No Picture
US

WFAS Sets Lineup For Its All-Digital Talk Flip

When Cumulus Media’s 1230 WFAS White Plains NY turns on its new all-digital signal on Monday, May 24, it will do so with an all new Talk lineup.Positioning as “New Talk For New York”, WFAS will clear many syndicated talkers currently lacking clearances in the market. The station will carry “America In The Morning” hosted by John Trout from 6-7am and again from 8-9am. In between will be Michael Toscano’s “First Light” from 7-8am.The bulk of the daytime lineup will feature programming from Cumulus’ Westwood One. The Chris Plante Show will air from 9am to 12pm. Don Bongino’s new 12-3pm show will debut with the station on Monday. Ben Shapiro, who currently airs in a split 5-6pm and 9-10pm slot on Salem’s “970 The Answer” WNYM Hackensack NJ, will gain a live 3-5pm clearance. The Michael Knowles Show will follow from 5 to 6pm.Peacock sports talker Rich Eisen Show will air delayed from 6 to 9pm. A replay of Chris Plante will follow from 9 to 10pm. The Jim Bohannon Show will air from 10pm to 1am and Red Eye Radio will follow from 1 to 5am.Weekends will feature CBS Sports Radio programming. […]

No Picture
US

Matty Siegel Immediately Returns To Kiss 108

After “quitting” on the air on Wednesday, Matt Siegel was back on “Kiss 108” WXKS-FM Medford/Boston’s “Matty In The Morning” on Thursday.Siegel explained what happened yesterday from his perspective in his first break this morning, “I stumbled upon a topic that was a sensitive one with Demi Lovato and I was upset with her and her statement about the pronouns. I thought it was ridiculous and I talked about it. I told jokes thats what we do. It’s a joke show. Anyway here’s the point. So when I was on a roll and feeling like the old Matty on the air that’s when I got the call to stop talking about it and I just snapped. I said I just can’t be here anymore.”“Subsequently, of course I talked to my wife at length about it and I talked with the company and the company told me that, they basically said please don’t quit. And they said that I have total support from them and freedom to say what I want. So I kind of won that battle. My wife said I’m not ending my career blaming Demi Lovato. So I’m here.”He continued trying to turn the situation yesterday into one of censorship, “If we live in a world where we can’t say what we want to say. I’m not talking about swearing and obvious things we don’t do on the radio, but within the traditional radio boundaries if I can’t say what I’m thinking, then I don’t want to do it anymore,”Matty stands by his comments about Demi LovatoHe says of the company (@iHeartRadio @Kiss108) – “they basically said, please don’t quit and they said that I have total support from them and freedom to say what I want.” pic.twitter.com/Fzp259ervM— Mike Saccone (@mikesacconetv) May 20, 2021INSTANT INSIGHT:It was very obvious from Siegel’s comments immediately after the show that he wasn’t going anywhere. But his return this morning may end up causing more issues for Siegel and the station. He threw WXKS-FM Program Director Dylan Sprague under the bus for simply trying to steer Siegel away from saying something offensive to the target audience of the station. While the 71 year old Siegel may not understand the concept of binary and non-binary, many in the core CHR demographic have grown up much more open to the issue. His statement explaining his outburst on Wednesday, and continuing to call Lovato she/her will draw more backlash towards him and potentially station advertisers. If you’re a talent on a CHR, don’t you at least have to understand the audience you speak to and how is Sprague supposed to manage his morning show if Siegel veers into even more worrisome territory in the future?Original Report 5/20: Did the 40+ year run of Matt Siegel’s “Matty In The Morning” at iHeartMedia CHR “Kiss 108” WXKS-FM Medford/Boston come to an abrupt end today?During this morning’s show, Siegel stated that he was told by his boss he needed to stop talking about Demi Lovato coming out as non-binary after Siegel said he wasn’t allowed to be “anti-wokeness”. Siegel stated on-air, “It’s not personal, it’s professional. He said he doesn’t want me talking about this. Today I was anti-wokeness and I can’t do that, so basically, what I’m told is, I can talk about light, funny things like where the Jonas Brothers are going to be but I can’t do what I really want to do, which is just be a funny comic and tell it like it is, so I’m ending my portion of the radio show right now. It has been a hell of a run, but I think it’s coming to an end.”Siegel continued, “Bill and Lisa and Bex and Dom, I’m sorry for putting you in this position but I was told by my boss I cannot talk about what I want to talk about. By the way, it’s a joke the whole binary thing. I don’t care what Demi Lovato does but now we need to worry about you might offend someone so basically I offended right-wing people and now I offended left-wing people. Basically what they want me to do is you know a lightweight show. We have that in the market. We have Mix. We have radio stations that don’t offend anybody. This was the Matty In The Morning Show. The number one radio show in the history of Boston radio. OK! Bigger than Jess Cain, Dave Maynard, Charles Lacquidera, all of the radio giants in Boston. I am the biggest of all time and they said SHUT UP MATT… Stop Talking. Well I hope you’re happy because I just stopped talking. Matty out.”The station then ran jockless until the end of the morning show at 10:00. The 71-year-old Siegel had been hosting mornings at WXKS-FM since January 1981.Siegel later told Boston.com that he believes that he will remain with the station. Siegel stated, “You know what’s gonna happen? Around 3 or 4 this afternoon, I’ll go, ‘Wait a minute, am I really walking away from millions of dollars? I don’t really care that much.’ Cooler heads will prevail, I’m sure. They made it very clear that they don’t want me to leave.”We will continue to update this story as more details become available.[embedded content] […]

No Picture
Ireland

98FM’s Brian Maher takes on a Big Run Home

98FM’s Brian Maher will take to Dublin’s Phoenix Park today (Thursday) in a bid to complete a 24Hour Runathon which aims to raise €24,000 for Special Olympics Ireland.
Brian – presenter of The Big Ride Home and a big fitness enthusiast is no stranger to undertaking ambitious challenges in aid of Special Olympics Ireland, having run, swam and cycled previously raising over €75,000 for the charity in the process.
This morning at 9am, Brian began his solo runathon, which is approximately 160KM through the Phoenix Park and arrive at the finish line at 9am on Friday morning – continuing his quest throughout the night, whatever the Dublin weather throws at him.
Speaking ahead of his 24Hour Runathon, Brian said: “I’m really excited and also a bit nervous to be undertaking yet another endurance challenge, pushing my body to the limit.
“However, I know I have great support from my family, colleagues and 98FM listeners which will spur me on, but most importantly, it’s a privilege for me to be teaming up once again with Special Olympics to raise as much money as we can.”
Matt English, CEO, Special Olympics Ireland commented: “Brian embodies our Can’t Stop Now ethos and I wish him all the best of luck as he embarks on this challenge today. Brian continues to take positive steps towards supporting our athletes who have had to overcome many challenges in their daily lives, and that was before the pandemic hit.
“I urge everyone to support him by making a donation today, no matter how small. Each donation will go towards supporting Special Olympics athletes across Ireland as we adapt to a post COVID world with a return to sports and other related activities.”
Brian will be cheered on throughout his run by his 98FM colleagues as a number of shows will broadcast from the Phoenix Park from 10am-10pm on Thursday, keeping listeners updated on his progress and encouraging people to donate what they can to Special Olympics Ireland.
Brian’s 24Hour Runathon kicks off Special Olympic Ireland’s annual national fundraising day, which takes place on Friday 28th May. While Covid means the annual fundraising day can’t physically take place, Special Olympics Ireland is asking people to donate online instead.
To donate to Brian’s 24Hour Runathon, go to 98fm.com/donate and listen to 98FM for the latest on Brian’s progress and fundraising updates. […]