In 1922…The BBC, the British Broadcasting Company (later Corporation), was founded in London.
In 1931…Inventor (phonograph, long-lasting electric light bulb, motion picture camera, stock ticker, mechanical vote recorder) Thomas Alva Edison died from complications of diabetes at the age of 84.
In 1943...the first broadcast of Perry Mason was heard on CBS radio. In the 15-minute daytime drama, Perry was played by Barlett Robinson, Santos Ortega, Donald Briggs and finally & most memorably by John Larkin as Perry Mason and Joan Alexander as Della Street on the CBS daytime radio program. Larkin played the role the longest and was reportedly very disappointed when Raymond Burr got the gig on TV (1957).
In 1954…Six years after Bell Laboratories developed the first prototype, Texas Instruments announced the first production model of a transistor radio, a small portable receiver using transistor-based circuitry.
In 1954...WNBC 660 AM, New York City, changed its call letters to WRCA-AM (as a tie-in to their parent company RCA) and back to WNBC on June 1, 1960.
Chris Russo
In 1959...Sports personality Christopher Michael Russo known as "Mad Dog," was born in Syosset, NY. Russo is best known as the former co-host of the widely popular Mike and the Mad Dog sports radio show with Mike Francesa, which was broadcast on WFAN in New York City and simulcast on the YES Network. Russo joined Sirius XM Radio in August 2008 and is in charge of his own channel, Mad Dog Radio.
Prior to joining WFAN, Russo worked for WKIS in Orlando, Florida between 1984 and 1987 and WMCA in New York City between 1987 and 1988. He got the "Mad Dog" nickname from New York Daily News Sports TV and Radio critic Bob Raissman.
In 1964...The Beatles recorded “I Feel Fine,” which marked the earliest example of the use of feedback to enhance a recording.
In 2005...longtime San Francisco sportscaster Bill King died of a pulmonary embolism suffered during hip surgery at age 78. For 25 years the Oakland A’s play-by-play man, at various times he had been the voice of almost every team in the Bay area.
In 2013…News reporter (WLS-TV, WBBM-TV, WBBM-AM) Hugh Hill, a Chicago broadcast journalist for 43 years, died at the age of 89.
The son of a coal miner from the southern Illinois town of Gillespie, Hill graduated on the G.I. Bill from the University of Missouri journalism school and worked at radio stations in St. Charles, Aurora and Hammond before joining WBBM 780 AM in 1953.
40-year-old David Camnpbell, host “The Local Show” and “Radio Free Current” resigned Friday from KCMP 89.3 FM effective immediately.
The decision was prompted by what he described as a mix of health issues and dissatisfaction with his duties. He has no current plans to work elsewhere, he said.
“It should’ve been a dream job, but it felt more like I was drowning there,” Campbell said Friday, shortly after his departure was announced on the Current’s website.
Jim McGuinn, 89.3’s program director, said in the posting, “We are grateful for his many contributions to the Current and wish him well in his next chapter.” McGuinn's note goes on to mention that music director David Safar will fill in on the Sunday night “Local Show” for the next two weeks. A Current representative said separately that both the all-local program and “Radio Free Current” will live on without Campbell.
Campbell suffers from attention-deficit disorder and learning disabilities that are likely the result of several concussions he suffered as a kid while playing hockey and soccer. Doctors have told him it appeared that the left frontal lobe of his brain, which controls organization and punctuality among other things, was not working properly. "It's all the stuff that helps you be a successful adult," he said.
A veteran on the 89.3 frequency since 2007, Campbell came to the station after a half-decade of hosting a midnight all-local program on classic-rock station KQRS 92.5 FM.
The Star-Tribune reports his departure caps off a tumultuous year of staffing issues among 89.3 the Current jockeys, which started with the January firing of mid-day host Barb Abney (now on air at Go 96.3 FM). In April, afternoon favorite Mary Lucia took leave from the station amid hellish personal upheaval caused by a stalker. Morning show co-host Steve Seel also took a leave of absence in June and returned as more of a pick-up player between the Current and other Minnesota Public Radio stations.
Sports KFWB 980 AM The Beast has announced that starting Monday Fred Roggin will he heard 3pm to 6 pm on the station.
Roggin has been on-air Noon to 3pm since KWFB flipped fulltime to sports in September 2014.
According to program director Tom Lee, "The new timeslot allows Fred to reach a wider local sports audience with more people in their cars for the afternoon commute."
Roggin stated, "After eating lunch and spending the day at work with our listeners, we thought it would be fun to drive home with them. For the record, we fit into all cars."
Roggin will continue as sports anchor for KNBC-TV4, where he has worked the past 30 years. In that time, he has won 30 local Emmy awards; two years ago, he received a Lifetime Achievement award from the Los Angeles Press Club.
Previously, he hosted at KMPC in Los Angeles, and until Fall 2007 hosted a morning sports show on KLAC with Los Angeles Times sports columnist T.J. Simers.
Long-time Atlanta radio host Steve McCoy has been fired.
The longtime media personality lost his job at NewsRadio WYAY 106.7 FM after passing an old interview with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump as new.
WXIA-TV11 reports Radio industry insiders Friday said McCoy, who was more entertainer than journalist, made a major mistake.
The interview was fake, but the consequences for McCoy were real. Friday morning, WYAY general manager Sean Shannon emailed a statement to 11Alive News saying in part, “For obvious reasons, McCoy no longer works at the station.”
Tom Sullivan
“Steve McCoy brought his DJ and entertainer background into a news situation,” said talk radio consultant Randall Bloomquist.
“He didn’t use good judgment,” said radio and television host Tom Sullivan.
Sullivan has known McCoy for years, and has recently hosted podcasts with him. Sullivan also knows what else McCoy has been battling.
“Steve is kind of dealing with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease,” he said. “This is something that we’ve known about for awhile, and he’s come out with it today.”
Friends of McCoy hope his Atlanta reputation extends beyond this job-costing offense.
WYAY Program director Greg Tantum released this statement Friday morning:
“For obvious reasons Steve McCoy no longer works at the station. Cheryl White, Drew Nelson and Randy Wyles will continue to provide Atlanta with a high energy news product that accentuates breaking news as well as in depth coverage on the top stories.”
Atlanta-based Cumulus Media hired McCoy in March. He had been a long-time morning host on pop stations in Atlanta, a Georgia Radio Hall of Fame inductee, but he hadn’t been on air in the city for five years.
WYAY has been struggling to build ratings since it debuted in May, 2012 first as a full-time news station. It has since become a hybrid, with a mix of news and talk with a few infomercials thrown in on weekends. It remains far behind WSB 750 AM / 95.5 FM and non-com WABE 90.1 FM in listenership, according to media writer Rodney Ho at ajc.com.
Times-Shamrock Communication/Reno has announced the retirment of General Manager John Burkavage.
A 35-year radio vet, Burkavage has been GM of the Reno cluster for the past four years. The cluster includes Alternative KRZQ 104.1 FM, Classic Rock KOZZ Z105.7 FM, Top40 KWNZ 106.3 POP-FM and News KNEZ 107.3 FM.
Burkavage stated: "I’ve been blessed to have worked with an absolutely awesome group of people over the tenure of my career and leading the team here in Reno for the Lynett and Haggerty families has been an outstanding experience. As much as I truly love the radio business and the wonderful career I’ve had in it, I’m equally excited to start a new chapter in the book of my life."
Bobby Lynett, CEO of Times-Shamrock Communications said: “Our family is thrilled and honored that John spent time working with us. I personally can’t thank John enough for everything he’s done for me.”
Times-Shamrock Radio COO Mitch Dolan added: “John leaves some very big shoes to fill and I’m delighted he’s agreed to stay and help us identify and assist in the transition of new leadership for our terrific group of stations in Reno.”
In addition to Times-Shamrock, previously John spent ten years with Entercom Communications as VP/Market Manager in Wilkes Barre/Scranton, PA and Greenville/Spartanburg, SC.
CBS is refusing to run advertising for Truth, the film starring Cate Blanchett and Robert Redford that revisits a painful episode in the network's past involving a discredited 2004 news story on former President George W. Bush's military service record.
CBS has denounced the movie, which opens Friday, as a disservice to the public and journalists.
Redford plays Dan Rather in Truth, with Blanchett as producer Mary Mapes. Together, they were behind a 60 Minutes II story that questioned Bush's Vietnam War-era commitment to service in the Texas Air National Guard. But CBS apologized for the story after documents used were called into question and could not be verified. Mapes and three news executives were fired.
Sony Pictures Classics sought a multimillion dollar ad buy to promote the film on Stephen Colbert's Late Show, the CBS Evening News, CBS This Morning and 60 Minutes, but was turned down, said Sherri Callan, president of Callan Advertising, the company that places ads for Sony.
Instead, Sony is advertising on ABC, NBC, Fox and several cable networks. CBS, which confirmed the rejection, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Alpha Media announced that Susan Bessire will be National Sales Manager of the Texas markets, headquartered in Dallas.
Susan will be working directly with buyers and Alpha managers across our Texas markets on National avails and business development.
Larry Bastida commented on the announcement, “We worked with Susan when she was at McGavren, Susan was always one of the best! We’re so happy to have recruited her to the Alpha team!”
“After more than 20 years as a National seller and manager working on the rep side, I am thrilled to join Alpha. Alpha’s rapid expansion and live and local approach makes them unique in today’s marketplace…and an incredibly exciting opportunity for me. I look forward to being part of their great team and taking the Texas Region to the next level,” Susan remarked.
Alpha Media USa has announced Nicole Wilder as the new Corporate PR / Social Media Coordinator. Reporting to Randi P’Pool, Corporate VP, Marketing, and based in Peoria, IL, Nicole will be responsible for coordinating all Corporate PR for Alpha Media, along with all content generation for the corporate social media platforms.
Nicole “Nikki” Wilder is a Bradley University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing with a concentration in Social Media. She has previously worked for the Central Illinois Homes Guide as their Sales and Marketing Coordinator. Nikki has most recently worked as an Interactive Producer for Alpha Media Peoria, IL where she focused on implementing social media for clients and writing website copy.
Alpha Media VP, Marketing, Randi P’Pool commented on the announcement, “We are always thrilled to promote the phenomenal talent within our company into new positions with greater responsibility. Nikki has demonstrated outstanding creativity, guidance and focus on our live and local vision.”
“I am thankful for this great opportunity. I have learned a lot being in the Peoria market and can’t wait to apply what I’ve learned to all markets. Alpha Media is quickly growing and I’m excited that I get to be a part of it,” Nikki remarked.
Ralph Andrews, a prolific game show producer whose credits include NBC’s wildly popular You Don’t Say! of the 1960s, died Friday of complications from Alzheimer’s disease, his son, Matthew, said.
His son said Andrews produced the second-most game shows in history, rivaled only by Mark Goodson.
You Don’t Say, which in its original incarnation was hosted by Tom Kennedy, aired on NBC in daytime from 1963 through 1969, routinely achieving a 40-plus share in the ratings.
Andrews also had a hand in such network or syndicated game shows as I’ll Bet, hosted by Jack Narz, Wedding Party (Alan Hamel), The Family Game (Bob Barker), It Takes Two (Vin Scully), It’s Your Bet (Hal March), Liar’s Club (Rod Serling and later Allen Ludden), Celebrity Sweepstakes (Jim McKrell) and 50 Grand Slam (Kennedy).
Andrews was raised in Saginaw, Mich., where he began his career as an announcer, disc jockey and salesman for radio stations. He moved to California, landed a page job at NBC and discovered his calling in television.
In 1919...Radio Corporation of America (RCA) was created.
The incorporation of the assets of Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of America (including David Sarnoff, the Pan-American Telegraph Company, and those already controlled by the United States Navy led to a new publicly held company formed by General Electric (which owned a controlling interest) on October 17, 1919. The following cooperation among RCA, General Electric, the United Fruit Company, the Westinghouse Electric Corporation, and American Telephone & Telegraph (AT&T) brought about innovations in high-power radio technology, and also the founding of the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) in the US.
The Army and the Navy granted RCA the former American Marconi radio terminals that had been confiscated during the War. Admiral Bullard received a seat on the Board of Directors of RCA for his efforts in establishing RCA. The result was Federally-created monopolies in radio for GE and the Westinghouse Corporation and in telephone systems for the American Telephone & Telegraph Company.
The argument by the Department of War and the Department of the Navy that the usable radio frequencies were limited, and hence needed to be appropriated for use before other countries, such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Canada monopolized them, collapsed in the mid-1920s following the discovery of the practicality of the use of the shortwave radio band (3.0 MHz through 30.0 MHz) for very long-range radio communications.
David Sarnoff 1922
The first chief executive officer of RCA was Owen D. Young; David Sarnoff became its general manager. RCA's incorporation papers required that a majority of its stock be held by American citizens. RCA agreed to market the radio equipment manufactured by GE and Westinghouse, and in follow-on agreements, RCA also acquired the radio patents that had been held by Westinghouse and the United Fruit Company. As the years went on, RCA either took over, or produced for itself, a large number of patents, including that of the superheterodyne receiver invented by Edwin Armstrong.
By 1926 the market for commercial radio had expanded, and RCA purchased the WEAF and WCAP radio stations and networks from AT&T, merged them with its WJZ (the predecessor of WABC) New York to WRC (presently WTEM) Washington chain, and formed the National Broadcasting Company (NBC).
In 1934..."The Aldrich Family" premiered on radio.
Ezra Stone, Jackie Kelk 1947
The Aldrich Family, a popular radio teenage situation comedy (1939-1953), was also presented in films, television and comic books. In the radio series' well-remembered weekly opening exchange, awkward teen Henry's mother called, "Hen-reeeeeeeeeeeee! Hen-ree Al-drich!", and he responded with a breaking adolescent voice, "Com-ing, Mother!"
The creation of playwright Clifford Goldsmith, Henry Aldrich began on Broadway as a minor character in Goldsmith's play What a Life. Produced and directed by George Abbott, What a Life ran for 538 performances.
When Rudy Vallee saw the play, he asked Goldsmith to adapt it into some sketches for his radio program, and this was followed in 1938 by a 39-week run of a sketch comedy series on The Kate Smith Hour with Stone continuing in the role of Henry. Kate Smith's director, Bob Welsh, is credited with the creation of the "Hen-reeeeeeeeeeeee! Hen-ree Al-drich!" opening, which eventually became one of the most famous signature sounds in radio.
After finding an audience with Kate Smith's listeners, The Aldrich Family was launched in its own series as a summer replacement program for Jack Benny in NBC's Sunday night lineup, July 2, 1939, and it stayed there until October 1, 1939, when it moved to Tuesday nights at 8 p.m., sponsored by General Foods's popular gelatin dessert Jell-O, which also sponsored Jack Benny at the time. The Aldriches ran in that slot from October 10, 1939 until May 28, 1940, moving to Thursdays, from July 4, 1940 until July 20, 1944. After a brief hiatus, the show moved to CBS, running on Fridays from September 1, 1944 until August 30, 1946 with sponsors Grape Nuts and Jell-O before moving back to NBC from September 5, 1946 to June 28, 1951 on Thursdays and, then, as a Sustaining program in its final run of September 21, 1952 to April 19, 1953 on Sundays.
The main characters (created by Clifford Goldsmith) never age. Henry Aldrich (portrayed by Ezra Stone, Vic Jones and Bobby Ellis) is one of those types of teenagers everyone has met at sometime during life, as is his best buddy, Homer Brown (Jackie Kelk, Jack Grimes, Johnny Fieldler). More characters: Mary (Henrys sister).
The show was a top-ten ratings hit within two years of its birth (in 1941, the show carried a 33.4 Crossley rating, landing it solidly alongside Jack Benny and Bob Hope). Earning $3000 a week, Goldsmith was the highest paid writer in radio, and his show became a prototype for the teen-oriented situation comedies that followed on radio and television.
In 1938...a big day in the Hollywood radio community. NBC moved its studios to the corner of Sunset and Vine, the “Crossroads of the World”.
The new Hollywood Radio City drew thousands of visitors ready to fill studio-audience seats for NBC’s popular programs.
In 1939...the radio adventure serial Captain Midnight premiered from the studios of WGN Chicago. Within the year it was appointment listening for kids coast-to-coast, nightly on Mutual
NY Daily News 10/18/1966
In 1966...Jack Sterling does last show at WCBS 880 AM. Appreciation site: Click Here.
Jack Sterling was born in Baltimore on June 24, 1915, the son of Jack Sexton and Edna Cable. The names of Sexton and Cable were of considerable note in show business, a profession to which Jack's parents devoted forty years....It was natural then that Jack was destined to make his debut as an actor at an early age. He did, at age 2 when he appeared as Little Willie in 'East Lynne.' By the time he was 7 Jack Sterling had worked up a routine as a minstrel and played the same bill as his parents in their coast-to-coast tours. At 15 Sterling was a leading player in the John D. Winninger stock company which toured midwestern cities.
He rounded out his experience....and in 1939 settled down in Peoria, Illinois, where he joined WMBD as an announcer and producer.
One year later he moved to WTAD in Quincy, Ill., as program director and from there to CBS Radio's KMOX, St. Louis.
In 1947, after two years at KMOX, he was promoted to program manager of CBS Radio's WBBM, Chicago.
While in that post, CBS Radio sent out a call to its affiliates requesting audition records of its top local talent. Arthur Godfrey's heavy network broadcasting schedule was forcing him to give up his local WCBS Radio morning show and a replacement was needed. Sterling became active in the midwestern search for a candidate but overlooked the person who was to get the job: himself.
"I never considered myself as a candidate because I decided to devote my time to the executive phase of radio," Jack recalls.
"However, WCBS Radio asked for my audition record."
Jack's modesty was underlined by the fact that he would only make the audution record on the condition that WCBS Radio would pay the cost. The station did, and on November 5, 1948, Sterling made his debut on WCBS Radio in the early morning time formerly occupied by Godfrey.
In 1970...The Hot 100..The Jackson 5 first hit #1 with "I'll Be There", knocking Neil Diamond's "Cracklin' Rosie" out of the top spot. Sugarloaf was up from 8 to 3 with "Green-Eyed Lady" and Free edged up with "All Right Now". The Carpenters were up nicely (9-5) with "We've Only Just Begun".
The rest of the Top 10: "Candida" from Dawn, the former #1 "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" from Diana Ross, the double-sided CCR hit "Lookin' Out My Back Door"/"Long As I Can See The Light" at #8, "Julie, Do Ya Love Me" from Bobby Sherman and James Taylor's first hit "Fire And Rain" moved from 17 to #10.
In 1970...The Album Charts..Cosmo's Factory by CCR continued to hold on to the #1 album spot for the ninth week. Abraxas by Santana was generating excitement and moved from 8-2. Mad Dogs & Englishmen from Joe Cocker was #3 followed by A Question of Balance from the Moody Blues. The rest of the Top 10: Third Album from the Jackson 5, the Soundtrack to "Woodstock", James Taylor moved to #7 with Sweet Baby James, After the Gold Rush from Neil Young edged up to #8, Chicago II was still going after 36 weeks and Get Yer (sic) Ya-Ya's Out! by the Rolling Stones debuted at #10.
In 1981...The Hot 100.."Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" by Christopher Cross took over at #1 after a nine-week reign by Diana Ross & Lionel Richie's "Endless Love". The Rolling Stones saw an opening and got to 3 with "Start Me Up". Sheena Easton had "For Your Eyes Only" while Eddie Rabbitt hopped up "Step By Step". The rest of the Top 10: Hall & Oates with "Private Eyes", Stevie Nicks with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers had song #7--"Stop Draggin' My Heart Around", Journey were on their way down with "Who's Crying Now", Dan Fogelberg had a big hit with "Hard To Say" and the Little River Band notched their 10th hit and fifth Top 10 with "The Night Owls".
In 1987...The Album Charts..Bad, which had debuted at #1 on the Album chart for Michael Jackson, continued to set the pace for the fourth week. Whitesnake was #2 with Whitney from Whitney Houston trailing. Hysteria by Def Leppard climbed up to #4 and Pink Floyd reached the #5 position with A Momentary Lapse of Reason.
The rest of the Top 10: The "Dirty Dancing" Soundtrack, La Bamba from Los Lobos #7, John Cougar Mellencamp with The Lonesome Jubilee, U2's The Joshua Tree was #9 and Heart's Bad Animals closed out the list.
In 1991...News anchor Bree Walker Lampley filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission against Los Angeles radio station KFI-AM saying it personally attacked her by talking about her having a disformed baby.
In 2006...Newsman Christopher Glenn, WNEW 1130 AM, WCBS 880 AM, CBS RADIO, died.
Christopher Glenn
Glenn worked at various radio stations in New York, Connecticut, and Washington, D.C. before joining CBS in 1971. While at CBS, Glenn worked in a variety of capacities in its news organization. He was a narrator for In the News, a long-running Emmy award-winning TV news program geared toward children and young people, which aired between the network's Saturday-morning children's shows. Glenn also appeared on camera as an anchor for the short-lived "30 Minutes", a young people's version of "60 Minutes".
He served as an anchor for two of the CBS Radio Network's signature news roundups carried by affiliates in the United States - The World Tonight (now the CBS World News Roundup Late Edition) from 1988 to 1999, and the morning CBS World News Roundup from 1999 until his retirement. Glenn's final morning broadcast occurred on February 23, 2006.
From 1982 to 1984, Glenn served as a television news anchor, on CBS News Nightwatch, which aired from 2-6 a.m. weekdays.
Glenn made his best-known report on January 28, 1986, when he anchored CBS Radio's live coverage of the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger. Glenn had just signed off—after what was thought to have been a normal launch—when the shuttle disintegrated, killing the seven astronauts on board. "I had to get back on the air real fast to describe that, and had a very difficult time doing that," he recalled. Glenn and correspondent Frank Mottek (now a reporter at CBS Radio Station KNX) covered the Challenger disaster from that point as a CBS NetAlert bulletin.
Glenn was among the first CBS News correspondents to use a personal computer (an Apple II). Glenn continued to play sound clips in his newscasts from carts long after most of the industry had switched to computer-based playback systems.
Glenn, who suffered from liver cancer, died suddenly on October 17, 2006 in Norwalk, Connecticut. Glenn was posthumously inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in Chicago on November 4.
In 2010...WRMR, WDOK, WQAL, WHK, WGAR) "Tall Ted" Hallaman died at the age of 83. Hallaman used humour and musical standards to attract Ohio audiences over a 50 year career. He had been pulling regular air shifts until a few weeks before his death.
The country Music Association late Friday unveiled the 2015 Broadcast Award Winners (In bold, Italics): CMA BROADCAST PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR:
National
“The Big D and Bubba Show” (Derek Haskins, Sean Powell, and Patrick Thomas) – Compass Media Networks
“The Crook and Chase Countdown” (Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase) – iHeartMedia
“The Lia Show” (Lia Knight) – Westwood One Major Market
“Barrel Boy @ Night” (Eric Gruneisen) – KNIX, Phoenix, Ariz. “Ben and Matt in the Morning” (Ben Campbell and Matt McAllister) – KNIX, Phoenix, Ariz.
“The Michael J Show” (Michael J. Stuehler) – WPOC, Baltimore, Md.
“Paul Schadt and Meg in the Morning Show” (Paul Schadt, Meg Butterly, and Geof Knight) – WKKT, Charlotte-Gastonia, N.C./Rock Hill, S.C.
“The Q Morning Zoo” (Tim Tuttle, Kevin Kline, and Erica Rico) – KKBQ, Houston-Galveston, Texas Large Market
“The Big Dave Show” (David Chandler, Chelsie Shinkle, and Jason Statt) – WUBE, Cincinnati, Ohio “Karen, Scott & Radar” (Karen Dalessandro, Scott Dolphin, and Tony “Radar” Hess) – WMIL, Milwaukee-Racine, Wis.
“Mornings with Dave O’Brien” (Dave O’Brien) – WLHK, Indianapolis, Ind.
“Q Morning Crew” (Mike Wheless, Marty Young, and Janie Carothers) – WQDR, Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
“Randy and Jamie” (Randy Carroll and Jamie Martin) – KAJA, San Antonio, Texas Medium Market
“The 97 Country Breakfast Club” (Roger Todd, Melissa Moran and Dale Sellers) – WPCV, Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla. “Andy & Allison and The Morning Crew” (Andy Ritchie, Alison Mencer, and Jimmy Holt) – WIVK, Knoxville, Tenn.
“DJ Walker In The Morning” (Dennis Walker and Jim Wells) – KATM, Stockton, Calif.
“Maverick & Lulu” (Maverick Johnson and Luanne Kyrsz) – WCTQ, Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla.
“Tom and Becky” (Tom Owens and Becky Palmer) – WBBS, Syracuse, N.Y. Small Market
“Barrett, Fox & Berry” (Bill Barrett, Tim Fox, and Tracy Berry) – KKNU, Eugene-Springfield, Ore.
“Bobby and Steve Show” (Bobby Cook and Steve Schwetman) – WKYQ, Paducah, Ky. “The Dex & Mo Show” (Bill “Dex” Poindexter and Melissa “Mo” Turner) – WUSY, Chattanooga, Tenn.
“Ken and Daniel” (Ken Hicks and Daniel Wyatt) – WUSY, Chattanooga, Tenn.
“Scotty & Cara in the Morning” (Scotty Cox and Cara Denis) – KCLR, Columbia, Mo.
CMA RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR
UPDATE 11AM FRIDAY: Steve McCoy was fired from WYAY 106.7 Friday following his admittance that he “recycled” an old Donald Trump interview and advertised it as new on Tuesday.
Program director Greg Tantum released this statement this morning:
“For obvious reasons Steve McCoy no longer works at the station. Cheryl White, Drew Nelson and Randy Wyles will continue to provide Atlanta with a high energy news product that accentuates breaking news as well as in depth coverage on the top stories.”
Earlier Posting...
Atlanta radio host Steve McCoy who told listeners that he had interviewed Donald Trump this week has admitted that he repackaged an old interview, and been suspended from the air at Cumulus' WYAY 106.7 FM.
Steve McCoy originally told BuzzFeed News and his listeners on Tuesday when the interview aired that the it occurred on Monday, and as a precondition for the interview, he couldn’t ask Trump about his policies.
On Wednesday, a lawyer for the Trump campaign denied the interview took place, and told BuzzFeed News that McCoy admitted to them that he had repackaged an old interview.
In a phone interview with BuzzFeed News on Thursday, McCoy admitted to recycling the interview, but denied ever saying on air that the interview was new.
And in a new development, the Atlanta Constitution is reporting McCoy has Parkinson's disease.
He had planned to share his medical news with listeners before he was suspended, a former partney Vikki Locke told the AJC on Thursday night.
“Steve McCoy enjoys a good fight,” she said. “Since our first meeting back in the 80’s I knew one thing for certain. Steve loves radio. It’s his passion. His life. He wants to win at all costs. Now he is in the battle of his life. He is fighting Parkinson’s disease. Other than his wife, he’s been hiding this from family and friends since 2006 when he was diagnosed.”
The Nielsen Audio ratings company filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against radio shock jock Bubba the Love Sponge Clem, seeking at least $1 million over ratings-tampering allegations.
The Tampa Tribune reports the lawsuit, which names Clem and Bubba Radio Network Inc. as defendants, says Clem offered to pay a radio listener who was participating in Nielsen’s radio survey hundreds of dollars a month to inflate his show’s ratings.
According to the suit, Nielsen says Clem learned from a listener that one of the listener’s acquaintances was participating in Nielsen’s survey. Clem then met with the acquaintance several times in July and August and offered to pay him $300 a month if the listener help increased his ratings, and a bonus of up to $400 a month if a target result was reached, the suit says.
Clem could not immediately be reached for comment. The suit refers to the member of the radio survey panel who Clem is accused of meeting with as the “Cooperating Panelist’’ but does not name the person.
Clem sent the listener text messages telling him to keep the deal secret, the suit says, one of which read, “U have to PROMISE NOT TO SAY A WORD ... This could ruin me.”
Clem also instructed the listener to switch to other stations to avoid suspicion but told him not to tune to WHPT 102.5 FM The Bone, which is owned by Cox Media Group and a direct competitor.
The suit says after a drop in his ratings, Clem contacted the listener and told him to try harder: “Please buddy. Please. I’m paying u!!!”
Clem also offered to buy and then bought radios and other listening devices on Amazon.com and had them shipped to the listener’s home, the suit claims.
In August, the listener contacted Nielsen and told them about Clem’s actions, the suit says.
On Oct. 6 Clem held a press conference and admitted the ratings tampering accusations are true. “It’s with deep regret and embarrassment that I face you directly and say that they’re true,” he said about the charges. “The buck stops with me and I cannot tell you how humbled and how embarrassed I am.”
WFLA-TV8 reports Nielsen says it has suffered damages and asks the court that Clem be held financially responsible. The damages are not less than $1,000,000, according to the complaint.
“Bubba Clem has been a radio broadcaster for approximately 30 years. Upon information and belief, (he) is well aware of the importance of the Nielsen Audio ratings to the success of any radio program, specifically, that programs and stations with high ratings can command higher rates and generate more advertising revenue than competing stations with lower rates programs,” the complaint says.
Bubba is currently heard in Tampa on Beasley Media's WBRN 98.7 FM. However, he is an independent personality, not a Beasley employee. The show is also syndicated.
iHeartMedia/Springfield and Worcester has announced some programming moves:
John Thomas is named Senior VP/Programming for Springfield
Tony Bristol is now PD of AC WSRS 94.9 FM and N/T WTAG 590 AM in Worcester
Kevin Johnson is promoted to PD of HotAC WHYN 93.1 FM and N/T WHYN 560 AM in Springfield
"I'm ecstatic to join iHeartMedia Springfield and consider it an honor to help lead an already successful team," said Thomas. "I'm thankful for the opportunity and look forward to seeing what we can accomplish with these heritage brands."
"An opportunity to work for the largest media company in the world is so exciting," added Bristol. "iHeartMedia's WSRS and WTAG are true brands in Worcester and I can't wait to get started leading the team there."
"I'm excited to return to Springfield to program two heritage stations and work closely with a pro like JT," said Johnson. "I am thankful for the opportunity I've had to grow in Worcester and look forward to the next step in Springfield."
"I couldn't be more thrilled for the future having added JT and Tony to the long list of great programmers not only in my region but in iHeartMedia overall," commented Rob Anthony, Senior VP/Programming for Providence, Springfield, Worcester, Portsmouth and Manchester. "Both JT and Tony bring a long history of winning to their respective markets and their leadership will shine in these key roles. Kevin joining JT in Springfield will be the perfect complement to the equation... this is a very exciting time for the region."
Entercom/Sacramento has announced the appointment of Tim Rainey as Program Director of Top40 KDND 107.9 FM / The End and HotAC KUDL Star 106.5 FM.
He fills the post recently vacated by Nikki Nite, effective October 26 and arrives from CBS Radio's Top40 WDZH-98.7 FM in Detroit since 2012. He previously was PD at WNOU-FM in Indianapolis.
"Rayne loves radio," said Entercom Sacramento OM Jim Fox. "He's an encyclopedia of historical concepts, many of which remain as sound today as when they were conceived. He's also a millennial who embraces social, digital and sound new programming strategies. I'm excited to have him joining our cluster."
KDND 107.9 FM (50 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area
Rayne commented, "Words cannot express my excitement to join the already respected and highly successful team at Entercom Sacramento. When I was a teenager, KDND was my 'Z100'! I loved driving through the Sacramento Valley and listen to KDND, one of California's premiere Top 40 stations, and I'm excited about the potential that awaits Star 106.5, another legendary frequency in Central California. Thank you to Lance Richard, Jim Fox and Pat Paxton for bringing this west coast kid back home."
KUDL 106.5 FM (50 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area
Late yesterday, RAMP caught up with Rainey, "My nearly four years at CBS Radio Detroit have been nothing short of amazing. I am so proud of everything this team was able to accomplish. The growth this station was able to make and sustain during my time leaves it in great shape for years to come. Thank you to Debbie Kenyon, Tim Roberts, Michael Martin, Rebecca Falk and Chris Oliviero for their confidence, support and leadership during my tenure -- guidance that I will continue to practice for the rest of my career."
Entercom San Diego announced Thursdayday that San Diego market veteran Chris Cantore will join Steve Woods on the airwaves at Alternative KBZT 94.9 FM on the newly formed Cantore + Woods Morning Show.
Cantore has been a fixture on the airwaves in San Diego for many years and is one of the city’s most
recognized names in alternative music. Cantore and his brethren at KPRI joined the ranks of the unemployed last month when the triple-A format station KPRI shocked local listeners with the news that the station had been sold to the Educational Media Foundation (EMF) Christian music network.
“Chris has had a rich history in San Diego alternative radio. We’ve taken San Diego’s #1 alternative morning show and made it even better. Now I just need to find him a chair and a desk to work from,” said Kevin Callahan, Operations Director and Program Director at KBZT‐FM/San Diego.
“His work in this format is impressive and will further strengthen FM 949’s position as San Diego’s alternative music leader.”
KBZT 94.9 FM (26.5 Kw_ Red=Local Coverage Area
Chris Cantore and Steve Woods will begin their new weekday show, “Cantore + Woods,” on Monday, October 19th from 5:30 – 10 a.m. on KBZT/FM 949.
Rusty Humphries has been named Senior Vice President of Programming for the USA Radio Networks. Patrick Brown, CEO of Liftable Media Inc., Parent Company to USA Radio Networks, has announced.
“We are excited to welcome one of radio’s favorite personalities to our management team. With Rusty’s vast knowledge of all aspects of media, along with his incredible ear for talent and talk radio, USA Radio Networks will quickly transform into one of the best, and most exciting providers of programming and content in the USA,” said Brown.
Humphries has hosted as a substitute radio shows in New York, Dallas, San Diego, Atlanta, and Fort Wayne, Indiana. He has also substituted at radio stations in Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, Kansas City,[1] and Portland, Oregon.
Humphries was named one of "America's 100 Most Important Radio Talk Show Hosts" for 12 years in a row, and he was nominated as "Talk Personality Of The Year" by Radio & Records in 2006.
Humphries was inducted into the Nevada Broadcasters Hall of Fame as its youngest inductee ever.
After his syndicated radio program was ended by Talk Radio Network, Humphries has shifted to podcasting as the host of the Rusty Humphries Rebellion for The Washington Times. Episodes are made available through their website and iTunes.
Republican front-runners Donald Trump and Ben Carson are threatening to pull out of the next Republican primary debate if the hosts don't agree to their demands, according to CNN's Dylan Byers.
In a letter to CNBC, which is hosting the next debate, the two candidates said they would not participate in the Oct. 28 debate "if it is longer than 120 minutes including commercials and does not include opening and closing statements."
In a conference call between Republican National Committee officials and top advisers to the presidential campaigns on Thursday, Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski also said that Trump would consider skipping the debate if his terms were not met.
Top aides to Senators Ted Cruz and Rand Paul also insisted that the debate feature opening and closing statements, with Paul aide Chris LaCivita saying at one point that CNBC could "go f--- themselves" if they weren't willing to agree to those terms, according to two sources on the call.
The demand for opening and closing statements reflects the candidates' interest in getting their messages out unchallenged. The demand for a two-hour debate comes in the wake of CNN's decision to extend the previous GOP debate to three hours, leaving some of the candidates visibly exhausted
Nevada regulators on Thursday ruled that playing daily fantasy sports should be considered gambling, not merely a game of chance, and ordered websites like DraftKings and FanDuel to stop operating immediately in that state until the companies and their employees receive state gaming licenses.
The New York Times reports the decision by the Nevada Gaming Commission was the latest blow to a booming yet unregulated industry that has faced intense scrutiny in recent days, including federal and state inquiries into the business practices of the two major companies.
Customers of the two biggest daily fantasy sports websites have filed at least four lawsuits against the sites in recent days, following cheating allegations and a probe into the largely-unregulated multi-billion dollar industry, according to the Associated Press.
In court papers, the customers accused the DraftKings and FanDuel sites of cheating, and argued they never would have played had they known employees with insider knowledge were playing on rival sites. The four lawsuits, which seek class-action status, were filed in federal courts in New York, Illinois and Louisiana since last week, after it was revealed that a midlevel DraftKings employee won $350,000 playing NFL fantasy football on rival FanDuel, beating nearly 230,000 other players after game data not accessible to the public was inadvertently posted online.
(Reuters) - Bruce Springsteen will release a new box set in December highlighting his 1980 album "The River," with several never-before heard tracks, unseen video footage as well as a new documentary, his publicist said.
The set, called "The Ties That Bind: The River Collection," contains 52 tracks on four CDs, including the "The River" double album, Springteen's fifth album and the first to reach number one on the U.S. Billboard chart.
The box set will include four hours of previously unreleased video on three DVDs, including footage from a 1980 show in Tempe, Arizona, tour rehearsals and a new documentary called "The Ties That Bind."
It also comes with a coffee table book of 200 rare or previously unseen photos and memorabilia,
Fans can pre-oder the album, due for release on Dec. 4, on iTunes and Amazon.com, a press release said. It was listed on Amazon for about $130.
On his official Twitter account, Springsteen, one of New Jersey's most celebrated natives, enticed his legions of fans with the promise of 11 previously-unreleased "rarities," including an early release of the song “Meet Me In The City."
During his five-decade career, Springsteen has sold some 120 million albums worldwide as a solo artist and with the E Street Band.
The prolific songwriter, musician and performer has won 13 Grammy Awards and an Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Streets of Philadelphia" from the movie "Philadelphia."
(Reporting by Victoria Cavaliere; Editing by Toby Chopra)
Ryan Seacrest is going to work on yet another project — this time, a scripted network comedy.
Seacrest will serve as an exec producer on “Squad Goals,” a timely, multi-camera, hybrid sitcom that is in development at CBS, Variety has learned exclusively.
The potential series is an ensemble comedy about a group of late 20-something friends who met in college and realize it’s time to finally grow up.
“Squad Goals” hails from 30-something scribes Lindsey Rosin and Aaron Karo, who penned the script. The duo has previously worked together, but the project marks their first major network sale together. Along with the “American Idol” multi-hyphenate, Nina Wass of Ryan Seacrest Productions will also exec produce, while Rosin and Karo will serve as co-exec producers and writers.
“Squad Goals” is an inspirational term made famous by Taylor Swift, defining the ultimate group of friends.
Seacrest being the busiest man in Hollywood. According to GQ, the question is, how does one man manage to host radio shows, interview stars on the red carpet every awards season, design a collection of suits and formalwear for men, and run the production company that was responsible for birthing the Kardashians, all the while avoiding any real life meltdowns?
Seacrest shared how he stays motivated to keep on top of all his projects, "I'm completely impatient. It's one of the reasons I manage to get stuff done all the time. I like things to get done quickly. Also, I haven't had a lunch meeting in 10 years. I never stop for lunch or waste time traveling to a lunch meeting."
Ed Walker, a fixture on Washington radio for more than 60 years, will end his career next week with the airing of his final program on WAMU 88.5 FM, his broadcast home since 1990.
The Washington Post reports the 83-yerar-old Walker is battling cancer and is retiring to focus on his health, WAMU said in a statement Thursday. He has entered a skilled nursing facility.
For the past quarter-century, Walker has been the host of “The Big Broadcast,” a four-hour weekly retrospective of programs from radio’s golden age, such as “Gunsmoke” and “Johnny Dollar.” The Sunday-night program is WAMU’s longest-running, airing since 1964.
Ed Walker, Willard Scott
Walker is well known to an earlier generation of radio listeners as half of the “Joy Boys,” the daily entertainment and comedy program that he co-hosted with Willard Scott on local stations from 1955 to 1974. Scott, who went on to become the weatherman on NBC’s “Today” show, first teamed with Walker on the radio when the two were classmates at American University in Washington, the owner of WAMU.
