NYC Radio: Debbie Rodriguez Leaving WCBS-FM Morning Show

Rodriguez, Shannon

WCBS 101.1 FM personality Scott Shannon Friday morning announced the first departure from the new morning Show.

Longtime WCBS AM/FM news anchor Debbie Rodriguez is leaving.  Her last day on the show is today.

Shannon made the announcement at the start of the show this morning.

However, Rodriguez is not leaving CBS Radio.  She'll be working part-time on newser WCBS 880 AM.  Taking over on the Shannon In The Morning Show is NYC radio veteran Suzy Cerone.  Cerone is filling the slot "as we figure out what we're doing," according to Shannon.

According to Shannon, "we're not giving her the boot".   Rather Rodriquez has apparently tired of her early daily commute form Rhinebeck, NY., especially during an especially difficult winter.   She apparently leaves as early as 1am to start her day.  The roundtrip commuting time totals almost 4 hours daily to the CBS Radio facility in the Hudson Square neighborhood of Manhattan.

Rodriquez has previously worked at the former WNSR-FM and MIX 105 doing hourly news updates. Prior to that her resume includes WGBB 1240 AM radio on Long Island and WHVW 950 AM in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Orlando Radio: Morning CoHost Ashley Leaving WWKA

Ashley

WWKA 92.3 FM K92 "AJ & Ashley" Morning Show co-host Ashley Figueroa has announced she'll be leaving the Cox Media station at the end of March.

She broke the news on her Facebook page and said she'll be relocating to Nashville.  She stated: "But for those who know me, the past couple of years I’ve talked about moving to Nashville, TN one day.  Well that day has finally come.   I’ve always wanted to live in the heart of the country music industry and be surrounded by it.  It’s an amazing place.  Being in Nashville also means I’ll be 4 hours from home."

Ashley's departure means there's a prime spot open at K92.

PD J.R. Schumann is looking for someone with a strong on-air presence, a social media rock star, passion for radio, and a great work ethic.  Send your material to jrschuman@coxinc.com.

Philly Radio: Jared Fallon New PD At WIOQ

Jared Fallon

CCM+E/Philadelphia has announced Jared Fallon has been named Program Director for WIOQ 102.1 FM Q102.

Fallon joins Clear Channel-Philadelphia from the Cincinnati cluster, where he most recently served as Program Director for WKFS 107.1 FM KISS 107. He has more than 15 years of experience in the radio industry, including roles on-air and as a Music Director.

"The extraordinary opportunity to program a legendary station like Q102 is incredibly exciting," said Fallon.

"The team at Clear Channel-Philadelphia is stacked with experienced, innovative and talented individuals that are absolutely unrivaled in the market. I'm eager to get to Philly and begin this amazing experience."

"Jared is one of the most creative, passionate young programmers I've met in a long time ­ his vision will undoubtedly be a key catalyst in our quest for even greater success," said Brian Check, Vice President of Programming, Clear Channel Philadelphia.

WIOQ 102.1 fm (27kW) 54dBu Coverage

Lakamp: CC 'Enthusiastic' About CarPlay

Brian Lakamp, president of Digital for Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, oversees iHeartRadio, and agreed to speak with Michael Grothaus at Fast Company about his early experience integrating with CarPlay.

“Apple is pretty selective about how they disclose information,” says Lakamp. “Apple made us aware of the opportunity. We were enthusiastic to participate and then worked closely with them to build the demo that they just demoed in Geneva.”

Brian Lakamp

Lakamp says that once iHeartRadio signed on, developing a CarPlay-compatible iHeartRadio app wasn’t a major coding challenge--mainly because Apple did a good job with the API allowing developers to add CarPlay support to their existing apps instead of having to make new, dedicated versions.

“The way that Apple constructed this is a relatively thin layer that we need to build to copy existing apps that move some of the control and command structure to the console,” Lakamp says. “Then the console simply acts as a remote control to your app. It was a relatively light integration.”

Lakamp says  Clear Channel is not worried about that Apple has its sights set on cars. Despite the “old fashioned” nature of AM/FM’s technology, and those who crow about its impending demise at the hands of digital streaming, Lakamp says radio isn’t going anywhere.

“I can tell you from my perspective that that idea is somewhat crazy,” he says. “Technology has evolved every step of the way: AM to FM to satellite to Internet. None of those have removed the need for the preceding technology. We're in the fourth, fifth generation of things right now. If anything, they've been additive, and they've extended the opportunity. Every car on the planet has AM/FM radio. It's an easy, reliable way to get at content and get at the personalities that you love. Every car has it, unless the radio has been stolen.”

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FCC's Wheeler Seeks To Limit TV Station Mergers

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler is proposing to prevent joint retransmission consent negotiations between two of the top four separately owned TV stations in a local market, and adopt a "rebuttable presumption" that coordinated negotiations by any two stations in a market are not in the public interest.

According to Broadcasting&Cable, The chairman plans to vote on that retransmission consent proposal at the March 31 meeting, according to senior FCC officials speaking on background. He will circulate the item on March 10, the customary 21 days before the meeting. Those officials made it clear the move was a way to try to stem rising cable prices.

The officials cited what they called skyrocketing costs of retrans, from $28 million in 2005 to $2.4 billion in 2012.

The chairman wants immediate action on retrans and JSAs (see below), but is also seeking comment on other issues, including local ownership rules and continuing to ban the merger of two of the top four broadcast networks.

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In response to an announcement today by FCC Chairman Wheeler that he will circulate a proposal affecting broadcasters' joint sales agreements and shared services agreements, NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith stated:

"NAB is disappointed but not surprised by this proposal from Chairman Wheeler. Broadcast companies across America have demonstrated that sharing arrangements lead to more local news and provide robust competition to giant pay TV providers.

"The real loser will be local TV viewers, because this proposal will kill jobs, chill investment in broadcasting and reduce meaningful minority programming and ownership opportunities.

"Coincidentally, two industries would benefit from today's proposal: Big Cable companies who want less competition for advertising in local markets, and wireless companies who support punitive FCC actions that drive more TV stations into spectrum auctions."

Pay-TV Firms Cheer Wheeler's Proposed Changes

Tom Wheeler

Pay-TV distributors and public interest groups cheered news that the Federal Communications Commission is considering new regulations for local television stations, according to The LA Times.

Specifically, the FCC is expected to vote on March 31 to prohibit separately owned television stations from teaming up to negotiate distribution deals with pay-TV companies.

The practice has become commonplace in the last several years because of an increase the number of operating partnerships between local television stations known as joint sales agreements or shared service agreements.

Under such partnerships, the stronger of the two TV stations typically negotiates distribution deals for itself and the other station. Pay-TV companies say such arrangements have given broadcasters an unfair advantage and resulted in higher pay-TV bills for consumers.

The American Cable Assn. called the practice "collusion" and a "scheme designed to drive up the fees paid by cable-TV providers." The National Cable & Telecommunications Assn. said, "This type of coordinated behavior has resulted in increased prices which are ultimately borne by consumers." Both groups praised the FCC and Chairman Tom Wheeler for the proposed changes.

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Study: CTT Listeners Younger Than Expected

Salem Communications Corporation has released research data it commissioned in the largest research project ever done on the habits and patterns of Christian Teaching and Talk listeners across the country. Nielsen conducted this in-depth qualitative study of 350 Salem Teach and Talk listeners across both PPM and diary markets with Edison Research.

Salem's study talked to the listeners of Christian formatted talk stations owned by Salem and other companies, to determine who they are, why they listen, and how they listen.

The study revealed that half of the listeners to CTT stations are under the age of 55. This data contradicts a common notion that CTT listeners tend to be older and less active. 14% of the listeners were 18 to 34, 18% were 35-49 and 18% were 50 to 54.

The study also revealed that the younger listeners to CTT stations are listening about as long as the older listeners. On average those 55 and younger are spending 6.1 hours per week listening to CTT stations. That compares to 6.4 hours for those 55 and over.

Phil Boyce

One of the most surprising things revealed in the study is that listening among the 18-34 audience is actually increasing. This study reported that 48% of these younger listeners are actually listening more in the last 12 months and 38% are listening the same. That means 86% are listening more or the same.

"There is this perception that these are your father's or even grandfather's radio stations, but we found there is a significant pool of younger listeners spending a great deal of time with our CTT format," said Salem VP, Director of Spoken Word Format, Phil Boyce. "These listeners are loyal, fully engaged, and are truly listening to the content for its edifying value." Salem feels this data and other supporting data bodes well for its efforts to continue to encourage advertisers to reach this segment of the population that is often difficult to reach in other ways.

"At a time when we see younger listeners leaving traditional radio and going more to their iPads, smartphones, and computers, this format is growing a younger audience base that is seeking the kind of content we produce," said Boyce. Of all the age groups Salem researched, the growth in the younger demo was the most dramatic, by far.

This study reveals that while the digital footprint continues to grow, it has not detracted from over the air radio. In fact the typical listener to Christian Teach and Talk radio listens an average of 6.2 hours a week to AM or FM radio. This is about double the 3.2 hours spent listening on a desktop or laptop computer. Listeners also report listening less than an hour on a tablet device, and less than an hour on a smartphone.

CNN Ordered To Stop Reporting From Crimea

CNN's Anna Coren speaks to Anderson Cooper on the phone from Crimea after she was told to stop broadcasting.

NYC Radio: Dave Herman Pleads 'Not Guilty'

Dave Herman

Former radio personality Dave Herman was arraigned in federal court Thursday and pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempted sexual abuse, according to nj.com.

U.S. District Judge Faith Hochberg also set a June 30 trial date for Herman, who was immediately remanded back into custody.

Herman, 77, has been in federal custody since he was arrested last Oct. 24 at the St. Croix airport on a charge of attempting to transport a 7-year-old Bergen County girl to the U.S. Virgin Islands to sexually abuse her there. Authorities allege Herman, who has a home in St. Croix, went to the airport with the intent of meeting the girl and her mother, so he could then bring the girl to his house and abuse her.

If convicted, Herman faces a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum term of life, authorities have said.

Herman's lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, has said Herman maintains his innocence and intends to fight the federal charge.

Herman was a disc jockey for decades on New York’s WNEW 102.7 FM. He still has legions of fans in the New Jersey and New York region, many of whom remember him ruling the rock airwaves during the 1970s and after with his calm, smooth demeanor on the “Dave Herman Rock and Roll Morning Show.”

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According to documents, in November of 2012, Herman began a series of chats on a website with an undercover officer from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.

Herman believed that he was communicating with a 36-year-old single mother with a then 6-year-old daughter.

Over the course of the following months, Herman had multiple telephone and online communications with the officer during which he allegedly indicated his desire to engage in sexual activity with the officer’s fictitious daughter, according to CBSLocal/NY.

Missoula Radio: Craig And Al Morning Show Signs-Off

Long time radio hosts Craig Johnson and Alan K will sign off from their morning show Friday.

The duo has been together 22 years hosting the Craig and Al Show.

At one time they were on the classic rock station Z100, but they'll bid farewell from Real Country KYSS 94.9 FM in Missoula, Montana.

Craig and Al promised Friday’s show will be a fun farewell but admitted saying goodbye to each other will be difficult.

“We haven't said goodbye to each other yet,” Craig told NBC Montana. “That'll be the tough one.”

KYSS 94.9 FM (63Kw) 60dBu coverage

Al is retiring from the business, but Craig is headed to the KDTR 103.3 FM The Trail.  He'll start in April.

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Boston Radio: Howie Carr Gets Elected On Write-Ins

He didn't run a campaign, but Howie Carr has won the election anyway, according to Wellesley Patch.

The WRKO 680 AM radio personality, Boston Herald columnist and author was elected to Wellesley's Town Meeting to represent Precinct F as a write-in candidate with 40 votes.

Carr accepted the position formally Wednesday, tweeting out to his fans:

I am now an elected official! Won spot on Wellesley Town Meeting as a write-in. 40 Votes in precinct F - aka F Troop pic.twitter.com/nCutHVALiP
— Howie Carr (@HowieCarrShow) March 5, 2014

MD Radio: Personality Seeking Office Wants To Remain On-Air

'Mo' Scott-Taylor

Maureen Scott-Taylor, morning show co-host at WCEI 96.7 FM in Easton, Maryland, has a problem — too much publicity, according to stardem.com.

She is  running for local political office and as “Mo”of The Morning Rush with Matt and Mo on the WCEI and she broadcasts along with Matt Spence every weekday morning from 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., 3 ½ hours a day, five days a week — totaling 17 ½ hours a week in air time.

It’s OK with the Federal Communications Commission if she runs for office, but according to its rules, the radio station must give all candidates running against her equal time, unless they sign a waiver.

Scott-Taylor said that when she originally wanted to run for office she went to the radio station’s owners and they said it was fine, but she could not talk about politics on the air.

At first her understanding of FCC rules, Section 315, was that she would have to go off the air 60 days prior to the general election in November, a rule put forth by the FCC to foster revenue generated by election advertising.

WCEI 96.7 FM (12.5Kw) 60dBu Coverage

That would mean that she would not work from mid-September through the election in November.

Later Scott-Taylor was told by the FCC that she would need to get waivers from the other candidates to continue working until September.

So now she has to get each of the other candidates for a seat on the county council — nine in all — to sign a waiver and return it to WCEI or she either cannot run for office or must not do her morning broadcast during the campaign.

The rule will be effective beginning March 10, 2014, when the ballots are certified and each candidate becomes legally certified.

She has sent out letters with the waivers to each candidate and has given everyone the deadline of noon this Friday, March 7 to return the waivers.

In turn, she stated in the letter that she would not get into any “discussion regarding her campaign for County Council” on the air.

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Nashville Radio: Gerry House Tells Stories In New Book

Someone would probably have to be brain-damaged or really talented to try to entertain professional entertainers over a decades-long radio show in Music City, USA.

Fortunately, according to columbiadailyherald.com, Gerry House is a little of both.

Host of the top-rated morning show, “Gerry House & The Foundation” for more than 25 years, House has won virtually every broadcasting award there is including a place in the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

In “Country Music Broke My Brain,” Gerry tells his stories from the other side of the microphone. He reveals never-aired, never-before published conversations with country music’s biggest names—Johnny Cash, Brad Paisley, and Reba McEntire to name a few—and leaves you with his own crazy antics that will either have you laughing or shaking your head in disbelief. With exclusive celebrity stories, humorous trivia and anecdotes, and broadcasting wisdom, this book is a treat for country music fans or for anyone who wants a good laugh.

Gerry House worked in the music industry’s famed Music Row district in Nashville for 30 years, the last 22 of which found him behind the microphone every weekday morning hosting “Gerry House & The House Foundation,” the top-rated morning radio show on WSIX 98.1 FM.

Gerry will be at the Grand Ole Opry at 7 p.m. Friday, March 7, signing books in the store at 9:15 p.m. following the show.

March 7 In Radio History

In 1876...Alexander Bell received U.S. patent for telephone

In 1933...the CBS Radio Network premiered the first daytime radio serial, "Marie The Little French Princess."

In 1962...the "Beatles" made their broadcasting debut on BBC radio in England.

In 1985...The song "We Are the World" was broadcast on radio for the first time.

In 2001…The Recording Industry of America and the National Endowment for the Arts announced that Judy Garland's "Over The Rainbow" had been selected as their "song of the century." Rounding out their Top Ten were (#2) "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby, followed by "This Land Is Your Land" by Woody Guthrie, "Respect" by Aretha Franklin, "American Pie" by Don McLean, "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" by the Andrews Sisters, "West Side Story" (album) by the original cast, "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" by Billy Murray, "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" by The Righteous Brothers, and (#10) "The Entertainer" by Scott Joplin.

Spotify Acquires Echo Nest

Music streaming service Spotify has acquired music intelligence platform the Echo Nest, whose song recommendation technology has long been utilized both by Spotify and a number of its competitors, the two companies announced today, according to Variety.

 Financial details were not disclosed.

The Massachusetts-based Echo Nest, founded in 2005, uses data analysis and machine listening to power song recommendation, audio fingerprinting and audio analysis. Spotify, which uses the Echo Nest to power its radio function, integrated its API with the Echo Nest’s back in 2012.

The Echo Nest noted on its company blog that its “API is staying up,” and therefore still available to developers and the hundreds of apps that use it, while Spotify clarified that the Echo Nest would continue to honor all of its existing contractual obligations.

Nonetheless, the acquisition raises questions about the future of some of the Echo Nest’s existing deals with Spotify’s direct competitors, such as Clear Channel’s iHeartRadio, Rdio and Vevo. (Other streaming services, like Pandora and the newly launched Beats Music, use their own proprietary recommendation engines.) For Spotify, which closed a $250 million funding round last fall, the acquisition gives the company a stake in what has become an increasingly ubiquitous digital music tool, as well as diversifying its revenue sources.

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Pandora: Listener Hours Increased 9 Percent In February

The Internet music serivce Pandora announced today new metrics that were reached in the month of February 2014.

• Listener hours for Pandora during February 2014 were 1.51 billion, an increase of 9% from 1.38 billion during the same period last year.
• Share of total U.S. radio listening was 8.91%, an increase from 8.25% at the same time last year.
• Active listeners were 75.3 million for February 2014, an increase of 11% from 67.7 million during the same time period last year.

Pandora also announced its intention to discontinue its monthly disclosure of key audience metrics. The final monthly release will be provided in June 2014 (covering audience metrics for May 2014).

However, it will continue to provide listener metrics on a quarterly basis.

To help advertisers make informed buying decisions, Pandora began monthly disclosure of information regarding users and usage in March 2012.  And now, it cites recent changes in the marketplace, including Triton Digitals Webcast Metrics Local recently achieving Media Rating Council Accreditation, for the change.

Pandora believes advertisers can now access the necessary tools to make accurate side-by-side comparisons.

New Survey: 47 Percent Listen To OnLine Radio

Online radio is making big gains in audience share, with Pandora leading the way, according to the latest figures from Edison Research and Triton Digital, published in the annual “Infinite Dial” report, based on a national survey of 2,023 people conducted in February.



Eris Sass at Media News is reporting, 47% of all Americans ages 12 and older -- an estimated 124 million people -- said they have listened to online radio in the last month, while 36% (94 million people) have listened in the last week. These figures are up from 45% and 33%, respectively, in 2013. The average amount of time spent listening increased from 11 hours, 56 minutes per week in 2013 to 13 hours 19 minutes in 2014.

As might be expected, usage numbers are much higher for teens and younger adults, with 75% of Americans ages 12-24 listening to online radio in the last month, compared to 50% of Americans ages 25-54 and 21% of Americans 55+. The weekly figures for the same age groups were 64%, 37% and 13%, respectively.

Of special note for advertisers: 75% of respondents who listen to online radio on a weekly basis said commercials are a fair price to pay for free programming -- roughly comparable to 80% for weekly AM/FM listeners. In fact, online audio ads were viewed as less annoying than broadcast counterparts, with 47% saying AM/FM radio ads are more intrusive, versus 30% for Internet audio ads.

Turning to specific platforms, 31% listened to Pandora in the last month, and 22% in the last week. For Clear Channel’s iHeartRadio, the monthly and weekly figures are 9% and 5%, respectively. Apple’s new iTunes Radio, launched in the second half of 2013, is off to a good start with 8% of Americans age 12 and up listening in the last month, while Spotify garnered 6%.

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Among other findings:

• More than six in ten (61%) now own a smartphone; that number increases to approximately eight in ten age 18-34.
• Internet-only audio services continue to grow, led by Pandora — now consumed by 31% monthly. iTunes Radio debuts in The Infinite Dial with 8% monthly usage.
• Growth in the adoption of the social media platforms Facebook and Twitter has slowed this year, compared with previous editions of The Infinite Dial. Facebook usage is flat compared to 2013, at 58%, while Twitter grew slightly from 15% to 16% year-over-year.
• Podcasting is on the rise, as weekly audio podcast consumption grew 25% year-over-year, from 12% in 2013 to 15% in 2014.
• In-car usage of online radio and other forms of digital audio continues to grow. In 2014, 26% of mobile phone users have connected devices to a vehicle, either physically or via Bluetooth, up from 21% in 2013.
• Snapchat is now one of the leading social networking services; 53% of mobile phone users are familiar with Snapchat, while 13% of Americans 12+ — and 46% of 12-24 year-olds — use the image sharing service.

The Infinite Dial 2014 from Edison Research

NYC Radio. 'This Is Hot 97' To Be MTV Series

MTV on Wednesday greenlit a new slate of programming that includes four series set in the Big Apple and aimed at its young female audience, according to the NY Post.

WQHT 97.1 FM  Hot 97 will be the setting for a comedic, behind-the-scenes look at the hip hop and R&B music brand. Each half-hour episode of “This Is Hot 97” — premiering March 31 at 10:30 p.m. — will show the ambitions, rivalries and quirky personalities of its tight-knit group of coworkers.

The series also promises cameos from on-air guests who frequently stop by the station, including Kanye West, Macklemore, Rick Ross, Mack Wilds and Wale.

S-A Radio: PD Travis Moon Leaves Country KAJA

Travis Moon

KAJA 97.3 FM's Pprogram Director Travis Moon has departed for a full-time job with St. Jude Childrean's Researxch Hospital in Memphis.

Moon is the new Sr. Liaison/programming for Radio Development team. He will be based in Nashville.

"Radio is so important to St. Jude, so I get the best of both worlds – working with stations across the country on the Country Cares events throughout the year."

Moon joined KJ-97 in 2009 and prior to that programmed WUBE and WYGY/Cincinnati. He also worked as APD at KEEY/Minneapolis.

He has raised over $15 million in 19 years for St. Jude.

Wash Radio: FCC Fines Icicle Broadcasting Over Public File

The FCC has proposed a total of $46,000 in fines against Icicle Broadcasting for public inspection file violations at four stations and plans to issue a short-term license instead of the full eight year-term for all but one facility, according to RadioWorld.

The affected stations are: KOHO(FM), Leavenworth, Wash., KOZI(AM) and KOZI(FM), both in Chelan, Wash. and KZAL(FM), Manson, Wash.

Icicle brought the missing documents to the agency’s attention when the broadcaster filed its license renewal application for the stations.

The proposed fines are $12,000 each for KOZI(AM), KOZI(FM) and KZAL(FM).

KOZI(AM) had 24 missing quarterly issues/program reports, while KOZI(FM) was missing 26 and KZAL was missing 20 from its public inspection file, according to the FCC. Icicle told the commission the stations had “significant” management changes for the properties during the license term and regretted the error. The owner told the commission it has re-created the documents and put procedures in place to prevent a reoccurrence.

The base fine is $10,000, though the commission said the agency raised the amount for the three facilities because the FCC felt the violations over a seven-year period were extensive.

VA Radio: 17 Potential Bidders Emerge For F-L-S

Seventeen potential bidders have expressed interest in purchasing the assets of The Free Lance–Star Publishing Co., CEO and Publisher Nicholas J. Cadwallender said during a hearing Friday in the media company’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy case, according to fredericksburg.com.

Many of the potential bidders have signed nondisclosure agreements, Cadwallender said, and some have a number of people poring over the company’s financial information to determine an appropriate bid.

“People are very interested in the assets,” he said, which include the newspaper, Fredericksburg.com, Freelancestar.com, WFLS, WVBX, WWUZ, WNTX, Print Innovators, several real-estate properties in the city and additional digital products.

Cadwallender didn’t identify any potential bidders, which are primarily working through the company’s financial adviser, Suzanne Roski of Protiviti Inc.’s Richmond office.

WFLS  93.3 FM (50Kw) 54dBu

The formal bidding process has not yet started in the case, which the FLS filed Jan. 23. A hearing is scheduled in Richmond federal court this coming week to work out the bidding procedures.

One key factor in how the bidding plays out will be how much of a credit bid the FLS’ secured creditor, New York-based Sandton Capital Partners, will be able to submit during the auction process.

Credit bids are frequently used in bankruptcy court. They typically allow secured lenders to bid the amount they are owed without putting up any additional cash.

Sandton last summer purchased a loan from BB&T that had been made to the FLS in 2007 to build Print Innovators, a state-of-the-art commercial printing plant on Belman Road in Fredericksburg. Sandton then advised the FLS to file for bankruptcy.

The loan balance is now about $38 million. Most of the FLS’ assets and earnings were pledged as collateral for the loan.

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Mark Rosenthal Named CEO At Katz Media

Mark Rosenthal

Katz Media Group (KMG) has announced that Mark Rosenthal, CEO of Katz Radio Group, has taken on the additional responsibility of CEO of Katz Media Group and will now also oversee Katz Television Group, KMG’s television representation company.

As CEO of Katz Radio Group, Rosenthal will remain focused on building the radio sector, working closely with Katz Radio Group President Mark Gray to drive additional media dollars into radio.  Effective immediately, he will now also work closely with KTG Presidents Leo MacCourtney and Craig Broitman to grow and further develop KTG’s assets, advocacy and revenue-generating efforts.

Rosenthal's new responsibility highlights KMG’s continued commitment to advance, expand and transform its business to deliver even more unique opportunities to advertisers through innovative, results-driven media solutions for all the Katz clients.

“In this highly competitive media environment it’s important to have the right leadership in place, and Mark's enormous range of experience across radio, television and digital media, as well as the agency world, makes him the perfect person to lead both Katz Radio Group and Katz Television Group,” said Rich Bressler, President and CFO of Clear Channel Communications.  “Under Mark’s strong leadership, the KRG team is already spearheading major integrated marketing campaigns for key media partners and taking significant steps forward in our intensified effort to drive substantial growth for all Katz clients.”

“There is no other company that can even come close to the massive reach, local targeting abilities and effectiveness of Katz Television Group and Katz Radio Group,” said Rosenthal.  “My goal is to grow and develop the company’s assets to continue to provide Katz clients with a one-of-a-kind media partner. We are committed to driving results for advertisers with the most impactful media solutions, now and into the future.”

N-C Radio: Radio Personality Recovering From Accident

Koolout

DJ Johnny “Koolout” Starks is said to be in “fair condition” after being in a car wreck involving a tractor trailer, according to WCTI 12.

Johnny “Koolout” Starks is listed in fair condition at Vidant Medical Center, according to a hospital official. Starks is a radio personality for WIKS 101.9 Kiss FM, a Hip Hop and R&B station based in New Bern, NC.

According to the Highway Patrol, Starks ran a red light and crashed his Kiss-FM van into a tractor-trailer.

Charges are pending, said investigators.

R.I.P.: Radio/TV Personality, Game Host Geoff Edwards

Geoff Edwards

Geoff Edwards, a Los Angeles radio personality and TV game show host who for years flew weekly to Sacramento to emcee the California Lottery's "Big Spin," died Wednesday at St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica.

He was 83.

Edwards began his career while in college, working for a radio station in Albany, New York. By the late 1950s, though, he'd relocated to Southern California, landing his first job at KFMB-AM in San Diego, hosting an evening show and co-hosting the "Don Ross/Geoff Edwards Show".

As a news reporter, Edwards was present in the basement of the Dallas Police Department when Jack Ruby shot suspected John F. Kennedy assassin Lee Harvey Oswald on November 24, 1963. Edwards was one of the witnesses interviewed by NBC television correspondent Tom Pettit on the scene.

After a few short stints at other stations, Edwards was hired at KMPC in Los Angeles, occupying the 9 a.m.-noon slot for several years beginning in 1968. He later worked at KFI, from which he ultimately resigned, as a protest against fellow KFI personality Tom Leykis, destroying Cat Stevens' (Yusuf Islam) records following Stevens' call for a fatwa on Salman Rushdie.

Most recently, Edwards was a morning DJ with KSUR (now KKGO) in Los Angeles. One of the features of his radio show was "Radio's Answer Lady," in which listeners could call in with questions — some serious, some not so serious—and he would answer on the air, sometimes with serious answers, sometimes with quips.

During that time, Edwards tried his hand at acting, appearing on I Dream of Jeannie, That Girl and Petticoat Junction. On the latter show, he met — and maintained a very close friendship with — Meredith MacRae.

He also guest starred on Diff'rent Strokes and Small Wonder.

March 6 In Radio History

In 1954...KE2XCC (93.1 FM), the station owned by Maj. Edwin Howard Armstrong, closes down for the final time at 9 PM.  Today 93.1 FM is occupied by WPAT-FM.

In 1959...Pioneer IV sent the furthest radio signal ever heard: 400,000 miles.

In 1981...Walter Cronkite stepped down as anchor of The CBS Evening News after 19 years. He was replaced by Dan Rather.

In 1983…The Country Music Television (CMT) network debuted on U.S. cable TV.

In 1995...the Howard Stern Radio Show debuted in Phoenix, Arizona on KEDJ-FM.

In 2005...former BBC Radio 1 DJ, Tommy Vance, died. He originally came to fame during the 1960s as a DJ on British pirate station, "Radio Caroline" and BBC Radio 1. Vance began his radio career in the USA under the name 'Rick West'. He took the name 'Tommy Vance' at the radio station KOL in Seattle from a DJ who had failed to turn up after the station had heavily promoted and paid for expensive jingles which were already recorded.



While at KOL, Vance was recruited by the Top 40 programming consultant Bill Drake, to join his team of "Boss Jocks" at the emerging West Coast KHJ radio in Los Angeles (aka Boss Radio). Vance held the evening airshift at KHJ for several months in late 1965. During this period, it was alleged that Tommy decided to return abruptly to the UK, after running into an unresolvable problem with the U.S. immigration authorities, regarding being drafted for the Vietnam War.



In 2002…Longtime Chicago radio personality (WLS, WCFL) Art Roberts, also remembered for his on-air stints in Milwaukee and Buffalo, died following a series of strokes.

In 2013...Alvin Lee, English rocker, dies from complications from surgery at 68.

DC Radio: Country WMZQ To Add Bobby Bones Show

Boxer

The Bobby Bones Show is launching on CCM+E's Country WMZQ 98.7 FM this coming Monday.

Bones, along with his emsenble Amy and Lunchbox, will force The Boxer Show to middays 10 to 3.

Current 'MZQ morning co-host Aly Jacobs will remain in AM Drive to provide local traffic and weather updates.

Current  WMZQ middayer Jenni Chase will move down the hall to Clustermate AC WASH-F for midday duties.

Monday morning we start in Washington DC.. Yo @BarackObama don't forget to listen. The @WhiteHouse needs some @bobbybonesshow #pimpinjoy
— Lunchbox (@RadioLunchbox) March 5, 2014

The Bobby Bones Show is now carried on 60+ stations with a reach of over 60 million weekly listeners. The show orignate at WSIX in Nashville.

"No one is closer to the heartbeat of Nashville than Bobby Bones," said Meg Stevens, program director at WMZQ. "WMZQ listeners will enjoy waking up with the award-winning 'Bobby Bones Show' and his unique and entertaining insight on country music, and so much more."

“I have been a fan of WMZQ for quite some time, so it’s an honor to join their amazing lineup,"  said Bones. "I can’t wait to be on the air in Washington, DC!”

WMZQ 98.7 FM (50Kw) 54dBu Coverage

Hartford Radio: Buckley Exits With Sale of WDRC AM/FM

One of Connecticut's oldest and most well-known “oldies” radio stations has a new owner.

According to the Harford Courant, the family-owned Buckley Broadcasting has sold its 57-year-old Bloomfield-based WDRC 1360 AM (102.9 HD3) and 102.9 FM stations to Westport-based Connoisseur Media.

Staff was notified of the sale Wednesday morning by Buckley president and CEO Joe Bilotta.

Joe Bilotta

“For over a half of a century Buckley Broadcasting has been the steward of one of the most recognized and respected call letters in broadcasting,” Bilotta wrote in an email to staff before meeting with them in Bloomfield Wednesday.

“After much reflection and discussion, the Board of Trustees has decided that the reality of the evolving competitive landscape, and our sincere desire to see this historic brand continue, are cause for a change in the ownership of our Connecticut properties.” he continued. “With this acquisition, Connoisseur will be the leading radio broadcaster in the State of Connecticut and they are very excited to have the Buckley stations as part of their growing company.”

Connoisseur, founded in 2004 by president/CEO Jeff Warshaw and Mike Driscoll, owns 36 radio stations across the country including WPLR, WYBC, the Fox and Star in Milford, Connecticut. Warshaw could not be reached for comment.

Rumors of the sale of Buckley’s Connecticut stations began surfacing shortly after it sold its stellar New York station, WOR Radio, to Clear Channel Media and Entertainment in August, 2012. Buckley also owns several radio stations in California.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Closing of the transaction is subject to FCC consent and other customary closing conditions, Bilotta said.

WDRC 102.7FM (19.5Kw) 54dBu Coverage

FOX Sports, Premiere Extend Deal

Premiere Networks and FOX Sports today announced a long-term extension of their agreement for Premiere Networks to continue producing and distributing the FOX Sports Radio Network's leading sports entertainment programming to nearly 400 stations across North America and Canada.

Specific terms were not announced.

Under the agreement, Premiere Networks and FOX Sports will continue working together across multiple platforms to synchronize the audio, digital, online and television assets of FOX Sports, FOXSports.com and FOX Sports Radio, further extending the reach, visibility and engagement of these brands with millions of consumers. Additionally, with the recently-launched 24-hour television network FOX Sports 1, the radio and television divisions will work closely to increase cross-promotional opportunities and highlight FOX Sports' established team of top insiders, analysts and personalities, including NFL Insider Jay Glazer, NFL Analyst Kirk Morrison, NBA Insider Bill Reiter and many more.

Earlier this year, FOX Sports Radio debuted a new weekday lineup featuring the top sports talk personalities in the country. Jay Mohr, Dan Patrick, Steve Gorman, J.T. "The Brick," Jason Smith, Andy Furman and Mike North, are among the network's diverse program and personality offerings, which can also be heard on www.FOXSportsRadio.com, FOXSports.com on MSN, as well as iHeartRadio.com and the iHeartRadio mobile app, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment's all-in-one digital radio service.

The 2014 FOX Sports Radio Monday through Friday lineup (all times Eastern):

• 6am -- FOX Sports Daybreak with Andy Furman & Mike North
• 9am --The Dan Patrick Show
• 12pm-- Jay Mohr Sports
• 3pm-- Steve Gorman SPORTS!
• 6pm-- J.T. "The Brick" with Tomm Looney
• 10pm-- The Jason Smith Show
• 2am-- The Ben Maller Show

"This renewed partnership affirms our commitment to sports fans, our affiliates and partners to provide the ultimate, multi-platform destination for sports entertainment," stated Julie Talbott, President of Premiere Networks. "With our lineup of leading sports personalities and expanded opportunities through new platforms and extensive resources, we have one of the most powerful brands in sports entertainment."

"It was a no-brainer," said Bill Wanger, Executive Vice President, Programming, Research and Content Strategy for FOX Sports. "This broadens our fan base by putting the FOX Sports brand across audio platforms. We're excited to continue and further enhance our relationship with Premiere Networks to provide quality programming to sports fans."

Nielsen: Radio Weekly TSL Remains Second To TV

According to Nielsen's March Cross Platform Report, listening to Weekly time Spent Listening to AM/FM Radio in 4Q 2013 ranged from 7:46 for teens, 10:49 for 18-24ers, 12:04 for 25-34ers, 14:21 for 35-49ers up to 15:09 for 50-64ers.

Nielsen’s new Q4 report compares time spent with various media and you see that radio’s still clearly the second most-used form, next to live TV.

Nielsen Senior VP Insights Dounia Turrill says “looking at the face of traditional television, I continue to applaud its stability and resilience, as well as its ability to bridge the gap with digital and social media.”

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Survey: 63 Percent Use Cell Phone To Go On-Line

Nearly two-thirds (63%) of cell phone owners now use their phone to go online, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project.

Pew calls them “cell internet users” and define them as anyone who uses their cell phone to access the internet or use email. Because 91% of all Americans now own a cell phone, this means that 57% of all American adults are cell internet users.

The proportion of cell owners who use their phone to go online has doubled since 2009.

Judge Dismisses Shareholders Suit vs. Emmis

Emmis Communications has won dismissal of a nearly 2-year-old lawsuit brought by dissident preferred shareholders, according to indystar.com.

U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker in Indianapolis ruled in favor of Emmis’ motions for judgment, while denying motions by the dissident shareholders, and said she will order ­final judgment in the case.

“We were confident in our position, and the federal court has confirmed it,” Jeff Smulyan, president and chief ­executive of Emmis, said in a statement Tuesday.

The Indianapolis media company, which owns radio stations and pub­lishes city magazines, has been fighting the preferred shareholders in court ever since five of them, including four investment funds, objected to Emmis eliminating their stock dividends and stripping preferred shareholders of voting rights.

The dissident shareholders, who ­rejected Emmis’ offer to buy their shares at reduced prices, accused the company of “unfair, strong-arm tactics to ensure the plaintiffs would ­never ­receive those dividends,” which were worth more than $10 million. The lawsuit charged Emmis with breaching its fiduciary duties to shareholders and sought unspecified damages.

Plaintiffs in the suit were Corre Opportunities Fund, ­New York; Zazove Associates, Incline Village, Nev.; DJD Group, Tampa, Fla.; First Derivative Traders, Wynnewood, Pa.; and Kevan Fight, Ohio.

An attorney for the plaintiffs, Wayne Turner of Indianapolis, said his clients “respectfully disagree” with Barker’s ruling and will appeal.

Emmis took the disputed actions as it faced a fiscal crisis during the recession of 2007-09, when its stock price plummeted on declining ad revenues.

In her 44-page ruling dated Feb. 28, Barker rejected the plaintiffs’ arguments, saying Indiana law doesn’t ­outline fiduciary duties owed by a ­corporation to its shareholders and noting that the plaintiffs conceded that ­Emmis’ disputed actions ­“benefited Emmis greatly.”

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SCBA Reports Solid Revenue Start In 2014

The Southern California Broadcasters Association (SCBA) has announced that the Miller Kaplan Arase Market Summary report for January 2014 reflects a solid start to 2014. According to Miller Kaplan Arase, total market revenue for Los Angeles Radio grew by 1.7% in January.

“This summary report reflects solid, steady revenue growth that sets the stage for a strong first quarter for Southern California Radio,” said SCBA President Thom Callahan.

“The 1.7% growth rate for January is, of course, good news for our industry here in Southern  California, however, a closer look at what made up that growth reveals a market and region that  is healthy and growing,” said Callahan.

The Miller Kaplan Arase X-Ray report for Los Angeles Radio further describes both strong category growth and exceptional new business development in the first month of the New Year.  That growth includes: Insurance Companies – Up 152.1%, Education – Up 61.5%, Concerts/Theatre/Movies – Up 54.6%, Communications/Cellular/Public Utilities – Up 22.7%, and both the Auto category - Up at 6.3% and Health Care - Up at 6.4%.

“New business development was a significant revenue driver for Southern California Radio in January and showcases how new advertisers are rediscovering Radio and its effectiveness in building brands and market share for their business,” said Callahan. “With 297 new advertisers  spending $7,408,878 in new business in January alone, it’s clear our SCBA member stations are  fully engaged in new business development,” stated Callahan.

Hilton Head Radio: WXYY Moves To 100.1 FM

100.7 FM (50Kw) 60dBu Coverage

L&L Broadcasting has shifted the freqnecy for its Hot AC WXYY.  The station has moved from  107.9 to 100.1 and is branding as "Y100".

The format moves closer to Savannah using the 100.1 freqeuncy which is licensed to Rincon, GA

Program Director Tony Bristol, recently hired by L & L Broadcasting to program WXYY, has the Atlanta-based Bert Show starting mornings, Patty Steele moves to middays with Bristol in afternoons. New slogan – “Y100.”

107.9 FM (24Kw) 60dBu Coverage

As for 107.9 FM, L&L has applied for new call letters WRWN.  Stay tuned.