The FCC has granted WCFY/Evansville (operated by Christian Fellowship Church) approval for the church to move from 102.7 FM to 99.1 FM. Pending the installation of a new antenna. Signal interference from another station made the switch necessary, says Station Manager Steve Gubbins. WLME/Owensboro, Ky. moved its tower closer to Evansville and changed its frequency to 102.7 FM causing interference. WCFY is a 100-watt low-power FM. (12/31)

Salem talk WNYM/New York "970AM The Apple" adds Dennis Miller to line-up starting Jan 5th airing weekdays 11:00am to 1:00pm... (12/29)

BITS: Interesting article on WGTS/Wash DC in the Washington Post, click here to read... KTPL/Colorado Springs now programming the Moody Bible Network... CBS Radio Secular KYXY/San Diego has launched Christian HD2 channel "The Crossing"... Bott Radio Network is donating political advertising to local crisis pregnancy centers... (12/29)

WCVO/Columbus (104.9 The River) welcomes a familiar voice back to the Columbus airwaves. Stacy McKay joins the station for morning drive replacing "Scott and Sam". Stacy spent 13 years at cross-town AC, WSNY (Sunny 95).  WCVO Program Director, Todd Stach says, “This is a great opportunity for 104.9 the River to connect Stacy McKay back with area listeners.  We’re honored, privileged and excited to be a part of this.  "Mornings with Stacy McKay" will be about sharing real-life together with the audience beginning Monday, January 5th.”  (12/23)

Don Hughes, Pres, CEO of Great Plains Christian Radio reports they have put their sixth full power station on the air, KJHL/Boise City, Oklahoma. Their group now consists of KJIL, KHYM, KNGM, KJOV, KJRL and now KJHL.  Great Plains Christian Radio also has 39 translators as they reach parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, and New Mexico in addition to construction permits for five more full power stations. (12/19)

Michael Reagan is moving his five-day-a-week talk show to the American Family Radio’s 130-station national network.  Tim Wildmon, president of the American Family Association (AFA), said AFA’s American Family Radio will start a “new relationship with veteran talk show host Michael Reagan.”  “Michael’s new show will feature his conservative, high-energy, intelligent conversation with guests and listeners about the current events of the day while mixing in his Christian worldview to the discussion,” Wildmon said. “We are very excited about our joint effort with Michael Reagan to get the truth out across the country." Reagan’s one-hour program will begin airing from 5-6 p.m. Central time on Jan. 5.  (12/19)

Veteran Christian broadcaster Steve Tuzeneu is joining WAY-FM as Corporate Staff Engineer beginning January 1, 2009 taking the place of Morgan Grammer who left in October. Steve will be responsible for WAY FM's 6 Colorado Broadcast Properties, Denver Studios and Uplink facility based at the Corporate Office in Colorado Springs. Steve was previously with Great Plains Christian Radio in Abilene, KS, and for 16 years prior to that Blount Communications. (12/19)

Christmas came early for many Northwest Arkansas families this year thanks to KLRC/Fayetteville listeners. KLRC once again initiated its “Christmas Wish” campaign in hopes of touching the lives of listeners who are facing various challenges and need a helping hand this season.  "Christmas Wish began a year ago with the prayer of helping grant 3 wishes, now with the help of listeners across Northwest Arkansas we are seeing so many individuals, families, co-workers, and businesses touch the lives of so many in need,” said Mark Michaels, morning show host and program director.  “We're humbled to just be a part of it!”  (12/18)

Speakers announced so far for GMA Week include worship leader and founder of the Passion conferences and sixsteprecords, Louie Giglio, and William P. Young, author of the surprise best-seller, "The Shack." The week culminates with the 40th Annual GMA Dove Awards on April 23, 2009 at the Grand Ole Opry House. Dates for GMA Week are April 18-22 so mark it on your new 2009 calendar. (12/18)

The year 2008 marked the 30-year milestone for TWR-India, Trans World Radio’s partner ministry in the spiritually needy subcontinent. TWR’s fruitful ministry in India comprises church planting, evangelism and discipleship. The ministry in India began in five languages in 1978 from a single AM radio station with one 400,000-kilowatt transmitter. Thirty years later TWR-India broadcasts from various locations in 56 languages over AM, shortwave, FM, podcasting, television audio feed and Internet audio streaming. Some 383 programs are broadcast for 148 hours per week. On average, TWR-India receives approximately 20,000 listener responses per month.  (12/18)

WGTS/Wash DC GM John Konrad says WUSA TV/Channel 9 in DC did a news story on the WGTS ad campaign that answers the American Humanists Association (AHA) question of "Why Believe in a God"… the AHA answer was just be good for goodness sake. Konrad says "Our ad mimics the AHA’s in style and asks Why Believe in God – He believes in you…Good or Bad – we also added the viral component of a website www.whydoyoubelieve.org – where people can write out why they believe in God.  We also are adding a bumper sticker component, and will continue the campaign through the Inauguration. It is designed to be non confrontational – the language used is that the AHA asked a great question and we are providing a place for individuals to answer that question…"

The calls  to the station and the responses have been fantastic. Konrad adds that stories have been in the Washington Post as well. Click here to view video on WGTS blog. (12/17)

MOVEMENT:Lynn Carmichael was appointed General Manager of KTLF/Colorado Springs and Mark Hinca appointed Station Manager of KJRL/Abilene, KS.  (12/16)

Today was the official announcement on Dick Whitworth's appointment to Assistant Vice President for Media at Northwestern Media. HisAir.Net first reported the promotion on 12/15. Whitworth has been station manager of KNWI/Des Moines (Life 107.1) the past four years. He will now oversee 14 of Northwestern’s 16 radio stations plus its emerging media ventures. “Dick brings a wealth of experience and leadership to this position,” according to Dr. Paul Virts, Senior Vice President for Media.  “He has worked in noncommercial Christian radio for 32 years, 17 of which he was the director of the 11-station New Life Radio network in Illinois.”

A Reuters story out this past weekend reported that Contemporary Christian radio is now the second most popular radio music format in the U.S. in terms of number of stations programming the format The most popular music format is still Country, but Contemporary Christian is now in second place, with 945 stations, double what it was a decade ago. Click here to read the entire story. (12/15)

Former WOW/Des Moines talk host J. Michael McKoy joins KPSZ/des Moines (Praise 940) to do a show airing from 2-4pm starting Dec 22. (12/15).

As a result of the success of her 2008 best-selling studio recording, Relentless, Curb artist and GMA’s three-time reigning Female Vocalist of the Year, Natalie Grant, was the most-played female artist on Christian radio this year. According to R&R’s year-end Top 20 Christian AC Monitored Artists chart, Grant is the seventh most-played artist overall, and the only female artist in the chart’s Top 10. Her 2008 hits, “In Better Hands” and “I Will Not Be Moved,” are both among the Top 20 most-played songs of the year on R&R’s Top 100 Christian AC Monitored songs chart. “In Better Hands” is also the #10 song of the year on iTunes’ Christian & Gospel Best of 2008 chart, while “I Will Not be Moved” ends the year as the 11th best-selling song on the same chart.

Grant can currently be seen on the 14-city “Casting Crowns Christmas Celebration” Tour. Headlined by the Grammy Award-winning and multi-platinum selling Casting Crowns, the Tour features Grant as a special guest, along with Denver & The Mile High Orchestra, Avalon, Michael English and pureNRG.  (12/12)

God’s Country Radio Network welcomes their newest affiliate as WPRN/Lisman, Alabama makes the switch from ABC’s Real Country format to God’s Country.  WPRN General Manager, Ken Michaels, will continue on mornings with the remainder of the day filled with satellite programming from God’s Country. The format features Gospel and Positive Country from Country music’s top performers. (12/10)

Effective 1/5/09 KNWI/Des Moines (Life 107.1) Station Manager Dick Whitworth will be the Assistant Vice President for Media for Northwestern College & Radio.  Dick replaces Reid Holsen who exited last month for a position with the City of Sioux Falls, SD as human resource manager.. (12/9)

Congratulations to KSGN/Riverside PD Bryan O'Neal and staff as they celebrate some greta rating advances. In the just released November Arbitron PPM data for Riverside-San Bernardino (market #26) KSGN ranks 5th in Women 25-54 and 3rd in Women 35-54!  KSGN is also in the top ten (9th) in Adults 35-54. If you narrow it down to only to Riverside-San Bernardino metro stations, KSGN is #2 in Women 35-54, #3 in Women 25-54, and 6th in Adults 25-54!  Morning drive and middays are ranked 2nd in Women 35-54; afternoons and nights are ranked 4th!  (12/8)

Effective immediately, Dean Ernst, VP of Operations with Play MPE, is no longer with the company. "I truly enjoyed what I did and especially would like to thank everyone for their kindness and support over the years. I have forged some incredible relationships and friendships. I am open to new and exciting opportunities and look forward to working with each of you again one day." Dean can be reached at 403-366-8626, his cell at 801-201-7897 or email at dean.ernst@mac.com.  (12/8)

Congratulations to the entire staff at KJIL/Meade, KS as they receive the 2009 NRB Media Award for Radio Station of the Year (Small Market). Presentation of the award will take place at NRB 2009 at the 66th annual convention in Nashville, TN,  February 7-10 at the Opryland Resort and Convention Center.

Over a ten year period KJIL has also been named as GMA Station of the Year, Focus On The Family Station of the Year and NAB Station of the Year (Marconi).  Along with these four national awards in the past KJIL has also been named Station of the Year by