People in the News

John Wanamaker is departing Minnesota Public Radio to join the team at Iowa Public Radio. Wanamaker, who has been a fixture on Twin Cities' radio for two decades, will exit MPR on September 21 and commence his new role in Iowa in early October as local host of All Things Considered.

iHeartMedia has appointed Bill Davis as the new Vice President of Sales for its Chicago Region, effective immediately. In his new role, Davis will oversee the local sales team for all seven stations spanning music, talk, and news formats.

Veteran announcer Jon Bloom is set to become the new radio voice for the Phoenix Suns for the 2023-24 NBA season. He will be taking over from Al McCoy, who retired last season after decades of being synonymous with Suns broadcasts.

Southern California Public Radio President and CEO Herb Scannell is set to retire after four years in the position. Scannell, who previously had leadership roles at Nickelodeon, BBC Worldwide North America, and Mitú, will stay onboard until a successor is named.

Greg Solk, Audacy Chicago's Vice President of Programming and Operations, will transition from his current role to become the Head of Brand Strategy for the company's six Windy City stations. The news comes from an internal memo distributed by Audacy Regional President Rachel Williamson.

Don Barrett, a revered figure in Southern California's radio landscape, has passed away at the age of 81. Barrett was the creator of the "Los Angeles Radio People" website, which documented radio professionals in the Los Angeles market from 1957 to 1997.

Cumulus Media has named Melissa Forrest as the new Vice President/Market Manager for its Atlanta market. This is a return to the area for Forrest, as she served as the Atlanta Market Manager for iHeartMedia/Clear Channel Radio between 2008 and 2012.

Veteran radio host Robbie Daniels is embarking on a new chapter in her career after nearly 30 years at Fargo, ND classic rock station 107.9 The Fox (KPFX). Two weeks after leaving the station for personal reasons, she popped back up at a station across town.

Dick Bertel, a trailblazing figure in Connecticut radio and beyond, has passed away at the age of 92.B ertel had a long and varied career in radio broadcasting that spanned several decades and multiple stations in the northeast and abroad.

Radio veteran Cody Alan has joined SiriusXM's The Highway as the co-host of Highway Mornings with Cody Alan & Macie Banks. The show aims to deliver the latest updates in country music, pop culture, and entertainment with celebrity guests and listeners.