Ryan Seacrest
Here we go again with another Executive Turntable, Billboard’s weekly compendium of promotions, hirings, exits and firings — and all things in between — across the music business. There’s a full slate of news this week, so let’s get started.
Warner Music Group expanded Niels Walboomers’ role as president of recorded music and publishing in Benelux to include oversight of legendary dance label Spinnin’ Records. This follows the departure of co-president Ewout Swart after 16 years with the company, having risen from royalties manager in 2009 to chief operating officer in 2016 and co-president in 2023. His exit comes shortly after Roger de Graaf, Spinnin’s co-founder, stepped down in November 2024 after 25 years with the label. Spinnin’ Records will continue to operate independently of WMG Benelux, with Walboomers working closely with Jorn Heringa on A&R activities. Founded in 1999, Spinnin’ has been a key force in the EDM industry, representing artists such as Afrojack, Martin Garrix, Tiësto and Nicky Romero. It also houses notable artist imprints, including Tiësto’s Musical Freedom and David Guetta’s Future Rave, and in 2019 launched Spinnin’ Records Asia. WMG acquired Spinnin’ in 2017, leading to co-founder Eelko van Kooten’s departure and subsequent launch of Ledo, a digital distribution platform. “With new leadership, we’re helping Spinnin’ Records write an exciting new chapter for its artists,” said Simon Robson, president of EMEA recorded music, WMG. “Niels has gone from strength to strength since joining WMG, and with his recent work with Spinnin’ Records, it was an easy decision to expand his role.”
The Ryan Seacrest Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on inspiring youth through entertainment and education, announced new appointments to its industry advisory committee. This committee, composed of pros from music, TV, film and sports, provides expertise and resources to create experiences for young patients in children’s hospitals. New members include Dan Pearson (Lakeside Entertainment Group), Fount Lynch (WMG), Jacki Artis (UTA Foundation), Jennifer Vessio (1220 Entertainment), Jess Anderson (The Lede Company), Lisa Wolfe (Range Music), Lucas Romeo (REPUBLIC), Nicholas Fustor (WWE), Nikki Walsh (Universal Pictures) and Otis Maher (iHeartMedia). They join returning members Debra O’Connell (Disney Entertainment), Devin DeToro (Red Light), Keith Rothschild (RCA) and Scot Fink (Disney Music). The committee plays a crucial role in guiding the foundation’s initiatives, bringing talent visits to Seacrest Studios, securing behind-the-scenes content and aiding in fundraising.
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SiriusXM Holdings announced the appointment of Anjali Sud as a new independent director on its board of directors, filling the vacancy left by James E. Meyer, who resigned this week. Sud, an accomplished executive in media and technology, is currently the CEO of Tubi, Fox’s free streaming service. She previously served as CEO of Vimeo, where she took the company public. Jennifer Witz, CEO of SiriusXM, praised Sud’s track record and expertise, highlighting her potential to contribute to the company “as we look to maintain our strong standing and to position ourselves for future growth.” Meyer, who joined SiriusXM in 2004 and served as CEO from 2012 to 2020, expressed pride in the company’s achievements and confidence in its future. “I am extremely proud of all that SiriusXM has accomplished since I first arrived over two decades ago, of the unparalleled audio entertainment the company delivers to listeners across North America and the value it brings to its stockholders,” he said. Witz thanked her predecessor for his commitment and contributions over the years, wishing him the best.
Chris Martignago // Credit: Taylor Christian Jones
Chris Martignago has been promoted to vp of A&R at independent publisher Prescription Songs. Based in Nashville, he works with artists like Trent Dabbs, Anderson East, JT Daly, Nick Lobel and Tony Esterly. With over 14 years of A&R experience, Martignago began his career at Atlantic Records, where he rose to director of A&R and research, before joining Prescription Songs in 2021 as a senior A&R. Over the years, he has contributed to gold and platinum-certified hits for artists such as Paramore, Marshmello, Shinedown, Ingrid Michaelson and Saweetie, among others. Additionally, he founded HELL YES!, an online community supporting emerging songwriters, and actively volunteers with local schools and art programs. Rhea Pasricha, Prescription Songs’ head of A&R for the West Coast, praised his leadership, saying he has been instrumental in shaping the company’s roster by championing diverse talent.
Wasserman Music announced three new hires: Tim Beeding, Chloe Garcia and Doug Singer. Beeding spent 20 years at CAA and will co-lead Wasserman’s fairs and festivals division with Shannon Casey. Los Angeles-based Singer, previously partner at WME, joins Wasserman Music as vp of its global agent team. Finally, Los Angeles-based Garcia joins as director of tour marketing following a tenure as tour marketing agent at WME. Wasserman Music president Lee Anderson: “Each of them is a highly regarded leader in their area of expertise, and all of them are exceptional humans we’re proud to call colleagues and partners.” –Dave Brooks
Big Yellow Dog Music, a Nashville-based independent publishing and media rights company, announced a trifecta of promotions across its team. Jonah Gordon has been elevated to manager of sync, expanding his role in placing songs across film, TV, advertising and media. Alana Morgan steps up to coordinator of A&R, where she will focus on talent scouting and development, helping grow the company’s diverse artist and songwriter roster. Brannen Carter has advanced to catalog administrator/coordinator of label services, taking on greater responsibilities in publishing administration and label marketing. CEO and co-owner Carla Wallace praised their growth, stating, “each of these three has shown exceptional expertise, and we look forward to their contributions in 2025.” Big Yellow Dog Music boasts a catalog featuring hits performed by Meghan Trainor, Kacey Musgraves, Maren Morris, The Jonas Brothers, Jennifer Lopez, Hozier, Demi Lovato and more, while its sync division has secured placements with Target, Apple and more.
Chelsea Blythe exited her role as executive vp of A&R at UMG Nashville on March 14, having joined the label in 2023. On social media, she expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work in Nashville, highlighting her love for country music, but that it was “time to go back to California.” Blythe thanked now-former CEO Cindy Mabe, who departed the Nashville label last month, along with artists, managers, producers, publishers and colleagues, for their support. Before UMG Nashville, Blythe was senior vp of A&R at Def Jam, leading efforts for artists like Armani White and 26AR. She began her career at Interscope Records, working with Kendrick Lamar and Rae Sremmurd, and later moved to Columbia Records, signing Symba and Baby Keem, and developing Polo G and The Kid LAROI.
AEG Presents appointed Lisa Mart as the regional general manager of indigo at The O2 and Watford Colosseum. With over 15 years of experience in live events and venue management, Mart will oversee the commercial and operational success of both venues. This role supports AEG Presents UK’s expansion of its mid-size venue portfolio, including the reopening of Watford Colosseum in 2024 and the launch of the Olympia Music Venue in 2026. Mart previously held leadership roles at ATG Entertainment and was most recently venue director at Swansea Building Society Arena. Stuart Dorn, AEG Presents UK’s group venues operations director, welcomed Mart, saying “she brings a wealth of experience, which will help with both the establishment of Watford Colosseum and the continued growth of indigo at The 02” — which is set to host over 200 show this year.
Lauren Camp // Courtesy Image
Creed Media wants to pack more punch in the U.S., appointing Lauren Camp as head of strategic partnerships in its expanding Los Angeles operation. Camp is tasked with driving new business opportunities, building partnerships with agencies and influencers, and enhancing long-term value as Creed scales in North America. With over a decade of experience in music, entertainment, tech and sports, Camp founded On Record in 2017 to support independent artists and creatives. Her firm has collaborated with hundreds of artists, brands and labels, offering counsel in branding, media relations and crisis management. She has worked with Brent Faiyaz, FNZ, Pink Sweat$, and corporate clients like Stem and LVRN. She also manages R&B artist Kyle Dion and previously held leadership roles at FYI Brand Group and Hiltzik Strategies. Based in Stockholm with branches in New York, London and elsewhere, Creed Media has orchestrated campaigns for artists like Post Malone, Beyoncé and Dua Lipa.
The Country Music Association announced a big round of promotions and hirings. Ben Balch has been promoted to vp, accounting and finance; he joined the CMA in 2013 as a senior accountant and previously worked at Tractor Supply Company. Aaron Hartley has been promoted to sr. director, business affairs, while April Edman joins as director, accounting and finance. Edman previously served as sr. director, finance at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute. Jason Rost joins as director, ticketing and premium experiences; he previously served as assistant athletic director, ticket initiatives and customer relations at Penn State University. Kevin Coffey has been promoted to director, brand partnerships development, while Meredith Goucher has been promoted to director, international relations and development. Isabel Baldinger has been promoted to marketing manager, while Anthony Sinnott has been hired as CRM Manager and Cailey Parker has been bumped up to full-time as finance operations specialist. –Jessica Nicholson
NASHVILLE NOTES: SMACK backed Mak Symmonds as director of marketing. She’ll lead strategic campaigns across the company’s management, label and publishing arms to boost the visibility of artists and songwriters like Walker Hayes and Shane McAnally. Symmonds brings seven years of experience from Piedmonte & Co., where she excelled in elevating artists’ profiles through major releases, events, partnerships, and marketing campaigns … Stem is bolstering its Nashville operations by naming Courtney Daly as director of artist and label strategy. Daly, who previously worked at Big Machine Label Group, brings nearly ten years of expertise in digital strategy, e-commerce, and DSP relations.
Brad Banducci, the former CEO of Woolworths Group, was appointed chief executive officer of TEG, while Geoff Jones is transitioning to chairman after 14 years as CEO. Banducci, with three decades of leadership in retail and consumer sectors, follows his passion for live events in this new role. Jones, awarded the Order of Australia Medal, played a key role in transforming TEG into a global leader in ticketing, live entertainment and technology. Before joining TEG in 2007, Jones held roles at IMG, Foster’s, and served in the Australian Defence Force. TEG is owned by Silver Lake, a private equity firm focused on technology investments.
ATC Group promoted Ric Salmon to the new role of chief growth officer. Based in London, Salmon has been with ATC for a decade, managing artists like Laura Marling, Glen Hansard, and Trevor Horn. He also co-founded Driift, a BAFTA-winning livestream company now part of ATC Services. Before ATC, Salmon managed global artists such as Seal and Morrissey and held senior A&R roles at Sony Music, Ministry of Sound, and Warner Music International, working with artists like Eric Prydz, Rod Stewart and The Corrs. In his new role, Salmon will focus on expanding ATC’s full-service model through acquisitions and partnerships. ATC Group, which saw a 107% revenue increase in 2024, manages artists like Nick Cave and PJ Harvey and books shows for over 570 acts.
Round Hill Music founder and CEO Josh Gruss is opening Round Hill Music Co., a hybrid music store in Greenwich, Conn., at 398 Greenwich Ave. this May. The store is designed as a spot for musicians, collectors and fans of all stripes, blending tasty guitars, curated vinyl, apparel and other goods into an immersive environment. Conceived as a personal passion project by Gruss, the store aims to bridge the gap between serious musicians and casual listeners. Located a couple minutes from the Greenwich train station, it features listening stations and what it describes as an “inviting layout for effortless music discovery.” Gruss, who moonlights as guitarist in the rock band Rubikon, said he was inspired by his favorite music stores as a kid, including the sadly-gone block of instrument shops on 48th Street in NYC and record shops like Tower Records and Long Island Sound. Round Hill Music Co. will also feature a live performance stage for small concerts and events.
Josh Gruss’ shop in Greenwich.
Round Hill Music Co.
The Core Records appointed Zach Siegal-Eisman as head of audience development and insights. With over 15 years of experience in entertainment marketing, Los Angeles-based Siegal-Eisman will focus on digital strategy, audience growth and fan engagement for the label’s artists. He has worked with acts like Nickelback, John Fogerty and HARDY, holding leadership roles at Artist Network Management, Crowd Surf and Big Loud Rock, among other companies. Co-founders Chief Zaruk and Simon Tikhman praised his expertise in artist development, asserting “it will be instrumental in maximizing fan engagement and artist impact.” Founded in 2019 with Live Nation, The Core Entertainment represents artists such as Bailey Zimmerman, Nickelback and Nate Smith. In 2023, it launched The Core Records with Universal Music to develop and support new talent using UMG’s global reach.
Jeremy Heffner launched Third Generation Music Group (TGMG), a new music company that includes a record label, music publishing, and artist management. With a decade of experience at Universal Music Group’s UMe division and ABKCO Music & Records, Heffner oversaw physical production, digital releases, and licensing. TGMG aims to partner with artists rather than operate as a traditional label, focusing on amplifying creative voices. The initial roster features Texas-born singer-songwriter Bennett Woolsey, indie folk/pop artist Clint., and Brooklyn-based rock band Thesaurus Rex. Heffner stated, “Our hope is to help our artists get their voices heard, aid the creative process and have the world recognize their efforts.”
Quinn Kaemmer launched communications, creative consulting and media relations firm The Quinntessential. Kaemmer previously led the communications department at Big Machine Label Group, spearheading efforts for artists including Riley Green and Jackson Dean. Prior to joining BMLG in 2022, Kaemmer rose through the ranks at BBR Music Group, working with artists including Lainey Wilson and Parmalee. –J.N.
ICYMI:
Kramer and Zimmer
David Kramer will become CEO of UTA in June, succeeding co-founder and longtime leader Jeremy Zimmer. Zimmer, who has served as CEO since 2012, will transition to a role as board member and executive chairman. Paul Wachter will continue as chairman of the board … Audacy unveiled several executive changes, appointing Kelli Turner as president and CEO, Chris Oliviero as chief business officer, and Bob Philips as chief revenue officer. [Keep Reading]
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2024 is coming to a close, which means it’s time for the biggest party of the year. New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest is back, with a star-studded lineup of performers. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Cody Johnson, Thomas Rhett, Tinashe and Teddy Swims are set […]
As reported July 31, Shadoe Stevens, perhaps best known as host of American Top 40 from 1988 to 1995, is among the eight 2023 inductees to the Radio Hall of Fame. All new enshrinees will be honored at the in-person 2023 Radio Hall of Fame Induction ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 2, at the InterContinental New York Barclay Hotel in New York City.
Below, Billboard flashes back to an exclusive Q&A with Stevens published in July 2010, upon the 40th anniversary of the legendary show’s launch in 1970.
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In July 2010, Billboard marked the 40th anniversary of the first airing of American Top 40 with Casey Kasem. The broadcasting legend hosted the show, which counted down the top 40 positions on the Billboard Hot 100, from the weekend of July 4, 1970, through Aug. 6, 1988.
After Kasem departed and signed with Westwood One (launching rival Casey’s Top 40 in early 1989), a new era in the history of AT40 began. On Aug. 13, 1988, broadcaster/actor Shadoe Stevens stepped behind the mic and would host the program through January 1995. (As extremes in music, such as rap and grunge, began to impact the upper reaches of the Hot 100 due in large part to sales, the show began counting down the more pop-leaning Radio Songs chart [then called Hot 100 Airplay] in place of the Hot 100 in 1991 and, later, the Pop Airplay survey.)
As music and chart fans celebrate the landmark birthday of American Top 40, the show’s second host spoke with Billboard via e-mail, offering insight into his storied career in multiple media, revealing the challenges and rewards of steering the world’s most prominent radio countdown.
We’ll get into your entire career involving TV, radio and more, but let’s start with your taking over for Casey Kasem as host of American Top 40 in 1988. Was it daunting replacing the show’s co-creator and legendary host after 18 years?
Shadoe Stevens: Of course. Casey had become iconic and his style was indelibly etched into the minds of listeners for almost two full decades. His friendly, relaxed, folksy voice was synonymous with the show and I was coming in fresh from the bombastic, over-the-top style of Hollywood Squares and six years and 1,100 hilarious, Monty Python-like commercials as “Fred Rated for Federated.” My entire personality was built on humor and tongue-in-cheek theater-of-the-mind.
The single most challenging aspect of replacing Casey was dealing with the rampant anxiety and paranoia of the producers and executives of ABC Radio. The show was written for Casey and I simply couldn’t wrap my mouth around those words. Everything sounded phony and contrived. The first four-hour show took 18 hours to record. They were so afraid that I wouldn’t be able to fill Casey’s shoes that they sent me to three different vocal coaches up to five times a week and criticized every twist of phrase, every creative notion I had for making the show work for me. I sat with the writers and re-wrote stories and wrap-arounds, coming up with endless variations in search of what would work for my personality and still accommodate the demands of their expectations.
The first year was very difficult and I had to fight about things as silly as referring to myself as “your friend in the void.” They would say, “it sounds so … I don’t know … dark …” I would reply, “It’s the infinite, the unknown, the absolute … and I am your friend … Shadoe … ‘he who walks with the light’ … get it? … your friend in the unknown? … always there?” They didn’t get it. I compromised with a kind of cheesy, “… And I’m your best friend, the Shadoe.”
What are your favorite memories of hosting AT40 for seven years?I have a lot of great memories. I developed incredible friendships with everyone on the staff, especially Darryl Morden, Rod West, Brandon D’Amore and Matt Wilson. We had huge laughs and became very tight.
The other amazing memories were the visits and promotions in other countries. AT40 mushroomed worldwide while I was there and we were huge in 110 countries. In fact, I just received a couple of e-mails from a fan in Spain who credits the show and me with changing his life. I’ll include one at the end of these notes.
I enjoyed astonishing trips to Norway, the Netherlands, England, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Bali, two trips to Tokyo and a complete tour of South Africa. We were on the biggest station in South Africa, 5FM, a network that covered the country, and TV and radio opened the doors for us. We did promotions and events in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Sun City.
I even went on a safari in Mala Mala, where I almost died. I contracted salmonella poisoning from bad calamari in Cape Town and, by the time we were in the middle of the jungle, it took hold. I initially thought it was just regular food poisoning and would clear up. Several days later, my whole body began shaking and they flew me out to Johannesburg where I was so dehydrated that, according to doctors, I was about 30 minutes from death. I remained in the hospital recuperating for nearly a week. Ahh, the good times.
American Top 40 continues going strong each week, now hosted by Ryan Seacrest. Why do you think it has remained so popular, in so many countries, 40 years after its launch?It’s a great, simple format based on two simple ideas: people like to hear the most popular music in the country and people like to hear the countdown of the biggest and best. People also get attached to certain songs and feel good when something they like is doing well. Ryan and his team are very good and have brought in fresh new approaches and features that work great. It’s more engaging than ever and Ryan sounds like he really likes the music and enjoys talking about it. He’s very good and the production is outstanding.
Your career in radio started at age 10, spurring an article in Life magazine about your career fast-track. How did you get bitten by the radio bug so early?Radio seemed like magic to me. All that excitement happened in an invisible world that took place in your head. I loved the theater of it and couldn’t wait to be a part of it and built a station in my bedroom that could broadcast a mile in every direction. I did shows every day after school and into the evening playing rock and roll. I was in heaven. About a year later, I was “discovered” by one of the local professional radio stations and given my own rock show on Saturday mornings, billed as “The World’s Youngest Disc Jockey.”
Radio has never left your veins, as, among your many multi-media positions, you followed American Top 40 by hosting the syndicated radio program, Top of the World. Can you describe the show and its origins?Top of the World was on the air for about five years. It was the offspring of my previous company, RhythmRadio: The Sound of the World in a Good Mood. RhythmRadio was the world’s first global music network. It was represented by the biggest advertising agency in the world, McCann Erickson, and title sponsorship was sold worldwide for both terrestrial and Internet to Nescafe of Switzerland.
The network was on the air with “nationwide coverage” on terrestrial radio in 30 countries. It was one of the most successful radio networks in the world in the first decade of Internet Radio, on the air worldwide in seven languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Russian, Japanese and Chinese Mandarin.
It couldn’t be sustained after the dotcom crash and, in its ashes, Top of the World was born. The idea was simple: “top of the pop, top of the rock, top of the hip-hop, at the top of the world” … a weekly review of the most popular music in the world. We couldn’t get syndication in the U.S. but it was very successful in Europe and South America.
People may not realize that you are widely credited with inventing the alternative radio format, launching KROQ Los Angeles, still one of the genre’s leading stations. Can you recount your spearheading the birth of the station and its subsequent far-ranging influences?My first success at programming happened after I left KHJ at the height of its popularity. Because I was doing television (The Steve Allen Show), KHJ wouldn’t promote me, saying, “We don’t know whether you want to be in radio or television.” I quit and went to KRLA, where I was made program director.
I created a new and exciting format based on the ground-breaking notion that rock “album cuts” and a lot of theater-of-the-mind would work. For the first time in about eight years, KRLA beat KHJ in the ratings and, within a year, I was offered a chance to go to work for KROQ-AM for more money, a new Porsche and the promise that I would create a new format when they got their FM signal within months.
When we got FM, I designed an even more radical format best described as “all cutting-edge music, all the time.” This would be the place where people would hear the hottest new music in the world first and it would always be a party. It wouldn’t sound like any other radio station on Earth. It would be new music played with enough repetition to make it familiar and that sound would become the sound of the station. And, the energy would always be up.
I signed the station on the air the very first broadcast, designed the studio, created marketing materials, including artwork, and branded it “Mother Rock, AM and FM, World-Famous KROQ.” The “World Famous” part was actually a joke. In the beginning, we had no listeners. But, the station jumped out of the radio and took off like a rocket. In the history of the station, every era has been sensational. It’s still a great station.
From movies to TV, including the Steve Allen Show, Hollywood Squares and Dave’s World, you’ve been fairly ubiquitous on-screen. What have you enjoyed most about your career in front of the camera?Although my four years with Dave’s World were amazing and my years with Hollywood Squares were incredibly exciting and rewarding working with great people, I never enjoyed being in front of the camera more than my six years with five guys creating the 1,100 “Fred Rated for Federated” commercials. These guys – Chuck Cirino, Dave Nichols, Michael Hill, Chris Culverhouse and Ed Freeman – are still some of my favorite people in the world. I’ve never worked with more creative people and never had more fun.
I’ve been in a number of movies and guest starred on everything from Baywatch to The Larry Sanders Show to Beverly Hills 90210 and nothing compares to the days with Federated for sheer originality and the joy of the process.
You’ve even written children’s books, including The Big Galoot. How did you venture into composing literature, and for that specific audience?I woke up one morning saying “button-sided hooey” out loud. I didn’t know what it meant and wrote it down. It sounded like Dr. Seuss. My children were very young at the time and I thought I should try my hand at writing something for them. The Button-Sided Hooey turned into an epic, Alice in Wonderland-like adventure, written in verse, that was so long it turned into a trilogy and was a chapter book. Clearly, no one would ever publish it, so I set out to write something simple and linear that would surely get published and it would pave the way for my epic adventure. I wrote The Big Galoot, published in 2006.
Since then, I’ve written numerous others but so far I haven’t become known as the 21st century’s version of Dr. Seuss. More will be revealed.
Your daughter Amber is an actress. Are you worried that she’s followed your footsteps into the potentially volatile entertainment business? (Not that you could voice your displeasure in her career choice without sounding hypocritical …)Amber was born to be in the entertainment business. She’s Beyoncé-beautiful, has my wife’s outgoing personality, is a terrific actor and an amazing singer. My other daughter, Chyna, is equally beautiful but has no interest whatsoever. I’m not worried. It would do no good to push either of them in any direction. I want them to be happy following their dreams.
Bonus question: Born Terry Ingstad, how did you choose your famous and well-loved nickname, “Shadoe”?God gave it to me. It’s God’s baffling and incomprehensible sense of humor.
(The following is a letter sent from a fan to Shadoe Stevens, who shared it with Billboard upon the 40th anniversary of the first episode of American Top 40.)
“Hello Shadoe,
I’m a journalist from Spain, writing from South Africa. I’ve been here for nearly one month now, on a special live coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
I came here with some CDs of old AT40 shows from the Shadoe Stevens era to play while working at the International Broadcasting Center (where radio stations and TV networks from around the world have studios from which to send information to their home countries).
Some days ago, while I was preparing our show, I played in my studio one of those CDs. It was an American Top 40 year-end special, the top 100 songs of 1991. I played it loud, and kept the doors open, so that the music could be heard outside. After a few minutes, journalists from different countries began coming in, asking me about the show I was blasting, because it was bringing back so many great memories for them.
There was music by Natural Selection, Amy Grant, Michael Jackson, Paula Abdul, Whitney Houston, Bette Midler, Vanessa Williams, Bryan Adams … and there was Shadoe Stevens, one of the most recognizable voices in the world.
Reporters came in from stations from Portugal, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Japan, Australia. They remembered listening to AT40 in their countries in the ’80s and ’90s. I’ve got the feeling that, from 1988 through 1995, you didn’t get to fully comprehend the power of the AT40 brand.
I just wanted you to know that even though you ceased production on AT40 more than 15 years ago, today, if you put a CD of a Shadoe Stevens show in the International Broadcasting Center, people from countries around the world remember you, remember the music and remember the magic.”
Congratulations are in order for Ryan Seacrest, who has picked up yet another hosting gig — this time, taking on the role of hosting the iconic game show, Wheel of Fortune. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The news comes just two weeks after the show’s beloved […]
After a six-year run, Ryan Seacrest is stepping down from his co-hosting slot on Live with Kelly and Ryan after a six-year run. However, Kelly Ripa will still be in good company, as her husband Mark Consuelos will be taking over co-hosting duties.
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Seacrest, Ripa and Consuelos all joined Vanessa Hudgens on the Oscars red carpet on Sunday (March 12), where Seacrest revealed how he’s feeling about the change. “It’s bittersweet,” he shared. “We have such a great relationship and friendship and working relationship. Mark is going to take over and he and I have the same kind of relationship. It’s going to be an exciting last few weeks.”
Ripa added with a smile, “Nothing will really change between the three of us. It’s just that Ryan will get to have his coffee later.”
To wrap things up, Consuelos revealed that he’s officially beginning his gig as co-host on April 17. “I couldn’t be more honored or excited,” he said.
In a statement announcing his departure last month, Seacrest — who will keep hosting American Idol, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, his syndicated On Air with Ryan Seacrest daily radio show and the American Top 40 countdown — said working with Ripa has been a “dream job” and one of the highlights of his career.
“She has been an amazing partner, friend, and confidant, and although we will always be a part of each other’s lives, I will miss our mornings together,” he said, also thanking the show’s executive producer Michael Gelman and the crew. “We’ve made memories to last a lifetime, met some of the most incredible people and had the warmest welcome into the homes of so many viewers across America. It’s been a memorable ride and now I’m excited to pass the baton to Kelly’s ‘real’ husband, Mark.”
Halloween is just around the corner, and Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest are gearing up for for the ultimate spooky daytime show special.
Live with Kelly & Ryan shared exclusively with Billboard on Thursday (Oct. 27) a photo of the duo dressed as Billie Eilish and Harry Styles, with Ripa rocking the “Happier Than Ever” singer’s signature oversized, monochromatic outfit while Seacrest channels the “Music for a Sushi Restaurant” star in a fluffy pink coat.
Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest as Billie Eilish and Harry Styles.
ABC/Jenny Anderson
Live’s Multiverse Halloween: The Best in the Universe will air on Halloween (Oct. 31) and feature over 75 costumes and multiple secret celebrity guest cameos, creating fresh and hilarious spins on some of the most iconic moments in pop culture, per a press release. The daytime talk show powerhouse duo will take on looks from House of Dragons and Stranger Things to The Kardashians and The Bachelorette.
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Actor and former White House staff member Kal Penn will also be joining the episode, dressed in his own secret Halloween costume.
Additionally, the show is bringing back its popular audience costume contest, in which the final five finalists will get a chance to win an exciting grand prize.
Live With Kelly & Ryan airs weekdays at 9 a.m. ET on ABC.
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