News

Noalmark Broadcasting Corp. of El Dorado has closed a $600,000 deal to buy two El Dorado radio stations, KDMS-AM and KLBQ-FM, from El Dorado Broadcasting Co., owned by Edward R. Partridge. Noalmark now owns eight stations along with two others in Magnolia (KVMA-AM and KVMZ-FM), about 35 miles away.

(By Bob McCurdy) Last Tuesday’s election and its aftermath got us thinking about a word that’s been mentioned a lot lately, “polarization,” and what might be causing it.

Nominations are now being accepted for the Country Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2017. The deadline is December 12, 2016. Applications can be submitted at www.countryradioseminar.com. Inductees will be revealed at Country Radio Seminar 2017, which will take place Feb. 22-24, 2017 at the Omni Hotel in Nashville.

The station with commence with the Holiday audio cheer Thursday, November 17 at noon. Listeners will get 24/7 festive music by Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby and others. Murphy & Meg in the Morning as well as Eric Paulsen, Hannah, and Dave Michaels will continue to host the station’s programming.

Dustin Fletcher takes the programming reins at iHeartMedia's Alt 104.9, starting December 6. He arrives from Richmond, where he was PD/midday host at iHeart's XL102 and 96.1 The Planet. He's also worked at stations in Boston, Savanna, and Knoxville. Fletcher will report to A.J., SVP/programming for iHeartMedia St. Louis, who said, "It is a privilege to welcome Fletcher to St. Louis for oversight of The New Alt 104.9."

Galaxy Communications has signed a national ad sales deal with independent rep firm Gen Media Partners. Galaxy has 14 central New York stations, headed up by President/CEO Ed Levine.

The Broadcasters Foundation of America has taken a step towards the future, unveiling a new logo (pictured at left), redesigning its website, and launching new social media sites. It’s all part of a rebranding campaign to make it easier for broadcasters to find help and give back.

In a memo to staff, CBS News VP/Radio Harvey Nagler said this is the "right time to sign off," and that he will be retiring to move into consulting work. His last day at CBS will be January 6. Nagler writes, "I feel very confident that I am leaving our network in the most capable of hands."

Westwood One COO Charles Steinhauer has created a centralized operational group with the changes effective immediately. The company is integrating the Business Operations and Research Teams and, as part of the restructure, the company has promoted Tim Seymour to SVP, Operations.

And Miami’s CHR Top 40 radio station, WFLC / HITS 97.3 has brought her in to soothe those stressed drivers. Kimmy started her radio career at COX Media’s WEDR/99 JAMZ in 2004. She was promoted to Morning Show Co-Host of the DJ Laz Morning Show in August 2014.