Report: How Matt Drudge Changed the World

The establishment’s iron-fisted grip on media and information dissemination was irrevocably transformed when Matt Drudge launched his website in 1998.

Suddenly Americans and the world at large were no longer dependent on a skewered and politically-driven corporate media with its distorted establishment spin and agenda.

Alex Jones breaks down how this transformation occurred and how it resulted in a monumental sea change in the way news is reported and how citizens are now intimately involved in the process.

CCM+E, AdsWizz Ink Deal To Monetize iHeartRadio

AdsWizz, an advertising technology provider for the digital radio and audio industries and iHeartRadio, today announced a partnership to develop a powerful new delivery insertion method for targeted ads in live broadcast radio streams with unique new capabilities.

Clear Channel will build its unique and integrated digital advertising capabilities by using AdsWizz’ audio ad insertion and ad-serving suite of solutions.

AdsWizz ad serving technology will enable Clear Channel to deliver a tailored advertising experience based on individual listeners’ specific characteristics including user profiles and preferences, location and devices used for more than 840 Clear Channel radio stations across the country that stream live on its iHeartRadio all-in-one digital service.

The new product offering will be developed with HTTP Live Streaming which will allow greater reach and a more reliable live stream ad delivery system.

Brian Lakamp

In addition, by working with Clear Channel AdsWizz will now be able to utilize the unmatched audience reach, segments and in-depth insights of Clear Channel’s more than 245 million monthly listeners to more accurately serve up ads to target consumers based on their demographics, psychographics, geo-location and custom, data-defined segments.

“After a thorough selection process, we’ve been truly impressed by AdsWizz’ unique set of technical capabilities and believe that AdsWizz’ delivery network offers the best state-of-the-art technology to expand our offerings for advertisers, partners and consumers and align with our long-term vision to deliver unmatched services for our advertising partners,” said Brian Lakamp, President of Technology and Digital Ventures for Clear Channel. “Having the ability to serve targeted ads simultaneously to specific digital users during a live radio stream across our 840 Clear Channel stations nationwide on iHeartRadio presents a powerful platform for our advertisers and partners.”

Gannett Profit Climbs On Broadcasting Unit Growth

Gannett Co. said its second-quarter earnings rose 84% on a big boost from its broadcasting operations, which expanded with the media company's $1.5 billion acquisition of broadcaster Belo Corp. last year, according to Marketwatch.

Revenue growth in its broadcasting business along with an increase at its digital businesses offset declines at its publishing operations.

The publisher of USA Today and a string of local newspapers has been striving to transform itself, with a larger focus on its broadcasting and digital operations to help offset declines in print advertising and readership. Gannett's acquisition of Belo nearly doubled Gannett's television portfolio, making it the country's fourth largest owner of TV-network affiliates. More recently Gannett paid $215 million for six Texas TV stations.

In the latest period, broadcasting revenue surged 88% to $398.3 million. When considering revenue as if the Belo acquisition and Captivate disposition occurred in early 2013, the segment revenue growth was 13% and retransmission revenue increased by two-thirds.

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George Harrison Memorial Tree Killed By Beetles

From the truth is stranger than fiction department, Los Angeles Councilman Tom LaBonge, whose district includes Griffith Park, told Pop & Hiss over the weekend that the pine tree planted in 2004 near Griffith Observatory in memory of George Harrison will be replanted shortly because the original tree died as the result of an insect infestation.

Yes, the George Harrison Tree was killed by beetles, according to the LA Times.

Except for the loss of tree life, Harrison likely would have been amused at the irony. He once said his biggest break in life was getting into the Beatles; his second biggest was getting out.

The sapling went in, unobtrusively, near the observatory with a small plaque at the base to commemorate the former Beatle, who died in 2001, because he spent his final days in Los Angeles and because he was an avid gardener for much of his adult life.

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Nielsen: Consumer Confidence Continues To Increase

Global consumer confidence increased one index point to 97 in the second quarter of 2014, the highest score since Q1 2007, according to consumer confidence findings from Nielsen.

This follows a two-point increase at the start of the year that marked the global index’s first return to pre-recession levels. Additionally, half of global respondents believed the job market would be good or excellent in the upcoming year, a 1-percentage-point increase from the first quarter and a level not reached since 2007.

In conjunction with the second-quarter index release, Nielsen is unveiling a new interactive data visualization tool based on nine years of historical global consumer confidence data, which spans 60 countries and represents a global online population of some 2 billion consumers. The Nielsen Global Consumer Confidence Trend Tracker allows users to select a variety of different data points related to consumer economic sentiment to create dynamic visualizations by region, country, issue, and time period.

Among the world’s biggest economies, consumer confidence increased six points over Q1 2014 in Italy (51), four points in the the U.S. (104), three points in the U.K. (90), and one point in France (60). China’s consumer confidence remained flat at 111, while confidence declined eight points in Japan (73) and three points in Germany (96) compared to the previous quarter.

Regional consumer confidence increased three and two points, respectively, in North America (103) and Europe (77), compared to the first quarter. Confidence was highest in the Asia-Pacific region, which held steady from the first quarter at 106. Confidence declined over the previous quarter in Latin America (90) and the Middle East/Africa (93), decreasing three points and one point, respectively.

"Steady gains across confidence metrics within parts of Europe and buoyant increases in North America strike a positive note with regard to economic recovery in mature markets," said Dr. Venkatesh Bala, chief economist at The Cambridge Group, a division of Nielsen. "The key to continued sustained economic expansion, however, will be further strengthening of the job market, which is vital for increased consumer spending."

The Nielsen Global Survey of Consumer Confidence and Spending Intentions, established in 2005, measures consumer confidence, major concerns, and spending intentions among more than 30,000 respondents with Internet access in 60 countries. Consumer confidence levels above and below a baseline of 100 indicate degrees of optimism and pessimism.

NYC Radio: Scott Shannon Talks Of His Love For Music

WCBS 101.1 FM morning personality talks to WNEW-TV5 Ernie Anastos about his love of music.


New York News

Daughter Says Casey Kasem May Already Be Buried

Kerri Kasem

The grieving brother of TV star Casey Kasem has branded his dead sibling's wife 'pure evil' and said her reluctance to reveal where Casey's body will be laid to rest is a 'sick joke.'

Mouner Kasem hit out at Jean Kasem – Casey's wife of 34 years – after it emerged the family has not been told where the TV personality will be buried and amid reports his remains have been shipped to Canada.

In his first interview on the death of his brother the 78-year-old told MailOnline: 'It's a sick joke from a sick woman. It's a sick joke that Jean would say she lived in Jerusalem, Israel on the death certificate and it's a sick joke that she said his body is to be shipped to Montreal in Canada, a place Casey has never even been to.'

This comes as Casey's daughter Kerri says she suspects that her father may have already been buried in Los Angeles in a secret funeral service.

Kerri revealed that her 'sources' told her that Jean Kasem and daughter Liberty were seen attending a funeral over the weekend.

'We would like to know where Casey is buried,' he said. 'We want to be able to visit his grave and put flowers on the gravestone, you know on his birthday or on the day he died.

'But our fear is that that may never come. I truly believe that Jean will not tell us.

'Taking into account her behavior during this last year it is really not surprising that she won't tell us where the body is buried and I don't know if she ever will.

The Santa Monica police department is currently investigating claims of elder abuse against Casey in his final months.

'The Santa Monica PD wants the body for autopsy, not the Kasem family. We know what went on, we know of the medical records, we know what happened.'

Kerri added that there's 'overwhelming evidence' of how her father died but it's up to the District Attorney's office whether to bring any kind of prosecution.

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Palm Beach Radio: KVJ's Big Announcement Delayed

KVJ Morning Show

A widely reported live public announcement at 3pm Monday concerning the KVJ Morning Show was abruptly cancelled Monday afternoon at 2pm.

Ensemble member Kevin Rolston issused a statement: "The KVJ Show is currently under contract with Cox Radio. We cannont comment on the news of the day or any rumors regarding the show, We want to thanks our listeners and fans for their support."

It's widely believed the team, Kevin Rolston, Virginia Sinicki and Jason Pennington,  will be back on the next July 29 on WRMF 97.9 FM 98 Variety.

Post by The KVJ Show.

Jennifer Ross

Meanwhile, Hot AC WRMF's current morning show is moving to WEAT 107.9 FM Sunny.  Jennifer Ross will be joined by her co-hosts Deena Long and Bill Adams.  However, Joe Raineri has departed.

Ross said "I've come full circle returning to Sunny, a  place I've always thought of as home. The Sunny audience and I have grown up together. I guess we all have a few stories to share, be it our kids, grandkids, husbands or in my case, ex-husbands or next husbands! I look forward to waking up with the Sunny audience and to this next chapters in my radio life."

"We are very excited to offer the community and our advertisers the best morning shows in the market. Moving Jennifer Ross to Sunny 107.9 along with our excellent portfolio of shows including D, Tiny and Chelsea on 103.1 WIRK-FM; and Steve Harvey and Reggie Dee on WMBX X102.3, I'm confident we have the best morning line-ups in town.  Live and local is the foundation of our comany," said Elizabeth Hamma, Palm Beach Broadcasting Markert Manager.

Palm Beach Broadcasting is a subsidiary  of Digity LLC.

Hamma added starting today Jennifer, Deena and Bill will be heard on both WRMF and sunny. "This will continue until Tuesday, July 29, at which time Palm Beach Broadcasting will debut a new WRMF morning show."

WRMF 97.9 FM (100Kw) 60dBu Coverage

The trio was let go in early May from Cox Media Group's Hollywood-based WFLC 97.3 FM Hits after 14 years as the Palm Beach County/Treasure Coast undisputed morning prime-time No. 1 on WLDI Wild 95.5.

NY Radio: WBWZ Adds Elliott In The Morning

CCM+E's rock WBWZ 93.3 FM has added "Elliot in the Morning," based in Washington, D.C.  That's right, it's the same show that was recently on N/T WOR 710 AM in NYC.

Chris Marino is program director for Rock 93.3 and OM for the Poughkeepsie cluster said the move to air "Elliot in the Morning" was prompted by low ratings for the unhosted music program that Rock 93.3 had been broadcasting in the morning.

"They could have been better," Marino said. "It shows us the market does look for some type of human interaction; companionship in the morning."

WBWZ 93.3 FM (330watts) 60dBu Coverage

Morning listeners on Rock 93.3 now hear "a little bit of swagger and attitude," he said. "We felt this was an opportunity to shake things up a little bit."

Chicago Radio: Mancow Sues Maverick Radio Partners

Erich "Mancow" Muller, a longtime Chicago radio personality known for his storied and often controversial career, filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court last week claiming a North Carolina man defrauded him out of $50,000 that was to be used to purchase radio stations, according to The Chicago Tribune.

Those purchases apparently never took place.

Instead, the suit alleges Rodney Rainey and his company, Maverick Radio Partners, improperly used the money for purposes other than the acquisitions and failed to return the $50,000 despite repeated requests from Muller.

The suit claims Muller was approached by Rainey in December 2011 with a potential radio investment opportunity. The Sept. 7, 2011, offering claimed Maverick Radio Partners had secured $19.3 million in equity and debt to finance the acquisition of WFRE 99.9 FM and WFMD 930 AM in Frederick, Md. That was to be the initial acquisition of a five- to seven-market chain to be assembled by the company within 18 months.

Further, Muller alleges Maverick said it had secured a commitment of $200 million from Spartacus Partners Corp. to build the group, which was targeting stations in Hartford, Conn., Orlando, Fla., Charlotte, N.C., Nashville, Tenn., and other markets.

Within two months of the initial contact, the suit says, Muller entered into an oral agreement with Rainey to give him $50,000 in investment capital, with the understanding it would be held in escrow until documentation was provided that the money to buy the radio stations was in place. Muller wired the money to Rainey on or about Feb. 24, 2012, according to the lawsuit.

Rainey never provided the required documentation, according to Muller's suit. Muller contacted him "on multiple occasions" to request the return of his $50,000. Rainey "repeatedly promised to return the funds but failed to do so."

Muller's "Morning Madhouse" ended an eight-year run on WKQX 101.1 FM in 2006. He was dropped from WLS-AM 890 in 2010 and has created a radio network. "The Mancow Experience" is simulcast on WPWR-Ch. 50, a Fox-owned Chicago TV station.

LA Radio: Kings Ink Radio Deal With KABC

The Los Angeles Kings – the 2014 Stanley Cup Champions – and TalkRadio KABC 790 AM have reached an agreement on a multi-year contract for KABC to serve as the new radio home for the Kings, the two companies jointly announced today.
 
Cumulus-owned TalkRadio 790 KABC will serve as the Kings’ new flagship radio station beginning this season for all Kings regular season, playoff and preseason games.

Nick Nickson and Daryl Evans will continue to serve as club broadcasters on TalkRadio 790 KABC and along the Kings Radio Network.  In addition, the Kings and TalkRadio 790 KABC will partner on exclusive events and original digital content to help the team’s fans stay close to all the action.

“We are thrilled to partner with Cumulus and TalkRadio 790 KABC as we announce this agreement,” said Kings President, Business Operations, Luc Robitaille.  “They are a strong and visible media and broadcasting brand in our community, and they have a great overall reputation as a business and in the radio industry in particular.  Our combined efforts will undoubtedly broaden the reach of the Kings with our current fans and in the broader community.”

“This new relationship is also another example of how the Kings business and brand continues to grow and evolve, and on a personal note I would like to thank Marko Radlovic of TalkRadio 790 KABC and John Dickey of Cumulus for joining us as we work together in this new venture.”

Said John Dickey, Executive Vice President & Co-Chief Operating Officer of Cumulus: “We’re excited to add the Stanley Cup-winning L.A. Kings to our national roster of sports broadcasting partnerships. Airing games on TalkRadio 790 KABC will anchor an exciting live and local entertainment platform serving millions of Kings supporters through radio, digital and events.”

The L.A. Kings and TalkRadio 790 KABC will launch this multi-platform partnership with a special broadcast of "Mid Day LA with Jillian Barberie and John Phillips."  Details will be announced this later week.

Atlanta Radio: Jason Bailey OUT, Mike Bell IN At WZGC

Dukes and Bell

Morning host Jason Bailey is out and former WQXI 790 AM The Zone afternoon host Mike Bell is in at CBS Radio's WZGC 92.9 FM The Game, according to Rodney Ho at ajc.com.

Bell officially joins Carl Dukes and the show time has added an extra hour, ending at 7 p.m. instead of 6 p.m.

Bell -  who was on the Zone for 15 years  until it dumped local programming in May - has been under contract with the station until December, 2015.

His agent Norm Schrutt was able to convince Zone owner Lincoln Financial to let Bell out of his non-compete clause in exchange for not having to pay him fully for another 17-plus months.

“Lincoln was very fair,” Schrutt said. “It took awhile but it works out well.”

WZGC 92.9 FM (64Kw) 60dBu Coverage

Bailey had joined The Game from Orlando, where he was known as Buckethead on WTKS 104.1 FM.

SacRadio: The Rise Guys Returning On KCTC

This past March when Kevin “Whitey” Gleason and Mark Kreidler, along with their partner, Dan Dibley – collectively known in sports-talk radio as the Rise Guys – were let go by KGMZ 95.7 FM The Game in San Francisco, they were stunned.

The two were briefly on the street wondering what happened, but, according to sacbee.com,  all that changed two weeks ago when KCTC 1320 AM ESPN in Sacramento announced it had hired Gleason and Kreidler – for an afternoon show still called “The Rise Guys,” which debuts Monday in the 2-6 p.m. slot. The pair now work for the same company, Entercom, that fired them in the spring.

It was almost three years ago exactly that Gleason and Kreidler bolted from their comfy, successful morning perch at KHTK 1140 AM in Sacramento for the greener pasture of the San Francisco gig, where they dove headfirst into Bay Area sports mania.

“We had an incredible opportunity to go to a larger market in San Francisco, which was a good career move,” Gleason said recently, sitting in a conference room at his new station’s Old Foothill Farms studios.

The Game, using the Rise Guys, aimed to take a bigger slice of the morning-sports-talk-market pie from KNBR 680 AM, which dominates the San Francisco market. It did not.

The Bay Area Sports Guy industry newsletter reported that in February, when the Rise Guys were still at The Game, their Nielsen “reach” – or estimated number of people hearing the program – was 206,900, compared to KNBR’s 504,900. In March, The Game’s reach was 217,900, compared to KNBR’s 605,900.

Gleason is a radio veteran whose Rise Guys show had aired on KHTK for 12 years. He has more than 30 years in radio, moving into sports talk in 1999. He said going to KMGZ “did not work out ideally” but “I would do it again in a heartbeat. I think our show for having been in San Francisco is a better show than it was.”

Their return to Sacramento does place them opposite former colleague Grant Napear at their old radio home, KHTK. Napear, the television voice of the Sacramento Kings, has long hosted his own weekday afternoon sports talk show from 3-7 p.m. Napear said he was unconcerned by the re-emergence of the Rise Guys on his turf.

Knoxville Radio: Oskie Media To Shutter TN Sports Radio

Oskie Media, LLC, the company that owns and operates two  Knoxville area radio frequencies, announced Monday that it is launching two new radio stations.

Tennessee Sports Radio, which Oskie Media has operated for the past four years on WVLZ 1180 AM, will cease broadcasting on Aug. 29 at 5 p.m. to make room for one of the new stations.

The company said it has analyzed the Knoxville radio market for the past seven months to ascertain what listeners want and to identify what the market currently lacks. The result of that research is two entirely new formats unique to the East Tennessee market.

The company will announce those formats in coming weeks.

Oskie Media is owned by a group of Middle Tennessee investors. Jason Bailey, co-owner of Oskie Media and General Manager of Tennessee Sports Radio, took over the former ESPN Radio station in Knoxville in 2010. He quickly changed formats and built a cult-following for Tennessee Sports Radio with on-air personalities including Erik Ainge, Jayson Swain, Dave Hooker and former television sports journalist Steve Phillips.

“We wanted to engage our audience,” Bailey said. “We set Tennessee Sports Radio up in a way that was unlike any other radio station in Knoxville. We were ahead of our time, and our listeners and advertisers loved it and responded to it. We had a great four-year run and we raised the bar for sports radio in East Tennessee. Everyone involved with Tennessee Sports Radio should be proud of what they accomplished.

Tennessee Sports Radio will continue to broadcast daily through August 29.  The first of Oskie Media’s new stations is expected to launch on 1180 AM on Monday, September 1 at 7 a.m. with a separate station launching soon thereafter on WKCE 1120 AM.

Russian Media: The CIA Downed MH17

If perception is reality, then the Russian population would assume that the downing of Malaysia Airlines MH17 was the work of the Ukrainians — with the help of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, or vice versa.

According to NBC News, just one day after the horrific tragedy that left 298 people dead, Russia's Channel One ran a package telling its audience that the entire incident was orchestrated by the United States, specifically by the CIA.

Viewers learned that the "U.S. orchestrated this because Ukrainian government is not sophisticated enough to orchestrate this," according to the broadcast, which was translated from the original Russian by CNBC. According to Channel One, Russia's swift economic growth has inspired the United States to try to damage Russia's economy.

The government of Russian President Vladimir Putin financially supports and editorially controls a domestic media machine that has become reminiscent of the Soviet propaganda machine, and the former KGB agent has shut down most independent news channels that may stray from the Kremlin line.

July 22 In Radio History

In 1963…The Beatles' first U.S. album, "Introducing The Beatles" was pressed by Vee-Jay Records. When it was released in January 1964, Capitol Records filed an injunction against Vee-Jay in an attempt to keep them from "manufacturing, distributing, advertising, or otherwise disposing of records by the Beatles." The trial that followed resulted in Vee-Jay being allowed to release Beatles records only until October 15, 1964

Jack Lescoulie

In 1987..WNEW-AM Radio/TV personality, former Today Show host  Jack Lescoulie died

On radio, he was billed as the "Grouchmaster" on The Grouch Club (1938–40), a program in which people aired their complaints about anything,  created by future TV legend Nat Hiken, creator of The Phil Silvers Show /You'll Never Get Rich and Car 54, Where Are You?. In the 1940s, he was morning-drive partner to Gene Rayburn on WNEW radio (now WBBR) in New York City, before turning over his role in the team to Dee Finch. The Lescoulie and Finch pairings with Rayburn provided what are believed to be radio's first two-man morning teams.

During World War II, Lescoulie served as a war correspondent, flying in Air Force planes on bombing missions over Italy.

Today's Frank Blair, J. Fred Muggs Dave Garroway

In the fall of 1947, Lescoulie became the "all night radio man" on the Mutual Broadcasting System's New York affiliate WOR 710 AM. On April 12, 1948, he portrayed a mysterious newscaster in "Twelve to Five," a Quiet, Please fantasy drama which recreated an all-night request radio program so convincingly that some listeners phoned in with requests. He returned to Quiet Please June 4, 1949, in the horror drama, "Tanglefoot."

On today, he was teamed with Dave Garroway for over nine years, covering sports, news and features. The tall, blond performer was called ''the saver'' by Mr. Garroway because of his ability to enliven lackluster interviews with his wit. Often characterized as a good-humored, all-American boy, his frequently lighthearted tasks for ''Today'' included wrestling a walrus, interviewing a penguin and eating six breakfasts in one sitting. He Left 'Today' in 1961.

During the 1950's, Mr. Lescoulie made commercials for Milton Berle, was an announcer for ''The Jackie Gleason Show'' on CBS and was the host of an NBC sports-interview series called ''Meet the Champions.'' He also filled in as host of NBC's ''Tonight: America After Dark,'' a show that briefly replaced the ''Tonight'' show in 1957. The next year, he was co-host of an NBC quiz show called ''Brains and Brawn.''

AdLarge Media Inks Social Media Deal With Commotion

AdLarge Media has announced an exclusive national advertising sales representation agreement with its newest partner, Commotion, the breakthrough listener-engagement platform for radio stations that enables real-time communications.

Commotion is a web and mobile communication portal that builds a social media community around the radio station and visually matches what is being heard on-air.  The Commotion platform encourages real-time conversations not only between hosts and listeners but also among listeners, and is driven by both the over-the-air and streamed signals.

“The seamless experience of Commotion’s real-time social media interaction deepens listener engagement,” noted Frank DeSantis, Vice President, Business Development, AdLarge. “By being platform agnostic in their perception of radio, Commotion has helped more than 200 stations extend their brand to real-time engagement in a meaningful way for listeners and advertisers.”

“We chose AdLarge as our national advertising partner because of their successful track record in representing the value of radio’s engaged community to clients,” stated Richard Rene, Vice President, Global Business Development, Commotion.  “They have a well-deserved reputation for creating customized packages across platforms that also was a good fit for us.”

“The ability to change the experience within the station’s mobile app as quickly as the station changes what is happening on-air is critical to a successful mobile experience,” explained Ryan Burgoyne, Chief Executive Officer, Commotion.  “We call this ‘Moving at the Speed of Radio,’ since listeners can now visually experience whatever they are hearing on the radio as it happens.”