UTICA-ROME -- Stew Schantz, who once served as Operations Manager of Clear Channel's former Utica-Rome cluster, has passed away at the age of 53. He most recently was working as OM and afternoon driver at WUPE in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Anonymous sources say Schantz died Friday morning, of complications following a heart attack Thursday night. Updated 6/14 with official obituary/arrangements.
UTICA/ROME -- A major restaurant chain known for its great ice cream recently hosted "Free Ice Cream Day" at nearly all of its locations last weekend. In many markets, radio stations ran live remotes to draw more attention to the event, and it's been awhile since we've had a Picture of the Week from Utica... where Kiss-FM (WSKS/WSKU) was promoting the giveaway.
RALEIGH, NC -- National trades are reporting a promotion for former K-Rock (WKRL/WKRH/WKLL) personality JJ Herr. Since 2007, he's been working middays at country station WQDR, and now adds Assistant PD duties at the Curtis Media Group-owned station.
UTICA/ROME -- We're sad to report former (we're talking decades ago) Utica radio personality and programmer Don DeRosa was recently diagnosed with cancer. Friends of DeRosa -- also known to some by the nicknames "Polka Stoney" or "Donnie D" -- are organizing a benefit to help defray the costs of DeRosa's medical treatments. It's happening on June 19th in Syracuse. Updated 8:30am with more info on DeRosa's career.
UTICA/ROME -- Townsquare Media's Newsradio 950 WIBX has moved Dr. Dean Edell from Sundays to Saturdays, replacing a late afternoon vacancy left by MoneyTalk. Last month, the latter's host, Bob Brinker, rumored to be in his late 60s, announced he would be scaling back his twice-a-weekend show to Sundays only.
This is about the 2010 lineup. For our 6/6/11 story about the 2011 K-Rockathon lineup, click here.
Updated 6/8/10: SYRACUSE -- Avenged Sevenfold and Limp Bizkit are among the top names scheduled to appear at K-Rockathon 15 later next month at the New York State Fairgrounds. The lineup was announced by Rainman on Monday evening on Galaxy's trio of K-Rock stations (WKLL/WKRL/WKRH).
SYRACUSE -- New Country WOLF 105.1/96.7 (WOLF-FM/WLLF-FM) has added the syndicated Music City Saturday Night to its programming schedule. The news was announced today on AllAccess.com.
GENEVA -- It was a busy weekend for NPR affiliate WEOS. The station hosted a live taping of Says You in Geneva on Friday night and a live broadcast of Whad'ya Know in Ithaca on Saturday. Scott Fybush attended the Ithaca event and posted photos in this week's edition of NorthEast Radio Watch, published today.
SYRACUSE -- Longtime local radio personality and Syracuse University associate broadcasting professor Dr. Roosevelt "Rick" Wright says radio is "at a fork in the road," reflecting on the many recent format changes in the market. He also calls out larger corporate owners for buying too many "overvalued" stations too quickly, racking up painful debt.
SYRACUSE -- The online/low-power Kiss-FM in Syracuse is adding some syndicated content to its lineup. Management tells CNYRadio.com the station, streaming at kissfmcny.com, will begin carrying the Phoenix-based Retro 80s Weekend on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 2pm, starting this weekend.