There’s still another month of winter weather. But a hint of what’s ahead to heat us up has been unveiled. Hot 97/WQHT started the countdown clock yesterday (T-”97″ days) until the best hip hop artists in the world take the stage at MetLife Stadium.

The 20th anniversary of Summer Jam will bring together 55,000 fans and countless more worldwide via online streaming.

• Related: FishbowlNY, Hot 97′s Rosenberg Sorry if Nicki Minaj ‘Felt Bad’ About His Summer Jam Comments

Alex Cameron, SVP and general manager, states, “Every year the entire HOT 97 staff puts our hearts and souls into producing an amazing experience for the hip hop world at HOT 97′s legendary Summer Jam concert.  This year is extra special, as we mark the 20th Anniversary of this monumental event.  We have a few surprises in the works to celebrate our 20-year reign as the number 1 source for hip hop music and entertainment; this year is lined up to be bigger and better than ever!  This will be a must-attend event for Hip Hop fans around the country and beyond.”

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Over 400 members of New York media and bloggerati packed Kiss & Fly in the Meatpacking District Thursday to watch the premiere episode of VH1′s Love & Hip-Hop 3, which airs Monday January 7. For those not in the know, that’s the show that goes inside the lives (more personal than professional, really) of hip-hop stars.

While the show’s first outing focused mainly on rapper Jim Jones and his family and friends, this season has a lot of upstarts whose affiliations with the music world are flimsy at best. I’m still trying to figure out what it means for Rashidah Ali to be a “shoe consultant” to the stars, but, hey, whatever works for you.

Here are more photos from the event, courtesy of photographer Stephen Knight: Read more

Nicki Minaj is one of the top rappers out there today. The Jamaica, Queens native was set to headline yesterday’s Hot 97 Summer Jam day-long concert at MetLife Stadium. But that never happened because just hours before Minaj was due to hit the stage, she was ordered by her mentor and record label head Li’l Wayne not to appear.

At issue, Hot 97/WQHT morning host Peter Rosenberg (simply Rosenberg on the air), according to the Daily News, made critical statements about Minaj latest song, Starships.

“Young Money ain’t doing summer jam,” Rosenberg tweeted, which is a reference to Wayne’s rap crew that includes Minaj.

And she didn’t.

“I go above and beyond for my fans. But won’t ever go against Wayne’s word. What he says, goes,” she tweeted last night.

In another tweet, she took a swipe at Hot 97, “I’d like to thank the staff @ Philly & Boston summer jams for treating their guests w/respect! Had a blast.”

A statement by Hot 97:

“Hot 97 Summer Jam is the biggest hip hop Festival in the world. It’s about more than one act, it always has been, it always will be. It is about a culture and we continue to deliver the greatest live hip hop experience on the planet.”

Despite the forecast for isolated thunderstorms, Summer Jam 2012 will go forward Sunday at Metlife Stadium. The most anticipated hip hop concert of the year will also be the biggest live webcast in hip hop history.

For the second year in a row, Hot 97/WQHT is partnered with Boost Mobile to stream it live to millions of fans globally. Last year’s webcast  was seen in more than 20 countries and viewed by at least half million people.

“We are rewriting internet history again this year by creating a nine-hour live stream of both the Hot 97 Summer Jam Festival Stage and Main Stage, the longest major hip hop event ever streamed online,” Lin Dai, VP of Digital Programming for HOT 97, says. ”Through the
Loud Digital Network, millions of hip hop fans will be able to tune in around the world and experience the ‘Super Bowl of hip hop’ first hand.”

And that “Super Bowl” means, performances from many of the genre’s top names including Nikki Minaj, Young Jeezy, J. Cole. Big Sean, and Trey Songz. Another Summer Jam signature is the surprise guests that will take the stage.

New this year, fans can watch the Festival Village pre-show featuring A$AP Rocky, Pusha T, School Boy Q, and Azealia Banks.

“Hot 97′s Summer Jam is an amazing hip hop event and a celebration that we want to share with the world,” Ebro Darden, WQHT program director, says. “…It’s going to be a great time.”

Karlie Hustle has been named new Hot 97/WQHT music director. She succeeds Jill Strada who bolted in June to become program director at a Miami radio station.

Hustle is a former Phoenix program director.

“Programming experience, PPM experience, management skills, organizational skills, work ethic, focus and competitive tenacity were some of the attributes we were looking for in filling this position and we found someone. We also hired a fan of the truest forms of Hip-Hop,” Emmis VP/Programming and Hot 97 program director, Ebro Darden, said in a statement.  “Karlie’s diverse background and high intellect help her to understand the cultural differences New York has compared to other markets around the country. This is very useful in helping Hot 97 serve the local Hip-Hop community.”

Darden added: “Karlie loves doing charity work, being involved in the community and recently was the Music Business teacher at Phoenix College. With all of her life experience, plus her PPM experience, she made the perfect hire for Music Director and an awesome new addition to our programming department.”

This Monday, 98.7 Kiss FM/WRKS celebrated 30 years of music geared to black listeners. Today, they start season 31 with a new program director.

Jay Dixon fills the void created by Jill Strada, who departed for a Miami radio station in June.  

Dixon began his broadcasting career in 1977 at a Boston radio station while still in high school. Over the next 34 years, Dixon gained experience in several formats including Top 40, Country, and Urban.

He is no stranger to Kiss, having previously worked as the station’s production/creative service director.

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Hot 97′s annual hip-hop extravaganza – Summer Jam is back. Over 50,000 people are expected to pour into the New Meadowlands Stadium on Sunday, June 5.

Each year, Summer Jam is a hot ticket, and Hot 97/WQHT anticipates another sell out. Tickets for Summer Jam 2011 go on sale to the general public tomorrow, April 16 at 10 a.m. at all Ticketmaster outlets and at ticketmaster.com.

“Every year we join forces with the hip-hop artist community and the consumers to celebrate the hip-hop music culture right here in the Tri-State.  We are so grateful to have this event and every year it gets bigger and bigger,” says Ebro Darden, Program Director of HOT 97/VP of Programming of Emmis New York.  “This is the only hip-hop celebration of its kind on earth and people travel from all over the globe to join the party.  This year will be no different.”

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As we reported yesterday, DJ Megatron (whose given name was Corey McGriff) was killed early Sunday down the street from his Staten Island home. He was 32.

McGriff was with the Emmis family from November 1998 until February 2007. As DJ Megatron, McGriff began with 98.7 KISS FM (WRKS), but his popularity increased when he joined Hot 97 (WQHT).

“From the entire Hot 97 family past and present, first and foremost, our blessings go out to Megatron’s family,” Ebro Darden, Hot 97 program director, says. “He will always be remembered as a great person. He was genuine, sincere, and always positive. It was a pleasure to have worked with him and know him.”

WCBS-TV reports a friend told investigators that he and McGriff were on the phone as the DJ went to buy marijuana. He told police that the line went dead, likely because McGriff had been shot.

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Westwood One is bringing the BET Radio Network to Hot 97/WQHT. The station will air BET’s 106 and Park Countdown Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon.

Hosted by BET’s Terrence and Rocsi, the countdown features the interviews and songs from some of the biggest names in music, film, television, and sports.

“We are excited to be part of Westwood One’s BET Radio Network, ” said Ebro Darden, VP of programming, Emmis NY and program director at WQHT. ”Terrence and Rosci have become staples within the Hip-Hop and R&B music culture while hosting BET’s 106 & Park Countdown over the last several years. It only makes sense to bring these high profile personalities to the most influential Hip-Hop radio station in the world. They are smart, full of energy and passionate about their fans. We welcome them to the Hot 97 family.”

As part of their association with the BET Radio Network, WQHT will have access to a comprehensive network of news and music programming, tailored to contemporary urban stations.

Ebro Darden has been promoted to VP of programming at the three Emmis radio stations in New York.

Darden will oversee WQHT (Hot 97), WRKS (98.7 KISS FM), and WRXP (101.9).

Alex Cameron, SVP/Market Manager calls the promotion a first step in the restructuring plan of the Emmis New York group. For Darden, it’s a big step forward: “This is very exciting and I’m very grateful to our SVP, Alex Cameron, for giving me this tremendous opportunity to lead the entire Programming Team here at Emmis NY,” Darden said. ”Our priorities will be programming efficiency in PPM, growing our digital properties and keeping our brands focused on being culturally significant for our audiences.”

Darden joined Emmis in 2003 as music director of Hot 97. He became program director in 2007.

Update: Leslie Fram, WRXP program director and morning co-host, tells FishbowlNY that  Darden is “a great program director, leader, and strategist and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this promotion.”