May 20 Radio History

➦In 1901...Fessenden applies for high-frequency dynamo patent.

Reginald Aubrey Fessenden, is generally ignored and largely unknown. On December 24, 1906, at 9 P.M. eastern standard time, Reginald Fessenden transmitted human voices from Brant Rock near Boston, Massachusetts to several ships at sea owned by the United Fruit Company.

The host of the broadcast was Fessenden. After giving a resume of the program Fessenden played a recording of Handel's "Largo" on an Ediphone thus establishing two records - the first recording of the first broadcast. Fessenden then dazzled his listeners with his talent as a violinist playing appropriately for the Christmas season, "Oh Holy Night" and actually singing the last verse as he played. Mrs. Helen Fessenden and Fessenden's secretary Miss Bent, had promised to read seasonal passages from the Bible including, "Glory to God in the highest -and on earth peace to men of good will," but when the time came to perform they stood speechless, paralyzed with mike fright. Fessenden took over for them and concluded the broadcast by extending Christmas greetings to his listeners - as well as asking them to write and report to him on the broadcast wherever they were.

The mail response confirmed that Fessenden had successfully invented radio as we know it. Technically, he had invented radio telephony or what radio listeners would call "real" radio as opposed to Marconi's Morse code broadcasting. Fessenden could truly lay claim to be the inventor of radio and he fully expected the world to beat a path to his door. Instead, he never received his due recognition, lost control of his patents and the ensuing revenue which made other inventors and companies immensely wealthy. Even today the Encyclopedia Canadiana does not give him a separate listing. Mention of him is only included under the listing for his mother Clementina who established Empire Day in Canada. Reginald is mentioned as one of her four sons, "inventor of the wireless telephone, the radio compass and the visible bullet for machine guns, he also invented the first television set in North America in 1919."


➦In 1920…The Canadian Marconi Company's station XWA (Experimental Wireless Apparatus) in Montréal gave what it would later claim to be the first scheduled radio broadcast in North America, and quite possibly in the world. Its call letters were changed to CFCF on November 4, 1920, and while the meaning of that call sign has never been officially confirmed, it is generally believed to be "Canada's First, Canada's Finest."

➦In 1960...WRCA in NYC becomes WNBC 660 AM...again.

WNBC signed on for the first time on March 2, 1922, as WEAF, owned by AT&T Western Electric. It was the first radio station in New York City.

The call are popularly thought to have stood for Western Electric AT&T Fone or Water, Earth, Air, and Fire (the 4 classical elements).   However, records suggest that the call letters were assigned from an alphabetical sequence. The first assigned call was actually WDAM; it was quickly dropped, but presumably came from the same alphabetical sequence.

In 1922, WEAF broadcast what it later claimed to be the first radio advertisement (actually a roughly 10-minute long talk anticipating today's radio and television infomercials) which promoted an apartment development in Jackson Heights near a new elevated train line, (the IRT's Flushing-Corona line, now the number 7 line).

In 1926, WEAF was purchased by the Radio Corporation of America, making it a sister station to WJZ. RCA then formed the National Broadcasting Company, which operated two radio chains.

WEAF became the flagship station of the NBC Red Network. The other chain was the NBC Blue Network, whose programming originated at WJZ (now WABC), also owned by RCA. As a result of the North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement of 1941, WEAF became a clear channel station, and could be heard across most of the eastern half of North America at night.

On November 11, 1928, WEAF moved from 610 to 660 AM. The move that solidified WEAF's position as the most pretigious of all broadcasters took place in the autumn of 1933, when NBC moved to 30 Rockefeller Plaza and became the "radio" that gave Radio City its name.

In 1943, the United States Supreme Court ordered RCA to sell off one of its radio networks, citing antitrust concerns. The company decided to keep the Red Network, and it was rebranded as the NBC Radio Network after the Blue Network was divested, along with several stations (including WJZ), to Edward J. Noble and rechristened the Blue Network as the American Broadcasting Company. WEAF's call letters were changed to WNBC in 1946, then to WRCA in 1954, and back to WNBC in 1960.


➦In 1985...the United States began broadcasting to Cuban citizens on "Radio Marti".


➦In 2011…Longtime Pittsburgh radio personality (KDKA, 1973-2001) John Cigna died following a stroke and of complications from emphysema at 75.


➦In 2014...Chicago radio talk show host (WGN, WCFL, WIND)/sports commentator Bill Berg died of complications from Parkinson's disease at 77.

Report: Sports Betting Expected To Boost Advertising

Media companies think they may have hit the jackpot with the Supreme Court’s ruling on sports betting, reports The Wall Street Journal.

On Monday, the Supreme Court struck down a federal law that prohibited sports gambling, paving the way for states to make their own decisions about allowing legal betting on athletic events.

The ruling has media and advertising executives envisioning a world in which more viewers tune into live televised sporting events and follow more sports coverage in great detail. Those more engaged fans would then attract more advertising dollars, including the marketing spending of gambling companies themselves, executives say.

Media companies are already tossing around programming ideas and ways to incorporate more stats and betting options on their digital platforms. The change could even inflate the value of leagues, teams, sports media properties and sports TV rights deals, executives say.

Turner, the Time Warner Inc. division that includes TBS and TNT, could use its Bleacher Report site as a platform to program shows and stats for bettors and potentially partner with third-party online betting platforms, a person familiar with the company’s thinking said.

ESPN/SportsCenter host Scott Van Pelt, who has a bettors-focused “Bad Beats” segment on his show, said that big TV networks could potentially create leagues, similar to fantasy sports. Networks could also program to bettors, for example, in the hour before NFL games when there are fewer people watching, he said.

CBS’s chief advertising revenue officer, Jo Ann Ross, said that if gambling is legal, it could lead to the reintroduction of the ad-spending bonanza from fantasy-sports companies like FanDuel and DraftKings.

The daily-fantasy sports companies at one point were a huge source of ad revenue for sports networks but have pulled back amid scrutiny over whether they violated gambling laws. (The companies insist their products don’t violate gambling laws because the games involve skill.)

FanDuel spent $189 million on U.S. advertising in 2015, a figure that fell to just $10.7 million in 2016, according to Kantar Media. After spending $247 million in 2015, DraftKings only shelled out $18.4 million in 2016. Those figures were up slightly in 2017.

Albany NY Radio: Money Woes Force 3 AMs Off-Air

Financial problems were behind the decision to pull the plug on Empire Broadcasting Co.'s radio stations, said Joe Reilly, the partner managing the operation.

"The reason was declining revenue," Reilly told the Times-Union Friday morning. "We've been losing money."

Earlier, Empire had said that it was Reilly's retirement that had led to a decision to cease broadcasting, an assertion he disputed. Reilly had stepped down at a board meeting last November.

Empire is the parent company of stations with such legendary radio call letters as WPTR and WABY, as well as of WAIX.



Empire Broadcasting Co. pulled the plug on the stations last Sunday night. Empire filed a notification with the Federal Communications Commission on Monday that it was suspending operations.

Reilly acquired several stations for $1.2 million in September 2012 from Anastos Media Group.

WPTR and WABY in the 1960s competed with WTRY in Troy for the Top 40 rock music audience, with such DJs as Boom Boom Brannigan, Charlie Brown and Bob Badger, who became household names.

WPTR at the time was a 50,000-watt powerhouse at 1540 AM, and it wasn't unusual for personalities such as Brannigan to spin discs at school dances as far north as Montreal.

Recently, WPTR was carrying Bloomberg Financial news on its 1240 AM frequency, while WABY had adopted a contemporary music format previously on WAIX 106.1 FM The Jockey and was broadcasting at 900 AM.

The Jockey had previously been broadcasting at WJKE 101.3 FM, but that station was sold in November for $550,000 to suburban Sacramento, Calif.-based Educational Media Foundation.

NYC Radio: Chuck Todd Sides With Trump On 'Animals' Remark

NBC "Meet the Press" host Chuck Todd on Friday sided with President Trump's description of MS-13 gang members as “animals” earlier this week.

“A lot of people have called violent anybodys animals,” Todd said during an appearance on “Bernie & Sid in the Morning” on WABC 770 AM Radio.

“Anybody who is a violent criminal in my book can get called an animal if they're sitting there mauling, killing and raping people. I don’t care where they're from," he added.

According to The Hill, Todd weighed in on media coverage of Trump's remark from a roundtable discussion earlier this week, where the president was responding to a California official asking about MS-13 gang members.
The official, Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims, had expressed frustration over how the state’s "sanctuary city" laws have limited the ability of local law enforcement officials to enforce federal immigration laws, specifically in regards to the MS-13 gang.

“These aren’t people. These are animals, and we’re taking them out of the country at a rate that’s never happened before," Trump replied, referring to gang members in the U.S. illegally.

Todd noted that some initial coverage of Trump's remarks inaccurately portrayed his "animals" comment as a reference to undocumented immigrants more broadly, instead of MS-13 gang members.

“This is where I think that my colleagues do us all harm,” Todd said. “You know, cover this legitimately. There is plenty of legitimate stuff to ding him on, if you think he deserves to be dinged on. Just be careful, don’t be sloppy about it.”

Rochester Radio: Megan Carter Has Left The WPXY Building

Megan Carter

Rochester radio personality Megan Carter is no longer co-host of WPXY 97.9 FM’s morning show or employed by station owner Entercom Communications, Bob Barnett, vice president of station programming, confirmed Friday.

Barnett said he was not at liberty to discuss the details of Carter’s departure — only that it happened about a month ago, according to the Rochester Democrat&Chronicle.

#TeamPXY with Carter & Corey, featuring Carter and Corey James, debuted in late 2014 (although Carter’s on-air career with WPXY began in 2008). It replaced a long-running morning show hosted by Scott Spezzano and Sandy Waters, who moved to Entercom sister station WBZA 98.9 FM and launched The All New Breakfast Buzz with Spezzano and Sandy. 

Whitney Young, who previously hosted a midday show on WPXY (97.9), is James’ new co-host on the #TeamPXY morning show, which airs from 5:30 to 10 a.m.

Redstone Urged To Let Moonves Run CBS, Viacom

Bob Wright

In the fight to control CBS, former NBCUniversal CEO Bob Wright has placed all bets on Les Moonves, who he called one of "two really, really good media executives in this country."

CNBC reports he says CBS' ongoing resistance to a merger with Viacom will put an end to dual share structures at companies, once and for all.

"There's no benefit that Shari [Redstone] is bringing to the table with 10 percent ownership and trying to control all the board. It doesn't make sense anymore," Wright said Friday on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street."

National Amusements, owned by the Redstone family, has been trying to merge CBS and Viacom, both of which fall under its umbrella. But CBS and Viacom have not been able to come to terms on some aspects of the merger, and CBS has been fighting what it called interference by the Redstone family.

CBS wants to cut National Amusement's voting power by issuing a special dividend to shareholders.

As it stands, the share structure of CBS enables Shari Redstone, through theater and media holding company National Amusements, to maintain voting control over CBS, despite only owning about 10 percent of shares. Wright said these types of dual share structures can be helpful at the advent of a company, so "the guys that built it can protect the company for a while."

Furthermore, Wright said the merger Redstone is pushing between CBS and Viacom would be damaging, insofar as it ousts Moonves. If Redstone is "smart," Wright said, she will relinquish some of her voting power and allow Moonves to take charge of a merged CBS and Viacom.

Meanwhile, analyst Porter Bibb of Media Tech Capital Partners discusses why he believes the battle for CBS is unfair to shareholders.


CBS battle heats up from CNBC.

Judge Rejects Lawsuit Against Fox By Andrea Tantaros

Andrea Tantaros

A federal judge on Friday dismissed a lawsuit against Fox News filed by a former on-air host, Andrea Tantaros, who had alleged that the network retaliated against her after she complained about being sexually harassed.

The NYTimes reports Tantaros had claimed that Fox News’s founding chairman, Roger Ailes, arranged for her to be illegally surveilled, and that the network’s executives had schemed to create fake social media accounts, known as “sock puppets,” that defamed her online.

On Friday, however, Judge George B. Daniels of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York wrote that Ms. Tantaros’s allegations were “based primarily on speculation and conjecture.” In dismissing the suit, the judge noted that Ms. Tantaros “fails to adequately make out the basic elements of her claims.”

“Plaintiff’s sole allegation with respect to physical surveillance is that she observed black SUVs driving by and parked outside her New York City residence and her vacation home, and that on one occasion she recognized one of the drivers as a member of Ailes’ personal security detail,” he wrote. “Plaintiff does not allege that either the individual she recognized from Ailes’ security detail, or any other driver of a black SUV, intercepted a wire, electronic or oral communication of hers, as is required under the Wiretap Act.”

It was the second legal action against Fox News to conclude this week, as the network looks to move on from a series of scandals that started nearly two years ago. On Tuesday, Fox News reached a $10 million settlement to end a group of racial and gender discrimination lawsuits.

Report: 'Good Guy With Gun' Story Ignored By MSM

A Fox News commentator railed against national media outlets for what he perceived as lackluster coverage of a thwarted mass shooting at an Illinois high school.

"An amazing thing took place Wednesday but I bet you didn't hear much about it," Greg Gutfeld, a host on Fox News' "The Five," said in his in his opening monologue. "So the obvious question is, why isn't this all over the news?"

On Wednesday morning, 19-year-old Matthew Milby opened fire on students who were rehearsing for their graduation. Milby, who was using his mother's semiautomatic rifle, exchanged gunfire with Dixon, Illinois police officer Mark Dallas.

According to BusinessInsider, Milby received non-life threatening injuries and was the only person hurt during the shooting. He was released from the hospital the same day and was taken to Lee County Jail, where he was charged with three counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm.

Gutfeld argued that the would-be mass shooting did not meet what he called the media's "seal of approval."

"The problem is, in this case, the media isn't interested in what doesn't happen," Gutfeld said. "Lives were saved, thankfully, so the story didn't fit the narrative."

Gutfeld went on to suggest that media outlets did not report on the foiled shooting because the officer fired his weapon to stop the suspected gunman.

R.I.P.: KMEN, KHJ Radio Personality Bill Watson

Bill Watson

Bill Watson, a popular Inland radio disc jockey who was instrumental in bringing the Rolling Stones to San Bernardino for their first concert in the United States, died Tuesday, May 15, in San Diego.

He was 88, according to ocregister.com.

Watson helped propel San Bernardino-based KMEN into the top radio station in the region in the 1960s.

“He was able to project himself as a really cool guy,” said Chuck Street, a San Bernardino native and longtime radio personality. “He had a presence on the radio. He had a swagger. All that adds up to charisma.”

Watson was working at San Bernardino-based KMEN when the Rolling Stones performed at the now-defunct Swing Auditorium on June 5, 1964.

He had been sent a Rolling Stones album, which he played on the air in its entirety, and the phones exploded, Street said.

Watson told Street he found the name of Rolling Stones’ manager Andrew Loog Oldham in the record label and called him in London, asking if the band would play in San Bernardino.

“The manager asked, ‘Where’s San Bernardino?”

“It’s a suburb of Hollywood,” Watson told him.

Clemans was in the car with Watson when they picked up the Rolling Stones from the Ontario Airport for the first show. He said the young musicians seemed weary of all the attention they were receiving.

“They were really, really arrogant,” Clemans said. “Bill and I never said a word to them.”

Clemans said Watson worked with promoter Bob Lewis, who paid $6,000 for that first appearance. The band came back a year later and the cost was $60,000, he said.

Watson began his broadcasting career in the mid-1950’s in Sacramento as rock ‘n’ roll started taking over the airways. He moved south and ended up at KMEN as the afternoon drive host and program director.

At its peak, the station pulled in 70 percent of the listening audience in the region.

The 1290 AM station’s call sign became KMEN in 1962 and was changed to KKDD in 1998 to accommodate Disney satellite programming. The station is now 1290 NewsTalk.

Watson went on to help create the “Boss Radio” format when AM radio was the only option most listeners had, working with such stations as KHJ and KMPC in Los Angeles.

May 19 Radio History

➦In 1926...inventor Thomas Edison spoke at a dinner for the National Electric Light Association in Atlantic City, NJ. When asked to speak into the microphone, he said, “I don’t know what to say. This is the first time I ever spoke into one of these things … Good night.”

➦In 1960...On this day in 1960, the man who coined the term, "Rock And Roll", Alan Freed, along with Mel Leeds and 7 other disc-jockeys were accused of taking payola.

The others  included: Peter Tripp of WMGM, New York, Hal Jackson-WLIB, New York, Tommy (Dr.Jive) Smalls of WWRL-New York, JackWalker (The pear-shaped talker) - exWOV, New York.

Peter Tripp was immediately fired from his popular late afternoon air shift at WMGM.

After departing from 1010 WINS, Freed for a time was employed in New York by WABC 770 AM around 1958, about two years before it evolved into one of America's great Top 40 stations by launching its "Musicradio" format.

At this time, WABC (unlike Top40 WINS) was more of a full-service station which began implementing some music programming elements.

Freed was fired by WABC (1959) during a dispute where he refused to sign a statement certifying that he had never accepted payola.


➦In 1974...The #1 Popular song on the Radio was "The Streak" by Ray Stevens


➦In 1994....Henry Morgan, former personality at WMCA, WOR, WNBC, WNEW died of lung cancer at age 79.




➦In 1999...Last broadcast of the Mutual Broadcasting System. Tribute website: Click Here

Bob Liddle

➦In 2010…Longtime Seattle radio personality Bob Liddle, with more than 50 years on the air in the Pacific Northwest died at age 88.  Liddle spent much of his nearly 60-year radio career announcing, spinning big-band records, hosting easy-listening shows and reading the news on Seattle's KIXI 880 AM.

Liddle is perhaps best known for his years hosting KIXI's "Sunday Brunch." But in his long career he also worked as the station's program director and often hosted New Year's Eve "Tuxedo Junction" celebrations at the downtown Seattle Westin Hotel.


➦In 2011...Worcester, Massachusetts radio legend Dick Smith, who spent 30 years as a broadcaster for WORC, died at the age of 84.


➦In 2016...Newly retired TV newsman and 60 Minutes correspondent Morley Safer died at age 84. During his lengthy career he brought the horrors of the Vietnam War into American living rooms in the 1960s, and was a mainstay of the CBS newsmagazine “60 Minutes” for almost five decades.

Research: Streams Make-Up 8 Percent of Broadcast Radio

The annual conference of the American Association of Public Opinion Researchers is running this week in Denver, and Edison Research is giving four different presentations on best practices in survey research.

One of these presentations is from Edison VP Randy Brown, who is documenting the issues that come from implementing surveys online that attempt to measure internet behaviors. You can download the complete presentation here.

The report claims streaming behaviors will be overstated in a survey implemented online because it is difficult to reach lighter internet users from internet sample frames, even if one is using high-quality internet samples. Beyond that, about 10% of Americans still have no online access and are entirely invisible to online research.

The report also documents the steps Edison takes to make sure that their research represents the total population – using our Share of Ear® studies as his example.

One prime example of why these steps need to be taken can be seen with regard to listening to the content produced by America’s broadcast radio stations.  Share of Ear® determines whether listening to radio content is coming via the over-the-air signal (whether analog or HD) or from the station’s streams.

Edison estimates 8% of the combined listening to broadcast radio content is from the streams and 92% is from over-the-air.

Edison also notes quite a difference based on the type of content.  For news, sports and personalities, streams comprise 12% of the total listening, whereas for music the streams are 6%.  Perhaps this speaks to streaming being more vital for radio’s more unique aspects.

PPMs Released for Austin, Nashville, Milwaukee, 9 Other Markets

Nielsen on Thursday 5/17/18 completed releasing April 2018 PPMs results.  The markets  included the following markets:

33 Austin

38  Raleigh-Durham NC


39  Indianapolis

41  Milwaukee-Racine

43  Nashville

44  Providence-Warwick-Pawtucket RI

45  Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News

46  Jacksonville FL

47  Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point NC

48  West Palm-Boca Raton

51  Memphis 

52  Hartford-New Britain-Middletown CT

Click Here for Topline Numbers for subscribing Nielsen stations.

Showdown As CBS Board Defies Shari Redstone

Early Thursday, a Delaware court handed Shari Redstone and her family-owned National Amusements an important legal victory in a fight for control of CBS.

Just hours later, CBS' board of directors responded with a vote to reduce Redstone's control – but the battle is far from over, reports CBS News.

Redstone's National Amusements is the controlling shareholder of CBS, and the court's ruling Thursday lets it challenge the vote by CBS' board.

The vote by CBS' board would let it issue a dividend that dilutes Redstone's preferred stock voting power to roughly 20 percent from the current 79 percent. Such a move would effectively give CBS independence from National Amusements.

CBS had sought a restraining order this week to block Redstone, president and controlling shareholder of National Amusements, from making changes to the board. The court's decision could boost Redstone's long-stated efforts to merge CBS with entertainment giant Viacom, which National Amusements also controls.

"The court's ruling today represents a vindication of National Amusements' right to protect its interests," the company said in a statement. "As we intend to demonstrate as the case proceeds, the actions of CBS and its special committee amount to a grievous breach of fiduciary duties and show no regard for the significant risk posed to CBS and its investors."

CBS has said combining with Viacom is not in the best interests of shareholders.

Although Delaware court Chancellor Andre Bouchard said in the ruling there was no legal precedent for granting CBS's request for a restraining order, he said the company could challenge National Amusements in court if it takes actions that could harm shareholders. In a statement, CBS signaled that it may pursue further legal action against National Amusements.

In what may end up as a largely symbolic move, CBS announced late Thursday that its board of directors had voted to issue a dividend equivalent to 0.5867 in non-voting shares for each voting share. That would dilute Shari Redstone's preferred stock voting power to roughly 20 percent from the current 79 percent.

CBS also said it is postponing its annual shareholders meeting, which had been scheduled for Friday.

Suzanne Scott Named Chief Exec For Fox News

Suzanne Scott

The Murdochs named Suzanne Scott the new chief executive of Fox News on Thursday, making her the first woman to lead the cable news network even as her appointment signaled the elevation of an executive closely tied with the old regime that was largely ousted in the wake of a sexual harassment scandal.

The NYTimes is reporting Scott, who joined Fox News at its inception in 1996, rose through the ranks over the years to work in several programming, production and creative positions. Last year, she was appointed president of programming and development amid an executive shake-up that followed the firing of the network’s founding chairman, Roger Ailes.

In her new role, Ms. Scott will oversee both Fox News and its sister network Fox Business. She will report to Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan Murdoch, the top executives at 21st Century Fox who also will run the “proposed new Fox,” the slimmed-down media conglomerate focused on news and sports that will remain after the proposed sale of most of 21st Century’s entertainment assets to the Walt Disney Company.

The appointment makes Scott the only woman in charge of a major cable news network or broadcast news division. The post of chief executive, previously held by Ailes, had been vacant since his departure.

Yet Scott’s promotion means that a top executive during the Ailes era remains in charge at the network.

Scott had been cited in lawsuits against the network as a figure who enabled and concealed Mr. Ailes’s behavior. She has denied any wrongdoing, and many of those disputes have since settled, including a $10 million settlement reached this week to resolve a group of racial and gender discrimination lawsuits.

But with the Murdoch empire contracting with the jettisoning of Fox’s entertainment arm, the estimated billion dollars in revenue that Fox News reels in annually is that much more important to the family’s bottom line.

Entercom Promotes Andi Poch To EVP/Integrated Pertnerships

Andi Poch

Entercom Thursday announced the appointment of Andi Poch to Executive Vice President, Integrated Partnerships.

In this new role, Poch will lead strategy, creative development and execution for multiplatform, client partnerships. As part of her charge, Poch will focus on integrated solutions across audio, digital, branded content, live events and experiential partnerships. Additionally, she will be responsible for the development of new and expanded content franchises and innovative, customizable opportunities to drive national business and new revenue streams. She will continue to report to Bob Philips, Chief Revenue Officer at Entercom.

“We are excited about Andi’s new role at Entercom,” said Bob Philips. “This is a strategic shift in the way we go to market and an opportunity to leverage our national, multiplatform scale across audio, digital, social, live events and branded entertainment to offer national advertisers the innovative marketing solutions they need to connect their brands to our loyal and engaged consumer base.  The additional scope will provide Andi the opportunity to expand on the terrific work she has already done for Entercom.”

“The vast assets of Entercom provide an incredible canvas for partners,” said Poch. “With our top radio stations, our extraordinary live events, award winning creative content options and our deep talent relationships in music, sports and pop culture, this role will reinforce Entercom’s ability to provide marketers with truly comprehensive, effective and exciting national, regional and local strategic integrated solutions.”

As part of the new role, Poch will partner with sales across all divisions of Entercom and will assume a leadership role with key clients and agencies. Her new role is effective immediately.

Joilet Radio: Kevin Kollins Named New Host for WSSR Morning Show

Kevin Kollins

Alarm set! Monday, May 21st, longtime WSSR Star96.7 FM Chicago/Joliet weekend host, Kevin Kollins, wakes up a lot earlier, as new co-host of the “The Star Morning Show – Featuring Lisa and Kevin.” Kevin joins Lisa Jordan, who continues to co-host.

Scott Childers, Star 96.7 Program Director, happily shares details: “After a search, which took us across the country; it was clear that our stars were right here, in the building! Kevin has been a familiar voice on STAR, for nearly ten years. This is a great opportunity to take it to the next level, with the great chemistry between them. You can feel it; and it feels fun.” Kevin continues to host the afternoon show, at 1340 WJOL.

Kevin’s take: “I can’t tell you how excited I am to join Lisa Jordan on The STAR Morning Show. We truly will reach to the stars, and grow the fun to new heights. I’m extremely grateful that AlphaMedia brought some really innovative minds together, to allow me to continue my afternoon talk show, at WJOL and to add mornings on STAR 96.7.”

WSSR 96.7 FM (3.1 Kw) Red=Local Coverage

Lisa adds: “I’m pretty darned thrilled that this is our new direction. And I’m grateful to welcome Kevin to the morning team. He and I are really looking forward to “putting the pedal to the metal,” to see how to make each morning truly enjoyable and informative – you know, awesome.”

Lisa Jordan, a Chicago native, has been the co-host of the STAR Morning Show for the last two years. Before that, she was On-Air and Production Director, and Social Media Manager, at Country-formatted Nash Icon 92.7 WUVA, in Charlottesville, Virginia.

In addition to his post as host of the formerly nationally syndicated show “Hit Tracks,” Kevin Kollins has held on-air positions for over two decades, at numerous stations, including WJOL-Chicago/Joliet, WIFC-Wausau, Z104 Madison and KDWB Minneapolis. Prior to returning to broadcasting, at WSSR and WJOL, Kevin had spent 13 years with the music promotion firm Jeff McClusky and Associates, and rose to the position of Senior Vice President of Promotion.

Indy Radio: Kelly Harlow New Digital SM/LSM for Cumulus

Kelly Harlow

Cumulus Media announces that it has appointed digital and radio sales executive Kelly Harlow as Digital Sales Manager/Local Sales Manager for Cumulus Media-Indianapolis.

The appointment marks a return to Cumulus Media-Indianapolis for Harlow, who was Sales Representative for the cluster from 2008-2012. She was most recently Senior Account Executive for iHeartMedia-Indianapolis. She also served as Regional Digital Sales Specialist for iHeartMedia’s Indiana and Kentucky radio stations, and prior to that, was Account Executive for CBS Radio-Indianapolis. She holds a B.A. degree In Telecommunications-Sales from Ball State University in Muncie, IN.

Tom Stemlar Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus Media-Indianapolis, said: ““Kelly is an exceptional talent with valuable skill sets that we covet. We are super excited to have her back at Cumulus Indianapolis where she belongs.“

Sherry Anno, Director of Sales, Cumulus Media-Indianapolis, said: “We’re thrilled to have someone with Kelly’s talent and enthusiasm join our team. Her expertise will be an integral part of the continued revenue growth for our cluster.”

Harlow said: “I am thrilled to be back at Cumulus Indianapolis representing WFMS, WJJK and WYRG. The team here is amazing, the brands are strong and I am so excited to hit the ground running!”

FL Radio: Jason Lamp To Manage Adams Cluster

Jason Lamp

Adams Radio Group has named Jason Lamp VP & GM for it Tallahassee, Florida cluster, replacing retiring GM Hank Kestenbaum.

The cluster consists of '80'-based WANK 99.9, Country WWOF 103.1, Oldies WQTL 106.1 and CHR WHTF 104.9 FM

Jason, a 23-year radio veteran, most recently worked with Community Broadcasters overseeing their Destin-Fort Walton Beach cluster, recently acquired from Apex Communications whom he also served for several years. Prior to Community Broadcasters, Jason worked with iHeart – Charleston SC, Renda Broadcasting – Jacksonville, Florida, and Cox Media Group – Miami. Jason entire career has been in radio broadcasting, focused in sales and management.

Jason commented on the move “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to lead our team to build the Adams Radio Group brand in the Tallahassee market, to provide quality programing for our listeners and a customer driven integrated advertising platform to address the needs and increase the success of our clients. Good people are the key to any successful organization and I am honored to join the Adams Radio Group family.”

Ron Stone, CEO of Adams added “I am excited to add Jason to our executive line up. His 23 years in sales, most of which were spent in Florida, will provide him a strong head start in Tallahassee. Jason is passionate about our industry, as I am, and believes radio still delivers the strongest ROI for advertisers over anything else. Having him in Tallahassee taking that message to our clients will reshape the media landscape in Tallahassee.”

St. Louis Radio: Lisa Ballance Named SM For iHM

Lisa Ballance

iHeartMedia announced Thursday that Lisa Ballance has been named Sales Manager for St. Louis.

As Sales Manager, Ballance will be responsible for Classic Hits KLOU-FM, Gospel KATZ-AM, Urban KATZ-FM and UrbanCHR KATZ-FM HD. Lisa Balance will report to Katy Pavelonis, Senior Vice President of Sales, St. Louis Region.

“Lisa has the proven track record of success with iHeartMedia and I am thrilled to have her as an addition to our sales team. Her leadership, experience and passion for our industry made her the ideal candidate for St. Louis.’

Lisa Ballance joins the iHeartMedia St. Louis from iHeartMedia Nashville, where she most recently served as the General Sales Manager. She also served as the Market Manager for Clear Channel in Alexandria, LA and is an Illinois native.

Ballance remarks, “I am excited to start a new chapter with another iHeartMedia market, and one with such iconic brands.”

Atlanta Radio: WNNX Interviews “Laurel/Yanny” Audio Clip Originator

Thursday morning, Katie Hetzel, originator of the viral “Laurel/Yanny” audio clip that’s breaking the Internet, joined WNNX Rock 100.5 FM's Bailey and Southside to talk about how the whole thing started.

During this 8 minute interview Hetzel tells Rock 100.5 FM Atlanta hosts Jason Bailey and Southside Steve about how she discovered the audio clip, what she originally heard, and how this whole thing exploded!

On May 11, Katie Hetzel, a freshman at Flowery Branch High School near Atlanta, Georgia, was studying for her literature class, where "Laurel" was one of her vocabulary words. She looked it up on Vocabulary.com, and played the audio clip. Instead of the word in front of her, she heard "Yanny."

Host Jason Bailey asks, “After everybody OMG’ed themselves to death, some senior got a hold of it and put it online as a poll and that’s when it started to take off, from what I understand?” Hetzel replied, “I put it on my Instagram, then this senior Fernando put a poll on his Instagram account. And that got reposted on Reddit, and that got reposted on Twitter and YouTube and it just blew up.”


Bailey asks about the YouTuber that posted her clip on her account and if Katie would get any money from that. She replied, “Khloe [YouTuber] was talking about making some merch, and me and Fernando making a percentage off of that, but we have to get on it quick of course.”

“So with this Internet fame now when you go to school here in a couple minutes, you’re going to be the talk of the school, correct?," asked Bailey. Katie replied, “Oh, definitely. All the popular people that like don’t really talk to me have been adding me on Snapchat.”

Co-host Southside Steve asked Katie, “So you heard ‘Yanny’, you did not hear ‘Laurel’, and do you still hear ‘Yanny’ when you listen to it?”. She responded, “At first I only heard Yanny and it took me a while but now I hear both. It switches for me constantly.”


So as it turns out, Vocabulary.com hired opera singers to read 200,000 words for the website. And now we can say with all certainty that the word is read by a human and it is “Laurel”. Even if Katie and half the Internet thought it was “Yanny”.

WWO Urging Stations to Register C Band Downlinks

Westwood One, the largest audio network in the U.S., is urging ALL major commercial broadcast radio stations to register their existing C Band downlinks with the FCC before the Commission evaluates the 3.7-4.2 Ghz C Band for added mobile broadband data services. These potential additional services could create insurmountable interference to programming stations receive by satellite.

On April 19, 2018, the FCC issued a public notice regarding a 90-day opportunity to register existing C Band Downlinks. Westwood One is encouraging stations to register within the window, which closes July 18, 2018, so that the FCC is aware of all downlinks in existence before they offer space to mobile broadband data services. The FCC believes that if you do not register your downlink during this window, you do not need interference protection moving forward. It is critical that stations register their downlinks so the FCC is aware of it during this 90-day window or risk losing ALL of their satellite programming. 

 The 90-day window closes on July 18, 2018.

“In our history, we have never had to license and/or register C Band downlinks,’ said Eric Wiler, Westwood One’s SVP Technology and Operations. “Yet with the extensive use of mobile devices, Wifi and other data services, there is a constant need for radio spectrum and the government is considering all possible options. All C Band Radio, Television and Data services on every satellite are at risk. Registration is key to helping the FCC appreciate the universe of existing downlinks and potential outcomes of expansion. Westwood One has been working with other networks and satellite vendors to attempt to resolve this situation.” 

Typically, registration requires a Frequency Coordination Study ($1,500) plus a $435 filing fee. During the 90-day window, the FCC waived the first fee and only the $435 filing fee applies. You may register using FCC Form 312, using the paper form, online athttp://licensing.fcc.gov/myibfs , or engage a third party to assist you. Satellite Engineering Group is a third-party resource and can be reached at (913) 375-1114.

May 18 Radio History

Meredith Wilson (far left) and band at KPO Studios, San Francisco

➦In 1902...Composer/bandleader/radio personality Meredith Willson was born in Mason City, Iowa.

Besides his celebrity as the creator of the Broadway smash, ‘Music Man.’ Willson was a giant in radio.

He led the orchestra on the George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, he was musical director for the Armed Forces Radio Service in WWII, and in the early 50’s he headed up the orchestra on NBC radio’s ‘The Big Show.’  His hit songs include ‘You and I’, ‘It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas‘, and ‘May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You,’ along with several ‘Music Man’ favorites.

He suffered heart failure and died June 15, 1984 at age 82.

➦In 1934...‘The Hour of Charm’ debuted, beginning an intermittent 14-year run on the CBS and NBC radio networks.  The musical half-hour featured Phil Spitalny and his All-Girl Orchestra.

➦In 1942...radio’s espionage adventure drama Counterspy premiered on the Blue Network/ABC. The 30-minute show with the distinctive theme (Love of Three Oranges) would last on radio for 15 years, including runs in the 1950s on NBC and Mutual.

➦In 1966...there's a Top40 battle in Denver between KIMN 950 AM and KBTR 710.



Listeners were tuning in to hear Gary Todd, Robert E. Lee, Jim O’Brien, Chuck Buell, Hal Moore, JayMack, Johnny Presley, George Michael.

KEWB Playlist - circa 1960

➦In 1966...KEWB 910 AM San Francisco switched to easy listening, from Top40. The station was probably anticipating the arrival of Drake-formatted KFRC 610 AM.  KEWB switched its call letters to KNEW and will mimic sister station WNEW in NYC.

➦In 1966..93 KHJ, Los Angeles was a solid #1. The station has just raised its advertising rates for the fifth time to about $70.00 a spot.

WMID Playlist -circa 1967

➦In 1969...WMID 1340 AM Atlantic City, NJ sounding a lot like WABC-New, gets a 42 share in the latest Pulse ratings.


➦In 1969...KNEW 910 AM is flipping formats again. It was talk, but is now presenting a hip, easy listening music format featuring Simon and Garfunkle, Dionne Warwick, Gary Puckett, Frank Sinatra etc. The only talkhost staying is Hilly Rose, which airs from 10pm to 2am. KNEW had tried a low-key music format in 1966, when the station flipped to KNEW from KEWB.

➦In 1969...“Love” - the new syndicated album rock format from ABC Radio, launched amonthly album list. It will be available in area record stores in all markets offeringthe show. Call letters of the individual stations will be on the list. It was about 21 inches long on heavy stock paper. ABC says it will not be based on sales of albums, but on the total number of cuts from each album played each month on “Love.” The format is hosted by John Rydgren.


➦In 1969...Top-40 started airing more oldies. First on  WOR-FM, WMCA NYC.  Also WHK, Cleveland and WEEL,Washington. Drake formatted stations like KHJ, Los Angeles and WRKO, Boston featured “Million Dollar” weekends.

➦In 1969...Clark Race. highly-rated evening deejay on KDKA, quits. Race claims that radio in Pittsburgh has become boring because he no longer has a say in the music. He has a TV pilot pending at NBC and ended-up on KMPC 710 AM Los Angeles


➦In 1975...American composer/conductor Leroy Anderson succumbed to cancer at age 66.  He is best remembered for his light concert instrumentals  such as Blue Tango, Sleigh Ride, the Syncopated Clock, the Typewriter, and Bugler’s Holiday.

➦In 1979...Rick Dees joins 93 KHJ Los Angeles for mornings… Dusty Street is doing mornings at crosstown KROQ. M.G. Kelly departs Top40 KTNQ 1020 AM L-A and says he’s leaving radio to concentrate on television. He has a new 30-minute “The M.G. Kelly TV Show,” now in production.


➦In 1979...Speaking at an advertising seminar...Rick Sklar argues that disco played on a contemporary station doesn’t make that station a disco station. Sklar pointed to “unheard of skews of demographics” among disco stations. He was talking about WKTU-FM – a station that was now beating WABC, Sklar went on to say that the station has a 21 share among single listeners and a 17 share among divorced listeners.


➦In 1979...Steve Marshall leaves KNX-FM L-A as program director to join “WKRP In Cincinnati” as writer and story editor.


➦In 1979...Matrix Communications signed Charlie Tuna to voice something called “The Radio Picture Show” – six 90-minute TV music specials. The show will feature video performances by leading pop-rock-disco artists in a top-40 rotation. A series of jingles and mini-features with visual accompaniment have been produced to be interspaced throughout the musical countdown.

Ruth Meyer with Jack Spector, Barbara Mandrell

➦In 1985...Ruth Meyer is now station manager of WHN, New York. Her boss is Gary Stevens, President of Doubleday. She was once Gary’s boss when he was a WMCA Good Guy during the 1960’s. She programmed WHN when is switched to country in 1973.


➦In 1986...Bobby Jay starts full time at WCBS 101.1 FM NYC.


➦In 1989...New York ratings...Z100 – 5.2...Oldies WCBS-FM 5.0...WPLJ-3.5…WXRK mornings with Howard Stern – 5.8.

In Los Angeles...KIIS-FM 6.2…Pirate Radio is flat at a 2.7. Rick Dees mornings at KIIS AM/FM – 7.4 share. Rival Jay Thomas at KPWR 5.7.


➦In 1989.... John Rio, the voice of “Mr. Leonard” on WHTZ, the Z-100 morning zoo singed a new, exclusive five-year deal with Malrite, Z100’s owner and will work out a separate contact to keep working with Scott Shannon’s “Rockin’ America” countdown and perhaps with Shannon’s “Pirate Radio” in Los Angeles.


➦In 2005..."Crazy Cabbie” ( Lee Mroszak) - best know to Howard Stern listeners - is sentenced to a year in prison for income tax evasion. He had pleaded not guilty - but admitted to doing so on the Stern show (opened his mouth).


➦In 2011…Worcester, Massachusetts radio legend Dick Smith, who spent 30 years as a broadcaster for WORC, died at the age of 84.


➦In 2012...WRKS  NYC changed calls to WEPN-FM.

➦In 2017…Fox News Channel founder/ex-chairman/CEO Roger Ailes died of head injuries suffered in a fall in his bathroom at the age of 77.