SiriusXM has announced the launch of Bon Jovi Radio, a new streaming music channel celebrating the band's music and career. This new artist branded channel coincides with the 35th anniversary of the release of the band's breakthrough album, Slippery When Wet. Bon Jovi Radio is available wherever listeners stream SiriusXM.
Bon Jovi Radio will showcase the epic music and career of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees Bon Jovi. This music channel will explore decades of Bon Jovi rock anthems, fan-favorites and biggest hits, along with songs from other artists, hand-picked by Jon Bon Jovi. Listeners can also expect to find exclusive concert specials pulled from the band's extensive archives, along with interviews and commentary from Jon, members of the band and crew.
The new streaming channel will also feature listener guest DJs, fan takeover events and celebrity and artist guest DJs who will weigh in on favorite Bon Jovi songs and share their insight on the band's influence. Hosted monthly, the artist guest DJ series kicks off with John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls on Thursday, September 2 at 1 pm ET as he plays his favorite Bon Jovi cuts. Listeners to Bon Jovi Radio will also be treated to a weekly concert series featuring live performances pulled from the band's archives. The first concert series kicks off with Live at the China Club, hosted by Bon Jovi's longtime recording engineer Obie O'Brien, on Friday, September 3 at 6 pm ET and features Bon Jovi's exclusive concert from New York City's China Club, recorded in September 2000.
Every week, O'Brien will dig deep into the archives for hand-selected Bon Jovi performances while sharing exclusive details about some of his favorite shows.
Streaming access to SiriusXM is included with most subscriptions. Subscribers are able to listen to Bon Jovi Radio online and on-the-go with the SXM App, and with Amazon Alexa or however you stream at home. Go to www.siriusxm.com/ways-to-listen to learn more.
➦In 1913...actor Alan Ladd was born in Hot Springs Arkansas. His career began in radio in 1935 and he went on to star in films, of which Shane was the highlight. When his short stature caused his movie career to wind down he returned to radio.
He had short term stints at MGM and RKO, but got regular professional acting work only when he turned to radio. Ladd's rich, deep voice was ideal for that medium and in 1936 he ended up being signed by station KFWB as its sole radio actor. He stayed for three years at KFWB, working as many as twenty shows a week.
Depression and alcoholism contributed to his early death Jan. 29 1964 at age 50.
➦In 1939…Two days after Germany invaded Poland, England's Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announced that Britain and France had declared war on Germany.
➦In 1954...“The Lone Ranger” aired a new episode for the final time on ABC Radio Network. It premiered on WXYZ, Detroit, Michigan, on January 30, 1933. Repeat episodes were aired by ABC in 1955 and on NBC in 1956.
Gary Owens
➦In 1965... Los Angeles radio personality Gary Owens KMPC 710 AM was signed to be the voice of Roger Ramjet, humorous super hero of a new animated TV series.
Owens performed several other voices on the show in addition to the leading character. Roger Ramjet is a super astronaut who fights assorted evildoers with the help of a high- powered “proton” energy pill.
➦In 1966...the final “Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet” TV show (co-starring son Rick Nelson) aired on ABC. The show launched October 8, 1944 on CBS, it moved to NBC in October 1948, then made a late-season switch back to CBS in April 1949. The final years of the radio series were on ABC (the former NBC Blue Network) from October 14, 1949 to June 18, 1954.
In total 402 radio episodes were produced.
In an arrangement that exemplified the growing pains of American broadcasting, as radio "grew up" into television, the Nelsons' deal with ABC gave the network the option to move their program to television. The struggling network needed proven talent that was not about to defect to the more established and wealthier networks like CBS or NBC. The show moved to TV in 1952.
The Nelsons' sons, David and Ricky, did not join the cast until the radio show's fifth year (initially appearing on the February 20, 1949 episode, ages 12 and 8, respectively). The two boys were played by professional actors prior to their joining because both were too young to perform.
➦In 1970... WMCA NYC announced the hiring of Los Angeles talk host Bob Grant to do a daily show starting September 22. The station had also recently announced it was going full-time talk radio ending a long run of playing Top40 music.
➦In 1972...Radio personality Mike Kelly of Cleveland's WIXY 1260 AM spent 21 days, 3-hours and 58-minutes on a ferris wheel at nearby Cedar Point Amusement park.
Don Burden
➦In 1976...The FCC ordered radio station KOIL 1290 AM and sister KEFM in Omaha off the air. Licenses for the two stations, plus WIFE 1300 AM in Indianapolis and KISN in Vancouver Washington were revoked by the FCC on grounds of misconduct by operator Don Burden – board chairman and majority stockholder of Star Broadcasting. It was the FCC’s most severe action to date. Revoking the license meant he couldn't sell his stations.
Burden was charged with a long list of violations, including running phony contests on the air, billing advertisers twice, and giving free airtime to some political candidates.
➦In 1979...Don Imus returned to the air in mornings at 66WNBC NYC. By this time, Imus had started to use cocaine until he quit in 1983. In April 1981, Imus renewed his contract with WNBC with a five-year deal worth $500,000 a year with bonuses if he surpassed ratings targets. Following the addition of Howard Stern in afternoons in 1982, he and Imus began a longtime feud though both were paired on WNBC print and television advertisements.
After a stint at WGAR 1220 AM in Cleveland, Ohio, Imus originally moved to NYC and WNBC in December 1971. During this first stint at WNBC, Imus recorded three record albums, two for the RCA Victor label '1200 Hamburgers to Go', including some of his more popular humor from KXOA, WGAR and WNBC broadcasts, and 'One Sacred Chicken to Go with Anthrax', a primarily studio-created album centering on his satirical character, The Right Rev. Dr. Billy Sol Hargis and one for the Bang label.
Imus had been fired from WNBC in August 1977 along with several of the station's other personalities, in an effort to revamp the station's sound and boost ratings. In 1978 he returned to Cleveland radio as afternoon drive host on WHK. During that year, Imus commuted between Cleveland and New York to tape a TV talk show, Imus Plus at WNEW-TV.
➦In 1979...WLUP Chicago DJ Steve Dahl’s “Do Ya Think I’m Disco” reportedly sold more than 200,000 copies nationwide in two weeks and many radio stations were playing the anti-disco record. In Detroit - WWWW morning DJ’s have organized a Death to Disco Ducks society, In Los Angeles, KROQ’s own insane Daryll Wayne is burying disco albums at the beach. In Kansas City – KYYS DJ Max Floyd is recruiting listeners for an anti-disco “Rock ‘n’ Roll Army.
➦In 1985...Johnny Marks, who wrote the Christmas classics Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree and A Holly Jolly Christmas, died at age 75.
Bob Sievers
➦In 2007...long time Fort Wayne, IN radio personality, Bob Sievers, died at age 90.
Sievers worked for WOWO 1190 AM for more than 50 years.
During his five decades with WOWO, he earned the title of “Mr. WOWO” as host on the popular morning show “Little Red Barn Show” that aired from 5 to 7 a.m., and the Bob Sievers show that aired from 7 to 10 a.m. Monday through Saturdays.
“I can’t think of anyone more influential in this town, and I’ve been here 35 years,” said Ron Gregory, a close friend and former WOWO radio announcer. “I can’t think of anybody who comes close to the impact that Bob Sievers had. It’s definitely the end of an era.”
Bob Sievers at age 90
In the days when the station’s 50,000-watt signal was not competing with the number of stations it does today, Sievers’ voice – and popularity – stretched across the country and around the world.
WOWO listeners could be found in 28 states and even overseas, and Sievers would often receive letters from devoted listeners across oceans, like missionaries in Africa, Gregory said.
➦In 2017...Steely Dan guitarist and co-founder Walter Becker died just four months after being diagnosed with esophageal cancer at age 67. Together with Donald Fagan in 1971 he formed Steely Dan and introduced a unique sound in rock, with hits such as “Do it Again” and “Reeling’ in the Years.”
Al Jardine is 79
🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAYS:
Actor Pauline Collins is 81.
Singer-guitarist Al Jardine of The Beach Boys is 79.
Actor Valerie Perrine is 78.
Drummer Donald Brewer of Grand Funk Railroad is 73.
Jennifer Paige is 48
Guitarist Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols is 66.
Actor Steve Schirripa (“The Sopranos”) is 64.
Actor Holt McCallany (“Lights Out,” ″CSI: Miami”) is 57.
Guitarist Todd Lewis of The Toadies is 56.
Actor Costas Mandylor (“Picket Fences”) is 56.
Actor Charlie Sheen is 56.
Singer Jennifer Paige is 48.
Musician Redfoo of LMFAO is 46.
Actor Ashley Jones (“True Blood”) is 45.
Actor Nichole Hiltz (“In Plain Sight”) is 43.
Actor Joel Johnstone (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) is 43.
Actor Nick Wechsler (“Revenge,” ″Roswell”) is 43.
Guitarist Tomo Milicevic of 30 Seconds To Mars is 42.
On Monday, Milwaukee sports-talk station iHeartMedia's WOKY 920 AM announced it was adding longtime radio voice Bill "The Big Unit" Michaels to its daily lineup.
By Wednesday, "The Big Unit" was gone, reports The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
Since January, Michaels has been broadcasting his midday show on Mid-West Family Communications' WOZN-AM/FM in Madison. WOKY said on Twitter Monday that it would air on the iHeartMedia station weekdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The show aired on WOKY Monday and Tuesday. But Wednesday, the station was back carrying Colin Cowherd's Fox Sports show, which had been in the time slot before the change. And the tweet announcing Michaels' return to Milwaukee radio had been taken down.
Reached late Wednesday, Michaels confirmed the show won't air on WOKY, at least "for the time being."
Michaels spent more than a dozen years as a sports personality on WTMJ 620 AM. In 2011, after leaving WTMJ, he joined WSSP 1250 AM, where he hosted a show until there was a programming shakeup at the Audacy-owned station at the beginning of this year.
"Audacy sent a cease-and-desist to iHeart," Michaels said.
Michael said the issue is whether his separation agreement with WSSP/Audacy allows him to return to a Milwaukee station as a syndicated show, versus as an employee of a station in the Milwaukee market.
YouTube Premium will accrue 23.6 million US subscribers by year-end 2021.
The forecast: There will be 23.6 million YouTube Premium subscribers by the end of the year, which is up a healthy 18% over 2020.
Dive deeper:
eMarketer forecast combines subscribers to YouTube Premium and subscribers to YouTube Music Premium.
The latter is a paid, ad-free, on-demand audio service comparable with Spotify Premium. YouTube Premium is a slightly higher cost service allowing for ad-free video watching and includes access to YouTube Music Premium.
The US made up 67% of YouTube Premium subscribers worldwide in 2020, as Alphabet reported and our forecast reflects. This share is down slightly this year because of international expansion of the subscription service. Overall, the US makes up 48% of YouTube’s global net ad revenue.
While 2020 saw a high growth rate of 34.6% over 2019, growth will slow to single digits in the years to come.
SiriusXM has announced the launch of a new selection of music channels, Queens of Hip-Hop, Women of Rock and Women of Country, devoted to pioneering, iconic, and critically-acclaimed female artists. The limited run music channels highlight female artists within each genre and will all be available on the SXM App starting Wednesday, September 1 through Friday, October 1.
➤Queens of Hip-Hop: featuring music from today’s biggest female Hip-Hop artists including Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj. Listeners will also hear music from the queens who’ve paved the way including Queen Latifah, Missy Elliot and Lil’ Kim.
➤Women of Rock: hear the Women of Rock, from architects of Classic Rock like Stevie Nicks and Joan Jett, 80s icons like Blondie and Siouxsie Sioux, Grunge and Alternative queens like Courtney Love and Fiona Apple, and contemporary trailblazers like Brittany Howard, St. Vincent and Haim.
➤Women of Country: where the original trailblazers of the Grand Ole Opry meet the women who continue to break barriers today. Hear country’s superstars, their legendary influences and the next generation of inspiring artists. Celebrating the Women of Country: the soaring vocalists and spectacular storytellers that define the very best of country music. Listeners will hear music from Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Dolly Parton, Mickey Guyton, Loretta Lynn, Maren Morris and more.
All three channels will be available on the SXM App and will also pop up on the satellite. Queens of Hip-Hop will be available via satellite (ch. 104) on Wednesday, September 1 through Wednesday, September 15. Women of Rock will be available via satellite (ch.104) on Wednesday, September 22 through Thursday, October 7. Women of Country will be available via satellite (ch. 105) on Friday, September 17 through Thursday, September 23.
These new limited-run music channels enhance SiriusXM’s already powerful music and entertainment streaming offering that includes an array of music channels, podcasts and video, giving subscribers more choice than ever before as part of their streaming subscription.
Subscribers are able to listen to SiriusXM online, on-the-go with the SXM App, and at home on a wide variety of connected devices including smart TVs, devices with Amazon Alexa or the Google Assistant, Apple TV, PlayStation, Roku, Sonos speakers and more. Go to www.siriusxm.com/ways-to-listen to learn more.
CUMULUS MEDIA announces that it has appointed Redwood City native Joe “Joe Hawk” Ceccotti to On-Air Host, Afternoon Drive, for Bay Area Classic Rock station, 107.7 The Bone/KSAN-FM.
Ceccotti can be heard on The Bone Monday through Friday from 2:00pm-7:00pm.
Ceccotti joins the weekday on-air lineup after more than eight years with The Bone, which he joined in 2013 as an intern for the station’s popular morning program, The Lamont & Tonelli Show. Since then, he has covered all on-air shifts as a part-time fill-in host for The Bone. Ceccotti began his radio career as Morning Host for KSJS-FM at San Jose State University, where he earned a B.A. degree in Radio and Television/Broadcast Communications. He has also made a name for himself in the local craft beer industry and hosts a new podcast for The Bone called BONE-A-Fide Brews, to bring light to smaller, up-and-coming breweries popping up around the Bay Area.
Chasta Michaelis, Program Director, 107.7 The Bone, said: "Joe has been a very important part of KSAN for the last eight years and has proved his worth time and time again with his diligent work ethic behind the scenes, as well as his great on-air performance. He is a true asset for us and I'm thrilled to be able to make him our full-time Afternoon Host."
Ceccotti commented: "I'm super excited to not only host the PM drive for such a legendary station but to represent the station that has become my home for the past eight years. Becoming a Bone jock and to be associated with such names, past and present, as Lamont & Tonelli, Steven Seaweed, Nikki Black, Baby Huey and Chasta is more than I could've ever hoped for."
CUMULUS MEDIA announces that Chicago News/Talk radio station WLS 890 AM will debut a new weekend travel show, “Round Trip With Colleen Kelly” on Sunday, September 5th, from 6:00pm-7:00pm.
Colleen Kelly
The program is hosted by travel expert Colleen Kelly, digital contributor to National Geographic and Travel + Leisure and host, creator and executive producer of the popular Emmy-nominated PBS series, “Family Travel With Colleen Kelly.”
Every Sunday evening on 890 WLS-AM, Kelly takes listeners on the road and overseas to destinations near and far. “Round Trip With Colleen Kelly” covers exploration, cuisine and culture, along with travel tips and the newest travel supplies, along with some of the best small businesses to support domestically and abroad. The one-hour show is destination listening at its best for all travel enthusiasts, from armchair travelers to world travelers.
Stephanie Tichenor, Program Director, 890 WLS-AM, said: “Audiences are hungry for travel and adventure. We’re excited to welcome back Colleen Kelly to the Big 89 as she takes our listeners on an audio journey each Sunday night from 6pm-7pm on WLS-AM.”
Colleen Kelly remarked: "I am thrilled to be working with the legendary WLS team and Cumulus Media, bringing audiences the latest in travel news, tips, and destinations on 'Round Trip with Colleen Kelly.' It is always an honor and a pleasure to work with and create work at the WLS AM radio station...What a fantastic opportunity to connect with not only dedicated Chicago listeners but also listeners from across the U.S.”
ESPN Podcasts will debut a new, original NFL-focused show, Organized Chaos, beginning Sept. 12.
Former NFL coach Rex Ryan will be joined by his New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens colleague, Pro Bowl linebacker Bart Scott. Ryan and Scott were together in Baltimore when Ryan was the defensive coordinator before they met again in New York where Ryan was the team’s head coach. Scott played for Ryan on the Jets from 2009-12.
The duo will be reunited once again in this weekly podcast – with new episodes available every Monday – that will provide listeners with expert insight and analysis on everything happening around the league featuring trending stories from on and off the field. Ryan – who also appears on Sunday NFL Countdown and other ESPN platforms – and Scott – who co-hosts Bart & Hahn every weekday on ESPN Radio – will bring fans their unique, creative perspective on all things NFL in the way only a former coach and player can.
Ahead of the premiere episode on Sept. 12, fans can hear from Ryan and Scott on the show’s trailer, available Sept. 3. Organized Chaos and the entire ESPN podcast library is available wherever you download your podcasts and on ESPN.com.
The debut of Organized Chaos marks another recent addition to the always-expanding ESPN Podcasts lineup, which also saw the premiere of The ESPN College Football Podcast (Aug. 30), ESPN’s 30 for 30 podcast The King of Crenshaw (Aug. 23), Black History Always with Clinton Yates (July 28) and the UFC-focused DC & RC with Daniel Cormier and Ryan Clark (July 8). More can’t-miss shows with industry-leading voices will launch in the coming months with details to be
➤NORTHEAST PUMMELED BY HURRICANE IDA REMNANTS: Mid-Altantic and Northeastern states were pummeled by the remains of Hurricane Ida yesterday, with at least two tornadoes touching down, in Maryland and New Jersey, extended, drenching rain and strong winds.
Footage shows devastating damage in Mullica Hill, New Jersey, after a tornado moved through the area. Remnants of Hurricane Ida are wreaking havoc across the Northeast. https://t.co/5nwItZ23l1pic.twitter.com/GjbYJlsCxU
The downpours caused severe flooding, with New York City's subways suspended and some streets looking like rivers, Newark Liberty International Airport flooded, and a roof collapsing at a post office in Kearny, New Jersey. One person was killed and another missing at a Rockville, Maryland, apartment complex, with some 200 people displaced.
Louisiana Recovery: Meanwhile, there were some signs of recovery from Ida in Louisiana. Power had returned to some customers, including in New Orleans, all interstate systems had reopened after being cleared of debris, and AT&T's cellphone service was back to 90 percent of normal capacity. However, about a million homes and businesses still had no electricity and more than 600,000 didn't have running water. Additionally, some low-lying communities were still underwater, where search and rescue missions continued. The White House announced President Biden will visit Louisiana on Friday to survey the damage.
Queens Boulevard in Maspeth/Corona is a literal river at the moment. Bus fully flooded driving through, multiple cars stuck in the water. Absolutely insane. pic.twitter.com/LuSL9uWCEl
➤SUPREME COURT LETS TEXAS ABORTION BAN TO REMAIN IN EFFECT: A divided Supreme Court decided 5-4 yesterday to allow a new Texas law that ban abortions at six weeks, before most women know they're pregnant, remain in force, with Chief Justice John Roberts siding with the high court's liberals in the losing position of opposing letting the law stand. The late-night decision to deny an emergency appeal was released nearly 24 hours after the law, the strictest against abortion rights since Roe v. Wade, went into effect at midnight Wednesday. The majority said those asking for the appeal hadn't met the high burden required for a stay, but said the order didn't block other challenges to the law or rule on its constitutionality. In addition to banning abortion at six weeks, the Texas law is enforced by allowing private citizens to sue abortion providers and anyone involved in facilitating abortions, such as someone who drives a woman to a clinic to get an abortion, for at least $10,000.
➤COLORADO OFFICERS, EMTS INDICTED FOR MANSLAUGHTER IN 2019 DEATH OF ELIJAH MCCLAIN: Three Aurora, Colorado, police officers and two paramedics were indicted yesterday for manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old Black man who was stopped by police while walking after a caller reported a man who seemed "sketchy," and then put in a chokehold and injected with the poweful sedative ketamine. McClain was later declared brain dead at the hospital. Two of the officers were also charged with second-degree assault with intent to cause bodily injury and one count of a crime of violence related to the assault charge. The paramedics also face second-degree assault charges. Two of the officers were indefinitely suspended, while the other had previously been fired. A city review found no evidence to justify officers stopping McClain.
➤REPORT...EXTREMISTS PLAN TO ATTEND SEPTEMBER 18TH WASHINGTON RALLY: Members of far right extremist groups like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers are planning to attend a September 18th rally in Washington, D.C., the Associated Press reported yesterday. The rally at the U.S. Capitol is intended to demand what they say is justice for the hundreds of people who've been charged in connection with the January 6th attack on the Capitol. AP cited officials as saying that because of that information, Capitol Police have been discussing whether the large perimeter fence that was put up outside the Capitol attack should be returned. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger told AP they are, quote, "closely monitoring September 18 and we are planning accordingly." Officials also said the Metropolitan Police Department will activate its entire force and has put specialized riot officers on standby.
🚘CDC..IF YOU’RE UNVACCINATED YOU SHOULD DELAY TRAVEL THIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND: If you’re thinking about traveling this upcoming Labor Day weekend you should really be vaccinated. The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr. Rochelle Walensky, said during a White House briefing on Tuesday, that Americans should delay travel until becoming fully vaccinated. She also added “...People who are fully vaccinated and who are wearing masks can travel although given where we are with disease transmission right now, we would say that people need to take these risks into their own consideration as they think about traveling.”
➤CALIFORNIA BILL WOULD REQUIRE GENDER-NEUTRAL SECTIONS IN DEPARTMENT STORES: A bill passed by the state Senate in California yesterday would require large department stores to display some products for children in a gender-neutral way. The measure, which would only apply to department stores with 500 or more employees, would apply to toys and childcare items including hygiene and teething products, but not to clothes. It also wouldn't ban having traditional boys and girls sections in the department stores, only require a gender-neutral section for a, quote, "reasonable selection" of products. The bill now goes back to the state Assembly for a procedural vote, before then being sent to Governor Gavin Newsom. Democratic state Senator Scott Wiener said of the law, "This is about making safe spaces for all children in today’s society and not pushing, sometimes forcing children to conform." But Republican state Senator Melissa Melendez is opposed to the measure, saying, "I don’t think parents need the government to step in and tell them how they should shop for their children."
➤JUDGE GIVES CONDITIONAL APPROVAL TO PURDUE PHARMA OPIOID SETTLEMENT: A federal bankruptcy judge yesterday gave conditional approval to a $4.5 billion settlement for OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma over its role in the opioid crisis. It will remove the Sackler family from ownership of Purdue, and give potentially $10 billion to the opioid crisis fight. The settlement will resolve 3,000 lawsuits from state and local governments, Native American tribes, unions and others that accuse Purdue of helping create the opioid overdose epidemic by aggressively marketing OxyContin. As part of it, the Sacklers will be protected from any future opioid lawsuits.
➤TWITCH STREAMERS BOYCOTT FOR DAY IN PROTEST OF 'HATE RAIDS': Many Twitch streamers boycotted the platform for the day yesterday to protest what they charge is not enough being done by Twitch to stop "hate raids" of hate speech and attacks. Among what the boycotters want from Twitch are a roundtable discussion with impacted creators and immediate protection for streamers that includes age selection of incoming accounts and the ability to accept or reject incoming raids. A Twitch spokesperson told Axios, "[W]e are working hard on improved channel-level ban evasion detection and additional account improvements to help make Twitch a safer place for creators."
🗫STUDY LINKS ARTICULATION, GENDER TO VOCAL ATTRACTIVENESS: What makes a voice sound attractive? That depends on a few things, including the listener. University of California researchers found that “vowel space area,” or articulation was correlated highly with vocal attractiveness, particularly when female voices were being rated. Listeners showed no preference for clarity when rating the attractiveness of male voices. Study co-author Daniel Stehr explains, “From a sexual attraction standpoint, males with traits that are slightly more masculine than average are typically preferred, which in this context would make males with less clear speech more attractive. At the same time, constricted vowel space area and lower perceived clarity is associated with a range of speech motor disorders, suggesting a lack of clarity may also have indicated the presence of disease to our ancestors.”
🎾OSAKA, MEDVEDEV, HALEP, STEPHENS, ADVANCE ON DAY THREE AT U.S. OPEN: U.S. Open defending champion Naomi Osaka advanced on Day Three of the tournament Wednesday without even hitting the court, as her second-round opponent, Olga Danilovic, pulled out because a non-Covid viral illness. Other winners yesterday included the second-ranked man, Daniil Medvedev, as well as Simona Halep and Stefanos Tsitsipas. Sloane Stephens defeated fellow American and friend Coco Gauff in their first-ever official match with a 6-4, 6-2 win. The match between Kevin Anderson and Diego Schwartzman was delayed for nearly 30 minutes and then had to move to Arthur Ashe Stadium after the only other stadium at New York's Flushing Meadows with a retractable roof, Louis Armstrong Stadium, had rain from the torrential downpours brought by the remnants of Hurricane Ida still able to get in to the stadium. Schwartzman finally got the win.
⚾YANKEES' COLE STRIKES OUT 15 IN 4-1 WIN: New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole struck about 15 batters over seven innings in a 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels last night. Cole's 15 strikeouts was one short of his career high, and tied him with the New York Mets' Jacob deGrom for the most through seven innings by a pitcher this season. Cole also set a Yankees franchise record for most strikeouts through his first 25 starts with 215, topping David Cone's 207 in 1997.
🏈SAINTS OPENER MOVED TO JACKSONVILLE DUE TO HURRICANE IDA: The New Orleans Saints will be playing their September 12th season opener against the Green Bay Packers in Jacksonville, Florida, instead of at home at the Superdome as scheduled because the city is still recovering from Hurricane Ida. The Saints have been practicing at the Dallas Cowboys' AT&T Sradium because of Ida as well. After their opener, the Saints have road games at Carolina and New England before their next scheduled home game on October 3rd.
⚾METS ACTING GM SCOTT ARRESTED FOR DUI: New York Mets acting general manager Zack Scott was arrested for driving under the influence early Tuesday morning in White Plains, New York, north of New York City. Police found the 44-year-old asleep at the wheel of his SUV at a traffic light around 4:15 a.m. and determined he was intoxicated, even though he refused a breathalyzer. Scott was booked and released, and is due in court this morning. The Mets said in a statement that they were "surprised and deeply disappointed" at the news, stating, "Zack will not be traveling with the team for our upcoming road trip while we learn more and determine next steps."
🏀KNICKS, NETS, WARRIORS PLAYERS CAN'T PLAY AT HOME IF NOT VACCINATED: The NBA recently told teams that players on the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets and Golden State Warriors won't be able to play in home games if they're not vaccinated, due to laws recently passed by New York and San Francisco about indoor vaccine requirements, ESPN reported yesterday (September 1st). There will be an exception if players have a medical or religious exemption. However, unvaccinated visiting players will still be able to play, since the laws don't cover out-of-town teams.
Podcaster Joe Rogan said Wednesday on his Instagram page that he tested positive for Covid-19.
Rogan said he started showing symptoms Saturday night and tested positive the next day, reports The Wall Street Journal.
“Throughout the night I got fevers, sweats, and I knew what was going on,” he said. He said he took several medications, including ivermectin. Federal health regulators have warned against unauthorized use of the drug as a treatment for Covid-19.
“We immediately threw the kitchen sink at it,” he said. In addition to ivermectin, he also said he used other treatments including monoclonal antibody treatment, Prednisone, a vitamin drip and Zithromax.
“Sunday sucked,” he said. By Wednesday he was feeling better, he said.
“A wonderful heartfelt thank you to modern medicine for pulling me out of this so quickly and easily,” he said.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether Rogan, 54 years old, has been vaccinated against Covid-19.
Rogan earlier this year suggested that young, healthy people didn’t need Covid-19 vaccines, advice that Dr. Anthony Fauci, White House chief medical adviser, called incorrect. Mr. Rogan later said that in terms of vaccines, young, healthy people thinking about others who are at risk “makes sense.”
“I’m not an antivax person,” Rogan said in April. “In fact I said I believe they’re safe, and I encourage many people to take them.”
Rogan’s podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience,” launched in 2009 and covers myriad topics including health, science, sports and culture. It is now exclusively available on Spotify, where it is by far the most popular podcast globally, thanks to a $100 million distribution deal struck with the streaming giant last year.
Griffin Communications has announced the launch of KFAQ The Blitz 1170 AM – Tulsa’s new sports talk station covering Oklahoma and national sports.
“We are so excited to bring the best local sports radio to Tulsa,” said Todd Spessard, Griffin Communications’ Vice President of Content. “From high school to college to professional – Tulsa has so many great sports stories to tell, and we can’t wait to bring them to Green Country. We’re putting together a local lineup of some of the best and well-known Tulsa voices and are ready to start talking sports!”
Not only will The Blitz debut an all-new winning lineup, the station will also feature content from News On 6 Sports – a team led by veteran Sports Director John Holcomb and trusted by sports fans across Green Country.
The Blitz lineup will be anchored weekday mornings with a very familiar voice – Rick Couri. Couri is currently the voice of University of Tulsa Basketball as well as the play by play announcer for Union Football.
Fans can also look forward to regular appearances from News 9 Sports Director Dean Blevins covering all things OU alongside Thunder Reporter Steve McGehee and college football analyst Dusty Dvoracek.
“I am incredibly excited for this opportunity with The Blitz,” said Jeremie Poplin, KFAQ Director of Programming. “A lot of hard work has gone into all the stages of planning for a station that will reach a variety of different fan bases. We will strive to present a product everyone can be proud of and help fill the local sports void in Tulsa.”
The Blitz 1170 AM Lineup:
6 to 9 a.m. – Rick Couri
9 to 11 a.m. – Dan Hawk
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Big Al & Friends
1 to 3 p.m. – Jeremie “Pop” Poplin
3 to 6 p.m. – Colby Daniels
6 to 7 p.m. – Barstool Sports
The Blitz 1170 AM will launch Tuesday, September 7 on 1170 AM and will be available to stream live on TheBlitzTulsa.com, The Blitz 1170 AM app and your favorite smart speaker.
Julie Pace, a longtime Washington journalist who managed coverage of the U.S. government during a period of historic tumult, was named Wednesday as the executive editor and senior vice president of The Associated Press.
The 39-year-old Pace has been the AP’s Washington bureau chief since 2017, guiding reporting on the Trump administration, national security, politics and the new Biden White House. She rose to the newsroom’s top leadership spot with a promise to accelerate the AP’s digital transformation.
Pace succeeds Sally Buzbee, who became executive editor of The Washington Post in June, and is the third consecutive woman to lead the AP’s worldwide news operation. Her appointment is effective immediately and was announced by Gary Pruitt, AP president and CEO, and Daisy Veerasingham, executive vice president and chief operating officer. Veerasingham will become president and chief executive at the end of the year.
“This is a very exciting time for the AP — we’re a 175-year-old news organization with a new CEO and a new executive editor,” Pruitt said. “Julie Pace has a vision for AP’s future that is in line with our long-standing values but also forward-thinking. She will do an excellent job.”
As she assumes her new role, Pace said it was important to push all of the AP’s journalists — text reporters, video, still photographers, fact checkers and graphics producers — out of individual silos to work together in presenting compelling stories.
“We are in a position where we have an opportunity to really modernize our news report,” Pace said in an interview. “We have an opportunity to take all of the fantastic journalism that we do across formats and think of ways we can make it more digital-friendly, to make it more social-friendly.”
Breaking news will remain the backbone of the AP’s report, but journalists will quickly move to provide analysis, context and fact-checking to those stories, she said.
Gen Media Partners has announced the formation of a strategic task force to champion the power and influence of certified minority-owned and -targeted radio stations to advertisers and agencies.
The task force will advocate on behalf of the largely overlooked multicultural-owned and -targeted radio stations across all market sizes, including non-metro, and demonstrate multicultural radio’s remarkable power to connect with audiences. Ann-Marie Figueira, whose promotion to Senior Vice President of Hispanic Platforms and Multicultural Initiatives was announced recently, will lead the initiative.
“Our goal – our job - is to make sure advertisers and their agencies look beyond the large-scale companies and include independent, certified minority-owned and -targeted radio groups in their plans,” asserted Kevin Garrity, Chief Executive Officer of Gen Media Partners. “We’re already seeing a receptiveness to learning more about these stations and their effectiveness at reaching multicultural audiences with content that is relevant to their specific lifestyles, tastes, and cultures.”
“Our team has a passion for and an understanding of owners and operators of independent multicultural radio -- whether its urban, Indigenous, Asian, or Hispanic -- and we’re excited to tell their story,” Figueira stated. “Most independent minority owners are heavily involved, personally and professionally, with their communities. They serve on local boards and actively participate in local events. That deep level of direct engagement with the community enhances the already strong connection with audiences that radio is known for and builds an extra layer of trust that can enhance the effectiveness of an advertiser’s message.”
“These radio stations are a cornerstone in multicultural communities, and their listeners buy millions of dollars of products each year,” Garrity pointed out. It’s a great story, and if we don’t tell it no one will. “
Representing 1,176 radio stations in 168 markets, either minority-owned or -targeted to Hispanic, African American, Asian, or Indigenous audiences, Gen Media Partners has one of the strongest multicultural platforms in radio, reaching 95% of the multicultural segment of the US population.
➦In 1896...Amanda Randolph born (Died from a stroke at age 70 – August 24, 1967). She was the first African-American performer to star in a regularly scheduled network television show, appearing in DuMont's The Laytons.
She is best remembered as Kingfish’s mother-in-law in Amos & Andy, both radio & TV. In the late 1930’s she had been featured on the radio soaps Young Dr. Malone, Romance of Helen Trent and Big Sister. She was one of several actresses to play Beulah on TV, and was a cast member on The Danny Thomas Show.
➦In 1906...Radio actressBarbara Jo Allen was born in NYC.
Barbara Jo Allen
In 1933, Allen joined the cast of NBC's One Man's Family as Beth Holly, followed by roles on Death Valley Days, I Love a Mystery and other radio series. According to Allen, her Vera Vague character was “sort of a frustrated female, dumb, always ambitious and overzealous… a spouting Bureau of Misinformation.”
After Vera was introduced in 1939 on NBC Matinee, she became a regular with Bob Hope beginning in 1941. In the early 1940s, she was a regular on Signal Carnival, a weekly program on NBC-Pacific Red stations.
Allen appeared in at least 60 movies and TV series between 1938 and 1963, often credited as Vera Vague rather than her own name.
She died Sept. 14 1974, just 12 days after turning 68.
➦In 1929...WOR (NYC) ends affiliation with CBS radio network.
➦In 1931...Crosby made his solo radio debut on the radio show, "15 Minutes with Bing Crosby", on CBS Radio Network.
In 1923, Crosby had been invited to join a new band composed of high school students a few years younger than himself. Al Rinker, Miles Rinker, James Heaton, Claire Pritchard and Robert Pritchard, along with drummer Crosby, formed the Musicaladers, who performed at dances both for high school students and club-goers. The group did perform on Spokane radio station KHQ, but disbanded after two years.
By 1925, Crosby had formed a vocal duo with partner Al Rinker, brother of singer Mildred Bailey. Bailey introduced Rinker and Crosby to Paul Whiteman, who was at that time America's most famous bandleader. Hired for $150 a week in 1926, they made their debut on December 6 at the Tivoli Theatre in Chicago. Their first recording was "I've Got The Girl", with Don Clark's Orchestra, but the Columbia-issued record did them no vocal favors, as it was inadvertently recorded at a speed slower than it should have been, which increased the singers' pitch when played at 78 rpm. Throughout his career, Crosby often credited Mildred Bailey for getting him his first important job in the entertainment business.
Even as the Crosby and Rinker duo was increasing in popularity, Whiteman added a third member to the group. The threesome, now includdc pianist and aspiring songwriter Harry Barris and were dubbed "The Rhythm Boys". They joined the Whiteman touring act, performing and recording with musicians Bix Beiderbecke, Jack Teagarden, Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey, Eddie Lang and Hoagy Carmichael, also appearing together in a Whiteman movie.
Crosby soon became the star attraction of the Rhythm Boys, and in 1928 he had his first number one hit with the Whiteman orchestra, a jazz-influenced rendition of "Ol' Man River".
However, Crosby's reported taste for alcohol and his growing dissatisfaction with Whiteman led to his quitting the Rhythm Boys to join the Gus Arnheim Orchestra.
During his time with Arnheim, the other two Rhythm Boys were increasingly pushed to the background as the emphasis was on Crosby. Harry Barris wrote several of Crosby's subsequent hits including "At Your Command", "I Surrender Dear", and "Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams". But the members of the band had a falling out and split, setting the stage for Crosby's solo career.
From 1942...
Before the end of 1931, he signed with both Brunswick Records and CBS Radio. Doing a weekly 15-minute radio broadcast, Crosby quickly became a huge hit. His songs "Out of Nowhere", "Just One More Chance", "At Your Command" and "I Found a Million Dollar Baby (in a Five and Ten Cent Store)" were all among the best selling songs of 1931.
➦In 1945…Japan formally surrendered to the United States aboard the USS Missouri, ending World War II, six years and one day after it began. ➦In 1963..."The CBS Evening News" became the first TV network to extend the 15-minutes newscast to 30-minutes. Walter Cronkite was anchor. The program has been broadcast since July 1, 1941 as 'CBS Television News'. The competing Huntley-Brinkley Report on NBC expanded to 30 minutes exactly one week later on September 9, 1963.
➦In 1968...Music Directors at radio stations across the country received a new 45 from a new group called Creedence Clearwater Revival. They didn't know much about them other than their first single was called "Suzie Q". They played it, and the rest is history.
➦In 1974...Reunion released "Life is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)". Many custom versions were made for Top40 stations across the country. WCFL 1000 AM in Chicago had one. Here is the version for crosstown rival WLS 890 AM...
➦In 1986...WAPP changed to WQHT 103.5 FM.
The 103.5 signal became easy-listening WTFM in 1958, licensed to Lake Success, N.Y. The transmitter later was moved to the Chrysler Building in New York City, boosting its signal coverage. The easy listening format continued until 1978 when WTFM flipped to an adult contemporary format.
Doubleday Broadcasting purchased the station in 1982, renaming it WAPP-FM, and flipping to an album-oriented rock format.
WAPP flipped to a Top 40 format in the fall of 1984. After failing to dent the ratings of rivals WPLJ or Z-100, WAPP reverted to rock in 1985.
Emmis Broadcasting purchased the station in 1986, flipping to a Dance format as WQHT-FM. The change was a major ratings success.
Emmis purchased NBC’s radio stations in 1988 and moved WQHT to 97.1 FM, where it became known as “Hot 97.” WYNY moved its country format from 97.1 to 103.5. Ratings were mediocre.
Evergreen Media, which later was acquired by the company that became iHeartMedia, ended country music on 103.5 in 1996 and launched a dance-based format, renaming the station WKTU.
Mark Harmon is 70
🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAYS:
Singer Jimmy Clanton is 83.
Singer Sam Gooden of The Impressions is 82.
Singer-turned-minister Joe Simon is 78.
Singer Rosalind Ashford of Martha and the Vandellas is 78.
Sportscaster Terry Bradshaw is 73.
Actor Mark Harmon is 70.
Actor Linda Purl (“Happy Days,” “Matlock”) is 66.
Allison Miller is 36
Drummer Jerry Augustyniak of 10,000 Maniacs is 63.
Drummer Paul Deakin of The Mavericks is 62.
Actor Keanu Reeves is 57.
Actor Salma Hayek is 55.
Actor Tuc Watkins (“One Life to Live”) is 55.
Actor Cynthia Watros (“Lost,” ″Titus”) is 53.
Singer K-Ci of K-Ci and JoJo is 52.
Actor Nicholas Pinnock (“For Life”) is 48.
Comedian Katt Williams (“Norbit”) is 48.
Actor Michael Lombardi (“Rescue Me”) is 47.
Actor Tiffany Hines (“Nikita,” “Bones”) is 44.
Bassist Sam Rivers of Limp Bizkit is 44.
Actor Jonathan Kite (“2 Broke Girls”) is 42.
Actor Joshua Henry (“Hamilton”) is 37.
Actor Allison Miller (“A Million Little Things”) is 36.
The Media Rating Council (MRC) has suspended its accreditation of Nielsen’s National Television service. Furthermore, it has suspended the accreditation for Nielsen’s Local People Meter and Set Meter Markets services, which previously had their accreditations on “hiatus.”
Those suspensions will become effective mid-September, reports The Wrap.
“While we are disappointed that the situation has come to this, we believe these are the proper actions for the MRC to take at this time,” George W. Ivie, executive director and CEO of the MRC, said in a statement on Wednesday.
“MRC’s Board of Directors, which represents an extremely broad range of industry constituencies, and includes advertisers, agencies, and media companies of all types, is strongly unified in its positions on these matters. MRC stands committed in our willingness to work with Nielsen toward the goal of being able to restore accreditation to these important services at the earliest possible time, and it is our hope that Nielsen likewise will continue to engage with MRC and its clients in pursuit of that goal.”
Meanwhile, MediaPost reports the MRC said its board's decision to end the hiatus status for accreditation of Nielsen's local market services -- which began in January after Nielsen confirmed its plans to add broadband-only households to its local panels beginning in October -- was due to "continuing issues" with the local service, "some of which parallel those of the national television service, as well as the board's assessment that of Nielsen's ability to appropriate integrate the broadband-only households into its local market metered panels.
“While we are disappointed that the situation has come to this, we believe these are the proper actions for the MRC to take at this time,” MRC Executive Director and CEO George Ivie said in a statement, adding: “MRC’s board of directors, which represents an extremely broad range of industry constituencies, and includes advertisers, agencies, and media companies of all types, is strongly unified in its positions on these matters. MRC stands committed in our willingness to work with Nielsen toward the goal of being able to restore accreditation to these important services at the earliest possible time, and it is our hope that Nielsen likewise will continue to engage with MRC and its clients in pursuit of that goal.”
