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ESPN President John Skipper Resigns To Tackle Substance Addiction Issue
THE MOUTH, DECEMBER 19TH, 2017 –– John Skipper resigned on Monday as president of ESPN citing a problem with substance addiction. "I have struggled for many years with a substance addiction," Skipper, who also co-chairs Disney Media Networks, said in a statement. "I have decided that the most important thing I can do right now is to take care of my problem." George Bodenheimer will be the sports network’s acting chairman for the next 90 days. He had been its president from 1998 to 2011 and executive chairman until May 2014.
Skipper’s exit comes within a few days after Disney struck a deal to buy Rupert Murdoch’s Twenty-First Century Fox Inc for $52.4 billion. ESPN has recently struggled with subscriber losses and ratings declines reports Reuters,. Last month, it said it would lay off about 150 employees. Disney Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger, who extended his stay at the company through 2021 to oversee integration of Fox’s businesses, praised Skipper’s decision. Disney shares were down 0.2 percent at $111.09 on Monday afternoon. PHOTO/screengrab composite
KFMB Radio & TV San Diego Stations Being Sold To Tegna For $325 Million
THE MOUTH, DECEMBER 19TH, 2017 –– San Diego's KFMB radio and TV stations are being sold to Tegna for $325M reports The San Diego Union Tribune. The company said Monday that it is selling its CBS 8 TV and KFMB-AM (760-AM talk ) and FM (100.7 KFM|BFM) radio stations to Tegna, formerly Gannett Co. for $325 million. The family-owned Midwest Television, founded in 1952, entered a definitive agreement in which Tegna will acquire KFMB-TV CBS 8 and The CW San Diego television properties, as well as talk radio station KFMB-AM 760 and adult rock station KFMB-FM 100.7, home to the legendary Dave, Shelly & Chainsaw morning show (shown). Tegna owns 46 television stations in 38 cities nationwide.
“This is a marriage of two great broadcasting cultures,” said Dave Lougee, chief executive of Tegna, in a statement. “We have long admired our dedicated colleagues in San Diego and look forward to continuing the stations’ high-quality journalism, editorial independence and commitment to their local community.” Elisabeth Kimmel, president of Midwest Television, said in a statement that she was searching for an “excellent steward” for the television and radio stations that her family operated for more than 55 years. “We have found such a partner in Tegna, an innovative media company that shares our commitment to the highest levels of journalistic integrity and serving the greater good of the community,” she said.
Dave Fogel Returns To Mornings At Cumulus' WLS-FM Chicago
THE MOUTH, DECEMBER 19TH, 2017 –– Cumulus Media has appointed popular Chicago radio host Dave Fogel as Morning Co-Host on The WLS Wake Up Call weekdays from 5AM-10AM on 94.7 WLS-FM, Chicago’s Classic Hits station. Fogel joins Co-Host Kim Berk and will debut on 94.7 WLS on January 2, 2018. Berk’s former morning Co-Host Brant Miller, a local TV weatherman, will anchor weather on WLS-A/F.
This marks a return to WLS-FM for Fogel, a Chicago radio fixture since 1996 and Morning Co-Host on the station from 2010 through 2013. He joins Cumulus and 94.7 WLS-FM from WJMK-FM in Chicago, where he was Morning Co-Host for the past five years. Fogel started his radio career in Kansas City and has held on-air positions in markets including: San Diego, Washington, D.C., and Detroit. Fogel, who grew up in Hollywood, CA, as the son of television actor Jerry Fogel (who starred 
in the TV series "The Mothers-in-Law" and "The White Shadow") was exposed to celebrities and the entertainment world at a young age. In fact, Super Bowl MVP John Elway was his team quarterback in high school and actress Valerie Bertinelli was in his algebra class! Though Fogel moved with his family to the Midwest and attended the University of Missouri, he couldn't escape show business, as he shared a house with Brad Pitt in college (and fellow student Sheryl Crow gave the guys singing lessons of “The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi” song!).
FORMATICS: iHeart Launches The Bull In Denver; Bobby Bones Show Fills Mornings
THE MOUTH, DECEMBER 19TH, 2017 –– iHeartMedia’s announced the launch of 10 6.7 The Bull, Colorado’s New Country station. The station lineup will lead off with the Premiere syndicated The Bobby Bones Show. “We’re proud to be home of Colorado’s New Country,” said JoJo Turnbeaugh, Regional Senior Vice President of Programming for i HeartMedia Denver and Program Director of 106.7 The Bull. “Today marks the dawn of a new day for Denver’s Country fans,” said Tim Hager, President of iHeartMedia Denver. “No other company embraces the Country lifestyle better than iHeartMedia. Our unparalleled resources – including The Bobby Bones Show, unique on-air and digital content, and strong industry partnerships – are the foundation upon which 106.7 The Bull is built."
PROGRAMMING: T Gentry Returns Home To Beasley Augusta; Roger McCoy Tapped As PD for NASH-FMN Lexington;
THE MOUTH, DECEMBER 19TH, 2017 –– Beasley announces that T Gentry (L) will be returning home as Operations Manager and Program Director of Kicks 99 for the company’s Augusta-based cluster on Monday, December 18th, 2017. Gentry most recently spent the past three years serving as Beasley Media Group Tampa Operations Manager and Program Director at 99.5 WQYK-FM. He previously held the same position in Augusta. Chris O’Kelly will remain on staff as Assistant Program Director and Music Director of Kicks 99.
-- In other programming moves, Cumulus has appointed Roger McCoy as Program Director for Country radio station NASH FM 92.9/WLXX-FM in Lexington, KY. McCoy will also be on-air host on NASH FM 92.9 weekdays from 3PM-7PM. McCoy was most recently Evening Personality for iHeartMedia station 92.5 WESC-FM in Greenville, SC, following three years as Assistant Program Director, Music Director and Afternoon Drive Host for IHeartMedia’s 99 Kiss Country/WKSF-FM in Asheville, NC. Prior to that, he was Operations Manager, Program Director, and Morning Drive Host for 98.3 The BULL/WYBL-FM for Media One Group in Ashtabula, OH.
Mysterious Tongue Malady Silences Cox Radio's 'Golden Throat' Jaime Dupree
THE MOUTH, DECEMBER 19TH, 2017 –– He was the ‘Golden Throat’ of Cox Radio until the day he woke up and couldn’t speak writes The Washington Post's Manuel Roig-Franzia. Political radio correspondent Jamie Dupree has been covering Capitol Hill for more than three decades, but a mysterious tongue malady has stifled his ability to speak. It began in the spring of 2016 when Dupree awoke at his home in Bethesda, MD. In trying to speak his voice was 'suddenly, terrifyingly, inexplicably slushy' writes Roig-Franzia.
Eventually, he made two promises to himself: He was going to figure out the mystery of what was wrong with him and try to beat it. In April, Dupree drove to the Cleveland Clinic for an examination that led to the most conclusive diagnosis to date: He has a condition known as “tongue protrusion dystonia.” Basically, it boils down to the inability to control one’s tongue. Doctors and researchers are baffled by it. “We don’t know what causes it, and it’s quite rare,” Meanwhile, Dupree is determined to keep working. READ ENTIRE STORY HERE
EVENTS: Ivory Black Is 2017 'Next2Rock'
THE MOUTH, DECEMBER 19TH, 2017 –– Ivory Black, from Kansas City, Missouri, was announced as the winner of Cumulus Media’s inaugural neXt2rock 2017 competition — a national and local grassroots search for the nation’s newest rock star. The final competition event featured live performances from the top five national finalists, and a special performance by John Varvatos Records recording artist Badflower. Ivory Black will receive national radio airplay on Cumulus Media radio stations, and a recording contract on John Varvatos Records label under the Big Machine Label Group umbrella.
"Last year, my manager Klaartje Van Lue said, "by the end of 2017, you will have a record deal." Those words still ring in my ears, but what I never expected was to be recognized by the biggest independent record label in the world and get the response I received by experts in the music business after my performance at The Viper Room. It’s hard to put into words and I’m still trying to take in all that’s happened in the past week." "Radio leads the way when it comes to music discovery," said Mike McVay. EVP, Programming and Content, Cumulus Media. "neXt2rock 2017 genuinely discovers new artists, enables all of the contestants to be heard and allows the winners to take advantage of an amazing opportunity to have their music backed by a major label as well as played nationally on the radio. We’re very excited to see what the future holds for Ivory Black.” PHOTOS/ top right: Ivory Black of the band "Ivory Black" (L) and Keenan Franklin of the band "Ivory Black - bottom right: (L-R) Chris Lord-Alge, Scott Borchetta, Mike McVay, Steve Jones, John Varvatos, Gavin Rossdale, host Matt Pinfield, and Desmond Child - Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Cumulus/Westwood One
MORE JOY: Bender's $817,711: NASH New York's $113,638, The Tommy Show Brings Wreaths To Arlington Cemetery; KISS' Maney, Roy & LauRen Deliver $103,600 For Kids
-- Here's another small peek at the enormous ways radio is bringing joy to this year's holidays. At top, iHeart's 106.1 KISS FM (KBKS) Seattle's Bender & Molly Show raised an incredible $ 817, 711.47 in just 13 hours on Wednesday, December 13th, 2017 to bring its 15 year Radiothon total to over $ 15.7 million dollars! Bender’s One Big KISS for Seattle Children’s Hospital Radiothon brought the stories of Children’s patients, families, staff and volunteers to their listeners across the region (and the US via iHeartRadio), who responded with generous donations.
-- Cumulus Media-New York’s Country radio station NASH FM 94.7 (WNSH-FM - second from top) raised a total of $113,638 for Children’s Miracle Network through its “Miracle for the Kids” live radio broadcast on Friday, December 15, 2017. Westwood One nationally syndicated morning radio hosts Ty, Kelly and Chuck kicked off the successful listener event high atop Madison Square Garden studios in Cumulus Media-New York’s festively decorated performance studio Stage 17. PHOTO/L-R: Jesse Addy; Ty Bentl; Kelly Ford; Chuck Wicks and Katie Neal.
-- Boot Camp regulars Tommy McFly, Kelly Collis and Jen Richer (second from bottom) did it again this year. For the 5th year in a row, over 400 listeners of Entercom's 94.7 FRESH FM/Washington DC gathered at Arlington National Cemetery just outside of DC on Saturday, December 16 to lay wreaths on the nearly 240,000 markers along with the non profit Wreaths Across America. In the last half decade Wreaths Across America and 94.7 FRESH FM's have worked together raising money and awareness to provide a holiday wreath for each person buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
-- Finally on Thursday Dec 14th The Maney, Roy and LauRen Morning Show (bottom) held their 6th annual Secret Santa. The money raised is for the kids at Levine Children’s Hospital to insure they have lots of presents for the holidays. “We know it’s tough for families to deal with their child’s health and handle the stress of the holiday shopping... so we try and help make it easier.” - says Maney “The fact is your life is put on hold when your child is in the hospital. Some parents can’t leave to go to work so there’s no check coming in for presents. That’s where we step in” - Roy The 8 hour broadcast featured Cam Newton, NASCAR’s Martin Truex Jr. and actress Angie Harmon.
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Gene Simmons 'Vigorously' Denies Sexual Wrongdoing After He’s Sued By Unnamed California Radio Host
THE MOUTH, DECEMBER 18TH, 2017 –– Gene Simmons is being sued by a woman who says the Kiss star groped her and made “unwanted, unwarranted sexual advances” during an interview she conducted last month, according to legal documents obtained by TheWrap. The host (identified as “Jane Doe”) is suing for sexual battery, gender violence, battery and assault. 
According to the lawsuit, which was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court last Friday. The suit claims she was speaking with Simmons and his bandmate Paul Stanley at their Rock & Brews restaurant at San Manuel Casino in Highland, California on Nov. 1 when the incident occurred.
The plaintiff, identified in the documents as a “long-time on-air personality for a local rock station,” says Simmons grabbed her hand multiple times and “forcefully placed it on his knee and held it on his knee.” The accuser also says he “forcibly flicked/struck” her throat. “Defendant Simmons turned standard interview questions into sexual innuendos, which made plaintiff Doe extremely uncomfortable,” the suit states. The accuser also says Simmons “rea
ched toward [her] buttocks and touched it” while they were posing for a promotional photo together after the interview.
According to CBS/KCAL-TV following the report, Simmons 'vigorously' denied any wrongdoing in a statement (R) saying: Friends, I intend to defend myself against any alleged charges you may have been reading about in the media. For the record, I did not assault the person making these accusations in the manner alleged in the complaint or harm her in any way. I am conferring with my lawyers with the aim of vigorously countering these allegations. And, I look forward to my day in court where the evidence will prove my innocence. – Gene Simmons - WATCH HERE
Former Chicago Host Trish Biondo Reveals Some Radio #MeToo Moments In Facebook Post
THE MOUTH, DECEMBER 18TH, 2017 –– In a Facebook post titled, "Stay Strong & Speak Up" by longtime Chicago country host Trish Biondo writes 'My story didn’t involve assault or criminal behavior, but it’s important to remember that bad behavior in the workplace doesn’t just happen in headline 
screaming ways.' Biondo cites Time Magazine’s Person of the Year, “The Silence Breakers,” is an incredible moment and victory for women. One can almost hear the collective rejoicing around the world. I was one of those women cheering because #MeToo was a hashtag that I used this year.
Among Biondo's claims, she writes, "I had one boss repeatedly call my hotel room at a staff retreat and demand that I come up to his hotel room. Of course, I didn’t go even after he threatened with 'Don’t you know who I am. I booked this whole place. I can just go down and get the key to your room.'A few weeks later that boss removed me from the Music Director position I held for 16 years. Although I was devastated, I know I did the right thing. Another boss suggested I take naked photos, well, I could cover up strategically. Initially I laughed it off. Then he showed me pictures on his office computer of examples of the women who did that for him at previous radio stations. That was when things really changed for me.” Biondo closes by saying, For me, “The Silence Breakers” and all of the #MeToo stories remind us to stay strong, stay true to ourselves, our values, our beliefs, our convictions, to look out for one another, and to speak up. Hopefully, we are creating a better environment for ourselves and for future generations." SEE FACEBOOK POST HERE
REPORT: KQV AM Pittsburgh To Pull The Plug At End Of Year; Near 100-Yr. Mark
THE MOUTH, DECEMBER 18TH, 2017 – KQV 1410 AM Pittsburgh which began nearly 100 years ago is preparing to go off the air at year’s end reports The Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Robert W. Dickey Jr., the station manager whose family has owned or co-owned the station since 1982, delivered that news Friday morning to most of its 20 employees gathered at KQV. The station made no immediate on-air announcement and doesn’t plan any until Dec. 31, Mr. Dickey said. He calls the plan a “suspension” of broadcasting, allowing for the possibility some investor or buyer may come along in the interim, though he’s made no active efforts to sell KQV.
“Candidly, I think it’s a sad day for broadcasting,” he said in a phone interview. “It’s fair to say we’ve been trying to provide a community service. The bottom line is I just can’t sustain the business model. We’re an independent, labor-intensive format, and we were happy to take it on as long as we could financially do it.” Mr. Dickey, 61, whose sister and business partner, Cheryl Scott, died last month, said KQV would continue all of its existing programming until the end of the year. After that, he’s not sure what, if anything, anyone will hear when tuning in the future to 1410. KQV will always be remembered as the former “Groovy QV” that was once the home of Chuck Brinkman, Jim Quinn and “Jeff Christie,” the name used in the early ‘70s by future talk show host Rush Limbaugh. KQV AM has been News/Talk for the last 42 years.
Cumulus To Launch Alexa Skills Campaign
THE MOUTH, DECEMBER 18TH, 2017 –– Cumulus Media will Launch Amazon Alexa Skills For 300 Stations, its popular Westwood One brands, plus the leading dedicated Christmas Radio Skill, Christmas Radio. This is the largest collection of custom skills 
available with Amazon Alexa in the U.S. Cumulus and Westwood One collaborated with XAPPmedia on the rollout. Last week marked the kick off of a national consumer marketing campaign designed to educate listeners on how to find and enable skills, fueled by local on-air, video and social promotion.
The custom skills can be enabled vocally by using unique key phrases for each radio station; top Cumulus markets including New York City, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Chicago, Atlanta, San Francisco, and Dallas stations are now available.
"Voice-interactive technology is bringing radio listening back into the home and office, and will enable interactivity with our stations in the connected car," said Mike McVay, (R) EVP, Programming and Content, Cumulus Media. "Our strategy to create a custom skill for individual radio stations and programs, while educating consumers, is critical as smart speakers have created an entirely new, and rapidly growing platform to consume audio content."
ON-AIR: Jenn Hays Joins The Morning Show At KUPL Portland
THE MOUTH, DECEMBER 18TH, 2017 –– 98.7 The Bull (KUPL) is bringing in Jenn Hays to Portland to join Tony and Jake in Mornings. The new show “Bull Mornings with Tony, Jake and Jenn” launches Monday, January 8th. Jenn is originally from Oregon, having spent the past couple of years working in Billings, Montana.
“My whole radio career I have continued to hear how amazing the team at Alpha is. To say I’m excited to join such a legendary team is an understatement! Oregon is my home state and where it all started for me so I can’t wait to get back, get in the studio with my new team and start rockin’ the airwaves!” “Jenn is a star, ready to shine brightly in the Rose City. We’re thrilled to welcome her back home to tackle Bull Mornings with Tony & Jake. Let the fun begin!” – 98.7 The Bull’s PD MoJoe Roberts.
CHEERS: 26 iHeart Stations Raises $5.6 Million For St. Jude; KYXY San Diego With $227,243 For Children's Hospital; 93.3 The Drive Peoria Raises Over $180,000 for Children’s Hospital of Illinois
THE MOUTH, DECEMBER 18TH, 2017 –– Adding to the most wonderful time of the year, iHeartMedia mobilized 26 radio stations across the nation and collectively raised more than $5.6 million during the annual Country Cares for St. Jude Kids national radiothon, December 7 – 8. The fundraising event encouraged radio listeners to pledge $20 per month to become “Partners In Hope” with St. Jude. The event was supported across iHeartMedia markets in conjunction with The Bobby Bones Show – iHeartMedia’s nationally syndicated award-winning country morning show – and the $5.6 million raised in just two days this year marks iHeartMedia’s largest national campaign. Also, more than 80 country artists supported the St. Jude ‘This Shirt Saves Lives’ campaign in addition to the radiothon.
-- The Times of San Diego report that Entercom's KYXY-FM 96.5 raised $227,243 on Dec. 13 and 14 during its 8th annual Holiday of Miracles radiothon benefiting Rady Children’s Hospital. Patients included children with leukemia, brain tumors and cancer.
-- Alpha Media, Peoria announced its 93.3 The Drive’s 16th Annual Drive for Miracles radiothon raised $182,497 for the Children’s Hospital of Illinois. During the two-day radiothon on December 7th and 8th, John Riley and Nancy Flagg (shown top center) from “The Morning Drive with John and Nancy” aired live from the hospital lobby. To date, the Drive for Miracles radiothon has raised near $4 million dollars for the Children's Hospital of Illinois in Peoria.
SNAPS: Country 102.5 Boston's Jammin'
THE MOUTH, DECEMBER 18TH, 2017 –– Beasley Country 102.5 held it s annual Holiday Jam last night (12/14) at the House of Blues in Boston. This year’s event featured performances by Danielle Bradbery, High Valley and LOCASH.
Photo (L-R): Santa Clause, Music Director Dawn Santolucito, Promotions Coordinator Christina Serrano, Mid-Day personality Carolyn Kruse, Holiday Jam artist Danielle Bradbery, Morning Show Hosts Hannah Byrom and Jackson Blue, Afternoon Drive personality Kevin Kennedy, and Program Director David Corey
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