Industry News Bits MON 12-16-24
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Fundraisers this week .. Passion Radio/New Mexico .. – Let us know when your Station Fundraiser takes place… news@hisair.net
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Longtime Salem Radio Network (SRN) host Hugh Hewitt will be moving his morning program to afternoons, 3 to 6pm ET, replacing Dr. Sebastian Gorka, who is joining the Trump team at the White House. Hewitt will be replaced in the mornings, 6-9am ET, by Chris Stigall, WNTP/Philadelphia (AM 990 The Answer). Stigall has been with Salem for the last six years doing mornings in Philadelphia, and will continue there but will now be heard across the country, as well.
“While we are sorry to lose a great host in Dr. Gorka, we are delighted to provide these opportunities to Hugh and Chris,” said Salem Senior VP of Spoken Word, Phil Boyce. “This is an exciting time to be doing conservative News and Talk programming. Our listeners are enthused about the new Trump administration, and these two shows will be all over this transition.”
Integrity Music has hired Stone Meyer as VP Music Publishing. Previously Meyer worked both the radio and A&R teams at Capitol Christian Music Group and served as executive pastor of worship and creative at The Bridge Church in Spring Hill, TN. In his new role at Integrity Music, Meyer will be responsible for guiding the label’s creative publishing team and growing the company’s song catalog as they further develop their global roster of songwriters.
“Stone is a leader who genuinely loves creatives,” said Blaine Barcus, president of Integrity Music. “I am thrilled for him to join our team and am confident that he will make a significant, positive impact on our staff, as well as on our talented songwriters. His experience as a pastor and worship leader, coupled with his background in radio and A&R, have uniquely equipped him to lead the creative side of our publishing team and build upon Integrity’s amazing legacy.”
WGTS/Wash DC listeners extended hope to hundreds in 2024 in the form of much-needed laundry detergent. It was a unique way of helping many families with a basic and important need. Over the year at Sticker Stops and more, listeners donated 1,347 bottles of laundry detergent to this Hands and Heart campaign, billed “Loads of Hope.” This translates to more than 76,000 loads of laundry!
The Rockville Women’s Center was one of the recipients. Thomas Ozio, promotions assistant, says, “During that visit, we handed out laundry detergent directly to a few young mothers. They were so excited for the relief, and were happy to the point of tears, because they got to select their favorite brand from the huge pile of detergent.”
HisAir Job Alert – sponsored by FaithSearch Partners
We are looking for just the right person to lead our “Department of Fun” as a Promotions Director! As the Promotions Director at Strong Tower Christian Media, you will be the driving force behind all our promotional activities. In this dynamic role, you’ll work together with our programming and sales teams to create and execute strategies that boost audience engagement, drive advertising revenue and effectiveness, and enhance the public image and reputation within our listening areas. As Listener Engagement Director, you will create events that reward our listening community with FUN and introduce us to new listeners as we contribute to our community in meaningful ways. Your love for gathering and engaging people, creativity, and hospitality will shine in this role. If interested go HERE
KGBI/Omaha (Life 100.7) is holding an open house for listeners this Thursday to come check out their brand-new home and hear the amazing God story of how it came to be.
KGBI GM Jeremy Tracey says, “There will be tours of the new studios, live music, and holiday treats, including coffee and cocoa from Stories Coffee.”
Les Butler, owner of the Old Time Preachers Qt announces the retirement of the group. Butler states, “God had a plan and a time. We have tried our best to execute on that plan. The plan was to have 4 old-time preachers who had some measure of vocal and instrumental talent to sing in the old-time way and testify and preach with unction under the power of God. It’s our prayer that we have done that. He had a plan and a time. We started in 2016 and our final singing will be in 2026. That will be a 10-year run.”
Les adds, “Through REAL Southern Gospel Radio, we are seeing souls saved, estranged preachers coming back to the Lord, families being helped and much, much more. As for me personally, I am simply minding the Lord. Certainly, I’ll continue to preach and sing on my own as the Lord opens doors. The quartet will be able to honor most of the dates we have on the books at this moment. Please check out the itinerary below and come out and be with us.”
Tomb Slayer Radio, a streaming Christian music station, announced its sponsorship of the 2024 StaffDNA Cure Bowl to be played in Orlando on December 20th and broadcast via ESPN. Tomb Slayer Radio is the official Music Sponsor and halftime live music provider.
“We are thrilled to sponsor the music at the 2024 StaffDNA Cure Bowl. We feel a close alignment with the mission of the Orlando Sports Foundation (OSF) and the life-saving cancer research funded the past 10 years,” said Carmen Moscrip – founder and CEO of Tomb Slayer Radio. “Our mission is to share music that uplifts, inspires, and heals our listeners. Many of us are blessed to be cancer survivors or have cancer survivors in our lives. We can survive and thrive each day as we face individual struggles relying on faith-filled music, messages, and podcasts to uplift us.”
KMOC/Wichita Falls, TX is spreading holiday cheer through its annual angel tree collection. The station partners with the prison fellowship’s angel tree program to collect toys, clothing, and other gifts for kids of incarcerated parents in the community. Inmates who have kids can have an opportunity to submit their children’s names so their kids receive gifts in their parent’s names and the child knows that mom or dad is thinking about them during Christmas time.
KMOC’s Marketing Director, Liz Sanderson, said it’s more than just gifts for these children; it helps to foster that emotional connection within the families. Sanderson said this program also serves as a great tool for ministering the love of Jesus and showing the love of the community while hoping to keep them on the right path.”
Glenn Hartas has been named GM at Way FM/Launceston, Tasmania AUS (105.3). Hartas has been a volunteer with WayFM both on air and on the board. I will continue volunteering until January 2nd when I officially start as manager.
Glenn says, “My decision to apply for this position stemmed from several messages I received from God just over a year ago, as well as prophecies from three individuals. This choice wasn’t made lightly; it has taken over a year to reach this point. Leading a Christian station is not a career move for me; it’s a divine calling. It was crucial that I stepped into this role for the right reasons and that I had the support of my wife Bron, my family, our church, and our board.”
HisAir INDUSTRY NEWS FLASHBACK – On This Day Dec 16, 2019
Longtime Christian music radio program, “Soul2Soul” is calling it quits after a 25-year run. The last show will air this month. “Soul2Soul” has featured 500 unique interviews and at its peak was heard on 781 radio stations in 44 countries.
WJQK/Grand Rapids (JOY99) morning hosts Tommy and Brooke (at left) are celebrating 20 years as a morning team waking up West Michigan.
The two became a morning show team in December 2004. From the moment they first went on the air together, they knew their mission. “To encourage others to encourage others”. They’ve done that at both their previous stations together, WCSG/Grand Rapids and WSRW/Grand Rapids (Star 105.7). Their path has led them here “for such a time as this” and they want God to use them in even more powerful ways. From Cookin’ With Brooke to Little Giggles to the Best Day Ever, they want families to be encouraged and to enjoy listening.
Milestones:
Jeremy Cho 11 years at KLOVE
Kenny Woods 23 years at WORD/Pittsburgh
Blake Carter 12 years at KJIL/Meade
12/15
Sonny Delfyette 3 years at KCBI/Dallas
Monica Rabassa 2 years at Salem/Miami
Hailey Feagans 2 years at SoundStack
Heather Smith 2 years at SoundStack
Ellis B Feaster (WPOZ) celebrates 42 years in radio
Tommy and Brooke (WJQK/Grand Rapids morning hosts) celebrate 20 years as morning team
WEEC/St Mary’s, GA celebrates 39 years since the AM station went on the air, and 19 years after launching the FM at 89.3
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