Saturday, November 29, 2014

November 30 In Radio History


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


In 

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

In 1945, Clark began his career working in the mailroom at WRUN 1150 AM (now silent) in Rome, New York, that was owned by his uncle and managed by his father. Almost immediately, he was asked to fill in for the vacationing weatherman, and within a few months he was announcing station breaks.

While attending Syracuse, Clark worked at WOLF-AM, then a country music station. After graduation, he returned to WRUN for a short time where he went by the name Dick Clay.  After that, Clark got a job at the television station WKTV in Utica, New York.  His first television-hosting job was on Cactus Dick and the Santa Fe Riders, a country-music program. He would later replace Robert Earle (who would later host the GE College Bowl) as a newscaster.

Clark was principal in pro broadcasters operator of 1440 KPRO in Riverside, California, from 1962 to 1982. In the 1960s, he was owner of KGUD AM/FM (later KTYD AM/FM) in Santa Barbara, California.


In 1930...G. Gordon Liddy, Watergate felon and radio talk-show host, was born.In 1992,he started hosting his own talk radio show. Less than a year later, its popularity led to national syndication through Viacom's Westwood One Network and later on, Radio America, in 2003. Liddy's show ended on July 27, 2012





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




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


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


In 1977...After 38 years with the company, radio/TV newsman/commentator Eric Sevareid retired from CBS. He was one of a group of elite war correspondents dubbed "Murrow's Boys," because they were hired by pioneering CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow.





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

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


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

Toronto Radio: CBC Explores 'The Unmaking of Jian Ghomeshi'

CBC managers told of Jian Ghomeshi 'assault' allegations back in June

Certain CBC managers were aware back in June of allegations of "assault" — including punching and choking — involving a "series of women" by former CBC Radio host Jian Ghomeshi, an investigation by the CBC's fifth estate has found.

Until now, according to CBC News, there were few specifics about what CBC managers knew about the rumors that were circulating about Ghomeshi. But new information provides another layer of detail about what was going on at the time.

Prompted by those allegations, CBC says it conducted an internal investigation this summer involving "a cross-section of managers, program leaders and Q employees." But it is also unclear to whom senior managers talked.

In a survey by CBC-TV's the fifth estate, almost all known staffers on Ghomeshi's radio show Q said they were not contacted by CBC management as part of any investigation.

The documentary also explores what happened when CBC managers were first shown images of Ghomeshi's alleged violence against a woman.

Chris Boyce, the head of CBC Radio and a central figure in the story, said "in hindsight" it is a "good question" whether CBC should have gone to the police at that time.

But Boyce, speaking on the record for the first time, denied Ghomeshi's claim that he was "given the choice to walk away quietly," insisting the radio star was told the corporation was "beginning a termination process." CBC announced Ghomeshi was fired on Oct. 26.

Ghomeshi was arrested on sex assault charges Wednesday but for years he seemed untouchable. Did his stardom blind people to what was going on ? CBC insiders tell the story of what really happened. The fifth estate investigates The Unmaking of Jian Ghomeshi.

November 29 In Radio History


In 1929...NBC begins use of the chimes.



The NBC chimes came to their familiar configuration and sound after several years of on-air development. They were first broadcast over NBC's Red and Blue networks on November 29, 1929. However, there are disagreements about the original source of the idea. One story is that they came from WSB in Atlanta, Georgia, which allegedly used it for its own purposes until one day someone at NBC's headquarters in New York City heard the WSB version of the notes during a networked broadcast of a Georgia Tech football game and asked permission to use it on the national network.

NBC Xylophone circa 1930
The company tested the chimes during 1927 and 1928, when it experimented with several possible combinations of notes. The first sequence consisted of the seven notes G-C-G-E-G-C-E. However, since the original NBC chime was an actual set of four-note chimes made by the J.C. Deagan Company, which the announcer would play 30 seconds before the end of every half-hour to signal the end of a program, it was left to the announcers to play this trademark sequence without error, which was unavoidable with such a lengthy cue. The chime sequence was shortened to G-C-G-E and then, on November 29, 1929, the cue was shortened for the final time, and the three well-known notes G-E-C were heard on NBC radio for the first time.

Despite the relative simplicity and efficiency of the new, shorter chime sequence, problems still existed in other musical aspects of the sequence, such as the tempo, rhythm, and volume at which it was played, as well as the musical tone of the set chimes. Therefore the NBC chimes were mechanized in 1932 with a unit that could play the sequence perfectly and consistently. Richard H. Ranger, a former Radio Corporation of America (RCA) engineer who also invented an early form of the modern fax machine, invented the NBC chime machine that generated the notes by means of finely tuned metal reeds that were plucked by fingers on a revolving drum, much like a music box.

The technical purpose of the mechanical chimes was to send a low level audio signal of constant amplitude that would be heard by the various switching stations manned by NBC and AT&T engineers, but not disturb the listening audience. This would serve as the system cue for switching the myriad local stations between the NBC Red Network and NBC Blue Network feeds as scheduled, as well as signalling the pause for local station identification immediately thereafter. In essence, it was the audio equivalent of a traffic signal. Because of fears of offending commercial sponsors by cutting their live network programs off mid-sentence, the mechanized chimes were always rung by an announcer pushing a button in conjunction with the program’s conclusion; they were never set to an automatic timer, although heavy discussions on the subject were held between the Engineering and Programming departments throughout the 1930s and 1940s.

On November 20, 1947, NBC filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to make the chimes a registered service mark for identification of radio broadcasting services, the first such audible service mark to be filed with that office. Registration was granted on April 4, 1950; the registration number was 0523616, serial number 71541873. This registration expired on November 3, 1992, as NBC Radio became part of broadcasting history. However a separate service mark registration was made in 1971 for identification of television broadcasting services (serial 72349496, registration 0916522). While this registration is still active, the chime was heard for the final time on the NBC television channel in 1976, the 50-year anniversary of the chime; the chime is now used only for various smaller purposes on the network.

The Fourth Chime

The variant sequence B - D + G = G, based on a G-major arpeggio in second inversion, was known as "the fourth chime". An NBC Interdepartment Correspondence memo, dated April 7, 1933, documents the conception and initial purpose of the fourth chime.

The memo states "In anticipation of the Spring and Summer months, when many in key positions will not always be available at home telephones, the following Emergency Call System will go into effect on Monday morning, April 16."

The memo goes on to say that whenever a fourth tone is heard on the network chimes rung at 15-minute intervals, it will indicate that someone on an attached list is wanted. Upon hearing this fourth chime, all personnel on the list are instructed to call in to the PBX operator to ascertain whether or not the Emergency Call is for them. The chime would continue at 15-minute intervals over stations WEAF and WJZ until the wanted person communicated with the PBX operator. The list contained the names of the following NBC executives:

The "fourth chime" was also used to notify affiliates and their employees of pending urgent programming. This variant saw such use during wartime (especially in the wake of the attack on Pearl Harbor) and other disasters, most notably the Hindenburg disaster in 1937. According to NBC historians, the last official use of the "fourth chime" was in 1945, shortly after the end of World War II. However, according to a handwritten note appended to an NBC internal memo originally dated 1964 on the history and usage of the standard chime, this chime variant was used one final time in 1985 to symbolize the merger with GE.



In 1927...Sportscaster and national treasure Vin Scully was born in the Bronx. His 66 seasons with the Dodgers (1950–present) is the longest tenure of any broadcaster with a single team in professional sports history.


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


In 1964...Dean "Dino On Your Radio" Anthony debuted on Top40 WMCA 570 AM, New York.  Anthony was one of the famous WMCA jocks from the 1960s, but he spent even more years building WHLI into a fine popular-standards station. He was a host there right up until his death.


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


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

Before appearing in television, Rayburn was a very successful actor and radio performer. He had a popular morning drive time radio show in New York City, first with Jack Lescoulie (Anything Goes) and later with Dee Finch (Rayburn & Finch) on WNEW (now WBBR). Radio history pegs Rayburn's pairings with Lescoulie and Finch as the first two-man teams in morning radio.  When Rayburn left WNEW, Dee Finch continued the format with Gene Klavan.

Rayburn later landed the lead in the Broadway musical Bye Bye Birdie when Dick Van Dyke left the production to star in his eponymous classic sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show.  Listen to an aircheck from 1964 with Rayburn hosting NBC Radio Network's weekend Monitor Show. Click Here.


 In 

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


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

Bill Drake
Born Phillip Yarbrough, he chose his last name from among his relatives' surnames, because it rhymed with "WAKE", the station in Atlanta, where he worked as a programmer and disc-jockey in the late 1950s.  Later, Bartell Broadcasting, who owned WAKE that he had programmed to number one, transferred him to KYA in San Francisco, which also became number one.

It was later at KYNO in Fresno, California that he met Gene Chenault, who became his business partner. Together, the pair developed highly influential radio programming strategies and tactics, as well as working with future "Boss Jocks".

Drake-Chenault perfected the Top 40 radio format, which had been created by Todd Storz, Gordon McLendon and other radio programmers in the late 1950s, which took a set list of popular songs and repeated them all day long, ensuring the widest possible audience for the station's music. Jingles, news updates, traffic, and other features were designed to make Top 40 radio particularly attractive to car listeners. By early 1964, the era of the British Invasion, Top 40 radio had become the dominant radio format for North American listeners.

Drake streamlined the Top 40 format, using modern methods, such as market research and ratings demographics, to maximize the number of listeners. He believed in forward momentum, limiting the amount of disc jockey chatter, the number of advertisements and playing only the top hits, as opposed to less-organized programming methods of the past. Drake created concepts such as 20/20 News and counter programming, by playing music sweeps, while his competitors aired news. Drake-Chenault controlled everything from the specific DJs that were hired, to radio contests, visual logos, promotions and commercial policy. Drake essentially put radio back into the hands of programming, instead of sales. Drake hired the Johnny Mann Singers to produce the Boss Radio jingles, ensuring a bright, high-energy sound that engaged the listener, while providing a bridge from song to song.



After turning around the fortunes of Fresno's KYNO, Drake applied similar tactics to take KGB, from 14th to 1st in San Diego. KGB's owner, Willett Brown, suggested to his fellow RKO board members, that Drake could turn KHJ around.

In the Spring of 1965, Drake-Chenault were hired to turn KHJ in Los Angeles, from a financial and ratings loser into a success. Drake hired Ron Jacobs as program director, Robert W. Morgan in the mornings and "The Real Don Steele" in the afternoons. KHJ quickly jumped from near-obscurity, to the number one radio station in Los Angeles. Although it was criticized, "Boss Radio" moved faster and sounded more innovative than the competition, making it the #1 choice over competitors in Southern California.



Bill Drake also programmed KFRC in San Francisco, WOR-FM in New York, KAKC in Tulsa, WHBQ in Memphis, WUBE (AM) in Cincinnati, WRKO in Boston and 50,000 watt CKLW, in Windsor, Ontario, across the Detroit River from the city of Detroit.

R.I.P.: Longtime Bangor ME Personality JJ West

Gene Hardin aka JJ West
Longtime Bangor, ME radio personality J.J.West died Thanksgiving Day.

Born Gene Hardin, West most recently worked for Townsquare Media's Country WQCB 106.5 FM.

West also worked for ABC 7 and FOX 22 in Bangor.  He began working at Channel 7 when he was just a teen and he had done nearly every job in the building, from working as a cameraman, directing and most recently as promotions manager and public service director.

West worked at several radio stations in Bangor and Ellsworth for more than 30 years.

Friday, November 28, 2014

Boston Radio: Walt Perkins Gone From WBZ-AM

Walt Perkins
Walt Perkins, a familiar sports voice on news radio WBZ 1030 AM for more than a decade, is no longer working at the station.

According to The Boston Globe, was fired approximately two weeks ago for reasons that were unclear.

But Perkins, who had been at the station since 2001 and took over as the morning sports anchor in 2009 when Gil Santos retired, said Wednesday that the decision was mutual and something he had been considering for a while.

“I had been thinking about it since our clock changed and the sports role was greatly reduced,’’ wrote Perkins in response to a request for comment via Facebook.

“I was given 70-90 seconds for my sportscasts. In a market that supports two full-time sports talk stations, it was discouraging. But that is the direction the station wanted to go in.

“Luckily for me, the news anchors managed to find me another 20 or 30 seconds most times, but that often left them fighting the clock for ‘Traffic on the 3’s.’ When I heard some other opportunities might be developing in the market, I thought the time was right to make a move.”

Jax Radio: Morning Anchor Roxy Tyler OUT At WOKV

Roxy Tyler
A longtime voice on Jacksonville radio has been dismissed. Roxy Tyler has parted ways from N/T WOKV 690 AM / 104.5-FM).

Tyler, who has been on the air as a co-anchor on “Jacksonville’s Morning News,” was dismissed from her job Tuesday, two days before Thanksgiving. She was told that the stations were letting her go after her morning shift ended at 9 a.m.

Tyler had been with WOKV for almost two decades . She had also done on-air work with WQIK (99.1 FM) and WJXT TV-4 and WTLV TV-12.

Tampa Radio: Beasley Sets Management Team For New Cluster

Beasley Broadcast Group has transferred two company managers and veteran radio professionals from the Augusta, GA, market to its cluster of six radio outlets in Tampa-St. Petersburg.

These stations include HipHop WLLD 94.1 FM, Country WQYK 99.5 FM, Classic Hits WRBQ 104.7 FM, Spanish WYUU 92.5 FM and Sports WHFS 98.7 FM / 1010 AM. Kent Dunn has been named VP/Market Manager and Tee Gentry is appointed Operations Manager.

Dunn joined Beasley in 1991 and has worked specifically in the Augusta market as general manager and/or market manager since 1993. Four times he was named Beasley's General Manager of the Year and additionally named five times by Radio INK magazine as one of the "Top Managers in Radio." Kent's most recent charitable involvement includes service as a director on the United Way board, the Border Bash Foundation board, the North Augusta 2000 board and as a member of the Augusta Exchange Club.

Kent Dunn
Prior to this announcement, Tee Gentry served as operations manager for the Beasley Broadcast Augusta cluster, as well as program director for Kicks 99 WKXC-FM. He enjoyed a 19-year tenure in the Augusta market, 14 of those years with Beasley. Radio INK magazine has named Tee Gentry among the "Top Program Directors in Radio" on four occasions, and he has twice been named Beasley's "Program Director of the Year." In 2007, under Tee's leadership Kicks 99 WKXC-FM won a CMA (Country Music Association) award for Small Market Station of the Year.

Executive Vice President of Operations Brian Beasley, who oversees the Tampa-St. Petersburg cluster, says, "Kent Dunn is a strong leader with a unique skill set we believe to be vitally important as we establish our Beasley's footprint in Tampa. He is an exceptional motivator. Over the past 20 years, Kent has proven to us consistently that he can build a cohesive team of radio professionals and then lead that unified group to the very top in ratings, revenue and community engagement."

Tee Gentry
Beasley added, "Tee Gentry is a seasoned and award-winning radio programmer who excels in building and branding successful radio stations. He has a knack for developing strong relationships with artists, labels and key clients. Tee will bring to Tampa an enthusiasm that is simply contagious and he will hit the ground running in an effort to meet Tampa listeners and members of the community at large."

Dunn comments, "It has a privilege to be a part of the Beasley Broadcast Group for over twenty years now. At this time of my life, today seems like the perfect day to start a new challenge. Moving to Tampa represents an exciting opportunity to manage a cluster of stations in a larger radio market. I'm really looking forward to getting to know my new colleagues and also Tampa/St. Pete businesses, professional groups and charities."

Gentry adds, "The offer to work alongside my longtime colleague Kent Dunn in Tampa, Florida was hard to pass up. We have similar management styles and we both believe in local radio done right. I'm looking forward to my next chapter in radio with a wonderful cluster of legendary stations. This is gonna be FUN!"

Augusta GA Radio: Beasley Names Chris O'Kelly OM

Beasley Broadcast/Augusta has promoted Chris O'Kelley to operations manager for the Augusta, Georgia cluster including Country WKXC 99.5 FM/Kicks99; N/T WGAC 580 AM/ 95.1 FM; Top40 WHHD 98.3 FM; Adult Hits WDRR  93.9 FM/BobFM; W238AU 95.5 T-FM/95 Rock / WGUS 1480 AM; Southern Gospel WGUS 102.7 FM / WCHZ 93.1 FM; and Sports WRDW 1630 AM.

O'Kelley will report to Vice President and Market Manager Mark Haddon and replaces Tee Gentry, who is relocating to Tampa for the company.

Most recently, Chris served as both music director and assistant program director for Kicks 99 WKXC-FM, positions he has held since joining Beasley Broadcast Augusta in 2004. As the newly named operations manager, Chris oversees all programming aspects for each of the radio stations in Beasley's Augusta cluster.

Chris O'Kelly
A veteran radio programmer, Chris earned his first program director position in 1994 and enjoyed stops, in subsequent years, at a variety of country-formatted radio stations in Fort Myers, FL, Ocean City, MD, and Lynchburg, VA.

Vice President and Market Manager Mark Haddon comments, "When you have a cluster like ours, with many long-term employees, you get to know the unique strengths that each person brings to his or her job. When positions open up and you can offer a dedicated employee a new opportunity to shine, it sure is rewarding. Chris O'Kelley is recognized and involved in our community. He is prepared to step into the role of operations manager for our cluster and I know he will do a fine job."

Chris O'Kelly says, "I guess you could say I'm beyond excited. Following Tee Gentry is a tall order. Tee has been my mentor, my colleague and my friend for 20 years. I can't thank him, and our former market manager Kent Dunn, enough for all they have taught me over the years and for their belief in me with this new promotion. Beasley Augusta has a new, strong management team in place with Mark Haddon leading the way. We're family here and this place is home to me. I'm honored and ready to give it my all."

Philly Radio: John DeBella Turkey Drop A Success


November 25 from 6-9 a.m., Classic Rock WMGK 102.9 FM’s morning host, John DeBella, broadcast live and collected monetary and turkey donations at Love Park in Center City Philadelphia during his 13th Annual John DeBella Turkey Drop.

The rest of the WMGK air staff collected donations at eight other locations across the tri-state area.  Last year’s Turkey Drop raised over 9,000 turkeys.  The station is hoping that this year’s Turkey Drop will raise even more.

John DeBella
The John DeBella Turkey Drop is the largest, one day food gathering event in Philadelphia.    The Turkey Drop benefits Cityteam Philadelphia, an organization that provides holiday meals as well as other services to less fortunate individuals and families in the tri-state area. Cityteam Philadelphia, has seen a record number of sign-ups for holiday meal assistance this year.   A large percentage of families seeking City Team’s assistance are seeking assistance for the first time.

Listeners that weren’t able to make it out to one of the 9 collection locations are still able to take part in this year’s WMGK Turkey Drop by going to wmgk.com or turkeydrop.wmgk.com and making a secure, tax deductible donation that will go directly to Cityteam Philadelphia.  Online donations will be accepted through Sunday, November 30.

Mayor Michael Nutter was among the many guests who made an appearance, urging listeners to make an on-site or online donation to the Turkey Drop.  This year’s efforts were assisted by a huge donation from Parx Casino.  Parx Casino surprised everyone by having a truck with over $10,000 worth of turkeys pull up to the Love Park live broadcast site.

Charlotte Radio: Darla Thomas New PD At WLNK

Darla Thomas
Greater Media announces Darla Thomas has been named as the new Program Director of WLNK 107.9 FM in Charlotte, North Carolina.

She will begin her new position on Monday, January 5, 2015.

Thomas most recently served as the Program Director and Afternoon Drive Personality at iHeartRadio’s Adult Hits WLKO 102.9 FM/The Lake in Charlotte. Prior to that, Thomas spent five years as Operations Manager for Journal Broadcast Group’s Tucson cluster after programming Journal’s HotAC KSRZ 104.5 FM in Omaha, Nebraska.

Before that, she served as the Music Director at Sandusky Radio’s Hot AC KLSY 92.5 FM/Mix, Seattle.  Earlier in her career Thomas worked in San Antonio and Austin. She also has recent experience as a Digital Marketer in the non-profit sector.

WLNK 107.9 FM (100Kw) 60dBu Coverage
“We are absolutely thrilled to have Darla join the LINK team,” said Rick Feinblatt, senior vice president and market manager of Greater Media Charlotte. “Her experience, passion and leadership are exactly what we need to take the station to the next level.”

“I’m so excited to join the Greater Media team! The LINK is a heritage radio station that I’ve been a fan of for many years. Getting a chance to lead the station in a city I love, and work with legendary personalities like Bob & Sheri and Matt & Ramona, is a dream come true.  Thanks to Rick Feinblatt for giving me this opportunity-I can’t wait to get started!”

Thomas replaces Anthony Michaels, who recently resigned to pursue other opportunities.

Louisville Radio: Alpha Stations Raise $945K+ For Kids Hospital


Alpha Media/Louisville KY stations raised $945,000 during its 6th Annual Kosair Children’s Hospital Radiothon which took place November 20th and 21st in the lobby of the Kosair Children’s Hospital.

In the past 5 years, Alpha Media Louisville stations B 96.5, 99.7 DJX, Magic 101.3, 102.3 The Max, and 105.1 GHL have raised over $1 million dollars for the Hospital. This year’s goal was to raise over $300,000, but with huge listener and sponsor support, the total was nearly equal to that of the past 5 years combined!

Alpha Media Louisville Market Manager, Dale Schaefer commented on the announcement, “This was a total team effort with our on-air staff appealing to the community to give, our sales team bringing in corporate sponsors, our production staff creating heart-warming vignettes and the rest of our staff helping out in so many other ways. This wonderful event has driven our team for six years and we look to do it many more in the future.”

“Thanks to the commitment of Alpha Media and Horseshoe Southern Indiana, the community rallied around Kosair Children’s Hospital once again at this year’s Radiothon, raising much needed funds and helping us recognize the true heroes, our patients and families,” remarked Lynnie Meyer; RN, MSN, CFRE, System VP & Chief Development Officer of Children’s Hospital Foundation.

R.I.P.: Bob Hille, Pioneer In St. Louis Radio/TV

Bob Hille
Veteran St. Louis radio/TV personality Robert E. Hille died of complications from an infection on Sunday (Nov. 23, 2014) at St. Mary’s Health Center in Richmond Heights, his family said Tuesday.

He was 95-years-of-age and lived in Webster Groves, MO., according to stltoday.com.

Bob Hille was one of the original announcers on radio station KXOK in 1938. In 1951, a few years after television arrived in St. Louis, viewers also found him on KSD (Channel 5), later KSDK-TV.
For a time, he did the 10 p.m. news on both the radio and the TV station.

He spent three decades as a pioneering newscaster here and became one of St. Louis’ best-known on-the-air personalities.

Hille said he got his start in radio the old-fashioned way — he knew somebody.

He was a former classmate of the publisher of the old St. Louis Star-Times. When Mr. Hille learned that the newspaper was starting its own radio station, he applied. As a student announcer, he didn’t see a paycheck for nearly half a year.

Hille said KXOK started with an impressive staff with a full studio orchestra and a classical quartet that included a young man named “Eddie” Arnold, who went on to become the famous country singer.

Another big talent was a young man named Paul Aurandt, who later went by the name “Paul Harvey.”

After World War II started, Mr. Hille enlisted as a private and later applied for officer candidate school. He became aide to a general who commanded the Panama Canal. He left the Army as a major and returned to St. Louis and the radio station.

Radio was live then, and announcers often read news straight off the wire. Mr. Hille trained himself to look five or six lines ahead of where his mouth was. “I made very few mistakes,” he said.

November 28 In Radio History



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


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


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


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




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


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

Springfield MA Radio: Former Radio Host, Activist Ruth Loving

Ruth Loving
Ruth Stewart Loving, known as the "mother of civil rights in Springfield" – a college graduate at the age of 73, library champion, radio show host, singer, piano player, performer and NAACP leader – died last Tuesday

She was 100-years-of-age 100, according to masslive.com.

Loving, who had been undergoing rehabilitation for about a month at Wingate Nursing Home following surgery after she fell and broke her hip, died of a heart attack.

Loving, who was featured in "The Struggle for Freedom: The History of African Americans in Western Massachusetts," "never wavered from the cause," said Wayne Phaneuf, who authored the book.

"Ruth Loving was one of a kind," Phaneuf said. "She can't be replaced."

Loving was civil rights icon, who brushed shoulders with Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks and Congressman John Lewis when she was a leader of the Springfield chapter of the NAACP. She also and hosted a radio show on WMAS-AM and FM from 1969 to 2011.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Creed's Scott Stapp Says He's Broke

Scott Stapp
Creed frontman Scott Stapp, whose Grammy-winning band once led the Billboard album charts and played to sold out crowds in the late 90s, posted a Facebook video on Wednesday revealing shocking details about his current living situation.

“Right now I’m living in a Holiday Inn, by the grace of God, because there’s been a couple of weeks I had to live in my truck,” the Orlando native said in the new video. “I had no money, not even for gas or food. I went two days without eating because I had no money and ended up in an emergency room.”

Variety reports the former rock star said that a personal audit revealed that money had been stolen and royalty payments had not come through.

Stapp also denied taking drugs or alcohol in the video, saying “I’m sober as can be. Once the rumors started coming out I began getting blood and urine tests once a week just in case someone called me to the carpet on it, I can prove it.”

Creed, who have sold over 28 million albums worldwide, are currently on hiatus after a brief reunion tour in 2012.

Read More Now

Toronto Radio: Jian Ghomeshi Faces Sexual Assault Charges

  • Withdraws $55M Suit Against CBC
After weeks of swirling allegations of sex crimes, radio personality Jian Ghomeshi finally appeared in public, sitting alone in a downtown Toronto courtroom as five charges were read against him.

Jian Ghomeshi and his attorney
The former CBC radio host faces four sexual-assault charges and one count of overcoming resistance by choking, an offence that carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The Toronto Globe&Mail reports defense lawyer Marie Henein told reporter outside that her client would plead not guilty to all charges. He would not be commenting to the media, she said.

The 47-year-old, once one of Canada’s most in-demand cultural icons, was released on $100,000 bail into the custody of his mother, Sara, after turning over his passport and agreeing to remain in Ontario. Mr. Ghomeshi is banned from possessing any weapons and must stay away from his three accusers.

He surrendered to Toronto police early Wednesday morning, following a month-long investigation by the sex crimes unit.

The CBC abruptly fired Mr. Ghomeshi on Oct. 26, after his own lawyers showed two of the company’s executives incriminating photos, video, e-mails and text messages. Later, leaders at the public broadcaster said the “graphic evidence” they viewed left them convinced that “Jian Ghomeshi caused physical injury to a woman.”

Ghomeshi had volunteered the footage to prove that his sexual encounters were consensual, albeit rough. It appears the meeting was prompted by growing concern among Mr. Ghomeshi and his advisers that allegations of abusive sexual encounters might soon be published in the press.

Since then, at least nine women have spoken to several media outlets, alleging that they were physically or sexually abused by Mr. Ghomeshi. All but two of the women have spoken anonymously.

Ghomeshi filed a $55-million lawsuit against his former employer. But on Tuesday, the CBC confirmed the two sides had reached an agreement that will see Ghomeshi withdraw his suit and pay the public broadcaster $18,000 in costs. He has decided to address his firing through a union grievance instead, “in binding arbitration in accordance with the collective agreement between them,” according to Mr. Ghomeshi’s civil lawyer, Jonathan Lisus.

He is due back in court on Jan. 8, 2015.

Read More Now

November 27 In Radio History



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


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


In 1975...Bill Winters WCBS FM personality passed.

Bill Winters
Winters worked in Tampa Bay in the early to mid 1960’s, first at WALT (mid-days) in 1963-64, and then WLCY. He also went on to work at Miami’s WQAM. During his short career, he held down shifts at some pretty impressive stations, including wakeup duty beginning in early 1968 at WPOP Hartford. There, he achieved the station’s highest Pulse ratings ever and, as a pivotal member of its “BOSS”ketball team, once broke two toes during a benefit game.

During a year out to serve with Uncle Sam, Bill worked part-time at WFBS in Spring Lake, NC, and then returned to mornings at WPOP. This time, he was billed as “The Big Kahuna – World Champion Surfer and 14th Degree Black Belt with Red Strikers.”

Early in his career, Bill worked at some fairly small stations, paying his dues at WCEC, WFMA-FM, and WEED AM/FM, all in Rocky Mountain, North Carolina, WGAI Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and WHAP Hopewell, Virginia. Later stops (and bigger stations) included WKYC Cleveland, CKLW Detroit, WCAO Baltimore, WBZ Boston, WCBS-FM New York (mid-days), and WIBG Philadelphia.

Bill’s career was cut short when he died in 1975 at the age of 35.





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


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


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



Jack Carney
Carney took his first radio job in New Mexico and moved from job to job at small stations throughout the southwest early in his career. Carney then became a rock n’ roll disc jockey serving up the hits to teens in Milwaukee, Atlanta, and Boston.

Carney’s first job in St. Louis came on WIL Radio from 1958-1960. While at WIL, Carney came up with his alter ego character “Pookie Snackenburg.” Carney was lured away from WIL to work for a short time at WABC Radio/New York.

Carney’s second stint in St. Louis was at KMOX where he established a following and his place in the community. Taking over the morning spot from Jack Buck in 1971, Carney was an instant hit.

During his KMOX years, virtually every celebrity that passed through St. Louis stopped by to say hello to Jack Carney.Carney’s show on KMOX was a fixture in St. Louis for 13 years. Jack Carney died of a sudden heart attack at age 52.

Jack Carney was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2001.


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

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

The Bird Is The Word!


Except for breaking news, Media Confidential is taking a holiday break.  Safe travels and Happy Thanksgiving!

Atlanta Radio: Now, There Are Three Classic Hip Hop Stations

OG 97.9 T-FM launched Tuesday at noon as Atlanta’s Classic Hip Hop station.  OG 97.9 FM is being fed via translator W250BC and WWWQ 99.7 HD 3.  It’s throwback hip hop featuring Dr Dre, Missy Elliott, Notorious B.I.G., Jay Z, Ludacris, Snoop, and LL Cool J; all the O-G’s of Hip-Hop.

In 1990 hip-hop made up one-third of the Hot 100. By 1999, it was the country’s best-selling genre, with more than 81 million albums sold. Atlanta, the heart of the Dirty South, was a hot bed of the music and culture during this period. The city hosted the rise of Outkast, Ludacris, TLC, Jermaine Dupri, Goodie Mob, Bow Wow, Kriss Kross and more. Now these artists and their East and West Coast counterparts finally have a proper home on Atlanta’s OG 97.9-Classic Hip Hop.

“This is an exciting day for Atlanta radio,” said Cumulus Atlanta Operations Manager Rob Roberts. “We are bringing a format that hasn’t been available and we’re thrilled to be the home of Classic Hip Hop.”

W250BC 97.9 FM (250watts) 60dBu Coverage
OG 97.9 FM replaces Q100-20, which will continue to be available to fans via Rdio’s Q100-20 Playlist. Information regarding Q100-20 is available at www.Q100Atlanta.com.

For more information about OG 97.9 FM Classic Hip Hop programming and events listen to 97.9 FM or log on to www.OG979.com. Follow on Facebook and on Twitter @OG979ATL.

Radio One has also entered the hip hop radio wars with the launching of Boom 102.9 FM on W275BK, via WPZE 102.5 FM in Mapleton, GA.

W275BK 102.9 FM (147watts) 60dBu Coverage
Boom 102.9 FM is Radio One;' fourth station to be branded as "Boom".  The others are in Houston, Philadelphia and Dallas.

The two stations will slug it out with On Top Broadcasting's "Old School 99.3" WTZA 1010 AM (Atlanta) and W257DF 99.3 T-FM in Dallas, GA which flipped to Classic Hip-Hop last week.

Voice-Over Artist Peter Thomas Recovering

Peter Thomas
UPDATE 11/28/2014: We are happy to report Peter Thomas continues to recover from injuries suffered during a fall at his home. He is responding via phone to well-wishers and itching to get back to his home studio.


Original Posting...

Media Confidential has learned that legendary narrator and pioneering voice-over Talent Peter Thomas is gravely ill.

Thomas, a former staff announcer at WCBS-TV and the CBS Network, is 90-years-of-age and apparently suffered injuries during a recent fall at his hime in Naples, Fl.  He is currently a patient at a nearby nursing facility.

His wife, Stella died this past July from complications of a malignant brain tumor.  In an interview during the summer with the Naples Daily News,Thomas attributes much of his career success to the help Stella gave him.

"I've done over 400 episodes of ‘Forensic Files.' Stella and I would spend hours on those scripts," he said. "We'd read them the night before and the morning before I recorded. I still hear them and can still remember her saying, ‘Oh, I liked how you said that one' or ‘I didn't like that.'"

Once, Peter said he and Stella worked extensively on a script for PBS' "Nova." When he arrived to do the recording in London, he was given a different script. He read the script over the phone to Stella before recording it.

"That just shows how much I really depended on her," he said.



Thomas was born in Pensacola, Florida, where began his career at fourteen as an announcer on a local radio show. Since the station could not pay him, due to his age, they arranged for the sponsor, Piper Aircraft, to give him flying lessons in a Piper Cub. Within just a few years, Thomas would be hosting Big Band remotes.

With the onset of World War II, he left  volunteered for the United States Army in 1943, after being offered an Armed Forces Radio deferment, and served with the First Infantry Division in five major campaigns, including the Battle of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. He was issued a Battle star for each of the five campaigns. He was also awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Unit French Croix de guerre, and Belgian Fourragère.

Thomas has received many awards for his work but cites, as one of his best, the Oscar won by a documentary he narrated, One Survivor Remembers. The film, produced by HBO, chronicles the personal experience of Gerda Weissman Klein, who was interned at the Nordhausen Concentration Camp when she was a teenager. Thomas' unit participated in the haunting liberation of Nordhausen.

Thomas also participated in an HBO film on the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, in which he fought with the 1st Infantry Division (United States). Thomas was also the narrator for a miniseries that ran on The Discovery Channel in 1993 entitled How the West was Lost. Thomas was the narrator for the two-hour Nova episode entitled D-Day's Sunken Secrets, broadcast May 28, 2014, just before the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings; he participated in the original D-Day landing on Omaha Beach.

Thomas has also performed voice-overs for hundreds of television commercials, including Coca-Cola, IBM, Valvoline, NBC, United Technologies, Burger King, William Beaumont Hospital and ESPN Monday Night Football Commercials.

Well-wishers can send cards and message to: Peter Thomas, The Chateau, 130 Moorings Park Drive, Naples, Florida  34105.

November 26 In Radio History





In 1962…At EMI's Abbey Road studios in London, the Beatles recorded "Please Please Me" and "Ask Me Why." "Please Please Me" was a re-recording of the song in a more uptempo style after producer George Martin told the band that their original ballad version was "too bloody boring for words."


In 1969…At EMI's Abbey Road studios in London, John Lennon spent the afternoon mixing the Beatles songs "What's The New Mary Jane" and "You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)" with the intention of releasing them as the two sides of a Plastic Ono Band single. When this plan fell through, "Number" was released as the b-side of the Beatles' "Let It Be" single, making this the last time John Lennon was in the studio working on a Beatles song.



In 1970...George Harrison became the first Beatle to earn a #1 solo hit as "My Sweet Lord" climbed to the top.  The 5th Dimension was second with "One Less Bell to Answer".  The previous #1 "The Tears of a Clown" from Smokey Robinson & the Miracles was third, followed by Dawn's "Knock Three Times" and "Black Magic Woman" from Santana.

The rest of the Top 10:  The former #1 "I Think I Love You" from the Partridge Family, the Supremes remained at #7 with "Stoned Love", Chicago wouldn't budge with "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?", Brian Hyland was still at #9 after 17 weeks with "Gypsy Woman" and Badfinger finished the list with "No Matter What".


In 1973…Elton John released the single "Step Into Christmas."


In 1979...Dan Ingram did his first morning show at 77 WABC after many years as the afternoon drive personality.


In 2003...longtime Washington, D.C. Radio broadcaster, Eddie Gallaher, died at age 89. He worked at stations including WTOP-AM, WASH-FM, and WWDC-AM.

Gallaher (dcrtv photo)
Gallaher's career in Washington began on WTOP-AM in 1947. Gallaher stayed on the air in one market for 53 years, working at two other stations before retiring in 2000.

"Eddie Gallaher was certainly one of the premier, if not the premier disc jockey, here in Washington," said Ed Walker. Walker and "Today"show weatherman Willard Scott were the "Joy Boys" on a rival morningprogram that ran on WRC-AM in Washington from 1955-1972.

Gallaher spent 21 years at WTOP, where celebrities passing through the  nation's capital made sure to stop by his studio.

When WTOP switched to a news and talk format in 1968, Gallaher moved to WASH-FM, then, in 1982, to WWDC-AM where he stayed until retiring in December 2000.


In 2009…Paul McCartney told a BBC interviewer that his concerts are a way of helping him "revisit" other members of the Beatles and his late wife Linda. "If I'm doing songs by the Beatles, I obviously remember the sessions when we recorded. Similarly with John and Linda - in a way you're kind of in contact with them again and it's sad, it's emotional."

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Springfield MO: Cop's Group Considering Suit Against KOSP

An attorney for the Springfield, MO Police Officers Association is reviewing whether comments made by a local radio peronsality earlier this month could be considered defamation, the association's president told the News-Leader Monday.

A series of recordings obtained by the News-Leader, meanwhile, reveal a portion of what exactly was said on the show — which prompted the association to call for a boycott of Top40 KOSP 92.9 FM.

President Mike Evans said the association expects to have the final recommendation from its attorney by early December.

The police association called for the boycott of KOSP, commonly known as 92.9 The Beat, on Nov. 14 after morning cohost Richard Deaver talked on air about being stopped by police.

Deaver, the 25-year-old co-host of "Rich and McClain in the Morning," was pulled over while driving a scooter to work around 5 a.m. Nov. 14 and was issued citations for running a flashing red light and not having a valid driver's license. His scooter was also searched for drugs after an officer claimed he smelled marijuana; nothing was found in the search, which involved a K-9 unit. Deaver was handcuffed and placed in a patrol car while the search was conducted. An officer also told Deaver that he had a non-extraditable warrant for his arrest out of Camden County, Mo.

In calling for a boycott of the station, the association said Deaver used his position "to lie about facts, distort the truth, and try to intimidate our members by threatening to disparage them publicly for doing their job."


Management with Mid-West Family Broadcasting, which owns KOSP, has not responded to requests for comment regarding the boycott. Deaver declined to be interviewed on the record, although he did later release a statement to the News-Leader.

Report: Four Stations Seen As 'A Drag' On Cumulus

Only low expectations before the latest earnings report of Cumulus Media kept the company from getting crushed, as its inability to produce ratings in several of its largest markets resulted in EBITDA in the quarter plunging by 18 percent, according to analyst Gary Bourgeault at Seeking Alpha.

Even with the low expectations, Bourgeault says it's surprising to see the company's share price jump after the weak report; presumably because investors, for now, think it will be able to successfully fix the problems going forward.

Revenue was flat in the third quarter, coming in at $313.9 million, with EBITDA plunging to $79.9 million, a decline of 17.7 percent.

This came from the company's inability to secure high-margin ads, and the need to invest in the weak but large stations that were the cause behind it.

The four major markets dragging the company down are Talk WLS 890 AM in Chicago; Rock KLOS 95.5 FM in Los Angeles; HotAC WRQX 107.3 FM in Washington; and HotAC WPLJ 95.5 FM in New York. According to Cumulus management, the plunge in EBITDA for all the company in 2014 will be attributable to the New York and Washington stations. All four stations have seen a change in morning shows during the past year or two.

Lew Dickey
On the positive side, he adds, it looks like all of these stations are starting to improve, and while they'll continue to be a challenge in 2015, it appears the worst is behind them, as much of the damage was done in the first three quarters. The fourth quarter looking better at this time, although it won't make a significant impact until further into 2015.

Bourgeault opines execution has been a problem for Cumulus ever since it acquired Citadel, as it was dealing with scale and the increase in stations resulted in difficulty in properly and effectively managing them. Emerging from that weak execution at some of the stations is volatility in a number of those markets.

To address that, Lew Dickey has taken over day-to-day operations of the company in order to improve "sense of urgency, preparedness and go-to-market strategies for 2015."

The goal in the short term is to bring more consistency and continuity to the performance of the company, as it has been up and down for some time. A lot of that isn't from the increase in competition on the digital and satellite side of the market it competes in.

Dickey says the company should see improvement in the fourth quarter as a result of some of the changes he's made and put in place.

NYC Radio: WCBS-FM Jumps..Ranks #1 Again

Santa Claus comes early to CBS Radio’s WCBS-FM 101.1 FM.  Not only is the Classic Hits station still number 1…but it spiked during the November PPMS released Monday by Nielsen.  The station jumped 6.1—7.1 (6+ AQH).  WCBS-FM also jumped from #4 to #1 25-54.

iHeartMedia AC WLTW 106.7 FM/LITE FM, ended a four-book slide 5.4—5.6 to take over sole possession of #2  6+. WLTW is now expecting Santa to visit because of its annual flirtation with Holiday music.  Clustermate Top 40 WHTZ 100.3 FM/Z100 spiked 5.1—5.5 to land in the #3 spot.  

SBS Tropical WSKQ 97.9 FM/La Mega nudged 5.0—5.1 to finish #4. And Emmis UrbanAC WBLS 107.5 dropped a half-share 5.4—4.9, down to #5.

25-54:  WCBS-FM…WHTZ…WLTW…WSKQ…WWPR

18-34:  WWPR…WHTZ…WSKQ…WQHT…WKTU

18-49:  WHTZ…WSKQ…WWPR…WCBS-FM…WBLS

Cume:  WLTW-FM 4,970,500…WHTZ-FM 4,719,900…WKTU-FM 4,300,500…WCBS-FM 3,742,800...WBMP-FM 3,091,200


L-A Radio: KIIS-FM Steady And Still #1

iHeartMedia Top 40 KIIS 102.7 FM/KISS FM stays the course  5.3—5.3, to maintain the #1 spot (6+ AQH) in the latest Los Angeles PPMs released Monday by Nielsen.

iHM’s AC KOST 103.5 spiked 4.1—5.2 and jumped to #2.  KOST is now positioned to take-over the #1 spot with a little help from Christmas music. And iHM’s HotAC KBIG 104.3 FM/MyFM dropped 5.3—4.7, and dropped a notch to #3 in the 6+ rankings.

Emmis Top40 KPWR 105.9 FM was off 4.5—4.3 to claim the #4 spot while CBS Radio’s Classic Hits KRTH 101.1 FM/K-EARTH dopped a notch to #5 with a steady 4.2.—4.2 showing.

25-54:  KIIS…KOST…KBIG…KPWR…KAMP tied KLVE

18-34:  KPWR…KIIS…KAMP…KBIG…KLVE

18-49:  KIIS…KPWR…KBIG…KOST…KAMP

Cume:  KIIS-FM 3,790,400…KBIG-FM 3,547,500…KOST-FM 3,328,600…KAMP-FM 2,929,200…KRTH-FM 2,641,800


Chicago Radio: V103 Tops In Chicago 6+

UrbanAC WVAZ 102.7 FM/V103 lays claim to the top spot (6+ AQH) in the latest Chicago PPMs as released by Nielsen Monday.  The iHM station nudged upward 5.7-5.9, followed by CBS Radio’s News WBBM 780 AM / 105.9 FM at #2.  

Hubbard’s HotAC WTMX 101.9 FM jumped 4.7—5.2 to finish at #3.

Univision’s Regional Mexican WOJO 105.1 FM lost 4.8—4.6 and ended up at #4.  And iHM’s Top40 WKSC 103.5 FM ended up at #5 after losing share 4.5—4.3.

25-54:  WTMX…WVAZ…WKSC…WOJO..WBBM-FM

18-34:  WGCI…WKSC…WBBM-FM…WKQX…WTMX

18-49:  WTMX…WKSC…WVAZ…WBBM-FM…WOJO

Cume:  WKSC-FM 2,265,200…WTMX-FM 2,184,600…WBBM-FM 2,148,300…WLIT-FM 1,824,800…WBBM-AM 1,581,800


Nielsen Releases First November Data for PPM Markets

On Monday, Nielsen released November date for 12 PPM markets.  They are:
1  New York
2 Los Angeles  
3 Chicago  
4 San Francisco  
5 Dallas-Ft. Worth  
6 Houston-Galveston  
8 Phildelphia  
9 Atlanta 
20 Nassau-Suffolk (Long Island) 
26 Riverside-San  Francisco 
36 San Jose, CA 
41 Middlesex-Somset-Union NJ
To see the Topline numbers for Nieseb subscribing stations: Click Here.