Industry News Bits TUE 4-25-23
Fundraisers this week .. WWIL/Wilmington .. WORQ/Green Bay .. Faith Radio Network/Minneapolis .. WBGL/Champaign .. KGBI/Omaha .. WPHN/Gaylord ..
Fundraising Updates:
-The Sound of Life Radio Network/Lake Katrine, NY met their goal two hours before finish time AND raised an additional $17,750 for equipment needs for Albany, Liberty, Monroe & Port Jervis! Praise God
-WRVL/Lynchburg (The Journey) Spring Partner Invitation wrapped up late Friday Morning April 21 reaching 100% of the fundraising goal. On-air hosts Kenny Robinson, Brittany Minard, Mercedes Rich, and Laura Chase were joined by guests Larry Walters and Garrett Michaels. The 4 day fundraiser featured listener stories, comments and prayer.
“So grateful for God’s provision and for our listeners. Our partner invitations have always centered around stories of God’s work in the lives of listeners.” said General Manager Mark Edwards. “We saw tremendous support in renewal donations and first time donations. People are searching for hope and the stories we heard reflect that. Thankful for everyone involved in the event.”
-KKEQ Grand Forks, ND PD Josh Jones tells HisAir, “We had our pledge drive and hit our annual goal last week, and we are currently planning our 30th anniversary birthday concert for this fall!”
-WGRC/Lewisburg, PA is celebrating reaching its spring fundraising goal. Operations Manager David Jones says, “In fact, with $109,712.00 coming in, 102% of the $108,000.00 goal was met. This year, WGRC partnered with Samaritan’s Purse, and will be providing $2,000.00 towards the organization’s Ukraine Emergency Food Distribution. WGRC has been listener supported since 1988 and for 35 years has been sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.”
KXOJ/Tulsa midday host Heather Miles is calling it a career after 33 years in Tulsa and 17 years at KXOJ.
Heather Miles had been doing middays most recently and years ago was morning co-host with Craig West. For her farewell current KXOJ morning hosts Dave & Katie were joined by Craig & Heather on the air today. New Stephens Media CCM Brand Manager Kevin Davis will take the shift after Heather’s last day this Friday.
Pictured L-R Bob Thornton, Craig West, Heather, Katie Rindt, Gary Thompson, & Dave Weston.
New Job Alert: KHPE/Albany, OR (Hope 107.9) GM Scott Michaels is looking for a new Promotions Director/Content Creator. Bethany Bravery has left the Promotions Director position at Hope 107.9 to spend more time with family.
Check the listing HERE.
Daywind Music Group has signed on The Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum’s very own resident Gospel group, TrueSong, to New Day Records. TrueSong is nominated as “Favorite New Artist” for the 2023 Singing News Fan Awards.
TrueSong’s debut radio release and streaming release is “Army of Love,” which will be available for the first time on April 28, debuting on LifeFM with the Family Friendly Morning Show with Rodney and Reagan. TrueSong will release a second song to streaming platforms entitled, “Believe for It” on May 19th, with their full-length album Tell Someone releasing on June 9.
Dusty Wells, director of Artist and Label Relations for Daywind, comments, “For those of us in the A&R part of the music business, every now and then you will hear a group and their ‘sound’ just jumps out at you in the most amazing way. I have known a few of the TrueSong members for several years. Dusty Barrett sent me a couple of demos. I listened and then listened again, and WOW … I knew I had to sign them. I love their heart, their call, their passion and I love that they want to see lives changed with the music that they are bringing to a hurting world.”
The 2nd Annual SGMA of West Virginia Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Concert took place on April 22nd, 2023, at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Elkview, West Virginia. Dean Hickman, founder of The Guardians Quartet, was among the 8 inducted into the Hall of Fame at the ceremony. Dean began his career in Southern Gospel music at just 19 years old with The Golden Keys Quartet. In 1988, Hickman founded The Guardians Quartet, now one of the preeminent artists in the Southern Gospel genre with several #1 songs and accolades to their credit. Hickman also contributes greatly in industry leadership serving on the boards of the Southern Gospel Music Association and Sea Walker Media Corporation, among others. He is supporter and encourager of other Southern Gospel artists and has made an immense impact on the Gospel community.
Dean Hickman commented on his induction, “I am extremely proud of my heritage, growing up in the great state of West Virginia. I was part of a great family who loved God and were blessed beyond measure. However, little did I know the blessings that God would bestow upon me throughout my adult life. One of these blessings is when I recently learned that I was being inducted in the West Virginia Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame. This is an unbelievable honor that I cherish from the bottom of my heart. Southern Gospel music has influenced my life since I was a teenager, and I am so thankful to the West Virginia Southern Gospel Music Board for this tremendous honor.”
Milestones:
Josh Pollock 4 years at WCVO/Columbus
John Bryant celebrating 15 years at WAFJ/Augusta
Scott Furrow 1 year at KKLA/Los Angeles
Prayer List:
Josh & Ashley Franks
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