This was posted on Friday, February 3, 2017 by Rodney Ho on his Radio & TV Talk blog
WMLB-AM/1690 Voice of the Arts is adding syndicated liberal talk show host Stephanie Miller to its lineup from 10 to noon, dropping music at that time starting Monday, February 20.
"With all havoc involving the transition of power, we felt that there's a market for some much-needed progressive programming in Atlanta radio, especially inside the Perimeter where our signal is strongest," said general manager Jeff Davis. It's also where most of their listeners reside.
"We felt the timing was right," he added. "We wanted a woman. We don't have any other women announcers on the station." He also wants to cater to the LBGTQ audience.
He also picked those two hours because she is live and Atlantans can call in.
Davis acknowledged some negative feedback from fans who prefer their quirky mix of music during those two hours but he felt this is an important addition to its listeners.
Miller, whose show mixes humor and politics, was a stand-up comic before going into radio. She has been doing syndicated radio for 13 years and can also be heard on Sirius/XM from 9 to noon.
Talkers magazine ranked her No. 28 this past year on its 100 most influential talk show hosts.
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Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
For a few years now, Lance Houston has been voice-tracking afternoons at 94.9/The Bull after leaving Atlanta for Baltimore, then Boston (at another Bull there).
Houston was the last on-air host from the original Bull a decade ago.
But the station has decided to go with a live, local jock named Jeremy "Otis" Maher. He will be music director and afternoon drive-time host from 3 to 7 p.m.
He starts Monday. Previously, he worked in Louisville and Charlotte.
"I am thrilled to add another high quality programmer and talent on our team. We're committed to creating the very best live and local experience for our Atlanta audience," said Brian Michel, Region Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia Atlanta. "Otis has a great track record and is talented on so many fronts. He's a perfect fit for our cluster."
The Bull ranked 12th overall in 2016, down 12 percent from a year earlier. It did beat Kicks 101.5 overall in ratings but just barely. And its listeners remain far younger.
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Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Bob Kidd, a radio traffic reporter for Total Traffic for 15 years, passed away last week.
Over the years, he was heard on WGST-AM and later News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB. Most recently, he did overnights on Fridays and Saturdays.
A colleague Floyd B. Hillman II said Kidd had a heart attack 10 weeks ago and has had multiple health issues over the years. He landed at Piedmont Hospital, where contracted pneumonia and passed.
"As a colleague, he was a simple man with a loud voice," Hillman wrote me. Art "Madman" Mehring said Kidd was louder than him.
"He always came in with a positive attitude," Hillman said, "and was very vocal with his opinions."
He said he liked to dress up as Santa with his late wife Carole Sue as Mrs. Claus.
"My now 11 year old son loved to talk with him when he was at work with me, and hugged him every time we left the office," Hillman said.
Here are memorial service details:
The Celebration will start at 1 p.m. with time to meet and greet family and friends and the service beginning at 1:30 p.m. Bring your favorite "Bob" stories and memories to share.
Immediately following the service, a reception will be held in the church's fellowship area.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to his church, Acworth Presbyterian Church (please notate in memory of Bob Kidd) and also to Lake City Animal Hospital - 3671 Cobb Pkwy NW, Acworth, GA 30101 – this is where Bob took his beloved Kitty Kathy among all of his other cats from the past.
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