MILWAUKEE MUSICIAN-RUN STATION LANDS
TOP PUBLIC RADIO EXEC

Milwaukee, Wisconsin (January 17, 2005) – Public Radio International Vice President Dale Spear has been named to run WYMS-FM, which has been operated by a musician-led non-profit group since Jan. 1. Spear, a 25-year public radio veteran, was appointed general manager by the new operating group and will lead sweeping, innovative format and programming changes to be launched later this year. Officials from Radio For Milwaukee, the non-commercial station’s new operator, say they hired
Spear because of his vision for revitalizing radio for the benefit of listeners and musicians. “Dale understands the need to make radio more relevant to the community by taking smart, creative risks on behalf of listeners,” said Peter Buffett, a national recording artist who co-founded Radio For Milwaukee. “Dale’s experience, ideas and instincts will let us restore the energy that sadly has been drained from much of radio today.” Radio For Milwaukee was founded by Buffett, a performer, writer and producer; Grammy-award winner Joe Puerta, co-founder of Ambrosia and Bruce Hornsby and the Range; and Todd Broadie, former marketing director of Narada Records. WYMS-FM (88.9) is possibly the only station in the country operated by a musician-controlled group. Spear has been vice president of programming and acquisitions at Public Radio International (PRI), one of the country’s two major public radio networks.

“This is an irresistible opportunity to help design a new station from the ground up,” said Spear, who leaves PRI after 10 years with the network. “WYMS today has the right leadership to make the lost potential of radio a reality for Milwaukee listeners.”
The Milwaukee Public Schools, which owns WYMS, last month entered into a seven-year
contract with Radio For Milwaukee to operate the station. Radio For Milwaukee will develop customized programming designed for the Milwaukee community over the next several months and change the station’s format later in the year.

Greg Schnirring, senior director for radio with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and former director of Wisconsin Public Radio, praised Spear’s hiring. “Dale Spear is an excellent programmer with a proven track record of fostering an atmosphere where creativity and innovation equal strong public service programming,” Schnirring said. “That is exactly what the new WYMS needs in a leader.”
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Musician-Run Station Lands Top Public Radio Exec
January 17, 2005
Add One Bruce Warren, assistant general manager for programming at WXPN-FM in Philadelphia, said Spear would bring a combination of significant public radio experience and love of contemporary music to WYMS. “Dale has been one of public radio's most positive and vocal advocates for popular music in public radio,” Warren said. “Music lovers who listen to public radio are fortunate to have a team that includes Dale in the mix.”
Mike Henry, CEO of Paragon Media Strategies and lead consultant for the programming redesign of WYMS, said Spear was the perfect person for the job. “Dale is not only a public radio pro of the highest regard, but he is a visionary who wants to make better radio, and radio better,” Henry said. “His array of experience over the past 20 years aligns with the multiple responsibilities required to lead WYMS into the future of public radio. And he’s a pretty decent bowler.”

As vice president at PRI, Spear was responsible for development of the network’s programming strategies and oversaw and developed the portfolio of PRI programs. His duties included developing and recommending programming packages, working with producers to develop strategies for program enhancement and audience development and developing and initiating research projects on new and existing programs. He also was the PRI executive in charge of the daily management of American Public Radio, LLC, PRI’s satellite business, which has programming on both XM and Sirius.

PRI affiliate stations reach 31 million listeners weekly, and 16.1 million listeners hear it
programming weekly. PRI’s well-known programs include BBC World Service, Marketplace,
Michael Feldman’s Whad’ya Know?, This American Life, Sounds Eclectic and World Café.
Before coming to PRI, Spear worked in leadership, producer and on-air positions at public
stations in Florida, Ohio, Illinois, Texas and Maine.
Spear will be in charge of hiring programming, on-air, sales and promotional staff and will
take the lead in developing the station’s format and programming.
For more information about plans for WYMS, visit www.RadioForMilwaukee.org.
For further information, contact Jeff Bentoff: (414) 791-1215 or bentoff@ameritech.net

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Chicago Chapter's Tera Siwicki, Joe Puerta, Brad Smith, Althea Legaspi, Shawn Murphy (back), Dave Luhrssen, Mike Bailey, Ali Buttars, Willy Porter, David Silbaugh, Joe Vent and George Nash Jr.

Milwaukee Demo Review Panel And Contest:
On Oct. 29, the Chicago Chapter, in partnership with ASCAP, Musictech College and the Wisconsin Area Music Industry (WAMI), presented a Demo Review Panel And Contest for residents of Wisconsin at The Rave II in Milwaukee. More than 240 demo tracks were submitted by unsigned artists and prescreened by a panel of experts. The night included an hour-long networking reception, a short panel discussion on marketing and promotion, and announcement and playback of the top 10 tracks. At the end of the program, a winner and two runners-up were announced.

Panelists included Mike Bailey (A&R representative, Narada/Back Porch Records); Ali Buttars (A&R, Warner Bros.); Althea Legaspi (editor in chief, Illinois Entertainer); Dave Luhrssen (arts and entertainment editor, Shepherd Express); Shawn Murphy (midwest representative, ASCAP); George Nash Jr. (producer/songwriter, Universal Music Publishing); Willy Porter (guitarist/songwriter/producer); Joe Puerta (producer/studio owner, The Exchange, and musician with acts such as Bruce Hornsby & The Range and Ambrosia); David Silbaugh (entertainment development, Summerfest); Brad Smith (senior marketing manager, Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation); Joe Vent (musician/songwriter/producer/regional director of sales for A to Z Music Services).

Shawn Murphy, Stephanie Dosen, Eugene III (The Etiquette), Adam Pelletter (The Crest) and the Chicago Chapter's Tera Siwicki.

The grand prize winner received a Shure KSM27 or Beta 87A™ microphone, a 12-hour session of studio time at The Exchange, eight hours of mastering service from Multimusica USA, a live performance slot at Summerfest 2004, a $100 gift certificate for Hal Leonard Corporation merchandise, headshot and live concert photography from Blue Vine Photography, an online press kit from DemoDock, 250 retail-ready CDs in jewel cases from A to Z Music Services, a gift pack from The Onion, Web site design from Miracola Design, recording package graphic design by Milwaukee Metro Design, a personalized publishing company from ASCAP and a Recording Industry Sourcebook on CD-ROM.

The two runners-up each received Shure E2c earphones, a 12-hour session of studio time at Engine Room Studios, a $50 gift certificate for Hal Leonard Corporation merchandise, a personalized publishing company from ASCAP and a Recording Industry Sourcebook on CD-ROM.

The Chicago Chapter would like to extend our gratitude to all of our regional volunteers who assisted with the promotion of this event, as well as The Rave II, our panelists, event sponsors and prize package contributors for their donations and support of this event.

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