March 2002

93Q’s morning team of Ted Long and Amy Robbins have the dubious honor of showing up in this week’s ‘Good Week, Bad Week’ feature in the Syracuse New Times.

It’s called ‘Foneless February’, and for years the silent fundraising campaign has been a hit with listeners of public radio station WRVO. The end result of the low-key effort is less hours of on-air fundraising in March. This year, the spring fundraiser will be shortened by five days thanks to over $90,000 in early contributions.

Larry Wilson, chairman of Citadel Communications, has decided to leave the company he founded. With the recent hiring of Infinity’s Farid Suleman to head the day-to-day operations of the radio group, there was little room at the top for Wilson.

Galaxy Communications has changed its request for a power increase for WSCP 101.7 FM. The new proposal for the Pulaski station asks for 5200 watts at 100 meters instead of 3700 watts at 128 meters.

The transfer of Sylvan Beach Radio Disney affiliate WBGJ 100.3 FM from Kevin O’Kane to Craig Fox’s WOLF Radio has been approved by the FCC. Scott Fybush reports that there may be a format change in the works as well.

Some good news to report relating to the recent deaths of two Manlius firefighters. In two separate radiothons held this past week, stations owned by Galaxy Communications and Clear Channel Communications raised a combined total of $107,500 for the families of Timothy Lynch and John Ginocchetti.

Several area radio stations plan to take part in tomorrow’s St. Patrick’s parade on Salina Street in downtown Syracuse. Stations listed in the published lineup include Oldies 92.1 (WSEN), WOLF/Radio Disney, 93Q (WNTQ), 95X (WAQX), and Lite 105.9 (WLTI). The 18th annual parade is scheduled to begin at noon on Saturday and will be broadcast

Ten Syracuse radio stations are sponsoring two different radiothons over the next two days to benefit the two Manlius firefighters who died in the line of duty last week. Funds raised will go directly to the families of Timothy Lynch and John Ginocchetti.

Hot 107-9 morning man Dakota is in need of a new co-host, and what better way to pick one than a contest. He’s taking applications in the form of a picture and 100-word essay, and beginning Monday, March 25, sixteen finalists will be auditioned live on the air and eliminated until only one is left.

Three years ago, 570 WSYR lost its Syracuse University play-by-play contract to 95X (WAQX) and WNSS 1260 AM. This July that contract is up, and WSYR as well as TK-99 (WTKW) are looking to become ‘The Voice of the Orange.