Indiana RadioWatch: March 31, 2001

Northeast

In March 2000, Federated Media GM Tony Richards earned COO duties within parent company Federated Media. Richards, GM of 4 of Federated's Fort Wayne properties (WMEE, WONO, WOWO, WQHK-FM), found it necessary to appoint a new Station Manager for the stations. Not looking too far (down the hall, in fact!), he's tapped Mark DePrez (Director of Sales for all 4 stations) for the position. DePrez assumes duties on April 9.

With Artistic Media Partners having servicemarked the moniker "Big Red Country," what's Kovas Communications' new "Big Red Country" (Country/WWWD [96.3fm, Churubusco] to do? High level sources at Artistic tell us that Kovas has been formally notified of the infringement. Incidentally, Artistic uses "Big Red Country" on its Country/WGCT (105.1fm, Ellettsville), an Indiana University network affiliate (hence the name).

Speaking of Kovas, Bobby Corona is the new PD/MD at Urban AC/WCKZ (94.1fm, Roanoke). He arrives from KMRK in Midland, Texas. Corona replaces Roy Jaynes, who was with Kovas as VP/Programming for about 2 weeks. Jaynes' last stop before The Summit City was the Cumulus stations in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Finally, Kovas Production Director Roxanne McVay exits.

Changes at Artistic Media's Country/WBTU (93.3fm, Kendallville): PD Jeff Moore exits. Also, MD Chevy Smith now tacks on Assistant OM & APD duties. Rod Tanner exits "B-93" for mornings at Kovas Communications' crosstown Country/WWWD (96.3fm, Churubusco). Finally, Lisa Swinehart is their new Promotions Director. Here's the new "B-93" lineup:

Mornings: Kris "Coyote" Underwood (5:30am - 10am) (From afternoons)
Middays: Chevy Smith (10am - 3pm)
Afternoons: Dave Riley (3pm - 7pm) (From nights)
Nights: "Go Country" (Syndicated by Radio One - It starts this week)

Some changes in programming at the Religious/WLAB network (WLAB, 88.3fm, Fort Wayne; W209BA, 89.7fm, Kendallville; and W215BB, 90.9fm, Warsaw). Amongst the changes: Tim Dawson returns to mornings, hosting "Sonrise at 6." Craig Alan moves to afternoons, hosting "Headin' Home." Finally, "Focus on the Family" moves from 3pm to 6pm. We presume that WLAB's website will have an updated schedule later this week (http://www.wlab.org), so if you're interested, check it out!

Northcentral

Country/WJVA (1580am, South Bend) drops its Classic Country format and now simulcasts sister Standards/WHLY (1620am, South Bend).

Northwest

A new PD at WAZY (96.5fm, Lafayette): J.J. Davis. Davis was formerly OM at WARU & WHZR in Logansport. Also, WAZY flips formats from Hot AC to CHR as of 16 March.

Veteran Rock/WKHY (93.5fm, Lafayette) PD Mike Morgan exits. Replacing Morgan is morning man Jeff Strange. Here's the new lineup:

Mornings: Jeff Strange & Chris James (6am - 10am)
Middays: Marley (10am - 2pm) (Up from afternoons)
Afternoons: Harvey (2pm - 6pm) (Up from overnights)
Nights: Trey (6pm - Midnight)

Scott Wagner, PD at Radio One Communications' Country/WLJE (105.5fm, Valparaiso) adds PD duties at sister Standards/WAKE (1500am, Valparaiso).

Eastcentral

Where are they now? Former Country/WQLK (96.1fm, Richmond) PD Buzz Cannon is now PD/mornings at WQXE in Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

Central

A format change to note: Alternative/WEDJ (107.1fm, Danville) flipped formats on 15 March to Spanish, as "La Primera," daily from 6am - 7pm; and as "La Rikisima," daily from 7pm - 6am. Sources tell IRW that both shows are leased.

Thanks to Marc Allen at The Indianapolis Star, we will give you the lineup at Indy's newest talk station: News-Talk/WPZZ (95.9fm, Franklin):

6am - 10am - "USA Day Break"
10am - 1pm - G. Gordon Liddy
1pm - 3pm - Tom Martino
3pm - 6pm - Stan Solomon
6pm - 7pm - Local News
7pm - 9pm - "Evening Sports Desk" with Greg Rakestraw
9pm - 11pm - Richard Essex
Overnights - Repeated G. Gordon Liddy & Stan Solomon

Speaking of lineups, here's the lineup for Emmis' new Soft AC/WYXB (105.7fm, Indianapolis):

Mornings: Scott Fischer (5:30am - Noon) (From sister WENS)
Afternoons: Eric Garnes (Noon - 7pm) (Also from WENS)
Nights: Delilah (7pm - Midnight) (Syndicated from Jones Radio Networks)
Overnights: Jim Cerone (Midnight - 5:30am)

A.J., Production Director for CHR/WNOU (93.1fm, Indianapolis) is now Director of Imaging for all of Emmis' Indianapolis FM properties (WENS, WNOU, and WYXB). Also at Emmis, Donna Dwyer-Pitz is promoted from Director of FM Sales to GSM at WENS, WNOU, and WYXB.

A Bob & Tom Affiliate Update: If you're in Bangor, Maine, the 101.7fm they're on is now WFZX, and they're now on simulcasted WNSX (97.7fm). In Peru, Illinois, they're now on WBZG (100.9fm), and in Columbus, Ohio, they're on WFJX (105.7fm).

Where are they now? Former CHR/WNOU (93.1fm, Indianapolis) late night guy J.D. Redman is now pulling down afternoons at KQIZ in Amarillo, Texas.

Westcentral

A stunt goes awry at Alternative/WZZQ (107.5fm, Terre Haute). On Monday 27 March, MD/night guy Aaron Green played "Stoplight Jeopardy" with his listeners. According to The Terre Haute Tribune-Star, listeners won prizes for stopping at green lights, calling the station on a cell phone, and reporting other motorists' reactions. After calls from angry listeners, as well as an irate local police department, GM Dave Kirsch decided to dismiss Green the following morning.

Before we leave WZZQ, PD J. Jay King exits. Dave Kirsch is handling PD duties in the interim.

Rick James, GSM at Crossroads Communications' properties (WAXI, WSDM-FM, WSDX, WSJX) exits. He also did mornings at Oldies/WSDM (97.7fm, Terre Haute). While Crossroads is still looking for a replacement for James' GSM job, his morning show duties are replaced by ABC Radio Networks' Jay Fox & Teresa Brown.

Speaking of Crossroads, their AM sports duo of WSDX (1130am, Brazil) and WSJX (1300am, Terre Haute) drops One-on-One Sports for ESPN Radio on April 2.

Country/WACF (98.5fm, Paris, Illinois) welcomes Tom Feser as News Director. Feser arrives from WTVN in Columbus, Ohio where he was a producer.

Southcentral

Susquehanna Broadcasting has purchased Sunnyside Communications' properties in Seymour and Jeffersonville. In the deal, they acquire C&W/WAVG (1450am, Jeffersonville), Soft AC/WZZB, and Country/WQKC (1390am & 93.7fm; both Seymour). Several sources alert IRW that plans are in theworks to downgrade WQKC's 25kW signal, thereby allowing an increase to Susquehanna's Country/WGRL (93.9fm, Noblesville).

Country/WYGB (102.9fm, Edinburgh) adds "Young & Elder" in mornings, syndicated by Westwood One.

That's it for this issue. See you in a week!

Blaine Thompson
Indiana RadioWatch

Back to the Archive Index

All pages Copyright Blaine Thompson. Articles, photos, corrections, and other contributions should be e-mailed to the editors.