Industry News

Legends of Georgia Radio HOF To Welcome Spriggs

 

Atlanta radio programmer Pete Spriggs will be among this year’s inductees to the Legends of Georgia Radio Hall of Fame. He commented to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Rodney Ho, “It’s really great to be recognized with so many fantastic broadcasters. It was a blessing to have Cox Radio hand me the keys [to Atlanta news/talk WSB-AM] to work beside such great talent. We all accomplished some great things together.” Spriggs took over as program director of  WSB-AM in 2000 and served as director of branding and programming. WSB-AM was the top billing radio station in America for four consecutive years. In 2010, Spriggs managed the addition of an FM signal (WSBB) and the departure of Neal Boortz, as well as bringing in new talent such as Herman Cain, Erick Erickson, Eric Von Haessler, and Mark Arum. The station also acquired Rush Limbaugh from cross-town rival WGST. WSB-AM earned multiple Marconi Awards, Friends of Georgia Radioincluding 2018’s “Major Market Station of the Year.” Spriggs retired in February 2020. Also named as part of the third annual Hall of Fame inductees are Rome Radio Partners managing partner Howard Toole; Steve Craig; Bobby Ellerbee; Bob Helbush; Brady McGraw; and Wendy Williams. The Friends of Georgia Radio will celebrate the inductees into the Legends Hall of Fame next month (8/24) at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center.

Industry News

WSB Adds Another Hour to Eric Von Haessler Show

According to a report by Rodney Ho in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Cox Media Group expanded theim afternoon drive “Von Haessler Doctrine” show hosted by Eric Von Haessler, adding the 3:00 pm hour to the program that now airs live from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Von Haessler made the announcement of the change on the air saying, “It’s a new day. It’s a new age. It’s a new era. Some people tuned in expecting something else. Maybe they’re a little upset. Give us a try. You might like it. It’s going to be this way no matter what.” Read the AJC piece here.

Industry News

WSB Care-a-Thon Raises $1.9 million for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Last Thursday and Friday (7/27-28) Cox Media Group news/talk WSB-AM/WSBB-FM, Atlanta held its 23rd imannual “95.5 WSB Care- a-Thon” to benefit the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, raising $1.9 million. Throughout the two-day radio broadcast WSB hosts Scott Slade, Clark Howard, Mark Arum, Erick Erickson, Eric Von Haessler and Shelley Wynter were joined on-air by patients and families as they shared their stories of resilience, loss and hope.

Industry News

AJC: Research Behind Changes at CMG’s 95.5 WSB in Atlanta

In an interview with the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Rodney Ho, program director Ken Charles reveals the reasons for the programming changes that have taken place at Cox Media Group’s news/talk WSB-AM/WSBB-FM over the past year. Charles says that when longtime morning host Scott Slade announced heim was stepping back from his duties, that allowed the station to use internal research to consider the best options to tweak its programming. That resulted in the station naming longtime station reporter and anchor Chris Chandler the new morning host, swapping late morning and afternoon hosts Mark Arum and Eric Von Haessler, and making Shelley Wynter solo host in evenings and giving his former co-host MalaniKai Massey her own Saturday night program. Charles says, “I feel very comfortable that we’ve got the right people in the right slots. We are set to grow our success.” Read the AJC story here.

Industry News

“95.5 WSB” Names Morning Host; Shuffles Afternoon and Late Morning Talent

Cox Media Group’s news/talk WSB-AM/WSBB-FM, Atlanta “95.5 WSB” announces that Chris Chandler (left) is named the host of “Atlanta’s Morning News,” airing daily from 5:00 am to 9:00 am. Chandler, a longtime afternoon drive anchor, takes over for Scott Slade, who announced he would step away from the program earlier this year. At the same time, the station moves host Mark Arum (center) from afternoon drive to the 9:00 am to 12:00 noon daypart and “The Von Haessler Doctrine” hosted by Eric Von Haessler (right) shifts to the 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm slot. Station director of branding and programming Ken Charles comments, “‘95.5 WSB’ has such a deep roster of talent, and I’m excited to promote Chris to this new role. As part of the process, we took the time to examine the entire station lineup. Additionally, we asked our audience what they expected from WSB. These changes reflect those expectations and leverage our local stars to position the station for the future.” About his new role, Chander says, “It is the honor of a career to step into one of the great heritage radio news programs in the country. Scott Slade can’t be replaced, but I’m committed to maintaining the integrity, consistency, and fairness he brought ‘Atlanta’s Morning News’ over his legendary run.”