Last night Clear Channel and the Empire State Building lit up the New York sky to demonstrate the building’s new LED light system. It was the first-ever light show put on by the ESB, and it featured a performance by Alicia Keys.

Keys — along with radio personalities Elvis Duran (Z100); DJ Clue (Power 105); Helen Little (106.7 Lite fm); and Cubby, 103.5 KTU — set things off at 9:00 pm.

Above is a video of the lights along with the accompanying music.

The annual Marconi Awards were presented at last night’s NAB gala in Dallas. There is a touch of New York sprinkled in the awards that recognize the best in radio.

Mike Francesa was named Major Market Personality of the Year. The WFAN afternoon host since 1989, Francesa has been solo since 2008. Last week, Francesa, 58, made news of a different kind by briefly falling asleep on the air, which was captured on the YES Network simulcast.

WFAN, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in July, was nominated as legendary station for the first time. But KSTP-FM in Minneapolis/St. Paul took home the honor.

The whirlwind 2012 continues for WBLS. It was chosen as Urban Station of the Year. ‘BLS went from bankruptcy with floundering ratings, to new found popularity with an assist from ESPN, which moved to the former spot on the dial of KISS FM /WRKS 98.7. In the most recent Arbitron ratings, WBLS took solo possession of number two.

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

1. Z100 Names New Co-Host (left) for Elvis Duran‘s Morning Show, August 10
2. Fareed Zakaria Definitely Plagiarized The New Yorker, August 10
3. New York Times Public Editor Says Lolo Jones Piece Was Too Harsh, August 9
4. Clear Channel to Purchase WOR Radio, August 13
5. Helen Gurley Brown, Iconic Editor, Dead at 90, August 13
6. Kelly Ripa Gets $20 Million A Year to Act an Idiot, August 9

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Elvis Duran finally has his woman!

Bethany Watson is joining Duran’s Z100-based, nationally syndicated morning show. Watson fills the slot vacated by Carolina Bermudez, who left for WLNY’s The Couch at the end of June.

Watson comes to New York by way of Minneapolis. After graduating from the University of Minnesota, where she studied theater and improvisational comedy, Watson was working at a desk job. She decided to to contact her favorite radio show. Expediting her career path, she applied for the co-host position on The Dave Ryan in the Morning Show at KDWB. She remained with the broadcast for more than four years.

“After an exhausting worldwide search, we found her! Bethany brings lots of baggage, but the kind of baggage that makes for a fun, playful and thoughtful co-host,” Duran says. “We can’t wait to introduce her to our listeners Monday morning.”

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WFAN, which celebrated its 25th anniversary earlier this month, is nominated for a pair of Marconi Awards. The Marconis are awarded to stations and personalities for excellence in broadcasting.

WFAN gets named in the legendary station category for this first time ever.

The station is nominated with KYW-AM in Philadelphia, KFOR-AM in Lincoln, Nebraska, KSTP in St. Paul, and WBT-AM in Charlotte.

Mike Francesa, WFAN’s stalwart afternoon host, is recognized as a major market personality. Francesa, flying solo without Chris Russo (“Mad Dog”) since 2008, is the only New York personalty with a nomination.

“[We're] very happy to have finalists in two categories,” Mark Chernoff, WFAN operations manager, tells FishbowlNY.

Emmis’ Hot 97/WQHT is in the major market category, along with KPWR-FM in Los Angeles, WBBM-FM in Chicago, WMMR-FM in Philadelphia, and WTOP-FM in Washington.

Z100′s Elvis Duran and the Morning Show is nominated for Best Network/Syndicated Personality. Among the other nominees is Tom Joyner, formerly heard in New York on KISS FM/WRKS, and Fox Sports Radio’s Dan Patrick.

Winners will be announced September 20 at the NAB Marconi Radio Awards in Dallas.

Caroline Bermudez, John Elliott, and Lisa Kerney have been named hosts of Live from the Couch. The WLNY 10/55 morning program airs from 7 to 9 beginning in early July.

The WCBS-produced show features a mix of news, talk, entertainment, and lifestyle segments.

Bermudez joins WLNY following her successful seven-year stint as co-host of Elvis Duran and The Morning Show, which originates at Z100/WHTZ and is heard on 55 stations nationwide.

“We are very excited to be bringing a distinctive new morning show to the tri-state area featuring Carolina, John and Lisa – three extremely bright and entertaining broadcasters,” said Betty Ellen Berlamino, vice president and station manager, WLNY. “With the launch of Live From the Couch in the morning and our new one-hour primetime newscast, WLNY News At 9 p.m., next month we look forward to significantly raising the profile of WLNY.”

In addition to their new responsibilities on Live from the Couch, Elliott and Kerney will continue to appear on CBS 2 News This Morning, weekdays from 4:30–7:00 on WCBS/Channel 2. Elliott has served as weekday morning weathercaster since January 2007. He will remain on the WCBS noon newscast, and still provide daytime reports for sister station WCBS 880.

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A change is coming to the highly-rated Elvis Duran and the Morning Zoo, based at New York’s Z100/WHTZ and syndicated to Clear Channel stations nationwide.

Carolina Bermudez, a veteran of the show since January 2005, announced today she’s leaving the high-profile gig at the end of June for a future in television.

She arrived at Z100 after a stint at Y100 in Miami.

As part of the job posting for Bermudez’s replacement, Clear Channel seeks candidates who are ”fun, outgoing, be willing to expose their lives on air and be a legitimate team player.”

The ad also wants people very familiar with pop culture.

“I come on the news every night and say ‘good evening,’ and then I proceed to tell people why it’s not.”

And thus, legendary anchorman Ernie Anastos needed an outlet to tell heartwarming, uplifting stories-Positively Ernie was born.

Anastos is pleased that his bosses have embraced the show idea.

“Fox 5 committed to giving me the opportunity to do a number of specials throughout the year,” Anastos says. “I’ve chosen really to focus on this type of program, so they’ve been cooperative and generous.”

The WNYW/Channel 5 anchor brought his trademark smile to the first installment in May.

“The reason that I want to do this is because I feel it’s important to keep this kind of balance and positive kind of information out there,” Anastos tells FishbowlNY. “The last special that I did, I really received a lot of responses.”

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