Anthony Donatelli is teaming up with Kelli Green for the “Kelli and Anthony in the Morning” at K-FROG in Riverside, CA. With Donatelli’s move to mornings, Heather Froglear will take over his afternoon shift.
“The only people I’ve been waking up this early for are my kids—and now, apparently, all of the Inland Empire,” said Donatelli. “I’m excited for the opportunity and ready to bring the creativity, the laughs, and everything I’ve got to this show every day.”
“We’re excited to have Anthony join Kelli in the mornings. Together, they’ll bring vibrant energy that will foster even deeper connections with the Southern California community,” said Michael Valenzuela, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Audacy Riverside and San Diego. “We’re constantly seeking new ways to better serve our listeners and partners, and these exciting changes will enable us to deliver top-tier programming, powered by exceptional talent who are going to continue bringing engaging conversations while sharing the best country hits.”
The new K-FROG weekday programming lineup is as follows.
6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. PT: “Kelli and Anthony in the Morning”
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. PT: “Katie & Company”
3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. PT: “Heather Froglear”
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“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” said His Eminence Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengoof the Holy Roman Church said in a statement announcing the death of the pope one day after Easter Sunday.
Pope Francis was a record-setting pope, becoming the first man from Latin America to serve in the role, the first Jesuit pope, and the first to take the name of St. Francis of Assisi.
Despite the breaking news happening in the middle of the night on the East Coast, many news/talk and all-news radio stations hit the air and social media to cover the situation.
New York is tied for the largest percentage of its residents identifying as Catholic, according to data from the Public Religion Research Institute. In the Big Apple, the news broke on 77 WABC during The Other Side of Midnight. The station brought on News Director Noam Laden to share the news. He admitted the news was “one of these ones where I’m double and triple checking to make sure it’s accurate.” Laden added, however, that the news of the pope’s death wasn’t completely shocking as he had been hospitalized for several weeks earlier this year.
Elsewhere, 1010 WINS featured breaking news coverage, including an address by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, early Monday morning. Juliet Papa, a reporter for 1010 WINS, was at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in the city to cover the comments.
In Los Angeles, KNX News reporter Jon Baird reported from the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown LA at a 7 AM mass. The Archbishop of Los Angeles, Jose Gomez, will lead a mass commemorating the pope at 12:10 PM.
Some news/talk radio hosts — like 610 WIOD midday host Manny Munoz — connected with local experts on the Catholic Church to discuss the legacy of Pope Francis.
Other outlets, like KYW Newsradio in Philadelphia, contextualized the death of the 266th leader of the Catholic Church by noting his attachment to their cities. Pope Francis visited Philadelphia in 2015 for two days, marking the first time a sitting pope had visited the area since 1979.
WTOP reporter Nick Iannelli shared a similar experience, noting that Pope Francis visited the nation’s capital on the same trip in 2015. He showcased photos from that event, which he called “rather shocking” to see the Pope walk through the door so closely to those assembled.
When Pope Francis came to DC in 2015, the security for his appearances was like nothing I’d ever seen, far surpassing presidential speeches, etc. So it was rather shocking when at one event, he came through this door. We did not expect to see him this close at all. @WTOPpic.twitter.com/vOSS51HtYh
National news radio outlets featured special programming Monday morning. ABC News Radio broadcast a report anchored by Alex Stone, including reporting from Terry Moran, about the news of the death of Pope Francis, his legacy, and what will transpire in the coming days relating to his funeral and finding a replacement in the next conclave.
The network’s Start Here podcast, hosted by Brad Mielke, provided additional coverage and context in a special edition of the program.
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FOX Sports Radio, a division of Premiere Sports Network providing 24/7 live programming, announced Monday it will offer comprehensive multiplatform coverage of the 2025 NFL Draft.
The network’s 25th annual Draft Night LIVE broadcast will be led by FOX NFL Insider Jay Glazer.
“Glazer will utilize his unrivaled rolodex to provide breaking news and insight on all of the latest wheeling, dealing and rumors,” the network said in a statement.
The network will feature live coverage of the first round on Thursday, April 24, which will air on hundreds of affiliate stations nationwide, as well as FOX Sports Radio’s YouTube and iHeartRadio channels and on FOXSportsRadio.com. Clips and highlights will also be shared across social media platforms.
Glazer will be joined by LaVar Arrington, former No. 2 overall draft pick and co-host of FSR’s Two Pros and a Cup of Joe and Up On Game; former New York Jets General Manager Joe Douglas; and FOX Sports Lead College Football Reporter Jenny Taft. The team will deliver live predictions, analysis and reactions as all 32 picks are announced.
In addition to the coverage of the weekend’s NFL Draft festivities, The Dan Patrick Show will broadcast live from The Bar – Holmgren Way, located three blocks from Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., the site of this year’s draft. Patrick and the Danettes will be on location April 23–25.
The Doug Gottlieb Show will also originate from Green Bay, broadcasting from The Legacy Hotel near Lambeau Field from April 21–23, and from The Bar – Holmgren Way on April 24 and 25.
The FOX Sports Radio network provides coverage for over 630 radio stations across the country, and reaches over 11 million listeners.
Join @JayGlazer, former NFL GM Joe Douglas, @JennyTaft, and Hall of Famer @LaVarArrington as they take you inside every pick, trade, and surprise of the NFL Draft.
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Fans will now be able to stream Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals baseball games through a direct-to-consumer streaming package offered by the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network. MASN+ will be available for customers beginning on Monday for $19.99 a month or $89.99 for the remainder of the season as local games continue airing over the regional sports network.
With the deal encompassing the Orioles and Nationals, 29 out of the 30 MLB franchises have an in-market, direct-to-consumer product either through league-owned or third-party platforms.
The MASN+ platform will grant subscribers access to content airing on MASN and MASN2, including all Orioles and Nationals games airing on the platform. MASN+ will be available through the official MASN website or by utilizing iOS and Android mobile devices, along with streaming services such as Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
This deal occurs as the Nationals organization is in the final year of its existing contract with MASN, the regional sports network in which the Orioles hold a majority stake. Furthermore, both teams resolved their dispute surrounding the network in early March, which included the dismissal of litigation between the parties pertaining to these matters.
“Our goal is to connect all fans to the excitement of Orioles and Nationals baseball,” Greg Bader, executive vice president and general manager of MASN, said in a statement. “MASN+ allows O’s and Nats fans throughout the Mid-Atlantic who have elected to cut the cord to view their favorite team’s games and all that MASN has to offer.”
The future of regional sports networks is somewhat unknown as MLB has expressed aspirations to hold local linear and digital television rights upon the expiration of current national broadcasting contracts after 2028. In fact, the league is currently producing and disseminating broadcasts for six teams through its local media arm as it reportedly holds conversations surrounding rights in which it and ESPN mutually opted out after this season. Data from S&P Global Market Intelligence conveyed that MASN had 3.3 million subscribers in 2023, which was down by more than 2 million subscribers five years earlier.
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Carl Russo is set to retire from Classic Rocker 97 Rock in Buffalo on Friday (4/25), ending a 46-year career.
Russo joined the station and PM drive in 1998. He shared the news of his retirement on social media.
Other career stops for the Buffalo Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame member include WYSL Buffalo, WGR-FM, WFBQ Indianapolis, and KZEW Dallas. Additionally, he can be heard hosting overnights on Westwood One’s 24/7 Classic Rock format.
Photo: 97 Rock Website
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Former 97.5 The Fanatic host Bob Cooney has landed with the ALLCITY Network based in Philadelphia (PHLY) to cover the Philadelphia Phillies for the digital company. Cooney was let go in July of 2024 by Beasley Media Group after being a part of the radio station since 2017.
PHLY Sports announced Cooney’s return via social media. However, they did not state exactly what his duties will be with the digital company. Even so, it is expected that Cooney’s focus for the brand will be covering the Phillies for PHLY Sports.
Furthermore, the former talk show host wrote an article for the digital outlet on Friday. As of this report, however, that is the only piece Cooney has posted since his arrival. Cooney was appreciative to his social following, posting many messages of thanks over the holiday weekend.
Before joining The Fanatic in 2017, Bob Cooney had spent the previous 25 years as a sports reporter for the Philadelphia Daily News. During that time, he covered the Philadelphia Flyers and Eagles, as well as specialty assignments like the World Series and the U.S. Open.
Since his dismissal at The Fanatic, Cooney was doing guest spots on several outlets in the Philadelphia market, including with PHLY Sports. As a result, with the addition of Cooney, the digital outlet adds additional coverage of the Phillies to go alongside veteran sports reporter Jim Salisbury, who previously worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer and NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Following Cooney’s exit at The Fanatic, sports talk show host Mike Missanelli returned to the outlet after a two-year hiatus to host the daypart for which Cooney departed from. In addition, PHLY Sports also houses the Anthony Gargano Show, which features former Fanatic sports talk host Anthony Gargano.
BREAKING NEWS: Our PHLY Phillies coverage is expanding with one of the best in Philly!@BobCooney76 is joining the team to provide you with some AWESOME https://t.co/U8JqHYwlTJ Phillies content!
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After launching a lawsuit in 2023, KYW Newsradio anchor Carol MacKenzie and parent company Audacy have settled the case.
MacKenzie had alleged she had been subjected to age and gender discrimination in late 2021 after being offered a contract that she claimed was significantly less than her male and younger female co-workers.
The settlement comes after a district court had refused to dismiss the lawsuit after Audacy had argued that the KYW Newsradio anchor hadn’t utilized every option available from the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, making her legal case void.
While announcing her lawsuit in November 2023, lawyers for Carol Mackenzie said she had been paid less than her male counterparts for 20 years after joining the all-news station in 2003.
The allegation continued by stating that she believed she had been underpaid by between $20,000-$30,000 per year than her male colleagues, which would violate the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. She reportedly was paid a lump sum in 2019, but then alleges she was asked to take a pay cut during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Documents in the case revealed that Carol MacKenzie was offered a multi-year contract in 2021 for an annual salary of $137,000, with $3,000 elevations in the final two years. After turning down the contract, the offer increased to $150,000, with a $2,000 increase in year two and a $3000 increase upon that in year three.
Carol MacKenzie continued to work for the Audacy all-news station despite her discrimination lawsuit.
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WGN-TV in Chicago, a local affiliate of The CW owned by Nexstar Media Group, reportedly has interest in broadcasting sports again, surmising a potential to air Chicago Sports Network presentations of the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks that have yet to take the airwaves on Comcast platforms.
No deal has been announced between the two entities, but an agreement would cover nearly all consumers using television in the local market, including those subscribed to the Xfinity cable service from Comcast. The channel is available as an over-the-air network and also can be streamed through various vMVPDs in the market as well.
According to Jeff Agrest of the Chicago Sun-Times, WGN is confident that it could compile a limited schedule of games for the three teams despite existing commitments with CW Sports, such as airing the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Atlantic Coast Conference football and basketball games.
The schedule could include a limited number of contests for each team, taking a similar approach adopted by the network in 2008 when the Blackhawks started airing 20 games a year on the channel. On top of that, the teams would reportedly need to approach a deal as a marketing expense rather than delivering a significant rights fee.
While going around Comcast in potentially making this deal could further damage the relationship between Chicago Sports Network and the cable provider, Bulls president and chief executive officer Michael Reinsdorf has already accused the company of acting in “bad faith.” Furthermore, Reinsdorf referred to the behavior of Comcast as being “discriminatory” and articulated that the network believed it had reached a deal with the company in December before it ultimately fell through for an “undisclosed reason.”
WGN-TV last broadcast Chicago Cubs baseball until the team exercised an opt-out in its contract in 2019, ending a 72-year run on the channel. The team proceeded to launch the Marquee Sports Network RSN in tandem with Sinclair Broadcast Group, which continues to serve as the television home of the team today. WGN had also carried White Sox, Bulls and Blackhawks games before dropping those games in the mid 2010s as it transitioned its business model to becoming a basic cable channel.
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We are less than 20 days away from hosting the 2025 BSM Summit in Chicago. A huge thanks to Point to Point Marketing for serving as the presenting sponsor of this year’s conference. Today, we reveal our Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, a bunch of ticket winners, and details of a big giveaway taking place at the show.
If you are speaking at the show, look for an email later this week. I’ll be sharing details for all sessions, and connecting everyone involved. The full schedule will also be posted on BSMSummit.com by the end of this week.
For planning purposes, day 1 of the show takes place on Thursday May 8th between 9a-5p at the MCA. The ESPN Radio After Party follows from 6p-8p at the Chicago Sports Museum. Day 2 of the event runs 9a-1p at the MCA with the Premiere Networks Awards ceremony closing the conference. We also have the Magellan AI Kickoff Party on Wednesday May 7th from 6p-7p at The Westin Michigan Avenue downstairs bar.
One of my favorite parts of this Summit is having an opportunity to celebrate those who’ve made significant contributions to the sports media industry. From Jeff Smulyan to Mark Chernoff, Bruce Gilbert, Jeff Catlin, and Danny Parkins, all have played key roles in elevating our business. Today, I’m excited to add to the list by announcing the our 2025 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. Please join me in congratulating Chicago sports radio legend, Mike North.
There aren’t many stories in sports radio like Mike’s. Who else has gone from running a hot dog stand to being hired to become one of the most important local sports radio voices in a top 3 market? Mike was a huge part of 670 The Score’s rise and success in the 1990’s-2000’s. He became a seven figure earner for the radio station, making his mark in morning drive, and alongside Dan Jiggetts on ‘Monsters of the Midday’.
North also has worked across town for ESPN 1000, and performed nationally, hosting mornings and weekends on Fox Sports Radio. Even now, he remains active in his early 70’s, passionate as ever about sports handicapping. Altogether, his contributions to sports radio span more than 30 years.
When I called Mike to share the news, he was surprised, humble, and grateful. He shared his enthusiasm for the honor by passing along the following quote. “I grew up here (Chicago). My spits on the sidewalk. I was told I’d never amount to anything after I dropped out of high school. I’m humbled and proud to receive this honor. I love radio and can’t wait to see everyone at the Summit.”
Mike becomes the fourth recipient to receive our Lifetime Achievement Award. We introduced this award in 2022 by celebrating Mike & the Mad Dog (we also honored Felger & Mazz that year). It has since been given to Al Michaels (2023), and Angelo Cataldi (2024).
Mike’s story, body of work, and connection to the city of Chicago helped earn him the market’s respect as a talk show host. I’m looking forward to recognizing his contributions to our business on Friday May 9th.
Point to Point Marketing’s 25K Giveaway at the 2025 BSM Summit
Thanks to our friends at Point to Point Marketing, attendees will have a big opportunity to improve their brands free of charge. Tim Bronsil and company are providing a $25,000 Audience Development Campaign to one lucky winner. Everyone through the door qualifies for the contest. The winner gets announced around 3:30pm CT on Day 1 of the show.
Point to Point gave away a $20,000 campaign last Fall. 92.9 ESPN in Memphis was the lucky winner of that contest. Brand Manager Brad Carson (who is speaking at the show) saw significant increases in his brand’s Nielsen and streaming metrics during the promotion. Now, Point to Point is raising the bar once again!
Here are the key details of what’s included in the promotion.
Reach and Frequency: Over 2.5 million paid social impressions delivered over a two-month campaign in Q3 or Q4 of this year, at zero cost.
Revenue opportunity: The campaign can feature a sponsor, allowing the winner to monetize the exposure and keep 100% of the proceeds.
Dedicated support: Weekly reporting and hands-on collaboration with the PTP team, trusted experts in both radio and digital audience growth.
Real results: Backed by nearly three decades of experience, PTP’s campaigns move needles in Nielsen, streaming, ticketing, and more.
This is more than a giveaway, it’s a launchpad. Don’t miss your chance to win it at the 2025 BSM Summit.
BSM Summit Ticket Winners
I planned to giveaway 5-6 tickets when we sent out email blasts last week for our final contest. The response though was much higher than expected. As a result, we chose 11 to receive free tickets to the show. The winners are listed below.
Jim Gibson – EUSU Logistics
John Wanzung – RadioFX
Mark Rosenfeld – Coverdell
Chris Gordy – SportsTalk 790
Mike Harmon – Fox Sports Radio
Matt Deutsch – Bettor Sports Network
Kevin Shockey – Altitude Sports Radio
John Illk – iHeartMedia West Michigan
Mitch Nelles – 1250/105.7 The Fan
Allen Stiles – Sactown Sports
Mike Ragozino – Audio 1
If you don’t have a ticket, they are still available at BSMSummit.com. Prices remain $299.99 for professionals and $124.99 for students. Be advised, professional tickets increase to $324.99 and student tickets to $149.99 on May 5th. Don’t wait until the last minute and pay extra when you don’t need to.
Additionally, our hotel room block is full at The Westin Michigan Avenue. However, you can still book a room there thru Hotels.com. It may just cost a few more dollars. There are also rooms nearby at other hotels.
Lastly, we are finalizing sponsorships for the conference this week. We are proud to have more than 17 brands included in this year’s show. A few opportunities remain available so if you’re interested in being a partner, reach out to Stephanie@BarrettMedia.com.
I will make one final speakers announcement later this week. After that, the entire focus is on designing the show, and making sure we deliver two action-packed days for our attendees in Chicago. We hope to see you there!
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For anyone not familiar, Quu is a technology company that helps broadcasters publish visual programming on the center screens of connected cars.
They recently hosted a webinar reviewing the results of their 2025 In-Vehicle Visuals Report. An in-depth study of where radio falls in the media pecking order in the one hundred top-selling cars in America.
It’s an impressively detailed analysis, and while all their takeaways were fascinating, one really stood out: The Last Touch.
Quu’s team found that, in a growing number of connected car systems, whatever is playing when the car turns off will be the first thing that plays when it turns back on. So, if the driver was listening to a podcast, the audio system would start with that podcast playing. The same would be true if it were a Spotify playlist or your radio station.
This isn’t a completely new idea. Recycling listeners from the drive home in the afternoon to listen again the next morning, simply by being the station they were listening to when the car turned off, has been around for a long time.
But today, we aren’t just competing with other radio stations. We are fighting every other option that could win the last touch and, therefore, be the first thing that comes on when the car starts again.
Unfortunately, while the competition is more intense, many stations have given up on certain dayparts. Leaving lengthy periods with just songs, production, and, of course, lots of commercials.
This is most common at night. Sales no longer sell spots beyond 7 p.m. PUMM levels drop off into the evening, so many stations don’t bother to offer compelling programming at night. But not all listeners are home by 7 p.m., meaning stations run a huge risk of losing the last touch, which now impacts the next day.
Luckily for Classic Rock stations, there are many options that could help them win the night without adding costs or creating additional burdens for existing staff. Below are profiles of four options that could be ready to go instantly.
Two are Classic Rock-based and fit the format perfectly. The other two that play more contemporary Rock, which could be a way to start attracting younger audiences and exposing music that may eventually become part of the playlist.
Alice’s Attic
Hosted by legendary shock-rocker Alice Cooper, “Alice’s Attic” adds a legitimate Rock star to the airstaff. The show recently relaunched after “Nights with Alice Cooper,” which was available through a different syndicator, ended.
Asked how the new show is different, Cooper says the theme of being in the attic adds a theatrical touch, something he is known for. Characters that live in the attic include the butler Gustavo, Dolly the broken doll that says all kinds of philosophical things, Madeline the possessed mannequin, and others. “All these characters find their way into the show because they live up in the attic, and they interject and interfere with the show.”
For Cooper, being on the air in markets across the country means that when he’s on tour, he will meet listeners who think he lives in their town. “I think it’s because I try to make it sound very conversational. I read listeners’ emails. I try not to make it sound like a DJ.”
Musically, Cooper says the soul of the show is Classic Rock, but he does get to play some stuff not normally heard on radio stations. “Of course, I’m going to play AC/DC and Van Halen and all that stuff, but I’ll also be able to play songs that I really like. Some are my favorite things that you’d never hear on the radio.”
Ultimate Classic Rock
Tied to the website of the same name, “Ultimate Classic Rock” features host Matt Wardlaw, a writer and editor for the site. He says the show was created by music fans for fellow music fans to enjoy, “We’re the same music nerds that you love to sit around and discuss and debate musical topics with at your local bar or a friend’s house.”
Having a staff of writers focused on the format means articles on the site can come to life. “Having conversations with our writers on the radio show puts a voice with the names on the articles that the listeners are reading,” says Wardlaw. And those discussions about lists or rankers lead to passionate fan interaction: “The listeners have strong opinions about all of this kind of stuff, and it’s a lot of fun to talk about it with them.”
Loudwire Nights
While host Chuck Armstrong is a die-hard Rock fan who consumes new music voraciously, he’s quick to point out that this show isn’t all about being contemporary, “While we love celebrating new music, we will always be rooted in the all-time greats like Metallica, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Judas Priest, Motley Crue, Ozzy, AC/DC and more.” He says the show will feel at home on a Classic Rock station because of that foundation, “and if you need a competitive advantage in your market, it doesn’t hurt that we play some new music in the evenings!”
Armstrong also says he’s available to help stations however he can. He cuts liners and custom audio as needed, will call into local shows to talk about concerts or contests and has traveled to affiliate markets to be part of live broadcasts, “If you’re an affiliate, this is your show and I’m all yours, not just as a “national” host, but as a host on your station.”
Hard Drive XL
Program Director Randy Hawke describes “Hard Drive XL” as a lifestyle show. What’s between the records is for “the working-class rock music fan. We talk movies, sports, hot sauce, whiskey, motorcycles, tech, and more.”
Hawke says that while the show focuses on new music discovery, the library is centered in the ‘90s, with a dose of pre-’90s music like Guns N’ Roses, AC/DC, and Ozzy, as well as guitar rock songs from the 2000s.
In a way, he says, it’s all about math. “If you were fifteen and in high school when Disturbed came out, and ‘Down with the Sickness’ was the soundtrack of your life, you are forty, which I am pretty sure is dead center of the key male demo.” So, while the music may not match the playlist perfectly, this is an opportunity to grow, “If you are a Classic Rock station looking to have one foot in the future. We are a damn good option.”
By no means are these four shows the only options at night, and I have no personal stake in any of their success. Charese Fruge did a great profile of Greg Beharrell, whose content-only approach might be a better choice for some stations. What I do know is that there are too many good choices to ignore 7 p.m. to midnight on your station, especially when there is an increasing chance it will lead to a second tune-in the next morning.
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