Wayne Bews excited to get started as new GM of The Beat 92.5 FM

One of the nicest guys in radio is back in his comfort zone. After six months as the regional sales manager at CTV Montreal, Bews took an offer he could not refuse to become the general manager/sales manager for  92.5 The Beat FM.

Wayne Bews and morning show traffic and newscaster Natasha Hall.

Bews, of course, broke into radio sales with CHOM FM and Oldies 990 in 1992. He was elevated to sales manager six years later, remained in that role when the TEAM 990 was born in 2001, and assumed the GM duties in 2005 when his mentor and the man who held that title Lee Hambleton died. What followed was an incredibly impressive performance in which he kept a struggling all-sports station alive, secured the rights to Montreal Canadiens broadcasts and managed a highly political situation when owners  Bell Media tried to shut the place down and transform it into  French RDS Radio. Bews kept his employees in line, listeners revolted and the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) kept the now TSN 690 Radio alive. When Bell Media got its act together and sought permission from the CRTC to keep TSN 690 intact even after it purchased CJAD, CHOM and Virgin Radio, all was well. Bews was rewarded for his loyalty with the CTV gig.

"CTV was an amazing experience," Bews told me when I visited his new offices at Place Bonaventure. "I really enjoyed it. But I have been in radio for 21 years. Frankly, I did not see any radio general manager post opening up in this city. So when Mark Dickie resigned as GM of The Beat I was surprised. Interestingly, I had called Mark last year just to tell him that at those times when I was flipping the dial elsewhere than TSN 690 I really liked what I heard on The Beat. The same goes for my wife and daughter."

It was probably very logical for Cogeco Media, the owners of The Beat, to reach out to Bews. From what I could see he is a perfect fit. At least four staffers I met told me. "We just love Wayne!"

Let me repeat something I have said many times before. Wayne Bews is one of the most consummate gentlemen I have met in the radio business.

One of the first tasks for Bews is to hire a new program director as Leo Da Estrela is stepping aside to work on his own business. "I told Leo that even though he is leaving, I will still be calling upon him for expertise," he said.

Bews does not intend to get directly involved with programming matters. "Sure I will share my opinion," he says, "but I will leave most decisions up to the experts."

I just wonder, though, whether Bews will find a way to bring Ted Bird back on to mainstream Montreal radio. Bird, of course, quit CHOM FM a number of years ago and resurfaced at K103 FM. Bews lured him over to TSN 690 as part of the morning team and he was outstanding. When the Bell Media merger with CJAD occurred, his former bosses showed him the door. Bird is now doing mornings on KIC Country 89.9 FM, but he belongs on one of the major players. I would love to see him as part of a team with Cat Spencer, Sarah Bartok and Natasha Hall in the AM.

Ironically, Bews left CTV Montreal just as  Linda Fraraccio arrived, after having served as the promotions manager at The Beat.  She is being replaced by Stephanie Lagacé, who was the Quebec maketing manager for  Best Buy Canada.

Stephanie Lagacé

Let`s sit back and watch. Mark Dickie, now in Ottawa working for Corus Entertainment, left Bews with a pretty good product. And it can only get better.

92.5 The Beat FM: GM Mark Dickie steps down; promotions director moves to CTV

Some big changes have occurred at 92.5 The Beat FM, with general manager Mark Dickie stepping down  from his post and promotions director Linda Fraraccio moving over to CTV Montreal.

Dickie confirmed to me that he is  headed back to Corus Entertainment - the former owners of The Beat predecessor Q92. "I am under contract to not disclose where I am going," he shared with me. "However, my wife Louise and I will be leaving Montreal and Quebec. I have been here 26 years almost to the date. I start my new position on February 3. I am certainly going to miss the great team we have at  The Beat."

Mark Dickie

Dickie was the mastermind behind the major format change, moving from the Q92 light rock format to The Beat's hits from the 80's, 90's and today. He made the dramatic move of not renewing favorite Aaron Rand's contract, choosing instead to pluck personalities away from rival Virgin  Radio such as Cat Spencer, Cousin Vinny and Nat Lauzon.

I personally appreciated my dealings with him. As to where he is headed, it is clearly another market.  Program Director Leo Da Estrela will step in as interim general manager.

 

Leo Da Estrela

Fracaccio is particularly good at what she does. She was hired at Q92 five years ago, leaving a similar post at Global TV.  “After nearly five years learning the ins and outs of radio, the opportunity to go back to TV – my first love – was one I could not pass up," she told me. "As I say goodbye to my friends at 92.5 The Beat, I take comfort in how well the station is doing, allowing me to focus on new and exciting challenges at CTV Montreal.”

At CTV Montreal, Fracaccio will serve as Manager of Creative Services, Promotions and Marketing.and work with such pros as promotions guru Jason Devine, himself a former Q92 staffer.. She is the second  impressive appointment CTV Montreal has made in recent months. Local sales director Wayne Bews came over from TSN 690 Radio.