CENTRAL NEW YORK -- What were the biggest stories in local radio from the past year? If you read our "Year in Review" posted earlier today, you know there was plenty of radio-related news here. We just checked our stats to see which stories had the most hits over the past 365 days, and we present to you now, the top 10 stories of 2009.
Before we get to the stories, a quick look (because it's fun) at the top 10 terms people typed in search engines like Google, Yahoo, etc. before subsequently viewing an article on CNYRadio.com:
And now without further adieu, the ten most-viewed stories during 2009:
SYRACUSE -- Sadly, the rumors we reported earlier have become true: Syracuse's first TV station has sent 40+ staffers packing, and the news operations have been "gutted" to a barebones crew. (Updated at 6:25pm) [More »]
NATIONWIDE -- If you catch the top-of-hour news on WIBX/Utica, WTNY/Watertown, WHCU/Ithaca or any other CBS affiliate, you'll notice something missing today: those quick little "chirp" tones that had been part of the newscasts for more than three decades. [More »]
SYRACUSE -- Sportsradio 620 WHEN sports director Jim Lerch is confirmed to be among the 1,800 fired nationwide by Clear Channel today. Overall, the company says it has cut 9% of its staff. Most of the cuts reportedly came from sales, but quite a few, like Lerch, came from the programming side. [More »]
SYRACUSE -- The stunting that started late last night on 105.1FM is over. Say hello to new country station "Wolf 105-1." The station's launch at 4pm Friday ends the unofficial "market exclusive" enjoyed over the last few years by Clear Channel's B104.7 (WBBS). [More »]
SYRACUSE -- We all knew it would happen sooner or later -- Nova 105.1 (WWDG) and its "90s and now" format are gone from the local airwaves. The station signed off the air this afternoon and now sits silent, waiting for its new owner to take control. [More »]
SYRACUSE (Updated 12:30pm on 3/14) -- Buckley Broadcasting GM Judy Kelly now confirms the dismissal of Diane Wade from Classic Hits 92.1 (WSEN) following her air shift Friday. Kelly says "it's simply a matter of economics" and she hopes conditions improve soon. [More »]
SYRACUSE -- Three Doors Down and Papa Roach are among what KROCK is calling the "strongest lineup the radio station has presented in its 14 years of putting on" the KROCKATHON. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, for the August 8th event, which will be hosted at the New York State Fairgrounds in the Syracuse suburb of Geddes. [More »]
Jan 20 - See our updates here.
SYRACUSE -- We haven't had first-hand confirmation from anyone inside the CC Syracuse camp yet, but we're seeing more and more signs that January 20th could mean layoffs at Clear Channel stations across the country. (Updated with links to similar reports from other websites.) [More »]
SYRACUSE - For the first time in more than 20 years, Rick Gary is back to just doing radio, and nothing else. Today was his last day co-hosting "<em>Bridge Street</em>" on local ABC affiliate NewsChannel 9 (WSYR-TV). [More »]
WATERTOWN -- It's a double dose of something we haven't seen in many a Friday around here: pictures from the North Country, and pictures from the past. Tunes 92-5 (WBLH) afternoon host Johnny Keegan sends in a shot from his very first remote, and another bonus blast from the past. [More »]