Saturday Aircheck: Dr. Don Rose Last Top40 Show On KFRC

In August, 1986, after being the dominant Top 40 radio station in Northern California for two decades, KFRC, The Big 610 changed formats.

This is raw video from the final Top 40 show on KFRC for morning star Dr. Don Rose.


For more on Dr. Don Rose: Click Here.

March 29 In Radio History

In 1932...Jack Benny made his debut on Radio. Benny, a vaudeville performer, became very successful on both Radio and later TV. His first on-air spiel: "This is Jack Benny talking. There will be a slight pause while you say, 'Who cares?'"

In 1941...WABC, then known as WJZ moved to 770 AM.  WABC started off as WJZ when it signed on October 1, 1921.

In 1967...The first nationwide strike in the 30-year history of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) began. During the 13-day work stoppage, many familiar faces were absent from the TV screen, including that of Walter Cronkite of CBS News whose temporary replacement was Arnold Zenker, formerly a radio announcer in Wilmington, Delaware.

AFTRA strike begins at WABC NYC.

From March 29 to April 10, 1967 there was a strike called by AFTRA (the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists). This meant that all the union talent, including the WABC airstaff, was taken off the air and replaced by management personnel. It was all very strange. But, according to the tribute site, musicradio77.com,  PD Rick Sklar could turn anything into a promotion, and the strike was no exception.

Listen to an  aircheck which features a brief montage compiled from hours of tape. It includes:

• The "strikebound sound" jingle that Rick Sklar ordered from PAMS (Series 31).
• Hal Neal, president of ABC Radio, filling in as a newsman giving background on the strike.
• The "super pickets" promo. This was, of course, a take-off on the station's weekly "superhit sounds" promo which featured excerpts from the week's top 5 songs. It's a promotion masterpiece and it worked. Whenever one of the All Americans tried to take part in the picket line outside the ABC building, they'd be mobbed by autograph seekers!
• Rick Sklar worked as the booth announcer in the evening.

Finally the strike ended. And within 30 minutes of the announcement, Cousin Bruce was back on the air.


In 1974…In Ottawa, the CBC announced that it would gradually remove commercials from its AM radio stations.

Gene Klavan, Dee Finch

In 1983...Dee Finch,  WNEW 1130 AM (Klavan & Finch) NYC died.

Starting in 1952 and for the next fifteen years, Klavan and Finch changed the face of morning radio for commuters and families. New Yorkers were presented a new radio experience.  Children getting ready for school could listen with their parents while eating their breakfast cereal.  Commuters on the parkways could reduce the burden of New York traffic with a little humor. Vaudevillian in style, this format was copied by radio stations across the country.

Klavan commented on Dee Finch in 1984: “He was spectacular. He was more than a straight man. People say a straight man, but he had a marvelous sense of humor.  A great voice and a fetching laugh.  I mean if he laughed even I couldn’t help it, I would break up, basically he was a really good actor.  He adlibbed, we never prepared anything, even though I used to hope we would sometimes.  He had a great understanding of what we were doing.  We were two minds without any.”

Dee Finch retired from WNEW and radio in 1968.




In 1995...Howard Stern's Radio show debuted on WCKG-FM, Chicago, Illinois.


 In 2003…Longtime Portland, Maine radio personality Bob Anderson died after a heart attack at age 59.

In 2005...Dr. Don Rose, one of Top 40 Radio's great DJs, died. He worked at legendary stations like KFRC, San Francisco; WFIL, Philadelphia and other markts.

Rose was born Donald Duane Rosenberg in North Platte, Nebraska, and got his first experience in broadcasting at age 15 while reporting on his trip to the Boy Scout National Jamboree in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, for KODY in his hometown.

He began his career in 1955 at KWBE in Beatrice, Nebraska, while majoring in accounting at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. He moved to KLMN/Lincoln shortly thereafter, and then was hired by KOIL/Omaha, a job that appeared to be so promising that he dropped out of college in his senior year. He was fired by the station four weeks later.

His next job, at KTSA/San Antonio, also lasted only four weeks. Returning to Nebraska, he held an announcing position at KRNY/Kearney for about 15 months before being terminated again. His next employer, the Union Pacific Railroad, offered only manual labor — pounding spikes into the railbed — but he continued to pursue work in radio, and acquired a job at KTUL/Tulsa.

His next broadcasting position was in KWMT/Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he first complemented his jokes with cowbells and other barnyard sounds. His stay in Fort Dodge wasn't lengthy, but it was there that he met his future wife, Kae, to whom he remained married for the next 45 years of his life.

From Iowa it was on to WEBC/Duluth, Minn., followed by his first taste of big-market success, as morning host at WQXI/Atlanta ("Quixie In Dixie"), his fame made ever-lasting by his inclusion as the 1967 entry in the popular series of "Cruisin’" LP records. Originally hired for the nine-to-noon slot, he was shifted to morning drive shortly after his arrival, and soon became the number one deejay in town.



With Dr. Don as morning anchor, KFRC was voted "Station of the Year" four times by Billboard Magazine.

He was considered by many to be the king of radio in the Bay Area during the final decade of AM's musical dominance.



He was named by Billboard Magazine as Disc Jockey of the Year on both the East Coast (while with WFIL Philadelphia) and on the West Coast (while with KFRC San Francisco). One of Rose's characteristic "sound bite" mannerisms when he was at KFRC was to state the words "that's right" in a continuous fashion that was intended to sound "crazy" or funny, which also served to represent the overall morning zoo radio format, style and "feel" of his show.

"I'm married to radio," he told The Chronicle (San Francisco) in 1975, "and I'm thinking about suing it for nonsupport. I would describe my show as therapy, for myself."

Dr. Don Rose raised a total of over $10 million by hosting March of Dimes Superwalks for 20 years. As well, he emceed many golf tourneys, including his own, with proceeds going toward Special Olympics and special education.

Despite his cheerful persona, Rose suffered over three decades of debilitating pain from assorted medical problems. In 1972, he underwent a botched heart surgery, which caused chronic knee infections that required 11 more operations and led to his losing his kneecap. He broadcast his daily radio show flat on his back from his home hospital bed for months. In 1984, after a fall made the knee problems worse, one leg was amputated.

Dr. Don Rose last Top40 Show On KFRC-AM:



Rose had to alter his on-air act in 1986 when KFRC changed its format to Big Band Music and its imaging to Magic 61. He left KFRC permanently by the end of the year.

His departure from KFRC was followed by a short stint at KKIS/Concord-Walnut Creek beginning in 1987, where his son, Jay, was chief engineer. After a failed attempt at buying the station, Dr. Don moved to mornings at San Francisco's K101 (KIOI); four months later, he suffered a heart attack while on the air. He never returned to broadcasting on a full-time basis.

Rose died in his sleep on March 30, 2005, due to complications from pneumonia at the age of 70.

Chicago Radio: Tribune Co. Reports Double-Digit Revenue Drop

Tribune Co. closed out 2013, its first full year since emerging from bankruptcy, with a double-digit revenue decline during the fourth quarter, according to The Chicago Tribune.

The Chicago-based media company reported fourth quarter consolidated operating revenue of $773 million, down 11 percent from the previous year, according to financial results released Friday.

Revenue for the full year was $2.9 billion, a nearly 8 percent decline from 2012.  The company cited lower advertising revenue and one less week in the fiscal year as contributing to the decline.

Tribune Co., which is planning to spin off its legacy newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune, saw broadcasting revenue decline more steeply that publishing for the quarter and the year.

"Broadcasting revenue trends during the first three quarters were disappointing," Peter Liguori, president and CEO of Tribune Co., said in a statement. "However, in the fourth quarter, non-political core advertising revenue stabilized year over year. Our root challenges are definable and addressable and we have taken action."

Broadcasting revenue fell by more than 11 percent to about $1 billion in 2013. Advertising revenue was down 7 percent to $810 million, with lower baseball revenues at WGN-TV, a cyclical drop in political advertising and lower ratings at WGN America contributing to the decline.

Broadcasting operating profit was down 47 percent to $196 million for the year.

Tribune Co.’s publishing business fared relatively better last year, with operating revenues declining by 6 percent to about $1.89 billion. Advertising revenue fell by 9 percent, while circulation revenue increased by 1 percent, boosted by higher sales of digital subscriptions.

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Jax Radio: Judge Rejects Renda Bid To Toss Copyright Lawsuit

Renda Broadcasting has lost a bid to have a lawsuit started by Nielsen (when it was Arbitron) tossed.

A Federal Judge rejected a motion by Renda and the $650,000 lawsuit for alleged copyright violations in Jacksonville.

According to Judge Marcia Morales Howard, “Arbitron has sufficiently stated a claim.”

She noted the bar is set pretty low for a copyright infringement lawsuit...all that’s needed is proof from that the plaintiff that it owns a valid copyright. Arbitron filed suit June 2013, alleging that on “numerous occasions” between May 2011 and at least December 2012, Renda violated its copyright when Jacksonville general manager Bill Reese received ratings from a “longtime friend and business associate” at a local advertising agency. Identity of the ad agency has not been released.

Renda had previously subscribed to the Jacksonville data from 2008-2010.

Meanwhile, the court last month appointed a mediator to work with Renda and Nielsen, which bought Arbitron last fall.

Cleveland Radio: WKNR's Tony Rizzo Pleads No Contest

WKNR 850 AM ESPN sports host Tony Rizzo pleaded no contest Thursday to a reduced charge after being accused of domestic violence in December, according to cleveland.com.

Tony Rizzo

Rizzo, 52, host of The Really Bifg Show pleaded no contest to persistent disorderly conduct, a fourth-degree misdemeanor, at Medina Municipal Court. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail and a $250 fine, Judge Dale Chase said.

Rizzo had been accused of domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor, in connection with a Dec. 6 incident that occurred at his home.

Rizzo's case has been referred to the probation department for review before a sentencing hearing is set, Chase said.

Rizzo had been scheduled to appear in court for a jury trial Thursday, but the defense and prosecution reached an agreement on the reduced charge prior to the trial.

Matt Lanier, an assistant law director for the city of Medina, said part of the reason the prosecution chose to pursue a plea deal was because Rizzo's wife, Catherine Rizzo, submitted an affidavit saying she'd initiated the Dec. 6 incident by hitting her husband with a glass.

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Cumulus Signs Mike Rogers For New Talk Show

Cumulus Media has announced Congressman Mike Rogers (R-Mich) will bring his unique perspective as a leading intelligence expert.

Mike Rogers

The former FBI agent sstart after the conclusion of his seventh term in the House of Representatives at the end of the year. As a media-savvy politician who last year appeared on more Sunday public affairs show than any other elected official in the nation, Chairman Rogers will play an important role helping Americans understand critical issues that impact their lives.

The longtime chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Chairman Rogers has played a key role shaping critical national security policies. Chairman Rogers was involved in the country's most urgent matters including the operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the debate surrounding NSA-leaker Edward Snowden, the search for Malaysia Air 370 and Russia's annexation of Crimea. He observed last weekend on NBC's "Meet the Press" that Russian president Vladimir Putin "‎goes to bed at night thinking of Peter the Great and he wakes up thinking of Stalin" when he called for a tougher U.S. approach to the annexation of Crimea.

"We are thrilled to have Chairman Rogers join our team. He has been instrumental helping to shape many of the most important issues and events of our time and will play a significant role in our expanding content platform,” said Lew Dickey, CEO of Cumulus.

Philly Radio: Spike Eskin Officially Gets PD Gig At WIP

Spike Eskin

WIP 94.1 FM SportsRadio CBS Sports Radio WIP 610 AM announced the promotion of Spike Eskin to Program Director effective immediately.

Eskin has been filling the role on an interim basis since Jeff Sottolano was named Director of Programming for CBS Radio earlier this year.  Previously, Eskin served as Sports Editor for CBSPhilly.com and did part time airshifts on 94WIP as well as on-air work on KYW Newsradio and CBS 3.

Marc Rayfield, Senior Vice President/Market Manager for CBS Radio Philadelphia said “Spike is his own person. He is tenacious, strategic and a proven winner. We interviewed an extremely talented pool of national and local candidates. Spike was clearly our best choice.”

Eskin will report directly to Operations Manager Andy Bloom who added, “In the three months that Spike has served in the role on a day-to-day basis he has proved that he can handle any task presented to him, including literally saving a life.  I am confident that Spike’s diligence will play an important role in the stations continued growth.”

WIP 94.1 FM (9.6Kw) 54dBu Coverage

Eskin said, "My career in radio has taken me in many different directions, and has ultimately led me to a job that I feel like I was born to do, and am honored and humbled to have. I'm excited to work with the best air talent in sports radio, and our incredible staff to continue building the legend that is WIP."

Grand Rapids Radio: WFGR Launches The Jojo Show

Michigan native Jojo Girard takes the helm at the Townsquare Media station Classic Hits WFGR 98.7 FM as the successor to "Andy and Dave in the Morning" following the departure of Andy O'Riley and Dave Kaechele in January, according to mlive.com.

"I'm going to be doing the show, at least for a few weeks, until they send me back to reform school," Girard quipped this morning on the air.

The Saginaw native said he's happy to be back in Michigan.

"Michigan always has been a pull for me. I always come back for vacations," he said. "I guess it's the people, and it’s the state as a whole."

Girard was with WSNX-FM 104.5 in Muskegon from 1988 to 1994 back when it was "Sunny FM," a Top 40 station operating out of studios in Norton Shores.

His career in radio began in Saginaw while attending CMU, working part time at WSAM-AM and weekends at WKCQ-FM, where his sister, Barb Sheltraw, is one half of Jim & Barb on the air in the morning on the country station.

Girard spent nearly 20 years in Maryland, first for 18 years as morning man on Hot AC WWMX-FM "Mix 106.5" in Baltimore, from 1994 to 2012. (See departure posting: Click Here)

WFGR 98.7 FM (2.6Kw) 60 dBu Coverage

"Andy and Dave in the Morning" debuted in October 2012 on WFGR-FM before the show was pulled in January. Tom Cook, brand manager for Townsquare Media Grand Rapids, said ratings were to blame. (See departure posting, Click Here)

D/FW Radio: Cumulus Names JR Schumann Country OM

JR Schumann

Cumulus has announced the appointment of veteran radio programming and operations professional JR Schumann as Operations Manager for Country stations KPLX 99.5 FM and KSCS 96.3 FM in Dallas.

He starts April 7.

Schumann, who joins the stations from the Program Director post at WWKA in Orlando, has programmed for Cox Radio Group in Birmingham and Orlando. Schumann will report to Dan Bennett, Vice President/Market Manager of Cumulus Media Dallas-Fort Worth. The KSCS Program Director position has been unoccupied for more than a year. KSCS Assistant Program Director, Chris Huff will remain with the station.

John Dickey, Cumulus Executive Vice President & Co-Chief Operating Officer, said: “JR is a talented and experienced Country program director, and is a natural fit for Cumulus’ industry-leading country music stations. We are very pleased to welcome him to the company, and he is a tremendous addition to our two outstanding Dallas Country stations, KPLX 99.5 The Wolf and New Country 96.3 KSCS. We look forward to seeing the stations thrive under his leadership as Operations Manager.”

Bennett said: “Our Country stations are a critical part of our success in Dallas and JR’s successful track record gives us an opportunity to elevate our stations to an even higher level of performance in creating Country programming that our listeners and advertisers love.”

Schumann leaves with WWKA/K92 at the top of the Orlando ratings:

Schumann said: “I’m very excited to be joining the Cumulus team and being a part of two legendary stations in the largest Country market in the U.S.! Cumulus is setting a new standard for the best in Country programming and I’m thrilled to be a part of that. I want to thank everyone at Cox for the opportunity to work with a great station in Orlando, but when Mike McVay called with this tremendous offer—and in my hometown, no less—I couldn’t pass it up. I look forward to working with the team to continue bringing the best in Country programming to a market that loves its Country radio!”.

Bay Area Radio: Melanie Morgan To Join KSRO

Melanie Morgan

Melanie Morgan will be joining KSRO 1350 AM Radio in her new capacity as News Director and primary anchor of the Santa Rosa station's morning news program.

According to media blogger Rich Lieberman, the veteran former KGO 810 AM Radio reporter and KSFO talk host left KSFO 560 AM last July amid issues involving her business relationship with partner Brian Sussman.

She begins her new position at KSRO Monday morning, March 31.

Morgan spent a good part of her Bay Area radio career co-hosting the "KSFO Morning Show" with the late Lee Rodgers.

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FCC Considering Spanish Version Of E-A-S Announcements

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday said it is reconsidering a rule that would provide Spanish broadcasts of emergency alerts and other important announcements, according to The Hill.

The rule was originally recommended in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Back then, groups including the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council (MMTC) petitioned the FCC to require broadcasters to notify Spanish listeners in the event of an emergency.

The FCC is reopening the comment period for another month as it considers such a rule.

The rule would require certain stations to air all presidential messages in both English and Spanish. To a lesser extent, emergency broadcasts in certain areas may also be aired in other languages, such as French or Mandarin.

Spanish is the primary language for more than 38 million people living in America, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

But many Spanish speakers do not speak English, so the FCC wants to ensure that they can be reached by emergency broadcast.  At least one broadcaster in every market would be required to monitor and rebroadcast emergency information aired by the local primary Spanish stations.

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Truckers Reveal Favorite Radio Shows

It was close race for first, but in a recent survey of truck drivers’ favorite radio shows, Howard Stern came out on top with 18 percent of the vote. Close behind Stern, America’s Truckin’ Network, hosted by Steve Sommers, was the favorite show for 17 percent of voters.

Go By Truck, a freight management company, hosted the survey on its Facebook page, which caters to both company and independent drivers. The Howard Stern Show’s brusque tone, unapologetic opinions and wild antics keep truck drivers entertained during long hours on the road. “No one else matters,” said one voter.

America’s Truckin’ Network, which orignates at WLW 700 AM and fills the overnight hours adjacent to Stern’s morning show, gives drivers a mix of news and banter. It also enjoys several long-time fans who began listening to the show when Sommers’ father, known as the Truckin’ Bozo, hosted the same time slot.

Coming in third with 9 percent of the vote, Bubba the Love Sponge proved that there are plenty of truck drivers fluent in “Bubbaspeak.” The fast-paced show features fast-paced vehicles, sports news and the brass commentary of its namesake.

Four shows tied for fourth place, each chosen by 7 percent of the drivers. Opie & Anthony, Dave Nemo Entertainment, The Glenn Beck Program and Coast to Coast AM represent the wide array of interests in the trucking world. Beck’s conservative political commentary is a counterpoint to George Noorey’s fantastic accounts of inexplicable phenomenon on Coast to Coast. Opie & Anthony treat their audience to some Stern-style commentary on pop culture, while Dave Nemo keeps truckers updated on industry changes.

Honorable mentions go to Rush Limbaugh and Mark Levin, whose shows each garnered favorite votes from 5 percent of the drivers in the survey.

Fleetwood Mac Is Back And Ready To Tour

Christine McVie

Christine McVie hasn't ventured out on tour with Fleetwood Mac in 15 years, but she's ready to get back on the road, according to CNN.

Starting September 30, all five members of Fleetwood Mac -- McVie, her ex-husband John McVie, Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks and Mick Fleetwood -- are launching a tour called "On With The Show."
The trek will begin in Minneapolis and will then stretch across North America with 34 shows in 33 cities.

A rep for the legendary band confirmed in January that McVie was rejoining the group after her departure in 1998, and hinted that a tour was in the works.

Over the years, McVie's had a number of reasons for her exit, including the fact that she missed her native England. But on the "Today" show Thursday, she also admitted that it was a persistent fear that got in the way.

"I had a fear of flying," she said. "I haven't flown for 15 years."

A keyboardist and singer, McVie joined Fleetwood Mac after original guitarist Peter Green left in 1970; she was married to bassist John McVie at the time.

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Detroit Radio: NASH FM 93.1 Stages Launch Concert

Cumulus Media's WDRG 93.1 FM NASH-FM, celebrated the launch of NASH in the Motor City Wednesday night at the Fillmore.

Scott McCready performs

 NASH FM listeners and advertisers filled the venue to capacity at the "Free for All Country Concert" and enjoyed performances by Eric Paslay, Scotty McCreery, Terri Clark, The Cadillac Three, Brett Eldredge, Big & Rich and Kix Brooks, who also co-hosted the event with "America's Morning Show" host, Blair Garner.

 Scott Meier, RVP, Cumulus Media Midwest; Brett Eldredge, Artist; Jennifer Van Vallis, GSM, Cumulus Detroit; Gary Pizzati, SVP, Cumulus Media

Radio Talkers Asked To Correct False Ads

The national organization ALIPAC is asking talk radio show hosts across America to expose the liberal pro-amnesty organization that is running false advertising in support of liberal Republican candidates on the very stations that carry the shows to conservative audiences and voters.

In North Carolina, a group called Americans for a Conservative Direction are spending more than $150,000 in ads that claim Congresswoman Renee Ellmers is "working hard to secure our borders, fix our broken immigration system, and no amnesty period."

"We consider these ads to be false advertising because Renee Ellmers actually does support a form of amnesty for illegal immigrants, and Americans for a Conservative Direction is a front group for the liberal Obama supporter Mark Zuckerberg's Silicon Valley-backed FWD.us," said William Gheen, President of Americans for Legal Immigration PAC.

"It is clear that this group and these ads are designed to use massive wealth to deceive Republican primary voters, and since we are so outmatched financially we are asking the talk show hosts to inform their listeners of the truth that this is a liberal group and that Ellmers does support amnesty!"

FWD.us is also run by Stanley Druckenmiller, who Bloomberg reports served as left-wing billionaire George Soros's "chief strategist" for "more than 10 years"!

Congresswoman Renee Ellmers recently became a focal point of the battle within the GOP between those who support immigration reform amnesty for illegals and those who support the current immigration and border laws that would be undermined by such legislation when Ellmers insulted talk radio show host Laura Ingraham two weeks ago.

This week, videos of Renee Ellmers attacking her constituent Ron Woodard of NC Listen due to his opposition to amnesty are going viral across the country. Ellmers called Mr. Woodard "vitriolic, hateful, and racist" because of his stance that Ellmers should focus on helping American workers instead of illegal immigrants and those who employ them.

ALIPAC is calling on all of the talk radio show hosts in America including those who specifically have shows running on stations in Congresswoman Renee Ellmers's North Carolina district where listeners are hearing the false ads claiming she is for "no amnesty period" many times per day.

Talk show hosts being approached with this important request include, but are not limited to Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Dave Ramsey, Sean Hannity, Todd Schnitt, Laura Ingraham, Mark Levine, Michael Savage, Jim Bohannon, KC O'Dea, George Noory, Dr. Laura Schlessinger, and several local talk radio show hosts in North Carolina as well.

"If these talk radio show hosts truly care about their audiences knowing the truth about politicians, they will act to inform their listeners that the ads they are hearing about Renee Ellmers and other immigration reform amnesty supporting Republicans coming from a fake conservative group backed by liberals are false!" said William Gheen.

Report: Spotify Could Be Going Public

The popular music-streaming company has participated in informal chats with some of the investment banks likely to fight for a role in a potential IPO, sources familiar with the process said. According to qz.com, he six-year-old service may start holding formal meetings as early as next month in anticipation of an offering in autumn.

QZ reports Spotify has taken a couple steps recently that are in keeping with a company preparing for a public offering. It acquired the company behind the algorithms Spotify uses to power its personalized radio service. It also obtained a $200 million credit line from lenders, among them Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs earlier this month.  These so-called credit facilities are the equivalent of credit cards in the corporate world. Lenders are usually eager to extend credit lines to hot privately-held tech companies at attractive terms, if they think it will give them an advantage in snagging future business—not least of all the lucrative business of handling an IPO.

Launched in 2008 by Swedish entrepreneurs Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon, Spotify has become one of the fastest-growing music streaming businesses, challenging more established rivals like Oakland, California-based Pandora (which was founded in 2000 and went public three years ago).

Bankers following Spotify say the company may be attractive to prospective investors because the bulk of Spotify’s earnings come from subscriptions rather than advertising.

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Billboard, Twitter To Launch 'Real-Time' Charts

Billboard and social media platform Twitter Thursday announced an exclusive, multi-year partnership to create Billboard Twitter Real-Time Charts.

The charts will track US music conversations among the millions of Tweets sent each day. According to Billboard, combining the authority of the Billboard charts and Twitter’s public, real-time data, the co-branded charts will reshape for consumers and the industry the way music success is measured.

As part of the initiative, Billboard and Twitter have signed a Twitter Amplify partnership, which will help distribute the chart beyond Billboard.com and include custom in-Tweet charts and in-Tweet video round ups of the week in music on Twitter

The charts will reflect the top tracks being discussed at the moment and over an extended period of time on Twitter, as well as surface the most talked about and shared songs by new and upcoming acts. The chart will live on Billboard.com and will also be shared through Billboard’s Twitter account, @billboard, multiple times a week.

Janice Min

"Billboard has always been the standard by which music popularity is measured, and Twitter and its millions of users worldwide have added an entirely new dimension and pace to the way the marketplace interacts with, and evaluates, music and music-makers," said Janice Min, Co-President/Chief Creative Officer of the Entertainment Group of Guggenheim Media. "The Billboard Twitter Real-Time Charts, a natural extension for media brands so in sync in the music space, stands to once again dramatically shape the conversation around the content and the business."

"Twitter is where the music of the moment is discovered and discussed — every day, new songs and new artists are breaking on the platform,” said Bob Moczydlowsky, Twitter’s head of music. “We’re partnering with Billboard to create a ground-breaking chart to track the conversation around music as it happens. This means when artists share songs and engage with their audience on Twitter, the buzz they create will now be visible to fans, other musicians and industry decision makers in real-time."

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Philly Radio: Jayson Stark Show To Air On 97.5 The Fan

Jayson Stark

WPEN 97.5 FM The Fanatic is excited to announce The Jayson Stark Show, presented by Univest, live from The Green Parrot in Newtown, PA.

ESPN baseball expert, Jayson Stark will be hosting a one-hour show on select Mondays throughout the baseball season.

The first show will air Monday, April 7th from 6-7pm. Stark will continue to be a regular contributor on the Mike Missanelli Show every Wednesday at 4:30pm.

“I may work for ESPN now, but I’m still a Philadelphian,” says Stark. “So the only thing cooler than joining my buddy Mike Missanelli every Wednesday is getting my own personal hour of radio, where I get to talk to my favorite Philadelphians about the Phillies and the sport they play, mix in a little trivia and do our best to turn this extravaganza into a show that’s even more fun than spending a summer evening hanging out in Ashburn Alley.”

WPEN 97.5 FM (26Kw) 54dBu Coverage

John Tesh To Take 'Intelligence' To TV

John Tesh

In an era when the launch of a star-driven talk show like Katie, The Ellen DeGeneres Show or Steve Harvey can cost $100 million, 61-year-old John Tesh will roll out his show this fall with a bankroll of less than $5 million to get him through the first year.

According to THR, His L.A.-based TeshMedia is producing and self-distributing, targeting cities where his Christian-themed radio show is popular. "We really are guerrilla television," he says.

Intelligence is part of a small group of syndicated shows -- including RightThisMinute, America Now and The Better Show -- that flies under the radar but competes with higher-profile players by going cheap.

Greg Conklin, corporate programming director for the Gray Television Group, which will air Intelligence in five markets this fall. For example, this fall Gray will air Intelligence in Omaha, Neb., following the morning news. "Most of our stations are No. 1 in news," says Conklin. "I see this as a companion to the news. The snippets of information John and Connie will give us we can use in our newscast, and that also promote the show that follows."

To sell Intelligence, Tesh recruited former Paramount TV executive Mark Dvornik, who says it will debut this fall even if he can't sign up affiliates in the biggest markets. Dvornik expects to be in 65 percent to 75 percent of U.S. TV homes -- including those in Detroit, New Orleans and San Francisco -- but probably not in New York or L.A. at launch. The show also will air in 110 smaller markets on The CW.

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Ronald McDonald Loves Taco Bell's Breakfast

The Mexican food chain located a slew of actual Ronald McDonalds and got them to proclaim their love for the breakfast menu in its ads, according to Ad Age.

 And the fast feeder clearly isn't clowning around: Taco Bell says the marketing campaign will be the biggest in its 50-plus year history.

The TV spots central to the campaign are a blatant poke at McDonald's, the biggest player in breakfast by a wide margin, without an actual mention of the category kingpin. "It's not surprising these guys are loving Taco Bell's new Waffle Taco," says the voice-over in one ad. "What is surprising is who they are." Then the Ronald McDonalds introduce themselves.

R.I.P.: Radio Personality/ Manager Earl McDaniel

Earl McDaniel

Earl McDaniel, the longtime charismatic general manager of KSSK 590 AM/92.3 FM, died Wednesday in Arizona.

He was 85, according to staradvertiser.com.

McDaniel, hired by former KGMB-TV and KGMB-AM 590 owner Cec Heftel, is credited with initiating the idea for a $1 million giveaway that cemented the success of the Michael W. Perry and Larry Price morning team following the death of J. Akuhead Pupule in 1983.

McDaniel was a KGMB sports anchor in Dan Diego in the mid-1960s before his broadcast management career in Hawaii began.

McDaniel also was a popular radio personality in Los Angeles, known as Earl "The Pearl" McDaniel. His resume included work at AM radio music stations across the Los Angeles radio dial like KFVD/KPOP from 1953 to 1958; KDAY from 1958 to 1961; and KFWB from 1961 to 1963.

March 28 In Radio History

In 1924...WGN-AM, Chicago, Illinois, went on-the-air.

The predecessor to the current WGN was WDAP, which signed on the air on May 19, 1922, and was founded by Thorne Donnelley and Elliott Jenkins. Originally based in the Wrigley Building, the station moved its operations to the Drake Hotel in July.

WGN's main studio in Tribune Tower, circa '30s-'40s

On May 12, 1923, the Zenith Radio Company signed on radio station WJAZ from the Edgewater Beach Hotel. However, after this brief period, the Tribune switched its operations to WDAP, and the Zenith station became WEBH,  the license eventually being deleted on November 30, 1928.

Scopes Trial 1925

Early programming was noted for its creativity and innovation. It included live music, political debates, comedy routines, and some of radio's first sporting event broadcasts, including the Indianapolis 500 automobile race, and a live broadcast of the 1925 Scopes Trial from Dayton, Tennessee. In 1926, WGN broadcast Sam & Henry, a daily serial with comic elements created and performed by Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll. After a dispute with the station in 1927, Gosden and Correll took the program's concept and announcer Bill Hay across town to WMAQ 670 AM and created the first syndicated radio show, Amos 'n' Andy.  WGN 720 AM served as a founding member of the Mutual Broadcasting System.

Over many decades, WGN was a "full service" radio station.

The station played small amounts of music during the mornings and afternoon hours, moderate amounts of music on weekends during the day, aired midday and evening talk shows, and sports among other features. The station's music was easy listening/MOR-based until the 1970s, when its switched to more of an adult contemporary-type sound.

Music programming was phased out during the 1980s, and by 1990, the station's lineup mainly consisted of talk shows. In 1961, the WGN radio and television stations moved to a studio facility on West Bradley Place in the North Center neighborhood, a move undertaken for civil defense concerns in order to provide the station a safe base to broadcast in case of a hostile attack targeting downtown Chicago.

WGN radio moved back to North Michigan Avenue in 1986, relocating its operations to a studio in the Pioneer Court extension (WGN-TV remained at the Bradley Place facility, where that station operates to this day).



Some former well-known personalities on WGN include longtime morning hosts Wally Phillips, Bob Collins, Spike O'Dell, Paul Harvey and Roy Leonard. Orion Samuelson has been the station's farm reporter since 1960. Late-night hosts over the years have included Franklyn MacCormack, Chicago Ed Schwartz, Don Vogel and the husband-and-wife team of Steve King and Johnnie Putman.



In 1986...over 6,000 radio stations across America played "We are the World" at exactly 10:15 a.m. EST.

NYC Radio: Patty Steele Starts On 'Shannon In The Morning'

Scott Shannon, Patty Steele, Mr. G, Joe Nolan

Joe, Scott, Mr. G, Patty

The Scott 'Shannon In The Morning' Show continues to evolve as Patty Steele join the ensemble.  Steele joins WCBS-FM 101.1 FM from CCM+E's WOR 710 AM, whhere is was nachoring afternoon news.   Steele and Shannon also worked together at WPLJ and WHTZ.

The music is also getting a bit adventuous for the Classic Hits station.  Last week, listeners heard Cher's "Believe" from 1998.  This week the Shannon In The Morning played Bon Jovi's "It's My Life" from 2000 and Smash Mouth's verision of The Monkees' classic "I'm A Believer" from 2001.

And Wednesday, Scott Shanoon et al were visited by a contemporary doo wop group, The Whiptones, a teenage acappella quartet from Whippany, New Jersey.

The Whiptones beat out 150 other contestnats to earn honors to perform the national Anthem at Citi Field for teh New York Mets opening day March 31.  The four young men — Mike “The Master” Mastellone, Matt “Sir” Korzen, Derek “Ritz” Ritschel, and Brad “The Bass” Ritschel — stopped into the CBS-FM studio to speak with Scott Shannon and perform live on air.

WWOne Cancels True Oldies Channel

To the surprise of no one...Westwood One has officially served notices that it's dropping Scott Shannon's True Oldies Channel.

The 90-day notice went out Wednesday to some 100 affiliates that the synidcated music format would be ending  at the end of June.

WestwoodOne President of Programming Kirk Stirland indicated that current TOC affiliates would get first refusal rights on the company;'s new "Good Time Oldies" format which debuts April 28.  GTO will be hoster by Jim Zippo, John Summers and Kevin Browning. Zippo previously hosted oldies shows for SMN's "Pure Gold" format. Zippo can now be heard on CBS Radio's classic hits KLUV 98.7  FM in D/FW. Summers marks 30 years as a PD/MD and air personality on such stations as BJ105/Orlando and WMMO/Orlando, and he currently does PM Drive on KLUV/Dallas. Affiliated stations will have the option to either take the channel as a nationally branded format, or adopt their own localized imaging.

Shannon departed Cumulus' WPLJ in February and is now hosting mornings at CBS Radio's WCBS 101. FM.   Shannon owns the rights to TOC and says he's currently exploring his options.

America's Music Tastes Profiled OnLine

Vocativ, a global media organization delivering news and information for the Digital Generation, today announced the publication of its "Deep Web" guide to America's musical tastes, an index that reveals the genre of music most popular in each of 100 US cities.

New York City Music Profile

The guide sources data from the open Internet – such as illegal song downloads, Twitter activity and BitTorrent traffic – to gauge regional preferences in music. The index uncovers the top cities where each of ten musical genres has the most avid listenership. It also features an interactive engine that lets users determine which American city best matches their musical likes and dislikes.

Los Angeles Music Profile

Said Mati Kochavi, Founder of Vocativ. "Our proprietary technology and methodology helps us to understand what's really happening in the world by homing into open discussions and patterns in the Deep Web. Vocativ identifies sources and data streams which other organizations simply cannot – which gives us a unique perspective, from important geo-political stories to fun, lifestyle packages like the Music Index."

Orlando Music Profile

Said Scott Cohen, CEO of Vocativ. "By zeroing in on download data and social media discussions, we were able to confirm a few hunches, while also being surprised by the outcome. Sure, you'd expect rock to chart high in college towns like Eugene, Oregon, but who knew Honolulu has such a huge community of jazz fans?"

According to the Vocativ music index, here are the top American cities for the ten genres surveyed:

• POP: Lansing, MI
• COUNTRY: Evansville, IN
• ROCK: Eugene, OR
• R&B/HIP HOP: Montgomery, AL
• DANCE/ELECTRONIC: Reno, NV
• LATIN: Laredo, TX
• CHRISTIAN/GOSPEL: Knoxville, TN
• BLUES: Wichita, KS
• JAZZ: Honolulu, HI
• REGGAE: Honolulu, HI

SCBA, NYMRAD Report Revenue Gains In February

The Southern California Broadcasters Association (SCBA) announced Wednesday strong, across-the-board ad revenue market gains for February. According to the Miller Kaplan Arase February 2014 Market Summary Report for all reporting LA Radio stations, total market revenue grew by 3.7% for the month. On a YTD basis through February, the LA total market revenue growth is 3.1%.

“This substantial market growth reflects the dynamic power of Southern California Radio and our member Radio stations’ determination to begin 2014 on very strong footing, “said SCBA President Thom Callahan.

The Miller Kaplan Arase report also cites continued growth in digital revenue for the reporting stations in February at 16.8% and a YTD growth rate of 14.7%. The subsequent X-Ray report YTD also reveals substantial new business growth with 336 new advertisers spending $12.7 million. Key category drivers include: Insurance – Up 141.7%, Cellular/Communications – Up 45.8%, Concerts/Theatre/Movies – Up 34.7%, Casinos/Lottery – Up 32.5%, and Education – Up 32.3%.

“The Auto category reflects a growth rate of 6.4% YTD and convincingly reverses the trend from Q4 of 2013,” said Callahan. “Radio and its digital platforms remain a key strategic partner for Southern California car dealers and associations that are driving market share, brand awareness, and sales using Radio,” said Callahan.

“Now, with two strong revenue reporting months in a row, Southern California Radio is well on its way to a solid first quarter with real momentum and a full pipeline of new business to come,” said Callahan. “February was a decisive revenue growth month with the perfect trifecta of Local, National, and Digital all coming together for a very positive month for our region.

Meanwhile radio billings were up 2.3% compared to a year earlier reports New York Market Radio Broadcasters Association (NYMRAD).   That brings the market’s year-to-date growth rate to 3.26%.  “The New York market is up, despite the series of storms,” NYMRAD executive director Deborah Beagan says.

Ongoing cell phone wars are one reason why — the category was up 20% in February with sizable gains by Verizon (+69%), AT&T (+67%) and Metro PCS (+95%). NYMRAD says even with snowed-in auto dealerships, that category also posted gains last month. Revenue figures are based on Miller Kaplan Arase data.

Chicago Radio: CBS Radio Places Three In Top 5 Billing Stations

All-News WBBM 780 AM/WCFS 105.9 FM saw revenue fall last year, but held its position as the top-billing Chicago radio station, and the only local outlet among the top 10 stations nationwide, according to The Chicago Tribune.

The CBS-owned news radio station took in $42 million in over-the-air revenue last year, an 8 percent decline, according to media research firm BIA/Kelsey. Closing ground was Hubbard Radio’s adult contemporary station WTMX-FM 101.9, The Mix, which was up 10 percent to $37.5 million.

Overall, the Chicago radio market declined by 1.8  percent to $470.5 million in over-the air revenue, according to BIA/Kelsey. Nationally, radio revenue was essentially flat at $14.3 billion.

Tribune Co.’s WGN-AM 720, a legacy news/talk station which retooled its programming last summer under new general manager Jimmy de Castro, ranked third in Chicago with $29.2 million in revenue, a 3.3 percent decline.

Rod Zimmerman

CBS Radio had three of the top five billing stations in Chicago, with hit music station, WBBM-FM 96.3 (B96) and sports talk station WSCR-AM 670 (The Score) rounding out the list, according to BIA/Kelsey.

All-news WBBM is ranked 10th in revenues among all U.S. stations.

“Our cluster is as strong as there is in the country,” said Rod Zimmerman, CBS Radio Chicago's senior vice president and market manager. “We’re well-positioned and we like our lineup of stations”

Here are the Top 5 Chicago radio stations in revenue for 2013, according to BIA/Kelsey:

• News WBBM-AM with revenue of  $42 million, down $3.7 million from 2012
• AC WTMX-FM with revenue of $37.5 million, up $3.4 million from 2012
• Talk WGN-AM  with revenue of $29.2, down $1 million from 2012
• Top 40 WBBM-FM with revenue of  $25.3 million, down $.5 million from 2012
• Sports WSCR-AM with revenue of $24.8 million, up $1.9 million from 2012

IN Radio: Radio One Sells Valpo Stations To Adams Radio

Tears flowed Tuesday when Radio One Communication's employees were informed the company's group of radio stations were sold to Adams Radio Group of Northern Indiana, according to nwi.com.

Leigh, Len Ellis

"I'll miss the day-to-day interaction with the staff," said Leigh Ellis, who has run the company for years since his father, Len Ellis, retired. "Everybody had tears in their eyes. I grew up with them. We shared the birth of each other's kids and watched them grow up and go to school and get married."

Radio One owns Country WLJE 105.5 FM, Classic Rock WXRD 103.9 FM, Hot AC WZVN 107.1 FM and Oldies WAKE 1500 AM.

Len Ellis, who's known as "Uncle Len," is 86, and Leigh, 60, said he wants to retire and pursue other hobbies and devote more time to his family. Nobody from the next generation of Ellises was interested in carrying on the family business.  The staff and stations will continue as they are now for the foreseeable future, they said.

Leigh Ellis said the family hired a broker last May to actively market the stations nationwide. Four companies talked to them about buying it and others expressed interest before the Adams Radio Group was chosen.

"This is a great expansion opportunity for Adams Radio in Indiana," Ron Stone, president and CEO of Adams, said Wednesday morning in a statement. "The Ellises have built an operation that serves from Chicago to South Bend. As a market, it may have been the best kept secret in the industry and will be a great complement to the stations we are purchasing in Fort Wayne."

Radio One Communications was founded by Len Ellis in 1964 as WAKE-AM.

The acquisition marks the third market for Adams since re-entering the radio business in July. Other station acquisitions include those in New Mexico and Fort Wayne. The Federal Communications Commission still must approve the Radio One sale, a process that could take 30 to 90 days, Ellis said.

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Influx Of New Money Changing American Journalism

In 2013, the business of journalism saw another twist in its digital evolution: An influx of new money – and interest – from the tech world, according to the Pew Research State of the New Media Report.

At this point, professional newsgathering is still largely supported by advertising directed to such legacy platforms as print and television and, secondarily, by audience revenues (mostly subscriptions). But other ways of paying for news are becoming more visible. Much of the momentum is around this high-profile interest from the tech world, in the form of venture capital and individual and corporate investments, which bring with them different skill sets and approaches to journalism. Philanthropy is growing, too, particularly as a source of capital for regional and investigative journalism. These newer investments—many of which are ‘unearned revenue’—do not yet represent a sea change in the business model. But they do signify a pivot in the news world. More than the sum of dollars and cents, this funding patchwork serves as a series of signposts pointing toward the ways journalism may be paid for in the years to come.

As an industry, news in the U.S. generates roughly $63 billion to $65 billion in annual revenue, according to Pew Research analysis of official filings, projections by financial firms and self-reported data.1 While admittedly an estimate, the figure provides a sense of scale: The global video game industry takes in about $93 billion a year. Starbucks reported $15 billion in 2013 revenues and Google alone generated $58 billion that year.

Pew also shows just how much noncommercial radio stations are billing with news-related content. NPR had $191.7 million of revenue in 2013, of which $44 million came directly from ads and underwriting announcements. That’s more than twice what was given by individual donations.

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Murdoch Sets Up Sons To Take Over FOX Media

Rupert Murdoch, Lachlan, James

Rupert Murdoch has returned eldest son Lachlan to the leadership of his media empire and promoted younger son James, paving the way for the 83-year-old tycoon to pass the reins to the family's next generation, according to Reuters.

Lachlan, 42, will become non-executive co-chairman of both entertainment company 21st Century Fox and publishing operation News Corp, sharing both roles with his father. He rejoins the company after quitting as deputy chief operating officer nearly 10 years ago amid friction with other News Corp executives.

James, 41, will become Fox's co-chief operating officer alongside longtime Murdoch stalwart Chase Carey, the latest step in the younger son's comeback after he was forced to relinquish some roles during a phone hacking scandal in Britain.

James will have responsibility for Fox Networks Group, the U.S. broadcast and cable channels business, and strategic oversight of Fox's businesses in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Each son has at various times been seen as heir apparent, and it is unclear how well they will work together when Murdoch finally hands over the companies.

The Murdoch family controls both Fox and News Corp through a trust that has a 38 percent ownership stake of Class B shares with voting rights.

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Aereo Tells The Supremes: 'We're Heirs To Rabbit Ears'

Aereo filed its opening brief in the Supreme Court late Wednesday, responding to broadcaster's, who got the first shot in, while framing its service as the natural inheritor of free TV and home taping rights, according to Broadcasting&Cable.

Aereo's dime-sized antenna

"The evolution of technology from a black-and-white television connected to a rabbit-ear antenna and a Betamax to a high-definition television connected to a digital antenna and DVR has not changed those core principles," which is that "any consumer with an antenna is entitled to receive, watch, and make a personal recording of that content."

Broadcasters told the court that Aereo was using a technological work-around to provide a performance while attempting to avoid copyright payments. But Aereo says copyright is a limited grant, and applies to a public performance, not its one-to-one transmissions to individuals that result in individual private performances controlled by its subscribers, not Aereo.

"Because the performance embodied in each transmission from Aereo’s equipment – the user’s playing of her recording – is available only to the individual user who created that recording, the performance is private, not public," Aereo tells the court. It points out that what users are accessing is their own copy of a broadcast transmission, not the transmission itself.

Broadcasters have branded Aereo a Rube Goldberg contraption, a reference to the cartoonist who depicted elaborate devices performing simple tasks. Aereo defines Rube Goldberg as "a clever way to take advantage of existing laws" and takes ownership of it.

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