People in the News

Cumulus has appointed Jesse Kage APD and afternoon driver for Rocker WNNX-FM/Rock 100.5. Kage, the longtime PM Drive host for WXTB-FM/98Rock in Tampa, was most recently PM Drive host at WBRN-FM, also in Tampa. Kage will debut on Rock 100.5 on Tuesday, September 5, 2017.

KDEC Station Manager and Morning Show Host Jeni Grouws (left of Erica Farber) has been awarded the 2017 MIW Rising Star. Back in 2016, the Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio Group announced an alliance with Marketron to establish the “MIW Rising Star Award. KDEC is owned by Decorah Broadcasting in Decorah, IA.

Entercom Norfolk announced that WNVZ-FM PD Natalia Soniak will be taking on PD duties for 94.9 The Point (WPTE-FM). Soniak replaces Barry McKay who's job was eliminated. McKay continues to voicetrack 98.9 The Buzz in Rochester NY and Magic 98.9 in Greenville, SC. McKay is also still the voice for Entercom's news outlet KMBZ in KC.

The company has hired Lauren Boyle (left) to lead the Dallas office as VP/D.O.S. And Lauren Welch is promoted to AE, also in Dallas. Boyle has worked at Azteca America TV, ESPN Deportes, Cultura (Dieste), and McCann Erickson. Welch moves into her new role following two years as a Sales Support Coordinator. Prior to that, she was a Sales Assistant at Katz.

iHeartMedia Charlotte has hired Chuck “DZL” Thompson as PD and afternoon host at Alt. Rocker 106.5 The END. DZL most recently served as Program Director and Midday Host for XL102 in Richmond. It's a trip back to The END for Thompson. He previously served 8 years as APD and Music Director at the station.

Todd Stach has been named Network PD at WAY Media. Stach is a Christian music radio industry veteran, most recently serving as Chief Content Officer/Director of Programming at The River in Columbus, OH for the past 11 ½ years. WAY-FM and WAY Media Network are heard on FM signals in 26 states.

Our friends at Media Monitors tell us that Laurie Logan has been hired as its new West Coast Sales Executive. Logan, who had been Affiliate Sales Manager at United Stations Radio Networks, will be in charge of managing and increasing Media Monitors client presence on the West Coast. Prior to working at USRN Logan worked for KFI-AM, Rockline and Premiere.

JVC's Orlando Rock station has signed veteran rocker Mick Dolan. The time of his air-shift has not been announced. Dolan spent years at Orlando’s WDIZ, then WJRR and Smooth Jazz outlet WLOQ. He joins Bud 94.1 from Salem Media Group where he was doing news and traffic reports.

Black Diamond Broadcasting has hired Trudi Daniels to host mid-days on Rock 105 & 95.5 in Traverse City, MI. Daniels is no stranger to the rock genre, having been a familiar voice on Detroit rock stations for the past 25 years. Trudi was a part of the Drew & Mike Show on legendary rock station WRIF for nearly 22 years, and spent 3-years as the Morning Host on classic rocker -WCSX.

This goes back to a story we first reported in May about Amos Ayers. The 49-year old former host of Wild 102.9 in Reno was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulted an 18-year-old. He was accused of taking the 18 year old back to his office where he allegedly assaulted her. Ayers has plead guilty to the sexual assault charge and now faces one to six years in prison and will have to register as a sex offender.