM 1430 from Zoe Communications for $20,000. WQOQ-AM has been off the air for much of the past several years. Previously, it was simulcast with FM sister station WDMO-FM… Read More »
The 2,000 foot tower which had been home to WEAU-TV 13 and WAXX-FM 104.5 has collapsed. The tower at Fairchild, Wisconsin had stood since 1966. It was one of the tallest structures in the United States. WAXX-FM had been considered by many to be the biggest FM signal in the state of Wisconsin. It’s unclear… Read More »
Just a few minutes ago, Clyde Clifford announced that Beaker Street would cease to exist on KKPT-FM 94.1 just 6 weeks from today. The last Beaker Street show on ‘The Point 94.1’ will air on Sunday, February 6, 2011. This is a great loss for Little Rock radio as well as for those of us… Read More »
Today is Mike Cooper’s last day on-the-air. It’s a day many never thought would come. Mike arrived in KAYS way back in 1967. He became host of the morning show and Program Director shortly thereafter. Every fall, we’d see him in the KAYS booth at Oktoberfest. Every weekday morning, we’d hear him on-the-air. When Mike… Read More »
The last of the Good Neighbors has left the building. Charlie Boone has finished his final show on WCCO/Minneapolis-St. Paul. This completes a journey that Charlie began back in 1959. He is best known as half of the ‘Boone and Erickson’ morning show which he performed for over three decades with partner Roger Erickson. Along… Read More »
Minnesota broadcaster Doug Munneke has died of a heart attack after collapsing while he was snow-blowing his driveway. Police and emergency responders arrived at his house yesterday (December 11, 2010) at approximately 2:30PM. He had stopped snow-blowing about halfway through the job and entered his home, where he asked for help and then collapsed. Efforts… Read More »
NPR has fired longtime news analyst Juan Williams over comments he made on FOX News regarding Muslims. The remarks came during Monday night’s edition of “The O’Reilly Factor.” Bill O’Reilly asked Juan for his opinion of O’Reilly’s now-famous appearance on “The View” last week. As you may recall, O’Reilly’s statement that “Muslims killed us on… Read More »
Chicagoland Radio and Media is reporting that Randy Michaels has tendered his resignation to the Tribune Company board and will exit the building by the end of this week. Randy has been in Chicago since 2007, running WGN-AM 720 and the other Tribune properties for owner Sam Zell.
Radio friends in the Gainesville/Ocala, Florida market are reporting that WRUF-FM 103.7 (“Rock 104”) has ended the Album Rock format which it had been programming since 1982. At 11AM this morning, the frequency became home to the all new “Country 103.7, The Gator.” The previous Rock format will continue to air online at Rock104.com. My… Read More »
Jane E. Morgan has been named the new Operations Manager of Three Eagles Fort Dodge. She will oversee a 7 station cluster, becoming responsible for these stations: KWMT-AM 540 KVFD-AM 1400 KZLB-FM 92.1 (“92.1 The Blaze”) KKEZ-FM 94.5 (“Mix 94.5”) KIAQ-FM 96.9 (“Hot Country K97”) KXFT-FM 99.7 (“Sunny 99.7”) KTLB-FM 105.9 (“105.9FM The Eagle”) Except… Read More »
KFGO Radio is reporting that a Fargo businessman is being asked to pay back profits allegedly made from the ponzi scheme of Minneapolis businessman Tom Petters. Source: Jim Monk, KFGO News Center
The Cardinals are going back to their radio roots. As first reported today on STLtoday.com, the team announced that it will return its radio broadcasts to KMOX next season after five years at KTRS-AM 550, where they had been airing after a 51-year run at KMOX. Read more here:
Los Angeles, California (CNN) — Embattled radio talk-show host Dr. Laura Schlessinger announced Tuesday she will not renew her contract that is up at the end of the year, telling CNN’s “Larry King Live” she wants to “regain my First Amendment rights.” Schlessinger, 63, has been under fire for using the N-word repeatedly during an… Read More »