Report: George Soros Supported Garrison Keillor Show

Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) this week fired famous radio personality Garrison Keillor over “allegations of his inappropriate behavior with an individual who worked with him,” on Nov. 29, 2017.

Keillor worked for MPR since 1969, and produced A Prairie Home Companion for MPR from 1974 until 2016. 

According Newsbusters, donation records show that MPR received at least $150,000 from liberal billionaire George Soros from 2000 to 2003, who is one of the most generous funders of liberal media and nonprofits in the U.S. Other liberal foundations including the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Ford Foundation have also financially supported MPR in the past.

AFN To Air Wink Martindale Christmas Special

Envision Networks is again partnering with the American Forces Network (AFN) to air The 100 Greatest Christmas Hits of All Time with Wink Martindale.

The show will be provided to more than 400,000 American service men and women, Department of Defense civilians and their families overseas this holiday season.

The ten-hour radio special will be broadcast to American Embassies and Consulates in 175 countries and 200 U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command ships at sea. Last year’s show was also carried by AFN.

“Our programming this time of year is aimed at bringing a touch of home to our service men and women and their families serving overseas.” American Forces Network Radio Director Scott E. Stover said. “We appreciate Envision Networks giving us the opportunity to again share this programming with our military audience serving worldwide.”

Updated to include music from this past year, The 100 Greatest Christmas Hits of All Time is based on data compiled by Billboard Magazine and listings of the Christmas tracks most played on radio over the past decade. Spanning the years from 1942 to today, every form of Yuletide music is part of this special, from the goodtime gold (“Holly Jolly Christmas”), the sentimental songs (“I’ll Be Home For Christmas”), and the deeply romantic (“Merry Christmas Darling”) to the beloved carols (“Silent Night”) and the Santa/Rudolph/Frosty fantasy favorites (“Santa Claus is Coming to Town”).

Garth Brooks Visits NASH Nights

                   NASH Nights Live Co-Host Elaina Smith; Garth Brooks; and NASH Nights Live Co-Host Shawn Parr

Fresh off his 2017 CMA Awards win as Entertainer of the Year, the one-and-only Garth Brooks stopped in to Cumulus Media's NASH Campus in Nashville this week to chat with nationally-syndicated NASH Nights Live Co-Hosts Shawn Parr and Elaina Smith.

Garth dished about his new book "The Anthology: Part 1", what his plans are for 2018, embarrassingly fan girling over George Strait - and more!

December 1 Radio History

➦In 1931...Gene Autry's first radio show debuted on WLS Chicago. From 1940 to 1956, Autry had a huge hit with a weekly show on CBS Radio, Gene Autry's Melody Ranch. His horse, Champion, also had a CBS-TV and Mutual radio series. He also sold several radio stations he owned, including KSFO in San Francisco, KMPC in Los Angeles, KOGO in San Diego, and other stations in the Golden West radio network.

Autry is a member of both the Country Music Hall of Fame and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and is the only person to be awarded stars in all five categories on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, for film, television, music, radio, and live performance.


➦In 1941...WNEW (now WBRR) moved to 1130 AM. WNEW was located on 1250 AM and shared time with Newark station WHBI. In March 1941, WNEW and WHBI were both reassigned to 1280. Then, on December 1, 1941, a swap of call letters and frequency took place between WNEW on 1280 and WOV on 1130. WOV moved to 1280 (to later become WADO) and WNEW moved to 1130 and assumed full-time status.


➦In 1972...Wings released "Hi, Hi, Hi." The BBC banned the song for its supposedly suggestive lyrics and because of their assumption that the title phrase, "We're gonna get hi, hi, hi," was a drug reference. The sexual line the Beeb objected to is the one they heard as "get you ready for my body gun." McCartney has said the correct lyrics are "get you ready for my polygon," an abstract image.

➦In 1995...FCC eliminated the Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit requirement to operate a broadcast station.

Radio Vet Sharon Dastur Joins Republic Records

Sharon Dastur

Radio veteran Sharon Dastur, who spent 15 years at New York's WHTZ Z100 before moving to a senior role at iHeartRadio in 2014, has joined Republic Records as senior VP of promotion, the Universal Music Group label has announced.

Republic is home to such artists as Ariana Grande, The Weeknd and Julia Michaels, among many others.

According to Variety, Dastur’s position at Republic is a newly created role in which she will “oversee promotion across all formats for Republic Records and its strategic partners,” announced exec VP of promotion Gary Spangler and president of Republic Group Charlie Walk. She will be based out of Republic’s New York City office.

“Not only has Sharon been a leader in her field of world-class programming executives, she has also been an architect of modern day music pop culture,” said Spangler. “She has consistently identified both hit artists and songs and guided their integration throughout various platforms. Her experience and knowledge will be an indispensable asset for our artists. We’re thrilled an executive of Sharon’s caliber is joining Republic.”

Dastur noted the significance of moving from “the radio side of the business” to a label. “For Republic to create a leadership role that utilizes that passion and couples my skills in marketing, artist development with my programming relationships is yet another example of their forward-thinking, rule-breaking culture,” she said.

Dastur’s served as program director of Z100, one of only five to hold the title in the station’s history. At iHeart, she served as senior VP of Programming Integration. She began her career in radio at her hometown station in Houston, 104 KRBE.

Russell Simmons Steps Down From His Businesses

Russell Simmons

Music mogul Russell Simmons released a statement Thursday morning announcing that he would be stepping down from his companies in the wake of a new sexual misconduct accusation.

According to the LATimes, the announcement came after screenwriter Jenny Lumet detailed an encounter she had with Simmons in 1991, during which, she alleged, he intimidated her into having sex.

Lumet – daughter of director Sidney Lumet and granddaughter of music legend Lena Horne – is not the first woman to accuse the Def Jam Recordings co-founder of misconduct.

Earlier this month, Keri Claussen Khalighi accused Simmons and director Brett Ratner of assaulting her in 1991. Simmons dismissed Khalighi’s allegations, claiming whatever happened between them was consensual.

With his decision to step away from his companies, Simmons leaves behind All Def Digital, film company Def Pictures and yoga lifestyle brand Tantris, as well as his philanthropic efforts.

Here is Simmons’ full statement:

“I have been informed with great anguish of Jenny Lumet’s recollection about our night together in 1991. I know Jenny and her family and have seen her several times over the years since the evening she described. While her memory of that evening is very different from mine, it is now clear to me that her feelings of fear and intimidation are real. While I have never been violent, I have been thoughtless and insensitive in some of my relationships over many decades and I sincerely and humbly apologize. 

“This is a time of great transition. The voices of the voiceless, those who have been hurt or shamed, deserve and need to be heard. As the corridors of power inevitably make way for a new generation, I don’t want to be a distraction so I am removing myself from the businesses that I founded. The companies will now be run by a new and diverse generation of extraordinary executives who are moving the culture and consciousness forward. I will convert the studio for yogic science into a not-for-profit center of learning and healing. As for me, I will step aside and commit myself to continuing my personal growth, spiritual learning and above all to listening.”

Morning Joe: Trump Unfit For Office

Declaring President Trump to be mentally unfit for office and in the early stages of dementia, the hosts of MSNBC's "Morning Joe" on Thursday said it is time for Trump's Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment, which allows for the president to be removed from office when “he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.”

According to CNSNews.com, the anti-Trump diatribe follows President Trump's tweet on Wednesday aimed at NBC executives and "Morning Joe" host Joe Scarborough:

So now that Matt Lauer is gone when will the Fake News practitioners at NBC be terminating the contract of Phil Griffin? And will they terminate low ratings Joe Scarborough based on the “unsolved mystery” that took place in Florida years ago? Investigate!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 29, 2017

A 28-year-old intern was found dead, reportedly of natural causes, in Scarborough's Florida district office in 2001, two months after Scarborough announced his retirement from the U.S. Congress.

At the beginning of "Morning Joe" on Thursday, host Mika Brzezinski read from a "New York Daily News" editorial, which said, "Only those completely under his spell can deny what growing numbers of Americans have long suspected: The President of the United States is profoundly unstable. He is mad. He is by any honest layman's definition mentally unwell."




Among the most recent criticisms of Trump: His feud with British Prime Minister Therea May over Trump's retweeting of "conspiracy theories," including videos posted by a British woman that purport to show Muslims killing Christians or attacking Christian symbols.

Scarborough said Trump's tweet about him is another "cruel" conspiracy theory:

"And this comes in the midst of a nuclear showdown with North Korea," Scarborough said. “So I'm just kind of wondering -- what's the Cabinet waiting for? What are Republicans in the House and Senate -- because it's never going to get more deadly serious than it is now."

Matt Lauer: ‘I am truly sorry’

Longtime Today show anchor Matt Lauer broke his silence Thursday in a statement read on the show, saying he was "truly sorry" after allegations of sexual misconduct led to his firing.

Lauer's statement was a partial denial but he admitted that "there is enough truth in these stories to make me feel embarrassed and ashamed."

“There are no words to express my sorrow and regret for the pain I have caused others by words and actions. To the people I have hurt, I am truly sorry. 

"As I am writing this I realize the depth of the damage and disappointment I have left behind at home and at NBC. Some of what is being said about me is untrue or mischaracterized, but there is enough truth in these stories to make me feel embarrassed and ashamed. 

"I regret that my shame is now shared by the people I cherish dearly,” Lauer said in a statement that was released by a personal publicist and formed the bulk of the top story on “Today” Thursday morning. 

“Repairing the damage will take a lot of time and soul searching and I’m committed to beginning that effort. It is now my full time job. The last two days have forced me to take a very hard look at my own troubling flaws. It’s been humbling. I am blessed to be surrounded by the people I love. I thank them for their patience and grace.”

The move to fire Lauer, a fixture in national morning news for two decades, came after a female colleague made a detailed complaint with NBC News on Monday accusing him of inappropriate sexual behavior during the 2014 Sochi Olympics.


In addition, The New York Times reported that two other women had made complaints about Lauer, 59, after he was fired. An unidentified former employee told The Times that Lauer sexually assaulted her in his office in 2001. NBC officials confirmed that two more accusers had come forward on Wednesday.

Variety published a more detailed story of Lauer's alleged sexual misconduct with at least three women over several years.

CableTV News: Sean Hannity Dominated November

Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity held onto his crown as King of Cable News, beating everyone in the November ratings period with an average audience of 3.2 million viewers, making Hannity the most-watched cable news show for the second straight month, reports Forbes.

MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, who led her network to record ratings in the third quarter, finished November in third place overall, with a total audience of 2.8 million viewers. Among the advertiser-coveted demographic of adults 25-54, Maddow finished in second place, with 634,000 viewers.

Overall, Fox News Channel has seen growth--and continued dominance--since reformatting its prime-time lineup in September. Hannity moved to 9 p.m. ET, and has been the top non-sports program in all of cable television for two months straight, and seen its ratings climb by nearly 5%.

FNC's Tucker Carlson, who took over the 8 p.m. hour in prime, finished November in second place among total viewers with 2.9 million, and in third place overall among viewers 25-54 (587,000).

Laura Ingraham, who moved into Fox News' 10 p.m. timeslot, took fourth place overall with 2.5 million total viewers and 492,000 viewers 25-54.

In the overall race, Fox News again beat MSNBC and CNN, winning in daytime and prime, and among total viewers and in the demo, its 191st consecutive monthly victory. In primetime, MSNBC finished second ahead of CNN.

Here are the top 5 cable news programs of the month in key measurements. This data excludes specials.

Cable News Top 5 (Total Viewers)

1. Hannity (3,157,000)
2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (2,900,000)
3. The Rachel Maddow Show (2,813,000)
4. The Ingraham Angle (2,463,000)
5. Special Report with Bret Baier (2,385,000)

Cable News Top 5 (A25-54)

1. Hannity (639,000)
2. Rachel Maddow Show (634,000)
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (587,000)
4. The Ingraham Angle (492,000)
5. The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell (477,000).

Orlando Radio: Entercom's WQMP Flips To ALT 101.9 FM

Entercom Communications Corp. has announced the launch of ALT 101.9 FM on WQMP.

The station will provide music fans in Orlando with a true alternative through an expertly curated playlist with local, informed discovery including modern and mainstream alternative music and some classic alternative hits. The launch of ALT 101.9 FM comes shortly after Entercom’s merger with CBS Radio and expands on the company’s position as the #1 creator of live, original local audio content in the United States.

“In a city with a rapidly evolving demographic, we are thrilled to fill this void in radio in Orlando,” said Pat Paxton, Entercom’s President of Programming. “ALT 101.9 FM caters to the tech-savvy, engaged and active Orlando audience and will provide an exciting and unique experience for listeners who are currently underserved with today’s radio choices in Orlando.”

According to Entercom, ALT 101.9 stands alone as the only locally curated alternative rock station in Orlando and serves passionate music fans in the market who are online and always on the go. The station is celebrating its launch by putting the music first and playing 10,000 songs commercial-free, which started at 3:00 PM EST today. Listeners in the Orlando area can tune in to 101.9 FM, stream at www.alt1019radio.com and connect with the station online via social media as @alt1019radio on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

WQMP 101.9 FM (92 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area

In its previous CHR format, WQMP was trending down in the Orlando ratings, moving 4.3-3.8-3.4 (Aug-Sept-Oct), according to Nielsen’s 6+ PPMs.

Cumulus: All Operations Continue As Normal

Troubled radio giant Cumulus Media Inc. said late Wednesday that it filed to reorganize in Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The Atlanta-based company, which is burdened with $2.4 billion in debt, owns and operates 446 radio stations broadcasting in 90 U.S. media markets.

Cumulus said it has entered a restructuring agreement with lenders to reduce the company’s debt by more than $1 billion. The company filed for Chapter 11 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

Atlanta Business Chronicle reported Nov. 13 that Cumulus had prepared a so-called "prepackaged" bankruptcy as it negotiated with its lenders. Earlier in November Cumulus defaulted on a nearly $24 million debt payment.

Click Here For Original Posting

Cumulus said Wednesday it expects all operations, programming and sales to continue as normal throughout the restructuring. The company said it has ample cash combined with funds generated from ongoing operations to support its business.

Cumulus Media owns and operates 446 radio stations in 90 U.S. media markets, including such venerable outlets as news/talk KABC and classic rock mainstay KLOS in Los Angeles, Triple A giant KFOG and rock station KSAN in San Francisco, along with talker WABC and Hot AC WPLJ in New York.

First November 2017 PPMs Are Released

Nielsen on Wednesday 11/30/17 released the first batch of November PPM Data for the following markets:

  1  New York

  2  Los Angeles

  3  Chicago

  4  San Francisco

  5  Dallas-Ft.Worth

  6  Houston-Galveston

  8  Atlanta

  9  Philadelphia

 20  Nassau-Suffolk (Long Island NY)

 25  Riverside-SanBernardino CA

 37  San Jose CA

 42  Middlesex-Somerset-Union NJ

Click Here for Topline numbers for subscribing Nielsen stations.