September 22 Radio History

➦In 1899...Lee DeForest sought employment with Marconi.

Lee DeForest

de Forest (August 26, 1873 – June 30, 1961) was an American inventor with over 180 patents to his credit. He named himself the "Father of Radio," with this famous quote, "I discovered an Invisible Empire of the Air, intangible, yet solid as granite."

In 1906 de Forest invented the Audion, the first triode vacuum tube and the first electrical device which could amplify a weak electrical signal and make it stronger. The Audion, and vacuum tubes developed from it, founded the field of electronics and dominated it for forty years, making radio broadcasting, television, and long-distance telephone service possible, among many other applications. For this reason de Forest has been called one of the fathers of the "electronic age".

He is also credited with one of the principal inventions that brought sound to motion pictures.

De Forest was a charter member of the Institute of Radio Engineers. DeVry University was originally named De Forest Training School by its founder Dr. Herman A. De Vry, who was a friend and colleague of de Forest.

➦In 1899...Hanley Stafford born (Died September 9, 1968)  He was an actor principally on radio.

Haneley Stafford

He is remembered best for playing Lancelot Higgins on The Baby Snooks Show. Stafford also assumed the role of Mr. Dithers, the boss of Dagwood Bumstead on the Blondie radio program. He is commemorated by a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

After emigrating to the US in his twenties he became active in radio acting, appearing in show on KFWB, L-A.  Beginning in 1937 he became widely known as Lancelot Higgins (“Daddy”) in Fannie Brice’s radio skit, ‘Baby Snooks,’ and as Dagwood’s boss Mr.Dithers on the radio version of the comic strip ‘Blondie.’

Stafford emigrated from England to Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1911. He enlisted in the 43rd Battalion of the Canadian Scottish Infantry in 1915, was wounded in the Third Battle of Yprès in 1916 and returned to England in 1918. Until 1924 he toured Canada in drama productions and landed in Los Angeles that year. He played in stock for eight years and then in tent shows. He was appearing on KFWB radio in Los Angeles by April 1932 then went to Phoenix to manage a stock company, the Delmas-Lawless Players, before returning to Los Angeles to resume stage and radio work the following August.

➦In 1927...NBC Radio's sportscaster Graham McNamee  called the famous “Long count” championship fight in which Jack Dempsey lost the heavyweight boxing title to Gene Tunney.  He was featured on the cover of the October 3, 1927 issue of Time magazine

➦In 1943...singer Kate Smith ended her War Bond radio appeal. She had been on the air for 13 continuous hours and collected $39 million in bond pledges.



Smith was a major star of radio, usually backed by Jack Miller's Orchestra.

Kate Smith

She began with her twice-a-week NBC series, Kate Smith Sings (quickly expanded to six shows a week), followed by a series of shows for CBS: Kate Smith and Her Swanee Music (1931–33), sponsored by La Palina Cigars; The Kate Smith Matinee (1934–35); The Kate Smith New Star Revue (1934–35); Kate Smith's Coffee Time (1935–36), sponsored by A&P; and The Kate Smith A&P Bandwagon (1936–37).

The Kate Smith Hour was a leading radio variety show, offering comedy, music and drama with appearances by top personalities of films and theater for eight years (1937–45).

The show's resident comics, Abbott and Costello and Henny Youngman, introduced their comedy to a nationwide radio audience aboard her show, while a series of sketches based on the Broadway production of the same name led to The Aldrich Family as separate hit series in its own right in 1940.

➦In 1957...the CBS Radio Workshop ended after 18 months of what the critics said was ingenious radio programming. The CBS Radio Workshop was an experimental dramatic radio anthology series that aired starting January 27, 1956.

➦In 1988...103.5 WQHT and 97.1 WYNY switched frequencies in New York City.




➦In 1989...Irving Berlin, one of the greatest songwriters in American history, whose "White Christmas" is one of the top-selling singles of all-time, died in his sleep at the age of 101 in New York City.

Irving Berlin

Berlin composed some 1,500 songs -- including favorites like "God Bless America" and "White Christmas" -- 19 Broadway musicals, and 18 movie scores.

"God Bless Ameria" was also written by Berlin in 1918, he filed it away until 1938, when Kate Smith's manager asked Berlin if he had a patriotic song Smith might sing to mark the 20th anniversary of Armistice Day, celebrating the end of World War I. According to author Sheryl Kaskowitz, who wrote a book about the history of the song,  not only was Smith looking for a song to remember veterans of that war, but she was also hoping that there would not be another war, seeing that hostilities and war "tensions in Europe were escalating."  It was "a simple plea for divine protection in a dark time—a plangent anthem in just 40 words," adds film writer Richard Corliss.

Berlin's daughter, Mary Ellen Berlin-Barrett, states that the song was actually "very personal" for her father, and was intended as an expression of his deep gratitude to the nation for merely "allowing" him, an immigrant raised in poverty, to become a successful songwriter.

➦In 2003...Alexander Gordon Jump died (Born - April 1, 1932). He was best known as the clueless radio station manager Arthur "Big Guy" Carlson in the TV series WKRP in Cincinnati and the incompetent "Chief of Police Tinkler" in the sitcom Soap.

He also played the "Maytag Repairman" in commercials for Maytag brand appliances, from 1989 until his retirement from the role in July 2003.

➦In 2004…CBS-owned TV stations were fined a total of $550,000 by the Federal Communications Commission for showing Janet Jackson's exposed right breast during the Super Bowl halftime show. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit later voided the fine ruling that the broadcast was legal under the FCC's then-current policy of allowing "fleeting" indecency on the airwaves.



➦In 2011...Radio personality Charles "Chuck" Collier died of a heart attack (Born - May 6, 1947). He was best known for his many years at WGAR-AM and WGAR-FM in Cleveland, OH.

Chuck Collier

He began his broadcasting career shortly after college, bouncing between jobs in Cincinnati, Dayton, and New York City. He came to Cleveland in 1970, where he worked for WGAR 1220 AM, and later its sister station, WGAR 99.5 FM. He served the latter part of his tenure as music director/afternoon drive DJ.

➦In 2012...Howard H. Scott died at age 92 in Reading, PA. 

He was a sound engineer and producer credited with helping to develop the LP as part of a team at CBS Laboratories headed by Peter Goldmark. 

He also won a Grammy Award for Classical Album of the Year for producing Ives' Symphony No. 1 in collaboration with conductor Morton Gould.

ABC Radio Rebrands As ABC Audio

ABC Radio Network has announced a changing of its name to ABC Audio.

VP/GM Stacia Philips Deshishku says that "Audio" is a natural evolution of its branding, recognizing that technology is evolving, but the value the of the company's work remains constant. 

"The power of radio remains critical to our business, as does the ABC News Radio brand within ABC Audio. Our 1,600+ affiliate stations can continue to expect nothing less than the same ABC News Radio products and services that they know and trust," she wrote in a staff memo.

ABC Audio will house all of its products, including its heritage news product, ABC News Radio, a new on-demand content team, an Affiliate Solutions group, a growing business development department, sales integration operation and an FM entertainment team.

With the move, Heidi Oringer is been promoted to Executive Director of Business Strategy, Programming and Distribution and Abe Velez has been promoted to Director of Business Development and Strategy.

Oringer began her career at ABC as an overnight writer for morning radio, developing the morning prep services that came to be known as Air Power, now with over 300 affiliates. She served as Director of Entertainment for ABC News Radio when ABC was the first radio outlet to broadcast a live two-hour national show from a solo platform on the Academy Awards Red Carpet. Most recently Heidi was the Director of Affiliate Solutions.

Velez played a vital role in the 2015 network relaunch of ABC Radio.

Knoxville Radio: WCYQ Rebrands As 'The Wolf'

Summit media's Country WCYQ has relaunched branding now  as 100.3 The Wolf.

The Wolf will be anchored by the nationally-syndicated Bobby Bones Show live from Nashville on weekday mornings from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. while the popular Opie & Carina show moves to afternoons from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

“We are delighted to bring Bobby Bones to mornings on the New 100.3 The Wolf,” said SmmuitMedia Knoxville market president Chris Protzman. “Having Bobby in the morning and Knoxville favorites Opie and Carina in the afternoon gives Knoxville Country fans everything they have told us they want. We are happy to deliver–welcome to the Wolf pack!”

WCYQ was formerly known as Q100.3 FM.

Phoenix Radio: KQFN Launching New Morning Show

CRC Broadcasting's KQFN 1580 AM / K257CD 99.3 FM and K240EU 95.9 FM The Fanatic in the East Valley-Phoenix has announced a new morning show, Bruce Jacobs & Helly debut Monday, September 23 at 5:30am.

The new program teams longtime Valley sports personality Bruce Jacobs with former Dallas Cowboys lineman and three-time Super Bowl champion Dale Hellestrae. Jacobs has been an Arizona radio personality for the better part of the last two decades having hosted shows on KGME, KFYI, and nationally for FOX Sports Radio.

Hellestrae won three Super Bowls as an NFL long snapper during a 17-year career before transitioning into sports media. Most recently he co-hosted a local radio show as well as having been a color analyst for the Arizona Rattlers, high school football and college football.

"We are so excited to have two well-known Phoenix sports radio veterans team up together every morning on the Fanatic," says CRC Broadcasting President/CEO Ron Cohen. "With Bruce and Dale on board, we're really looking forward to increasing our growth and popularity in the coming weeks and months."

"Begrudgingly we're bringing Jacobs on board although I have no idea why," added Director of Operations and afternoon host of "The Daily Blender" Jeffry O'Brien. "At least we also have Hellestrae who unlike his partner, makes sense. Dale is accomplished, and if Jacobs goes too far off the rails, Dale will crush him with my permission."

Jacobs said, "I was partners with a starting defensive lineman, I was partners with an All-Pro offensive lineman, and now I'm stuck with a guy who's had his ass touched more by Troy Aikman than his own wife."

"I've had some great highs in my life - three Super Bowls, two beautiful daughters, and a gorgeous wife. But never did I think I'd reach the low of having to partner with Bruce Jacobs," added Hellestrae.

Ryan Seacrest Returns as Host of American Idol

Ryan Seacrest, will keep tradition alive by returning as host of the iconic music competition series, American Idol, a role he's held since the inception of the franchise in 2002.

He reunites with previously announced music industry legends and all-star judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, as well as in-house mentor, Bobby Bones.

"American Idol has been my home for 17 seasons and I can't wait to return to the stage," said Seacrest. "It's the greatest gift to be able to play a part in discovering new talent with a franchise that has been such a relevant part of American culture for so many years."

Ryan Seacrest

"We are delighted that our entire 'Idol' dream team will be reuniting for the upcoming season on ABC," said Karey Burke, president, ABC Entertainment. "Ryan has been hosting 'Idol' since the beginning, and the energy and enthusiasm he brings to the show after 17 seasons are remarkable. We can't wait to see what's in store as Ryan, our superstar judges and in-house mentor set out on their nationwide search for the next great music sensation."

"I'm thrilled that Ryan is returning to American Idol" said executive producer and showrunner Trish Kinane. "His passion for the show is evident, and we couldn't imagine searching for the next generation of superstars without him."

"Since the very beginning everyone who has ever stepped onto the American Idol stage has done so with Ryan Seacrest's support and guidance," said executive producers Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman on behalf of Industrial Media's 19 Entertainment. "We are lucky to call him our partner and proud to call him our friend. We are thrilled that the next American Idol can rely on Ryan guiding them along their way to stardom."

Since first stepping onto the "Idol" stage 17 years ago, Seacrest has become one of the most recognizable fixtures in pop culture and media, also serving as co-host and executive producer on ABC's top-rated, nationally syndicated Live with Kelly and Ryan, as well as ABC's annual live show, Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest.

Seacrest will also continue hosting and executive producing On Air with Ryan Seacrest, his market-topping No. 1 nationally syndicated L.A. morning drive-time radio show for iHeartMedia's KIIS 102.7 FM, as well as a nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show from his iHeart studio at New York's ABC7, home of "Live."

NY Post 'Mourns' End Of deBlasio's Presidential Campaign

NY Post 9/21/19: Front page obit 

September 21 Radio History

➦In 1943...WNYC-FM call letters debut.

WNYC began regularly scheduled broadcasts on the FM band on March 13, 1943 at 43.9 megacycles. Known originally as W39NY, the FM outlet adopted its present WNYC-FM call letters and its present frequency of 93.9 MHz within a few years.

➦In 1948..."Life With Luigi" debuted on the CBS Radio Network. It continued to March 3, 1953.

➦In 1965..KYW 1060 AM in Philadelphia flipped to an all-news format.

KYW began in 1921 in Chicago, Illinois. It was jointly owned by Westinghouse Electric Corporation and Commonwealth Edison. Westinghouse later bought out ComEd's share and became sole owner of the station.

In 1927, Westinghouse aligned its four radio stations (KYW, KDKA in Pittsburgh, WBZ in Boston and WBZA in Springfield, Massachusetts) with the NBC Blue Network, which originated from former sister station WJZ (the present-day WABC) in New York City. Westinghouse had been a founding partner of the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), NBC's original parent company.

On September 21, 1965, shortly after Westinghouse regained control of 1060 AM, the newly rechristened KYW once again dropped its NBC radio affiliation and was converted into one of the first all-news stations in the country.  Newsman Steve Porter read the first newscast. It had been edited by Fred B. Walters, the former Harrisburg bureau chief and eventual Executive Editor.

Five months earlier Westinghouse Broadcasting converted 1010WINS, KYW's New York sister station since 1962, from a Top-40 format to all-news.  A similar move was made three years later at another Westinghouse-owned station, KFWB in Los Angeles.  KYW has been one of the highest-rated radio stations in the country since that point and has been the market leader in Philadelphia for much of that time. The Westinghouse all-news trio, meanwhile, revolutionized and defined the all-news format. KYW's early format elements were shared with WINS, such as the distinctive teletype sound effect playing in the background, and the slogans "All News, All the Time", "The Newswatch Never Stops", "Listen 2, 3, 4 Times a Day" and "You Give Us 22 Minutes, We'll Give You the World".

KYW's present format runs on a 30-minute cycle. Regular segments include contains traffic and mass transit reports from Metro Traffic every ten minutes on the "twos" (six times an hour), sports updates every quarter-hour (twice an hour, at :15 and :45), weather reports as much as six times an hour (four regularly scheduled reports at :07, :14, :37 and :44 past every hour with breaking weather news plus special forecasts for the New Jersey Shore and the Poconos), and business news from Bloomberg twice an hour (at :25 and :55). When breaking news warrants, KYW will break format to provide continuous coverage of any event.



Its television sister took advantage of the radio station's popularity by incorporating a version of KYW's musical sounder into its news themes from 1991 to 2003. In addition, a television program entitled KYW Newsradio 1060 This Morning aired from 5 to 8 a.m. on sister station WPSG (channel 57) in the early 2000s, adapting KYW's "clock" to television. The show was popular among local cable programming in its daypart, and in late 2004 was usurped (due in part to a new affiliation to Traffic Pulse) by television staffers and assumed the name Wake UP News.

Westinghouse Electric announced its purchase of CBS in 1995, and upon its completion KYW became a sister station to its long-time rival, CBS-owned WGMP (1210 AM, now WPHT). That station, under its original WCAU call letters, attempted to compete with KYW in all-news programming during the late 1970s but failed, dumping the format after only three years. Today, the news format continues and the station is owned by Entercom.

KYW is currently the easternmost station in the United States whose call-sign begins with the letter K. It is also one of three such stations in Pennsylvania, the other ones being KQV and sister station KDKA, both in Pittsburgh.

➦In 1968...Harry Harrison air his last show at WMCA 570 AM. In 2-days he started at 77WABC.

From '65...

➦In 1970...Bob Grant aired first show at WMCA 570 AM as WMCA flipped from Top40 to Talk, calling itself "Dial-Log Radio."

➦In 2012... Michael Rye died at age 94.  He was born  John Michael Riorden Billsbury; March 2, 1918) and his decades-long career spanned radio, television, animated cartoons and video games. Aside from his voice over work, Rye also acted in on-screen television roles as well, including parts in Dr. Kildare and 77 Sunset Strip.

Michael Rye

He began his career during the 'Golden Age of Radio' when radio programming was at the height of its popularity. Rye, who broadcast from Chicago, participated in an average of forty network radio shows per week.

He was cast in numerous lead roles for radio shows, including Gary Curtis for the NBC soap opera, Ma Perkins; Tim Lawrence on Guiding Light; Jack Armstrong on the radio adventure series, Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy; and Pembroke in the soap opera, Backstage Wife.

He starred in radio productions produced and broadcast from Hollywood, including the ABC crime drama, This is Your FBI; the radio anthology series, Lux Radio Theater; the radio drama, The Whistler; the CBS radio comedy, Meet Millie; and the CBS drama, Suspense. He also provided the narration for the world's first full-length recorded book, the 1969 audio adaptation of The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Study: Broadcasting Creates Tremendous Economic Activity

The local commercial broadcast television and radio industry generates $1.17 trillion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 2.47 million jobs through direct and stimulative effect on the American economy, found a new study by Woods & Poole Economics with support from BIA Advisory Services.

The analysis examines local broadcasting’s impact on the economy through direct employment, its ripple effect on other industries and as an advertising medium for messaging consumers. Local radio and television’s influence on the national economy as well as all 50 states and the District of Columbia is broken out in the study.

“America’s local broadcast radio and TV stations play a unique role in every community across the country. They keep citizens informed with local news, viewers entertained with the most-watched programming and families safe with lifeline emergency information,” said NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith. “But broadcasting plays a pivotal economic role as well, creating hundreds of thousands of well-paying jobs while helping hometown small businesses reach local consumers through advertising.”

The study found that direct employment from local commercial broadcasting, which includes jobs at local television and radio stations as well as in advertising and programming, is estimated at more than 318,000 jobs, generating more than $53 billion annually in economic impact. Broadcast television accounts for over 188,000 of these jobs, as well as more than $31 billion in GDP, while broadcast radio provides over 130,000 jobs that result in more than $21 billion in GDP.

Of the 318,000 jobs provided through direct employment, about one-third are tied to industries supporting local broadcasting.

“Other industries are impacted by local television and radio broadcasting because they provide goods and services used in creating local television and radio broadcasting and advertising,” said the study. “Industries as varied as telecommunications, public utilities, manufacturing, transportation and retail trade provide inputs into the production of local television and radio broadcasting.”

The study also examined the ripple effect employment in local broadcast television and radio has on local economies through the consumption of goods and services by industry employees. Local broadcasting has a ripple effect on other industries of over $132 billion in GDP and more than 794,000 jobs, the report concluded.

“The income from local television and radio broadcast jobs flows through the economy creating additional jobs and income in various economic sectors,” said the study. “A job in local television and radio broadcast stations multiplies itself by helping create jobs in construction, farming, mining, state and local government and all other economic sectors. The workers in the industries supplying goods and services to local television and radio broadcast workers in turn consume goods and services.”

Local broadcasting's largest impact on the American economy stems from its role as a forum for advertising of goods and services that stimulates economic activity, Woods & Poole found. The study estimated local broadcast TV and radio advertising generated over $988 billion in GDP and supports 1.36 million jobs.

“Local television and radio advertising serves an important role for both consumers and businesses in providing economic information on product prices and features,” said the study. “Reaching all United States households, local broadcast television and radio stations provide consumers with highly valued marketplace information and businesses with immediate economic and competitive intelligence. In this way, broadcast television and radio stations have their most significant impact on economic growth.”

Woods & Poole analyzed only local commercial broadcast radio and television stations including locally owned and operated commercial stations, network affiliate stations and independent stations. Noncommercial radio and TV stations and the operations of over-the-air broadcast networks were not part of the analysis, except for networks' owned-and-operated local television stations. The study was commissioned by the National Association of Broadcasters.

Nexstar Completes Acquisition Of Tribune Media

Nexstar Media Group completed its $4.1 billion purchase of Chicago-based Tribune Media Thursday, creating the nation’s largest local TV station group and moving WGN’s TV, radio and cable stations under the Dallas company’s ownership.

The deal, which was approved by the Federal Communications Commission on Monday, was valued at about $7.2 billion including the assumption of Tribune Media’s outstanding debt, Nexstar said in a news release Thursday.

The combination creates the nation’s largest pure-play local broadcast television and digital media company, with national coverage and reach to approximately 39% of U.S. television households (reflecting the FCC’s UHF discount).

Nexstar will benefit from increased operational, geographic and economic diversity and scale as a result of Tribune Media’s diverse portfolio of media assets including owned or operated broadcast television stations in major U.S. markets; compelling local news and entertainment content; significant broadcast distribution; ownership of WGN America, a growing national general entertainment cable network; a 31.3% ownership stake in TV Food Network, a top tier cable asset; and equity holdings in several digital media businesses.

As a result of the Tribune Transaction, Nexstar is now the nation’s leading provider of local news, entertainment, sports, lifestyle and network programming through its broadcast and digital media platforms based on U.S. TV household reach.

Nexstar also announced that upon closing the Tribune Transaction it completed the previously announced divestitures of 21 television stations for total consideration of approximately $1.33 billion (inclusive of a purchase price adjustment for two Indianapolis stations sold to Circle City Broadcasting). The company is planning to use the $1.33 billion in gross proceeds to help fund the Tribune acquisition and reduce debt.

The combined company — after the required divestitures — will be able to reach more than 69 million local TV households with 197 TV stations in 115 markets, Nexstar said Thursday. Los Angeles and Chicago are its largest markets.

The “acquisition of Tribune Media increases Nexstar’s geographic diversity and audience reach with national coverage and an expanded presence in the top 50 (markets),” Perry Sook, chairman and CEO of Nexstar, said in the release.

Nexstar, which launched just over 20 years ago with the purchase of a single TV station in Scranton, Pa., had grown into a broadcasting behemoth by acquiring stations in mostly small and midsize markets across the U.S.

The company said Thursday it expects to see $185 million in operating savings in the first year through corporate overhead and station level expense reduction. Nexstar has more than 13,000 employees after the Tribune Media acquisition.

Nexstar also announced that three former members of Tribune Media’s senior management team have joined Nexstar:

• Sean Compton has been named Executive Vice President, WGN America, WGN Radio and Director of Content Acquisition. He is responsible for the management of these former Tribune Media properties, as well as the digital multicast television network, Antenna TV and will oversee Nexstar’s programming acquisitions across all television platforms
• Dana Zimmer will serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Distribution and Strategy Officer. In her new role, Ms. Zimmer is responsible for the distribution and monetization of Nexstar’s broadcast and television content portfolio to cable, satellite, telco and digital media distributors.  She will also manage relationships with Nexstar’s network partners at FOX, CBS, NBC, ABC and The CW.
• Gary Weitman has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, responsible for Nexstar’s internal and external communications, media relations, employee communication and the company’s intranet and its website, nexstar.tv.

Mr. Zuckerberg Goes to Washington

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg sought to woo some of his top critics in Washington during a string of Capitol Hill meetings on Thursday, underlining how seriously the tech executive is taking the intensifying government scrutiny of his company, reports The Hill.

Zuckerberg's meetings with Republican senators on Thursday and sit-down with Democrats the day before marked his first return to the halls of Congress since he testified in widely publicized hearings in April 2018.

In closed-door meetings with influential senators, Zuckerberg defended his company against accusations that it has amassed too much power, censored conservative voices and failed to adequately protect against election interference on the platform.

According to a Facebook spokesperson, Zuckerberg came to town to discuss "future internet regulation." According to lawmakers and their offices, the meetings ultimately addressed everything from data privacy to conservative bias, with Zuckerberg in the hot seat.

Powwow with Dems: On Wednesday night, Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) arranged a swanky dinner for Democrats and Zuckerberg at Facebook's request.

"Good dinner last night with my colleagues and Mark Zuckerberg," Warner tweeted. "There is a long road ahead of us but I appreciate his candor, and that he took our concerns seriously. Hope we can work together to address these challenges."



One hitch: But Zuckerberg's seemingly smooth tour hit a snag on Thursday after he sat down with Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) for over an hour in the senator's office.

After the huddle, Hawley convened a press gaggle, telling reporters he had asked Zuckerberg to sell off Instagram and WhatsApp to "prove" that he is committed to privacy.

Hawley added that Zuckerberg seemed taken aback by his suggestions and was "not receptive."

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg met with President Trump at the White House on Thursday after spending the afternoon talking to lawmakers on Capitol Hill, the company said in a statement.

Zuckerberg had a “constructive” meeting with Trump after speaking with lawmakers about internet regulation, Facebook said.

Madison Radio: Drew Lauter to Manage iHM Cluster

Drew Lauter

iHeartMedia/Madison, WI, has appointed Drew Lauter as Market President.

He brings over 20 years of executive experience leading organizations, managing teams and driving revenue with companies such as Sony, Lucent, Qello Concerts and Qello Media. Lauter's also led numerous startups from the entrepreneurial stages to successful exits.

"I am very excited to welcome Drew's experience and vision to iHeartMedia," said iHM/Minneapolis Division President Jeff Tyler. "He's excited about taking his family to one of the premier cities in the Midwest and I am thrilled that he will be leading a great team and some of our market-leading, legendary brands in Madison."

"I'm excited to join iHeart and lead the Madison team," added Lauter. "It's a great time for audio in general and combined with the strength of iHeart's product offering makes me eager to join this dynamic team."

The Madison cluster includes: WIBA 1310 AM – News/Talk, WIBA-FM 101.5 – Classic rock, WMAD 96.3 – Country, WTSO 1070 AM – Sports, WXXM 92.1 FM – Classic Hits andWZEE 104.1 FM – CHR

Scal & Pals Podcast Launches Monday Targeting NBA Fans

Entercom has announced the talent lineup for Scal & Pals, which will air live, daily from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET on the RADIO.COM Sports Digital Network. 

The digital network, an all-digital, daily, live, subscription-free sports network that features over 75 hours of original podcast content weekly, was launched in August. Scal & Pals, dedicated to NBA coverage, will launch September 23 and be co-hosted by Brian Scalabrine and Steve Ceruti. It will be available live on both video and audio on RADIO.COM as well as on-demand audio wherever podcasts are found.

“We are excited to launch a digital show that will have mass appeal to all hardcore basketball fans,” said Mike Dee, President of Sports, Entercom. “The lineup of contributors headlined by Scal [Brian Scalabrine] will feature an interesting and entertaining mix of personalities and perspectives. We aspire to have this be the best basketball content fans can find anywhere and we are eager to engage with one of the most dynamic fan bases of any sport.”

Scalabrine, also known as “The White Mamba,” spent 11 seasons in the NBA playing for the New Jersey Nets, Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls. He won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008 and since retiring as a player, has been a television analyst for the Celtics, expanding on the cult-like following among NBA fans across the country he had as a player. Ceruti, a long-time producer at ESPN with experience working under Scott Van Pelt and Ryen Russillo, brings a passion for the game and an abundance of NBA knowledge. Kendrick Perkins will headline a group of regular contributors to the show. Perkins, a 14-year NBA veteran who played in five NBA Finals including as a member of the 2008 World Champion Boston Celtics, joins RADIO.COM Sports as an NBA Insider.

The new show will also feature commentary from former players such as Caron Butler, a 14-year NBA veteran and member of the 2011 NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks; current players like Admiral Schofield of the Washington Wizards; Ric Bucher, longtime sportswriter and broadcaster who has covered the NBA since 1992 for the Washington Post, ESPN and others; Ryan McDonough, former General Manager of the Phoenix Suns and more.

Roku Predicts 60M Will Cut The Cord

Roku, Inc has released a 2019 Cord Cutting study that predicts approximately 60 million TV households are expected to access video on their TV exclusively through streaming within the next five years. If this happens, for the first time, streamers will surpass traditional Pay TV viewers.

Overall U.S. market data suggests two million Americans have ‘cut the cord’ so far in 2019, moving from traditional Pay TV (cable or satellite television subscriptions). That’s after 3.5 million people gave up traditional Pay TV video subscriptions in 2018. Consumers who are already streaming include Cord Cutters, TV households that previously had Pay TV; Cord Shavers who may pay for traditional cable but have reduced their package in the last few years; and Cord Nevers, those who have never had Pay TV.

New findings from the 2019 Roku Cord Cutter study and analysis of behavioral usage on the Roku® platform show that a new generation of Cord Cutters has emerged. Analysis indicates shifts in attitudes, behaviors and, most importantly, viewership among the new generation of Cord Cutters. Essentially, their viewing behavior more closely mirrors that of average mainstream TV viewers, but this new generation of Cord Cutters took the initiative to seek out better value and choice in how they consume TV.

The Roku Cord Cutting study points to five factors that are driving the acceleration of cord cutting including:

• Virtual multichannel video programming distributors (vMVPDs) offer a bridge for consumers who want to cut the cord but don’t want to miss out on network and live TV programming that traditional Pay TV services offer. When consumers become aware that they can stream the same live local channels, including sports, news, reality, and top network channels with an electronic programming guide (EPG) and video on demand (VOD) at a reduced price, some of their barriers to cord cutting are removed.
• An abundance of high-quality content is available through streaming. Companies who offer subscription video on demand services (SVOD) are spending billions on creating and promoting award-winning original content.
• Viewers are finding value in the ability to watch ad-supported video on demand (AVOD). In fact, 73 percent of all video streamers in the Roku study watch AVOD and 45 percent watch more free TV than any other streaming video option. Many Cord Cutters don’t mind viewing video ads in exchange for viewing free entertainment. In contrast, many traditional linear TV viewers reported in the study that there are too many ads within the content they watch.
• Of those surveyed for the Roku study, 74 percent say streaming is more convenient than Pay TV services and 89 percent report that using a streaming device is very easy.
• Increasingly, cable and satellite companies are devoting less effort to trying to retain low-margin video subscribers.

Apple Cited As Most Relevant Brand

Global consultancy Prophet announced the results of the fifth Prophet Brand Relevance Index (BRI), a ranking of the most relevant brands of today based on consumer feedback.

Apple maintained its standing as the most relevant brand for the fifth year in a row, while Bose, Disney and Pixar made it into the top 10, replacing Google, Samsung and Nike. Pinterest remains the highest-ranking social media brand for the fourth year in a row, although it dropped from No. 3 to No. 10 from 2018 to 2019. Several brands made it into the top 50 for the first time, including, Roku, Sonos, Mayo Clinic, TED, Nintendo, Blizzard, Beats by Dre, Peloton, Marriott, Instant Pot, Vanguard, Tesla, USAA and Zelle.

The top 10 most relevant brands of 2019 are:

The top 10 brands share a commitment to staying ahead of customer needs and market trends – using data and technology to power their brands in the digital age. The top brands in the U.S. have a clear focus on maintaining relevance to achieve growth and drive transformation.

“It’s tremendously exciting for us to hear from 50,000 global consumers every year about the brands and experiences that are most relevant in their lives,” said Jesse Purewal, Prophet partner and co-author of the BRI. “The winners have a genuine and clear purpose, a deep customer empathy and the willingness to invest in developing and delivering a compelling experience.”

The survey was conducted in the U.S., UK, Germany and China. In order to find out which brands are the most relevant to U.S. consumers, Prophet surveyed 13,500 individuals about more than 225 brands across 27 industries. It measured four brand principles: customer obsession, ruthless pragmatism, pervasive innovation and distinctive inspiration.

A few key findings: Top brands…

Play at the intersection of data and experience to drive emotional relevance with consumers.
These brands curate content to create user experiences that are personalized and thus meaningful.
Spotify (#2), Disney (#5), Netflix (#8), Pinterest (#10), Roku (#17)

Provide a means of escape, inspiration and delight.
The large number of media and entertainment brands in the top 50 indicate consumers may not only crave connection in this technology-led world, but also a means of escape.

Disney (#5), Pixar (#9), NPR (#15), TED (#26), Marvel (#31), Hulu (#34), Food Network (#49), Roku (#17), Spotify (#2), YouTube (#18)

Inspire consumer loyalty with a purpose that is authentic and trustworthy.
As customers’ growing need for trust continues to rise, brands must drive loyalty by delivering transparent, consistent connections to people’s values.

There is a tension between these two forms within technology and data communities: trust in performance and reliability (Android #3) are counter-balanced with growing trends of distrust in data usage (Google #13), highlighting how two brands inherently connected can vary in relevance to consumers.

Nike dropped 49 spots from the previous year, from No. 10 to No. 59., with less than half of U.S. consumers reporting that they believed that Nike “has a set of beliefs and values that align with their own.”

NPR (#15), Mayo Clinic (#24)

Opinion: Taylor Swift's 'Perception Issues' Termed Silly

In a recent interview on the "Elvis Duran and the Morning Show," based at WHTZ Z100 in NYC, Taylor Swift claimed her lyrics for her song 'The Man', addressed the “perception issues” women face.



In an Op-Ed appearing in The Sep 20 issue of USAToday, contributor Haley Victory Smith writes, as Swift sees it, a man might be seen as “strategic” for doing something, while a woman is seen as “calculating” for the same thing. In the song she sings, “I’m so sick of running as fast as I can, wondering if I’d get there quicker if I was a man.”

Smith notes this isn’t the first time Swift has addressed this issue. Two of the songs from her album “1989” — “Shake It Off” and “Blank Space” — played on this very theme.

In “The Man,” Swift lists several ways the public's perception of her would be different if only she were male:

• "They’d say I hustled, put in the work,” she sings with indignance. But in a September 2017 article for Forbes, Joe Harpaz wrote Swift deserved to be “on the list of modern-day disruptive business geniuses.”
• "What I was wearing, if I was rude, could all be separated from my good ideas and power moves.” In an article last month for Vogue, Michelle Ruiz applauded Swift’s decision to defy Big Machine Records and rerecord her old songs, calling it “the ultimate power move.”
• "I’d be a fearless leader.” In 2015, Swift ended up No. 6 on Fortune’s list of the world’s greatest leaders.

Her case for gender-based oppression, though fun to listen to, is weak, concludes Smith.

She asks, "What’s to be gained from positioning oneself as a victim and dwelling in the muck of one’s outrageous fortune?

"This type of feminism isn’t empowerment. Grasping at a fake victimhood and complaining about it to the world is not empowerment.

"But in far too many places across the globe, women are victims of honor killings, female genital mutilation, acid attacks and child marriage. In the face of all that, megamillionaire and pop sensation Taylor Swift’s sweeping anger over “perception issues” just seems silly."

Study: 'American Idiot' Most Dangerous Driving Song

A new study suggests rock can be both the safest and most dangerous music to listen to while driving, depending on the song’s dynamics. Of the 10 songs tested by South China University of Technology, Green Day’s “American Idiot” was the most hazardous, while Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” was the most safe.

According to loudwire.com, the study used a total of 20 drivers and 60 driving simulation tests. “The association between in-vehicle music listening, physiological and psychological response, and driving performance” was studied, measuring “perceived mental workload, standard deviation of speed, and frequency of lane crossing.”

Personal characteristics of the drivers were labeled, with all 20 participants falling under the categories of choleric (irritable), sanguine (optimistic), phlegmatic (calm) and melancholic (sad).

In most cases, rock music caused the drivers to change lanes more frequently, while heart rate also increased. In all cases, rock music led to the subjects increasing their driving speed.

Why is “American Idiot” the most dangerous song tested? The tempo. At 189 beats per minute, it was the fastest song of the bunch, while other tracks considered to be “light” we as slow as 80 beats per minute.

The second and third most dangerous songs tested were Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the USA” and the Killers’ “Mr. Brightside,” respectively. Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Under the Bridge” and Drake’s “God’s Plan” were the second and third safest songs, according to the study.

Williamsport PA Radio: After 45-Years, Broadcaster Lou Kolb Retires

Lou Kolb

With over 45 years of radio experience, Williamsport, PA radion personality Lou Kolb has retired after years of joy, entertainment and giving locals information in ways others cannot, according to a story at The Williamsport Sun-Gazette.

Kolb was born a few months prematurely in 1952, when the need for incubators for babies was at an all-time high. The lack of resources as well as accessibility to equipment for newborns and premature babies made nurses increase the amount of oxygen in incubators, creating further issues including blindness from a disease called retinopathy of prematurity. Kolb was one of the infants who became blind after receiving an increased supply of oxygen, and later, ROP.

As a shy, blind kid in Philadelphia, Kolb spent a lot of time listening to the radio. He had a special connection to it and knew that radio broadcasting was something that he wanted to do as he grew older.

“I listened to it constantly as a kid,” he said. “Blind people have an affinity for radio, it’s the one medium we can participate in fully. Radio is special, it’s a sound medium, we understand that and it’s where we live.”

He went to Penn State to study radio and worked the student-run radio station there. He worked in New York and eventually came to Williamsport to work for WILQ and Backyard Broadcasting.

“It’s something I have always wanted to do,” he said. “I think the best part about Backyard was the people, they put a high premium on radio and there isn’t that much now days because of the internet and what-not.”

His ability gave him an outlet to entertain and inform, though it didn’t come without challenges.

“I had to find ways to communicate with the sighted world,” he said. It’s (the studio) designed by and for people who can see — I had to find ways around that. I had to put braille labels on records and tapes and eventually I had to learn how to use computers. It was difficult, but I found ways to get around it.”

Kolb was able to put what some may see as a disability to use, as he paid close attention to certain things that the sighted may not have.

“I could entertain, I could inform them, you felt like you were doing something useful,” he said. “Sound is where I live; I knew how things were supposed to sound. I paid attention to pronunciation and I would pay attention to how somebody pronounced their name.”

With the new-found freedom of retirement to take on the world with his wife, Lou Kolb will always be remembered for his hard work and determination.

“I was very shy when I was younger,” Kolb said. “I found that I could be the person I was too shy to be on the air, I could talk to people through the microphone.”

Tampa Bay Radio: Sportscaster Busted For Solicitation

Justin Pawlowski

Longtime Tampa Bay sportscaster Justin Pawlowski, who spent years on local sports talk radio and broadcast from Bulls and Bucs football games, was arrested Wednesday on charges that he tried to solicit a 14-year-old boy.

Pawlowski, 37, faces charges of charges of transmitting harmful material to a minor, using a computer device to solicit a minor and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. The arrest was made on Hillsborough County charges, reports The Tampa Bay Times.

Pawlowski first contacted the 14-year-old — it was actually an undercover Tampa police officer — in a chatroom on Feb. 15, according to the arrest report.

The chatroom was entitled "Tampa Teens 14-18." The 37-year-old repeatedly texted who be believed to be a 14-year-old through March 1, police said, and sent an explicit photo of himself.

"The defendant also expressed interest in meeting with the child on several occasions," police said, to engage in sexual acts. Pawlowski was told several times that he was communicating with a 14-year-old, the report said. Once, Pawlowski asked the child to leave his home and walk down the street so that they could meet.

He formerly worked at sports WDAE 620 AM, going from promotions to executive producer to hosting his own show, his bio states. In 2007 he started working as the pre- and post-game radio show host for football games on the Bulls Radio Network until 2017. In 2011 he went to work for the Buccaneers Radio Network for two seasons.

Most recently, Pawlowski produced his own podcast, Bucs Uncensored, which aired on JoeBucsFan.com. His latest episode, No. 392, was about the NFL draft and posted Wednesday, the day of his arrest.

September 20 Radio History

➦In 1921...KDKA Pittsburgh established the world's first radio newsroom.  The first daily radio newscasts featured a reports fro The Pittsburgh Post.

➦In 1930...NYC Personality Harry Harrison was born in Chicago.

Harrison is the only DJ to be a WMCA "Good Guy", a WABC "All-American", and on the WCBS-FM line-up when the New York station flipped to the "Jack" format in June 2005.

Harrison worked at WCFL in the early 50s as a summer replacement, yet remained there eight months, substituting for the permanent DJs. In 1954, Harrison became program director at WPEO, Peoria and hosted the morning show as the "Morning Mayor of Peoria."  In just six months, Harrison made WPEO the top station.

In 1959, Harrison joined WMCA, New York, as the mid-day "Good Guy." Joe O'Brien (mornings) and Harrison gave WMCA a "one-two punch" for over eight years.  In 1965, he recorded the nationally charted holiday narration "May You Always" on Amy Records.



Harrison became popular with his "Housewife Hall of Fame” feature, and participated in the 1966 WMCA Good Guy picnic. Often, he scored the highest ratings on WMCA. WABC program director Rick Sklar took note.

In 1968, when WABC morning man Herb Oscar Anderson left the station, Rick Sklar hired Harrison to replace him. Harrison was followed in the WABC day by Ron Lundy.



Every year, Harrison played seasonal songs, such as his holiday greeting "May You Always” in the winter (the Amy records single of this song made the Billboard Christmas charts in 1965).

Harry with Ron Lundy

Harrison had a number of "trademark" phrases, such as "Morning, Mom", "Every brand new day should be opened like a precious gift", "Stay well, stay happy, stay right here" and "Harry Harrison wishing you the best... because that's exactly what you deserve!” Also, on the last day of every year, Harrison would bring his four children to work with him and at the end of his shift.

Harrison was let go from WABC as the station changed direction in November 1979.

In March 1980, Harrison became the morning personality at WCBS 101.1 FM, playing oldies.



In 1984, with Lundy joining the station, they were once again heard back-to-back. Harrison would interact with Morning Crew engineer Al Vertucci, Phil Pepe, who reported sports, and joke about "wacky weather" and toupee warnings with Irv “Mr. “G” Gikofsky (weather), Mary Jane Royce, and Sue Evans. At 7:20 AM, Harrison opened the "birthday book" and announced listener and celebrity birthdays.

On April 25, 1997 New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani issued a proclamation, naming April 25 "Harry Harrison Day" in honor of the second "Mayor."

On March 19, 2003, after a 44-year career in New York radio, Harrison left WCBS-FM, saying "I am not retiring." His farewell to his loyal radio friends (from 5:30 to 10:00am) was held before a live audience at the Museum of Television and Radio in New York City.

Shortly after he left WCBS-FM, Harrison's long-time wife, Patti, who he had always referred to as "Pretty Patti" on the air, died.

Harrison returned to WCBS-FM with a Saturday morning show in 2004. It offered two hours of variety and two hours of Beatles music and memories.




➦In 1953...Jimmy Stewart debuted NBC's radio western, "The Six Shooter".  It was a weekly old-time radio program created by Frank Burt, who also wrote many of the episodes, and lasted only one season of 39 episodes on NBC. Some people called the program "a last, desperate effort by a radio network (NBC) to maintain interest in adventure drama by employing a major Hollywood movie star in the leading role."  Actor James Stewart starred as Britt Ponset, a drifting cowboy in the final years of the wild west. Episodes ranged from straight western drama to whimsical comedy. A trademark of the show was Stewart's use of whispered narration during tense scenes that created a heightened sense of drama and relief when the situation was resolved.

Circa 1969

In 1969...John Lennon left The Beatles, but agreed not to inform the media while the group renegotiated their recording contract.

He was outraged that McCartney publicized his own departure on releasing his debut solo album in April 1970. Lennon's reaction was, "Jesus Christ! He gets all the credit for it!"

He later wrote, "I started the band. I disbanded it. It's as simple as that." In a December 1970 interview with Jann Wenner of Rolling Stone magazine, he revealed his bitterness towards McCartney and spoke of the hostility he perceived the other members had towards Ono, and of how he, Harrison and Starr "got fed up with being sidemen for Paul ... After Brian Epstein died we collapsed. Paul took over and supposedly led us. But what is leading us when we went round in circles?"

➦In 1973...Singer-songwriter Jim Croce died at age 30 in a plane accident.  He was killed, along with five others, in a plane crash on September 20, 1973, at the height of his popularity.

Croce and all five others on board were killed when their chartered Beechcraft E18S crashed into a tree during takeoff from the Natchitoches Regional Airport in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Croce was 30 years old. Others killed in the crash were pilot Robert N. Elliott, Maury Muehleisen, comedian George Stevens, manager and booking agent Kenneth D. Cortese and road manager Dennis Rast. An hour before the crash, Croce had completed a concert at Northwestern State University's Prather Coliseum in Natchitoches; he was flying to Sherman, Texas for a concert at Austin College.

An investigation showed the twin-engine plane crashed after clipping a pecan tree at the end of the runway. The pilot had failed to gain sufficient altitude to clear the tree and had not tried to avoid it, even though it was the only tree in the area. It was well after sunset, but there was a clear sky, calm winds and over five miles of visibility with haze.

➦In 1997…Veteran SoCal radio personality “Emperor” Bob Hudson died in his sleep at 66.

A master of the giant put-on, Hudson was on the air from the 1950s through the 1980s on several Southern California stations, initially anointing himself “emperor” on KRLA.

Self-appointed leader of the youth movement and ruler of the pop scene, he headed “Hudson’s Commandos” which he said had more than 40,000 members.

Hudson regularly signed off his programs by warning the “peasants” to clear the freeway because “His Highness is coming.” The “emperor” dressed the part, complete with turban and robes, and moved around Hollywood in a gold Rolls-Royce.

“The kids really thought I was nuts and they loved me,” he told The LA Times in 1968, when he was “Beautiful Bob” on KFWB in the days before its current all-news format.

Hudson was praised by colleagues in his highly competitive business for intelligent humor and clever chatter. Hudson began his career on radio when he was stationed in the Army in Anchorage. He had an all-night show and ran a business on the side.

“It was the Tidy Didy Diaper Service--'The tops for your baby’s bottom,’ ” he recalled proudly when he had gained radio fame.

After a stint on Anchorage television as “Cowboy Bob” hosting western movies, he backslid with jobs distributing telephone directories, selling office machines and creating ideas for advertising.

He landed back on radio in San Francisco on the rock station KEWB and from there was hired by KRLA.

Hudson also worked for other stations over the years, including KFI and KGBS in Los Angeles and KEZY in Anaheim.



He landed back on radio in San Francisco on the rock station KEWB and from there was hired by KRLA.

Hudson also worked for other stations over the years, including KFI and KGBS in Los Angeles and KEZY in Anaheim.

A comedy duo was born in the early 1970s when Hudson met Ron Landry while both were working at KGBS in Los Angeles. The two became a potent morning duo and it was their on-air chemistry that led to the recording of several successful comedy albums on Doré Records.

Hudson & Landry recorded a total of 52 comedy vignettes, plus an unknown number of additional, shorter skits which were used as lead-ins for songs which were played on the station. 39 of them were released on 12" vinyl.  Their first release was the single "Ajax Liquor Store", which was nominated for a Grammy Award alongside Lily Tomlin's "One Ringy Dingy".

During their partnership, they were frequent guests on a number of popular television shows including The Flip Wilson Show, The Steve Allen Show, and Smothers Brothers specials to name a few.

Cumulus Refinances Debt

Cumulus Media Inc. today announced the pricing of a new $525 million senior secured term loan B due March 2026. The new term loan will have an interest rate of LIBOR plus 3.75% with a 1.00% LIBOR floor, issued at 99.5% of par.

Proceeds from this issuance, along with cash on hand, will be used to pay down and refinance the Company’s existing term loan.

Upon the closing of the new term loan, which is expected next week, Cumulus will have fully refinanced the $1.3 billion term loan that the Company assumed upon emergence from Chapter 11 on June 4, 2018.

Cumulus’s debt will then consist of the $525 million new term loan and $500 million of secured bonds issued in June 2019, representing a $275 million reduction in total debt since emergence.

The Company’s financial position will be further improved by the lower interest rates and 2026 maturity of the new debt.

Kenny Chesney To Receive CRS Artist Humanitarian Award

Kenny Chesney has been named 2020’s Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB) Artist Humanitarian Award recipient.

Chesney will receive the award, sponsored by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, on Wednesday, Feb. 19 as part of the 2nd Annual Warner Music Nashville (WMN) Kickoff Luncheon, which serves as the official launch of Country Radio Seminar 2020. In addition, the Blue Chair/Warner Bros/WEA recording artist headlines this year’s Kickoff Luncheon, where he will be joined by several artists from the Warner Music Nashville (WMN) family.

CRS/CRB Board President, Kurt Johnson commented, “It’s as if this award was created for Kenny Chesney. Artists with his career span are rare. Among them, artists who do as much good as he does, for as long as he has, without calling attention to it, are particularly singular. Here’s to you, Kenny.”

Chesney’s charitable work is far-reaching. His Love for Love City Foundation helped spearhead the rebuilding of St. John, following the devastation of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. In addition to humanitarian aid and working with local teams to facilitate clean-up and rebuilding, he and his core staff worked to rescue and relocate 2,000+ displaced animals of St. Thomas and St. John to several no-kill shelters and loving families in the U.S.

Chesney also wrote and recorded the critically-acclaimed Songs for the Saints in which all proceeds from the album went to the Love for Love City Foundation. Raising over $1.1 million to date, Songs continues to generate funds for St. John’s ongoing reconstruction work. Chesney also filled the St. John School for the Arts with a bounty of musical instruments, to inspire the children to go to school and be creative as they recovered from the disaster.

Songs for the Saints generated the multiple week #1 “Get Along,” an anthem Chesney felt spoke to the spirit of people coming together post-devastation. Having already been involved with two successful PassItOn.Org campaigns with “Spread the Love” and “The Good Stuff,” the life-affirming organization requested an unprecedented third collaboration. “Get Along,” focusing on people of all ages, races and occupations, has surpassed 2.5 billion views.

Following the bombing at the Boston Marathon, Chesney worked with the Boston Medical Center and created the Spread the Love Fund to benefit amputee survivors. To date, Spread the Love has accrued over two million dollars.

His ongoing commitment to ocean habitat conservation extends from his years spent on the water. No Shoes Reefs has helped rebuild coral reefs in Jacksonville, FL, as well as supported other local ocean ecology efforts around Florida and the Gulf Coast.

"I was raised to lend a hand where I could, but also to reach out quietly and keep the focus on the people who need the help,” comments Chesney.  “I've always tried to do the right thing where I could, but this award really belongs to all the people I've met over the years who are rebuilding their lives, their homes, their world. Watching them come together – the courage, the hours and strength they give to these things – my award is getting to be inspired by what these people have accomplished."

Over the years, Chesney has also partnered with myriad organizations, including MusiCares, the Red Cross, Farm Aid, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, ACM Lifting Lives, the CMA Foundation, Kids Wish Network and many local charities. 

The CRB Artist Humanitarian Award was created in 1990 by the organization’s board to honor those Country music artists who have exhibited exceptional humanitarian efforts during their career. Past recipients include Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, Lady Antebellum, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Trace Adkins, Randy Owen, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn, Reba, Vince Gill, Garth Brooks, and Charlie Daniels, among others.

Registration for Country Radio Seminar is currently $599 per person and is available for purchase at www.CountryRadioSeminar.com.  Tickets to the New Faces of Country Music® show are already sold out, and no longer available for purchase with registration packages. Additionally, CRS host hotel, Omni Nashville, is accepting reservations. For more information, visit www.CountryRadioSeminar.com, and follow CRS on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  Additional information can be obtained by calling 615-327-4487.