Bicoastal Radio News

Theresa Ripp, Senior Event Marketing Representative for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has announced the addition of Bicoastal President Mike Wilson to the St. Jude’s Radio Cares advisory board. Wilson has led the extensive commitment to raising funds for the hospital in a number of Bicoastal markets in Oregon and Washington. Tens of thousands of dollars are raised each year through events held by a number of Bicoastal stations. “Our staff in Memphis is looking forward to working with Mike," Rupp said. “He is now a vital voice for those who participate in our Radio Cares radiothons. Bicoastal is one of our most outstanding and caring radio partners" added Rupp.

Bicoastal President Mike Wilson announced the appointment of George Feola to the Market Manager position for the Coos Bay station group. Feola returns to Bicoastal after a year in Billings Montana. Previously Feola served as Market Manager for the Bicoastal’s Lakeport – Ukiah California stations. “I am very pleased that George is returning to Bicoastal Media" Wilson said. “George brings the skills necessary to take Coos Bay to the next level and beyond".

KEDO Morning Show Host, Phil Blair, dies at 43

Phil Blair, host of the KEDO Morning Show and News Director for five local Bicoastal Media radio stations, died unexpectedly in his sleep on Thursday, April 16th. Phil was 43 years old.
Locally born and raised, Phil attended Butler Acres Elementary, Coweeman Middle School and Kelso High, where he was voted Outstanding Senior. Phil grew up with the nickname “the Source", as he always seemed to know what was going on around town and in his neighborhood. Phil earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication at Central Washington University, where he met his wife, Suzanne.
Phil worked for 20 years in television production, including a PBS documentary about William O. Douglas, the longest-serving justice in the history of the U.S. Supreme Court. He worked a few years at KLOG radio, before becoming News Director for all five radio stations of Bicoastal Longview in January, 2005. He became host of “KEDO in the Morning" a short time later. In addition to his morning show and news duties, Phil Blair announced local high school sports and served as the stations’ Public Service Director.
Phil Blair is survived by his wife, Suzanne, three children: Jacqueline, 18, Daniel, 15, and Abigail, 11, and a granddaughter, Ella, who is almost two.
We all miss Phil Blair - for both his dedication to providing the community with the best local news and information coverage available, as well as for a being a comforting friend to listeners of the KEDO in the Morning Show.

Work on a new website for national sales has been completed. The site is designed to define the regional footprint of Bicoastal Media throughout Washington, Oregon and Northern California. Company CEO Ken Dennis is spearheading the effort to draw all the “need to know" information in one easily accessible place. President Mike Wilson says of the project "it is exciting to see the picture of aggregate strength of the company and the benefits we can bring to advertisers with the almost 900,000 people reached each week by our stations".

The stations in the Coos Bay market are continuing their tradition of leadership with the 28th Annual Colgate Country Showdown national series. Again for 2009, the market will not only host local competitions but also will also be hosting the Oregon State Finals and then Regional Finals. Hot Country KSHR FM will team up with Real County KDBN –FM as the host stations for this event. State winners will go on to the National Finals held in Nashville Tn. National winners will compete for a 100,000 dollar grand prize.

Bicoastal stations in every market are stepping forward to assist our communities in these uncertain economic times. One of the national treasures along the Columbia River is the popular Discovery Center. The Center was informed that due to a bankruptcy that cruise boats would not be running this year causing a loss of tens of thousands of dollars. The Bicoastal station group stepped forward with a 30,000 dollar in kind contribution to help reach out to build attendance during the high volume summer tourist season. This is just an example of Bicoastal’s outreach to partner with organizations throughout our region.

One of the most satisfying things that the people of Bicoastal Media have the privilege to do each year is support charities in our communities, region and nation. Several station groups focus on St. Jude’s Research Hospital. "Radio Cares" events have been held in Medford, Crescent City, Albany and Eureka so far in 2009, raising an amazing 252,494 dollars. The Coos Bay event comes up soon. St. Jude’s is near to the heart of many in the Bicoastal family.

The Crystal Awards are presented to 10 stations annually at the spring convention in Las Vegas. The award is given for the stations that are selected for outstanding community service. Even being selected as a nominee is considered a high honor in the industry.

KRKT FM has a long standing tradition of community service and has previously been the focus of many other national awards including a Marconi for best small market radio station in the country.

The entire company sends their congratulations to Mike Wilson on his nomination for Best Broadcaster in Radio Ink Magazine’s "Radio Wayne" Awards announce in March 9th 2009 issue. Wilson joins a "Who’s Who" list of industry professionals in his nomination for the honor.

"Mike Wilson deserves this honor more than anyone I know. There isn’t a harder working leader in the radio industry" said Bicoastal CEO Ken Dennis. “He brings out the best in his people, understands the future of the business. I am immensely proud".

The national honor brings attention to the growth and development of Bicoastal Media. As the company’s Chief Operating Officer Bicoastal has successfully grown to more than 50 radio stations in three states. The annual award is named after “Radio Wayne" Cornils, one of the legendary greats in radio broadcasting. Wayne Cornils was not only a great broadcaster, he also served the industry in serving both the National Association of Broadcasters and The Radio Advertising Bureau.

A number of Bicoastal staff, including President Mike Wilson journeyed to Memphis Tennessee January 8th through the 11th to attend meetings hosted by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Stations throughout the Bicoastal footprint run Radio Cares fundraising efforts each year raising tens of thousands of dollars for this most important organization. Bicoastal Media is proud of the efforts of our staff supporting both national and local charities with our time and talent. Keep tuned in to your local Bicoastal Media stations for Radio Cares events in your area.

National news carried many stories of the flooding problems in Washington State the week of January 5th. Bicoastal stations in Centralia were hit with the threat of flooding at the station site for the second time in 14 months. The stations are still housed in trailers from the event in December 2006. On Wednesday January 7th the staff moved the entire station operations in a matter of hours to a location above flood plain. The amazing part was that KELA and KMNT stayed on the air during the move and throughout the flooding broadcasting emergency information to the community. The entire broadcast family of Bicoastal Media salutes the efforts of our group in Centralia for their perseverance during hard times.

The Longview/Kelso Washington market also received severe flooding. Although the stations were not directly affected, several of the Longview staff had to man the stations while evacuations were made in the Kelso area. Another great effort in behalf of our listeners in Southwest Washington.

Bicoastal Media welcomes Angela Claussen to our corporate team as Corporate Controller. Angela has extensive background in accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant. Bicoastal President Mike Wilson made the announcement in September. “We are very pleased to have Angela anchor our accounting department, she will be a great fit for our company” said Wilson.

The Columbia River cluster, which includes stations in Hood River and The Dalles Oregon congratulates Director of Programming and Sports Guru Mark Bailey for being named top Sports Announcer in the state by the Oregon Association of Broadcasters. The website for the group, gorgeradio.com, was named best radio station website outside of the Portland market at the fall conference of the OAB held recently in Portland.

It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of Lee Chabre, Program Director of KPNW in Eugene. Chabre, 63, had been fighting a valiant battle with cancer over the past year. Lee has been a trusted voice in the Eugene market for many years. Lee will be remember fondly by all of those in the radio industry that had the pleasure of working with Lee. Our thoughts and prayers continue for Lee Chabre’s family.

Ken Dennis, CEO of Bicoastal has appointed a team made of the company’s leadership to guide the company in sales initiatives and particularly in developing a dynamic interactive initiative. The team has been dubbed the Bicoastal Advisory Interactive Team. “We are looking at this as a 360 plan” stated Dennis. “It is our belief that we need to tie the strength of traditional radio with the exploding interactive world. We need to be on the leading edge of bringing new ways to market to our advertisers both nationally and locally in each of our markets.” Dennis is personally leading the charge to create new success with the BAIT team.

Bicoastal Media is pleased to announce the appointment of Robert Endsley to the position of General Manager for the Eureka market. Endsley will also add duties as National Sales Manager focusing on business coming from California.

Endsley comes to the company with an extensive background in broadcast management and national sales. Before joining Bicoastal Endsley served as National Sales Director for the Talk Radio Network. Mike Wilson, President of Bicoastal said of Endsley “we are fortunate to be able to bring on board a person of Rob Endsley’s talent and experience. He will strengthen both our great Eureka group of stations and national sales throughout the company”.

( CENTRALIA) It has been almost a full year since the flood waters have receded in Lewis County, yet KELA and KMNT found some residents still in need of basic items. Working in conjunction with the United Way and local businesses, Bicoastal Centralia was able to provide kitchen cabinets to a 70 year-old lady and a dining room table to a single mom. The Centralia group continues to operate out of temporary studios while the flooded studio and office building is rebuilt.