Talks are opening today between Sirius XM Radio and Opie & Anthony for a contract renewal, revealed super agent Bob Eatman on their program today. A conference call to begin discussions is scheduled for this afternoon with Sirius XM President of Entertainment & Sports Scott Greenstein. The talks come less than a week after Sirius XM Radio CEO Mel Karmazin appeared on their program to reassure O&A that he wants them to be a part of the newly merged satellite radio companies. Eatman also revealed that CBS Radio is waiting to see if O&A's new Sirius XM deal will keep them on terrestrial radio. If it does, then he suggested that O&A will likely make a return to WYSP/Philadelphia. The Philly rock outlet has been running a music intensive morning show since Kidd Chris was fired for airing a racist song on his program and has been reluctant to bring back O&A until their new deal is finalized.
On the heels of her exit from Emmis' WQHT (Hot 97)/New York on July 3, "Miss Jones in the Morning" has just been removed from the lineup of Radio One Urban WPHI (100.3 the Beat)/Philadelphia. Jonesy's last day was Monday morning (8/4) with the show being replaced by, "The Morning Beat," an all-music morning show. Jonesy also has a reality show in development that is set to debut on BET.
RCA Music Group takes the wraps off its new label, Black Seal. The new imprint will headed by RMG SVP A&R/Marketing Matt Shay and will be distributed via RED. Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr.'s Como Te Llama? is the initial release on Black Seal.
Universal Republic Records enters into a distribution agreement with Ironworks Music. Ironworks founding partners are actor/producer Kiefer Sutherland and singer/songwriter/producer Jude Cole.
After a brief four week stint, veteran radio talent Don Geronimo exits Triple A WOCM/Salisbury-Ocean City. Geronimo’s two hour shift (
1-3 p.m.) will now be absorbed by PD Skip Dixxon who can be heard from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Mel Karmazin, CEO of Sirius XM Radio, has purchased two million shares of the satcaster. According to Bloomberg, Karmazin now owns over 8.5 million shares of the company.
Pennsauken, NJ-based CD and DVD manufacturers Disc Makers announce they have acquired independent music seller CD Baby, after a seven year strategic partnership between both companies. "I’m excited to bring together the two strongest brand names in the independent community," said Tony van Veen, President of Disc Makers. "CD Baby has paid musicians more than $81 million over the past 10 years for CD and download sales. It is one of the greatest tools created to allow musicians to make money from their music. Now artists can get manufacturing, CD sales, download sales, and web hosting – through CD Baby’s HostBaby division – seamlessly and more easily than ever."
Mercedes-Benz will offer HD Radio technology on several model year 2009 vehicles. "HD Radio technology serves to enhance our digital information and entertainment system today and has the potential to significantly expand the options available to consumers in the future," said Rasheq Zarif, Assistant Product Manager - Technology Planning at Mercedes-Benz USA. "Mercedes-Benz is committed to providing our customers with the latest, next-generation in-vehicle entertainment technology."
