Radio

The last connection to the old regime at WEMP/FM News 101.9 has been severed. FishbowlNY has learned exclusively that managing editor Doug O’Brien, a veteran of New York radio, was fired.

Earlier this week, we reported that WEMP hired Mark Austin Thomas as the station’s VP/news director.

O’Brien was one of several hires, before the launch last summer, from WINS. He made the move with his wife Catherine Smith. Sources says Smith remains as WEMP anchor.

O’Brien brought his distinct sound to WINS listeners for 14 years. He also worked for WCBS-AM and as news director at WNBC in the mid 1980s.

Although primarily an off-air job at WEMP, O’Brien, who was let go yesterday, occasionally was heard voicing taped features and reporting during severe weather.

Emmis may be down to one station in New York, but it’s still full steam ahead! Plans are finalized for Hot 97′s annual Summer Jam. The hip hop concert is recognized as one the genre’s must attend showcases of the year.

The all-star lineup has been announced for the June 3rd event at Metlife Stadium.

The main stage will feature Queens native Nicki Minaj, Young Jeezy, and Rick Ross & Maybach Music. Additional artists added to the one-day party are J. Cole, Wale, and Meek Mill.

Big Sean, Trey Songz, and Waka Flocka are set to join the show as well.

With another powerful list of stars, Hot 97 anticipates 55,000 strong turning out for Summer Jam.

Tickets are on sale at ticketmaster outlets or at ticketmaster.com.

Hot 97/WQHT gave birth to Summer Jam in 1994, first in smaller arenas, before settling for larger stadiums in 2003. It has become the longest running, and largest hip hop concert in the world.

While WEMP/FM News 101.9 has enjoyed anything but a steady ride since launching last summer, perhaps this will mark the start of smoother sailing.

The Merlin Media All-Newser has hired veteran Los Angeles news director Mark Austin Thomas, All Access.com reports.  He’ll take on the same management role left vacated when original VP of programming, Liz Aiello who was dropped in February.

Thomas has extensive radio experience in the number two market, serving as news director and anchor at KABC-AM and KFI. He was program director at KLAC.  Also in L.A., Thomas has been anchor/host at KNX and KPCC.

Additionally, Thomas worked as news director and anchor at KSOL in San Francisco, and was host of public radio’s Marketplace Morning Report.

Since Merlin began its news format last August, the ratings have been dreadful. It’s been a consistent .7 in the last several Arbitron books.  Along with Aiello, station COO Walter Sabo exited before the start of the year. Several on-air staffers also were sent packing, as the station sought the right mix.

While the rumors were flying for weeks that ESPN Radio would bolt the inferior 1050 AM signal for a quality FM sound, the station’s ultimate destination caught most by surprise.

ESPN/WEPN made it official yesterday with a new home in FM stereo at 98.7. That was the home of Emmis’ KISS since its inception in 1981.

WBLS formed a merger as several personalities, most notably midday Shaila and nighttime Lenny Green, joined the on-air staff.

As we reported last week, gone from the air are morning host Tom Joyner and Michael Baisden in the afternoon. The two syndicated shows did not find a home at WBLS, meaning they are not heard in the nation’s top market.

Joyner has declined FishbowlNY’s interview request, instead discussing the KISS/WBLS situation on his radio show and writing about it on his blog. Joyner and Baisden agree that the bigger picture means that the black audience suffers with fewer options.

“Thursday, we found out that a very important voice in New York City would be silenced,” Joyner writes. “After 20 years of broadcasting to and advocating for a mostly African-American audience, our New York affiliate, KISS 98.7, is now gone. It makes me sad, not just for our own personal loss but because of what the community-at-large is losing.”

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Here’s a look at what FishbowlNY stories made the most buzz this week.

1. Essence Reassigns Managing Editor after Racist Facebook Page Leaks, April 24
2. Brian Carter, WBLS Weekend Jock, Dies of Apparent Heart Attack, April 23
3. Sean Fennessey Leaves GQ for Grantland, April 23
4. ESPN Radio Switching to 98.7 FM Sunday, April 26
5. Rolling out the Red Carpet for Time 100, April 25
6. USA Today Journalists Targets of Online Intimidation, April 20

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Pete Fornatale, the man at the forefront of the progressive radio movement on FM in the late 1960s died yesterday after complications from a stroke at Manhattan’s Beth Israel Medical Center. He was 66.

Fornatale was an institution in New York radio, and at Fordham University’s WFUV. The Bronx native graduated in 1967 with a B.A. in Communication Arts. Fornatale remained on the school’s station until 1969. His future would soon be tied to WNEW-FM, with two decades at the station that long billed itself as the place “where rock lives!”

Another legendary air personality, Dennis Elsas worked with Fornatale at both stations. He was at the microphone yesterday informing listeners of Fornatale’s passing. Their friendship started 45 years ago. Still a student at Queens College, and working for the school’s radio station, Elsas found Fornatale by mistake on his alarm clock.

“I really enjoyed the show,” Elsas tells FishbowlNY. “…That accidentally hearing of his show, and liking what I heard, was the formation of a relationship, and we quickly saw that we had a lot in common.”

Fornatale had a misstep when he attempted to join WNEW in 1967, as he recalled to me in 2009.

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It was a whirlwind of activity yesterday and when the smoke cleared, ESPN’s WEPN made the switch from 1050 on the AM dial to 98.7 FM.

Caught in the crossfire of the reported $96 million deal is the longtime R&B formatted WRKS/KISS FM. The Emmis-owned station, which celebrated 30 years on the air in 2011, has merged music and talent with WBLS 107.5 FM. It’s almost as surprising a turn as the ESPN jump to 98.7.

In a joint statement, the two stations said that they will become “One Family, One Station.”

No sooner than the announcement was made, KISS was being simulcast on WBLS. Just after midnight on Monday morning, the two Urban stations will consolidate at 107.5 under the WBLS call letters.

As we reported yesterday, KISS midday host Shaila and evening personality Lenny Greene will reconvene at WBLS.

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In a complicated radio maneuver, ESPN Radio announced today that it will be moving to the FM frequency at 98.7 in New York, the longtime home of KISS FM. The switch to the FM dial begins at 12:01 a.m. Sunday. ESPN’s lackluster 1050 AM signal, which had equally lackluster ratings since competing against all-sports station WFAN in 2003, will simulcast ESPN Radio programming until September. Then, to coincide with Hispanic Heritage Month, ESPN will debut a 24-hour Spanish sports talk station.

“The bottom line is we’re extremely delighted that the company is providing this resource,” David Roberts, ESPN New York general manager, says. ”…We have to make sure that we produce the kind of content and programming that will not only get sampling, but to get people to come back more often.”

Part of the programming will have new times for Stephen A. Smith and Ryan Ruocco, together from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., as the lead-in to The Michael Kay Show.  The station also announced Patrick McEnroe will do a Saturday show from 10 a.m. to noon, beginning May 5.

As the rumors about ESPN’s move became more widespread this week, so did the speculation about bringing the Yankees on board in 2013. Traug Keller, senior vice president, production, business divisions, tells FishbowlNY in today’s conference call that no deal is in place.

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It’s been rumored for several days, but it appeared to be official. ESPN Radio in New York, 1050 WEPN, will start simulcasting on 98.7, All Access reports.

The FM frequency has long been associated with Emmis’ R&B station KISS FM.

This is scheduled to happen Sunday morning at 12:01, according to the report.

Stay with FishbowlNY for the latest details on this story.

 Update: ESPN Radio, which will hold a conference call at 1 p.m., plans to simulcast on 1050 until September or October. At that point, the frequency will become a 24-hour ESPN Deportes station.

Still having trouble finding steady work? Cumulus’ 77 WABC and WPLJ are helping the community-at-large with a job fair at the Jacob Javits Center. Geraldo Rivera will be on-scene, hosting his 10 a.m to noon show from the fair Tuesday, May 15th.

Rivera’s program, with the fair’s theme, Putting America Back to Work, will include guests doing their part to get people off the unemployment line.

The job fair runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature recruiters from all industries available to meet with job seekers. More details are available on WABC’s website.