News

The FCC's enforcement bureau says it has reached a $540,000 settlement with Cumulus over a sponsorship identification issue at WOKQ (97.5 FM) in Dover, New Hampshire. The station broadcast 178 announcements in support of the Northern Pass hydro-electric energy project without identifying the sponsor of those announcements, in this case a company with a financial interest in the project. This is the largest payment in FCC history for a single-station violation of the Commission’s sponsorship identification laws.

The Broadcasters Foundation of America announced Thursday that Bob Pittman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of iHeartMedia, Inc. will receive its 2016 Golden Mike Award on Monday, February 29 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.

CBS Radio is moving Tim Pohlman from its Phoenix cluster to run Chicago after the firing of market manager Rod Zimmerman. On Thursday morning, Robert Feder reported that Zimmerman and D.O.S. Mark Day were "forced out in the wake of revenue declines." Feder wrote COO Scott Herman cited the disappointing financial performance of the Chicago cluster under Zimmerman and Day to the Chicago staff. Pohlman’s replacement in Phoenix will be announced at a later date.

iHeartMedia announced Thursday that Kelly Kibler, previously Executive Vice President of Operations for the company’s Texas Major Markets, has taken on a new role as Executive Vice President of Multi-Cultural Marketing for the iHeartMedia Markets Group. The bilingual Kibler will now work with groups across the company to target and communicate to its culturally diverse audience.

Greater Media’s HOT 96.9 makes the announcement that Ramiro Torres, also known as “The Freakin’ Puerto Rican," is joining the morning GetUp Crew with Pebbles, Melissa and Wiggy. Ramiro most recently hosted mornings at iHeartMedia's WJMN in Boston. He's been on the air in Boston for over 20 years.

A few months ago, Radio One announced the promotion of Vernon Kelson to Operations Manager for its Baltimore cluster of stations. Now, Kelson, a Baltimore native, is taking over afternoons on WERQ 92Q FM starting Monday. This is the replacement show for The Fam with QuickSilva and Lil’ Mo, which transitions to Radio One DC on WKYS 93.9 FM on January 19, 2016.

ESPN Radio will launch a new weekend lineup beginning Saturday, Jan. 9, highlighted by the debut of espnW’s The Trifecta with Spain, Jane and Kate on ESPN Radio. The program, which will air Saturdays, noon – 3 p.m. ET, will be hosted by espnW writers Kate Fagan, Jane McManus, and Sarah Spain.

The Dave Ramsey Show will now be heard on AM 1590 The Answer in Seattle, airing from Noon to 3 p.m. after leaving Bonneville's KTTH.

Gospel announcer Duane E. Neal is joining Greenville's 96.3 The Block weekend lineup, with Gospel On The Block. The show will air Sundays, 7 a.m.-2 p.m., beginning January 10, 2016

Alpha's KTFM 94.1 is now called Energy 94.1 -- “The station that sounds like San Antonio." All the live and local DJ's are staying in place, and the music is basically the same with a little more Latin flare thrown in.