R.I.P.: KLOS-FM Host Uncle Joe Benson, Legendary LA Voice

Uncle Joe Benson (1949-2026)

Legendary Los Angeles rock radio personality Uncle Joe Benson has died at age 76.

Benson, renowned for his deep, resonant voice and encyclopedic knowledge of classic rock, passed away peacefully Tuesday from Parkinson’s disease, Parkinson’s dementia, and complications from a fall, according to a family announcement on his Uncle Joe’s Garage Facebook page.

His nearly six-decade career in radio made him a beloved figure in Southern California, where he became synonymous with heritage rock stations. Benson joined KLOS-FM (95.5) in 1980 and spent more than 30 years there as a key personality, hosting shifts and connecting deeply with listeners through his passion for rock 'n' roll. He also worked at stations including the former Arrow 93.1 (KCBS-FM), KLSX, and 100.3 The Sound (KSWD), where he handled midday and other drives until the station's format change in 2017. 

Uncle Joe Benson

Later, he hosted the syndicated "Ultimate Classic Rock" program for Townsquare Media, reaching audiences nationwide and online.

Beyond broadcasting, Benson served for more than 20 years as the track announcer at California Speedway (now Auto Club Speedway), blending his love for rock with motorsports. He authored the "Uncle Joe’s Record Guides" series and produced the syndicated "Off the Record" interview program and "Uncle Joe’s Garage" podcasts, documenting rock history and artists.

The announcement of his death drew an outpouring of tributes from colleagues, fans, and the radio community.  “A radio legend silenced,” posted longtime KLOS and The Sound colleague Rita Wilde. “Nothing but love and respect. At least you aren’t in pain anymore. Love you forever, JB.”

“What a legend,” wrote former KLOS morning host Frosty Stillwell. “A giant in radio, a life well lived.”

Benson is survived by his wife, Jan, and sons Jay and Jeremy. His family noted that he donated his brain to the Brain Donor Project to advance research into neurological disorders. In lieu of flowers, donations were requested to the Brain Donor Project or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research.

Staffers Panic: CNN Expected To Join The CBS News Portfolio

The potential acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance has advanced significantly, with Netflix withdrawing its competing bid on Thursday, clearing the path for Paramount to potentially take control of CNN alongside its existing CBS News operations. This development has sparked immediate concerns among media watchdogs about concentrated ownership and potential shifts in editorial direction.

If the transaction ultimately closes, Paramount Skydance, led by David Ellison, would add CNN to a portfolio that already includes CBS News, creating a combined entity controlling two major cable news networks. Media advocacy groups have raised alarms over this consolidation, particularly given recent changes at CBS News under Ellison's ownership.

The surprising turnaround paves the way for David Ellison—CEO of Paramount Skydance and a vocal Trump ally—to take the reins of WBD's vast media empire. This encompasses Warner Bros. Pictures, Max (formerly HBO Max), and a wide array of cable channels, with CNN standing out as the most prominent.  The acquisition virtually ensures deep cost-cutting and widespread layoffs throughout the combined company. At CNN in particular, staffers were thrown into a frenzy, suddenly facing the very real possibility of reporting to Bari Weiss—now a key figure at Paramount-owned CBS News—by year's end.

Craig Aaron, co-CEO of the media advocacy organization Free Press, strongly criticized the prospect, stating: “The idea that Paramount should be allowed to control CBS and CNN should be unthinkable.” He added that the new owner had promised President Trump they would “make sweeping changes to CNN given the chance, and we know what that means.” 

A Paramount spokeswoman did not immediately respond to Aaron’s comments.

Since taking over Paramount, Ellison has revamped CBS News by installing Bari Weiss—the provocative founder of the digital news and opinion outlet The Free Press—as editor in chief. Ellison has publicly stated he wants CBS News “to speak to that 70% of the audience that would really define themselves at center-left to center-right.”

In response to the unfolding situation, CNN President Mark Thompson addressed staff in a memo, urging restraint: “Don’t jump to conclusions until we know more.” Thompson emphasized focusing on delivering strong journalism amid the uncertainty.

The deal remains subject to shareholder approval (including a planned Warner Bros. Discovery vote in March) and regulatory review, meaning the outcome—and any potential impact on CNN—is not yet finalized.

Talk Radio Gets A Wake-Up Call

Podcasts have officially surpassed AM/FM talk radio as the leading medium for spoken-word audio in the United States for the first time, according to Edison Research's Share of Ear survey for Q4 2025.

Podcasts now account for 40% of time spent on spoken-word listening among Americans aged 13+, narrowly edging out AM/FM radio at 39%. 

This marks a historic shift: a decade ago in 2015, radio dominated with 75% of spoken-word time, while podcasts held just 10%. Over the years, podcast listening has steadily risen while radio's share has declined.

The data includes video podcasts, which are increasingly prominent on platforms like Spotify and YouTube. Video's rise doesn't appear to undermine audio-only consumption—most listeners engage with both formats.

According to Triton Digital’s 2025 U.S. Podcast Report, 80% of U.S. consumers aged 18+ consume both audio and video podcasts, 13% listen to audio only, and 7% watch video only. 

Genre preferences drive differences: music, sports, comedy, and news often skew toward video, while science, history, art, fiction, and true crime remain predominantly audio.

Edison's research aligns, showing 85% of weekly U.S. podcast listeners aged 13+ consume podcasts with some video component (up 7% from 2023). The U.S. has an estimated 115 million weekly podcast listeners, with only 5% reporting they watch but don't listen.

WaPo Lost Another $100M+ Last Year

The Washington Post lost more than $100 million in 2025, continuing a streak of heavy financial losses that prompted the newspaper to cut about 30% of its staff earlier this month.

The Post had already posted roughly $100 million in losses in 2024 and $77 million in 2023. 

These mounting deficits stem from years of expenses outpacing revenue, particularly after aggressive hiring in prior years.

In their first major staff meeting since the layoffs, acting CEO and Publisher Jeff D’Onofrio and Executive Editor Matt Murray addressed the newsroom on Wednesday. D’Onofrio highlighted that newsroom costs rose 16% from 2020 to 2025, while the number of stories published dropped 42% over the same period. He attributed ongoing overspending to earlier staff expansions but did not specify exact loss figures during the meeting.

Murray, who became executive editor in June 2024 after serving as Wall Street Journal editor in chief, acknowledged the "painfulness of the moment" from the cuts. He reset expectations by stating the Post no longer aims to cover every story or act as a traditional "paper of record," as that model no longer fits today's media landscape. Instead, he emphasized focusing on distinctive, urgent, must-read journalism "with every chance we have."

D’Onofrio, who assumed his interim role earlier this month following the departure of previous publisher and CEO Will Lewis, indicated a broader strategic plan is in development. He urged staff to "bear with me" as it takes time and care, adding, "We’re going to go after it hard, because we owe it to this place to do that."

The Post, long renowned for its investigative work on the Watergate scandal and the Pentagon Papers, has struggled with declining web traffic and shifts in how audiences consume news online, making a sustainable business model elusive.

Why MLB 2026 Is a Prime Play for Radio

As the 2026 Major League Baseball season gets set to kick off earlier than ever on March 25, 2026, new research from Katz Radio Group reveals that baseball fans are more engaged, multi-channel, and advertiser-ready than many marketers realize.

Katz' latest study, conducted among 600 U.S. adults who consume MLB content, digs deeper into how fans interact with baseball media, and why radio should be top of mind for advertisers this season.

One of the most compelling findings from research: 63% of all MLB baseball fans describe themselves as “Big Fans.”

That number increases to 74% among MLB radio listeners, demonstrating that radio over-indexes among baseball’s most passionate fans. That’s a +17% relative uplift in passionate fandom among radio listeners, giving us evidence that radio doesn’t just reach baseball fans… it reaches the most committed ones.

And radio’s advantage isn’t just about intensity, it’s about scale. According to the latest Scarborough USA study, 85% of Adults 18+ who are interested in MLB listen to radio each week. Additionally, 1 in 5 MLB-interested adults listen to MLB play-by-play on the radio, and that figure climbs to more than 1 in 4 among those very interested in MLB.

In other words, radio delivers both the broad reach advertisers need and the deep fan engagement brands value.

MLB fans today interact with the sport through a diverse array of channels, reflecting the rapidly changing landscape of media consumption. Television remains the primary avenue for fan engagement, with 62.8% of fans reporting that they watched televised MLB games out-of-home at restaurants, bars, or other venues during the season. But baseball fans in our study are listening too.

They were actively engaged across platforms: Strong social media interaction with teams and players emerged.

Podcast and audio consumption around baseball was notable across age groups.

Good Morning! Time To Check The Pulse for Friday, Feb 27

Radio Broadcasting

Podcasts Overtake AM/FM Talk Radio in Popularity for Spoken-Word Audio: A major Edison Research Share of Ear survey shows podcasts have surpassed traditional AM/FM talk radio as the preferred medium for spoken-word content in the U.S. This marks a significant inflection point for the industry, highlighting the ongoing shift to on-demand digital audio. Traditional radio continues to face competition from streaming and podcasts, though it retains strengths in local content and live broadcasting.

Radio Station Deal Market Shows Signs of Rebound and Opportunistic Activity Industry reports indicate radio dealmaking started stronger in 2026, with January filings showing 36 stations sold (more than double the prior year, totaling $15.7 million). Analysts expect more opportunistic buying in the coming months, potentially fueled by economic shifts and pending FCC reviews of ownership limits. This could lead to consolidation if regulatory barriers ease.

FCC Advances on Noncommercial FM Translator Filing Window for 2026: The FCC released updates in mid-to-late February 2026 (including a Public Notice on February 26) seeking comments on proposed limits for the upcoming 2026 filing window for new noncommercial educational (NCE) reserved band FM translators. Key proposals include caps on applications per entity (e.g., up to 10 nationally for most, fewer for LPFM/Tribal applicants) and requirements tying translators to existing primary NCE stations. Comments are due in March, signaling preparations for expanded low-power and translator opportunities in noncommercial radio.

Media Industry

Paramount Skydance wins bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery after Netflix drops out: Netflix declined to match Paramount Skydance's superior offer (reportedly around $31 per share, valuing the deal at roughly $108 billion in some estimates, though figures vary). Warner Bros. Discovery's board accepted Paramount's bid as superior, clearing the path for a major merger that combines Paramount's assets with Warner's studios, HBO/Max streaming, and film/TV libraries. This reshapes Hollywood's landscape, potentially creating a stronger competitor to Netflix and Disney in streaming and content production. Netflix cited the higher price as no longer financially attractive, focusing instead on its own growth.

U-S News

Hillary Clinton Testifies in House Epstein Investigation: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appeared for a deposition before a Republican-led House committee probing Jeffrey Epstein's crimes and connections. She denied knowledge of Epstein or his activities, called the hearing "partisan political theater," and expressed confidence that former President Bill Clinton (scheduled to testify next) had no involvement. The probe continues to generate significant attention.

U.S. Military Uses Laser to Down Customs and Border Protection Drone:  Lawmakers reported that the Pentagon employed a laser system to shoot down a CBP drone near El Paso, Texas, prompting the FAA to close additional airspace. Democrats on the House Transportation Committee expressed alarm over the incident and potential risks.

Student Released from ICE Custody After Mamdani-Trump Meeting:  A Columbia student detained by immigration agents was freed following direct intervention by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani in talks with President Trump. The university alleged agents used false pretenses to access the student, highlighting ongoing immigration enforcement controversies.

Netflix Pulls Plug, Psky Wins Bidding For WBD

Paramount Skydance has emerged victorious in the bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery, after Netflix declined to match the rival's latest $31-per-share all-cash offer for the entire company.

Warner Bros. Discovery's board determined that Paramount Skydance's revised bid—valuing the company at approximately $81 billion (or more than $110 billion including debt)—was superior to Netflix's prior agreement to acquire its studios, HBO, and streaming assets for $27.75 per share (about $83 billion including debt). 

Netflix promptly walked away, with co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters stating: “We’ve always been disciplined, and at the price required to match Paramount Skydance’s latest offer, the deal is no longer financially attractive, so we are declining to match. This transaction was always a ‘nice to have’ at the right price, not a ‘must have’ at any price.”

Pending regulatory approval, Paramount Skydance, led by David Ellison,will gain control of Warner Bros. Discovery's vast portfolio, including Warner Bros. studios, HBO, iconic franchises like Superman and Harry Potter, CNN, TNT, TBS, Food Network, and other cable networks. The merger would create a major Hollywood powerhouse combining two legacy studios, streaming platforms (Paramount+ and Max), and news operations, marking a significant shift in an industry adapting to changing viewer habits and technology.

This represents a stunning come-from-behind win for Paramount Skydance. 

Previously rebuffed by Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount launched unsolicited bids last year and later a hostile takeover approach targeting the full company—including assets Netflix did not want, such as linear cable networks. 

After Skydance acquired control of Paramount last August, pursuing Warner became a top priority to better compete against giants like Disney, Netflix, and Amazon.

Netflix's December deal for Warner's studios and streaming business had erased over $170 billion from its market value since speculation began last September, but its shares jumped about 10% in after-hours trading Thursday after exiting the pursuit.

Paramount's winning bid included sweeteners like a $7 billion regulatory termination fee (if the deal fails due to antitrust issues) and coverage of the $2.8 billion breakup fee Warner would owe Netflix. A daily ticking fee of $0.25 per share per quarter will also accrue after September 30, 2026.

Nexstar Reports Net Loss, Tegna Deal 'On Schedule'

Nexstar Media Group Thursday reported a net loss of $170 million, or $5.63 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2025, swinging from a $229 million profit (or $7.56 per share) in the same period of 2024. The loss stemmed primarily from a $381 million impairment charge on its 31.3% stake in TV Food Network, combined with sharply lower political advertising revenue in a non-election year.

Fourth-quarter net revenue fell 13.4% year-over-year to $1.29 billion. Advertising revenue dropped 27.6% to $549 million, as political ad spending plunged to $21 million from $254 million the prior year. 

“In Q4 2025, we completed all outstanding 2025 renewals with our distribution partners and achieved better-than-expected growth in non-political advertising revenues,” Sook said. “Our 2026 plan includes closing our acquisition of Tegna, capitalizing on the political advertising opportunities presented by the mid-term elections, and continuing to optimize our business operations.”

Sook is optimistic that the deal will move forward, and reassured investors Thursday that “our expectation for close is by the end of 2026 — that remains unchanged.” He noted other media players have been allowed to pursue major acquisition and consolidation plans without the threat of government interference.

However, non-political advertising rose 4.5%, aided by digital growth and the absence of political "crowd-out." Distribution revenue edged up 0.8% to $720 million, driven by higher rates and vMVPD subscriber gains.

L-A TV: "Happy Birthday...You're Fired'

Ellina Abovian

KTLA's parent company, Nexstar Media Group, laid off five longtime on-air journalists on Wednesday amid cost-cutting efforts tied to its pursuit of a merger with Tegna. The affected staff include veteran meteorologist Mark Kriski (with KTLA since the 1991 launch of "KTLA Morning News"), meteorologist Kacey Montoya, midday anchors Lu Parker (joined 2005) and Glen Walker (joined 2010), and reporter Ellina Abovian (joined 2015).

On Thursday, Feb. 26, morning anchor Frank Buckley addressed the layoffs directly on air during "KTLA Morning News." He acknowledged the pain felt by the newsroom and viewers, calling KTLA a family that includes its audience. "This is a difficult time for us. And we will go through it together," Buckley said, while noting limited details could be shared. He emphasized the team's commitment to continuing to deliver essential morning news and bring smiles to viewers, concluding in under a minute.

Abovian, who learned of her termination on her 40th birthday, posted an emotional video on Threads about being "blindsided." "It hurts. It cuts deep, because I cared about what I did," she said, thanking colleagues and expressing how much she would miss viewers and field interactions. As a single mom to two children, she described the personal impact but noted such layoffs are widespread across industries in 2026.

Kriski was one of the show's original members; the last remaining from 1991, reporter Eric Spillman, reposted Buckley's statement on X with "For those that have been asking." The cuts reflect broader Nexstar reductions at stations like WGN in Chicago and WPIX in New York, drawing criticism from unions like SAG-AFTRA for undermining local news.

Chicago TV: More Downsizing At Nexstar's WGN-TV

WGN-Ch. 9 in Chicago suffered another round of layoffs this week, with three creative services employees let go on Wednesday, including longtime producer Debbie Brockman—whose viral October detainment by federal immigration agents drew national attention.

Brockman, a 15-year veteran at the station since 2011, was forced to the ground, handcuffed, and placed in an unmarked van by agents while heading to work from her Lincoln Square home. The U.S. citizen was detained for seven hours before release without charges. The incident, captured on video during heightened immigration enforcement operations in Chicago, sparked public outcry and symbolized clashes over urban enforcement tactics. The Chicago Tribune reports Brockman did not respond to comment requests Thursday, and no lawsuit appears to have been filed despite earlier indications of pursuing legal action.

The Wednesday cuts also affected a recently hired art director, while three other creative services staff were reassigned to a new regional hub in Nashville, according to sources familiar with the matter.

These layoffs follow heavy downsizing at WGN, owned by Dallas-based Nexstar Media. 

Debbie Brockman

On Monday, eight veteran on-air journalists and anchors were cut: Sean Lewis, Ray Cortopassi, Bronagh Tumulty, Judy Wang, Julian Crews, Paul Lisnek, Chris Boden, and Dean Richards. Last week, meteorologist Mike Janssen's contract was not renewed. Similar on-air and creative services reductions occurred this week at other Nexstar stations, including KTLA in Los Angeles, as the company consolidates operations.

WGN has seen repeated staff reductions in recent months: six newswriters and three technical director roles eliminated last month, plus four floor director positions cut in October.

Nexstar spokesperson Gary Weitman declined to comment on the WGN layoffs.

The cuts come amid Nexstar's growth strategy. The company acquired WGN in 2019 via its $4.1 billion purchase of Tribune Media. A pending $6.8 billion (or reported $6.2 billion in some updates) acquisition of rival Tegna is on track to close by the end of the second quarter of 2026, pending FCC approval to lift the national TV audience ownership cap. During Thursday's earnings call, CEO Perry Sook described the deal as accelerating media consolidation to help local broadcasters better compete with big tech and media while sustaining local journalism.

The restructuring has already eliminated nearly two dozen jobs at WGN, with Brockman among the latest affected.

Versant Restructures CNBC

CNBC is restructuring its newsroom by unifying its television and digital operations, resulting in nearly a dozen layoffs, including the departure of the website's managing editor, Jeff McCracken.

The changes stem from an overhaul led by Editor-in-Chief David Cho. Sources indicate the restructuring prepares the network for introducing a paywall on its website, aimed at shifting toward a more integrated, future-focused editorial structure.

A CNBC spokesperson emphasized that the adjustments align the newsroom for long-term growth rather than cost-cutting, stating: "The changes made today are to align CNBC’s newsroom structure for the future, they are not driven by cost cutting." The company plans to hire more than 40 new editorial roles over the next year across TV, digital, and direct-to-consumer platforms.

CNBC remains one of the most-watched cable networks, driven by its live coverage of financial markets and global business news.

The layoffs follow the recent spin-off of Versant Media Group, Inc.—CNBC's parent company—from Comcast. Versant began trading on Nasdaq in January 2026 under the ticker VSNT, and its shares have since declined more than 30%.

Versant owns a portfolio of cable networks including USA Network, MS NOW (formerly MSNBC), Oxygen, and others, along with digital properties such as Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes.

SiriusXM Moves to Refinance $1B In Debt

Sirius XM Holdings announced Thursday it is refinancing $1 billion in debt maturing in 2026 by issuing new senior notes due 2032 and launching a concurrent cash tender offer for its existing 3.125% Senior Notes due 2026.

The company’s subsidiary, Sirius XM Radio LLC, intends to offer $1 billion in Senior Notes due 2032 to qualified institutional buyers under private exemptions from securities registration. Proceeds from the offering, combined with existing cash, will fund the repurchase of the 2026 notes through the tender offer and cover any remaining balance via redemption or other settlement if needed.

Savannah Guthrie To Return "At Some Point'

Savannah Guthrie 'TODAY'

Savannah Guthrie plans to return to her role as co-anchor on NBC's "Today" show at some point, according to two sources close to the network cited by CNN.

The timing remains highly uncertain and is entirely up to Guthrie, as she has been consumed by the ongoing search for her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, who was reported missing from her Tucson-area home on February 1, 2026—now in its fourth week with no resolution, no suspects publicly identified, and authorities preparing to return the home to the family after processing.

An NBC source emphasized that "her 'Today' family will welcome her back with open arms on her timeline," which may help quiet speculation among viewers and industry insiders about her future on the program.

Guthrie, 54, is a central figure on the popular and profitable morning show. Her prominence turned her mother's disappearance—believed to be an abduction—into a major national story, amplified by her emotional video pleas for tips and the family's recent announcement of up to a $1 million reward for information leading to Nancy's recovery, plus a $500,000 donation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Hoda Kotb, who left "Today" in January 2025, returned to co-host in Guthrie's absence—initially to help with planned Winter Olympics coverage from Milan but shifting to fill in at Studio 1A in New York after Guthrie traveled to Arizona to aid the search. Kotb described the uncertainty as "agonizing" for Guthrie and her siblings.

Resuming work could offer Guthrie a sense of comforting routine amid what she has called the most unsettling chapter of her life, even as the search for her mother continues without major breakthroughs.

Sactown Radio: KHTK Names Richie Carni As New PD

Bonneville International has promoted Richie Carni, currently Assistant Program Director at KKFN (104.3 The Fan) and KEPN (ESPN 1600) in Denver, to Program Director of KHTK (Sactown Sports 1140) in Sacramento. The move, an internal promotion within the company, takes effect March 30, 2026. 

Carni succeeds Jose Gonzalez in the role.Sacramento SVP/Market Manager Jim Richmond announced the hire, stating: "It's such a thrill to get someone of Richie's talent to join our team at Sactown Sports. 

Richie Carni

Richie has proven his value as a leader, talent coach and new media driver in Denver. I'm confident that he will lead us to new heights in Sacramento.

Carni joined Bonneville Denver in 2017 as a board operator and advanced to Executive Producer for the midday show Stokley and Zach and the afternoon show The Drive. He was promoted to APD in 2022. His sports broadcasting career began in 2015 as an intern and production assistant for Michigan-based broadcaster Jack Ebling on The Drive with Jack.

"I'm excited and honored to join the team in Sacramento," Carni said. "Sactown Sports is such an important part of the sports landscape in Northern California. I look forward to helping the team continue to grow our digital presence and bring amazing content to sports fans in Sacramento."

Radio History: Feb 27

➦In 1891...David Sarnoff born (Died: December 12, 1971 at age 80).  He was a businessman and pioneer of American radio and television. Throughout most of his career he led the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in various capacities from shortly after its founding in 1919 until his retirement in 1970.

David Sarnoff

He ruled over an ever-growing telecommunications and media empire that included both RCA and NBC, and became one of the largest companies in the world. Named a Reserve Brigadier General of the Signal Corps in 1945, Sarnoff thereafter was widely known as "The General."

Sarnoff is credited with Sarnoff's law, which states that the value of a broadcast network is proportional to the number of viewers.

Unlike many who were involved with early radio communications, viewing radio as point-to-point, Sarnoff saw the potential of radio as point-to-mass. One person (the broadcaster) could speak to many (the listeners).

When Owen D. Young of the General Electric Company arranged the purchase of American Marconi and turned it into the Radio Corporation of America, a radio patent monopoly, Sarnoff realized his dream and revived his proposal in a lengthy memo on the company's business and prospects.

His superiors again ignored him but he contributed to the rising postwar radio boom by helping arrange for the broadcast of a heavyweight boxing match between Jack Dempsey and Georges Carpentier in July 1921. Up to 300,000 people heard the fight, and demand for home radio equipment bloomed that winter. By the spring of 1922 Sarnoff's prediction of popular demand for broadcasting had come true, and over the next eighteen months, he gained in stature and influence.

In 1926, RCA purchased its first radio station (WEAF, New York) and launched the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), the first radio network in America. Four years later, Sarnoff became president of RCA. NBC had by that time split into two networks, the Red and the Blue. The Blue Network later became ABC Radio.

Sarnoff was instrumental in building and established the AM broadcasting radio business which became the preeminent public radio standard for the majority of the 20th century. This was until FM broadcasting radio re-emerged in the 1960s despite Sarnoff's efforts to suppress it.

➦In 1927..The first National Radio Conference kicked off in Washington, D.C., led by then-Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover. This wasn’t a single-day affair—it ran through March 2—but its start on February 27 marked a turning point. Radio was exploding in popularity, with stations popping up everywhere, and the airwaves were turning into a chaotic mess. Hoover brought together industry folks, engineers, and government officials to figure out how to tame the beast. They talked frequencies, licensing, and interference—dry stuff, maybe, but it laid the groundwork for organized broadcasting in the U.S. Think of it as the moment radio started growing up from a wild experiment into something structured. By the end of the decade, this conference helped pave the way for the Radio Act of 1927, which birthed the Federal Radio Commission to keep things in line.

➦In 1940...Actor Howard Hesseman born. He is best known for his role as anti-disco disc jockey John "Dr. Johnny Fever" Caravella on the television sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati from 1978 to 1982, a role Hesseman prepared for by working as a DJ in San Francisco at KMPX-FM for several months.

He was nominated for a Prime-Time Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1980 and 1981 for his portrayal of Fever. He reprised the role in nine episodes of The New WKRP in Cincinnati, and also directed several episodes of the 1991-93 series revival.

Hesseman died on January 29, 2022.

➦In 1965...Personality Murray the K aired his last show at 1010 WINS-AM.