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(By Ken Benson) For decades radio programmers have been obsessed with removing any programming element deemed to cause tune-out, whether a song, an irritating ad, or an obnoxious DJ.

Fez Watley's former co-host Ron Bennington posted the news to Instagram. “We lost our sweet Fez Whatley last night. His heart finally gave out,” Bennington wrote. “We are devastated, but we will always remember the laughter through our tears."Watley died of heart failure.

There was a time that sports station WEEI was a lot stronger in the Boston ratings. Along with The Sports Hub, the two stations were battling for the ears of the rabid Boston sports fan.

Former Indianapolis Colts lineman Joe Staysniak is no longer co-hosting the WIBC morning show. Staysniak was with the station for over 20 years, since 1998. There was no explanation as to why Staysniak left or who initiated the split.

dentsu has updated payment terms to 30-days for all minority-owned media partners in the United States. dentsu says the industry payment terms of 60, and up to 120 days, have put an enormous strain on minority owned media businesses, especially the smaller ones.

Audacy CEO David Field announced Friday that Chief Programming Officer Pat Paxton is leaving the company. Paxton has been with the company for 21 years. Jeff Sottolano (pictured) has been promoted to Head of Programming. Sottolano has spent his entire career at Audacy, Entercom and CBS Radio.

Michael Burger is the new Senior Vice President of Sales for iHeartMedia Raleigh. Burger comes over from iHeartMedia St. Louis where he was Vice President of Sales.

DLC Media has filed an application with the FCC to sell WVIG 95.9 to Educational Media Foundation. The sale of the station will leave DLC with four Terre Haute area radio stations with some programming and format changes.

(By Ed Ryan) Since our story about Cumulus mandating the COVID-19 vaccine for employees ran yesterday, we've heard from quite a few industry executives about the issue. Like the debate going on nationally, we heard varying, passionate and some angry opinions one way or the other. And they were all "off-the-record."

50 State Broadcasters Associations have sent a letter to leaders of Congress asking them to support the reinstatement of the Diversity Tax Certificate Program. The Associations say both H.R. 4871 and S. 2456 would encourage investment in TV and radio broadcast station ownership for women and people of color. Read the letter HERE.