Indiana RadioWatch: September 20, 2005

Northeast

Religious/WLYV (1450am, Fort Wayne) is sold by Jon Yinger's Christian Broadcasting System to Chris Langford's Fort Wayne Catholic Radio Group. John Pierce brokered the $700,000 deal and for those historians, also owned WLYV before he sold it to Yinger's Christian Broadcasting System.

Artistic Media Partners' CHR/WDDB (106.3fm, Columbia City) flips format by dropping CHR on Friday 9/9 for stunting involving repeating one song per day over the following six days - Artists included Patsy Cline, Burl Ives, and D.H.T., amongst others. On Thursday (9/15), the station changed formats to Soft AC. The new call letters are WSHY - "Fort Wayne's Favorites of the 60's and 70's." A sample hour:

Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water
The Righteous Brothers - You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling
Neil Sedaka - Laughter In The Rain
Paul McCartney - Listen To What The Man Said
Neil Diamond - Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon
America - Sister Golden Hair
Elton John - Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
Little River Band - Reminiscing
The Association - Windy
Jim Croce - I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song
Johnny Nash - I Can See Clearly Now
Badfinger - Day After Day
Diana Ross & The Supremes - Reflections
Paul Simon - 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover
Cat Stevens - Morning Has Broken

Finally, WSHY has a new website at http://www.sunny1063fm.com

A promotions shift at Federated Media as Jodi Hamilton segues to oversee promotions at N-T/WOWO (1190am, Fort Wayne), Country/WQHK (105.1fm, Decatur), Hot AC/WMEE (97.3fm, Fort Wayne), and Sports/WKJG (1380am, Fort Wayne) while Stephanie Todich replaces Hamilton at Rock/WBYR (98.9fm, Van Wert, Ohio) and Classic Rock/WFWI (92.3fm, Fort Wayne).

With Rob Kelly now programming both Federated Media Country/WQHK (105.1fm, Decatur) and sister Hot AC/WMEE (97.3fm, Fort Wayne), he leaves his afternoon spot on "K-105." Dave Michaels takes the afternoon spot, having recently exited the Group PD post for Artistic Media Partners' stations in Fort Wayne and Lafayette.

The new Artistic Media Group PD is J.J. Davis. In Fort Wayne, Davis will program Country/WBTU (93.3fm, Kendallville) and in Lafayette, he'll program Country/WLFF (95.3fm, Attica).

Federated Media's Classic Rock/WFWI (92.3fm, Fort Wayne) promotes Steve Michaels ("Tiny") to MD and Bob + Tom local producer under PD Billy Elvis. Also, Crystal segues to nights.

Congratulations to Dan Austin, BJ Stone, and Dude Walker - the morning show at Federated Media's Country/WQHK (105.1fm, Decatur) on being nominated for a CMA award in the "Small Market Personality of the Year" category. The awards will be handed out in November.

Northcentral

Oldies/WGTO (910am, Cassopolis, Michigan) is the number one Internet stream in Michiana. Station officials cite many online listeners from the Chicago area tuning into WGTO after the demise of local oldies station WJMK in June.

American Family Association's Religious/WRXH (89.3fm, Plymouth) is now on the air.

Congratulations to PD Dave Broman and the staff of Citadel's Country/WWKI (100.5fm, Kokomo) on being nominated for a CMA award in the "Small Market Station of the Year" category. The awards will be handed out in November.

Northwest

Artistic Media's Country/WLFF and Classic Rock/WSHP exchange frequencies. The August 6 flip now finds WLFF/"The Wolf" on 95.3fm (Attica) while WSHP/"The Rocket" is now hard on 95.7fm (Brookston). Purdue University sports are split on WSHP and WLFF.

Dana Marshall is now PD at Artistic Media Partners' CHR/WAZY (96.5fm, Lafayette).

Central

Pilgrim Communications' Contemporary Christian/WIJY (95.9fm, Franklin) changed formats on Sunday morning to - you guessed it - polka music. A press release sent to IRW proclaimed that polka is the "fastest growing music genre in the industry" and iterated that the Indianapolis area has over 7,000 people of Polish descent. IRW wonders how long this format will really last.

Indianapolis has lost a popular former morning man. Charles William "Bouncin' Bill" Baker, legendary WIBC morning man, passed away on August 12. Born Charles William Baker, he handled mornings on the then-Top 40 powerhouse from the late 1950's through the mid 1960's. Baker also handled voicework for the Indiana State Fair. Last year, he was inducted into the Indiana Disc Jockey Hall of Fame. He was 77 years old.

Indianapolis also lost a veteran voice talent. Billy Moore passed away on 4 August at the age of 62. Moore was once Production Director at WIBC (1070am, Indianapolis) as well as station imaging voice for WZPL (99.5fm, Greenfield). His career also included stops in New Orleans, Jacksonville, Florida, Omaha, Los Angeles, and Monterey, California. His voicework included stations such as KUBL in Salt Lake City, and WSIX in Nashville.

Entercom AC/WTPI (107.9fm, Indianapolis) PD Gary Havens exits. Scott Sands is interim PD while continuing his responsibilities as OM/PD of sister Hot AC/WZPL (99.5fm, Greenfield).

Clear Channel Alternative/WRZX (103.3fm, Indianapolis) morning host Gonzo Greg exits after five years in mornings. Why? Dave Lindquist's article in The Indianapolis Star reveals the oft-cited "irreconcilable differences."

Entercom Imaging Director A.J. exits for similar duties at KDWB in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A.J. was responsible for imaging Entercom stations Hot AC/WZPL (99.5fm, Greenfield) and AC/WTPI (107.9fm, Indianapolis).

Clear Channel Rock/WFBQ (94.7fm, Indianapolis) begins a news partnership with LIN-TV's WISH-TV (Channel 8). WFBQ "Q-95" will air hourly updates, weather, breaking news, and severe weather information from WISH-TV-8.

It's a trifecta - Congratulations to Susquehanna Country/WFMS (95.5fm, Indianapolis) morning show Jim Denny, Deborah Honeycutt, and Kevin Freeman, as well as separate nominations for night guy Darren Tandy and Vicki Murphy. The morning show, Tandy, and Murphy were all nominated for CMA awards, competing in the "Large Market Personality of the Year" category. The awards will be handed out in November.

A quick check of the "Radio with Pictures" file reveals that McGraw-Hill ABC affiliate WRTV (Channel 6, Indianapolis) adds Jason Heath as News Director. Heath arrives from Assistant News Director of WVIT-TV in Hartford, Connecticut. We're reminded that Heath is the fifth News Director of "RTV6" in eight years. But what about WRTV's last News Director? Jason Heath's predecessor was Tim Larson. Larson was recently named GM of ABC affiliate KIFI-TV in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Westcentral

Emmis Communications recently announced the sale of four television stations to LIN Broadcasting. In Terre Haute, Emmis sold CBS affiliate WTHI-TV (Channel 10). The combined deal is for $260 million.

Midwest Communications CHR/WMGI (100.7fm, Terre Haute) PD/MD/Afternoon guy Matt Luecking exits. Sister Hot AC/WWSY (95.9fm, Seelyville) PD Chad Edwards (recently named to the PD post!) is now PD of both stations. Now what about Matt?

Matt Luecking lands (feet first, presumably) across town at Crossroads Communications station Hot AC/WBOW (102.7fm, Terre Haute). There, he'll handle afternoons and Promotions Director duties for all the Crossroads' stations (WBOW, WAXI, and WSDM).

Crossroads Communications lost one of its own recently. Sharla Cretors-Daniel, 33, and her 13 year old daughter Lanie died in an automobile accident on Monday 22 August. Cretors-Daniel, formerly afternoons at WBOW was recently promoted to Creative Accounts Director and handled Promotions for all the Crossroads' stations. On-air, she was well known for telling "Mom stories" and connecting with listeners. Matt Luecking (see above) now handles Sharla's afternoon on-air duties.

Lisa Knott arrives as PD for Crossroads Communications' Standards/WAXI (104.9fm, Rockville) and Oldies/WSDM-FM (97.7fm, Brazil).

Andrew Brown is now APD for Crossroads' Sports/WSDX (1130am, Brazil).

Southeast

After just over two years as Jazz/WJZL (93.1fm, Clarksville), the Clear Channel station flips format to Classic Rock and takes the call letters WTFX-FM.

Southcentral

N-T/WBIW (1340am, Bedford) welcomes Allan Hackney to the morning drive slot. Hackney once worked weekends at the former WGRL/Indianapolis.

Employment Opportunities

White River Broadcasting, Columbus, Indiana is searching for an afternoon news anchor/editor/reporter for a four station group. The selected individual will work in an excellent environment and receive a competitive compensation package including 401 (k) pension plan. Previous news experience is preferred, but not required. T & R today to Kevin Keith, White River Broadcasting Company, P.O. Box 1789, Columbus, Indiana 47202-1789 or via e-mail at kevinkeith at wkkg dot com. White River Broadcasting is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

101.5 WKKG, South Central Indiana's #1 Country station, is looking for our next great communicator. The right person will have the desire to do and say the things on air that are important to our listeners lives, put in the show prep time required to be successful in this area and have the initiative and drive to seek out local relatable chatter for the show. Is this you? You will be multi-tasked with other responsibilities including voice-tracking a shift for another station in the cluster. You'll also be expected to get out of the building when the show is over and create opportunities to be in our listening communities through appearances, organizations and speaking engagements. Yes, that means weekends, too. Do we demand a lot from our Morning Host? You bet. But, you'll be the person setting the table for the rest of the day. You'll work in state-of-the-art facilities and live in a great community, especially if you have kids. Wow us with your resume and air-check. White River Broadcasting is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Mail your best stuff to: Scott Michaels, WKKG Program Director, 3212 Washington Street, Columbus, Indiana 47203 or email it to scottmichaels at wkkg dot com

WHZR/Hoosier Country 103.7 currently has an opening our News Department. Responsibilities include: Write and deliver clean, concise morning newscast Monday - Friday, interact with morning person, and light production duties. Apply in person - 2100 E. Market St., Logansport, IN 46947. Hoosier Country is an EOE.

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

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