Industry News Bits Mon 11-15-21
KCVO/Lake of the Ozarks, MO (Spirit FM) just finished a record breaking Fall Fundraiser last Thursday afternoon topping their $900,000 goal. Spirit FM in Missouri is a network of 23 stations and translators.
President Jim McDermott tells HisAir, “My wife, Alice, and I started this with just one 3kw station back in 1985. We just watched the totals grow this year in amazement of what God was doing. This is way beyond my wildest dreams, said Founder & President, Jim McDermott.”
WGTS/Wash DC evening host Brandi Lanai is exiting the station to relocate back to the West Coast. Brandi joined WGTS in July to host a new live & local evening show, NightLight with Brandi airing from 7 p.m. to midnight and produces by Tom Miner. She joined WGTS after a long run as morning co-host at KSGN/Riverside.
Brandi told HisAir, “I’ve been part of the WGTS family since 2013 and will ALWAYS be a part of that family. But a sudden and concerning change in my mother’s health means I need to be closer to my real family. When I got the phone call about mom I didn’t even hesitate, I just started packing. You only get one mom and right now she needs me. I’m sad to leave such an amazing opportunity at WGTS but, God is the one who directs my life and HE will continue to do that. I live a life in full surrender to HIM so I trust that HE knows what HE’s doing. He opened an extraordinary door for me at WGTS and I trust that HE will open another one.”
Brandi Lanai’s evening show consistently drew strong ratings and reached the #1 evening show in all of DC beating out WTOP and Delilah. Brandi Lanai is now seeking opportunities to voice-track or work remotely from her home studio in California. She’ll do the WGTS show remotely on a temporary basis.
Butler Music Group announced today that they have acquired the popular PR firm, AG Publicity (All Gospel Publicity/AGP), from Pamela Dalsky. AG Publicity has been providing guidance for Christian artists for more than a decade. Their prestigious client list has included artists such as Karen Peck & New River, The Isaacs, High Road, Michael English, Heart2Heart, Lindsey Graham, the Promise, Faithful Crossings, Chronicle, Joy Holden, Tim and Paula Hill, and more! In addition to Christian media, they also have mainstream media placement such as USA Today, Billboard Magazine, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Nashville Scene, GACtv, Fox News, CCM, Country Music Weekly, GMA News, and more.
Les Butler, (at left) owner and CEO of Butler Music Group, states, “I’ve known Pam for some time. We’ve always had a great working relationship. She’s a straight shooter, as am I. We have some clients in common, so periodically we would have to meet and work together. Recently, during one of those conversations, she mentioned that she might like to retire and sell AG Publicity. She had no idea that I was working on several new initiatives within BMG, FMG, and my new division, REAL Southern Gospel. One of the things that would make sense to mix in with all of my existing companies would be a PR firm with not only great radio and media lists but a fan base list as well. Pam and AG had all of the above. I expressed interest in buying it, and that’s exactly what happened. As of Tuesday, November 2, 2021, I purchased AG Publicity. Pam has done a great job over the years, and we are going to work hard to make her proud! She will help us during the transition, and we are very thankful that she will be a phone call away!”
NRB presented its 2021 First Freedoms Award to U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) recently during the NRB President’s Council Summit on Capitol Hill.
“Senator Hawley we are honored to present you with NRB’s First Freedoms Award,” NRB CEO Troy Miller said in presenting the award. “You have steadfastly defended religious liberty each day in your service to the people of this great nation, in particular to keeping all media platforms open for the spread of the Gospel.”
Curb | Word Entertainment’s We Are Messengers celebrates current single, “Come What May,” hitting #1 on the Mediabase Christian Audience chart today, 11/15. This achievement marks the group’s first #1 song at AC Christian radio.
Milestones:
Paul Gibson 6 years at Salem Media
Michael Tedesco 2 years at Way Media/Portland
Laura Chase 1 year at TWR
Laci Caviness 1 year at KVNE/Tyler
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