Industry News Bits 2-8-21

KeepTheFaith Radio celebrates it’s 10th anniversary. It was 10 years ago this past weekend that KeepTheFaith launched on a few dozen radio stations. Today the program produces nearly 150,000 cumulative hours annually on some 300 signals in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Australia and has been the top-rated show of its kind in America for 7 years running.

Congratulations to everyone at KeepThe Faith!

Greg Yoder has launched “Keys For Kids Radio” targeting the little ones with Christian music, radio dramas, and special programming, aimed at pointing kids to Christ.

“People are stuck at home; they want something for their kids to do, and they start searching [online] for ‘Christian kids radio’ or ‘kids’ devotionals,’ and they find Keys for Kids Radio,” Executive Director Greg Yoder says.

To live stream check it out at the Keys for Kids Radio website or download the Keys for Kids app.

According to an Inside Radio report that tallies monthly format counts shows the Contemporary Christian format is one of the year’s biggest gainers in number of stations on the radio dial. Led by EMF, CCM had a net gain of 32 stations from January 2020 to January 2021.

CCM grew from 1,270 outlets in January 2020 to 1,302 in January 2021, a net gain of 3%.

Reviewing the top 10 U.S. radio formats, based on the number of outlets, Country remained on top with 2,201 outlets, mostly consistent with where it was one year ago. Religion, which includes Teaching and Variety, was steady in second place with 2,036 stations, followed by News/Talk (2,002), Contemporary Christian (1,302), Variety (1,256), Spanish (1,231), Classic Hits (1,148), Sports (666), Top 40 (617) and Classic Rock (591).

WPOZ/Orlando (Z88.3) sister station Spanish Z102.5 “La Z” checks in with HisAir. Here’s the La Z staff masked up in a meeting in Deano’s office.

Pictured is the “La Z” staff Coppelia (with the Minnie Mouse mask), in back Adam, Dean O’Neal, Daniela, Eunice & Zoraida.

After many years dreaming of having a sister station to the Z88.3 in Spanish today they thank God that the Z102.5 is a dream that has come true. The purpose is to proclaim the name of Christ, through music that encourages you with a message of love and hope to help you live better!

Former EMF VP Radio Randy Chase has been promoted to EVP/Programming at Summit Media. He succeeds Bill Tanner who passed away last month. Chase exited EMF in March 2020. Chase joined EMF as Air1 PD in 2013 moving to KLOVE PD, and VP Radio thereafter.

HisAir is saddened to report the passing of Brian Tankersley. Brian passed away last Friday morning due to Covid, he was just 64 years old. Brian was a Christian music producer, engineer, multi-instrumentalist, label A&R exec whose career spanned over the last 40 years. Please keep the Tankersley family in prayer during this time.

Milestones:
Dave Paul celebrates 34 years at WRBS/Baltimore
Jeff Atherholt celebrates 21 years at WRBS/Baltimore
Erin Branham celebrated 16 years at WRBS/Baltimore
Peggy Stapleton celebrates 14 years KSGN/Riverside
David Shantz 1 year at Family Life Communications
Daryl Pierce 7 years at Strong Tower Christian Media/Ohio
Olga Kaye 6 years at Spirit FM/Ireland
Jon Yinger 28 years at Christian Broadcasting System
Rick McConnel 35 years at Monumental Studios
Don Burns 1 year at KCBI/Dallas

Prayer List:
Heather Sheppard
Therese Romano
Sean Troland