Saturday Aircheck: Art Roberts On WLS 890 AM From 1966

Art Roberts 1966

Art Roberts was known as Chicago's "hip uncle" for his work on AM radio in the 1960s and '70s. And to teenagers of that time he was a godsend for bringing them the rock 'n' roll stars they craved.

Art's radio career began in Atlanta, Texas in 1953. In 1956, Art Roberts joined the legendary KLIF in Dallas. In 1959, Art worked in Buffalo at WKBW before joing WLS in 1961. Art stayed at WLS for 10 years before heading to San Francisco's KNBR in 1971, Other career stops included WCFL, WOKY, and KLUV. Art's final radio stop was KGVM in Reno in 1998, Art Roberts suffered a stroke in October 1999 and passed away on March 6, 2002 at age 70.

Mr. Roberts started in the early afternoon slot, then took over the popular 9 p.m. to midnight gig from Dick Biondi. Along with spinning the most popular music of the day, Mr. Roberts was known for telling bedtime stories about "the head that ain't got no body" and creating fictitious characters like "Hooty Saperticker," who wanted to go through life doing nothing.

For More On Art Roberts & WLS: Click Here.

R.I.P.: Urban Radio Pioneer Jerry Boulding

Jerry Boulding

Jerry Boulding, a giant of urban radio in America who left his mark on three Chicago stations, died Thursday in Westwood, Calif., after a brief illness.

He was 75, according to Chicago media blogger Robert Feder.

In a career spanning more than 40 years, Boulding programmed 16 major market stations, developed the first satellite-delivered urban format (known as “Heart and Soul”), headed a major label for a division of MCA Records and oversaw all entertainment programming for American Urban Radio Network.

In Chicago, he programmed black music powerhouse WVON in the 1970s, where he was credited with bringing an unknown 27-year-old disc jockey named Tom Joyner to Chicago in 1977. Boulding also had a role in programming WJPC and WBMX.

After growing up in Beaver Falls, Penn., Boulding got his start at WILY in Pittsburgh. By the time he joined WOL in Washington, D.C., he began using the air name “Jolly Jerry B.” His success there led to a series of programming jobs across the country and to another nickname: “The Doctor of Radio.”

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November 30 In Radio History

In 1924...the first photo facsimile was transmitted across the Atlantic by radio.

In 1929...Dick Clark, famous for "American Bandstand" on television and countless "countdown" shows on Radio, was born. He died April 18, 2012 at 82

In 1930...G. Gordon Liddy, Watergate felon and radio talk-show host, was born.




In 1956..."Shake, Rattle & Rock!," starring (Mike) "Touch" Connors, Lisa Gaye, Sterling Holloway and Margaret Dumont, opened in U.S. movie theaters. Reflecting a real-life parental concern at the time, the plot involved adults trying to ban rock 'n' roll music in their town because they thought the music promoted juvenile delinquency. The movie included performances by Fats Domino (I'm In Love Again, Honey Chile, Ain't It A Shame) and Big Joe Turner (Feelin' Happy, Lipstick Powder & Paint).




In 1959...In a Billboard magazine article, disc jockey Alan Freed said his career had gone "down the drain" due to the recent "payola" scandal. In their story, Billboard claimed the scandal "will substantially damage the careers of at least twenty-five DJs."

In 1966...the radio time signal, WWV, moved from Greenbelt, Maryland to Boulder, Colorado.




In 1982...After nearly eight months in production, Michael Jackson released the album "Thriller." Seven of the album's nine songs were issued as singles and all reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
List:

1) Wanna Be Startin' Somethin [0:00 - 4:16]
2) Baby Be Mine [4:17 - 8:35]
3) The Girl Is Mine [8:37 - 10:47]
4) Thriller [12:21 - 18:15]
5) Beat It [18:16 - 22:32]
6) Billie Jean [22:35 - 27:28]
7) Human Nature [27:29 - 31:33]
8) P.Y.T (Pretty Young Thing) [31:35 - 35:29]
9) The Lady In My Life [35:33 - 40:30]

In 1988...the Soviet Union stopped jamming Radio Liberty for the first time in 38 years.

Kids Don't Get To See Casey For Thanksgiving

Casey Kasem

Casey Kasem’s three kids from his first marriage didn’t get to see their father for Thanksgiving — despite a judge ordering lawyers to try to cook up a plan.

“We are all disappointed,” daughter Kerri Kasem told the NY Daily News Thursday.

The “American Top 40” host’s son and two eldest daughters haven’t seen or heard from the silver-tongued titan since the summer, when advanced Parkinson’s left him essentially bedridden.

Their estranged stepmom Jean Kasem, 59, recently said the kids could visit the 81-year-old at separate times for one hour each every third Sunday and on holidays.

Last week, a Los Angeles judge ordered both sides to put aside their “bad blood” and do their “best” to hammer out a deal.

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LA Radio: Rumblings Surround The MIA Ricardo Sanchez

Ricardo Sanchez

Missing in action since Nov. 1 at KLAX 97.9FM, neither Spanish Broadcasting Systems (SBS) nor morning personality Ricardo Sánchez "The Baboon" have explained why.

From June to November, Nielsen Audio PPMs indicated "The Baboon” was the top-ranked morning show in Los Angeles, leaving behind other Hispanic colleagues and even 102.7 KIIS FM's Ryan Seacrest.

But without explanation, November 1 was the last day that Veracruz's voice was heard on the local KLAX La Raza Station and other major markets in the country like Chicago.

As to why. "At this moment I can not comment," a representative of SBS told La Opinion adding that an explanation may be coming "soon".

Thom Callahan, president of the Association of TV and Radio stations in southern California (SCBA), is not surprised by what is happening to note that the contract with SBS Sanchez is in his last weeks.

"The show is off the air and are in negotiations but really the only thing I know ... It is normal to happen when you are negotiating. There legal terms you have to agree and perhaps it is best to do so in a quiet way without a show and that kind of thing, "said Callahan.

However, local and reliable sources told La Opinion that SBS is investigating the veracity of the numbers positioned to hearing Collet as number one, on complaints of possible fraud.

Nielsen Audio, meanwhile, said through a spokeswoman said that "we do not provide specific details of any show."

Meanwhile, crosstown KROQ 106.7 FM morning personality Gene 'Bean' Baxter also is interested, commmenting on Sanchez in a Tweet: "Well, he did come out of nowhere to hit #1 a few months ago. I am certainly interested in how!"

Bean's morning show is currently ranked #2 in morning drive according to NielsenAudio.

Aussie Radio: CCM+E's KISS-FM Brand To Debut In Sydney

Kyle and Jackie O

Clear Channel looks to be expanding its KIIS-FM radio brand to Sydney, Australia with plans to launch in early 2014 with top rated FM breakfast duo Kyle Sandilands and Jackie Henderson, according to THR.

Clear Channel has a joint venture in Australia and New Zealand with APN News and Media, operating the Australian Radio Network, which owns Mix 106.5 in Sydney, the fourth ranked FM station in the country’s top radio market, among other stations.

ARN confirmed Friday that the Kyle and Jackie O show will shift from Southern Cross Austereo’s 2DayFM station, where they signed off after a decade, to host the breakfast show on Mix106.5.  No mention was made by the company of the KIIS-FM brand.

However, ARN CEO Ciaran Davis said Sandilands and Henderson would spearhead the birth of a new station in Sydney.

That supports speculation that easy listening station Mix 106.5 will flip to the KIIS brand with its celebrity focused pop format. That fits nicely with Kyle and Jackie O's style and will put the station in direct competition with their long time employer 2Day FM and DMG Radio’s Nova stations, majority owned by Lachlan Murdoch’s company Illyria Ltd.

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Kyle and JackieO get an on-air performance critique.

NYC Radio: Kanye Called 'Egotistical Narcissist'

The 'Bound 2' rapper couldn't have felt any more awkward when WWPR 105.1 FM radio host Charlamagne the God gave him a serve on New York station Power 105's The Breakfast Club show.

According to Celebrity Fix, Charlamagne, a self-confessed Kanye fan, admitted that he hates Kanye's latest album Yeezus, going to say: "You know what makes me not want to buy your albums, this new narcissistic egotistical personality you've got."

Smackdown! Kanye's stupefied reaction is priceless — it's a deliciously squirm-worthy confrontation you've got to watch above.

Charlamagne also took issue with Kanye calling himself a "genius" and selling out to corporations while "denouncing" them in his music and rants.

The Beatles: On Air At the BBC

England got a lot more of The Beatles than Americans did during the group's formative years. Between 1962 and 1965, The Beatles were featured on 53 BBC radio programs, including their own series, Pop Go the Beatles. They performed originals and covers and chatted with BBC hosts.

The Beatles: On Air-Live at the BBC Volume 2 has just been released. Kevin Howlett produced both that and the newly remastered reissue of the first volume, which was originally released in 1994. For reasons he explains to Fresh Air host Terry Gross, Howlett had to search for many of these recordings, and they weren't easy to find.

Howlett has written a new companion book called The Beatles: The BBC Archives, which includes transcriptions of the band's BBC radio and TV interviews as well as fascinating internal memos about the Beatles and their music.

LISTEN TO INTERVIEW: Click Here.

WI Radio: WCFW's Jerry Thomas Ends 60 Year Career

After more than 60 years on the air a familiar voice in the Chippewa Valley will sign off for the last time this weekend, according to wpr.org.

In a tiny studio in Chippewa Falls, Jerry Thomas finishes up his shift with a quick check of the temperature. His station, WCFW 105.7 FM, is like walking through a time machine to the golden age of radio. Reel to reel tape machines, record players and vintage microphones fill every corner. It's a fitting scene for a man who's been on the radio for six decades.

After the Air Force, Thomas used the GI bill to go to Brown College for broadcasting in 1952. He bounced around stations in Eau Claire and Menomonie but he's been at WCFW ever since: 23 years, in all.

In that time, Thomas says technology has improved greatly. He says the greatest advancement for him was moving from the reel to reel tape machine to cassettes. “Boy, that was the biggest help to me. You're always getting tape set up – and that was the old seven and a half inch, it'd take forever. So, when that cassette come out I thought, ‘Wow, that is really a handy thing to have, geez! It's all cued up and ready go to.”

At 82, Thomas says he'll spend more time with hobbies, riding his bike and cross country skiing.

R.I.P.: Columbia SC Broadcaster Jim Seay

A Columbia, SC sports voice has been silenced with the passing of radio broadcaster Jim Seay.

He was 77 when he died Wednesday after a brief illness.

His sports reports were most recnelty airing on WZMJ 93.1 FM the Lake.  Seay also served as a public address announcer for a number of USC sporting events including football, soccer and women'sbasketball.

Seay provided a 93-second sports report on Z-93 Radiogton and was a part of that station's broadcasts of Lexington County athletics.

R.I.P.: Toledo Radio Personality John McKnight Passes At 68

'John McKnight'

William W. Schroeder, a Toledo, OH radio personality for decades known on air as John McKnight who became communications director for the American Cancer Society in Northwest Ohio, died of liver cancer Friday in his Old West End home.

He was 68, according to The Toledo Blade.

He had survived prostate cancer, which he was diagnosed with in 1998.  He was diagnosed with liver cancer in January, said Larry Stine, his partner of 34 years.

From 1980 until 2005 he was an on-air radio personality, production director, and radio announcer for radio stations such as WMHE and WOHO, where his most popular radio shows included “PM Gold” and “Desperate and Dateless,” Mr. Stine said.

Schroeder was a freelance news reporter for WUPW-TV, Channel 36 in 2005.

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November 29 In Radio History

In 1929...NBC begins use of the chimes

In 1927...Sportscaster and national treasure Vin Scully was born in the Bronx. His 65 seasons with the Dodgers (1950–present) is the longest tenure of any broadcaster with a single team in professional sports history.

In 1941...the passenger ship, "Lurline", sent a radio signal after sighting a Japanese war fleet in the Pacific.

In 1964...Dean Anthony debuted on WMCA-AM, New York.

In 1969...the Beatles' "Come Together," single went to #1 on Radio.

In 1999...Gene Rayburn, host of the TV game show Match Game and a host on the NBC Radio Weekend Show 'Monitor', died at 81.

 In 2001...Singer/songwriter Beatle George Harrison died of lung cancer at the age of 58. Speaking outside his home northwest of London, Paul McCartney said, "I am devastated and very, very sad." Ringo Starr, speaking from Vancouver, British Columbia said, "We will miss George for his sense of love, his sense of music and his sense of laughter."

In 2008...legendary "Boss Radio" programmer, Bill Drake, died of lung cancer. He was 71.

November 28 In Radio History

In 1925..."The Grand Ole Opry" debuted on WSM, Nashville under the name "Barn Dance". The first artist to perform on the show was fiddler Uncle Jimmy Thompson. It didn't settle on a name until June 1928. The Opry got its name by an unusual coincidence: Soon after Hay started his show, WSM radio joined the NBC radio network. Since the program followed a performance on the network called the Metropolitan Grand Opera. So Program Director George D. Hay decided to call his program the Grand Ole Opry.

In 1932...Groucho Marx performed on radio for the first time.

In 1960...The CBS Radio Network expanded its hourly news coverage from 5 to 10 minutes.

In 1960..."Are You Lonesome Tonight" by Elvis Presley peaked at number one on the pop singles chart.



In 1987...Pat St. John debuted on WNEW-FM, New York City. He was previously at WPLJ.

In 2011...Comedian/Radio personality (Opie and Anthony) Patrice O'Neal died of complications from a stroke suffered the previous month at the age of 41.

Cumulus, Mike Huckabee To Part Company

Mike Huckabee

Now we know why Dennis Miller's syndicated show is being moved by WestwoodOne into the Noon-3p timeslot.

Cumulus Media syndicated Mike Huckabee is ending his Noon-3pm Eastern Show. Huckabee's last show is December 12 and he made the announcement on his Facebook page:

"The Mike Huckabee Show on radio, which was heard 3 hours a day on over 200 radio stations across the country since April of 2012 will conclude its run at the end of the final show on Thursday, December 12. 

This does not in any way effect The Huckabee Report, my three times daily commentary which is now heard on over 500 radio stations and continues to grow. It will remain without interruption and grow in the future. 

I have loved doing the Mike Huckabee Show, and it's success of going from launch to over 200 stations in less than 2 years is significant, but the contract was at a decision point for both Cumulus Media and me, and we mutually agreed to conclude. 

I have opportunities in some other areas that cannot be accomplished given the 8-9 hours a day I was devoting to the daily long form show,” Huckabee wrote. “In the original development of the show, I set out to develop a talk radio show that focused on civil discourse on complicated topics as well as human events and stories from the entertainment world, I feel we have done that and done it well. 

I am forever grateful to the really wonderful affiliates and their listeners who have been so very supportive, and to the advertisers who entrusted me with their brands and products,” he added. “I look forward to doing some Town Hall events in conjunction with Cumulus Media in 2014 as well as continuing with the Huckabee Report. 

As for the new endeavors, at this time, it would best for me to say, ‘Stay tuned!’”

Personality Dave Herman Gets His First Day In Court

Dave Herman

UPDATE 11/27/2013 5PM:  Dave Herman appeared in federal court in Newark this afternoon, listening to the attempted sexual abuse charge against him and consenting to his ongoing detention.

But, according to nj.com,  his lawyer also told the judge that Herman will appear in court again soon to propose a bail package, hoping to win his release then.

Wearing a yellow jail-issued jumpsuit and appearing thin and tired in court today, Herman said only the word "yes" one time, while answering a question from the judge. Before the hearing, he grew emotional, tearing up, frowning and hunching over at one point as he sat in a courtroom chair. During the hearing, he stood for several minutes behind the defense table and looked composed, even as he remained shackled in handcuffs with a heavy metal chain wrapped around his back.

Herman did not enter a plea at the brief hearing. But Agnifilo made clear to reporters afterwards that Herman considers himself to be not guilty and intends to fight the federal charge against him vigorously.

Earlier Posting....

Dave Herman, the former radio personality from New York’s legendary rock station WNEW-FM who last month was arrested on charges of trying to transport a 7-year-old Bergen County girl to the U.S. Virgin Islands to sexually abuse her, will appear in federal court in Newark today for the first time.

According to nj.com, the 77-year-old Herman was detained by authorities on Oct. 24 at the St. Croix airport, where he’d reportedly shown up with a sutffed animal expecting to meet the girl, has been moved through federal custody from St. Croix to Puerto Rico to Oklahoma and now to New Jersey, in advance of tomorrow’s hearing, said Marc Agnifilo, his New York-based attorney.

Herman will make an initial appearance at 1 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Falk, Agnifilo said, in what he expects to be a brief hearing that will mostly consist of Falk reading out the formal charge against Herman. He also expects his client to enter a not guilty plea.

Herman, who ruled the rock airwaves at WNEW-FM for years with his calm, smooth demeanor on the famous “Dave Herman Rock and Roll Morning Show,” will not contest tomorrow his ongoing detention, Agnifilo said.

He is currently being held without bail.

But Agnifilo said he will soon sit down with Herman to put together a “substantial,” bail package that he hopes will be approved by the judge in the next two weeks, if not sooner.

Herman, who authorities say has properties in both Airmont, N.Y., and St. Croix, was snared in a computer-investigation headed by an officer from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office who chatted with him online, saying she was a 36-year-old single mother from Bergen County with a young daughter named “Lexi,” authorities have said. “Lexi” was the officer’s creation.

As online chats between Herman and the officer continued from 2012 into this year, Herman allegedly tried multiple times to set up meetings with the girl so he could have sex with her, authorities say.

After learning in November 2012 that Lexi was 6 years old, Herman allegedly wrote back that “age 6 is the perfect time to start her being loved that way,” according to the federal complaint filed against him in Newark.

If convicted, Herman faces mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life, authorities have said.

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Boston Radio: WZLX Is #1...Red Sox Propel WBZ-FM

CBS Radio's WZLX 100.7 FM sits atop the radio ratings according to Arbitron's November PPMs.

The Classic Rocker lost a bit 7.0 – 6.9, but won the radio war posting a #1 showing, unseating CCM+E's WXKSf Kiss 108 (7.3 – 6.8) from its usual perch. 

It was a month dominated by sports and in particular The World Champion Red Sox which allowed CBS' WBZ 98.5 FM The Sport Hub to hit a home run moving 5.4 – 6.7 6+. The Hub ranks #3, up from the fifth spot.

 The other station to unseat WXKS this past summer, Greater Media's Country WKLB 102.5 FM dropped 6.5 – 5.8 and lands in a tie for #4, with cluster-mate WMJX 106.7 FM Magic which moved 5.5 – 5.8

25-54: WZLX...WBZf...WXKS...WMJX...WKLB

18-34: WXKS...WJMN...WBZf...WZLX...WBQT

18-49: WBZf...WXKS...WZLX...WJMN...WKLB

Cume: WXKSf is tops with 1.45+M

On Tuesday, NielsenAudio released November PPMs for the following markets:

• Washington DC
• Boston MA
• Miami/Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood FL
• Detroit MI
• Seattle/Tacoma WA
• Phoenix AZ
• Minneapolis/St.Paul MN
• San Diego CA
• Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwaer FL
• Denver/Boulder CO
• Baltimore MD
• St. Louis MO

To See the Top-Line Numbers, ClickHere.

Atlanta Radio: News/Talk WSB Scores Again

WSB 750 AM / 95.5 FM is again #1. It's the second consecutive win for the Cox Media N/T moving 7.9 – 8.1.

 CBS Radio Urban WVEE V103 is up slightly 7.1 – 7.2 to land at the #2 slot. Cox' Urban AC WALR 104.1 FM KISS moves up a spot to #3 despite a down book 6.6-- 6.4, cluster-mate AC WSB-F B98.5 is #4 6.5 – 6.3. Radio One's Urban AC WAMJ 107.5 FM Majic dropped 6.8 – 6.0 and fell from third to fifth.

Rodney Ho at accesstatlanta.com notes:

• Just ahead of the arrival of the Kimmer, All News 106.7 suffered its worst month since February, falling from a 1.8 to 1.5.
• While B98.5 remains strong, the new morning show with Melissa Carter and Jeff Elliott fell to a 3.7 among 25.54, less than half its mid-day 8.1 rating. On the bright side, the show did improve to a 4.2 among 18 to 34 year olds.
• 94.9/The Bull had its best performance in more than a year and soundly beat Kicks 101.5 in all major demos for the first time this year. Still, it's only a month and Kicks has generally had the better of the Bull in recent months.

25-54: WVEE...WSRV...WAMJ...WSBf...WALR

18-34: WHTA...WVEE...WSBf...WWWQ...WSTR

18-49: WVEE...WHTA...WSBf...WSRV...WWWQ

On Tuesday, NielsenAudio released November PPMs for the following markets:

• Washington DC
• Boston MA
• Miami/Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood FL
• Detroit MI
• Seattle/Tacoma WA
• Phoenix AZ
• Minneapolis/St.Paul MN
• San Diego CA
• Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwaer FL
• Denver/Boulder CO
• Baltimore MD
• St. Louis MO

To See the Top-Line Numbers, ClickHere.

Pandora Drops Support For Internet Radio Bill

Musician advocacy groups are celebrating reports that Pandora is dropping its lobbying effort in Congress, according to The Hill.

Last year, Pandora backed the Internet Radio Freedom Act, which would allow Internet radio services to pay the same, lower royalty fees for music that cable and satellite radio services pay. Billboard reported last week that Pandora is dropping its lobbying effort on that bill and turning its attention to the Copyright Royalty Board, which determines those royalty fees.

In a statement, Pandora founder Tim Westergren confirmed that the company is dropping its push for the Internet radio bill in the immediate future.

“We are pragmatic and recognize the low probability that Congress will address this issue in the near term,” he said, thanking the members who supported the bill “for their continuing efforts to ensure a vibrant and thriving music industry.”

Tim Westergren

Westergren said the company “will focus on other paths to resolution, including the upcoming Copyright Royalty Board arbitration, for which we have been preparing intensively for some time.”

The musicFirst Coalition, a musician advocacy group and vocal critic of Pandora’s lobbying efforts, claimed victory in a blog post.

“We unquestionably want digital services to succeed, but not at the expense of fair pay for music creators.”

The coalition also called for the end of an exemption for radio stations, which currently do not have to pay royalty fees. Rep. Mel Watt (D-N.C.) introduced a bill earlier this year that would eliminate that exemption and require radio stations to negotiate with rightsholders to determine royalty fees.

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Houston Radio: Mark Adams Decides to Leave CBS

Mark Adams

CBS/Houston VP/Programming has announced he's leaving the building after six years. Adams departs December 6 for a new out-of-market opportunity

Adams launched KKHH Hot 95-7 and leaves with the station as the current top-ranked Top 40. He also has responsibility for Country KILT 100.3 FM The Bull, Hot AC KHMX Mix 96.5 and Spanish Pop KLOL (Mega 101).

In a note to staff, Aams said, "I've had an opportunity present itself out of market that offers a number of personal and professional opportunities for myself and my family. While I'm excited to take on this new adventure, it was a difficult decision. I'm incredibly proud of the work we've accomplished together and know you will go on to ever greater success in the future."

Prior to CBS Radio, Adams served as PD of KXJM-FM/Portland, OR. His previous programming stops include stations in San Francisco, Milwaukee, Fresno and San Diego.

Utica-Rome Radio: Matt Herkimer OUT At WFRG

For the first time in its 25-year history, perennial market leader WFRG Big Frog 104 FM is playing “the best and most country” without its longtime morning host.

According to CNYRadio, Matt Herkimer’s bio and photo disappeared from the station website over the weekend, and he’s not on the air this morning.

On the Big Frog 104 website, co-host Polly Wogg is now listed as the sole host of the morning show, but she was joined by afternoon drive host Tad Pole today.

CNYRadio.com also reports Tad Pole will be permanently co-hosting mornings with Polly Wogg, while part-timers will be hosting afternoons for the time being.

The lack of an official farewell for outgoing co-host Matt Herkimer is rather surprising, considering he had been with the station from day one, in 1988, when it started out as 96 Frog. For the first few years, Herkimer was the afternoon host, but eventually moved to mornings.

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CBS Orders Leave For Lara Logan, Producer

Lara Logan

The fallout continues over at CBS News. Following multiple on-air apologies for a faulty 60 Minutes report, veteran broadcaster Lara Logan has taken an immediate leave of absence from the venerable news magazine -- alongside producer Max McClellan.

THR reports CBS News chief Jeff Fager announced the news today in a staff memo, following an internal "journalistic review" from CBS standards and practices that determined the series' Oct. 27 report about the 2012 attack of the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, was not properly vetted. It's the latest development since the network made the decision to retract the story, which relied heavily on misinformation from a source and supposed witness to the events, Dylan Davies.

Holes in Davies' story were first pointed out by an FBI report that contradicted his statements. "As soon as we learned about the FBI report, we knew right away. All of us. There wasn't any debate about it," Fager told The Hollywood Reporter in the wake of the retraction. "He deceived us. He works very hard at his deception. There are a lot of people out there who try to deceive reporters. And I think we're really good at finding it. We worked this one hard."

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LA Radio: KABC Taps Brian Suits For Late Mornings

With news that Geraldo was going live&local on NYC's WABC at the first of the new year, KABC has tapped Brian Suits to fill-in Geraldo's time slot on the Left Coast.

Suits new show will air from 9am to Noon, picking up the 9am hour from most host John Phillips.

The Dark Secret Place will take afew weeks hiatus and return soon on KABC AM 790 in Los Angeles. My daily 9-noon show starts soon.
— Bryan Suits (@darksecretplace) November 25, 2013

WWOne Moves Dennis Miller's Time Slot

Dennis Miller

WestwoodOne hasannounced that The Dennis Miller Show, celebrating its seventh year on-air and syndicated in 24 of the top 25 markets, will move to a new time slot, weekdays 12noon-3pm, ET, effective January 6, 2014.

With the new time change, the popular daytime talker is adding new stations as of January 6, further enhancing the show’s wide-ranging national reach.

The Dennis Miller Show will add live clearances in top markets including: Cumulus' KLIF, Dallas and KCMO, Kansas City, plus other stations.

Miller, thrilled with the time change, said "Thanks for letting me sleep in and continue to do the job that I love!"

Five-time Emmy award winner Dennis Miller, known as the “king of references and rants,” has built a hugely successful radio following by engaging listeners in lively and insightful conversation, debate, and discussion. Among his increasing audience is his loyal legion of DMZ (The Dennis Miller Zone) members, who have paid for access to exclusive digital content.

Miller has cross-platform appeal across mediums, thanks to his award-winning, multi-layered career on-air, on screen, on stage, and in print. In addition to conquering traditional and digital media, he has eagerly embraced social media, with 500,000 “likes” on Facebook and nearly the same number of “followers” on Twitter.

Larry King Is Not Happy With Talk Radio

Larry King

Larry King is lamenting the current state of talk radio, a format that dominated the earlier years of his broadcasting career.

According to Politico, King told podcast host Marc Maron that he was “the beginning of talk radio” thanks to his national show on the Mutual Broadcasting System beginning in 1978, but added that he’s not a fan of what it’s become.

“It became a soap box,” said King. “Screaming, yelling idiots. A lot of what I hear is pop nonsense, political crazies.” 

King said “the Limbaughs and those guys are just playing with a loose deck. And a lot of it is an act.”

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

Although King says it drives him “nuts” when someone curses on the air, he has come to appreciate Howard Stern.

“Earlier, I didn’t buy a lot of that act, but now I understand he’s matured,” King said. “He’s a very good broadcaster.”

Alex Baldwin Bounced By MSNBC

New York Post photo

Alec Baldwin has had his final meltdown at MSNBC, according to The NY Post.

The weekly show, “Up Late With Alec Baldwin,” was canceled Tuesday because of the actor’s foul-mouthed, homophobic rant at a New York Post photographer.

Baldwin’s spokesman Matthew Hiltzik and a rep for the cable channel said, “We are jointly confirming that ‘Up Late’ will not continue on MSNBC.” The MSNBC spokeswoman added, “This is a mutual parting and we wish Alec all the best.”

Baldwin was suspended — supposedly for two weeks — after he screamed at a Post photographer, calling him a “c—s—ing faggot.” The “30 Rock” star was supposed to resume his weekly show Friday.

But his latest rant, which drew fire from gay-rights organizations, gave the NBC Universal bosses a great excuse to cancel a show that wasn’t working anyway, after just four episodes.

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NYC Radio: Kanye Tells Hot 97 Kim Is Beautiful

Kanye West

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian recently couldn't stop gushing about each other on a radio show, with the rapper branding his bride-to-be the "most beautiful woman of all time arguably of human existence", according to business-standard.com. 

During an interview on WQHT Hot 97 FM, the brunette beauty said that her fiance's face lights up when he is with their daughter North West, adding that he is the most amazing dad ever.

Meanwhile, the 'stronger' hit maker revealed that a part of his song 'Lost in the World' is written as a love letter to his baby mama, and he has loved her from the first day he saw her.

SiriusXM Unveils New Radio Player

SiriusXM has announced an all-new SiriusXM Onyx Plus Dock and Play Radio.

"SiriusXM Onyx Plus is packed with the latest satellite radio technology and our expanded channel lineup," said Joe Verbrugge, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Automotive Remarketing and Retail Sales, SiriusXM. "Customers will enjoy receiving SiriusXM's unparalleled variety of programming delivered via satellite in an easy-to-use, attractive satellite radio and discover what makes SiriusXM the ultimate destination for the best in audio entertainment."

The easy-to-use Onyx Plus receives all of the channels of previous satellite radios including SiriusXM's expanded channel lineup of commercial-free music, sports, and comedy, as well as SiriusXM Latino, a suite of Spanish-language channels.

Onyx Plus also boasts a large color graphic display to view album art and channel logos, program and channel information, as well as song or show title.

Onyx Plus includes several advanced satellite radio features:

• Store up to 20 channels for one-touch access, including 18 Smart Favorite channels.
• Automatically start songs from the beginning when you tune to a Smart Favorite music channel with TuneStart™.
• Create your own music channel that is a blend of your Smart Favorite music channels with TuneMix™.
• Scan and select songs that have already played on your Smart Favorite music channels with TuneScan™.
• Pause, rewind, and replay live satellite radio plus go back and replay music, news, talk, or sports segments on all Smart Favorite channels.
• Browse what's playing on other channels while listening to the current one.
• Get alerts so you won't miss any of your favorite artists, songs and games.
• Get score alerts when scores occur in games that involve your favorite teams.
• Catch up on the latest sports scores with Sports Ticker™.
• Jump back to the previous channel with One-Touch Jump™.
• Lock and unlock channels with mature content.

The unit is available for purchase at shop.siriusxm.com as well as at Best Buy stores across the country at an MSRP of $99.99.  

Clear Channel, TomTom Ink Partnership Deal

Clear Channel's Total Traffic + Weather Network (TTWN) and TomTom, a leading provider of navigation and location-based products, today announced a multi-year partnership agreement.

The agreement combines TomTom’s industry leading real-time and predictive traffic flow data with Total Traffic + Weather Network’s traffic incident, construction and congestion data to create the most comprehensive traffic solution available in North America.

The combined data offering will be available across multiple platforms including radio, television, automotive, online and mobile.

“We are thrilled about this partnership,” said Jeff Littlejohn, EVP Engineering & Systems Integration of Clear Channel Media + Entertainment. “Every day, more than 200 million drivers and thousands of our affiliates depend on TTWN for their traffic information. We value that trust and are dedicated to delivering the most precise traffic data available. Therefore, we strive for best-in-class, strategic partners to advance our offerings. TomTom is a committed and innovative leader in traffic products. We are excited about creating new solutions together to provide the fastest, most accurate traffic information to drivers every day.”

'Breakfast With the Beatles' Show Observes 30-Years

“Chris Carter's 'Breakfast with the Beatles.'” which calls itself “America’s longest running Beatles radio show,” will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its on-air debut with a special show Dec. 15, the show announced Nov. 15, according to examiner.com.

The anniversary show will feature surprise guests from its three-decade history.

The show has been airing since December, 1983 when it debuted on Los Angeles radio station KMET with host Deirdre O'Donoghue.

In 1987, the show moved to KNX-FM before being picking up again at KLSX-FM where she hosted the show until her death in January, 2001.

Ringo w/host Chris Carter

Following a succession of interim hosts, Chris Carter became host in late 2001. Since then, the show has expanded to three hours of Beatles hits, hard-to-find rarities, outtakes and solo recordings, and appearances by in-studio guests. The show moved to its current home at KLOS 95.5 FM in 2006.

Songwriting Hall of Fame inductee Jackie DeShannon, who toured with the Beatles, became host of the show's weekly Beatles news segment in 2009. May Pang and Gillian Lomax of the A Magical History Tour L.A. Beatles tour hosted the news segment in the past.

Over the years, Carter has personally interviewed Beatles Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and Pete Best, plus those closest to their inner circle including Sir George Martin, Yoko Ono, Billy Preston, Julian Lennon, Olivia Harrison, Dhani Harrison and Pattie Boyd.

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"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly!!!"

• Arthur Carlson, WKRP in Cincinnati

The quote is from the famous WKRP in Cincinnati episode where Station Manager, Arthur Carlson (played by Gordon Jump), arranged to have live turkeys dropped from a helicopter as an advertising stunt.

Unfortunately, this turned out to be a serious miscalculation. The poor birds plunged to earth, never even having a chance.

Oddly enough, this famous WKRP episode was loosely based on a real event!

According to about.com, back in 1946 (some sources say 1945), Yellville, Arkansas inaugurated the "Turkey Trot Festival" which included a wild turkey calling contest, a turkey target shoot, a Miss Drumsticks Pageant and oh yeah: a live turkey release from the roof of the courthouse.

After a few years, someone thought it might be fun to actually toss the poor gobblers out of a low-flying airplane for the event. This repeated for a number of years until 1989 when a national animal-rights protest cast the event in a bad light and the "National Enquirer" splashed a photo of the event across the nation forcing promoters to abandon the turkey drop.

R.I.P.: Longtime KFGO Personality Larry Ristvedt Passes

Larry Ristvedt

Longtime KFGO personality Larry Ristvedt died Tuesday. Ristvedt had been suffering from A-L-S.

He was 71, according to KFGO 790 AM in Fargo, ND.

Ristvedt spent nearly 35 years as KFGO's Farm and Ranch Director. Along with Tom Wynn, Ristvedt made up half of KFGO's "Tom and Larry Show", one of the longest running radio teams in Fargo-Moorhead history. Ristvedt announced his retirement in 2010.

Ristvedt was a commodities broker when he joined KFGO in 1976.

Ristvedt was one-half of KFGO’s popular “Tom and Larry Show,” with partner Tom Wynn, until he retired in 2010. But he also was known for his many entrepreneurial ventures outside the station, such as Uncle Larry’s Lemonade and Beef Shtix sold at F-M RedHawks games.

KFGO Operations Manager Joel Heitkamp told In Forum,  the longstanding “Tom and Larry Show” was like “waking up with a friend.”

“That’s why people called him ‘Uncle Larry,’” Heitkamp said. “A lot of people saw him as a member of their family.”

Heitkamp said people like Ristvedt, who worked at the station for 34 years, helped build the station’s foundation.

November 27 In Radio History

In 1926...KXL-AM in Portland, Oregon began broadcasts.

In 1960...the CBS Radio Network canceled "Have Gun Will Travel".

In 1962...In London, the Beatles recorded their first BBC radio session, performing "Twist and Shout," "Love Me Do," and "P.S. I Love You." The tracks aired later on the BBC program "Talent Spot."


In 1979...Chuck Leonard did his last show at WABC.

In 1981...The British Phonographic Industry, with support from musicians including Elton John, 10cc, Gary Numan, Cliff Richard, and the Boomtown Rats, placed ads in British newspapers claiming "Home taping is wiping out music."

In 1984...long time St. Louis Radio personality, Jack Carney, died. He is best remember for his stints at WIL and KMOX.

In 2006...Sportscaster (Cleveland Browns, WJW-TV)/radio sports talk host (WTAM, WERE) Kenneth "Casey" Coleman, Jr., son of play-by-play announcer Ken Coleman and a broadcaster in Cleveland for almost 30 years, died of pancreatic cancer at 55.

CCM+E, CMT Ink Deal...Cody Alan To Host 'After MidNite'

Cody Alan

CMT and Clear Channel Media and Entertainment (CCM+E) today announced a multi-platform partnership that will create the largest Country music platforms in radio and television, with access to CMT’s reach of 92 million households and CCM+E’s reach of 89 million Country music listeners per month.

Under the agreement, CMT and CCM+E will work together to develop additional programming and events across radio, television and digital platforms to provide Country fans with unparalleled access to the music and artists they’re passionate about.

Additionally, the partnership will allow for cross-promotional opportunities across 125 Clear Channel Country stations in 105 markets and on iHeartRadio as well CMT and its digital platforms which include the 24/7 music channel CMT Pure, CMT.com, CMT Mobile and the network’s more than seven million fans across social media.

In addition, award-winning Country radio and CMT personality Cody Alan will debut as the new host of Premiere Networks’ syndicated radio program After MidNite on January 6, 2014.

The highly-acclaimed Country music radio program will be rebranded as CMT After MidNite with Cody Alan and will originate from the CMT Radio studio in Nashville and be available on iHeartRadio.

Premiere will also be the exclusive distribution partner for CMT Radio Live with Cody Alan, effective January 1, 2014. Premiere will handle all syndication and ad sales, which features the biggest hits in Country music, as well as exclusive interviews and performances, event coverage and live fan interaction. CMT Radio Live with Cody Alan broadcasts weeknights from 7 p.m. to midnight ET.

Alan, the 2013 Academy of Country Music Award winner for “National On-Air Personality of the Year,” stated, “I feel like Jimmy Fallon right now! To be named host of such a highly regarded late-night franchise is an exciting and humbling honor. We’ll bring new energy, lots of star power and deep resources only CMT and Clear Channel can deliver. And with this new partnership, I can’t wait to give fans 360-degrees of country music coverage, across multiple media platforms.”

Cumulus, Swiss America Trading Co. Ink Sponsorship Deal

Cumulus Media Networks announces Swiss America Trading Corporation as the Presenting Sponsor of Michael Savage’s The Savage Nation® in a year-long partnership beginning January 2014.

The new partnership will build upon a 12-year relationship between The Savage Nation and Swiss America, one of the oldest and most respected gold and silver investment firms in the nation. The sponsorship agreement will expand Swiss America’s current presence on the show, with the program to be referred to as “The Savage Nation, Presented by Swiss America.”

“I am thrilled to have Swiss America as the Presenting Sponsor of ‘The Savage Nation,’” Savage said. “This is the most significant partnership ever announced for our show and Swiss America’s interest in deepening their relationship is a testament to our increasingly growing audience.”

“The Savage Nation and its loyal fan base have been great to our company during the last 12 years and we are excited to continue our longstanding relationship,” said Craig Smith, Chairman, Swiss America Trading Corporation.

The one-year agreement follows shortly after the announcement made by Cumulus that The Savage Nation will move to the highly coveted 3p-6p ET timeslot beginning in January 2014. In the new drivetime slot, The Savage Nation will air on more than 200 affiliates of Cumulus Media Networks, including 60 stations owned and operated by Cumulus.

NYC Radio: Santa Comes Calling Early At WLTW

CCM+E's AC WLTW looks poised for a very strong Holiday after a  #1 performance in November PPMs (October 10-November 6)

Lite is #1 6+ moving 6.7 – 7.0. The number two spot belongs to YMF Media's UrbanAC WBLS with half-share improvement 6.1 – 6.6. CCM+E Top 40/M WHTZ (Z100) is steady at 5.4, but improved its ranking, now up to #3. CBS Radio Classic Hits WCBS 101.1 FM had its weakest month in over a year 5.5—5.1, as it slipped to #4. SBS Tropical WSKQ 97.9 FM La Mega remains at #5 with a 4.6-4.9 showing.

As for Cumulus' Country WNSH 94.7 FM NashFM: It slipped 1.9 –1.7 6+.

25-54: WLTW...WSKQ...WHTZ...WBLS...WKTU

18-34: WHTZ...WSKQ...WLTW...WQHT tied WWPR

18-49: WLTW...WHTZ...WSKQ...WKTU...WBLS

Cume: WLTW with 5.3M

NielsenAudio on Monday released November PPM Results for these markets:

• New York City
• Los Angeles, CA
• Chicago, IL
• San Francisco, CA
• Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
• Houston/Galveston, TX
• Philadelphia, PA
• Atlanta, GA
• Nassau/Suffolk (Long Island), NY
• Riverside/San Barnardino, CA
• San Jose, CA
• Middlesex/Somerset/Union, NJ

To view the Top Line 6+ Numbers, ClickHere.

LA Radio: It Pays To Play The Hits

Just ask Top 40 station KIIS-102.7 FM, which, reports the LA Times, on Monday finished No. 1 in the Arbitron radio ratings for Los Angeles-Orange County for the third month in a row.

The station averaged a 5.4% share of the audience, according to the survey of listeners ages 6 and older between Oct. 10 and Nov. 6. More than 3.8 million people tuned in for at least five minutes each week.

KBIG-104.3 FM, which features many of the same artists as KIIS, was No. 2 for the third month in a row, with 5.3% of the audience, followed by hip-hop outlet KPWR-FM (105.9) and Top 40 KAMP-FM (97.1), tied with 4.3%, and oldies station KRTH-101.1 FM with 4.2%.

The market's top-rated morning DJ for the sixth month straight was Ricardo "El Mandril" Sanchez of regional-Mexican music station KLAX-97.9 FM, who captured 5.6% of the audience. 

Kevin Ryder and Gene "Bean" Baxter of KROQ-106.7 FM were second with 4.9%.

Elsewhere in the ratings: KFI-640 AM continued its reign as the market's top-rated talk station, finishing in a tie for ninth overall.

25-54: KBIG...KIIS-FM...KROQ...KLAX...KPWR

18-34: KIIS...KPWR...KBIG...KAMP...KROQ

18-49: KBIG...KIIS...KPWR...KAMP...KROQ

Cume: KIIS is #1 with 3.8M.

NielsenAudio on Monday released November PPM Results for these markets:

• New York City
• Los Angeles, CA
• Chicago, IL
• San Francisco, CA
• Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
• Houston/Galveston, TX
• Philadelphia, PA
• Atlanta, GA
• Nassau/Suffolk (Long Island), NY
• Riverside/San Barnardino, CA
• San Jose, CA
• Middlesex/Somerset/Union, NJ

To view the Top Line 6+ Numbers, Click Here.

Chicago Radio: WVAZ Remains Number One

For the 11^th consecutive month CCM+E's Urban AC WVAZ V103 is #1 showing an uptick 6.5 – 6.6, followed by CBS Radio's WBBM 780 AM in the second slot moving 6.2 – 6.0. Meanwhile, Hubbard's Hot AC WTMX 101.9 FM The Mix remains at #3 5.2 – 4.7. CBS Radio's Country WUSN 99.5 FM US 99.5 improved its ranking, up to #4 from 5 with an uptick 4.2 – 4.3 to tie CCM+E Top 40 WKSC 103.5 FM KISS, which improved 4.0 – 4.3.

The October results place WTMX #1 for the 11^th consecutive month.

The turnaround at Tribune Co.'s iconic news/talk WGN 720 AM looks to be a slow process. Results for the November book show WGN 720 AM notching a 1.9 share in the key 25-54-year-old adult demo, putting the station in a tie for 23rd place in the demo with alternative rock WKQX-101.1 FM. WGN-AM's November share is 0.1 of a share point higher than the station pulled in October. WGN dipped overall 6+ . WGN-AM slipped to a 3.9 share, compared to a 4.0 in the October book.

25-54: WTMX...WVAZ...WKSC...WBBMf...WGCI

18-34: WGCI...WKSC...WBBMf...WPWX...WVAZ

18-49: WGCI...WTMX...WKSC...WVAZ...WBBMf

Cume:  WKSC at 2.3M

NielsenAudio on Monday released November PPM Results for these markets:

• New York City
• Los Angeles, CA
• Chicago, IL
• San Francisco, CA
• Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
• Houston/Galveston, TX
• Philadelphia, PA
• Atlanta, GA
• Nassau/Suffolk (Long Island), NY
• Riverside/San Barnardino, CA
• San Jose, CA
• Middlesex/Somerset/Union, NJ

To view the Top Line 6+ Numbers, ClickHere.