WJMZ Accepts Marconi for Urban Station of the Year
WJMZ's Steve Crumbley and Steve Sinicropi
The year ends with big honors to Greenville/Spartanburg, SC Cox Broadcasting’s urban WJMZ-FM (107.3) which won the NAB’s Marconi Award for Urban Station of the Year and was a finalist in the Medium Market Station of the Year category. “We were thrilled just to be nominated. Winning a Marconi is incredible, and our staff is very proud. It’s gratifying to have our industry recognize 107-3 JAMZ in Greenville/Spartanburg as one of the great stations in the country. The entire staff is appreciative for the recognition of their work at 107-3 JAMZ and their dedication serving our listeners, advertisers and partners in the Upstate,” said Steve Sinicropi, VP/GM for Cox Radio Greenville, who is shown accepting the award with OM/PD Steve Crumbley.
Hurricane Hits Atlanta
June 21, 2009 by Susan Miller
Filed under Mid South, Regions, Southeast
Veteran radio programmer and air personality David Glenn “Hurricane Dave” Smith will relocate to Atlanta from Dallas in July to take over the vacant spot at Radio One Atlanta operations for Urban WHTA-FM (Hot 107.9). Previously the executive producer for syndicated ABC Radio Networks—now Citadel Media– “The Ride with Doug and DeDe,” Hurricane Dave is currently already part of the Radio One team as Director of Operations for its Syndication One arm—a position he will resign.
Having programmed or served as OM for at least seven number one radio stations in various formats from hip hop to classic rock, Hurricane Dave has proven his versatility again and again. He oversaw the five station Cumulus Tallahassee group that included not only Hip Hop and R&B and Urban AC formats, but also Hot AC, ESPN Sports and Classic Rock.
He began his career and adopted his moniker of Hurricane Dave in Texas, where, as the winner of Service Broadcasting KKDA-FM (K104)’s nationwide best air-personality talent search, he won first place prize, which included a job at the Dallas station. Later at Radio One KMJQ-FM (Magic 102) in Houston, his moniker was born his first day on the air, which also marked the first day of the hurricane season.
Touting “I keep the mic hot!” Dave has proven to be successful no matter what daypart, region or format—even syndication—whether in the studio or boardroom. The list of Hurricane hits includes: WOWI-FM, Norfolk (highest rankings in its history); Album Rock WOMP-FM, Bellair, Ohio; Top 40 WXGT-FM (92X) Columbus; KMJQ-FM, Houston, Texas; WBLK-FM, Buffalo, NY; WAMO-FM/WYJZ-FM; Radio One Cleveland cluster WIZF-FM/ WENZ-FM/WWLD-FM.
His website lists such accolades as “Best numbers in five years” from Pittsburgh’s two stations; best numbers in WOWI-FM history during which time WOWI became the #1 12+ 18-34 demo and #1 mornings demo 25-54 under then PD Dave; #1 highest 12+ shares ever reports WIZF-FM in Cincinnati; #1 for 3 1/2 years at Top 40 WXGT-FM in Columbus, Ohio; #1 highest shares ever at Album Rock WOMP-FM in Bellaire, Ohio; #1 highest nighttime shares at Urban KMJQ-FM in Houston; 11 up books out of 14 at WAMO-FM in Pittsburgh.
Also president of his own pre-paid bankcard company, the ECS-Financial Network, Dave is actively involved in supporting the urban communities. Just ask the ‘Canes Kids he rewarded for improving their grades in Cleveland when he was OM/PD/MD or view the video he participated in for the Texas Department of Education Student Job Search program available in every Texas high school.
BMI Unsigned Showcase Returns to Atlanta
DJ Khaled will host BMI’s 12th Annual Unsigned Urban Showcase in Atlanta at Club E.S.S.O. on April 23rd. Nas, Trey Songz and Novel will perform at this showcase that will feature four finalists competing in front of a panel of music industry heavyweights including singer/songwriter Dallas Austin (Madonna, TLC); Capitol Records Senior Vice President, Urban Music Leonard Brooks; MySpace Records President, Urban Music Marquis Collins; manager and Imani Entertainment Group CEO Manny Halley (clients include Keyshia Cole & Lyfe Jennings); Def Jam Recordings Executive Vice President Chris Hicks; Polo Grounds Music President and RCA Music Group Senior Vice President, Urban Bryan Leach; manager and Czar Entertainment CEO Jimmy Rosemond (clients include The Game, Gucci Mane & Pleasure P).This year’s final four include the group 718, Kameron Corvet, Ryn Nicole and Rain. Additionally, BMI will be presenting its Legends of ATL Award to a community leader who has contributed to the local music scene. Past recipients have included Dallas Austin, Organized Noize and Big Oomp.
The Streetz102.9 of Atlanta Silent
The on air and online stream from low power urban hip-hop FM Streetz 102.9 (www.streetz1029.com) was short-lived. Reportedly, Radio One had an injunction issued which shut the operation down. Former Radio One VP Steve Hegwood, who was reportedly involved with premature launch, still has abut three months to go on his non-compete clause before he is free to move about.
Steve Hegwood Buzz: Extreme Media
With Atlanta all abuzz over the “All New Streets” hip hop and R&B hitting the airwaves on WWVA HD2 102.9 (website www.streets1029.com)–currently licensed to Clark University–veteran programmer Steve Hegwood quietly launched Albany, Georgia’s WZBN-FM as the new Power 105.5. The formerly Cumulus owned southern soul 6,000 watt station that covers Lee and Dougherty counties hit the airwaves March 30 with back to back music as new PD Jammin Jay took over the controls. Committed to Clear Channel urban crosstown WJIZ-FM (96.3 Jamz) until April 15, Jammin’ Jay says he’s juggling both responsibilities for now. Call number to reach Jammin’ Jay is (866) 877 6559 and he’s open to music days Monday through Friday. He says the station is looking to relocate to another building shortly and will be hitting the pavement hard for ad sales at very competitive rates.
Formerly head of radio network On Top Communications, Hegwood previously owned and operated WRXZ-FM (106.1) and WFFM-FM (105.7) in Albany as part of his On Top chain. Most recently Hegwood had been VP of Programming at Radio One.
V103 Selects Elle Duncan to Fill Midday Slot
February 2 welcomed a new voice to middays at CBS urban WVEE-FM (V103) in Atlanta. The 26-year old Elle Duncan, moves over from the popular “Ryan Cameron Show” to fill the 10am-2pm slot vacated by Porsche Foxx last year. The Atlanta native, who majored in broadcasting at West Georgia College, started her radio career in 2003 at 790 the Zone with “The Two Live Stews,” later segueing to “The Ryan Cameron Show” in 2005 where she became the Afternoon Drive Traffic Girl. In addition to her working at V103, Duncan also hosts the weekly show, “The Kitchen Sink,” seen on the Gospel Music Channel.”
Says WVEEV/WAOK General Manager Rick Caffey: “Our listeners love her so it’s a perfect and natural fit!”
Just remember, Ludacris began on “The Ryan Cameron Show” too.
Sounding the Trumpet Again
Trumpet Awards Foundation, Inc. president/CEO Xernona Clayton, a former advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and executive under Ted Turner at Turner Broadcasting, executive produced the 17th Annual Trumpet Awards on January 25th in Atlanta at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Hosted by Sherri Shepherd, co-host of “The View,” and Anthony Anderson, star of “Law and Order,” the show was taped for later broadcast on TV One on April 12.
This year’s honorees included Dr. Alvin Crawford, Medicine; Raven-Symone, Pinnacle Award; Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Living Legend Award; Pastor Paula White, Humanitarian Award; Chief Richard Pennington, Law; Michael Roberts, Business; Johnathan Rodgers, Corporate; Chris Tucker, Entertainment and the Tuskegee Airmen, Heroes.
Performers included Teena Marie, Raheem DeVaughn, Keyshia Cole, EnVogue and Dietrick Haddon, among others, who were joined by presenters that included Lou Gossett, Jr., Ambassador Andrew Young, Holly Robinson Peete, Lisa Leslie, Gloria Allred, Roland Martin, Tom Joyner and comedian Earthquake.
photo credit Photos by Arnold Turner/AT Archives
Welcome to Miami’s ‘Home of the Hits’
Miami-based label Slip-N-Slide Records has opened the doors of its “Home of the Hits,” South Beach-based high-tech recording studio to the other singers, songwriters and producers for pre-production and post-production. This marks the first time the studio, used exclusively to record Slip-N-Slide hits by the likes of such artists as Plies, Trina and Rick Ross, will be available to those in the music industry to record with the label’s producers and engineers.
GMWA Guild Heads to Greenville
The North Carolina Gospel Announcers Guild of the Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA) has announced its 11th Annual Convention will convene at the Greenville Convention Center on May 27-30, 2009. Describing the event as a mini-GMWA, North Carolina Gospel Announcers Guild of the GMWA head, Pastor Arvetra Jones, Jr., says this will be the first time that the Guild has held a convention in the eastern part of the state. Anticipating 2,000 plus participants, the NCGAC four-day event will include presentation of its annual Prestige Awards, workshops and showcases.
Hot Sauce Joins the Spyders
Duane “Spyder-D” Hughes, president of the College Park Spyders, the latest new team to sign to the American Basketball Association (ABA), reports the signing of AND1 star Phillip “Hot Sauce” Champion to the 2009 expansion team roster. The Columbus, Georgia native, who joined And1 in 2000, recruited from pick-up games at Atlanta’s Run N’ Shoot courts, became a popular player on the And1 Mixtape Tour and was selected for a role in the basketball movie “Crossover.” Says Hughes, one of the first rappers to launch his own label, Newtroit Records, in 1979, “This signing reminds me of when Julius Erving first came into the ABA with the Virginia Squires.” Currently working on an autobiography, Hughes is also finishing his final rap album. Called Legendary, the project pays homage to many of the great rappers Hughes worked with during his career, including Roxanne Shante, Father MC and Eric B, among others.
