And we don’t mean the former TV newscast which aired on WVPX/23 and Time Warner Cable…
DELUCA’S LANDING: When former D.A. Peterson top 40 WDJQ/92.5 Alliance “Q92” program director John Stewart took a ride down U.S. 62 and I-77 to downtown Canton to a new radio home, many expected him to “bring a friend”.
But it took the departure of Rik Elliott from the morning show at NextMedia hot AC WHBC-FM/94.1 “Mix 94.1” for the long-expected change to happen.
Now programming “Mix” from Market South, PD Stewart has done the expected…brought in his former morning drive host at Q92, Pat DeLuca, to co-host the “Mix” morning drive show.
“DeLuca and Kathy in the Morning” will officially debut on Monday, but this week, DeLuca has been taking part in WHBC’s annual “Wishes Can Happen Wish-A-Thon”.
DeLuca announced the word on his own DSN site shortly after signing the deal with NextMedia:
We’ll be edgy, controversial at times, hilarious and serious – all without being obscene or filthy.
This isn’t a change of my personality, this is personal growth within my career. I look forward to shedding the “shock jock” stigma and actually be taken seriously as an entertainer and show host. I’m excited about engaging and entertaining those of you who’ve listened for years, as well as the massive audience Mix has already built.
Working for Mix 94.1 also gives me the privilege to once again work with the man who built my career – John Stewart. As my Program Director at Q92 he always pushed me to be my best while giving me the latitude to develop my own personality. He gave me his faith and trust and I did not let him down. In January 2013, John left his position at Q to accept a new position as Operations Manager and Program Director of WHBC AM/FM. I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to be working for and with this man again. He’ll be my direct boss, and I’m confident I’ll deliver exactly what he expects out of me.
The picture from the “Mix” website, by the way, is by photographer Joe Kleon… a former Northeast Ohio radio type who worked with DeLuca at Q92.
DeLuca tells his listeners/readers that NextMedia is on board with him continuing his Internet business, though the current situation means DSN will stream only music for now…he says personalities Greg Mack and Liz are on “temporary hiatus”, and that his own online show is “on hiatus” as well:
The DeLuca Show is currently on hiatus, but I do expect myself, Stacey, and Virgil to resurface very soon on The DSN Network of stations. Ramping up for a brand new morning show takes a lot of time and effort and I simply don’t have the time for TDS right now. I’m sure you understand.
And no, former Q92 co-host Charlotte DiFranco isn’t coming to Market South, as DeLuca’s teaming up with incumbent “Mix” morning co-host Kathy Vogel (see the name of the show, and the picture above).
DeLuca tells his readers/listeners that he’s aware he’ll have to do a more adult focused morning show on “Mix”:
Like prior shows we’ll be the show of opinions, but unlike other incantations of my broadcasts we will not alienate anyone and you’ll actually be able to enjoy an excellent show while your kids are in the car.
It all starts Monday…
FROM AM TO FM: “Captain Tony” McGinty had a long presence on the FM dial in Cleveland, most notably as producer for Clear Channel country WGAR/99.5 morning personality Jim Mantel (now in North Carolina).
After some part-time off-air work at Oak Tree, running board for Cleveland Indians games for the company’s talk WTAM/1100, McGinty landed at the team’s longest running affiliate, Rubber City Radio news/oldies WAKR/1590 Akron, as producer of the station’s “Ray Horner Morning Show”.
He’s now heading back to FM and to Clear Channel, but not in Cleveland.
OMW hears that “Captain Tony” will become morning drive co-host at the company’s top 40 WKDD/98.1 in the Akron market, alongside host/program director/CC operations manager/OMW reader Keith Kennedy.
McGinty will also become WKDD’s assistant program director. OMW hears that a third voice, a female, could join the show soon.
And yes, that means WKDD’s most recent co-host, Shannon Steele, has exited the building. From AllAccess on July 24th:
She posted on her FACEBOOK page, “I no longer work for WKDD as I was let go today. I will miss each and every one of you with my whole heart. Thanks for the memories.”
People are repeatedly asking us “why was she let go”.
Our numerous friends on Freedom Avenue clam up when we ask about it, so we don’t know, but it does appear from the timing (a three week gap) that her departure wasn’t at all related to her being replaced by McGinty.
Back at West Market Street, afternoon news/traffic/sports reporter Aaron Coleman, who’s also gearing up for this year’s WAKR high school football post-game show with morning news editor/traffic reporter Jasen Sokol, will fill in as morning producer after McGinty leaves the Akron Radio Center.
The station is posting the open morning producer job…
AND ONE YET: OMW has heard from numerous sources that a “big announcement” about the future of a local radio personality could be coming VERY soon.
This would be a Big Deal in the Northeast Ohio market in question, with a long-running presence pulling back from a long-time perch.
As we haven’t nailed down all the facts yet, that’s all we’re going to say…but keep watching this space for details…
My guess is the long rumored retirement of John Lanigan……that will be a sad day, to me at least.
As we clarified on Twitter, the item in question does not concern Mr. Lanigan or even the Cleveland radio market. Northeast Ohio is a big place.
Missed the tweet…..definitely a big place….
Maybe Stan Piatt…..? He’s the only one I can think of that has been around for a looooooong time. (Not including those religious or stations on the far left of the dial)
Can’t see The Kaiser letting Stan retire after losing 2 hosts in a matter of months last year. Unless the cigarettes have finally taken a toll on Stan, he is only 62 and probably has some more years left in him.
Just curious, what has happened to Quin and Rose on 640 in the morning. I don’t lik ethe new show that is on there.
K.L. Moss
Date: Fri, 16 Aug 2013 12:44:47 +0000 To: [email protected]
Nope, I was wrong……Dick Feagler is hanging it up. Guess he gave up trying to outlast Dick Goddard.
And an impending “shake up” in local radio is news? Why no mention of Quinn & Rose being bounced from WHLO? Why no mention of WHLO being bounced from WKDD-HD2?
The item in question, assuming it does happen as we’ve heard, will change the landscape of the market involved.
We didn’t mention Q&R and the end of WHLO on WKDD’s HD2 because we were basically mostly on hiatus. We haven’t made a big deal about our “return”, but did mention in a previous item that Life had stopped Intervening nearly as much.
Briefly, Q&R were dropped by WHLO since the show didn’t meet ratings and revenue expectations, and the station left WKDD HD2 pretty much for technical reasons when Air 1 showed up.
I can fully understand the Q&R explanation but as far as WKDD-HD2, when WHLO was dropped, Air one was carried on BOTH HD-2 AND HD-3. (It had previously been just on HD-3) I haven’t listened lately to check what is on there now, but there was plenty room for WHLO on one of those HD channels. The audio is so much better than what is heard on the 640 frequency. I really don’t understand their reasoning in dropping it. IHEART, of which WHLO is a member, is painful to listen to (how many “SweetJack” commercials can one endure?) Do you have a handle on how many HD radios are out there being used? I am going to guess it is under 5% of the total radio population. It will be too bad if HD doesn’t catch on. For example, I enjoy “Sunny 106-5 HD-2” and WMJI-HD2, which basically plays the music WMJI did 5 years ago (lots of 60’s-’70’s music).
You are probably being kind at under 5%. It’s not a huge deal, probably mostly comprised of people who got HD when they bought a sound system upgrade in their new car, and many of those people don’t even know they have an HD radio. (They’re probably aware that the car has satellite radio, and may have bought the fancy audio to get that.)
I don’t know what technical reasons prevented WKDD from airing both WHLO and Air1. I’m guessing the double Air1 wasn’t taking extra bandwidth, but was mirrored (much like DirecTV/Dish air mirrors of the national ION feed on 23 in their Cleveland local channel lineup).
We currently don’t have an HD set, though we should have one soon.
Thanks for taking the time to reply. I enjoy your postings.