Phoenix Airchecks

Power 98.3 does not contain Nutz

PhoenixAirchecks.com — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 10:24:40 +0000

Power 98.3’s “Nutz In The Morning” with Joey Boy and Lady La had their last mornings on the Riviera Broadcast Group station on Friday, according to Joey Boy on his Twitter account.

“It was a great eight year run! Big shout to everybody who has checked in with me and much love to my Power Fam,” Joey Boy wrote.

In December of 2008, “Nutz in the Morning” received press for a “multi-year” contract extension, as announced by then program director Bruce St. James.

No word on who will take the reigns of waking Phoenix up.

Gringo Suave leaves 101.5 JamZ

PhoenixAirchecks.com — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:38:41 +0000

101.5 JamZ (KZON) morning man Gringo Suave announced today that he is leaving the station for an opportunity in programming– an “ultimate dream.”

“This came unexpected and was the toughest decision of my career…” Suave posted on his Twitter account. “It only felt right to listen to my heart, take the risk, and follow my dream. In a short amount of time, I became very attached to the CBS PHX family and you, the listeners.”

Gringo Suave joined the station in March to fill an opening for morning show host. Prior to JamZ, he spent some time in California as Joe Breezy, but Phoenix radio listeners know him from back on Power 92.3’s (KKFR) MG’s Morning Madhouse as an HR nightmare/stunt boy.

Suave has yet to announce where he will be headed, but acting program director Mikee Mike is currently searching for a replacement.

KFYI turns 25

PhoenixAirchecks.com — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:27:40 +0000

Valley news-talk station KFYI turns 25 years old with a staff and listener celebration planned for tomorrow, Tuesday afternoon, at the Wrigley Mansion in Phoenix. The celebration, scheduled to run from 4-7pm, will include KFYI staff from past and present, and listeners who went online to print their tickets.

Complimentary hors d’ oeuvres are available and dinners are for reservation, including several named after the KFYI team like “Jim Sharpe’s Root Beer braised Short Ribs,” and “Barry’s Vegetable Fettuccine Alfredo.”

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

PhoenixAirchecks.com — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 07:03:43 +0000

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.

KDKB PD Steve King exits, Paul Marshall enters

PhoenixAirchecks.com — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:06:22 +0000

Program Director Steve King is out at Sandusky’s rocker 93.3 KDKB, after two-and-a-half years with the station. Most recently, he was holding down both PD and morning show duties.

Sandusky is bringing in Paul Marshall, who was formerly the MD/afternoon drive guy at Kansas City’s rocker, KQRC, Entercom.

MOViN chooses Elvis for AM drive

PhoenixAirchecks.com — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 08:20:12 +0000

Trumper Communications’ MOViN 97.5 (KMVA) announced yesterday a change in what their listeners will wake up to. Beginning July 12, MOViN mornings will be hosted by Elvis Duran, a syndicated morning show.

Station management feel that a show like Elvis’ well fit well with the rhythmic AC format and appeal to their female listening audience– which makes up a good chunk. Nina D. has most recently been hosting mornings on the station.

Rush Limbaugh returns from honeymoon

PhoenixAirchecks.com — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 22:04:50 +0000

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.

Former news anchor Diane Brennan auditioning for Oprah reality show

PhoenixAirchecks.com — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 21:10:31 +0000

Former KTAR-FM news anchor, Diane Brennan, is auditioning for Oprah’s reality show under the category of “traditional talk show” and has an entertaining video on Oprah.com explaining why she should get a talk show.

She talks about how she has been in radio for twenty years and been a “sidekick” to talk show hosts.

“Never have I had the opportunity to host my own show, and it’s been a dream of mine since I was little,” Brennan said.

Her audition video is here and Brennan is asking for voter support: http://myown.oprah.com/audition/index.html?request=video_details&response_id=11072

KDKB gets Sludge in the morning

PhoenixAirchecks.com — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:12:46 +0000

Rocker 93.3 KDKB will soon get a new morning show, as they acquire Brian “Sludge” Haddad from the Richmond market. Haddad was most recently on-air at Cox’s Y101 alternative rock station before it flipped to Top 40 in April.

KDKB mornings have been handled by the program director, Steve King, since the departure of the JR & Mary morning show in January.

Sludge is set to start on Thursday morning, July 15.

[Updated 7/13/10]

KTAR-FM takes home some Mark Twain Awards

PhoenixAirchecks.com — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 20:00:26 +0000

ANAHEIM — On Saturday night the Associated Press Television and Radio Association honored Mark Twain Awards for achievements in news. The awards were given out to people and stations in the twelve Western states.

KTAR-FM’s news team members took home two Mark Twain Awards:
- Colton Shone for the Best Use Of Sound, Feature: “AZ Scream Farm”
- Jayme West for the Best News Broadcast (less than 15 minutes), Feature: “News/Talk 92.3 KTAR 4 p.m. News”

For more information on the awards and complete list of winners, visit the Association’s website here.