Saturday, January 23, 2016

January 24 Radio History


In 1916.
..longtime Chicago baseball announcer Jack Brickhouse was born in Peoria Illinois.  He was the TV voice of the Cubs from the 1940’s into the ’80’s.  Early on he did TV play by play for the White Sox as well, and did radio for the NFL’s Chicago Bears.  He died Aug 6, 1998 after suffering a heart attack while undergoing surgery.  Brickhouse was 82.


In 1942..."Abie's Irish Rose," with a cast that variously included Clayton "Bud" Collyer, and Mercedes McCambridge, began a 2½-year run on NBC Radio.




In 1958...The Quarry Men gave their only performance at the Cavern Club in Liverpool. Three years later the musicians returned as the Beatles.


In 1962...Brian Epstein signed with the Beatles as their manager. George and Paul's fathers had to sign for their sons, who were still minors. According to the terms of the agreement, Epstein was to get 25 percent of the group's earnings, provided they made more than $400 each per week.



Beatles' Manager Brian Epstein is interviewed in New York City by Murray the K for WOR-FM Radio in 1967.


In 1962...the Billboard album chart reflected the current Twist dance craze, with four of the Top Ten LPs belonging to Chubby Checker: “For Twisters Only,” “Let’s Twist Again,” “Your Twist Party,” and “Bobby Rydell/Chubby Checker.”


In 1984...Apple introduces the Macintosh 128K


In 1992...choral director & composer Ken Darby died of heart problems in Sherman Oaks, Calif., at age 82. In 1929 he formed the King’s Men vocal quartet featured for years on the Fibber McGee & Molly radio show.  He also won three Oscars and was the principal composer of Elvis Presley's "Love Me Tender" but signed the rights over to his wife Vera Matson, whose name appears as co-lyricist and co-composer with Presley. The song was adapted from the Civil War era song "Aura Lee." His choral group, the Ken Darby Singers, sang behind Bing Crosby on the original 1942 recording of "White Christmas," and provided the music for two 1950s TV western series, "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" and "The Adventures of Jim Bowie."


In 1993...Ashley Jade Stern was born, the daughter of Radio personality Howard Stern


In 2001...bandleader Les Brown died at age 88.  His “Band of Renown” introduced Doris Day to North American audiences, and played radio, TV & live events for Bob Hope including 18 USO tours, for almost 50 years.


In 2015…Pioneering radio and television talk show host Joe Franklin, who hosted his own TV show in New York City for more than 40 years, died of prostate cancer at the age of 88.

At 14, Franklin began writing skits for The Kate Smith Hour and at 16, Franklin officially began his entertainment career as a record picker on radio sensation Martin Block's Make Believe Ballroom where he became known as "The Young Wreck with the Old Records".

He was considered to be an authority on popular culture of the first half of the 20th century, including silent films.

Snowzilla Blankets East Coast

(Reuters) -- Thick snow covered the Washington D.C. area on Saturday as a potentially record-breaking blizzard paralyzed road, rail and airline travel on the U.S. East Coast from North Carolina to New York.

More than 85 million people in at least 20 states were covered by a winter weather warning, watch or advisory, the Weather Channel said, and many stores were left with bare shelves as residents stocked up on food, water and wine, preparing to spend the weekend indoors.

At least six people were killed in car crashes due to icy roads in North Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee.

The governors of several states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia, as well as the mayor of Washington, declared states of emergency. Officials warned people not to drive.


The Washington and Baltimore metro areas were expected to bear the brunt of the storm. Two to three feet of snow are likely, accompanied by winds of up to 50 miles per hour (80 km per hour), before the storm winds down on Saturday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Steady snow was falling on southeastern Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia, early on Saturday. The storm is forecast to head north toward New York City later in the day.



RECORD BREAKER?

The National Weather Service said it was too soon to tell whether the snowfall will break records around Washington D.C. and Baltimore. "Either way, we're looking at a significant event," said NWS meteorologist Frank Pereira.

The full force of the storm could dump enough snow on Washington to eclipse the 17.8 inches (45.2 cm) of a 2010 storm and total snowfall might rival the storm of 1922, when a record 28 inches fell.



The storm developed along the Gulf Coast, dropping snow over Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky on Friday. On the East Coast, warm, moist air from the Atlantic Ocean collided with cold air to form the massive winter system, Pereira said.

Viacom Cuts Redstone Pay, Judge Orders Med Exam

Sumner Redstone
By Ross Kerber

BOSTON (Reuters) - Viacom Inc said on Friday it cut the total pay of its 92-year-old Executive Chairman Sumner Redstone by 85 percent to $2 million last year in light of his "reduced responsibilities" and that it had raised the pay of Viacom Chief Executive Philippe Dauman.

In a securities filing, the media company said the total compensation of Dauman rose to $54.2 million for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2015, up from $44.3 million in the previous period, driven by a contract renewal award. The company's shares fell 44 percent during the period.

Viacom, whose networks include Comedy Central, MTV and Nickelodeon, has faced ratings challenges, cord-cutting by cable TV consumers, and growing concerns about the health of Redstone, its founder, and his fitness to oversee the company.

Even as the company was issuing its annual proxy filing, a California judge ruled on Friday that Redstone could be examined by a doctor hired by his ex-girlfriend in a dispute over his mental competency.

Also, a recent lawsuit claims that Viacom and CBS Corp,  where Redstone is also executive chairman, improperly paid millions for Redstone's services even though he was "incapacitated".

Viacom's filing did not describe how Redstone's responsibilities had been reduced, and a company spokesman said on Friday that he did not have more details.

Viacom had outlined some of the pay changes on Jan. 20, but it had not said that Redstone's duties had been decreased or that Dauman would get a pay increase overall.

Redstone's new role meant he was no longer eligible to receive a bonus, which was $10 million in the previous fiscal year, Viacom said. Redstone's annual salary rose to $2 million in fiscal 2015 from $1,935,577 the prior year.

Viacom said in the filing that for fiscal 2015 the total pay of Chief Operating Officer Thomas Dooley fell to $29.4 million from $35 million in the prior year. Dooley's employment agreement is due  to expire at the end of this year, which has raised questions about whether he will stay with the company.

CEO Dauman's pay last year included a stock award worth $17 million tied to the renewal of his contract. Dauman's bonus was $14 million, down from $20 million the prior year, while Dooley's bonus was $11.2 million, down from $16 million in the prior year.

Viacom said both executives had requested that their bonus payments be reduced so money could be shifted to increase incentive payments at the company's operating units.

While Redstone controls a supermajority of the company's Class A voting shares through his holding company, National Amusements, his health situation and the company's high executive pay have led to questions about its corporate governance.

As expected, Friday's filing included a shareholder proposal calling for the company to recapitalize itself so that all shares would have an equal vote. Viacom said it opposes the measure because its current capital structure protects it from disruptive activist challenges and that Redstone's holding company would vote against it, ensuring it cannot pass.

(Reporting by Ross Kerber in Boston Additional reporting by Jessica Toonkel in New York. Editing by Peter Henderson and)

CT Radio: WSHU To Silence WSTC-AM, WNLK-AM

A little more than four years after buying a pair of Stamford and Norwalk AM radio stations, Fairfield CT-based WSHU Public Radio Group announced it is closing both and putting them up for sale.

WSTC 1400 AM in Stamford and WNLK 1350 AM in Norwalk will go off air Monday. The stations managed to attract only about 900 listeners combined.

“This was a strategic decision,” WSHU General Manager George Lombardi told the Stamdord Daily Voice. “We are a nonprofit organization and a community resource. We have a responsibility to our supporters to make smart business decisions, and we have found that it is not financially viable to operate these stations at this time.”

WSHU 91.1 FM acquired WSTC and WNLK in 2011 from Cox Media Group and planned to use them as an opportunity to attract more listeners, Lombardi said. But the numbers were very disappointing.

WNLK 1350 AM (1 kw-D, 500 watts-DA-N)
“We operate in highly competitive markets, and unfortunately, on average, only about 900 listeners tune in to the combined AM stations," he said. "We haven’t been able to grow listenership —or listener support — at the rate we had hoped.”

The group has chosen to discontinue broadcasting on the AM stations now, instead of waiting for a sale to go through, because on-air fundraising is set to begin at the end of the month.

“We never want to be in a position where we ask listeners to contribute toward something that won’t be there for them in the long term,” said Lombardi.

WSTC 1400 AM (780 watts) 
Tom Kuser, WSHU’s Program Director and local host of the newsmagazine "Morning Edition," says that there will be little impact on programs provided to the community.

“Listeners can still enjoy all the in-depth local coverage, NPR News, and highly regarded programs like 'Marketplace,' 'Fresh Air' and 'The Takeaway,' either via online streaming, or traditional radio frequencies,” he said.

D/FW Radio: KMVK 107.5 FM Adds Piolin For Midday Duty

Eddie 'Piolin' Sotelo
KMVK La GRANDE 107.5 FM listeners will hear a familiar voice in middays when “Piolín” returns to Dallas-Fort Worth radio beginning Monday, Jan. 25.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be back in one of my favorite cities in the country,” said El Show de Piolín host Eddie “Piolín” Sotelo. “They say that everything is bigger in Texas, and our show will be no different! I can’t wait to bring the fun to middays on La GRANDE 107.5fm and reconnect with our amazing and loyal friends and listeners in Dallas-Fort Worth. We are going to take middays to new places and invite everyone to the party!”

A localized edition of El Show de Piolín, which is nationally syndicated as a morning program by Los Angeles-based Alliance Radio Networks, will air weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on La GRANDE 107.5fm.  It will feature family-friendly humor with cross-cultural appeal and interviews with actors, musicians, athletes and other celebrities.

"We're delighted to bring Spanish radio's best known and loved personality back to Dallas-Fort Worth listeners,” said Jimmy Gonzalez, Program Director for La GRANDE 107.5fm and Vice President, Spanish Programming, CBS RADIO. “Piolín’s wit and humor will pair perfectly with the great music on La GRANDE 107.5fm to make for an incredibly entertaining show."

KMVK 107.5 FM (16.5 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area
Current La GRANDE 107.5fm nighttime host Pelos Parados will produce the program and contribute local content such as news, traffic and weather updates.  Current midday host El Bolillo will return to the nighttime (7:00-11:00 p.m.) timeslot.

Martha Raddatz Named Co-host of ABC's 'This Week'

Marthe Raddatz
ABC has formally tapped longtime correspondent Martha Raddatz to be co-anchor of its Sunday morning program “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” — but there are no plans to add her name to the program’s title, network officials said.

Raddatz, who serves as ABC’s chief global affairs correspondent, frequently substitutes for Stephanopoulos on the the Sunday morning public affairs show and has been a regular contributor for years.

She is expected to be anchoring the show this week, according to The NY Daily News.

The move should take some of the pressure off Stephanopolous who already works triple duty for ABC News.

Along with “This Week,” he serves as a co-host on “Good Morning America” and is the network’s chief anchor who swings into action when major national and global stories break.

She joined ABC News in January 1999 as the network’s State Department correspondent and covered the White House before being named its chief global affairs correspondent.

ABC's Bob Sherwood To Keynote NAB-RAB Radio Show

Ben Sherwood
Ben Sherwood, co-chairman of Disney Media Networks and president, Disney|ABC Television Group, will deliver opening remarks at the 2016 NAB Show in Las Vegas.

The opening session will take place Monday, April 18, following NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith's "State of the Broadcast Industry" address. The opening event is sponsored by Blackmagic Design.

Sherwood oversees ABC Studios, the ABC Owned Television Stations Group, and the ABC Television Network. He also oversees Disney Channels Worldwide, a portfolio of more than 100 kid-driven, family-inclusive entertainment channels or channel feeds available in 163 countries in 34 languages, including Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior, Disney Cinemagic, Hungama, and Radio Disney brands.

Additionally, Sherwood’s responsibilities include oversight of cable network Freeform (formerly known as ABC Family), and the company’s equity interest in A+E Networks, Fusion, and Hulu. Altogether, the Disney/ABC portfolio is responsible for the creation of more than 24,000 hours of original content each year.

“Mr. Sherwood has achieved great success throughout his career as a journalist, producer, writer and media executive,” said NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith. “He is a respected executive and a creative thinker with keen business sense. We look forward to hearing about his approaches to today’s rapidly evolving media business at this year’s NAB Show.”

Previously, Sherwood was president, ABC News, a position he had held since December 2010. In this role, he was responsible for all aspects of ABC News’ broadcasts as well as ABC News Radio, ABCNEWS.com, satellite service NewsOne and ABC News NOW. During his tenure, “Good Morning America” became the #1 morning TV news program. ABC News reaches a combined audience of well over 270 million people a month on television, on radio and online.

January 23 Radio History


In 1941...WOR-AM in Newark NJ moved to NYC.


WOR began broadcasting on February 22, 1922, using a 500-watt transmitter on 360 meters (833 kc.) from Bamberger's Department Store in Newark, New Jersey. The station's first broadcast was made with a home made microphone which was a megaphone attached to a telephone transmitter, while Al Jolson's "April Showers" was played. Louis Bamberger's sale of radio sets to consumers explained their affiliation with the station.


The WOR call sign was reissued from the U.S. maritime radio service. The station initially operated limited hours, sharing time with two other stations, WDT and WJY, which also operated on 833 kc.

WOR changed frequency to 740 kc. in June 1923 and shared time with WJY until July 1926, when WJY signed off for good and WOR received full use of the frequency. In December 1924, WOR acquired a studio in Manhattan. On June 17, 1927, as a result of General Order 40, WOR moved to 710 kc., the channel it currently occupies (unlike most stations, it was not affected by NARBA).

Later in 1926, WOR moved from its New York City studio on the 9th floor of Chickering Hall at 27 West 57th Street to 1440 Broadway, two blocks from Times Square.


In 1954...WNBC 660 AM NYC switched from classical to pop

WNBC signed on for the first time on March 2, 1922, as WEAF, owned by AT&T Western Electric. It was the first radio station in New York City.


The call are popularly thought to have stood for Western Electric AT&T Fone or Water, Earth, Air, and Fire (the 4 classical elements).  However, records suggest that the call letters were assigned from an alphabetical sequence. The first assigned call was actually WDAM; it was quickly dropped, but presumably came from the same alphabetical sequence.


In 1956...In Cleveland, rock 'n' roll fans under the age of 18 were banned from dancing in public unless accompanied by an adult after Ohio police started enforcing a law dating back to 1931.



In 1969...At American Sound in Memphis, between 4:00 and 7:00 a.m., Elvis Presley recorded eight takes of "Suspicious Minds," with future Grateful Dead vocalist Donna Jean Godchaux singing backup. Producer Felton Jarvis decided on a premature fade-out and fade back in near the end of the track to reflect the way Elvis performed the song in his live Las Vegas stage act. It became Presley's 17th and last #1 single in the U.S.




In 1969...At the Apple Studios in London, the Beatles, with Billy Preston playing a Fender Rhodes electric piano, recorded ten takes of "Get Back." None were used for the released single. On January 27 they recorded 14 more takes of the song, eventually selecting Take 11 which was then spliced together with the best take of the coda ending recorded on January 28. A footnote: The stereo single version of "Get Back" was the first Beatles recording to feature Ringo Starr's drum kit in true stereo.


In 1977...Carole King's Tapestry becomes the album with the longest continuous (302 weeks) stay on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart, a record that would eventually be eclipsed, no pun intended, by Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon.


In 1984...In NYC....Country WKHK 106.7 FM in became WLTW "Lite FM".

In 1980 Viacom bought the Sonderling chain, and the station adopted a country music format as "Kick" WKHK. The station was known as "Kick 106.7 FM." The format change, from jazz to country, took place in the middle of the night. The change brought many protests from New York jazz fans, and a petition to the FCC to deny the station's license renewal, which was denied. (The WRVR calls were moved to a radio station in Memphis, TN, that had once been owned by Viacom, but is now owned by Entercom.) However, ratings were low, as they were unable to compete with WHN, which also had a country music format at the time.

Then, on January 23, 1984, Viacom dropped country and changed the calls to WLTW. The station became an MOR station known as "Lite FM 106.7 WLTW". Initially they were an easy listening station without anything that would be classified as "elevator music". At this point, the station played music from such artists as Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, the Carpenters, Dionne Warwick, Kenny Rogers, Tony Bennett, Andy Williams, Barry Manilow, Simon & Garfunkel, James Taylor, and the Stylistics. The station also played softer songs from such artists as Elton John, Elvis Presley, the Beatles, the Everly Brothers, the Righteous Brothers and Billy Joel. The station wouldn't play any new music except for new songs by artists that were familiar to listeners of the station. With this format change, ratings did increase from its previously low levels.

(Almost immediately after the call letter switch, the WKHK calls were picked up by an FM station at 95.3 in Colonial Heights, Virginia that was also doing a country format. That station still has the WKHK calls and is now Heritage-owned Richmond, Virginia Country station "K95".)



By the late 1980s, WLTW started to play songs from such artists as Whitney Houston, Chicago, Foreigner, the Doobie Brothers and Bruce Springsteen. As other competing New York City stations changed their focus, the station stayed with their soft adult contemporary format, even though they were phasing out songs from artists such as Frank Sinatra, Barry Manilow, and the Carpenters. At this point, the station's ratings were at or near the top compared with other New York City radio stations.

For many years actress Teri Garr was seen in television commercials promoting the station. In later years animated commercials were used with Lite music playing around offices and homes


In 1986...The first Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held in New York City. Inaugural inductees included Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, James Brown, Sam Cooke, Jerry Lee Lewis, the Everly Brothers, Little Richard and Fats Domino.


In 1987... Bob "Bob-A-Loo" Lewis - WABC - WABC FM - WCBS FM died at age 49.

Friday, January 22, 2016

NYC Radio: NASH-FM Taps Shila Nathan For Mid-days

Shila Nathan
Cumulus Media announces that popular radio personality Shila Nathan will sign on as host of Middays on WNSH/NASH 94.7 New York. Shila debuts on NASH FM 94.7 New York on Monday, February 8, from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

She replacesKelly Ford, who recently moved to Nashville as Co-Host of America’s Morning Show.Shila comes to New York from Chicago, where she was Afternoon Drive personality for CBS Chicago’s WUSN-FM/US99.5.

Prior to that, she held on-air posts at Top40 WKRZ 98.5 FM and Country WGGY 101.3 FM in Scranton, PA, and was co-host of morning shows on WRDW-FM and on WYSP-FM in Philadelphia, where she was a weekly TV contributor for Fox 29’s “Good Day Philadelphia”.  She began her career in 2005 at WKRZ-FM in Scranton, PA, as a producer and on-air sidekick.

Chad Lopez, Vice President/Market Manager for Cumulus Media New York said: “Shila is a tremendous talent. Her enthusiasm for the Country format and listener is exactly what the NASH brand in New York represents. We're excited about the impact she's going to make in the community and in the building!”

John Foxx, Program Director for NASH FM 94.7 said: “Shila brings the energy, passion, and connection to Country Music and the Lifestyle. She is the perfect fit for NASH FM 94.7 NY!  Shila is engaging and entertaining, has built relationships with the artists, and the Tri State is going to fall in love with her. I'm beyond excited to have her on the dial and in the hallways.”

WNSH 94.7 FM (23.5 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area
Shila said: “What an exciting and unexpected opportunity at NASH FM 94.7 in New York City!I'm so grateful that I found an opportunity that brings me close to home and my family and allows me to pursue my passion of radio on the world's biggest platform. I owe a big thanks to Mike McVay, Chad Lopez, John Foxx and to the entire NASH FM crew! What a great time to be in Country music!”

Holiday PPMS Released for Portland, Orlando, 10 More Markets

Nielsen Thursday 01/21/16 Released Holiday PPM Data for the following markets:

 23  Portland OR

 24  Charlotte-Gastonia-Rick Hill NC

 26  Pittsburgh

 27  San Antonio

 28  Sacramento

 29  Salt Lake City-Ogden-Provo

 30  Cincinnati

 31  Las Vegas

 32  Cleveland

 33  Orlando

 34  Kansas City

 37  Columbus OH

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iHeartRadio Suprasses 80M Registered Users

iHeartRadio, iHeartMedia’s all-in-one digital music and live streaming radio service, Thursday announced it has surpassed 80 million registered users.

The company reports iHeartRadio continues to reach user milestones at a rate faster than Facebook or any other radio or digital music service, having reached 70 million registered users just last summer.

The number of registered users do not account for the millions of listeners who tune in to iHeartRadio’s live radio stations, which does not require registration -- meaning that iHeartRadio’s reach is even greater. iHeartRadio has also been downloaded more than 850 million times, has 80 million social media followers and is now available on more than 80 unique device platforms spanning in-home entertainment, wearables, gaming, mobile and auto.

Darren Davis
Originally launched in 2011, iHeartRadio is a free all-in-one service that offers listeners instant access to thousands of live radio stations from across the country, custom stations from a catalog of more than 24 million songs and 830,000 artists, on-demand podcasts and its newest feature "My Favorites Radio" which combines all of a listener's favorite artists and thumbed up songs in one station just for them. In addition, last fall iHeartMedia introduced iHeartRadio Family, iHeartRadio's first multi-app brand extension: a standalone app designed specifically for families with kids ages 4-11.

“In just five years, we’ve seen continued powerful growth in our registered user base - a testament to the power of radio and listening,” said Darren Davis, President of iHeartRadio. “Our listeners have many new ways to enjoy our stations and programming, and we want to continue to deepen their listening experience and ensure we’re available everywhere they expect us to be."

This milestone announcement marks the latest news during what has been a strong beginning to the year for iHeartRadio. Earlier this month at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, iHeartRadio announced integrations on seven new platforms, including AppleTV, offering listeners the opportunity to now enjoy iHeartRadio on platforms spanning in-home entertainment, gaming, mobile and auto. In addition, iHeartRadio also announced the launch of iHeartRadio in Canada and a partnership with Universal Music Group that will bring virtual reality experiences to many iHeartRadio events. To see all available platforms and to download the app, visit iHeartRadio.com/apps.

iNet Radio Network Live365 Is Shutting Down

Internet radio network Live365 has laid off a "significant" portion of its staff and is shutting down January 31, 2016.

The web radio show favorite said new royalty rates set by the Copyright Royalty Board will no longer make provisions for small webcasters to opt for a percentage of the rates.

The absence of this licence will make legally streaming copyrighted musical content prohibitively expensive for many small- to mid-sized internet broadcasters, said the body.

"Live365 relies on this licence for many of their broadcast partners and, as such, has hard decisions to make regarding their future in the streaming industry," it said in a statement.

In addition, last month, Live365 said it had also lost the support of its investors. Consequently the body has had to significantly reduce staff and is looking for new funding partners.

Dean Kattari, director of broadcasting for Live365, said the outfit hasdprovided a "home for musical discovery because many of these stations play emerging artists that terrestrial stations are reluctant to take a chance on. It would be a great loss for this to all go away."

In an email to its broadcasters, Live365 wrote:
"We are sad that we are closing our doors at the end of this month. There are always possibilities that we can come back in one form or another, but at this point in time, January 31, 2016 is the last day that Live365’s streaming servers and website will be maintained and supported."

Don McLean: "I Am Not A Villain'

Three days after he was arrested on a domestic violence charge, "American Pie" singer Don McLean is pleading with his fans for understanding.

"This last year and especially now have been hard emotional times for my wife, my children and me. What is occurring is the very painful breakdown of an almost 30 year relationship," he said Thursday in a statement on his website and on Twitter.

"Our hearts are broken and we must carry on," added the singer-songwriter, 70. "There are no winners or losers but I am not a villain."

CNN reports police in Camden, Maine, where McLean lives, arrested him early Monday on a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence assault. He was booked into the Knox County Jail and posted $10,000 bail a few hours later, according to Knox County Cpl. Bradley Woll.

McLean's wife was granted a temporary order of protection from the "American Pie" singer after she cited a pattern of abuse going back three decades.

Patrisha McLean wrote that in the early years of their marriage, McLean's rage was "unfathomably deep and scary."

She said McLean's abuse often left her bruised, and that she feared for her life when she called 911 from the bathroom of their Camden home this week. "Don terrorized me for four hours, until the 911 call that I think might have saved my life," she wrote.

Detroit Radio: The Legacy of Rosalie Trombley to Be Honored

She’s credited with making the careers of Canadian music icons like The Guess Who, Gordon Lightfoot, Paul Anka, Bachman Turner Overdrive, and Burton Cummings — and now the “Girl with the Golden Ear” is being recognized with a Juno award.

Legendary local radio figure Rosalie Trombley, music director during the “Big 8” era of CKLW 800 AM, will receive a special achievement award at the 2016 edition of the Juno awards.

“It’s always very important for us to honour pioneers of the industry,” said Allan Reid, Juno awards CEO. A news release from the Junos describes Trombley as “one of the most influential persons in radio history.”

When Trombley joined Windsor-based CKLW in 1968, it was already a dominant force in Detroit radio and also highly-rated across midwestern U.S. markets like Ohio and Pennsylvania.

But as music director, Trombley’s song choices for airplay shaped a generation of listeners. Her knack for picking ear-pleasers made hits out of tunes like These Eyes by The Guess Who, If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lightfoot, and Taking Care of Business by Bachman Turner Overdrive.

Burton Cummings once told The Windsor Star it still thrills him that Trombley played The Guess Who’s records — and if it weren’t for Windsor and CKLW, “we wouldn’t even be having this discussion right now.”

Trombley’s work at CKLW also had a major effect on non-Canadian artists like Bob Seger, Alice Cooper, Kiss, and many more. It’s been said that she personally persuaded Elton John to release the single Bennie and The Jets — the chart-topping crossover hit of 1974.

The 2016 Juno awards ceremony is on April 3 in Calgary, Alberta. The 76-year-old will not be attending, but family representatives will be at the event to accept the award for her.

Entries Open For Radio Mercury Awards

Call for Entry for the 25th Annual Radio Mercury Awards is now open. Entries are being accepted for outstanding creative spots, campaigns and innovative radio work from advertising agencies, radio stations, production companies, colleges, universities, and advertisers.

Chief Judge Chris Smith, along with a soon-to-be-announced team of final round judges, will disburse up to $90,000 in cash prizes including the $50,000 Best of Show prize. Categories for this year’s competition include: Agency/Production Company Spot, Best Use of Radio in an Integrated Campaign, Most Innovative Use of Radio, Public Service/Awareness Spot, Radio Campaign, Radio Station Produced Spot, Spanish Language Radio Spot or Campaign, and Student Produced Spot. Showcase Award categories include: Best Promotional Spot and Best International Radio Work.

Final round judges will award at least one winner in each category, and at least two awards in Agency/Production Company Spot, Radio Campaign and Radio Station Produced Spot. Judges will also have the discretion to award additional prizes.

“Motel 6, a brand I’ve worked on for 15 years, won the very first Radio Mercury Grand Prize. So it’s even more gratifying to be the head judge on the 25th anniversary of that achievement,” noted Chris Smith, Brand Creative Group Head, The Richards Group. “I’m excited to hear all of the work, and ensure that we award and recognize the best work in the 25th year and onward.”

The Radio Mercury Awards will announce the total number of awards to be given out when the 2016 Finalists are announced in early May. Winners will be announced at the 2016 Radio Mercury Awards event on June 2 in New York.

For more information regarding entry guidelines, category descriptions, entry fees, and deadlines please log onto www.radiomercuryawards.com.

Chicago Radio: WTMX To Be Honored With NAB Award

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) will honor WTMX 101.9 FM, Chicago, IL with the esteemed NAB Crystal Heritage Award, which will be presented during the NAB Show Radio Luncheon, held Tuesday, April 19 in Las Vegas.

The Heritage Award recognizes radio stations that have won a total of five Crystal Radio Awards for exceptional year-round community service efforts. Only five other stations have received this honor in the history of the NAB Crystal Radio Awards.

“Giving back to the community is a big part of who we are and what we do at WTMX. It always has been-- going back to our inception and now as part of the Hubbard Radio family," said Hubbard Chicago Market Manager John Gallagher. "Thanks to the outstanding work of our team, WTMX has been a Crystal finalist a dozen times and we are honored to receive the NAB Crystal Heritage Award.”

Radio stations can submit entries for a Crystal Radio Award until January 29.

At the NAB Show Radio Luncheon, sponsored by ASCAP, NAB will honor this year's 10 Crystal Radio Award winners and 50 finalists. Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg, hosts of ESPN Radio’s “Mike & Mike,” will be inducted into the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame. Radio host and web entrepreneur Kim Komando will be the keynote speaker at the luncheon.

CBS Radio's "Looking At The Law" Celebrates Four Decades

CBS Radio News’ weekday legal segment "Looking At The Law", which launched four decades ago, this week marks its 10,000th broadcast delivered to listeners around the country and on the Armed Forces Radio Network around the world.

The segments, which launched on April 1, 1976, feature attorney and Harvard Medical School professor Neil Chayet’s unique insights into legal cases and judicial situations that impact listeners every day. Looking At The Law can be heard in New York, Boston, Chicago and many more major city. Since the launch, Chayet has wrapped up his lively and informative reports with a twist or a pun, and the signature tag line, “This is Neil Chayet, Looking at the Law.”

“Neil thought he would run out of material by now, but with millions of lawsuits brought every year, along with an apparently endless supply of puns, the future is secure,” said Harvey Nagler, CBS News Vice President, Radio. “Most listeners have gotten a chuckle – or a groan – from Neil’s last lines and continually marvel at the strange and sometimes wacky cases that find their way into the courtroom.”

Looking At the Law was an outgrowth of Chayet’s early work at the Boston University Law-Medicine Institute where he then worked with the late Sen. Ted Kennedy and others drafting the first Community Mental Health law in the country. He was also the lawyer for the Psychiatric Task Force for the Boston Strangler investigation and the lead investigator in a federal study of single-car fatal auto accidents that helped lead to many now-standard safety features. He’s a graduate of Tufts University and the Harvard Law School. That deep legal background made Chayet a frequent guest on CBS Radio and television stations, which eventually led to the creation of Looking At The Law.

Four decades and 10,000 broadcasts later, Chayet is still Looking At The Law every day.

Chayet will celebrate his 10,000th program Friday, Jan. 22, 2016 at 8:00 PM as a guest on Dan Rea’s “NightSide” heard on Boston’s WBZ 1030 AM and available online by clicking here.

Editions of Chayet’s LOOKING AT THE LAW can be also heard at Play.it.

R.I.P.: Former Radio, TV Newsman Jack Bowden

Jack Bowden
Jack Bowden, a former WMAR-TV news anchor and reporter for more than two decades, died of leukemia Wednesday at Gilchrist Hospice Care in Towson.

He was 82, according to The Baltimore Sun.

Bowden spent 21 years in television and left WMAR in 1988 in a contract dispute. In December 1989 he joined WBAL radio and hosted an afternoon news journal program.

"He was a household word in the mid-1960s," said Richard Sher, a friend who is moderator of the WMAR-TV program "Square Off."

"Jack was a consummate professional. He had class and he was a gentleman," said Mr. Sher. "He was also a brilliant journalist. Jack always had the time for a laugh, a good cigar and a glass of bourbon. He was just a wonderful human being."

Born in Baltimore and raised in Walbrook, he was the son of Joseph R. Bowden, a Baltimore & Ohio Railroad auditor, and Marion Crane. He was a 1950 graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, where he began his broadcast career in 1955 at the campus radio station. He served in the Army's Finance Corps during the Korean War.

He initially worked at WFMD radio in Frederick. Then, in 1960, he became a classical music announcer at WBAL-FM. He worked a year at WBAL-TV and joined WMAR in 1967.

January 22 Radio History


In 1889...The Columbia Phonograph Company began selling Edison phonograph cylinders and players in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Delaware. It derived its name from the District of Columbia, which was its headquarters.


In 1956..."Fort Laramie" debuted on the CBS Radio Network starring Raymond Burr as Captain Lee Quince.


In 1940...“The Right to Happiness” written by radio soap diva Irna Phillips was first aired on the CBS Radio Network.  The daytime serial had begun on NBC Blue three months earlier.  And it would switch between CBS & NBC two more times during its 21 year run.





In 2011...Radio Pioneer Ruth Ann Myer WMCA (PD), WMGM, WHN (PD), WNEW (PD) NYC died at age 80.

In 1960, WMCA began promoting itself by stressing its on-air personalities, who were collectively known as the Good Guys. Led by program director Ruth Meyer, the first woman to hold the position in New York City radio,  this was the era of the high-profile Top 40 disc jockey with an exuberant personality aimed at a certain audience segment. With the advent of the Good Guys format, WMCA became more "on top" of new music and started to become known for "playing the hits."

In the early 1960s, the top 40 format was still young, and the field was crowded in New York City. Two major 50,000-watt stations, WMGM (frequency now occupied by WEPN) and WINS, had battled each other, playing pop music for years. Then in 1960, WABC joined the fray and started featuring top 40 music. Ultimately, it was WMCA's earnest competition with rival WABC that forced WMGM (in early 1962) and then WINS (in spring 1965) to abandon the top-40 format. There was so much attention on the high-profile WMCA-WABC battle that WMGM and WINS were each summarily forced to find a new niche.


In 2012...Sportscaster Andy Musser, voice of the Philadelphia Phillies for 26 years, died at age 74.

He was part of a team, with Richie Ashburn and Harry Kalas, which broadcast Phillies games on both radio and television for 21 consecutive seasons from 1976 to 1997. He retired after the 2001 season.

Musser worked for WCAU radio and television in Philadelphia from 1965 to 1971. During this time, he served as the radio play-by-play announcer for the Eagles football as well as 76ers and Villanova Wildcats basketball. One of the youngest lead broadcasters in the National Football League at the time, he covered the Eagles games with Charlie Gauer for four years until the station lost the broadcast rights to WIP-AM in 1969.  Musser also called various events for CBS Radio, including Super Bowl VI and Super Bowl VIII.

Musser was the lead voice for Chicago Bulls telecasts on WSNS from 1973 through 1976, pairing with Dick Gonski in the first two seasons and Lorn Brown in the third.   Musser would call New York Knicks games with Cal Ramsey on WOR-TV (away) and Manhattan Cable Television (home) for the next four seasons from 1976 to 1980. He handled all the matches in the first three years, but only the home ones in the fourth.

In 2012...40-year voice of Milwaukee sports Jim Irwin succumbed to kidney cancer at age 87.

Thursday, January 21, 2016

FCC Pressured To Require Disclosure For Political Ads

House Democrats on Wednesday pressed for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reveal the sponsors of political advertisements.

“In today's political reality of non-stop campaigning, our system continues to fail the American people by allowing special interests and shadow groups to flood our airwaves with anonymous ads, with no disclosure whatsoever,” the lawmakers said in a letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler.
“We believe the Federal Communications Commission has the responsibility and legal authority to require disclosure of the actual donors behind these ads.”

The letter was signed by 168 lawmakers, just 20 short of the entire House Democratic Caucus. They argue that the FCC has the ability to compel the person whose donation finances a political ad to identify themselves, as opposed to just the organization sponsoring it.

The Democrats argue the commission can take action under the a provision that asks the agency to “fully and fairly disclose the true identity of the person or persons, or corporation, committee, association or other unincorporated group” behind an ad. Critics of the commission say that that should mean disclosing the donors who pay for ads through outside groups, not just the groups themselves.

L-A Radio: Big Boy, Emmis Settle Lawsuit

Big Boy
Indianapolis-based media company Emmis Communications Corp. has settled a breach-of-contract lawsuit it filed in February against popular Los Angeles radio personality Kurt Alexander, better known as “Big Boy.”

According to the Indy Business-Journal, Emmis officials confirmed the settlement Wednesday but declined to disclose terms of the agreement or comment on the matter. The company had been seeking $5 million.

Alexander was a highly popular host of the morning show on Emmis-owned radio station KPWR-FM "Power 106" in Los Angeles. He was with the station for more than 20 years before suddenly leaving a year ago to join a rival L.A. station operated by iHeartMedia.

Power 106’s ratings sank dramatically after Alexander’s departure, from fifth overall in the market to 16th by the end of the year.

Emmis said Alexander broke his employment agreement when he left.

According to Emmis, Alexander's contract had a “right of first refusal” provision that allowed the company to match an offer from a competitor.

In mid-January, Alexander provided Emmis with a copy of an offer from iHeartMedia that would provide him an annual salary of $3.5 million, along with other benefits.

Other benefits included four weeks of vacation and “personal, private jet transportation two times a year for domestic travel, including Hawaii.”

Emmis said it matched the offer, but Alexander decided to leave anyway. The company sought to block the move with its suit, but was unsuccessful. He began a competing morning show on Urban KRRL-FM Real 92.3 in March.

Philly Radio: CBS Radio Suspends WIP's Josh Innes

Josh Innes
Sportsradio WIP 94.1 FM has suspended Josh Innes for three days after the host used a racial epithet on air to describe Eagles center Jason Kelce.

“Comments made by Josh Innes during his WIP-FM program yesterday in regards to Eagles center Jason Kelce were inappropriate and unacceptable,” WIP said in a statement. “We do not condone or approve of those comments.”

Just before the introductory press conference for new Eagles head coach Doug Pederson on Tuesday, Innes derided Kelce, who is white, for being a “lap dog” to the coaching staff before describing him with a pejorative term used to compare an African-American to a house slave.

“I’m the dumbest human being on the planet,” Innes said later on the air, after his comments had been picked up by national news outlets like Deadspin and The New York Post. “I apologize for that, I truly do. I’m an idiot.”

According to philly.com, the comments came on the same day ratings numbers were released showing 97.5 The Fanatic’s Mike Missanelli beat Innes in the coveted men's 25-54 demographic for the second month in the row, though both stations downplayed the importance of last month’s Holiday ratings period.

Innes will return to his show on Monday.

Holiday PPMs Released For Boston, Detroit, 10 Additional Markets

Nielsen Wednesday 01/20/16 Released Holiday PPM Data for the following markets:

  7  Washington DC

 10  Boston

 11  Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood

 12  Detroit

 13  Seattle-Tacoma

 14  Phoenix

 16  Minneapolis-St. Paul

 17  San Diego

 18  Denver-Boulder

 19  Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater

 21  Baltimore

 22  St. Louis

Click Here to view Topline numbers for subscribing Nielsen stations.

Nielsen compiles and reports audience estimates for all radio stations in its surveyed markets, subject to its minimum reporting standards. The estimates for all reported stations are available only to Nielsen Radio Market Report subscribers.
Noncommercial radio stations that are authorized users through the Radio Research Consortium and that meet minimum reporting standards will be displayed in PPM markets. Noncommercial radio stations will not be displayed in Diary markets. Please contact the Radio Research Consortium at (301) 774-6686 or RRC@rrconline.org for information about authorized users.
The subscriber list is based on information available to and processed by Nielsen at the time of publication. A subscribing station may not appear if it recently changed its call letters or band, or if it was off the air during the recent reporting period.
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JAX FL Radio: Nichole Hartman Named GSM For Cox Cluster

Nicole Hartman
Cox Media Group/Jacksonville Radio has named Nichole Hartman as its new General Sales Manager (GSM).

In this role, Hartman will lead a team of talented multi-media sales professionals who are experts in consumer behavior, representing seven radio stations and CMG Local Solutions. Hartman will also serve as Brand Manager for 95.1 WAPE, WJGL Eagle 96.9, and Hot 99.5.

“Nichole’s hard work, willingness to take on all challenges and dedication to her team and our clients has developed her into not only a great Manager for us but a shining star in our company,” said Bob DeBlois, CMG Jacksonville Radio Director of Sales. “Her passion and enthusiasm for success is contagious.”

Hartman began her CMG career as Local Sales Manager for CMG Jacksonville where she focused on cluster Target development. Before joining CMG, she was Account Manager for Entercom Communications in Greenville, South Carolina. She also was Entercom’s GSM and Digital Sales Manager and was responsible for Sales Training and developing a retail sales team.

“I am excited about the opportunity to work with the most talented Integrated Marketing specialists in the industry,” said Hartman. “We have the privilege of representing CMG's Superbrands here in Jacksonville with innovative client focused solutions. I am looking forward to new challenges and adventures, as CMG continues to expand its industry leading assets.”

Portland OR: Progressive Carl Wolfson To Exit XRAY

Portland progressive talk-radio host Carl Wolfson has felt the Bern. And he says the personal attacks of Sen. Bernie Sanders' supporters are causing him to cancel his show.

Wolfson announced this morning on Facebook he's ending his morning politics talk show on KXRY 91.1 FM / 107.1 FM XRAY.FM, citing the toll on his health and finances, the declining state of political discourse and the "vitriol of so many Bernie supporters" in the Democratic presidential primary race against Hillary Clinton.

"I have too little faith in politics to continue," he told wweek.com.

"Carl in the Morning" debuted in March 2014 on KXRY 91.1 FM, better known as XRAY. It marked a return to the airwaves after Wolfson's left-wing drive-time talk show was dumped by Clear Channel, which turned KPOJ 620 AM into a sports talk station in 2008.

Here's the full text of today's farewell note from Wolfson.
OK. I’m done. The vitriol of so many Bernie supporters and the threat they pose to Democratic unity is a bridge too far. Politics itself has gotten so nasty, so extreme and so personal that I have even been drawn into uncivil discourse in the past few days. If progressives that I have spoken for during the past nine years on radio (and during 40 years of activism) have lowered themselves to label Hillary a “fascist” or the “spawn of Satan” and worse, I have too little faith in politics to continue. 
This is not a rash decision. I have been considering it for months. I am proud of what we have accomplished on the air TOGETHER since 2007 (and 2,280 shows to be exact!) I am proud that CITM was civil, informative and fun. At a future date, after a healthy space of time, I will reflect on the whole experience: the thousands of incredible guests, callers, causes and moments that filed our time together. I am especially grateful to those who helped me relaunch CITM after Clear Channel switched KPOJ’s format in 2008, and who have kept us going on XRAY, realizing that, in a time of media consolidation, local voices are an essential fortification of democracy. 
I will probably stay on for a couple more weeks (no longer) so XRAY can get the slot filled. Have no idea what I will do, but I’m sure I want a job as far away from politics as possible. It’s been the core passion of my life ever since 1963, when I was seven and watched the first Kennedy-Nixon debate! The only thing Nixon and I had in common was we weren’t wearing makeup. 
But politics sucks. And that people like Thom Hartmann and other progressives have stooped to the levels and tactics of Lars and Fox, cuts me to the core. During the SOTU, President Obama called (again) for a political system worthy of a great people. On that score, we are failing. All of us are failing. Ninety-hour work weeks and the stress of producing two-hours of live radio on weekdays with a bare-bones staff has taken a terrible toll on my health. And after the Clear Channel boot, I’ve had to sink too much of my savings into the effort. 
I appreciate so much the sponsors and individual donors that kept us alive; at the same time, I wish more had given. In the end, though, my joy and gratitude far outweigh the regrets. Politics and activism will go on, but without me. Right now — I’m relieved! At some point, we should all have a big party. I have 200 CITM T-shirts in the garage to give away!

Roanoke Radio: Wheeler Launches Sports On 610 AM

Wheeler Broadcasting is dropping is simulcast of WVBE 100.1 FM from its 610 AM to launch an all-sports format beginning Thursday.

The station’s name has switched from WVBE-AM to the play-like WPLY to go with the sports format. The station will be simulcast on 97.3 FM in Roanoke and on 98.5 FM in Lynchburg.

Wheeler Broadcasting President and General Manager Leonard Wheeler said he has struck a deal with DirecTV to air The Dan Patrick Show on WPLY from 9 a.m. to noon weekdays and “The Rich Eisen Show” from noon to 3 p.m. DirecTV not only televises both shows but also handles their radio syndication.

WPLY 610 AM (5 KwD, 1 KwN, DA2)
According to roanoke.com, Wheeler grabbed the Roanoke rights to Dan Patrick’s show from WFJX 910 AM, which had been airing the program on same-day tape at noon.

Wheeler has also struck a deal for WPLY to become a Fox Sports Radio affiliate, so that network’s programs will consist of the rest of the WPLY schedule. That includes Colin Cowherd’s show, which will air in Roanoke on same-day tape from 3-6 p.m.

Roanoke already has an all-sports station, WGMN 1240 AM, which is an ESPN Radio affiliate.
Wheeler said he believes the market can sustain two all-sports stations.

Wheeler Broadcasting already owned 610 AM and 97.3 FM in Roanoke and bought the 98.5 FM signal in Lynchburg earlier this month.

Twin Cities Radio: The Current To Extend Footprint to Duluth

Starting February 1, KCMP The Current 89.3 FM in the Twin Cities said listeners in Duluth would be able to tune in on their own frequency to the noncommercial radio station.

“The Current has always had a special relationship with Duluth—its vibrant music scene and the community of music-loving fans,” said The Current’s program director Jim McGuinn in a statement.

McGuinn said the popular station chose Duluth for its “burgeoning music scene,” which includes Low, Trampled by Turtles and Charlie Parr.

W215CG 90.9 FM (99 Watts)
According to tcbmag.com, broadcasting  on Translator W215CG 90.9 FM, the Duluth outlet will play much of what is produced at the St. Paul headquarters.

However, the station said it planned to hire a Duluth-based radio personality to host a weekly Duluth Local Music Show with opportunities to create other programs specific to the region.

“With a presence on the dial in Duluth and the hiring of a Duluth host,” Lindsay Kimball, The Current’s assistant program director, said in a statement, “we’ll be even better positioned to discover the next generation of artists coming out of Duluth, the North Shore and the Iron Range.”

Westwood One News To Simulcast Iowa Democratic Town Hall

Westwood One News will exclusively simulcast CNN’s town hall on Monday night, January 25, when the Democratic presidential hopefuls will face voters in in Des Moines -- one week before the highly anticipated Iowa caucuses.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, and former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley will field questions from Iowa Democrats in this prime-time event hosted by the Iowa Democratic Party and Drake University.

The CNN town hall comes as the race for the Democratic nomination shows Clinton and Sanders locked in a close battle for Iowa.  Sanders leads Clinton in New Hampshire; Clinton is seen more favorably by Democrats in South Carolina and in national polls.

The town hall, which will be moderated by CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, will air from 9 pm.-11 pm ET on Westwood One News stations nationwide.

For more information, contact Jim Jones at jimjones@westwoodone.com or (202) 895-2339.

Dr. Phil Sued For False Imprisonment, Wrongful Termination

Dr. Phil
A former Dr. Phil employee is suing Dr. Phil McGraw for allegedly holding 300 employees in a room staffed by security guards as he made accusations that one of them had leaked information to the media.

Leah Rothman's lawsuit against McGraw, his production company and CBS claims she was forced quit the show in April 2015 due to a hostile work environment. She had worked on the show since 2003.

In court documents obtained by PEOPLE, Rothman alleges that on March 11, 2015, she was called into work on her day off, where she and approximately 300 Dr. Phil employees were gathered into a room staffed with several security guards. McGraw allegedly entered the room, told the guards to lock the doors and ordered the employees to turn over their phones.

McGraw then allegedly said one of his employees had leaked information to the media and that he had turned over the case to federal authorities.

"If you f--- with me, I'll f--- with you," he allegedly said, according to the lawsuit.

On March 18, 2015, Rothman says she met with a human resources executive at CBS to complain about the meeting. The human resources exec allegedly said he sympathized with Rothman, but a followup meeting she attempted to set up never materialized, with Rothman claiming she was ignored by the exec.