Watertown

2002 had its fair share of format flips, staff changes, and a few pink slips. Here is CNY Radio’s annual scorecard to help keep track of the ever-changing Central New York radio landscape.

Here are CNYRadio.com’s picks for the top ten national radio news stories of 2002 that were also of local interest in the Central New York radio markets.

Watertown’s Clancy-Mance radio group is adding three stations to its roster with the $1.45 million acquisition of classic rock WPAC 92.7 FM and talk WSLB 1400 AM in Ogdensburg and oldies WGIX 95.3 FM in Gouverneur. Clancy-Mance also owns five Watertown area stations.

With last year’s all-holiday music experiment proving to be a ratings winner across the country, continuous festive tunes are again popping up in most markets. Watertown’s station for 24/7 Christmas cheer is Magic 103.1 (WTOJ).

Regent Communications’ request to buy 11 of Brill Media radio stations out of bankruptcy has been approved by the FCC. Regent, which has been operating the stations through an LMA since September, owns nine stations in Utica and Watertown.

TV Guide is reporting that Art Bell is working with country music legend Merle Haggard to help turn him into a radio talk show host. Bell, who is retiring at the end of the year, sees Haggard as a good bet to host a show that mixes music with talk of the paranormal similar to

Ten months after going dark, WWJS 90.1 FM turned on the lights October 23. The Christian contemporary station has been embroiled in family bickering and legal wranglings, some of which have yet to be settled. Scott Fybush has all the details…Source (link may no longer work): www.fybush.com/nerw-021028.html

1,300 public radio listeners picked up their phones and helped make a difference during WRVO FM 90’s eight-day fall on-air fundraising campaign. The calls generated a total of $106,000 in member contributions, and according to Matt Seubert, listener support coordinator for the WRVO network of stations, “Just as important as the dollars pledged was that

Saying that “it’s not fair to listeners for me to be gone so much,” talk show host Art Bell announced this morning that he will step down as host of his nationally syndicated show Coast to Coast at the end of the year. The reason for his departure is a chronic back condition that prevents

Michelle Norris has been tapped as a new co-host of National Public Radio’s All Things Considered. Norris joins Robert Siegel and Melissa Block beginning December 9. Meanwhile, Steve Inskeep gets the nod for the hosting job of the weekend version of the show. All Things Considered is heard afternoons on WRVO FM 90 and Jazz