People in the News

Townsquare's Grand Rapids Market President Jeff Luckoff will increase his responsibilities to include statewide oversight of Townsquare’s Michigan local media clusters.

Townsquare promotes longtime employee Eric Meier from Regional Digital Specialist to Director of Content for its Michigan properties. In this newly created role, Meier will oversee all content, working with the local creators of the company’s 24 local media brands in Flint, Lansing, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids.

Kiss 103.1/WLXC-FM Columbia, SC is adding Rickey Smiley and D.L. Hughley to the new line-up. The Reach Media syndicated shows will cover morning and afternoon drive.

The American Urban Radio Networks has named Ebony McMorris to serve as its White House news correspondent. She most recently was with Reach Media/Urban One where she served as their National News Correspondent.

Cardle and Woolley has been added to mornings at Talk 1370AM (KJCE-AM) in Austin. Jim Cardle is the publisher of an online political newsletter; Lynn Woolley has three decades of talk radio experience.

Pablo de Jesus Colon, Jr., Connecticut's foremost Hispanic broadcaster and pioneer has died. He was the owner of WCUM 1450 AM/103.3 FM in Bridgeport, Connecticut. 

Arizona-based Riviera Broadcasting announced the addition of Nina D to middays on it’s HOT AC format HOT 97.5 & 103.9.

Gene Kirchner, the former owner of WRDN in Durand, Wisconsin has died. He and his wife bought the station in 1986 and owned it for about 15 years.

Howard Viken passed away Saturday morning at the age of 97. Viken joined WCCO in Minneapolis in 1950 and began a 39-year run for the station. Viken became one of the most recognized names in the state of Minnesota. Viken, a Marine, fought in World War II in the Battle of Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima.

Curtis Media Group has hired Matt Johnson as PD of PULSE-FM (WPLW/WWWPL) in Raleigh. Johnson has programmed stations in Naples, Salt Lake City and most recently, KSLZ in St Louis. Johnson replaces Jud Heussler who took a job with CMG in Jacksonville.