Sneak Peak: Scott Shannon Pulls Weekend Stint on CBS-FM

Scott Shannon

In anticipation of Monday's official debut as WCBS 101.1 FM's new morning host, Scott Shannon made an unannounced appearance Saturday morning at 5am.  Shannon used the name 'Scott Bouloukos' during the one hour stint.

The real Scott Bouloukos is CBS Radio's VP/Market Manager.

LISTEN: Click Here.

NYC Radio: Scott Shannon Talks To Opie and Anthony

Classic Hits WCBS 101.1 FM's new morning host Scott Shannon talked Friday with Opie&Anthony on SiriusXM.

The interviw started with Shannon quipping "I am a f-in idiot" in repsonse to Senior Producer Erik Nagel's invite to be on the show.  He also declined to take any shots at former WPLJ partner Todd Pettingill.

Columbia Radio: Cumulus Launches NASH On WOMG

Cumulus has announced the expansion of the NASH Country music and lifestyle brand to WOMG/Columbia, SC. As of 5 p.m. ET Friday, the station will be known as NASH FM 98.5 – with their logo, website and on-air promotions using “NASH FM” and “Powered by NASH” language.  The station flips from Classic Hits.

NASH FM 98.5 will feature exclusive NASH programming content including “America’s Morning Show” with Blair Garner, Terri Clark and Chuck Wicks, “NASH Nights Live” with Shawn Parr and Elaina Smith and “Kickin’ It with Kix” with Kix Brooks and Suzanne Alexander. The station will also feature Program Director T.J. McKay in the afternoon.

WOMG 98.5 FM (6kw) 60dBu Coverage

“We are excited to introduce NASH FM 98.5 as we continue to grow the NASH brand across the country,” said John Dickey, Executive Vice President and Co-COO of Cumulus. “NASH FM 98.5 listeners and advertisers will benefit greatly from the variety of Country lifestyle content opportunities associated with the NASH brand.”

Cumulus launched the NASH entertainment brand based on the Country music lifestyle in January 2013 starting with the flagship “America’s Country Station” NASH FM 94.7 in New York City. In addition to Country format radio stations, the NASH brand will include concerts, events, online content, television programming, product licensing and a NASH magazine.

Saturday Aircheck: Scott Shannon On Z100

Here are a number of audio clips aired by WHTZ 100.3 FM / Z100 in August 1998.  The station aired a series of vignettes 'remembering' Scott Shannon on the occasion of Z100's 15th Anniversary.



The station went on the air at 6:08 AM on August 2, 1983 with program director/morning show host Scott Shannon. The first two songs ever played on the station were "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor, followed by "America" by Neil Diamond. Initially, the station called themselves by their new call letters, but by late August, they began calling themselves "Z 100". The station signed on from its new and still-incomplete studio in Secaucus, transmitting from the old FM tower site in West Orange, New Jersey, as their antenna was not moved to the top of the Empire State Building until August 4 at 6 AM.

Z100 was the second station that summer to attempt to bring the Top 40 format back to New York, with rock station WPLJ having begun the evolution to top 40 in June. WHTZ was programmed to remind listeners of one-time AM powerhouse WABC, which had gone from a tight Top 40 format to leaning Disco in early 1979 to leaning adult rock later in 1979, to leaning adult contemporary in 1980 and then evolving to Adult Contemporary/Talk in 1981, before it finally flipped to an all-talk format on May 10, 1982.

WHTZ 100.3 FM (6kw) 54dBu Coverage

Within 74 days of signing on, WHTZ had climbed from last place to first in the New York Arbitron ratings book. Scott Shannon left Z100 at the end of 1988 to begin "Pirate Radio" in Los Angeles

March 1 In Radio History

Nikola Tesla

In 1893...In St. Louis, electrical engineer Nikola Tesla gave the first public demonstration of radio.

Tesla had first demonstrated wireless transmissions during his high frequency and potential lecture of 1891. Just days before the St Louis presentation, Tesla addressed the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, on February 23, 1893, describing in detail the principles of early radio communication.

Tesla presented the fundamentals of radio in 1893 during his public presentation, "On Light and Other High Frequency Phenomena." Afterward, the principle of radio communication -- sending signals through space to receivers -- was widely publicized from Tesla's experiments and demonstrations.

Even before the development of the vacuum tube, Tesla’s descriptions contained all the elements that were later incorporated into radio systems. He initially experimented with magnetic receivers, unlike the coherers (detecting devices consisting of tubes filled with iron filings which had been invented by Temistocle Calzecchi-Onesti in 1884) used by Guglielmo Marconi and other early experimenters.

Radio offers another example of Tesla’s work receiving minimal or no long-term public acknowledgement. While Marconi is often credited with inventing the radio, this presentation by Tesla was recalled in courts several years later in invalidating Marconi patents.



Indeed, it, among other facts, pushed the United States Supreme Court in the 1943 case of Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of America vs the United States to state that "it is now held that in the important advance upon his basic patent Marconi did nothing that had not already been seen and disclosed."

To be true, what Tesla demonstrated had more scientific interest than practical use. However, he believed that by taking the “Tesla oscillator,” grounding one side of it and connecting the other to an insulated body of large surface, it would be possible to transmit electric oscillations to a great distance and to communicate intelligence in this way to other oscillators.

In 1898 at the Electrical Exhibition in New York, Tesla would successfully demonstrate a radio-controlled boat. For that work, he was awarded US patent No. 613,809 for a "Method of and Apparatus for Controlling Mechanism of Moving Vessels or Vehicles."

Between 1895 and 1897, Tesla received wireless signals transmitted via short distances in his lectures. He transmitted over medium ranges during presentations made between 1897 and the 1910.



In 1904...Bandleader Glenn Miller was born. He disappeared in a plane over the Atlantic on Dec. 15, 1944 at 40.

In 1941...W47NV, soon to be WSM-FM,  began operations in Nashville, Tennessee, becoming the first modern commercial FM radio station. FM broadcasting in the United States began in the 1930s at engineer and inventor Edwin Howard Armstrong's experimental station, W2XMN.

In 1949...WFLN 95.7 FM signed on in Philadelphia. 95.7 FM was founded by Philadelphia civic leaders as a fine arts station, which signed on as WFLN at 5PM on March 14, 1949. In the early years, programming was heard in the evening hours only. In 1956, an AM operation was added, which mostly simulcasted the FM.

WFLN, which stood for "Franklin Broadcasting" was the first stand-alone (not co-owned with a local AM) station in Philadelphia. For nearly 50 years, the station's studios, transmitter and self-supporting tower were located at 8200 Ridge Pike, at the western edge of Roxborough, a few miles apart from the cluster of other antennas in Roxborough. From the late 1960s until the late 1980s, WFLN also maintained a small office in center city Philadelphia on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway near 17th Street. This facility was used as a sales office and small studio where host Ralph Collier would do live and recorded interviews. Until about 2004, remnants of white plastic letters spelling "WFLN" could be observed on a low brick wall at the abandoned location, but they have since disintegrated.

Station leadership was carried out by the Smith and Green families. Programming consisted of classical music along with a number of short "feature" programs. Little emphasis was placed on making the station profitable, and most years it simply broke even.

Today it's WBEN-FM 'Ben FM'.

In 1953...WJZ 770 AM changed call letters to WABC

In 1954...At the KHJ Studios in Hollywood, Frank Sinatra recorded "Three Coins In The Fountain."

In 1999...WBIX 105.1 FM changed call letters to WTJM. Today the frequnecy is  CCM+E's WWPR.

Pensacola Radio: Cumulus Launches Classic Hits 'The Jet'

WCOA 100.7 FM Pensacola Friday switched from a News/Talk simulcast with sister station WCOA 1370 AM and opted for a Classic Hits Format.

The change was made at 10:07am local time Friday as Cumulus launched “The Jet 100.7”.

Jerry King joins the Cumulus owned stations, from Cumulus Media Networks, as Operations Manager for the Pensacola cluster and as PD of Jet 100.7FM.

WCOA 100.7 FM (98kw) 60dBu Coverage

LISTEN-LIVE:  Click Here

The nationally syndicated Bob & Tom Show will anchor the morning show

Report: Most 'Newsroom' Perps Gave To Obama Campaign

Byron York

A significant problem with the now-suspended Federal Communications Commission plan to have government contractors question journalists about editorial decisions and practices was that it was a partisan exercise, according to an Opinion piece from Byron York, Chief Political Correspondent for the Washington Examiner.

He writes:

The plan originated among Democrats on the FCC; the commission's two Republican members didn't even learn about it until it was well under way. 

There was also a one-sidedness in the research behind the project. The FCC enlisted scholars from two big journalism schools, the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Communication and Democracy, to determine the "critical information needs" about which journalists would be questioned. The study, delivered in July 2012, listed five authors: Ernest J. Wilson III, Carola Weil, and Katya Ognyanova from USC, Lewis Friedland from Wisconsin, and Philip Napoli from Fordham University. (Weil is now with American University.)  

Four of the five, it turns out, contributed to President Obama's campaigns. 

Of course, there's nothing wrong with professors contributing to President Obama, and there's nothing wrong with Democrats exercising control over the FCC when there's a Democrat in the White House. But controversial projects are usually less controversial when they have some bipartisan support; it's often a good idea to have a little diversity of opinion in the mix when decisions are made. But in this case, the newsroom survey appears to have been a one-sided exercise every step of the way.

Read More Now

Report: Capturing Headphone Listening Concerns Radio

Renewed concerns about PPM capturing radio listening through headphones. According to InsideRadio's lede story Friday:

As more radio listening occurs via streaming on mobile devices, the issue of whether Nielsen's portable people meters are adequately capturing headphone listening has taken on greater importance. 

First generation meters required panelists to connect their mobile device to the meter with a short jumper cable, and then plug their earbuds into the meter itself.  Newer PPM360 devices allow direct connection to headphones.  Nielsen says the PPM360 headphone adapter is easy to use and is provided to every panelist, along with coaching on how to use the adapter.  Nielsen reports that more than 85% of its national PPM panel is currently using the PPM360 and it expects to be close to 100% by the end of the year.

Improvements notwithstanding, some broadcasters aren't convinced that the new headphone adapter is a slam-dunk.  "Headphones still present a huge problem because panel members don't use that silly dongle that's supposed to capture the headphone listening," says Cox Media Group EVP of radio Kim Guthrie, who serves as vice chair of the Advisory Council.  "If you're 20 years-old, you're not going to drag that to your office and plug it in." 

According to Guthrie, Nielsen has developed a solution to better capture headphone listening but has yet to demonstrate it.

Read More Now (Subscription Required)

SiriusXM Reports Strong 4Q Results

Liberty Media Corporation today reported fourth quarter and year end 2013 results. Highlights include:

• Subscriber base grew to 25.6 million
• Revenue of $1 billion, up 12% from the fourth quarter of 2012
• Adjusted EBITDA(2) grew 41% to $326 million
• Net income of $65 million
• Repurchased $1.8 billion in shares in 2013, including shares from Liberty Media
• Affirmed 2014 guidance: revenue of over $4 billion, Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $1.38 billion, net subscriber additions of approximately 1.25 million and free cash flow(2) approaching $1.1 billion
• Completed sale of first tranche of Liberty Media owned SIRI shares to SiriusXM in November 2013 for a total of $160 million
• Announced proposal to acquire the remaining equity of SiriusXM not owned by Liberty Media
• Live Nation reported record performance in 2013 with revenue up 11% to $6.5 billion and profitability in operating income of $140 million
• Repurchased 5.8% of LMCA outstanding shares in 2013

Greg Maffei

"SiriusXM again posted record results for the fourth quarter and full year 2013. Jim and his team continue to execute on the core business while addressing new customer segments and offering enhanced services," said Greg Maffei, President and CEO of Liberty Media.

"In January, we announced a proposal to acquire the rest of the SiriusXM equity not owned by Liberty. We believe this combination will simplify the capital structure, further align management and provide ultimate strategic and financial flexibility. We are responding to requests for information from the representatives of SiriusXM's special committee."

Salem Reports 4Q Revenue Rose One Percent

Salem Communications Corporation SALM -1.93%  released its results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2013.

Fourth Quarter 2013 Highlights:

• Total revenue increased 3.5%
• Internet and e-commerce revenue increased 16.6% and Internet and e-commerce operating income increased 33.2%
• Acquired Twitchy.com, a Twitter curation site, on December 10, 2013
• Total debt excluding capital leases decreased $3.2 million during the quarter to $291.3 million

Broadcast

• Net broadcast revenue increased 1.0% to $47.4 million from $47.0 million
• Station operating income ("SOI") (1) decreased 4.0% to $15.8 million from $16.5 million
• Same station net broadcast revenue increased 0.2% to $47.0 million from $46.9 million
• Same station SOI decreased 4.6% to $15.7 million from $16.5 million
• Same station SOI margin decreased to 33.5% from 35.2%.

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2012:

Consolidated

• Total revenue increased 3.4% to $236.9 million from $229.2 million
• Operating expenses increased 1.9% to $202.4 million from $198.7 million
• Operating expenses excluding gains or losses on the sale or disposal of assets, stock-based compensation expense and impairment charges increased 4.7% to $199.4 million from $190.4 million
• Operating income increased 13.3% to $34.5 million from $30.5 million
• The company had a net loss of $2.7 million, or $0.11 net loss per share, compared to net income of $4.4 million, or $0.18 net income per diluted share, in the prior year
• EBITDA decreased 50.1% to $22.0 million from $44.0 million
• Adjusted EBITDA decreased 1.3% to $52.8 million from $53.5 million.

Broadcast

• Net broadcast revenue increased 0.3% to $183.7 million from $183.2 million
• SOI decreased 2.5% to $60.8 million from $62.4 million
• Same station net broadcast revenue decreased 0.6% to $181.9 million from $183.1 million
• Same station SOI decreased 2.6% to $60.9 million from $62.6 million
• Same station SOI margin decreased to 33.5% from 34.2%

Salem Sez N/T Station Revenue Was Off 4 Percent

Evan Masyr

During Thursday's conference call with analysts. Evan D. Masyr, Chief Financial Officer for Salem Communications proivded data on the companys radio stations:

• 39 of Salem's radio stations are programmed in our foundational Christian Teaching and Talk format. These stations contributed 44% of total broadcast revenue and remained flat for the quarter. Block programming was up for -- in this format by 2.9%.
• News Talk stations had a decrease of 4% in revenue for the quarter entirely due to the lack of political revenue. Overall, these stations contributed 15% of our total broadcast revenue.
• 12 Contemporary Christian Music stations contributed 24% of total broadcast revenue, an increase of 5% for the quarter. Salem is seeing some strong results from many of its music stations, most notably this quarter in Dallas and in Atlanta.
• 7 Spanish language Christian Teaching and Talk stations grew revenue by 11%, and the format is now 2% of our total broadcast revenue.
• 10 stations doing a business talk format. This format contributed 3% of total broadcast revenue and increased 15% for the quarter.
• Salem's network revenue increased 1% for the quarter and is 9% of total broadcast revenue. 

Masyr also announced that Publishing revenue was flat at $3.4 million and is representing 5% of Salem's total revenue. Revenue from our Internet and e-commerce businesses increased 17% to $11.9 million. Internet revenue is 19% of total revenue.

Boston Radio: Glen Ordway To Launch 'Big Show Unfiltered'

Glenn Ordway

Glenn Ordway, who hosted one of the most popular radio shows in Boston and New England for 17 years, is set to return to the region’s sports scene next month in a multi-platform project.

“Big Show Unfiltered” will debut on Monday, March 17, from 3-6pm and will be heard on the internet through Ordway’s brand new website SportstalkBoston.com. Ordway will host alongside a slew of local personalities and contributors, some of whom will be familiar to the audience and as well as some fresh new voices. The show will available in its entirety on demand following its initial airing.

In addition to “Big Show Unfiltered,” Ordway and his team will produce a wide variety of new content that is part of a larger plan to populate his website with fresh programming throughout the day.

“I am so thrilled to once again be talking local sports in my hometown with the best fans in America,” said Ordway. “I look forward to presenting an alternative in the market that will feature the best of the past with some new, innovative elements and voices. And there is no reason to hold anything back anymore. It’s all unfiltered.”

The original “The Big Show,” was the first program of its kind in Boston and achieved immense success. The show was ranked No. 1 for several years in its core demographic of men ages 25-54, but also reached No. 1 with all adults 25-54, an achievement that, at the time, was unprecedented for a sports talk show.

A large part of the show’s success was due to the introduction of “The Whiner Line,” an incredibly popular segment featuring a compilation of listener generated calls that poked fun at everyone from Ordway to local sports figures to various local and national celebrities.

Fans and listeners will be able to access “Big Show Unfiltered” across multiple platforms, including mobile radio on all smart phones, tablets and internet enabled devices via TuneIn or sportstalkboston.com.

Additionally, talks are underway regarding future plans to build a terrestrial radio network with affiliates throughout New England, as well as with satellite radio.

Report: Radio Talkers Divided Over AZ Veto

Rush Limbaugh on Thursday blasted Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer’s veto of SB 1062, saying the decision has likely left the Founding Fathers “spinning in their graves” — although not all the conservative radio talkers agreed with his position, according to MacKenzie Weinger at Politico.

Limbaugh told listeners that with the veto, “Democrats and their media allies are cheering; even some Republicans are praising Arizona.” But SB 1062 was “mischaracterized from the get-go” as anti-gay when it was actually “pro-religious freedom,” Limbaugh said.

Tucson’s Jon Justice, on KTQH 104.1 FM the Truth, said he was “certainly glad that Gov. Jan Brewer did what she did. It was the right move. And I’m really glad she didn’t wait any longer.”

The conservative host of “The Jon Justice Show” said his listeners “were glad that it was over. That was kind of universal.” The entire fight over SB 1062 was a “bizarro battle of the misinformed,” he said.

And Salem's nationally syndicated radio host Mike Gallagher wrote in an email that he’s “focused on trying to get Republicans elected in November. I’m hoping the GOP will now focus on Obamacare. Frankly, I don’t like any issue getting in the way of that.”

Fox News’ Geraldo Rivera, on WABC 770 AM, also weighed in, tweeting, “Bravo Gov Brewer in Arizona-Not only was veto of vile law the right thing-it also drags the GOP from wrong side of history.”

And conservative radio host Dana Loesch, who also hosts a show on TheBlaze and KFTK 97.1 FM in St. Louis, tweeted after Brewer’s announcement Wednesday night that “the way that the media has covered the AZ story is predictably pitiful, but I’m shocked at some conservatives buying it. Whatta shame.”

Fox News Radio’s Todd Starnes tweeted on Wednesday night that with Brewer’s veto, she “makes Christians in her state second class citizens.”

Read More Now

NOLA Radio: WRNO Re-Ups To Air Voodoo Games

The New Orleans VooDoo of the Arena Football League and Clear Channel Radio announced their 2014 partnership on Thursday morning with WRNO 99.5 FM serving as the flagship station for VooDoo football for the fourth consecutive season.

Well known NOLA Sports figure Ken Trahan will give fans game play-by-play of VooDoo games for his 4th season. Back in the radio booth with Trahan after a year away is color analyst and longtime arena football player, coach, and general manager Jon Norris, who now serves on the coaching staff at Brother Martin High School.

Ken Trahan

"Our fans are accustomed to Ken Trahan calling our games on WRNO. Ken speaks from the heart of NOLA sports and we're honored to have him in our broadcast booth again,' said VooDoo Managing Partner Dan Newman. "Jon Norris brings a different perspective to the broadcast having been in the Arena Football League since its inception – as a player, coach, and team General Manager. He makes every listener feel like they're sitting in the stands."

"We're very proud to continue our relationship with the VooDoo. Not only are the games great entertainment, but I'm so excited that our listeners will be able to experience the passion that the VooDoo and its players bring to Arena Football," said Jim Fisher, program director for "Rush Radio" 99.5 FM.

Tulsa Radio: Hoax Call Gets Police To KVOO Studios

Tulsa Police responded to a hostage scare at Journal Broadcastings KVOO 98.5 FM Wednesday night. Tulsa police said a call came in shortly before 7 p.m. that masked men were inside KVOO.

Every Tulsa police officer who was not already on an emergency call respond to what turned out to be a hoax. 30-plus Tulsa Police Officers swarmed the street with their guns drawn, after a call about a hostage situation inside KVOO radio station.

Officers originally thought masked men were holding workers hostage inside the radio station. Police quickly jumped into action, blocking off traffic, notifying neighbors and searching the building. But they were unable to find any threat.

Police said the call came in through a third party and they're having a hard time tracking the original caller.

NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com |

Charlotte Radio: Jack Daniel Named PD at The Lake

Jack Daniel

CCM+E/Charlotte has named longtime radio personality Jack Daniel as the new Program Director of WLKO 102.9 The Lake.

According to gocarolinas.com, Daniel will also continue his role as Midday Personality/Program Director for WEND 106.5 The End as part of a multi-year contract renewal.

Regional Programming Manager Jeff Wyatt says, “Jack has had the bead on the alternative audience in Charlotte for 19 years now, and his vision for our new Adult Hits station, ‘The Lake’ has earned him the keys to that brand as well.

“We feel very lucky to have a guy with such valuable street knowledge and experience in our studios every day.”

Daniel says he feels right at home at The Lake since he played most of the station’s music when it was current.

“I’ve been very blessed to spend my entire media career in my hometown,” Daniels says.

Read More Now

WWW Turns 25 In March

Since 1995, the Pew Research Center has documented this explosive adoption of the internet and its wide-ranging impacts on everything from: the way people get, share, and create news; the way they take care of their health; the way they perform their jobs; the way they learn; the nature of their political activity; their interactions with government; the style and scope of their communications with friends and family; and the way they organize in communities.

In a new national survey to mark the 25th anniversary of the Web, Pew Research finds further confirmation of the incredible spread and impact of the internet:

• Adoption: 87% of American adults now use the internet, with near-saturation usage among those living in households earning $75,000 or more (99%), young adults ages 18-29 (97%), and those with college degrees (97%). Fully 68% of adults connect to the internet with mobile devices like smartphones or tablet computers.
• The adoption of related technologies has also been extraordinary: Over the course of Pew Research Center polling, adult ownership of cell phones has risen from 53% in our first survey in 2000 to 90% now. 
• Ownership of smartphones has grown from 35% when we first asked in 2011 to 58% now.

Impact: Asked for their overall judgment about the impact of the internet, toting up all the pluses and minuses of connected life, the public’s verdict is overwhelmingly positive:

• 90% of internet users say the internet has been a good thing for them personally and only 6% say it has been a bad thing, while 3% volunteer that it has been some of both.
• 76% of internet users say the internet has been a good thing for society, while 15% say it has been a bad thing and 8% say it has been equally good and bad.

Read or download the full report: Click Here

Oscars To Be Presented Sunday

Award season wraps up on Sunday (March 2nd) when Ellen Degeneres hosts the 86th Annual Academy Awards.

The evening will include big name presenters such as Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Will Smith, Emma Watson, Kevin Spacey, Goldie Hawn, Harrison Ford, and more.

It will also feature performances by Pharrell Williams, U2, Frozen star Idina Menzel, Karen O, P!nk, and Bette Midler -- who will be making her debut on the Oscar stage.

American Hustle and Gravity tied for the most nominations with 10 nods each. 12 Years a Slave earned nine.

A song called "Alone Yet Not Alone" was disqualified from the Best Song category when Bruce Broughton, the song's composer, improperly emailed academy members during the nomination voting period.

For Nominee List: Click Here

Philly Radio: Mike Schmidt Joins Comcast Broadcast Team

Mike Scmidt

Jamie Moyer and Matt Stairs aren't the only former Phillies transitioning to the announce booth. Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt will also join the Phils' broadcasting team for all 13 Sunday home games in 2014.

Schmidt had been a guest instructor at Phillies spring training for years, but had to bow out of that duty this spring because of an undisclosed health issue.

Schmidt becomes the newest member of a revamped Phillies announce team. Moyer and Stairs took the place of longtime color commentator Chris Wheeler and analyst/former Phillie Gary "Sarge" Matthews.

“I am extremely excited to be a part of the Phillies broadcast team,” said Schmidt. “Comcast SportsNet has put together a great lineup."

Considered by many to be the greatest third baseman in major-league history, Michael Jack Schmidt (hear Harry say it) played his entire 18-year career with the Phillies. He retired in 1989, had his number retired in 1990, and in 1995 became the 26th first-ballot Hall of Famer in major-league history.

When he retired, Schmidt held 14 major-league records, 18 National League records and 35 Phillies records.

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FCC Logs Grammy Complaints

The January 26 CBS telecast of the Grammy Awards prompted more than 40 viewers to file indecency complaints with the FCC. The Smoking Gun broke down the beefs into three categories:

1. Beyonce’s bumping and grinding with Jay Z
2. The gay marriages performed by Queen Latifah
3. Katy Perry’s blatant summoning of Satan

However, FCC officials received no letters about Robin Thicke's performance with Chicago.

VA Radio: FLS Creditors Meet Friday

Creditors in The Free Lance–Star Publishing Co.’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy case will meet this morning in Richmond federal court.

The FLS of Fredericksburg, VA, which filed for bankruptcy Jan. 23, has two primary creditors—New York City-based Sandton Capital Partners and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp.—as well as a number of much smaller ones.

FLC assets include the newspaper, Fredericksburg.com, Freelancestar.com, Country WFLS 93.3 FM, Top40 WVBX 99.3 FM The Vibe, Classic Rcoker WWUZ 96.9 FM , and WNTX, Print Innovators, several real-estate properties in the city and a host of additional digital products.

SEE ORIGINAL POSTING: Click Here

Sandton owns a loan made to the FLS in 2007 that now has an outstanding balance of about $38 million. The FLS used the loan to build Print Innovators, a state-of-the-art commercial printing plant on Belman Road in Fredericksburg.

There was a brief hearing in the bankruptcy case Thursday. Another hearing is scheduled next Thursday at which the procedure for the bidding process of the FLS’ assets will be discussed. Another hearing is scheduled for March 24.

The FLS never missed a loan payment to original lender BB&T, but fell out of compliance with the terms of the loan agreement due to an insufficient ratio between its debt and earnings.

The FLS is now operating as normal inside bankruptcy protection. The company brought in about $35 million in revenue in 2013, according to court documents, down slightly from 2012.

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February 28 In Radio history

In 1922...KHQ-AM, Spokane, Washington, began broadcasting. Louis Wasmer founded the pioneer radio station KHQ in 1922 in Seattle, as part of a motorcyle shop he owned. He later re-established the station in Spokane in 1925.

Although the KHQ calls are no longer used on the AM band, they still exist on TV.

The long time frequency of 590 kHz which KHQ used until 1985 is now occupied by KQNT.

The picture to the left is a view of the KHQ's tower on top of the Davenport Building probably from the 1940's based on the age of the automobiles pictured. KHQ was not using the tower at this time. The KHQ and KGA signs are attached to the Radio Central Building which was being used by those station at that time.

In 1942...Frank Bonner, WKRP in Cincinnati's salesman Herb Tarlek, was born


In 1969...WABC FM starts “Love” format.  The station went on the air on May 4, 1948 under the call sign WJZ-FM  and in March 1953, the station's call letters were changed to WABC-FM following the merger of the American Broadcasting Company with United Paramount Theatres.

As most FM stations did during the medium's formative years, 95.5 FM simulcast the programming of its AM sister station.

In the early 1960s, however, WABC-FM began to program itself separately from WABC (AM). During the 1962–63 New York City newspaper strike, the station carried an news format for 17 hours daily. Two-and-a-half years before WINS launched its own around-the-clock, all-news format in April 1965, it was the first attempt at an all-news format in the New York market.

WABC's AM personalities, notably Dan Ingram, Chuck Leonard, and Bob Lewis, hosted programs on the FM side which were the total opposites of the Top 40-powered sound for which they were better known on AM. WABC-FM did continue to simulcast its AM sister station during Herb Oscar Anderson's morning drive program.

At the start of 1968, ABC split its radio network into four distinct components, one of which was dedicated to FM radio. The following year, WABC-FM and its sister stations–KABC-FM in Los Angeles; WLS-FM in Chicago; KGO-FM in San Francisco; WXYZ-FM in Detroit; KQV-FM in Pittsburgh; and newly acquired KXYZ-FM in Houston–began carrying an automated, youth-oriented, progressive rock format known as Love.  Click Here for aircheck. Click Here for Part Two.


In 1983...the CBS series M*A*S*H ended after 11 seasons with a special two-and-a-half-hour finale that was watched by an estimated 121.6 million people -- 77 percent of the viewing public.


In 2001...WNSW 1430 AM dropped an adult standards format. Today the station, with the same call letters, airs a Spanish format.


In 2003...Sale of WEVD 1050 AM to ABC approved by FCC.  Today WEPN-AM airs ESPN DePortes.

Hubcap Carter

In 2004...longtime Texas radio broadcaster Ken "Hubcap" Carter died at age 60. Carter billed himself as the "semi-legendary almost king of rock 'n' roll".  Carter, who was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame in 2002, began his career in Lufkin.

He got his nickname early in his career for spinning records — "real records, like spinning hubcaps," Lucia said.

On December 31, 1985, singer Ricky Nelson and his band were en route to KLUV's New Year's Eve Sock Hop, hosted by Ken "Hubcap" Carter. The plane crashed near DeKalb, Texas, killing Nelson and his entourage.


In 2006...CBS Radio sued Howard Stern, his agent, his company, and SIRIUS Satellite Radio for "compensatory and punitive damages for multiple breaches of contract, fraud, unjust enrichment, and misappropriation of CBS Radio's broadcast time".  CBS Radio claimed Stern had violated his contract by improperly using his airtime on CBS stations to promote his January 2006 move to Sirius.

Stern "misappropriated millions of dollars' worth of CBS Radio air time for his own financial benefit," the 43-page lawsuit charged.

The contentious lawsuit was settle a few month later when Stern's new employer, Sirius Satellite Radio Inc, agreed to pay $2 million to CBS Radio in return for the rights to the classic recordings.


In 2008...John R. Gambling did his last show at 77 WABC



In 2009...ABC Radio commentator Paul Harvey died at the age of 90.

NYC Radio: Dan Taylor Posts About CBS-FM Change

Dan Taylor

WCBS 101.1 FM's new Mid-Day personality has made his first posting on Facebook since Tuesday's announcement that Scott Shannon would be the station's new morning host.

Starting Monday, Dan Taylor will be following 'Shannon In The Morning'.

According to Taylor's post:

"Just coming up for air after a busy couple of days. Many thanks for all your kind words and wishes. I'll try to respond as time permits. 

The “switch-shift” switchboard has been jammed here at CBS-FM! After many years of Mornings, I’m now looking forward to spending middays with you and welcome my old friend Scott Shannon to the CBS-FM family. (I hope we’re still friends after he works with our pal MR G!)  See you 10 to 3 Monday!"

New Tax Code Proposal Gets Chorus of Boos

Rep. Dave Camp

Dave Camp (R-Mich.), the outgoing chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, unveiled his tax reform package Wednesday, and, according to adweek.com,  the bad news for the advertising and media industries is that it includes new limits on the advertising tax deduction. As feared, Camp's proposal would cut the deduction by half in the first year with the rest amortized over 10 years.

To help out small businesses and local advertisers, Camp's draft would allow companies to expense the first million dollars of advertising, provided the total advertising budget does not exceed $2 million.

Camp's proposal, at nearly 1,000 pages, would lower the corporate tax rate from 35 to 25 percent and simplify and reduce tax rates for individuals into two brackets, 10 and 25 percent. To pay for those decreases, he had to find some "pay fors." The advertising tax deduction—for more than a century treated as an ordinary, fully deductible business expense—is now being treated as a loophole or special interest.

In response to Wednesday's release of a tax reform discussion draft, NAB Executive Vice President of Communications Dennis Wharton issued a statement:

NAB's Dennis Wharton

"NAB strongly opposes any job-killing proposal that would limit the ability of thousands of large and small businesses from fully deducting their annual advertising expenses. Advertising on local radio and television stations is a key driver of the American economy – indeed, a recent study found local broadcast advertising generates $1.05 trillion in GDP and supports 1.48 million jobs. NAB will work with lawmakers and other stakeholders to ensure the advertising tax deduction continues to create economic prosperity and well-paying jobs."

The Washington Times reports Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, said Tuesday there was no chance of tax reform happening this year, and House Speaker John A. Boehner offered another stiff-arm Wednesday when asked about the investment income provision.

“Blah, blah, blah, blah,” the Ohio Republican said. “Listen, there’s a conversation that needs to begin. This is the beginning of the conversation.”

FCC's Clyburn Defends Getting Nosey In Newsrooms

Commissioner Mignon Clyburn

A Democrat on the Federal Communications Commission is defending the agency’s controversial study of newsroom practices, according to The Hill.

Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, who designed the initial study as acting FCC chairman last year, said the study of newsroom practices was an attempt by the agency to better understand, not control, the industries it regulates, including the news industry.

Speaking at a Media Institute event Wednesday, Clyburn said those fears were overblown.

"The goal for this study is to give us a better ... foundation for the decisions that are before us. It will be very difficult to make any type of sound regulatory decision … in a data vacuum," she said.

“Understanding the markets that we regulate is necessary, it is critical and it is urgent."

Clyburn pushed back against the vocal critics of the agency and the study who claim that it is an attempt to influence news outlets.

“I would never, ever, ever be a part of any effort to chill speech, shape the news or influence” those gathering the news, she said.

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Report: Reasons For FCC To Snoop On Newsrooms

Ernest Wilson

The Federal Communications Commission in 2012 launched a study that concluded the agency must “devote greater attention” to ensuring that news media organizations have a “diversity” of ownership and meet the public’s “critical information needs,” WND has learned.

The study, titled “Review of the Literature Regarding Critical Information Needs of the American Public,” was presented to the FCC at an official agency event June 26, 2012.

A co-author of the study is Ernest Wilson, dean of the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Wilson also was an adviser on communication issues to President Obama’s 2009 White House transition team.

Calling for more “diversity” in ownership of media, the study identified what it determined to be the “critical information needs” of local communities that must be met by media outlets.

The stated “needs” include information about:

• politics, including candidates at all relevant levels of governance
• health and welfare
• education, including the quality of local schools and choices available to parents
• transportation, including available alternatives, costs and schedules
• economic opportunities
• the environment, including air and water quality and access to recreation
• civic information, including the availability of civic institutions

The study concluded low income and some minority communities are likely to be “systematically disadvantaged” in terms of their “critical information needs” being met.

“We therefore recommend the FCC devote greater attention to these barriers and to opportunities as part of their statutory mission,” concluded the study.

The information comes after the FCC was getting ready last week to start a “Critical Information Needs” survey in Columbia, S.C.

The agency now says it is scaling back some of the survey questions after a flurry of negative media attention, admitting the queries “overstepped the bounds of what is required.”

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Report: Digital Radio Sales To Grow 22 Percent This Year

Gordon Borrell

With a digital revenue increase of 15% in 2013, radio is poised to grow 22%  this year -- surpassing the half-billion mark in digital advertising for the first time -- according to a new report issued by Borrell Associates on behalf of the Radio Advertising Bureau.

The report, Benchmarking: Local Radio Stations’ Online Revenues, states that the average station made $166,490 in digital advertising, or about 3% of its total revenue.  Some large-market stations are making millions, Borrell reported. Average revenue for four-station clusters is approaching three-quarters of a million dollars.

The report is based on Borrell's ongoing industry-wide surveys of more than 7,400 local online operations in the U.S. and Canada, including more than 2,790 radio stations in 751 clusters. This report analyzes data from three principal sources: ad revenue as reported by the stations, local business ad spending, and a radio manager survey asking questions about digital revenue resources, sales methods, expenses and other digital operations.  This year’s manager survey is comprised of 294 respondents representing 2,010 stations.

Along with detailed benchmarking, the report offers insights into what radio managers are thinking with regard to their digital ventures.  The majority of managers (62%) believe their sales reps are talking to the wrong buyers when trying to sell digital and an overwhelming majority (92%) believes that more training would help boost digital sales at their stations.

"There are a lot of positives here," said Gordon Borrell, CEO of Borrell Associates. "We’re still seeing three-fourths of the managers say they believe digital sales hold a lot of growth potential, and now we’re seeing some clear suggestions on how to tap it.  Training is an opportunity, as is the need to get more buy-in from upper management. Apparently, the rank-and-file are trying to get the word back to the general that there’s gold in them thar’ hills."

Erica Farber

Overall, radio sellers closed $426.3 million in local online advertising last year according to Borrell Associates. They expect the number to hit $520 million this year as many radio groups expand into selling fast-growing digital services.

“We’re experiencing year-over-year double digit growth in Radio; and to truly maximize this revenue stream this survey continues to provide us with areas to improve upon and ultimately grow our overall revenue share,” said Erica Farber, President and CEO, RAB.  “Most notably, sales managers are looking for continued training for their sales staffs and a better understanding of the digital buying community.  The RAB is poised to help in this area through our professional development programs and outreach.”

Cumulus Announces Key Executive NASH Appointments

Cumulus has announced four key NASH talent and programming appointments for the popular syndicated radio programs “Kickin’ It with Kix” and “American Country Countdown,” hosted by Country music personality Kix Brooks.

The new appointments are:

• Suzanne Alexander, Co-Host of “Kickin’ It with Kix". Alexander brings to NASH a deep knowledge of the Country music industry, with extensive Country format radio experience and more than a decade spent in Nashville. She is a Country music broadcast veteran, currently serving as host of Great American Country’s “The Playlist.” In addition to co-hosting “Kickin’ It with Kix,” Alexander will serve as substitute host of “American Country Countdown” while continuing her role with Great American Country.
• Lonnie Napier, Executive Producer of “Kickin’ It with Kix” and “American Country Countdown”. Napier is promoted to his new role after serving as Associate Producer of “American Country Countdown” for four years. Prior to joining Cumulus, Napier spent more than 20 years as Producer for the legendary DJ Wolfman Jack and 10 years as VP of Wolfman Jack Entertainment. He has also served as Executive Producer for Jones Media Networks’ “Bill Cody’s Classic Country Weekend” as well as Producer for Great American Country’s video request show, “CRL.”
• Holly Ennen, Head Writer of “Kickin’ It with Kix” and “American Country Countdown”. Ennen is promoted to her new position at both programs after serving as Associate Writer for “American Country Countdown.”
• Nikita Palmer, NASH Network Producer. Palmer joins NASH programming from the Cumulus Digital Division, where she served as a Producer, Content Manager and most recently, Social Media Director of “American Country Countdown” and “Kickin’ It with Kix.”

Cumulus launched the NASH entertainment brand based on the Country music lifestyle in January of this year starting with the flagship NASH FM 94.7 in New York City. In addition to Country radio stations, the NASH brand will include a NASH magazine, concerts/events, online content and television programming.

Artists Rally For Radio to Pay Performance Royalties

The Content Creators Coalition sponsored the Artists' Pay for Radio Play Rally Tuesday in New York City calling on terrestrial radio to pay artists performance rights royalties, according to Billboard.

Billboard reports the United States is one of only several countries where artists don’t receive a performance royalty when their song is played on terrestrial radio. While songwriters receive airplay royalties, musicians who perform on a song and artists have never been compensated in the U.S.

Furthermore, when an American artist's music is played on the radio internationally, performance royalties for the artist are withheld, even if that country has different laws in place, leaving millions of unclaimed dollars on the table.

This is an issue artists and labels have fought with terrestrial radio over for decades.

When sound recording became copyrighted under law in 1972, radio broadcasters were able to claim an exemption from paying performance royalties on the grounds that the free exposure artists' gained from radio play lead to record sales and was payment enough.  For the first time since 1976 Congress is reviewing and rewriting copyright law with could present a new opportunity for a change in legislation.

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Miami Cops Release Bieber Booking Video

It's one video that Justin Bieber hopes doesn't become a viral hit.

Prosecutors released video taken at a Miami Beach police station  showing Bieber stumbling his way through a sobriety test after his Jan. 23 arrest on DUI and drag racing charge.

WSVN-TV - 7NEWS Miam Ft. Lauderdale News, Weather, Deco

In new CCTV footage released on Wednesday by the State Attorney's Office in Miami, the 19-year-old can clearly be seen alongside pal Khalil Amir Sharieff enjoying a spot of exercise in the confines of his cell after being hauled off to Miami-Dade County Jail in the early hours of January 23.

According to the Daily Mail, he may have been under the influence of alcohol and marijuana - as he admitted to police officers  - but the singer still managed an impressive 23 push-ups in 27 seconds.

PA Radio: CCM+E To Flip WRAW To Hispanic Format

Reading, PA's oldies station is about to change formats.

WRAW 1340 AM will become Rumba 1340 AM at the stroke of midnight Friday, switching to a Spanish hot adult contemporary format, the station's owner, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, announced Wednesday.

"We decided to launch Rumba 1340 after years of requests from the local community and positive feedback from advertisers," said Craig Stevens, program director, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Reading. "Reading has a very high Latino population and we are excited to engage this very important audience with Rumba 1340's great programming."

WRAW has been airing Scott Shannon's True Oldies Channel.

L-I Radio: WLIR Drops ESPN 98.7 FM-NYC Simulcast

WLIR 107.1 FM (4.1kw) 60dBu Coverage

WLIR 107.1 FM, the Hampton Bays-based station that had been simulcasting ESPN New York Radio on Long Island, reverted Monday to the All-Christian programming format it had offered until last summer.

The move follows an earlier one last month in which the station dropped all of its local shows, branded as part of its Champions Radio format, and went exclusively with ESPN’s New York-based programs according to Newsday.

WEPN-FM 98.7 (6kw) 54dBu Coverage

The change leaves many on Long Island’s East End outside the reach of ESPN’s primary 98.7 FM signal without terrestrial radio access to the channel's programming, including Knicks and Rangers games.
Rich Anderson, the station president, did not return emails seeking comment.

ESPN said in a statement, “Yes, we are aware that [Monday] the station was returning to an All-Christian format.   ESPNNY 98.7 is currently exploring other terrestrial options to serve Eastern Long Island.

NJ Radio: Gov. Christie Decries Media 'Hysteria'

Gov. Chris Christi

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie decried the “hysteria” surrounding the traffic scandal troubling his administration on Wednesday during his regular "As the Governor" Show on WKXW 101.5 FM NJ 101.5.

Last night on the Townsquare Media station, he said “if what folks decide they want to do on the Democratic side is start running for governor now for 2017, then it will be harder to get things done. If the legislature wants to be partisan and political, and block the agenda that the voters voted for in November, then they’re going to have to put up with the political consequences that come along with that.”

During the program, the governor admitted Bridgegate is a distraction, “but it doesn’t prevent us from doing our job — I mean sure, because if you spend any amount of time on it during any day, that’s time that you otherwise would be spending on something else.”


Christie also said the Bridgegate probe “is an important thing to look into and get into the bottom of and we’ll spend the time that we need to spend on it, on appropriate investigations, and then when we have all the information we need we’ll put it out to the public.”

“I am not going to give in to the hysteria of questions that are given by folks who have information today that I didn’t have when this unfolded,” Christie said.

During the show, the governor also pointed out he hasn’t had one Bridgegate-related question during the last couple of town hall meetings he’s held.

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Atlanta Radio: Chris Dimino Returns On-Air Monday

Chris Dimino

Former 790/The Zone morning host Chris Dimino will be joining the morning show on sports talk WCNN 680 AM The Fan when he’s eligible to return to Atlanta airwaves March 17, according to Rodney Ho at accessatlanta. com.

The Fan President David Cickey confirmed Thursday that Dimino will be working with Perry Laurentino and Christopher Rude on the Rude Awakening.

Dimino has been with the Fan for five months but hasn’t been able to go on the air because of a non-compete clause in his previous contract with the Zone.

“We’re excited to have him on,” said Dickey, who simulcasts the Fan on 93.7 on the FM dial. “He spent a lot of time away. He misses it and is looking forward to being back in the saddle.”

Last June, Dimino lost his job as part of the Zone’s morning shot Mayhem in the AM after a brief bit his former colleague Nick Cellini thought up went viral – in a bad way.

In the bit, Cellini played Steve Gleason, an ex-New Orleans Saints football player suffering from the degenerative nerve disease ALS, in a robotic voice doing stupid knock-knock jokes. Dimino protested at the start of the bit and mostly kept his mouth shut during those two painful minutes. The audio bounced around the Web and by the end of the work day, he, Steak Shapiro and Cellini were gone.

All three have apologized.

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Toronto Radio: Rod Ford Lashes Out At Media

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says he can’t figure out why the Toronto media follows him around everywhere and asks questions about his personal life.

“I still can't figure it out,” said Ford during a radio interview on NewsTalk 1010 with Joe Warmington Tuesday night.

“I’m saving taxpayers’ money and the average folk out there, the blue collar worker likes me and our polls are telling us that.”

Ford’s comments about the Toronto media came just hours after he ducked questions about drug use at a press conference, according to Global News.

Ford appeared on the Today Show with Matt Lauer Tuesday morning where he denied using illegal drugs since his first interview with the NBC host on Nov. 18, 2013.

He also admitted to having a few drinks but “not to the point of some of the episodes before.”

“If you want to talk about my personal life, that’s fine. But you know what, I’ve made mistakes in the past, I’m moving on and they’re just adamant about this interview I did this morning with Matt,” said Ford.