country - Greater Media

T H E G R E AT E R M E D I A | 3 V O L . 8 S U M M E R 2 0 1 3
Greater
Greater Media
Media
Newspapers
Newspapers Launches
Launches
Broadcast
Broadcast News
News
and
and Hand
Hand Drawn
Drawn
Marketing
Marketing
Greater
Greater Media
Unveils
Detroit
Unveils Detroit
Sports
FM
Sports 105.1
105.1 FM
New Jersey’s
WRAT-FM
Takes Top
Broadcasting
Honors
1
COUNTRY
#
Ranked
102.5 FM
in Boston
c o n t e n t s
SUMMER 2013
in this issue
Table of Contents:
Look Who’s Making Greater Media Greater
3, 9
Greater Media Detroit Unveils New Sports 105.1 FM
People & News 5-9
New On-Air Lineup at 1450 WCTC-AM
8
Honors and Awards
10-13
GMI Chairman & CEO Peter Smyth Named Among Most Powerful in Radio 10
WLNK-FM’s Bob Lacey Honored by North Carolina Association of Broadcasters 11
WRAT-FM Takes Top New Jersey Broadcasters Association Honors
12
WBT AM/FM Named Radio Station of the Year 12
WMMR-FM, WRAT-FM and WBT AM/FM Tapped as Marconi Finalists
13
Greater Media Newspapers Launches Broadcast News, Hand Drawn Marketing Agency 14, 32
Snapshots
16-17
Interactive Summit Advises on Best Use of Web
18
Community: Giving Back
19-23
WBT AM/FM, Carolina Panthers Form Winning Team
24
Financial Update
26
Music
27-29, 31, 33
WKLB-FM First Country Station to Rank No. 1 in Boston
30
Interactive Corner: GMI Offers Interns a
Day of Creativity
34
WMTR-AM Celebrates 65 Years on NJ Airwaves 36
WROR-FM’s Studio Undergoes Major Transformation 37
Greater Media Newspapers’ Photo Gallery
Babies, Weddings, Birthdays 40-41
43
The Greater Media
GRAPEVINE
PUBLISHER: Greater Media, Inc.
EDITOR: Heidi Raphael
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Monique Walton/MWalton Design
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Jennifer Amato, Clare Marie Celano, Keith Heumiller,
Stella Morrison, Jack Murtha, Ane Taylor and Adele Young
PRINTER: Maureen Morrow/Printex
Special thanks to the people of Greater Media for making this publication possible.
ADDRESS:
Greater Media, Inc.
35 Braintree Hill Office Park
Suite 300
Braintree, MA 02184
781.348.8600
For more information, please contact Heidi Raphael at [email protected].
Grapevine is published 4 times a year by greater media, inc.
ON THE COVER: Greater Media New Jersey VP/Market Manager
Dan Finn presents Live Nation’s Donna Eichmeyer with a plaque for
her participation in RatFest 2013. See page 28.
2
grapevine
Letter From The Chair
4
SU M m E R
2 013
Hello Everyone,
As we approach the fourth
quarter, I would like to express my
appreciation to each of you as we
continue to create new and exciting
opportunities for Greater Media
as a result of your hard work and
ongoing efforts.
We have had much to celebrate over
the past few months. The company
recently unveiled the new Detroit
Sports 105.1 FM in the Motor
City and welcomed back former
WRIF-FM morning personality
Drew Lane to host afternoon drive.
I would like to welcome the station’s
new program director Jason Dixon
and the entire on-air lineup to the
Greater Media family.
We recently signed multi-year
agreements with both the Bob &
Sheri show and Matt & Ramona
on WLNK-FM in Charlotte. In
addition, we have extended our
longstanding broadcast partnership
with the Carolina Panthers on WBT
AM/FM.
Our newspaper division has been
very busy. The division recently
launched its Broadcast News and
Hand Drawn Marketing initiatives
to continue to super-serve our
dedicated readers and advertisers
across the New Jersey market.
Congratulations to the entire team!
WMTR-AM recently celebrated
its 65th anniversary on the air in
Morristown/Cedar Knolls, NJ.
I’d like to recognize Mike Brophey,
Ginny Rogers, Dawn Santolucito
and the entire Country 102.5 FM
team for their outstanding
accomplishment as the station hit
#1 in Boston. This is the first time
a country station has ever achieved
this ranking in the New England
radio market.
Congratulations are in order for
Brian Samborski from Greater
Media Boston and Michelle Vierra
from Greater Media New Jersey,
both of whom were named among
the finalists for the 2013 Radio
Wayne Awards.
WRAT-FM took top honors in two
categories during the 66th Annual
New Jersey Broadcasters Association
Conference in Atlantic City, NJ.
The station won the Best News 2012
Award for its Superstorm Sandy
Community Coverage. In addition,
Scott Edwards and The Rat team
received the Best Commercial 2012
Award for the station’s “E Street
Bagels” submission.
I am delighted to congratulate
David O’Leary on being promoted
as the new co-host of Morning
Magic with Candy O’Terry on
106.7 WMJX FM. David has been
a part of the Greater Media Boston
family since 1997.
In addition, kudos go to WRATFM, WBT AM/FM, and WMMRFM for being named among this
year’s Marconi Award finalists,
as well as WLNK-FM morning
personalities Bob & Sheri for
serving as presenters at this year’s
event in Orlando.
And finally, I would also like to
recognize Bob Lacey for being
inducted into the North Carolina
Association of Broadcasters
(NCAB) Hall of Fame, and
WROR-FM’s Loren Owens and
Wally Brine for being inducted
into the Massachusetts Broadcasters
Hall of Fame. This honor is much
deserved by all of them.
These are exciting times in our
industry, and each of you play a
vital role in paving the road for
radio’s future. Thank you for all
that you do, both for Greater Media
and for our local listeners and
communities.
Sincerely,
Peter H. Smyth
G
great!
recognizing
people who go
the extra mile
Look Who’s Making
Greater Media Greater
BOSTON
Corey Gallagher
Account Executive
Country 102.5 WKLB-FM
Corey Gallagher, WKLB-FM
Account Executive, is someone who
makes Greater Media greater. Corey
is part of our CMA award-winning
Country 102.5 FM and is a true
brand ambassador for country radio
in Boston. Her energy and conviction
in the format have catapulted her to
the top biller not only at Country
102.5 FM, but also within the Boston
cluster. She is an exceptional leader
on the streets and her contagious
enthusiasm for the Country 102.5
brand can be felt from her satisfied
clients’ and teammates’ respect. Her
positive attitude and drive make her
one of the very best!
Morgan Prue
Assistant Program Director
MAGIC 106.7 WMJX-FM
Morgan Prue joined Greater Media
Boston earlier this year and has
already made a big difference to
the MAGIC brand! Her upbeat,
energetic, caring and smart approach
to the APD position is infectious, and
many people throughout the station’s
various departments greatly admire
and respect her for that. She has
earned the trust of the staff, and that’s
why Morgan Prue makes Greater
Media even greater!
Charlotte
Kerie Lord
Account Executive
Greater Media Charlotte
Kerie Lord joined Greater Media
Charlotte a year ago, moving to
Charlotte from Wilmington,
NC. Kerie’s positive attitude and
tremendous work ethic have enabled
her to become one of our topperforming account executives in
short order. Kerie began her career
in radio in her native Philadelphia.
Prior to moving to Charlotte to
join Greater Media, her most
recent media sales experience was in
Raleigh-Durham, where she worked
in broadcast television and radio.
Kerie and her husband, Tim, stay
busy raising their three very active
children. Kerie is truly one of those
people who make Greater Media
Charlotte greater.
Detroit
Patty Russel
HR/Accounts Payable
Greater Media Detroit
After 24 years in the industry,
Patty Russel still loves radio. The
Greater Media Detroit’s Accounts
Payable/HR Manager joined the
team in March 2013 and couldn’t
be happier to be a part of the GM
family. Patty, a Michigan native,
has made a career focusing on the
important work done in the business
office. She recently added Human
Resources Administrator to her job
description. She describes this new
aspect of her position as interesting
and challenging. Never afraid to
learn something new, Patty finds
the best days to be those when she
can go home, knowing that she
accomplished what needed to done
and did it well.
In her free time, Patty enjoys being
with her husband Bob and their cat
Pugsly and dog Max. She also loves to
cook. Her favorite dishes to prepare
are chicken cordon bleu and fajitas.
Another favorite pastime is watching
movies. Making her top 10 list are
Mrs. Doubtfire, Jaws and any of the Rocky
movies. As a matter of fact, when
one of the Rocky movies is on TV, she
gets emails from friends and family
alerting her so that she doesn’t miss
it!
When asked what advice she would
give to those thinking of a career in
the radio industry, Patty said simply,
“Make it fun. Don’t be so serious and
have a good time.”
Greater Media Detroit is proud that
Patty Russel is making Greater Media
great every day.
Scotty O’Jay
Production Director
Detroit Sports 105.1 FM
From getting his start in radio at
age 15 in Missouri to being a part of
the team that is launching the new
Detroit Sports 105.1 FM, Scotty
O’Jay is living his dream. Early on,
he knew that he wanted “to do”
radio in Detroit, the city where his
grandparents lived. His broadcasting
career began at several stations in
Missouri. Then one day it happened.
The call came from what was then
Greater Media’s “Honey Radio” in
Detroit. Scotty was ready to go and
joined the team. He also took on the
added role of Production Director,
and as they say, the rest is history. He
transitioned to production full time,
and it became his passion.
New JerseY
newspapers
“I love the creativity of production,”
Scotty shared. “Imaging is one of my
favorite areas of production. Getting
to create those moments in between
is great.”
Eileen Mackrell is a multi-tasker who
always has an answer and will lend a
helping hand. She joined Greater
Media Newspapers six years ago. She
started as an Inside Sales Assistant in
the Long Branch, NJ, office, where
she also helped the outside sales
team. As GMN moved to its new
location, Eileen was promoted to
Inside Classified Sales Consultant.
In this role she has exceeded her
yearly budget. Eileen’s most crucial
role, and the one that takes a lot of
patience and expertise, is handling
the legal advertising. In this role,
Eileen is responsible for working with
different sheriff departments and
towns in Monmouth and Middlesex
counties. This is an important part of
the newspapers’ revenue. Eileen is a
true team player and is quick to lend
a hand whenever she is needed. She
is an invaluable asset to the company
and a pleasure to work with.
When asked what was one of his
favorite sound effects, he played the
distinctive “ding” you hear on an
airplane that reminds you to fasten
your seatbelt. “This sound is so
simple and fun. Everyone knows that
sound. It makes for great theater of
the mind. When you hear it, you can
feel like you’re in a plane.”
When it comes to production, Scotty
is an award winner … literally. He
and his co-workers at WMGC-FM
took home the 2005 Best in Category
award from the Michigan Association
of Broadcasters for their submission
of the commercial spot “The Poop
Scoop King.” Scotty proudly shared
that he not only produced the spot,
but also played the “King” and that
it’s those moments that make his job
so much fun.
Metro Detroiters also know him as
the promotional and commercial
voice of WJBK Fox 2.
When not at work, Scotty enjoys
relaxing and fishing in his backyard
at the pond he built and stocked.
Another hobby is collecting records.
His collection boasts all of the
original Beatles albums and even
the original Beatles Capitol LPs.
Thousands of 45s are also a part of
his massive collection. As much of his
free time as possible is spent with his
son Scotty Jr. and wife Rose.
Scotty O’Jay is excited to be entering
his 18th year with Greater Media
and to be a part of the team bringing
Detroit Sports 105.1 FM to life,
noting that “it’s great to be able to
do a lot of new things with this team,
both on and off air.”
We are proud that Scotty O’Jay is a
part of the Greater Media Detroit
winning team.
Eileen Mackrell
Inside Classified
Sales Consultant
New JerseY
Jennifer Strasle
Sales Assistant
WDHA-FM and WMTR-AM
Jennifer Strasle started as a
promotions intern, was hired
in the Promotions Department
and then promoted in January to
Sales Assistant for WDHA-FM
and WMTR-AM. Her outgoing
personality, enthusiasm for our radio
stations, and infectious smile and
laugh have made her a remarkable
addition to Greater Media. Jennifer
works very hard and is incredibly
conscientious in all aspects of her
position. The account executives
rely on her for making their job
less stressful and more productive.
The other departments know she
is dependable and always willing to
lend a hand. This is a lady who lights
up every room she enters and we
are grateful she walked into Greater
Media, Morristown.
Bruce Johnson
News Director
WMGQ-FM and WCTC-AM
There is a long list of reasons why
Bruce Johnson is an invaluable asset
to WMGQ-FM and WCTC-AM:
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DETROIT Sports
105.1 FM
Welcomes Back
Drew Lane
Greater Media Unveils
Detroit Sports 105.1 FM
Detroit Sports 105.1 FM hosted an
evening of food, fun and insight
into the future of Drew Lane on the
new sports station on August 14 at
Star Lanes Restaurant & Banquet
Center in Royal Oak, MI. Clients
and guests were invited to join the
station in welcoming Drew back
to the airwaves and to enjoy an
evening of mingling and fun, including
a live broadcast of Drew and Marc
Fellhauer’s new show.
Powered by ESPN
GREATER
Drew Lane back on the airwaves
with Detroit Sports 105.1.
Media
launched the brand-new
Detroit Sports 105.1 FM in
the Motor City with new
afternoon drive personality Drew Lane at 3 p.m.
August 12.
Powered by ESPN, the new
station will feature America’s top sports morning
show, “Mike & Mike,” each
weekday morning from 6
to 10 a.m. From 10 a.m. to
noon listeners will hear the
outspoken Colin Cowherd
on “The Herd.” During both
shows, listeners will receive
news and information about local Detroit teams three times an hour.
Afternoon drive will be hosted by legendary former longtime WRIF-FM
morning personality Drew Lane from 3
to 7 p.m. He will be joined by longtime
producer Marc Fellhauer.
“We are thrilled to be able to offer Detroit a new alternative that will be designed with our loyal and dedicated
sports fans in mind,” said Greater Media
Market Manager Steve Chessare. “We
look forward to providing the very best
local and national talent on the airwaves
for our listeners. We will have more announcements surrounding the new station in the near future.”
Detroit Sports 105.1’s agreement with
ESPN will allow the station to use all of
the resources of “The Worldwide Lead4
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SU M m E R
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er in Sports” to entertain
the fans of Detroit. ESPN
Monday Night Football
announcer and Ann Arbor
resident Mike Tirico will
make a weekly appearance on Detroit Sports
105.1. The station will have
access to the full slate of
ESPN’s analysts and personalities.
“We are excited about
expanding our relationship with Greater Media
by providing ESPN Radio
programming to the 12th largest media
market in the country on Detroit Sports
105.1,” said Patrick Polking, ESPN Senior Director, Distribution and Business
Development. “This move provides Detroit’s passionate fans the best of our
national and their local coverage and
analysis while extending our goal of
moving our content to the FM dial. This
addition becomes our 148th FM affiliate
(roughly 40%) for ESPN Radio.”
Drew Lane broadcasting live from
Star Lanes Restaurant & Banquet
Center in Royal Oak, MI.
The agreement with ESPN will allow the
Detroit Sports 105.1 to air some of the
biggest events in the world of sports including The World Series, The NBA Finals and The BCS Championship Game.
In addition, “Ryan and Rico,” consisting
of Ryan Ermanni and Rico Beard, will be
hosting the noon-3 p.m. program until
a permanent personality is announced. G
Some of the Detroit Sports 105.1
Knockouts, Natalie, Amber, Bella
and Cara, attended the party.
people
greater media
in the spotlight
people & News
Deirdre Dagata and Hustle Simmons
Join Hot 96.9 FM
Deirdre Dagata
On the air just since January, Hot
96.9 FM has already established
itself as one of Boston’s strong
radio brands in a competitive
listening environment.
Hot 96.9 FM is continuing to
build its on-air lineup, and
has added two more part-time
personalities to weekends, Deirdre
Dagata and Hustle Simmons.
Hustle Simmons
Dagata has extensive experience in
the Boston radio market, having
been on-air full time at both
KISS 108 FM and JAM’N 94.5
FM, as well as some recent on-air
experience at WBMX-FM and
WODS-FM.
Simmons also has been a parttime radio personality for JAM’N
94.5 FM for many years.
Veteran Radio Personality John Hancock Shifts
to Afternoon Drive on WBT AM/FM in Charlotte
The Brad and Britt Show
(consisting of Brad Krantz and
Britt Whitmire) will be moving
from 3-6 p.m. to 6-9 p.m.
John Hancock
Greater Media Charlotte
announced that longtime
WBT AM/FM personality John
Hancock has shifted from the 6-9
p.m. time slot to the 3-6 p.m.
afternoon drive, effective July 16.
Hancock originally joined the
station in 1990 in the 9 a.m.-12
p.m. time slot. In 1996, he moved
to afternoon drive. In 1999,
Hancock left the station for a
short time, returning in 2001 to
the 6-9 p.m.
Mike Addams Retires from
MAGIC 106.7 FM in Boston
Mike Addams
Longtime WMJX-FM Morning Show Personality Mike
Addams has officially retired after 19 years on MAGIC
106.7 FM. His last official day on the air was June 28.
Addams joined the Boston station in August 1994.
Prior to that, he worked at WODS-FM, WZOU-FM,
WHDH-AM, WROR-FM and WRKO-AM.
“John Hancock has been a staple
of WBT for years, earning him
the title of ‘Charlotte’s Most
Beloved,’ ” said Rick Feinblatt,
Senior Vice President and Market
Manager of Greater Media
Charlotte. “We are excited to have
him with our listeners for the
drive home.”
“It has been a pleasure to work with a radio pro like
Mike Addams,” said Greater Media Boston Vice
President and Market Manager Rob Williams.
“He has had a wonderful career on some of the top
stations in America, including the last 19 years on
MAGIC 106.7 FM. I wish Mike and his family
many happy years of retirement.”
“John is the most dynamic and
recognizable personality on
WBT,” said station Program
Director Jason Furst. “We
look forward to continuing to
provide the most comprehensive
programming to our listeners
in both day parts with both John
Hancock and the Brad & Britt
Show.”
“From the days at WRKO as the exciting Mike Addams
to his recent tenure waking up Boston on MAGIC
106.7 FM, Mike has been the consummate professional
and has enjoyed a storied career in our ever-changing
business,” said Greater Media Boston Director of
Programming Cadillac Jack. “I respect him greatly,
and wish him all the best.”
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people
Continued from page 5
people & News
Bob & Sheri Sign Multi-Year Contract
with WLNK-FM in Charlotte
listeners can look forward to their
show for years to come.”
T.J. Lubinsky Rejoins Greater Media
New Jersey’s 100.1 WJRZ-FM
The Bob & Sheri Show is a realitybased morning program, currently
heard on 42 stations across the
country. Their show is described
as hilarious and touching with a
deep connection to their passionate
listeners.
memory of his grandfather, Herman
Lubinsky Sr., who founded and
operated WNJ-AM, one of the first
radio stations in Newark, NJ.
He spent his late teens and 20s
working in Ocean and Monmouth
County nightspots, spinning “classic
hits” at clubs up and down the Jersey
Shore.
T.J. Lubinsky
Veteran On-Air Personality
Returns to Host Exclusive Sunday
Night Request Show
T.J. Lubinsky, known for his
nationally televised PBS classic hits
specials, has rejoined the ranks of
Greater Media New Jersey with the
return of his Sunday Night Request
Show that pays tribute to artists of the
’60s, ’70s and ’80s. The show will be
heard each Sunday, 7 p.m.-midnight,
on WJRZ-FM.
He’ll spin Jersey’s greatest hits by
request, share behind-the-scenes
stories, and talk to many of the artists
he’s recorded and produced over the
years across all musical genres from the
’60s, ’70s and ’80s. Lubinsky created
and hosted WJRZ-FM’s Sunday Night
Request Show every week from 2005
to 2009.
“T.J. Lubinsky is a Jersey Shore
treasure! His knowledge of music and
love for the artists he plays and listeners
he entertains is evident every time he
opens the microphone, plus he’s a
local guy!” said WJRZ-FM Program
Director Glenn Kalina. “I’m thrilled
that he is returning to 100.1 WJRZ on
Sunday nights!”
A native of Bradley Beach, NJ,
Lubinsky spent his youth surrounded
by the influences of his father,
Herman Lubinsky Jr.; his uncle,
“Buzzy,” a well-known Jersey Shore
club DJ and drummer; and the
At age 16, Lubinsky got his GED and
first TV job working at Monmouth
Cablevision’s local access channel
TV-34. At 22, he was offered a job
with PBS in southern Florida and
eventually Pittsburgh.
While there, he blended his passion
for vocal harmonies, Motown,
classic Philly Soul, and ’60s, ’70s
and ’80s classic hits into PBS’s most
successful fundraisers as the creator
and executive producer of “70s Soul
Superstars,” “70s and 80s Soul
Rewind,” “Get Down Tonight: The
Disco Years,” “Motown’s Best,” “70s
Pop Parade,” “My Generation–The
60s,” “Doo-Wop 50,” “This Land
Is Your Land–The Folk Rock Years,”
“Aretha Franklin–Soul Rewind,”
“John Sebastian–Folk Rewind,” “80s
Funky Soul Superstars,” and nearly
80 specials on public television,
archiving America’s soundtrack from
the ’50s, ’60s ,’70s and ’80s through
his “My Music” series and other
special programs and series, often
recorded in New Jersey.
Lubinsky continues to make television
specials, uniting the original voices
of Motown, folk rock, R&B, classic
soul, disco, ’60s rock, ’70s singers/
songwriters, ’80s pop and more.
In addition, he is an executive
producer of “The Very Best of the
Ed Sullivan Show” as seen on public
television, and has produced and
supervised mixes for many audio CD
compilation box-set releases since
1998.
Bob & Sheri
Longtime morning personalities Bob
and Sheri have signed a multi-year
deal on WLNK-FM in Charlotte.
The duo joined The Link in February
1992.
“Bob and Sheri are truly one of the
best morning shows in the country,”
said Greater Media Charlotte Vice
President and Market Manager Rick
Feinblatt. “Our valued Charlotte
The duo recently announced the
launch of The Bob & Sheri Show
as the new morning show on the
AC programming format on the
American Forces Network. The
popular morning show, with hosts
Bob Lacey and Sheri Lynch, is carried
live daily on AFN to members of the
U.S. Military serving abroad and their
families. Joe Radio on AFN carries the
programming to 177 countries and
on all U.S. ships at sea (approximately
150).
Jack Ellery Retires
from 1450 WCTC-AM in New Jersey
Along the way, the radio veteran was
also instrumental in helping WCTCAM raise hundreds of thousands of
dollars for Central Jersey charitable
organizations through on-air
radiothons and various drives for local
residents in need.
Jack Ellery
Greater Media New Jersey has
announced that longtime morning
man Jack Ellery has retired from 1450
WCTC-AM in New Brunswick.
Ellery has been with WCTC-AM for
the better part of 50 years, starting
at the station in 1963. He started as
a disc jockey but quickly turned his
daily morning show into a forum
for discussion on the latest news in
Central Jersey and the state, providing
insight, wit and humor, as one of the
true pioneers of local talk radio.
Ellery capped off his career as one
of Central Jersey’s iconic radio
personalities with his inclusion in the
New Jersey Broadcasters Association’s
inaugural class of Hall of Fame
inductees last year. He also received
the NJBA’s Lifetime Achievement
award at that time.
“Jack has served our community,
our advertisers and our audience
for multiple decades,” said station
Manager Dan Henrickson. “We wish
him all the best in the ‘gone fishing’
portion of his life.”
Continued on next page
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Nika Desautels Named New Local Sales Manager
at MAGIC 106.7 FM in Boston
Nika Desautels has been named
the new Local Sales Manager of
WMJX-FM in Boston. She most
recently served as the General
Sales Manager of sister station Hot
96.9 FM. She began her new role
on Monday, August 5.
Nika Desautels
“I am absolutely thrilled to
welcome Nika to MAGIC-FM and
to our sales management team,”
said MAGIC 106.7 FM General
Sales Manager Jackie Landry.
“Her proven track record speaks
for itself. She is an ‘A’ player,
a proven leader and a terrific
person. I look forward to working
closely with her as we continue
to offer our clients the very best
customer service experience
possible.”
David O’Leary Named New Co-Host
of Morning Magic at MAGIC 106.7 FM in Boston
Veteran radio broadcaster David
O’Leary has been named the new
co-host of Morning Magic with
Candy O’Terry on 106.7 WMJXFM in Boston. He officially began
his new role on Monday, August
19.
The radio and television veteran
has been charming Boston-area
listeners with his personal style
and affable manner for more than
25 years. A native of Natick, MA,
O’Leary joined Greater Media in
1997 as the morning drive host
on 92.9 WBOS-FM. He joined
the MAGIC 106.7 FM air staff in
2004, before going on to become
Production Director of the station
in 2007. In addition to hearing
him on the radio, you’ve also seen
him on WGBH Channel 2 and
as an afternoon VJ on Boston’s
Music Video TV, V-66.
“Several good candidates surfaced
during our extensive talent search,
and after careful consideration,
David O’Leary stood out as the
natural choice to best help propel
MAGIC’s morning show into
the future,” said Greater Media
Boston Director of Programming
Cadillac Jack. “David’s experience,
warmth, and great judgment with
respect to content are just some
David O’Leary with Co-Host
Candy O’Terry
of the reasons I’m thrilled to once
again promote from within our
valuable roster of ‘A’ talent here
at Greater Media Boston. The
combination of David and Candy
promises to be an exciting new
chapter for Morning Magic!”
“I couldn’t be happier to be a
part of the MAGIC air staff,” said
O’Leary. “This station, in this
city, working with a team I know
and respect—it’s a dream come
true!”
Jason Dixon Named
PD of Greater Media’s
Detroit Sports 105.1 FM
Jason Dixon has been named as
the Program Director of the newly
launched Detroit Sports 105.1 FM
in the Motor City. He began his
new position in August.
Dixon most recently served as
Operations Manager and Program
Director for the past three years at
Capitol Broadcasting’s WCMCFM 99.9 The Fan, WDNC-AM
620 The Buzz, WCMC-HD-3
99.9 HD3 The Ticket, and
WCLY-AM 1550 ESPN Deportes
in Raleigh, NC.
“Jason is the right quarterback
to lead our winning team at
Detroit Sports 105.1,” said Market
Manager Steve Chessare. “He
lives and breathes the format. His
experience, ability, passion and
track record made him the perfect
choice to help as we provide our
Detroit sports fans with the best
sports experience possible in the
Motor City.”
“I am thrilled to have the
opportunity to work in one of
America’s great sports cities
alongside Market Manager Steve
Chessare and with the leadership
of Greater Media Chairman
and CEO Peter Smyth and VP
of Program Development Buzz
Knight,” said Dixon. “With
Motor City radio icon Drew Lane
anchoring Detroit Sports 105.1
in the afternoon, combined with
a commitment to cover our local
Detroit teams, a partnership
with ESPN and additional
local programming that will be
announced soon, we feel that we
are building a great sports station
for the incredible and dedicated
fans of Detroit.”
A native of Tampa, FL, Dixon
began his radio career in 1989
with 970 WFLA-AM. He
transitioned into music radio as an
air personality and morning show
producer for the legendary WFLZFM in Tampa. Dixon was tapped as
the Program Director when Clear
Channel launched The Sports
Animal WDAE-AM in Tampa in
1996.
Jason Dixon
He transitioned into the world of
professional sports in 2000 while
working as the Senior Director of
Broadcasting and Programming
for the NHL’s Tampa Bay
Lightning and Arena Football
League’s Tampa Bay Storm while
employed by Detroit-based Palace
Sports and Entertainment.
Dixon’s on-air role included
serving as the pregame/postgame
and intermission host for the
Lightning and radio analyst for the
Storm. Off the air, he managed
all aspects of the club’s television,
radio and in-game entertainment.
In addition, Dixon spearheaded
the arena’s installation of a new
video board and LED system.
Dixon returned to Sports Radio
in 2008 as Program Director
at WJXL-AM 1010 XL in
Jacksonville, FL.
In 2010, Dixon joined Capitol
Broadcasting in Raleigh, NC,
where he served as Operations
Manager and Program Director
for WCMC-FM 99.9 The Fan,
WDNC-AM 620 The Buzz,
WCMC-HD-3 99.9 HD3 The
Ticket, and WCLY-AM 1550
ESPN Deportes.
Dixon led the group to record
ratings success. He launched a
television simulcast of the WDNCAM Morning Show and played a
key role in several of the company’s
digital initiatives.
Dixon is a member of the ESPN
Radio Program Directors’ Advisory
Board and has spent the last 10
years as a high school football
official.
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people
Continued from page 7
people & News
Greater Media New Jersey Announces
New On-Air Lineup on 1450 WCTC-AM
Program Director and on-air
personality Bert Baron has segued
to mornings from middays with
the launch of “Jersey Central with
Bert Baron” from 6 to 9 a.m.
According to Baron, the show will
offer “everything you need to know
in New Jersey—news, sports, events,
entertainment, politics, lifestyle,
traffic and weather.”
Greater Media Charlotte Inks Multi-Year Deal
with The Matt & Ramona Show on WLNK-FM
Greater Media Charlotte has signed
a multi-year deal with The Matt and
Ramona Show on 107.9 WLNK-FM.
Matt Harris and Ramona Holloway
joined the station as the afternoon
drive show in March 2001.
In addition to being on the air on
WLNK-FM, Ramona joined Colleen
Odegaard as co-host of “Charlotte
Today” on January 7, 2013, weekdays
11 a.m.-12 p.m. on the local NBC
television affiliate.
“Matt and Ramona have done an
amazing job in the afternoon drive
slot on the station over the past 12
years,” said Greater Media Vice
President and Market Manager
Rick Feinblatt. “We are thrilled
to be able to continue this
exciting partnership
and have them
entertain our
listeners for years
to come.”
Syndicated on-air personality
Laura Ingraham has moved up
one hour from 9 a.m. to noon.
Former New Jersey 101.5 FM late
night host Tommy G. is now heard
from noon to 3 p.m.
Matt & Ramona
Greater Media New Jersey’s
legendary station 1450 WCTCAM launched an exciting new
lineup on Monday, August 26.
Jess Colombo Promoted to Local Sales Manager at
Radio 92.9 WBOS-FM
In addition, The Steve Malzberg
Show, featuring the former New
York TV and radio host, has
returned to the market, along
with BTN Live, a sports talk show
that will air from 6 to 7 p.m. It
focuses on the Big Ten conference
that Rutgers University will
move to next year. WCTC-AM
is the longtime voice of Rutgers
University athletics.
Country 102.5 FM’s Carolyn Kruse to Guest-Host
Nationally Syndicated Country Top 40
Jess Colombo
Carolyn Kruse
Jess Colombo has been named Local Sales Manager
of Radio 92.9 WBOS-FM in Boston. Colombo, who joined
Greater Media Boston in 2011, most recently served as an
Account Executive at Radio 92.9 WBOS-FM.
Country 102.5 WKLB-FM’s midday star Carolyn Kruse got the nod to fill in
for Bob Kingsley on his syndicated Country Top 40 show. Aired on WKLB-FM
6-10 a.m. Saturdays, the show is heard all over the globe through the American
Forces Network where it entertains troops all over the world, iHeartRadio, and
TuneIn radio. This is a well-deserved honor for “The Kruser”!
Continued on page 9
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Jerry “JT” Tarrants Named New Program Director
at 94.7 WCSX-FM
Flint, MI, and WWGZ in Lapeer, MI.
“JT represents the future of WCSXFM,” said Greater Media Detroit
Market Manager Steve Chessare. “His
experience, creativity and energy are
exactly what we were looking for in the
person to lead WCSX.”
Jerry “JT” Tarrants
Greater Media Detroit announced
that Jerry “JT” Tarrants has been
named the new Program Director of
Classic Rock 94.7 WCSX-FM. He
began his new position July 29.
Tarrants most recently served as the
Operations Manager of Townsquare
Media, Grand Rapids, MI, overseeing
Rock WGRD, Hot AC WLHT,
Classic Hits WFGR, AC WTRV
and Comedy WNWZ in Michigan.
Previous to that, he worked as the
Brand Manager of Rock WKQZ and
Classic Rock WILZ/WYLZ. Prior to
that, he worked as the morning show
host at WIOG-AM in Saginaw, MI,
and as an on-air talent at WBBN in
“We’re thrilled to welcome JT to our
great roster of programming minds,”
said Greater Media VP of Program
Development Buzz Knight. “His
passion for excellence is huge and his
ability to inject energy into a room
will make the WCSX-FM brand even
stronger.”
“I’ve worked under a few heritage call
letters all over the state of Michigan
and loved it, but WCSX is a dream
come true,” Tarrants said. “I’m so
stoked to work with such an incredible
staff under the legendary Detroit
call letters. I want to thank Steve
Chessare, Buzz Knight, Peter Smyth
and everyone at Greater Media for the
opportunity to work alongside the best
in the Motor City!”
Jake McCann Promoted to Director of Sales
at Greater Media Detroit
McCann has been with Greater
Media since 2006. He most recently
served as General Sales Manager
of 97.5 FM The Fanatic/950 AM
ESPN and as a Sales Manager at
WMGK-FM and 950 ESPN in
the company’s Philadelphia cluster.
Previous to that, he worked at
Comcast.
“Jake is the right person to lead our
Look Who’s Making
Greater Media Greater
• He is the statewide News and Sports
Director.
• He is tireless in his efforts. He is in
the studio for the morning shows
on MAGIC 98.3 FM and 1450
WCTC-AM.
• He does all Rutgers University
football and basketball, in addition
to high school football.
• He schedules all part-time WCTCAM employees.
• He has been with Greater Media for
30-plus years.
• He is a wizard at the WCTC-AM
clocks.
• He is the state’s best on-air
newsperson.
• He is great at training news
personnel: Under his mentorship,
many staffers have gone on to
careers in New York radio and at
The Wall Street Journal.
• He is the go-to guy for historical
facts about WCTC-AM!
PHILADELPHIA
Tony Harris
Production Director
WMGK-FM
Tony Harris wears many hats at
WMGK-FM. He’s the station’s
Production Director, he does an
on-air shift on the weekends and he
also serves as Program Coordinator,
making sure that the WMGK-FM DJs
have everything they need to execute
a perfect on-air shift whether in
the studio or out at a live broadcast.
In addition to his classic rock and
production expertise, Tony also has
years of experience in the oldies
music format. When the station
decided to switch its HD2 channel
from classic rock to oldies, Tony
stepped in and lent his expertise. He
helped Program Director Charley
Lake develop and implement the
entire sound and feel of the HD2
station.
Monica Lucas
Assistant Promotion Director
WMGK-FM
Monica Lucas is a constant source
of energy and new ideas at WMGK.
She is always looking to take on new
responsibilities and share her creative
ideas across departments to help
the radio station advance. Recently
she’s been working closely with the
WMGK-FM sales staff to help realize
more revenue and sponsorship
opportunities at station events. In
addition, she has taken a lead role
in increasing the effectiveness of
WMGK-FM’s billboard campaigns.
Monica also continues to be a key
figure in development of the station’s
social networking strategy.
G
Hot 96.9 FM’s Morning Show Crew
Help Stuff Backpacks at
Cradles to Crayons’ Annual
Backpack-a-Thon
Jake McCann
Jake McCann has been promoted to
Director of Sales at Greater Media’s
Detroit-based stations, WRIF-FM,
WCSX-FM and WMGC-FM. He
began his new position on August 12.
great!
Continued from page 3
three-station sales operation in the
Motor City,” said Greater Media
Detroit Market Manager Steve
Chessare. “His passion, dedication
and leadership are exactly what we
need to take our three outstanding
radio properties to the next level.”
“I’m excited to continue my career
with Greater Media by joining Steve
Chessare and the Greater Media
Detroit team,” said McCann. “They
have great heritage radio stations that
the city loves! I will miss the talented
people I’ve had the opportunity
to work with at Greater Media
Philadelphia and the great friends I
have made over the past seven years.”
Hot 96.9 FM’s Baltazar
& Pebbles fill backpacks on Boston’s City
Hall Plaza.
Producer Big Mack
bustin’ a move during
Cradles to Crayons’
annual Backpack-a-Thon
G
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H O n o r s
&
Greater Media Chairman & CEO Named
among Radio Ink Magazine’s
“40 Most Powerful People in Radio”
A w a r d s
Greater Media Signs Multi-Year
Licensing Agreement with Nashville’s
Big Machine Label Group
Greater Media is pleased to announce a multi-year licensing
agreement with Nashville-based Big Machine Label Group
with regard to the performance of Big Machine’s recorded
music on Greater Media’s digital and terrestrial broadcast
platforms. Artists with Big Machine’s wholly owned labels who
will benefit from this agreement include Big Machine Records
artists Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw and Rascal Flatts and The
Valory Music Co. artists Justin Moore, Reba, Brantley Gilbert,
The Mavericks and Thomas Rhett.
Greater Media Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer
Peter H. Smyth
Smyth Ranks Among Top 10 on Annual
Industry Publication List
Greater Media Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Peter H. Smyth has been named among the “40 Most
Powerful People in Radio” by Radio Ink magazine. Smyth,
who has been featured on the publication’s annual list for the
past 13 years, ranked number eight among the top
radio executives in the country.
The annual award, presented by the leading
industry publication, recognizes individuals who
the magazine’s editorial board believes demonstrate
the highest level of commitment to and leadership
within the radio industry.
Through this agreement, Big Machine has agreed to an
innovative approach to allow digital simulcasts of the overthe-air signals by Greater Media to scale affordably to support
the growth of the company’s digital platform. Meanwhile,
Greater Media has agreed to share a percentage of its on-air
revenues with regard to the performance of Big Machine’s
recorded music on terrestrial platforms.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Big Machine Label Group,
its President and CEO Scott Borchetta, and the company’s
outstanding artists through this licensing agreement,” said
Greater Media Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Peter
Smyth. “This is a great example of the radio and record
industries working together with the ultimate goal of being
able to provide the best entertainment possible on a multiplatform basis for our valued listeners.”
“Peter Smyth is an American broadcasting visionary who
fully understands the importance of leading a healthy radio
entertainment business in lockstep with a healthy recorded
music business,” said Scott Borchetta. “The broadcast
industry knows that the Big Machine Label Group is fully
supportive of the mission of having great radio available in
as many places as possible and this is another public vote of
confidence and support for that mission.”
WMMR-FM’s Kathy Romano of the
Preston & Steve Show gave the 2013
commencement address for her alma
mater, West Chester University in
Pennsylvania.
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H O n o r s
&
A w a r d s
Greater Media Charlotte’s Bob Lacey Inducted
into the NCAB Hall of Fame
WLNK-FM Morning Show
Co-Host Bob Lacey was
among the honorees
officially inducted into the
North Carolina Association
of Broadcasters (NCAB) Hall
of Fame on June 24 for their
contributions to broadcasting
and to the state of North
Carolina. The inductees were
officially recognized during
the annual NCAB convention
held at the Grandover Resort
in Greensboro, NC.
The presentation followed
the annual North Carolina
Broadcast Awards, which
recognizes excellence in
broadcasting at member
television and radio stations.
The Bob & Sheri
Show,
which
features
Lacey
along with CoHost Sheri Lynch, is
broadcast to more
than 40 affiliates
around the country,
including four North
Carolina markets,
as well as more
than 170 countries
worldwide through
the Armed Forces
Radio Network.
Bob Lacey
powerhouse AM station WBT
in Charlotte. By 25, Lacey
moved to morning drive with
his own talk show. During
the 1980s, Lacey hosted
Charlotte’s award-winning
television program PM
Magazine, where he received
The Bob & Sheri team just
celebrated 20 years on air
as the Bob & Sheri Show,
with 15 of those years being
syndicated. Lacey has been
nominated numerous times
for Billboard magazine’s
Radio Personality Award. He
has been named three times
to Talkers magazine’s Heavy
100 most influential talk radio
personalities in the country.
In 2005, Bob & Sheri won the
prestigious Gracie Award for
Best Talk Show/Radio. The
team has been nominated
nine times for radio’s
most prestigious honor,
the National Association
of Broadcasters’ Marconi
Award.
Lacey
supports the
American
Armed
Forces
through
advocacy
and public
awareness
efforts
through
the Bob &
Sheri Show’s
contribution
to the
American
Forces
Network and his personal
involvement as a USO
Ambassador and the
Wounded Warrior Project.
He also aids in fundraising
and public education
campaigns for Autism
Speaks, the American Heart
Association, the American
Red Cross and World Vision.
Hosting the Heart Ball for the
American Heart Association
in Charlotte, Lacey helps
raise more than $740,000
annually.
Bob Lacey joins
other North Carolina
broadcasting legends,
including Rick Dees,
Charles Kuralt and
Ty Boyd into the
NCAB Hall of Fame
“Bob is very
deserving of this recognition
by NCAB,” said Greater
Media Charlotte Station
Manager Trip Savery. “He
joins other North Carolina
broadcasting legends,
including Rick Dees, Charles
Kuralt and Ty Boyd who were
all inducted at the height of
their careers.”
Lacey began his career in
radio at the young age of
9. At 22, he launched the
first-ever evening phonein show, Lacey Listens, on
an Iris award in 1985 for Best
Produced Local Television
Feature in the Nation.
Lacey returned to radio in
1990 as a morning host at
WBT’s FM counterpart (now
WLNK), where the Bob &
Sheri Show is still produced
today. Lacey and Sheri Lynch
met in 1991 while Lacey was
searching for a co-host. Lacey
spearheaded the hiring of
Lynch, pioneering a new
format giving women equal
power in a male-dominated
morning radio environment.
Greater Media’s
Michelle Vierra
and Brian
Samborski Named
among 2013 Radio
Wayne Finalists
left,
Michelle Vierra
above,
Brian Samborski
Two Greater Media
employees were among the
2013 Radio Ink magazine
Radio Wayne finalists.
Michelle Vierra from Greater
Media New Jersey was
named a finalist in the “Street
Fighter of the Year” category.
Vierra is an Account
Executive and Sports Sales
Manager at WMGQ-FM and
WCTC-AM in New Brunswick,
NJ.
Brian Samborski from
Greater Media Boston was a
finalist in the “Sales Manager
of the Year” category. He
currently serves as the
National Sales Manager of
the five-station cluster: Radio
92.9 WBOS-FM, Country
102.5 WKLB-FM, MAGIC
106.7 WMJX-FM, 105.7
WROR-FM and Hot 96.9
WBQT-FM.
The judging panel consists
of radio-industry executives,
independent of Radio Ink
magazine.
Vierra and Samborski’s
photographs were included
in a special section of Radio
Ink magazine that was
on-site at the Radio Wayne
Luncheon on September 19
at the 2013 Radio Show in
Orlando, FL.
Continued on next page
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Greater Media New Jersey’s WRAT-FM Takes Top Honors
at Annual NJBA Conference in Atlantic City; Also Named Marconi Award Finalist
the distinguished award to
his two sons, Tommy and
Tony Jr., on stage during the
luncheon.
Greater Media’s WRAT-FM
took top honors in two
categories during a special
awards luncheon on June
19 during the 66th Annual
New Jersey Broadcasters
Association Conference at
Caesars in Atlantic City, NJ.
The station won the Best
News 2012 Award for
its “Superstorm Sandy
Community Coverage.” In
addition, Scott Edwards and
the WRAT-FM team received
the Best Commercial 2012
Award for the station’s “E
Street Bagels” submission.
“I am so very proud of
Dan Finn, Carl Craft, Scott
Edwards and the entire
WRAT-FM team for receiving
these coveted awards,” said
95.9 WRAT-FM was also
named a finalist in the annual
National Association of
Broadcasters’ prestigious
Marconi Awards competition
in the category “Rock Station
of the Year.”
from left, Peter Smyth (Chairman/CEO, Greater Media, Inc.), Carl Craft
(WRAT-FM Program Director/Operations Manager/Morning Show Host),
Scott Edwards (WRAT-FM Production Director) and Dan Finn (SVP/Regional
General Manager, Greater Media New Jersey) at the 2013 New Jersey Broadcasters Association Conference
Greater Media Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer Peter
Smyth. “They are a shining
example of what radio does
to help the communities it
serves during challenging
times. I am so very proud
to have them in our Greater
Media family.”
In addition, the late and
former WCTC-AM and
WMGQ-FM Vice President
and General Manager
Anthony (Tony) V. Marano
was inducted into the 2013
NJBA Hall of Fame at the
event. Peter Smyth reflected
on the tremendous legacy
and countless contributions
that Marano made to Greater
Media and the community
throughout his distinguished
career. Smyth presented
Charlotte’s WBT AM/FM
Named 2013 Radio Station of the Year
by North Carolina Association
of Broadcasters
WBT AM/FM was named
the 2013 Station of the Year
in the large market category
during the North Carolina
Association of Broadcasters
(NCAB) Annual Convention
June 24-25 in Greensboro,
NC.
The winners of this
year’s top station awards
were determined by a
distinguished panel of out-ofstate media executives. The
Station of the Year award
was given to radio stations
with achievements during
2012 that highlight innovative
programming, with an
emphasis on audience
involvement and promotion,
and a commitment to their
local community.
“It is fitting that North
Carolina’s first and most
legendary radio station, WBT,
would win the inaugural
NCAB Station of the Year
award,” said Greater Media
Charlotte Vice President
and Station Manager Trip
Savery. “We are very proud
to receive this honor from
NCAB.”
In 2012 WBT marked its 90th
anniversary, celebrating the
country’s second oldest radio
station. Live and local, WBTAM/FM is Charlotte’s News
Talk station, home to Keith
Larson, Brad & Britt, John
Hancock and Bo Thompson.
The entire WRAT-FM staff
is committed to ensuring
that this wave of success
continues, said Doug Sjonvall,
Marketing Director of WRATFM. “We don’t have any
intention of slowing down,”
Sjonvall said, noting that
the station’s core staff has
been there for 17 years, since
day one. “We’re going to
keep doing what we love to
do, and that’s provide our
audience and clients with
good, fun, intelligent radio
and provide support to our
local communities.”
BEN-FM Dishes Up
Free Ice Cream
As part of the Summer
of BEN, BEN-FM hit the
streets with a fully stocked
ice cream truck, surprising
people with free ice cream.
Street Teamer Derek
Transue saved the day when
he pulled up in the truck
during a major heat wave!
Continued on next page
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Three Greater Media Stations among
2013 Marconi Award Finalists
The National Association
of Broadcasters has named
Greater Media’s WBT AM/
FM, WRAT-FM and WMMRFM among the finalists
for the 2013 NAB Marconi
Radio Awards honoring
radio stations and on-air
personalities for excellence
in broadcasting.
The winners were
announced on September
19 at the NAB Marconi
Radio Awards Dinner and
Show. The event was held
during the 2013 Radio Show
at the Rosen Shingle Creek
Hotel in Orlando, FL.
In addition, WLNK-FM
morning personalities Bob
and Sheri were scheduled
to be among this year’s
award presenters on stage.
ROCK STATION
OF THE YEAR
WRAT-FM,
Belmar, NJ
MAJOR MARKET
STATION OF
THE YEAR
WMMR-FM,
Philadelphia, PA
NEWS/TALK STATION OF
THE YEAR
WBT AM/FM, Charlotte, NC
The NAB Marconi Radio
Awards were established
in 1989 and named after
inventor and Nobel
Prize winner Guglielmo
Marconi. These prestigious
awards recognize
stations and individuals
for their excellence and
performance in 21 different
categories.
Country 102.5 WKLB-FM’s
Kruse Inducted into Emerson College
WERS Radio Hall of Fame
105.5 WDHA-FM Celebrates Labor Day at the
South Plainfield Parade
WKLB-FM’s Carolyn Kruse gives her acceptance speech during her
induction into the Emerson College WERS Radio Hall of Fame.
Members of the WDHA-FM Promotions team with
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
Dedication pays off! Country
102.5 WKLB-FM’s Carolyn
Kruse, Boston’s number one
rated midday personality,
was inducted into Boston’s
Emerson College WERS
Radio Hall of Fame on June 1.
This honor is bestowed upon
successful graduates who
have pursued and excelled
in a career in broadcasting.
Carolyn is celebrating 20
years at Country 102.5 FM,
a distinctive achievement in
itself.
“Her dedication to our
industry, to Country 102.5,
and to her midday show
in particular are keys to
her success. Plus, she has
an extremely charismatic
personality,” said WKLBFM Program Director Mike
Brophey.
Carolyn, sometimes better
known as “The Kruser,” has
been on the air in Cape Cod,
Providence and Boston. The
WERS Hall of Fame award is
another exciting chapter in
the story of Greater Media’s
Carolyn Kruse.
Governor Christie holds up a WDHA-FM T-shirt.
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Newspaper Division
Expands into Video
News Delivery
With Greater Media
Broadcast News
videoNEWS
WHILE
some media organizations
tried to take shelter from the sweeping
changes that accompanied the rise of
online journalism, Greater Media Newspapers has pushed forward to meet the
demands of an ever-evolving industry.
anchors, from Diane Sawyer of ABC to
Erin Burnett of CNN, to prepare for the
gig. From there, Xie practiced her delivery and added a bit of her own personality to craft a warm, trustworthy
onscreen presence.
The drive to deliver premium content
through the most accessible means
possible took a new turn on July 5, with
the first edition of Greater Media Broadcast News. Published online every week,
the roughly 10-minute-long video segments offer viewers an easily digestible
glimpse into the hottest stories in their
communities.
With the help of higher-ups, including
Jennifer Amato, the managing editor of
Greater Media Broadcast News, Xie has
steadily learned to write copy for video
as well, she said. “It’s been difficult trying to write in a broadcast style because
there’s a big difference between that
and print. The prose is simpler,” she said.
“In print, you can always reread a sentence, but it becomes quite a hassle to
have to rewind the broadcast. You have
to make it clear and you have one shot
to do it.”
“The need to accept and respond to
the rapidly changing media landscape
is an absolute must,” said Ben Cannizzaro, the newspaper division’s General
Manager and Publisher. “Our people not
only understand this, but recognize the
opportunities and are embracing the
challenge.”
For members of the editorial staff, the
project ushered in a fresh take on reporting. Although the newsroom is filled
with gifted writers, most of the individuals who regularly clear their throats and
take a deep breath before speaking in
front of the camera boast little to no experience in broadcast news. Despite the
unfamiliar nature of the medium, staff
members have shined in their new roles.
That ability to adapt quickly became a
calling card of anchor Suzie Xie.
Xie, a copy editor who graduated from
Rutgers University in January 2013, said
she watched clips of prominent news
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Not every story that works for Greater
Media’s print publications is suitable for
video. Those that are selected to appear
on a broadcast must be not only enlightening, but interesting and appealing to a wide array of individuals, Amato
said. The division’s lineup of managing
editors often provides insight as to what
will wow viewers, she said.
By Jack Murtha
Amato and Xie, along with the staff of
editors and reporters who contribute to
the productions, must be doing something right. Data from the first month
of the broadcast initiative showed that
more than 1,000 people tuned in to the
segments.
“Response has been so positive, both
within the newsroom and from our
readers and viewers, that almost everyone on staff wants to contribute to
Broadcast News,” Greater Media Newspapers Executive Editor Donna Kenyon
said. “I continue to be impressed every
week at the great work produced by
the collaboration of our staff.”
The tremendous effort put forth is not
exclusive to the editorial department.
The idea for Greater Media Broadcast
News came from Director of Information Technology Gene Lennon. He has
been responsible for taking the idea
from concept to reality. Lennon produces the broadcasts, and his staff has
used the technical resources available
to them to dazzle viewers with the high
production value of the reports.
“They basically are chosen as a snapshot of our newspapers for the week,
but we prefer them to have regional
interest,” Amato said. “We try to be all
encompassing so that every viewer can
find something that he or she enjoys and
looks forward to the following week.”
Without the backing of a multimilliondollar TV studio and a team of full-time
sound and video engineers, Lennon
is tasked with creating a product that
must compete with those of major media outlets. By using top-of-the-line video-editing software and a basic camera,
Lennon has built a series of polished,
aesthetically pleasing videos.
That may include coverage on the arts,
sports, popular concerts and pressing
headlines.
“Our ‘broadcast studio’ is virtual—built in
Photoshop and shot in front of a green
screen—but more than one person has
asked what studio we use to shoot the
news segments,” Lennon said. “Generally, I just smile, although I am tempted to
answer, ‘Shot live in front of an audience
at our studios in Burbank, California.’ ”
WMMR-FM’s Preston & Steve Kick Off the Summer at Hershey Park
WMMR-FM’s
Preston & Steve
Show broadcasting from
Hershey Park in
Hershey, PA
It’s important to forge such a solid
reputation in the realm of online video.
YouTube currently clocks more than 6
billion hours of playtime each month.
In October 2012, 183 million Americans
watched more than 37 billion digital
clips and ad views spiked to almost 11
billion, Lennon said.
Greater Media’s dip into this lucrative
corner of the industry could soon allow
the advertising department to tap into
an enormous potential for revenue, he
said.
To further strengthen the broadcast
segments, Lennon hopes to seek feedback from viewers, extend coverage and
add production tools. While no specific
plans are in the works, newspaper staff
members will also mull over how to
best merge online news and social media, and how to execute live broadcasts,
Lennon added.
But Greater Media Newspapers will not
abandon its ultimate goal: to deliver
high-quality publications to the doorsteps of thousands of New Jersey residents, Amato said.
“My hope for the future of Broadcast
News is to have it expand so that all
readers watch the segments, and then
more viewers become readers,” she
said. “I think we need to keep the focus
on our newspapers, but provide information in a full-circle-type format.”
To that end, the newspaper division has
once again highlighted its staying power, which stems from a wealth of hardhitting content delivered through a variety of platforms. In the process, the
dedicated staff members have learned
to become 21st-century journalists and
producers, Xie said.
“In a place like Greater Media, you don’t
have to choose between print or broadcast. You have to be privy to the different ways of providing media,” she said.
“There is a degree of flexibility here that
really is unprecedented in a lot of local
newspapers. Everyone here wears a lot
of different hats.”
G
Nothing says summer like a day at the
amusement park. On Friday, June 21,
93.3 WMMR-FM’s Preston & Steve Show
rocked the “sweetest place on earth,”
broadcasting live from Hershey Park, PA,
for the first day of everyone’s favorite
season.
During the previous few weeks, the show
gave away passes to 1,500 of their closest
friends to join the festivities. Each ticket
included free parking, early entrance to
the park to watch the broadcast, plus
access to the rides before the general
public, a pretty sweet deal for families
who ordinarily may have had trouble
affording such an experience.
Comedian Doug Benson provided
entertainment for the crowd and
reported his thoughts, fears and
excitement after being the first person
to ride the roller coasters that morning.
100.1 WJRZ-FM Hosts Waffles and Ice Cream Live Broadcast
100.1 WJRZ-FM broadcasted live in the
heart of Downtown Toms River, NJ, with
Matt Knight in the Morning on Friday,
July 19, and gave away free coffee and
free waffles and ice cream. Starting at 6
a.m., listeners were invited down to The
Cab Restaurant to hang out with the
WJRZ-FM staff and to score a plate full
of waffles and ice cream and a free cup
of coffee! The place was packed with
listeners enjoying their favorite dessert
for breakfast. The mayor of Toms River
and the fire chief came down to celebrate
with WJRZ-FM. All of this led up to the
11th annual New Jersey State Ice Cream
Festival in Toms River on Saturday, July
20, where WJRZ-FM Midday Jock TJ
Bryan hosted the event.
Matt Knight in the Morning enjoys his
waffles and ice cream.
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snapshots
greater media
in pictures
faces & places
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1. All in the Greater Media family: WLNKFM’s Kelly McKay (Midday Host), Anthony
Michaels (Program Director and Evening
Host) met up with the Link’s Dawn Santolucito (Marketing Director) and Lori
Grande (Morning Show Host) at the radio
broadcast at Sandals Antigua Spa & Resort in June; 2. WRIF-FM’s Dave Hunter
(Dave & Chuck the Freak Morning Show)
on the air with Tigers Skip Day winners;
3. WCTC-AM News & Sports Director
Bruce Johnson; Greater Media New Jersey
SVP/Market Manager Dan Finn; Greater
Media, Inc. Chairman/CEO Peter Smyth;
Greater Media, Inc. VP/Director of Communication Heidi Raphael; WCTC Program
Director and Host Bert Baron; and Greater
Media New Jersey Controller Frank Ambrose at the New Jersey Broadcasters
Association Annual Conference in Atlantic
City; 4. WKLB-FM Program Director Mike
Brophey, country artist Scotty McCreery
and Music Director Ginny Rogers atop the
right-field roof deck at Boston’s Fenway
Park for a special acoustic performance;
5. WLNK-FM’s Kelly McKay with former
NBA star Darryl Dawkins at the Taste of
Charlotte Festival; 6. WJRZ-FM Morning
Host Matt Knight (l) shows off his “guns”; 7.
BEN-FM Morning Show Producer Donnie
Black helps a contestant in a two-person
hula hoop contest at the Singles Mingle;
8. The Fanatic Fantasy Girls hanging out
with SNL’s Jay Pharoah; 9. WDHA-FM’s
air staff Curtis Kay, Kim Mulligan and Terri
Carr, along with Engineer Jason Ornellas, at WDHA-FM’s Cruze or Lose finale;
10. The ladies of The Rat: (l-r) WRAT-FM
AE Kim Nelson, NTR Department’s Annie
Rodriguez; Jersey Rock Host Maria Ciezak
and Jackie Mitchell; 11. 93.9 WMMR-FM
full-time vampire Jacky Bam Bam hosted
legendary drummer Carmine Appice at a
drum clinic in Cherry Hill, NJ, at Guitar Center; 12. WJRZ-FM/WRAT-FM’s Senior Account Representative Linda Cronk with actor Danny Aiello; 13. Hot 96.9 FM staff take
in a Boston Red Sox game: (l-r) GMB Director of Programming Cadillac Jack, Hot 96.9
Assistant Program Director Jill Strada, and
Hot 96.9 Imaging Director Doug MacAskill;
14.WRAT-FM Morning Show’s Gotts irons
shirts for charity dressed as Alice in Chains
… Alice from The Brady Bunch, that is; 15.
WDHA-FM Senior Account Executive
Denis Duggan with WDHA-FM Morning Jolt’s Kim Mulligan at Title Boxing;
16.WMMR-FM Program Director Bill
Weston (r) takes on overnight host Jacky
Bam Bam (c) and an MMR listener in
Preston & Steve’s Pop Culture Challenge;
17. WLNK-FM’s Bob Lacey and Sheri Lynch
with the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest winner, Walle; 18. WRIF-FM Dave & Chuck
the Freak Morning Show producer James
prepares to be dunked on Tigers Skip Day;
19. WRAT-FM’s afternoon driver Jimmy
Steal, Engineer Jason Ornellas and Marketing Director Doug Sjonvall before the
RatFest VIP party; 20. Country 102.5 FM
evening personality Keith Stephens leads
the WKLB-FM sales staff in a weekly Insanity workout (l-r, Mike Zlotnick, Carol
Zurblis, Keith Stephens and Jessica Oar);
21. On-air staff (l-r) Donnie Black (Morning
Show Producer), Rich DeSisto (Assistant
Program Director), Marilyn Russell (Morning Show Host) and Kristen Herrmann
(Production Director) backstage at BENFM’s Summer BENder; 22. Special guest
Greater Media, Inc. Chairman/CEO Peter
Smyth visits WCTC-AM’s Bert Baron during a live broadcast of New Jersey Today
from the annual New Jersey Broadcasters
Association Conference in June in Atlantic
City, NJ; 23.WMMR-FM DJ Markus Goldman leads Team WMMR in the American
Cancer Society Bike-a-thon; 24. BENFM’s morning personality Marilyn Russell
broadcasting live to promote the Salvation
Army’s Christmas in July promotion; 25.
WMTR-AM’s Slick hangs out at Teterboro
Airport for their Wings and Wheels Expo;
26. Boston’s Hot 96.9 FM Morning Show
personality Baltazar with the Boston Red
Sox’s “Big Papi” (David Oritz) in the Red
Sox dugout at Fenway Park; 27. WJRZFM’s Barbara Farragher and Glenn Kalina
at Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, NJ; 28.
WROR-FM’s Lauren Beckham Falcone at
the Samuel Adams Brewery with founder
Jim Koch, sampling a bottle of the new
Brewlywed Ale; 29. WBT AM/FM’s John
Hancock broadcasts live for the Peanut
Butter ‘n July food bank drive, which collected more than 1,500 pounds of peanut
butter; 30. BEN-FM Street Teamer Jonathan Cox goes “above and beyond” for the
job, wrangling a giant snake at an event
at Pets Plus Natural; 31. WMMR-FM’s The
Preston & Steve Show in studio with M.
Night Shyamalan (center); 32. The WDHAFM and WMTR-AM staff after another successful Adoption Day and Pet Supply Drive;
33. MAGIC 106.7 FM’s Candy O’Terry (r)
hosted the first Exceptional Women Entrepreneur Series Breakfast with presenting
sponsor Care.com at the Seaport Hotel in
Boston on May 30; 34. The Fanatic Fantasy Girls of Philadelphia’s 97.5 FM at the
Laguna Grill Beach Volleyball Tournament
in Brigantine, NJ.
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Greater Media
Interactive Summit
Guides Radio Stations
on Best Use of Digital
Content on Web
interactive
SUMMIT
VIDEOS
and “big data” are becoming the focus of new marketing and
revenue strategies at Greater Media.
At an Interactive Summit held July 22-23
in Birmingham, MI, for sales and marketing managers in each of Greater Media’s
radio markets, Jennifer Williams, Interactive Marketing Director for Greater Media,
and Tom Bender, Senior Vice President
and General Manager of Greater Media
Interactive, presented an opportunity
for those in charge of digital content to
collaborate on ideas about how to best
utilize their content—and advertising opportunities—on the web.
“This has become a yearly event because we found that Greater Media’s
approach to interactive [media] is very
locally based, as opposed to a number
of other broadcast or other television
companies, where the digital assets are
centralized and run by a central core of
people,” Bender said. “The people who
make the radio stations happen—the local staff—are the ones who also have to
make the digital relationship with their
listeners happen.”
In partnership with the local employees,
Bender and Williams act as “coaches, educators and consultants” to those seeking ways to create content and revenue
for their markets.
“Jennifer and I help the small group of
people in each one of the radio stations
who are charged with developing the interactive brands,” Bender said. “Because
digital [media] is so changeable and so
fast-moving and so complicated in many
of its aspects, the staff needs a chance to
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take a breather from the front line, share
ideas, check their judgment against that
of other people who are doing similar
things, and also get some education to
try to get ahead of the curve.”
The annual day-and-a-half Interactive
Summit serves that exact purpose: to allow employees involved in digital and interactive media to discuss winning strategies as well as strategies that don’t work
for their stations.
“We introduce different technologies
that they may not be familiar with,” Williams said. “This past summit, we focused
on revenue and marketing, and new opportunities for both of those things, using technology to help them accomplish
some local goals.”
Guest speakers included Greater Media,
Inc. Chairman and CEO Peter Smyth,
who led a question-and-answer session
via phone; and Scott Brown, Director of
USA Broadcast Promotions at marketing
company Mindshare.
Williams and Bender discussed the use of
“big data” at length, which uses the data
on viewers available to them to produce
more targeted advertising opportunities
for interested companies.
“Once we learned what was possible in
the world of big data, we all collectively
decided that this is an area that we have
to investigate further,” Bender said. “We
are going to take the next steps by establishing a pilot project … to see if we can
access more complete pictures of our
listeners and their likes and dislikes, and
see if we can convert that to more value
The Interactive Team enjoying dinner (l-r):
Tony Odachowski, Director of Interactive Media
(GMNJ); Tom Bender, SVP/Greater Media Interactive; Ben Kulis, Operations & Marketing Manager (Greater Media Boston Interactive); Colin
Smyth, Director of Sales (Greater Media Boston
Interactive); Jonathan Mauney, Interactive Director (Greater Media Interactive, Charlotte); Scott
Brown, Director of USA Broadcast Promotions
at Mindshare; Kelly Wallace, Director, Digital &
Account Development (Greater Media Interactive); and Tammy Lowry, National Sales Manager
(Greater Media Charlotte)
in the marketplace.”
Interactive digital media has taken several different forms in each market: Boston
radio stations put video of performances
of up-and-coming artists online; Philadelphia’s WMMR-FM produces a daily video
feature with the popular Preston & Steve
morning show; Detroit has live-streamed
performances from various artists; and
Greater Media Newspapers produces a
weekly newscast featuring its publications’ top headlines.
“Now that we’ve gotten our feet wet, we
need to get to the next level, which is
confidence, and then repeating it so that
it becomes habit,” Bender said. “Nothing
in the digital world sticks unless it’s available on an ongoing basis, and these projects are good and helpful. Now, what we
want is to commercialize them.”
The meeting, attended by Interactive
Sales Managers and Directors, included
Greater Media Boston, Colin Smyth and
Ben Kulis; Greater Media Charlotte, Tammy Lowry and Jonathan Mauney; Greater
Media Detroit, Curtis Paul; Greater Media
Philadelphia, Kelly Wallace; and Greater
Media New Jersey, Tony Odachowski. G
community
greater media
gives back to the
community
giving back
97.5 FM The Fanatic Supports Darren Daulton’s
Fight Against Brain Cancer with #RightOnFightOn T-shirt
97.5 FM The Fanatic,
Philadelphia, recently offered a
limited-edition #RightOnFightOn
T-shirt, with all proceeds
defraying medical expenses
associated with Darren Daulton’s
brain cancer treatment.
WDHA-FM and WMTR-AM
held their third annual Adoption
Day and Pet Supply Drive on June 1 at
their studios in Cedar Knolls,
NJ. WDHA-FM broadcasted
live from the event for three
hours, conducting interviews with
veterinarians, clients and shelters.
Listeners were invited to come
down and donate supplies to area
shelters and also possibly adopt a
new family member of their own!
Darren “Dutch” Daulton has
hosted “Talkin’ Baseball with
Dutch” for the past four baseball
seasons on 97.5 FM The Fanatic.
The red and white shirt features
Dutch prominently displayed
above his playing number 10.
The T-shirts were offered
online at www.975TheFanatic.
com/RightOnFightOn, and the
response has been overwhelming.
More than 3,500 T-shirts have
been sold. All of the shipping has
been done out of The Fanatic’s
offices, and it’s been a labor of
love by the staff and crew to get the
shirts out to the fans.
In addition, The Tug McGraw
Foundation donated a 45YGB
baseball bracelet for the first
200 T-shirts sold to help spread
awareness about brain cancer; 45
was McGraw’s jersey number, and
YGB means “ya gotta believe.”
Daulton spent 14 years in Major
League Baseball, most of which
WDHA-FM and WMTR-AM Hold Third Annual
Adoption Day and Pet Supply Drive
The 97.5 FM Fanatic Ground Crew
proudly wear the Right On, Fight On
Dutch Daulton T-shirts.
were with the Philadelphia
Phillies. He made three All-Star
appearances and was considered
the leader of the 1993 Phillies
team that lost in the World Series
to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Dutch was traded to the Florida
Marlins in 1997 and announced
his retirement after the Marlins
won the World Series that same
year. He has returned to his
Clearwater, FL, area home to
continue recuperating among
his family and friends. He will
eventually begin treatments in
Florida. Daulton and his family
have expressed their appreciation
to everyone for their loving
support throughout this difficult
time.
WDHA-FM also honored two
individuals with their second
annual Woof Awards, recognizing
those who have gone above
and beyond in the local pet
community.
Seven area shelters took part
in the day, setting up alongside
vendors in the stations’ parking
lot. WDHA-FM also sold its
first-ever Rock N’ Ruff T-shirt with
all proceeds going directly to area
shelters. The event also included
a photo booth by local pet
photographer Joe Frazz.
WDHA-FM and WMTR-AM
were able to collect hundreds
of pounds of supplies and raise
hundreds of dollars for area
shelters.
WDHA-FM Morning Jolt’s Kim
Mulligan with her dog Sam at the
broadcast
WDHA-FM Midday Host and Music
Director Terrie Carr with all the
donations from the day
The Healing Power of Music
Country recording
artist Cassedee Pope,
the season three
winner of NBC’s The
Voice, performs as a
part of Country 102.5
FM’s Country Music
Healing Tour.
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community
giving back
WBT AM/FM’s Keith Larson Pays It Forward to
Charlotte Veteran
MAGIC 98.3 FM Provides Dream Wedding Giveaway
for Lucky New Jersey Couple
Sally & Jeremy photo montage
WBT AM/FM’s Keith Larson takes a ride with veteran
J.C. Green in his shiny, new golf cart.
Weddings can be expensive, but
with love, anything is possible.
Such is true with the story of Sally
and Jeremy as MAGIC 98.3 FM
set out to give a dream wedding to
one lucky and loving couple that
stood out from the rest. When
medical bills and care for their
firstborn became their biggest
priority, Sally and Jeremy had to
forgo their dream-wedding plans
that had been on a back burner
for four years. But their chance
at a perfect wedding was realized
when they entered and won
MAGIC 98.3 FM’s Dream Wedding
Giveaway!
In association with Shackamaxon
Country Club in Scotch Plains,
NJ, the lucky couple won a
reception at the country club,
a venue known for its beautiful
landscape and high-end catering.
The package included a cocktail
hour with Tuscan table and chefattended stations, a four-hour
open bar, delectable threecourse dinner, and an exquisitely
designed wedding cake.
The prizes didn’t stop there: the
bride-to-be also won a designer
wedding dress, courtesy of “i
do i do” in Morristown. The
couple also received a bedroom
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set from Thomasville, a wedding
photographer and videographer
to record all of the memorable
moments the couple and guests
would create, and a DJ to keep
everyone entertained all night,
courtesy of Majestic Events.
Out of multiple couples who
submitted their engagement
stories and photos, only one lucky
couple was able to win the Dream
Wedding Giveaway. Through their
engagement story and pictures,
the couple easily won the three
rounds of voting. They showed
how madly in love they are, and
MAGIC 98.3 FM’s listeners fell
in love with them, too. Their
sweet story and adorable pictures
put them over the top and allowed
them to win the amazing grand
prize.
In the end, Sally and Jeremy
were a very deserving couple,
receiving the ultimate dream
wedding package to kick-start
their lives together as they never
imagined. MAGIC 98.3 FM and
Shackamaxon Country Club also
were pleased they were able to give
an amazing couple the chance
to make their dream wedding a
reality.
S U M M E R
Over Memorial Day weekend
a golf cart was stolen from a
92-year-old Navy veteran, J.C.
Green. The golf cart was kept
secured at his home in Rock Hill,
SC. However, thieves cut the
lock and took the cart that J.C.
Green used every day to tend to
his garden, visit neighbors and get
his mail.
offers of donations and help,
including one from the general
manager of Paradise Golf Cars. By
noon there was more than enough
money to cover the cost of a new
cart, and by 3 p.m., a replacement
golf cart was delivered to Green
to use while Paradise Golf Cars
created a custom cart to fulfill all
of his needs.
WBT AM/FM’s Keith Larson read
the story on the air when he got
back from the holiday weekend.
That was just after 9 a.m. The
WBT listeners responded
immediately with one caller, who
described himself as a veteran,
donating $100 to get things
started so “we,” the WBT listeners,
can get this gentleman a new cart.
A few weeks later, Keith Larson
and Paradise Golf Cars delivered a
tricked-out cart to Green. Green,
a huge South Carolina Gamecock
fan, now has a brand-new cart
inscribed with Gamecock logos
and his name. The outpouring of
help from WBT AM/FM listeners
was so generous that more than
enough money was collected, with
the extra funds donated to the
Wounded Warrior Project in J.C.
Green’s name.
Throughout the morning the
phone lines were flooded with
WMMR-FM’s Preston & Steve Annual Blood Drive
Boosts Red Cross Supplies
WMMR-FM’s Preston & Steve roll up their sleeves for their eighth
annual American Red Cross Blood Drive, netting 1,164 units of blood.
All the appointment slots were filled for the June 15 drive.
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WCSX-FM Presents Paws at the Hill
Classic Rock 102.9 WMGK-FM
will present the first MG5K Walk
and Run on Sunday, October 20,
2013.
102.9 WMGK-FM DJs John
DeBella, Debbi Calton, Andre
Gardner and Ray Koob will be
on-site to meet and cheer on
participants as they run and walk
Cooper River Park’s beautiful
course in Pennsauken Township,
NJ. Proceeds from the MG5K Walk
and Run will benefit The Who’s
Teen Cancer America charity, a
nonprofit organization that helps
hospitals develop units designed
to meet the specific needs of teens
with cancer, giving them the very
best chance of a positive outcome
both physically and emotionally.
The event will feature music
throughout the course,
refreshments, cash awards and
medals for top finishers as well as
for the runner who wore the best
classic rock-inspired costume.
The first 500 runners/walkers
registered will receive a rockin’
MG5K T-shirt.
Greater Media Detroit presented
Paws at the Hill at Freedom Hill
in Sterling Heights, MI, on
Saturday, July 27. Paws at the Hill
was a one-day event featuring a
host of activities for consumers
and their pets. The day was
filled with entertainment for
the entire family, including Disc
Dogs of Michigan, Ultimate
Air Dogs competitions,
Michigan K9 Search and Rescue
demonstrations, training
seminars, fashion shows and
more. Dogs in attendance were
able to participate in fun “pawson” activities, including agility
courses, puppy play area and
on-site grooming. Plus, there
were plenty of vendors on-site,
showcasing pet products and
services. And for mankind,
there was no shortage of mouthwatering food and cold beverages
in the Bark Garden.
The mission of this event was to
bring people and pets together.
Working side by side with local
animal rescue leagues, Greater
Media Detroit was able to find
loving homes for abandoned,
abused and orphaned animals.
There were more than 20 shelters
and rescues on-site with hundreds
of adoptable pets to choose from.
The race is open to runners and
walkers of all ages. Online entries
will be accepted at run.wmgk.com.
Participants will also be able to
register on the day of the event.
100.1 WJRZ-FM and BMI
partner with Jersey Native Chris
Barron for Sandy Relief Concert
A very happy family went home with a new furry
friend from Paws at the Hill.
Members of the 100.1 WJRZ-FM staff, BMI and the New Jersey Licensed
Beverage Association staff with Chris Barron (center).
100.1 WJRZ-FM teamed up with
Broadcast Music Inc. and the
New Jersey Licensed Beverage
Association to bring in Spin
Doctors’ front man Chris Barron
to perform on May 31 at Nardi’s
Tavern on Long Beach Island, NJ.
Nardi’s was closed for more than
four months after Hurricane
Sandy left four feet of water inside
the establishment and damaged
much of the surrounding area.
To celebrate Nardi’s reopening
and to raise money for the Long
Beach Township Hurricane Sandy
Relief Fund, 100.1 WJRZ-FM,
BMI and the New Jersey Licensed
Beverage Association worked
together to arrange a performance
by Spin Doctors’ front man and
New Jersey native Chris Barron.
The partnership raised more
than $2,000, to be donated to
businesses and individuals still
needing help after the October
2012 storm.
Disc Dogs of Michigan was one of many acts
throughout the day at Paws at the Hill.
Continued on next page
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community
giving back
102.9 WMGK-FM’S Camp Satisfaction Helps Feed Those
in Need in the Philadelphia Area
1450 WCTC-AM and MAGIC 98.3 FM
Host Inaugural Golf Outing
WMGK-FM’s Andre Gardner and Ray Koob broadcasted live and
collected nonperishable food items for Philabundance, from
Camp Satisfaction, the station’s big RV parked in front of Philadelphia’s
Wells Fargo Center during the Rolling Stones concerts.
Golfers arrived bright and early
on July 25 at Fiddler’s Elbow
Country Club in Bedminster,
NJ, for an exciting day of golf
and dinner, as 1450 WCTC-AM
and MAGIC 98.3 FM teamed up
with The Beez Foundation to host
their inaugural Golf Outing to raise
money to benefit pediatric brain
cancer awareness and research.
Golfers were welcomed with gift
bags and lunch, along with an
opportunity to enter a raffle to
win a variety of prizes, including
Yankees tickets, theme-park
tickets, signed memorabilia,
watches and more.
As the participants wrapped up
their games they gathered back
in the club’s banquet hall for
dinner as MAGIC 98.3 FM’s Jeff
Rafter and WCTC-AM’s Bert
Baron conducted the raffle and
announced the numerous prize
winners. The Golf Outing was a
tremendous success, thanks to the
many participants and sponsors
who raised more than $5,000 for
The Beez Foundation.
When the Rolling Stones
performed at Wells Fargo Center
on Tuesday, June 18, and Friday,
June 21, 102.9 WMGK-FM’s
Andre Gardner and Ray Koob
asked concertgoers to satisfy the
hunger of those in need in the
Philadelphia area by bringing
nonperishable food items to
the concerts. All items were
donated to Philabundance, the
region’s largest hunger-relief
organization. The two DJs
collected food donations and
broadcasted live from an RV
parked on the sidewalk in front
of the Wells Fargo Center’s Broad
Street entrance from 2 p.m. to
midnight on both dates. The
station named this charitable
effort Camp Satisfaction.
“Hunger doesn’t take a summer
vacation, and Philabundance
needs assistance feeding the
needy in our area, all year long,
especially when kids are out of
school,” said Koob.
“When school’s out, families
in need lack access to the free
and reduced-price meals that
their children receive during
the school year, and they look to
Philabundance for assistance,”
added Gardner.
More than 325,000 children in
the Delaware Valley get free and
reduced-price meals during the
school year. Philabundance and
MGK had staffers on-site to assist
Gardner and Koob in collecting
donations. The station raised
more than 4,000 meals to help
those in need throughout the
Delaware Valley.
1450 WCTC-AM and MAGIC 98.3 FM Support National Night Out
Across the nation on August
6, 2013, hundreds of towns
celebrated their annual National
Night Out. A 30-year old tradition,
National Night Out is a local fair put
together by the community along
with the town’s police department
to promote “America’s Night Out
Against Crime.” From coast to
coast, neighbors, local businesses
and police officers were coming
together to enjoy a night out of
good fun, all while promoting
the safety and betterment of the
community.
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1450 WCTC-AM and MAGIC
98.3 FM were lucky enough to
be part of the festivities in three
different towns. Setting up booths
in the middle of South Brunswick
and Piscataway, NJ, MAGIC
98.3 FM watched as neighbors
came together in this unique
opportunity to show camaraderie
within the community. Along
with the various food stands and
local bands playing that night,
MAGIC 98.3 FM drew in crowds
with a Peapod grocery-delivery
promotion, entertaining listeners
as they lined up for their free
Peapod T-shirts and smiled
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for their contest-entry picture.
Meanwhile WCTC-AM gave away
prizes all night as members of the
Highland Park community, both
young and old, tried their luck
and spun the wheel for a chance to
win exciting promotional prizes!
The well-known color-changing
WCTC-AM cups were a hit, as
well as Somerset Patriots baseball
tickets, lottery tickets, WCTCAM pens, and MAGIC 98.3 FM
throwing discs.
National Night Out was a great success,
with neighbors and police officers
alike enjoying themselves well into
1450 WCTC-AM and MAGIC 98.3
FM listeners come out in support of
America’s Night Out Against Crime
in their neighborhood.
the night. 1450 WCTC-AM and
MAGIC 98.3 FM are looking
forward to helping promote crime
prevention and building a sense
of community during next year’s
National Night Out!
Continued on next page
WCSX-FM Tees Off with 10th Annual KC & Trudi Casual Golf Classic
Golfers had a great day on the green at the 10th annual
KC & Trudi Casual Golf Classic.
94.7 WCSX-FM hosted the 10th annual KC & Trudi Casual Golf Classic,
where you don’t have to play like a pro to be treated like one. Morning
Show Hosts Ken Calvert and Trudi Daniels joined loyal listeners and
avid golfers at the Beacon Hill Golf Club in Commerce Township, MI,
on Monday, June 24, for a day of fun on the green.
Morning Show Hosts Ken Calvert and Trudi Daniels were on-site
to welcome all of the golfers and to kick off the day.
Each participant received a 94.7 WCSX-FM gift pack, and enjoyed a
continental breakfast, hot dog and chips for lunch, dinner with awards
ceremony, and beverages on and off the course all day. This signature
event is one that golfers look forward to each year.
Greater Media Detroit Hosts Annual Tip A Tiger
Event to Benefit Local Youth Organization
Greater Media Detroit (WRIFFM, WCSX-FM, WMGC-FM)
teamed up for another great year
with the Detroit Tigers for the
third annual Tip A Tiger event!
This one-of-a-kind event took
place at CJ Mahoney’s Sports
Grille in Troy, MI, on June 6
from 6 to 11 p.m. The night
consisted of appearances by
Detroit Tigers players, including
Andy Dirks, Joaquin Benoit,
Octavio Dotel, Drew Smyly,
Brayan Pena, Doug Fister, Jose
Ortega and Miguel Cabrera. Also
on hand were on-air personalities
from all three Greater Media
Detroit stations and other local
celebrities such as Mickey York,
Justin White, Ryan Field and
Shannon Hogan. Everyone came
WCSX-FM’s Doug Podell checks out some of the great silent auction items
at the third annual Tip A Tiger event.
together for a great cause, the
Detroit Tigers Foundation, an
organization dedicated to the
quality of life in our community
with a focus on youth, education
and recreation, and the Orange
Hearts, a charitable organization
supported by Joaquin Benoit.
Listeners were encouraged to
go online to purchase their
advance tickets and VIP seating.
Tickets were also available at the
door. On the day of the event,
101 WRIF-FM’s Meltdown
broadcasted live from 3 to 7 p.m.
and 94.7 WCSX-FM’s Doug
Podell broadcasted live from 2 to
6 p.m. A silent auction with sports
and music memorabilia was held
throughout the night to help raise
money for the cause. Plus, the
players and on-air personalities
worked hard for tips!
Detroit Tiger Joaquin Benoit and some of
the Fox Sports Detroit Girls served up drinks
behind the bar to raise donations.
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WBT AM/FM
and
Carolina
Panthers
Form
Winning
Team in
Just 18 years after entering the National
Football League, the Carolina Panthers have forged a fanatical following
throughout North and South Carolina
to become one of the most valuable
sports teams in the world.
Charlotte
By Keith Heumiller
WBT AM/FM’s Sports Director Jim Szoke (l)
live from the Carolina Panthers Training Camp
in Spartanburg, SC, with Mick Mixon (r), the
voice of the Carolina Panthers
And since 1995, WBT AM/FM has played
a big part in that.
“Since we claim two states as opposed
to a single city, it is even more important
that we reach all of our fans in North
and South Carolina, which is where
WBT AM/FM’s huge signal and long history in the region factor in,” said Henry
Thomas, Director of Broadcasting and
New Media for the Panthers. “We can’t
pick just any radio station as the flagship for our 50-station network, and the
expertise and professionalism we have
come to expect from WBT AM/FM has
made it an easy decision.”
WBT AM/FM and the Panthers recently
announced a three-year extension to
their broadcast partnership, ensuring
that the storied history of one of the
NFL’s youngest teams will continue to
play out on one of America’s oldest
commercial stations.
Because both organizations carry a
deep passion for the communities, listeners and fans they represent, it is no
wonder that there are so many connections between the two. WBT AM/FM
Sports Director Jim Szoke, for example,
is also a color analyst for the team and
the only broadcaster to have covered
every home and away game in the history of the franchise.
Panthers Executive Radio Producer
David Langton, a former WBT AM/FM
team member, said the relationship between the two organizations is easy to
explain, because both share the Panthers’ five basic operational tenets of
hard work, harmony, teamwork, listening and respect.
“For the past eight years, and for 13 of
our 18 seasons, the pursuit of such a re-
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lationship with our radio broadcast partner has led us to WBT,” Langton said.
Scott Casey, a Senior Account Executive with WBT AM/FM and former Panthers radio network team member, said
both organizations are also united in
their passion for the team and the community as a whole.
WBT AM/FM, he said, hosts live broadcasts and pre-game events outside the
Panthers stadium during football season, providing entertainment, games
and even face painting for younger fans.
The station also holds an annual Panthers “draft party” and helps sponsor
a monthly luncheon for the Charlotte
Touchdown Club, a nonprofit that works
to promote scholastic and professional
football throughout the region. Szoke
emcees the luncheons, which often feature football greats like Hall of Fame
quarterback Dan Marino, who appeared
earlier this summer.
“There are so many transplants in Charlotte,” said Casey, a Pittsburgh native.
“Everybody has their favorite teams,
but you can’t help but make the Panthers your Number 1 team when you’re
down here. It’s a great sense of pride
for our station,” he added. “You walk
around town here on a Friday in the fall,
anywhere, and people are wearing their
Panther jerseys. No matter how the
Panthers are playing, it’s all people want
to talk about.”
WBT AM/FM has been the flagship station for the Panthers since the team
became part of the NFL during a 1995
expansion, save a five-year period between 2000 and 2005. And while the
station is primarily focused on a news/
talk format (WBT 1110 AM is simulcast
on 99.3 FM), WBT AM/FM Vice President and Station Manager Trip Savery
said sports are thoroughly ingrained in
the community’s DNA.
“Charlotte is one of the great sports
towns outside of the top 10 major markets, and at the top of that list is the
Panthers,” he said.
Also featuring broadcasts for the wildly
popular University of North Carolina
(UNC) Tar Heels basketball and football
teams, WBT AM/FM has an affiliation
with some of the area’s greatest passions, Savery said, which is a “huge point
of pride” for the station. And while all of
Charlotte’s sports teams have helped
contribute to a long history of success
in the region, Savery said the story of
the Panthers is particularly emblematic of the city’s character and drive for
greatness.
recruit players from the New York area,
telling parents they would be able to
listen to game broadcasts at home on
WBT AM/FM.
Recruitment, at least for the Panthers, is
no longer an issue. Featuring one of the
most popular faces in sports in quarterback Cam Newton, and younger players
like linebacker Luke Kuechly, who led
the league in tackles as a rookie last season, the Panthers figure to be a team to
watch in the months and years ahead.
Twenty years ago, when businessman “The future is so bright, Panther fans are
Jerry Richardson began a drive to bring cautioned not to look directly into it,”
said Panthers playone of the NFL’s highly
by-play announcer
sought-after expansion
Mick Mixon.
teams to Charlotte, SavWBT AM/FM
ery said few gave the
Savery said he is
city a chance. But in a
and the Panthers looking forward to
rare feat Richardson was
recapturing the magable to solicit enough
ic he saw throughout
private funding from
recently
the city when the
area supporters to build
Panthers made their
a new stadium without
way to the biggest
the need for any public
announced a
game in sports, Suaid. That effort, Savery
per Bowl XXXVIII,
said, turned the tide in
three-year
back in 2004.
Charlotte’s favor.
“You
could
feel
extension to
that electric energy
throughout not just
city, but really
their broadcast the
throughout the entire two-state region,” he said. “It is
partnership
such a point of pride,
and there is such a
First operating as a 100-watt station in commitment to winning. It looks like we
1922, WBT now boasts a 50,000 watt have all the elements lining up to have
signal that stretches “from Maine to Mi- an unbelievably competitive team. It’s
ami” when other stations power down going to be something really special.”
in the evenings, Savery said.
Thanks to the equally formidable team
The station’s reach is so powerful, he of WBT AM/FM and the Carolina Pansaid, that legendary Hall of Fame UNC thers, fans can look forward to hearing
basketball coach Dean Smith used it to it all on their local radio dial.
“That speaks to the
Greater Charlotte aspirations,” Savery said. “It’s a
very aspirational city, and
that’s really what WBT
represents. … It is absolutely the WBT audience
through and through.”
WDHA-FM Bands
in the House
WDHA-FM Midday Host and Music Director
Terrie Carr interviews Duff McKagan of
Walking Papers at Rock the Park.
WDHA-FM’s Terrie Carr with The Winery Dogs
WDHA-FM’s Terrie Carr with Rob Zombie
G
WDHA-FM’s Metal Mania Host Scott Evil with
In This Moment
Pictured are (l-r) WBT AM/FM Air Staff: Keith Larson (weekdays, 9 a.m.-noon); Bo Thompson
(Charlotte’s Morning News); John Hancock (weekdays, 3-6 p.m.); and Brad Krantz and Britt Whitmire
(Brad & Britt Show).
WDHA-FM’s Metal Mania Host Scott Evil
with Shinedown
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G
Financial Update
Special Voluntary Supplemental Disability
Insurance Open Enrollment Coming in October
Ed Nolan
Senior Vice President
Chief Financial Officer
Greater Media, Inc.
Greater Media has negotiated
with Unum in order to offer
a special open enrollment
period for the voluntary
supplemental disability
insurance program that
is available to eligible
employees. This open
enrollment will offer
employees who have
previously declined to
purchase long-term
disability insurance another
opportunity to opt into the
program on very favorable
terms. Subject to eligibility
based on current income
level, participants already in
the plan may also have the
opportunity to increase their
benefit coverage amount.
As you know, Greater Media
provides basic long-term
company-paid disability
insurance that covers 50%
of your monthly earnings
up to a maximum monthly
benefit of $5,000. In the
past, the voluntary coverage
offered by Unum extended the
monthly benefit up to 60% of
your earnings. As part of this
special open enrollment, Unum
has now agreed to extend
the maximum coverage up to
75% of your monthly insurable
income.
There is another very important
component to Unum’s current
offer. Again subject to income
eligibility, Unum is offering
a guaranteed standard issue
benefit amount of up to $5,000
per month. This means they
will provide this amount of
coverage without any medical
underwriting. Typically if
you elect to purchase this
type of insurance after
having previously declined
the option to participate, the
carrier’s decision on whether
or not to offer you coverage
will be subject to medical
underwriting. If you have any
health issues that might make it
difficult to qualify for disability
insurance coverage, this is your
opportunity to obtain coverage
on a guaranteed basis.
So combining the $5,000
monthly company-paid group
coverage with the $5,000
monthly supplemental
benefit, you can obtain
guaranteed coverage of up
to $120,000 in income per
year. Additional coverage of
up to $10,000 per month is
available, but this additional
coverage will be subject to
medical underwriting. This
means that you will have to
fill out a brief questionnaire
regarding your medical
history and, possibly,
undergo certain basic
medical tests at the carrier’s
expense.
Another thing to keep in
mind, while any LTD benefits
that you receive from the
company-paid group plan
is subject to federal and
state income taxes, income
from a supplemental policy
is income tax free. The
coverage is also portable
so you can continue to be
covered even if you leave
Greater Media. Finally, you
have the option to exchange
your income protection for
long-term care coverage
between the ages of 50 and
60.
Remember, you are
responsible for 100% of the
premium for this coverage.
Greater Media simply
withholds the premium due
from your biweekly payroll
and remits it to Unum. Each
of you needs to determine the
suitability of this supplemental
insurance coverage in light
of your own particular needs
and resources. While in rare
instances it might be possible
for you to obtain more
favorable coverage elsewhere,
most employees will find the
coverage available through
this program to be superior
from both a coverage and
cost perspective to what they
could obtain on their own. I
urge you to carefully review
your individualized enrollment
package from Unum in order
to determine whether or not
participation in this program
makes sense for you and your
family.
Under the Stars with MAGIC 106.7 FM
The MAGIC 106.7 FM
Family Film Festival was back this
summer for eight weeks of free
summer movies on Saturday
nights on the South Garden at
The Shops at Prudential Center
in Boston.
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G
music
the music that makes
greater media
MUSIC at greater media
101 WRIF-FM’s Dave and Chuck the Freak Present the
Bitches Bash
BEN-FM’s Summer BENder
a Smashing Success
The BEN-FM Summer BENder at
Philadelphia’s Electric Factory was a
complete home run for the station,
listeners and clients. Two thousand
95.7 BEN-FM listeners packed the
Electric Factory on August 3 to hear
and sing along to Sugar Ray, Gin
Blossoms, Vertical Horizon, Smash
Mouth and Fastball.
The crowd was youthful, responsive
and well heeled … a marketer’s
dream. The BEN-FM promotion
department outdid itself, owning
the city block with signage, serving
VIP clients great food and beverage,
and helping presenting sponsor
IKEA set up the IKEA BEN Den
Lounge.
101 WRIF-FM’s new morning
show hosts Dave and Chuck the
Freak have always been very close
to their listening audience both
on the air and off. As a way to say
thank you for being fans of the
show, on Friday, July 26, WRIFFM hosted the first annual Dave and
Chuck the Freak’s Bitches Bash. That Friday
night, as an extension of the show’s
weekly celebration of “Fridays”
(“It’s Friday, Bitches!”), The Riff
took over The Fillmore Detroit for
a free, open-to-the-public party
hosted by Dave and Chuck the
Freak.
Everyone who attended received
a limited-edition T-shirt, and
also filled up on free food from
American Coney Island and Green
Lantern pizzeria. Afternoon Host
Meltdown and Evening Host
Screamin’ Scott broadcasted live
from The Fillmore, and attendees
were also treated to a special
one-hour broadcast with Dave
and Chuck live from the stage at
The Fillmore. Following the live
broadcast, Dave, Chuck and Lisa
hit the lobby, where they met and
signed autographs for fans for
more than two hours. Finally,
attendees were able to rock out to
performances from local stars Pistol
The bands were interviewed by
Marilyn Russell and Rich DeSisto
from the BEN Den. More than 50
clients joined the BEN-FM Sales
Team in the VIP area and also had
access to the pit in front of the stage.
It was all hands on deck from the
BEN-FM staff, and the BENder was a
smashing success!
top to bottom,
Marilyn Russell’s Morning Show
Producer, Donnie Black, helps
pump up the crowd before Sugar
Ray takes the stage at the Summer
BENder.
Rich DeSisto, Marilyn Russell and
Kristen Hermann toss T-shirts into
the crowd.
Fans rock out at 95.7 BEN-FM’s
Summer BENder on August 3.
Radio 92.9 FM Hosts
Sublime with Rome
top to bottom,
The Fillmore Detroit, site of
WRIF-FM’s Dave and Chuck the
Freak’s Bitches Bash
Dave, Chuck, and Lisa live on the
air from the stage at The Fillmore
Detroit
Local Detroit band Pistol Day
Parade onstage at The Fillmore
Day Parade, followed by national
recording artist Filter, who took the
stage to close out the night.
There was no better way to say
thanks to the listeners than with a
free concert, free shirts and free
food!
Radio 92.9 FM hosted Sublime
with Rome at the Colonnade
Hotel Roof Top Pool in Boston
on July 8. As one of its “Money
Can’t Buy Experiences,” the station
brought 100-plus lucky listeners
up to the picturesque spot on a
beautiful summer afternoon,
before the band’s sold-out show
later that night. Sublime with Rome
performed poolside and played
such classics as “Santeria” and
“Wrong Way” during their set.
Sublime with Rome with the Radio
92.9 FM staff at the Colonnade
Hotel Roof Top Pool in Boston
Continued on next page
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music
MUSIC at greater media
Family of the Year
Radio 92.9 FM’s
Breaking New Music Concert
Features Family of the Year and
Locals The Naked Stills
95.9 WRAT-FM
Stages RatFest 2013
95.9 FM The Rat presented RatFest 2013 at the
PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ, on Saturday, August 17.
The RatFest’s lineup on three stages featured the great rock
artists of the Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival.
Bands included Alice in Chains and Walking Papers.
WRAT-FM’s afternoon driver Jimmy Steal, Program Director Carl Craft and
nighttime personality Steve Hook get ready to dig into the RatFest cake.
Radio 92.9 FM prides itself on connecting Boston with the best breaking
artists and local music. At Theatre 1 at the Revere Hotel in Boston on August
15, lucky Radio 92.9 FM winners got a free show featuring emerging Family
of the Year and locals The Naked Stills. Family of the Year performed their
nationally charting songs “Hero” and “St. Croix,” along with telling stories
of their past and their ties to Boston. It was a unique experience, and that is
what Radio 92.9 FM will continue to bring their listeners.
s
0
8
’
MAGIC 106.7 FM
Presents
The Best of the ’80s Weekends
Break out the leg warmers, fingerless gloves, and don’t forget the Aquanet
hairspray! MAGIC 106.7 FM took Boston area listeners back in time this
summer with The Best of the ’80s Weekends, playing ’80s favorites, along with the
best variety of songs from today. The talent shared some of their awesome
memories, and perhaps not-so-awesome photos!
clockwise, Morning Magic’s Candy O’Terry; Music Director Mark Laurence;
Morning Magic’s David O’Leary; (l-r) afternoon’s Dan Justin, NKOTB Joey
McIntyre and Marketing Director Rob Hogan; and midday’s Nancy Quill.
WRAT-FM Marketing Director Doug Sjonvall (center) with Alice in
Chains backstage at RatFest 2013
Greater Media New Jersey VP/Market Manager Dan Finn
presents Live Nation’s Donna Eichmeyer with a plaque for her
participation in RatFest 2013.
Continued on next page
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Country 102.5 FM Country Music Festival
Sells Out
Summertime in the Boston area
means it’s time for the biggest event
of the year … the Country 102.5 FM
Country Music Festival. This year, the
festival was extra special as WKLBFM celebrated its 20th year. What
better way to celebrate than with
some of our closest friends, Luke
Bryan, Florida Georgia Line,
Cole Swindell, Rachel Farley, and
20,000 fans!
The Country 102.5 FM Country Music
Festival on June 2 was an absolutely
amazing event! Luke Bryan
demonstrated to a sold-out
Comcast Center exactly why he’s
the reigning ACM Entertainer of
the Year. Florida Georgia Line
continued to feel the Boston love,
marking the second time they have
had a sold-out crowd sing “Cruise”
back to them. Rachel Farley and
Cole Swindell rocked it out too,
proving country has the most
Country 102.5 FM Takes the
Party to the Streets!
On Sunday, July 28, Country
102.5 FM shut down historical
Lansdowne Street, next to Fenway
Park, for the first annual Country
102.5 FM Street Party. The party was
so big, we had to have two stages.
The day started with five artists
taking to the street in the middle
of Lansdowne Street—hometown
boy Joel Crouse, Katie Armiger,
Brett Eldredge, Parmalee and Love
& Theft played to 4,000-plus
fans! Then the fun moved into the
House of Blues as David Nail and
Maggie Rose took to the main stage
for amazing performances.
top to bottom, On-air personalities Steve Kelly, Lori Grande, Keith
Stephens, JW and Carolyn Kruse
with Parmalee / Country 102.5 FM’s
Street Team have a little hang time
with David Nail. / Brett Eldredge
takes to the stage in the middle of
Lansdowne Street.
clockwise from left, Luke Bryan performs for a sold-out
crowd of 20,000 fans. / Country 102.5 FM celebrates
20 years with a special cake by cake designer Erin Erler.
/ Luke Bryan hangs with the Country 102.5 FM gang
before the big show. / Florida Georgia Line takes to the
stage to rock the fans.
Country 102.5 FM Parties with
Jason Aldean’s Night Train Tour
Country 102.5 FM keeps bringing
the hottest shows to Boston, and
what’s hotter than Jason Aldean at
Fenway Park with Miranda Lambert,
Jake Owen and Thomas Rhett?
In July, Jason Aldean brought a
few friends with him to play the
legendary Fenway Park. It was a
weekend like no other for country
music in Boston with two sold-out
shows at Fenway, with more than
70,000 country fans taking over the
city for two days, and Country 102.5
FM was there to celebrate with both
huge pre- and post-parties each
night at the House of Blues. Night
one, Thomas Rhett took to the stage
for an amazing performance at our
after-party and brought out surprise
guests, Patty Loveless, Kip Moore,
Miranda Lambert and superstar
Jason Aldean!
top to bottom, Jason Aldean
performs for a sold-out crowd at
Fenway Park./ Miranda Lambert
takes the stage at Fenway. / Jason
Aldean and Miranda Lambert
surprise the crowd at Country 102.5
FM’s after-party at the House of
Blues with Thomas Rhett.
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1
#
First Country Music Station
BOSTON’S
Country
102.5
WKLB-FM has made it to the top, becoming Number 1 in the most recent
Arbitron ratings (July 2013, Monday
through Sunday, 6 a.m. to midnight).
WKLB-FM
in Boston to Rank Number 1
And according to WKLB-FM Program
Director Mike Brophey, the radio station
staff is “delighted, proud and maybe
somewhat relieved.”
“We have a very stable staff that has
been in Boston at this station for years,”
Brophey said. “Some have been here
since the beginning, so it is extremely
gratifying to see our station as Number 1. We knew it could happen. It was
just a question of when. It took about
a week for me to personally accept it.
I am especially glad Greater Media got
the crown because our company stuck
with the format through some pretty
lean times.”
Brophey said that Boston would not
normally be considered a “hotbed” for
country music, but “it is today,” and this
is the first time a country station has
been Number 1 in that demographic.
Brophey, who arrived at WKLB-FM in
1996, is no stranger to the country music genre. Before he came to Greater
Media, he said he was in Philadelphia
“doing country” since March 1984. He
added that WKLB-FM has been on the
air on four different frequencies over the
years, but the current home is at 102.5
FM. Greater Media has had country on
the air since 1993 in Boston, Brophey
said.
The program director said WKLB-FM
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is “fortunate to have one of the most
stable, dedicated and talented staffs in
the business.”
Brophey spoke of the station’s on-air
personalities, calling the shows “unique
in terms of the personalities, but consistent in terms of music and promotions.”
The station also has a history of staff
longevity, beginning with John Willis
(mornings) and Carolyn Kruse (middays), who have been at WKLB-FM for
20 years. Afternoon Host Steve Kelly
has been at WKLB-FM about 17 years,
and nighttime personality Keith Stephens about 13 years.
“Lori Grande, the other half of our
morning show, has been with us about
12 years. Ginny Rogers, our Assistant
Program Director and Music Director,
has been here 20 years. In terms of ratings, Carolyn is Number 1 middays, and
all others are in the top three with 25-54
persons, and either Number 1 or Number 2 with 25-54 women. In short, this
group of personalities is simply outstanding,” Brophey said.
WKLB-FM also offers “After MidNite,”
which Brophey said was on the air in
By Clare Marie Celano
Boston before his arrival. “It has just lost
its longtime host, Blair Garner, so it is
a show in transition at this point, but
has some terrific guest hosts who are
huge names in country music, such as
Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood,”
he said.
The station considers community outreach and charity work very important
aspects of the business, and its on-air
talent and staff members work hard
to do what they can to help those in
need.
“Part of WKLB’s philosophy has always
been to be philanthropic as much as
time and energy will allow. Over the
years, we literally have raised millions
of dollars for charity, donated hundreds
of items for auction, and every member
of our air staff is personally involved
on some level with multiple charities,”
Brophey said. “For the past couple of
years, we have been excited to partner
with Floating Hospital for Children at
Tufts Medical Center. We have raised
funds for the hospital primarily with
country concerts, but have been involved with several of their events has
well. We are in the design process for a
large mega-event in 2014.”
One event the station sponsors is the
Country Music Healing Tour, which was
launched a few years ago.
“Essentially, this is a model that brings
country music artists to the hospital to
visit with patients. It is one of the activities we do that makes us most proud
because we can directly see the results
on the faces of pediatric patients,”
Brophey said.
left, Jason Aldean performs at the very first Country 102.5 FM concert at Fenway Park.
right, The very proud Country 102.5 FM staff
celebrates their #1 status in Boston with a champagne toast. It certainly takes a village: (l-r) Scott
Thompson (Promotion Coordinator), Steve Kelly
(WKLB-FM afternoon personality), Dawn Santolucito (Marketing Director), Jessica Oar (Local
Sales Manager), Ginny Rogers (Assistant Program
Director/Music Director), Rob Williams (VP/Market Manager), John “JW” Willis (WKLB morning
personality), Mark Keaney (Director of Sales),
Buzz Knight (VP/Program Development) and Lori
Grande (WKLB morning personality).
music
Artists who have participated in this
effort include Cassadee Pope, Casey
James, Lee Brice, Gloriana, and Carrie
Underwood, according to Brophey.
He added that WKLB-FM’s personalities are involved with many charity
events throughout the year, including
blood drives and various events to raise
Continued from page 29
awareness and funds for worthy causes
like multiple sclerosis and brain cancer.
“If there is a cause, we are often involved with participation and promotion,” Brophey said.
G
Hot 96.9 FM Presents the Legends of Summer Tour
MUSIC at greater media
WDHA-FM Presents Rock the Park with
Jane’s Addiction and Alice in Chains
WDHA-FM once again Rocked the
Park at the PNC Bank Arts Center in
Holmdel, NJ, on Saturday, August
17, with headlining acts Jane’s
Addiction and Alice in Chains.
WDHA-FM teamed with sister
station WRAT-FM, who co-headed
the show as their annual RatFest and
Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival.
It was the “Hottest Show of the
Summer,” Justin Timberlake + Jay
Z at historic Fenway Park … the
Legends of Summer tour. Boston’s allnew Hot 96.9 FM owned the Justin
Timberlake and Jay Z concert and
gave listeners an experience that they
will remember forever.
Hot 96.9 FM not only gave away
the MOST TICKETS to the
concert, but also hosted pre- and
post-parties at The Baseball Tavern.
Baltazar & Pebbles, Melissa, Deirdre
Dagata and Hustle Simmons
talked it up with Hot 96.9 FM
VIP winners, and our own DJ Roy
Barboza was on the 1s & 2s with the
best mix to get listeners excited as
they entered the concert. Plus each
Hot 96.9 VIP got a custom concert
T-shirt and swag.
WDHA-FM started the day with the
annual Fully Loaded Tailgate taking place
on the front lawn of the venue. One
hundred listeners qualified to stop
by, play games, and enjoy free food
courtesy of the American BBQ
Company.
WDHA-FM broadcasted live from
the main concourse of the venue
for seven hours with many special
guests, including Duff McKagan,
formerly of Guns N’ Roses, who
stopped by to discuss his new band,
Walking Papers. Up-and-coming
band The Dead Daises also stopped
by and performed live on-air.
More than 150 winners were part of
the Hot 96.9 FM VIP parties at The
Baseball Tavern and got to hang out
with their favorite radio station, the
all-new Hot 96.9 FM.
WDHA-FM’s D-Girls were out in
full force during the show, greeting
listeners and taking pictures as they
entered the venue. WDHA-FM also
ran promotions where listeners got
to meet Alice in Chains backstage,
along with WDHA-FM’s Jim
Monaghan and Terrie Carr. Two
lucky listeners even had the chance
to watch Jane’s Addiction warm up
before they took the stage.
WDHA-FM completed the night
with a VIP party to thank all the
clients that made the event possible,
along with Live Nation, who
partners with WDHA-FM each year
to put on the show.
top to bottom, WDHA-FM’s Terrie
Carr, Curtis Kay, Mike Cocheo, Kim
Mulligan and Jim Monaghan all
broadcasting live. / The WDHA-FM
D-Girls pose outside the venue.
/ The Zippo Encore side stage at
Rock the Park
from top to bottom, Traffic Managers Megan O’Brian and David Hastie, Account Executive Rachael Redman and Imaging Director Doug MacAskill / Hot
Morning Show Co-Host Baltazar with Hot 96.9 FM VIP winners on the deck
of The Baseball Tavern / The Baseball Tavern next to Fenway Park. / Hot
Morning Show Co-Host Pebbles meeting the VIPs on the deck of The Baseball
Tavern / The Hot 96.9 FM Team: Morning Show Co-Hosts Baltazar & Pebbles,
Executive Producer Sara Morgan; Producers Big Mack and “Happy” (Matt
Burke), Hot personality Melissa, DJ Roy Barboza, and others.
Continued on page 33
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Greater Media Newspapers’
New Marketing Agency
on Target to Draw In Revenue
Hand Drawn Marketing Focuses on Giving Clients Access
to Wide Array of Media and Specialized Services
By Jennifer Amato
SOME
may say that there is nothing
more personal than a handwritten note,
expressing personal sentiments and care
through the written word.
with the client then determines the best
format for advertising, Rochelle said.
They then visit the client, perhaps with
the client’s GMN sales representative.
“Our main goal is to spread [clients]
across multiple [media] so they get the
most exposure,” Simons said.
Greater
Media
Newspapers’
new
subsidiary Hand Drawn Marketing is
focused on the same intention: personal
attention and care.
The new concept launched July 1 after
two years of planning. The full-service
marketing agency provides clients with
placement in all types of media, including
newspapers, radio stations, social media
sites, billboards and cable television,
as well as providing assistance with
email marketing, website development,
promotions and events, contests and
the use of digital bus stops. There is also
the opportunity for branding and logo
design.
“We have an art department. We have
contacts. We have radio stations. It’s
a lot easier for us to operate because
we have connections,” said Lauren
Simons, Advertising Manager for the
newspaper division. “We have a little
bit of an edge above other marketing
companies because we have established
connections.”
Simons, Director of Advertising Kate
Rochelle
and
Classified-Promotions
Manager Jennifer Peyton come up with
a marketing strategy based on a client’s
needs. After a team member goes on a
fact-finding mission with the client by
asking pertinent questions, a meeting
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our goal is
never to say,
‘no, we can’t
do something’
Prior to the development of Hand Drawn,
Greater Media’s sales personnel pushed
for advertisement placement in any of
the company’s 10 weekly newspapers
or some of Greater Media’s local radio
stations. “Now we offer clients additional
resources,” Simons said, “and we may be
able to offer something other people may
not be able to offer.”
Newspapers need to be aware of
opportunities outside of the current
business model because non-newspaper
sales representatives are approaching
clients at an average of 22 times per
month; retailers are taking about seven of
those calls; 45 percent of clients use three
to five media besides the newspaper;
and 15 percent use six to nine other
media, according to a 2010 study of 81
newspapers in 41 states by ITZ Belden.
Therefore, Hand Drawn Marketing
is designed to try to entice former
customers to advertise with Greater
Media Newspapers again, existing clients
are given an opportunity to spice up their
media repertoire, and new clients not
accustomed with Greater Media’s style
are encouraged to become familiarized
with the company.
“This is to expand the revenue base for
existing clients, to be able to go back to
clients who dropped out for whatever
reason, and to present ourselves in a
whole new fashion to people we don’t
even know,” Rochelle said.
Although it is too soon to tell how
successful Hand Drawn Marketing will be
for Greater Media Newspapers, Rochelle
said that the future looks promising.
“Our goal is never to say, ‘No, we can’t
do something,’ ” she said. “The media
landscape is not just newspapers, radio
and TV. It is changing so quickly that
everybody is changing their business
model to adapt to those changes. Most
of it is technology driven.”
For more information on Hand Drawn
Marketing, visit www.gmnews.com.
music
Continued from page 31
MUSIC at greater media
WCSX-FM Presents 2013 Rockin’ on the Riverfront
Concert Series
94.7 WCSX-FM wrapped up the
eighth annual Rockin’ on the Riverfront
concert series in August. Every
summer WCSX-FM rocks the
riverfront with free concerts for
thousands of Metro Detroiters to
attend.
MMR*B*Q 2013 Kicks Off Summer Concert Season
Each May, 93.3 WMMR-FM
welcomes summertime back to Philly
with about 20,000 close friends, off
the shore of the Delaware River at
Susquehanna Bank Center. With the
responsibility to set a high standard
for the summer concert season, and
the onset of what will surely be the
best summer ever, the lineup for
MMR*B*Q 2013 was primed to attain
both lofty goals.
This year’s co-headliners were
Soundgarden and Alice in Chains,
with strong support from Cheap
Trick, Buckcherry and Device. With
WMMR-FM’s longtime support
of the local original music scene,
currently through the Jaxon’s Local Shots
program [named for PM Drive DJ
Jaxon], a local opener has always
taken the stage first at MMR*B*Q. This
year it was Kid Felix.
A vast array of sponsors and
attractions filled the concert venue
on May 18, from dunk tanks and a
challenging chin-up bar to free ice
cream samples and MMR’s famed
30-foot inflatable pig, Big Pink – the
venue had something for everyone to
enjoy between bands. With six bands
on the bill, the WMMR-FM air
staff, led by Pierre Robert, was busy
backstage recording interviews with all
six, including Chris Cornell and the
reunited Soundgarden, all members
of Alice in Chains, and Disturbed
front man David Draiman, heading
up his new project Device at the ’RBQ.
94.7 WCSX-FM featured on-air
giveaways for VIP seating; this year,
WCSX-FM also honored veterans
each week with an online contest
where only veterans could enter to
win passes for special reserved VIP
seating.
WCSX-FM also broadcasted live with
its well-known on-air talent Doug
Podell and Steve Kostan every Friday
night. This year’s lineup included the
Romantics, Grand Funk, America,
Great White, Loverboy and Night
Ranger. Listeners packed the streets
downtown each week to rock out to
all of their favorite hits.
Great White rocked out as part of
this year’s outstanding Rockin’ on the
Riverfront lineup.
Each Friday listeners had a blast
on the riverfront with some of their
favorite classic rock artists and
WCSX-FM.
MAGIC 98.3 FM Offers VIP Experience
at New Kids on the Block Concert
A few passing showers could not
dampen the rock spirit and the
overall vibe of the day: MMR*B*Q
rocked the summer of 2013.
clockwise from top left, Cheap Trick
on stage / WMMR-FM’s Jacky Bam
Bam, Matt Cord, Chuck Damico and
Caseyboy with Buckcherry / WMMRFM’s Jacky Bam Bam leads the way
on the Metro PCS Party Deck. /
WMMR-FM’s Matt Cord and Pierre
Robert interview Soundgarden.
Step by step, New Kids on the
Block made their way back to the
stage with The Package Tour at the
Meadowlands of New Jersey, giving
one lucky MAGIC 98.3 FM listener
The Total Package. This included VIP
tickets to the New Kids on the Block
concert at the Izod Center at the
Meadowlands, as well as a meet and
greet with the band before the show
and a special after-party exclusive
event. The contest was held to help
raise funds for The One Fund
Boston charity.
MAGIC 98.3 FM’s contest winners
were able to sit inside the exclusive
security barricade at the June 13
concert, putting them right in
front of the action and excitement.
It was one of the hottest shows of
the summer, and the winners had
unprecedented access to meet the
band in their dressing room, take
photos with the artists, and access to
free NKOTB exclusive merchandise
and after-party that gave a whole
new meaning to “after-party!” To
conclude the night with a gift they will
always treasure, the fans received a
commemorative photo of their meet
and greet with the band, as well as a
signed tour poster.
MAGIC 98.3 FM also donated one
dollar to The One Fund Boston
for every unique contest entry on
the website at Magic983.com. By
donating $1,000 to the fund,
MAGIC 98.3 FM was honored to
help families who were victimized
by the Boston Marathon bombings
in April. The best thing about this
contest was that not only was MAGIC
98.3 FM able to make two New Kids
on the Block fans very happy, they
were able to help a very worthwhile
cause as well. This contest really was
the total package!
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Interactive Corner
Interactive Team Offers Interns a Day of Creativity
Each semester, the Greater
Media Interactive team invites
the interns to join them for
what has become known as
the Day of Creativity field
trip. The key goals of these
field trips are to help inspire
team members and interns to
look at life through a different
lens and learn about career
opportunities they may have
never considered. The Day
of Creativity for the GMI
internship class of summer
2013 took place at The Henry
Ford Museum and Greenfield
Village in Dearborn, MI. Visits
to The Henry Ford Museum
and Greenfield Village are a
must for history buffs.
GMI was hosted by Tracy
Donohue, General Manager
of the period Clothing Studio.
We were given incredible
access to see Tracy and her
team preparing for the 150th
birthday celebration of Henry
Ford. We were also treated to
a private tour of the extensive
Benson Ford Research Center,
where they have archived
everything from the personal
papers of Thomas Edison and
the Wright Brothers to more
than 11,000 prints and posters
from 1750 to today, as well as
toys and clothing that tell the
American story.
Tracy shared with the GMI interns
her personal education and
professional story about how an
English major became head of
The Henry Ford Clothing Studio
and how the research skills she
learned in school continue to
help her today.
The following is an overview of
our Day of Creativity field trip by
GMI intern Ane Taylor of Oakland
University in Michigan.
Learn more about The Henry
Ford Museum and Greenfield
Village at the website
www.thehenryford.org/ and
visit these treasure troves of the
American experience.
By Ane Taylor
Most people from Metro-Detroit
can say they have walked through
The Henry Ford Museum and
Greenfield Village, but what they
don’t know is that there is more
to these historic attractions than
horses and train rides.
The Greater Media Interactive team
saw The Henry Ford Museum in a
completely new light with a tour
of The Henry Ford Clothing Studio
and the Benson Ford Research
Center.
On July 25, Clothing Studio General
Manager Tracy Donohue guided
us through the sewing machines,
fabrics and textiles of The Clothing
Studio, located on the second
floor of Lovett Hall, where we got
a sneak peek of period clothing
for Henry Ford and his wife, Clara
Ford, for the celebration of the
150th anniversary of Henry’s birth.
Donohue shared with us how the
Clothing Studio is responsible
for all of the period clothing and
uniforms the employees wear.
From the townspeople’s costumes
to the camp leaders’ T-shirts, they
do it all. But this talented group
of ladies does more than just
stitch together fabrics and hem
pants and skirts. The GMI teamed
learned that there is much research
involved when designing period
clothing. No matter the era they
are designing for, the Clothing
Studio have to stay current on the
fashion trends of that time, historic
events, traditions, technologies and
mannerisms. Not only do the shirt
and tie have to be right but so
do the undergarments, fabric
choice, stitching, fit and the
posing positions for models and
pictures.
For such extensive research,
they head to the Benson Ford
Research Center, a library like
no other. The research center
is filled with tons of historic
artifacts such as Ford’s personal
and business papers, rare books
and literature, photographs,
authentic period clothing,
handmade maps and quilts and
so much more.
Our tour guides, Terry and
Carole Anne, were kind
enough to let us see some of
these artifacts, including Mrs.
Firestone’s shoe and gown
collection, as well as the Fords’
personal clothing and costumes.
Afterward, we ate lunch at the
Eagle Tavern built in 1831 in
Greenfield Village, which was
once a tavern located in Clinton,
MI, and served as the overnight
stagecoach stop between
Detroit and Chicago. Over
conversation about our favorite
parts of the tour, we went
back in time and ate mid-19thcentury-inspired food.
From the Clothing Studio to
the archives and artifacts at the
Benson Ford Research Center, to
the period dining experience, it
was truly a day of creativity!
Greater Media Newspapers Staff Enjoy Company Picnic
Greater Media Newspapers employees were treated to a
picnic and Lakewood BlueClaws game at FirstEnergy Park
in Lakewood, NJ, on July 13.
Teri Tumbleson from the Finance
Department (right) is pictured with
grandsons Shane and Aidan Tumbleson
and husband Bill.
top, Advertising Sales Representative
Tino Abbate watches the game with
grandson Cole Sternlieb.
left, Special Sections Editor Peggy
Primiano’s sons, Christopher and Sean,
enjoy the ball game.
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Greater Media Newspapers
presents
the Undy 5000
G R E AT E R
Media
Newspapers, Manalapan, NJ, was
one of the sponsors for the Undy
5000—a 5K run/walk to raise money
for
the
Colon
Cancer
Alliance.
Runners were encouraged to run in
their underwear along the beach in
Long Branch, NJ.
Tommy Mackrell, Eileen Mackrell,
Lauren
Simons,
Jennifer
Peyton
and Meredith Reccoppa, as well as
Peyton’s children Palmer and Paige,
participated in the July 20 event.
Reccoppa came in first place for
her age group. This was a terrific
event and cause for Greater Media
Newspapers to be involved in.
WRIF-FM Listeners “Skip Work” with Dave and Chuck the Freak
101 WRIF-FM morning
personalities Dave and
Chuck the Freak, along with
the Detroit Tigers, went on
a search for listeners who
were ready to cut out of
work early on a Friday and
take in a special afternoon
ball game as the Tigers took
on the Royals. For a week,
the morning show qualified
listeners on the air to skip
out of work early on Friday,
August 16, and head down
to the ballpark, but if these
listeners were going to take
the day off, there had to be
something big to make it
the ultimate Tigers Skip Day
… like throwing out the first
pitch at the game!
On Thursday morning, all
the listeners skipping work
gathered at the WRIF-FM
Studios to compete for the
chance to represent Dave
top to bottom,
Dave Hunter on the air with Tigers
Skip Day winners / Dave and
Chuck’s representative, John, throws
out the “first pitch” at the Detroit
Tigers game.
and Chuck the Freak on
the mound at the Tigers
game to throw out the
ceremonial first pitch. Dave
and Chuck needed to make
sure that whoever was going
to represent them would
do them proud with their
throw—so each listener was
issued a challenge. Morning
Show Producer James
climbed into a dunk tank that
morning and the listeners
had to dunk James for their
shot at the first pitch. After
a couple of rounds in the
competition, John from
Eastpointe, MI, successfully
dunked James, took the
mound at Comerica Park,
and made Dave, Chuck and
The Riff proud!
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65
WMTR-AM
CELEBRATES
Years
2013
marks the 65th anniversary of WMTR-AM in Cedar
Knolls, NJ, and the celebration continued throughout the
spring and summer. This spring, WMTR-AM ran multiple contests to celebrate the anniversary—from giving away $65 a
day to listeners to sending some grand-prize winners to meet
The Rascals.
on New Jersey’s Airwaves
left, WMTR-AM’s Slick poses with the station’s 65th anniversary cake at the
Happy Together Tour.
right, WMTR-AM’s Chris Edwards greets the crowd at the Happy Together
Tour.
WMTR-AM’s Chris Edwards and mascot Slick. The night also
included performances from the Happy Together Tour, featuring The Turtles, Chuck Negron, Gary Puckett and Mark Lindsay.
On July 29, WMTR-AM held a special 65th Anniversary Concert at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, NJ.
The night started off with a special VIP party for 40 listeners, clients and staff. All guests had an opportunity to meet
The celebration will continue this fall as WMTR-AM hosts the
65th Anniversary Sock Hop for their listeners, featuring dinner, dancing and live music.
97.5 FM Unveils The Fanatic’s Dream Job Contest
MAGIC 106.7 FM Finds Boston’s Cutest Baby
97.5 FM The Fanatic
wrapped up the Dream Job
contest on July 25 during
the Mike Missanelli Show
by naming Kwame FisherJones of Maple Shade, NJ,
as the winner. More than 250
people submitted amateur
videos in June for the chance
to win a weekly, one-hour,
co-hosting job for one year
on 97.5 FM The Fanatic. As
the winner, Kwame will also
receive a one-year lease on a
Kia or Nissan, courtesy of Jim
Sipala’s Kia of West Chester
and Coatesville, PA.
A huge Philadelphia Eagles
fan, Fisher-Jones played high
school football and attended
Clark Atlanta University and
California State University,
Los Angeles. He has traveled
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around the country with
periodic jobs in the sports
radio business.
Kwame was announced the
winner at Smith’s Restaurant
and Bar in Center City,
Philadelphia, by Missanelli.
He will start his run on The
Fanatic in September, just in
time for football season.
Dream Job finalists (l-r) Jenna Krier,
Kwame Fisher-Jones, and brothers
Scott and Charlie Frankel
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Morning Magic Host Mike Addams awards
$4,000 in baby gear to our 2013 winner of
Boston’s Cutest Baby contest. Shown with parents
Maria and Thomas Rice are siblings Anna and Matthew
and of course, Baby Thomas!
WCSX-FM Rocks Out the Woodward Avenue Cruise
THE cruise on Woodward
Avenue is one of the biggest
events of the year in the
Motor City, and WCSX-FM
hosted a classic rockin’ event
at the Blarney Stone Pub
located in the heart of the
action.
94.7 WCSX-FM broadcasted
live all day on August 17 from
Blarney Stone’s parking lot.
The set-up included a huge
tent that encompasses a DJ
to spin classic rock tunes all
day, pinball machines and
video games to entertain
kids both big and small, and
a one-of-kind classic rock
art show. Plus, listeners were
able to relax and check out
the cruise on the WCSX-FM
bleachers and enjoy the
VIP seating as well as the
opportunity to win a parking
space for their own classic
car!
WCSX-FM Light ‘Em’ Up signs were
a hit at the biggest cruise in the
Motor City.
WROR-FM’s Broadcast Studio Undergoes Major Transformation
above
Loren & Wally were able to return
from vacation to a state-of-the-art
broadcasting facility.
middle
Boston Mayor Tom Menino (center) was in
attendance at the official ribbon cutting of
Loren & Wally’s new studio.
bottom left
Kudos to the amazing Greater Media Boston
Engineering staff who completed the
renovation in two (short) weeks (l-r): Mark
Pagliarulo, Jeff Hansen, Paul Marchand, Carls
St. Fleurs, Dan Kaiser, Dave Wing, Neil Werfel
and Paul Shulins.
bottom right
While Loren & Wally were on vacation,
Lungboy (Producer Brian Bell), “LBF” (L&W
sidekick Lauren Beckham Falcone) and Hank
Morse (Morning Show News) TRY to do the
show as the Greater Media Boston Engineering
team begins the remodeling process.
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4
CELEBRATING THE
OF JULY
th
WMGK-FM Presents
Let Freedom Rock Fest
IN
celebration of the July Fourth holiday, Philadelphia’s 102.9
WMGK-FM hosted their 12th annual Let Freedom Rock Fest
on July 3. Thousands of listeners gathered at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, NJ, for a day of classic rock and
patriotism.
The event began with a pre-party at 2 p.m., which included
giveaways, food and a live broadcast by MGK’s afternoon DJ,
Andre Gardner. The Independence Day festivities also featured various performances by the Mummers, a Philadelphia
tradition featuring costumed entertainers and musicians. The
Mummers welcomed concertgoers at the gate, followed the
live broadcast, and provided entertainment in between stage
performances. Evening DJ Ray Koob took over the live broadcast for the nighttime portion of the festivities.
The show began with a series of classic rock covers put on
by the MGK House Band, The Sofa Kings, followed by a tribute to our veterans with WMGK-FM Morning Show Host John
DeBella. Jason Bonham then took the stage, spotlighting the
highlights of his father’s career as the late Led Zeppelin drummer, John Bonham. After a day of games, prizes and classic
rock, MGK listeners enjoyed a highly anticipated performance
by sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart. The Rock and Roll
Hall of Famers were joined by Jason Bonham at the end of
the show for a short set of Led Zeppelin favorites.
A portion of ticket proceeds went to the Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service & Education Center to benefit local veterans. Attendees had the opportunity to thank our troops by
signing a banner to be sent to the Philadelphia chapter of the
USO.
left, Veterans and military personnel participated in a moving flag ceremony
before the Charlotte Knights baseball game and event festivities.
right, The skies over Charlotte were filled with the biggest fireworks
display in the Southeast.
WBT AM/FM and WLNK-FM
Present Skyshow 2013
Final Year Event Held at Charlotte Knights Baseball Stadium
THE WBT AM/FM Skyshow held July 3 at the Charlotte
Knights Baseball Stadium marked the last time the event will
take place in the legendary venue. Next year, Skyshow will be
held at Charlotte’s new stadium.
107.9 FM The Link and WBT News Talk 1110 AM/99.3 FM put
on the biggest fireworks show in the Southeast, creating a fun
event for listeners, baseball fans and those in the entire city
of Charlotte, looking for a great Independence Day fireworks
display.
The event not only had spectacular fireworks, with an impeccable, choreographed soundtrack, but also offered patrons
the ability to play games, eat, drink, and listen to live music,
which included The Faith Band and Early Ray, before and after
the event. The baseball game offered many different aspects,
including what the holiday is all about: honoring our veterans.
Veterans and military personnel were given free tickets to the
event, attended a private meal beforehand and were included
in a pre-game flag ceremony on the field. WBT AM/FM took
pride in honoring those who served and was proud to have
them take a prominent role in the event.
WLNK-FM put on a promotion with Acosta Heating & Cooling,
where listeners could win “The Coolest Seats in the House” to
Skyshow and a chance to win a grand prize of an entirely new
AC unit! The winners were escorted down to the field where
they had the opportunity to actually sit on the field and get
the best view of the fireworks during the show. Kelly McKay
from WLNK-FM and Bo Thompson from WBT AM/FM hosted
the event, and gave onlookers a sense of familiarity of having
their midday show host and their Charlotte’s Morning News,
Weather & Traffic source during the show.
With exceptional efforts from the WLNK-FM and WBT AM/
FM staffs, the event was a huge success. With the stadium
packed with children of all ages, families, veterans, military
personnel and groups of friends, it was an event that is, and
will continue to be, held dear to every attendee and listener.
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100.1 WJRZ-FM
Welcomes the New
“Super Storm” Ride in
Seaside Heights
100.1 WJRZ-FM “Jersey’s
Greatest Hits” broadcasted
live with Barbara Farragher
on August 12 at Casino Pier in
the heart of Seaside Heights,
NJ, for WJRZ-FM’s Family
Fun Night! WJRZ-FM gave
away 50 family four-pack
passes to listeners, and also
invited the first responders of
Superstorm Sandy and their
families to enjoy all the rides
that Casino Pier is famous
for! WJRZ-FM’s Family Fun
Night was a celebration
of the opening of the new
“Super Storm” ride. Casino
Pier is an iconic destination
in Seaside Heights that has
been rebuilt since it was
damaged by the superstorm
last October.
MAGIC 98.3 FM and WCTC-AM Broadcast Live at
QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning
AS the sun began to rise
on Friday, July 26, MAGIC
98.3 FM was broadcasting
live from the 31st annual
QuickChek New Jersey
Festival of Ballooning in
Readington, NJ. Morning
Host Chris McCoy gave his
listeners a live illustration
as several hot air balloons
were released during the first
ascension of the day.
1450 WCTC-AM also
conducted a live broadcast
as the gates opened to the
public for a weekend of
amazing sights and sounds.
WCTC-AM’s Bert Baron was
able to describe the guests’
excitement as they walked
into the festival that attracts
upwards of 100,000 people
each year! Baron also sat
down with Rick Yocum, of
Warren Distributing, who
supplied a variety of Miller
Lite-themed party gifts and
giveaways. Festival highlights
included a human cannon
MAGIC 98.3 FM Morning Host Chris McCoy interviews festival
Executive Producer Howard Freeman.
ball, an Elvis-themed 5K
and 150-foot-tall balloon,
concerts, and an evening
balloon ascension.
Friday’s headlining concert
was Blues Traveler, presented
by MAGIC 98.3 FM. In
preparation for the big show,
Baron created an hour-long
Blues Traveler retrospective,
“Have Blues, Will Travel,”
which aired on MAGIC 98.3
FM and 1450 WCTC-AM
during the week leading up
to the festival. MAGIC 98.3
FM’s John Lisk got to hang
out backstage with the band
before the show started,
and kicked off the show by
introducing the band. Blues
Traveler played all their hits,
including “Run-Around,”
and the crowd of thousands
went wild for the Jerseygrown band, which originally
formed in Princeton.
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WJRZ-FM’s Glenn Kalina and
Barbara Farragher in front of the
all-new “Super Storm” ride.
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photo gallery
greater media NEWSPAPERS
All Photos by Eric Sucar, Greater Media Newspapers Staff
clockwise from top left,
Graduates make their way to
their seats at the start of the
Monmouth University commencement held at PNC Bank
Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ, on
May 22. / Former pro wrestler
George “The Animal” Steele
answers questions from the
audience during an appearance at Barnes & Noble in
Freehold Township, NJ, on
June 20. / Three-year-old
Avery Grasso of Sayreville, NJ,
takes a ride down the Circus
Time slide at National Night
Out Against Crime, held at the
borough’s Kennedy Park on
August 6. / A young patron
takes a closer look at an
albino gopher snake during a
Lizard Guys’ presentation at
Sadie Pope Dowdell Library
in South Amboy, NJ, on July
9. / Sean Wilson mans the
grill at Tony’s on the Asbury
Park, NJ, boardwalk on June
28. During the school year,
Wilson studies to be a food
service manager at Johnson
& Wales University in Rhode
Island.
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clockwise from top left, Participants
compete in the Beach Flags event during the Long Branch Junior Lifeguard
Tournament held along the beaches in
Long Branch, NJ, on July 16. / Sevenyear-old Koray Bayrasli of Freehold,
NJ, waits patiently for the Monmouth
County Firefighters Association
Busted Hose & Ladder Competition
at the Monmouth County Fair on July
24. / A Middlesex County player runs
through a receiving drill during a practice held for the Snapple Bowl Middlesex All-Stars at Woodbridge High
School on July 10. / A fairgoer makes
her way along the Monmouth County
Park System “Off the Beaten Path”
display at the county fair on July 24. /
A beachgoer enjoys some summer fun
on the beachfront in Long Branch, NJ,
on June 27. / Members of the audience
watch the “Hell on Wheels BMX Stunt
Show” at the 39th annual Monmouth
County Fair in Freehold Township, NJ,
on July 24.
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greetings
from the Loren
& Wally Show!
#WRORBEAR wasn’t the only one taking in Boston’s
summer festivities…
In the middle of the summer heat wave and the Bruins
playoffs, Loren & Wally decided to recruit #WRORBEAR
and take to the streets of Boston!
“LBF” (Lauren Beckham Falcone),
“Lungboy” (Brian Bell) and Hank
Morse at a special broadcast from
The Baseball Tavern before the Paul
McCartney show at Fenway Park
(pictured with WROR-FM’s Sgt. Pepper and a last-minute ticket winner!)
The Loren & Wally Morning Show took
a spin on the thrill boat ride Codzilla in
Boston Harbor with some brave listeners! (l-r: Morning Show funnyman Tom
Doyle, Producer Brian Bell, Newsman
Hank Morse, sidekick “LBF” Lauren
Beckham Falcone and Co-Hosts
Loren & Wally.)
The WROR-FM staff (“LBF,” Jamie and “Lungboy”) in the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s
Bikini Babes cut-out debuted at the Revere Beach Sand Sculpting Festival!
The “Men from Maine”
(Lem & Clem) broadcast live from the 2013
Revere Beach Sand
Sculpting Festival in
July.
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congratulations!
BABIES
Hello, Baby Tegan
WMMR-FM’s Jason Fehon and his wife,
Tara welcomed their beautiful baby,
Tegan Margaret, on July 22. Jason is the
Producer for the Pierre Robert Show.
Hello, Baby Cameron
MAGIC 106.7 FM Account Executive Chris Cabral
and wife Caroline welcomed Cameron Alexander
Cabral, who made his grand entrance on May 30
at 7 pounds and 18 inches long. Baby and mom
are doing fine, and Chris’s wish of prolonging labor
to have a Gemini baby (to be able to have warmweather pool parties) came true!
Hello, Baby Dylan
Hello, Baby Whelan
Dylan James (Apicerno) Weiner was born June
30, weighing 7 pounds and measuring 18 inches
long. Mom Kristen (Senior Account Executive at
WMJX-FM) is the ultimate planner, but Dylan had
other ideas and came three weeks early … just in
time to celebrate the Fourth of July! Mom and baby
are doing well. Congratulations to Kristen, Jason and
big brother Justin!
Colin Smyth (Director of Sales/
Greater Media Boston Interactive) and wife Victoria welcomed
Whelan Rose Smyth on August 15.
Whelan, who weighed 5 pounds
and was 15 inches long, is also the
granddaughter of Greater Media,
Inc. Chairman and CEO Peter
Smyth! Congratulations to all the
Smyth family!
weddings
Just Married!
Congratulations to Greater Media
Boston’s Neil Werfel, who married
Scott Wales at home in New Hampshire
on August 3. Neil is a member of
Greater Media Boston’s Engineering
Department.
HAPPY
BIRTHDAY
Celebrate!
The Greater Media Boston staff
gathers to celebrate VP/Market
Manager Rob Williams’ birthday!
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LOOK WHO’S READING THE GRAPEVINE!
The legendary Detroit band The Romantics check out The
Grapevine while visiting Greater Media Detroit studios.
Famed bassist Duff McKagan (formerly of Guns N’ Roses
and Jane’s Addiction, currently a member of Walking
Papers) checks out The Grapevine while at New Jersey’s
RatFest 2013.
Rapper Fat Joe checks out The Grapevine, after visiting
with Hot 96.9 FM’s Melissa in-studio in Boston.
Seth Gold and Ashley Gold from truTV’s Hardcore Pawn
pick up a copy of The Grapevine.
Greater Media, Inc., with headquarters in Braintree, Massachusetts, is the parent company of 21 AM and FM stations
located in the Boston, Charlotte, Detroit, New Jersey, and Philadelphia markets. It also owns a group of weekly newspapers in
central New Jersey, as well as several telecommunications towers located throughout the United States.
• WMJX-WKLB-WROR-WBOS-WBQT Boston •
• WLNK-WBT Charlotte •
• WCSX-WRIF-WMGC Detroit •
• WMGQ-WCTC-WDHA-WMTR-WRAT-WJRZ New Jersey •
• WMGK-WPEN-WMMR-WBEN Philadelphia •
• Atlanticville, Examiner, Hub, Independent, News Transcript, Sentinel, Suburban, Tri-Town News Newspapers • Motower Multilink •
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