Hospitalized Casey "Won't Be With Us Much Longer"

Kerri Kasem

Radio legend “Casey Kasem’s health is declining and won’t be with us much longer,” daughter Kerri Kasem and his other children said Friday night, according to QFox13.com.

The statement was issued shortly after a Kitsap County (Wash.) judge recognized a California court order that gave Kerri full health care conservatorship over her father rather than Kasem’s wife, Jean.

Kerri earlier had said she wanted to take her dad back to California. But she did not indicate that after her court victory in Washington state.

“Right now, Casey Kasem’s health is declining and won’t be with us much longer,” the family statement said, adding that Jean Kasem had a “private family moment for 2.5 hours so she could be by his side.”

“If he opens his eyes,” Kerri said, “I want my Dad just once to see everyone standing around him, putting our differences aside and let him know how much he is loved by everyone, including Jean and Liberty.”

Liberty is Kasem’s daugther from his marriage with Jean.

Kasem, 82, is in critical condition at St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor, Wash.

Read More Now

Kasem Family Feud: Kerri Alleges Jean 'Tortured Him'

Casey Kasem's daughter Kerri says her father has suffered torment at the hands of his wife, Jean, and that his health is declining.

"She tortured him," Kerri Kasem tells The Hollywood Reporter.

Casey Kasem is hospitalized in Gig Harbor, Wash., and while St. Joseph's Hospital spokesman Scott Thompson says Mr. Kasem's condition is stable, Kerri Kasem expects the worst, and blames her stepmother Jean, who has battled the family for about a year in court and in the press.

Jean Kasem has described the trip  -- which led Kerri Casem to file a missing persons report for her father May 14 – as a family vacation from Los Angeles to Washington State.

Casey Kasem

She says they went to Las Vegas, Arizona, back to Las Vegas, and then to Washington. She says the trip began when Jean Kasem took her father out of Berkley East Hospital in Santa Monica because she and her sister had visited him after not being allowed to see him for five months.

"Jean took him from the place where he was safe, did not have any bedsores or infections, took him to the Vdara Hotel in Las Vegas, took him to Arizona, couldn't find a hideout, went back to Las Vegas, then found a friend who her parents knew back in the '60s in Guam and took him to Washington."

She goes on to allege her father did "not have medication" and was "being fed through his feeding tube with Ensure." She says he "was in excruciating pain" when he arrived at the hospital in Washington, and that a doctor told her the DJ had a large ulcer and painful muscle contractures.

"My dad was moaning and crying, and for three weeks didn't have any pain medication. She tortured him for two and a half weeks," Kerri Kasem says. "This woman has hastened my father's death."

Read More Now

June 8 Radio History

In 1947...the 15-minute "Lassie" radio show began its three-year run – first on ABC then on NBC.


In 1967...Exactly one week after its release in the UK, the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" went to #1, where it remained for 27 weeks. Costing $42,500 to produce and requiring 700 hours of studio time, it was also the first album to print the lyrics on the sleeve.

In 1968…The Rolling Stones released the single, "Jumpin' Jack Flash"

In 1968…Gary Puckett & The Union Gap released "Lady Will Power"

In 2003...Dan Ingram does last show at WCBS 101.1 FM NYC. Here's an aircheck from 1992:




In 2011…Steve Popovich, who founded and managed Cleveland International Records, died at the age of 68.


In 2011…Former Detroit Tigers broadcaster/outfielder Jim Northrup died of complications from Alzheimer's disease at age 71.

Casey Kasem "Critical" In Hospital

Casey Kasem

Renowned radio personality Casey Kasem is in critical condition at a hospital in western Washington, a spokesman for St. Anthony Hospital told CNN in a written statement Thursday.

"Mr. Kasem is alert and appears comfortable at this time," Scott Thompson, a spokesman for the facility in Gig Harbor added.

The 82-year-old former host of "American Top 40" and "Casey's Top 40" is receiving antibiotics through IVs, blood pressure support medicine and care for his bed sores, Thompson said.

Kasem was admitted to the hospital Sunday after one of his daughters and an ambulance crew retrieved him from a home where he and his wife were staying with friends.

"Any further updates on Mr. Kasem's condition will be at the discretion and approval of his children," Thompson said.

Danny Deraney, a representative of daughter Kerri Kasem, told CNN that members of the family, including Casey Kasem's brother, were flying to Washington. When asked if they feared Casey Kasem might die, Deraney said it could be his last moments or he could get better. Deraney clarified that he never meant that Kasem's health was failing as was reported by several media outlets.

The radio icon has been at the center of a family feud between Jean Kasem, his wife of 34 years, and his three children from his first marriage.

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Kasem Family Feud: Judge..Casey ‘May Be In His Final Hours'

Because “it appears that Mr. Kasem may be in his final hours, both sides should be allowed to visit Mr. Kasem at the same time,” orders Kitsap Superior Court Judge Jennifer Forbes

As Casey Kasem's health is declining, a judge has ordered that both sides of his family be allowed visitation at the same time. However, the judge also ordered that the two sides not communicate with one another while on hospital property.

Kasem is currently in St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor, Washington, where the legendary radio DJ is in critical condition, according to hospital spokesperson Scott Thompson. He was brought in on Sunday suffering from an infected bed sore.

He is currently on medication to control his blood pressure, and is being treated for bed sores. “Mr. Kasem is alert, appears comfortable at this time,” said Thompson in a written statement.

Read More Now

Atlanta Radio: Hope Angelone New GSM At WNNX-FM

Hope Angelone

Cumulus Atlanta announces that veteran radio sales executive Hope Angelone has been appointed to General Sales Manager of WNNX Rock 100.5 FM in Atlanta.

Angelone was previously Director of Sales for Entercom’s four stations in Norfolk, VA. Prior to that, she held the GSM post at Clear Channel’s Hartford, CT station cluster, after serving as Local Sales Manager and Director of Sales for WKCI, WELI, and WAVZ. She takes the GSM reins at WNNX on Monday, June 9.

Jeff Brown, Senior Vice President, Cumulus Media, said: “Hope was a key part of my team in Norfolk some years back and her results speak for themselves. She will be a huge asset to Rock 100.5 WNNX. Hope has an incredible work ethic and an intense focus on winning. She expects a lot from her team and gives even more.”

Angelone said: “Jeff Brown is unmatched as a leader and I am proud to join the talented team in Atlanta as GSM of Rock 100.5 WNNX. I am fired up and ready to hit the ground running!"  

San Diego Radio: Big Bus Connects With Z90 Listeners

Hip Hop XHiTZ Jammin’ Z90 in San Diego welcomes the return of its biggest promotional vehicle ever, the “Big Bus”! Back in the 90’s, the 50-foot bus was a familiar sight throughout San Diego County and cruised around in its colorful enormity turning heads and showing up at station and community events… and sometimes, at competitors’ events! The Big Bus was sold off in the late ‘90’s when new station owners cut related costs, but problem solved when R Dub!, Program Director of Jammin’ Z90, bought a new tour bus to use for his nationally syndicated program, Sunday Night Slow Jams.  Earlier this year Sunday Night Slow Jams and Jammin’ Z90 inked a partnership to use the bus, locally, for the radio station.  Now…The Big Bus is back in business for Jammin’ Z90 and San Diegans are excited!

Jammin’ Z90’s Big Bus is sponsored by Pepsi, and is outfitted with a full broadcast studio and media center inside. “The people’s bus” travels to a variety of locations at listeners’ requests and treats San Diegans to free prizes such as concert tickets, cash, and a busload of free Pepsi. The Jammin’ Z90 Big Bus not only appears at major events and concerts, but also makes surprise visits to bake sales, charity carwashes, Quinceañeras, and more.

XHiTZ 90.# FM (100Kw) Red 60dBu Coverage

R Dub! said: “It’s about time San Diego radio shakes things up again! Since I’ve been here I’ve heard, ‘Whatever happened to the Big Bus?’ a million times. It was such an integral part of the Jammin’ Z90 DNA for so many years and was definitely a force to be reckoned with! But the bus isn’t just about looking awesome and crashing other radio stations’ remotes. We’ll be using it as a way to connect with listeners and support important local charities by promoting non-profit events as our commitment to doing good for our community. But yeah, crashing our competitors’ remotes will be awesome, too!”

For more information about Jammin’ Z90, visit: www.z90.com.

Chicago Radio: Smiles Abound at WBBM, Cubs Presser

At a live press conference Thursday at Wrigley Field, CBS RADIO and the Chicago Cubs made the monumental announcement that Newsradio WBBM 780 AM will become the flagship station of the beloved team beginning in 2015.  

The historically significant and multifaceted deal also includes a marketing and entertainment partnership that includes promotion across CBS RADIO’s seven stations in the market and the creation of live music events at the iconic Wrigley Field.

Attached please find a celebratory picture from yesterday’s event.

Pictured from L-R:

Rod Zimmerman, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, CBS RADIO Chicago

Dan Mason, President and CEO, CBS RADIO

Pat Hughes, Cubs broadcast team

Crane Kenney, President of Business Operations, Chicago Cubs

Ron Coomer, Cubs broadcast team

Music Licensing To Get Two Days of Congressional Attention

Witnesses from around the music business are set for two House Judiciary Committee hearings that will help shape the future of music licensing. The first hearing, previously announced, will take place on Tuesday, June 10th at 10am ET. Billboard has learned that the second hearing will be held June 25th.

The hearings will allow various stakeholders -- so many of them the topic merits two hearings rather than one -- to present their views on how music licensing should be improved, or left alone, to further the digital music business. Although the topic and conversation may seem dry, the hearings will help reshape of the future music business and ultimately impact everyone from consumers to creators. To change how sound recordings and musical works are licensed could affect the economics of digital music for services, impact royalties for creators and rights holders, and help the creation of new business models.

June's hearings on music licensing are part of a larger effort by the House Judiciary Committee to update copyright law. Since last year, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet has held a number of hearings with an underlying theme of copyright revision. Hearings held in 2014 have covered the DMCA's notice and takedown process, the first-sale doctrine, compulsory video licenses, preservation and reuse of copyrighted works, and the scope of copyright protection.

Read More Now

National Radio HOF Announces 2014 Inductees

For the first time since 1992, the induction ceremony for the National Radio Hall of Fame will not take place in Chicago. 

The Nov. 9 event will be held in Los Angeles, though no venue has yet been selected.

According to a statement released by Bruce DuMont, founder and president of the Museum of Broadcast Communications — which is the home of the radio hall of fame — the decision to move the 2014 ceremony was influenced by the fact that “there are many Radio Hall of Famers living in southern California and several 2014 inductees.”

Delilah

Along with Dick Orkin of “Chickenman” fame and Ira Glass of “This American Life”, the other 2014 Radio Hall of Fame inductees will be veteran New York talk show host Barry Farber; Jon Miller, the voice of the San Francisco Giants, syndicated radio duo Charlie Brown and Irv Harrigan (known as Jack Woods and Paul Menard); and posthumously famed actress Agnes Moorehead (who got her start in radio) and Stanley Hubbard, the radio pioneer and longtime head of Minneapolis-based Hubbard Broadcasting.

The Nov. 9 fete will be emceed by nationally-syndicated radio personality Delilah and broadcast live in a two show produced and distributed by Premiere Networks.

“Deep Reservations” From NAB On FCC Auction Plans

Gordon Smith

In response to the FCC's proposed framework for the broadcast spectrum incentive auction order Thursday, NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith stated:

"NAB has deep reservations about the FCC’s incentive auction framework order released this week. Broadcasters supported the bipartisan Spectrum Act precisely because Congress captured the proper balance between repurposing spectrum for mobile broadband while holding local TV stations harmless in the process. As the two dissenting FCC Commissioners noted, however, the incentive auction order turns this carefully crafted balance on its head, transforming Congress’s desired win-win-win into a significant setback for local broadcasters and our tens of millions of viewers.

According to Smith the order's fundamental flaw is that it ignores Congress's clear direction to do no harm to broadcasters who choose not to participate in the voluntary auction. Instead, the majority goes so far as to suggest that the goal of repurposing broadcast spectrum for mobile broadband is superior, rather than equal to, that of maintaining a healthy and robust broadcast industry.

“Let's be clear: not a single American will know or understand if its wireless carrier adds 10 or 20 new megahertz to its 150-plus megahertz stockpile. They will, however, be quite angry if they are suddenly deprived of access to local broadcasters' news, entertainment and public safety information as a result of an auction gone awry.

"NAB still believes the auction can both be faithful to Congress and be successful. To that end, however, the FCC must implement policies that truly hold non-participants harmless. But if broadcasters are coerced through unrelated regulatory actions that damage the economics of our businesses -- or if auction rules undermine the many public services we deliver today – then the auction ceases to be voluntary, and the balance Congress painstakingly achieved evaporates. Now is the time for the FCC to make good on its repeated promises not to damage a vibrant television business, and for Congress to exercise the proper oversight needed to preserve a free, local and lifeline programming source that is the envy of the world."

St. Louis Radio: Report…It's Been A Big Mess At KFNS

It’s been a highly tumultuous run the last year for Grand Slam Sports, the company that owns KFNS — which, according to Dan Caesar at stltoday.com,  is back in the sports-talk business after a failed short run at ‘‘guy talk” after having been anchored in the jock-talk arena for two decades.

There is a long list of current or former employees who are complaining long and loud about the company’s plight, discussing a litany of problems. Payrolls missed. Workers abruptly dismissed. Lawsuits filed. Court judgments rendered against the company. A biting anonymous letter delivered to the wife of Dan Marshall, the man overseeing the company, designed to embarrass him into action. The lead investor wanting out and saying others do, too.

But there are two distinctly different camps of people who currently work, or have worked, for Grand Slam — which in addition to KFNS 590 AM owns KXFN 1380 AM.

Depending on who is talking, Marshall is either a despised and uncaring villain who flaunts his wealth while at the same time being responsible for putting people’s lives in financial turmoil — or he’s a guy who should be praised for trying to rescue the stations from certain failure and saving jobs by bankrolling the operation.

Read More Now

SCBA Graduates Record Number of New Radio Sales Executives

The Southern California Broadcasters Association (SCBA) announced today a record number of graduates of new, fully trained Radio Sales Executives from its spring 2014 Southern California Broadcasters University (SCBU) Sales Training Classes. A record 33 new sellers from its member Radio stations completed a rigorous 10 week sales course which began on March 31 and concluded on June 4.

“A fully trained SCBU Radio Sales Executive can deal with any client, any economy, and any challenge with confidence and credibility,” said SCBA President Thom Callahan. “That’s why our Southern California Radio members have fully embraced our SCBU Sales Training programs.”

The spring 2014 SCBU Sales Training Classes covered all of the critical subjects today’s Radio sales professionals will need to succeed in a highly demanding profession. Course material included building client relationships, digital selling basics, understanding PPM data, NTR selling skills, Strategic Selling, New Business Basics, and New Business Development. All courses were highly interactive with in-depth role playing based on everyday sales scenarios with complex sales challenges that required team homework and advance preparation from the students.

“The main goal of our SCBU sales training programs is to elevate the professionalism of all new Radio sales executives in Southern California,” said Callahan. “That can only be accomplished with real world sales training that is both instructional and motivating.  “We are fortunate to attract some of the best GSMs and DOSs in our region who volunteered their time to be excellent and effective instructors.”

The SCBA is always looking to innovate and enhance the training experience for its students and this semester featured a new special “SCBU Sales Hotline” which allowed students to have more one on one time to discuss class topics. as well as the expansion of the One Year In program, allowing successful sellers with one year of experience to share their success and advice with new sellers.

SCBU sales training is a joint effort of the SCBA and the sales management council of Southern California. The ten week semesters are held twice a year in the spring and fall.

R.I.P.: Radio Personality Jim Brady Dies

Jim Felton Brady 2008

Jim Felton — a longtime personality, born and raised in Toledo, who, as Jim Brady, delivered the No. 1 morning show in Toronto for years at Top 40 CFTR-AM, had died of cancer.

Felton was 67-years-old, according to the Toledo Blade.

He enjoyed a five-decade run in radio that included stints in three of the biggest markets in North America, including Los Angeles and Dallas-Forth Worth. In his hometown Toledo, he’s best known for his career bookends at WCWA-AM 1230 in the 1960s, when it was still WTOL-AM, where he first broadcast, and WRQN-FM 93.5, where he signed off for good in 2008.

In 1973, programmer Chuck Camroux upped the ante in the Toronto radio "Rock and Roll Wars" by tweaking CFTR's notoriously bad signal, adding some reverb, and hiring a new morning man Jim Brady, to rival 1050 CHUM's Jay Nelson. Both stations hovered near one million listeners per week. Although Brady finally topped Nelson in the ratings in 1979, over-all, CFTR surpassed CHUM in the Toronto BBM ratings by 1978. CHUM dropped Top 40 in favor of an Adult Contemporary format 1986.

Brady also worked at KLAC, Los Angeles in 1987-88.

As a popular morning DJ, Felton interviewed hundreds of celebrities. He partied with a Monty Python and a Beatle — Eric Idle and George Harrison — on a first-class flight to London. And in 1977, he was among the lucky few to watch the Rolling Stones perform one of the band’s legendary surprise club dates at the El Mocambo in downtown Toronto.

“He’s had the career in radio that only some of us could dream of,” said longtime friend Matt Zaleski, himself a former Toledo radio jock. “When you look at where he’s been and what he’s done, it’s nothing short of amazing.”

In 2010, two years after retiring, Felton considered a return to radio, but that wasn’t to be. During a routine physical, Felton’s first in a decade or longer, he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. After intense chemotherapy, the cancer retreated, only to return, retreat again, and come back with a final vengeance, spreading to his lower spine.

June 6 In Radio Hstory

In 

1944….Radio covered first news of the Allies’ D-Day Invasion…

The Allies had gone to extreme measures to protect the location of the invasion including planting fake documents, fake troop placements, and fake announcements. Germany did all it could to try to find out just where the Allies would land. One tactic was to falsely claim the invasion had begun hoping to fool the Allies into revealing the real location.

So it was no surprise that the news organizations were shy to jump on any announcement of a pending invasion. News reports included flash announcements which were deemed immediate and important information received; the other were bulletins which were also important but not deemed as immediate.

On June 3rd there had been a flash announcement that the invasion was under way but within minutes the announcement was withdrawn as the source, the Associated Press, killed the story as false.

When the first announcements started coming in the early morning of June 6, there were cautions attached to the bulletins. NBC reportedly came on the air with announcements around 12:41 AM EST after waiting at least 3 minutes from the time the AP bulletin was received.

The music of Harry James and his Orchestra was broadcasting over WOR (Mutual) from the Hotel Astor in New York. Kitty Kallen had just begun singing ironically "In Times Like These" when her song was interrupted right after 12:45 AM for bulletin.  Listen Here. Ned Calmer with CBS broadcast the bulletin around 12:48 AM. CBS waited until a second source, the Independent News Service, also released a bulletin.

Later repeats of the bulletins appeared over both networks. Irwin Darlington with CBS broadcast the breaking news. Listen Here.   Over at NBC this bulletin was aired.  Listen Here.

CBS reporter Darlington was very cautionary in his bulletin announcement reminding listeners of Winston Churchill's warnings of Allied feints and the expected invasion story from the Germans. He also carefully identifies where the information is coming from as well as the actual quotes. They also provide reports from the German DNB and German radio broadcasts.

NBC's bulletin was very formal and straight-forward with little warning that the information could be false. Later cautions came from the summary of news reports they broadcast later. (H/T: Radio Days)

In 1955…Bill Haley & Comets', "Rock Around the Clock" hit #1 on Radio.

In 1960…Roy Orbison released "Only the Lonely" to Radio.

Report: Ratings Compression Called Detrimental

The transition to PPM in radio’s largest markets ushered in an era of ratings compression. InsideRadio (paywall) is reporting that in New York two stations are tied for first in persons 25-54 in April with an Average Quarter Hour (AQH) rating of 0.5, four are tied for second place with a 0.4 and five are tied for third with a 0.3.  With ad inventory often sold on cost-per point, some say ratings compression has led to a “race to the bottom” in pricing, where the station offering the lowest cost-per point often gets the buy. 

The issue came up on Radio One’s first quarter earnings call, when CEO Alfred Liggins told investors the company was having ratings challenges in the Baltimore-Washington market.

“It’s market compression and how close the radio stations are in the rank to each other, so it’s really more of a pricing problem,” Liggins said. 

Research Director president Charlie Sislen blames compression on the methodology that rounds AQH ratings to one decimal point and claims “there may be a large quantitative difference between stations with the same reported rating.” 

Arguing that ratings rounding is “detrimental to our business,” he believes it’s time for Nielsen to change PPM methodology and suggests two potential solutions.  One would report ratings to more decimal places. The second would change how a station’s Gross Ratings Points (GRPs) are calculated by multiplying the number of spots by AQH persons instead of AQH rating, then dividing that number by the population.

The result would be “far fewer ties,” Sislen writes in the Research Director's blog.  But there are caveats. Changing the existing currency may be more precise but it wouldn’t improve the reliability of the estimate, which is tied to sample size. The statistical reliability would be “exactly the same no matter how many decimal places are shown,” he says.  Another issue is that an unrounded rating would be, on average, lower half the time and higher half the time.  “So you can charge more half the time, but less the other half,” he says. “But if buyers can see the difference between stations that are currently tied, the industry may be able to avoid the reverse auction,” where the lowest cost-per point wins.

Nielsen has not commented, according to InsideRadio.

Kasem Family Feud: Jean Fights Back

Jean Kasem

On Wednesday Jean Kasem filed court papers in Washington that, reports NBC News,  include a Church of Scientology's members list from an entertainment site, an affidavit showing Casey Kasem's financial gifts to his daughter, and a letter from a physician disputing that his condition has worsened since he left Los Angeles.

For a year, Jean Kasem, 59, has been fighting her husband's children from a previous marriage and his other relatives over his medical care and condition. The family says Jean Kasem suddenly shut them out and wouldn't return their phone calls or allow them to see the ailing radio icon. Although Jean Kasem still hasn't explained why she has kept her husband from his family, she has accused his children of wanting his $80-million fortune.

Specifically, Jean Kasem has said that Kerri Kasem, 41, who has been assigned to be her father's healthcare conservator by a judge, wants to donate his fortune to the Church of Scientology. Kerri Kasem has denied being a member of that church — the documents submitted in Kitsap Superior Court on Wednesday include an entertainment site's unverified roster of celebrity Scientologists that includes Kerri Kasem.

The court filing also accuses Kerri Kasem of owing Casey and Jean Kasem $1.3 million. An in-house accountant for the former "Cheers" actress estimates that Casey Kasem has loaned Kerri Kasem over $630,000 since she turned 18, and that less than 15 percent of that money would be considered gifts.

On Wednesday, Kerri Kasem told NBC News that she considers the claims "defamation of character." She vehemently denied borrowing money from her father and said that her "bank account is an open book to the court." Kerri Kasem says she has studied several religions, including Scientology and Buddhism.

Read More Now

Chicago Radio: Wade Linder New OM/PD At WLUP, OM WKQX

Wade Linder

Cumulus Chicago announces that Wade Linder has been named Operations Manager of WLUP and WKQX and Program Director of WLUP. 

He replaces Jim Richards, who moved to Cumulus San Francisco last month as Program Director of KFOG and KSAN. 

Linder began his radio career in 1990 as Music Director at Classic Rock 92 KQRS in Minneapolis. He helped sign on Alternative Rock, 93.7 The Edge (KEGE) as Music Director and later flipped the station to Active Rock. He was then promoted to Program Director of 93X (KXXR) in Minneapolis and oversaw strategy and day-to-day operations of the station for 17 successful years.

John Dickey, Executive Vice-President/Co-Chief Operating Officer of Cumulus Media, said: “Wade’s years of success in Minneapolis make him a logical candidate for this position. We feel privileged to have such bench strength inside of Cumulus.”

Linder said: “I would like to thank John Dickey, Mike McVay, Troy Hanson and Donna Baker for the confidence they have in me, as I take the wheel at such venerable brands and work with the talented team in place at WLUP and WKQX. It’s bittersweet to leave Minneapolis; I owe a great amount of gratitude to my talented friends at KXXR and KQRS that made my run seem effortless.”

Lara Logan Returning To ’60 Minutes’

CBS News correspondent Lara Logan is back to work at 60 Minutes more than six months after being forced to take a leave of absence over her disputed story about the deadly attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya, in 2012.

CBS News spokeswoman Sonya McNair said Wednesday  that Logan has returned, but didn't give any details on when she'd gone back.

The Benghazi report last October relied on the testimony of security contractor Dylan Davies, who said he was at the scene of the raid. However, his story quickly fell apart and it turned out there was no evidence he'd been there.

CBS issued a correction and launched an internal investigation, which concluded Logan and her colleagues should have done a better job checking out Davies' story. The review also said that a speech Logan made urging the U.S. to take action in response to the Benghazi attack was a conflict of interest.

Chicago Radio: Cubs New Deal Worth $70M

Thursday 6/5/14 4pm Update:  It's official:  CBS RADIO and the Chicago Cubs announced today that WBBM Newsradio 780AM has been named as the team’s new flagship radio station beginning with the 2015 season.  Chicago’s all-news station will broadcast regular and postseason games, and select pre-season contests with Pat Hughes and Ron Coomer calling all game day action.

            

The broadcast rights agreement is part of a multi-year sports and entertainment partnership that also includes several promotional initiatives across all seven of CBS RADIO’s local Chicago stations and the Company’s digital and social platforms.  Additionally, the two parties will work jointly to create and produce live music events to be hosted at Wrigley Field.

Earlier Posting...

The CBS Radio group has scored a coup, agreeing to a seven-year contract with the Chicago Cubs for the exclusive rights to broadcast the team’s baseball games on Newsradio WBBM 780 AM / 105.9 FM beginning with the 2015 season, according to CBS Radio.

After the Cubs had long contract talks with numerous radio outlets, CBS was the choice of the team’s business executives.

This new deal could be worth as much as $70 million to the Cubs, according to Bruce Levine, who covers basbeall for WBBM.

Industry sources said that WGN Radio, which held exclusive rights to Cubs on the radio since the 1950s, refused to match the CBS offer. WGN had the right to retain and keep the Cubs on their airwaves in accordance with the current contract. The same sources said that due to the three years of losing by the Cubs at a record pace, WGN Radio was in the red by about $3 million-$4 million worth of revenue sales annually on the deal.

In the 1930s and ’40s, the Cubs allowed local radio stations to broadcast their home games for free. At one point in the mid-’30s, seven local Chicago radio station carried the broadcasts at the same time. The first broadcasts of Cubs games on the radio were in 1925 on WMAQ, which is its later years of existence was owned by CBS radio. WMAQ continued to broadcast Cubs games through 1941, and the franchise didn’t charge any fees for its radio rights until 1937.

Chicago Cubs and WGN: Jimmy de Castro explains the Cubs’ departure from WGN Radio: Click Here for audio.

Meanwhile, WGN-TV, the Cubs' television home since 1948, is on notice, and perhaps on the way out, according to The Chicago Tribune.

The Cubs exercised an option to end their agreement with WGN-TV last year, making the team a television free agent in 2015. One-third of the way through this season, the Cubs have yet to secure a television partner for next year, but sources say everything is in play, from starting their own digital-only channel to even returning to WGN under a new deal.

Also, M-C has learned the Cubs will air on WBBM 780 AM only, and not on it's simulcast outlet 105.9 FM. Listen for the all-news format to continue when the Cubbies air.  Also, if clustermate WSCR 670 AM loses its rights the Chicago White Sox, CBS Radio can transfer Cubs to it.

TV Apps Are Very Popular

A new report from Adobe finds that mobile video viewing went up 57 percent over the last year and overall online video viewing was up 43 percent. Interestingly, researchers say viewing of broadcast shows from channels people subscribe to on their cable or satellite network, or "TV Everywhere," is approaching mainstream use.

TV Everywhere apps include HBO Go, Watch ESPN, Cartoon Network, Xfinity TV Go, and Dish Anywhere, among others. TV Everywhere viewing rose 246 percent over the last year, driven mainly by interest in sports programming.

Tamara Gaffney, with the study, says, "One in five households are watching TV Everywhere content. That's really beyond early adopter." 

V/O Artist Randy Thomas Joins Benztown

Randy Thomas

Benztown announced today that America’s live voice announcer, Randy Thomas, has joined its all-star roster of voiceover talent. 

Thomas made history as the first woman to announce the Academy Awards, the Emmy Awards, the SAG Awards, the Tony Awards and the AFI Awards, among others. As the seven-time announcer of the Oscars, and 16-time Tony’s announcer, Thomas has been winning accolades and opening doors for female voice artists for over 20 years. For the past nine years she’s been heard daily by millions of people as the iconic voice of CBS Television Distribution’s “Entertainment Tonight,” one of the most watched entertainment programs in the world.

In addition to voiceover, Thomas has more than 20 years of experience as a radio personality in New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, and Miami. She is one of the most recognizable voiceover artists in the world and is co-author of the book, “VOICE FOR HIRE: Launch and Maintain a Lucrative Career in Voice-Overs”. 

Thomas is most at home on the radio as a branding voice, and has been heard in every major city in America. She specializes in formats including: AC, Hot AC, Rock, Classic Rock, News Talk and Oldies.

Justin Case, Director of Programming and Imaging for Benztown, said: “Randy Thomas is a truly unique, one-of-a-kind voice and talent. She brings a phenomenal skill set in branded voiceover, and is very effective across a range of formats. Benztown customers will benefit from Randy’s deep expertise and smooth delivery. It’s fantastic to be able to offer this caliber of a voiceover professional to stations of all formats and market sizes.”

Thomas said: “I have been hearing a buzz about Benztown for a while. I looked closer and feel the barter business model works in today’s broadcast business environment. I’m very excited to be working with them and to be out in front with the radio stations I serve. Before I established my career in voiceover, I was an on-air personality. My heart has always been in radio. I understand the needs and demands of the stations that I work for and together, we create solid branding.”

Albuquerque Radio: Steph Duran Added To KRST Line-Up

Steph Duran

Cumulus/Albuquerque has announced that on-air personality, Steph Duran has been named host of NASH-FM 92.3 KRST afternoons (2:00 pm until 7:00 p.m. weekdays). 

This is a homecoming for Duran, as she was born and raised in Albuquerque and started her radio career there. Duran comes to NASH-FM 92.3 KRST from KEZK/Fresh 102.5 in St. Louis, where she was #1 rated in the market for her midday show. She was previously co-host of mornings with Guy Phillips at KYKY in St. Louis, and worked mornings for KUPD/Phoenix. Duran’s first day on-air at NASH-FM 92.3 KRST will be June 18.

Kris Abrams, FM Operations Manager for Cumulus Albuquerque, said: “Steph’s track record speaks for itself. From working rock radio with Dave Pratt in Phoenix or more recently, leading KEZK/St. Louis to a dominant #1 at work position, Steph is not only versatile, she just plain knows how to have fun on the radio. NASH-FM 92.3 KRST delivers Country in a way Albuquerque has never experienced before, with the best parts of the NASH and KRST brands combined. NASH’s Blair Garner with America’s Morning Show and Shawn Parr’s NASH Nights Live give us two of the best talents in Country radio. Now with Juan Velasco’s nearly 20 years on KRST and the addition of Steph Duran, we have two hometown kids leading the charge in midday and afternoons, respectively.”

Duran said: “As someone born and raised in Albuquerque, I accidentally stumbled into radio, the best career in the world, while working at Dion’s and studying my brains out my senior year of high school at the Albuquerque Academy. At long last, after building my career in markets across the country, I am fortunate enough to come home to Albuquerque, to the place I long for most and to do my show at the all-new NASH-FM 92.3 KRST. I cannot wait to hang out with my family—aunts, uncles, cousins, and my son, Ben, who is studying at UNM… and to have a 505 phone number again! I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the new NASH-FM 92.3 KRST.”

And the Radio Mercury Award Winners Are...

Winners for the 2014 Radio Mercury Awards were announced this evening at the 23rd annual awards reception at le Poisson Rouge in New York. 

This year’s $50,000 Best of Show award was given to Wieden+Kennedy for their spot, “MomSong” for Old Spice.   “MomSong was the clear choice and the most engaging spot we heard,” noted Matt Eastwood, worldwide chief creative officer, JWT and this year’s chief judge. 

“All of this year’s winners deserve to be recognized for their inspiring and exceptionally creative spots and campaigns.”

LISTEN TO THE WINNERS: Click Here

“These winning spots and campaigns are true testaments to radio’s ability to engage consumers, build brands and inspire the next generation of creative minds,” said Erica Farber, president and CEO, Radio Advertising Bureau and chair of the Radio Creative Fund. “Our mission is to recognize those storytellers who create an audiophoric world and truly capture our hearts and minds.”

PHOTO: Chief Judge Matt Eastwood, W+K’s Justine Armour &  RAB president Erica Farber

This year’s Marketer of the Year Award was presented to GEICO. Bruce Reese, president and CEO of Hubbard Radio presented this year’s award to Amy Hooks, broadcast marketing manager from GEICO. Erica Farber noted that “their partnership with the radio industry over the past several years to drive key objectives forward by leveraging the medium’s strongest equities has truly set GEICO apart. The unique manner in which GEICO localizes their spots and their commitment to initiatives such as the “Something to Be Proud of” vignettes targeting Federal employees are just a few more of the many examples of their effective, strategic, and creative use of the Radio medium.

Turner Broadcasting Restructuring

Turner Broadcasting is embarking on a plan to "futureproof" the company by the year 2020 (the company's 50th anniversary) in a plan executives there are calling "Turner 2020," according to Alex Weprin at capitalnewyork.com.

The plan is designed to help turn around struggling networks, like TNT, while bolstering stronger ones, like Adult Swim.

Those changes will almost certainly involve layoffs and restructuring, and Turner Broadcasting C.E.O. John Martin did not dance around that fact in an email to staff Monday evening.

"We’ve been shifting resources already and I would ask that you think carefully about how and where to get the greatest return on the assets you control," Martin wrote. "This may mean staff changes. In fact, I’ll be surprised if it doesn’t."

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Report: Hillary to New York Times..Back Off

Some of Hillary Clinton’s closest aides blasted the New York Times for what they said was unfair coverage of the former first lady during a recent secret meeting with the paper’s Washington bureau, the Washington FreeBeacon has learned.

Sources said the meeting included Clinton advisers Philippe Reines and Huma Abedin, as well as Times Washington bureau chief Carolyn Ryan and national political reporter Amy Chozick, who has been on the Clinton beat for the paper.

During the closed-door gathering, Clinton aides reportedly griped about the paper’s coverage of the potential 2016 candidate, arguing that Clinton has left public office and not be subjected to harsh scrutiny, according to a source familiar with the discussions.

Neither the Times nor the Clinton camp would discuss on the record specifics. However, sources familiar with the meeting describe it as an attempt to brush back and even intimidate the staff of the Times. The sometimes fraught relationship between Clinton and the press has been well documented.

“We are not going to comment,” said a Times spokesperson when contacted by the Free Beacon.

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CMT Music Awards: And The Winners Are....

Country music megastars flocked to Nashville on Wednesday for the 2014 CMT Music Awards, where host Kristen Bell and other genre staples -- including Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, and Carrie Underwood -- handed out buckles for categories like "Group Video of the Year" and "CMT Performer of the Year."

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Check out the complete list of nominees and winners (in bold):

Group Video of the Year

Eli Young Band, "Drunk Last Night"

Lady Antebellum, "Compass" Little Big Town

"Your Side of the Bed" Rascal Flatts, "Rewind"

*The Band Perry, "Done."

Zac Brown Band, "Sweet Annie"

Breakthrough Video of the Year

Brett Eldredge, "Beat of the Music"

*Cassadee Pope, "Wasting All These Tears"

Cole Swindell, "Chillin' It"

David Nail, "Whatever She's Got"

Thomas Rhett, "It Goes Like This"

Tyler Farr, "Redneck Crazy"

Male Video of the Year

*Blake Shelton, "Doin' What She Likes"

Eric Church, "Give Me Back My Hometown"

Hunter Hayes, "I Want Crazy"

Jason Aldean, "Night Train"

Luke Bryan, "Crash My Party"

Randy Houser, "Runnin' Outta Moonlight"

Female Video of the Year

Carrie Underwood, "See You Again"

Cassadee Pope, "Wasting All These Tears"

Kacey Musgraves, "Follow Your Arrow"

*Miranda Lambert, "Automatic"

Sheryl Crow, "Easy"

Taylor Swift, "Red"

Duo Video of the Year

Dan + Shay, "19 You + Me"

*Florida Georgia Line, "Round Here"

Florida Georgia Line, "Stay"

Thompson Square, "Everything I Shouldn't Be Thinking About"

Collaborative Video of the Year

Blake Shelton featuring Pistol Annies and Friends, "Boys 'Round Here"

*Florida Georgia Line featuring Luke Bryan, "This Is How We Roll"

Florida Georgia Line featuring Nelly, "Cruise (Remix)"

Hunter Hayes featuring Jason Mraz, "Everybody's Got Somebody but Me"

Keith Urban with Miranda Lambert, "We Were Us"

Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, "Highway Don't Care

CMT Performance of the Year

Dierks Bentley and OneRepublic, "Counting Stars"

Jake Owen, "Days Of Gold"

Lady Antebellum and Stevie Nicks, "Rhiannon"

*Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, "Oh No/All Night Long"

The Band Perry and Fall Out Boy, "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark"

Willie Nelson and Neil Young, "Long May You Run"

Video of the Year

Blake Shelton featuring Pistol Annies and Friends, "Boys 'Round Here"

*Carrie Underwood, "See You Again"

Eric Church, "Give Me Back My Hometown"

Florida Georgia Line featuring Luke Bryan, "This Is How We Roll"

Hunter Hayes, "I Want Crazy"

Kacey Musgraves, "Follow Your Arrow"

Keith Urban with Miranda Lambert, "We Were Us"

Luke Bryan, "That's My Kind of Night"

Miranda Lambert, "Automatic"

Taylor Swift, "Red"

Thomas Rhett, "It Goes Like This"

Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, "Highway Don't Care"

Study: Digital Media Spending To Grow 12.2 Percent

Total entertainment and media spending on digital services is forecast to grow at a 12.2% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2013 and 2018 and account for 65% of global entertainment and media spending growth, excluding spending on Internet access. Advertising is leading the way; in 2018, 33% of total advertising revenue is forecast to be digital, compared to 17% of consumer revenue.

However, profiting from the migration by increasing revenue from digital consumers will not just be about the application of digital technology. It will be about applying a ‘digital mindset’ to build the right behaviors, advancing from a digital strategy to a business strategy fit for a digital age, according to PwC’s Global entertainment and media outlook 2014-2018 (Outlook).

Marcel Fenez

Marcel Fenez, PwC’s Global leader, entertainment & media, says:

“The bedrock of a strategy fit for the digital age is the digital mindset: getting ever closer to the customer – across the entire organization, and in everything it does. We now see that mindset embedded in many entertainment and media companies. But the industry needs to get even closer to the consumer and adopt more flexible business models. To do this, companies must exhibit three behaviours: forging trust with consumers; creating the confidence to move with speed and agility; and empowering innovation. This will be an important step in monetising the digital consumer.”

Among the Outlook’s Highlights:

• Rising digital consumer revenue may be driven by 24/7 access. Two of the best-performing consumer sub-segments use a model in which consumers pay for round-the-clock access: digital music streaming revenue will grow at a 13.4% CAGR, and electronic home video OTT/streaming will rise at a 28.1%.These growth rates will not only offset a slow-moving non-digital consumer market, but may also point the way forward for other segments.
• Digital recorded music revenue will surpass physical recorded revenue in 2014. Global total digital recorded music revenue of US$10.18bn will exceed physical recorded music revenues of US$10.17bn for the first time in 2014.  Greater service appeal for consumers will improve sales and by 2018, the year-on-year decline in total recorded music revenue will be just -0.1%.

R.I.P.: Chicago Radio Host, V/O Artist Wayne Juhlin

Longtime Chicago radio personality and voice-over artst Wayne Juhlin died April 17.

Wayne Juhlin with his wife

He was 77 according to The Chicago Sun-Times.

His midnight-5 a.m. show on WDAI 94.7 FM was the perfect time slot for comics who wanted to do a little self-promotion following late night stand-up gigs. From the early to late 1970s, Mr. Juhlin interviewed John Belushi, Martin Mull and Robert Klein.

Juhlin’s voices and characters caught the ear of WCFL 1000 AM legend Dick Orkin, who created “Chickenman” and “Toothfairy,” radio serials about offbeat Superheroes that aired in thousands of cities in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Orkin invited him to bring his funny voices and sketches to some of his shows.

The commercials Juhlin penned, produced and performed in won CLIO, ADDY and Windy awards.

His imitation of broadcast giant Walter Cronkite was so accurate, “you couldn’t tell the difference,” said Burt Burdeen, an instructor at Columbia College and former program director at WSDM-FM/WLUP-FM.

After a stint in the US Army, he landed a writing gig at WLS 890 AM and then worked as a record promoter. “He traveled all over the country,” his wife said. “He was one of the first people to hold a Beatles record.”

After his gig at WDAI-FM, he and his wife served as morning drive hosts for WFYR-FM, doing comedy bits and spinning the oldies.

June 5 In Radio History

In 1954…Billboard magazine reported that, as of July, major record labels would supply radio stations with 45-RPM singles rather than 78-RPM singles.

In 1956...Elvis Presley appeared on The Milton Berle Show, causing a national uproar with his hip-swiveling performance of "Hound Dog.

In 1973…CFRB-Toronto radio newsman Gordon Sinclair aired an editorial, later released as the recording "The Americans (A Canadian's Opinion)," his reaction to the growing amount of U.S.-bashing around the world. Another recorded version of his dissertation, "Americans" by CKLW-Windsor/Detroit radio news director Byron MacGregor, peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1974 and became one of the most popular spoken-word recordings of all time.

In 1977…DJ Charlie Van Dyke did his last show on KHJ 930 AM, Los Angeles.

In 1982…DJ Cousin Brucie returned to New York City Radio on WCBS 101.1 FM.

In 2013…Radio personality (host of the syndicated American Country Countdown from 1973 to 1978, KDEO-San Diego, KEWB-Oakland-San Francisco, KDWB-Minneapolis-St. Paul, WKDA-Nashville, KRZK-Branson)/ commercial announcer (Bank of America, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pace CB Radios)/actor (The Las Vegas Hillbillys, Hillbillys in a Haunted House) Don Bowman died at age 75.

DOJ to Review Music-Fee System

WSJ is reporting the U.S. Department of Justice is reviewing the decades-old legal system that governs what songwriters and publishers charge broadcasters, digital-music services and other licensees to play their compositions.

The rare review, announced this week by the Justice Department's Antitrust Division, comes as technology shakes up the music industry, depressing record sales and leaving songwriters increasingly dependent on the performance royalties they receive from radio and digital-streaming services such as Pandora Media Inc.  and Apple Inc.'s newest acquisition, Beats Music.

Since a pair of antitrust settlements dating back to 1941, the federal government has mandated that the country's two biggest performing-rights organizations—American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers and Broadcast Music Inc.—license their members' work to anyone willing to pay the rates set by federal judges in "rate court," run through the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Some companies such as Apple have opted to make direct deals with rights holders instead.

ASCAP and BMI would prefer that the Justice Department eradicate the consent decrees altogether, according to people familiar with the matter, but their proposals in the review process will be less ambitious.

The review comes as Washington lawmakers consider a broader overhaul of copyright law, including the separate rules that determine what digital-music services pay record companies and performers to transmit their recordings.

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