Radio giant iHeartMedia files for bankruptcy
The San Antonio-based company is the second major radio player in the Indianapolis market to seek bankruptcy protection in recent months. In November, Atlanta-based Cumulus Media filed for Chapter 11.
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iHeart Radio parts ways with market manager, hires replacement
Brad Polston is out as iHeart Media’s local market manager after 14 months of leading the cluster of stations that includes WFBQ-FM 94.7 and WNDE-AM 1260. His replacement has been working in billboard ad sales.
Longtime local radio executive Wheat dies at 66
Chris Wheat, a radio executive for more than 40 years, was general manager of Q95 during the station’s run of ratings and revenue dominance.
iHeart Radio losing longtime Indy market czar
Rick Green helped push format changes at several local stations. Leaving for a promotion, he says he expects the “Bob & Tom Show” to remain strong despite the loss of two on-air stars.
New country station rambling toward Indy airwaves
National broadcaster iHeartMedia Inc. plans to saddle up for a shootout with local cowboy crooners WFMS-FM 95.5 and WLHK-FM “Hank” 97.1. It’s buying the local Radio Disney station at 98.3 FM.
‘Bob & Tom Show’ switching syndicators
The move has local radio executives wondering if the comedy show might move up the Indianapolis FM dial as well. Meanwhile, conservative commentator Abdul will switch to weekday evenings on WIBC.
Former Q-95 executive lands gig in Chicago
Marty Bender, who spent more than 20 years guiding local classic-rock radio powerhouse WFBQ-FM 94.7 as program director before his abrupt firing in 2010, has been hired as at WILV Chicago.
Station that switched to sports-talk strikes out in first inning
WXNT-AM says the mass exodus of its news-talk listener base was to be expected during transition to CBS Sports radio content.
Q&A: ‘Mad Dog’ enjoying greener pastures with Indianapolis Colts
Jimmy Matis wasn’t sure what he would do when he lost his job after 24 years at Q95, but in this life, he says, “you just have to understand that you constantly have to learn.”
Digital billboards gaining local support
Clear Channel Outdoor, which owns most of the billboards within city limits, has lined up two city-county councilors to sponsor a bill that would loosen a decade-old ban on digital billboards.
Wheat out as local Cumulus market manager
Atlanta-based Cumulus has eliminated its local market manager position. Locally, Cumulus operates top-10 radio stations WJJK-FM 104.5 and WFMS-FM 95.5.
The Fan winning sports-talk radio war by wide margin
Radio station WFNI-AM 1070 is challenging some FM music stations in the battle for male listeners.
Radio vets Cosby, Stuck among Clear Channel layoffs
Several local radio employees lost their jobs this week in a round of layoffs by San Antonio-based Clear Channel, the parent company of WRZX-FM 103.3, WFBQ-FM 94.7 and WNDE-AM 1260.
Emmis, Colts hire ex-Q95 jock ‘Mad Dog’ Matis
Jimmy "Mad Dog" Matis, who was fired after 23 years at Q95 earlier this year, finds a new gig—in sales—at
Emmis. He also will do the Colts post-game show with Barry Krauss.