Industry Ink (7-1-13)

Blair Garner

The Chicago-located National Radio Hall of Fame will include Blair Garner, host of “America’s Morning Show” on Cumulus Media’s country station WNSH, N.Y., as one of the six inductees in the 2013 class. Garner will join Steve Dahl, Garry Meier, Paul W. Smith, John Lanigan, Eddie “Piolin” Sotelo, Charley Steiner and (posthumously) radio manufacturer Powel Crosley, Jr.

Garner, longtime host of “After Midnight with Blair Garner,” recently joined the Cumulus country station “94.9 Nash FM” to host the morning program. Unlike in years past, the class of 2013 was not balloted but was chosen by Hall chairman Bruce DuMont and ratified by the 20-member steering committee.

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Chris Tatum

PLA Media has hired Chris Tatum as Senior Publicist. Tatum will manage the day-to-day publicity needs of a variety of entertainment and corporate clients for the public relations and marketing firm.

“I knew when I saw Chris’ resume, I wanted him on our team,” says PLA Media President & CEO Pam Lewis. “His broadcast news background and understanding of how a newsroom works, gives him an edge in putting, and keeping, our clients in a positive media spotlight.”

Tatum’s first day at PLA Media was June 19. Prior to that, Tatum was President and Founder of his own public relations company, Anew PR. Tatum has worked with several high profile corporate clients throughout his career, including Gaylord Opryland’s “A Country Christmas,” and United Methodist Communications. He has also provided publicity services for Merrill Osmond, Lee Greenwood, Ricky Skaggs and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

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Jake Gear

Magic Mustang Music has added Creative Assistant Jake Gear. He will be responsible for managing the catalog, pitching songs and providing direct support to Creative Director, Keithan Melton and Sr. Creative Director, Juli Newton-Griffith.

Most recently, Gear held a position as Coordinator of Music and Media Licensing at CMT in Nashville. Gear can be reached at jake@magicmustang.com.