People in the News

Former leading NFL tight-end Martellus Bennett is a lot more than a retired footballer, and we learn that from his new podcast, Revenge of the Jocks, which launched August 2 on PodcastOne Sportsnet. The weekly program goes beyond Bennett the athlete, as the Super Bowl champion explores the world of creativity.

ENCO has appointed broadcast industry veteran John Casey as Director of Sales. He will report to ENCO President Ken Frommert. Casey has spent the last 20 years with NewBay Media (recently acquired by Future plc), where he spent the majority of his time leading Radio World newspaper.

David Milstead, better known to radio listeners throughout Middle Tennessee as David Tower, died overnight Friday, July 28, 2018 at his home. Milstead was a recent inductee into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame. Milstead was hired by WMAK-AM back in 1970 as a “news reader.” Within a year, he was news director. Other Nashville stops included WYHY-FM (Y-107) and WLAC.

On Wednesday, Westwood One announced the promotion of Julie Kim from Senior Traffic Director to Vice President, Traffic. Kim began her career in 2003 as a Traffic Coordinator with Premiere Networks.

The Georgia Association of Broadcasters is pleased to announce the selection of individual finalists for the 2018 GABBY Awards, which will be presented on October 20, 2018 at the Westin Savannah Harbor. We have them all listed here...

ESPN continues on down the simulcast road, and on Monday, August 13, at 1 p.m. ET, ESPN Radio’s weekday The Stephen A. Smith Show will join Golic and Wingo, The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, and The Will Cain Show on ESPNEWS, making the network the TV home of all four of ESPN’s weekday national radio simulcasts.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal is reporting that former syndicated radio host Art Bell died of an accidental overdose from a cocktail of prescription drugs. Bell died April 13. He was 72. The coroner’s office, according to the paper, determined Bell had four prescription drugs in his system: oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, and a muscle-relaxant.

Carson Cooper was the voice of Public Media's WUSF in the morning in Tampa Bay. He also was part of the creation of WUSF’s public affairs show, “Florida Matters,” serving as its first host. And since 1999 Cooper was a host and programmer of Jimmy Buffett’s Radio Margaritaville on SiriusXM. Cooper was 58.

The board of directors of the New York State Broadcasters Association has announced its Hall of Fame Class of 2018. The class will be inducted at the New York Leadership and Hall of Fame Luncheon during the NAB Show NY. The luncheon will take place at 12 noon on Thursday, October 18 at the Jacob Javits Center in NYC. 

Westwood One is taking over syndication of The Baka Boyz two mix shows. For the past 17 years, The Baka Boyz have been serving up three hours of weekly mix programming customized for the mainstream Pop, Rhythmic, and Urban formats.