July 12 Radio History

In 1946…"The Adventures of Sam Spade," starring Howard Duff, debuted on ABC Radio. The show ran for 13 episodes on ABC in 1946, for 157 episodes on CBS in 1946-1949, and finally for 51 episodes on NBC in 1949-1951. Steve Dunne played the title role during the show's last two seasons.

In 1959…DJ Alan Freed - the man who coined the term "Rock and Roll" - started a Rock and Roll program on ABC-TV.  "The Big Beat" with guest performers Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers, the Everly Brothers and Connie Francis. The series was cancelled after the fourth show in which Frankie Lymon was seen dancing with a white girl, something that reportedly offended the management of the network's affiliate stations in southern states. Freed hosted a local version of "The Big Beat" on WNEW-TV New York until late 1959 when he was fired due to payola allegations.

In 1976…Radio-TV host (Ted Mack & The Original Amateur Hour, Ted Mack Family Hour) Ted Mack – died of complications from cancer at 72.




In 1979…In Chicago, WLUP-FM personalities Gerry Meier and Steve Dahl staged a "disco demolition" night at Comiskey Park with a public bonfire of disco vinyl records between games of a White Sox-Detroit Tigers doubleheader. Fans began tossing the records around like frisbees during the first game, and by the time of the bonfire, mini-riots and other fires had broken out in the stadium, forcing the White Sox to forfeit the second game.

In 2000…USA Digital Radio and Lucent Digital Radio merge to form Ibiquity Digital.


In  2008… Former White House press secretary/columnist//radio-TV newsman/program host (Fox News, CNN, NPR) Tony Snow died of colon cancer at 53.


In 2008… New York Yankees outfielder-turned baseball broadcaster Bobby Murcer died of brain cancer at age 62.

July 11 Radio History

In 1951...Alan Freed debuted his "Moondog Rock 'n' Roll Party," playing mostly rhythm & blues records, on WJW Radio in Cleveland.


In 1969...the Rolling Stones released "Honky Tonk Women" to Radio





In 1970...Dan Daniels did his final show on WMCA-AM, New York


In 1987...The "Alone," by Heart went #1 for 3 weeks

Roger Christian

In 1991...Los Angeles radio personality/lyricist (Dead Man's Curve, The Little Old Lady From Pasadena, Sidewalk Surfin', Drag City, Honolulu Lulu, Don't Worry Baby, Little Deuce Coupe, Shut Down) Roger Christian died at age 57.

Christian worked as a radio personality in Los Angeles in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He was one of the original "Boss Jocks" when 93KHJ debuted in 1965. His radio career started in Buffalo, New York in the mid-1950s. He moved to the west coast and worked for other radio stations in Los Angeles, including KFWB (AM), KGBS (AM-FM), KBLA, KDAY, KRTH-FM, KRLA (AM), and KIQQ-FM.  Christian was also one of the writer/narrators on the 1964 Capitol Records documentary LP The Beatles' Story.

Christian suffered from periodic depression.  He was the only original KHJ "Boss Jock" not to appear at the 25th reunion on May 9, 1990. He died of complications of kidney and liver failure, said his ex-wife, Joanne Christian of Canoga Park.


In Media Confidential one year ago...

Clear Channel (now iHeartMedia) announces return of Marc Chase, other changes. Click Here.

Apple Music's Impact On Pandora To Be Short-Lived

Apple Music may be getting under the skin of Spotify, which is persuading customers to bypass Apple’s App Store, but reports Marketwatch, Pandora Media Inc. investors shouldn’t sweat the threat just yet.

The three-month free trial of Apple's new music streaming service is expected to take a toll on Pandora in the current quarter, but the “freemium” model of Pandora — namely its non-subscription, ad-supported tier — offers a unique advantage in the long run as streaming increases in the connected car, according to analysts at Needham and Morgan Stanley.

Apple Music is expected to reduce aggregate listening hours on Pandora by 2% to 3% in the third quarter, according to Morgan Stanley estimates. The bank lowered its price target on Pandora to $17 on Thursday and reiterated an equal-weight rating, saying it sees “no catalyst for shares to outperform” until after the Apple Music launch period has passed. To that tune, it also raised its estimates on subscription music adoption, saying the “heft of Apple cannot be ignored.”

But Morgan Stanley expects Pandora’s listener hours to bounce back in the fourth quarter, and grow at a per-user rate of 3% per year over the next five years, as people who don’t want to pay Apple Music’s $9.99-a-month fee return to Pandora. Free ad-supported listening will continue to “dominate in aggregate,” said Morgan Stanley analyst Ben Swinburne, particularly as cars become more connected.

With 80 million active users, Pandora is the dominant leader in Internet radio, accounting for nearly 10% of all U.S. radio listening. It is one of the major players disrupting the $15 billion U.S. broadcast radio market, and Swinburne said in-car listening will offset some of the competitive pressure from subscription-based streaming companies down the road.

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Atlanta Radio: Claudia Jordan OFF The Rickey Smiley Show

Rickey Smiley, Claudia Jordan

Recently fired from the cast of Housewives of Atlanta, Claudia Jordan has now lost her job as co-host on the Atlan-based Ricky Smiley Show, heard on WHTA Hot 107.9 FM.

 Ricky’s politically correct statement was “ Our girl Claudia Jordan is moving on after a year on ‘The Rickey Smiley Morning Show,’ and we will miss her. Just want to thank her for her time with us and we wish her nothing but the best.”

Claudia followed suit, for the most part, in addition to mentioning in her statement that she is the second woman to be let go of within a year and that she will pursue other opportunities that will allow her to “better showcase her talents.”

The Atlanta Constitution reports the radio show’s ratings on Hot are up year over year overall and among 25-54 year olds but have fallen among younger listeners. Last month, it ranked in a tie for 13th overall with a 3.7 share overall compared to a 2.6 share in June, 2014. Among 25 to 54 year olds, it’s up to a 4.4 share from a 4.2 share a year ago. Among 18 to 34 year olds, it fell from a 7.2 and second place in June 2014 to 7th place with a 4.6 last month.

AC quotes a source saying Smiley, in a huff, had stopped talking to Jordan a couple of weeks ago. With ratings down in many markets, the source said Smiley was looking for excuses. (His show is syndicated in more than 50 markets, including St. Louis, Miami, Detroit, Dallas and Chicago.)

“Claudia was an easy target,” the source said, although whenever they made public appearances, fans flocked to Jordan. That may have bugged Smiley, too, the source said.

“She’s the most interesting person on the show,” the source added. “Rickey couldn’t have that.”

She plans to relocated to the West Coast.

NPR Names New Hosts For All Things Considered

All Things Considered, NPR's flagship evening news program, is expanding its lineup of hosts: Ari Shapiro and Kelly McEvers will join veterans Robert Siegel and Audie Cornish on weekdays, and Michel Martin will become the new host of the weekend show.

The network says the expanded lineup "helps NPR keep pace with the way audiences are consuming news in evening drive time and opens new doors to audience growth." The changes will take effect in September.

"Adding these voices to our afternoon lineup seven days a week increases our ability to sound like America and the communities we cover," says Michael Oreskes, NPR's senior vice president of news and editorial director. "With these changes, our listeners will benefit from a whole new range of stories, sources and perspectives."

All Things Considered Clock

In taking up his new hosting duties, Shapiro returns from London, where he has served as a correspondent. Previously, he was NPR's White House correspondent and, prior to that, a Justice Department correspondent. He started his NPR career as an intern.

McEvers has spent several years reporting from the Middle East, where she ran NPR's Beirut bureau. She earned a number of awards for her reporting in 2012 on the Syrian conflict before returning stateside to take up duties as a National Desk correspondent based on the West Coast. As ATC host, she will be working out of studios at NPR West, in Culver City, Calif.

Michel Martin is well-known to NPR listeners as the host of Tell Me More, a weekday show that NPR shut down in 2014. She has a strong journalism resume, having worked in print and as a reporter for ABC News. Her live event series with NPR Member stations, "Michel Martin: Going There," will continue.

NPR Media Relations Director Isabel Lara says the weekend show's current host, Arun Rath, "will be moving back to Boston" but did not elaborate.

Recently, NPR announced that All Things Considered senior host Melissa Block would take on a new role as a special correspondent for the network.

All Things Considered is heard on more than 700 radio stations and is the most listened-to afternoon drive-time radio news program in the country.

Regis Philbin Joins Fourth Hour of Today

Regis

Regis and Kathie Lee. Also, Hoda. And there’s plenty of wine for everyone. NBC’s Today has named Regis Philbin a contributor to the program’s fourth hour, alongside Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb.

AdWeek reports the news reunites Philbin and Gifford, who co-hosted Live! for 15 years until Gifford left in 2001. Philbin, who turns 84 in August, has been something of a regular presence on Today over the last several months, including starring in Today The Musical. But naming him a contributor formalizes his role at a time when co-host Kotb is spending considerable time filling in for vacationing anchors on the flagship portion of the morning broadcast.

After departing Live!, Gifford was replaced with Kelly Ripa, now host of Live! With Kelly and Michael. It was revealed in March on Kotb’s radio show that Philbin hasn’t seen or talked to Ripa since he left the program in 2011.

Among other career highlights, Philbin has written two memoirs and hosted ABC’s Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, one of the highest rated prime-time game shows in history.

Philbin has 24 Daytime Emmy nominations, six wins and a lifetime achievement award. He has also broken the Guinness World Record for most hours on camera.

Orlando Radio: Make It Four In A Row For WRUM

iHeartMedia’s Tropical WRUM 100.3 FM continued it win streak in the June PPMs (6+ AQH Total Week) released Thursday by Nielsen Audio.

WRUM was off just a bit in June 8.7—8.4, but has a 2.1 share lead over  the market’s #2 station, which is CBS Radio's Classic Hits WOCL 105.9 FM.  Sunny 105-9 was steady at 6.3, but moved up a notch in the ranker.

iHM’s Rumba has been #1 five times in the first six months of 2015.  In February it ranked #2.

Central Florida Educational’s non-com WPOZ 88.3 came in at number 3.  The Contemporary Christian Z88.3 “Safe For The Little Ears” station showed upward movement for the third consecutive month.  From May to June it increased 6.0—6.3.

iHM’s Mainstream Top40 WXXL 106.7 FM lost share 7.0—6.2 and dropped two positions  to #4.  Cox Media Group’s  Classic Hits WMMO 98.9 FM was up 5.3—5.9 to claim the #5 spot for a second month.

25-54:  WRUM…WTKS…WXXL…WOCL…WPOZ

18-34:  WRUM…WXXL…WPYO…WOMX…WJJR

18-49:  WRUM…WXXL…WTKS…WOCL…WMGF

Cume:  WMGF-FM 537,600...WXXL-FM 531,000...WOMX-FM 457,700...WMMO-FM 429,700...WOCL-FM 380,400 -

Top 10 Morning Shows (6+ M-F 6a-10a)

1         Tropical WRUM Rumba 100.3 John Musa and Jenny Castillo 

2         Top 40WXXL XL 106-7 Johnny’s House 

3         Cont. Christian WPOZ Z88.3  Ellis B. Feaster and Tyler
TIE    Personality Talk WTKS Real Radio 104.1 FM  The Monsters 

5     Country WWKA K92  AJ & Ashley

TIE AC WMGF Magic 107-7 John and Leslye 

7         HotAC WOMX  Mix 105.1 FM  The Morning Mix w/Scott McKenzie, Dana & Jay 

8         Classic Hits WMMO 98.9 FM Denise 

9         R/Top40  WPYO Power 95-3 The Obie & Lil’ Shawn Morning Show 

10     Classic Hits WOCL Sunny 105.9 FM Rick Stacy

Noteworthy:

• JVC Media New Country WOTW103.1 FM has been struggling since it debuted in mid-December 2014. This month there is some growth to note Total Persons 6+ The Wolf increased 0.5—1.0…25-54 The Wolf was up 0.5—1.3…18-34 it was up 0.6—1.2.
• Cox Media’s Heritage Country WWKA K92 was up 5.2—5.9 6+…4.8—5.5 25-54 and up 5.2—5.8 18-34.

Boston Radio: WBZ-FM Tops With Men 25-54

For the 10th time in the past 11 three-month ratings periods, WBZ-FM 98.5 The Sports Hub finished as the top-rated radio station in Boston, according to Nielsen Audio data.

The Sports Hub earned a 9.0 share in the men 25-54 demographic for the spring period of March 26-June 17.

The Sports Hub, owned by CBS Radio, has been first in the past three quarterlies after finishing third in summer 2014. The station topped the previous seven three-month ratings periods before last summer.

25-54:  WROR...WXKS...WMJX...WKLB...WBOS

18-34:  WKLB...WXKS...WJMN...WBOS...WMJX

18-49:  WXKS...WKLB...WBOS...WMJX...WROR

Cume:  WMJX-FM 1,421,400...WXKS-FM 1,409,000...WROR-FM 1,128,600...WKLB-FM 922,800...WODS-FM 875,100

Nielsen Releases June PPMs For Orlando, SLC, 10 Other Markets

Nielsen Thursday released the third batch of June 2015 PPM data for the following markets:

  23  Portland OR

  24  Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill NC

  26  Pittsburgh 

  27  San Antonio

  28  Sacramento

  29  Salt Lake City-Ogden-Provo

  30  Cincinnati

  31  Cleveland

  32  Las Vegas

  33  Orlando

  34  Kansas City

  35  Columbus OH 

Click Here to see Topline Numbers for subscribing Nielsen stations.

ESPN Taking Hardline With Talent

Sports-TV powerhouse ESPN, a profit machine that has long towered over the media landscape, is showing signs of stress as the pay-TV industry goes through an unprecedented period of upheaval.

Marketwatch reports a decline in subscribers as customers trim their cable bills, coupled with rising content costs and increased competition, has ESPN in belt-tightening mode, people familiar with the situation say.

The company, majority owned by Walt Disney Co., has lost 3.2 million subscribers in a little over a year, according to Nielsen data, as people have "cut the cord" by dropping their cable-TV subscriptions or downgraded to cheaper, slimmed-down TV packages devoid of expensive sports channels like ESPN.

Viewership of SportsCenter, its marquee and high-margin sports-news show, has sagged since September, due in part to the fact that younger consumers are increasingly finding sports news at their fingertips on smartphone apps.

At the same time, the prices ESPN pays for the rights to show games are ballooning. Rivals including 21st Century Fox Inc.'s Fox Sports and Comcast Corp.'s NBC are aggressively pursuing sports properties to feed their own outlets, which is also driving up prices.

Last year, ESPN agreed as part of a renewal deal with the National Basketball Association to triple its average annual fees from $485 million to about $1.47 billion, people familiar with the deal said.

ESPN sees talent as one area where it can control its costs, and it has been taking a hard line in negotiations.

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San Diego Radio: iHM Adds To Chargers Broadcast Team

Curtis Conway, Nick Hardwick

iHeartMedia/San Diego, the flagship radio broadcaster for the San Diego Chargers Radio Network, has announced the addition of two former Chargers – Curtis Conway and Nick Hardwick – to the broadcast team for the 2015-16 NFL Season.

As part of the new Chargers Broadcast Team, Conway will join Josh Lewin, play-by-play announcer, in the broadcast booth as color analyst and Hardwick will report from the sidelines for all home and away games.

“I am thrilled and honored to be back with the Chargers organization and be able to join a group of pros like Josh, Nick and the entire broadcast team,” said Conway. “The Chargers are poised for a productive season and I’m excited to have a seat in the broadcast booth for all the game action.”

Josh Lewin

Conway, a NFL first-round draft pick out of USC, played 12 years in the NFL as a wide receiver including the San Diego Chargers from 2000-02. In 2009, Conway began working as a color analyst on national NFL radio broadcasts for Compass Media Networks. He will continue in his role as a studio analyst for the Pac-12 Network along with analyst for Pass to the Draft and as a co-host of Total Access on the NFL Network. Conway is married to Laila Ali, famed female boxing champion and daughter of Muhammad Ali.

“I'm so incredibly excited to be a part of the Chargers game day broadcast team,” said Hardwick.

“The opportunity to remain with the team on the sidelines is a dream come true. I will bring the same dedication and passion to the broadcast that I brought to the field the past 11 years.”

“We are extremely proud to field the combination of broadcast talent and NFL knowledge we have in Josh, Curtis and Nick,” added Melissa Forrest, Market President of iHeartMedia San Diego. “Chargers fans are in for a great season on the field, in the studio, in the booth and on the sidelines!”

Josh Lewin joined the San Diego Chargers radio play-by-play team in July 2005. Since 2012, Lewin has also acted as the play-by-play announcer for the New York Mets. In addition, Lewin served as both a sideline reporter and play-by-play announcer for The NFL on FOX and NFL games on SportsUSA/Jones Radio.

Mike Costa, co-host of the “Loose Cannons” on XTRA 1360 Fox Sports San Diego, will continue as sideliner reporter for all Charger home games.

Milwaukee Radio: WJMR-FM Drops Tom Joyner

Tom Joyner

WJMR 98.3 FM has dropped the "Tom Joyner Morning Show" for the second time in three years — and, for the second time in three years, replaced the nationally syndicated weekday program with a show hosted by station stalwart Andrea Williams.

WJMR, which carries an urban oldies format branding as Today's R&B and Old School, informed fans of the switch on its Facebook page July 3.

In response to questions about the decision, Tyrene Jackson, brand manager for WJMR at parent company Saga Communications, said in an email  to the Milwaukee Sentinel Wednesday that it was a business decision.

"We understand that he will be missed by some. The show, however, has seen declining performance in ratings over the past year, and we realized it was time to head in a new direction — one that we feel our audience will respond very positively to," Jackson wrote.

Williams' show, called "More Music Mornings," will be "a live, local, music-intensive morning show," Jackson said.

WJMR 98.3 FM (4.9 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area

WJMR dropped Joyner's show in February 2012, replacing it with a show hosted by Williams, before bringing it back in May 2013.

Tom's Take: 2015 has not be kind to Tom Joyner his brother died a few weeks ago and he's recentyl divorced.

TWC To Launch Weather Undergound Show

The Weather Channel will soon announce the mid-August launch of a daily two-hour live show that taps into the resources and quirky spirit of Weather Underground, the website for meteorological enthusiasts obsessive enough to own personal forecast stations, according to The LA Times.

The Weather Co., the Weather Channel's parent, acquired Weather Underground in 2012, much to the chagrin of the site's fans who love its grass-roots approach to forecasting. They feared a corporate takeover of the San Francisco-based entity — which grew through a network of devoted followers supplying data from across the country — would make Weather Underground more commercial and less sophisticated. The site was founded by several University of Michigan students in 1993, taking their name from the left-wing radical organization formed in the late 1960s.

Mike Bettes

But the weather geeks who populate Weather Underground are the viewers the Weather Channel wants to attract with its new show.

The Weather Channel's president, David Clark, told The Times that the Weather Underground program would depart from standard coverage, providing meteorological news and discussion that "will be done in a fun, fast-moving, youthful kind of way." Unlike the channel's slick studio look seen through most of the day, the Weather Underground proceedings will take place in a casual clubhouse atmosphere with a few bar stools, easy chairs and memorabilia.

The program, airing from 6 to 8 p.m. Eastern time, will be hosted by Weather Channel meteorologist and storm chaser Mike Bettes and use the Weather Underground's roster of experts and bloggers. Some of the site's contributors who supply their local data will also be invited to participate.

Tucson Radio: Alan Michaels Returns For Oldies Show

Alan Michaels

Alan Michaels, one of the most recognizable personalities in Tucson radio, will be back on the air starting Sunday morning, July 12, from 8-10. The local radio legend will use that time to broadcast music from the format that made him a household name in this market, but on a station known for talk and sports: Powertalk KEVT 1210 AM.

"I love my current job at Wells Fargo," Michaels told Tucson Weekly. "But doing an oldies show on the weekends has been on my mind for some time. I stopped in and talked to (Operations Manager Jim Parisi), told him I was thinking of doing an oldies show on the weekends, and without hesitation he said I want you to do it here. I was surprised because he does talk and sports. Doing music is totally different, but his logic was you have a name, you know how to do it, and on Sunday morning you would bring something to the table. Why not?"

Michaels was unceremoniously bounced from Clear Channel (now iheartmedia) during its major cutback four years ago. At the time, Michaels was morning host on KOOL 1450 AM, Tucson's last real remnant of the traditional oldies format.

"People continue to ask me when I'm going back on," Michaels said. "The questions are always there. Nobody in Tucson is doing the oldies. Nobody's doing it with a fun format. When you're having fun playing it, and the listeners are having fun listening to it, it's a whole different ballgame."

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ESPN's Tom Jackson To Be Honored With NFL Radio, TV Award

Tom Jackson

ESPN broadcaster Tom Jackson has won the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame made the announcement Tuesday. The NFL analyst will be recognized for "longtime exceptional contributions to radio and television in professional football'' during the 2015 enshrinement ceremony on Aug. 8.
"Playing in the National Football League was a dream come true, but never did it occur to me that I'd have a second career so gratifying and an award like this bestowed upon me," Jackson said in a statement announcing his honor.

"I admire and deeply respect the former recipients of the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award. I'm so honored to join this club. And to all those who have contributed to my success as a broadcaster, I humbly and sincerely say thank you."

Jackson joined ESPN in 1987 following a 14-year NFL career as a linebacker for the Denver Broncos.

Flo & Eddie File To Stop Pre-72 Hits Settlement

Attorneys for The Turtles, who won key rulings against SiriusXM Radio in the battle over pre-1972 records,  filed a scathing response Wednesday to the satcaster's $210 million settlement with the major record labels, urging the court to halt what they called a “brazen attempt” to exclude them from their own victory.

The filing throws an obstacle in front of a deal last month that appeared to be a major step toward resolving a nationwide fight over what should be paid for use of pre-1972 hits, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

On Wednesday, attorneys for Flo & Eddie of The Turtles came forward in California federal court to demand an injunction that would stop the satellite radio giant from paying the money to ABKCO Music & Records, Capitol Records, Sony Music Entertainment, UMG Recordings and Warner Music Group. Instead, a judge is being asked to issue an order that the money be paid into an interest-bearing account under the court's control and direction.

Flo & Eddie, represented by Henry Gradstein, object to being explicitly excluded from a mediation that included SiriusXM's attorneys, representatives from the major labels and the RIAA.  Gradstein teold the judge it's a direct violation of California's rules of professional conduct. He adds that the participants in the secret mediation came to a settlement that not only included pre-72 recordings that the major labels own, but also settled claims over recordings that the labels "control or otherwise have the right to contract with."

Miami Radio: Cory Roberts Named APD For WEDR-FM

Cory Roberts

Cox Media Group/Miami has named Cory “Big Mack” Roberts as the new Assistant Director of Branding & Programming for legendary urban radio station, WEDR 99.1 FM / 99 JAMZ.

“Big Mack lives, loves, and breathes radio,” says Jill Strada CMG Miami’s  Director of Branding & Programming.  “He’s an up-and-coming super star with diverse talents and a strong work ethic. I’m thrilled to welcome him to Miami and to the 99 JAMZ family!”

Big Mack got his start in radio at WWPR in New York working under Program Director Cadillac Jack, who later brought Big Mack with him to Boston to start up Rhythm AC radio station, WBQT / HOT 96.9, as the Morning Show Producer / On-Air Talent / Music Assistant.

WEDR 99.1 FM (93 Kw) Red=Local  Coverage Area

“Thanks to Jill Strada, Rob Babin, Steve Smith and Tony Kidd for believing in me and giving me this opportunity,” said Big Mack. “I can’t wait to get to Miami and help our team take 99 JAMZ to new levels!”

Big Mack grew up in New Jersey, studied at Hofstra University and has a Sound Engineering degree from the Institute of Audio Research in New York.

Survey: Radio Has Perception Problem

Nielsen's latest Total Audience Report indicates that radio reaches 93 percent of adult 18 and older. But when radio reseacher Mark Kassof tells people he works in radio, he hears them say “No one listens to radio anymore.”

So, it made Kassof wonder about consumer's actual perception of radio, so he posed the finally:

Think about the radio stations that broadcast on FM radio and AM radio. Many of them can also be listened to online or using smartphone apps. Around what percentage of Americans 18 and older would you guess listen to FM or AM radio stations during an average week? 

And based on 704 telephone interviews with 18-64’s in the U.S. conducted  July 1-5, their estimate of the percentage that listen to FM or AM during a typical week averages…just 53%.

In other words, consumers grossly underestimate radio listening!

Kassof concludes, "our medium has a PR problem. Perception is reality. So radio’s reality is that it’s great at marketing clients’ goods and services, but has fallen short marketing itself.

SiriusXM Covers MLB All-Star Week

SiriusXM will offer baseball fans comprehensive coverage of Major League Baseball's 2015 All-Star Week from Cincinnati, OH.

SiriusXM will carry the national broadcast of both the 86th All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 14 (8:00 pm ET), and the Gillette Home Run Derby presented by Head & Shoulders on Monday July 13 (8:00 pm ET), live on the MLB Network Radio channel. MLB Network Radio is available nationwide on satellite radios (XM channel 89 and Sirius channel 209), through the SiriusXM app and at SiriusXM.com.

MLB Network Radio will offer listeners extensive pre- and post-event coverage from Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park for both the All-Star Game and Gillette Home Run Derby presented by Head & Shoulders.  Hosts Casey Stern and former GMs Jim Bowden and Jim Duquette will broadcast live starting at 5:00 pm ET both days, conducting one-on-one interviews with All-Stars, managers, coaches and other personalities from around the game.

On Sunday, July 12 at 10:00 am ET, SiriusXM will present a round table discussion hosted by Stern and featuring several MLB Network Radio hosts/analysts – including former All-Stars Steve Sax and Mike Stanton, former NL Rookie of the Year Todd Hollandsworth, and former general manager Steve Phillips. The hosts will recap the first half of the season, discuss team needs as the trade deadline approaches, and take a look at the teams making a push for the postseason.

This will be followed by the exclusive radio broadcast of the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, featuring the top minor league prospects from the U.S. facing off against their counterparts from around the world.  MLB Network Radio's pre-game coverage will begin at 1:00 pm ET (Game time: 3:00 pm ET).  Mike Ferrin will be the play-by-play voice for the broadcast and Jim Duquette will be the analyst.  Jim Bowden will report from the scouts' seats where he will talk with MLB talent evaluators throughout the game, and Grant Paulsen will provide reports from the dugouts and interview the players before, during and after the game.

Chicago Radio: Warren Ballantine Escapes Prison

Warren Ballantine

On the eve of his October trial, former Soul WRSB 106.3 FM personality Warren Ballentine told Facebook followers he was looking forward to “Vindication week.”

Ballentine just didn’t realize how long he had left to wait — for a vindication of sorts.

The Sun-Times is reporting the wait ended this week, eight months after Ballentine’s conviction on six counts connected to a $10 million mortgage fraud scheme. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly decided to spare Ballentine any prison time, instead sentencing “The People’s Attorney” to three years of probation and 300 hours of community service.

But the judge went further and declared Ballentine a “minimal participant” in the scheme. Ballentine lowered his head and appeared to stifle a sob as the judge announced the sentence. He faced as many as 30 years in prison.  Ballentine must also pay more than $140,000 in restitution.

Evidence at trial showed Ballantine and others used straw buyers to secure mortgages on 28 properties they never intended to live in. In some cases, it showed he attended closings for the same phony purchasers at two different properties within three days of each other, each time telling the straw buyers to lie on their mortgage forms.

But Ballentine’s attorney argued Ballentine merely acted as an attorney at closings and that Ballentine was not involved in any “hanky-panky.”

Ballentine, whose show was also carried on WVON radio before his indictment, made an impassioned plea to Kennelly. He told the judge, “I’m guilty.”

“But I’m guilty of being ignorant,” Ballentine said. “I’m guilty of not understanding.”

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Behind The Scenes: CNN's New Day Morning Show

CNN’s New Day celebrated its two-year anniversary last month by posting double digit increases.

The morning show was up +12 percent in total viewers and up +21 percent in 25-54 viewers for the second quarter of 2015 vs. Q2 2014.

The 3-hour ensemble newscast anchored by Chris Cuomo, Alisyn Camerota and Michaela Pereira keeps a focus on hard news, breaking stories and newsmaker interviews: a basic news program formula, but one that is working for CNN?

So TV Newser went behind the scenes...

Homer Visits Donald Trump's Hair

In brief video clip released by Fox's "The Simpsons, "Homer is entranced by Trump's "gravity defying comb-over," which is depicted as concealing not only the businessman/candidate's scalp but everything from Amelia Earhart and Anger from the film "Inside Out" to the Hamburglar and the monolith from "2001."

"If he paid less than $1 million for it, it's a steal," Homer says.

A new season of "Simpsons" episodes is set to debut on Sept. 27.

Friday Funny: 9 Things NOT To Say To A Radio DJ

Chris Cruise, heard evening on Country KMPS 94.1 FM in Seattle, has posted a YouTube video about things no one should every say to a radio DJ.  Cruise is orginally from Detroit and has been at KMPS for about 15 months.

These should sound familiar:

Delmarva Radio: CEO Pete Booker To Retire

Pete Booker

The longtime president and CEO of the Delmarva Broadcasting Company will step down Monday after 22 years heading the parent company of a dozen popular radio stations in the Tri-State area.

According to delawareonline.com, Julian H. "Pete" Booker announced his impending retirement late Wednesday. His successor will be announced later this month, according to the company.

"This company has been a very important part of my life for many years," Booker said in a statement. "The Steinman family, leadership and people of Delmarva Broadcasting will remain in my thoughts and prayers. I wish only the best for them. "

Booker's career at Delmarva Broadcasting has spanned nearly 33 years, starting with a part-time deejay gig he landed while still in college.

Owned by Steinman Communications, Delmarva Broadcasting Company's holdings include WSTW 93.7 FM in Wilmington, The Wave 97.1 FM in Lewes, Cool 101.3 FM and Eagle 97.7 FM, both in Milford; country music stations WXCY 103.7 FM in Havre de Grace, Maryland and Cat Country 97.5 FM in Salisbury, Maryland; news radio stations WICO 92.5 FM and 1320 AM in Salisbury/Ocean City, Maryland; talk radio stations WDEL 1150 AM in Wilmington and Delaware 105.9 FM in Lewes; and the Spanish-language station La Exitosa 930 AM and 104.1 FM in Milford.

July 10 Radio History

In 1856…Nicola Tesla was born.

Nikola Tesla

Tesla was a Serbian American  inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, and futurist best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system.

Tesla's theories on the possibility of the transmission by radio waves go back as far as lectures and demonstrations in 1893 in St. Louis, Missouri, the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the National Electric Light Association.  Tesla's demonstrations and principles were written about widely through various media outlets.  Many devices such as the Tesla Coil were used in the further development of radio.

Tesla's radio wave experiments in 1896 were conducted in Gerlach Hotel (later renamed The Radio Wave building), where he resided.

In 1898, Tesla demonstrated a radio-controlled boat—which he dubbed "teleautomaton"—to the public during an electrical exhibition at Madison Square Garden.  The crowd that witnessed the demonstration made outrageous claims about the workings of the boat, such as magic, telepathy, and being piloted by a trained monkey hidden inside.  Tesla tried to sell his idea to the U.S. military as a type of radio-controlled torpedo, but they showed little interest.   Remote radio control remained a novelty until World War I and afterward, when a number of countries used it in military programs.   Tesla took the opportunity to further demonstrate "Teleautomatics" in an address to a meeting of the Commercial Club in Chicago, whilst he was travelling to Colorado Springs, on 13 May 1899.

In 1900, Tesla was granted patents for a "system of transmitting electrical energy" and "an electrical transmitter." When Guglielmo Marconi made his famous first-ever transatlantic radio transmission in 1901, Tesla quipped that it was done with 17 Tesla patents. This was the beginning of years of patent battles over radio with Tesla's patents being upheld in 1903, followed by a reverse decision in favor of Marconi in 1904. In 1943, a Supreme Court of the United States decision restored the prior patents of Tesla, Oliver Lodge, and John Stone.  The court declared that their decision had no bearing on Marconi's claim as the first to achieve radio transmission, just that since Marconi's claim to certain patents were questionable, he could not claim infringement on those same patents  (there are claims the high court was trying to nullify a World War I claim against the U.S. government by the Marconi Company via simply restoring Tesla's prior patent).

In 1933…the first police radio system was put into operation in Eastchester Township, New York


In 1950…After 15 years as a radio favorite, "Your Hit Parade" started a nine-year run on television – the first eight years on NBC, the last year on CBS – while continuing on radio until 1955.

   
                    
In 1954…Radio station WINS in New York City hired disc jockey Alan Freed from WJW in Cleveland, where he had helped popularize, if not invent, the term "rock 'n' roll." 

In  1962…Telstar 1 launched. Telstar is the name of various communications satellites. 

The first two Telstar satellites were experimental and nearly identical. 

Telstar 1 was launched on top of a Thor-Delta rocket on July 10, 1962. It successfully relayed through space the first television pictures, telephone calls, fax images and provided the first live transatlantic television feed. Telstar 2 was launched May 7, 1963. 

Telstar 1 and 2, though no longer functional, are still in orbit as of October 2013.

In 1965...the Rolling Stones got their first Number One U.S. hit with "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction."

DC Radio: News WTOP Increases 6+ Win

The news continues to be good  for Hubbard’s News WTOP 103.5 FM as the station remained #1 (6+ AQH Total Week) in the June PPMs released Wednesday by Nielsen.

WTOP increased share 8.1—8.5, while American University’s News/Talk WAMU 88.5 FM  lost ground. The non-com was down 8.0—7.3 to claim the #2 spot in the Top 5.

iHeartMedia mainstream Top40 WIHT 99.5 HotFM jumped 6.2—6.9 for a terrific showing and placed at #3.  Howard University’s UrbanAC WHUR 96.3 FM turned things  around in June moving 5.7—6.1 to claim #4 and iHM’s AC WASH 97.1 FM rounds-out the Top 5 losing share 6.0—5.7,

25-54:  WIHT…WTOP…WASH…WKYS…WHUR

18-34:  WIHT…WKYS…WPGC…WWDC…WBIG

18-49:  WIHT…WKYS…WASH…WHUR…WAMU

Cume:  WIHT-FM 1,391,500...WASH-FM 1,264,100...WTOP-FM 1,158,500...WIAD-FM 1,023,800...WBIG-FM 992,400

Philly Radio: June Busted All Out For AC WBEB

After dropping for five consecutive months, WBEB 101.1 MoreFM has returned to its usual #1 ranking (6+ AQH Total Week) in the June PPMs released this week by Nielsen.  

Jerry Lee’s AC spiked 5.8—7.2 for its best share showing since 2008, not counting Holiday music surveys.  MoreFM also  placed #2 25-54 and #2 18-34 and 18-49 for its winning month.  WBEB added more 80s-based music during the month and rumors are circulating the station has added a Voltair hot box to its audio chain.  Radio stations won’t admit Voltair usage and Voltair won’t divulge which stations have purchased the $15K box.

    

CBS Radio’s Classic Hits WOGL 98.1 FM dropped to #2 despite an uptick 6.8—6.9.  iHeartMedia’s  UrbanAC WDAS 105.3 FM increased share 5.6—5.8 to claim the #3 spot.

Greater Media’s Classic Rock WMGL 102.9 FM wobbled 5.7—5.6 and dropped to #4.  while its Active Rock WMMR 93.3 FMmoved up two spots to #5, moving 5.1—5.5 during June.

25-54:  WMMR…WBEB…WIOQ…WMGK…WXTU

18-34:  WUSL…WXTU…WBEB…WRFF…WMMR

18-49:  WMMR…WBEB…WUSL…WIOQ…WRFF

Cume:  WBEB-FM 1,867,400...WOGL-FM 1,279,300...WIOQ-FM 1,228,400...WMGK-FM 1,126,000...WZMP-FM 1,055,300...WRFF-FM 1,027,70