July 16 Radio History

➦In 1934...the NBC Red radio network premiered the musical drama, Dreams Come True. The show concerned the lives of baritone singer Barry McKinley and his novelist sweetheart.


➦In 1981...singer-songwriter Harry Chapin was killed at age 38, after suffering cardiac arrest while driving on a New York expressway. His car was hit from behind by a tractor-trailer, causing the gas tank to explode. Chapin was best known for “Taxi,” a top-20 hit in 1972, and “Cat’s in the Cradle,” which hit number-one in ’74.





➦In 1990..DJ Rick Dees debuted his TV show "Into The Night" on ABC-TV.





➦In 1991…Radio announcer (Inner Sanctum Mysteries)/radio actor (Mr. District Attorney, The Shadow, March of Time) Dwight Weist, known as the "Man of 1,000 Voices," died following a heart attack at the age of 81. He also narrated countless film documentaries from the 1930s through the 1950s.





➦In 2003…Disc jockey/TV host Winston "Buddy'' Deane died following a stroke at age 78. From 1957 to 1964, his Baltimore teen dance television show, similar to "American Bandstand," aired for 2½ hours a day, six days a week, and was for a time the most popular local show in the U.S.

Moonves: CBS Has No Plans For Acquisitions, But...

CBS CEO Les Moonves thinks the broadcaster is doing fine on its own and sees no need to pursue any M&A, reports FierceCable.

Moonves was in attendance for last week’s Allen & Co. conference in Sun Valley, and from there he told Fox Business Network that he “has no plans to make a move for another company.”

Amid the expected media consolidation wave that could emit from the AT&T-Time Warner $85 billion mega-merger, CBS has been eyed as both a buyer and a seller in various reports.



Verizon, having just shot down rumors it was considering a bid for Disney, has been spied as a potential suitor for CBS. Late last year, The Street predicted CBS could make a move for AMC Networks in order to broaden its cable network portfolio.

Moonves told CNBC   said that while his company isn’t in the market for any deals at the moment, CNN intrigues him, and that he would take a long, hard look at the cable newser if it were to come up for sale.

“CNN is a very worthy news organization… it’s something that could enhance CBS,” said Moonves. “But I don’t think that’s on the table right now. If it came up later on, it would be something we would look at.”

Knoxville Radio: Andy & Alison Say Goodbye At WIVK

Twenty-years of laughter ended Friday with farewell tears, as Andy and Alison ended their successful run on Country WIVK 107.7 FM.

Knoxville's top morning radio duo have called it quits.

Andy and Alison signed on the Knoxville airwaves on July 7, 1997.  The duo, along with producer Jimmy, host one of the most successful morning shows in the country.

“Andy and Alison have earned a well-deserved place in the illustrious history of WIVK.  They have been the 'morning crew' for East Tennessee for the last 20 years. It’s been an honor to have been associated with them.  We’ll miss them,” said VP/Market Manager Ken Salyer,

They've won numerous awards, including six CMA's for Personalities of the Year and three awards for ACM Personalities of the Year. The team is consistently voted best morning show in Metro Pulse and the Knoxville News Sentinel’s poll.



Their last final song was Brad Paisley's "Last Time For Everything." They then sang "Happy Trails as an official goodbye to WIVK.

Denver Radio: Steve Kelly EXITS KNUS

Steve Kelley, a Denver broadcasting legend who's spent decades in the local market at radio stations such as KIMN and KOA, not to mention a high-profile gig at Fox31 has left the afternoon-drive show on KNUS he co-hosted with Krista Kafer.

According to a station executive, he made the move for personal reasons, raising questions about whether he's stepping away from the microphone once and for all.

Brian Taylor, GM at the station, as well as regional vice president for Salem Media, which owns the outlet, stressed that "this was Steve's decision. Steve wants to spend more time with his family."

According to Westword, Kelley, whose given name is Tim Kuzava, didn't initially aim for a career in the media. As he told the audience at a benefit luncheon back in 2006, he made his broadcasting debut in high school; he was ordered to read morning announcements over the intercom as punishment for talking in class. But he soon caught the radio bug and managed to parlay a gig as a janitor at WTRX in his home town of Flint, Michigan, into an on-air position when an announcer on the night shift didn't show up as scheduled. Kelley volunteered to step in and said he was given two air names from which to choose: J.J. Jefferies or Steve Kelley.



After opting for the latter moniker, he began to climb the radio ladder. By the mid-’70s, he was a mid-day jock at WLCY in Florida, after which he headed to Colorado. He made his first major splash as a disc jockey at KIMN during a period when it was among Denver's most popular stations, before eventually taking over the morning show at KOA, where he became renowned for stunts staged for charity.

Philly Radio: Rob Ellis Exiting WPEN The Fanatic

Rob Ellis, WPEN 95.7 The Fanatic's midday host who jumped over from SportsRadio 94.1 WIP just two years ago, is leaving his show.

According to philly.com, the decision to depart was made mutually between Ellis and management at the station, timed with the end of his contract.

“I just felt like it was best for everyone involved to just walk away,” Ellis said to end Friday’s show, noting that the juggling act between hosting a full-time radio show and working full-time on-air at Comcast SportsNet Philly had gotten a bit out-of-hand.

There’s no word on who will fill Ellis’ spot alongside co-host Harry Mayes. The two go back to the days of Sports Radio WPEN 950 AM, where the pair hosted a nightly show together.

Ellis and Mayes have struggled to keep up with the ratings growth of their new competition at WIP, former Fanatic host Joe DeCamara and ex-Eagles fullback Jon Ritchie. In the spring ratings books, one of four quarterly measurements of a show’s performance, Ellis and Mayes were slightly down compared to last year, and finished their time slot among men 25-45 in 11th place.

Before joining The Fanatic, Ellis was a host at WIP for eight years, but left the station after being demoted from the coveted afternoon time slot after just a year in favor of since-fired host Josh Innes.

Despite the cancellation of Breakfast on Broad, Ellis said he’ll continue his on-air role on various shows at CSN Philly.

The Fanatic has yet to replace former morning show co-host Jon Marks and evening host DeCamara, both of whom left the station for roles at WIP.

Houston Radio: Lance Zierlein EXITS SportsTalk KBME

Lance Zierlein

Radio Vet Lance Zierlein aired his last show Friday on iHM's SportsTalk KBME 790 AM.

Starting Monday, SportsTalk 790 afternoon host Josh Innes will take over the 6-9 am show, while Zierlein's partner Matt Thomas moves to middays.

“Honestly, I need a break,” Zierlein told CultureMap Houston. “Getting up early day-after-day, my alarm goes off at 4:43 am, can be challenging. It gets even tougher when you work a second job for NFL.com. It just wears you down.”

Zierlein is sticking with his writing position at NFL.com.

“I am responsible for draft content on NFL.com and that includes 500 draft profiles each year. That requires substantial film study and additional background work. I will be starting my work earlier this season to get a head start,” he said.

Zierlein is one of the most enduring, successful sports hosts in Houston radio history – two decades on the air talking Rockets, Astros, and Texans. And food and hip-hop and eventually five children. During that time, he crisscrossed the AM dial, working for SportsRadio 610 (KILT-AM), SB Nation 1560 (KGOW 1560), and SportsTalk 790 (KBME-AM).

At least for now. He is keeping the door open for a return to radio in the future.

Warren Using Potential Kid Rock Bid To Raise Funds

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren is sounding the alarm with her Democratic base, warning a Senate run by Detroit bad boy Kid Rock could be the second coming of Donald Trump, according to the Boston Herald.

The “Wasting Time” and “All Summer Long” rap rocker-turned-country singer tweeted on Wednesday that he’s running for U.S. Senate in Michigan. Although it’s been largely dismissed so far as a publicity stunt, Warren isn’t taking any chances with the longshot Republican.

“I know a lot of people are thinking: this is some sort of joke, right?” Warren wrote in an email blast with the subject line “Senator Kid Rock (R-MI).”

“Well,” she said, “maybe this is all a joke — but we all thought Donald Trump was joking when he rode down the escalator at Trump Tower and announced his campaign, too.

“And sure, maybe this is just a marketing gimmick for a new album or tour — but we all thought Donald Trump was just promoting his reality TV show, too,” she added.

The Bay State senior senator then links to a fundraising page where donations are split between Michigan Democratic U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow and Warren’s own 2018 re-election campaign.

Jay-Z's "4:44' Shows Changing Music Metrics

Jay-Z’s “4:44”, was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on Wednesday, but how the rapper’s 14th album racked up over 1 million sales could represent the next stage in digital music business.

“It’s a whole new world,” said Belmont University assistant professor of Entertainment Industry Studies Sarita Stewart told The Tennessean.

As more consumers transition from physical copies to digital streaming services Spotify, artists and music industry metric trackers have adapted.

A study conducted last year by the Music Business Association showed that 15 to 19-year-olds spend 51 percent of their total listening time in a typical day using streaming services. It was on 24 percent for all other age groups.

The impressive first week sales of "4:44" illustrate a creative strategy to reach digital music consumers beyond the streaming services. Jay-Z partnered with Sprint to pre-sell digital copies of the album, which Sprint users then could download with a code.

The world digital music is a constantly changing environment with artists and industries in the music world trying to adapt. Three years ago, Taylor Swift pulled her music from certain streaming services to protest the "free-mium" model before ultimately putting her discography back on Spotify in June. In a sign of its newfound prominence, music streaming sales hit an historic high in 2016.

The next evolution could be partnerships between artists and businesses to promote music.

The tabulation for Jay-Z's platinum certification also demonstrates the changing metrics the music industry utilizes to quantify success. “4:44” was initially only available to members of the streaming service Tidal (which Jay-Z partially owns) and Sprint mobile customers.

Before the release, Jay’s record label Roc Nation sold what amounted to digital copies of the album to Sprint, who would then give those as downloads to fans with a code.

A spokesperson for RIAA explained that the Sprint downloads were tabulated as sales because fans took the proactive step to download the album.

Read More Now

July 15 Radio History

➦In 1913...country singer Cowboy (Lloyd) Copas was born in Adams County, Ohio. In the 1930’s he performed on radio shows for WLW and WKRC in Cincinnati. In 1940, he moved to Knoxville, where he performed on WNOX with his band, the Gold Star Rangers. In ’43, Copas achieved national fame when he replaced Eddy Arnold as a vocalist in the Pee Wee King band and began performing on the Grand Ole Opry. Hits included “Signed, Sealed and Delivered,” “Tennessee Waltz,” “Breeze,” “I’m Waltzing With Tears in My Eyes,” “Candy Kisses,” etc.  Copas was killed in a plane crash with Patsy Cline March 2, 1963.  He was only 49.

➦In 1929...“Music and the Spoken Word” debuted on KSL Salt Lake City.  It is still on the air today, the oldest continuous nationwide network broadcast in the world.  It is a 30-minute Sunday radio/TV/live streaming program of inspiring messages and music produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; the music is performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

➦In 2000…Douglas “Jocko” Henderson - WOV, WADO died.

Jocko Henderson

Henderson began his broadcast career in 1952 at Baltimore station WSID, and in 1953 began broadcasting in Philadelphia on WHAT.  He hosted a show called "Rocket Ship" out of New York radio stations WOV and WADO from 1954 to 1964, which was an early conduit for rock & roll.

He was known for a distinctive style of rhythmic patter in his radio voice, which he had learned from a Baltimore deejay, Maurice "Hot Rod" Hulbert.   Henderson continued on the stations WDAS and WHAT until 1974, as a personality  in Philadelphia and New York as well as hosting concerts in both cities and a TV music program in New York. 

In addition to Philadelphia, New York, and Baltimore, Henderson was also broadcast on stations in St. Louis, Detroit, Miami, and Boston.

In 1978, Henderson made an unsuccessful bid for a seat in the United States House of Representatives in Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district.   He also made some early rap records, recording 12" singles for Philadelphia International and Sugar Hill Records.

The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia inducted Henderson into their Hall of Fame in 2004.

Report: AT&T Planning For Two Operational Divisions

AT&T Inc is planning a major organizational reshuffle that will include a redefined role for Chief Executive Randall Stephenson following its $85.4 billion acquisition of Time Warner Inc, Bloomberg reported on Friday.

Stephenson will move to the role of executive chairman and oversee a pair of chief executives who will independently manage the company's telecommunications and media businesses, according to the Bloomberg report.

AT&T spokesman Fletcher Cook said in an emailed statement that no decisions on organizational structure have been finalized and that Stephenson and Time Warner Chief Executive Jeff Bewkes were still working through them.

John Stankey, who currently leads DirecTV and other entertainment businesses, will become CEO of the media division that would include HBO, Warner Brothers and news network CNN reports Reuters.

DirecTV will become part of a unit that includes AT&T's traditional phone businesses, to be run by John Donovan.

While AT&T has created one of the world’s leading wireless and TV services, ideal for delivering live shows to phones, movies to homes and even entertainment and news to connected cars, it’s not clear how well executives steeped in the language of phone networks, bits and bytes will be able to resist having a role in creating content.

According to Bloomberg, AT&T is making the foray into media in part because its wireless and pay TV businesses have stopped growing, leaving the company under pressure to find new revenue. In the first quarter, the wireless service lost a record 191,000 subscribers. And on the pay-TV front, customers continue to flee to alternatives like Netflix and Hulu, with a new streaming service, DirecTV Now, doing little to stem the tide.

"Must-StreamTV" Gains As Most Valued

Must-see TV is giving way to “much-stream TV,” with Americans increasingly likely to name streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video among their most valued entertainment options.

These services reshaped Solutions Research Group’s 10th annual Must Keep TV Report, which interviews American consumers about which TV channels and services they regard as a must-have in their households.

Netflix st(r)eams ahead of HBO in ‘must keep’ rankings

Netflix ranks fourth overall in its first appearance in the study. It finished behind ABC, CBS and NBC but ahead of FOX. This is the first time in the study’s 10-year history that the Big Four networks failed to occupy the top four spots, with Netflix’s emergence pushing FOX into fifth place. Rounding out the top 10 are ESPN, HBO, Discovery, PBS and CW.

History came in at #11 this year, followed by AMC at #12, unchanged from last year. HGTV is the momentum brand of the year, coming in at #13, up six spots from #19 in 2016.

Streamers all rank in the top third of 77 TV brands in the study

The three largest streaming brands – Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Hulu – were included in our tracking for the first time in 2017. They performed extremely well as a group, all landing in the top 25 for the full 12+ population, coming in at #4 (Netflix), #14 (Amazon Prime Video) and #22 (Hulu).

Not fake news: CNN and FOX News running neck-and-neck

The top two news cable channels appear stronger than ever in terms of viewer engagement. CNN came in at #15 overall, neck-and-neck with FOX News at #16. The two rivals have been this close together only once in the study’s 10-year history, in 2008 – when CNN was ranked #14 overall and FOX News came in at #18.

CNN is the clear choice among Americans under 50, coming in as the #15 ‘must keep’ TV brand among 18-49, far ahead of FOX News at #28. Among affluent households – those with income of over $100,000 – FOX News is seen as slightly more important, ranking #8, compared to CNN at #12.

ESPN top cable brand among men 10 years running

Sports cable channels continue to perform well among men 18-49: ESPN is #5 overall, and the #1 cable channel in this demographic for the 10th straight year. Fox Sports 1 and ESPN 2 are ranked #20 and #25 respectively, similar to their previous positions. Fox Sports 2 dipped slightly in the past year, while NBC Sports is up slightly.

Netflix tops among millennials

More U.S. households now have a streaming service than a DVR, which means that digital-era services will continue to grow in importance, particularly among younger Americans.

The three streaming brands included in the study all ranked highly among 18-34s, with Netflix and Hulu in the Top 10: Netflix claimed the top spot while Hulu came in at #9. Amazon Prime Video was a hair outside the Top 10, coming in at #11.

Network and general cable brands with momentum in the younger demographic this year include: NBC, CW, FX, HGTV, History and Travel.

ABC and CBS retain top two spots for women 25-54; Netflix and Amazon both in the
top 10

With ABC, CBS, and NBC ranking #1, #2, and #3 respectively, Netflix elbows its way in at #4, with FOX rounding out the top 5 ranking for Women 25-54.

Amazon Prime Video debuts at #8 for this demographic, putting two streaming services in the top 10 and speaking to the importance of being able to access entertainment on their own schedule.

Movers gaining top 10 status this year include CW at #7 (its first time in the top 10), HGTV (#9, its second time in the top 10 in the past 10 years) and ESPN. Hallmark Channel broke into the top 20 for the first time since tracking began in 2007, and is now ranked #19 among Women 25-54, its best showing since 2007.

The big four still ‘must keep” for 7-in-10

In 2017, 72% of those interviewed included at least one of the big four networks (one or more of ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX) on their ‘must keep’ channel list. While that is still a strong majority, it represents an 11-point drop from the historic high of 83% in 2007.

Networks’ brand equity eroded more among younger Americans – with only 62% including one of the big four in their top ‘must keep’ list in 2017, down 19 points from 81% a decade ago.

As smartphones, tablets and other connected screens proliferate, fewer U.S. households have a TV in every room. In 2017, 51% of households reported owning three or more TV sets, down from 56% in 2013 and a high of 65% in 2007.

Day 2 PPMs Released By Nielsen

Nielsen on Thursday 7/13/17 Released Day 2 of June 2017 PPM Data for the following markets:

     7   Washington DC

   10   Boston

   11   Miami-Ft.Lauderdale-Hollywood

   12   Detroit

   13   Seattle-Tacoma
   
   14   Phoenix

   16   Minneapolis-St.Paul

   17   San Diego

   18   Denver-Boulder

   19   Tampa-St.Petersburg-Clearwater

   21   Baltimore   

   22   St. Louis

Click Here to view the Topline numbers for subscribing Nielsen stations

FCC Votes To Expand Crackdown On 'Robocalls'

The FCC voted on Thursday to pursue new rules to help consumers who are being inundated with "robocalls" and to set new standards to ensure phone calls come from legitimate numbers.

Reuters reports he FCC wants a reliable verification system that would prevent scam artists from spoofing the number of a bank, debt collector, government tax agency or other organizations to trick consumers into disclosing confidential financial or account information.

One report estimates U.S. consumers get 2.5 billion monthly robocalls - automated, prerecorded calls that regulators have labeled a "scourge."

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said "Americans are mad as hell" at robocalls, which represent the top source of consumer complaints. He said he thinks the agency's actions could make a significant dent in the volume of calls and said the FCC is acting as "an aggressive cop on the beat."

Fellow Commissioner Mignon Clyburn agreed. "Given the severity and complexity of the unwanted robocall problem, this agency recognizes that it must take a multi-pronged approach, to address this persistent problem," Clyburn said

Separately, the FCC voted 2-1 to fine New Mexico-based Dialing Services $2.88 million for facilitating "unlawful robocalls" after an investigation in 2012 found the company had made millions of unwanted calls. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Orlando Radio: JVC Launches Hard Rocker Bud 94.1 FM

JVC Broadcasting has officially launched Bud 94.1 FM  The King of Rock.

Bud was officially born Thursday July 13th, 2017 at 5:15pm on translator W231CT which is being fed via co-owned Country WOTW 103.1 FM HD2.

W231CT 94.1 FM (250 watts)

The company issued a very tongue-in-cheek press release which stated, "Bud 94.1 has long been rumored to exist, even going so far as to stream its 'Rock Hard' music format on its website (ironically, Bud941.com) for the past several weeks.  However, most radio industry professionals dismissed it as a hoax, practical joke, or terribly misguided head-first plunge into a shallow creek.

"The reason for this industry wide skepticism seems to be the obvious recklessness of a station that would describe itself as only interested in “Beer, Boobs, and Rock.”

"When asked about the station’s music and positioning decisions, JVC CEO John Caracciolo stated, 'I have full confidence in the guys I’ve met a few times who said they could do this.  It was obvious from the start as they had the finest collection of lawn chairs and yard flamingos I’ve ever seen.  However, I also told them that if this radio station cratered, I would totally deny any part in the choices, and I’d get my revenge one day.'"

Boston Radio: iHM Inks New Deals With Three Programmers

Mikey V

iHeartMedia Boston announced Thursday new agreements with key programmers Michael “Mikey V” Vinci, Lance Houston and DJ Pup Dawg, effective immediately.

Mikey V has been named the new Assistant Program Director and Music Director of WXKS 107.9 FM KISS 108, Boston’s #1 Hit Music Station. He will be responsible for on-air content and music programming as well as record label relations. Mikey V will continue to serve as the station’s nighttime on-air personality.

“I look forward to taking on my new role and continuing to work with the extremely talented people at KISS 108,” said Mikey V. “iHeartMedia Boston is a dream workplace for this kid from Framingham.”

Lance Houston

Houston signed a new long-term agreement to continue his role as Program Director for WBWL 101.7 FM The Bull, Boston’s NEW Hit Country, where he will work closely with on-air personalities and sales to oversee the station brand’s on-air programming, as well as local events and partnerships. He will continue to serve as the station’s nighttime host.

“Horns up Boston,” said Houston. “I am very lucky to call the best city in America my home and am so thrilled that I get to continue to build the Bull brand alongside the talented team we have here at iHeartMedia Boston.”

DJ Pup Dawg

iHeartMedia also signed a new long-term contract with DJ Pup Dawg to continue as Assistant Program Director and Music Director for WJMN JAM’N 94-5, Boston’s #1 for Hip-Hop and Hits. He will oversee JAM’N 94-5’s on-air content and music programming, as well as continue as host of the station’s evening show.

“I am JAM’N through and through and thrilled to be with JAM’N 94-5 for the foreseeable future,” said DJ Pup Dawg. “JAM’N is known for playing Boston’s biggest Hip-Hop songs that our listeners want to hear and I can’t wait to continue that tradition with the best team in the business.”

“We’re thrilled for the opportunity to continue to work with Mikey V, Lance and DJ Pup Dawg,” said Dylan Sprague, Senior Vice President of Programing for iHeartMedia’s Boston Region. “These guys know this city and know these stations. Having these critical programming roles locked in long-term gives us a big competitive advantage as we strategize for our future.”

Boston Radio: Shaileen Santoro New Marketing Director For iHM

Shaileen Santoro

iHeartMedia Boston announced Thursday that Shaileen Santoro has been named Director of Marketing for the Boston Region.

iHeartMedia Boston has a strong cross-platform presence and includes a number of iconic brands and franchises — both broadcast and digital — including Kiss 108, JAM’N 94.5, 101.7 The Bull, Talk 1430, and WXKS-AM 1200 – and produces legendary marquee events including the Kiss 108 Jingle Ball, Kiss Concert and JAM’N 94.5’s Summer Jam.

Santoro will oversee all aspects of iHeartMedia Boston’s marketing and promotions department, working closely with the sales and programming teams to promote and market concerts, broadcast shows, on-air talent, local community events and partnerships on air and online.

“Shaileen’s combination of passion, creativity, meticulous attention to detail and years of experience made her the obvious choice for this role,” said Dylan Sprague, Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia’s Boston Region. “Our marketing team is the best in the business and Shaileen’s leadership will elevate it further.”

Santoro most recently served as Marketing Manager for iHeartMedia Boston.

“I’m excited to continue my journey with the amazing team and brands in Boston,” said Santoro. “I’ve grown so much here personally and professionally, and am looking forward to the work we’ll keep doing to serve our listeners, community and clients.”

CNN Scoffs At Prayer In The Oval Office

Christian president praying in the White House is outrageous, according to a story at
bizpacreview.com.

That’s what CNN and other anti-Trumpers suggested when they mocked President Trump for participating in a prayer circle with evangelical leaders in the Oval Office Wednesday.

The religious leaders, who are part of the Faith Advisory Board, had attended an all-day meeting with the White House’s office of public liaison, whose director is Omarosa Manigault, an ordained minister.

The meeting did not include President Trump, but when he learned the pastors were there, he invited them into the Oval Office and the group briefly prayed together.

CNN and other left-wingers immediately suggested that Trump was praying because he’s “in crisis” over the media’s continuing coverage of the Russia collusion hoax.

The CNN Religion Twitter account sarcastically bleated:

Under fire, Trump prays with evangelicals in Oval Office https://t.co/YoG3OtRBDq

— CNN Religion (@CNNbelief) July 12, 2017

CNN host Erin Burnett mocked the prayer circle as “very strange” when she teased the segment on her show: “The president bowing his head in prayer in the Oval Office and all these people sorta touching him. It’s very strange.”

Interestingly, CNN and other liberals did not mock former President Barack Obama when he prayed in the Oval Office or led prayer circles.

At the White House press briefing Wednesday, a reporter asked White House Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders if Trump was praying because he’s in crisis mode. Huckabee Sanders scoffed at the inane question, saying people of all faiths pray every day, not just when they are “in crisis.”

Friday's Hot Links..What Others Are Saying

➤Amazon Is Getting Too Big

➤Radio Should Pay – or (Maybe) Receive – Market-Based Royalties

➤ABC News: Christians Who Believe In The First Amendment Are A ‘Hate Group’

➤Why Radio Needs To Get Voice Assist Speakers Right

NPR May Face SAG-AFTRA Strike Action

National Public Radio isn’t ruling out a potential strike should no agreement with SAG-AFTRA be reached by end-of-day Friday.

Becky Sullivan, a member of the bargaining team, said there is a possibility of a strike, according to TheWrap.  Multiple media reports say the union is claiming that NPR’s management is trying to undermine the union by demanding a two-tier salary system as well as impede on the union’s ability to enforce contract clauses through arbitration.

Becky Sullivan

Sullivan, also a producer on “All Things Considered,” told Poynter that there are two issues at the heart of the negotiations. The previous contract expired on June 30, but it was extended through Friday.

“They are trying to lower salary minimums, and they are really trying to weaken the power of the union,” she said. “They want to write in more flexibility for outside people to do union work and take away the union’s ability to file a grievance.”

SAG-AFTRA’s new website also includes a letter to NPR President and CEO Jarl Mohn by about 35 NPR journalists, accusing management of trying to “rip it up” in terms of the contract.

“Members of your management team seem to believe that NPR has become the revered media company it is — a company that they boast about serving — despite that contract,” said the letter. “They misunderstand NPR’s history and culture: NPR has become great partly because of our labor-management contract. The contract has ensured proper working conditions, collaboration and collegiality, and an atmosphere of mutual respect. That culture is one of the main reasons we choose to work here. That culture attracts some of our youngest and newest talents, from diverse backgrounds.”

It's Bi-Partisan: Neither Party Trusts News Media

Neither Republicans nor Democrats trust that the news media is providing them "very accurate" information, according to a survey released Thursday.

According to The Hill, the survey from the Media Insight Project reveals that only 31 percent of Democrats and just 8 percent of Republicans said they trust the news to be "very accurate."

On the issue of bring "very well informed on important issues," 38 percent of Democrats and 20 percent of Republicans say the media does a good job.

On the question of whether the media contains biases, 33 percent of Republicans said it's "too liberal," while just 12 percent of Democrats think the media they consume is "too conservative."

In a rare result that doesn't split along party lines, research showed Republicans and Democrats are similar in behavior in terms of how they get news, how often they read it and whether news is something they proactively look for.

"They are equally likely to pay for news, to get news from social media, to seek it out actively rather than passively, and to get news multiple times a day," according to the Media Insight Project study, a collaboration of the American Press Institute and The Associated Press–NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Almost all recent polls on trust in media has shown eroding trust between news consumers and the media.

CBS News Partners With BBC For Newsgathering

CBS News and BBC News announced Thursday a new editorial and newsgathering relationship that will significantly enhance the global reporting capabilities of both organizations. The announcement was made by CBS News President David Rhodes and BBC Director of News and Current Affairs James Harding.

This new deal allows both organizations to share video, editorial content and additional newsgathering resources in New York, London, Washington and around the world. The relationship between CBS News and BBC News will also allow for efficient planning of newsgathering resources to increase the content of each broadcaster’s coverage of world events.

“CBS News is completely committed to original reporting around the world—a commitment clearly shared by the BBC,” said Rhodes. “There’s no better partner to strengthen and extend our global coverage than BBC News. I look forward to working with James Harding as we increase the capabilities of both organizations.”

“There’s never been a more important time for smart, courageous coverage of what’s happening in the world,” said Harding. “This new partnership between the BBC and CBS News is designed to bring our audiences—wherever you live, whatever your point of view—news that is reliable, original and illuminating. Our ambition is to deliver the best in international reporting on television. We’re really looking forward to working together.”

Sharing of content between CBS News and BBC News will begin immediately. Additional newsgathering components will be rolled out in the coming months.

The partnership builds on a relationship that dates back to the early days of television and radio news. Legendary journalist Edward R. Murrow delivered many of his famed reports from Studio B4 at BBC’s London headquarters. Murrow discussed his fondness for his work at the BBC’s studio B4, including a microphone he kept in New York with the BBC logo he used covering World War II.

Broadcast Nets Obsess Over Trump Jr

Huffington Post composite

They were obsessed: ABC, CBS, NBC evening news shows have been dominated by one subject this week: Donald J. Trump Jr.’s 2016 meeting with a Russian lawyer at Trump Tower — “a meeting in which apparently no favors, money or meaningful information was exchanged,” writes analyst Geoffrey Dickens, in a new study for Newsbusters.org, a conservative press watchdog.

The Washington Times reports in the past four nights, the “Big Three” networks devoted over 62 minutes of airtime to Mr. Trump’s story he said, after tabulating the content of the coverage.

But those same news sources all but ignored “Hillary Clinton’s Russia-Uranium scandal” two years ago the analyst noted.

Dickens recalls that Peter Schweizer — author of the 2015 book “Clinton Cash” — broke the story that a Canadian uranium company, seeking approval of a sale to the Russian government from then-Secretary of State Clinton’s State Department, had donated millions to the Clinton Foundation.
“At the time, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was considered the favorite to win the Democratic nomination but the networks couldn’t care less,” Mr. Dickens noted in his analysis.

TMN To Syndicate Talk Host Tom Sullivan

Tom Sullivan

Talk radio veteran Tom Sullivan and Talk Media Network have announced their partnership in continuing The Tom Sullivan Show in syndication.

Tom Sullivan is well known for the nearly decade he spent pulling double duty on TV and radio with FOX News Business Channel and Fox News Talk Radio via his flagship station, KFBK 1530 AM in Sacramento, California. KFBK originates the program where Sullivan has been the top-rated talk host in Sacramento since July 1988.

In announcing his new syndication partnership with Talk Media Network, Tom Sullivan shares, “Reports of my retirement from radio syndication are greatly exaggerated – only from television. I am a radio guy first and foremost and I look forward to many years ahead with my current audience and building The Tom Sullivan Show to bring in new stations and listeners across the country. I can now devote 100 percent of my time to delivering the best program on radio.”

Welcoming Tom Sullivan and his eponymous show to Talk Media Network, CEO Josh Leng adds, “If you’ve been in talk radio for any length of time, you know Tom Sullivan and what a professional he is. We’re blessed to be working together and look forward to taking The Tom Sullivan Show to new heights as the star in our family of advertiser friendly programs.”

In marketing the program, Talk Media Network states: Tom has a unique view of world events based on his life experiences. His radio talk show is smart, opinionated, and inclusive with great conversations on the hot news and trending issues of the day.

Radio stations interested in airing The Tom Sullivan Show should visit http://TalkMediaNetwork.com for more information.

MLB Nationals Get Win Over Baltimore Orioles in TV Rights Dispute

The Washington Nationals have won a legal victory as a New York state appeals court said the baseball team's long-running television rights dispute with the Baltimore Orioles should be resolved by a panel of Major League Baseball executives.

According to Reuters, Thursday's decision by the Appellate Division in Manhattan also rejected the Nationals' bid to reinstate a nearly $300 million award it had won from the panel, the Revenue Sharing Definitions Committee (RSDC), covering fees from the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network from 2012 to 2016.

But the Nationals called the decision a "major" victory in its battle for more than $100 million of disputed fees from MASN, which carries both teams' games but is controlled by the Orioles, for each of the 2012-2016 and 2017-2021 periods.

New York Supreme Court Justice Lawrence Marks threw out the original award in November 2015, saying it was unfair because the Nationals' law firm Proskauer Rose had worked for Major League Baseball and executives from teams on the panel: the New York Mets, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Tampa Bay Rays.

The judge last July then rejected the Nationals' bid to arbitrate again before the RSDC, whose membership has changed.

But in Thursday's 3-2 decision, the Appellate Division said the Orioles, Nationals and MASN were contractually bound to resolve TV rights disputes before the panel.

"The dissent's position that the new panel will remain puppets of MLB, rather than exercise its independent judgment, is pure conjecture," though the original award was properly voided because of "evident partiality," wrote Justice Richard Andrias, a member of the majority.

Chicago Sun-Times Leadership To Remain Intact

Today, ST Acquisition Holdings, LLC, a group organized by the Chicago Federation of Labor (CFL) and Edwin Eisendrath, announced Thursday the finalization of its acquisition of the Wrapports, LLC properties of the Chicago SunTimes, Chicago Reader and the straightdope.com website.

As a separate acquisition, the newly-formed group also purchased Answers Media, a full service digital communications company. The terms of the deals were not disclosed.

"This is a historic coalition of workers and like-minded investors who represent a crosssection of the Chicago population, coming together with one common goal: to preserve independent media entities in Chicago and protect their journalistic integrity. This effort amplifies the diversity of voices and perspectives of Chicago stories both locally and nationally," said CFL President Jorge Ramirez, who will serve as Chairman of the Chicago Sun-Times.

The acquisition group’s intent is to meld these pieces into a powerful, multiplatform news organization, while sustaining the Chicago Sun-Times legacy as a trusted news brand.

Edwin Eisendrath

“We are investing in a journalistic voice that’s genuine, accurate and consistently reporting news that matters to the people of Chicago. We are inspired by the journalistic excellence of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Chicago Reader and the Straight Dope website,” said Edwin Eisendrath, who will serve as CEO of the Chicago Sun-Times.

“The additional acquisition of Answers Media will allow us to expand and contemporize these channels with high-quality multimedia content and innovative technology solutions that will attract a broad audience of new readers and advertising partners.”

“The primary goal in seeking out new ownership for the Sun-Times and Wrapports LLC’s other properties was to find a buyer who was willing to make the investments necessary to sustain the editorial independence and viability of our publications long into the future,” said Jim Kirk, editor/publisher of the Chicago Sun-Times.

“We look forward to working with the new ownership group to bring new technology and other innovative approaches to support our world-class team of journalists.”

Kirk and other members of the Sun-Times leadership team have been asked to stay on to ensure both quality and continuity of operations.

Lawsuit: Soda Manufacturers Knowingly Deceive Customers

William Lamar, the senior pastor at D.C.’s historic Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church, is tired of presiding over funerals for parishioners who died of heart disease, diabetes and stroke.

So on Thursday, he and another prominent African American pastor filed suit against Coca-Cola and the American Beverage Association, claiming soda manufacturers knowingly deceived customers about the health risks of sugar-sweetened beverages — at enormous cost to their communities.

According to The Washington Post, the complaint, filed in D.C. Superior Court Thursday on behalf of the pastors and the Praxis Project, a public health group, alleges that Coke and the ABA ran an intentional campaign to confuse consumers about the causes of obesity.

Lamar and Delman Coates, the pastor at Maryland’s Mount Ennon Baptist Church, claim soda marketing has made it more difficult for them to protect the health of their largely black, D.C.-based parishioners.

Obesity, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and lower-extremity amputations are all far higher among people of color than among whites. These communities also drink more soda — and are exposed to more soda advertising.

“It’s become really clear to me that we’re losing more people to the sweets than to the streets,” said Coates, who said he has seen members of his congregation give their infants bottles filled with sugary drinks. “There’s a great deal of misinformation in our communities, and I think that’s largely a function of these deceptive marketing campaigns.”

In a statement, Coca-Cola dismissed the pastors' charges and the merits of the earlier lawsuit in California, which lawyers say they withdrew to refile with the new plaintiffs.

Jean Kasem Files 'Human Trafficking' Grievance

Fallout from the fight between Casey Kasem’s widow and three of the radio personality’s adult children has reached the Washington State Bar Association, according to The News-Tribune.

Jeannie Kasem said Thursday she filed a grievance with the bar this week, alleging that Tacoma attorney Scott Winship was part of “racketeering” to “human traffic” her husband before his death in June 2014.

He represented Kerri Kasem, Casey Kasem’s daughter from another marriage, after Jeannie Kasem moved her husband from California to Silverdale in 2014.

Jean Kasem

The children from the previous marriage feuded with their father’s wife about his care and access to the “American Top 40” host as his health worsened, until he died at a Gig Harbor Hospital at age 82.

A court ultimately gave Kerri Kasem authority over her father’s health-care decisions, as he suffered from a condition called Lewy Body dementia.

Jeannie Kasem filed a wrongful death suit against the three children and others last month in U.S. District Court in Washington.

The suit and the bar grievance allege Casey Kasem died as part of a “homicidal guardianship scam.”

She alleges in the grievance that Winship “misled” a Kitsap County judge, who allowed Casey Kasem to be taken from Silverdale to St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor for a medical evaluation, where he later died.

“Scott Winship was racketeering with Los Angeles attorneys to human traffic Casey Kasem for commercial gain through their depraved homicidal guardianship scam,” the grievance states.

July 14 Radio History

Douglas Edwards

➦In 1917...broadcast newsman Douglas Edwards was born in Ada Oklahoma.  He became CBS radio’s premier news reader, and anchored TV’s first network newscast from 1948 to 1962 when Walter Cronkite succeeded him.  He then went back to radio, but continued with a 5 minute midday TV newscast.

He retired in 1988, and died Oct 13, 1990 at age 73.



➦In 1927...NBC newsman John Chancellor was born in Chicago. He succeeded Dave Garroway as host of Today, then became anchor of NBC Nightly News from 1970-82.  When Tom Brokaw replaced him he stayed on ‘Nightly’ doing commentaries. During the 1976 election he introduced the concept of Red and Blue states, which survives to this day.

He died of stomach cancer July 12 1996, two days shy of his 69th birthday.


➦In 1957…Master satirist Stan Freberg debuted a new weekly comedy program on CBS Radio in the time slot previously occupied by Jack Benny.



In addition to Freberg, the cast included June Foray, Peter Leeds, and Daws Butler. Billy May arranged and conducted the music. The program failed to attract sponsors and the network cancelled the series after 15 episodes. It was the last U.S. network radio show to devote itself purely to comedy.


➦In 1969...WBZ 1030 AM, Boston increased its talk programming to a full 10 1/2 hours-a-day.

Increased competition in the top 40 format — first from WMEX 1510 AM which had programmed a top 40 format since 1957, then from WRKO, which adopted the format in 1967 — led WBZ to shift its music programming to adult contemporary in 1969, playing several songs an hour between 6 and 9 a.m. (though it was not unheard of for Carl DeSuze to play only one, if any, song an hour during his show), 10 to 12 songs an hour between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., and 4 to 6 songs an hour between 4 and 7 p.m..

At night, WBZ programmed talk shows, with such hosts as Guy Mainella, a pioneer in sports talk; Jerry Williams in the evenings; and Larry Glick's overnight show. Music was also programmed during the day on weekends.

Beginning in the late 1960s, WBZ made a major push into live play-by-play sports. From 1966 through 1979, and again from 1991 through 1994, WBZ was home to radio broadcasts of New England Patriots football.  In the fall of 1969, WBZ regained the radio rights to the Boston Bruins (which it had lost in 1951), and also began carrying Boston Celtics basketball. The Bruins stayed through the 1977-78 season.

During the 1970s, WBZ was one of a number of clear channel AM stations that petitioned to be allowed to increase their power; WBZ would have used 500,000 watts transmitting from Provincetown, Massachusetts to reach all of New England during the day. A backlash from smaller stations led to the petition being denied and station protections limited to a 750-mile radius, in effect canceling the entire clear channel service.


➦In 1984...FLASHBACK..from R&R Week of July 13, 1984:

➦In 1988…At the height of "Elvis is Alive" phenomenon, Nashville radio station WYHY offered $1 million to anyone who showed up at the studios with proof that Elvis Presley was still alive.


➦In 1990...Howard Stern debuted in the New York market on WWOR-TV in 1990 as host of a talk show featuring his trademark of outrageous humor. The program entered national syndication in January 1991 and ultimately ended on August 8, 1992 because of the growing production costs.


➦In 2009…The iTunes Music Store reached 1.5 billion Apps downloaded.


➦In 2015…Former ABC News anchor/vice president Marlene Sanders died of cancer at age 84.

San Antonio Radio: Kyle Due To Program iHM's KAJA, KRPT

Kyle Due

iHeartMedia San Antonio announced today that Kyle Due has been named Program Director for KAJA KJ97, San Antonio’s No. 1 Country Station, and KRPT  92.5 and K227BH 93.3 The Bull, San Antonio’s Classic Country Station.

He will also serve as weekday afternoon on-air personality for KJ 97.

Due will be responsible for the day-to-day programming operations of KJ97. He will work closely with on-air personalities and sales to oversee the station brand’s on-air content, digital footprint and music programming. In addition, as the station’s weekday afternoon on-air personality and will report to Brian Gann, Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia Austin/San Antonio.

“We could not be more excited to have Kyle joining the San Antonio team,” said Matt Martin, President for iHeartMedia Austin/San Antonio. “He is an amazing programmer and talent, and we know he will lead KJ97 to continued success.”

Due has worked as both an on air talent and programmer for iHeartMedia for the past 16 years, and most recently served as Program Director for WAEB and WZZO in Allentown, PA. His previous stops include Winchester, VA; Charlotte, NC; Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia; Chattanooga, TN; and Greensboro, NC and most recently, Allentown, in his home state of Pennsylvania.

KAJA 97.3 FM (100 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area

“You cannot find a stronger bond than the one between country radio, their artists, and their fans,” said Due. “This is going to be an incredible new chapter in my life both personally and professionally and I can’t wait to work with the incredible team in San Antonio!”