Saturday, June 22, 2013

Saturday Aircheck: Todd Wallace On KILT Houston From 1969

Aircheck from 1969 with Todd Wallace on KILT AM 610 - Houston




For more on 610 KILT, visit Houston Retro Radio: Click Here.

Friday, June 21, 2013

NYC Radio: Listeners Review The NashFM Morning Show

Well, one would wonder what the research, assuming there was research, told Cumulus about a morning show in NYC.  After just one day their fans have been vocal about the new morning show “America’s Morning Show” with Blair Garner et al on NashFM 94.7

Here’s a sampling of comments from the NashFM Facebook page.  There were also a number of  mentions about reception being poor.  Sounds like a tough start.  (There are real names attached to these comments on FB, I opted to ID by gender only)

The Negative:
  • MALE: Well it was nice while it lasted. Looks like Nash FM is officially all talk and little to no music. What a disappointment. Back to Pandora and iHeartRadio for country music.
  • FEMALE: When are you going to listen to the people that support COUNTRY MUSIC in NY/NJ? REVIEW all the negative posts! Do not ignore us! This is why we lost country music on the radio before! WE WANT OUR COUNTRY MUSIC...not TALK about nonsense. I am sure the ADULT audience does not care about Miley Cyrus kissing a barbie doll! PLEASE PLAY MORE MUSIC and leave the nonsense talk to the rest of the market. I will try again to listen, but if the talk continues...I plan on listening after 10 am. Sorry guys...Love Terri and Lee Ann but really would love to hear you play their MUSIC! Like the kid in the AT&T commercial....MORE IS BETTER..WE WANT MORE MUSIC! WE WANT MORE MUSIC! Less talk is better!
  • FEMALE:  The morning show is TERRIBLE. No offense to the DJs personally, but I want to hear MUSIC in the morning. If I wanted to listen to stupid, pointless conversations on my way to work, I'd put on any other NY radio station. You have officially lost a listener.
  • FEMALE:  New Flash... you are a country station and I do not care one thin hair about Micheal Jackson and his family. So knock it off with the chit chat.
  • MALE:  Get rid of this morning show and play us some music. They talk about nonsense.
  • FEMALE: If I wanted to hear people yapping instead of music during my commute to work, Id listen to z100....back to the ipod it is....stop trying to be like everyone else and just play country music!
  • FEMALE:  to be honest the morning show sucks, To be honest you are one country station, your specail enough you dont have to keep up with the Jones ( z100, hot97, 92.3, ktu ) they all kinda over lap music so they need a morning show, LESS TALK MORE MUSIC, PLEASe i dont want to have to change the station to another one ever again.
  • MALE:  Less talk more music...enough said!!
  • FEMALE:  Are you purposely alienating your fan base? Shut up and play music!!!
  • FEMALE:  this morning show is absolutely terrible. i thought the whole reason of nash fm was to bring back country music to ny & north jersey. all i'm hearing is another z100 morning show that i dread listening to every morning on my half hour commute to work. get your shit together nash, and get back to playing nonstop music. no one wants to listen to people talk about nonsense, if they did, they can turn on 92.3. i will no longer be listening to your station on the way to work in the morning, and instead i will be listening to my ipod or a cd....
  • FEMALE: Reception poor this morning. When I could hear the station all I heard was stupid talk. If I want to hear talk ill go to AM radio. But I don't, I want to hear COUNTRY music, so I'll go back to satellite.
Jockline Daily Graphic
The Positive:
  • FEMALE:  Welcome to the new morning crew. It was fun listening this morning on the drive to work. I'd love to hear some Ronnie Dunn on my drive especially his new song "Kiss You There" somewhere between 7 and 7:30 AM. Thanks
  • FEMALE:  Great morning show. Enjoyed the talk , mixed with music. Your morning team is excellent. Always listened to Blair on "After Midnight". Glad he's now doing the morning show on NASH.
Tom's Take: Give Cumulus credit for having the courage to keep the FB comments posted. But maybe the suits don't know about the Facebook page?  In any event leave it to 'radio people' to screw-up a good thing!

Charlotte Radio: John Hancock Gets Ready For PM Drive At WBT

John Hancock
Grins, a little black cat destined to play a role in Charlotte radio history, pulled into town in 1990 in the back seat of an old, white Honda Prelude bearing the Florida vanity tag ON AIR.

She was in her usual spot – in a kitty crate surrounded by all the worldly possessions of John Hancock.

According to Mark Washburn at The Charlotte Observer, Grins had accompanied Hancock for nearly two decades on his nomadic radio career, Colorado to Texas to Colorado again to Arizona (that job lasted six weeks) to California (six months) to Pennsylvania to Florida to Charlotte.

Now Hancock had landed a morning spot at WBT-AM 1110 AM/99.3FM, among the nation’s oldest and most prominent stations, and the question was: How long would this gig last?

“I was not received well when I got here, not at all,” says Hancock.

“It was pretty brutal for the first nine months. We didn’t have phone screeners then, and people would call in and say, ‘I hate you, go back where you came from.’

It was Grins who turned things around, Hancock says. When he had to put her to sleep because of feline leukemia, he told his listeners how he felt about her loss.

“My voice got shaky. For some reason, that turned the corner here. I think people were saying, ‘He’s still a jackass, but he cried about his cat.’


Hancock is now 60 and the Charlotte gig goes on. Aside from an ill-fated morning stint at WEND-FM (“End” 106.5), he’s been at WBT in one time slot or another for more than 20 years, the longest-serving full-timer at the station.

He started doing evenings a week before the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. This week general manager Rick Feinblatt announced that on July 16, Hancock would be returning to afternoon drive-time, a slot he occupied in the late ’90s.

Jason Furst, WBT’s new program director, says afternoon ratings have been generally flat for some years. He says he thinks Hancock might just be the magic.

“John’s a superstar over here. He’s the most dynamic, most recognized name on the station. John’s real,” Furst says.

Atlanta Radio: Vicki Locke Signs-Off At WSB-FM

Vicki Locke
As WSB-FM B98.5-FM morning show host Vikki Locke clicked-off the microphone for the last time this morning after a 28-year run on Atlanta’s airwaves, she’s left behind a radio industry much different than the one she entered as an Ohio State University journalism graduate back in 1985m according to Atlanta Magazine.

During her nearly 20-year reign at WSTR Star 94 with partner Steve McCoy, you could invite a superstar listener like Elton John, who lived down the street from the station, on air for an extended chat and to spin his favorite songs. In 2013, morning show talent is advised to keep the chatter to under two minutes, edit your interviews in advance and spin Train’s “Hey, Soul Sister” ad nauseam.

Locke last week reflected for Atlanta Magazine on the industry she departs from today. 
“Radio isn’t the same as when I started in the 1980s,” she says, “In 2013, radio is a cookie-cutter, numbers game. It’s all about how much money you can make. It’s really not about the content anymore. Personalities don’t matter anymore. It’s cheaper now to run a syndicated morning show, which wasn’t the case when I was a kid. It was all-local, all personality driven. The whole landscape has changed so drastically. The young people getting into the business now don’t have that perspective and I’m sure it will be fine for them. But for me, I remember working in radio when it was great. When I couldn’t wait for that alarm to go off at 3 a.m. I don’t feel that way anymore.”
Earlier this month, Locke made the difficult decision to exit her job at B98.5 in order to spend more time in Ohio with her 80-year-old dad who has recently been diagnosed with colon cancer. Says Locke: “When you find out your dad has cancer and your boss says, ‘You can’t take time off for six months because we’re in a ratings period,’ your priorities become very clear. I realized I didn’t want to do this anymore.”

Glenn Beck Buys Building For Mercury Radio Arts


Mercury Radio Arts, the parent company of TheBlaze, Glenn Beck’s news, opinion & entertainment network, has purchased the building known as The Studios at Las Colinas to serve as the network’s flagship television and radio facility. The studio has served as the home to TheBlaze and various network shows like Glenn Beck on a rental basis since 2012.

The 72,000 square foot facility, which will now be known as Mercury Studios, is based in Irving, Texas and features 3 sound stages that are up to 14,500 square feet. TheBlaze produces 6 hours of live programming every day from Irving. TheBlaze also currently leases a studio in Midtown Manhattan.


Glenn Beck said: “We are proud to call Texas our home and be part of the local community in Irving. We are building a world-class facility that provides TheBlaze with the highest quality talent and top of the line production capabilities so American stories can be told to viewers across the country.”

Joel Cheatwood, President and Chief Content Officer of TheBlaze said: “TheBlaze has quickly built up the capacity to produce over 43 hours of original programming per week and we are excited to now have our own multi-media base as we continue to grow.”

The exclusive provider of “Glenn Beck,” TheBlaze offers a full slate of original news and opinion shows like “Real News,” “Wilkow!” and “For the Record,” late night comedy like “The Wonderful World of Stu” and “B.S. of A.,” family-friendly programming like “Liberty Treehouse” as well as thought-provoking documentaries and original specials. TheBlaze first launched on September 12, 2011 as GBTV and quickly grew into one of the world’s largest online streaming networks with over 300,000 subscribers. One year later, TheBlaze became a television network and is currently available on over 15 television operators including 5 of the top 25 in America.

Built in 1982, The Studios at Las Colinas have hosted movies and television shows like Robocop, JFK, Silkwood, Prison Break and Walker Texas Ranger.

Fox Urges End to Broadcast Indecency Limits

Fox Television doesn't want the FCC looking over its shoulder anymore to police any nudity and curse words on its network.

According to THR, The broadcaster filed a 42-page comment at the regulatory agency on Wednesday. This is what Fox has to say: 
"Fox urges the Commission to conclude that it is legally required, and logically bound, to cease attempting to enforce broadcast indecency limits once and for all. Time and technology have marched inexorably forward, but the Commission’s untenable effort to define indecent content through a hodgepodge of inconsistent and uneven rulings remains stuck in a bygone era. Whatever validity may once have existed for indecency regulation, the time clearly has arrived to lay rest to the anachronistic notion that broadcast stations deserve anything less than the full First Amendment protection bestowed on all speakers by the Constitution."
The comment comes as the FCC is examining potential changes to its indecency regulation. In April, the federal agency asked the public for comments on whether it should maintain current protocol or change with the times. The review happens after the Supreme Court has addressed indecency regulation on several occasions in the past few years, including last year in a case involving curse words uttered by celebrities on live awards shows.

The FCC is now considering its indecency stance. A call for opinions has provoked more than 100,000 filed comments from citizens.

Boston Radio BDC Launches The Social Countdown


RadioBDC, the live, streaming radio station on Boston.com, has launched The Social Countdown , a daily radio show that puts listeners in complete control of determining the most popular music in Boston and beyond.

The Social Countdown takes from some of the biggest social media and online music subscription services to determine the biggest alternative tracks of the moment.

RadioBDC listeners, as well as artists, can vote on Boston.com for their favorite songs, showing in real time the most popular music of the moment.

LISTEN-LINE: Click Here.

“The Social Countdown is a new spin on a traditional concept that’s been used in radio for decades,” said Paul Driscoll, Director of Operations and Program Development at RadioBDC. “We have the smartest and most tech-savvy listeners in the city, we trust them and their feedback is vital to us. The Social Countdown is another way for their voices to be heard, and it legitimizes the way radio countdowns are done for the first time.”



The Social Countdown reflects not only the voice of the listeners, but also what people are talking about on social media, weighing each source against the others and allowing for differences in influence hierarchy. Pointslocal’s charting platform gathers and ranks data from social media and music sites such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Last.fm and Spotify, along with up-voting on Boston.com.

Launched in August of 2012, Boston.com’s RadioBDC is a 24x7 streaming radio station featuring an all-star team of Boston radio personalities. With new music, breaking news, and exclusive events, RadioBDC is the definitive digital source for modern-indie/alternative music in Boston.

Fort Myers Radio: New Rock GetsNew Address, 93X


Southwest Florida New Rock music fans now have a new spot on the radio dial as Sun Broadcasting launches WXNX 93X.  WTLT 93.7 FM drops AC to keep the X brand of music alive, after news of the heritage Beasley's New Rock station 99X announced plans to drop the format in lieu of talk radio.

93X is a New Rock radio station that is programmed for listeners who love Mainstream and Alternative Rock artists such as Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Nickleback, Stone Temple Pilots and Green Day to name a few and will be featured on the station which is available on-air at 93.7, WXNX-FM.

LISTEN-LINE: Click Here.

“This incredibly loyal audience was outraged to lose their brand of music to a talk radio station,” said Jim Schwartzel, VP of Sun Broadcasting, Inc. “We were pleased to offer the X brand a home on 93.7 and will serve the audience with 24/7 Rock, and create a number of ways for listeners to interact with the station – from social media and live events to contests."

Local Radio Freedom Act Gets More Support

A bipartisan group of six Members of Congress and a Senator have joined on as co-sponsors of a resolution that opposes "any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge" on local broadcast radio stations. The Local Radio Freedom Act is now currently co-sponsored by 139 Members of the House and 11 Senators, according to the NAB

Adding their support to the Local Radio Freedom Act are Reps. Joe Barton (TX-6), Lynn Jenkins (KS-2), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-5), Erik Paulsen (MN-3), Jim Renacci (OH-16) and Carol Shea-Porter (NH-1). Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) is the latest Senator to sign on as a co-sponsor of a companion resolution in the Senate.

Reps. Michael Conaway (R-TX) and Gene Green (D-TX) introduced the Local Radio Freedom Act (H. Con. Res. 16) in the House of Representatives on February 15 along with 71 additional co-sponsors. An identical resolution (S. Con. Res. 6) was introduced in the Senate on March 6 by Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND).

"Congress should not impose any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge relating to the public performance of sound recordings on a local radio station for broadcasting sound recordings over-the-air, or on any business for such public performance of sound recordings," reads the Local Radio Freedom Act.

Tom Brokaw Talks ‘News’ On the Daily Show

Tom Brokaw
John Oliver spoke with NBC News’ Tom Brokaw on The Daily Show Wednesday night that touched on Brokaw’s long career, his show on the Military Channel, and the state of cable news.

According to Mediaite, Brokaw opened the interview joking about how much better Jon Stewart looks with plastic surgery. Oliver praised Brokaw’s show, and asked him if journalism has gotten better as it’s gotten faster in the last few years. Brokaw said that consumers now have to go beyond being couch potatoes, that news is a lot more interactive these days.

He admitted that the news is very “cluttered with chat” and “vicious attacks,” with Oliver suggesting that the increased “speed has cost us thought.”

Media Reporter Howard Kurtz Moves To FNC

Howard Kurtz
FOX News Channel (FNC) has hired veteran media reporter Howard Kurtz, announced Michael Clemente, Executive Vice President of News for the network. He will begin in this new role on July 1st.

Kurtz will anchor a version of what is now called Fox News Watch, which focuses on the media, with a new format during the weekends. Additionally, he will serve as an on-air analyst for a variety of programs throughout the week, while also writing a regular column on FoxNews.com, commenting on social media news, industry trends and breakthroughs, in addition to looking at how media are used in politics.

Meanwhile, Jon Scott, current anchor of FOX News Watch, who won an Emmy for his writing at NBC's Dateline, will move to the specials unit where he will serve as anchor.

In making the announcement, Clemente said, "Howie is the most accomplished media reporter in the country. He's also a master of social media trends, information good and bad, and a veteran political reporter. Altogether, he will add even greater depth to a very accomplished team of reporters and anchors."

Kurtz added, "I'm excited to be bringing my independent brand of media criticism to Fox News. I want to thank CNN for giving me such a prime opportunity over the years and was tempted to continue, but the chance to create a revamped program and establish a strong online presence was too good to pass up. I hope to add a new dimension to Fox's coverage and have some fun while diving into the passionate debates about the press and politics."

Since 1998, Kurtz has been the host of CNN's weekly media criticism program, Reliable Sources, where he has scrutinized the performance and biases of the media. Until recently, he served as the Washington, D.C. bureau chief writing on the intersection of politics and media for The Daily Beast and Newsweek. Prior to that role, Kurtz spent 29 years at The Washington Post in various capacities. He became the media reporter for the paper in 1990 and wrote the weekly Media Notes column, which was widely read throughout the industry.

Howard Stern, Matt Lauer Talk Katie Couric

Matt Lauer
Matt Lauer joined Howard Stern's radio show this and discussed his feelings about topics including his former co-hosts to his morning routine.

When Lauer's former co-host Katie Couric appeared on Stern's radio show, she revealed that she had a "little crush" on Lauer when he served as the program's newsreader. Lauer and Couric co-hosted "Today" from 1994-2006, a time when the NBC show was the number one program in morning television. It was a position the show held for 16 years.

When Stern brought up Couric's past remark, Lauer said that he thought every man in the country had a crush on her at one point or another.



Baltimore Radio: Ed Norris Returns To 105.7 The Fan

Ed Norris has returned to the airwaves after the WJZ-FM 105.7 The Fan host was seriously injured in an accident back in April, according to WJZ-TV13.




Even though he’s still injured and in some pain, he says it is good to be back talking sports on “The Norris & Davis Show.”

“I was a little nervous coming back at first, it’s been almost two months. How I was going to do it? Energy be up, would I be strong enough to do the show? I felt fine,” Norris said.

On April 24, Norris was on his motorcycle when he swerved to avoid colliding with a box truck in Darlington, Harford County.  Norris was flown by medevac to Shock Trauma.

“All I remember is being on the road, then I woke up in Shock Trauma with people standing around me telling me you are alive,” he said.

Doctors told the former cop, police chief, state police superintendent turned radio host not only is he lucky to be alive, but he’s lucky he wasn’t paralyzed in the accident.

“Head injuries, brain injuries, broken ribs, broken shoulder,” Norris said.

Read More Now

NYC Radio: J Cole Talks About KMEL Incident

During a Wednesday visit to The Breakfast Club on WWPR Power 105.1 FM, rapper J Cole talked about a recent incident, where he walked out on an interview backstage at San Francisco’s KMEL 106 Summer Jam concert. (comments come about 23:00 in audio).



Thursday, June 20, 2013

Carson Daly Launches ‘The Daly Download’


He already serves as host of KAMP 97.1 AMP Radio’s popular morning show broadcast live weekdays from Los Angeles, and now Carson Daly will bring his enthusiasm for music to listeners across the country with the launch of two new weekly Pop countdown programs beginning on Saturday, July 6.  The Daily download With Carson Daly This Week’s Top 30 will make its debut on more than 70 CBS Radio and Cumulus stations, including outlets in 8 of the Top 10 and all of the Top 5 markets in the United States.

At launch, www.dalydownload.com  will provide fans the opportunity to listen to the shows online and the ability to review current and archived song lists to track how their favorite tunes are faring week after week.  Live streaming is also available through Radio.com and its app for a variety of mobile devices.  Cumulus Media Networks will manage affiliate relations and sales for The Daily Download.

Carson Daly
“I’m a self-professed radio guy and an avid music enthusiast,” said Carson.  “Music has been my passion since I was a kid and it’s certainly been the through-line of my career. I feel at home on the radio and look forward to connecting with new listeners by highlighting the top songs around the country. I’m happy to continue my collaboration with CBS Radio, and I’m excited for the opportunity to work with Cumulus Media Networks.”

“Pop music continues to drive audience growth for CBS Radio stations and our Radio.com platform,” said Kevin Weatherly, Senior Vice President, Programming CBS Radio, and Program Director of 97.1 AMP Radio.  “The increases are clearly being fueled by a younger generation of listeners who can’t get enough programming centered around this type of music.  The Daly Download satisfies that need while showcasing one of our most influential music personalities.”

Two versions of the program will be created by Daly and offered to stations for broadcast on Saturday or Sunday.  The four-hour and three-hour shows will complement programming on Contemporary Hit Radio or Hot Adult Contemporary formatted stations, respectively.

In addition to his radio work, Carson serves as host and producer of “The Voice” and “Last Call with Carson Daly” broadcast on the NBC Television Network.  He began his career in radio in the early 1990s and serving as on-air host at The World Famous KROQ is also among his credits.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

NYC Radio: NashFM’s Morning Show Launches Thursday


Blair Garner
Cumulus Media says the new morning show on New York’s NashFM 94-7 is set to hit the air Thursday.  “America’s Morning Show” features Blair Garner and will originate from Nashville.  Shows originating in NYC are also planned.

Besides Garner, other members of the show include co-hosts Terri Clark, Sunny Sweeney, Chuck Wicks and Lee Ann Womack. According to Cumulus ExecutiveVP/Co-COO John Dickey, “The team has been working around the clock to get ‘America’s Morning Show’ ready for the Big Apple and starting this week New Yorkers will experience the nation’s most unique and authentic county radio show.

LISTEN-LINE: Click Here.

“We've been getting ready for the big moment when we join fans live in New York and finally the dream is about to come true and the cast and I can't wait to share it.”

Blair Garner adds,  “We're like kids the night before Christmas. We can barely contain ourselves. It's that kind of excitement with all of us. Breathe in, breathe out. We're almost there!”

FCC Nominee Wheeler Supports Competition

Washington Post photo
Tom Wheeler, President Barack Obama's pick to lead the Federal Communications Commission, on Tuesday pledged to champion competition in the telecommunications industry and said an upcoming auction of airwaves is the biggest challenge facing the regulator, according to a story at Reuters.

Acknowledging his past as a lobbyist, Wheeler told lawmakers at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on his nomination that at the FCC, he would advocate for the consumers' interest first: "My client will be the American public."

Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat, said he was certain the Senate would approve Wheeler to succeed Julius Genachowski as FCC chairman. 

The next step for Wheeler will be a vote by the committee on his nomination. No date has been set.

"I am an unabashed supporter of competition," he said. "The role of the FCC has evolved from acting in lieu of competition to dictate the market, to promoting and protecting competition with appropriate oversight to see that it flourishes."

Addressing a critical issue he will have to tackle as FCC chair - decades-old rules that limit cross-ownership of different U.S. media outlets in one market - Wheeler said he understood the seriousness of the issue and was "specifically trying not to be specific." "I want to become more informed," he said.

Atlanta Radio: Fired Host Calls WQXI ‘Sinking Ship’

Nick Cellini
Three Atlanta radio hosts were fired Monday for a senseless skit mocking former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason, who suffers from ALS. Two of the fired hosts expressed deep contrition in the wake of the story.

The other host, Nick Cellini, doesn't seem to understand why he lost his job.

According to NFL News, Cellini told AccessAtlanta.com it was a "relief" to get fired. While he issued the customary apology, Cellini also said the skit just gave the station an excuse to cut salary and hire a cheaper morning show.

"That station is a sinking ship," Cellini said.

It's not a surprise that Cellini was the one who played the role of Gleason in the failed skit. His colleague, Chris Dimino, on the other hand, showed obvious discomfort while on air during the segment. Dimino, however, didn't step up enough to stop the skit as it happened. He posted a Facebook message late Monday night that is worth reading in full.


Fired Sports Host: 'I Would Have Been Offended'

If he had been listening from his car Monday morning, radio veteran Steak Shapiro knew what he would have thought of a bit mocking a former New Orleans Saint now battling Lou Gehrig's disease.

"I would have been offended."



Why? The now former host of "Mayhem in the AM" on Atlanta's WQXI 790 The Zone offered up plenty of reasons in an interview Tuesday with CNN's BrookeBaldwin. And none of his descriptions of the now infamous two-minute radio bit were positive.

Stupid. Not thought out. Offensive. Awful. And not funny.

NFLer Steve Gleason Accepts Apology

Steve Gleason wrote on his organization's Facebook page Tuesday that he accepts the apologies of the three morning hosts on WQXI 790 The Zone in Atlanta who mocked his Lou Gehrig's disease in a skit Monday morning and later were fired.



According to ESPN, the 36-year-old Gleason, a former safety who played for the New Orleans Saints from 2000-06 and was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 2011, thanked "the public for their support" on the Facebook page for Team Gleason, his non-profit organization that works to help others with ALS.

"'Defend Team Gleason' now has been officially redefined. Additionally, the DJs have provided genuine apology. Received and accepted. We have all made mistakes in this life. How we learn from our mistakes is the measure of who we are," he wrote.

Patients who have the fatal disease ALS lose the ability to speak, move and eat, which has happened to Gleason. He uses a technology that allows him to use his eyes to write. He wrote a column for SI.com on Monday detailing his life with the disease, his interactions with his 19-month-old son Rivers, and his efforts to help others with ALS.

790 The Zone hosts Nick Cellini, Steak Shapiro and Chris Dimino were fired Monday after a segment Monday morning in which two of the on-air personalities took a call from a third host who pretended to be Gleason by using a voice that sounded automated -- mimicking another ALS patient, world-renowned physicist Stephen Hawking.

Read More Now

Charlotte Radio: WBT Shuffles Hosts

John Hancock
Beginning July 16, John Hancock is moving from evenings to afternoon drive-time. He's swapping places with Brad Krantz and Britt Whitmire, whose "Brad and Britt Show" will move to the 6 to 9 p.m. shift, according to the Charlotte Observer.

Hancock is one of Charlotte's most venerable radio personalities. He arrived at WBT 1110AM/ 99.3 FM in 1990 doing mornings. Then to afternoon drive in 1996. Then he left for an ill-fated morning stint at WEND ("End" 106.5), returning to WBT a week before the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

“Hancock has been a staple of WBT for years, earning him the title of Charlotte’s most beloved,” Rick Feinblatt, senior vice president of WBT and Greater Media Charlotte, said in announcing the move Tuesday.

"Hell has frozen over," said Hancock about his return to afternoons.

WBT has been roiling through afternoon hosts since the departure of Jason Lewis in 2006 with Jeff Katz, Tara Servatius and Vince Coakley all taking a shot until "Brad and Britt" launched last July.

GR Radio: N/T WOOD To Air Festive Send-off For Gary Allan


WOOD Radio’s farewell for announcer 66-year-old Gary Allen is going to be unlike anything ever heard before.

Special guests will be on WOOD 100 AM/107.9FM on Thursday during a 12-hour salute to Allen, who retires on Friday, according to mlive.com.  It’s “Gary Allen Day” at WOOD Radio, and Allen will broadcast for 12 straight hours, from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., along with a who’s who of familiar faces and voices from West Michigan.

“It’s going to be a very special day for local radio fans,” said Phil Tower, director of programming and operations for WOOD Radio. “It’s also going to be something we’ve never done in the history of WOOD radio, which is dedicate a whole day to one individual.”

LISTEN-LIVE: Click Here.

Allen, a fixture at WOOD-AM 1300 and 106.9 FM on weekday mornings, switches off his microphone on Friday. Co-host Steve Kelly and producer Lauren Smith are expected to remain with “West Michigan’s Morning News.” at WOOD Radio.

But on Thursday, WOOD Radio is sending Allen off in style with the 12-hour broadcast, pre-empting regular syndicated shows including the Glenn Beck Program, the Rush Limbaugh Show and the Sean Hannity Show.


Augusta Radio: Beasley’s WGAC Named ‘Station of the Year’

Harley Drew
News/Talk WGAC 580 AM/95.1 FM in Augusta, GA has been named Station of the Year by the Georgia Association of Broadcasters.

Augusta’s broadcasting legend Harley Drew, the morning host for WGAC with Mary Liz Nolan, told the Augusta Chronicle the award means the station beat every station in Georgia including “the mighty Cox Media’s flagship station” WSB in Atlanta, which came in second place.

Drew, by the way, has been broadcasting for more than 50 years beginning in 1959 at WBRO-AM in Waynesboro, Ga., followed by WFNL-AM in Augusta, then 25 years at WBBQ-AM and FM before joining Beasley Broadcasting.

Sirius XM Joins the In-Car Streaming Music Battle

In a sign of how the sands beneath the broadcast and music businesses continue to shift, satellite radio is joining the streaming music market in the car. Sirius XM will now offer in-dash access to its Internet Radio App in Ford vehicles with the Sync AppLink.

According to the NYTimes, Ford and Sirius XM said the app support would, for the first time, allow subscribers to use the Sirius XM Internet radio app on iPhones and Android handsets, making it possible to stream not only satellite channels but also personalized MySXM channels and on-demand programs like Howard Stern‘s. 

The services were already available online through a Web browser, but this is Sirius’s first full-fledged offering of streaming Internet services in cars.

Sirius XM will have plenty of streaming-music competition on Ford Sync dashboards, which already include Pandora, Rhapsody, Spotify, Slacker and Mog. There are also traditional radio stations offering streaming channels through TuneIn, plus independent station apps and Clear Channel’s iHeartAuto.

For Sirius XM, the new connection to the dash is less of a “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” strategy than a way of keeping existing subscribers happy. Listeners still have to pay $14.49 a month for the service plus $3.50 a month for the app.

Time Warner Cable Customers Revolt

Time Warner Cable is being accused of requiring subscribers to pay higher cable bills to watch Los Angeles Lakers and Dodgers games without offering them the opportunity to opt out of those channels.

According to THR, A class-action lawsuit filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court -- which names TWC as well as the Lakers and Dodgers as defendants -- charged TWC with "abuse of its position as the primary provider of cable television" in Southern California.

The complaint cites TWC's $3 billion acquisition of Lakers telecast rights in February 2011 and its $8 billion acquisition of Dodgers game telecasts in January 2013. Lakers games air on TWC SportsNet and TWC Deportes, while Dodgers games will air on the SportsNet LA network.

The plaintiffs charge that because TWC has chosen to bundle these channels without allowing subscribers the ability to opt out, subscribers will be forced to pay about $4-$5 in additional fees per month as a result.

94.1 WHJY Whale Tail Contest Deemed In ‘Poor Taste’


The Whaling City Festival in New Bedford, MA has withdrawn its sponsorship of a controversial WHJY 94.1 FM radio competition many described as derogatory to the city's heritage — and women in general — after facing an intense backlash on social media earlier this week, according to southcoast.com.

"I was offended by the connection to our storied whaling history," said city resident Jennifer Smith, who took to the festival's Facebook page Monday night to protest its sponsorship of Providence classic rock station 94.1 HJY's "Show Us Your Whale Tail" contest. "I'm just glad" they pulled the sponsorship.

A "whale tail" occurs when a thong's Y-shaped waistband rises over the waistline of low-cut pants or a skirt, giving the appearance of a whale's tail fluke coming out of the ocean.

HJY's contest seeks to find the "hottest" whale tail in Southern New England, asking women to "unleash your sexiest thong exposure" for the chance at a $494 American Express gift card, according to its website. The contest asks for women to send in their best "whale tail" photos, which will be voted on by the public after the entry period closes June 23.

The radio station intends to continue the contest without the festival's sponsorship, which originally was going to pay for the gift card, organizers said. Festival organizers also defended themselves by saying the radio station designed the competition, not them.

Neither WHJY nor the station's parent company, Clear Channel Communications Inc., responded to an email request for comment.


LA Radio: Kim Kardashian 'Doing Well'

E! News’ Ken Baker phoned in to On Air with Ryan Seacrest on 102.7 KIIS-FM to share that despite giving birth five weeks early, both baby and Kim Kardashiasn are healthy.

“This was not planned,” he explains. “It came on very quickly and when it was time for the baby to come, it was time for the baby to come.” Ken adds that the moment was so unexpected, “the whole family was [even] dispersed all over the place.”


However, Ken confirms: “[The baby] is healthy and Kim is doing well … There’s a great sense of relief. Everyone is very happy for her and Kim is relieved [because] this was a very stressful time.”

So now that her daughter is here, how does Kim feel about being a mom? Ryan shared her email her moments after she gave birth, saying, “Yay! Congrats my darling, you’re a mommy!” and that she responded: “Cant believe it! It’s so crazy!”

Domestic Fight Lands NYC Weatherman, Wife In Court

Dana Evans
It was a dark and stormy fight — over a set of car keys, according to the NY Daily News.

WABC-TV weatherman Bill Evans claims he was left with a bruised backside and a clawed crotch after a nasty scuffle with his wife as hard feelings escalated in their ugly divorce.

Dana Evans — who admitted whacking her husband with a wooden hanger — accused her spouse of 19 years of punching her in the face and knocking her to the ground during the May 4 brawl.

Bill Evans

Both appeared separately Tuesday in Stamford Superior Court, where a Connecticut judge reaffirmed an order of protection barring Dana from contact with her husband.

Dana Evans appeared first, followed by the TV forecaster on their cross-complaints from the bloody fight in the master bedroom of their Greenwich, Conn., home.

R.I.P.: Reporter Michael Hastings Was 33

Michael Hastings
Michael Hastings, the fearless journalist whose reporting brought down the career of General Stanley McChrystal, has died in a car accident in Los Angeles, Rolling Stone has learned.

He was 33.

Hastings' unvarnished 2010 profile of McChrystal in the pages of Rolling Stone, "The RunawayGeneral," captured the then-supreme commander of the U.S.-led war effort in Afghanistan openly mocking his civilian commanders in the White House. The maelstrom sparked by its publication concluded with President Obama recalling McChrystal to Washington and the general resigning his post. "The conduct represented in the recently published article does not meet the standard that should be met by – set by a commanding general," Obama said, announcing McChrystal's departure. "It undermines the civilian control of the military that is at the core of our democratic system."

Hastings' hallmark as reporter was his refusal to cozy up to power. While other embedded reporters were charmed by McChrystal's bad-boy bravado and might have excused his insubordination as a joke, Hastings was determined to expose the recklessness of a man leading what Hastings believed to be a reckless war.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Sinclair Broadcast To Buy Dielectric

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase the assets of Dielectric from SPX Corporation, for an immaterial and leverage neutral purchase price. Dielectric is the nation s largest manufacturer of broadcast television, radio and wireless antennas, transmission lines, and RF systems.

Commenting on the transaction, David Smith, President and CEO of Sinclair stated, Dielectric has supplied more than two-thirds of the TV industry s high power antennas and its name is synonymous with expert engineering and quality products. We feel fortunate to have this opportunity to acquire the Dielectric intellectual property and assets related to our most critical infrastructure. This acquisition was a logical choice given our in-house RF engineering expertise and our ownership of Acrodyne Services, which installs and services broadcast transmitters and mobile DTV upgrades. Further, if and when a spectrum repack occurs, Dielectric will be there to support that effort.


New products from Dielectric s diversified RF catalog, along with support for existing installed product, will be provided by many of the same talented people who have helped to make Dielectric one of the most well-known and trusted names in the U.S. broadcast industry. Dielectric will be operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sinclair (Dielectric, LLC) with a management and operational team comprised of capable, experienced individuals drawn from the Dielectric staff. Dielectric will maintain operations at their present facility in Raymond, Maine.

Study: New Millennials Will ‘Keep Calm And Carry On’

Teens Less Upbeat, But Resilient

MTV, a division of Viacom, today unveiled the results of its new landmark generational study, "The New Millennials Will Keep Calm and Carry On," investigating the shifting dynamics between younger and older Millennials in the United States.

Today's results uncover that younger Millennials (ages 13-17) are different from their older counterparts in key ways: beginning to map their careers at 13, absorbing the advice of pragmatic Gen X parents, and adjusting the rules of how and when to use technology – even unplugging and mono-tasking to de-stress.

The differences between first and second wave Millennials can be seen as the juxtaposition between Harry Potter and Katniss Everdeen of "The Hunger Games."
 
Today's twenty-somethings – more akin to the magical wizard Harry Potter – represent the Millennials that came of age in the economic boom of the 90s/early 2000s, a time of "Yes We Can" and the belief that college, working hard and playing by the rules would guarantee future success.

Raised by idealistic Boomer parents, older Millennials were told they were special and gifted, with a magic wand capable of changing the world.

Today's tweens and teens have known a very different youth. They've come of age during the Great Recession, seeing college graduates struggling with huge student loan debt and living through a cascade of social-media amplified tragedies – from Hurricane Sandy to the Sandy Hook School shooting. While this reality is having a profound impact on Young Millennials' world view, they still exhibit the optimism of their older counterparts, and instead of giving up are prepping, planning and specializing to achieve the future they want for themselves. 

Philly Radio: Sharyl Attkisson Talks About Computer Hacking

Sharyl Attkisson
Just days after CBS News confirmed that reporter Sharyl Attkisson’s computer had indeed been hacked, Attkisson spoke to WPHT 1210 AM’s Dom Giordano about the investigation.

“This suspicious activity has been going on for quite some time – both on my CBS computer and my personal computer,” Attkisson said. “CBS then hired its own independent cyber security firm, which has been conducting a thorough forensic exam … they were able to rule out malware, phishing programs, that sort of thing.”

Attkisson described some of the bizarre things that were happening with her computer.

LISTEN-LINE: Click Here.

Dom Giordano
“There were just signs of unusual happenings for many months, odd behavior like the computers just turning themselves on at night and then turning themselves back off again. I was basically able to verify and obtain information from my sources on the suspicious activity and I reported it to CBS News in January because of course it included CBS equipment and systems.”

Attkisson could not speak about whether the hacking was related to her questions about Benghazi because of “legal counsel,” but she did say her work at that time was primarily on the occurrence.

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NYC Radio: Magic Matt Pays Homage To Scott Shannon

Magic Matt Alan
Radio geeks might want to catch the upcoming Burt Reynolds movie called “Category 5.”

It's got a NYC radio in-joke that turns out to be payback of the most flattering kind, according to David Hinckley at NYDaily News.

“Magic” Matt Alan, who is now a deejay for Sirius XM radio’s ’70s on 7 channel and hosted afternoons at WHTZ (100.3 FM) in the 1980s, plays what he calls an “in-your-face news anchor.”

The character, at Alan’s request, is named Michael Scott Shannon.

Scott Shannon, of course, is the morning co-host on WPLJ 95.5 FM. In the ’80s, he was the Z100 morning co-host and program director who hired Alan.

“I was in Houston, and I was just killing in the ratings. But when I got to Z100, Scott showed me all these little things that made me better — about rhythm and pacing and just how to make it all work together."

Alan lives in L.A. now, and in addition to the Sirius XM gig, he also acts and does an Internet talk/music show called Outlaw Radio.

Atlanta Radio: WQXI Fires 'Mayhem In The AM’ Hosts


Nick Cellini
In a matter of hours after suspending its morning show, 790 The Zone fired "Mayhem in the AM," according to one of the on-air hosts.

Nick Cellini called Rodney Ho at ajc.com at 6:10 p.m. to say he, Chris Dimino and Steve "Steak" Shapiro were unceremoniously let go at about 5:40 p..m., not long after the station released a statement saying they were "suspended indefinitely."

The station has since posted an updated statement confirming the termination: 
"We deeply regret the offensive programming that aired this morning on “Mayhem In The AM” on 790 The Zone, related to former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason and his battle with ALS.  
We suspended the three individuals involved immediately following their comments and have since terminated their employment. 790 The Zone, our owners, sponsors and partners in no way endorse or support this kind of content. We sincerely apologize to Mr. Gleason, his family and all those touched by ALS." 
He said he's sorry about the "stupid" gag they did about Steve Gleason, the former Saints player suffering from ALS this morning and plans to work with his charity foundation in response The Gleason Initiative Foundation. He said he got a response from Gleason through a third party and heard that he was okay with the apology.

Cellini's Twitter Account Is No Longer Available.
ALS has taken Gleason’s ability to do most daily functions, like walk, talk or use his hands. As such, the 36-year-old Gleason relies on a special computer that allows him to type with his eyes and provides him with a voice to speak.