People in the News

The team at Radio One's MAJIC (102.1 FM and 97.9) in Houston tells Radio Ink that on-air host Robert "Bassman" Washington died Monday at the age of 49. General Manager Pam McKay tells Radio Ink the Radio One Houston family is saddened by the passing of their brother, friend, and co-worker. "Bassman always had an encouraging word and a smile."

iWAY-FM/Louisville has added Ben Smith as Community Impact Director/Operations Coordinator. Smith has most recently served with Thy Word Radio Network in Evansville, IN. He will lead community engagement efforts in the Louisville, KY, and Evansville, IN, markets.

John Skipper has stepped down as president of ESPN and co-chair of the Disney Media Networks. A portion of his resignation letter read: "I have struggled for many years with a substance addiction. I have decided that the most important thing I can do right now is to take care of my problem." The substance Skipper is addicted to was not reported.

Radio One in Washington, D.C. has announced the reunion of Tony Perkins and Donnie Simpson. Effective January 16, The Donnie Simpson Show featuring Simpson and Perkins, can be heard on MAJIC 102.3 and 92.7 FM Monday through Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The popular news show will see Mary Louise Kelly succeed Robert Siegel as co-host starting January 17. She will partner up with Audie Cornish and Ari Shapiro. Kelly replaces Kelly McEvers, who has been co-host of both All Things Considered and the Embedded podcast.

Dave Fogel is joining Kim Berk to co-host mornings on WLS-FM in Chicago. Berk’s former morning co-host Brant Miller, a local TV weatherman, will anchor weather on WLS-FM and WLS-AM. Fogel co-hosted mornings at the station from 2010 through 2013. He joins WLS-FM from WJMK-FM in Chicago, where he co-hosted mornings for the past five years.

Beasley Media Group have announced that T Gentry will be returning home as Operations Manager and Program Director of Kicks 99 for the company’s Augusta-based cluster on Monday, December 18. Gentry spent the past three years serving as Beasley's Tampa Operations Manager and Program Director at 99.5 WQYK-FM.

Cumulus Media has appointed Roger McCoy as Program Director for Country radio station NASH FM 92.9/WLXX-FM in Lexington, KY. McCoy will also be on-air host on NASH FM 92.9 weekdays from 3-7 p.m. McCoy was most recently evening personality for iHeartMedia station 92.5 WESC-FM in Greenville, SC.

Hubbard Radio EVP/Chief Financial Officer Dave Bestler announced Friday that Jeremy Sinon (pictured) was elevated to VP/Digital Strategy and Steve Goldstein was named Senior Director of Digital Sales Strategy for Hubbard Radio.

98.7 The Bull (KUPL) is bringing Jenn Hays to Portland to join Tony and Jake for mornings. The new show, Bull Mornings with Tony, Jake and Jenn, launches Monday, January 8. Jenn is originally from Oregon, having spent the past couple of years working in Billings, Montana.