RADIO AND TV NEWS

NEWS:

All of us at FMQB are very saddened to learn of the passing of Rich Fitzgerald following a long battle with esophageal cancer. Rich spent several years as a key executive at Reprise and WB Bros. Records and was also a significant member of the legendary RSO Records executive team during that label’s brilliant run during the late seventies/early eighties (Saturday Night Fever, Grease, Fame, Bee Gees, Eric Clapton et al). FMQB CEO Fred Deane comments, "Rich was a very special kind of guy in the music industry. One who would always put a smile on your face and warmly welcome you with open arms upon every meeting. His passion and love for artists were equaled by the boyish enthusiasm by which he approached his job. He certainly made an immense impression on many of us who have worked with him throughout his career. He will truly be missed."
FMQB would like to express our deepest condolences to Rich’s wife Mary and his family, as well as the many friends he’s touched throughout the music and radio industries. More details to follow.

Nick Cannon, actor/TV personality/morning host at CHR WXRK (92.3 NOW FM)/New York and Mr. Mariah Carey, has nabbed a recurring role in NBC's upcoming sitcom Up All Night. Cannon will appear occasionally as Calvin, the co-host of Maya Rudolph's talk show star character, according to TV Guide. Up All Night stars Christina Applegate, Will Arnett and Rudolph and will debut September 14. Cannon is already in the NBC family as the host of America's Got Talent.

Changes at Cromwell-Nashville as Hot AC WPRT will become Sports 102.5 The Game, as market vet Darren McFarland and former Tennessee Titan Brad Hopkins shift over from Sports WNSR-AM for the aptly titled The First Quarter morning show. As a result, WPRT middayer Thomas Davis will remain as Program Coordinator at Gospel WQZQ-AM & FM, afternoon host Allie Butterworth will be cluster Operations Assistant and night guy Chad Barron continues as Promotions Director for the cluster and becomes the night guy at Active Rock WBUZ. New to 102.5 The Game is Jeremy Bennefield, who takes on APD duties, while OM/PD Troy Hanson adds PD duties at The Game.

Rock WFYV/Jacksonville sheds the syndicated Bubba The Love Sponge show in favor of "More Music in the Morning" and a $1,000 contest.

Cox Media Group will drop “96 Rock” WHTQ/Orlando’s Classic Rock format Friday (8/19) at 5 p.m. to simulcast WDBO-AM on FM. With this change, most of the 96 Rock staff has been let go, including PD Fleetwood Gruver, middayer Slats and night host Buckley. Hildi will remain with the cluster in another capacity, and mornings will be filled by the syndicated Bubba The Love Sponge.

Modern Rock WRXL/Richmond names Dustin "Fletcher" Matthews as PD. Fletcher is currently APD/morning host at WFNX/Boston and will start his new position in Virginia early in September.

Modern Rock KROG/Bend, OR APD/midday talent Sean "Beefcake" McBee exits.

Tom "Benson" Benintende is named OM at Midwest Family Broadcasting-Springfield, MO. Benson will handle PD duties at Country KOMG and AC KSOP.

Gabriella D'Agostino joins Music Choice as a Senior Programmer of Music Programming. In her new role, she will oversee all of Music Choice's Alternative-driven channels, including Alternative & Classic Alternative. She was previously Music Coordinator/Promotions Director at Adult Hits WMKK/Boston.

Sports 610 WIP-AM/Philadelphia radio legend Howard Eskin has agreed to a contract extension and will remain a key team member of the station in the future. Beginning in September, Eskin’s focus will be on his role as host of the station’s Philadelphia Eagles Gameday coverage, as well as his in-game sideline reporting duties. Additionally, Eskin will contribute breaking news stories to the various weekday shows broadcast on WIP, guest host various timeperiods, and anchor coverage of original special event programming. Eskin will celebrate his 25th anniversary with the station on Aug. 29. Eskin started the sports talk revolution by hosting the very first sports talk show on WIP in 1986. Since then he has broadcast nearly 6,000 programs. In addition, Eskin also appears weekly on television as a regular co-host of the popular Sunday night sports show, Sports Final on NBC10 (WCAU-TV), and is a frequent guest on ESPN's First Take and a regular guest host on The Dan Patrick Show broadcast nationally on radio and TV.

The NAB has announced the winner of the fifth annual NAB HD Radio Multicast Award. Howard University's WHUR will receive the award for its Urban World multicast station, 96.3-HD2 WHUR-WORLD. The award will be presented on Thursday, September 15 during the 2011 Radio Show, produced by NAB and RAB, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

Talk WXKS-AM (Talk 1200)/Boston announces that Jay Severin has signed a multi-year contract to broadcast weekdays from 3-6:00 p.m. He will begin airing on Talk 1200 on Thursday, August 18.

Music video service VEVO announces a partnership with RCRDLBL, where VEVO will debut a new video weekly, with RCRDLBL offering a companion download. This week, VEVO debuts the video for Cults' "Go Outside," with RCRDLBL releasing a free remix of the song. More information can be found here: blog.vevo.com/rcrd-lbl-vevo.

At Island Def Jam, EVP Chris Hicks and Sr. VP of Film, TV and Soundtracks Jonathan McHugh exited late last week, reports Billboardbiz.com. Hicks resigned from his post on Thursday to pursue "several specific projects" and will work as a consultant for the company on a number of "high-profile projects," including Justin Bieber, a source said.

FMQB offers condolences to the family and friends on the recent passing of Citadel OM AJ Appleberry. Appleberry was in charge of programming for Urban KRRQ and Urban AC KNEK/Lafayette, while also handling middays at KNEK.

http://www.fmqb.com/article.asp?id=2262837