Media Newsy Bits

Sophie flipped! Christy gets perm! Lefsetz Quits Being Mean!

Last week, I read that Sophie was changing formats and posted about it (thanks to sdradio.net and radioinsight.com for the scoop), but there was no word as to how soon it would happen. The very next morning, Radio Sophie sent a newsletter notifying their listeners to get ready for new Energy 103.7 which would launch at 5pm that afternoon. Now flipped (or expanded as they might sell it), the station, which is owned by CBS networks, is rumored to be modeled after their sister station, AMP 97.1, in Los Angeles, under the guidance of Kevin Weatherly, Senior Vice President, Programming, CBS RADIO. You can see their dreadful playlist here. The station press release also says a whole lot about a "360 degree audio and visual experience" using social media to complement the station and that Chàrésë Frügé, current program director, will remain, but with Kevin, I suspect she'll maybe have more of a media platform oversight role or will be let go at some point, as radio nationalization and delocalization seems to be the radio strategy du jour. I'm not trying to bust anyone's balls and I hope that the station retains staff, many of whom I consider friends, after their 10,000 songs commercial-free play through, but realistically, the station will probably move to voice-tracking as so many stations across the country (and plenty in this city, too) have already done.

In other station news, since Garrett Capone left his post as Program Director at 91X, there was a lot of speculation about who would step up and fill his shoes. Christy Taylor was acting as the interim PD and from the many loud rumors in town, there were plenty of submissions from all over the map, and in range of experience and qualifications. It was announced on Friday that Christy Taylor was officially named Program Director for the station, a promotion from her previous post as Music Director.

San Diego Media News

Some media news I thought I'd share:

According to Radio Insights, Radio Sophie might be in the midst of flipping formats. According to the article, "(CBS radio) has applied for a call letter change to KEGY for the station. Additionally, a protected website at Energy1037.cbslocal.com and a blank Twitter account @Energy1037SD are in place." The article suggests that the "Energy" moniker implies a CHR format (contemporary hit radio in radio speak) that would make Z90 and Channel 933 its direct competitors.

San Diego's favorite Anchorman will return with a sequel.


and since it happened while I was in Texas, I never posted about Chris Cantore's new position at the Union-Tribune. He's the director of Entertainment and Lifestyle for the UT, which has him overseeing Night & Day, Style + Society and DiscoverSD and plans to launch U-T TV.

"This is a divided nation, reeling from betrayal"

Last week Tim Robbins addressed the National Association of Broadcasters and gave quite a speech to them about their role and responsibility as media professionals. It felt like something worth posting today, with the Pennsylvania primary and all.