It’s not quite the Odyssey, but it’s still a worthy endeavor

CBS News Radio’s Peter King and his partner-in-crime, brother Rick Sommers, are working on a book about Ithaca radio. That’s Ithaca in New York not ancient Greece.

Why Ithaca? Peter and Rick got their radio starts in Ithaca and spent time in several local stations. Rick too is a veteran broadcaster.

And if they are not worthy, they point to a cast of famous players passing over the Ithacan airwaves through the years: Bill Diehl, Bob Kur, Bettina Gregory, Pam Coulter, Keith Olbermann, Peter Schacknow, Dave Price and closest thing radio has to the comic genius of Aristophanes, The Greaseman.  Okay, maybe that last part was a little over-the-top. Beware of Greasemen bearing gifts.  

As Greece was the incubator for democracy, so Ithaca, as Peter describes it, is a “wonderful incubator for talent.”   

So in due gratitude they wish to sing the praises of Ithacan radio. Lacking a lyre and chorus or the patience to compose...

New site, new branding, but much familiar content

I wanted to pass along notice of the sudden passing of Ed Schumacher who owned and managed WTUZ(FM) 99.9 “Z-Country” radio in Uhrichsville, Ohio, serving Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Ed was diagnosed with colorectal cancer about six months ago and it progressed quickly. He died on March 20.

I met and worked with Ed when I started in radio at WJER(AM/FM) in Dover, Ohio, at 17 years old. That was 32 years ago. He was truly a radio pro and a caring individual. He’ll be greatly missed by many, but his spirit also lives on through WTUZ and his community involvement.

Ed started his career at WOMP(AM/FM) in Bellaire, Ohio, then went to WNPQ(FM) in New Philadelphia, Ohio, before WJER and finally owning WTUZ. 

Ed applied for an FM frequency in 1989 and signed his station on from his house in 1990. He was a life-long radio broadcaster who had always dreamed of owning his own station. He was very well respected for his community involvement and saluted for being a “great local radio owner.”

Ed...

The commissioner has made news in radio circles for his interest in AM; but another interest is the transition of U.S. society to Internet protocol, a subject that happens to affect radio stations in numerous ways.

The National Recording Preservation Plan includes recommendations that focus on preserving digital audio files, both those converted from analog as well as those “born digital.”