LL COOL J “Rock The Bells Radio”

SiriusXM launched today icon LL COOL J’s new SiriusXM classic Hip-Hop channel entitled LL COOL J’s “Rock the Bells Radio.”

The channel will features a wide range of classic hip-hop content, music, interviews and in-depth retrospectives curated and presented by LL, as well as other innovators of hip-hop music, including Ice Cube, Stetsasonic, Eric B. & Rakim, Snoop Dogg, Outkast, Kool Moe Dee, Public Enemy, A Tribe Called Quest, Ultramagnetic MCs, Too Short, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Canibus, Wu-Tang Clan, Run-DMC, Brand Nubian, De La Soul, Black Moon and Ice T.

“Rock the Bells Radio” is allowing its audience to look at and listen to classic Hip-Hop through the lens of our current culture and music.

LL says, “If you wanna be a fly on the wall in the world of Classic Hip-Hop, SiriusXM’s ‘Rock the Bells Radio’ is for you. It’s where fans can come and be immersed in the music, the culture, the energy and the history of Classic Hip-Hop.” LL continues, “We’re gonna have great artists, legendary artists, lyricists, superstars, sex symbols. This is the place to be if you want uncut, raw, pure, classic Hip-Hop, but there’s one catch—it’s strictly for O.G.’s.”

To help launch the channel, a special invitation-only roller skating event will take place on Wednesday, March 28 at World of Wheels in Los Angeles. The “Rock the Bells Radio” launch will be hosted by LL COOL J along with the acclaimed DJ Z-Trip; a live broadcast of the event will air at tonight on “Rock the Bells Radio” SiriusXM Channel 43!

“Rock the Bells Radio” is named after a combination of one of LL’s hit tracks, “Rock the Bells,” and the title of the groundbreaking, debut album it came from, “Radio.” “Rock the Bells Radio” will air on channel 43, available on satellite radios, the SiriusXM app, and other connected devices.

The channel logo for LL COOL J’s “Rock the Bells Radio” was created by the acclaimed and influential American contemporary street artist, Shepard Fairey, famous for creating the iconic Barack Obama “Hope” poster during the 2008 presidential campaign.

“We couldn’t be more excited that LL COOL J’s “Rock the Bells Radio” channel will launch live from our special Los Angeles event. SiriusXM was at the forefront of the classic hip-hop format, and with LL on board, it makes the channel that much more compelling,” said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer, SiriusXM. “With both the channel and this unique event, LL will be taking SiriusXM listeners on a hip-hop journey that can’t be found anywhere else. For listeners looking for the origins and influences of today’s burgeoning hip-hop culture, they need only turn to LL Cool J’s “Rock the Bells Radio” to hear it. LL will make the channel feel as current and alive as of today’s music with a stellar presentation, surprising programming choices, and new cuts from classic artists.”

LL COOL J is an entertainment icon who has achieved great success crossing into multiple mediums. A Kennedy Center Honoree, two-time GRAMMY® Award winner, recording artist, actor, author, NAACP Image Award winner, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, LL displays his wide range of talents with every project.

LL COOL J’s “Rock the Bells Radio” is the latest SiriusXM channel created with iconic and leading artists, including Diplo’s Revolution, Eminem’s Shade 45, Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Radio, The Beatles Channel, Jimmy Buffett’s Radio Margaritaville, Garth Brooks’ The Garth Channel, Willie Nelson’sWillie’s Roadhouse, Kenny Chesney’s No Shoes Radio, Tom Petty Radio, Pearl Jam Radio, B.B. King’s Bluesville, Elvis Radio, Siriusly Sinatra, and Ozzy Osbourne’s Ozzy’s Boneyard.

SiriusXM subscribers will be able to listen to LL Cool J’s “Rock the Bells Radio,” channel 43, on SiriusXM radios, and those with streaming access can listen online, on-the-go with the SiriusXM mobile app and at home on a wide variety of connected devices including smart TVs, Amazon Alexa devices, Apple TV, PlayStation, Roku, Sonos speakers and more. Go to www.SiriusXM.com/streaming to learn more.

Urban Radio Cares for St. Jude Kids…

Raises more than $1.7M for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®

Radio One and a network of 51 gospel, R&B and hip-hop stations raised $1.7 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital during Urban Radio Cares for St. Jude Kids March 1st and 2nd.

Thanks to events such as this one, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.

“Radio One is proud of the effort of our stations, syndicated programs, employees and our highly engaged and loyal listeners for responding to our radiothon in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,” said Colby Tyner, Vice President, Programming, Radio One. “This partnership is a decade in the making and once again, we exceeded our financial goal. Our mission to represent the community is powerfully demonstrated with this radio event across our stations, proving the continued power of radio to emotionally connect with its listeners and move them to action.”

During the event, thousands of Radio One listeners across the U.S. called in or went online to become St. Jude Partners in Hope and joined the #ThisShirtSaves Lives movement by pledging to make a monthly donation of $20 or more. Several popular on-air personalities participated in Urban Radio Cares for St. Jude Kids, including syndicated hosts Tom Joyner, Erica Campbell, Willie Moore, Jr. and Darlene McCoy.

The on-air push coincided with a social media campaign encouraging listeners, employees and talent to participate by wearing and sharing photos in their THIS SHIRT on their social media channels. To join the THIS SHIRT SAVES LIVES movement, visit: www.thisshirtsaveslives.org.

“It’s inspiring to think about the major impact the urban music industry has had on St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and I am so grateful to all of the women and men in gospel radio and fellow artists and friends in the industry who lend their support to the Urban Radio Cares for St. Jude Kids program,” said Richard C. Shadyac, Jr. President and Chief Executive Officer of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude. “The funds raised are further evidence of the urban music industry’s continued commitment and the significant role it plays in helping some of the world’s sickest children.”

Since its inception, Urban Radio Cares for St. Jude Kids has raised more than $12 million. Radio One stations encourage listeners to become St. Jude Partners in Hope by making a $20 monthly pledge. The on-air talent helps share the mission and vision of the hospital through testimonies from local patient families, updates on new research and new advances in treatment. St. Jude launched the first national broadcast with Radio One stations in Atlanta, Detroit, Washington, DC, Raleigh, N.C., Indianapolis, Houston, Richmond, Va., and Charlotte in 2008. This year, five additional stations were added to grow the footprint and expand further into the UAC format.

SOURCE ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Brian Anthony Named GM for WSNC 90.5 FM…

After a lengthy and extensive search, veteran broadcaster Brian Anthony has been named the new general manager for Winston-Salem State University radio station WSNC 90.5 FM, effective Feb. 1, 2018.

A native of East St. Louis, Illinois, Anthony has more than 35 years of communications/media experience, the majority in the radio industry.

“Brian Anthony brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from the commercial radio industry that will help to increase WSNC’s market presence and expose WSSU students to an actual radio industry atmosphere,” said Dr. Kathy Stitts, interim dean of WSSU’s College of Arts, Sciences, Business, and Education. “We are anxious for him to join our Ram family and begin helping to grow WSSU’s radio station into one of the most notable in the country.”

He has worked for various broadcast companies, including Clear Channel (now iHeartMedia), Gannett Broadcasting, Noble Broadcasting, Jacor Communications, UNC Ventures Inc., and Inner-City Broadcasting in the Houston, St. Louis, Chicago, Milwaukee, Peoria (Illinois), Columbia (South Carolina) and Piedmont Triad markets. Most recently, he launched Forsyth Technical Community College’s radio station, 105.1 FM The FORSe.

Anthony was a nominee for “Program Director of the Year” and “On-Air Personality of the Year” with Billboard Magazine and the Young Black Programmer’s Coalition. He also was listed as “Honorable Mention” in a recent Radio Facts publication listing of the “Top 10 Urban Program Directors” in the history of Black radio.

Since 2009, he has served as president and project manager of Omega Bay Enterprises, a communications-based consultant company that focuses on website development, content management, special event planning, marketing, advertising, and public relations.

Anthony graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Texas Southern University in Houston, where he got his start in radio at the campus station, KTSU-FM.

As general manager, Anthony’s responsibility will include programming, personnel, development and financial operations for WSNC-FM. Anthony succeeds Elvin Jenkins, the station’s longtime general manager, and Ben Donnelly, who had served as the Interim general manager after Jenkins’ departure in 2017.

“This is one more major step up the management ladder for me that I envision translating into additional growth in two areas for Winston-Salem State University,” Anthony said. “First, providing the university with an enhanced marketing voice in the Triad. Secondly, and probably most importantly, creating an industry standard operation that can lend itself to becoming one of the top training facilities in this region of the country for radio broadcasting.”

WSNC-FM, with studios and tower on the campus of WSSU, provides jazz, blues, reggae, Latin and gospel music programming; news and public affairs content from National Public Radio (NPR) and Public Radio International (PRI); and local public affairs programming. The station began broadcasting in 1983. For more information, visit wsncradio.org.

SOURCE: WSSU News & Information

Doc Wynter “Elevated” to EVP

iHeartMedia has promoted renowned programming veteran Doc Wynter to the new position of Executive Vice President of Urban/Hip-Hop Programming Strategy. He will report to Tom Poleman, Chief Programming Officer for iHeartMedia. In his new role, Wynter, who has been with iHeart for 29 years, will continue to oversee the company’s Urban and Hip-Hop brand formats and work to improve the company’s Urban brands. He will also continue to develop the company’s roster of Urban and Hip-Hop programmers and on-air talent, book artists, produce events, and continue as PD of REAL 92.3, “LA’s Home for Hip-Hop.”

“No one understands Urban and Hip-Hop programming like Doc and we’re thrilled he’s expanding his role leading iHeartMedia’s programming strategy for those key formats,” said Rich Bressler, President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer for iHeartMedia. “He’s been instrumental in launching several of our Urban and Hip-Hop stations nationwide and we’re excited for him to be even more hands-on with all of our Urban brands in our over 150 markets.”

Source: iHeartMedia

http://iheartmedia.com/