Industry News Bits 2-26-19
HisAir.Net is sorry to report Christian radio personality Charlie VanderMeer, known as “Uncle Charlie” to young listeners around the world, has died at 84. VanderMeer, hosted the “Children’s Bible Hour” for decades, died Friday afternoon, Feb. 22, at his West Michigan home, surrounded by family and friends, according to Keys for Kids Ministries.
Christian Rap platform Rapzilla announces the acquisition of NewH2O.com, which will become the premier Christian Hip-Hop website for independent artists.
Rapzilla Owner Chad Horton, Editor-in-Chief Justin Sarachik, and Content Director/A&R Steven Solis will develop and grow New H2O into a joint venture to help expand the impact and reach of Christian Hip-Hop. The entire New H2O team are poised and committed to staying on board to help develop the New H2O platform into an indie launchpad.
WEEC/Dayton morning co-host Kelly Gilbert is preparing to become a full-time missionary with TWR. Gilbert will eventually leave her position as co-host of the morning show on WEEC after she raises the financial support to sustain herself as a missionary.
“She’s getting very close, with members of her support team already having pledged about 65 percent of the total goal so she can dive full time into the role the Lord has called her to at TWR” say John Summerville, who leads the TWR department she will join. John adds, “Gilbert’s WEEC experience is practically perfect training for the work she will be doing at TWR.”
TWR celebrated World Radio Day Feb. 13 recognizing radio’s important role in shaping lives, bringing people and communities together. “Radio is an old technology that is still a very relevant platform,” TWR CEO Lauren Libby said this week. “In fact, as we hear about the internet closing down in more countries, or being censored, then cross-border platforms become very important and particularly radio.”
TWR’s 65-year history of sending the gospel message to whole world, today it reaches 190 countries in more than 230 languages. Broadcasting on AM, FM, shortwave and even satellite, TWR Bible-based programming crosses barriers of geography, culture and politics, touching lives that missionaries often can’t reach. See a feature piece about World Radio Day.
All January monthly PPM results from Nielsen Audio have been posted. Go here for all the numbers. We’ll see the Feb results start to roll out March 18th. Christian Radio Ratings are sponsored by ShareMedia Services.
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