PrintThe National Association of Broadcasters announced the 50 finalists for the 2009 Crystal Radio Awards competition earlier this week.
This year's New Jersey finalists are: WGHT-AM (1500), Pompton Lakes, and WJRZ-FM (100.1) and WRAT-FM (95.9), both based in Belmar.
Since 1987, the NAB Crystal Radio Awards have recognized radio stations for outstanding year-round commitment to community service.
Crystal Radio Award finalists were chosen by a panel of judges representing broadcasting, community service organizations and public relations firms. Finalists will be honored and winners announced at the Radio Luncheon, sponsored by ASCAP on April 21 during the NAB Show in Las Vegas.
Legendary sportscaster Vin Scully will be inducted into the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame.
CBS Radio and smooth jazz KTWV-FM (94.7), Los Angeles, have formed a partnership with saxophonist Kenny G to create an artist-branded online destination for smooth jazz enthusiasts.
Hosted and programmed by the multiplatinum-selling musician, "Kenny G's Radio Station," WKGRS, offers a blend of smooth jazz artists and tunes available through CBS Radio's streaming platform on AOL Radio and Yahoo! Music's LAUNCHcast, as well as Kenny G's Web site, KennyG.com, and via mobile applications, including the iPhone and select Blackberry devices. The station debuted live on Feb. 14.
Kenny G's station features a combination of music from artists such as Sade, David Sanborn, George Benson, Chris Botti, John Legend, Earth Wind and Fire and Kenny G himself. As the host, Kenny G will introduce a number of the songs that have influenced and inspired him and will share behind-the-scenes stories about the songs or artists, many of whom are his friends.
"Internet radio has enjoyed explosive growth, so to be a part of this exciting medium by having my own online radio station is an incredibly exciting creative challenge," said Kenny G in a statement.
Metallica is hosting its own music channel on Sirius XM Radio. Mandatory Metallica, broadcast on Sirius Channel 27 and XM Channel 42, will run through 3 a.m. April 13.
The launch of the channel coincides with the band's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 4.
Mandatory Metallica will air Metallica music 24/7 as well as new songs from its recent release, "Death Magnetic." The channel will also feature interviews with Metallica guitarist and singer James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich, guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo.
In addition to interviews with all four band members, the station will air interviews with other artists sharing their insights about Metallica's influence on music.
The channel continues Sirius XM's practice of creating exclusive limited run artist-branded channels.
In addition to the current broadcast of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Radio and Paul McCartney's Fireman Radio, the network has previously offered limited run channels such as Rolling Stones Radio, AC/DC Radio, The Spectrum of John Mellencamp, Jay-Z Nation and Duran Duran's Red Carpet Radio, among many others.
It's not your imagination, WCBS-FM (101.1) will present the Temptations in concert 8 p.m. April 23 at the Union County Performing Arts Center, Rahway.
The Honey Cone featuring Goumba Johnny Sialiano will be the opening act. Sialiano is best known for his 3 to 7 p.m. weekday show on WKTU-FM (103.5).
The center is at 1601 Irving St. Tickets are $35 to $65. Information: 732-499-8226 or ucpac.org.
E-mail: edel@northjersey.com