May 16, 2023 | Press, Station
Twenty-five students from Thurston High School who are interested in a potential career in media had the opportunity to participate in a special lunchtime Q&A session with members of the Beasley Media Group Detroit team. The event, held in conjunction with the Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB) took place in the hub at BMG Detroit on Friday, May 12th.
Scott Jameson (Director of Programming), Sherri Powers (Chief Engineer), Jade Springart (Program Director and On Air talent for 101 WRIF), Morgan Holsworth ( Digital Program Director), Lynn Montemayor ( Beasley Detroit Sales Manager), Justin Valentine ( Beasley Detroit Event Coordinator and Program Director for The ROAR) and Mean Jean ( Morning show host on 105.1 The BOUNCE and Assistant Program Director for The BOUNCE) participate in the panel to provide students with the opportunity to learn about the many career paths available in the industry.
May 15, 2023 | Press, Station
Beasley Media Group announces veteran production and on-air talent Jim Kinney has retired from 102.9 WMGK-FM. His final day at the station was Friday May 12th.
Kinney, who has served as a commercial production assistant at the classic rock outlet as well as on-air fill-in, spent the past 39 years at the same station working in a variety of capacities. He was originally hired at “Magic” in 1984 by former Program Director Bob Craig. Prior, Jim programmed WWKS in Beaver Falls, PA; WTUE Dayton, OH; WYDD, Pittsburgh and WMAD in Madison, WI.
“Jim has been the ‘rock’ in Classic Rock 102.9MGK for 39 years,” said Beasley Media Group Vice President of Talent Development and WMGK/WMMR Program Director Bill Weston. “In every role, he has embodied professionalism, kindness and respect for all of us fortunate enough to work with him.”
Photo Caption: (L-R): Jim’s first PD Bob Craig, Jim Kinney, current PD Bill Weston
May 11, 2023 | Press, Station
Legendary WMGK-FM Morning Personality John DeBella has announced he will be retiring following his last radio show Friday, June 30th. He officially unveiled the news on the air to his listeners on Thursday, May 11, 2023.
DeBella’s name has been synonymous with Philadelphia radio entertainment for over 40 years. John created comedy for The National Lampoon Radio Hour, the syndicated radio program that starred John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Dan Akroyd, Bill Murray and many others.
As one of the originators of the Morning Zoo format, his morning show not only became an unprecedented number one rated show in Philadelphia, but he also achieved the highest ratings in local radio history at that time.
In addition to his nationally honored radio career, John has appeared as a stand-up comedian, is a local EMMY award winning host & producer, has co-anchored the Philadelphia Mummers Parade and has won numerous local service and humanitarian awards. Along with his morning show on Classic Rock 102.9 WMGK, John heads Husky Productions, a local TV production company.
In April of 2023, John was officially inducted into the Philadelphia Music Alliance Walk of Fame.
“After 47 years on the radio, I really can’t believe it’s coming to an end,” said DeBella. “I’ve been extremely lucky to be able to work at a job I love, in a city I love, with a family that has supported and sacrificed a lot for me to fulfill my dream. BTW…my wife likes to shop on Amazon, so she might try to return me.”
“We are so very proud of John and his many accomplishments over the past four decades,” said Beasley Media Group President Bruce Beasley. “The radio industry and the City of Philadelphia are better off because of him. We wish him the very best in his next chapter!”
“Through 5 decades in the business, 40 years in Philly and the last 20 anchoring WMGK’s broadcast day, John DeBella has simply made our lives better- through a shared love of humor, music and entertainment,” said Beasley Media Group Vice President of Talent Development and WMGK-FM/WMMR-FM Program Director Bill Weston. “His career tally has to be close to 10,000 shows and you can bet he put his heart and soul into each and every one of them.”
“I’d like to sincerely thank John for his huge contributions to Beasley and the Philadelphia community over the years,” said Beasley Media Group Chief Content Officer Justin Chase. “His creative genius has made such a positive impact on the radio industry overall. We are privileged to be a part of his legendary career.”
“Simply put, John DeBella has defined morning radio in Philadelphia for 40 years,” said Beasley Media Group Vice President and Market Manager Joe Bell. “He’s a true radio icon!”
May 8, 2023 | Press, Station
Beasley Media Group announces Ronnie Glover has been named as the new Vice President and Market Manager of the company’s Fayetteville radio cluster. He will begin his new position on Monday, May 8, 2023.
Glover more recently served as the Market Manager at Alpha Media, Inc.’s KAAN-FM/AM, KKWK-FM and KMRN-AM in Bethany/Cameron, Missouri. Previously, he has held management positions throughout his career, including Local/Digital Sales Manager at KWES-TM (Midland/Odesa, Texas), Market Manager/Chief Revenue Officer at KIXS-FM, KLUB-FM, KQVT-FM and KTXN-FM (Victoria, Texas), and General Sales Manager/Director of Sales at Clear Channel’s Norfolk, Virginia and Nashville radio markets.
“I am ecstatic to join Beasley Media Group,” said Glover. “They are committed to the local communities they serve in a myriad of cross-platforms. I look forward to joining my talented teammates in Fayetteville to further our resolve and dedication to being leaders in the community.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Ronnie to the Beasley Fayetteville family,” said Kevin Rich, Beasley Media Group Vice President of Operations. “His strong team building and leadership skills, combined with his contagious positive energy, made him the perfect choice to lead our Fayetteville team.”
May 5, 2023 | Press, Station
Beasley Media Group’s 94.7 Classic Rock WCSX-FM will mark the 45th anniversary of Rock and Roll Legend Bob Seger’s landmark album “Stranger in Town” with “Seger de Mayo”!
The station will celebrate the special occasion with a twist on Cinco de Mayo with “Seger de Mayo” ‘CSX morning host “Big Jim O’Brien” playing wall-to-wall music from Seger’s catalog. In addition, he will feature unreleased tracks and interviews collected over the years.
“Bob Seger embodies working class values of Detroit and the entire Midwest in his music, with “Stranger in Town” being perhaps his finest moment,” said Beasley Media Group Vice President of National Content and Director of Detroit Programming Scott Jameson. “At WCSX, we honor our Michigan rock heroes every opportunity we get for the enormous contributions they’ve given our listeners.”
“Bob is the Mayor of Michigan, and his relationship with Big Jim’s House has included donations of over $200,000 to various statewide charities,” said WCSX Big Jim’s House Morning Personality Jim O’Brien. “We’re blessed to call him a friend.”
In 2018 WCSX debuted the first of three Detroit rock star landmarks with “Bob Seger Blvd”, located at the iconic Pine Knob Music Theatre. That was followed in 2020 with “Glenn Frey Drive” and 2021’s “Alice Cooper Court” on the grounds of a former turn of the century insane asylum.
“I remember the day Capitol Records Rep Craig Lambert walked the record into WRIF,” recalled Jacobs Media Strategies Founder and Former WRIF Program Director Fred Jacobs.
“We needle-dropped the entire album and just looked at each other totally stunned. Sometimes you just know you’re listening to a masterpiece. We played every track out of the box – and they all held up. 45 years later, “Stranger in Town” has stood the test of time.”
Listeners are invited to stream “Seger de Mayo” 6a-10a ET at www.wcsx.com.
