Kicking off the second week of February...

...with an award announcement, and layoffs at ANOTHER radio station group.

WLW-AM Nominated for Two Awards: The Big One at 700AM has received two nominations for awards at the Radio & Records Talk Radio seminar to be held March 12-14 in Los Angeles -- News/Talk/Sports Station of the Year (markets 26-50) and Bill Cunningham for News/Talk/Sports Local Personality of the Year (markets 26-50), reports John Kiesewetter.

WLW-AM's competition includes WIBC in Indianapols; KMBZ of Kansas City; WKXW of Middlesex; WPRO-AM & WEAN-FM in Providence; and KFBK in Sacramento. Cunningham's fellow nominees are Mark Davis of WBAP, Dallas; Mark Handel at KFI, Los Angeles; John Kobylt & Ken Chiampou also of KFI; Glenn Ordway of WEEI, Boston; and Michael Smerconish from WPHT, Philadelphia.

Down the road in Louisville, WHAS-AM 840 has been nominated for News/Talk/Sports station of the year in markets 51+.

Cumulus Layoffs: We wanted to give you the good news first...but we can't avoid the bad.

We're hearing that Cumulus has made layoffs nationwide, and according to Ohio Media Watch this morning, at least 1 station in Youngstown is now totally voice-tracked, with NO live local talent.

We don't have any information on how any layoffs may impact this area yet...but if we get it by 3pm, we'll pass it along...