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Saturday, December 7, 2019

December 8 Radio History


➦In 1927…The term "Grand Ole Opry" was used for the first time to refer to the Saturday Night aired on WSM, Nashville. The show was originally named WSM Barn Dance, and George D. Hay billed himself as "The Solemn Old Judge."

The Barn Dance was broadcast after NBC's Music Appreciation Hour, a program featuring classical music and grand opera. On this day in, the final music piece on the Music Appreciation Hour depicted the sound of a rushing locomotive. After the show ended, "Judge Hay" opened the WSM Barn Dance with this announcement:
Friends, the program which just came to a close was devoted to the classics. Doctor Damrosch [host of the program] told us that there is no place in the classics for realism. However, from here on out for the next three hours, we will present nothing but realism. It will be down to earth for the 'earthy'.
Hay then introduced the man he dubbed "The Harmonica Wizard," DeFord Bailey, who played his classic train song, "The Pan American Blues," named for the crack Louisville and Nashville Railroad passenger train The Pan-American. After Bailey's performance, Hay commented, "For the past hour, we have been listening to music taken largely from Grand Opera. From now on we will present the Grand Ole Opry."

➦In 1940...the first NFL championship game heard nationally aired on the Mutual Broadcasting System. Red Barber called the game  and the Bears beat the Redskins, 73-0, in the most one-sided NFL final ever.



➦In 1941…A Presidential Address was delivered at 12:30 p.m. to a Joint Session of Congress by U. S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, one day after the Empire of Japan's attack on the Pearl Harbor Naval Base in Hawaii. Roosevelt described the previous day as "a date which will live in infamy."

Within an hour of the speech, Congress passed a formal declaration of war against Japan and officially brought the U.S. into World War II. Britain and Canada also declared war on Japan, although both countries already had been fighting World War II in Europe against Germany.

➦In 1962…DJ-promoter Alan Freed appeared at his payola trial in NYC and admitted to receiving money from record labels to play their songs on the air.

He was found guilty, fined $300, and given six months probation, but the irreparable damage to his reputation and career had been done.

Dick Clark, host of ABC-TV's "American Bandstand," was also questioned but was cleared of all charges.

➦In 1962...During the 1962–63 New York City newspaper strike,WABC 95.5 FM  programmed news for 17 hours daily. This was  about two-and-a-half years before 1010 WINS launched its own around-the-clock, all-news format in April 1965.

The all-news effort on WABC-FM was followed by stints with Broadway show tunes and general freeform programming, including broadcasts of New York Mets baseball games.



➦In 1980...John Lennon, formerly of the Beatles, was fatally shot in the archway of the Dakota, his residence in New York City.

The perp was Mark David Chapman, who stated that he was incensed by Lennon's lifestyle and public statements, especially his much-publicized remark about the Beatles being "more popular than Jesus" and the lyrics of his later songs "God" and "Imagine". Chapman also said he was inspired by the fictional character Holden Caulfield from J. D. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye.

Chapman planned the killing over the course of several months and waited for Lennon at the Dakota in the morning.

During the evening, he met Lennon, who signed his copy of the just-released album 'Double Fantasy'. Lennon then left with wife Yoko Ono for a recording session at Record Plant Studio. Later that night, the couple returned to the Dakota.

As they walked toward the archway entrance of the building, Chapman fired five hollow-point bullets from a .38 special revolver, four of which hit Lennon in the back. Chapman remained at the scene until he was arrested by the police, reading The Catcher in the Rye.

Lennon was rushed in a police cruiser to Roosevelt Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. 

Ono asked the hospital not to report to the media that her husband was dead until she had informed their 5-year-old son Sean, who was at home. However, news producer Alan J. Weiss of WABC-TV7 NYC had been waiting to be treated in the Roosevelt Hospital ER after being injured in a motorcycle accident earlier in the evening. Weiss recalled in a 2013 interview for the CNN series Crimes of the Century that he had seen Lennon being wheeled into the room surrounded by several police officers. After he learned what happened, Weiss called back to the station to relay the information. Eventually, word made its way through the chain of command to ABC News president Roone Arledge.

Arledge, who was also the president of the network's sports division, was presiding over ABC's telecast of Monday Night Football in his capacity as its executive producer. When Arledge received word of Lennon's death, a game between the New England Patriots and the Miami Dolphins was tied with less than a minute left in the fourth quarter and the Patriots were driving toward the potential winning score. As the Patriots tried to put themselves in position for a field goal, Arledge informed Frank Gifford and Howard Cosell of the shooting and suggested that they be the ones to report on the murder.

Cosell, who had interviewed Lennon during a Monday Night Football broadcast in 1974, was chosen to do so but was apprehensive of it at first, as he felt the game should take precedence and that it was not their place to break such a big story. Gifford convinced Cosell otherwise. (see video above).

Chapman pleaded guilty of murdering Lennon and was given a sentence of 20-years-to-life imprisonment. He has been denied parole ten times since he became eligible in 2000.

➦In 2004…Iconic "American Bandstand" host Dick Clark suffered what was initially termed a minor stroke. The 75-year-old was hospitalized in Los Angeles and it was later announced that Clark would be unable to host his annual New Year's Rockin' Eve broadcast.

Clark returned to the series the following year, but the dysarthria that resulted from the stroke rendered him unable to speak clearly for the remainder of his life. On April 18, 2012, Clark died from a fatal heart attack in April 2012 at the age of 82 while undergoing a transurethral resection procedure to treat an enlarged prostate.

➦In 2012…Hartford radio personality Arnold Dean, who aired for nearly 65 years as host of WTIC's "SportsTalk", died at age 82 following surgery for a pacemaker replaced.

He began his career at WKRT in Cortland, New York, later moving onto WAGE in Syracuse. He then returned to his home state, joining WTIC in 1965.

In 1976, Dean launched his own radio show, which would host celebrities and sports celebrities.

➦In 2015...Bonnie Lou, a pioneering country music artist and rockabilly singer died at age 91.

In 1941, aged 16, she was singing and performing on WJBC-AM in Bloomington, Illinois. At 17, after she graduated from high school, she sent an audition record to KMBC in Kansas City, MO, and was signed to a five-year contract to perform on the Brush Creek Follies barn dance show as "Sally Carson," and with a group called The Rhythm Rangers. The show was broadcast nationwide on the CBS, and has been described as "one of the biggest music programs in the country" at the time.

In 1945, Bill McCluskey, executive at WLW in Cincinnati, first learned of Bonnie Lou from a salesman he met on a train who “proceeded to rave about a young teenage country and western singer named Sally Carson who in his opinion was the best in the business..."

McCluskey had the girl send a transcription of her singing to WLW. Impressed, he then requested a recording of her singing and yodeling "Train Whistle Blues." He hired her, however because KMBC owned the rights to "Sally Carson" had to change her name. She said "My real name is Mary Jo". He said "Not Country enough" and redubbed her as Bonnie Lou.

She was promptly featured on Boone County Jamboree, which became Midwestern Hayride Country & Western Radio Program broadcasts and live tours.  During her years with WLW, Bonnie Lou often performed at country music in Nashville on weekends, including several times at the Grand Ole Opry.

From Number 1 To Nowhere: Celine Dion Falls Off Billboard

Celine Dion‘s new album ‘Courage’ has landed the biggest chart fall in history for an album debuting at Number One on Billboard.

A week ago, the Canadian singer topped the Billboard 200 chart with her comeback collection, selling 116,000 equivalent units. Of that sum, almost all were pure sales, as the set actually sold 109,000 physical copies (boosted by a bundle offer tying albums to tickets for Dion’s Courage World Tour). This week, the album fell out of the top 100.


Sales plunged 95% as the ticket bundles were counted. “Courage” sold around 3,400 copies. With streaming of the album or its tracks, hitsdailydouble.com and Buzz Angle Music had it up to around 5,600 copies.

Amazon.com is listing the Celine CD at number 27.

Last week, Billboard issued new rules for merchandise album bundles.

Singer Darlene Love Snubbed For NBC Show


Singer Darlene Love, the voice behind the iconic song “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home),” says she’s been snubbed repeatedly by producers of the Christmas tree lighting extravaganza at Rockefeller Center in New York City, reports Yahoo! Entertainment.

Love, now 78, described her unhappiness in a lengthy Facebook post Wednesday night, as the annual event was broadcast live on NBC.


She pointed out that, although she’s still alive and performing, younger artists who “can’t even hit the notes properly and are off key” are regularly brought in to perform her 1963 track. This year, the song went to Pitch Perfect alum Skylar Astin and former Glee actress Alex Newell, stars of the upcoming NBC show Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.


TV viewers can still catch Love performing her signature song for them. Gone are the days when she sang it every year on the Late Show With David Letterman, since Letterman retired in 2015, but she’s now made a tradition of singing it on ABC’s The View. She’s booked for the Dec. 20 show in 2019.

2019: Billie Eilish Is Top New Artist


It’s been a massive year for breakout star Billie Eilish, who not only scored her first No. 1 album on the weekly Billboard 200 chart with When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, but also earned her first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart with “Bad Guy.”

It’s thus fitting that the 17-year-old singer-songwriter -- also Billboard's 2019 Woman of the Year -- closes out the year in grand fashion on the year-end charts, as she finishes as 2019’s top new artist, and takes home the No. 1 year-end Billboard 200 album with When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?

Further, Eilish (who was born on Dec. 18, 2001) becomes the youngest artist to have the year-end No. 1 Billboard 200 album. When We All Fall Asleep launched at No. 1 the weekly Billboard 200 chart dated April 13, 2019, logged three weeks atop the list, and spent the rest of the chart year in the top 10. Previously, just two acts under the age of 21 claimed the chart’s biggest album. Taylor Swift turned 20 on Dec. 13, 2009, the same year her Fearless set was tops. And, two decades earlier, Bobby Brown was 20 when Don’t Be Cruel reigned in 1989.

Forbes List: 2019's Highest-Paid Music Artists Are....

Ever since Taylor Swift and Kanye West’s infamous run-in at the MTV Video Music Awards a decade ago, they’ve had a relationship that could be best described as star-crossed. Now, Forbes says  they’re duking it out for the title of music’s highest-paid act. This year, Swift wins.

The superstar songstress earned $185 million thanks to a new record deal, a bevy of endorsements and the tail end of her most recent tour, landing in the top spot on the Forbes list of Highest-Earning Musicians for the second time in five years. West was not far behind, with $150 million, thanks to a surge in sales of Yeezy sneakers.

Seattle Radio: MM Anne Marie Mulholland EXITS Hubbard


Ann Marie Mulholland is out at Market Manager at the Hubbard Radio cluster in Seattle.joined Hubbard Radio Seattle as Vice President and Market Manager in 2018.

Ann Marie Mulholland
The Seattle radio cluster includes MOViN 92.5 KQMV, 98.9 The Bull KNUC, Warm 106.9 KRWM, KIXI 880 AM and KKNW 1150 AM.

KNUC/Seattle Brand and Content Director Scott Mahalick will handle Market Manager duties in the interim..

Before Hubbard, Mulholland spent the 14 years in Seattle serving in management for CRISTA, Entercom and Sandusky Radio.

Mulholland has also led sales departments in Eugene, OR and Pittsburgh for Citadel Broadcasting and CBS Radio. Her career began in Seattle, WA where she worked for EZ Communications as an account executive and co-op/vendor manager.

KNUC/Seattle Brand and Content Director Scott Mahalick will handle Market Manager duties in the interim..

St. Louis Radio: Two KY98 Personalities Gone

Exits continue at Entercom stations. Among the latest victims:  two personalities from HotAC KYKY 98.1 FM.

Gone are Courtney Landrum, who headlined the "Courtney & Company" morning-drive show for two years. The show continued Friday with the "company" of Jen Myers, Kevin Berghoff, Lance Hildebrand and Tim Convy.

Also out is  Jill Devine, who had been hosting the mid-morning shift.

KYKY is owned by Philadelphia-based Entercom Communications, which owns four other stations: KMOX 1120 AM, KNOU 96.3 FM, KFTK 97.1 FM and KEZK 102.5 FM.

Bloomberg Responds to Criticism He's Trying to Buy Election


Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg responded Friday to criticism from Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and other rivals that he’s trying to buy the election by self-financing his campaign, saying they had the same opportunity in life to build up a fortune as he did.

According to bloomberg.com, the former New York mayor said in an interview on “CBS This Morning” that he didn’t come from a wealthy family and earned his money by building up his business. He said his rivals, too, “had a chance to go out and make a lot of money.”

“I’m doing exactly the same thing they’re doing, except that I am using my own money,” Bloomberg said. “They’re using somebody else’s money and those other people expect something from them. Nobody gives you money if they don’t expect something. I don’t want to be bought.”

Bloomberg is the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg LP, the parent company of Bloomberg News.


The former New York mayor said he intends to entirely self-fund his campaign and has already booked more than $64 million in television ads since announcing his candidacy on Nov. 24, according to Advertising Analytics, which tracks political commercials.

Bloomberg also defended the company’s policy of not investigating him or other Democrats while continuing to investigate President Donald Trump, saying that Bloomberg News carries coverage from many top news outlets so those kinds of stories are available to its readers.

Poll: TV Still Most Used Platform for News


A new Hill-HarrisX poll found that TV is still the most widely used news platform among Americans, despite the rise of the internet and social media.

According to The Hill, the survey showed that 53 percent of registered voters across the United States named TV as their primary source for news.

Less than a quarter — 21 percent — said they prefer to get their news from the internet.

An equal amount — 9 percent — said they’d rather turn to social media or newspapers for the latest news updates.

Six percent said they rather listen to the radio, while 1 percent said they prefer to get their news from magazines.

Older generations were understandably more inclined to name TV as their preferred mode for news.



Sixty-nine percent of those between the ages of 50 and 64 said they preferred to get their news by watching TV, compared to 34 percent of those between the ages of 18 and 34 who said the same.

The Hill-HarrisX survey of 1,001 adults, conducted Nov.30-Dec. 1, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

Gannett Lay-Offs Start


Gannett, the owner of USA Today, slashed more than 200 jobs on Thursday in its first big downsizing since its takeover by New Media Investment Group’s GateHouse Media last month.

At least 20% of the cuts hit newsrooms, reports The NY Post.

Gannett, which did not change its name as a result of the merger, did not confirm the cuts. The tally was provided by a crowd-sourced spreadsheet on media website Poynter.org, which counted 204 cuts by the end of Friday across 46 daily papers, including the elimination of 41 newsroom jobs.

The Indianapolis Star was the hardest hit, with 29 jobs whacked and six newsroom positions cut. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel saw 11 positions eliminated, including buyouts for seven reporters and one editor. The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Kentucky, lost nine people.

But Thursday’s layoffs were from all over, including Fort Myers, Florida; Knoxville, Tennessee; upstate New York (Rochester and Poughkeepsie); and Detroit, where the Free Press staff was trimmed by at least four by those requesting a layoff package. Other papers, as well as USA Today and the USA Today sports media group, were impacted as well. The cuts included non-newsroom jobs.

There was one report that Gannett was asking those laid off to sign non-disclosure agreements to get severance, as well as telling its journalists to stop tweeting about the layoffs.

2019 Marks An Inflection Point in Media Consumption

by Felix Richter

Averaging almost 8 hours a day, people around the world spend more time consuming media than ever before. That’s according to Zenith's latest Media Consumption Forecast, published earlier this year, which shows an interesting trend in media consumption.

For decades, TV was the undisputed number 1 in terms of daily media usage, and it still is if desktop and mobile internet usage are counted separately. If you combine the two, however, total internet consumption is expected to exceed TV consumption for the first time this year.

According to Zenith, daily mobile internet consumption will amount to 130 minutes per day, up from just 80 minutes in 2015. Adding 40 minutes of desktop internet use, total internet use is expected to amount to 170 minutes per day this year, compared to 167 minutes of daily TV viewing. In line with the old advertising adage “money follows eyeballs”, online advertising expenditure is also on the rise and, according to Zenith, surpassed TV ad spending for the first time in 2017.

Please note that time spent with television only includes time with traditionally broadcast channels and stations in this case. According to Zenith time spent with online platforms owned by broadcasters is counted as internet consumption.

Infographic: 2019 Marks an Inflection Point in Media Consumption | Statista You will find more infographics at Statista

Philly Radio: WOGL Raises $257K+ For Children's Hospital

Top row, left to right: Glenn Kalina, Bobby Smith, Tim Pfender, Rob Razzi, David Yadgaroff, John Diaz, Zois Tzitzifas, Dave Scopinich, Victor Starr; Middle row, left to right: Zach Stone, Cassie Razzi, Syndey Campbell, Christa McRay, Bonnie Hoffman, Shelly Easton, Max Ayala, Monica Taylor Lotty, Jennifer Peranteau, Bridget Welz, Francesca Cosmi; Bottom row, left to right: Marilyn Russell, Melissa Paladino, Melissa Rigg, Tyler Carmody, Grace McIntosh
Entercom raised $257,268 to benefit Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) during the 18th annual “98.1 WOGL Loves Our Kids Radiothon.”

“We want to thank each and every person who helped benefit the kids at CHOP by participating in this year’s ‘98.1 WOGL Loves Our Kids Radiothon,’” said David Yadgaroff, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Entercom Philadelphia. “We are so grateful for WOGL listeners and community members who donated and also very thankful for the volunteers and on-air personalities who contributed their time and talent to help make this year’s radiothon a huge success.”

“On behalf of the entire Children’s Hospital community, I would like to thank the WOGL team, and their loyal listeners, volunteers and sponsors for their ongoing support of the ‘98.1 WOGL Loves Our Kids Radiothon,’” said Madeline Bell, President and Chief Executive Officer of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “The hospital programs funded by radiothon donations make a lasting difference in the lives of our patients and their families, and each year we look forward to raising awareness of these very important services.”

“98.1 WOGL Loves Our Kids Radiothon” was broadcast live from the Colket Atrium at CHOP on Tuesday, December 3 and Wednesday, December 4. Donations were taken by phone, online and in person, and the event concluded with 98.1 WOGL (WOGL-FM) on-air hosts Marilyn Russell, Glenn Kalina, Bobby Smith and Nicky G. presenting the check to CHOP. The radiothon is part of Entercom’s continued support of children’s health and commitment to aiding the success of the communities that are the heart of its business.

Funds raised through the Children's Miracle Network (CMN) are earmarked at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for patient care programs. These programs provide consistent support for the kinds of services that truly make a difference in the lives of children and families. Support groups, creative arts therapies and social work are all part of the healing process. These services are offered to every child who visits CHOP, and they are among the many programs that CMN funds help make possible. The CMN in Philadelphia is part of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Foundation, the charitable, tax-exempt organization benefiting CHOP.

Chicago Radio: Katy Perry Headlines B96 Jingle Bash


Entercom presents the 20th annual “B96 Pepsi Jingle Bash,” hosted by WBBM B96 FM in Chicago. 

Katy Perry, Camila Cabello, Marshmello, Normani, MONSTA X, Lil Tecca, NCT 127, and AJ Mitchell will all be performing their hits at the holiday concert which will take place on Saturday, December 7 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL.

“The ‘B96 Jingle Bash’ has been a must-see holiday event in Chicago for two decades,” said Jimmy de Castro, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Entercom Chicago. “This year, we are thrilled to have some of the world’s biggest superstars perform. The ‘B96 Jingle Bash’ has become a highly anticipated night of pop music and a beloved holiday tradition.” 

Sponsors for the “B96 Pepsi Jingle Bash” include Pepsi, Dunkin’ Donuts, Metro by T-Mobile, Hyundai, Magellan Corporation, Roscoe’s Tavern, dd’s DISCOUNTS, European Wax Center, Illinois Department of Transportation, Visit Orlando, Harlem Irving Plaza, and Tint World.

Tickets are now on sale at Ticketmaster. For more information, please see here

Listeners can tune in to B96 (WBBM-FM) in Chicago, as well as nationwide on the RADIO.COM app and website. Fans can also connect with the station on social media via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

More Performers For New Year's Rockin' Eve Announced

dick clark productions and ABC Friday announced that multi-platinum selling artist and West Coast host, Ciara, along with Paula Abdul, Kelsea Ballerini, Blanco Brown, Dan + Shay, Green Day, Dua Lipa, Ava Max, Megan Thee Stallion, Anthony Ramos, Salt-N-Pepa and SHAED will all perform on the West Coast celebration of “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020.” 

Grammy-award winner Ciara returns for her third year as host of the Hollywood Party. YouTube returns as the presenting sponsor and will produce special content featuring top YouTube trends and stories from 2019 during the live broadcast. “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020” will broadcast LIVE on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 beginning at 8:00 p.m. EST on the ABC Television Network.

“Hosting ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest’ has become something I look forward to every year and now my friend Lucy Hale and Billy Porter have joined the family, so the party just leveled up!” said Ciara. “I am going to be performing my new song ‘Melanin,’ so I hope all my melanin kings and queens tune-in to rock out with me and the amazing line-up of performers this year.”

“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020” marks the 48th anniversary of America’s biggest celebration of the year and will include 5 ½ hours of special performances and reports on New Year’s celebrations from around the globe. In addition to Ciara on the West Coast, Ryan Seacrest will continue his reign as host of the primetime festivities for his 15th year and lead the traditional countdown to midnight from Times Square in New York City, joined by newly announced co-host, Lucy Hale. 

Special content produced by YouTube will run throughout the broadcast. Announcements on creators and talent featured will come at a later date.

Times Square and New Orleans performances to be announced in the coming weeks.

The complete lineup Tuesday, December 31 on ABC is:
  • 8:00-10:00 p.m. EST – “Dick Clark’s Primetime New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020 – Part 1”
  • 10:00-11:00 p.m. EST – Part 2
  • 11:30 p.m.-1:09 a.m. EST --“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020 – Part 1”
  • 1:09-2:13 a.m. EST – “Part 2

December 7 Radio History


➦In 1907...Arch Oboler born (Died at age 79 – March 19, 1987). He was a playwright, screenwriter, novelist, producer, and director who was active in radio, films, theater, and television. He generated much attention with his radio scripts, particularly the horror series Lights Out, and his work in radio remains the outstanding period of his career. Praised as one of broadcasting's top talents, he is regarded today as a key innovator of radio drama.

➦In 1921...KWG (now 1230 AM) in Stockton, CA was licensed. It was initially licensed to the Portable Wireless Telephone Company as the second formally licensed broadcasting station west of the Mississippi River. In addition, it traces its history to an earlier amateur station operated by Paul Oard. Today it is owned by IHR Educational Broadcasting and airs inspirational "Catholic Talk Radio" programming.

➦In 1930…Experimental Boston TV station W1XAV broadcast a video portion of CBS radio’s “The Fox Trappers” orchestra program.

➦In 1938...The St. Louis Dispatch begins a two-year experiment to deliver newspapers by radio facsimile, first transmission via W9XZY KSD-AM (now KTRS). It was the world’s first daily newspaper transmitted by radio signals to facsimile printers located in homes. The daily special edition of the Post-Dispatch was published for two years. The newspaper was dubbed the “radio edition” and was transmitted via ultra-high frequency.



➦In 1941... For most Americans, news of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor came as an interruption to their favorite radio programs on an otherwise tranquil Sunday afternoon on December 7th, 1941. An Associated Press bulletin at 2:22 PM Eastern Standard Time first reported the attack to mainland news organizations and radio networks. After confirming the initial bulletin with the government, the major radio networks interrupted regular programming beginning at 2:30 PM, bringing news of the attack which was still in progress,

In  New York City,  station WOR broke into the local broadcast of the Giants and Dodgers game while CBS informed listeners of the attack at 2:25 PM EST.  NBC broadcast their first bulletin nearly 4 minutes later at 2:29:50 PM . Within minutes the CBS radio network broke into normal programming with more information read by announcer John Daly.

Honolulu NBC radio affiliate KGU, provided the first and most comprehensive radio coverage of the event. What was not known at the time was that Japanese planes, still swarming overhead in Honolulu, had used the station's signal to guide their planes to Hawaii.

While the attack was still in progress a reporter for KGU radio climbed to the roof of the Advertiser Building in downtown Honolulu with microphone in hand and called the NBC Blue Network on the phone with the first eyewitness account of the attack,  "This battle has been going on for nearly three hours... It's no joke, it's a real war" said the reporter.     Ironically, a Honolulu telephone operator interrupted the broadcast after 2 ½ minutes declaring a need for the line for an emergency call.




The attack on Pearl Harbor  was an unannounced military strike conducted by the Japanese navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on the morning of December 7, 1941. It resulted in the United States' entry into World War II. The attack was intended as a preventive action in order to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from influencing the war that the Empire of Japan was planning in Southeast Asia against Britain and the Netherlands, as well as the U.S. in the Philippines. The attack consisted of two aerial attack waves totaling 353 aircraft, launched from six Japanese aircraft carriers.

The attack sank four U.S. Navy battleships (two of which were raised and returned to service later in the war) and damaged four more. The Japanese also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, and one minelayer, destroyed 188 aircraft, and killed 2,402 and wounded 1,282.  Japanese losses were minimal, with 29 aircraft and five midget submarines lost, and 65 servicemen killed or wounded. One Japanese sailor was captured.


The nation's only Sunday afternoon newspaper was the only paper in the country that got word of the attack on Pearl Harbor into its regular edition.  On Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, Publisher George B. Utter stopped the presses to get the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on the front page. While the attack occurred at 2:22 p.m. EST, the Sun reported it as 2:23 p.m. in its headline. With history altered by a minute, the Sun got the story in its regular Sunday edition.



Click Here for a Timeline of attack Coverage on US Radio.


Note: America First Committee, referenced at the end of the story above, was an isolationist organization that was opposed to America becoming involved on the War in Europe.

The committee claimed a membership of 800,000 and attracted such leaders as General Robert E. Wood, the aviator Charles A. Lindbergh, and Senator Gerald P. Nye. Though failing in its campaigns to block the Lend-Lease Act, the use of the U.S. Navy for convoys, and the repeal of the Neutrality Act, its public pressure undoubtedly discouraged greater direct military aid to a Great Britain beleaguered by Nazi Germany. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the committee dissolved and urged its members to support the war effort.




➦In 1941...Chattanooga Choo Choo by The Glenn Miller Orchestra was the number one song in the U-S.

➦In 1947...NBC Radio presented the “Horace Heidt Youth Opportunity Program” for the first time. The talent show earned Dick Contino, an accordionist, the $5,000 prize as the program’s first national winner. Over the years Heidt gave some big stars their big starts: Art Carney, Frankie Carle, Gordon MacRae, the King Sisters, Alvino Rey, Ken Berry, Frank DeVol, Al Hirt and many others.

➦In 1955...Robert Sarnoff was elected president/CEO of NBC. Sarnoff, the eldest son of network founder David Sarnoff, was promoted to put NBC on the road to economic self-sufficiency, replacing the rather flamboyant (and big spending) president/CEO Pat Weaver.

➦In 1960...WABC-AM, launched its "Top 40" format. Courtesy of musicradio77.com, the Top40 WABC tribute site.  Here's the Day One line-up:

6AM     HERB OSCAR ANDERSON
10:00   Breakfast Club - Don McNeill
11:00   CHARLIE GREER
1:00     FARRELL SMITH
3:00     JACK CARNEY
6:00     Newscope
7:30     CHUCK DUNAWAY
10:00   SCOTT MUNI
12Mid   BIG JOE'S HAPPINESS EXCHANGE
4:00A   BILL OWEN

Plus, here's an early WABC aircheck.  July 3, 1961 was Dan Ingram's first day on-air at WABC.


➦In 1977…Peter Goldmark, developer of the LP (long playing) 33 1/3 rpm record and the first commercial color television system, died in a car accident at the age of 71.

➦In 1994...Radio personality Howard Stern talked a man out of trying to kill himself.

In 1999...The RIAA filed a lawsuit against file-sharer  Napster file-sharing, on charges of copyright infringement.


➦In 2014...New York-based Radio, TV personality John Bartholomew Tucker died at age 84.  Along with Big Wilson, Tucker was one of the last two hosts of the long-running NBC Radio weekend show Monitor. On TV in the early 70’s he hosted a morning show on WABC-TV called A.M. New York, which served as the genesis for what is now Good Morning America.

Friday, December 6, 2019

NYC Radio: iHM Promotes Weis and DeLusant

iHeartMedia New York has announced Bernie Weiss has been named Market President and Steve DeLusant has also been elevated to Region Senior Vice President of Sales.

As Market President, Weiss will work closely with the programming, business and sales teams for all station brands in New York and will also oversee the station’s on-air and digital programming as well as create new revenue opportunities. He previously served as Region Senior Vice President of Sales for iHeartMedia New York, where he oversaw the market’s sales team. Weiss will continue to report to Scott Hopeck, Division President for iHeartMedia Market Groups.

Bernie Weiss
“Listeners continue to crave companionship and advertisers continue to demand ROI, and broadcast radio delivers on both fronts,” said Weiss. “iHeartMedia continues to be one of the most innovative media players – offering the best content and programming for hundreds of millions of listeners – and I am looking forward to working with the New York team to build on our already strong connection with listeners, advertisers and in the community.”

Weiss is a media veteran and has been with iHeartMedia for over a decade, first joining iHeartMedia New York in 2004 as an Account Executive for Power 105.1 after holding several general sales management positions in the European radio industry. Under his strong leadership, the iHeartMedia New York sales team has held the No. 1 revenue position for five consecutive years in the New York market from 2015 to 2019. Throughout his career at iHeartMedia, Weiss has risen through the ranks, holding various sales positions including Vice President of Sales, General Sales Manager, Local Sales Manager and Account Manager for leading stations.

With Weiss’ appointment to Market President, the company also announced today that Steve DeLusant has been promoted to Region Senior Vice President of Sales for iHeartMedia New York. He previously served as Director of Sales, where he oversaw sales and strategy for the six market-leading New York station brands. Under DeLusant’s leadership, in February of 2019, Power 105.1 became the first Urban radio station to ever dominate the market in total revenue. As Region Senior Vice President of Sales, DeLusant will be responsible for fielding and leading a team of the most talented sales managers, salespeople and client support specialists in order to forge long term relationships with client partners and their agencies. DeLusant will report to Weiss.

Steve DeLusant
Throughout his career, DeLusant has held several sales positions within the media industry, including Vice President of Sales for iHeartMedia New York, where he oversaw sales for Power 105.1, 103.5 KTU and Q104.3, as well as Sales Manager for Z100, Power 105.1, 103.5 KTU and 106.7 Lite FM. Earlier in his career, DeLusant also served as Senior Account Executive for Emmis Communications, where he specialized in multicultural marketing; promotions for Cumulus Communications; and was a sales associate for iHeartMedia’s 106.7 Lite FM.

“I’m thrilled to promote both Bernie and Steve. It’s especially rewarding to find the best candidates for key leadership roles in your own building,” said Hopeck. “They’re extremely knowledgeable about our ever-evolving business and have built their personal brands by accelerating the growth of our iconic stations. I’m confident that they will continue to elevate our New York operation to even greater heights.”

iHM New York City stations include: WAXQ 104.3 FM – Classic rock, WKTU 103.5 FM – Rhythmic contemporary, WLTW 106.7 FM – Adult contemporary, WOR 710 AM – News/Talk
WWPR-FM 105.1 – Urban contemporary and WHTZ-FM 100.3 - CHR Top-40.

L-A Radio: KABC To Add Armstrong & Getty For Mornings

CUMULUS MEDIA’s KABC 790 AM welcomes a new lineup for the New Year, debuting January 1, 2020.

New to mornings on the station is The Armstrong & Getty Show, featuring national radio celebrities Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty, weekdays from 6:00am-10:00am.

Continuing in the midday is Larry O’Connor, followed by John Phillips. Top podcaster and superstar conservative talk host Ben Shapiro continues weekdays from 3:00pm-6:00pm. Dr. Michael Savage and The Savage Nation joins the station for evenings.

“KABC has a proud history as one of the first ‘all-talk’ radio stations in the United States,” said Drew Hayes, General Manager of KABC Los Angeles. “With these great additions to our lineup, KABC will offer our audiences even more of the content that they love, featuring outstanding local and nationally recognized talent.”

The station will continue to air news and traffic 24/7 as well as host USC Trojans football and basketball.

Gone from KABC are: Morning co-host Jillian Barberie, 12-3pm hosts Dr. Drew Pinsky and Leeann Tweeden, and evening host Peter Tilden.

Feds Back Songwriters In Radio Row

The U.S. government has weighed in on a long-running court battle over how much a high profile group of songwriters, from Drake to Justin Bieber, can earn from radio play and potentially boosting the chances of their antitrust case against a powerful body representing U.S. radio stations.

The two bodies, Global Music Rights, representing a small group of popular songwriters, and the Radio Music Licensing Committee, which represents some of the country’s largest radio stations, have been trading legal barbs over how much radio stations should pay songwriters for playing their music.

According to the LA Times, the Justice Department said Thursday that a California judge should reject arguments from RMLC when considering the price-fixing case against the radio stations. If the judge agrees, it would allow the songwriters’ suit against RMLC to proceed.

The move is a blow to the stations, after RMLC filed suit in 2016 arguing anticompetitive behavior by songwriters. GMR counter-sued, calling RMLC a 78-year-old cartel that suppresses rates paid to songwriters’ works in the $22 billion radio industry.

The filing “reaffirms the legal position of GMR and vindicates the rights of artists and songwriters to be free from illegal price-fixing by radio stations,” said Daniel Petrocelli, lead counsel for Global Music Rights. Representatives for RMLC did not respond to a request for comment.

Radio play is a big source of revenue for songwriters and Nashville-based RMLC represents some of the most powerful broadcasters.

Irving Azoff, who manages Bon Jovi and Harry Styles, founded Los Angeles based Global Music Rights in 2013 as a way to raise compensation for songwriters. RMLC negotiates licenses on behalf of radio stations.

While Justice Department attorneys took no position on the facts alleged, it found fault in arguments from the Radio Music Licensing Committee, arguing that a buyer’s cartel can be"equally destructive of competition as a seller’s cartel,” even though these cases come up less frequently. The DOJ said RMLC was wrong to argue that the songwriters’ group would have to prove its intent to cause harm by price fixing.

RMLC first sued GMR in 2016 in Philadelphia, alleging that GMR had attempted to “force commercial radio stations to pay historically high-priced music performance licenses which the RMLC believed to be anticompetitive in nature,” according to a statement on RMLC’s website. The fight has since been moved to California. A trial date is set for November 2020.

St. Louis Radio: PD Chris Neupert OUT At Sports WXOS


Chris “Hoss” Neupert, who had been with Hubbard Radio's sports WXOS 101.1 since shortly after it adopted the sports format nearly 11 years ago and had been its program director since March 2013, has been fired.

The St. Louis Post-Disoatch citing sources reports Austin Huff, who had been the executive producer of the midday show with Anthony Stalter and Jamie Rivers, also was ousted.

Chris Neupert
Neupert declined comment.

The move evidently is a cost-cutting measure. Numerous sources said Tommy Mattern, who is the operations manager for the five stations that WXOS parent company Hubbard Radio St. Louis owns, will add Neupert’s duties to his schedule. That’s in addition to him overseeing WIL-FM 92.3 FM, KSHE 94.7 FM, KPNT 105.7 FM and WARH 106.5 FM, and seems like a huge plate to fill.

Before going to 101.1, Neupert was the program director at sports-talk KFNS 590 AM, and also the executive producer of the Rams’ radio network. Those broadcasts began airing on 101.1 in 2009 and remained on the station until the team left town after the 2015 season.

Neupert also began at 101.1 in 2009, as assistant program director, and became program director in March 2013 after Kent Sterling left. He had finished second to Sterling when the job became open two years earlier.

'First Take, Your Take' To Debut on ESPN Radio


ESPN Radio will launch a new, highly interactive weekday afternoon sports talk show, First Take, Your Take with Jason Fitz, beginning January 20 at 1 p.m. ET. The two-hour show – hosted by Fitz and simulcast on ESPNEWS – will further the most timely conversations from that morning’s edition of ESPN’s marquee debate show First Take.

The most compelling debates by Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman will be utilized to set the table to expand on the top stories of the day with additional opinions, conversation and dissection. Smith will regularly join Fitz on the show to provide his unique brand of commentary. A powerful lineup of sport-specific experts, as well as callers, will add their reactions to propel the discussion during the 1-3 p.m. window, which saw a 21 percent increase in November from 2018 on terrestrial radio with men 25-54. The timeslot also saw an increase of five percent across all platforms.

Jason Fritz
“Sports fans are passionate, they love spirited debate and they know First Take is the must-watch show every morning to learn what Stephen A. and Max think,” said Norby Williamson, ESPN executive vice president and executive editor, production. “Weaving the best of First Take into this show will set the table for freewheeling discussion. Jason will be joined daily by a lineup of experts and sports fans who call in to further the debate and deliver their strong opinions.”

Fitz added, “I’m excited to host a show aligned with one of the biggest franchises at ESPN that will let me continue to push the First Take topics forward and keep building my relationship with ESPN Radio listeners that means so much to me.”

First Take,Your Take with Jason Fitz will originate from Bristol and will also be available on SiriusXM Channel 80 and via digital distributors Apple Music, iHeartRadio and TuneIn.

Fitz joined ESPN in 2016 and has quickly become a household name across radio programming and the network’s digital platforms. He now hosts the twice-daily show SportsCenter on Snapchat, ESPN Radio’s First and Last and is a regular contributor on Golic and Wingo. Fitz is also a fixture on ESPN’s social media shows surrounding marquee events and key rankings reveals. Prior to ESPN, Fitz was a member of the chart-topping country music group The Band Perry, serving as the band’s musical director and fiddle player.

Fitz’s job, according to Williamson, is to “sort of triangulate” the elements of the show. He will intro Smith’s and Kellerman’s takes on big topics, interact with fans and then have live guests around the segments.

WEPN 98.7 FM, ESPN will go local with a show featuring Bart Scott and Alan Hahn, sources have told The NY Post. Williamson declined to comment. Scott is soon leaving WFAN, where he has hosted afternoon shows for two years.

Entercom, FAN’s parent company, has shifted from offering Scott more and more money to attempt to convince him to change his mind to trying to hold up when he can begin at ESPN Radio, according to sources.

ESPN Radio Audience Up 11 Percent on Terrestrial Radio in November


ESPN Radio in November saw its audience in the men 25-54 demographic in PPM markets on terrestrial radio increase 11 percent from November 2018 during the 6 a.m-6 p.m. ET weekday hours, according to Nielsen.

Time spent listening also saw year-over-year growth of 9 percent in November. Through the first two months of the fall ratings book, ESPN Radio was up 9 percent from 2018 on terrestrial radio.

Golic and Wingo experienced year-over-year growth in November on terrestrial radio with a 6 percent increase in PPM markets with M25-54. The show also saw time spent listening grow 6 percent from November 2018. October and November combined, the audience for Golic and Wingo was up 2 percent from the same time period last year. The live stream of Golic and Wingo on the ESPN App and ESPN.com saw a 26 percent increase in November from 2018.

In November, The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz was up 2 percent overall with M25-54. The show’s ESPNEWS simulcast saw significant growth of 21 percent for the month from 2018. The show also saw an audience jump on SiriusXM of 34 percent year over year.

The Stephen A. Smith Show grew its audience on terrestrial radio in PPM markets 21 percent in November over last year during the 1-3 p.m. time slot. The show also enjoyed a 5 percent increase across all platforms for M25-54 in November as well as October and November combined.

The Will Cain Show’s audience continues to see triple-digit percentage increases on terrestrial radio in PPM markets with M25-54 in part due to recent additions to local lineups including ESPN Radio in Los Angeles. Overall across platforms with M25-54, the show was up 24 percent for the month and 18 percent for October and November combined from 2018.

NYC Radio: WNYL-FM Hosts 'Not So Silent Night' Benefit

Mumford & Sons on stage during “Not So Silent Night,” a RADIO.COM Event
Entercom held “Not So Silent Night,” a RADIO.COM event, in New York on Thursday at Barclays Center. The sold-out show, hosted by WNYL ALT 92.3 FM, New York’s new alternative, featured musical performances by Mumford & Sons, Vampire Weekend, Cage The Elephant, Jimmy Eat World, Of Monsters and Men, Judah & The Lion, and SHAED.

“The holiday season has officially begun in the Big Apple thanks to two incredible back-to-back RADIO.COM events in support of the American Cancer Society,” said Michael Martin, Senior Vice President of Programming and Music Initiatives, Entercom. “We’d like to thank these talented performers for rocking out with New Yorkers at Barclays Center.”

“Not So Silent Night” was one of two Entercom New York holiday shows, along with New York’s Country 94.7’s (WNSH-FM) “Stars and Strings” the evening prior, which benefitted the American Cancer Society (ACS). In addition to the concerts, each station is hosting a Facebook fundraiser to benefit ACS. American Cancer Society has provided over 480,000 rides to treatments and over 475,000 nights of lodging to cancer patients and their caregivers during treatment, including accommodation in the Hope Lodge in New York City, wigs for chemotherapy patients and the ACS helpline, providing 24/7 free information, support and access to resources in addition to extensive, and lifesaving research.

Trio SHAED opened “Not So Silent Night” in New York with “You Got Me Like,” and were followed on stage by Judah & The Lion with “Suit and Jacket” and their platinum hit “Take It All Back.” Of Monsters and Men sang “Little Talks” and “Alligator,” and Jimmy Eat World electrified the audience with “The Middle” and “Pain.” Cage The Elephant lit up the stage with “Shake Me Down” and “Ready to Let Go,” and Vampire Weekend rocked the crowd with “Diane Young” and “Harmony Hall.” Mumford & Sons closed the show with their hits “I Will Wait,” “Believe” and “The Wolf.”

K-C Radio: Entercom Poaches NFL Chiefs

Country WDAF 106.5 FM The Wolf has been named as the new flagship station of the 70 station Chiefs Radio Network and home of the Chiefs beginning on February 16, 2020. As part of the agreement, 106.5 The Wolf will broadcast all preseason, regular season and postseason games, along with pre-game and post-game coverage.

“We are extremely pleased to enter into this new partnership with the Kansas City Chiefs, one of the NFL’s most well respected and prestigious organizations,” said Dave Alpert, Regional President and Market Manager, Entercom Kansas City. “Entercom’s eight station cluster of music, news and sports talk stations hosted by Kansas City’s leading personalities align with vast digital and podcast opportunities, and will deliver the premium and comprehensive coverage Chiefs Kingdom desires seven days a week, all season long.”

“We look forward to partnering with 106.5 The Wolf and the powerful Entercom family of stations,” said Mark Donovan, President, Kanas City Chiefs. “The ability to bring our game broadcasts and existing weekly radio shows under one roof is a large part of this change, but we are equally excited about creating new content and developing new opportunities for Chiefs fans to engage with their favorite team.”

One of the Midwest’s most recognizable radio and television personalities, “Voice of the Chiefs” Mitch Holthus will return for his 27th season as the play-by-play personality for the Chiefs Radio Network. Owning more years of service than any other “Voice of the Chiefs” in team history, Holthus has called a franchise record 426 regular and postseason contests for Kansas City.

As part of the agreement, 610 Sports Radio KCSP-AM will become the official broadcast partner of the Kansas City Chiefs, with exclusive rights to Chiefs programming, including live radio broadcast rights to the Chiefs weekly in-season press conference with the club’s head coach and a weekly one-on-one interview with the starting quarterback. In addition, 610 Sports Radio will broadcast the Chiefs Kingdom Radio Show on Monday nights from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., which is hosted by Chiefs play-by-play announcer Mitch Holthus, and includes call-ins from the head coach and live on-site guest interviews with key players.

Throughout the season, Chiefs players will be featured on regularly scheduled 610 Sports Radio programming. 610 Sports Radio will also deliver live reports from an exclusive tent and broadcast live post-practice interviews at Chiefs training camp.

The Chiefs’ radio broadcasts currently air on Classic Rock KCFX 101.1 the Fox, owned by Cumulus Media, and have been on that station for the last 30 years.

S-F Radio: KNBR's Greg Papa Supports Suspended Tim Ryam

Greg Papa on Thursday acknowledged that Tim Ryan’s recent comments about Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson were “offensive” and the San Francisco 49ers “acted accordingly” in suspending his broadcast partner for Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints.

According to chicoer.com,  he went on to insist Ryan’s remarks were not made with any trace of “malice or animus” and defended Ryan as a “quality, quality person.”

On Wednesday, the 49ers suspended Ryan, the team’s radio analyst, for remarks he made on Monday’s edition of KNBR’s “Murph & Mac” morning show, during which he said Jackson’s dark skin gives him an advantage on the playing field.

While describing Jackson’s ability to fake handoffs in Baltimore’s recent win over the 49ers, Ryan said, “He’s really good at that fake, Lamar Jackson, but when you consider his dark skin color with a dark football with a dark uniform, you could not see that thing.”

Papa, who is in his first season as the 49ers radio play-by-play man, addressed the controversy during his morning KNBR program that he co-hosts with John Lund.

“All I will say is that the comments were offensive because they offended people,” Papa told the KNBR audience. “And they offended a great many people. In what we do for a living, word choice is critically important, and his word choice was not on point. He’s acknowledged that and he’s going to pay a stiff penalty for it.”

Papa said that he had a “really meaningful” conversation with Ryan Wednesday night and that he “feels badly” for him.

“He does not want to distract the football team from the matter at hand,” Papa said. “… Tim is so disappointed that he’s not going to be able to work this game. But he’s more disappointed because he loves this football team and he does not want to distract their attention, our attention … .”

Tim Ryan
Papa went on to praise both Ryan’s character and his work ethic.

“He’s a quality, quality person,” he said. “The organization knows that. The players in that locker room, the coaching staff (know that) … and I think they will speak on that today.

The 49ers announced Thursday that Dennis Brown will replace Ryan as the team’s radio analyst for Sunday’s game. Brown, 52, played seven seasons for the 49ers as a defensive lineman from 1990 to ’96, and was a starter on the team’s Super Bowl-winning team after the 1994 season. He has served as an analyst on KNBR’s pre- and post-game 49ers coverage the past two seasons.

Meanwhile, KBNR report both 49ers Richard Sherman and Dee Ford were asked about Ryan’s comment. Both said the situation has been blown out of proportion — and that Ryan’s take has some validity — but that he should’ve chosen his words more carefully.

“Yeah, I know Tim personally and I listened to the dialogue and saw it written and honestly, I wasn’t as outraged as everyone else,” Sherman began. “I understand how it can be taken under a certain context and be offensive to some. But if you’re saying, ‘Hey, this is a brown ball, they’re wearing dark colors and he has a brown arm.’ Honestly, sometimes we were having trouble seeing it on film.

Ford echoed Sherman’s sentiment and expressed disappointment that the “era we live in” contributed to the story being overblown.