Archive | radio

Dave Pratt eager to return on-air, shares info on current contract

Posted on 31 August 2010 by PhoenixAirchecks.com


Phoenix radio veteran Dave Pratt has recently been expressing his desires to return on-air via his Facebook and emails, confidently stating that he feels he will return on-air soon, though no specifics were given on what Valley stations may accommodate him.

Pratt has been away from mornings on CBS Radio Phoenix’s KMLE Country 108 since December 2008, but his contract is still in-effect to this day.

In a mass-email sent out today, Pratt updated his mailing list on how summer has been, his latest projects, and his hope to return on-the-air, depending on what CBS Radio does with his contract on its final year.

Pratt could return in as little as a few months if all goes his way.

“My hope is that CBS will not pick up the option on my final year,” wrote Pratt. “Sure, it’s been a long, paid vacation, but I am more than ready to get back in the air chair.”

Under the CBS Radio contract, Pratt remained off the air since December 2008 and has been spending more time with his family, remaining active in the community and blogging daily on AZCentral.com.

“If CBS does not pick up the option, I will be back in a few months,” Pratt wrote. He’s not ruling out rock, talk, country or sports.

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Radio Free Phoenix turns six

Posted on 19 August 2010 by PhoenixAirchecks.com


RFP Birthday artwork by Brian Brooks

Painting by artist and listener Brian Brooks, in celebration of Radio Free Phoenix's 6th birthday and depicting founder Andy Olson.

Radio Free Phoenix (RadioFreePhoenix.com), the free-form internet rock radio station based in the Valley, turns six years old this week.

Founded by Phoenix radio veteran Andy Olson in 2004, Radio Free Phoenix has continued to gain a loyal group of listeners that grow each year. The station prides itself on being free-form and on the internet. The on-air lineup is made of terrestrial radio veterans– a majority being from the Phoenix market–who have made the transition into the world of internet radio.

Some Radio Free Phoenix names that longtime Valley radio listeners would remember include Andy Olson (KSTM, KSLX, KZON), Liz Boyle (KOOL, KDKB, KESZ), Dave Cooper (KZON, KYOT, KJZZ), and Angela Allen (KOOL).

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Bruce Jacobs lands new sports radio job

Posted on 13 August 2010 by PhoenixAirchecks.com


Bruce Jacobs, formerly hosting weekends at Fox Sports Radio and morning show host at Clear Channel Phoenix’s NewsTalk 550 KFYI, has landed a new job in the world of sports radio.

Jacobs will be joining Sporting News Radio. The time slot has not yet been announced.

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WestStar TalkRadio Network staffer, jogger save Valley woman’s life

Posted on 30 June 2010 by PhoenixAirchecks.com


Michael James, Technical Director for WestStar TalkRadio Network’s Kim Komando show was on his way to work Saturday morning when he was flagged down by a jogger and directed to a vehicle submerged in a water canal running near the road. That was where he saw a 77-year-old Valley woman struggling to escape her vehicle.

James removed some clothing and rushed into the water. The woman was close to being swept away by a current, according to James, but before it would occur, James got a hold of the woman. The jogger got to a grate and was able to pull the woman up by her arms, saving her life.

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Rush Limbaugh returns from honeymoon

Rush Limbaugh returns from honeymoon

Posted on 15 June 2010 by PhoenixAirchecks.com


rush-limbaugh-kathryn-rogers Rush Limbaugh returned to his show today after a week and a half long leave of absence. Limbaugh married girlfriend of three years, Kathryn Rogers, on Saturday, June 5 at The Breakers luxury resort in Palm Beach.

He devoted a part of his show to “relive” it rather than begin talking about the usual politics and recent events.

Limbaugh opened up to his audience about how he met Kathryn six years ago, the wedding, and shared the story of the challenge for he and Kathryn to get to Elton John to ask him to sing at their wedding. He did not mention any of this prior because he tries to keep his life private, but that he currently has never been happier.

Limbaugh had known 33 year old Kathryn Rogers for six years, who was a local party-planner that happened to be working at some golf events Limbaugh would attend.

“I met Kathryn when she was running the foundation for Gary Player, and part of that job was to put together celebrity golf tournaments for Gary Player at various places,” Limbaugh explained.

They began dating in 2007 and got engaged on October 3 of last year in Pittsburgh– a city which Limbaugh said had significance for the both of them.

Limbaugh credits Kathryn for getting Elton John’s attention as they worked to get him to play at their wedding. She wrote him a letter when they found out several months ago that they were staying in the same hotel.

Limbaugh had high praises for Elton on-stage in front of their 400 guests as well as off-stage.

“We met Elton backstage prior to the performance. He walked in, gave me a hug, gave Kathryn a big hug, invited us to dinner at his home in London. He was dead serious about it, and we had just the greatest chat with him backstage,” Limbaugh said. “He told Kathryn that she reminded him of somebody in his life that was very beautiful, and we just had the greatest time.”

The honeymoon took place in Las Vegas, with a stop in Detroit on the way home to get their second sheepdog, Wellesley. They returned last night and have not yet seen their wedding photos, Limbaugh said, although he is being asked about them.

Video showing fifteen minutes of Rush’s show, here.


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Former KZON PD to Atlanta’s “Groove”

Posted on 18 May 2010 by PhoenixAirchecks.com

Dennis MartinezFormer KZON program director Dennis Martinez is set June 1 to become the new PD of 105.7 The Groove (WWVA)– Atlanta’s Rhythmic AC from Clear Channel. Martinez has currently been on-air at CBS Radio’s Top 40 MOViN 99.7/San Francisco.


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Austin Hill gets WMAL in DC

Posted on 28 April 2010 by PhoenixAirchecks.com

Valley veteran talker Austin Hill lands two hours in the morning on AM 630 WMAL as the station searches for a permanent talk show host. He can be heard filling in for the Midday Show, weekdays from 10am to noon.

Hill has been a go-to host for fill-ins, as he has most recently in Phoenix filling-in frequently for Darrell Ankarlo on 92.3 KTAR-FM.

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A battle of Phoenix morning radio

Posted on 27 April 2010 by PhoenixAirchecks.com

AZCentral.com’s 4th annual Best Of poll is out, asking readers for their best choices around the Valley, from food, to entertainment, resorts, hotels, and the best of in radio.

One question asks,
“WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE MORNING DJ(s)?”

Options (and percentages as of 5:45 this evening):
Ankarlo (Darrell Ankarlo), KTAR
2%
Barry Young, KFYI talk radio
2%
Ben and Matt , KNIX
30%
Beth and Bill, KEZ
5%
Dave Pratt, formerly of KMLE
31%
Doug & Wolf, KTAR
1%
Holmberg’s Morning Sickness, KUPD
4%
Howard Stern, Sirius Satellite Radio
2%
Johnjay and Rich, KISS
21%
Tim and Willie, KMLE
2%

You can place your vote here.

PhoenixAirchecks.com Analysis:
- Where’s everybody else? Surprised to not see Chris & Amy. What about JR & Mary? And why not Tom & Maria? Dave Pratt is still an option, yet it’s been fifteen months since he’s been on the radio. (Yeah, but he also blogs for AZCentral.)

- Speaking of Dave Pratt, Pratt is beating Holmberg’s Morning Sickness over septuple! (that means times seven)

- Johnjay and Rich seem to be the ones most pushing for their followers on Twitter to vote for them on this one. So far it’s gotten them to 21%.

- Why can AZCentral never spell Willy’s name right?

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Mathew Blades adds another station

Posted on 19 April 2010 by PhoenixAirchecks.com


Mix 96.9’s newly acquired morning guy, Mathew Blades, adds another station under his belt as he debuted today on Louisville, Kentucky’s 100.5 Gen-X Radio.

In addition to the morning shift on Mix, he will also be heard 6-10am on the fellow Clear Channel station in Louisville, Kentucky.

Gen-X Radio’s headline

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Past, present radio personalities host Parada del Sol in Scottsdale

Posted on 22 February 2010 by PhoenixAirchecks.com

KNIX’s morning duo, Ben and Matt, hosted the Parada del Sol Pro Rodeo and Historic Parade in Scottsdale Saturday. The parade, which as taken place for 57 years, began at 10am and runs up Scottsdale Road from Oak to Indian School.

Ben and Matt were aboard a float. Hosts were scattered among intersections along the way, including Radio Free Phoenix’s Liz Boyle and Andy Olson at Scottsdale Road and Osborn, and a reunion of the KDKB morning team, Bill Andres and John Giese, at Scottsdale Road and Indian School.

[Thanks to Bill Andres for the correction.]

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