Chris Balfe Departs, Betsy Morgan New CEO For Beck

Betsy Morgan

Glenn Beck's news website and TV network TheBlaze has promoted president and chief strategy officer Betsy Morgan to the role of C.E.O., according to CapitalNewYork.com.

As chief executive, Morgan will replace Chris Balfe, who is leaving the company after 12 years of working with Beck. Balfe also served as president of Beck's Mercury Radio Arts.

Morgan joined TheBlaze as president in early 2011. Before that, she spent two years as C.E.O. of the then-fledgling Huffington Post, from 2007 to 2009.

Morgan has also held high-level positions at CBS, including a run as S.V.P. for CBS Interactive, leading the broadcaster's digital business.

"Betsy has helped me evolve, pushed me out of my comfort zone and has helped define the thinking of where this company needs to go," Beck wrote in a note to staff announcing Morgan's appointment. "Unbeknownst to many, Betsy has already moved our place in the world forward."

Under Balfe, the company expanded its footprint by building out an online TV operation, called TheBlaze TV, eventually making the move to a more traditional business model by partnering with pay-TV providers as well.

Beck stated, "Chris Balfe has been my friend and the CEO of Mercury Radio Arts for 12 years. He has helped me launch every product line and every new crazy adventure and we have done well together. Twelve best-selling books, a leading website, a top radio channel, and a cable channel – a cable channel, are you kidding me?

"I know it is going to be a hard act to follow; under Chris’ watchful eye we have done things that no group of people our size have ever done, things that people thought were impossible. We proved them wrong. And I think that under the leadership of our new CEO, Betsy, we will continue to prove that there is another way and we'll confound the skeptics again."

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Bowling Green KY Radio: AM Host Tony Rose Moving To D93

Tony Rose

One of Bowling Green's most well-known radio personalities is headed to a new job.

Listeners will soon hear radio anchor and DJ Tony Rose on over at Classic Rock WDNS 93.3 FM D93.

Rose is best known for his entertaining morning shows on AdultHits WKLX 100.7 FM and helping all over the community with programs like Stuff the Bus which helps children get school supplies.

Rose said this new job is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"When an opportunity like this comes along at a place where one of my mentors in the business works, and a place that is doing great local radio, which is what I'm about. They want to be involved in the community. They want to be a part of the community, which is truly what my show and what I am about," said radio personality Tony Rose.

WDNS 93.3 FM (12Kw) 60dBu Coverage

He starts at D93 January 5th.

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Mediabase Says Republic Top Music Label In 2014

Mediabase has issued it's year-end music charts and has declared Republic as the #1 overall music label in Mediabase chart share.

The results are base based on the time period of November 17, 2013 through November 15, 2014. Republic scored a 15.3% chart share, which allowed the New York-based company to move up from their 12.2% third place finish in 2013.

Among the label’s accomplishments for 2014 are:

• #1 at Rhythmic, and #2 at an unprecedented seven formats: Top 40, Urban, AC, Hot AC, Active Rock, Alternative, and Triple A.
• A diverse roster of acts helped Republic achieve their accomplishment this year.
• Lorde ranked among the most played artists of 2014 at Triple A (#1), Top 40 and Hot AC (#3), Alternative (#6), and was top 10 at AC.
• Drake was the #2 artist at Urban and #3 at Rhythmic.
• American Authors had the #1 song of the year at Hot AC with “Best Day Of My Life,” and ranked as the #4 artist.
• Volbeat was #3 most played artist at Active Rock and top 10 at Rock.
• Republic also finished 2014 with a flurry of hits.
• Taylor Swift garnered a #1 hit at Top 40 and Hot AC for multiple weeks with “Shake It Off.”
• Jessie J teamed up with Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj for the #1 smash “Bang Bang” at Top 40, while newcomer Tove Lo was #1 for one week in November with “Habits (Stay High)” – a song which also charted at a number of other formats.
• Ariana Grande had multiple hits at Top 40 including “Problem,” featuring Iggy Azalea, “Break Free,” featuring Zedd, and ended the year climbing multiple charts with “Love Me Harder,” featuring The Weeknd.
• Newcomer Milky Chance spent the last 10 weeks of the chart year at #1 in Alternative with “Stolen Dance,” a song that also topped the Triple A chart. “Stolen Dance” is also currently climbing the Hot AC and Top 40 charts.

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Consultant Gary Berkowitz Issues '7 Wishes For AC'

Gary Berkowitz

Longtime radio program consultant Gary Berkowitz has issued "7 Wishes of Christmas" for AC Radio.  He calls them programming points to focus on as radio heads into the new year:

•  AC is NOT in trouble. Don't believe the noise. Does AC need to evolve? Yes. But its still a strong vibrant format. Key to winning in AC? Out perform 8a-3p (at work) and you'll get the win. 

• If you believe that digital is the future we must work on the spot set content. For a majority of the radio stations that stream, the stop set content makes the stream un-listenable. Example: You want younger demos but your stream plays 3-4 spots an hour for old age homes and retirement villas. Not kidding. I hear it all the time.  

• Fact: TSL is in a decline. Before you fire the PD, take a look at your log. Sure, you may only be playing 12 minutes of spots, but when those 12 minues equate to 22 units, we have a problem. Just sayin.

• Lets agree to remove "Hi, who's this" from all contesting. There is a better way. Maybe its time to say so long to call in contesting in general. Is there an alternative? Yes. Call or email me and I'll tell you what it is.

• We need to get back to product testing. My highest rated AC's have one thing in common. They test the product (music and non music) elements consistently. Imagine what would happen if Apple or any of the car companies stopped research and development. I think we all know the answer. 

• Make 2015 the year that we start to work on building relationships with our listeners. From email databases to our websites and Facebook-Twitter accounts, we have a gold mine sitting there if we take advantage of them. Hint: Even if you post a lot, and nobody comments or reacts, what does it tell you? 

• And finally (somewhat tongue in cheek)....Celebrate Me Home and My Favorite Things are not Christmas songs. Can we agree to remove these from Christmas libraries?

Reach out to Gary. For a confidential discussion of your station and how to improve ratings in the new year, call 248.737.3727 or email gary@garyberk.com. 

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FCC Issues Warning To Stephanie Miller Show Producers

Stephanie Miller

The FCC has issued a Citation and Order (Citation) to Stephanie Miller's SM Radio Productions that it violated the Commission's rules by transmitting or causing the transmission of the EAS codes or Attention Signal.

The agency directed SM Radio to take immediate steps to comply with FCC rules and statutory requirements that prohibit misuse of EAS Tones. The Commission said that if SM Radio fails to comply, it may be liable for significant fines.

To ensure that the EAS Attention Signal remains uniquely associated with actual emergency announcements, and thus retains its ability to instantly command the public's attention, the Commission prohibits misuse of the EAS Tones by any person. The agency says that frivolous, casual or other uses of EAS Tones for reasons other than their defined purpose can desensitize listeners to the warning tones and undermine the effectiveness of the system in the event of an actual emergency.

SM Radio produces Stephanie Miller's program and provides it to SiriusXM for broadcast to its subscribers. SM Radio, however, did not produce the promotion but acquired it from an independent contractor. An SM Radio employee reviewed the promotion before inserting it into the program, acting under the mistaken belief that the EAS Tone in the promotion was an outdated tone associated with the precursor to the EAS, and too brief to be of concern. This transmission aired six times between December 4, 2013, and January 28, 2014.

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NBC 'Nightly News' Delivers Demo Win Over ABC

Brian Williams

“NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams” was America’s #1 newscast across the board for the week of December 1-5, 2014, according to Nielsen Media Research data.

During the week that marked Brian Williams’ tenth anniversary as anchor and managing editor, the NBC broadcast posted its biggest wins over ABC in months -- delivering the best demo viewer lead since March and widest total viewer advantage since August. Nightly was #1 in all total viewer, A25-54, and A18-49 demos each night of the week.

Growth:

• Nightly widened its total viewer lead over ABC for the second straight week and by +40% week-to-week.
• Nightly posted the biggest evening news gains versus 4Q’14/STD levels in total viewers (+7%, or +658,000), A18-49 viewers (+11%, or +174,000), and A25-54 viewers (+10%, or +216,000)
• Versus the same week last season, Nightly was up +1% (+77,000) in total viewers.
• Nightly is currently delivering +2% total viewer growth this season-to-date and is having its best start to a season (9.052 million) in 9 years.

Weekly Highlights:

• Nightly averaged 9.649 million total viewers, +9% (+809,000) ahead of ABC World News Tonight and +29% (+2.169 million) more than CBS Evening News.

This marks the NBC broadcast’s biggest  total viewer win over ABC since the week of 8/18/2014.
Nightly has been #1 in total viewers for 273 consecutive weeks and 320 of the last 321 weeks.

• Nightly averaged 2.313 million A25-54 viewers, leading ABC by +8% (+173,000) and CBS by +23% (436,000).

This marks Nightly’s biggest demo viewer win over ABC since the week of 3/17/2014.
Nightly averaged a 1.9 A25-54 rating, topping ABC by +1 tenth and CBS by +3 tenths.

• Nightly averaged 1.700 million A18-49 viewers, topping ABC by +19% (+272,000) and CBS by +31% (+402,000).

This marks Nightly’s biggest A18-49 viewer win over ABC since the Sochi Olympics (week of 2/17/2014).

• Nightly delivered a 1.3 A18-49 rating, topping ABC by +2 tenths and CBS by +3 tenths.

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FCC Call Sign Activity For November

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