December 13 Radio History

➦In 1897...Andrew Russell Pearson born (Died at age 71  – September 1, 1969). He was one of the best-known American columnists of his day, noted for his syndicated newspaper column "Washington Merry-Go-Round," in which he criticized various public persons.

Drew Pearson

From 1935 to 1936, Pearson and Robert S. Allen broadcast a 15-minute program twice a week on the Mutual Broadcasting System. They continued with a 30-minute music and news show, Listen America, in 1939–40, ending this partnership in 1941.

Pearson continued alone on NBC with Drew Pearson Comments from 1941 to 1953. His commentary was broadcast through 1968 on the now-defunct Intermountain Network.

In addition to radio, Pearson appeared in a number of Hollywood movies. In 1952 and 1953, Pearson hosted The Drew Pearson Show on the ABC and DuMont TV networks.

The "Merry-Go-Round" column started as a result of the Pearson's anonymous publication in 1931 of the book, Washington Merry-Go-Round, co-written with Allen, the Washington bureau chief for The Christian Science Monitor. The book was a collection of muckraking news items concerning key figures in public life that challenged the journalistic code of the day.

According to his one-time partner, Jack Anderson, Pearson saw journalism as a weapon to be used against those he judged to be working against the public interest.When forced to choose between a story's accuracy and Pearson's desire to pursue a person whose views he disliked, Pearson had no qualms about publishing the story anyway. He faced 50 libel suits during his 40 year career, but lost only one.

➦In 1924...KOA-AM, Denver, Colorado, signed-on. KOA was originally owned by General Electric. The station started with 5,000 watts, and in 1927, increased to 12,500 watts. In the early 1930s, power was raised to the current level of 50,000 watts. KOA is the dominant clear-channel station on 850 AM.

At night the signal can be heard in over 30 states of the U.S. and over most of Canada and Mexico. KOA sometimes can be picked up in California, and is usually picked up in Central Washington state, both locations are west of the Rocky Mountains, an obstacle that prevents most east coast radio stations from traveling west of the Rockies. KOA is frequently heard in northern Europe, Australia and Japan, and is one of the most frequently reported stations worldwide.

John Stroebel

➦In 1926...WWVA Wheeling signed-on.  WWVA began broadcasting at 2 a.m. when John Stroebel threw the switch that sent power to a home-built 50-watt transmitter in the basement of his home. One week earlier, the Federal Radio Commission had granted a broadcast license on 860 kHz to the radio station WWVA. In its first year of operation, it broadcast to listeners with home-made crystal sets, principally from Stroebel's own home.

Through the years, WWVA has been granted several power increases. In May 1941, the FCC moved WWVA to 1170, and in August of that same year, granted it the highest power for AM stations: 50,000 watts. With the increase, WWVA became the most powerful AM station in the entire state of West Virginia.

WWVA has changed hands many times over the years. Past owners include Fidelity Investments, West Virginia Broadcasting Corporation, Storer Broadcasting, Basic Communications, Screen Gems Radio - a division of Columbia Pictures, Coca-Cola, Price Broadcasting, Osborn Communications, Atlantic Star Communications, AMFM Inc., and Clear Channel Communications, now iHeartMedia.

➦In 1926...KXL 400 meters (749.6 K.C.) signed on the air with 250 watts.  KXL’s inaugural broadcast hit the airwaves on December 13, 1926 from the top floor of the Mallory Hotel, beginning with a concert from the Mallory Orchestra. The second hour began with dance music presented by the Lyle Lewis Orchestra.

On September 20, 1927, KXL moved into the “Rose Studio” on the seventh floor of the Bedell Building which featured a plate glass wall for public viewing from the reception room. KXL celebrated the move with a 40 hour broadcast dedication.

Alpha Broadcasting, a newly formed company owned by Larry Wilson, purchased KXL in 2009.  In 2011, KXL’s news/talk programming on 750 AM began simulcasting on 101.1 FM, the former KUFO-FM now called KXL-FM.  KXL’s news/talk format moved exclusively to the FM signal a few months later.  The 750 AM frequency became KXTG-AM, airing a sports talk format.

➦In 1934...Lulu Belle and Scotty Wiseman, one of the most popular husband-and-wife teams in the history of country music, were married. Lulu Belle and Scotty were regulars on the National Barn Dance radio show, which originated from WLS in Chicago, from 1933 to 1958. Scotty Wiseman wrote the country music standard “Mountain Dew,” as well as the duo’s biggest hit, “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?”

➦In 1974...M-C Flashbacks to the year-ender edition of Radio&Records from December 13, 1974.  If you remember, StreetTalk, Parallels...then you remember R&R. The Back Page Chart shows quite a variety...everything from Jethro Tull to Bobby Vinton!

To Read More of this R&R Issue: Click Here.

➦In 1983...Bonneville Broadcasting Co. purchased KYA and the call letters were changed to KOIT.

KYA went on the air Saturday, December 18, 1926, broadcasting from the Clift Hotel, San Francisco airing initially on 970 kc. with 500 watts, but it was planned to later increase its power to 20,000 watts.  In 1941, the station shifted to 1260 AM

In 1948, the SF Examiner sold KYA to a group of Stanford professors and instructors, doing business as "Palo Alto Radio Station, Inc." This started a turbulent period in the history of KYA. Over a period of almost twenty years, KYA was operated by no less than eight different owners.   The Palo Alto group sold the station to Dorothy Schiff of the New York Post. In the mid-fifties, the station was purchased by Elroy McCaw and John Keating, doing business as KYA, Inc. They in turn sold the station to the Bartell Family Group in 1958, who subsequently sold to Golden State Broadcasters. From 1963 to 1966, KYA was operated by the Churchill Broadcasting Corporation, and in June of 1966 KYA was acquired by AVCO Broadcasting.

Rock'n'roll music made its first appearance on KYA during the Bartell Group days, and then for only a portion of the station's broadcast day.

After an initial success, it quickly took over the entire day's schedule. In 1961, a young unknown Georgia disk jockey who called himself Bill Drake was given the task of programming the station. Drake made drastic changes, streamlining the carnival sound of early rock radio, until an entirely new concept was developed.

"The Drake Sound" became an instant success at KYA, and soon spread to other stations. Before long, Bill Drake had redefined rock'n'roll radio nationwide, which became "Top 40" radio. Drake became a multi-millionaire, programming nearly a hundred AM and FM stations from his home in Bel Air in the 1970s. KYA and KFRC shared the important rock radio audience in San Francisco through the '70s.

In 1983, Bonneville Broadcasting Co. purchased KYA and the call letters were changed to KOIT. The original call letters lived on, however, with KYA-FM, which was sold to another owner, KING Broadcasting of Seattle, which operated it together with KSFO. Two of San Francisco's most historic call letters were resided under one roof.

➦In 1992...FCC fined Infinity Broadcasting $600,000 over “indecent” broadcasts by talk personality Howard Stern.

➦In 1999...Broadcast Music Incorporated reported "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" to be the most played (BMI) song of the century on American radio and television, with more than eight million airings. The original and most famous recording of the song is by The Righteous Brothers.

Bill Bonds

➦In 2014…Detroit Radio, TV news anchor Bill Bonds, known for three decades for his on-air swagger as much as his colorful behavior off-camera, suffered a heart attack and died at age 82.

For 29-years, Bonds, along with co-anchor Diana Lewis, dominated the Detroit TV market on WXYZ-TV.  His private life was discussed often as he battled alcoholism, buried a daughter and went through a divorce.  The station fired Bonds in 1995, months after a drunken driving arrest which led to his stay for several months in an Atlanta treatment facility.

➦In 2015…Philip Francis Pepe died at age 80 (Born - March 21, 1935). He was a columnist for the New York Daily News and radio voice who spent more than five decades covering sports in New York City.

Pepe covered baseball for the News from 1969 through 1981 and then succeeded the venerable Dick Young as its sports columnist in 1982. During the same period, Pepe wrote the lead game story for every World Series from 1969 to 1981, even in years when the Yankees did not make the Series.

After leaving the News in 1989, Pepe did morning sports for WCBS radio for more than 15 years, which included his popular "Pep Talk" segment.

🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAY

• 

  Taylor Swift is 31

  Actor Dick Van Dyke is 95. 
• Actor Christopher Plummer is 91. 
• Country singer Buck White of The Whites is 90. 
• Actor-singer John Davidson is 79. 
• Actor Kathy Garver (“Family Affair”) is 75. 
• Singer Ted Nugent is 72. 
• Guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (The Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan) is 72. 
• Guitarist Ron Getman of The Tractors is 72. 
• Country singer-guitarist Randy Owen of Alabama is 71. 
• Actor Wendie Malick (“Hot in Cleveland,” ″Just Shoot Me”) is 70. 
• Country singer John Anderson is 66. 
• Singer Morris Day of The Time is 64. 
• Actor Steve Buscemi is 63. 
• Actor Johnny Whitaker (“Family Affair”) is 61. 
• Bassist John Munson of Semisonic is 58. 
• Reality TV star NeNe Leakes (“The New Normal,” ″The Real Housewives of Atlanta”) is 54. 
• Actor-comedian Jamie Foxx is 53. 
• Actor Lusia Strus (“50 First Dates”) is 53. 
• TV personality Debbie Matenopoulos is 46. 
• Singer-guitarist Tom Delonge of Angels and Airwaves (and Blink-182) is 45. 
• Actor James Kyson Lee (“Heroes”) is 45 
• Actor Kimee Balmilero (“Hawaii Five-0″) is 41. 
• Actor Chelsea Hertford (“Major Dad”) is 39. 
• Singer Amy Lee of Evanescence is 39. 
• Actor Michael Socha (“Once Upon a Time in Wonderland”) is 33. 
• Trumpeter Wesley Watkins of Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats is 33. 
• Actor Marcel Spears (“The Mayor”) is 32. 
• Singer Taylor Swift is 31. 
• Actor Maisy Stella (“Nashville”) is 17.

R.I..P.: Charley Pride, Country Superstar

Charley Pride  (March 18, 1934 – December 12, 2020)

Country music legend Charley Pride — who became the genre's first Black superstar with "Kiss An Angel Good Mornin'" and dozens of other hits — died Saturday at age 86, reports The Tennessean.

A press release from Pride's publicist, Jeremy Westby, said the singer died in Dallas, Texas due to complications from COVID-19. 

Pride was just honored by the Country Music Association, receiving the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award at the CMA Awards in November.

In 1971, Pride released what would become his biggest hit, "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'", a million-selling crossover single that helped him land the Country Music Association's prestigious Entertainer of the Year award, as well as Top Male Vocalist. He won CMA's Top Male Vocalist award again in 1972.

"Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'" became Pride's signature tune. Besides being a five-week country number one in late 1971 and early 1972, the song was also his only pop top-40 hit, hitting number 21, and reaching the top 10 of the Adult Contemporary charts, as well.

He gave his final performance on Nov. 11, 2020, singing “Kiss An Angel Good Mornin’” during the CMA Awards show at Nashville’s Music City Center alongside Jimmie Allen.

Report: State of Nashville Music Industry "Not Good"

Stay-at-home orders from the COVID-19 pandemic have decimated the music industry and especially Nashville, according to The Tennessean citing a new study.

The 2020 Music Industry Report tallied Nashville's exponential business growth through 2019 and the fallout this year that left most musicians without work.

The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce worked with music-data firm Exploration Group, Belmont University and other researchers to produce the paper.

"The impact of COVID-19 has been devastating," Aaron Davis, CEO of Exploration Group said. "On the other hand, people report their desire to experience live music and in-person experiences are through the roof."

A survey found that most venue owners expect a dramatic comeback within two years.

The impact hits hard in Nashville because it has the highest concentration of music industry workers in the country, carrying an economic impact of nearly $9 billion. More than 80,000 people held industry jobs in the region last year.

Nashville's music industry grew faster than any other part of the country, at 43% from 2012 to 2019, compared to 9.2% nationally. That upward trajectory is expected to keep growing because of relatively affordable housing compared to other major music scenes.

Nashville is not only where the world comes to hear music, it is where music comes to do business," the report states. "According to the Survey to the Music Industry, most industry professionals, 36.5%, think that it will be one to two years before they can live their lives more."

Livestreaming music performances has helped to bridge the income gap, but it doesn't compare to live events and in-person recordings, the report found.

Other report findings include:

• Independent music venues in Nashville lost 72% of their revenue, or $22.6 million, and 73.5% of their jobs.
• Most of the music created in Nashville is country, but rock, pop and alternative genres are the most sought-out live performances.
• 50.2% of consumers say a livestream is nowhere near as good as the real experience.
• 82.8% of music creators performed a live stream between March and April of 2020.
• 50.4% of recording artists have performed zero times since March 2020.
• Bookings for live performances in 2021 are lower for 86.9% of respondents.
• 74.9% of consumers subscribe to a music streaming platform, and most of them chose Spotify.
• 73.5% of music creators surveyed are making less music because of COVID-19.

Nationally, the music industry had a $514 billion overall economic impact in 2019 and created 1.2 million direct jobs.

Report: Pandemic Cost Live Music $30B

Due to the global coronavirus pandemic, concert trade publication Pollstar puts the total lost revenue for the live events industry in 2020 at more than $30 billion, reports The Associated Press.

Pollstar on Friday released its year-end report, explaining that the live events industry should have hit a record-setting $12.2 billion this year, but instead it incurred $9.7 billion in losses. The company added that the projected $30 billion figure in losses includes “unreported events, ancillary revenues, including sponsorships, ticketing, concessions, merch, transportation, restaurants, hotels, and other economic activity tied to the live events.” Those losses accounted for more than $8 billion.

In March hundreds of artists announced that their current or upcoming tours would need to be postponed or canceled because of the pandemic. While a small number of performers have played drive-in concerts and others have held digital concerts, the majority of artists have not played live in 2020.

With just a few months on the road, Elton John’s “Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour” tops the year’s Top 100 Worldwide Tours list with $87.1 million grossed between Nov. 30 through March 7. John’s tour ranked No. 2 last year with $212 million grossed.

Celine Dion came in second this year with $71.2 million, followed by Trans-Siberian Orchestra ($58.2 million), U2 ($52.1 million) and Queen + Adam Lambert ($44.6 million). Post Malone, Eagles, Jonas Brothers, Dead & Company and Andrea Bocelli rounded out the Top 10.

Disney Stock Hits New High

Walt Disney Co. has become a box-office Death Star over the past decade, capable of destroying any competition on the big screen, reports The Wall Street Journal.  On Thursday, the company made it clear it plans to extend that dominance to the streaming arena.

Darth Vader, Buzz Lightyear, the witches of “Hocus Pocus” and seemingly every other character created by the company in the past several decades is helping it get there. Disney unveiled an array of new shows and bullish revised guidance Thursday that made clear its trio of streaming services—Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+—would seek to take on market leader Netflix Inc. in several arenas, including spending on content and the hunt for subscribers around the world.

New adventures. New Originals. Endless possibilities. All of these and more are coming exclusively to #DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/NGiqVGmH0G

— Disney (@Disney) December 11, 2020

In addition to announcing plans for 100 new titles to debut annually, Disney revised guidance that had previously predicted Disney+ could hit 90 million subscribers by 2024. The new projection was an earthquake: as many as 260 million. Netflix currently has 200 million subscribers, but it isn’t growing as quickly. Other streaming upstarts, like WarnerMedia’s HBO Max and NBCUniversal’s Peacock are far behind.

Wall Street sent Disney stock to an all-time high Friday, with shares rising about 14% in afternoon trading to around $176.

https://t.co/lK5I6oLDOK

— Tom Benson (@Tombenson1) December 12, 2020

There is no doubt that Disney has put Netflix on notice not to let its guard down in terms of content spending. BMO Capital Markets has projected that Netflix will spend more than $17 billion on content this year, with that figure expected to grow to $26 billion by 2028. Disney plans to spend between $14 billion and $16 billion by 2024, with most of that going toward Disney+.

Milwaukee Radio: Hot 105.7 FM Adds Promise, DJ Gee-A

Entercom has announced two additions to the on-air staff for HOT 105.7 (WXSS-HD2) in Milwaukee. The station adds Promise as morning show host, who will be heard weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. CT. DJ Gee-A joins the station as afternoon drive host and will be heard from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. CT. Both additions are effective December 14.

“We're excited to welcome Promise and DJ Gee A to our on-air lineup and introduce them to our listeners,” said Andrea Hansen, Market Manager, Entercom Milwaukee. “Both have deep roots in this community with valued experience entertaining and connecting with the listeners of this city. We trust that combination will quickly resonate with our fans and round out our locally focused programming lineup.”

“I'm very excited and blessed for this opportunity to be back on air in Milwaukee with a brand new station and to make history,” said Promise. “Mornings will never be the same.”

Promise has almost 10 years of experience working in various radio formats. Following graduation at Carroll University, he interned for Jammin 98.3 in Milwaukee, which led to several years of working part time as a promotions assistant. In the years that followed, he became an on-air personality filling in on weekends and weeknights on Jammin 98.3. From 2013-2015, he hosted overnights at Energy 106.9 before moving to V100.7 to serve as assistant production director as well as host of “The Bizness Hourz” from 2016 to 2020. On numerous occasions his show received top ratings for the 18-34 and 25-54 demographics. Promise also has experience as a host and emcee.

“I’m very excited for this new opportunity,” said DJ Gee-A. “I look forward to being a part of Milwaukee’s No. 1 destination for hit music and delivering a fresh, entertaining program for listeners every afternoon.”

DJ Gee-A joins HOT 105.7 after previously serving as a weeknight host for Milwaukee sister station 103.7 KISS-FM (WXSS-FM) since 2015. Prior to that role, he was heard on V100.7 in Milwaukee from 2005 to 2015.

Friday Launch Of New SiriusXM Satellite Scrubbed

After an explosive test flight of a prototype starship earlier this week, Southern California-based SpaceX will return to something more routine with a satellite deployment mission.

A launch of the Hawthorne company’s Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida was scheduled for 9:55 a.m. California time, but the launch was scrubbed. Upper level winds prompted an earlier delay Friday morning.

The launch will be re-scheduled with liftoff planned for no sooner than Sunday.

The rocket will be carrying the SXM-7 satellite for satellite-radio company SiriusXM. It will be deployed as a replacement for one of the company's five satellites already in orbit. Another replacement satellite is scheduled to be launched next month.

SpaceX will again attempt to recover the first stage of the rocket by landing it on a droneship named Just Read the Instructions'' floating in the Atlantic Ocean.

The first stage of the rocket being used in the mission has flown six previous flights, making it the company's second most-veteran flight vehicle. A different booster has already flown seven times, but this mission will tie that mark.

This will mark the first time such a veteran rocket and previously used fairing have been used in a fully commercial launch -- something experts say is a major expression of the confidence SiriusXM has in SpaceX's cost-cutting rocket-recovery efforts.

SpaceX on Wednesday conducted a test launch of a prototype Starship being designed for trips to the Moon, Mars and beyond. The ship successfully traveled about eight miles into the air and, during its descent back to Earth, made a successful landing flip maneuver. However, the ship exploded on touchdown, with SpaceX founder Elon Musk saying the ship's velocity was too high on landing.

Despite the fireball that destroyed the ship, the mission was deemed an overall success thanks to the level of flight information designers were able to obtain.

FCC Call Letter Activity for November 2020

 

FCC Call Letter activity during November 2020:

Judge Tosses Legal Challenge To Trump Executive Order

A U.S. judge dismissed a lawsuit on Friday brought by a tech group that had asked the federal court to declare invalid a presidential executive order aimed at weakening a law that protects social media companies like Facebook and Twitter, reports Reuters.

Judge Trevor McFadden, in dismissing the case, said that the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT), which is funded by Facebook, Google and Twitter, had no standing to oppose the executive order because it was not directed at the group but instructed federal agencies like the Federal Communications Commission to move toward potential rule- or law-making.

Trump had issued the order in May, pushing agencies to either weaken or overturn Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The provision protects internet companies against lawsuits prompted by material posted on their websites.

The CDT did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

R.I.P.: Jim Jefferson, Longtime SW-PA Radio News Anchor

Jim Jefferson

Jim Rhone – known by local SW PA radio listeners as Jim Jefferson, longtime news anchor at WJPA 2459 AM / 95.3 FM – died of cancer Friday morning. 

He was 68, according to the Observer-Dispatch.

Recognized for his smooth, unwavering delivery, Jefferson was well regarded in Washington and Greene counties during his four decades in the news industry. He retired in June 2017 after 43 years at the station – most of them as an anchor – in his only professional job.

He was a tutor, as well, and a role model for Bob Gregg, operations director at WJPA. They knew each other for nearly 40 years.

“Jim was here in the afternoons when I was in high school, walking around here trying to learn stuff,” Gregg said. “The Jim Jefferson that people knew on the air was the one we at the station knew personally. He was real, he was fair and he was honest.

Bill DiFabio, a longtime radio personality in the Pittsburgh region, said his friend “is the best news professional I’ve been associated with. You’d marvel at his work.”

Jefferson retired with a measure of trepidation, saying he was going to miss “the interactions with people. The interviews with police, political officials, the district attorney, judges ...” He also enjoyed working alongside Pete Povich, the station’s program director, his on-air partner for 31 years.

Hanging up his microphone, however, gave Jefferson an opportunity to pursue more avidly pursue other passions: his family, playing golf and traveling.

R.I.P.: Bob Harris, Longtime Fargo Radio Personality

Bob Harris

KFGO personality Bob Harris has lost his fight with COVID-19. Harris, 65, died early Friday evening. He was hospitalized Thanksgiving Day after experiencing shortness of breath. Harris had been in the ICU.

Harris, who was 65, held a variety of roles at KFGO. He was an on-air personality, producer and podcast host.

"Bob did anything you asked and more. I just wish I would've said 'thank you' more," said KFGO operations manager Joel Heitkamp. "For decades Bob was a part of our lives. And we're better for it."

A Moorhead native whose real name was David Smith, Harris was known in the music community as giving airtime to local bands. He was often seen at community theater and arts events and had performers on his show as guests to promote their shows.

Harris' latest show was the "Harris Happening," which was recently turned into a podcast.

KFGO posted an article on its website saying Harris had a broadcast career of more than 40 years.

December 12 Radio History

➦In 1896...Guglielmo Marconi gave the first public demonstration of radio at Toynbee Hall, London.

➦In 1901...Marconi sends first Atlantic wireless transmission

Italian physicist and radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi succeeds in sending the first radio transmission across the Atlantic Ocean, disproving detractors who told him that the curvature of the earth would limit transmission to 200 miles or less.

The message--simply the Morse-code signal for the letter "s"--traveled more than 2,000 miles from Poldhu in Cornwall, England, to Signal Hill in Newfoundland, Canada.

Born in Bologna, Italy, in 1874 to an Italian father and an Irish mother, Marconi studied physics and became interested in the transmission of radio waves after learning of the experiments of the German physicist Heinrich Hertz. He began his own experiments in Bologna beginning in 1894 and soon succeeded in sending a radio signal over a distance of 1.5 miles. Receiving little encouragement for his experiments in Italy, he went to England in 1896.

He formed a wireless telegraph company and soon was sending transmissions from distances farther than 10 miles. In 1899, he succeeded in sending a transmission across the English Channel. That year, he also equipped two U.S. ships to report to New York newspapers on the progress of the America's Cup yacht race. That successful endeavor aroused widespread interest in Marconi and his wireless company.

Marconi's greatest achievement came on December 12, 1901, when he received a message sent from England at St. John's, Newfoundland. The transatlantic transmission won him worldwide fame.

Signal Hill, Newfoundland

Ironically, detractors of the project were correct when they declared that radio waves would not follow the curvature of the earth, as Marconi believed. In fact, Marconi's transatlantic radio signal had been headed into space when it was reflected off the ionosphere and bounced back down toward Canada.

Much remained to be learned about the laws of the radio wave and the role of the atmosphere in radio transmissions, and Marconi would continue to play a leading role in radio discoveries and innovations during the next three decades.

In 1909, he was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in physics with the German radio innovator Ferdinand Braun. After successfully sending radio transmissions from points as far away as England and Australia, Marconi turned his energy to experimenting with shorter, more powerful radio waves.

He died in 1937, and on the day of his funeral all British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) stations were silent for two minutes in tribute to his contributions to the development of radio.

➦In 1913...Longtime CBS correspondent Winston Burdett was born in Buffalo NY.  He was one of the original “Murrow’s boys” who covered Eastern Europe, North Africa and Italy during WWII and afterwards, for 22 years based in Rome. He died May 19, 1993 at age 79.

➦In 1915... Frank (Francis Albert) Sinatra was born in Hoboken, N.J.  As well as an illustrious recording & broadcast career, he won an Oscar in 1953 for his supporting role in “From Here to Eternity.” He was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 1965. Sinatra died May 14 1998 suffering from a combination of heart & kidney disease, and bladder cancer.  He was aged 82.

➦In 1937...the Federal Communications Commission was upset with NBC radio over a Sunday skit on the Charlie McCarthy Show that starred Mae West.



The satirical routine was based on the biblical tale of Adam and Eve and, well, it got a bit out of hand by the standards of the day. So, following the wrist-slap by the FCC, NBC banned Miss West from its airwaves for 15 years. Even the mere mention of her name on NBC was a no-no.

➦In 1957...KEX, Portland, Oregon Disc Jockey Al Priddy, was fired for playing Elvis Presley's rendition of "White Christmas." He violated the radio station's ban against the song. The station had banned Presley’s interpretations of Christmas carols.

➦In 1968...Actress Tallulah Bankhead died of pneumonia at 65.  She was hostess of NBC Radio’s 90-minute Big Show 1950-52, and the following year, was one of the rotating hosts on NBC-TV’s All-Star Revue.  Her last screen appearances were as the Black Widow on TV’s Batman in 1967.

➦In 1971...The man who headed Radio Corporation of America and put National Broadcasting Company together, David Sarnoff died at age 80.

Throughout most of his career he led the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in various capacities from shortly after its founding in 1919 until his retirement in 1970.

He ruled over an ever-growing telecommunications and consumer electronics empire that included both RCA and NBC, and became one of the largest companies in the world. Named a Reserve Brigadier General of the Signal Corps in 1945, Sarnoff thereafter was widely known as "The General."



Unlike many who were involved with early radio communications, viewing radio as point-to-point, Sarnoff saw the potential of radio as point-to-mass. One person (the broadcaster) could speak to many (the listeners).

When Owen D. Young of the General Electric Company arranged the purchase of American Marconi and turned it into the Radio Corporation of America, a radio patent monopoly, Sarnoff realized his dream and revived his proposal in a lengthy memo on the company's business and prospects. His superiors again ignored him but he contributed to the rising post-World War 1 radio boom by helping arrange for the broadcast of a heavyweight boxing match between Jack Dempsey and Georges Carpentier in July 1921. Up to 300,000 people heard the fight, and demand for home radio equipment bloomed that winter. By the spring of 1922 Sarnoff's prediction of popular demand for broadcasting had come true, and over the next eighteen months, he gained in stature and influence.

In 1926, RCA purchased its first radio station (WEAF, New York) and launched the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), America's first radio network. Four years later, Sarnoff became president of RCA. NBC had by that time split into two networks, the Red and the Blue. The Blue Network later became ABC Radio. Sarnoff was sometimes inaccurately referred to later in his career as the founder of both RCA and NBC, but he was in fact neither.

Sarnoff was instrumental in building and established the AM broadcasting radio business which became the preeminent public radio standard for the majority of the 20th century. This was until FM broadcasting radio re-emerged in the 1960s despite Sarnoff's efforts to suppress it (following FM's initial appearance and disappearance during the 1930s and 1940s.

➦In 1993...WAQX 104.3 (Q-104) rock format replaces WNCN classic format in NYC

➦In 1995...CBC announces Radio Canada International service to end on March 31

Unkle Roger

➦In 2003...Unkle Roger McCall, a long-time personality on Classic Rock WCMF 96.5 FM, Rochester, New York, was murdered during a gunshot in a suspected robbery attempt.  His killer has never been brought to justice.

McCall was gunned down in December 2003 in his son’s driveway by “just a boy” who disappeared forever under the cover of a darkening night and a sudden snow squall — leaving behind holes in Roger’s stomach, in his family and in a wide circle of close friends, listeners and fellow musicians who knew him as Unk, Unki, Unkle Roger.

Unkle Roger was 52 and despite having a microphone in front of him for 30 years working as disc jockey for WCMF, he had a relatively well-kept secret.  Several years before he was killed, he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and was terminally ill.

➦In 2008...Chicago radio personality Spike O'Dell aired his final show on WGN 720 AM. He spent 21 years with the station, 8 of them doing mornings.

Spike O'Dell

Odell’s first radio hosting position was at WEMO-AM in East Moline at the age of 25.  While working at the factory, he disc jockeyed on weekends there as well as doing some fill-in slots. In 1977 Spike took another part-time job with WQUA radio in Moline Illinois. Following this, he obtained a full-time morning position at KSTT-AM, where he affectionately was referred to as “Spike at the Mic”. This proved to be a significant position, as it allowed O'Dell to move, in 1981, to a Major Market Morning Radio spot at WBT-AM in Charlotte, NC. After a brief stint as "morning guy," he returned to KIIK-FM. In 1987, Billboard Magazine awarded Spike “Top 40 Air Personality of the Year” in a Medium Market.

The Billboard magazine award lead to a call from then program director Dan Fabian to interview at WGN-AM in Chicago. In 1987, O'Dell was hired as the afternoon drive host for the station. Spike would go on to work 21 years at WGN. He remained at the top of the ratings in all the dayparts he hosted while at the station. O'Dell moved around a few times during his tenure at WGN, with notable stints in the afternoon, and ultimately, in the morning drive slot. The move to mornings occurred after the untimely death of then host Bob Collins.  O'Dell now enjoys spending time with his 5 grandchildren, golfing, photography, watercolor and acrylic painting, and sleeping late.

During the course of his career, he worked at:

• 1976-1977 WEMO-AM East Moline
• 1977-1978 WQUA Moline, IL
• 1978-1980 KSTT-AM Davenport, IA
• 1980-1982 WBT-AM Charlotte, NC
• 1982-1987 KIIK-FM Davenport, IA
• 1987 WGN-AM Chicago, IL Spike was hired as afternoon host 3-7pm and moved to mornings on February 9, 2000 after Bob Collins was killed in a plane crash.
• 2008 Final Broadcast of “The Spike O’Dell Show” at the Metropolis Theater.

Ray Briem

➦In 2012...Ray Briem died from cancer at age 82 (Born - January 19, 1930). He was best known as an L-A personality who worked in Los Angeles most of his career, most notably at KABC.  He was noted for his conservative viewpoints, historical knowledge, polished delivery and love of Big Band music. He was especially capable of debating liberal callers and guests, but his shows were not limited to politics. He interviewed a wide range of celebrities primarily from the golden age of radio, music, movies and television. He worked the overnight shift for 27-years. He worked as a nationally syndicated host for a number of years, a time which he has recalled fondly for the variety and quality of callers.

On his overnight program he was able to persuade many news and opinion makers to stay up late, or, if on the east coast, get up early, to make appearances. A frequent guest was Howard Jarvis, the attorney and political activist, who used the show as a platform to promote California's property tax limitation initiative, Proposition 13, in 1978.

Briem received a number of honors, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

➦In 2013…TV quiz host Mac McGarry, host of "It's Academic" on Washington DC's WRC 980 AM for 50 years died of pneumonia at 87. In addition to his hosting duties in Washington, Mr. McGarry emceed the educational quiz show on NBC’s Baltimore affiliate from 1973 to 2000.

With an easy-going baritone that sounded like a throwback to the days of fedoras and big bands, Mr. McGarry thrived well into the Internet age. As host of “It’s Academic,” which launched in 1961 and became the longest-running quiz program in TV history, he liked to describe himself as the area’s most inquisitive man.

He carved a multifaceted career spanning six decades. He covered presidential inaugurations and the start of the Korean War. He also hosted a big-band radio show, was an early TV sparring partner of Willard Scott and appeared with a young Jim Henson and his Muppets.

He was working for a radio station in western Massachusetts before a Fordham classmate, the celebrated baseball announcer Vin Scully, urged him to apply for a summer announcing job at WRC-TV in 1950.  During his first five years at NBC affiliate, he was a general staff announcer, providing voice-overs for all occasions.

He covered presidential inaugurations and the start of the Korean War. He also hosted a big-band radio show, was an early TV sparring partner of Willard Scott and appeared with a young Jim Henson and his Muppets.

Among the many teenage contestants who competed for scholarship money on the Saturday program were future First Lady Hillary Rodham, Washington Post Chairman Donald E. Graham, political commentator George Stephanopoulos, Sen. Charles E. Schumer, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon, and actress Sandra Bullock.

Jim Lowe

➦In 2016…Jim Lowe died at age 93 (Born - May 7, 1923).  He was singer-songwriter, best known for his 1956 number-one hit song, "Green Door". He also served as a disc jockey and radio host and personality, and was considered an expert on the popular music of the 1940s and 1950s.

Born in Springfield, Missouri, he worked for several radio stations in Springfield, Indianapolis and Chicago, before moving to WCBS in New York City in 1956.

A million-seller and gold record recipient, Lowe's 1956 hit "The Green Door" was written by Marvin Moore and Bob Davie.

Lowe earlier wrote "Gambler's Guitar", a million-selling hit for Rusty Draper in 1953. His most notable run as a disc jockey was with WNEW 1130 AM in New York, from 1964. Lowe also worked at WNBC 660 AM in New York where he was heard both locally and on the coast-to-coast NBC Radio weekend program Monitor.

He retired in 2004 at the age of 81.

🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAY

• 

  Mayim Bialik is 45

  Game show host Bob Barker is 97. 
• Singer Connie Francis is 83. 
• Singer Dionne Warwick is 80. 
• Singer-guitarist Dickey Betts (Allman Brothers) is 77. 
• Actor Wings Hauser is 73. 
• Actor Bill Nighy (“Pirates of the Caribbean”) is 71. 
• Actor Duane Chase (“The Sound of Music”) is 70. 
• Country singer La Costa is 70. 
• Actor Cathy Rigby is 68. 
• Singer-percussionist Sheila E. is 63. 
• Actor Sheree J. Wilson (“Walker, Texas Ranger,” ″Dallas”) is 62. 
• Guitarist Eric Schenkman of Spin Doctors is 57. 
• Bassist Nicholas Dimichino of Nine Days is 53. 
• Actor Jennifer Connelly is 50. 
• Actor Madchen Amick (“My Own Worst Enemy,” ″Twin Peaks”) is 50. 
• Actor Regina Hall is 50. 
• Actor Mayim Bialik (“The Big Bang Theory,” ″Blossom”) is 45. 
• Actor Lucas Hedges (“Boy Erased,” ″Manchester by the Sea”) is 24. 
• Actor Sky Katz (“Raven’s Home”) is 16.

Nielsen: Sports Is Back, But News Is Stealing Viewing Share

With virtually no live sports for 25% of the year—including the absence of games being played by the four major North American leagues—Nielsen is hardly surprising that the return was met with a thunderous applause, and the share of viewing among Americans quickly picked up in September and October. Salivating after the absence, sports fans also reveled in being able to watch games and matches across the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL at the same time. Despite the demand and the rebound, however, the share of live sports viewing remains below 2019 levels. 

According to NIelsen, live sports is one of the few genres that draws in fans as it happens, but 2020 has presented consumers with an abundance of binge-worthy content to choose from. News about the pandemic, rising instances of social justice and a presidential election have all stolen share from live sports, as has the rise of subscription video on-demand (SVOD) content.

Some of the viewership declines have been due to pandemic-related factors, such as limited out-of-home viewing and abridged sports schedules. The share of viewing for live sports also reflects the overall decline in decreased linear TV viewing year-to-date. It’s a trend that has been rising over the past five years. That factor aside, however, the many aspects that characterize 2020 overall have eroded some interest in live sports viewing, as the number of people 2 and older who watched sports in September and October was notably lower this year than last year (70.8% reach vs. 77.7% reach). And while heavy-viewing 18-24 year olds and 55 and older consumers provide a bright spot across viewing, the remaining group (medium and light sports viewers) of all ages are driving the biggest viewership declines.

The other notable shift across the sports world is the same one that has upended the overall media landscape: digital consumption. The continual addition of new platforms and channels will automatically have an eroding effect on existing options, and sports is no exception. For example, we tracked an annual increase of 11 million consumers aged 25-54 across the top five digital sports platforms in September. That 6% digital unique audience lift illustrates that even live sports isn’t immune to media fragmentation.

NYC Radio: Craig Carton To Host Show On Gambling Addiction

Craig Carton will host a program on WFAN 101.9 FM / 660 AM called, "Hello, My Name is Craig," starting in January that focuses on gambling addiction, reports Neil Best at Newsday.

Carton, who has co-hosted the station’s afternoon drive time program since last month, said the show will be heard at 9:30 a.m. on Saturdays beginning Jan. 9.

"I will be hosting a responsible gambling show and a show about addiction," Carton said in announcing the program on the air on Thursday afternoon.

He said "1-800-GAMBLER," which helps people who are problem gamblers, is partnering with the station on the show.

"They’re going to bring their expertise into it," Carton said. "I’ll tell the stories of gambling and the way my addiction manifested itself in the bad decisions I made, which became criminal.

"They’re the experts. They’re the ones that are going to walk us through what’s going on inside our noggin that makes us irrational and leads to an addiction."

Carton was released from prison in June after serving about a year upon being convicted on federal fraud charges. His offense was not directly related to gambling, but it was motivated by funding his debts from gambling.

"I’ve got a problem, man," he said on the air. "I’m not happy about it. I’m no longer ashamed of it, because I’m taking ownership of it . . . I’m sick and I didn’t recognize that I was sick." 

The Morning Rundown: FDA Back Pfizer's Vaccine

An advisory panel to the Food and Drug Administration yesterday endorsed the use of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine in a 17-4 vote with one abstention, concluding that the vaccine appears to be safe and effective in adults and teenagers age 16 and older to allow allow emergency use. The FDA doesn't have to accept the panel's recommendation, but it usually does, and if it does so in this case, vaccinations could begin in the U.S. within days. The panel gave its support despite a couple of cases of allergic reactions that have happened in the U.K., which began giving shots of the Pfizer vaccine earlier this week. Several of the members who voted against authorization objected to authorizing the shot for those ages 16 and 17, since people that age were in small numbers in the study, and also because they face low risk from Covid-19.

That came as another 3,067 people died from the coronavirus yesterday, according to the The Covid Project, the second day in a row with more than 3,000 deaths, the first time that's happened in the U.S. since the pandemic began. Also yesterday, Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warned at an event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations that the next two to three months will be grim, saying, "We are in the timeframe now that probably for the next 60 to 90 days we're going to have more deaths per day than we had at 9/11 or we had at Pearl Harbor."

Fox anchor takes issue with panelist who criticized lack of discussion on COVID deaths https://t.co/K4JGzpS5Om pic.twitter.com/XiOYwI5KEj

— The Hill (@thehill) December 11, 2020

➤MORE THAN 100 GOP LAWMAKERS SIGN ON TO TEXAS LAWSUIT SEEKING TO OVERTURN ELECTION RESULT: A Texas lawsuit that asks the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the result of the presidential election and invalidate President-elect Joe Biden's victory was signed on to yesterday  by 106 Republican members of the House, and is supported by 17 Republican state attorneys general. That comes even as election law experts say the unprecedented, last gasp effort, which is taking place ahead of the presidential electors casting their votes on Monday (December 14th) to officially make Biden the president-elect, has little chance to succeed. The suit claims, quote, "unconstitutional irregularities" in voting in four swing states, Michigan, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. However, in dozens of cases that President Trump's legal team have brought since the election, there has been no evidence of voter fraud or other wrongdoing related to the election, and they've been rejected by the courts. Officials in the four targeted states say the suit is a publicity stunt. 

Treasury yields fall as Congress remains deadlocked on stimulus https://t.co/MZE4jUDJZu

— CNBC (@CNBC) December 11, 2020

➤MCCONNELL SAYS GOP SENATORS WON'T SUPPORT EMERGING BIPARTISAN CORONAVIRUS AID BILL: As a bipartisan group of congressional lawmakers were working on a emerging $900 billion coronavirus aid package, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell dealt the effort a major blow yesterday when he said Republican senators won’t support a provision for $160 billion in state and local funds as part of a potential trade-off for the liability protection from coronavirus-related lawsuit he wants for businesses and organizations. McConnell described the state and local aid, for places that have been hard-hit economically due to the pandemic, as, quote, "controversial state bailouts." Before the statement from McConnell, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had reported headway on reaching a deal.

➤FEDERAL EXECUTION CARRIED OUT, RARE DURING TRANSITION: The administration carried out the execution of a federal prisoner yesterday, its ninth of the year and part of several taking place during the transition, the first time that's happened in 130 years. Brandon Bernard was put to death by lethal injection in a U.S. prison in Indiana, despite appeals to President Trump for a pardon from several high-profile figures, including Kim Kardashian. The 40-year-old Bernard had been convicted in the murder of a religious couple more than two decades ago when he was 18. Bernard and four other teenagers abducted and robbed Todd and Stacie Bagley on their way from a Sunday service in Texas. Bernard didn't shoot the couple, but he poured lighter fluid on the car and set it on fire with their bodies in the trunk.

➤BIDEN-HARRIS NAMED TIME'S PERSON OF THE YEAR: Time magazine has named President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris its "Person of the Year," unveiling the choice in a first-ever show on NBC last night. 

Time editor-in-chief Edward Felsentha wrote that Biden and Harris were the choice, quote, "for changing the American story, for showing that the forces of empathy are greater than the furies of division" and "for sharing a vision of healing in a grieving world." The other finalists they beat out were President Trump, frontline health care workers and Dr. Anthony Fauci, and the movement for racial justice. 

Time also named honorees in four other categories, something it began last year:

• Zoom CEO Eric Yuan as Businessperson of the Year.
• Activists Assa Traore, Porche Bennett-Bey and racial-justice organizers; frontline health workers; and Fauci as Guardians of the Year.
• NBA superstar LeBron James of the L.A. Lakers as Athlete of the Year.
• Korean boy band BTS as Entertainer of the Year.

➤BEN & JERRY CREATED COLIN KAEPERNICK INSPIRED ICE CREAM FLAVOR: Progressive ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has created a new flavor inspired by Colin Kaepernick, introducing the Change the Whirled flavor yesterday.  It's actually a vegan ice cream, made with caramel non-dairy sunflower butter and fudge chips with graham crackers and chocolate cookies swirled in. Ben & Jerry's said it created the flavor to celebrate, quote, "Kaepernick's courageous work to confront systemic oppression and to stop police violence against Black and Brown people." Kaepernick said he was "honored" to partner with Ben & Jerry's on the flavor, saying in a statement, "My hope is that this partnership will amplify calls to defund and abolish the police and to invest in futures that can make us safer, healthier, and truly free." Kaepernick's portion of the proceeds from the ice cream flavor will go to support his "Know Your Rights" organization, which teaches Black and Brown children about how to deal with police interactions.

➤STUDY: MORE THAN ONE THIRD OF PEOPLE RELY ON MOBILE PHONES FOR ‘SOCIAL LIFE’: Being stuck in the house has driven many to view their phones as the driver of their social lives, finds a new study. When 2,000 smartphone users were questioned, nearly half reported using their phones more in 2020, and 36 percent say they rely on their device completely for a “social life.” People used their phones in order to actually socialize, not just look at social media, with 17 percent using their phones to "have a drink with someone", 12 percent using it to watch a film of TV show "with others", and 28 percent using it to take part in quizzes. The data, gathered by Three Mobile, also finds that more than a third say they would’ve been bored without their mobile phone this year, and 29 percent say they wouldn’t have been able to cope this year. Also, 32 percent say their phone allowed them to have a bit of normality during 2020, with 30 percent admitting that speaking to others on the phone helped their wellbeing. One other find: 22 percent say they went on a “virtual date” during lockdown, and 20 percent report this resulted in a relationship.

➤HOW TO FIND OUT WHEN PS5 AND OTHER SELL-OUT TOYS AND CHRISTMAS GIFTS ARE RESTOCKED: Every year there are super popular toys and gifts that are nearly impossible to get your hands on. One of them this year is the PlayStation 5 or PS5, which launched in November. 

Here are some tips for getting your hands on one, or any other wildly popular item this Christmas season. First, check price comparison sites like Idealo, Google Shopping and Pricespy. Also, go to your chosen retailer’s website and sign up for email alerts for when your desired item is back in stock. Amazon shoppers can click the “alert me” box next to a product if it’s out of stock, and if you click “sign up” you’ll be sent an email when the item becomes available again. You should remember when using this service or a similar one from any website, the alert that the item is available (no matter how it’s messaged to you) does not reserve the item, merely lets you know it’s available. You could also sign up to get alerts from a stock checker, which will send push notifications to your phone, or emails you, when the product you want comes back into stock.You should also follow the right Twitter accounts that can put you ahead of the game when it comes to spotting if an item is back in stock. For example, @PS5UKStock monitors the discussion on PS5s from other users and shares them with their own followers.

➤HERE’S HOW TO GET MCDONALD’S HOLIDAY 2020 DAILY DEALS INSPIRED BY CLASSIC CHARACTERS: McDonald’s has announced it’s offering holiday 2020 daily deals this month. From Monday, December 14th through Christmas eve on Thursday, December 24th, you can score daily freebies in the McDonald’s app. You must have a minimum purchase of $1 to score all the deals except for the final one on Christmas Eve (you can score a free 2-Pack of chocolate chip cookies, no minimum purchase necessary on December 24th). The deals each day are inspired by holiday movie characters, for example you can get free Hotcakes (with the $1 purchase) on December 20th, and this deal is inspired by Buddy the Elf, while on December 22nd you can get a free any size McFlurry with a $1 purchase (inspired by Frosty the Snowman.)

FINAL: The @RamsNFL earn their ninth win! #RamsHouse #NEvsLAR

(by @Lexus) pic.twitter.com/sHLjMgoBjd

— NFL (@NFL) December 11, 2020

🏈RAMS PUMMEL PATRIOTS 24-3: The Los Angeles Rams pummeled the New England Patriots 24-3 last night at home, with Pats quarterback Cam Newton getting sacked four times before being pulled for the final three series in the fourth quarter. Rams quarterback Jared Goff threw for 137 yards and a touchdown and also rushed for touchdown, and it was breakout night for L.A.'s rookie running back Cam Akers, who rushed for 171 yards. The loss officially ended the Patriots' NFL-record streak of 17 straight seasons with at least 10 wins.

🏈MORE COLLEGE FOOTBALL CANCELLATIONS, BC OPTS OUT OF BOWL GAME: Four more major college football games that were scheduled for Saturday were canceled yesterday due to positive coronavirus tests, including Number 13 Oklahoma's game against West Virginia and Number 23 Texas' matchup with Kansas. That brings the total to 10 for the week. Meanwhile, Boston College opted out of playing in a bowl game, becoming the first school to pass on an opportunity for the postseason. BC said the decision was made so players can spend Christmas with their families, with athletic director Pat Kraft telling reporters, "A lot of these young men haven’t hugged their loved ones since June."

🏈ARMY-NAVY GAME AT WEST POINT FOR FIRST TIME IN 77 YEARS: The annual Army-Navy college football game is being played at West Point this Saturday for the first time in 77 years, with the two service academies agreeing to the move from its usual site in Philadelphia due to attendance limits because of the coronavirus. It's in West Point because it was Army's turn to be the home team in the 121st meeting between the rivals. Fans won't be allowed at Michie Stadium, but academy students will be, and President Trump also plans to be on hand for the game.

🏀IRVING, NETS FINED FOR HIM NOT SPEAKING TO REPORTERS: The NBA fined Kyrie Irving and his team, the Brooklyn Nets, $25,000 each yesterday because the point guard has refused to speak to the media so far during the preseason. The NBA said Irving has refused several times this week to take part in team media availability, which is being held via Zoom due to the pandemic. Irving said in a statement last week to address his media silence, "My goal this season is to let my work on and off the court speak for itself. Life hit differently this year and it requires us, it requires me, to move differently. So, this is the beginning of that change." 

🚨ACE ALERT🚨

Amy Olson makes the first hole-in-one of the tournament on the 16th to bring her to one-under par. 💯pic.twitter.com/BJAQGfpGMi

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) December 10, 2020

🏌OLSON LEADING AFTER FIRST ROUND OF U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN: American Amy Olson is at the top of the leaderboard after the opening round of the U.S. Women's Open yesterday at Champions Golf Club Cypress Creek in Houston. She also got a hole-in-one along the way to the lead, getting the ball in with one swing on her seventh hole, with was the 16th at Cypress Creek. She ended the round at 4-under 67, with a one-shot lead over three players tied for second.

Here's How Many Radio Ads It Takes To Get Results

CUMULUS MEDIA | Westwood One and the Radio Advertising Bureau partnered to determine and set guidelines based on four campaign goals, ranging from a 34% reach to a 78% reach of a station’s audience, to answer the question, “How many ads should I run per week?”

 

The findings were released Thursday on the Westwood One blog along with best practices and recommendations for media planning. 

• Perception: Agencies and AM/FM radio sellers align on the number of ads needed for light schedules but underestimate the numbers of ads needed for medium and heavy campaigns
• Using reach and frequency data, calculating turnover, and understanding differences in AM/FM radio programming formats, the number of ads in the schedule can optimized for maximum impact
• Media Monitors: Only a small fraction of American AM/FM radio schedules achieves heavy or medium reach levels while the vast majority of weekly radio station campaigns are very light
• National Association of Broadcasters and Coleman Insights: Advertisers running heavy AM/FM radio schedules are twice as likely to report excellent results
• Best practice: Campaigns with AM/FM radio ads in all days and dayparts generate stronger results
• LeadsRx | iHeartMedia: As the number of daily AM/FM radio ads increases, auto dealer website traffic lift surges
• Advertising is not “one size fits all”: Understanding the campaign goal is crucial to determining a correct AM/FM radio plan strategy and as important as the message itself