Wake-Up Call: Rescuers Desparate To Find Survivors

Rescuers are digging using their bare hands as they work through the night to find survivors of earthquakes in Turkey which have killed at least 4,100 people. Thousands of buildings in Turkey and Syria were flattened on Monday after a series of tremors, including two measuring 7.8 and 7.5 in magnitude. There fears that there will be thousands more fatalities confirmed in the coming days, as emergency services battle to save people trapped under the rubble as temperatures plunge below freezing. Many of those unaccounted for nearly 24 hours later had been sleeping in their beds when the first quake struck in the early hours of Monday morning, with the shaking causing entire apartments blocks to buckle and collapse. 

The U.S. Geological Survey said the magnitude 7.8 quake struck at 4:17 a.m. local time. Scores of aftershocks followed, authorities said. Hours later, a 7.5 magnitude quake struck more than 60 miles away. https://t.co/EXzuBKjsXR pic.twitter.com/vwZyD8hlX8

— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) February 6, 2023

Videos coming from the region show desperate rescuers using any tools available, including their bare hands, to try and free people - but some came too late, with heartbreaking footage showing the bodies of children and families pulled from the wreckage.

State of the Union has Americans demanding answers from President Biden on top concerns https://t.co/4maDTwbS8F

— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 7, 2023

➤GENERAL ADMITS U-S HAS 'AWARENESS GAP': A senior U.S. general responsible for bringing down a Chinese spy balloon said on Monday the military had not detected previous spy balloons before the one that appeared on Jan. 28 over the United States and called it an "awareness gap." The Pentagon said over the weekend that Chinese spy balloons had briefly flown over the United States at least three times during President Donald Trump's administration and one previously under President Joe Biden. Air Force General Glen VanHerck, head of U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command and Northern Command, said the latest balloon was 200 feet (60 meters) tall and the payload under it weighed a couple thousand pounds. He did not provide details on previous balloons, including where over the United States they flew. "I will tell you that we did not detect those threats, and that's a domain awareness gap," VanHerck said.

Tom Brady To Take Year Off Before Joining Fox Sports

Tom Brady, who announced his retirement for the second time last week, revealed Monday that he will be waiting to enter Fox Sports’ top NFL broadcast booth until the fall of 2024 after agreeing to a 10-year, $375 million contract with Fox last year, reports The NY Post.

“Decompression’s really important,” Brady said, when asked by Colin Cowherd on FS1’s “The Herd” if he will take some time to unwind between now and his future endeavors. “You’re on this really crazy treadmill, hamster wheel for a long time, loving the moment and journey. At the same time, it’s a daily fight.

“I have appreciation for so many people that are so committed every day to showing up, to put their max effort into their life and career. For me, I want to be great at what I do — talking, even last week, with the people at Fox Sports, and the leadership there, allowing me to start my Fox opportunity in 2024, something that’s great for me.

Philly Radio: WBEB Adds Delilah for Evenings

Audey’s B101 (WBEB-FM) has  announced the addition of nationally-syndicated personality Delilah. Effective today, February 6, the popular host now broadcasts on the station nightly, Monday through Friday, from 7 p.m. to midnight ET.

The top-rated show features Delilah’s distinctive blend of story-telling, sympathetic listening, and encouragement – all scored with adult contemporary music. Often referred to as the “Oprah of Radio,” Delilah attracts millions of listeners on more than 150 radio stations nationwide, making her the most listened-to woman on radio in the U.S.  For her work on the program, the Marconi Award winner has been inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Broadcasting Hall of Fame and the National Radio Hall of Fame. Please visit www.Delilah.com for more information.

Cumulus Media Launches 'Your Music First' Audio Series'

Cumulus Media has launched a new audio series, Your Music First, across its 47 Country radio stations in markets across the United States. The multi-week series kicks off with Country superstar Thomas Rhett’s new single, “Angels (Don’t Always Have Wings),” going behind the scenes with Rhett to reveal the stories behind the song. Thomas Rhett is a Valory Music Co. recording artist.

  

The Valory Music Co. is a division of Big Machine Label Group. “Angels (Don’t Always Have Wings)” can be found on Thomas Rhett’s album, Where We Started.

Cumulus Media created the Your Music First audio series for radio stations that play current music to highlight new music in a unique way by sharing the artists’ thoughts with their fans. The shows feature exclusive artist commentary on the song, with artists revealing different aspects of their song’s personal meaning, the inspiration behind the music, and insights on their life and career. Your Music First takes listeners behind the scenes of exciting new songs by premier artists in Alternative, CHR, Country, Hot AC, Rock, and Urban formats. 

TV Ratings: The Grammys Rebound

The 2023 Grammys bounced up 30% from the 2022 awards show broadcast, drawing 12.4 million viewers – the most since 2020, reports The Wrap.

Sunday night’s ceremony attracted 12.4 million viewers to its live CBS broadcast and livestream on Paramount+, according to Nielsen data. The show marked a milestone for Beyoncé, who has now collected the most Grammy wins of all time with a whooping 32 awards; it also saw “Unholy” singer Kim Petras become the first transgender woman to win Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, which she shared with collaborator Sam Smith.

The ceremony marked the largest audience for music’s biggest night since 2020, when the telecast brought in 18.8 million total viewers, which was down slight from the ceremony’s 2019 viewership of 19.9 million.

Grammys viewership faltered in 2021, when the ceremony fell by nearly half from its previous low of 17 million total viewers in 2006, by receiving 9.39 million total viewers. The ceremony saw a slight uptick for its 2022 ceremony, which brought in 9.59 million total viewers.

The State of The Commute: WFHers Leaving Home

A Katz analysis of YouGov data from its biennial tracker looks at the status of the American workforce to see where the country is at the end of 2022 in terms of working from home and commuting.

As informative as these numbers are, they are not absolutes. As many of us are likely experiencing in our own lives, working arrangements are not mutually exclusive. Consumers may have more than one working arrangement in their job, or may work multiple jobs - either of which would necessitate selecting multiple options in the YouGov survey. The data, however, is directional in showing a trending shift from WFH behaviors towards commuting to workplaces outside the home.

MLB Preparing for Bally Sports Bankruptcy

Bally Sports currently has the local broadcasting rights for 14 of Major League Baseball’s 30 franchises — including five teams for which it owns the streaming rights as well. However, MLB appears to be increasingly making moves to either take back or take over those rights, should they become available due to bankruptcy complications, reports The Streamable.

While reports last year indicated that theNBA, NHL, and MLB were in discussions to purchase the Bally Sports networks from Diamond’s parent company Sinclair Broadcast Group (SBG), that never came to pass. However, MLB did hire a former Sinclair executive to potentially end its relationship with RSNs altogether.

Recently, MLB's chief revenue officer Noah Garden told Front Office Sports that while the league would like to see Bally Sports be able to continue to deliver on its contractual obligations to the 14 clubs that it works with, MLB is preparing to step in if that becomes necessary.

“Our strong preference would be for the RSNs to be able to fulfill the agreements they signed with the clubs. However, we need to be prepared if the RSNs are unable to do so,” Garden said “This is a situation we have been monitoring for a long time. We have been contingency planning to ensure that no matter what happens with the RSNs, fans will be able to continue watching their favorite teams in their local market.”

Insight: Radio Generates Significant Auto Brand Awareness

Independent data analysis agency Colourtext and Radiocentre, the UK commercial AM/FM radio industry group, recently released the largest and most comprehensive AM/FM radio ad effectiveness report in the world. 

As part of this massive study, 59 tier one auto campaigns were measured for brands like Toyota, Honda, Land Rover, BMW, VW, Nissan, Land Rover, Volvo, Lexus, and Jaguar.   These studies represent the world’s largest collection of AM/FM radio campaign effect measurement for tier one auto brands. 

This week’s Cumulus Media | Westwood One Audio Active Group® blog outlines the key findings:

NAB Hall To Honor Stretch and Bobbito

Bartos & Bobbito Garcia

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced Adrian “Stretch Armstrong” Bartos and Bobbito García as the 2023 NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductees for radio. 

The revolutionary pair, who came to fame hosting the “Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show” at Columbia University’s WKCR-FM in the 1990s, will be inducted at a special ceremony on the main stage at NAB Show on April 17, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The induction of Bartos and García into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame coincides with the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, which will be celebrated throughout 2023.

Their self-titled show was a 1990s hip-hop radio phenomenon, launching the careers of superstar artists such as Jay Z, Nas, Wu-Tang Clan, The Notorious B.I.G. and Eminem. Their show, which ran from 1990 to 1998, was named as the “Best Hip Hop Radio Show of All Time” by The Source magazine and was the subject of the documentary “Stretch and Bobbito: Radio That Changed Lives” that was released in 2015. Their influence stretches beyond music, impacting multiple aspects of urban culture, from sneakers and sports to art.

Talk Host Soledad O'Brien To Emcee BFOA Gala

The Broadcasters Foundation of America is proud to announce the host for this year’s BFOA Golden Mike Award dinner and ceremony will be EMMY Award-winning broadcast journalist and nationally syndicated talk show host Soledad O’Brien. 

Soledad O'Brien

The 2023 BFOA Golden Mike Award gala will take place Monday, March 6, at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. The annual event is the biggest fundraiser for the Broadcasters Foundation, whose sole mission is to provide aid to radio and television professionals in acute need.

Soledad currently hosts the nationally syndicated Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien, which is produced by Hearst Television. She has anchored shows on CNN, MSNBC, and NBC, hosted projects for Fox and A&E, and contributed to Oxygen, Nat Geo, the PBS NewsHour, and WebMD.

We’re very excited to have Soledad host this year’s Golden Mike Award dinner,” said Tim McCarthy, President of the Broadcasters Foundation. “She is a multiple award-winning broadcast journalist whose reporting has brought awareness on numerous issues to the forefront. Combined with her philanthropic endeavors, she is the perfect person to host our special evening.”

R.I.P.: Aris Hampers, Longtime West Michigan Personality

Aris Hampers (1949-2023)

Longtime West Michigan radio personality Aris Hampers died Sunday, Feb. 5, according Mlive.com.

Hampers, 73, spent 37 years on the air as a rock radio host before retiring. He spent time at several West Michigan radio stations, including WLAV, WFFX, WCUZ, WKLQ, WBFX and WMAX.

“Aris was a very genuine, funny and kindhearted man who cherished the love of family and friends and the gift of music. Aris continued to give back to the music community his entire life,” the obituary said.

Hampers was a part of WLAV’s station launch, transforming it into a pivotal rock station in Grand Rapids.

“He was a radio titan in the city of Grand Rapids, being a major figure for WLAV for many years,” the radio station posted on its website Monday, Feb. 6, calling it “a sad day for LAV and our listeners.”

“His love for music extended beyond a mic on the radio,” WLAV stated. “Hampers was a band member for years as well as an owner of a disc shop in Grand Rapids.”

February 7 Radio History

Bill Johnstone

➦In 1908... one of the busiest actors in the Golden Age of Radio Bill Johnstone was born in Brooklyn.

Perhaps best remembered as the actor who succeeded Orson Welles as The Shadow (1938-43), Johnstone could also be heard as Inspector Cramer opposite Sydney Greenstreet in Nero Wolfe; Lt. Ybarra on Philip Marlowe; and in the title role on The Whistler. 

From 1950 to 1953, he starred as Lt. Ben Guthrie in the CBS radio police procedural The Lineup.  He died Nov. 1 1996 at age 88.

➦In 1915...comic actor Eddie Bracken was born in Astoria NY.  After becoming a film star in the 40’s he made frequent appearances on network radio, and had two short-lived series under his own name.  On TV he was seen in guest roles over more than 40 years, including serious drama series like Studio One & Playhouse 90.  He died after surgery Nov 14, 2002 at age 87.

➦In 1915...First train-to-station radio message, Binghamton, NY.

➦In 1963...B. Mitchel Reed started at WMCA 570 AM NYC.

Born Burton Mitchel Goldberg in Brooklyn, New York, Reed held a B.S. degree in journalism and an M.A. in political science at the University of Illinois. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, he entered the world of radio while teaching political science at his alma mater.

Reed hosted the all-night Birdland Jazz Show at WOV (AM) in New York in 1956. A year later, he landed a job at KFWB in Los Angeles, playing jazz and calling himself "The Boy on the Couch." On January 2, 1958, KFWB became a pioneering Top 40 station known as "Color Radio/Channel 98," and the DJ's were known as "The Seven Swinging Gentlemen." The lineup included Bruce Hayes, Al Jarvis, Joe Yocam, Elliot Field, Bill Ballance, Ted Quillin, and Gene Weed. Reed held the 6-9 P.M. time slot. Under Program Director Chuck Blore, KFWB became the number one radio station in LA.

He was known as "The Fastest Tongue in the West," for the speed in which he spoke to his audience. He left KFWB for WMCA in his home state of New York on February 7, 1963. He soon became part of a team of disc jockeys known as "The Good Guys," among them Jack Spector, a fellow alum from Boys High School in Brooklyn who had graduated two years ahead of him.

➦In 1963… the Vee-Jay label released the first Beatles single in the U.S. “Please Please Me.”

Vee-Jay's early releases were at first unsuccessful, but quickly became huge hits once the British Invasion took off in early 1964, selling 2.6 million Beatles singles in a month. Cash flow problems caused by Ewart Abner's tapping the company treasury to cover personal gambling debts led to the company's active demise; Vee-Jay had been forced to temporarily cease operations in the second half of 1963, leading to royalty disputes with the Four Seasons and EMI. The Four Seasons then left Vee-Jay for Philips Records, and EMI's Capitol Records picked up the U.S. rights for both the Beatles and Frank Ifield.

Dick Biondi,  at WLS 890 AM in Chicago at the time and a friend of Vee-Jay executive Ewart Abner, played the song on the radio as early as February 8, 1963.   "Please Please Me" peaked at #35, but did not show up on any of the major national record charts. The label re-issued the single in January 1964 to a much better result: it peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, just behind the group's "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "She Loves You" released on Capitol Records.

➦In 1964...Pan Am Yankee Clipper flight 101 from London Heathrow lands at New York’s Kennedy Airport as more than 3,000 fans jammed the airport launching Beatlemania in the U.S. The Beatles, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr arrived for their first U.S. visit (including an appearance two days later on “The Ed Sullivan Show”). The “Fab Four” controlled the top spot on the pop music charts for the next 15 weeks and owned the top of the album charts for 10 weeks.

NYC Radio: Angela Lee's New Show Debuts Today

Premiere Networks announced that today, February 6, marks the launch of “Way Up with Angela Yee” – the highly-anticipated new midday show from award-winning media personality Angela Yee – into national syndication. 

Originating from iHeartMedia New York’s Power 105.1 (WWPR-FM), the four-hour show will debut on more than 30 iHeartMedia stations nationwide and will be syndicated by Premiere Networks to stations across the country. 

Among the major market stations launching “Way Up with Angela Yee” today are: 107.5 WGCI in Chicago (WGCI-FM); Power 99 in Philadelphia (WUSL-FM); 105.3 The Beat in Atlanta (WRDG-FM) and 97.9 WJLB in Detroit (WJLB-FM).

“I'm thrilled to be launching ‘Way Up with Angela Yee’ and to have the platform to focus on what is truly important to so many of us: elevating our minds, our finances, our relationships and getting to the next level,” shared Angela. “It's a celebration of how far we've come and the exciting journey ahead!”

“Angela Yee is an engaging and entertaining personality with powerful multiplatform appeal,” said Julie Talbott, President of Premiere Networks. “It’s been incredible to witness her rise to stardom, and we couldn’t be happier continue our partnership by launching this exciting new show and sharing it with listeners and fans across the U.S. and the globe.”

Stations interested in “Way Up with Angela Yee” can contact affiliates@premierenetworks.com.

NYC Radio: Raad, McCarthy Join Mets Broadcast Team on WCBS 880

Audacy announces the addition of Keith Raad and Pat McCarthy to WCBS 880 AM flagship broadcast coverage of New York Mets baseball, beginning with the upcoming 2023 season.

Raad will join as play-by-play and color commentator, teaming up with the legendary voice of Mets’ radio, Howie Rose. McCarthy, who is the son of former Mets announcer Tom McCarthy, will serve as pregame and postgame host for broadcasts along with providing play-by-play for select games.

“As we round the bases towards Spring Training, we’re proud to officially welcome Keith Raad and Pat McCarthy to our popular coverage of Mets baseball alongside Mets Hall of Famer Howie Rose,” said Chris Oliviero, Market President, Audacy New York. “Once again, the Mets offseason has created anticipation and optimism for the 2023 Amazins’ and we’re looking forward to being the audio home for every moment on-air and digitally.”

“The Mets are excited to have Keith and Pat join WCBS 880 as part of the Mets broadcast,” said Andy Goldberg, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, New York Mets. “Having Keith called up from Brooklyn, and being a local New Yorker to keep it in the family is what the Mets are all about.”