Saturday, October 9, 2021

October 10 Radio History


In 1900...actress Helen Hayes was born Helen Brown in Washington DC. After honing her craft on the stage Ms. Hayes began a 55 year big screen career in 1931. She had her own popular radio anthology series in the 1940′s; on  TV she played one of the Snoop Sisters in the 70′s, and Miss Jane Marple in the 80′s.

The First Lady of the American Theater died Mar 17, 1993 at age 92

Orville Gibson
In 1902...Mandolin maker Orville Gibson founded the Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Mfg. Co, Ltd. in Kalamazoo, MI.   In 1936 it would create the first commercially successful electric guitar.

Gibson began in 1894 in his home workshop in Kalamazoo, Michigan. With no formal training, Gibson created an entirely new style of mandolin and guitar, with tops carved and arched like the top of a violin. His creations were so different that he was granted a patent on his design.  More importantly, they were louder and more durable than contemporary fretted instruments, and musicians soon demanded more than he was able to build in his one-man shop.

On the strength of Gibson's ideas, five Kalamazoo businessmen formed the Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Mfg. Co., Ltd., in 1902. Within a short period after the company was started, the board passed a motion that "Orville H. Gibson be paid only for the actual time he works for the Company." After that time, there is no clear indication whether he worked there full-time, or as a consultant. Julius Bellson states in his 1973 publication, The Gibson Story, that "Orville Gibson had visions and dreams that were considered eccentric."

Starting in 1908, Gibson was paid a salary of $500 by Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Manufacturing Co., Limited (equivalent to $20,000 a year in modern terms). He had a number of stays in hospitals between 1907 and 1911. In 1916, he was again hospitalized, and died on August 19, 1918, at 62 years of age, in St. Lawrence State Hospital in Ogdensburg, New York.  Gibson is buried at Morningside Cemetery in Malone, New York


In 1911...Leo "Zeke" Manners was born (Died - October 14, 2000). He was a country musician and radio performer. While most of his radio work was at local stations in LA & New York, for a time he had a 15-minute network show that allowed him to integrate ‘hillbilly’ recordings with his live accordion, piano & banjo playing ”The One-Man Variety Show.” He died Oct 14 2000, four days after his 89th birthday.


In 1932...a syndicated adventure series for juveniles, Chandu the Magician was heard for the first time on KHJ radio Los Angeles.  It would continue with varying casts in various formats and networks until 1950.

In 1937...the Mutual Broadcasting System debuted Thirty Minutes in Hollywood. 48 sponsors shared the cost of the program that aired in 72 cities across the US. It was the first Mutual co-op radio show. George Jessel and Norma Talmadge starred, with music by the Tommy Tucker Orchestra.


In 1959...Ken Brown decided to leave the Quarrymen, which also consisted of  John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison.  The decision came after the group played at the popular Casbah Coffee Club in Liverpool, and Brown was unable to perform due to a heavy cold.  McCartney felt that Brown should not get a share of the performance fee since he did not perform.  So Brown quit the group.


In 1962...the BBC radio service banned the Halloween novelty song “Monster Mash”by Bobby “Boris” Pickett. Like many other songs, it was banned under a catch-all regulation prohibiting the broadcast of anything deemed “offensive.”

Orson Welles

In 1985...Orson Welles suffered a fatal heart attack at age 70.  Welles was a star of early radio; his Mercury Players produced The War of the Worlds in 1938, and dozens of other hour-long dramas.


In 2003...Syndicated radio talk host Rush Limbaugh, told his audience that he was addicted to painkillers and would be entering rehab for 30 days.

Jessica Harper is 72

🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAYS:

  • Actor Peter Coyote is 80. 
  • Actor Charles Dance (“Game of Thrones”) is 75. 
  • Actor-dancer Ben Vereen is 75. 
  • Singer Cyril Neville of The Neville Brothers is 73. 
  • Actor Jessica Harper (“Pennies From Heaven,” ″My Favorite Year) is 72. 
  • Cherie is 37
    Singer-guitarist Midge Ure is 68. 
  • Singer David Lee Roth (Van Halen) is 67. 
  • Country singer Tanya Tucker is 63. 
  • Actor Julia Sweeney (“Saturday Night Live”) is 62. 
  • Actor Bradley Whitford (“The West Wing”) is 62. 
  • Bassist Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet) is 60. 
  • Guitarist Jim Glennie of James is 58. 
  • Drummer Mike Malinin of the Goo Goo Dolls is 54. 
  • Actor Manu Bennett (“Arrow”) is 52. 
  • Actor Joelle Carter (“Justified”) is 52. 
  • Actor Wendi McLendon-Covey (“The Goldbergs,” ″Reno 911!”) is 52. 
  • Actor Mario Lopez (“The X Factor,” ″Saved by the Bell”) is 48. 
  • Actor Jodi Lyn O’Keefe (“She’s All That,” ″Nash Bridges”) is 43. 
  • Singer Mya is 42. 
  • Actor Dan Stevens (“Downton Abbey”) is 39. 
  • Singer Lzzy Hale of Halestorm is 38. 
  • Singer Cherie is 37.

Poll: Misinformation Is A Problem


Most also think social media companies, and the people that use them, bear a good deal of blame for the situation. But few are very concerned that they themselves might be responsible, according to a new poll from The Pearson Institute and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

The Associated Press reports ninety-five percent of Americans identified misinformation as a problem when they’re trying to access important information. About half put a great deal of blame on the U.S. government, and about three-quarters point to social media users and tech companies. Yet only 2 in 10 Americans say they’re very concerned that they have personally spread misinformation.

More, about 6 in 10, are at least somewhat concerned that their friends or family members have been part of the problem.

For Carmen Speller, a 33-year-old graduate student in Lexington, Kentucky, the divisions are evident when she’s discussing the coronavirus pandemic with close family members. Speller trusts COVID-19 vaccines; her family does not. She believes the misinformation her family has seen on TV or read on questionable news sites has swayed them in their decision to stay unvaccinated against COVID-19.

The survey found that 61% of Republicans say the U.S. government has a lot of responsibility for spreading misinformation, compared with just 38% of Democrats.

There’s more bipartisan agreement, however, about the role that social media companies, including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, play in the spread of misinformation.

According to the poll, 79% of Republicans and 73% of Democrats said social media companies have a great deal or quite a bit of responsibility for misinformation.

S-F Radio: Mark Willard Added To KGMZ Revamped Line-Up


Mark Willard joins KGMZ 95.7 The Game after a 2 ½ year run at KNBR in his native San Francisco. He'll be joined by Dan Dibley every Monday-Friday, 9AM-12PM.

Mark Willard has been on the radio and television airwaves throughout California and nationally since 2001. He also currently serves as a studio host for Pac 12 Network and hosts the Inside Giant Moments Podcast. This all follows a successful stint doing weekdays Noon-3 on the Mark & Rich Show on XTRA 1360 Fox Sports San Diego and nationwide on Fox Sports Radio weekends. Willard came to Fox after 6 years with ESPN LA, hosting his own weekday slot along with former Laker Mychal Thompson. Willard was also the host of the weekly ESPNLA.com show, “The Forum.”

Willard’s career began as a play by play announcer.  After a year calling football, basketball and baseball games for his alma mater Cal Poly SLO, he spent 2 seasons with the Boise Hawks Single A baseball club in the Angels organization.

In 1999 Willard moved toward talk radio, spending 2 successful years in the San Francisco Bay Area, followed by 1 year with XTRA Sports 690 in San Diego.  Those ventures led to his move to Los Angeles in 2001 as an update anchor/reporter for 1540 The Ticket, part of the Sporting News Radio empire.  His 6+ years with that company were highlighted as a co-host of the Roger Lodge Ticket Morning Show locally for 3 years, and co-host of the nationally syndicated Tony Bruno Show for 2 years.

In 2010, Willard was hired as the main face of a new venture on Foxsports.com called The Fox Sports Flash.  The website created a fast paced, 2 minute, on-camera update each hour.  Willard wrote and delivered the pieces each morning.

Willard’s TV career has blossomed, having appeared as the lead fill-in host of SportsNation on ESPN2.  He currently appears as a frequent guest on NBC’s Going Roggin, Time Warner Cable SportsNet’s Top 10 and Fox 11’s Sports Report.  Willard has also appeared on The Golf Channel, NBA TV, Fuel TV, & ESPNLA.com. He is also an accomplished voiceover artist.

Madison Radio: WMHX To Import The Jubal Show


Audacy has announced that “The Jubal Show” will be joining WMHX Mix 105.1 FM in Madison, starting Monday October 11th, 2021. The Jubal Show will air weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. CT.

“We have been looking at Jubal for years and watching how he makes game-changing radio, we are very excited to welcome him to host mornings on Mix 105.1,” said Andrea Hansen, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Audacy Madison. “The Mix listener has been craving a show like Jubal and we’re ecstatic to deliver what they want each weekday.”

“We are psyched to be the new morning show on Mix 105.1,” said Jubal. “Thanks to Chase Daniels and Audacy for giving us the opportunity to partner with them. We can’t wait to make Madison laugh every morning.”

The new Mix 105.1 weekday lineup is as follows:
  • 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.: “The Jubal Show”
  • 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Megan
  • 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.: Chris Michaels
  • 8:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.: “The Adam Bomb Show”

Akron Radio: Angela Bellios EXITS WNIR-FM

Angela Bellios
Angela Bellios, who had been at WNIR 100.1-FM since 2013, was hosting "The Morning Buzz" with Steve French and Phil Ferguson. Station CEO Bill Klaus confirmed Friday morning to the Beacon Journal that Bellios is "no longer employed by WNIR."

Klaus did not go into detail on why Bellios was no longer with the station, saying he does not discuss personnel issues. 

He said a variety of people have been filling in with French and Ferguson while the station looks for a new host. 

Bellios hasn't announced the change on social media, but did publicly post that she was dealing with some health issues in August. 

Klaus said Bellios' replacement will be found as part of a station promotion called "Akron's Got Talent." 

"Since talent is often an innate skill we will be conducting live on-air auditions from people with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds," Klaus said in an email.  "Radio experience is not required. People who are interested should send their resume to wnirradio@gmail.com." 

Forecast: Digital Music Streaming Ad Revenues To Hit $7.7B


Digital music streaming will continue to be the key driver in higher global music revenues, and ad revenues are a key piece of that growth, reports MediaPost.

They are expected to spike 37% this year and 21% next year, according to a report by Morgan Stanley.

Advertising from digital streaming platforms is estimated to hit $7.7 billion this year, and $9.4 billion in 2022, according to Benjamin Swinburne, research analyst at Morgan Stanley.

Results this year would more than double the 15% growth rate of digital music advertising from a year ago -- in part, coming out of a pandemic-affected 2020, in which all U.S. advertising unperformed.

“Higher streaming advertising represents outperformance this year compared to our expectations broadly across our coverage group, reflecting the health of the ad market in 2021,” writes Swinburne.

“This includes growth in podcasting, which has exceeded our expectations at both Spotify and iHeartMedia... and likely also at Pandora, though the underlying drivers of its outperformance are more difficult to unpack.”

All ad-supported radio -- digital, satellite, terrestrial -- will sharply climb 16% this year to $33.1 billion, and 13% more in 2022 to $37.2 billion.

Advertising at terrestrial broadcast radio will make a dramatic comeback -- rising 11% this year -- to $24.2 billion -- from a massive 24% fall in 2020.

Next year, a continued recovery is expected -- up 10% to $26.6 billion.

FOX News D-C Now Using New Studios


Fox News has officially cut the ribbon on a major renovation of its Washington, D.C. bureau at 400 North Capitol which includes updates to the newsroom, two broadcast studios and four radio studios.

According to newscaststudio.com, the project, which has been underway for the past 18 months, saw the first updates hit the air in early 2021 with the project wrapping in September just ahead of the network’s 25th anniversary. 



The new Fox bureau newsroom follows design cues included in the network’s primary newsroom in New York City such as columns wrapped in LED screens and hanging edge-lit plexiglass accents.

This feature, similar to one found in New York City, includes 12 75-inch displays and an additional 40 32-inch displays outside of the ring. These monitors include a variety of feeds from live cameras, remote positions and from Fox News Media’s various facilities.



The majority of the bureau’s staff was remote during the upgrades, due to the pandemic, with many still working remotely today as well.




Outside of Washington, additional studio and infrastructure updates are expected in the coming months in New York City. This year also marks the launch of Fox Weather, a new OTT streaming network from Fox News Media.

October 9 Radio History


➦In 1890...Aimee Elizabeth Semple McPherson born (Died – September 27, 1944), also known as Sister Aimee or simply Sister, was a Canadian-American Pentecostal evangelist and media celebrity in the 1920s and 1930s, famous for founding the Foursquare Church.

McPherson has been noted as a pioneer in the use of modern media, because she used radio to draw on the growing appeal of popular entertainment in North America and incorporated other forms into her weekly sermons at Angelus Temple, one of the first megachurches.

In her time she was the most publicized Protestant evangelist, surpassing Billy Sunday and her other predecessors. She conducted public faith healing demonstrations before large crowds; testimonies conveyed tens of thousands of people healed.  McPherson's articulation of the United States as a nation founded and sustained by divine inspiration continues to be echoed by many pastors in churches today.

News coverage sensationalized her misfortunes with family and church members; particularly inflaming accusations she had fabricated her reported kidnapping, turning it into a national spectacle. McPherson's preaching style, extensive charity work and ecumenical contributions were a major influence on Charismatic Christianity in the 20th century

In 1935...the "Cavalcade of America" first aired on he CBS Radio Network.   It was initially broadcast on radio from 1935 to 1953, and later on television from 1952 to 1957. Originally on CBS, the series pioneered the use of anthology drama for company audio advertising.

Cavalcade of America documented historical events using stories of individual courage, initiative and achievement, often with feel-good dramatizations of the human spirit's triumph against all odds. The series was intended to improve DuPont's public image after World War I. The company's motto, "Maker of better things for better living through chemistry," was read at the beginning of each program, and the dramas emphasized humanitarian progress, particularly improvements in the lives of women, often through technological innovation.

In 1937...program director John Rook was born in Chillicothe Ohio. Beginning in the late 1960’s he took first WLS Chicago, then WCFL Chicago and then KFI Los Angeles to dominance in audience share, and consulted dozens of other stations to success. He died March 1 2016 at age 78.

In 1943...The radio fantasy series "Land of the Lost" began its five-year run, first on ABC Radio Network. It was written and narrated by Isabel Manning Hewson, about the adventures of two children who traveled underwater with the fatherly fish Red Lantern. Each week the show opened with the line, "In that wonderful kingdom at the bottom of the sea...", and then Red Lantern showed Billy and Isabel where different lost objects were stored beneath the waves.

The Land of the Lost radio series aired from 1943 to 1948 on the Mutual Broadcasting System and NBC. Betty Jane Tyler was the voice of the young Isabel, and Ray Ives was the voice of Billy. Several actors voiced Red Lantern, including Art Carney, Junius Matthews and William Keene. The announcer was Michael Fitzmaurice, and Cyril Armbrister directed.

With music by John Winters and lyrics by Barbara Miller, Peggy Marshall did the vocal arrangements. Organist Bob Hamilton provided background music.

In 1967...Legendary New York DJ Murray The K was fired from station WOR-FM, where he had moved to when the station switched from a locally programmed free form rock approach to a Drake Top 40 format heavily spiced with oldies. He was fired because of his "inability to live with direction" as the DJs were no longer allowed to pick their music and talk as much.

He did weekends on WMCA Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons in late 1968 and '69

Murray The K
In 1972, Murray the K left New York radio to host programs in Toronto - on CHUM 1050 AM -and on WHFS 102.3 FM in Bethesda, MD. He returned to New York after his short stint on WHFS on the weekend show NBC Monitor and as a fill-in morning personality, and then in 1972 moved to a regular evening weekend program on WNBC radio where Don Imus was broadcasting; he was joined there by the legendary Wolfman Jack, a year later. Although it was low-key, Murray's WNBC show featured his own innovative trademark programming style, including telling stories that were illustrated by selected songs, his unique segues, and his pairing cuts by theme or idiosyncratic associations.

In early 1975, he was brought on for a brief stint at Long Island alternative rock station WLIR, and his final New York radio show ran later that year on WKTU-FM after which — already in ill health — he moved to Los Angeles.   Kaufman died of cancer a week after his 60th birthday on February 21, 1982.


In 1979...Howard Stern began his first morning show on WCCC in Hartford Conn. Stern had spotted an ad in Radio & Records for a "wild, fun morning guy".   He used some morning air time to assemble an aircheck with more outrageous bits, including Robert Klein and Cheech and Chong records with added flatulence routines and one-liners.

It was at WCCC where Stern first met Fred Norris, the overnight disc jockey, who went on to become Stern's writer and producer since 1981. Stern left WCCC in early 1980 after he was denied a "lousy, stinking twenty-five-dollar-a-week raise".  At the same time, local rival station WHCN had assembled tapes and press clippings of Stern and forwarded them to Burkhart/Abrams, a radio consulting firm, to get Stern out of the Hartford market as a rise in his ratings increased his threat to the station's numbers. The tapes were received by Dwight Douglas, a consultant at Burkhart/Abrams, who offered Stern work in Columbus, Ohio, but Stern declined.

Fred Norris
From 1976 to 1982, Stern developed his on-air personality through morning positions at WRNW in Briarcliff Manor, New York, WCCC, WWWW in Detroit, Michigan, and WWDC in Washington, D.C. Stern worked afternoons at WNBC in New York City from 1982 until his firing in 1985.

In 1985, Stern began a 20-year run at WXRK in New York City; his morning show entered syndication in 1986 and aired in 60 markets and attracted 20 million listeners at its peak.

Stern won numerous industry awards, including Billboard’s Nationally Syndicated Air Personality of the Year eight consecutive times, and is the first to have the number one morning show in New York City and Los Angeles simultaneously. He became the most fined radio host when the Federal Communications Commission issued fines totaling $2.5 million to station owners for content it deemed indecent. Stern became one of the highest paid radio figures after signing a five-year deal with Sirius in 2004 worth $500 million.


In 2011…New York City personality (WCBS 101.1 FM for parts of five decades) Bill Brown died at age 69.

In 1969, WCBS-FM traded in their easy listening 'Young Sound' format for an album rock format similar to WABC-FM (later WPLJ) and WNEW-FM. Brown was on the original air-staff.

Unfortunately, WCBS-FM did could not lay claim to sizable ratings in the New York City radio market while other stations such as WNEW-FM and WPLJ gained most of the rock n'roll radio audience. After research and several years of very low ratings WCBS-FM dropped the AOR format on July 7, 1972 at 6 AM and began playing Oldies from 1955 to then current product. Initially the station played both rock and roll songs and non rock songs of the 1950s and early 60's and only softer rock and pop hits of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Brown stayed on with the Oldies format. By the end of 1972, Brown was on the station weekdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.

In 1975, Brown also became Program Director of WCBS-FM. For a few months he gave up his midday airshift. By the end of 1976, Brown was on from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays along with his Saturday morning shift. Under Brown, WCBS-FM moved away from easy listening and began to play more 60's rock. In 1978, Brown gave up his program director position but retained his airshifts. His shift was still 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays and 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturdays.

In 1984, when Ron Lundy arrived, Brown was moved to 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. while Ron moved to the 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. slot. Harry Harrison now aired from 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. (vs 6 to 10 a.m.). Bill's Saturday shift was then 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. every second week. Bill Brown also continued doing voiceovers for many commercials airing on WCBS FM and other radio stations.

Brown continued on consistently from noon to 3 p.m until 2005, when his air-shift was moved to 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. With his years of service, age, and retirements of other well known staffers it was speculated that his retirement was not far off.

Bill Brown remained at WCBS-FM until June 3, 2005. Although ratings were decent and the station was profitable, CBS executives abruptly laid off the entire airstaff at 4 p.m. that day.

Bill Brown was the last live air personality to sign off several minutes before 4 p.m.. He came out of Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett and played Rescue Me by Fontella Bass. It was unclear whether or not he knew the end was happening from his last statement, though he did not say a typical goodbye. His last words were, "CBS-FM 101.1, Fontella Bass... Do you ever feel the urge to just kinda scream, "RESCUE ME!?"... I'm beginning to get that feeling, here's Fontella Bass."

Brown then retired from CBS-FM after 33 years of playing oldies, as well as nearly 36 years of service. He is the only air personality to be with the station through their entire first run using live on-air personalities. He did one of their first shifts the day WCBS-FM adopted the rock format in 1969 and the very last live air-shift doing oldies in 2005.

In 2012…Longtime Detroit radio, TV announcer Budd Lynch died as age 95. He had on-air stints  at WWJ, WXYZ, WJR, CKLW and  was the Detroit Red Wings' public address announcer, a position he held from 1985 to 2012. He began his career in 1949 as the team's radio play-by-play announcer.  He is also a member of  Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.

Jackson Browne is 73

🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAYS:

  • R&B singer Nona Hendryx (LaBelle) is 77. 
  • Singer Jackson Browne is 73. 
  • Actor Gary Frank (“Family”) is 71. 
  • Actor Robert Wuhl (“Arli$$”) is 70. 
  • Manager-TV personality Sharon Osbourne is 69. 
  • Actor Tony Shalhoub (“Monk,” ″Wings”) is 68. 
  • Accordion player James Fearnley of The Pogues is 67. 
  • Actor Scott Bakula is 67. 
  • Actor John O’Hurley (“Dancing with the Stars,” ″Seinfeld”) is 67. 
  • Actor-turned-producer Linwood Boomer (“Little House on the Prairie”) is 66. 
  • Actor Michael Pare (“Eddie and the Cruisers”) is 63. 
  • Jazz saxophonist Kenny Garrett is 61. 
  • Singer-guitarist Kurt Neumann of The BoDeans is 60. 
  • Country singer Gary Bennett (BR549) is 57. 
  • Melissa Villasenor is 34
    Director Guillermo del Toro (“The Shape of Water,” ″Pan’s Labyrinth”) is 57. 
  • Singer P.J. Harvey is 52. 
  • Director Steve McQueen (“12 Years A Slave”) is 52. 
  • Actor Steve Burns (“Blues Clues”) is 48. 
  • Singer Sean Lennon is 46. 
  • Musician Lecrae is 42. 
  • Actor Brandon Routh (“DC’s Legends of Tomorrow,” ″Superman Returns”) is 42. 
  • Actor Zachery Ty Bryan (“Home Improvement”) is 40. 
  • Actor Spencer Grammer (“Greek”) is 38. 
  • Comedian Melissa Villasenor (“Saturday Night Live”) is 34. 
  • Actor Tyler James Williams (“Everybody Hates Chris”) is 29. 
  • Country singer Scotty McCreery (“American Idol”) is 28. 
  • Actor Jharrel Jerome (“When They See Us”) is 24.

Friday, October 8, 2021

Media Habits Are Changing Rapidly For Young Adults


Media habits have undergone a sweeping change driven by streaming content and other digital media platforms, especially among younger age groups, according to Brad Adgate at Forbes.

Despite the fragmentation and the challenge of reaching young adults, many advertisers continue to market to this demographic, since young adults have a greater lifetime value as a consumer than older demographics.

In September, Attest released their third annual U.S. Media Consumption Report which highlighted a number of notable changes in media usage driven by digital platforms. For the Attest report, which also provided media consumption for older age groups, young adults (a.k.a. “Generation Z” were defined as adults 18-to-24. The survey questioned 2,000 respondents U.S. working age (18-to-65) consumers and was conducted in August 2021.

➤Social Media: Social media is more popular with younger adults than older adults. The Attest study found, on average, 59% of this age group spends 3+ hours each day on social media. TikTok is now the second most popular social media platform, slightly behind YouTube. Attest found, 60% of young adults visit TikTok daily (YouTube is at 61%). In just over five years since its launch TikTok has reached one billion monthly active users globally. In January 2018 TikTok had 54 million monthly active users worldwide. TikTok’s popularity grew notably during the pandemic, in the first quarter of 2020 the app had been downloaded 315 million times.

Both Instagram (56%) and Snapchat (52%) remain more popular with young adults than with older demographics. The same cannot be said for Facebook, only 28% of young adults visit Facebook daily, the lowest figure of any age group. For example, 57% of “Baby Boomers” (age 57 to 65) and 68% of “Generation X” (age 41 to 56) access Facebook daily.

➤Gaming: Another popular online activity is gaming. According to the report on average a large majority (82%) of adults 18-to-24 play games each day with 21% responding they play for 1-2 hours every day. A popular source for gaming is the Amazon owned Twitch, 26% of young adults say they access the live streaming service at least once a week. In addition, gaming sites such as Fortnite have been expanding into other forms of entertainment such as concerts and video. With the popularity of gaming and TikTok, eMarketer forecasts time spent on mobile phones each day for total adults has grown from 2 hours and 25 minutes in 2018 to 3 hours and 19 minutes this year.

➤Video: When compared to older adults 18-to-24 are more likely to stream video content, 44% of young adults stream 3+ hours video content each day. (Millennials, age 25-to-40 are a close second at 43%.) When broken out by time spent, 29% said they are streaming 1-2 hours daily and 29% are streaming 3-4 hours each day. Another 15% watch a minimum of 5 hours of streaming content every day.

Netflix by a wide margin, is the most popular video streaming platform among young adults, with 86% of 18-to-24 using the service (compared to 69% for total adults). Ranking a distant second in usage with Generation Z is Disney+ with 56%. (For older demographics Amazon Prime Video ranks second.) Drama and comedy are the two most frequently watched programming types among young adults, well ahead of reality shows.

➤Audio: “Generation Z” are more likely to stream music than older age groups. On an average day, 60% of adults 18-to-24 listen to online music and 18% say they listen a few times weekly. At 64%, Spotify is the most used streaming audio provider, followed by YouTube Music at 35%. Apple Music, at 33%, is more popular with young adults than older adult age groups. 37% of adults 18-to-24 say they listen to podcasts at least once a week, a figure second to Millennials at 45%.

Moreover, 11% say they listen to podcasts daily and 32% have said they have never listened to a podcast. Furthermore, 22% visit news websites, 17% read at least one magazine weekly (47% never read them) and 16% read a printed newspaper.

In addition, even before streaming, social media and gaming, young adults were lighter users of traditional media. The survey found 20% of adults 18-to-24 watch 1-2 hours of linear TV each day with 29% not watching any live TV. As for radio, 24% say they listen to radio several times a week and 19% listen daily.

Philly Radio: WPHT Promotes Greg Stocker To Program Director

Greg Stocker
Audacy has promoted Greg Stocker to Brand Manager of Talk Radio WPHT 1210 AM in Philadelphia. 

In this role, Stocker will oversee content strategy, talent, operations and branding for the station.

“I’m so pleased to see Greg earn this well-deserved recognition for his hard work and commitment to WPHT,” said David Yadgaroff, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Audacy Philadelphia. “Greg brings a passion for talk radio to his role and is the perfect manager to lead WPHT and our newly expanded local lineup along with some of the biggest names on the national stage.”

“It’s truly an honor to be leading this legendary radio station,” said Stocker. “I have an amazing team and I’m excited to guide us all into the next phase of WPHT’s evolution.”

Stocker initially joined the company as an intern in 2003 after obtaining a degree in TV/Radio from Northampton County Community College. From 2005 through 2013, he was producer of “The Michael Smerconish Show” and since 2014, he has been executive producer of “The Rich Zeoli Show.” In 2019, he was named Assistant Brand Manager in addition to his producing role.

Comcast To Produce Its Own Smart TVs


Comcast Corp. on Thursday said it has built a smart TV that will run on its own operating system, the company’s latest answer to the streaming wars.

The Wall Street Journal reports the broadband-powered smart TV, called Sky Glass, will be available to U.K. customers of Sky, Comcast’s European pay-TV unit, later this month and in other European markets next year. The company wouldn’t say whether a Comcast-powered smart TV would be launched in the U.S. soon.

Comcast has been at work developing smart TVs for some time, part of its effort to become a dominant player in the streaming market. Last November, WSJ reported that Comcast had been working with Chinese manufacturer Hisense and Walmart Inc. to develop smart TVs.

Sky Glass, which integrates Comcast’s technology platform and Sky’s content, will mark the first time in the U.K., where Sky is based, that customers can receive Sky without a satellite dish.

The company said Sky Glass was built so that it could be used by other pay-TV operators. Sky said Thursday Australian pay-TV company Foxtel Group will use Sky Glass. Comcast has a similar partnership with Cox Communications Inc. in the U.S. with its cable and streaming boxes. Foxtel is part of News Corp, the parent company of Wall Street Journal publisher Dow Jones & Co.

Comcast has been doing more to integrate its operations with Sky, which it acquired in 2018. In July, the Philadelphia-based company said it would give NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock, to Sky’s 20 million subscribers across Europe at no additional cost.

Sep 2021 PPMs: Austin, Nashville, Hartford +9 Other Markets Released

Nielsen on Thursday, October 8, 2021 released the final batch of September  2021 PPM data for the following markets:


32  Austin

38  Raleigh-Durham NC

39  Indianapolis

40  Nashville

42  Milwaukee-Racine

44  Providence-Warwick-Pawtucket

45  Norfolk-Virginia Beach- News News

46  Jacksonville FL

47  West Palm Beach-Boca Raton

48  Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point NC

51  Memphis

52  Hartford-New Britain-Middletown CT


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NYC Radio 77WABC Now Celebrating 100-Years


77WABC Radio, one of the strongest signals in North America, is celebrating 100 years of continuous broadcasting. 

John Catsimatidis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Red Apple Group and subsidiary Red Apple Media, has announced that WABC will celebrate its rich history and the cultural impact that the iconic station has had on the lives of its listeners throughout the next year, kicking off this month. In addition, the celebration will feature guests, interviews, milestones, remembrances, and more. To visit the 77 WABC Celebrates 100 Years webpage, click here.

Superstars of radio emerge from 77 WABC, and listeners are being treated to re-broadcasts of classic programs hosted by some of the larger-than-life on-air personalities who have helped make 77 WABC one of the most beloved, admired, and listened-to radio stations in America. The special retrospective series airs every Sunday in October, from 3 to 4 pm, and launched last weekend, on October 3, with rebroadcasts of shows by Rush Limbaugh’s - his first show on 77 WABC - and talk radio pioneer Bob Grant. 

This Sunday spotlights Dan Ingram, the thinking man’s DJ. Each Sunday tribute will be announced on-air the preceding Wednesday. To hear the 100 Year Celebration promo and last Sunday’s special programming, click here.

Listeners are also invited to vote for their favorite WABC air personality from the past into the 77 WABC Hall of Fame, “The Talk Radio Years” and “The Music Radio Years” (click here).

Catsimatidis, who purchased the station two years ago, stated, “With 50,000 watts of clear channel power, 77WABC represents the many and diverse communities in New York and America with a common sense approach to the issues that confront our world, along with music and entertainment on the weekends. Looking forward to the next 100 years, we’re reaching our listeners on every available platform -- broadcast, podcast, streaming, and mobile -- and we’re thinking beyond radio. We’ve built a state-of-the-art audio/visual facility, which we call Studio 77. Our morning show is available for our fans to watch, as well as listen, and we’ve hosted live broadcast events such as a mayoral primary debate and special 9/11 programming that included the leaders of New York then and now. We’re developing new talent and exploring new ideas.”

77 WABC launched in 1921 as WJZ. On May 1, 1953, the station rebranded as 77 WABC and has continually delivered the top-quality programming that met the market needs at the time, from talk to music.

Today, 77 WABC continues to lead innovation on and off the air. The current on-air lineup includes some of the most influential names in politics, business, entertainment, and more.

Wake-Up Call: U-S Senate Passes Extension Money Deal

The Senate on Thursday approved a short-term extension of the government's borrowing authority into December, avoiding an October 18th deadline to lift the debt ceiling or face an unprecedented U.S. default, which would have set off a damaging financial crisis. The House is set to approve it next week. The measure was passed on a party-line 50-48 vote, after 11 Republican senators joined with the Democrats to overcome a filibuster by other GOP senators. The break in the crisis came when Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Wednesday offered support for a short-term extension. The Republicans had previously been refusing to provide votes to lift the debt limit, saying Democrats should do it on their own, but also using the filibuster to prevent Democrats from voting to lift it on their own, wanting Democrats to use the cumbersome reconciliation process. The reprieve won't be long, with another default deadline now set to arrive in December that will have to be avoided.

➤PFIZER OFFICIALLY ASKS FOR APPROVAL OF VACCINE IN CHILDREN AGES 5 TO 11: Pfizer officially asked U.S. government regulators yesterday to approve its Covid-19 vaccine for use in children ages five to 11. The Food and Drug Administration will review the results of Pfizer's research to decide whether it's confident that the vaccine is safe and effective in that age group, which the pharmaceutical company says it is. However, Pfizer says these younger children should get one-third of the dose given to those ages 12 and up. If the FDA authorizes emergency use, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will make the final decision.



 ➤SENATE REPORT DETAILS TRUMP'S EFFORTS TO GET JUSTICE DEPT. TO UNDO ELECTION RESULTS: A Senate Judiciary Committee report released yesterday detailed then-President Donald Trump's extraordinary efforts after he lost the 2020 election to get the Justice Department to undo the results. The report from the Democratic-led committee said Trump asked Justice Department leaders to declare the election "corrupt," and disparaged its top official for refusing to do so, leading to senior officials warning of a mass resignation in the face of the pressure. The report said Trump did have the support of a little-known Justice Department lawyer, Jeffrey Clark, but other senior officials stood against it. It charges Trump, quote, "grossly abused the power of the presidency” in his efforts and arguably violated federal law barring ordering federal employees to engage in political activity. Republicans on the committee issued their own report downplaying what's in the Democratic-led report, portraying Trump as having ignored suggestions from Clark and refused to fire top Justice Department officials.


➤NOBEL PEACE PRIZE AWARDED TO DUO FOR PROMOTING FREEDOM OF THE PRESS:  Berit Reiss-Andersen, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, praised the journalists from the Philippines and Russia for their efforts to safeguard the freedom of expression, "which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace."

➤U-S NUCLEAR SUB HIT OBJECT UNDERWATER, SAILORS INJURED: A U.S. nuclear-powered submarine hit an object underwater in the South China Sea on Saturday, CNN reported Thursday, citing two defense officials. Several sailors on board the USS Connecticut suffered injuries, none of them life-threatening, according to the U.S. Pacific Fleet. It's still unclear what the sub may have hit, but the fleet's statement said, "The submarine remains in a safe and stable condition." An investigation is being carried out. The Connecticut was operating in the region as the U.S. and allies have been carrying out a major show of force amid heightened tensions with China over its military's incursions into Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone, according to CNN.


➤BOBBY FLAY LEAVING FOOD NETWORK: Variety is reporting that celebrity chef Bobby Flay is set to leave Food Network after 27 years. Sources tell the outlet that he walked away after talks on a new contract broke down. His current contract is set to expire at the end of this year, at which time Flay will exit.

➤'NEW YEAR'S ROCKIN' EVE' TO FEATURE SPANISH LANGUAGE COUNTDOWN: Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2022 will feature the show’s first Spanish Language countdown. According to Deadline, the festivities will take place on the grounds of the Puerto Rico Convention Center and DISTRITO T-Mobile. Details around co-hosts, performers in Times Square and additional locations will be announced closer to show night.


➤U-S HEALTH OFFICIALS URGE AMERICANS TO GET FLU SHOT: U.S. health officials have been urging Americans to get vaccinated against Covid-19 for many months, but they are now reminding us not to forget to get a flu shot. There are concerns that there could be a bad flu season after flu cases were at an historically low level last winter, which would come on top of the ongoing pandemic. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said yesterday (October 7th) that it's, quote, "doubly important this year" to get your flu shot. Health officials also says that if you still haven't gotten your Covid vaccine, you can get both that vaccine and the flu shot in the same visit.

➤RUSSIA BEHIND 58 PERCENT OF STATE-SPONSORED HACKING: Microsoft said yesterday that Russia was behind 58 percent of state-sponsored hacking that the company detected over the past year, with most of it targeting government agencies and think tanks in the U.S., followed by Ukraine, Britain and European NATO members. Microsoft also said in its second-annual Digital Defense Report, covering July 2020 through June 2021, that China accounted for fewer than 10 percent of the state-backed hacking attempts they detected, but was successful 44 percent of the time, compared to Russia's 32 percent success rate.

🤑STUDY...ARE WOMEN WORSE THAN MEN AT SALARY NEGOTIATION?:  Stereotypes don’t always hold true. University of Southern California researchers found that women and men are both equally bad at salary negotiation. They found in an experiment that 43 percent of participants didn’t negotiate at all, and that job seekers left 20 percent of value on the table. Researcher Peter Kim explains that in real-world scenarios, “Women have been found to perform just as well as men when negotiating on behalf of others. It is only when they negotiate for themselves that women perform worse than men. This suggests that such differences may be due to the fear of social stigma against women seeking to benefit themselves too much– a stigma that women typically find difficult to navigate around on their own.”


 🦑SQUID GAME HALLOWEEN COSTUMES ARE GOING TO BE BIG THIS YEAR: There’s always at least one costume that dominates Halloween, and this year costumes inspired by the Netflix show “Squid Game” seem to be taking that top spot. The show’s iconic red and green jumpsuits have become best sellers on retail sites like Amazon, and the masks worn by the show’s guards (which resemble fencing masks) have also been selling well. Since many of the costumes from the show are so simple, some social media users have also been showing off how to recreate the costumes without actually having to spend money. The show is A South Korean drama that revolves around a deadly contest where people who have massive debt compete for a large cash prize.

🏈RAMS DEFEAT SEAHAWKS 26-17: The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Seattle Seahawks 26-17 last night, in a game that Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson had to leave in the third quarter. Wilson exited after injuring the middle finger on his throwing hand with what head coach Pete Carroll later said was a bad sprain. Backup Geno Smith came in for the rest of the game. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for 365 yards and a touchdown in the win in Seattle.
 

⚾RAYS, ASTROS WIN ALDS OPENERS: The Tampa Bay Rays and the Houston Astros won the opening games of their best-of-five American League Divsion Series yesterday. The Rays shut out the Boston Red Sox 5-0, with rookie Randy Arozarena hitting a home run and stealing home for Tampa Bay, the first player to do both in a postseason game. Shane McClanahan pitched five innings for the Rays before handing it over to the bullpen. In the other game, the Houston Astros downed the Chicago White Sox 6-1. Houston starter Lance McCullers Jr. held Chicago scoreless into the seventh inning, while Yordan Alvarez hit an RBI double and a solo homer in the game. Game 2 for both series will be held today.

Wall Street Journal 10/8/21



🏀18 EX-NBA PLAYERS CHARGED IN HEALTH CARE FRAUD SCAM: Eighteen former NBA players were charged Thursday in a health care fraud scam that illegally netted them some $2.5 million by defrauding the league's health and welfare benefit plan. The scheme, which began in 2017, involved the ex-players claiming false medical and dental expenses. U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said the conspiracy was led by Terrence Williams, a first-round draft pick in 2009, who played with four franchises over four seasons. He then recruited other former players to the scheme. One of them was allegedly Tony Allen, a six-time All-Defensive team selection and a member of the 2008 champion Boston Celtics. However, most of those involved didn't have notable careers.

🏈BROWNS QUARTERBACK MAYFIELD REPORTEDLY HAS PARTIAL LABRUM TEAR: Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield has a partially torn labrum in his left, non-throwing shoulder, according to media reports yesterday. It reportedly doesn't require surgery right now, and Mayfield will continue to play as long as the injury doesn't get worse. He was injured last month when he tried to tackle Houston Texans safety Justin Reid after throwing an interception, causing his shoulder to pop out.

🏒CANADIENS STAR GOALIE PRICE ENTERS NHL PROGRAM FOR MENTAL HEALTH HELP: Montreal Canadiens star goalie Carey Price is stepping away from the ice to voluntarily enter the NHL/NHL Players’ Association joint player assistance program, it was announced yesterday, less than one week before the start of the season. Neither the league nor the players' union said why the 34-year-old is entering the program, but Price's wife, Angela, said in an Instagram post that it's for the former NHL MVP's mental health. She wrote, in part, "No matter what is on the line, we hope we can communicate the importance of putting your mental health first not just by saying it, but by showing up and doing the work to get better." Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin said Price would be in the program for at least 30 days.

Gallup: Trust in Media Dips to Second Lowest on Record

  • 36% in U.S. have a "great deal" or "fair amount" of trust in mass media
  • 68% of Democrats, 31% of independents and 11% of Republicans trust media
  • Democrats' and independents' trust is down five points since 2020, GOP's flat

Americans' trust in the media to report the news fully, accurately and fairly has edged down four percentage points since last year to 36%, making this year's reading the second lowest in Gallup's trend.


In all, 7% of U.S. adults say they have "a great deal" and 29% "a fair amount" of trust and confidence in newspapers, television and radio news reporting -- which, combined, is four points above the 32% record low in 2016, amid the divisive presidential election campaign between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. In addition, 29% of the public currently registers "not very much" trust and 34% have "none at all."

These findings, from a Sept. 1-17 poll, are the latest in Gallup's tracking of the public's confidence in key U.S. institutions, which began in 1972. Between 1972 and 1976, 68% to 72% of Americans expressed trust in the mass media; yet, by 1997, when the question was next asked, trust had dropped to 53%. Trust in the media, which has averaged 45% since 1997, has not reached the majority level since 2003.

After hitting its lowest point in 2016, trust in the media rebounded, gaining 13 points in two years -- mostly because of a surge among Democrats amid President Donald Trump's antagonistic relationship with the press and increased scrutiny of his administration by the media. Since 2018, however, it has fallen a total of nine points, as trust has slid among all party groups.

Partisans' trust in the media continues to be sharply polarized. Currently, 68% of Democrats, 11% of Republicans and 31% of independents say they trust the media a great deal or fair amount. The 57-point gap in Republicans' and Democrats' confidence is within the 54- to 63-point range for the two groups since 2017.

While both Democrats' and independents' trust has slid five points over the past year, Republicans' has held steady.


Historically, Republicans' confidence in the accuracy and fairness of the news media's reporting has not risen above 52% over the past quarter century. At the same time, Democrats' confidence has not fallen below the 2016 reading of 51%. For their part, independents' trust in the media has not been at the majority level since 2003.

Just as Americans' trust in the three branches of government is faltering, so too is their confidence in the fourth estate -- the media. Confidence in the media among Republicans over the past five years is at unprecedented lows. After a brief recovery in trust among Democrats and independents early in the Trump administration, their trust has fallen off a little in recent years. Democratic trust remains well above where it was before Trump came into office and made attacks on the media a core message of his presidency.

NYC Radio: WSKQ Mega 97.9 FM Reaches Streaming Milestone


Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. has announced that its flagship New York City station, WSKQ Mega 97.9 FM, has achieved a historic milestone in claiming the #1 ranking for its stream among all radio station streams in the country. This is among all reported streams of FM or AM stations regardless of language or format in Nielsen’s Spring 2021 survey period among Persons 12+; M-Su 6a-12m; Weekly Cume Persons.

This historic achievement highlights the sustained dominance that SBS New York radio continues to have in the daily lives of today’s Hispanic consumers in the Tri-State area for 38 years, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. These recent ratings rank Mega 97.9 FM as not only the most-listened-to radio station stream in the Metropolitan New York-New Jersey-Connecticut area but also set Mega 97.9FM as the #1 ranked station stream in the nation.

Albert Rodriguez, SBS President & COO, commented, “Our NYC powerhouse Mega 97.9FM has continued to rapidly grow its listeners in radio streams and serves advertisers by offering the best music, the most compelling personalities and the most exciting content in the market. Congratulations to the entire SBS NY team for their incredible efforts all year long and for making history once again in the Nation.”

“Mega 97.9 FM has served as the epicenter for Hispanic culture in New York City for over thirty-seven years. These most recent Nielsen Audio’s August 2021 PPM survey results solidify our leadership position in the marketplace, in radio streams, as we continue our service and responsibility to the New York Metro community and overall client base. Mega 97.9 FM today is stronger than ever, with offerings expanding from over the air radio, digital, and experiential programs. These record-setting achievements are backed by the most compelling on-air personalities in the nation, programming the best in music and syncing with our community outreach. Congratulations to the entire SBS NY family for their incredible efforts and making history once more in the Country.” said Maire Mason, Vice-President and General Manager of SBS New York.

SBS continues to hold the national leadership positions in the following format genres: #1 Tropical, #1 Latin “Movimiento,” as well as the Hispanic station with the most listeners on the planet.

Source: Spring ’21 Nationwide; Persons 12+; M-Su 6a-12m; Weekly Cume Persons, Multiple Markets, Metro.

Hartford Radio: Suzi Klonk Named Brand Manager At WDRC-FM

WDRC's Suzi Klonk

Full Power Radio announced Thursday that it has promoted Suzi Klonk at WDRC 102.9 FM The Whale WDRC Music Director/Brand Manager.

“Suzi is a winner and knows the Hartford/New Haven market street by street and sings along with the Classic Rock she plays while doing her mid-day show, according to John Fuller, President of Full Power Radio.

Klonk started as an intern on Michael Picozzi’s afternoon show on WCCC-FM. She hit her head the first day on the job and from that moment on Picozzi started calling her Klonk and the rest is history. Klonk has been a part of the Hartford radio market for two decades. Suzi Klonk lives in Manchester Connecticut with her husband Jonathan.

“I am excited for Suzi and know that her passion and determination will take 102.9 The Whale WDRC to the next level,” Fuller added”.

Boise Radio: FOX Sports Boise 99.9 Launches

Iliad Media Group announced Thursday the debut of the new FOX Sports Boise 99.9 (KSRV 96.1 HD2) in Boise, Idaho.

FOX Sports Boise 99.9 will broadcast FOX Sports Radio’s industry-leading programming 24/7, featuring a complete lineup of live sports entertainment shows, including: “Two Pros and a Cup of Joe” with LaVar Arrington, Brady Quinn and Jonas Knox, “The Dan Patrick Show,” “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” “The Doug Gottlieb Show,” “Straight Outta Vegas with RJ Bell,” “The Odd Couple with Chris Broussard & Rob Parker,” “The Jason Smith Show with Mike Harmon” and “The Ben Maller Show.”

Regional Operations Manager James Garner said: “We are thrilled to bring Fox Sports radio back to Boise. Our listeners will have access to the best names in sports talk, and 24/7 access to the best sports programming in the industry.”

Weekday programming lineup:
  • Two Pros and a Cup of Joe – 4 a.m. – 7 a.m. MT
  • The Dan Patrick Show – 7 a.m. – 10 a.m. MT
  • The Herd with Colin Cowherd – 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. MT
  • The Doug Gottlieb Show – 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. MT
  • Straight Outta Vegas with R.J. Bell – 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. MT
  • The Odd Couple with Chris Broussard & Rob Parker – 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. MT
  • The Jason Smith Show with Mike Harmon – 8 p.m. – 12 a.m. MT
  • The Ben Maller Show – 12 a.m. – 4 a.m. MT