SATURDAY AIRCHECK: The History of KAKC Tulsa

For nearly two decades, KAKC AM 970 was Tulsa's top-rated radio station. From the mid 50s to the mid 70s, KAKC ruled the teen and young adult audience, dominating the local radio scene like no other station has before or since.

It was a time of cruising Tulsa's restless ribbon and Pennington's Restaurant; dance crazes and hula hoops; Seeing the USA in your Chevrolet; the 60's counterculture and Vietnam war protests. Through it all, Rock and Roll was our music and KAKC was the soundtrack of our youth! What made KAKC such a phenomenon?

What led to its ultimate demise? How is it viewed now by the people who worked there? Public Radio Tulsa's Steve Clem tells the story with the voices of the DJs and voices from the past.

Hear interviews with your favorite KAKC deejays - Dick Schmitz, Scooter Segraves, Lee Bayley, Robert W. Walker, Harry Wilson, Beau Weaver, Mike McCarthy and more!

Listen to the documentary, as broadcast on Public Radio 89.5-1, Click Here.

Hat Tip To Art Morris!

Study: Traffic Reports Popular With Listeners

To find out if listeners change the dial when traffic reports on, Research Director, Inc. joined with Canadian Traffic Network for the last four years to show that it’s really just the opposite.

In Canada, where PPM-based estimates are available down to the minute, results indicate that traffic reports actually garner higher listening levels compared to when traffic is not being broadcast.

Radio listening is measured using PPM technology in five Canadian markets: Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. Research Director  studied 46 stations across these five markets that broadcast traffic reports provided by Canadian Traffic Network. They calculated the Average Minute Audience (AMA) for both “traffic time” and “non-traffic time.” Traffic time was defined as the minute before, minute of, and minute after the traffic report.

The study shows an increase in listening of 20% during traffic time with Adults 18+. Similar increases were found with Adults 18-49 (+19%) and Adults 25-54 (+22%).

Billboard: Country Radio Cool Again For Young Demos

Jason Aldean

Attracted by an edgier, more energetic sound, listeners aged 18-34 are flocking to country stations in droves.

A story at billboard.com states, Country is now second only to top 40 in the 18-24 demo, up from fifth place two years earlier, according to new Arbitron ratings data from the top 48 markets.

Country’s share of 18-24 listeners grew a whopping 41% from fall 2010 to spring 2012, while 25-34 ratings experienced a 27% increase. In an encouraging sign for the format’s long-term growth prospects, 18-34 year-olds now make up nearly one third of the country radio audience.

Hunnicutt

A wave of rock-flavored songs with a dash of country’s rebellious roots are attracting a new generation of young listeners without sacrificing the format’s core older audience, programmers say.

“There is a very distinct changing of the guard in terms of the style, texture and themes of what country is right now,” says Clear Channel executive VP of programming Clay Hunnicutt, who also serves as brand manager for the company’s country stations.

Brenner

Albright, O’Malley & Brenner partner Becky Brenner says the consulting firm’s research shows “high passion” among the Millennial Generation for new country artists, such as Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and Eric Church, among others. “They’ve brought an energy and vitality to the format, with lyrics that speak to that younger listener,” she says.

The rock structure prevalent in much of today’s country music is helping turn more rock radio listeners on to the genre.

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NOLA Radio: WWL’s Scott Paisant Robbed, Beaten

New Orleans police are searching for four men who robbed a New Orlean radio host as he was on his way to work in the Central Business District on Wednesday morning. Scott Paisant, host of WWL Radio's 'The Scoot Show' said he was on his way to work around 3:50 a.m. when he was assaulted and robbed by the men.

NOLA.com reports Paisant told police that he was walking in the 600 block of Gravier Street when he was approached by four men who had been walking on the other side of the street.

Paisant told police that one of the men blocked his path and began feeling his pockets. Paisant tried walking away but the man pushed him to the ground, causing him to fall into the street.

"I tried getting away and it was at that point that they started hitting me," Paisant said.

Paisant said that while he was being attacked by the man, the other three stood around and laughed, adding that he was struck around four or five times by his assailant.

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Fresno Radio: KMJ Trending Down, But…

The GM/VP  at KMJ AM-580, 105.8 FM says they aren't worried about the first trend numbers from Arbitron, that showed a drop in the average share of listeners for the station following the loss of nationally syndicated talk shows hosted by Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and others at the end of December.

Patty Hixson, general manager and senior vice president for KMJ, and station program director Skip Essick said Thursday they look at more than the numbers for a single month.

The Arbitron numbers for January show KMJ went from being ranked second in the Fresno market's December trends to seventh place in January with a 5.0 rating.

"These numbers are a one-month extrapolation and not a trend. An extrapolation is a one-month snapshot," Hixson told the Fresno Bee.

January was the first month since Premiere Radio Networks, owners of Clear Channel Radio, took the nationally syndicated shows from KMJ and put them on KALZ 96.7 FM 96.7 to create a new local talk radio lineup on one of its own stations in this market.

Hixson and Essick stressed that the one-month numbers can be incorrect and a more proper measurement of KMJ and other local radio stations will come when the full ratings period of Jan. 3 through March 27 is released in May.

Neither Hixson nor Essick denied the shift of the nationally syndicated programs to a local competitor was a big loss. KALZ is benefiting from the following Limbaugh built while on KMJ as the report shows KALZ's January number, a 6.2 share, is its highest for at least the last six months.

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Report: Apple’s iNet Radio Service Delayed

Apple’s efforts to create an Internet radio service to compete with Pandora has been delayed by licensing negotiations with music companies, according to a number of people briefed on the talks.

Ben Sisario at nytimes.com writes Apple had hoped to introduce the service early this year, but now it is not likely to reach the market until the summer, if not later, according to these people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks were confidential.

Apple has never announced the service — quickly nicknamed iRadio by analysts and technology journalists — but its intentions have slowly been leaking out since last fall. According to music executives then and now, Apple wants to preload an app on its mobile devices that can deliver a free stream of songs tailored to each user’s taste and supported through its iAds advertising platform.

Such an app would have a vast potential audience. It would also pose a threat to Pandora, which dominates the Internet radio field with more than 65 million regular users and, according to Apple’s charts, is its second-most popular free app of all time. (No. 1 is Facebook.)

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Pandora Radio CEO Steps Down

Joe Kennedy

Pandora CEO Joseph Kennedy announced he will step down as soon as the company can find someone to fill his shoes, according to a report by Forbes.

The company announced late last year it had generated about $120 million in 2012, with profits of just over $2 million. Though 60 % higher than the year prior, the figure fell short of what analysts had predicted.

The company pays high costs for licensing the music it streams. In fact 61 % of revenues are dedicated to licensing.

Riding such a slim margin will likely raise the anxiety level in whomever takes over Kennedy’s post. Pandora, once a pioneer in the online radio category, has had to deal with new players in a game it helped go global.

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St. Louis Radio: KFNS, KXFN To Drop Sports

Grand Slam Sports, which owns the two AM stations broadcasting in the format – KFNS  590-AM and KXFN 1380 AM – plans to switch their formats.

According to Media Writer Dan Caesar at stltoday.com, new Grand Slam president Dan Marshall said KFNS is to become known as “The Man” and KXFN is being rebranded as “The Woman.” The target date for the switches is May 1, although it might take longer because of existing contracts.

Marshall said the only host he is sure will remain from the two outlets is Frank Cusumano, who is on 590 from 10 a.m.-noon. “Everything else will be determined, but there will be multiple holdovers,” he said. “Some other people will be back,” though possibly in different or less-prominent roles.

The most high-profile move could be the removal of the KFNS morning drive-time show featuring Tim McKernan, Jim Hayes and Doug Vaughn. That program certainly has many elements of “man talk,” but also has a significant amount of sports.

“The morning and afternoon shows will be entertaining guy talk,” said Marshall, adding that listeners can “tune into Howard Stern on Monday morning (on Sirius XM satellite radio) to get our first big announcement. The person who is coming (to morning drive) will announce it there.”

That is expected to be Bubba The Love Sponge (whose given name is Todd Alan Clem), a Stern protégé could bump McKernan and company. McKernan’s show is the property of insideSTL Enterprises LLC, not Grand Slam.

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Biebs ‘Woozy’ During Concert

Justin Bieber was checked at a London hospital Thursday night after feeling ill during a concert at the O2 Arena, his representative said.

According to CNN, Bieber felt woozy toward the end of the concert and paused the show to receive "oxygen and treatment backstage," according to the rep.

During the show, the pop star's manager Scooter Braun told the crowd that Bieber was "backstage with the EMTs and the doctor" after getting "very light of breath," in a statement posted on YouTube.

To the cheers of fans, Braun went on to say, "He has just told me ... he's going to come out and finish the show."

After the concert, he was taken to a hospital as a precautionary measure.

"(Bieber was) just very tired from a long week," said the representative, who wasn't sure whether the singer still was in the hospital early Friday.

getting better. thanks for everyone pulling me thru tonight. best fans in the world. figuring out what happened. thanks for the love
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) March 8, 2013

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Joy Behar Leaving ABC’s ‘The View’

Joy Behar

After 16 and a half years on The View, Joy Behar is departing ABC’s long-running daytime talk show.

Deadline.com reports Behar’s contract is up in August and she has informed the network that she will not renew it as she is looking to move on to other things, including hosting a new interview show.

Behar is the last original cast member of The View besides co-creator/executive producer Barbara Walters who is still on the panel.

The two started off alternating as the fourth co-host before Behar was named a full-time co-host. In a phone interview, Behar said she felt 16.5 years on The View were enough. “It seemed like the right time,” she said. “You reach a point when you say to yourself, ‘Do I want to keep doing this?’ There are other things on my plate I want to do — I’ve been writing a play, I’ve been neglecting my standup.” And following stints hosting her own shows on HLN and now Current TV, which will end with the network’s takeover by Al Jazeera, Behar is ready to do it again.

“I do like talk shows, I’m interested in talking to people,” she said. “I want to do an intelligent talk show where you have room to breath.” Will that show be on CNN following reports of Behar meeting with new CNN topper Jeff Zucker? Behar would not elaborate beyond saying that she indeed had “a positive meeting” with Zucker and that “CNN would be great place” for her next show.

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Valerie Harper to Discuss Terminal Cancer Diagnosis

Valerie Harper

Rhoda actress Valerie Harper, who just revealed earlier this week that she has terminal brain cancer and may have just three months to live, will discuss her diagnosis on the syndicated medical TV show, The Doctors, with the episode set to air on Monday (March 11th).

The 73-year-old Harper appears on the show with her husband as well as her Mary Tyler Moore Show co-stars Cloris Leachman and Ed Asner.

She reveals that her husband initially hid the diagnosis from her because the projected time she has left is so short, saying, "I didn't get it because my husband hid it. Poor baby; he was so bereft."

Harper's medical team will also appear to discuss her treatment and the rare form of cancer she has, which causes cancer cells to spread into the membrane around the brain. When she revealed her diagnosis to People magazine, Harper said she's trying to have a positive outlook, saying, "I don't think of dying. I think of being here now."

Facebook Announces Newsfeed Changes

Facebook announced Thursday that it's giving its News Feed a new look and feel.

The changes were announced during a press event, in which Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook co-founder and CEO, said the new news feed features three major components: bigger images, multiple feeds and mobile consistency.

He said photos will now take up nearly 50-percent of news feed stories and are now front and center, the feeds will have more control options, and the feed will be consistent from your computer screen to your mobile phone screen.

Gore Sued Over Sale Of CurrentTV To Al-Jazeera

Fox News graphic

Al Gore has been sued by TV consultant John Terenzio, who claims that the former vice president and others at Current TV stole his idea to sell the network to Al-Jazeera, and he's now demanding more than $5 million.

It was announced in early January that Al-Jazeera would buy Current TV for $500 million. Terenzio alleges he first brought the idea of Al-Jazeera buying the struggling network to board member Richard Blum in July, and expected to be paid if his plan was used.

The lawsuit claims Blum was open to the idea, but worried that Gore would find a deal with the oil-rich government of Qatar, quote, "politically unappealing."

Terenzio said he believes that Gore, who co-founded the left-leaning news and talk network in 2005 with Joel Hyatt, did turn down the deal in July and was adamant in rejecting it.

Sears Pulls OnLine Ads Over SNL Skit

The controversial nature of Saturday Night Live's "Djesus Uncrossed" sketch has caused Sears to pull its online advertising on the NBC and Hulu websites.

The skit originally aired during the Christoph Waltz episode of the show on February 16th and immediately caught the attention of the fundamentalist Christian group, American Family Association, and other religious blogs.

Sears released a statement to The Hollywood Reporter saying, "We received customer feedback about our ads running on NBC.com and Hulu.com in a rotation with other advertisers around the online rebroadcast of that particular SNL episode. We informed customers that it wasn't supposed to happen, and while going forward we may advertise on the broadcast, we've taken steps to ensure that our commercials do not air online exactly as they did in this situation."

The American Family Association issued a press release saying that both Sears and JCPenney had pulled their ads entirely from the show but an insider denied the claim to E! News.

"Djesus Uncrossed" is a parody of Django Unchained featuring a resurrected Jesus Christ on a quest for revenge.

Steel City Radio: Personalities Seek Killers

Fourteen months after their son died, WEDO 810 AM Mckeesport, PA  personalities Mike and Candy Long are continuing their pursuit of those responsible for his death — and offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

“People are starting to talk,” Candy Long told triblive.com this week. “It is getting out there.”

Ronald G. “Ronnie” Long, 36, died on Jan. 2, 2012, a day after he was found near the couple's home.

A letter was received this week from “a friend”.

The letter writer said two men beat Ronnie Long at the bar, then one assailant and his son dropped the victim off along a in Port Vue.

Mike and Candy Long said they have heard other stories since then, but declined to talk about them.

In October, friends of the Longs, including others who spin Pittsburgh oldies as they do weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at WEDO-810 AM, gathered for a benefit dance at McKeesport's Palisades, where much of the money was raised for the couple's reward.

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CBS Radio Launches AMPLIFY Program

Utilizing its massive reach across the country and deep array of traditional and new media platforms, CBS Radio is taking a commanding step forward in the way they present and promote artists on-air, online, and through live experiences with listeners.

Under the AMPLIFY program, CBS Radio has created a series of exclusive national content initiatives that will grow the popularity of proven artists, as well as those on the rise across its Pop, Country, Rock, Adult Contemporary and Urban stations.

RCA Records recording artist Justin Timberlake and Warner Music-Nashville’s Blake Shelton will be the first to participate in AMPLIFY as Timberlake prepares to debut his third solo album, The 20/20 Experience on Tuesday, March 19, and Shelton’s Based on a True Story drops on Tuesday, March 26.  Additionally, Swedish DJ Avicii will get the star treatment from CBS Radio stations as they present the audience with this relatively new, but already accomplished, musician from Monday, April 1-Friday, April 5.

Dan Mason

“Consumers have historically turned to radio to discover new music – a fact that remains true today,” said Dan Mason, President and CEO, CBS Radio.  “And with AMPLIFY, our stations are creating additional opportunities to showcase the incredible talents of the artists whose songs are destined to be among our favorites of all time, and providing fans with a deeper appreciation of what they hear on the radio.”

Added Greg Strassell, Senior Vice President, Programming, CBS Radio, “Our programmers take their role in helping create the next breakthrough artist seriously.  We are pleased to put forward a platform that will cultivate new music fans and drive more interest in the industry.”

CBS RADIO owns and operates more than 125 stations in 27 major markets, including all of the Top 10.  In addition to its over-the-air broadcast properties, CBS RADIO offers consumers a variety of local and national digital assets including Radio.com, music and news mobile apps, and websites.

Houston Radio: CBS Taps Ryan McCredden As KILT, KIKK PD

CBS Radio’s new program director for KILT (610 AM) and KIKK (650 AM) said Wednesday he arrives with the same philosophy and same radio playbook as his predecessor.

David Barron at the Houston Chronicle reports Ryan McCredden, who most recently was program director for KQTH-FM and KFFN-AM in Tucson, Ariz., will assume the position vacated by Gavin Spittle, who left CBS Radio’s Houston cluster to become program director for the company’s talk stations in Dallas.

McCredden, a native of Wisconsin, worked for four years with CBS Radio in Dallas, including three years as Spittle’s assistant program director before moving to Tucson in 2010. He also was executive producer of the Texas Rangers Radio Network.

“My goal is to grow the station in ratings and revenue, and I think that can be accomplished,” he said. “I’ve been listening a lot (to KILT) since hearing of the opportunity, and it sounds like great radio to me. It keeps me listening. I’m thrilled to be working with such talented hosts.”

McCredden has worked for stations in Eau Claire, Wisc., and Madison, Wisc., in addition to his duties at CBS Radio’s KRLD-AM-FM in Dallas and the Journal Broadcast Group stations in Tucson.

McCredden inherits a station that languished in the ratings prior to 2009 despite its association with the Texans but has moved into the top 10 among men 25-54 both in and out of Texans season as the team has improved.

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CCM+E to Launch Big Brothers, Sisters Campaign

As part of a new national partnership, Clear Channel Communities(TM), the community engagement brand of Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, is launching a campaign to help Big Brothers Big Sisters change the lives of kids facing adversity across America. The public service campaign is an extension of Start Something, an initiative the nationwide mentoring organization unveiled two years ago with the Ad Council.

The campaign launches March 11 - 24 with public service announcements (PSAs) on all 850 Clear Channel Media and Entertainment radio stations in 150 markets -- an estimated value of $3.0 to $3.5 million.

Created pro bono by Clear Channel's Creative Services Group, the ads feature testimonials from current and alumni Big Brothers Big Sisters mentors and mentees.

The "Bigs" and "Littles" share special moments that illustrate how the mentoring program changes lives for the better. The ads invite listeners, including Big Brothers Big Sisters alumni, to go to BigBrothersBigSisters.org to Start Something by volunteering, donating or sharing their own "Big" mentoring stories.

Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully matches children of single, low-income or incarcerated parents or sons and daughters of military personnel in long-term, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships. Independent studies find Littles are more likely than children from similar backgrounds who do not have mentors to show improvement in school, their behavior and their self-esteem and aspirations.

Report: Apple Wants Deal From Record Labels

Apple has opened talks with record labels about getting rights for a music-streaming service — but has gotten plenty of push back because its offer is seen as way too cheap, The NYPost has learned.

The tech titan, the most valuable company in the world, made an initial offer to the label of about 6 cents per 100 songs streamed, ClaireAtkinson quotes sources as saying.

That’s about half of the 12 cents per 100 songs paid by Pandora, the leading online radio service that Apple is taking aim at, sources said.

While the labels would admit Apple’s music service could tap a whole new revenue stream for them, they are loath to say yes to the offer as the industry is fighting on Capitol Hill to prevent Pandora from lowering its current rate, sources added.

Music label insiders suggest Apple — which is sitting on a cash hoard of roughly $137 billion — ought to pay at least the rate set by the Copyright Royalty Board, or about 21 cents per 100 songs streamed.

By comparison, terrestrial radio-backed online services — such as iHeart — pay about 22 cents per 100 songs streamed.

Subscription service Spotify pays the highest rate for its service, 35 cents per 100 songs streamed, sources said.

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Abacast Readies Q2 Release Of Live Radio Song-Skipping

Abacast, a leading provider of digital radio streaming and monetization software and services, announces song skipping in live radio streams, bringing to market a feature that radio audiences have desired since the dawn of radio.

Abacast’s patent pending song-skipping technology, code-named “Hammer”, enables listeners to skip songs that they don’t want to hear when listening to live radio stations online.

“If someone wants to skip a song when listening to live radio, up until now they would simply switch to a different station,” said Jim Kott, Senior VP of Products and Marketing. “Abacast’s live stream song skipping technology lengthens listening times and should grow audiences on stations that utilize it.

Abacast plans to release detailed metrics regarding average listening time and audience growth shortly after the skip feature is released in Q2 2013.”

Live stream song skipping works on top of Abacast’s patent pending Cloud Insertion and Personalized Live Radio technologies.  When a listener chooses to skip a song that is currently being played, another song from the station’s playlist will be played immediately and in its entirety for that listener.  Hammer’s individualized buffering and insertion functionality ensures that the rest of the stream, including songs, DJ’s, and commercials, is played seamlessly and in its entirety as well.

Unique advertising opportunities will be available due to the listener being engaged with the player when choosing to skip songs.

CC-Austin Launches SXSW Radio Station

Clear Channel Media and Entertainment has announced the launch of 103.1 iHeartAustin Radio, a "pop-up" radio station that will cover the latest music and news straight from SXSW 2013.

iHeartAustin Radio will broadcast now through March 17, 2013 on K276EL 103.1 FM in Austin and will also be available nationally on iHeartRadio, Clear Channel's all-in-one free digital radio service.

LISTEN-LINE: Click Here.

Every year thousands of brands, bands, artists and other industry elite gather in Austin to get a glimpse of the latest trends in music, technology and other creative arts at SXSW.

K276EL 60dBU Coverage Area

This year, 103.1 iHeartAustin Radio will bring listeners intimate performances, exclusive interviews and regular news coverage straight from its mobile studios at Empire on 7th and Red River.

LA Radio: KBIG Adds Liz Hernandez To Mornings

Hot AC KBIG 104.3 MyFM in LA has added E! News personality Liz Hernandez for the Valentine In The Morning show.

She starts March 11^th and reports she”s is thtilled to reconnect with Los Angeles.

She will continue to work with E! News.

"LIZ is in touch with the celebrity-driven world and has her finger on the pulse of what’s happening in Hollywood," said Valentine. "Liz will be an amazing addition to our morning show team and we’re all looking forward to her unique perspective.

"This must have been the longest search for a co-host ever," said PD Andrew Jeffries. "She is a natural entertainer and knows how to create meaningful connections with both listeners and celebrity guests."

Radio Rides Shotgun On The Daily Commute

Commuters in the suburban radio markets surrounding New York and Washington, DC, spend the most time getting to their jobs each workday, according to a newly released Arbitron analysis of commuting data from the 2007–2011 U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, using Fall 2012 Arbitron Metro definitions.

Commuters in Sussex, NJ, suffer the most compared to their workday compatriots in the rest of the Arbitron radio Metros. Sussex commuters spend an average of slightly more than 37 minutes getting to work; Fredericksburg, VA, is number two, also at slightly more than 37 minutes.

Arbitron compiled average commuting times for employed residents of its 275 radio Metros using the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey from 2007-2011, providing radio stations with average commuting data for their specific radio market.

Since 84 percent of all drivers or passengers report use of AM/FM radio in-car, Arbitron also analyzed which formats were top in morning drive and how much time is spent listening to the radio during morning drive (Monday-Friday 6AM-10AM) in an average week.

 While the New York and Washington, DC, Metro are among the top five Metros for commute time, their morning drive Time Spent Listening is not on par with the other three leading commute time markets.

One possible reason— these two markets are also the leading markets for public transportation. In New York, 31.6 percent take public transportation to work; in Washington, DC—14.7 percent.

Without a dashboard radio to accompany their commute, many bus and subway commuters aren’t available to contribute to the morning drive Time Spent Listening.

SEE COMPLETE MARKET LIST, Click Here.

Bottom 5 Markets by Commute Time: Average Travel Time to Work

Away from Eastern seaboard highways and West Coast freeways, commuters in middle America have an easier time of their journey to work. Grand Forks, ND-MN, with an average commute time of just over 14 minutes, has the lowest commute time to work of all 275 metro markets.

Fresno Radio: KMJ Puts Inga Barks On Leave

Inga Barks

Inga Barks, a radio commentator on KMJ AM 580 in Fresno, has been place on administrative leave following an arrest in Bakersfield last week, reports KSFN ABC30.

According to a press release by Peak Broadcasting, who runs KMJ radio, Barks has been place on administrative leave pending the outcome of a Bakersfield Police criminal investigation and an internal inquiry by the company.

"We have been made aware of an incident involving talk show host, Inga Barks, who was arrested last week by the Bakersfield Police Department on misdemeanor charges. As a result, Inga has been placed on paid leave pending the outcome of a BPD criminal investigation and our own internal inquiry as to the facts in this case. Since this is a personnel matter, there will be no further statements until both are completed."

The Bakersfield Californian reported on Monday that Barks was arrested on charges of drunk and disorderly conduct at The Marketplace shopping center in Bakersfield. Michaela Beard with the Bakersfield Police Department said when officers arrived, Barks was displaying signs of intoxication and was uncooperative.

Barks told the Bakersfield Californian she had an adverse reaction to medications and was not driving at the time.

Steal This Idea From NYC's Now 92.3 FM

Put your show's daily diss on video and post it to your website!  Here's sn example from Lulu and Lala at Now 92.3:

Report: NBC Eyeing Howard Stern For ‘Late Night’

Hot on the heels of the recent report that NBC is looking to retire Jay Leno when his Tonight Show contract ends next year and replace him with current Late Night host Jimmy Fallon, comes a new story that the network is eyeing longtime radio "shock jock" and current America's Got Talent judge Howard Stern to take over for Fallon on the later show when that happens.

The New York Post's Linda Stasi reported Wednesday (March 6th) that Stern is being, quote, "groomed" by NBC for the job, citing sources close to him, although Stasi said someone she described as a "high-placed source" at NBC denied the rumor.

Some factors argue against it, most prominently Stern's raunchy reputation, although the time he's put in on America's Got Talent showing he can perform clean could help mitigate that. Then there's the age concern: if NBC is looking to move on from Leno because he's too old, why would they hire Stern, who at 59 is just three years younger than him, to host Late Night, which traditionally has a younger host and skews towards a younger audience?

R.I.P.: Guitarist Alvin Lee Dead At 68

Ten Years After guitarist Alvin Lee died on Wednesday (March 6th) at the age of 68.

A message from his family announcing his death was posted on his website (AlvinLee.com), stating:

"With great sadness we have to announce that Alvin unexpectedly passed away early this morning after unforeseen complications following a routine surgical procedure. We have lost a wonderful much loved father and companion. The world has lost a truly great and gifted musician."

For most of the rock generation, Lee -- and his sticker filled cherry red Gibson 335 -- will always be remembered for Ten Years After's show-stopping performance of "I'm Goin' Home" from the 1969 Woodstock movie and soundtrack, along with the band's sole Top 40 hit and FM rock staple, 1971's "I'd Love To Change The World" which peaked at Number 40. Ten Years After formed in 1966 and took its name to commemorate the year in which Elvis Presley broke worldwide -- 1956.

R.I.P.: Al Warnell, So.FLA Broadcaster Dead At 62

Warnell  family photo

Xavier Alonso "Al" Warnell, a South Florida radio broadcaster for more than three decades, died in hospice care in South Bend, Ind., on Tuesday after a long battle with multiple myeloma, reports The Sun-Sentinel.

He was 62.

Warnell was born in South Bend on Nov. 5, 1950. After graduating from Indiana University, he was recruited by news station WINZ in Miami, where in 1976 he began his 30-year career as a reporter. His career continued on WIOD when the competing radio stations became part of the same ownership group in 1996.

Mr. Warnell's folksy reporting style made it easy for people to understand the intricacies of an event or issue, said former WINZ editor Herb Sierra.   His work earned several Associated Press broadcasting awards, and he was a frequent guest on the Nancy Grace cable TV program, lending insight to Florida issues with a national interest.

After leaving WINZ/WIOD in 2006, he became spokesman for the Miami-Dade Public Defender's Office. In 2009, he moved back to South Bend to care for his parents and began working at CBS television affiliate WSBT, where he was employed until his death.

He was diagnosed with cancer in 2003.  Warnell went into remission for nearly eight years, and while undergoing chemotherapy, managed to work full time and attend graduate classes at the University of Miami, earning a master's degree in 2005.

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Report: Michael Smerconish Jumps to SiriusXM

WPHT 1210 talker Michael Smerconish reportedly is jumping from traditional talk radio to satellite, saying the media form he has loved essentially left him.

The AP reports the Philadelphia-based radio talk show host is syndicated in more than 80 markets nationally. Smerconish said Wednesday he will move his three-hour program to SiriusXM on April 15, airing weekdays at 9 a.m. ET with a repeat at 6 p.m. ET.

Talk radio is a place where incivility is the norm according to the AP story by David Bauer, and program directors haven't responded to Smerconish’s warning that their audiences are getting "too white, too male, too angry and too old" to promote future growth.

SiriusXM currently has 24 million subscribers. Smerconish's show will appear on the service's P.O.T.U.S. political channel.   No comment from WPHT management.

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YouTube Expected To Start Music Streaming Service

CNN Photo

YouTube, the world's largest digital repository of streaming media, will launch a subscription music service later this year.

The service has its own negotiating team and operating unit but will likely have some overlap with new features also rumored to be coming to Google's Android music platform, Google Play.

The two new services are defined by their respective places in the Google empire: Google Play for Android is a digital locker for music -- users buy, store, and sort a collection of tracks; but on YouTube's coming service, anyone can listen to tracks for free. Both services are said to be adding a subscription fee that will unlock additional features. For the YouTube-based service, this will likely mean ad-free access.

Fortune was briefed on the service by sources in the record industry and at Google who declined to be named. Through a spokesperson, YouTube issued the following statement: "While we don't comment on rumor or speculation, there are some content creators that think they would benefit from a subscription revenue stream in addition to ads, so we're looking at that."

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Toledo Radio: Andrew Z Sues Cumulus

Andrew Z (Blade photo)

Former WWWM Star 105 radio morning host Andrew Zepeda is suing his former employer for breach of contract. (See last week's posting, Click Here)

According to The Toledo Blade, Zepeda, 43,  filed a complaint Tuesday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court against Cumulus Broadcasting LLC of Toledo claiming he was wrongfully terminated and that Cumulus has wrongfully ordered him to stop streaming live and recorded content on the Internet.

He contends that Internet radio is not the same as a commercial radio station and therefore does not violate the “non-compete” clause in his contract that was in effect while he was employed by Cumulus and for six months after.

Zepeda was fired Dec. 26 – five days after he was sentenced in Wood County Common Pleas Court to 30 days in jail and placed on probation for five years for theft, complicity to breaking and entering, and failure to remit sales tax. The charges stemmed from a pizzeria he had operated at Levis Commons.

Zepeda is seeking a court order declaring the non-compete language in his contract does not prohibit him from broadcasting on the web. He also is seeking in excess of $250,000 for compensation he claims is owed to him from the remainder of the three-year employment agreement he signed with Cumulus on May 1, 2012.

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Opinion: ‘John Lisle Show’ Needs More Lisle

Express-News TV/radio columnist Jeanne Jakle was right when she noted (see Original Posting, Click Here)  in this “Jakle’s Jacuzzi” blog post that longtime San Antonio radio personality John Lisle was “in top irreverent form” Monday on the debut of “The John Lisle Show” on classic-rock KZEP K-Zep 104.5 FM.

But later in the post, she wrote that “Lisle delivered a few hours of entertaining radio during his Monday comeback.” That’s technically correct — if you’re only counting the running time of the show, which runs from 6-10 a.m.

But as for the time Lisle was actually on the air, well, that’s another matter entirely. It should be “hour,” singular.

So Robert Johnson at mysantonio.com kept a running tab this morning of Day 2. By his unofficial count, Lisle was on the air approximately 55 minutes of the four-hour show. It broke down to roughly three five-minute breaks per hour in the first three hours, and two in the final hour.

Lisle alluded to that this morning in the show’s final hour. After a really long music break, he came back on and said, tongue planted firmly in cheek, “Some of you may have been worried that I might turn this into a talk show. As you can tell, that’s not the case. This is a music intensive show. I just played more music in a row than I have in 25 years.”

Lisle hinted this morning that the show was a work in progress, and that his part might expand.

Lisle’s banter is  worth the wait (well, almost) of sitting through songs you’ve heard a zillion times. He has yet to mention KISS by name. He mentioned the oddity of working for his former rival (“like going from the Yankees to the Red Sox”) and sitting in the chair once occupied by his “nemesis” (that would be Kris Winston, KZEP’s ’90s’ morning show host).

He riffed on various current-events topics, including Pop Tarts and political correctness, the Pope (nicknaming him “Eggs”) and Larry King’s stealth flatulence. He toyed with reviving the old “Lisle & Hahn” intro music (“Hocus Pocus” by Focus) before deciding to move on.

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St. Louis Radio: Cornbread Wins ACM Award

BBC Radio: Actress Mila Kunis Helps Interviewer

Mila Kunis

Mila Kunis was doing a press tour to promote her new film Oz: The Great and Powerful when an interview with BBC Radio 1 took a bizarre but hilarious turn.

Interviewer Chris Stark was so nervous that he forgot to ask about the movie and kept talking about himself while trying to convince the 29-year-old actress to join him for an afternoon with his friends.

A publicist standing by attempted to bring the conversation back to promoting the movie but Mila was having too much fun hearing about Stark's ideal day so she rushed through the obligatory movie plug in under a minute.

Kunis quickly gives him the answers to questions she knows he's going to ask. She rattles on for a full minute about her role in the movie and what it was like to work with her co-stars, after which time Stark derails the conversation once again by inviting her to go with him to his friend's wedding.

Boston Radio: Amp's TJ Visits 'The Couch'

From WCBS-TV NYC. TJ Taormina talks about the transition fro Z100 NYC to new morning host at WODS Amp Radio 103 in Boston.  TJ's new morning show debuts there April 1st.

NY Times: What Makes This Radio D.J. Roll?

Carol Miller, who is 62, began her New York radio career as a disc jockey at WNEW-FM in 1973.

These days she can be heard weeknights on Q104.3 FM and on Sirius/XM’s Classic Rewind channel. Get the Led Out, her widely syndicated show chronicling the history of Led Zeppelin, began in 1984. (That’s not a misprint; it’s Miller’s commitment to rock ’n’ roll forever).

 In her recently published memoir titled "Up All Night: My Life and Times in Rock Radio" (Ecco/Harper Collins), she describes her relationships with some of the greatest rock stars of the time.

Paul McCartney and Robert Plant dropped by the studio to chat; she dated Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Paul Stanley of Kiss. And through it all, she has battled cancer — for 40 years now.

To read the interview, Click Here.

Raleigh Radio: WRAL’s Bill Jordon To Retire

Bill Jordan

After more than 30 years of waking up at 3:20AM, WRAL-FM Mix 105.1 morning host Bill Jordan is hanging up his headphones!

"I’ve been really blessed to be able to do what I truly love, and that is playing on the radio," he told WRAL-FM listeners, one of whom called in crying after hearing the news. "By far, this has been the most thrilling and meaningful part of my professional journey, but ... I am just tired. I am tired. I’ve had to admit that."

Listen to the big announcement, Click Here.

Jordan has spent nearly 40 years in radio and worked at three other stations before joining Capitol Broadcasting Company. He has hosted the "Bill & Lynda in the Morning" show with Lynda Loveland since January 2009 and previously hosted with Sherri Logan.

Convergence 2013 Highlights

Here are highlights from Radio Ink's Convergence confab being held this week in Santa Clara, CA.

Monday, Day One


Tuesday, Day Two

WJPZ-FM Dedicates Envision Radio Broadcast Center

Students and Z89 alumni from across the U.S. were in attendance at the official opening ceremony for the Envision Radio Networks® Broadcast Center at WJPZ-FM/Syracuse, NY last weekend. The newly renovated broadcast facility, located in Syracuse University’s Watson Hall, was dedicated as part of the station’s 28th birthday banquet and annual WJPZ Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

To celebrate Envision’s 10th anniversary, CEO and President Danno Wolkoff and COO Laura Orkin made a donation to WJPZ to secure the naming rights for the new space. Wolkoff is an alumnus of the student-owned and operated station, which he helped sign on the air in 1985. He began his career in radio as one of the original members of the Cra-Z Morning Crew and was inducted into the WJPZ Hall of Fame in 2009.

“I can’t think of a better organization that we could give back to then WJPZ,” said Wolkoff, CEO and President at Envision Radio Networks®. “To have our name associated with such legendary call letters is really an honor and privilege. May the tradition continue for another 28 years and beyond!”

Nanny NYC Mayor Wants Ear Buds Crackdown

NYC Mayor Bloomberg — who has already cracked down on smoking, junk food, trans fats, salt and super-sized drinks — is embarking on a new crusade: preventing New Yorkers from going deaf.

According to The New York Post, health officials are planning a social-media campaign to warn young people about the risk of losing their hearing from listening to music at high volume on personal MP3 players, The Post has learned.

The campaign, which will cost $250,000, is being financed through a grant received from the Fund for Public Health, the Health Department’s fund-raising arm.

The Hearing Loss Prevention Media Campaign will target teens and young adults, conducting focus-group interviews and using social-media sites like Facebook and Twitter.

Bloomberg has had a bug about ear-splitting rackets since taking office at City Hall, making noise reduction one of his key quality-of-life initiatives.

In 2005, he signed a law — “Operation Silent Night” — overhauling the noise code. It cracked down on jolting jackhammer sounds at construction sites and on music blaring out of clubs, helping “make New York quieter and more liveable.”

The iPod generation is the first to use “buds” that are inserted directly into the ears. And modern music players are more of a threat to hearing than the Sony Walkman of the 1980s, experts say.

The new players hold thousands of songs and have longer-life batteries, which results in more extended and high-volume listening, health experts said.

An iPod at maximum volume reaches 115 decibels. Research says 85 decibels is safe.

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Alec Baldwin Talks With NBC’s Brian Williams

Award Winning actor Alec Baldwin hosts WNYC’s ‘Here’s The Thing’ (820 AM, 93.9 FM) and this week he sits down with Brian Williams, host of NBC Nightly News. 

Nightly News has more viewers than any other news program in the country-- an average of 10 million people tune in every day.

Williams talks about his early career years in Pittsburg, Kansas and what it was like to take over the anchor chair from Tom Brokaw.

New Era: Fox Sports 1 To Launch August

Officially Debuts in Over 90 Million Homes

Today, FOX Sports Media Group (FSMG) makes television history, officially unveiling plans to launch a new, national, multi-sport network called FOX Sports 1. The announcement  was made by FSMG Co-Presidents and COOs Randy Freer and Eric Shanks. Set to debut on  Saturday, Aug. 17, just as FOX Sports kicks off its 20th anniversary year, FS1 is available in over  90 million homes, making this the biggest sports cable network launch in history, and one of the  largest network launches ever. At the outset, FS1 boasts nearly 5,000 hours of live event, news  and original programming annually.

“Our ‘secret,’ admittedly a very poorly kept one, is now revealed,” said Shanks. “Fans are ready  for an alternative to the establishment, and our goal for FS1 is to provide the best in-game  experience possible, complemented by informative news, entertaining studio shows and  provocative original programming.”

A robust schedule of live events forms the backbone of FOX Sports 1’s programming from Day 1,  with college basketball, college football, NASCAR, soccer and UFC all on tap between launch  and year’s end. In fact, the schedule on Aug. 17 features live events morning, noon and night  including a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race from Michigan and “UFC on FS1 1” in  prime time. In 2014, FSMG’s new rights agreement with MLB takes effect, bringing regular and  postseason games to FS1.

FOX Sports 1 Programming Highlights

• COLLEGE BASKETBALL – Dozens of exclusive prime time games on Monday and Thursday nights, plus Saturday and Sunday coverage of the Big 12, Pac-12 and Conference USA.

• COLLEGE FOOTBALL – Led by Notre Dame at Stanford, the Big Ten Championship Game and Pac-12 Championship Game (2014) on FOX, dozens of exclusive, live games from the Pac-12, Big 12 and Conference USA on Thursday nights and Saturdays; triple-and quadruple-headers on Saturdays; Saturday pre- and postgame coverage.

• MLB – Beginning in 2014, select League Championship Series and Division Series games; regular-season games over 26 Saturdays; live game-in-progress look-in show.

• NASCAR – Select NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races as soon as 2015; NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races; NASCAR Sprint All-Star race; all Speedweeks events  leading up to the Daytona 500 including: Daytona 500 Qualifying, Sprint Unlimited at  Daytona (2014, 2017-22) and the Budweiser Duel, now in prime time; NASCAR Sprint  Cup Series and NCWTS Practice and Qualifying sessions; NASCAR RaceDay, providing  pre- and post-race coverage; NASCAR Victory Lane, a weekly wrap-up show; and Race  Hub, a daily mid-day studio show with the latest from drivers, owners and garages.

• SOCCER – Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday afternoon coverage of the world’s most prolific  club soccer competitions, the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, and CONCACAF Champions League featuring many of the world’s greatest and most  successful clubs; the world’s oldest soccer competition, the FA Cup; CONCACAF Gold  Cup; CONCACAF Qualifiers, FIFA Women’s World Cup coverage in 2015 and 2019; FIFA  Men’s World Cup coverage in 2018 and 2022; delayed matches in prime time; weekly  magazine and highlights shows.

• UFC – Featured on Wednesday nights; live FIGHT NIGHTS through 2014, the first is scheduled for launch night, Saturday, Aug. 17; FOX event preliminary cards; UFC Tonight, the weekly authority for UFC news and information; 14 Saturday pay-per-view preliminary cards; hundreds of hours of library programs and events.

Regis Philbin

In addition to live events and studio programs, FS1 introduces FOX SPORTS LIVE, a 24/7 news  franchise providing around-the-clock coverage through regularly scheduled programs, hourly  updates and an information-rich ticker that provides a network agnostic sports event television  schedule. Thousands of hours of news programming are expected annually from newly minted  sets including a nightly program at 11:00 PM ET or immediately following events. A morning  newscast is expected to launch in January 2014 in conjunction with FSMG’s expansive coverage  of Super Bowl XLVIII.

Complementing FS1’s live events and news coverage at launch are several original programs,  highlighted by RUSH HOUR, hosted by Regis Philbin, airing live weekdays (5:00-6:00 PM ET).  Originating in New York City, Regis leads the charge along with a panel of sports professionals,  celebrity guests and die-hard fans in this brand new, unpredictable, talk show. 

Lincoln Radio: KX 96.9 FM Cleans House, Shuffles Shifts

Three Eagles Communications cleaned house Tuesday at radio station KX 96.9 KZKX 96.9 FM, releasing three personalities and relaunching the station’s format.

The Lincoln Star-Journal reports gone are morning show co-hosts Keith Cornelius, who worked on air as Keith Allan, Mick “The Sidekick” Kovar and midday host Kelly Garrett.

Three Eagles is moving morning show co-host Carol Turner to sister station KFOR 1240 AM, where she will work middays. She will replace Jill St. James, who has been moved to the newsroom.

KX 96.9 has rebranded itself “New Country KX 96.9” and will play new and current country music from young stars such as Jason Aldean, Taylor Swift, Luke Bryan and Carrie Underwood.

“New country is the fastest-growing format in the country,” said Rob Kelley, the new operations manager at Three Eagles who also will host afternoons (3 to 7 p.m.) at KX 96.9.

Kelley returns to the Lincoln radio market from Fort Wayne, Ind. He was a former operations manager at Broadcast House when it was owned by Triad Broadcasting, leaving in 2003 after three years here.

KX 96.9 Program Director James “JP” Kyhn has moved from afternoons to mornings (5:30 to 10 a.m.), where he soon will be paired with newcomer Ally Morgan. The other new voice is Brian George, who once worked as “Al G” at crosstown rival Froggy 98 KFGE 98.1 FM. George will work 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The changes come almost a year after the last major shake-up at the country station. Last March, the station reunited Cornelius, Turner and Kovar on the morning show and rebranded itself as “Proud Country KX 96.9 FM,” playing songs from the 1990s with today’s hits.

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