Hubbard Announces Changes At the Top

Hubbard Radio has announced planned changes to its executive management team. 

Ginny Morris

Ginny Morris will maintain her Chairmanship and become Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Bruce Reese, current President and Chief Executive Officer, will continue his involvement with the company as Special Advisor to Hubbard Radio.

Reese first joined Bonneville International in 1984 and was appointed President and CEO in 1996. An industry leader, he was instrumental in the transition when the 17 Bonneville radio stations across four markets (Washington, D.C., Chicago, St. Louis and Cincinnati) were purchased by Hubbard Radio in 2011. The acquisition also meant the addition of 547 Bonneville employees.

Bruce Reese

According to Morris, “Working with Bruce over these last three and a half years on the integration, first on the Bonneville assets and subsequently those we bought from Sandusky and merged into a new Hubbard Radio, has been a great experience. Bruce is smart and strategic and he shares many of the values that our family holds dear—a commitment to localism, honesty and integrity. He has helped to establish a great foundation for the company and we are grateful to still have the benefit of his wise counsel.”

Morris has been chair of Hubbard Radio since 2011 and is a third-generation broadcaster with over 30 years of radio and television broadcasting experience. She currently serves on the board of the Radio Advertising Bureau, Broadcast Music, Inc., the Library of American Broadcasting and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB). In May 2013, Morris was honored with the National Radio Award by NAB and the Radio Advertising Bureau for her outstanding leadership in the industry. Additionally, Morris serves as a board member of the University of Minnesota Foundation and University of St. Thomas.

KY/TN Radio: Tiffany Hill Joins WZZP For Mornings

Tiffany Hill

Rock WZZP 975 FM in Hopkinsville, KY Z97.5 FM has announced the addition of veteran radio personality Tiffany Hill for “Tiffany and Tyler in the Morning,” according to Clarksville Now.

Hill previously served for ten years as co-host of the WBEB 101.1 FM  morning show in Philadelphia and says she is thrilled to be on a show featuring her favorite music. “This is my music of choice,” Hill said. “Metallica, Queens of the Stone Age…that’s my kind of music.”

Hill is also a vocalist, who once fronted an Industrial band with her husband, drummer David, who looks forward to session work in Nashville and teaching.

WZZP 97.5 FM (6Kw) 60dBu Coverage

Hill said the opportunity to join Z Mornings was irresistible and was planning a move to the area even before she heard about the opening. “It’s a perfect match and I can’t wait to get out into the community, and meet listeners,” she said.

“Tiffany and Tyler have great chemistry. She’s funny and hyper local and is already making local connections to put on the show,” said Operations Manager Jared Mims.

DC Radio: Melony Torres Joins WRQX For Mid-Days/APD/MD

Melony Torres

Cumulus Media has announced that Melony Torres joins WRQX 107.3 FM in Washington, D.C., as Assistant Program Director/Music Director.  

Melony will also be on air weekdays from 10am-2pm. 

The announcement was made this morning, by WRQX Program Director Gillette, who said: “Melony is someone I’ve been trying to hire for more than two years. She’s passionate about music, a gifted student of programming and dynamic & engaging on the air—a true trifecta of talent. With apologies to FLOTUS, I’m sure it won’t be long until she’s the most powerful woman in Washington.”

Torres said: “I'm baaaack! I'm beyond excited for my return to radio and to work alongside Gillette. He is someone I look up to as one of the best programmers in the business. I'd also like to thank John Dickey and Mike McVay for giving me such a great opportunity to further my career with Cumulus in the phenomenal D.C. market.“

Torres began her radio career in Orlando in 2006 at Alternative station WOCL and later did nights down the hall at sister Hot AC WOMX. In 2009, she segued to Tampa as Music Director/nights at WSJT before heading back to Orlando in 2010 as APD/MD/middays at Top 40 WJHM. Most recently, she was at Epic Records as National Director of Rhythm Promotion in Los Angeles.

Teachers Threaten to Derail WiFi Push

Educators are threatening to derail the Obama administration’s proposals to boost wireless Internet in schools over fears districts could be left with inadequate funds or cuts to other services, according to TheHill.

A new plan from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler would funnel $5 billion for Wi-Fi over the next five years through the agency’s E-Rate program.

The FCC is set to vote on the plan at its monthly meeting on July 11, but sources now say it’s unclear if it has the votes to pass.

Democratic Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel and Republican Commissioner Ajit Pai have advocated for reforms to the E-Rate program, but it's unclear if either will support Wheeler's proposal as currently written.

Sources said the plan’s specifics are in flux as Wheeler works to rally support from other commissioners and advocacy groups ahead of Friday’s vote.

The Wi-Fi plan follows President Obama’s push to increase connectivity in schools, with wireless access a priority. The ConnectED initiative launched last year aims to get 99 percent of U.S. students “next-generation” Internet access by 2017.

Read More Now

Brad&Britt: 'Talk Radio Is A Right-Wing Sewer'

Brad and Britt

Starting today, the former WBT 1110 AM / 99.3 FM duo Brad Krantz and Britt Whitmire take their act online.

Frustrated with the state of talk radio, they are launching The Brad & Britt Podcast. Click Here.

According to the news-record.com, listeners will be able to download a free podcast each weekday from BradandBritt.com and get the duo’s impersonations, skits, and takes on politics, current events, sports and life.

It will be available through subscription apps such as iTunes and Stitcher and can be played from any computer, smartphone or tablet.

“We don’t have to go through a program director, a general manager, a radio station or a transmitter,” Whitmire said. “We can just connect directly to our fans, which I am really excited about.”

He and Krantz decided to take to the Internet after WBT did not renew their 2-year contracts.

Before that, they had teamed up for eight years on WZTK 101.1 FM (101.1), the talk radio station that covered the Triad and Triangle.

At WBT, “Brad and Britt” had aired in afternoon drive-time for the first year, then moved to early evenings.

The show had good ratings, Krantz said, but station management stopped supporting them after apparently receiving a few complaint calls from legacy listeners.

“We are entertaining. We are funny,” Krantz said. “But we are not right-wing, and in the insane world of radio, if you are not a right-winger, then you are a Socialist, Marxist Commie.

“Right now, talk radio is a right-wing sewer. We refuse to swim in the sewer, therefore we pay the price.”

The Relm Network in Washington, which hosts podcasts of former radio personalities, will host their podcast and provide national advertising.

They produce the show each weekday afternoon, and upload it by 3 p.m. They will work from Whitmire’s home in McLeansville, where they had produced their WBT show remotely for the past year.

The show will keep characters such as ‘Lil Rush, who mocks the popular talk-show host; Satan; and Brad Harvey, who sounds like the late radio broadcaster Paul Harvey.

Read More Now

Chicago Radio: Eddie&Jobo Address Radio Show Breakup

As you probably heard, Eddie and Jobo were offered a contract to return to the radio.

Read WLS-FN, Eddie&Jobo Deal Falls Apart: Click Here.

Eddie was ready, but Jobo was a no-go. The following video bit aired on WGN-TV: Click Here.

Report: 'Anthony' To Launch Podcast Content

Anthony Cumia

Anthony Cumia, after two decades and three firings, is going off the airwaves for good, a source indicated to the NY Daily News.

Cumia — canned Friday by SiriusXM Satellite Radio for a series of racially charged tweets — instead plans a live podcast-style broadcast from his Long Island home studio, the source said.

The 53-year-old Cumia, 53, would likely recruit many of the comics regularly featured on the “Opie and Anthony” show — Jim Norton, Bill Burr, Jim Florentine, Nick DiPaolo and others.

As Cumia looked to turn the dial on his career, rabid fans of the fired shock jock launched an online petition demanding that SiriusXM return Anthony to the airwaves.

Anthony's Home Sweet Home

Nearly 4,000 supporters, many threatening to cancel their subscriptions, backed Cumia after he was axed for the Twitter rants deemed “hate-filled” by his former employer.

“We are hereby pledging to boycott your service until you reinstate Anthony Cumia,” read the petition. “A member of your staff should not lose their job for exercising their First Amendment right to free speech.

Cumia, along with partner Gregg “Opie” Hughes, was previously fired in Boston and at WNEW-FM.
The $3 million-a-year co-host launched his Twitter offensive early Wednesday after asserting he was punched in the face by a black woman in Times Square.

SEE ORIGINAL POSTING: Click Here

Just spent a glorious day photographing the Wood Covered Bridges of Vermont. Did I miss anything?
— opie radio (@OpieRadio) July 3, 2014

Meanwhile, SiriusXM has not announced what happens to Gregg 'Opie' Hughes, or Sirius XM’s dedicated “Opie & Anthony Channel.”

Yes, I'm devastated. Yes, I'm meeting with @SIRIUSXM on tuesday.
— opie radio (@OpieRadio) July 6, 2014

Raleigh Radio: The Gates Are New AM Hosts At WRAL-FM

Gene and Julie Gates

Husband-wife team Gene and Julie Gates will take over July 28 as morning hosts on WRAL 101.5 FM MIX.

“'The Gene and Julie Show' is smart, funny and real, elements we believe relate to the core MIX listener,” station general manager Ardie Gregory said.

“This is a proven morning show with great chemistry and a successful track record. We know that personalities are a powerful asset for traditional radio and are very excited that Gene and Julie are joining us.”

Gene and Julie Gates met in 1995 and have lived and worked in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta and, most recently, Dallas on KVIL, where they were the first show in thirteen years to return mornings to #1 in the ratings.

“We have learned so much and have so many great stories to tell,” said Gene Gates. “We can’t wait to start our new show in Raleigh!”

WRAL 101.5 FM (96Kw) 60dBu Coverage

When The Gene & Julie Show beings, MIX 101.5 listeners will have a familiar voice in Vanna Fox, who will continue to provide traffic reports. WRAL news and weather updates will be a part of the new morning format as well.

NYC Radio: Angie Martinez Reportedly Doubles Pay With CCM+E

Angie Martinez

Insiders are buzzing that when popular disc jockey Angie Martinez jumped ship to WWPR 105.1 FM Power 105. 1 two weeks ago, after 15 years at Hot 97, has doubled her pay.

Sources tell Page Six at the NY Post that Clear Channel, which owns Power 105.1, offered Martinez a figure in the “high six figures.” Martinez, who was a co-host of WQHT 97.1 FM Hot 97’s “Afternoon Drive” broadcast with DJ Enuff, will be hosting two four-hour shows in New York and Miami.

She previously told The Breakfast Club her new job opportunity was about growth and new experiences, explaining: "It was time for me to grow and to do things... I’m sure you all know, this company offers so much opportunity for growth. I want to be on in different cities. I want to be able to grow. I want to be able to have new challenges and see new things. I want to know how this studio works. And it was time. I’ve done what I can do in that company. I think my friendships remain."

Martinez's first show is slated to air on the second or third week of July while Cipha Sounds has replaced Angie's slot at Hot 97.

The Post also speculates Hot 97 may pick up comedian Rickey Smiley’s radio show, which is syndicated in 70 markets.

Smiley is considered a protégé of Steve Harvey.

Hartford Radio: Connoisseur To Close On WDRC AM/FM

Connecticut's oldest radio station, the place for "Radio Fun," home of the "Oldies But Goodies," and where listeners expected to have "More Fun With No. 1," has seen nearly a century's worth of progress and change.

N/T WDRC 1360 AM was once the "Home of the Hits," with a stable of celebrity disc jockeys including "The Friendly Five" and "The Swinging Six".  The station expects to start a new chapter today, with its longtime owners, Buckley Broadcasting, selling all its stations to Westport-based Connoisseur Media.

The Hartford Courant reports the company's flagship, WDRC and Classic Hits WDRC 102.9 FM, is one one of the nation's oldest, a longtime family-owned business that had loyal fans around Connecticut and Massachusetts.

WDRC 102.9 FM (19.5Kw) 54dBu Coverage

Connoisseur, which also owns WPLR, WYBC, the Fox and Star in Milford, has not announced what, if any, program and staff changes will be made when the sale is finalized for WDRC and stations WMMW AM in Meriden, WWCO AM in Waterbury and WSNG AM in Torrington. The purchase price has not been disclosed.

For many who grew up with "The Big D," the sale is a cause for nostalgia.

The Bloomfield-based station has moved as often as it switched owners. Founded as WFMQ in New Haven in 1922 by Franklin M. Doolittle — Doolittle Radio Corporation changed to WDRC in 1955 — the state's oldest radio station was sold to Richard Buckley and John Jaeger in 1957, with the Buckley Family taking full control in 1959. Initially part of the CBS Radio network, the station was considered a trailblazer, becoming one of the first to add an FM station. Both the AM and FM sides built a solid reputation over the years for newscasts, including two a day from The Courant newsroom in the 1940s, as well as cultural programs and music dominated by Top 40, album rock, classic hits and oldies.

Read More Now

R.I.P. Jackson MS Radio Personality, PD Jennell Roberts

Jenell Roberts

The Jackson MS radio community is mourning the death of air personality Jenell Roberts.

She was 49-years-old.

According to CCM+E's Gospel WHLH 96.5 FM Hallelujah Roberts died last Thursday.

Jenell was the very first on air personality at 95.5 Hallelujah FM and was Program Director for several years.

Before that, she hosted a very successful program on sister station, Miss 103, called Cryin’ Lovin’ Laughin’ or Leavin’.

After that, Jenell jumped across the hall and hosted the midday show on Q105.1 for several years before
95.5 Hallelujah FM, Jackson’s first 100,000 watt FM Gospel station.

Jenell suffered a stroke a couple of weeks ago.

July 7 In Radio History

In 1944...legendary DJ, Bobby Ocean, was born. He worked primarily on the West Coast. As you might expect Bobby Ocean is not his real name.  His real is...Johnny! Johnny Ocean!

However, his first radio job was WDLP, Panama City, FL in 1963 using the name Ray Farrell.

He also used the on-air handles of 'Radio Ray' and 'Captain Turntable'.  He first used the name Bobby Ocean at KGB 1360 AM, in San Diego, CA in 1968.

Best known for his work at KFRC 610 AM San Fransisco and KHJ 930 AM Los Angeles.


In 1949...the program "Dragnet" debuted on the NBC Radio Network.


In 1989...Compact discs began to outsell vinyl records for the first time. The dominance of CDs practically wiped out the 45 RPM single format since nothing came along to replace it. The 3½-inch CD single failed to gain favor with the public partly because record companies refused to offer them at a reasonable price.


In 2009…After an earlier private funeral, Michael Jackson's family and fans said farewell to the King of Pop at a memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Berry Gordy, who signed the Jackson 5 to Motown Records in 1968, closed his eulogy by saying "Michael, thank you for the joy, thank you for the love. You will live in my heart forever."

Paul McCartney Bounces Back In Albany

Times-Union photo

McCartney (Times-Union)

After a viral infection sidelined him in Japan, forcing him to postpone a dozen Asian and U.S. concerts, Paul McCartney launched the current U.S. leg of his Out There tour at the relatively intimate confines of the 17,000-seat Times Union Center in albany, NY on Saturday night in front of a jam-packed house, according to the Times-Union.

Having celebrated his 72nd birthday just last month, the cute Beatle exhibited no health concerns at all during his three-hour performance that found him mesmerizing the adoring fans with a sprawling set of more than three dozen songs from the most influential songwriter of the rock era - culled primarily from his Beatles catalog, but also from his tenure with Wings and his solo career.

The show ran the gamut from heavy rockers like "Let Me Roll It" to a solo rendition of "Blackbird" to a varied batch of love songs – from the claves 'n bongos samba of "And I Love Her" to the raw-throated roar of "Maybe I'm Amazed."

McCartney dutifully served up the requisite blockbuster hits "Hey Jude," "The Long and Winding Road" and "Let It Be" and never down-shifted into auto-pilot. And the crowd kept the energy up all night long, eagerly singing and clapping along.

Read More Now

 The show even included an onstage marriage proposal by a Rochester, NY couple.

Saturday Aircheck: Jack Diamond On WRQX 1997

The Jack Diamond Morning Show, was on the air at Washington, DC's WRQX 107.3 FM Mix 107-3 for nearly 24 years. The final broadcast of the Jack Diamond Morning Show on WRQX was Friday, April 26, 2013

From the Ellis B. Feaster Collection

July 6 Radio History

In 1924...in an experiment, the first photo was sent across the Atlantic by radio from the United States to England.

In 1957...Liverpool teenagers John Lennon and Paul McCartney met for the first time after a performance by Lennon's band, the Quarrymen.



In 1963...Dick Biondi - the once-popular evening DJ on WLS 890 AM inChicago, begins on KRLA 110 AM in Pasadena, Calif. He walked out on WLS about 2 months ago in a disagreement. KRLA is in a top-40 battle with KFWB.Even though KFWB is #1 - the new KRLA lineup looks like this - Reb Foster, Casey Kasem, Bob Eubanks, Dick Biondi, Ted Quilin. (Today, Biondi airs on WLS 94.7 FM in Chicago.)

KRLA overtook KFWB by the mid-1960s. In 1965, KHJ start its “Boss Radio” Top 40 format, which launched it to the No. 1 position.  KRLA was the second-place Top 40 station.  KFWB abandoned music and flipped to all-news in 1968.



As music listeners moved to FM, KRLA evolved to adult contemporary by 1982.  It became an oldies station in 1983.  That lasted until 1994, when KRLA moved to urban oldies.  In 1998, KRLA went to an all-talk format before flipping to all-sports KSPN in 2000.  Today, it’s KDIS, a Radio Disney children’s music station.

When KRLA became KSPN in 2000, the KRLA call letters went to 870 AM, which carries a conservative talk format.


In 1974..."A Prairie Home Companion," a live radio variety show created and hosted by Garrison Keillor and first broadcast from Macalester College in St. Paul, made its debut on Minnesota Public Radio.

SiriusXM Fires Anthony Cumia Over Twitter Tirade

Anthony Cumia

Anthony Cumie, one hald of The Opie & Anthony Show, has been fired  for a shocking racist tirade on Twitter.

Cumia called a black woman a 'c***' and an 'animal b****' on Wednesday after claiming she punched him in the face as he took photos in NYC's Times Square.

On Friday, a spokesperson for SiriusXM said that the rant was 'abhorrent' and 'wholly inconsistent with what SiriusXM represents'.

'SiriusXM has terminated its relationship with Anthony Cumia of the Opie & Anthony channel,' Patrick Reilly said. 'The decision was made, and Cumia informed, late Thursday, July 3 after careful consideration of his racially-charged and hate-filled remarks on social media.

"SiriusXM has terminated its relationship with Anthony Cumia of the Opie & Anthony channel. The decision was made, and Cumia informed, late Thursday, July 3 after careful consideration of his racially-charged and hate-filled remarks on social media. Those remarks and postings are abhorrent to SiriusXM, and his behavior is wholly inconsistent with what SiriusXM represents."

Despite the latest development, the fouled-mouthed shock jock still showed no sign of remorse.

Sirius decided to cave and fire me. Welcome to bizarro world. Fired for shit that wasn't even on the air & wasn't illegal. So, who's next?
— Anthony Cumia (@AnthonyCumia) July 4, 2014

He wrote that he was fired via email, adding: 'F*** Sirius.'

His firing came after he explained on Twitter on Wednesday that he was trying to take photos of the area in New York City on Tuesday night when the unidentified woman was caught in the frame.

SEE ORIGINAL POSTING: Click Here.

July 4 In Radio History

In 1929...WOWO-AM, Fort Wayne, Indiana lost its transmitter when it burned down.

WOWO resumed broadcasting the next day, as operations were moved across the street until damages could be repaired. In November 1929, the station held a grand opening of the rebuilt studios


In 1958...WKBW 1520 AM, Buffalo, changed its format to "Top 40".

In 1970...American Top 40 began on the Independence Day weekend in 1970, on seven radio stations, the very first being KDEO in El Cajon, California (now KECR), which broadcast the inaugural show the evening of July 3, 1970.

The chart data broadcast actually included the top 40 songs from the week ending July 11, 1970. The very first show featured the very last time both Elvis Presley and The Beatles had songs simultaneously in the Top 10.

It was originally distributed by Watermark Inc., and was first presented in mono until it started recording in stereo in September 1972.

 In early 1982, Watermark was purchased by ABC Radio and AT40 became a program of the "ABC Contemporary Radio Network". The program was hosted by Casey Kasem and co-created by Kasem; Don Bustany, Kasem's childhhood friend from Detroit, MI;radio veteran Tom Rounds; and 93/KHJ Program Director Ron Jacobs, who produced and directed the various production elements. Rounds was also the marketing director; the initial funder was California strawberry grower Tom Driscoll.



The show began as a three-hour program written and directed by Bustany, counting down the top 40 songs on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. The show quickly gained popularity once it was commissioned, and expanded to a four hour-program on October 7, 1978, to reflect the increasing average length of singles on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.

The producing staff expanded to eight people, some of them still in the business: Nikki Wine, Ben Marichal, Scott Paton, Matt Wilson, Merrill Shindler, Guy Aoki, Ronnie Allen and Sandy Stert Benjamin. (Bustany retired from AT40 in 1989; since 1994, he has hosted a political talk show on listener-sponsored KPFK.)

By the early 1980s, the show could be heard on 520 stations in the United States and at its zenith, the show was broadcast on 1,000-plus stations in some 50 countries.

Kasem told the New York Times in 1990 "I accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative. That is the timeless thing."

AT40's first countdown:

40: END OF OUR ROAD - MARVIN GAYE
39: SILVER BIRD - MARK LINDSEY
38: SPILL THE WINE - ERIC BURDEN
37: GO BACK - CRABBY APPLETON
36: I JUST CAN'T HELP BELIEVING - B.J. THOMAS
35: SPIRIT IN THE DARK - ARETHA FRANKLIN
34: MISSISSIPPI - JOHN PHILLIPS
33: WESTBOUND #9 - FLAMING EMBER
32: IT'S ALL IN THE GAME - FOUR TOPS
31: SAVE THE COUNTRY - FIFTH DIMENSION
30: OHIO - CROSBY, STILLS, NASH AND YOUNG
29: EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL - RAY STEVENS
28: CHECK OUT YOUR MIND - IMPRESSIONS
27: QUESTION - MOODY BLUES
26: SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED - STEVIE WONDER
25: SUGAR, SUGAR - WILSON PICKETT
24: TEACH YOUR CHILDREN - CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG
23: WHICH WAY YOU GOIN' BILLY - THE POPPY FAMILY
OLDIE: LITTLE OLE MAN - BILL COSBY
22: LOVE ON A TWO-WAY STREET - MOMENTS
21: MISSISSIPPI QUEEN - MOUNTAIN
20: MAKE IT WITH YOU - BREAD
19: ARE YOU READY - PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC
18: LOVE LAND - CHARLES WRIGHT & THE WATTS 103RD STREET RHYTHM BAND
17: TIGHTER & TIGHTER - ALIVE AND KICKING
16: MY BABY LOVES LOVIN' - WHITE PLAINS
15: A SONG OF JOY - MIGUEL RIOS
OLDIE: HELLO DOLLY - LOUIS ARMSTRONG
14: UNITED WE STAND - BROTHERHOOD OF MAN
13: GET READY - RARE EARTH
12: OOH CHILD - STAIRSTEPS
11: GIMME DAT DING - THE PIPKINS
10: HITCHIN' A RIDE - VANITY FAIR
OLDIE: SPINNING WHEEL - BLOOD SWEAT & TEARS
9: THE WONDER OF YOU - ELVIS PRESLEY
8: THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD - BEATLES
7: CLOSE TO YOU - CARPENTERS
6: LAY DOWN (CANDLES IN THE WIND) - MELANIE
5: BAND OF GOLD - FREDA PAYNE
4: RIDE CAPTAIN RIDE - BLUES IMAGE
3: BALL OF CONFUSION - TEMPTATIONS
2: THE LOVE YOU SAVE - JACKSON FIVE
OLDIE: SATISFACTION - ROLLING STONES
1: MAMA TOLD ME NOT TO COME - THREE DOG NIGHT



In 1972...WCBS 101.1 FM, New York, changed its format to "Oldies".

At first, the station focused on rock-and-roll hits from 1955 to 1964 and mixed in some softer hits of the late 1960s and early 1970s, as well as a few then-current songs. WCBS-FM also played a moderate amount of adult standards from the rock era. The station played two current hits per hour known as "future gold". By the late 1970s however, the station dropped most of the adult standards, with a few exceptions, and added rock hits from the late 1960s.

WCBS-FM's oldies format weathered many trends and corporate moves.

By 1979, three FM stations owned by CBS had begun playing disco music. In 1981, all of CBS's FM stations, except for WCBS-FM, adopted a CHR format known as "Hot Hits". The oldies format on WCBS-FM continued to be a success.

One ongoing favorite feature was a countdown of the top 500 songs of all time, as voted by the station's listeners. The countdown always took place on Thanksgiving weekend (with a new survey taken every other year. On even years, up to 1990, the survey from the previous year was played. In the first Top 500, The Five Satins' doo wop classic "In the Still of the Night" was #1 and "Earth Angel" by The Penguins was #2.

In 2003...financial expert and Radio personality, Larry Burkett, died at age 64. Best known for his show "Money Matters", which aired on 1,000 radio stations.

Report: Sinclair Hires Investigative Reporter Sharyl Attkisson

Sharryl Attkisson

Sinclair Broadcasting has hired former CBS Correspondent Sharyl Attkisson to work as an Investigative Reporter for the company, as first reported by FTV Live.

Attkisson left CBS News after she said that the network kept spiking her stories. She has shown that her leanings are very conservative and will fit in perfectly with Sinclair, which leans the same way.

Attkisson working at Sinclair is akin to the mothership calling her home.

An internal memo from Scott Livinston sent out to News Directors at the Sinclair stations stated:

"I'm pleased to announce that Sharyl Attkisson will be working as a freelance independent investigative reporter for Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sharyl is an award winning journalist, whose work has been recognized for more than a decade. She has broken many major stories including Fast and Furious, Benghazi and numerous government accountability stories. Sharyl will focus on stories that follow the money and waste watch type of investigations. I have admired her determination and desire to track the truth. As you know, she resigned from CBS News due to frustration over the network's perceived bias and lack of support for investigative reporting. She will be a great fit with our commitment to holding public officials accountable and being a viewer advocate. You can expect Sharyl's first story later this month."

NYC Radio: Lucy Hale Visits NashFM For Performance

Country artistLucy Hale stopped by the WNSH 94.7 FM NashFM studios in NYC Wednesday for a meet-and-greet and  up close performance for listeners!

Lucy performed songs from her debut album “Road Between” to an intimate group of lucky fans who won tickets by listening to NashFM 94.7.

Streaming Continues To Impact Music Sales

The music industry contracted again in the first six months of 2014 — but the decline slowed from a year ago.

The NY Post reports total sales, including physical CDs and albums, digital downloads and streaming, slipped 3.3 percent year-over-year through June 30, to 227.1 million units, according to Nielsen/Billboard stats released Wednesday.

The decline is smaller than the 4.6 percent fall music labels tallied in the first half of 2013.

A 42 percent increase in on-demand audio and video streams helped to stem the slippage.

Meanwhile, traditional music streaming, as it had in 2013, was a bright spot for the industry, expanding unit sales 24 percent, the stats show. Music streaming jumped past digital downloads in 2013 for the first time, when it came to popularity among music lovers.

That continued in the first half with overall album sales falling 14.9 percent, to 120.9 million units.

The big winners were Disney’s soundtrack album “Frozen,” which topped the album charts with 2.6 million sold followed by Beyoncé’s self-titled album, which sold 702,000 copies. “Frozen” also topped the digital album charts.

Pharrell Williams had the top-selling digital song of the period with “Happy,” which sold 5.63 million copies and won the most radio airplay of the period with 571,000 spins.

'Opie and Anthony' Host Goes on Twitter Tirade

Anthony Cumia

Opie and Anthony host Anthony Cumia went on an offensive Twitter tirade after he claimed a woman attacked him in Times Square, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The incident sparked a racist rant from the SiriusXM DJ, who said on Tuesday that he was taking photos of New York City when an African-American woman, who was in his frame, punched him in the face.

The woman said she did not want to have her picture taken, according to Cumia.

"Then she punched me 5 more times. She's lucky I was a white legal gun owner or she'd be dead. Then 5 blacks started giving me shit!" the 53-year-old host tweeted. Cumia proceeded to angrily rant on Twitter throughout the night until Wednesday morning.

I was assaulted and used "mean" words on twitter and I'M the bad guy in all this?? Lol! This fucking world is completely ass backwards!
— Anthony Cumia (@AnthonyCumia) July 3, 2014

"The switch to violence is immediate. No discussion, just violence. When will THAT be addressed? Oh, right, never. Slavery did it? Oh, ok," he wrote.

Cumia claimed that he wasn't hurt by the woman's blows and managed to block most of them. He later wrote that the incident ended with him walking away with "no cop around" to stop the situation.

Tweets by @AnthonyCumia

Indy Radio: Tony Katz Moves To AM Drive On WIBC

Steve Simpson

June 13 was the last day on the air at N/T WIBC 93.1 FM for longtime radio news personality Steve Simpson.

According to the Indianpolis Business Journal, his contract would not be renewed by Indianapolis-based Emmis Communications Corp., which owns WIBC.

“We now have more empathy than ever for what the [Indianapolis] Colts went through with Peyton Manning,” said Emmis market manager Charlie Morgan. “This certainly has nothing to do with Steve’s performance. … This should not be taken in any way as our lack of appreciation for Steve’s 22 years of service at WIBC.

“He’s just not the right guy for what the role of host now requires,” Morgan added. “What we’re asking our hosts to do is offer opinion and perspective, and [Simpson] was not comfortable with that. He was more comfortable in a more traditional news role.”

WIBC 93.1 FM (13.5Kw) 54dBu Coverage

Tony Katz

As of Monday (6/30), mornings on WIBC has been filled by conservative news talk show host Tony Katz, Morgan said.

Katz, who is based out of Los Angeles, had been doing a show on WIBC from 9 p.m. to midnight. Katz is in the process of selling his L.A. home and moving to Carmel, Morgan said.

“Tony’s is a local show,” Morgan emphasized, “not a syndicated show.”

The shakeout, Simpson said, didn’t catch him completely by surprise Friday.

“Times change, and the direction they were headed is a place I couldn’t take them,” he said. “I had a nice, long run at WIBC and certainly still have some friends there and wish them the best of luck.”

Simpson, 50, said he’d like to stay in Indianapolis and is considering a number of future career options. “I have some ideas on what I’d like to do … anything from public relations to being a spokesperson to writing are some of the things I’d consider.”

Simpson said he’d also consider another radio gig if one came available.

Simpson, a Syracuse University graduate, started his career in Syracuse, New York at WHEN and WKFM. He moved to Indiana in 1987 to work at WKLR-FM, and in 1992 made the move to WIBC.

Previously, Kats was a host on N/T KFTK 97.1FM in St. Louis. He also hosted various daily shows with the All Patriots Media Network.

Tony is a contributor to TownHall.com and ChristianPost.com, and his work has appeared on Breitbart.com and The Daily Caller.

NAB's Smith Calls Newsroom Study Info Gathering Process

Gordon Smith

National Association of Broadcasters Pres/CEO Gordon Smith talked about the future of television on C-SPAN's The Communicators series this week and gave his perspective on the U.S. Supreme Court decision on ABC v. Aereo, Inc. that Aereo was violating copyright law by allowing its subscribers to stream content from broadcast television networks.

The NAB had filed an amicus brief opposing Aereo. 

Other topics include spectrum auctions, the impact of mergers of large communications companies, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under Chairman Tom Wheeler, and efforts to extend the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act, which would expire during 2014.

WATCH VIDEO: Click Here.

Concerning the FCC's controversial newsroom study, Smith called it "a regulator getting into the editorial rooms of broadcasters, and I think there were real First Amendment concerns about that approach.  That said, I think the FCC's motives were not to infringe upon the first amendment, but to get the critical information they wanted to have.  But it's frankly hard to do without... the state getting into editorial decisions of newsrooms."

Philly Radio: Fire Hits Tour Busses At WMGK Event

Fire damaged the tour buses belonging to classic rock bands Styx and Foreigner in the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia.

Action News6 reports fire broke out on the Styx bus around 12:20 p.m. Wednesday.  The flames spread to the adjacent Foreigner bus.

The buses were empty at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported.

Both bands are appearing at WMGK 102.9 FM's Let Freedom Rock Fest Thursday at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden. The show is scheduled to proceed as normal.

It is not yet known what caused the bus to catch fire.

Charlotte Radio: Brad&Britt Launch Online Content

Former WBT Charlotte radio hosts Brad Krantz and Britt Whitmire have launched their show online and launch The Brad & Britt Podcast, via the RELM Network.

Pleased to announce we've joined @RELMNetwork for a daily,FREE podcast beginning Mon. On @iTunesPodcasts @Stitcher & http://t.co/dZnRXS8JiX
— BradandBritt.com (@BradandBritt) July 2, 2014

RELM also hosts Don Geronimo's daily subscription show and other offerings on the Internet audio service.

Bitt stated, “This is exactly what our fans have wanted. A chance to hear us without being interrupted by traffic and weather every ten minutes or having to wait through long commercial breaks.”

Listeners will also be able to download a free podcast each weekday from BradandBritt.com, and get the local duo’s impersonations, skits, and takes on politics, current events, sports and life.

It will be available through subscription apps such as iTunes and Stitcher, and can be played from any computer, smartphone or tablet.

Soccer Ratings: USA-Belgium Averaged 16.59M Viewers

Tuesday’s USA-Belgium match averaged 16.49 million viewers on ESPN, according to updated in-home viewing estimates by Nielsen — making it the second most-watched men’s World Cup telecast ever in the States, behind only USA-Portugal last month (18.2 million).

Variety reports viewership peaked with 19.54 million in the extra-time session. Of course, the estimate doesn’t include millions of viewers watching in sports bars or at the office on a Tuesday afternoon.

Combined with the 5.1 million who watched on Univision, Tuesday’s match drew 21.6 million viewers; the previous high for a men’s soccer match was the 24.7 million for USA-Portugal, which included 6.5 million viewers on Univision.

For the World Cup through the Round of 16, ESPN and ABC averaged 4.08 million viewers — a record audience for the tournament, up 44% from 2010 (2.84 million) and 122% from 2006 (1.84 million).

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Show Topics: Big Mac Ranks Last In Taste Study

CAUTION: Consider the sales implications! Suggestion..discuss those at the top, not the bottom. 

Fast food may be unhealthy, but it doesn't stop us from eating it.

A new study from Consumer Reports finds that Americans are spending 680 billion dollars a year on fast food, but have recently developed a taste for higher-quality menu items.

More than 96 thousand Consumer Reports readers were polled about which fast food restaurant items they liked most. McDonald's burgers came in last place, while Chick-fil-A's chicken snagged first place in the chicken category

It's The 35th Anniversary Of The Sony Walkman

The first of Sony's iconic portable cassette tape players went on sale on this week, July 1st, back in 1979 for $150.

A story at theverge.com reports Sony co-founder Masaru Ibuka got the wheels turning months before when he asked for a way to listen to opera that was more portable than Sony's existing TC-D5 cassette players. The charge fell to Sony designer Norio Ohga, who built a prototype out of Sony's Pressman cassette recorder in time for Ibuka's next flight.

After a disappointing first month of sales, the Walkman went on to become one of Sony's most successful brands of all time, transitioning formats over the years into CD, Mini-Disc, MP3 and finally, streaming music. Over 400 million Walkman portable music players have been sold, 200 million of them cassette players. Sony retired the classic cassette tape Walkman line in 2010.

R.I.P.: Long Time S-A Talk Host Carl Wiglesworth Dies

Carl Wiglesworth

Carl Wiglesworth, who was a talk show host on Newsradio WOAI 1200 AM for two decades and helped create the conservative talk radio format which became standard in AM radio, has died at the age of 73, family members tell WOAI.

Eliza Sonneland, who worked on Newsradio 1200 WOAI alongside Carl in the eighties and nineties, says the sorts of topics and people you heard on the show weren't what was usually heard on the radio in those days.

"To talk to people who had differing opinions from the status quo, that was the bread and butter of Carl's program," Sonneland said.

Sonneland says Wiglesworth's style of program caught on instantly.

"The groundswell of people who called the station saying, this guy has got to be the host," she recalled.  "This is who we need and who we want."

Longtime KTSA morning talk host, Trey Ware, wrote a tribute to Wiglesworth on his Facebook page Wednesday morning, calling him an “S.A. radio legend.” Lee Woods, another local radio veteran, also wrote special words Tuesday night to honor him: ”A dear old friend and fellow Radio Hall of Famer, Carl Truman Wigleswoth, passed away today. Carl hired me at KONO/KITY in 1975.” Woods then added a bit of humor: “May he rest in peace. Rumor has it he will be doing mid-days at KGOD.”

After leaving WOAI in 1999, Wiglesworth appeared on other stations, including crosstown rival KTSA 550 AM and also was involved in other businesses.

Wiglesworth suffered a massive heart attack Friday night, and never regained consciousness.  He was rushed to Methodist Stone Oak Hospital, where the decision was made by his family to discontinue treatment after doctors said he would not recover.

Carl's wife, Laurie Malfatano Wiglesworth, was also a long time Newsradio 1200 WOAI employee.

July 3 In Radio History

In 1939…Chic Young's comic strip character "Blondie" became a radio sitcom, initially as a summer replacement for "The Eddie Cantor Show" on CBS. When Cantor did not return in the fall, "Blondie" continued on the air and bounced between several networks until 1950.





In  1940…Two years of successful appearances on "The Kate Smith Hour" earned Bud Abbott and Lou Costello a summer replacement show (for Fred Allen) on NBC Radio. In October 1942, the comedy duo launched their own radio show on the network.



In 1949...Actress Jan Smithers, Bailey Quarters on WKRP in Cincinnati, was born


In 1955...Tom Clay, a Buffalo DJ on WWOL-AM, staged a famous billboard publicity stunt in Shelton Squareconducts his famous Billboard stunt in Buffalo's Shelton Square.

Tom Clay

Clay in the 1950s was a popular radio personality in the Detroit area on WJBK-AM both as a DJ, and for his on-air comic characterizations. In the early 1950s Clay, using the pseudonym "Guy King," worked for WWOL-AM/FM in Buffalo, New York; on July 3, 1955, he conducted the stunt in which he played "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley & His Comets repeatedly from atop a billboard in Buffalo's Shelton Square, an incident that led to his firing and arrest.  In the mid-1950s he moved to Cincinnati, Ohio and was equally popular.

He was caught up in the payola scandal of the late 1950s, and admitted to having accepted thousands of dollars for playing certain records. After being fired from WJBK, Clay worked at the short-lived Detroit Top 40 station WQTE (now WRDT 560 AM) only to be fired again when the station changed format to easy listening music in 1961. After moving to Los Angeles and becoming a popular personality on KDAY and KRLA, Clay returned to the Detroit area and found work at CKLW in neighboring Windsor, Ontario, at the time one of the foremost Top 40 AM stations in North America.

Clay is best remembered for his single on Motown's MoWest label "What the World Needs Now Is Love"/"Abraham, Martin and John", a compilation of clips from the two popular records, interviews, and speeches of Jack and Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King emphasizing tolerance and civil rights. It went to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.

Clay died of stomach and lung cancer at the age of 66, in Valley Village, Los Angeles, California in 1995.

In 1961...Dan Ingram did his first show on WABC 770 AM, New York. He filled in for Chuck Dunaway.


In 1971...Rock Hall of Fame rock singer Jim Morrison of The Doors died of heart failure. He was 27.


In 1972...Bob Crane went back to radio - but only for one week.



He was filling in for Dick Wittinghill - his former archrival on KMPC 710 AM in Los Angeles beginning July 5. Wittinghill and Crane battled it out for the morning ratings in Los Angeles from 1956 to 1965, when Crane left to star in “Hogan’s Heroes.”


In 1973...KMEN 1290 AM San Bernardino, CA broadcasts an “all-girl” day on Wednesday of this week. Guest DJ’s heard – Jackie DeShannon, Donna Fargo, Sylvia, April Stevens, Jean Knight, Carla Thomas and Maureen McCormick of the Brady Bunch.


In 1976...The Los Angeles comedy radio team of Hudson and Landry split.



Bob Hudson wanted to keep it together with their KFI 640 AM radio show, nightclub appearances and possibly more comedy records, but Ron Landry wanted to go into television as a writer and producer. Ron Landry says – “Doing this show was a lot of fun. We had five great years and, I think we did some interesting things in broadcasting.”


In 1978...Supreme Court ruled 5-4, FCC had a right to reprimand NY radio station WBAI for broadcasting George Carlin's "Filthy Words".

In 1983...KNX-FM – Soft rock in Los Angeles changes calls and format to KKHR (Hit Radio). Looks like it’ll be direct competition for KIIS-FM.

 Courtesy of airchexx.com.


In 1986...It was announced that Howard Stern, the often controversial New York City DJ/talker, will be syndicated by DIR to other stations.

Stern, who joined rocker WXRK (New York) late last year, has seen his ratings rise from a 1.2 to a 3.4 and up to a 5.2 share in the recent ratings. “The Howard Stern Show” will mix music and talk equally. At WXRK, Stern plays about 6 songs per hour. The national show will be weekly only.

Stern is following a pattern with high-profile DJ’s and national weekly shows: Rick Dees at KIIS-FM, John Lander at KKBQ Houston and Scott Shannon from Z-100 all have national weekly shows, but Stern’s will present or lean heavy personality and will not emphasize the music.


In 1987...Tom Snyder will move from TV to radio this fall to host a national call-in talk show announced this week by the ABC Radio Networks. Look for it early September.