Saturday, May 9, 2015

May 10 Radio History


In 1922...WHB-AM, Kansas City, Missouri, began broadcasting.

According to fadedsignals.com, Sam Adair and John Schilling signed WHB on the air in 1922 from Kansas City.  Cook Paint and Varnish Company purchased the station in 1930.  It was an independent station until becoming a Mutual Network affiliate in 1936.

WHB operated as a daytime-only station until the FCC granted it full-time status in 1946.

Cook sold WHB-AM to Omaha entrepreneur Todd Storz in 1954.  He enjoyed success with a Top 40 pop format on his stations in Omaha and New Orleans.  Storz flipped WHB to the nation’s first 24-hour Top 40 format.  It became Kansas City’s most popular station by the end of the year.

WHB-AM’s 10,000-watt signal made the station one of the most powerful Top 40 stations in the country. It became a model for many stations around the nation seeking to copy the success of the Top 40 format.

Here’s a sample of what WHB sounded like in 1960:



Storz Broadcasting sold WHB to Shamrock Broadcasting in 1985.  The new owner dropped Top 40 for a oldies.  In 1989, KCMO-FM flipped to oldies, drawing away WHB-AM’s listeners.

WHB began simulcasting a farm/country music format in 1993.  It swapped frequencies with KCMO-AM in 1998, giving the station a larger daytime coverage area. (DA50Kw-D, DA5Kw-Night).  WHB had been broadcasting at 710 AM (DA10Kw-Day, DA5Kw-Night).

Union Broadcasting purchased WHB and flipped the station to its current sports format in 1999.


In 1927…In Boston, the Hotel Statler became the first such establishment to install radio headsets in each of its (1,300) rooms.


In 1972…Writer/producer (radio serials The Lone Ranger, The Green Hornet and Challenge of the Yukon)/lawyer/publisher/radio station owner (Michigan's WXYZ-Detroit, WOOD-Grand Rapids, WPON-Pontiac) George W. Trendle died at age 87.

A noted penny-pincher, Trendle specified that the music on WXYZ shows should be non-copyrighted classical so that the station would not have to pay royalties or performance fees. This is the reason the "William Tell Overture" was adopted as "The Lone Ranger" theme and "The Flight of the Bumble Bee" became the theme for "The Green Hornet."

Here is an episode of The Lone Ranger from 1937...




In 1954...Bill Haley and the Comets released the classic "Rock Around The Clock," which became the first rock and roll song to top the charts.





In 1982...Top 40 formatted WABC 770 AM, New York City, played it's last record before converting to talk Radio.

WABC ended its 22-year run as a music station with a 9 am–noon farewell show hosted by Dan Ingram and Ron Lundy. The last song played on WABC before the format change was "Imagine" by John Lennon, followed by the familiar WABC "Chime Time" jingle, then a moment of silence before the debut of the new talk format.



In 1959, Harold L. Neal, Jr. was named General Manager of WABC. Neal had been at WXYZ in Detroit. He was charged with making WABC successful in terms of both audience and profits. By 1960, WABC committed to a virtually full-time schedule of top-40 songs played by upbeat personalities during the first week of December 1960. Still, WABC played a few popular non-rock and roll songs as well. WABC's early days as a Top 40 station were humble ones.

Top 40 WINS was the No. 1 music station and WMCA, which did a similar rock leaning top 40 format, was also a formidable competitor, while WABC barely ranked in the Top Ten. Fortunately for WABC, the other Top 40 outlets could not be heard well in certain New York and New Jersey suburbs, since WINS, WMGM, and WMCA were all directional stations. WABC, with its 50,000-watt non-directional signal, had the advantage of being heard in places west, south, and northwest – a huge chunk of the suburban population – and this is where the station began to draw ratings. Early in 1962, WMGM, owned by Loew's, which then owned MGM, was sold to Storer Broadcasting. Upon its sale, WMGM reverted to its original WHN call letters and switched to a MOR music format playing easy listening and, unlike WNEW which played limited amounts of soft rock and roll, absolutely no rock and roll except maybe Ray Charles or Bobby Darin. WHN was considered MOR because it was vocal based and played about 75 to 80% vocals and the rest instrumentals.

(Note:  Musicradio 77 WABC History segments were compiled by Ellis b. Feaster. Feaster is now morning host on Contemporary Christian WPOZ 88.3 FM in Orlando, FL. Thanks for the work Ellis!)



Sam Holman was the first WABC program director of this era. Under Holman, WABC achieved No. 1 ratings during much of 1962, after WMGM reverted to WHN. By the summer of 1963, WMCA led the pack, with WABC at No. 2 and WINS slipping to third place. It has been said, but is difficult to verify, that WMCA dominated in the city proper, while WABC owned the suburbs. This would be consistent with WMCA's 5,000-watt directional signal, although WMCA had the benefit of a lower frequency than WABC.



Then, Hal Neal hired Rick Sklar as the program director. Sklar would go on to become a member of the Radio Hall of Fame and be credited as one of the pioneering architects of the Top 40 format.

Under Sklar, the station went to the shortest playlist of any contemporary music station in history; the number one song was heard about every hour and 15 minutes. Top 5 songs were heard almost as often. Other current songs averaged once to twice per airshift. The station played about 9 current hits per hour and several non-current songs. The non-currents were no more than 5 years old and the station played about 70 of them totally.

WABC was known by various slogans, "Channel 77 WABC", then "77 WABC", and later "Musicradio WABC". Also, like WMCA did, WABC played no more than two songs in a row and there was heavy talk and personality between every song. The station averaged 6 short commercial breaks per hour but they were short and no more than 3 ads in a row. Voiceovers by the live airpersonality on the air were often part of the commercial.



WABC Daytime Coverage Map
Early 1960s disc jockeys included Dan Ingram, Herb Oscar Anderson, Charlie Greer, Scott Muni, Chuck Dunaway, Jack Carney, and Bob Lewis, but the best known WABC DJs are the ones that followed them in the mid-1960s and 1970s: Harry Harrison, Ron Lundy, Jim Nettleton, Radio Hall of Fame members Dan Ingram and "Cousin Brucie" Bruce Morrow, Chuck Leonard, Bob Cruz (a Dan Ingram sound alike), Frank Kingston Smith, Roby Yonge, George Michael, and Johnny Donovan. Also heard on WABC was sportscaster Howard Cosell, who would continue into 770's all talk format years with a late night program.

Especially in the afternoons and evenings, WABC was the station that teenagers could be heard listening to on transistor radios all over the New York metropolitan area. Due to its strong signal, the station could be heard easily over 100 miles away—as far as the Catskill Mountains, Pocono Mountains and outlying areas of Philadelphia.



WABC's ratings strength came from its cumulative audience. Most listeners didn't stay with WABC for long periods of time, as the station had some of the shortest "time spent listening" (or TSL) spans in the history of music radio—an average listener spent about 10 minutes listening to WABC. It was the price paid for a short playlist, and numerous commercials between songs, but what WABC lacked in TSL it more than made up for with its sheer number of listeners.



The end of the 1970s found FM radio beginning to overtake AM music stations in most markets. In June 1975, an FM station on 92.3, owned by the San Juan (Puerto Rico) Racing Association flipped to Soft Rock and became known as Mellow 92 WKTU. That station had very low ratings and had no effect on WABC. But on July 24, 1978, at 6 PM, WKTU abruptly dropped its Soft Rock format in favor of a disco-based top 40 format known as "Disco 92". By December of that year, WABC was unseated, as WKTU became the No. 1 station in New York City. The first "disco" ratings saw WKTU with 11 percent of the listening audience—a huge number anywhere, let alone in a market the size of New York City—and WABC dropping from 4.1 million listeners to 3 million, losing 25 percent of its audience practically overnight.



After this initial ratings tumble, WABC panicked and began mixing in several extended disco mixes per hour and sometimes played two back-to-back. Some of the disco songs ran in excess of eight minutes. What regular listeners heard was a major change in sound. While the station continued playing non-disco and rock songs about a third of the time, familiar format had seemed to disappear and as a result, WABC began to lose its identity.

For much more on Musicradio 77WABC:  Click Here

Bill Simmons OUT At ESPN

Bill Simmons is leaving ESPN, the network's president, John Skipper, told Richard Sandomir of The New York Times.

In a statement, Skipper said he chose not to extend Simmons' contract:
I decided today that we are not going to renew Bill Simmons' contract. We have been in negotiations and it was clear it was time to move on. ESPN's relationship with Bill has been mutually beneficial — he has produced great content for us for many years and ESPN has provided him many new opportunities to spread his wings. We wish Bill continued success as he plans his next chapter. ESPN remains committed to Grantland and we have a strong team in place.
After becoming one of the country's most popular sports columnists while writing for ESPN.com, Simmons founded Grantland.com and worked on the network's acclaimed "30 for 30" documentary series.

The NY Times noted when Bill Simmons learned on Friday morning that his nearly 15-year-old relationship with ESPN was over, he responded with something uncharacteristic: silence.

He said nothing to his 3.7 million followers on Twitter. He did not pick up the phone or answer requests for comment. His agent and publicist followed his sounds of silence.

Simmons seemed to have been blindsided by the timing of ESPN’s decision, which came more than four months before his contract is to expire, at the end of September.

Moonves: Broadcast TV Best Bet For Advertising

Les Moonves
CBS chief Les Moonves said Friday that broadcast TV remains the best bet for advertising because of one key factor.

"In network, there's scarcity [and] specific numbers attached to it and you know what you're getting. And no major product can ever be launched without the use of network television," Moonves said in an interview on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street."

"[Digital advertising] is an unending supply of inventory," Moonves added. "There are millions of sites to put your money in."

Moonves made his remarks a day after CBS reported quarterly profits and revenue that were slightly above Wall Street's estimates. Still, ad sales fell to $1.78 billion from $1.87 billion in the year-earlier period, which also led to lower local broadcasting revenues year over year.



Boston Radio: Howie Carr Spars With NJ Gov. Chris Christie


WRKO 680 AM and syndicated talk-radio host Howie Carr is not a fan of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's plan to rein in entitlements spending.

Business Insider reports Carr repeatedly tore into the likely 2016 presidential candidate in an interview on his Thursday radio show. At times, Carr and Christie attempted to shout over each other as they debated whether Social Security benefits should be cut.

Last month, Christie proposed a number of specific reforms to entitlements like Social Security and Medicare. Among other things, he called for raising the retirement age, cutting back benefits for seniors who earn more than $80,000, and ending benefits for those who make more than $200,000.

But Carr, who is nearing retirement age, said the proposal amounted to "raising taxes on the American people."

"I'm older than you are. I'm 63. I started paying into this program when Lyndon Johnson was president, right? Nobody said anything about means-testing," he said. "I'm going to get a union pension. A union pension, governor. And you say I'm going to be making too much in retirement? I have to give up my Social Security?"

Christie didn't back down, however, and challenged Carr to propose his own plan to prevent the US entitlements system from going bankrupt.

"What's your solution, Howie? What's your solution? It's going to go broke; what's your solution?" Christie said. "I'm dealing responsibly with the problem. You're complaining and putting forward no solution.

LISTEN: Click Here

Milwaukee Radio: Van McNeil To Mornings On WLDB-FM

CV, Van McNeil
Former on-air personality Van McNeil will co-host the morning show on WLDB 93.3 FM starting Monday.

According to jsonline.com, McNeil joins Carol Vonn. She has been flying solo on the station's 5:30-10 a.m. morning show since the station cut loose longtime Milwaukee radio voice Jane Matenaer last month.

That was when the station, part of the Milwaukee Radio Alliance, rebranded its adult-contemporary format with more of a Top40 mix, branded as "Trending Radio."

McNeil was afternoon host on WMYX 99.1 FM until the fall of 2013, when his contract wasn't renewed after 15 years with its parent, Entercom.

WLDB 93.3 FM (16 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area
Since then, he's been public relations, media and marketing director of MKE Sports & Entertainment, owners of the Wave. He's also handled public-address duties for the team's games for the last 17 seasons.

May 9 Radio History


In 1929...WJW-AM, Cleveland, Ohio began broadcasting.

Alan Freed
The station was a staple of the Cleveland airwaves for more than 40 years under its original call letters of WJW.

The station was started in Mansfield, OH as WLBV sin 1926 under the ownership of John Weimer.  The call letters became WJW in 1928, reflecting his initials. He sold it in 1931 to Mansfield Broadcasting Association.

WJW moved to Akron in 1932.  William O’Neill purchased the station in 1943 and moved it to Cleveland.  The station moved from 1210 kHz to 850 kHz and increased its power to 5,000 watts.

During its history, WJW aired Alan Freed's "Moondog" rock'n'roll show.



O'Neil sold WJW on 17 Nov. 1954 to Storer Broadcasting, which teamed it with its local television operation, WXEL.  Storer dropped the ABC radio affiliation in 1957 to become independent, although the station later had a brief affiliation with NBC before becoming independent again.


During the 1960s the "Ed Fisher Show" was immensely popular during a 10-year run, as was the station's adult contemporary format of news, talk, and jazz. Sold to Erie Broadcasting in the fall of 1976, WJW began to highlight talk shows and adult popular music. It had begun separate FM programming in 1965 on a station that eventually passed into separate ownership as WGCL.

WJW was sold 1986 to Booth American Broadcasting, at which time it exchanged its long-familiar call letters for WRMR. In 1990 Booth sold the station to Independent Group Ltd., a local group that owned WDOK.

Today, the station's call sign is WKNR and airs sportstalk. The station now has 50Kw-Day, 5Kw-Night.


In 1932...WFLA/WSUN, Clearwater, FL, tested first directional antenna in the U.S.


In 1937…Ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his dummy Charlie McCarthy started their own radio show on NBC, just a few months after they had debuted and been a big hit on Rudy Vallee's radio program. Under various sponsors and two different networks, the show continued on the air until July 1, 1956. Here's audio from a 1944 show...




In 1958…Angry that his radio station employer did not back his defense after he was charged with inciting a riot at a recent Boston show, Alan Freed resigned from 1010 WINS in New York City, claiming his bosses refused to "stand by my policies and principles."




In 1990…Pauline Frederick, a network news reporter (ABC Radio, 1946-53; NBC Radio and TV (1953-74) for nearly 30 years, died following a heart attack at age 84.


In 2012…Sportscaster Carl Beane, public address announcer at Boston's Fenway Park since 2003, died in a car accident at age 59.

Friday, May 8, 2015

Research: Mom Is Listening To Online Radio

Click to Enlarge Graphics
It's Mother's Day weekend and the folks at Edison Research have released new research that indicates:
  • The Internet is essential to Mom more than Radio
  • Mom is listening online
The new data is drawn from the Infinite Dial series, and Edison Research sees strong reinforcement of mobile behavior and social networking. While mom continues to power on with her smartphone and tablet, she is consuming media in ways she hasn’t before, thus creating new media patterns and ramping up her already high usage of the Internet.

The data shows that moms are now averaging more than three hours per day online, with 30% logging in four hours or more.   Rewind back to 2000 and moms were not even spending thirty minutes with the Internet.


Internet usage will trend up and maintain its hold as long as mobile continues its march forward into the mom market, and that doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon.  Moms and Media 2015 shows us that 94% of moms own a cell phone, with 84% owning a smartphone. As they have been in the past, moms are out ahead of the total respondents 12+ from The Infinite Dial who came in with 71% smartphone ownership this year.


While moms have a pretty full schedule, they manage to find new time to listen to online radio.   Almost a third, 32% of moms said the time spent with online radio is new time, and not taken from other audio sources. This is a clear indicator that moms are listening in new patterns, while doing other things. The Internet and mobile devices are making it possible to consume media at any time and in any place.

Read More Now

Tribune Media 1Q Revenue Is Up 6 Percent

Tribune Media's earnings fell 11 percent in the first quarter despite revenue growth across its television and digital segments.

The Chicaho Tribune reports the company had net income of $36.4 million, or 37 cents per share, according to financial statements released Friday. That is down from $41 million in net income during the first quarter of 2014.

Operating revenue was up 6 percent to $472.7 million, slightly below consensus analyst estimates.

In the television segment, growth in retransmission consent fees offset a 2 percent decline in advertising, which Tribune Media attributed in part to decreased revenues associated with airing the Super Bowl on 14 Fox-affiliated stations in 2014 versus two NBC-affiliated stations in 2015.

Digital and data revenue increased 59 percent to $50.2 million.

"We generated top-line line growth in the first quarter and made progress against many of our key strategic objectives," Peter Liguori, Tribune Media's president and CEO, said in a statement. "Our results in the first quarter and our outlook for the remainder of the year give us confidence that we are on track to achieve our revenue and adjusted EBITDA guidance for the full year."

Tribune Media owns and operates 42 local television stations, national cable channel WGN America, WGN Radio and other broadcasting assets, as well as real estate holdings and equity investments.

With Fewer Stations, CBS Radio Is Down 7 Percent

CBS reported quarterly earnings and sales on Thursday that topped analysts' expectations, as rising affiliate and subscription fees offset sluggishness in licensing and distribution, according to CNBC.

CBS posted first-quarter earnings of 78 cents per share, up from 77 cents a year earlier. Revenue totaled $3.5 billion, down slightly from $3.57 billion as local broadcast ad sales took a hit.

Analysts had expected the company to report earnings of 75 cents a share on $3.45 billion in revenue, according to a consensus estimate from Thomson Reuters.

"CBS turned in another quarter of record EPS, and our investment in world-class content will lay the foundation to drive future profits," said Leslie Moonves, CBS president and CEO, in a release.

The company touted growth in CBS All Access, the over-the-top service it has developed as consumers put a premium on choice and streaming content. All Access has expanded to half of the United States and CBS expects it to reach 75 percent of American households by the end of the year.

Higher rates drove an 11 percent jump in affiliate and subscription fees from a year earlier. But content licensing and distribution revenues dropped 4 percent.

Les Moonves
Entertainment sales, the company's largest segment declined to $2.26 billion in the quarter. Ad sales fell to $1.78 billion from $1.87 billion in the year-earlier period.

According to the LA Times, the CBS broadcast network is expected to finish the 2014-15 TV season in first place in number of viewers. It will mark the seventh consecutive year that CBS finishes the season as the nation's most-watched TV network.

The strength is expected to help CBS negotiate increases in its commercial rates with advertisers for the upcoming TV season. CBS also will broadcast the 2016 NFL championship Super Bowl, another selling point.

"I'm very confident that we will lead the marketplace in pricing and volume," CBS Corp. Chief Executive Leslie Moonves told Wall Street analysts Thursday during a conference call to discuss CBS first-quarter earnings.

Industrywide, major media companies have been grappling with declines in advertising revenue as marketers spread their ad allocations between traditional media, including TV networks, and Internet and mobile outlets.

CBS was no exception as its advertising sales fell 5% during its first quarter of 2015. Radio stations felt the biggest sting -- they were down 7%.

However, the CBS broadcast network bucked the trend as its advertising revenue increased 1% compared with the year-earlier period, Chief Operating Officer Joseph Ianniello said.

Ianniello reminded analysts that CBS now has nine fewer radio stations in its portfolio following the radio station swap with Beasley last fall.

He added, "In addition, the harsh weather that hit Boston, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Detroit where we have 40 TV and radio stations contributed to the advertising slowdown that we saw during the quarter, particularly in the retail and entertainment categories. However, we are seeing a pickup across several key advertising categories in Q2."

Moonves acknowledged new Radio President, Andre Fernandez.  Moonves called Fernanadez "an impressive executive". He also commented, "Andre took the reins from a friend and longtime colleague, Dan Mason, who retired last month. Andre has a successful track record as President of a public company portfolio of newspapers, TV and radio stations and digital assets. We look forward to all that he will do to build on our major market strategy and keep radio growing into the future."

Beasley: 1Q Revene Drops 10.3 Percent On Station Swaps

Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. today announced operating results for the three month period ended March 31, 2015.
  • Net revenues from continuing operations jumped 87% to $24.3 million
  • Income from continuing operating grew from a loss of $1.5 million to a gain of $1.3 million  
Commenting on the results, George G. Beasley, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, “On a reported basis, first quarter net revenue from continuing operations rose 87.2% and SOI increased 92.3%. However, given the required accounting treatment for discontinued operations following last December’s asset exchange, the results exclude the stations we gave up in the transaction.

George Beasley
“As such, we continue to believe the pro forma presentation, which assumes the asset exchange occurred on January 1, 2014, better reflects the first quarter operating results. On a pro forma basis, first quarter net revenue decreased 10.3% while SOI declined 12.2%. The pro forma revenue decline is primarily attributable to overall market weakness in Charlotte and Tampa-St. Petersburg and softer ad sales at our Wilmington cluster during the first quarter, our reduction in spot units at the newly acquired stations and revenue in last year’s first quarter in Charlotte and Tampa-St. Petersburg related to the CBS affiliation that did not recur due to the change in ownership.

“While the first quarter pro forma presentation allows for a comparison of the same stations during both periods, it only partially reflects a range of recent revenue and cost initiatives primarily initiated at the newly acquired stations.
  • In our Tampa-St. Petersburg market cluster, we’ve taken a holistic approach with respect to format changes, on-air talent and adding new management for the market, operations and sales.
  • In our Charlotte market cluster strategy is focused on extending the cluster’s successes and driving further operating efficiencies. 
  • Our Tampa-St. Petersburg and Charlotte clusters are highly competitive in their respective markets from the standpoint of revenue share.
“In addition to our initiatives during the quarter to extract financial and operating synergies from the asset exchange, we made further progress on debt reduction while returning capital to shareholders. During the first quarter we made credit facility repayments totaling $1.5 million, reducing borrowings to $96.2 million at March 31, 2015 and declared our sixth consecutive quarterly cash dividend.

Redstone Denies Succession Chatter

Sumner Redstone
92-year-old Sumner Redstone has denied recent media reports that his 61-year-old daughter Shari Redstone would succeed him as the top exec for Viacom and CBS.

In a statement released Thursday, Redstone stated, "Decisions about who will succeed me as chairman of CBS and Viacom will be made by the boards of the respective companies, and not by any individual," according to the Sumner Redstone statement.

The LA Times reports succession is a high-stakes affair because it involves the future of two publicly traded companies, CBS and Viacom.  The companies have different directors, different investors and different points of view.

Redstone has two adult children. His daughter Shari Redstone, 61, is an accomplished executive who runs Advancit Capital, which makes investments in new media companies. She is vice chairman of both CBS and Viacom's boards but she is not involved in the day-to-day management of the two companies.

"After my death, my ownership interest in the companies will be overseen by a group of seven trustees who will make fiduciary decisions based solely on the best interests of the beneficiaries of the trust," the Sumner Redstone statement said. "Until that time, I will continue to make all such decisions."

CBS is managed by its chief executive Leslie Moonves. Viacom is managed by its chief executive Philippe Dauman, who once was Sumner Redstone's attorney. Dauman is one of the trustees of a seven-member board that will one day make decisions about the Redstone empire.

St. Louis Radio: Jim And Jeane To Mornings At Country WIL-FM

Jim and Jeanne with Jake Owen
Hubbard Broadcasting has unveiled its new morning show for WIL 92.3 FM.

According to program director Greg Mozingo Jim Day and Jeane Garth will succeed longtime morning host Jim "Cornbread" Law who retired last month.  The Jim and Jeane Show starts May 11.

Day arrrives from Tulsa, OK, where he spent 14 years with Cox Media Country KWEN's "Cash and Carey" morning show. A Pittsburgh native, Day also has worked in Tennessee and Ohio.

Garth, a Hillsboro High grad, worked in Rolla, Mo., before starting at WIL two years ago, working weekends and fill-ins.

“I've worked for one of the best radio companies in America; it takes a lot to leave a place like KWEN, but after meeting Greg Mozingo and (Hubbard/St. Louis GM) John Kijowski, I'm thrilled to be making this move,” said Day.

WIL 92.3 FM (99 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area
Added Garth, “I've been so lucky already having worked at WIL. I’m beyond excited to have the opportunity to join the new morning team with Jim. It has been my dream to one day be a part of this amazing staff and team full-time. This is going to be an amazing journey.”

L-A Radio: Lisa May Lands On Her Feet At Cumulus' KLOS

Lisa May
Cumulus Media announces that longtime Los Angeles radio personality Lisa May joins the KLOS morning program, “The Heidi & Frank Show” on KLOS 95.5 FM.

May makes her KLOS debut on Monday, May 11. “The Heidi & Frank Show” airs weekdays from 6:00 a.m. till 10:00 a.m. PT.

May has been an L.A. morning radio fixture for 24 years, as part of “The Kevin & Bean Show” on KROQ. She has also been a traffic reporter on various L.A. stations, including ABC7, KLAC, KMPC, KNX, KPCC, KPWR, KHWY, KGIL, KMGX, and KACE.

In addition to her radio career, May has done ADR (automated dialogue replacement) for such television shows as Alias, Nip/Tuck, Brothers & Sisters and Mistresses.

Keith Cunningham, Program Director for KLOS said: “Having worked with Kevin & Bean for so long, Lisa May isn’t just a traffic reporter or female sidekick, she’s a radio brand and she’s beloved by Southern California radio listeners. She’ll be doing a lot more than traffic, and we can’t wait to get her in the building.”

KLOS 95.5 FM (61 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area
May said: "Joining a twosome can be tricky business. Usually you have to set up some ground rules and have a safe word. Not with Heidi and Frank. That's what makes hooking up with them on KLOS so exciting – there’s no telling what's going to happen. I can't wait!"

Charleston Radio: Tori Lynn Joins WIWF For Middays

Tori Lynn
Cumulus Media has announce that Tori Lynn has been named the new Afternoon Air Host for WIWF NASH FM 96.9 in Charleston, SC.

She joins NASH FM 96.9 after her most recent stops in Savannah at WIXV and WTOC-TV, as well as WVGS in Statesboro, GA.

Bill West, NASH FM 96.9 Program Director said:  “I couldn't be more excited to have Tori on board the Cumulus NASH team of extraordinary talent. Her promotional creativity and engaging on-air presence got my attention from her previous tour of duty with us in Savannah. I can’t wait to get her here and creating more fun on the radio!“

Sherry Dollar, Vice President/Market Manager for Cumulus Charleston said: “I am excited to add Tori’s energy and passion for radio to our team. Tori is going to bring great talent and fun back into Low Country radio.”

WIWF 96.9 FM (99 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area
Tori Lynn said: "Charleston is such a beautiful city and Cumulus and the NASH brand is THE leader in the world of Country radio. This is the perfect home for me. I love the beach, I’m close to family and I'm so happy to be back with my Cumulus family after spending two incredible years with Cumulus/WIXV in Savannah. I'm so excited to hit the ground running and to be a part of this great station and team!"

NM Radio: After 13 Years Buck & Dex OUT At KTEG

iHeartMedia this week parted company with Buck and Dex. And according to KRQE News13 many fans are wondering why.

The news came as a shock to many, including Aaron Buck Burnett and Dex Toth. They say, after more than 13 years on KTEG 104.1 FM The Edge, it’s difficult to let go.

“It’s going to be weird not being there with these people, you know, with our army,” said Burnett.

“It’s tough, you know. The Edge is embedded in me. It’s going to be hard to let that go and start over somewhere else,” Toth said.

The two say they received an email to meet with their bosses after their morning show on Monday. When the two got to the studio, they say the general manager was there with two envelopes. The pair says iHeartMedia was reorganizing the station and they wouldn’t be a part of that.

They say it was like a dream, but reps with iHeartMedia say they put a lot of thought into their decision. They told KRQE News 13 this really began more than six months ago while analyzing the show.

“I thank Buck and Dex for their years of service and the job they did and it’s time to move forward for all of us, and we provided them with a nice severance package, if they choose to take it and we move on,” said iHeartMedia Regional President Chuck Hammond.

KTEG 104.1 FM (100 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area
A new morning show starts Monday, the Baxter and Janae show.

Radio Stuff Podcast Snags WLS-AM's Johnny B

Newly syndicated Cumulus and Westwood One personality Jonathon Brandmeier is never at a loss for words. In this 55-minute discussion with radio consultant and talent coach Larry Gifford, for the 100th episode of Radio Stuff, Johnny B lives up to his new tagline; Talk Unhinged.

On his time at WGN, Chicago: “The whole experience, I just did not like it. That’s the way it is. It’s just a fact. Anyone who knows me, knows that just wasn’t me.”

On his time at KZZP, Phoenix:  “That kid, me, was fearless. He didn’t care what you thought about him. He didn’t care what the ratings were, the PPMs – he didn’t care. All he cared about was is he having a good time?”

On Howard Stern: “What impresses me is that fact that Howard Stern never ever changed who he was for anybody. He never did. Here is the greatest example. He gets on the most high profile show you can get on; America’s Got Talent. And there he is in all his glory and what does he do the next day? He’s talking to someone about anal sex. He’s the same guy. I have nothing but respect for that because he just doesn’t let anyone push him one way or another. He stays the course. That is what I wish I had. I let people push me around a little bit and I shouldn’t have done it. I should’ve just said, ‘No, I’m not doing it.’”

The discussion bounces from topic to topic with the same speed and flourish as his radio show. Brandmeier questions the future of radio, contemplates on lessons learned throughout his career as a musician, an actor and a radio personality and shares personal insights on the launch of his new radio show.

The 100th episode of Radio Stuff also features the return, for one-show only, of original Radio Stuff co-host Deb Slater.


Radio Stuff (www.radiostuffpodcast.com) is a weekly podcast about radio for radio. Larry Gifford (www.larrygifford.com) hosts an insider’s listen to what’s happening on the radio. Now available on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, and Soundcloud.

Cleveland Radio: Sports Talker Chuck Booms OUT At WKRK

Chuck Booms
Chuck Booms -- the acerbic and homegrown half of the Kiley & Booms morning sports talk show on WKRK 92.3 FM The Fan -- has been fired.

Cleveland.com reports Booms, a stand-up-comic who partnered with Kevin Kiley first on a national sports talk show and in recent years a relentlessly local one, acknowledged the news Thursday after rumors circulated on social media.

"I just want to thank all the great fans of the show, just like with being a stand-up comedian, they're what matter to me the most and I am sad I won't be able to be interacting with them any more," Booms said. "I'm shocked and I am very sad and I am mostly sad for the fans of the show."

Program director Andy Roth The Fan's program director confirms that the station will announce Booms' replacement soon, but Kevin Kiley, his co-host, will keep his job.

Report: Bright House To Walk From Charter Deal

Bright House Networks, the sixth largest U.S. cable operator, is preparing to abandon a $10.4 billion deal to be acquired by larger peer Charter Communications Inc, according to Reuters.

Charter, the No. 4 U.S. cable operator, clinched the deal with Bright House in March contingent on completion of Comcast Corp's $45.2 billion merger with Time Warner Cable Inc (TWC.N). Comcast walked away from the Time Warner Cable deal last month because of antitrust hurdles.

Charter's agreement with Bright House includes a 30-day provision for them to renegotiate a deal in this event. That period lapses in about two weeks. Even though negotiations are still formally continuing, Bright House, which is controlled by the Newhouse family, owner of magazine publisher Conde Nast, now believes it best to remain independent.

Time Warner Cable has an agreement to negotiate programing rates for Bright House, as well as share technology, in exchange for a fee.

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Tribune To Acquire U-T San Diego For $85M


Tribune Publishing, the parent company of the Los Angeles Times has agreed to buy the U-T San Diego, uniting the newspapers of California's two largest cities under common ownership.

It will pay $85 million in a cash-and-stock deal for the U-T, eight community weeklies and related websites.

The acquisition will extend the company's reach into the country's eighth-largest city and give it a dominant position over a wide swath of Southern California.

“We're combining two of the most enduring institutions in California,” said Austin Beutner, Times publisher and chief executive. “We can take the best of what each newsroom can offer, and offer it to a broader customer base.”

Beutner will serve as publisher of both papers and as chief executive of the newly formed California News Group, which will oversee Tribune Publishing operations in the two markets.

Executives at both papers are examining how operations can be consolidated. One possibility is that The Times will print the San Diego paper.

The U-T, whose roots date to 1868 and which was known until recently as the San Diego Union-Tribune, serves a metropolitan area of more than 3 million. It has 622 employees, 173 of them in the newsroom.

Tribune Publishing's newspapers and their websites were spun off from Tribune Media last year as a separate, publicly traded entity. Since then, the new company has purchased publications in Chicago and Maryland to bolster its flagship papers in those markets.

The U-T is descended from the San Diego Union, established in 1868, and the Evening Tribune, founded in 1895. The Copley family bought the papers in 1928 and maintained them as separate publications until merging them in 1992.

In 2011, San Diego real estate developer Doug Manchester bought the Union-Tribune for more than $110 million. In 2012, the name of the paper was changed to the U-T San Diego.

D/FW Radio: KLIF-FM Adds Little Brownie For Middays

Cumulus Media announces that Dallas radio personality Lil Brownie joins the KLIF New HOT 93.3 FM air staff in Dallas/Fort Worth.

Her five-hour show debuted Thursday and airs weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Central. Lil Brownie joins The New HOT 93.3 from Dallas station K104, where she was Morning Show Producer and on-air talent. Prior to that, she co-hosted Nights at Casa 106.7 in Dallas. She was also featured on a popular Dallas-Fort Worth television show called DMX TV.

Louie Diaz, Program Director for The New HOT 93.3 said: “Lil Brownie has big energy!  DFW will love her midday’s on The New HOT 93.3.”

KLIF 93.3 FM (16.5 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area
Lil Brownie said: “I’m really excited to come in “HOT” and to be a part the HOT 93.3 family!

Knoxville Radio: WVRX Makes It Four Country Stations

Midwest Communications has flipped thier newly-acquired Active Rock station WVRX, 95.7 FM The X in Knoxville to Country.

They will use the syndicated brand "Duke FM, Palying The Legends of Country."

This makes the fourth country station in the market.  Others inlcude Cumulus's heritage  WIVK 107.7 FM (91 Kw) , Scripps/Journal's WCYQ 100.3 FM (98 Kw) and M&M Broadcasting's Classic Country WMYR, Merle 96.7 FM (2.6 Kw).

WVRX 95.7 FM (6 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area
Exiting the station are PD/Afternoon Host Mike “Hurricane Shane” Schoenherr, middayer Scott Bohannon, night host John “Fister” Wilson, and the syndicated Free Beer & Hot Wings morning show.

Spotify Plans to Enter Web Video Business


Music streaming service Spotify is laying plans to enter the hotly competitive Web video business. WSJ’s Mike Shields joins the News Hub.


Survey: Radio Growing Social Media Presence


Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) reports that radio and television stations are continuing to develop social media and mobile strategies to deliver news to new audiences.

According to Bob Papper, Professor Emeritus - Hofstra University, a recent survey of newsrooms show more stations are adding social media desks, committing full-time employees and/or scheduled groups of employees to maintain a constant social media presence.


RTDNA’s study showed mobile development slowing somewhat from last year stations using key platforms such as Facebook and Twitter continue to rise.

Toronto Radio: Dean Blundell Sports Getting The Big Mo

Talk personality Dean Blundell fared much better in his second month on the air for Toronto sports CJCL 590 AM The Fan, and according to The Globe&Mail, his chief rival’s ratings faded.

Blundell & Co., which replaced Brady and Walker, with hosts Greg Brady and Andrew Walker, as The Fan’s morning show on March 2, drew an average share of 3.3 per cent of listeners between ages 25 to 54 in April. That was a jump from 2.3 per cent in March.

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At the same time, TSN Toronto CHUM 1050 AM's morning show, Mike Richards in the Morning, slid from an average share of 1.3 in March to 0.7 in April.

While it is only one month, the trend is encouraging for Fan owner Rogers Media, as Blundell’s 3.3 April share also stopped a steady morning-ratings slide that started a year earlier with Brady and Walker.

Bumping Brady and Walker to the 1-4 p.m. weekday slot initially created controversy because their ratings were considered stable, while Blundell’s mix of vulgar and sometimes misogynistic and homophobic humour in his previous job (on Toronto FM station 102.1 The Edge) kept him in hot water with Canada’s broadcast authorities.

Ratings from Numeris that showed Brady and Walker’s decline started in April, 2014, and they were never able to arrest the slide. That April, Brady and Walker had a 4.8 share of adults 25 to 54 in the morning slot; by February, 2015, that share was down to 2.4.



Blundell also increased his share of what is considered The Fan’s target audience, males ages 18 to 49. In March, Blundell had a 3.5 share with that group and raised it to 4.9 in April. This appears to have been done at the expense of Richards. His share of the men 18 to 49 went from 2.4 in March to 1.1 in April.

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