People in the News

Steve Bowers, the host of "Blue Suede Forever" on Jackson, Tennessee's WNWS (101.5 FM), will retire on Thursday, the station announced. His retirement caps more than four decades of broadcasting in various markets.

Colorado Public Radio says it has hired Dana Meyers to serve as a new host for its adult album rock channel, Indie 102.3. Meyers joins CPR and Indie 102.3 from WZBA in Baltimore, where she served as host and program director.

YEA Networks has announced that Charlotte Allison-Watts is retiring. Watts joined YEA in June of 2019 after spending 9 years in Sales with iHeartMedia Dallas.

Wright was the long-time CEO of Midwest Communications, a company he helped launch back in 1958. He was also on Radio Ink's 40 Most Powerful People in Radio list for the past 9 years. The cause of death, according to COO Michael Wright, was natural causes. Here's what the industry is saying about this long-time broadcaster...

John McDonald, a published author and radio broadcaster widely known for his dry humor and conversational style to radio listeners in Portland, Maine, died on Tuesday at the age of 78. His death was confirmed by his son, Jeremiah, who told a local newspaper that McDonald had been in poor health for a while.

Guaranty Media says "The Moon Griffon Show" will return to its Baton Rouge talk station WBRP (107.3 FM) next year. The show will air on WBRP weekdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. local time, a station official said in a press release Thursday.

Cox Media Group says it has appointed Justin Wenokur to serve as its vice president of digital revenue and sales strategy. Wenokur previously served as the senior director of digital strategy for Cox Media's Local Solutions.

SportsMap Radio Network says it will debut a new program called "First Name Sports" on January 2. The show will be hosted by Jeff Michael and Greg Franks, and will air on the SportsMap Radio Network weekdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time.

The U.S. Senate confirmed the nominations of two new board members for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Kathy K. Im and Diane Kaplan were confirmed during a late evening vote; Rubydee Calvert's re-nomination to the board was also confirmed.

Cumulus says Alexis "Lexi" Ziccardi has been hired to serve as the mid-day host at Buffalo alternative rocker WEDG (103.3 FM, The Edge). A native of Western New York, Ziccardi comes to the station from Jacksonville, where she worked as a morning producer and on-air personality there.