Day: July 12, 2013

From the MCRFB news archives: 1984

Goldstein Appointed Josephson Vice President/Group Program Director at WNIC

 

 

 

 

DETROIT — “This is one of the toughest AC markets in the country,” says Steve Goldstein,  who has been named Program Director of WNIC-FM-AM here. Goldstein is a man who should know. Coming here to program Capitol Cities’ “Hot Hits” outlet WHYT, Goldstein left that post to head the programming of Metromedia’s AC outlet WOMC before accepting the WNIC appointment last week.

The position is just part of his overall duties with Josephson Broadcasting, for which he now serves as vice president/group PD. “We did some real good things with WOMC, and this is going to be a race, but WNIC continues to be the adult contemporary leader,” Goldstein says. “It’s a strong station with a great morning show and a great night show as well.”

The latter, a sultry AC offering from velvet-toned Alan Almond entitled, “Pillow Talk,” is definitely No. 1 in woman. You’ve got to hear this guy,” enthuses Goldstein.

With WNIC in such a secure position, Goldstein admits the lure and challenge is “the chain working with the other properties and the involvement I’ll have in the future acquisitions we’re planning to make. But right here there are some things we can do with WNIC.” Goldstein would not elaborate on that point.

Josephson also owns Columbus urban/AC combo WVKO/WSNY, Norfolk’s oldies and AOR WNOR-AM-FM, and Milwaukee’s AC- formatted WMGF. END.

 

(Information and news source: Billboard, November 24, 1984).

From the MCRFB news archives: 1985

Price Communications Buys Josephson’s Detroit Combo

 

 

 

 

 

DETROIT — Leading Detroit adult contemporary combo WNIC AM-FM went through a rather sudden change of hands this past Wednesday, June 5, when New York-based Price Communications bought the outlet from Josephson Communications for roughly $19 million.

Explaining the reasons for letting the high-billing outlets go, Josephson’s Ed Christian refers to the firm’s “life’s cycle philosophy.” “We bought the station eight years ago for $3,000,000,” he says. “Now we can take that 19,000,000 and buy three new stations for six million and have a million to spare.”

Looking to build Josephson’s network, Christian says the firm will be looking at “less mature radio properties in smaller markets” and possibly a few TV stations. When the FCC approves the WNIC sale, Josephson will still be the proud parent of WMGF Milwaukee, WSNY/WVKO Columbus, WNOR AM-FM Norfolk and WZKC Rochester.

“It was a very quiet transaction because the station was not officially on the sales block,” noted Christian, who adds that the deal was strictly a “win-win” situation.

The latter statement is confirmed by Price Communications head Bob Price. Josephson’s corporate programming vice president Steve Goldstein says he intends to continue handling WNIC programming through a transition period of two to three months, after which he will return to Josephson full-time in order to “go after some new stations.”

As for the future of WNIC, it appears the business will go on as usual after the sale is completed. “The atmosphere around here is pretty optimistic, ” says Goldstein, while Price claims there are no plans to alter the successful AC outlet out of Detroit. END.

(Information and news source: Billboard; Jun 15, 1985).