Aircheck from 1969 with Todd Wallace on KILT AM 610 - Houston
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Friday, June 21, 2013
NYC Radio: Listeners Review The NashFM Morning Show
Well, one would wonder what the research, assuming there was
research, told Cumulus about a morning show in NYC. After just one day their fans have been vocal about the new
morning show “America’s Morning Show” with Blair Garner et al on NashFM 94.7
Here’s a sampling of comments from the NashFM Facebook
page. There were also a number of mentions
about reception being poor. Sounds like
a tough start. (There are real names attached to these comments on FB, I opted to ID by gender only)
The Negative:
- MALE: Well it was nice while it lasted. Looks like Nash FM is officially all talk and little to no music. What a disappointment. Back to Pandora and iHeartRadio for country music.
- FEMALE: When are you going to listen to the people that support COUNTRY MUSIC in NY/NJ? REVIEW all the negative posts! Do not ignore us! This is why we lost country music on the radio before! WE WANT OUR COUNTRY MUSIC...not TALK about nonsense. I am sure the ADULT audience does not care about Miley Cyrus kissing a barbie doll! PLEASE PLAY MORE MUSIC and leave the nonsense talk to the rest of the market. I will try again to listen, but if the talk continues...I plan on listening after 10 am. Sorry guys...Love Terri and Lee Ann but really would love to hear you play their MUSIC! Like the kid in the AT&T commercial....MORE IS BETTER..WE WANT MORE MUSIC! WE WANT MORE MUSIC! Less talk is better!
- FEMALE: The morning show is TERRIBLE. No offense to the DJs personally, but I want to hear MUSIC in the morning. If I wanted to listen to stupid, pointless conversations on my way to work, I'd put on any other NY radio station. You have officially lost a listener.
- FEMALE: New Flash... you are a country station and I do not care one thin hair about Micheal Jackson and his family. So knock it off with the chit chat.
- MALE: Get rid of this morning show and play us some music. They talk about nonsense.
- FEMALE: If I wanted to hear people yapping instead of music during my commute to work, Id listen to z100....back to the ipod it is....stop trying to be like everyone else and just play country music!
- FEMALE: to be honest the morning show sucks, To be honest you are one country station, your specail enough you dont have to keep up with the Jones ( z100, hot97, 92.3, ktu ) they all kinda over lap music so they need a morning show, LESS TALK MORE MUSIC, PLEASe i dont want to have to change the station to another one ever again.
- MALE: Less talk more music...enough said!!
- FEMALE: Are you purposely alienating your fan base? Shut up and play music!!!
- FEMALE: this morning show is absolutely terrible. i thought the whole reason of nash fm was to bring back country music to ny & north jersey. all i'm hearing is another z100 morning show that i dread listening to every morning on my half hour commute to work. get your shit together nash, and get back to playing nonstop music. no one wants to listen to people talk about nonsense, if they did, they can turn on 92.3. i will no longer be listening to your station on the way to work in the morning, and instead i will be listening to my ipod or a cd....
- FEMALE: Reception poor this morning. When I could hear the station all I heard was stupid talk. If I want to hear talk ill go to AM radio. But I don't, I want to hear COUNTRY music, so I'll go back to satellite.
 |
| Jockline Daily Graphic |
- FEMALE: Welcome to the new morning crew. It was fun listening this morning on the drive to work. I'd love to hear some Ronnie Dunn on my drive especially his new song "Kiss You There" somewhere between 7 and 7:30 AM. Thanks
- FEMALE: Great morning show. Enjoyed the talk , mixed with music. Your morning team is excellent. Always listened to Blair on "After Midnight". Glad he's now doing the morning show on NASH.
Tom's Take: Give Cumulus credit for having the courage to keep the FB comments posted. But maybe the suits don't know about the Facebook page? In any event leave it to 'radio people' to screw-up a good thing!
Charlotte Radio: John Hancock Gets Ready For PM Drive At WBT
 |
| John Hancock |
Grins, a little black cat destined to play a role in Charlotte radio history, pulled into town in 1990 in the
back seat of an old, white Honda Prelude bearing the Florida vanity tag ON AIR.
She was in her usual spot – in a kitty crate surrounded by
all the worldly possessions of John Hancock.
According to Mark Washburn at The Charlotte Observer, Grins had accompanied Hancock for nearly two decades on his
nomadic radio career, Colorado to Texas to Colorado again to Arizona (that job
lasted six weeks) to California (six months) to Pennsylvania to Florida to
Charlotte.
Now Hancock had landed a morning spot at WBT-AM 1110 AM/99.3FM, among the nation’s oldest and most prominent stations, and the question
was: How long would this gig last?
“I was not received well when I got here, not at all,” says
Hancock.
“It was pretty brutal for the first nine months. We didn’t
have phone screeners then, and people would call in and say, ‘I hate you, go
back where you came from.’ ”
It was Grins who turned things around, Hancock says. When he
had to put her to sleep because of feline leukemia, he told his listeners how
he felt about her loss.
“My voice got shaky. For some reason, that turned the corner
here. I think people were saying, ‘He’s still a jackass, but he cried about his
cat.’ ”
Hancock is now 60 and the Charlotte gig goes on. Aside from an
ill-fated morning stint at WEND-FM (“End” 106.5), he’s been at WBT in one time
slot or another for more than 20 years, the longest-serving full-timer at the
station.
He started doing evenings a week before the 9/11 terrorist
attacks in 2001. This week general manager Rick Feinblatt announced that on
July 16, Hancock would be returning to afternoon drive-time, a slot he occupied
in the late ’90s.
Jason Furst, WBT’s new program director, says afternoon
ratings have been generally flat for some years. He says he thinks Hancock
might just be the magic.
“John’s a superstar over here. He’s the most dynamic, most
recognized name on the station. John’s real,” Furst says.
Atlanta Radio: Vicki Locke Signs-Off At WSB-FM
 |
| Vicki Locke |
As WSB-FM B98.5-FM morning show host Vikki Locke clicked-off the
microphone for the last time this morning after a 28-year run on Atlanta ’s airwaves, she’s left behind a radio industry
much different than the one she entered as an Ohio State University
During her nearly 20-year reign at WSTR Star 94 with partner
Steve McCoy, you could invite a superstar listener like Elton John, who lived
down the street from the station, on air for an extended chat and to spin his
favorite songs. In 2013, morning show talent is advised to keep the chatter to
under two minutes, edit your interviews in advance and spin Train’s “Hey, Soul
Sister” ad nauseam.
Locke last week reflected for Atlanta Magazine on the
industry she departs from today.
“Radio isn’t the same as when I started in the 1980s,” she says, “In 2013, radio is a cookie-cutter, numbers game. It’s all about how much money you can make. It’s really not about the content anymore. Personalities don’t matter anymore. It’s cheaper now to run a syndicated morning show, which wasn’t the case when I was a kid. It was all-local, all personality driven. The whole landscape has changed so drastically. The young people getting into the business now don’t have that perspective and I’m sure it will be fine for them. But for me, I remember working in radio when it was great. When I couldn’t wait for that alarm to go off at 3 a.m. I don’t feel that way anymore.”
Earlier this month, Locke made the difficult decision to
exit her job at B98.5 in order to spend more time in Ohio with her 80-year-old dad who has
recently been diagnosed with colon cancer. Says Locke: “When you find out your
dad has cancer and your boss says, ‘You can’t take time off for six months
because we’re in a ratings period,’ your priorities become very clear. I
realized I didn’t want to do this anymore.”
Glenn Beck Buys Building For Mercury Radio Arts
Mercury Radio Arts, the parent company of TheBlaze, Glenn
Beck’s news, opinion & entertainment network, has purchased the building
known as The Studios at Las Colinas to serve as the network’s flagship
television and radio facility. The studio has served as the home to TheBlaze
and various network shows like Glenn Beck on a rental basis since 2012.
The 72,000 square foot facility, which will now be known as
Mercury Studios, is based in Irving ,
Texas Irving .
TheBlaze also currently leases a studio in Midtown Manhattan.
Glenn Beck said: “We are proud to call Texas
our home and be part of the local community in Irving . We are building a world-class
facility that provides TheBlaze with the highest quality talent and top of the
line production capabilities so American stories can be told to viewers across
the country.”
Joel Cheatwood, President and Chief Content Officer of
TheBlaze said: “TheBlaze has quickly built up the capacity to produce over 43
hours of original programming per week and we are excited to now have our own
multi-media base as we continue to grow.”
The exclusive provider of “Glenn Beck,” TheBlaze offers a
full slate of original news and opinion shows like “Real News,” “Wilkow!” and
“For the Record,” late night comedy like “The Wonderful World of Stu” and “B.S.
of A.,” family-friendly programming like “Liberty Treehouse” as well as
thought-provoking documentaries and original specials. TheBlaze first launched
on September 12, 2011 as GBTV and quickly grew into one of the world’s largest
online streaming networks with over 300,000 subscribers. One year later,
TheBlaze became a television network and is currently available on over 15
television operators including 5 of the top 25 in America .
Built in 1982, The Studios at Las Colinas have hosted movies
and television shows like Robocop, JFK, Silkwood, Prison Break and Walker Texas
Ranger.
Fox Urges End to Broadcast Indecency Limits
Fox Television doesn't want the FCC looking over its
shoulder anymore to police any nudity and curse words on its network.
According to THR, The broadcaster filed a 42-page comment at
the regulatory agency on Wednesday. This is what Fox has to say:
"Fox urges the Commission to conclude that it is legally required, and logically bound, to cease attempting to enforce broadcast indecency limits once and for all. Time and technology have marched inexorably forward, but the Commission’s untenable effort to define indecent content through a hodgepodge of inconsistent and uneven rulings remains stuck in a bygone era. Whatever validity may once have existed for indecency regulation, the time clearly has arrived to lay rest to the anachronistic notion that broadcast stations deserve anything less than the full First Amendment protection bestowed on all speakers by the Constitution."
The comment comes as the FCC is examining potential changes
to its indecency regulation. In April, the federal agency asked the public for
comments on whether it should maintain current protocol or change with the
times. The review happens after the Supreme Court has addressed indecency
regulation on several occasions in the past few years, including last year in a
case involving curse words uttered by celebrities on live awards shows.
The FCC is now considering its indecency stance. A call for
opinions has provoked more than 100,000 filed comments from citizens.
Boston Radio BDC Launches The Social Countdown
The Social Countdown takes from some of the biggest social
media and online music subscription services to determine the biggest
alternative tracks of the moment.
RadioBDC listeners, as well as artists, can vote on
Boston.com for their favorite songs, showing in real time the most popular
music of the moment.
LISTEN-LINE: Click Here.
“The Social Countdown is a new spin on a traditional concept
that’s been used in radio for decades,” said Paul Driscoll, Director of
Operations and Program Development at RadioBDC. “We have the smartest and most
tech-savvy listeners in the city, we trust them and their feedback is vital to
us. The Social Countdown is another way for their voices to be heard, and it
legitimizes the way radio countdowns are done for the first time.”
The Social Countdown reflects not only the voice of the
listeners, but also what people are talking about on social media, weighing
each source against the others and allowing for differences in influence
hierarchy. Pointslocal’s charting platform gathers and ranks data from social
media and music sites such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Last.fm and Spotify,
along with up-voting on Boston.com.
Launched in August of 2012, Boston.com’s RadioBDC is a 24x7 streaming radio station featuring an all-star team ofBoston Boston
Launched in August of 2012, Boston.com’s RadioBDC is a 24x7 streaming radio station featuring an all-star team of
Fort Myers Radio: New Rock GetsNew Address, 93X
93X is a New Rock radio station that is programmed for
listeners who love Mainstream and Alternative Rock artists such as Alice in
Chains, Pearl Jam, Nickleback, Stone Temple Pilots and Green Day to name a few
and will be featured on the station which is available on-air at 93.7, WXNX-FM.
“This incredibly loyal audience was outraged to lose their
brand of music to a talk radio station,” said Jim Schwartzel, VP of Sun
Broadcasting, Inc. “We were pleased to offer the X brand a home on 93.7 and
will serve the audience with 24/7 Rock, and create a number of ways for listeners to interact with the station –
from social media and live events to contests."
Local Radio Freedom Act Gets More Support
A bipartisan group of six Members of Congress and a Senator
have joined on as co-sponsors of a resolution that opposes "any new
performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge" on local broadcast radio
stations. The Local Radio Freedom Act is now currently co-sponsored by 139
Members of the House and 11 Senators, according to the NAB.
Adding their support to the Local Radio Freedom Act are
Reps. Joe Barton (TX-6), Lynn Jenkins (KS-2), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-5),
Erik Paulsen (MN-3), Jim Renacci (OH-16) and Carol Shea-Porter (NH-1). Sen.
David Vitter (R-LA) is the latest Senator to sign on as a co-sponsor of a
companion resolution in the Senate.
Reps. Michael Conaway (R-TX) and Gene Green (D-TX)
introduced the Local Radio Freedom Act (H. Con. Res. 16) in the House of
Representatives on February 15 along with 71 additional co-sponsors. An
identical resolution (S. Con. Res. 6) was introduced in the Senate on March 6
by Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND).
"Congress should not impose any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge relating to the public performance of sound recordings on a local radio station for broadcasting sound recordings over-the-air, or on any business for such public performance of sound recordings," reads the Local Radio Freedom Act.
"Congress should not impose any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge relating to the public performance of sound recordings on a local radio station for broadcasting sound recordings over-the-air, or on any business for such public performance of sound recordings," reads the Local Radio Freedom Act.
Tom Brokaw Talks ‘News’ On the Daily Show
 |
| Tom Brokaw |
John Oliver spoke with NBC News’ Tom Brokaw on The Daily Show
Wednesday night that touched on Brokaw’s long career, his show on the Military
Channel, and the state of cable news.
According to Mediaite, Brokaw opened the interview joking
about how much better Jon Stewart looks with plastic surgery. Oliver praised
Brokaw’s show, and asked him if journalism has gotten better as it’s gotten
faster in the last few years. Brokaw said that consumers now have to go beyond
being couch potatoes, that news is a lot more interactive these days.
He admitted that the news is very “cluttered with chat” and
“vicious attacks,” with Oliver suggesting that the increased “speed has cost us
thought.”
Media Reporter Howard Kurtz Moves To FNC
 |
| Howard Kurtz |
FOX News Channel (FNC) has hired veteran media reporter
Howard Kurtz, announced Michael Clemente, Executive Vice President of News for
the network. He will begin in this new role on July 1st.
Kurtz will anchor a version of what is now called Fox News
Watch, which focuses on the media, with a new format during the weekends.
Additionally, he will serve as an on-air analyst for a variety of programs
throughout the week, while also writing a regular column on FoxNews.com,
commenting on social media news, industry trends and breakthroughs, in addition
to looking at how media are used in politics.
Meanwhile, Jon Scott, current anchor of FOX News Watch, who
won an Emmy for his writing at NBC's Dateline, will move to the specials unit
where he will serve as anchor.
In making the announcement, Clemente said, "Howie is
the most accomplished media reporter in the country. He's also a master of
social media trends, information good and bad, and a veteran political
reporter. Altogether, he will add even greater depth to a very accomplished
team of reporters and anchors."
Kurtz added, "I'm excited to be bringing my independent
brand of media criticism to Fox News. I want to thank CNN for giving me such a
prime opportunity over the years and was tempted to continue, but the chance to
create a revamped program and establish a strong online presence was too good
to pass up. I hope to add a new dimension to Fox's coverage and have some fun
while diving into the passionate debates about the press and politics."
Since 1998, Kurtz has been the host of CNN's weekly media
criticism program, Reliable Sources, where he has scrutinized the performance
and biases of the media. Until recently, he served as the Washington , D.C.
Howard Stern, Matt Lauer Talk Katie Couric
 |
| Matt Lauer |
Matt Lauer joined Howard Stern's radio show this and discussed
his feelings about topics including his former co-hosts to his morning routine.
When Lauer's former co-host Katie Couric appeared on Stern's
radio show, she revealed that she had a "little crush" on Lauer when
he served as the program's newsreader. Lauer and Couric co-hosted
"Today" from 1994-2006, a time when the NBC show was the number one
program in morning television. It was a position the show held for 16 years.
Baltimore Radio: Ed Norris Returns To 105.7 The Fan
Ed Norris has returned to the airwaves after the WJZ-FM 105.7
The Fan host was seriously injured in an accident back in April, according to WJZ-TV13.
Even though he’s still injured and in some pain, he says it
is good to be back talking sports on “The Norris & Davis Show.”
“I was a little nervous coming back at first, it’s been
almost two months. How I was going to do it? Energy be up, would I be strong
enough to do the show? I felt fine,” Norris said.
On April 24, Norris was on his motorcycle when he swerved to
avoid colliding with a box truck in Darlington, Harford County
“All I remember is being on the road, then I woke up in
Shock Trauma with people standing around me telling me you are alive,” he said.
Doctors told the former cop, police chief, state police
superintendent turned radio host not only is he lucky to be alive, but he’s
lucky he wasn’t paralyzed in the accident.
“Head injuries, brain injuries, broken ribs, broken
shoulder,” Norris said.
NYC Radio: J Cole Talks About KMEL Incident
During a Wednesday visit to The Breakfast Club on WWPR Power
105.1 FM, rapper J Cole talked about a recent incident, where he walked out on
an interview backstage at San
Francisco
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Carson Daly Launches ‘The Daly Download’
He already serves as host of KAMP 97.1 AMP Radio’s popular
morning show broadcast live weekdays from Los Angeles, and now Carson Daly will
bring his enthusiasm for music to listeners across the country with the launch
of two new weekly Pop countdown programs beginning on Saturday, July 6. The Daily download With Carson Daly This Week’s
Top 30 will make its debut on more than 70 CBS Radio and Cumulus stations,
including outlets in 8 of the Top 10 and all of the Top 5 markets in the United
States.
At launch, www.dalydownload.com will provide fans the opportunity to listen
to the shows online and the ability to review current and archived song lists
to track how their favorite tunes are faring week after week. Live streaming is also available through
Radio.com and its app for a variety of mobile devices. Cumulus Media Networks will manage affiliate
relations and sales for The Daily Download.
 |
| Carson Daly |
“I’m a self-professed radio guy and an avid music
enthusiast,” said Carson. “Music has
been my passion since I was a kid and it’s certainly been the through-line of
my career. I feel at home on the radio and look forward to connecting with new
listeners by highlighting the top songs around the country. I’m happy to
continue my collaboration with CBS Radio, and I’m excited for the opportunity
to work with Cumulus Media Networks.”
“Pop music continues to drive audience growth for CBS Radio
stations and our Radio.com platform,” said Kevin Weatherly, Senior Vice President,
Programming CBS Radio, and Program Director of 97.1 AMP Radio. “The increases are clearly being fueled by a
younger generation of listeners who can’t get enough programming centered
around this type of music. The Daly
Download satisfies that need while showcasing one of our most influential music
personalities.”
Two versions of the program will be created by Daly and
offered to stations for broadcast on Saturday or Sunday. The four-hour and three-hour shows will
complement programming on Contemporary Hit Radio or Hot Adult Contemporary
formatted stations, respectively.
In addition to his radio work, Carson serves as host and
producer of “The Voice” and “Last Call with Carson Daly” broadcast on the NBC
Television Network. He began his career
in radio in the early 1990s and serving as on-air host at The World Famous KROQ
is also among his credits.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
NYC Radio: NashFM’s Morning Show Launches Thursday
 |
| Blair Garner |
Cumulus Media says the new morning show on New York ’s NashFM 94-7 is set to hit the air
Thursday. “America ’s
Morning Show” features Blair Garner and will originate from Nashville .
Shows originating in NYC are also planned.
Besides Garner, other members of the show include co-hosts
Terri Clark, Sunny Sweeney, Chuck Wicks and Lee Ann Womack. According to
Cumulus ExecutiveVP/Co-COO John Dickey, “The team has been working around the
clock to get ‘America’s Morning Show’ ready for the Big Apple and starting this
week New Yorkers will experience the nation’s most unique and authentic county
radio show.
LISTEN-LINE: Click Here.
LISTEN-LINE: Click Here.
“We've been getting ready for the big moment when we join
fans live in New York
and finally the dream is about to come true and the cast and I can't wait to
share it.”
Blair Garner adds, “We're like kids the night before Christmas.
We can barely contain ourselves. It's that kind of excitement with all of us.
Breathe in, breathe out. We're almost there!”
FCC Nominee Wheeler Supports Competition
 |
| Washington Post photo |
Tom Wheeler, President Barack Obama's pick to lead the
Federal Communications Commission, on Tuesday pledged to champion competition
in the telecommunications industry and said an upcoming auction of airwaves is
the biggest challenge facing the regulator, according to a story at Reuters.
Acknowledging his past as a lobbyist, Wheeler told lawmakers
at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on his nomination that at the FCC, he
would advocate for the consumers' interest first: "My client will be the
American public."
Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia
Democrat, said he was certain the Senate would approve Wheeler to succeed
Julius Genachowski as FCC chairman.
The next step for Wheeler will be a vote by
the committee on his nomination. No date has been set.
"I am an unabashed supporter of competition," he
said. "The role of the FCC has evolved from acting in lieu of competition
to dictate the market, to promoting and protecting competition with appropriate
oversight to see that it flourishes."
Addressing a critical issue he will have to tackle as FCC
chair - decades-old rules that limit cross-ownership of different U.S. media
outlets in one market - Wheeler said he understood the seriousness of the issue
and was "specifically trying not to be specific." "I want to
become more informed," he said.
Atlanta Radio: Fired Host Calls WQXI ‘Sinking Ship’
 |
| Nick Cellini |
Three Atlanta
radio hosts were fired Monday for a senseless skit mocking former New Orleans
Saints player Steve Gleason, who suffers from ALS. Two of the fired hosts
expressed deep contrition in the wake of the story.
The other host, Nick Cellini, doesn't seem to understand why
he lost his job.
According to NFL News, Cellini told AccessAtlanta.com it was
a "relief" to get fired. While he issued the customary apology, Cellini also said the
skit just gave the station an excuse to cut salary and hire a cheaper morning
show.
"That station is a sinking ship," Cellini said.
It's not a surprise that Cellini was the one who played the
role of Gleason in the failed skit. His colleague, Chris Dimino, on the other
hand, showed obvious discomfort while on air during the segment. Dimino,
however, didn't step up enough to stop the skit as it happened. He posted a
Facebook message late Monday night that is worth reading in full.
Fired Sports Host: 'I Would Have Been Offended'
If he had been listening from his car Monday morning, radio
veteran Steak Shapiro knew what he would have thought of a bit mocking a former
New Orleans Saint now battling Lou Gehrig's disease.
"I would have been offended."
Why? The now former host of "Mayhem in the AM" on Atlanta 's WQXI 790 The
Zone offered up plenty of reasons in an interview Tuesday with CNN's BrookeBaldwin. And none of his descriptions of the now infamous two-minute radio bit
were positive.
Stupid. Not thought out. Offensive. Awful. And not funny.
NFLer Steve Gleason Accepts Apology
Steve Gleason wrote on his organization's Facebook page
Tuesday that he accepts the apologies of the three morning hosts on WQXI 790
The Zone in Atlanta
who mocked his Lou Gehrig's disease in a skit Monday morning and later were
fired.
According to ESPN, the 36-year-old Gleason, a former safety
who played for the New Orleans Saints from 2000-06 and was diagnosed with
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 2011, thanked "the public for their
support" on the Facebook page for Team Gleason, his non-profit
organization that works to help others with ALS.
"'Defend Team Gleason' now has been officially
redefined. Additionally, the DJs have provided genuine apology. Received and
accepted. We have all made mistakes in this life. How we learn from our
mistakes is the measure of who we are," he wrote.
Patients who have the fatal disease ALS lose the ability to
speak, move and eat, which has happened to Gleason. He uses a technology that
allows him to use his eyes to write. He wrote a column for SI.com on Monday
detailing his life with the disease, his interactions with his 19-month-old son Rivers
790 The Zone hosts Nick Cellini, Steak Shapiro and Chris Dimino were fired Monday after a segment Monday morning in which two of the on-air personalities took a call from a third host who pretended to be Gleason by using a voice that sounded automated -- mimicking another ALS patient, world-renowned physicist Stephen Hawking.
Read More Now
790 The Zone hosts Nick Cellini, Steak Shapiro and Chris Dimino were fired Monday after a segment Monday morning in which two of the on-air personalities took a call from a third host who pretended to be Gleason by using a voice that sounded automated -- mimicking another ALS patient, world-renowned physicist Stephen Hawking.
Read More Now
Charlotte Radio: WBT Shuffles Hosts
 |
| John Hancock |
Beginning July 16, John Hancock is moving from evenings to
afternoon drive-time. He's swapping places with Brad Krantz and Britt Whitmire,
whose "Brad and Britt Show" will move to the 6 to 9 p.m. shift,
according to the Charlotte Observer.
Hancock is one of Charlotte 's
most venerable radio personalities. He arrived at WBT 1110AM/ 99.3 FM in 1990 doing mornings.
Then to afternoon drive in 1996. Then he left for an ill-fated morning stint at
WEND ("End" 106.5), returning to WBT a week before the 9/11 terrorist
attacks in 2001.
“Hancock has been a staple of WBT for years, earning him the
title of Charlotte ’s
most beloved,” Rick Feinblatt, senior vice president of WBT and Greater Media
Charlotte, said in announcing the move Tuesday.
"Hell has frozen over," said Hancock about his
return to afternoons.
WBT has been roiling through afternoon hosts since the
departure of Jason Lewis in 2006 with Jeff Katz, Tara Servatius and Vince
Coakley all taking a shot until "Brad and Britt" launched last July.
GR Radio: N/T WOOD To Air Festive Send-off For Gary Allan
WOOD Radio’s farewell for announcer 66-year-old Gary Allen
is going to be unlike anything ever heard before.
“It’s going to be a very special day for local radio fans,”
said Phil Tower
LISTEN-LIVE: Click Here.
Allen, a fixture at WOOD-AM 1300 and 106.9 FM on weekday
mornings, switches off his microphone on Friday. Co-host Steve Kelly and
producer Lauren Smith are expected to remain with “West
Michigan ’s Morning News.” at WOOD Radio.
But on Thursday, WOOD Radio is sending Allen off in style
with the 12-hour broadcast, pre-empting regular syndicated shows including the
Glenn Beck Program, the Rush Limbaugh Show and the Sean Hannity Show.
Augusta Radio: Beasley’s WGAC Named ‘Station of the Year’
 |
| Harley Drew |
News/Talk WGAC 580 AM/95.1 FM in Augusta , GA
Augusta’s broadcasting legend Harley Drew, the morning host
for WGAC with Mary Liz Nolan, told the Augusta Chronicle the award means the station beat every
station in Georgia including “the mighty Cox Media’s flagship station” WSB in
Atlanta, which came in second place.
Sirius XM Joins the In-Car Streaming Music Battle
In a sign of how the sands beneath the broadcast and music
businesses continue to shift, satellite radio is joining the streaming music
market in the car. Sirius XM will now offer in-dash access to its Internet
Radio App in Ford vehicles with the Sync AppLink.
According to the NYTimes, Ford and Sirius XM said the app
support would, for the first time, allow subscribers to use the Sirius XM
Internet radio app on iPhones and Android handsets, making it possible to
stream not only satellite channels but also personalized MySXM channels and
on-demand programs like Howard Stern‘s.
The services were already available
online through a Web browser, but this is Sirius’s first full-fledged offering
of streaming Internet services in cars.
Sirius XM will have plenty of streaming-music competition on
Ford Sync dashboards, which already include Pandora, Rhapsody, Spotify, Slacker
and Mog. There are also traditional radio stations offering streaming channels
through TuneIn, plus independent station apps and Clear Channel’s iHeartAuto.
For Sirius XM, the new connection to the dash is less of a
“if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” strategy than a way of keeping existing
subscribers happy. Listeners still have to pay $14.49 a month for the service
plus $3.50 a month for the app.
Time Warner Cable Customers Revolt
Time Warner Cable is being accused of requiring subscribers
to pay higher cable bills to watch Los Angeles Lakers and Dodgers games without
offering them the opportunity to opt out of those channels.
According to THR, A class-action lawsuit filed Tuesday in
Los Angeles Superior Court -- which names TWC as well as the Lakers and Dodgers
as defendants -- charged TWC with "abuse of its position as the primary
provider of cable television" in Southern California .
The complaint cites TWC's $3 billion acquisition of Lakers
telecast rights in February 2011 and its $8 billion acquisition of Dodgers game
telecasts in January 2013. Lakers games air on TWC SportsNet and TWC Deportes,
while Dodgers games will air on the SportsNet LA network.
The plaintiffs charge that because TWC has chosen to bundle
these channels without allowing subscribers the ability to opt out, subscribers
will be forced to pay about $4-$5 in additional fees per month as a result.
94.1 WHJY Whale Tail Contest Deemed In ‘Poor Taste’
The Whaling City Festival in New Bedford, MA has withdrawn
its sponsorship of a controversial WHJY 94.1 FM radio competition many
described as derogatory to the city's heritage — and women in general — after
facing an intense backlash on social media earlier this week, according to southcoast.com.
"I was offended by the connection to our storied
whaling history," said city resident Jennifer Smith, who took to the
festival's Facebook page Monday night to protest its sponsorship of Providence classic rock
station 94.1 HJY's "Show Us Your Whale Tail" contest. "I'm just
glad" they pulled the sponsorship.
A "whale tail" occurs when a thong's Y-shaped
waistband rises over the waistline of low-cut pants or a skirt, giving the
appearance of a whale's tail fluke coming out of the ocean.
HJY's contest seeks to find the "hottest" whale
tail in Southern New England , asking women to
"unleash your sexiest thong exposure" for the chance at a $494
American Express gift card, according to its website. The contest asks for
women to send in their best "whale tail" photos, which will be voted
on by the public after the entry period closes June 23.
The radio station intends to continue the contest without
the festival's sponsorship, which originally was going to pay for the gift
card, organizers said. Festival organizers also defended themselves by saying
the radio station designed the competition, not them.
Neither WHJY nor the station's parent company, Clear Channel
Communications Inc., responded to an email request for comment.
LA Radio: Kim Kardashian 'Doing Well'
E! News’ Ken Baker phoned in to On Air with Ryan Seacrest on
102.7 KIIS-FM to share that despite giving birth five weeks early, both baby
and Kim Kardashiasn are healthy.
“This was not planned,” he explains. “It came on very
quickly and when it was time for the baby to come, it was time for the baby to
come.” Ken adds that the moment was so unexpected, “the whole family was [even]
dispersed all over the place.”
However, Ken confirms: “[The baby] is healthy and Kim is
doing well … There’s a great sense of relief. Everyone is very happy for her
and Kim is relieved [because] this was a very stressful time.”
So now that her daughter is here, how does Kim feel about
being a mom? Ryan shared her email her moments after she gave birth,
saying, “Yay! Congrats my darling, you’re a mommy!” and that she responded:
“Cant believe it! It’s so crazy!”
Domestic Fight Lands NYC Weatherman, Wife In Court
 |
| Dana Evans |
It was a dark and stormy fight — over a set of car keys, according to the NY Daily News.
WABC-TV weatherman Bill Evans claims he was left with a
bruised backside and a clawed crotch after a nasty scuffle with his wife as
hard feelings escalated in their ugly divorce.
Dana Evans — who admitted whacking her husband with a wooden
hanger — accused her spouse of 19 years of punching her in the face and
knocking her to the ground during the May 4 brawl.
 |
| Bill Evans |
Both appeared separately Tuesday in Stamford Superior Court,
where a Connecticut
judge reaffirmed an order of protection barring Dana from contact with her
husband.
Dana Evans appeared first, followed by the TV forecaster on
their cross-complaints from the bloody fight in the master bedroom of their Greenwich , Conn.
R.I.P.: Reporter Michael Hastings Was 33
 |
| Michael Hastings |
Michael Hastings, the fearless journalist whose reporting
brought down the career of General Stanley McChrystal, has died in a car
accident in Los Angeles ,
Rolling Stone has learned.
He was 33.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Sinclair Broadcast To Buy Dielectric
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. announced that it has entered
into a definitive agreement to purchase the assets of Dielectric from SPX
Corporation, for an immaterial and leverage neutral purchase price. Dielectric
is the nation s largest manufacturer of broadcast television, radio and
wireless antennas, transmission lines, and RF systems.
Commenting on the transaction, David Smith, President and
CEO of Sinclair stated, Dielectric has supplied more than two-thirds of the TV
industry s high power antennas and its name is synonymous with expert
engineering and quality products. We feel fortunate to have this opportunity to
acquire the Dielectric intellectual property and assets related to our most
critical infrastructure. This acquisition was a logical choice given our
in-house RF engineering expertise and our ownership of Acrodyne Services, which
installs and services broadcast transmitters and mobile DTV upgrades. Further,
if and when a spectrum repack occurs, Dielectric will be there to support that
effort.
New products from Dielectric s diversified RF catalog, along
with support for existing installed product, will be provided by many of the
same talented people who have helped to make Dielectric one of the most
well-known and trusted names in the U.S. Raymond ,
Maine
Study: New Millennials Will ‘Keep Calm And Carry On’
Teens Less Upbeat, But Resilient
MTV, a division of Viacom, today unveiled the results of its new landmark generational study, "The New Millennials Will Keep Calm and Carry On," investigating the shifting dynamics between younger and older Millennials in the
Today's results uncover that younger Millennials (ages
13-17) are different from their older counterparts in key ways: beginning to
map their careers at 13, absorbing the advice of pragmatic Gen X parents, and
adjusting the rules of how and when to use technology – even unplugging and
mono-tasking to de-stress.
The differences between first and second wave Millennials
can be seen as the juxtaposition between Harry Potter and Katniss Everdeen of
"The Hunger Games."
Today's twenty-somethings – more akin to the magical wizard
Harry Potter – represent the Millennials that came of age in the economic boom
of the 90s/early 2000s, a time of "Yes We Can" and the belief that
college, working hard and playing by the rules would guarantee future success.
Raised by idealistic Boomer parents, older Millennials were
told they were special and gifted, with a magic wand capable of changing the
world.
Today's tweens and teens have known a very different youth.
They've come of age during the Great Recession, seeing college graduates
struggling with huge student loan debt and living through a cascade of
social-media amplified tragedies – from Hurricane Sandy to the Sandy Hook School
Philly Radio: Sharyl Attkisson Talks About Computer Hacking
 |
| Sharyl Attkisson |
Just days after CBS News confirmed that reporter Sharyl
Attkisson’s computer had indeed been hacked, Attkisson spoke to WPHT 1210 AM’s Dom
Giordano about the investigation.
“This suspicious activity has been going on for quite some
time – both on my CBS computer and my personal computer,” Attkisson said. “CBS
then hired its own independent cyber security firm, which has been conducting a
thorough forensic exam … they were able to rule out malware, phishing programs,
that sort of thing.”
Attkisson described some of the bizarre things that were
happening with her computer.
LISTEN-LINE: Click Here.
 |
| Dom Giordano |
“There were just signs of unusual happenings for many
months, odd behavior like the computers just turning themselves on at night and
then turning themselves back off again. I was basically able to verify and
obtain information from my sources on the suspicious activity and I reported it
to CBS News in January because of course it included CBS equipment and systems.”
Attkisson could not speak about whether the hacking was
related to her questions about Benghazi
because of “legal counsel,” but she did say her work at that time was primarily
on the occurrence.
Read More Now
.@SharylAttkisson reports there has been "very unusual activity buried deep in the computer," & the "intruder is considered highly skilled."
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) June 17, 2013
NYC Radio: Magic Matt Pays Homage To Scott Shannon
 |
| Magic Matt Alan |
Radio geeks might want to catch the upcoming Burt Reynolds
movie called “Category 5.”
It's got a NYC radio in-joke that turns out to be payback of
the most flattering kind, according to David Hinckley at NYDaily News.
“Magic” Matt Alan, who is now a deejay for Sirius XM radio’s
’70s on 7 channel and hosted afternoons at WHTZ (100.3 FM) in the 1980s, plays
what he calls an “in-your-face news anchor.”
The character, at Alan’s request, is named Michael Scott
Shannon.
Scott Shannon, of course, is the morning co-host on WPLJ 95.5 FM. In the ’80s, he was the Z100 morning co-host and program director
who hired Alan.
“I was in Houston ,
and I was just killing in the ratings. But when I got to Z100, Scott showed me
all these little things that made me better — about rhythm and pacing and just
how to make it all work together."
Alan lives in L.A.
now, and in addition to the Sirius XM gig, he also acts and does an Internet
talk/music show called Outlaw Radio.
Atlanta Radio: WQXI Fires 'Mayhem In The AM’ Hosts
 |
| Nick Cellini |
In a matter of hours after suspending its morning show, 790
The Zone fired "Mayhem in the AM," according to one of the on-air
hosts.
Nick Cellini called Rodney Ho at ajc.com at 6:10 p.m. to say
he, Chris Dimino and Steve "Steak" Shapiro were unceremoniously let
go at about 5:40 p..m., not long after the station released a statement saying
they were "suspended indefinitely."
The station has since posted an updated statement confirming
the termination:
"We deeply regret the offensive programming that aired this morning on “Mayhem In The AM” on 790 The Zone, related to former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason and his battle with ALS.
We suspended the three individuals involved immediately following their comments and have since terminated their employment. 790 The Zone, our owners, sponsors and partners in no way endorse or support this kind of content. We sincerely apologize to Mr. Gleason, his family and all those touched by ALS."
He said he's sorry about the "stupid" gag they did about Steve Gleason, the former Saints player suffering from ALS this morning and plans to work with his charity foundation in response The Gleason Initiative Foundation. He said he got a response from Gleason through a third party and heard that he was okay with the apology.
 |
| Cellini's Twitter Account Is No Longer Available. |
ALS has taken Gleason’s ability to do most daily functions,
like walk, talk or use his hands. As such, the 36-year-old Gleason relies on a
special computer that allows him to type with his eyes and provides him with a
voice to speak.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)