Radio History: Oct 6

➦In 1866...Reginald Aubrey Fessenden born (Died at age 65 – July 22, 1932). He was a Canadian-born radio pioneer, who did a majority of his work in the United States and also claimed U.S. citizenship through his American-born father.  During his life he received hundreds of patents in various fields, most notably ones related to radio and sonar.

Reginald Fessenden

Fessenden is best known for his pioneering work developing radio technology, including the foundations of amplitude modulation (AM) radio. His achievements included the first transmission of speech by radio (1900), and the first two-way radio-telegraphic communication across the Atlantic Ocean (1906). In 1932 he reported that, in late 1906, he also made the first radio broadcast of entertainment and music, although a lack of verifiable details has led to some doubts about this claim.

After studies at Bishop University, Fessenden went to work for Thomas Edison, then the Westinghouse labs and the US Weather Service. In 1902, he started his own company to develop his superheterodyne discoveries, and in 1906 accomplished the first two-way radio voice transmission between Scotland and his shore station at Brant Rock Massachusetts.

That Christmas he broadcast the world’s first public program of music and voice transmitted over long distances, from Brant Rock to the ships at sea. He had over 300 patents, and was awarded $2.5 million by the US Radio Trust for his inventions, many of which were used by the US in World War I without his permission.

➦In 1949...Japanese-American broadcaster, Iva Toguri D'Aquino (Tokyo Rose, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined $10,000 for treason.

Tokyo Rose

Tokyo Rose was a name given by Allied troops in the South Pacific during World War II to all female English-speaking radio broadcasters of Japanese propaganda. The programs were broadcast in the South Pacific and North America to demoralize Allied forces abroad and their families at home by emphasizing troops' wartime difficulties and military losses. Several female broadcasters operated under different aliases and in different cities throughout the Empire, including Tokyo, Manila, and Shanghai.  The name "Tokyo Rose" was never actually used by any Japanese broadcaster, but it first appeared in U.S. newspapers in the context of these radio programs in 1943.

Tokyo Rose ceased to be merely a symbol in September 1945 when D'Aquino, an American-born Japanese disc jockey for a propagandist radio program, attempted to return to the U-S.  Toguri was accused of being the 'real' Tokyo Rose, arrested, tried, and became the seventh person in U.S. history to be convicted of treason.  Toguri was eventually paroled from prison in 1956, but it was more than 20 years before she received an official presidential pardon for her role in the war.

U.S. President Gerald Ford pardoned Toguri in 1977.

➦In 1953...Rocky Fortune, an American radio drama, debuted on NBC Radio beginning in October 1953. The series ended its run in March 1954 after 25 episodes. The program was created by George Lefferts. Frank Sinatra voiced the title role of Rocky Fortune for the entire series.

Rocky Fortune aired Tuesday nights on NBC at 9:35pm Eastern, immediately following Dragnet (and a five-minute John Cameron Swayze newscast). It was a sustaining series, meaning that NBC presented the program without corporate sponsorship.

➦In 1976...“Disco Duck” by Memphis radio personality Rick Dees (and His Cast of Idiots) was certified as a Gold Record.

Helene Devastation Shows Life-Saving Power of Radio

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird and attorneys general from 11 other states have signed onto letter that urges Congress to force automakers to install AM radios in new vehicles.

Major automakers have begun ditching AM radio access in some models, but Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird says Hurricane Helene shows the life-saving power of AM radio and the people who work in those radio stations.

According to a posting at KIWA, Bird and the other attorneys general say AM radio stations are the backbone of our nation’s Emergency Alert System and become the primary line of communication when electricity is out and cell phones and landline phone lines aren’t working. Bird says Congress needs to prioritize AM radio and pass a bill that ensures a receiver that can receive AM radio is standard equipment in all new vehicles.

The attorneys general from the states of Florida and South Carolina that are dealing with Hurricane Helene’s aftermath signed onto the AM radio pitch, as did attorneys general from Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia. 

The letter calls on Congress to prioritize the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, which would mandate that car manufacturers include AM radios in new vehicles, recognizing it as a life-saving communication tool. AM radio's broader signal reach, compared to FM, allows it to cover vast distances, ensuring citizens can receive emergency alerts even when modern communication systems are down.

Radios were first installed in cars in the 1920s. By 1940, 20% of the cars in the US had a radio. FM signals were added to dashboard radios in the 1950s.

FCC Seeks Dismissal of Effort To Stop Staffer Data Collection

The FCC’s decision earlier this to resume collecting workforce data from U.S. broadcasters continues to spark significant debate. The commission argues that this data collection, which had been suspended since 2001, is crucial for assessing diversity within the broadcasting industry. The legal basis for this move is rooted in the Communications Act, which grants the FCC authority to collect such data.

The FCC’s order requires broadcasters with five or more full-time employees to report the gender, race, and ethnicity of their workforces. This information is intended to help the FCC study employment trends and ensure diversity improvements1. However, the National Religious Broadcasters and the Texas Association of Broadcasters have challenged this requirement, arguing it infringes on First Amendment rights1.

The FCC maintains that the collection and public release of this data are necessary for transparency and to produce reliable data, despite concerns about potential misuse.

According to RadioWorld, the commission said it rejects the notion that collection of employment statistics, and the public release of the findings, violates the First Amendment rights of broadcasters. The FCC says the Communications Act directs and grants a statutory mandate for its authority to collect the employment data from broadcasters.

The new Form 395-B will include two additional racial categories and a “non-binary” gender classification. Some religious broadcasters especially took issue with the additions, saying the inclusion of a non-binary category infringes on their First Amendment rights by forcing them to recognize genders beyond that of traditional male and female.

The FCC argues in its court filing that there is no constitutional problem with the order, whether under the equal protection guarantee of the Fifth Amendment or the protection of free speech in the First Amendment.

Megyn Kelly Rips Media For Ignoring Emhoff's Alleged Slap

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff has presented himself as a “supporter of women” — except when he’s “slapping them in the face or banging the nanny,” according to podcaster Megyn Kelly.

The host of the SiriusXM podcast “The Megyn Kelly Show” weighed in on the fallout from recent revelations first published in DailyMail.com about an alleged incident in which Emhoff physically assaulted his then-girlfriend because she was said to be flirting with another man.

Megyn Kelly is weighing in on the latest allegations surrounding Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff. https://t.co/8LtDAwWvfp pic.twitter.com/mGJfpHJRfg

— New York Post (@nypost) October 3, 2024

“If this were a Republican, it would be leading every news channel,” Kelly said on her show on Wednesday.  Kelly said that Emhoff sleeping with his child’s nanny and impregnating her “is in a special league of its own.”

She said that “most of us would have left it alone if he hadn’t then paraded himself out there and let the media parade himself out there like he was the ideal husband on steroids” or “like he is the new version of what it means to be a real man.”

Kelly made reference to a recent MSNBC interview in which host Jen Psaki fawned over Emhoff for his “role in reshaping the perception of masculinity” despite his having acknowledged being unfaithful to his first wife, Kerstin Emhoff, by impregnating his child’s nanny.

The DailyMail.com report also alleged that Emhoff told his then-girlfriend who was the victim of the purported assault in May 2012 that he admitted to getting the nanny pregnant and that the nanny claimed his “aggressive” behavior toward her caused her to have a miscarriage.

Emhoff has not commented on the latest allegations.

L-A Radio: KROQ Launching Electronic Music Show

The World Famous KROQ (KROQ-FM) in Los Angeles is launching a brand-new show dedicated to the best in electronic music: “KROQ EQ.” Airing Saturday nights from 11:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. PT, the show will deliver a mix of styles—including house, future bass, electro, and big beat, among others—for fans of Coachella’s Sahara Tent, HARD Summer, Portola, EDC, and more.

Hosted by KROQ Music Director Miles The DJ, the show will feature festival favorites like Justice, Fred again.., Rüfüs Du Sol, LP Giobbi, ODESZA, Jamie xx and Jungle, alongside KROQ legends like Daft Punk, The Crystal Method, LCD Soundsystem, Fatboy Slim and The Chemical Brothers.

“KROQ EQ” will kick off its debut episode this Saturday, October 5, with a guest DJ set by renowned French electronic duo Justice. Known for their unique sound and electrifying live performances, Justice will set the tone for a show that aims to blend festival favorites and legendary electronic acts into one seamless experience.

The name “KROQ EQ” is a nod to equalization (EQ), a technique used in music production to adjust the frequency balance of an audio signal.

📻Don’t miss “KROQ EQ,” Saturday nights from 11:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. PT on KROQ (KROQ-FM) in Los Angeles or on the Audacy app.

'Dangerous' Tropical Rainstorm Targets Florida

A sloppy mashup of showers and thunderstorms over the western Gulf of Mexico is expected to make its way toward South Florida bringing days of rain beginning Sunday that could total up to a foot in some areas through mid-week.

The National Hurricane Center has been watching an area over the western Caribbean and southwestern Gulf of Mexico since Sept. 26, giving it varying chances of development. After dropping to a low chance of becoming a tropical cyclone earlier this week, it was up to a moderate, or 50% chance, over the next seven days.

A tropical or subtropical depression or storm could form in the Gulf during the early to middle part of next week, according to the NHC's Friday morning forecast. The next name on the 2024 hurricane list is Milton, followed by Nadine and Oscar.

The disturbance has an uncertain path ahead of it and predictions could change depending on its interaction with a cool front moving through the southeast and shredding wind shear in the Gulf. National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists in Miami called the forecast details and rainfall totals "fuzzy" in their Friday morning discussion.

The Palm Beach Post reports widespread rainfall totals for Palm Beach County are forecast to be between 4 to 8 inches with localized totals reaching 10 to 12 inches through Wednesday or Thursday.

Dolly Parton, Walmart Team-Up With Hurricane Relief

Dolly Parton's vast charity has arrived to aid Americans impacted by Hurricane Helene.

The Tennessean reports the Nashville superstar announced a partnership with Walmart to assist with relief efforts after the storm killed hundreds and left millions of homes and businesses without power throughout Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

Parton announced a $1 million donation to the Mountain Ways Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing immediate assistance to Hurricane Helene flood victims. In addition, Parton's East Tennessee businesses — Dollywood Parks & Resorts, Dolly Parton's Stampede and Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show — as well as the Dollywood Foundation are combining efforts and have pledged to match her donation to Mountain Ways with a $1 million contribution of their own.

NEW: Dolly Parton announces she is personally donating $1 million to Hurricane Helene victims, calls on people to step up and help out.

"Remember when we had the fires, everybody pitched in, tried to do everything that they could."

"I really think that this is a time for me to… pic.twitter.com/axry9NTA7S

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 4, 2024

Parton announced her charity partnership at the Walmart Supercenter in Newport, Tennessee's Newport Town Center.

During the event, U.S. President and CEO of Walmart John Furner announced that the company, including Sam's Club and the Walmart Foundation, would increase its earlier commitment of $6 million up to a $10 million donation to hurricane relief efforts across the affected states.

"One of the things we love most about Dolly as a partner is her incredible heart and care for her community," said Furner. "She reminds me of our associates who are always the first to jump to action when our communities need us. This time is no different, and we will continue to provide support until they have recovered."

Jackson MI Radio: WKHM Morning Host Greg O'Connor Retiring

WKHM's Greg O'Connor

After more than five decades of broadcasting excellence, Jackson’s beloved radio personality, Greg O’Connor (GOC), Friday morning announced his upcoming retirement. Known for his deep connection to the community and his storied career at WKHM radio, O’Connor has been a familiar voice to generations of listeners, bringing local news, sports, and morning shows to the airwaves.

Starting his career in the late 1960s alongside his father, Tom O’Connor, Greg quickly became a key figure in Michigan broadcasting. After stints in Cheboygan, Mich., Greg returned to Jackson in 1983, where he took on the roles of sports director and morning drive host at WKHM.

Over the years, GOC has been recognized for his outstanding achievements, including numerous awards from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters and the Associated Press. He has also been inducted into the Lumen Christi Athletic Hall of Fame and received the Jackson College Distinguished Service Award, according to a posting at JTV.TV

Beyond his professional accolades, GOC’s commitment to Jackson has been profound. He was honored with the Key to the City, recognizing his decades-long contributions to both local media and the community.

“It is with much regret that I’m announcing my retirement from full-time broadcasting and McKibbin Media Group,” O’Connor said. “Over the past couple of years, I have been battling some serious health issues that have taken a toll on my family, friends and co-workers. It’s my time to pass the torch after 55 years in the business, having done my first solo games in basketball and hockey in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Even this late in life, this is not an easy decision. I have enjoyed helping WKHM be THE source for news and sports in Jackson.

Greg O’Connor will officially retire on Friday, Nov. 22, leaving behind a legacy of integrity, passion, and community spirit. Starting on Monday, November 25, Marc Daly will take over as host of AM Jackson on WKHM, airing from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. M-F.

“We can’t thank Greg enough for his dedication and commitment to local radio in the Jackson community,” MMG President/Owner Katina McKibbin said. “Greg is legendary in our community and we were blessed to have him on the air for a few more years with MMG and WKHM after Jamie and I purchased the stations in 2019. He will be missed dearly.”

NFL to Expand Games For Fans Outside The U-S

The NFL is hoping its international slate of games this season act as "mini Super Bowls" for fans outside the U.S. as the league continues to expand its overseas footprint, reports Reuters citing a league official.

After playing a sold-out game in Sao Paulo last month in its first foray into South America, the league returns to London on Sunday where Aaron Rodgers and the Jets take on Sam Darnold and the undefeated Vikings at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

In addition to beefed up pre-game and halftime shows, clubs are engaging with fans through pub takeovers and flag football events in the English capital, NFL executive vice president Peter O'Reilly told Reuters.

"For us it's really about creating mini Super Bowls," O'Reilly said of the league's championship game.

"We're thinking through everything we do surrounding the game -- the exterior of the stadium, creating big pre-game moments like the playing of the national anthems of the two countries and having sizable halftime performances."

Sunday's game will be the 37th NFL game played in London and will honor London-born, two-time Super Bowl champion Osi Umenyiora and five-time Pro Bowler Jared Allen.

"To me, it never gets old because there's just such energy around these games," O'Reilly said.

Despite security concerns leading up to the game and a slick playing surface, the contest at Sao Paulo's Corinthians Arena between the Eagles and Packers in September was a success and O'Reilly said the NFL hopes to make it a regular stop on the schedule.

Fox News Host Martha MacCallum Honored With Patriot Award

Fox News Channel Host Martha MacCallum

Thursday night, FOX News’ Martha MacCallum was honored by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society as its recipient of the John R. “Tex” McCray Award for Excellence in Journalism during “The Patriot Awards Gala” in San Antonio. Emceed by actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise, The Patriot Awards Gala honors individuals who, through their life’s work, promote and perpetuate the principles upon which the USA is founded and encourage the six core values of courage, commitment, integrity, sacrifice, citizenship and patriotism.

MacCallum is the anchor and executive editor of The Story with Martha MacCallum and joined FOX News Channel (FNC) in January 2004. 

She authored the New York Times bestseller, Unknown Valor: A Story of Family, Courage, and Sacrifice from Pearl Harbor to Iwo Jima. Her interest in military veterans’ stories stems from her cousin, Harry Gray, a Marine who died during the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945. 

Throughout her career, she has supported veteran issues, including interviewing Jon Stewart about the harm caused by toxic burn pits. MacCallum encourages viewers to explore their ancestry to understand the sacrifices of veterans. On June 6, she interviewed World War II veterans and U.S. Senators in a broadcast from the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, during a ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day. The “Tex” McCrary Award honors journalists who have distinguished themselves through unbiased coverage of the United States military.

Radio History: Oct 5

➦In 1912...Tony Marvin was born (Died at age 86 – October 10, 1998). He was a staff announcer for CBS, and later became most known as the long-time announcer for Arthur Godfrey. He was also the original voice of 'Tony the Tiger'.

Tony Marvin

Marvin's first job in radio was at WNYC in New York City. From there, he went to CBS as a staff announcer, beginning October 1, 1939. A 1959 article in Radio and Television Mirror reported that at CBS "Tony did everything from daytime serials to symphonies and in 1946, when the Arthur Godfrey morning show was sustaining, Tony was assigned to it." When Godfrey's activities expanded from Arthur Godfrey Time to include Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and Arthur Godfrey and his Friends, Marvin did the announcing for those shows as well.

Marvin branched out in 1958, adding a two-hour, Monday-Saturday disc jockey show on WABC to his other duties.  In 1961, Marvin became host of My True Story, a radio drama that moved to the Mutual Broadcasting System after having been on ABC and NBC for a total of 17 years. That same year he became a newscaster for Mutual.

In his later years, Marvin had two more stints with programs on local radio stations. In 1976, he had a four-hour afternoon show, "Tony's Time," on WATR in Waterbury, Connecticut.  Beginning in 1977, Marvin had a show on WDJZ in Bridgeport, Connecticut, which at the time was one of the first radio stations playing the "Music of Your Life" format, consisting primarily of music from the big band era. In 1981, Marvin came out of retirement to do "The Tony Marvin Show," a one-hour program broadcast live from the Palm Beach Hilton on WKAO. He said, "I want to bring back live radio." The show originated in the hotel's dining room and featured an orchestra.

➦In 1921....the first World Series to air on radio got underway between the New York Yankees and Giants. KDKA Pittsburgh and WJZ New York broadcast direct from the Polo Grounds, while WBZ Springfield and announcer Thomas Cowan recreated the games in their studios from reports phoned in from the stadium.

➦In 1925...WSM-AM in Nashville signed-on.

WSM is primarily associated with country music through its weekly Saturday night program, the Grand Ole Opry, the longest-running radio program in history.

The Opry began as the WSM Barn Dance in 1925, but after only about a year on the air, the program's host, "Judge" Hay, referred to the programming as being "Grand Ole Opry" in contrast to the preceding grand opera program on NBC.

In 1932, WSM boosted its power to 50,000 watts, becoming Tennessee's first clear-channel station.

In addition to its vast nighttime coverage area, the station boasts one of the largest daytime coverage areas in the country. It provides at least grade B coverage as far east as Chattanooga, as far north as Evansville, Indiana, as far west as Jackson, Tennessee and as far south as Huntsville, Alabama. Under the right conditions, it can be heard in nearly all of Tennessee and much of Kentucky, and can be picked up as far away as the fringes of the St. Louis area.

The station traditionally played country music in the nighttime hours, when listeners from around the United States would tune in.

Judge Orders CNN To Provide Docs For Defamation Case

The judge in the high-stakes defamation lawsuit against CNN has issued an order on the network’s objections to the plaintiff’s discovery requests this week as litigation moves forward. 

U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young alleges that CNN smeared his security consulting company, Nemex Enterprises Inc., by implying it illegally profited when helping people flee Afghanistan during the Biden administration's military withdrawal from the country in 2021. Young believes CNN "destroyed his reputation and business by branding him an illegal profiteer who exploited desperate Afghans" during a Nov. 11, 2021, segment on CNN’s "The Lead with Jake Tapper." 

Young’s legal team is seeking broad access to CNN’s books in order to determine the company’s net worth. CNN objected but Judge William Henry ruled that the plaintiff can have access to data from the pertinent time window, making the objections "sustained in part and overruled in part." 

In a court document obtained by Fox News Digital, Judge Henry ordered that the plaintiff’s "financial discovery requests shall be limited to the time period from September 2021 to the present, except as to documents that can only be produced on a yearly basis, in which case the applicable time period will be from January 1, 2021, to the present."

This comes after Judge Henry previously agreed with Young’s lead counsel Vel Freedman that CNN should hand over sensitive financial information that the cable network presented to its parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery.

CNN is also "required to produce documents relating to the effect of the specific publications at issue in this lawsuit and further republication by CNN employees on CNN’s market power, market share, or influence," according to the judge. 

Judge Henry ruled plaintiffs "may serve a subpoena on Warner Bros. Discovery" to obtain relevant documents.

Garth Brooks Accused Of Sexual Assault

Allegations go public

Country music star Garth Books has been accused of sexual assault and battery in a lawsuit from a “Jane Roe” who says she worked as a hairstylist and makeup artist for the award-winning singer.

The complaint, filed in a state court in California on Thursday and obtained by CNN, states the alleged incidents occurred in 2019. She claims she was once raped by Brooks during a work trip.

Brooks had previously denied his accuser’s claims, though representatives for the country superstar did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment in response to Roe’s new lawsuit.

Prior to Roe’s filing and reported by CNN, an anonymous celebrity plaintiff – now disclosed to be Brooks – had tried to block Roe from publicly repeating her allegations and fiercely denied the claims, according to a previous complaint he had filed as a “John Doe.”

Roe began handling hair and makeup services for Brooks in 2017, according to her suit, which states that she was first hired to do hair and makeup for his wife, Trisha Yearwood, in 1999.

In addition to sexual assault and battery, the suit accuses Brooks of repeatedly exposing his genitals and buttocks; talking about sex and sharing sexual fantasies with Roe; regularly changing his clothing in front of Roe; and sending sexually explicit text messages.

Brooks and Trisha Yearwood

In a statement sent late Thursday to Billboard, Brooks denies the sexual assault allegations — saying the threats and accusations “felt like having a loaded gun waved in my face” — and confirms that he was behind last month’s mystery Mississippi filing, which he says was done anonymously “for the sake of families on both sides.”

“For the last two months, I have been hassled to no end with threats, lies, and tragic tales of what my future would be if I did not write a check for many millions of dollars,” Brooks began his statement. 

“It has been like having a loaded gun waved in my face. Hush money, no matter how much or how little, is still hush money. In my mind, that means I am admitting to behavior I am incapable of—ugly acts no human should ever do to another. We filed suit against this person nearly a month ago to speak out against extortion and defamation of character. We filed it anonymously for the sake of families on both sides.

On Thursday, Brooks told The Tennessean said he trusted the system.

"I do not fear the truth, and I am not the man they have painted me to be," he said.

Diddy Files: Music Industry A-Listers ‘Not Sleeping Well’

Sean Coombs

Some of America’s biggest music executives are said to be panicking as a top attorney has warned that high-profile accomplices of Sean “Diddy” Combs will be named in a new wave of accuser suits — and “the names will shock you.”

“Many people at the highest level, including artists, executives, managers and others are not sleeping well right now,” Bryan Freedman told Page Six.

“Those who have knowingly allowed and/or encouraged the behavior while remaining silent should be concerned.

Coombs In Court

“I represent a number of people who have been concerned about being wrongfully mentioned or rumored to be a part of this just by an association unrelated to any wrongdoing … they don’t want to part of some rumor mill because they have some tangential connection to Combs.”

The music industry’s most famous CEO, Sir Lucian Grainge, and his company, Universal Music Group (UMG), have already defeated “offensively false” claims that they “aided and abetted” Combs that were made in a lawsuit back in May.

“People who worked with Diddy very closely, I’m sure they’re terrified and God knows what they were around,” a music industry insider told us.

Last month, former record exec and convicted felon Suge Knight — Diddy’s longtime rival, now in prison for voluntary manslaughter — claimed to NewsNation that Diddy’s former staffer, veteran A&R man “Tubby” Holiday, procured young and underage girls for Diddy to sex-traffic.

Holiday is now the president of Giant Records and co-founder of Black Music Action Coalition.

“Everyone knows someone who was at a party with Diddy. There must be 5,000 people who could have seen anything remotely bad that they worry they should have reported,” one Hollywood legal source added.

Rather than losing sleep worrying about their name being mentioned in the case, Freedman is encouraging anyone falsely rumored to be involved with Combs or his parties to seek legal representation.

Orlando Radio: DJ D-Strong Is Back At 102 JAMZ

Audacy announces the return of DJ D-Strong to 102 JAMZ (WJHM-FM) in Orlando. DJ D-Strong becomes the newly relaunched 102 JAMZ’s first on-air talent and will be heard weekdays from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

“D-Strong isn't just part of the Orlando community, he embodies it,” said Miguel ‘Mijo’ Irizarry, Brand Manager, 102 JAMZ. “His passion, work ethic and experience as both a programmer and talent make him invaluable wherever he's needed.”

DJ D-Strong

“I am incredibly excited to return to 102 JAMZ, the station that launched my radio career,” said DJ D-Strong. “I look forward to not only being a part of this new chapter of the 102 Jamz legacy but also engaging with our listeners and giving back to the community that has supported me throughout my journey.”

DJ D-Strong launched his career on the station from 2003 to 2014. With over 20 years of experience in the radio industry, DJ D-Strong currently serves as the DJ and emcee for the Orlando Magic. In addition to his on-air presence, DJ D-Strong has served as Program Director at multiple radio stations, where he has shaped programming and fostered talent. His career also includes a stint as Ciara’s tour DJ and DJ for the television show “106 & Park.”

Audacy announced the relaunch of 102 JAMZ in August as Orlando’s home for Throwbacks. 102 JAMZ originated from 1988 to 2014.

 
📻Listeners can tune in to 102 JAMZ (WJHM-FM) in Orlando on air and nationwide on the Audacy app and website. Fans can also connect with the station via X, Facebook and Instagram.

Lives And Precious Belongings Claimed By Helene

More than a week has passed since Helene rammed into Florida’s Gulf Coast as a hurricane and began slicing what would become a deep scar of loss and destruction from there to Virginia, killing at least 213 people and obliterating countless homes, businesses and lifetimes worth of precious belongings.

Searches for missing loved ones grow more desperate each day as officials say hundreds are unaccounted for and rescue crews are hindered by cell service outages and ruined roads and bridges.

People have reported hiking hours to check on trapped loved ones and spending agonizing moments scouring soaked riverbanks for those swept away with their homes. In North Carolina’s Buncombe County, where Asheville is situated, more than 200 people were unaccounted for as of Thursday and 72 people had been found dead so far, the county sheriff said.

The scope of destruction is becoming clearer as people slowly regain access to their neighborhoods, only to find their homes in tatters or washed away completely by floodwaters.

Helene has become the deadliest hurricane to hit the United States mainland since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and the death toll has climbed daily. North Carolina has the most reported deaths with 106, followed by 41 in South Carolina, 33 in Georgia, and 20 in Florida, 11 in Tennessee and two in Virginia, according to a CNN tally.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris visited South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia on Wednesday to see first-hand the devastation wrought in the U.S. Southeast by Hurricane Helene, which has killed at least 213 people.

Biden landed in Greer, South Carolina, where he was met by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, among others, before boarding Marine One for an aerial tour of the region.

From the helicopter, Biden could see the grim devastation brought to parts of North Carolina, including Asheville and Chimney Rock. Over the Asheville metropolitan area, homes were smashed to bits, with the damage greatest near rivers, reporters in a trailing helicopter observed.

Q: “What do the states in the storm zone need — after what you saw today?”

BIDEN: “Oh, storm zone? I didn’t know which storm you’re talking about…”

OH MY GOD.

pic.twitter.com/FyYnVgMCys

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 4, 2024

Many of the people living in the area remained cut off from contact with the outside world, even as the U.S. president passed overhead.

More Rain In The Florida Forecast

One week after Hurricane Helene barreled ashore, Florida is bracing for another round of heavy rainfall and strong winds from a tropical system brewing in the Atlantic.

Bloomberg reports the potential storm could bring as much as a foot of rain to the southern half of the state beginning early next week, according to commercial forecaster AccuWeather Inc. Tampa could see four to eight inches (10 to 20 centimeters) of rainfall, and the Big Bend region — where Helene made landfall last week — will likely receive at least one to two inches. That could complicate cleanup operations at a time when Florida is struggling to get the lights back on, with more than 21,000 homes and businesses still in the dark, according to PowerOutage.us.

“It looks like the bulk of the rain will be to the south of the areas that basically took the eyewall of Helene,” said Alex DaSilva, lead hurricane expert for AccuWeather. “That’s a little bit of good news, but the peninsula of Florida from Orlando south could be at risk of some pretty significant flooding next week.”

There is a narrow chance the system could develop into a hurricane as it enters the Gulf of Mexico, DaSilva said. It will encounter plenty of fuel, as sea surface temperatures are well above 80 degrees, “which is usually the magic number we look at as the threshold” for hurricanes to form. But substantial wind shear and dry air over the ocean will likely help keep the storm in check.

Forecasters are closely tracking two other storms in the Atlantic: Hurricane Kirk and potential Hurricane Leslie. Kirk has escalated to a Category 4 storm but is not expected to make landfall before it begins to fall apart next week, according to the US National Hurricane Center. Tropical Storm Leslie is trailing behind, 580 miles (933 kilometers) west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands, and will likely reach hurricane strength Friday.

ABQ Radio: Darren White Returns To KKOB, KNML As Program Director

Cumulus Media announces that it has appointed Darren White as Program Director for legendary Albuquerque legendary News/Talk station, 770AM/96.3 FM News Radio KKOB. 

In addition to his new role with News Radio KKOB, White will also program sister Sports/Talk station, 610AM/95.9FM The Sports Animal (KNML).

This marks a return to Cumulus Albuquerque and News Radio KKOB for White, who was On-Air Host for the station from 2019-2021 from 1:00-3:00pm weekdays and hosted a weekend show on News Radio KKOB. 

Darren White

In addition to his radio background, White brings deep public service experience in Albuquerque and New Mexico through his previous positions as Public Safety Director for the Albuquerque Police and Fire Departments, Sheriff of Bernalillo County, Head of Public Safety for the State of New Mexico under Governor Gary Johnson, and New Mexico Chairman for George W. Bush 2004 re-election campaign. White has also been a local business owner and served in the United States Airborne Division.

Jeff Berry, Vice President Market Manager said “I am SO excited for Darren’s return to Cumulus Albuquerque as Program Director. His passion for radio and vision for the future are contagious. We are fortunate to have someone with his background re-join our industry in a leadership position. Welcome home, Darren!”

Darren White commented: “I am honored to accept the position of Program Director for News Radio KKOB and KNML the Sports Animal, and I am humbled by the confidence Cumulus Media has placed in me for this exciting new challenge. Having been a part of Cumulus for over a decade, I have seen firsthand the incredible dedication and talent of the teams at both stations. With a proven history of delivering provocative, engaging, and informative radio that is second to none, I look forward to building on that legacy by attracting new listeners and continuing to bring dynamic programming to our loyal radio family.”

Former FCC Chair Says There Are Valid Concerns With Audacy Deal

Lawmakers this week said they will investigate George Soros' 'shortcut' to buy Audacy's 200 radio stations before election.

Former FCC Chair Ajit Pai says there are valid concerns with the FCC allowing the far-left billionaire to buy more the group, which has the second highest number of stations in its portfolio.

Lawmakers investigating George Soros' 'shortcut' to buying radio stations before election | https://t.co/914MCUxkBL

— Tom Benson (@Tombenson1) October 4, 2024

David Field will remain president and CEO of the Philadelphia-based audio content company and the entire management team will also stay in place. Field will have a seat on the board but the remaining six members are newly appointed. Field does not hold a stake in the now-private company.

Soros Fund Management, acquired roughly $415 million of Audacy’s debt during the Chapter 11 process, making it the largest post-bankruptcy stakeholder in the company. Soros-led investment firm Laurel Tree Opportunities Corp. appointed three of the directors while other owners of Audacy's first-lien debt gained two board seats with second-lien holders holding one. Audacy declined to disclose which lenders appointed which board members.

FL Radio: Beasley Unveils Regional Sales Managers

Beasley Media Group is pleased to announce the promotions of April Brinks-Bailey, Stacie Waldrop and Randy Cable in the Florida market.

April Brinks-Bailey, currently the National Sales Manager for Tampa, Fort Myers and Augusta, has now also been appointed Director of Agency Sales for Tampa and Fort Myers.

“I am excited to take on this new role covering West Central Florida,” said Brinks-Bailey. “Beasley Media Group has amazing properties and opportunities to help our local, regional, and national businesses grow. I look forward to partnering with our advertisers and delivering results.”

Stacie Waldrop, who has been serving as the Digital Sales Manager for Beasley’s Tampa-based radio cluster, has been promoted to Regional Vice President of Digital Sales. In her expanded role, she will now oversee digital sales for the Fort Myers market in addition to Tampa.

“I am honored for the opportunity to work with our talented teams in Beasley’s Florida markets,” said Waldrop. “Together, we will continue to lead the way in delivering innovative digital solutions for our clients. I look forward to driving exceptional results that will empower our advertisers and expand our market presence in Florida.”

Randy Cable, formerly the Director of Sales for Beasley’s Fort Myers radio cluster, has been promoted to Regional Director of Sales. In his new role, he will oversee all sales operations for both the Tampa and Fort Myers markets.

“I look forward to developing synergies between these two strong markets and our outstanding teams,” said Cable. “With our experienced and talented teams, incredible radio brands, and robust digital advertising capabilities, we are well-positioned to super-serve the growing business community along the Gulf Coast.”

“I am excited to announce these well-deserved promotions,” said Ron deCastro, Regional Vice President of Beasley Media Group’s Tampa and Fort Myers markets. “Randy, April, and Stacie each bring unique skill sets that will greatly enhance our ability to serve the needs of advertisers and listeners in both markets.”

Philly Radio: 94WIP, MLB Phils Sign Multi-Year Extension

SportsRadio 94 WIP Hosted A Red October Rally

Audacy and the Philadelphia Phillies have announced a multi-year extension to their radio broadcast partnership. SportsRadio 94WIP-FM will continue as the flagship station of the team, broadcasting all regular and postseason games, as well as select Spring Training games. All games will be heard on WIP-FM and streamed via the Audacy app.

“As we gear up for another Red October, we’re excited to announce our continued partnership with the Phillies,” said David Yadgaroff, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Audacy Philadelphia. “The Phillies are synonymous with this city’s great sports culture, and we’re proud to continue serving as the home for Phillies faithful – from every pitch throughout the season to yearlong updates and headlines surrounding their favorite team.”

“SportsRadio 94WIP has been the Phillies' longtime radio partner, and our collective goal has always been to provide fans with the most entertaining, informative and engaging broadcast in the game,” said David Buck, Executive Vice President, Philadelphia Phillies. “As excitement ramps up for our third consecutive postseason appearance, we also celebrate the continuation of Phillies baseball on our flagship station for years to come.”

Scott Franzke, Larry Andersen and Kevin Stocker will once again be the voices for all Phillies play-by-play radio broadcasts. The station will continue to air a half-hour pregame show, “Leading Off,” prior to each game and a half-hour postgame show, “The Final Out,” immediately following each broadcast. Gregg Murphy will continue to serve as the host of both shows.

SportsRadio 94WIP will also continue to host regular broadcasts from the Deborah Heart and Lung Broadcast Booth inside Citizens Bank Park.

📻Listeners can tune in to SportsRadio 94WIP in Philadelphia and nationwide on the Audacy app and website. Fans can also connect with the station via X, Facebook and Instagram.

R.I.P.: Martin Lee, Lead Singer For The Brotherhood of Man

Brotherhood of Man, Lee Back Row on Right

Singer and songwriter Martin Lee, a member of pop group Brotherhood of Man, has died aged 77.

A statement released by the PA News Agency and posted on the band's Facebook page said Lee died on Sunday from heart failure following a short illness.

Brotherhood of Man were best known for winning the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest with Save Your Kisses for Me. The song reached number one in more than 30 countries and became one of the best-selling Eurovision singles in the contest's history.

"He will be sadly missed by his fellow band members Nicky Stevens, Lee Sheriden and especially Sandra Stevens to whom he had been married for 45 happy years," the statement said.

Lee joined Brotherhood of Man in 1972 and served as lead vocalist and guitarist.

The group's other hits included United We Stand, Oh Boy, and Kiss Me Kiss Your Baby.

Radio History: Oct 4

➦In 1922...Baseball's World Series first aired on radio over WJZ NYC and WGY Albany NY.  the announcers were Grantland Rice and W. O. McGeehan.

➦In 1925...The Atwater Kent Radio Hour debuted on WEAF NYC and carried by 11 other stations.  It was a top-rated radio concert music program heard on NBC and CBS from October 4, 1925, to December 17, 1934, with stars of the Metropolitan Opera often making appearances. Classical music was performed by a large symphony orchestra.

➦In 1939...a barber from Canonsburg (near Pittsburgh) recorded 'That Old Gang of Mine' with the Ted Weems Orchestra. That singer was the feature of the Weems band for many years before going solo as a radio, TV and stage star. We know him as The Incomparable Mr. C, Perry Como.

His string of hits for RCA Victor spans four decades. He was an NBC mainstay (radio & TV) for almost as long.  According to Billboard, Como's last Top10 hit was "It's Impossible" in 1970.

➦In 1948..."The Railroad Hour," starring Gordon MacRae in "The World's Greatest Musical Comedies," began a one-year run on ABC Radio. The series moved to NBC in 1949 and continued until June 1954. Marvin Miller was the announcer.

➦In 1957...The comic strip and radio show “Blondie" made the transition to TV, starring Pamela Britton in the title role, and Arthur Lake as Dagwood.

➦In 1986...CBS newsman Dan Rather (left) was mugged in New York City as he was walking along Park Avenue in Manhattan to his apartment. He was attacked and punched from behind by a man who demanded to know, "Kenneth, what is the frequency?" while a second assailant also chased and beat him. As the assailant pummeled and kicked Rather, he kept repeating the question over and over again.

Ten years later, Rather's primary attacker was identified as William Tager, who shot and killed an NBC technician outside the "Today" show studios in 1994.

TV Ratings: ABC's WNT Dominates Broadcast, FNC Tops Cable News

The last full week of September saw Fox News continue to dominate in primetime and total day, while also posting week-to-week audience losses in total viewers and Adults 25-54 demos during both dayparts. On the other hand, CNN was the only network not to see any primetime drops in both measured categories, but still joined its cable news competitors with total day losses.

TV Newser reports Nielsen live plus same-day data for the week of September 23 saw FNC average 2.334 million total viewers and 276,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was down in total viewers by -7% and -11% in the A25-54 demo relative to the week prior.

Fox News averaged 1.438 million total viewers and 189,000 demo viewers in total day viewing. It was down -3% and -7% in those respective categories compared to the previous week.

Among all basic cable networks, Fox News reclaimed No. 1 in total primetime viewers and second in the primetime demo. In total day, it continued to lead in total viewers and held onto second place in the total day demo.

MSNBC’s primetime lineup averaged 1.178 million total viewers and 131,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo. That translates to week-to-week losses of -20% and -15%, respectively. Among all basic cable networks, MSNBC was No. 3 in total primetime viewers and ranked seventh in the demo. During total day, it finished as the No. 2 cable network in total viewers and claimed sixth place in the demo.

CNN averaged 695,000 total primetime viewers and 138,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network rose by +2% in the former categry and stayed flat in the latter compared to the previous week. CNN ranked fourth place in primetime with total viewers and sixth in the demo. It was also fourth in total day viewers and ranked seventh in the total day demo.

Fox News occupied 12 of the 15 spots of the most-watched cable news shows of the week, with The Five (3.337 million viewers at 5 p.m. ET) staying on top. MSNBC occupied the remaining spots, with Deadline: White House with Nicole Wallace (1.796 million viewers at 5 p.m. ET) landing at No. 8.

• For the week, The Five averaged 3.4 million viewers and 315,000 in the 25-54 demo, making it the most-watched show of the week with viewers. At 6 PM/ET, Special Report with Bret Baier drew 2.4 million viewers and 240,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Ingraham Angle saw 2.4 million viewers and 270,000 in the 25-54 demo at 7 PM/ET. At 8 PM/ET, Jesse Watters Primetime delivered 3 million viewers and 350,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 9 PM/ET, Hannity posted 2.5 million viewers and 294,000 with A25-54. At 11 PM/ET, FOX News @ Night secured 1.5 million viewers and 256,000 in the 25-54 demo.
• FOX News Channel’s Gutfeld! continued to lead all of late-night television across the board. For the week, Gutfeld! averaged 2,770,000 viewers and 406,000 in the 25-54 demo, topping CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2,025,000 P2+; 341,000 A25-54), ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! (1,747,000 P2+; 398,000 A25-54) and NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (1,290,000 P2+; 309,000 A25-54).
• FNC also saw a number of its daytime programs outrank the broadcast competition. Most notably, Outnumbered (weekdays, 12 PM/ET; 1,849,000 P2+), Harris Faulkner’s The Faulkner Focus (weekdays, 11 AM/ET; 1,731,000 P2+), America Reports with Sandra Smith and John Roberts, (weekdays, 1-3 PM/ET; 1,702,000), The Story with Martha MacCallum (weekdays, 3 PM/ET; 1,684,000 P2+) and America’s Newsroom with Dana Perino and Bill Hemmer (weekdays, 9-11 AM/ET; 1,652,000 P2+) all outpaced ABC’s GMA3 (1,360,000 P2+) and NBC’s Today with Hoda and Jenna (1,345,000 P2+)

Source: Nielsen. Live+SD. Week of 9-23-24 ratings data. Average audience for cable news networks Monday-Sunday based on Total Day and Prime (6a-6a, 8P-11P), P2+, P25-54, P18-49. Cable News/Broadcast Program averages exclude repeats and include the corresponding program name.

VEEP Debate Attracts 38.8M Viewers

• FOX News’ Special Programming Outpaces NBC, ABC and Cable News During Debate Simulcast, Ranks Number One in all of Television for Surrounding Coverage

The Tuesday debate, which was hosted by CBS News, brought in 38.87 million viewers as it aired live from New York City beginning at 9 p.m. ET, according to Nielsen fast national ratings figures. This story will be updated when final Nielsen numbers are available.

For comparison, the Walz-Vance debate drew in a 32.9% smaller audience than the 2020 VP debate between current VP and 2024 presidential candidate Kamala Harris and former VP Mike Pence, which scored a viewership of 57.9 million in October 2020, according to Nielsen.

FOX News Media’s simulcast of the CBS vice-presidential debate between Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz and Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance delivered 10.4 million viewers, outpacing linear television, digital and streaming last night, averaging 10,361,000 viewers and 2,354,000 in the A25-54 demographic on FOX News Channel (FNC), FOX Business Network (FBN), FOX Network, FOXNews.com and FOX Nation, according to early data from Nielsen Media Research. FOX News Media’s simulcast of the debate also had the largest share of the event’s audience in television.

During the debate from 9-10:45 PM/ET, FNC topped broadcast networks ABC and NBC as well as all cable networks with 7.7 million viewers and 1.5 million in A25-54. FBN delivered 255,000 and 64,000 in A25-54 and FOX Network had an audience of 2.4 million viewers and 815,000 in the A25-54 demographic. FNC’s special FOX News Democracy 2024 pre-debate coverage with anchors Bret Baier, Martha MacCallum, Jesse Watters, Laura Ingraham and Sean Hannity from 8:20-9 PM/ET was the highest-rated in all of television with 4.8 million viewers and 863,000 in A25-54.

FNC’s special coverage of the debate from 8 PM – 1 AM/ET garnered cable news’ highest ratings with 5.2 million viewers and 1,004,000 in A25-54. At 8 PM/ET, Jesse Watters Primetime’s delivered an audience of 4.6 million in viewers and 814,000 in A25-54. Following the debate, Hannity’s live program from the spin room at 11 PM in New York was the most-watched in television with 4.3 million viewers and 833,000 in A25-54. At 12 AM/ET, FOX News @ Night with Trace Gallagher drew an audience of over two million viewers and 457,000 in A25-54, sweeping the cable news competition across the board.

FOX News Media’s digital properties, according to Adobe Analytics, YouTube Analytics, TikTok and Meta, delivered a strong day of engagement across key performance indicators. FOX News Digital saw 1.8 million livestream views between 9-11 PM/ET and FOX News Go’s unique viewing devices were up 202% compared to the average weekday this year and its media initiates were up 175% vs. the average weekday in 2024.