Industry News Bits Mon 7-11-22
Nielsen June PPM numbers release starting tomorrow. Day 1 markets include Houston, Dallas, Atlanta & more. Latest numbers will be posted HERE.
Christian Radio Ratings are sponsored by Dunham+Company on HisAir.
Dave Arthur went on the air hosting mornings at Positive Life Radio today (5am-9am). Dave continues as morning co-host on KTSY/Boise.
In March this year Positive Life Radio/College Place, WA announced parent organization Walla Walla University, filed with the FCC to purchase KXXP/White Salmon, WA and translator K283BL Portland, OR, both on 104.5 FM in the greater Portland. The new signals more than quadruple the amount of people the network will cover, or about 2.2 million people.
Positive Life Radio is purchasing the translator from Way FM, who served Portland with it for several years, before KXXP signed on and bumped the translator. Way went on to purchase KKWA in the Portland market. Positive Life Radio is purchasing KXXP from Jackman Holding Company, LLC.
“Our radio ministry is a unique blend of professional management and air talent along with Walla Walla University students who are gaining valuable experience in on-air, production and marketing,” said General Manager Chris Gilbreth. “For those graduates who continue in the communications field, they will now have the benefit of working in a large market media ministry while getting their degree.”
A group of the most influential executives in the urban inspirational and gospel music radio industry have come together to create the National Association of Gospel Radio (NAGR) with a mission to empower stations as they preserve, protect, and advance the format.
The national organization’s first President, Charles Johnson aka Pastor CeJay, was elected by the board to serve as its first lead officer. Johnson is a transformative community leader and an executive with Alpha Media, which owns the historical KOKA Radio Station (72 years of existence) in Shreveport and two other gospel stations within the country. The organization is operating in a limited capacity with plans to launch fully on January 1, 2023.
“We are America’s only trade association for radio professionals working in the gospel/ inspirational format,” Johnson explains. “Separately, we reach thousands of ears every day, but together we reach millions of listeners. Our membership comprises radio station programmers, management, engineers, announcers, and salespeople. We believe our existence will uphold the legacy of gospel radio and help it grow for generations to come. Our vision is to become a trusted ally and to provide a hub of resources to stations to help them expand their listening base, increase advertising, and to support music artists within the format.”
Kyle Glover, with the Reach Gospel Radio network that reaches 20 American cities and Canada, will serve as Executive Vice President. Ju Joyner, from Virginia Beach’s Chesapeake-Portsmouth Broadcasting concern, will be Vice President of Finance. Fred Harris, of Salem Media Group which reaches nearly 40 USA media markets, will be Vice President of Marketing & Promotions.
The leadership is rounded out by Board members: Dr. Sctonda Kelly Gordon, Program Director with Eternity Media Group in Augusta, GA; Chris Squire, Senior Vice President of Sales with iHeart Media, the largest radio corporation in America; and Ron Thompson, Program Director with Radio One (the largest urban radio corporation in America) in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.wearenagr.org.
Vision Christian Media/Australia debuts what it calls a fresh rebrand, and logo. The statement says “Vision are on a mission to take the gospel to the four corners of Australia using modern media. But as new digital platforms have evolved, so must we. To continue to do this effectively, we needed to refresh our brand name design, its distinctiveness in a crowded market space, and its adaptability with various digital platforms and new video content. I hope you like it as much as we do.”
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Available this Friday, 7/15, Word Curb artist Blanca releases her new song, “New Day.” Unbreakable, the songstress shakes off the critics and steps into new mercies as she charts a course all her own with a good deal of grit and determination. A blend of pulsating hip-hop beats and a soulful groove, the pulls-no-punches selection welcomes five-time GRAMMY nominee Jekalyn Carr on the second verse. Together, the two powerhouse vocalists make a bold statement: They’re not settling, and good things are coming their way. The aggressive track previews Blanca’s album, The Heartbreak And The Healing, due Sept. 23, 2022.
Blanca’s third full-length studio album, The Heartbreak And The Healing (available Sept. 23, 2022), offers two sides of the same story — the hurt and the redemption. Written in the wake of a painful divorce, the songstress vulnerably cracks her heart wide open on the all new 14-track collection that beautifully showcases the merger of her unstoppable voice and her transparent lyricism. A diverse fusion of pop, Latin, hip-hop and Gospel, the LP follows Blanca on a journey of self-discovery as she rises from the ashes stronger and more empowered than ever before.
Salem Media Group announced today that “Liberty Station” will officially join the Salem Podcast Network line-up beginning TODAY (7/11). The podcast, which launched in 2021, is hosted by Rob McCoy and Bryce Eddy. The podcast includes commentary, analysis, and guest interviews on topics such as the Biblical foundations of American history, equipping pastors to become leaders in the culture, and understanding current events from a Christian worldview. Four episodes of the podcast will be released each week.
“Rob and Bryce are culture warriors who are courageous and unafraid,” said Salem Senior Vice President of Spoken Word, Phil Boyce. “They take on this battle with a biblical world view. Think David versus Goliath, and we all know how that worked out for the giant. I am very excited to add their podcast to our platform.”
Milestones:
Matt Ingle 2 years at AESTHETYK
Melony McKaye 9 years at KJNW/KC
