September 25 Radio History

➦In 1922...WOAI San Antonio signed on the air. At first, it broadcast on 1190 kilocycles with only 500 watts. Over the next several years WOAI was issued permits by the Federal Radio Commission to move the transmitter site and increase its power from 500 to 1,000 watts; then to 2,000 watts, and then 5,000; and finally to 50,000 watts in 1930.

Meaning of call letters: World Of Agriculture Information.

During The Golden Age of Radio, WOAI was an NBC Red Network affiliate, airing its schedule of dramas, comedies, news, sports, soap operas, game shows, children's shows and big band broadcasts. For more than four decades, WOAI was owned by Southland Industries, Inc.

Because it went on the air in the earliest days of broadcasting, the station's call sign begins with a "W." Stations in Texas were in the W territory before 1923, when the dividing line became the Mississippi River. From that point, nearly all stations in Texas received "K" call letters. But WOAI has been grandfathered with its unusual call sign.

Today, WOAI is currently the westernmost station to have "W" call signs. There are still about two dozen W stations in states west of the Mississippi River.

In 1941, WOAI was moved to clear channel frequency 1200 kHz.

➦In 1933...The Tom Mix Radio Show was heard for the first time on NBC. The show ran until June 1950.

Thomas Edwin Mix was born Thomas Hezikiah Mix on January 6, 1880 and died October 12, 1940. He was an American film actor and the star of many early Western movies between 1909 and 1935. Mix appeared in 291 films, all but nine of which were silent movies. He was Hollywood's first Western star and helped define the genre as it emerged in the early days of the cinema.

Mix himself never appeared on these broadcasts (his voice, damaged by a bullet to the throat and repeated broken noses, was not fit for radio) and was instead played by radio actors: Artells Dickson (early 1930s), Jack Holden (from 1937), Russell Thorsen (early 1940s) and Joe "Curley" Bradley (from 1944). Others in the supporting cast included George Gobel, Harold Peary and Willard Waterman.

Detroit Radio: WWJ News Anchor Dead In Attack

One person is dead and four are in the hospital after authorities say a 54-year-old man attacked a woman, her children and the children's father, reported to be WWJ 950 AM night anchor Jim Matthews.

Police say the suspect entered the Matthews home Friday morning, according to The Detroit News.

While the timeline and motive remain unclear, Brian Bassett, the township's public safety director, said that it appeared the man stabbed the woman, 35.

Authorities were called around noon to Hidden Harbor Condominiums after the woman escaped the home with her 5-year-old daughter. The woman was able to call 911 thanks to help from a car driving by, Bassett said.

When authorities reached the house, they found the woman's son, 10, tied up in a closet with injuries from blunt force trauma.

Jim Matthews

Matthews was the 57-year-old man found dead, WWJ reported Friday evening. In an online statement, the station, owned by Audacy,  described Matthews, who spent seven years as an evening anchor, as a man who loved his two children as well as his job.

"There have been many tears shed in our newsroom today and Jim will be greatly missed," the station's statement read. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jim’s family and friends during this difficult time."

While announcing the news during their segment Friday night, colleagues Jackie Paige and Tony Ortiz referred to Matthews as a "consummate professional."

"Jim was always that guy, the friendly guy, the guy who would stick his neck out for you and the guy who said, 'hey, look, you need some help? You need anything, I'm the guy to come to,'" Ortiz said. "Jim will definitely be missed."

Florida Getting Ready To Hunker Down

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency for 24 counties, urging people to prepare for impact from a storm Ian expected to make landfall Tuesday or Wednesday as a Cat 3 hurricane.

DeSantis has also requested federal funding sources for emergency protective measures, under which members of the Florida National Guard could be activated, according to a statement from his office.

“This storm has the potential to strengthen into a major hurricane and we encourage all Floridians to make their preparations,” DeSantis said. “We are coordinating with all state and local government partners to track potential impacts of this storm.”

The 24 counties listed in the Governor’s emergency declaration include Miami-Dade and Palm Beach among others.

Nancy Barnes To Walk Away As NPR's Chief News Executive

NPR Newsroom

NPR's chief news executive, Nancy Barnes, said Friday she would be leaving the network, prompted by NPR CEO John Lansing's decision to create a new executive role above her.

According to a posting by NPR, a new chief content officer will oversee NPR's news and programming divisions, which have frequently collaborated and almost as frequently clashed over resources and priorities.

"As many of you have noted to me and others, there is increasingly overlap between the News and Programming divisions," Barnes wrote in a memo to staff Friday afternoon. "Now is the right time for me to pursue some other opportunities."

The development means NPR, one of a handful of vital players among national news organizations, will be searching for two top executives over news at the same time.

Nancy Barnes

Barnes called her decision "bittersweet," but wrote that she supported Lansing's decision and asked that the staff give him their support as well: "NPR is a national gem. The work we do is critically important, now more than ever."

Barnes wrote that she would stay until at least late November. Both Lansing and Barnes declined to comment for the NPR  story.

NPR's leadership in podcasting has made the popular audio form one of the network's growing sources of audiences and revenues in recent years. Yet that has come under duress from competition from other public radio players and, more recently, for-profit outfits–leading to arms races for talent, audiences and revenue.

iHM, Neustar Partnership To Include Radio In Marketing Attribution

Neustar, Inc., a TransUnion company, announced Friday a new partnership with iHeartMedia to include broadcast radio in end-to-end marketing attribution. 

The solution expands the Neustar Unified Measurement Solution, which spans Marketing Mix Modeling (MMM) and Marketing Attribution solution to include the iHeart broadcast radio universe. Neustar is the first attribution service to unify the measurement of radio, which reaches over 90 percent of Americans a month, with all other channels into one platform. This innovation provides critical insights into the incremental contribution the massive reach of broadcast radio has on consumer purchase behavior.

The inclusion of radio in Neustar’s measurement solution is the only solution to seamlessly integrate iHeart’s radio engagement data with Neustar’s customer-level marketing attribution models. Neustar marketing attribution solutions leverage more comprehensive identity and machine learning capabilities available, which power advanced identity resolution and marketing analytics for 70% of Fortune 100 brands.

Elton John Performs At TWH

Elton John felt the love Friday night as he was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Biden during a concert on the White House lawn.

The NY Post reports the 75-year-old John played a six-song set for Biden and two thousand others to honor everyday “heroes” like teachers, medical workers and AIDS activists. The tables were turned on the British rocker when the president bestowed the surprise honor on him.

“I don’t know what to say. … I don’t know how to take a compliment very well but it’s wonderful to be here amongst so many people who have helped my AIDS foundation and my heroes, the ones that work day to day on the front line,” John said, seemingly overcome with emotion.

During his set, John thanked audience member Laura Bush for the international AIDS relief initiative spearheaded by her and President George W. Bush.

The “Your Song” singer also noted that the stage in front of the White House under a large open-air tent was “the icing on the cake.”

The concert, dubbed “A Night When Hope and History Rhyme,” was put on by A&E Networks, which will air it at an undisclosed future date.

Taylor Swift Is Not Headlining Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show

TMZ Graphic

Hours after fans hypothesized that Taylor Swift could be the Super Bowl LVII halftime-show act, TMZ and People “have learned” from sources close to the situation that she will not be performing at the game.

Furthermore, TMZ reported Friday evening that a source told them Swift was asked to take the gig, but told the league she didn’t want to until she completed rerecording her first six albums.

In 2019, her former label, Big Machine Records and industry manager Scooter Braun (Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande), bought the rights to the master recording on all six of her first albums.

Swift claimed she didn’t know the sale was happening, let alone to Braun, and said she was “sad and grossed out” by it all.

Braun ended up reselling the masters but not before Swift vowed to rerecord each album to regain ownership.

It’s not that she doesn’t want to play the show — in fact, she does, reports The NY Post citing a  source — but it’s a matter of timing.

Atlanta Radio: Maxwell To Headline The WVEE 'Winterfest'

Audacy has announced Grammy Award-winning artist Maxwell will headline the WVEE “V-103 Winterfest” in Atlanta at the State Farm Arena on Friday, December 16. Additional artists will be announced in the coming week.

“‘V-103 Winterfest’ is a celebration for the city of Atlanta that allows us an opportunity to provide a festive event for our community,” said Rick Caffey, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Audacy Atlanta. “We are excited for the return of the first 'Winterfest' since the pandemic and we are looking forward to this special night of music with Maxwell and more.”

V-103 Winterfest features the hottest stars in hip hop and R&B. Past performers include Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, Bell Biv DeVoe, Tyrese, Tank, DJ Khaled, Rick Ross, Kem and many more.

Tickets go on sale Monday, September 26 via Ticketmaster and can be purchased HERE

Miami Radio: Line-Up C-C-Changes Coming To Sports WQAM

Sports WQAM-560 changed its midday lineup on Friday afternoon, dropping Jonathan Zaslow and moving 790 The Ticket morning hosts Brendan Tobin and Leroy Hoard to that 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. WQAM slot, according to the Miami Herald. 

The station did not make an announcement and did not comment on the matter. 

Zaslow announced his departure on Twitter: “Today was the last day for the “Zaslow Show” on local Miami radio. 18 years, very good run. Thanks to all my listeners!!!”

Tobin, one of the market’s most creative personalities, and Hoard are expected to begin in their new WQAM time slot during the week of Oct. 3.

Joe Rose’s WQAM morning show with Zach Krantz now will be simulcast on The Ticket, replacing the Tobin/Hoard program. Audacy, which owns both WQAM and The Ticket, also simulcast Marc Hochman’s and Channing Crowder’s afternoon show. WQAM and 790 The Ticket have trimmed staffing considerably under multiple owners in recent years. Local evening talk shows, anchored by Josh Friedman and others, were eliminated three years ago, and replaced mostly by games and syndicated programming.

Bay Area Radio: NBA Warriors Extend KGMZ Broadcast Deal

The 2022 NBA Champion Golden State Warriors have signed a multi-year contract extension with their flagship radio station, 95.7 The Game KGMZ-FM, it was announced Friday. The partnership began prior to the 2016-17 season and has included four NBA Finals appearances and three NBA titles. The upcoming 2022-23 campaign will mark Golden State’s seventh season on 95.7 The Game.

Tim Roye, who is entering his 28th season as the radio voice of the Warriors, will once again handle play-by-play duties. Jim Barnett will continue to join Roye in the booth as color analyst for all road games, marking his 38th season as a Warriors broadcaster, with Tom Tolbert handling analyst duties for home games.

“We’re ecstatic to continue our partnership with 95.7 The Game and the Audacy team,” said Brandon Schneider, Warriors President and Chief Operating Officer. “They have been an incredible partner for the last six years, documenting one of the greatest runs in NBA history, and have built a powerful presence in the Bay Area sports media landscape.”

Fired Sharon Osborne Fingers CBS

Cancel culture victim Sharon Osbourne urged concern for the "thousands of people" fired for publicly disagreeing with liberal orthodoxies Friday on "Tucker Carlson Tonight," according to Fox News Digital.

Osbourne was terminated from her role as a co-host of CBS's daytime talk show "The Talk" in 2021 for backing Piers Morgan after he was accused of racism and fired for blasting Meghan Markle's characterization of the British royal family as racist. She and co-host Sheryl Underwood had a heated exchange in which Osbourne expressed support for Morgan after he left "Good Morning Britain" over differing opinions about Markle.

Osbourne's termination was "not just a small thing, because nobody will touch me now because of what happened," she told host Tucker Carlson. "So it's not a small thing, but I'm fine. I can take care of myself."

"But what about the people [who] can't? … That's what we've got to worry about."

The British-American media personality fell prey to working in the "overly, overly woke" television and film industries, which she compared to "walking on eggshells." Such industries give no second chances, Osbourne said.

September 24 Radio History

➦In 1933...Radio's first dramatic "Roses and Drums" show, was heard on WABC 880 AM (then a CBS station) in New York City. It was heard until 1936 and was originally an anthology program drawing its material from American history.

1968

➦In 1934...Radio personality Pat O'Day born Paul W. Berg (died August 4, 2020 at age 85). He is probably best known as the afternoon drive personality at Seattle's KJR 950 AM in the 1960s, he would eventually become program director and general manager. He owned KYYX 96.5 FM 96.5 Radio in Seattle in the mid-1970s and early 1980s. The frequency is now occupied by KJAQ.

Starting in 1967, O'Day served as race announcer and commentator during Seafair for various radio and TV stations, most recently KIRO TV. The television station, however, announced it was parting ways with O'Day in 2013 and he would not return to broadcast the race. He set the Guinness world record for water skiing non-stop (around Lake Washington) for 4 hours 52 minutes, in 1959.

He is responsible for bringing the Seattle music scene to national prominence.

➦In 1935...CKLW Windsor-Detroit lost its CBS affiliation to WJR Detroit, and hooked up with the Mutual network instead. When the CBC debuted a year later CKLW became an affiliate, but also remained connected to Mutual.

➦In 1942...Glenn Miller ended his Moonlight Serenade radio show on the CBS Radio Network. Miller (March 1, 1904 - presumably December 15, 1944), was an American jazz musician and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1942, leading one of the best known "Big Bands". Miller's signature recordings include, "In the Mood", "Tuxedo Junction", "Chattanooga Choo Choo", "Moonlight Serenade", "Little Brown Jug", and "Pennsylvania 6-5000". While traveling to entertain U.S. troops in France during World War II, Miller's plane disappeared in bad weather. His body was never found. Miller's recordings are still familiar refrains, even to generations born decades after Miller disappeared.

➦In 1948...U-S citizen Mildred Gillars, known as "Axis Sally" pleaded innocent to charges of treason. She was convicted and wound up serving 12 years behind bars for being a Nazi wartime radio propagandist.

Millard Gillars

In 1934 she had moved to Dresden, Germany, to study music, later being employed as a teacher of English at the Berlitz School of Languages in Berlin. In 1940 she obtained work as an announcer with the Reichs-Rundfunk-Gesellschaft (RRG), German State Radio.

By 1941, as the U.S. State Department was advising American nationals to return home, Gillars chose to stay in Germany after her fiancé, Paul Karlson, a naturalized German citizen, said that he would never marry her if she returned to the United States. Shortly afterwards, Karlson was sent to the Eastern Front, where he died in action.

Until 1942 Gillars' broadcasts were largely apolitical. This changed when Max Otto Koischwitz, the program director in the USA Zone at the RRG, cast Gillars in a new show called Home Sweet Home.

Soon she acquired several names among her GI listeners, including Berlin Bitch, Berlin Babe, Olga, and Sally, but the one that became most common was "Axis Sally".

Elton John Performing Friday Evening At TWH

Elton John

British pop legend Elton John is set to rock the White House on Friday night, playing for President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden in a South Lawn performance the White House says "will celebrate the unifying and healing power of music," reports ABC News.

Biden has said his songs hold deep meaning for him and John, CNN reported, asked the White House if he could perform.

The event, dubbed "A Night When Hope and History Rhyme," is part of a collaboration with A&E Networks and The History Channel, according to the White House. The title of the event is a quote from Irish poet Seamus Heaney that Biden frequently uses in speeches and remarks, including when he accepted the Democratic nomination in 2020.

The event, before Cabinet secretaries and 2,000 invited guests, is to honor John's life and work, according to the White House, as well as to commemorate "the everyday history-makers in the audience, including teachers, nurses, frontline workers, mental health advocates, students, LGBTQ+ advocates and more."

Radio Performance Royalty Bill In The U-S Senate

SoundExchange, the premier music tech organization powering the future of music, praised today's introduction of the American Music Fairness Act in the United States Senate as a significant step forward in ensuring economic justice for creators whose work is played on AM/FM radio.

The bipartisan American Music Fairness Act, introduced by Senators Marcia Blackburn (R-TN) and Alex Padilla (D-CA), would require large broadcasters such as iHeartMedia, Audacy, and Cumulus Media to pay performance royalties for their use of sound recordings, while also providing relief for smaller stations or public stations via a modest annual flat fee. The House Judiciary Committee is expected to vote on a companion bill (H.R. 4130) this fall, setting the stage for Congressional action by year's end.

Mike Huppe

"The American Music Fairness Act is a necessary and overdue step towards bringing the music industry into the 21st century," said Michael Huppe, President and CEO, SoundExchange. "It ends decades of injustice of denying music creators payment for their work on AM/FM radio and levels the playing field between traditional broadcasts and streaming platforms. This is a common-sense blueprint for a healthier and fairer music industry, and we strongly support its passage on behalf of our 570,000 creator community."

Currently, the process for compensating music creators is disjointed and unfair. For example, recording artists and labels are paid when their music is played on streaming services such as SiriusXM, but not on one of iHeart's 860-plus over-the-air radio stations around the country.

Philly Radio: WPHT Goes Local, Sean Hannity Is Odd Man Out

Sean Hannity’s syndicated radio show will no longer air on WPHT 1210 AM as the conservative talk station has made major changes to its weekday lineup.

Rich Zeoli, who has been handling morning drive duties from 6 to 10 a.m. since replacing Chris Stigall in 2019, will return to his afternoon drive shift from 3 to 7 p.m., where Hannity’s program had aired. Replacing Zeoli in the morning is veteran sports talk radio host Nick Kayal, who will helm a program called "Kayal & Co." Zeoli’s morning co-hosts Dawn Stensland and Greg Stocker — who doubles as WPHT’s brand manager — will now work with Kayal.

All changes will take effect Oct. 3 and will give the Audacy-owned station all local hosts during day parts for the first time, reports The Philly Business Journal.

Nick Kayal

“For the first time ever, WPHT will be live and local from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., which further cements this fan favorite as the voice of Philadelphia and a reliable destination for our listeners,” Audacy Philadelphia Market Manager David Yadgaroff said in a statement. “We’re excited to welcome Nick, who is trading in his sports background for his passion for politics, to our morning drive, and move Rich and his highly-successful program to entertain and inform listeners as they wind down their days.”

Kayal is an Easton native and 2006 Temple University graduate perhaps most familiar with local audiences from his time at 97.5 The Fanatic (WPEN-FM) from 2009 to 2015. He moved on to hosting gigs for SiriusXM and, more recently, ESPN 102.5 The Game in Nashville and Audacy's 92.9 The Game in Atlanta (2020).

Wake-Up Call: Ukraine War Comes Home to Russians

A day after President Vladimir V. Putin announced a call-up that could sweep 300,000 civilians into military service, thousands of Russians across the country received draft papers on Thursday and some were being marched to buses and planes for training — and perhaps soon a trip to the front lines in Ukraine.  Putin’s escalation of the war effort was reverberating across the country, according to interviews, Russian news reports and social media posts. As the day wore on, it became increasingly clear that Mr. Putin’s decision had torn open the cocoon shielding much of Russian society from their leader’s invasion of a neighbor.

The Ny Times reports mothers, wives and children were saying tearful goodbyes in remote regions as officials — in some cases, ordinary schoolteachers — delivered draft notices to houses and apartment blocks. In mountainous eastern Siberia, the Russian news media reported, school buses were being commandeered to move troops to training grounds.

➤TRAFFIC PILES UP AT RUSSIAN BORDERS: Social media videos from Russia’s borders with several other countries show long lines of traffic as draft-age men seek to flee the country to avoid President Vladimir Putin’s “partial mobilization” of 200,000 military reservists. Flights to countries that do not require Russians to have visas are selling out.

Long lines of vehicles have formed at a border crossing between Russia's North Ossetia region and Georgia after Moscow announced a partial military mobilization. Report by @RTavisupleba pic.twitter.com/LyhxLUYRv3

— Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (@RFERL) September 22, 2022

➤JUDGE BLOCKS NEW INDIANA ABORTION LAW: A judge has blocked enforcement of a new Indiana law that bans abortion with few exceptions. The law took effect on September 15th. The ruling allows Indiana abortion providers to proceed with a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the law.

Daily Mail 9/23/22

➤ABRAMS CLAIMS EARLY FETAL HEARTBEATS ARE 'MANUFACTUREED SOUND': Stacey Abrams has sparked outrage across social media after she claimed that fetal heartbeats are a 'manufactured sound,' and Planned Parenthood are also under fire for changing language on their website to mirror Abrams' comments. Planned Parenthood were caught altering their website to back up Abrams' statement, changing the words that a fetus has 'a very basic beating heart' at six weeks to 'a part of the embryo starts to show cardiac activity.' Pro-life advocates took to Twitter to criticize the Georgia Democrat's comments as she claimed fetal heartbeats at six weeks are manufactured to allow men to 'take control of a woman's' body. 'Stacey Abrams is 2502.857 weeks old, and I still can't detect a heartbeat in her either,' wrote conservative commentator Lavern Spicer. Abrams appeared to be talking about the technical definition of the heartbeat, which is electrical activity caught on a vaginal ultrasound and then used to mimic a heartbeat.

Apple Music To Sponsor The Super Half-Time Show

The National Football League has reached a multiyear deal with Apple Music to sponsor the Super Bowl Halftime Show, beginning with the American football championship game in February 2023, the league said on Thursday, according to Reuters.

The Super Bowl is usually the most watched television event of the year in the United States, and the halftime show has become a showcase, featuring such notable artists as The Weeknd, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, Prince and Madonna.

Over 120 million viewers watched the 2022 Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show, which featured Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar. Super Bowl LVII will be played on Sunday, Feb. 12, in Glendale, Ariz.

The tie up will be a key promotional platform for Apple Inc, which has been associated with music since 2001, when it introduced the iPod digital music player.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but analysts had expected the league to get at least $50 million per year for the rights, reports CBS News.

NYC Radio: Coalition Airing 'Fall In Love' With Radio Campaign

A coalition of New York City radio stations has launched a campaign designed to focus attention on radio.

The New York City Radio Committee has developed a marketing campaign to promote the power of radio. The campaign includes radio messages airing on over twenty of New York's most listened-to stations, digital and social media marketing along with trade media. 

The multi-media campaign began Monday September 12 and runs through November. The focal point of the initiative will be a special emphasis on advertising agencies and businesses that purchase advertising.

Audacy/New York Market President Chris Oliviero and Chairman of the New York City Radio Committee stated, "Radio has been and continues to be a critical and valued part of millions of New Yorkers' daily lives. These iconic brands, from music to news to sports, provide the soundtrack of the city. This campaign offers a fresh, fun and innovative approach to highlighting the efficacy of radio for media planners and advertisers. The collaboration of the city's major broadcasters shows a clear commitment to our belief that local radio, consumed on FM or AM or streaming or in podcasts, is an essential tool in any overall marketing strategy in the media capital of the world."

Alex Jones, Lawyer Get in Heated Courtroom Argument

Alex Jones in court Thursday

Controversial radio host Alex Jones was back in court Thursday as his second defamation trial over his claims the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre was a hoax gets underway, reports Mediaite.

Jones is facing a second lawsuit from families over his comments related to the 2012 school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, in which 20 children and six adults were murdered.

Jones was found guilty by default in the case last year after failing to provide the requested information to the court including google analytics data that would show viewership numbers for his conspiracy theory website InfoWars.

The trial taking place now will determine how much Jones owes the family in damages.

Thursday in court, he came face-to-face with some of the Sandy Hook parents that he once labeled as crisis actors after their children’s murders.

Jones taking the stand didn’t proceed without his typical bluster as he ended up getting into a heated argument with the plaintiffs’ attorney Chris Mattei.

In a clip circulating Twitter via Law & Crimes Cathy Russon, Mattei pointed out one parent in the courtroom, Robbie Parker, whose daughter was killed in the shooting.

Roku Poaches Head Of Fox Broadcast Network

Charlie Collier, head of the Fox broadcast network, is leaving to become the president of Roku Inc.’s media division, where he’ll oversee programming of the streaming TV company’s channels.

Bloomberg reports the executive, who’ll start working in the New York office in late October, will supervise ad sales and programming for products like the Roku Channel. He’ll report to Chief Executive Officer Anthony Wood, the company said in statement Thursday. Two other Roku executives, Mustafa Ozgen and Gidon Katz, are being elevated to lead devices and the consumer experience, respectively.

Roku, based in San Jose, California, is best known for devices that connect TV sets with streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu. The company has been branching out in recent years to make its own programming for its customers.

Collier, a former executive at AMC Networks, had been helping Fox Corp. rebuild its entertainment offerings after the controlling Murdoch family sold much of their empire to the Walt Disney Co. In that role, Collier made acquisitions, such as the celebrity gossip site TMZ, and launched shows, such as “Monarch,” a family drama.

L-A Anchor Fired After Defending Ex-Colleague

KTLA-TV Channel 5 fired news anchor Mark Mester Thursday afternoon, days after he was suspended following an off-script segment in which he criticized the station’s handling of his co-anchor Lynette Romero’s abrupt departure, according to The L-A Times citing several employees at the station.

The station’s general manager, Janene Drafs, announced the firing with a brief speech during a meeting in the newsroom around 1:15 p.m., saying, "[Mester] is no longer at KTLA5,” staffers who were present for the announcement told The Times Thursday.

The KTLA website no longer lists Mester on its roster of reporters and anchors.

Last week, KTLA announced that Romero, a longtime anchor of its popular weekend morning show, had left the station without saying goodbye to viewers, drawing wide outrage and criticism.

“After nearly 24 years, Lynette Romero, our friend Lynette, has decided to move on from anchoring our weekend morning news,” Pete Saiers, the station’s news director, wrote in a statement that was read by entertainment reporter Sam Rubin during a Sept. 14 segment.

“KTLA management had hoped she would stay here her entire career, and KTLA worked hard to make that happen,” Rubin added. “But Lynette has decided to move to another opportunity elsewhere. Lynette, we wish you luck, we miss you and we thank you for everything you’ve done for KTLA. ... On behalf of everyone here, we wish you and your family nothing but the best.”

Chris Matthews Visits 'Morning Joe', Many Viewers Not Happy

Chris Matthews

Chris Matthews was a surprise guest commentator Thursday on “Morning Joe,” and despite analysis of Donald Trump that some viewers appreciated, many more took to social media to decry the move from MSNBC as a faulty rehabilitation effort, according to TheWrap.

“Get that serial harasser and his s— eating grin off my TV,” one viewer wrote.

The morning news program previewed early Thursday that the embattled former “Hardball With Chris Matthews” host would be a guest. Dialing into the program, Matthews is shown in the clip below discussing the growing legal case against former President Donald Trump.

Look who's back: Chris Matthews returns on Morning Joe today: On Trump's legal jeopardy: "The President's ice cream is melting." pic.twitter.com/DxtEkg7I7Z

— Scott Whitlock (@ScottJW) September 22, 2022

'Parade' Magazine Ending Sunday Print Version

Parade magazine, the supplement that has for 80 years run in newspapers nationwide, will publish its last print edition on November 6.  

The family oriented magazine will now appear in digital editions only, reports MediaPost.  

The news comes just months after The Arena Group acquired Parade’s parent, AMG/Parade, for $16.3 million.  

The Arena Group announced the shift to digital in an email to newspapers that carry Parade.   

Cumulus Media, YAP Media Partner For Podcasts

Cumulus Media has announced a partnership with YAP Media to monetize, market, and distribute all their existing and forthcoming podcasts. 

Joining the Cumulus Podcast Network is YAP Media’s flagship podcast, Young and Profiting, hosted by YAP Media founder and CEO Hala Taha, who interviews the brightest minds in the world to unpack their wisdom into actionable advice. The podcast helps listeners improve their careers, think like an entrepreneur, enhance productivity, gain influence, create side hustles, and generate success. Young and Profiting, a #1 Entrepreneurship podcast on Apple and a #1 Trending Education podcast on Chartable, drops every Monday and Friday, as well as alternating Wednesdays.

Additional YAP Media podcasts joining the Cumulus Podcast Network include Creating Confidence with Heather Monahan, True Underdog with Jayson Waller, A Feminine Impression with Dr. Michelle Daf, The Murdaugh Family Murders with Matt Harris and Seton Tucker, Chapter a Day Audio Bible read by Pastor John Stange, and The Greatness Machine with Darius Mirshahzadeh.

September 23 Radio History

➦In 1949...Bruce Springsteen born in Long Branch, NJ. He received critical acclaim for his early 1970s albums and attained worldwide fame upon the release of Born to Run in 1975.

During a career that has spanned five decades, Springsteen has become known for his poetic and socially conscious lyrics and lengthy, energetic stage performances, earning the nickname "The Boss". He has recorded both rock albums and folk-oriented works, and his lyrics often address the experiences and struggles of working-class Americans.

Springsteen has sold more than 135 million records worldwide and more than 64 million records in the U-S, making him one of the world's best-selling music artists.

Eddy Arnold does a live radio show on WGNS in Murfreesboro, TN (circa 1955)

➦In 1950…"The Eddy Arnold Show" debuted on network radio (NBC). In 1934, at age 16, Arnold made his debut on WTJS-AM in Jackson, TN. In 1938, he was hired by WMPS-AM in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was one of its most popular performers. He soon left WMPS for KWK-AM in St. Louis, Missouri, followed briefly by a spot at WHAS-AM in Louisville, Kentucky.

He performed for WSM-AM on the Grand Ole Opry during 1943 as a solo artist. In 1944, Arnold signed a contract with RCA Victor, and with manager Colonel Tom Parker, who would later manage Elvis Presley. Arnold's first single was little noticed, but the next, "Each Minute Seems a Million Years", scored number five on the country charts in 1945. Its success began a decade of unprecedented chart performance; Arnold's next 57 singles all ranked in the top 10, including 19 number-one successes.

Arnold began working for television in the early 1950s, hosting The Eddy Arnold Show. The summer program was broadcast successively by all three television networks, replacing the Perry Como and Dinah Shore programs.

➦In 1956...Mickey Dolenz began his television career in NBC’s “Circus Boy” series. He became a star ten years later when he was hired for the "drummer" role in NBC's The Monkees.

➦In 1968...Harry Harrison does first morning show at 77WABC NYC.

Luminate Partners With Mediabase for Radio Tracking Data

Data and insights company Luminate has partnered with airplay monitoring service Mediabase, the company tells Billboard. Beginning in December 2022, Mediabase’s radio tracking data will fuel Luminate’s reporting on radio’s music activity in the U.S. and Canada.

Concurrent with that announcement, Luminate has also revealed plans for a new, modernized client and user platform that will encompass all of the company’s data offerings that will launch in 2023. In addition to Mediabase, Luminate will announce further data partners for the new platform in the coming months.

Luminate, previously known as P-MRC Data, and before that Nielsen Music, owns and operates the radio tracking service BDS, which has powered Billboard’s radio charts and other charts that incorporate radio data, including the Billboard Hot 100. Luminate will begin transitioning from BDS to Mediabase over the coming months, though there will be no disruption in radio services during that period. Billboard will maintain selection oversight for stations contributing to its various charts, as well as methodology applied to those rankings.

The news comes on the heels of Luminate’s rebrand at March’s SXSW festival in Austin. There, the company’s CEO Rob Jonas presented insights on the state of the entertainment industry and highlighted how Luminate’s intelligence has helped identify trends in music, film and TV, from streaming numbers to D&I statistics.

Luminate is also currently expanding operations in its New York, Los Angeles and Tampa offices.

Woke Mob Out To Cancel 'Dilbert' Comic Strip

Scott Adams

“Dilbert” author Scott Adams, who has been drawing the comic since 1989, said the strip that pokes fun at office culture was wiped from nearly 77 newspapers, reports The NY Post.

Lee Enterprises, which owns nearly 100 newspaper companies in the US, terminated the contract with “Dilbert” for unknown reasons.

“It was part of a larger overhaul, I believe, of comics, but why they decided what was in and what was out, that’s not known to anybody except them, I guess,” said Adams, who noted it coincidentally happened after he incorporated “wokeness” into the stories.

The artist said several other comic strips were also canceled by Lee Enterprises but each decision was made individually.

“Dilbert” has appeared in thousands of newspapers across the US and has spawned several Dilbert-themed calendars, books and even a TV show that ran from 1999 to 2000.

CNN Unveils Revised Prime-Time Line-Up

CNN today announced a fall programming lineup to best serve its audiences for the 2022 Midterm Elections. Filled with smart and informative news and analysis, the new schedule will go into effect October 10th and continue through the week of the November 8th elections.

Jake Tapper, chief Washington correspondent and anchor of The Lead and State of the Union, will host the network’s 9pm ET hour from Washington. CNN Newsroom anchor Alisyn Camerota and CNN Senior Legal Analyst Laura Coates will share anchor responsibilities from 10pm-12am ET.

“The world has come to rely on Jake’s no-nonsense approach to covering the news, especially during high-stakes election cycles,” said Chris Licht, Chairman and CEO, CNN. “This move will showcase his tough reporting, smart analysis and consequential interviews as our audiences navigate the myriad of issues at stake in the midterms. By adding the insights, experience and strong voices of Alisyn and Laura, we will advance and expand on that coverage, creating something complimentary and compelling in primetime.”

Throughout the special programming schedule, anchors John Berman and Brianna Keilar will each fill in for Tapper on The Lead from 4pm-5pm ET. The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer will pick up an hour, expanding its footprint to 5pm-7pm ET nightly. Erin Burnett OutFront and Anderson Cooper 360 will remain in their respective timeslots of 7-8pm ET and 8-9pm ET.

Philly Radio: WPHT Adds Nick Kayal For Mornings, Revamps Line-Up

Audacy unveils a new weekday programming lineup for Talk Radio WPHT 1210 AM in Philadelphia. As part of the update, the station welcomes Nick Kayal as new morning show host alongside Dawn Stensland and Greg Stocker. “Kayal and Company” will air weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. ET. Concurrently, morning show host Rich Zeoli will now host afternoons from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET. All changes are effective October 3.

“For the first time ever, WPHT will be live and local from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., which further cements this fan favorite as the voice of Philadelphia and a reliable destination for our listeners,” said David Yadgaroff, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Audacy Philadelphia. “We’re excited to welcome Nick, who is trading in his sports background for his passion for politics, to our morning drive, and move Rich and his highly-successful program to entertain and inform listeners as they wind down their days.”

Detroit Radio: WWJ Shuffles Talk Line-Up

Audacy has announced a new weekday programming lineup on News Radio WWJ 950 AM in Detroit beginning October 3.

Longtime WWJ anchor Jackie Paige will move to mornings and join Jonathan Carlson from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. ET. Paige will also host middays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET, followed by Brooke Allen from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET. Tony Ortiz will take over at 2:00 p.m. and be joined by Allen from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. He will also host from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET. Erin Vermeulen will remain the evening news anchor from 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. ET.

“We are excited to announce our new lineup, which is full of news anchors who are seasoned and well known in the community,” said Debbie Kenyon, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Audacy Detroit. “This new slate will allow WWJ to continue its mission of keeping listeners informed of breaking news and the top stories of the day.”

St. Louis Radio: Host Fired From TV Gig After Tirade

Vic Faust

Vic Faust, the Fox 2 news anchor who last week directed a profane tirade at a female co-host on KFNS FM Radio during  morning show, has been fired by the television station, according to The St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

“Vic Faust no longer works for Fox 2, KPLR (Channel 11) or Nexstar Media,” station general manager Kurt Krueger said Wednesday morning. Nexstar Media Group is Fox 2’s parent company.  Krueger declined to comment further, citing personnel restrictions.

Faust used profanity during an off-air commercial break at least 40 times in berating Crystal Cooper, who was part of Faust’s morning-drive show Sept. 13 on KFNS (100.7 FM), also known as “The Viper.”

In a social media post (since deleted) on Twitter about 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, Faust issued an apology.

“I am very sorry. My words hurt Crystal, my colleagues and family. I made a huge mistake and I’m ashamed. As I work to earn trust again, I hope we can have an open dialogue about respect in the workplace and forgiveness. My mistake is not my kids'. Please respect their privacy.

— Victor Faust (@victorjfaust) September 21, 2022

TV Ratings: CBS’ ‘60 Minutes’ Returns With A Bang

CBS' Scott Pelley and President Biden

The 55th season premiere of “60 Minutes” was the week’s top-rated non-sports prime-time program last week, while the season’s final performance episode of “America’s Got Talent” was first among entertainment programs, according to The L-A Times.

“60 Minutes” featured its first interview with President Joe Biden since he took office and Lesley Stahl’s interview with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. The episode averaged 10.197 million viewers, fifth among prime-time programs airing between Sept. 12 and Sunday, behind two NFL games and two NFL pregame shows, according to live-plus-same-day figures released by Nielsen Tuesday.

“60 Minutes” followed a 61-minute runover of CBS’ afternoon NFL coverage in the Eastern and Central time zones, where the bulk of the nation’s population lives. The runover into prime time, mainly of the Dallas Cowboys’ 20-17 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Brett Maher’s 50-yard field goal as time expired, averaged 29.11 million viewers. Viewership for “60 Minutes” was up 21.3% from the 9.984 million average for the 54th season premiere.

Viewership for nearly all forms of programming has decreased because of increased programming on streaming, online, digital and cable platforms.

For the second time in the 2-week-old NFL season, NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” was at the top of the prime-time ratings, with the Green Bay Packers’ 27-10 victory over the Chicago Bears averaging 19.545 million viewers, 16.1% less than the 23.296 million average for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 19-3 victory over Dallas on the “Sunday Night Football” opener a week earlier.

The total audience for Sunday’s game, which includes streaming viewership on Peacock, NBC Sports and NFL digital platforms, was 20.8 million viewers, 16.8% less than the 25 million total audience for the “Sunday Night Football” season opener, according to figures provided by NBC.

The ABC-ESPN “Monday Night Football” simulcast of the Seattle Seahawks’ 17-16 victory over the Denver Broncos Sept. 12 finished second, averaging 18.294 million viewers. That includes its average of 7.998 million viewers on ESPN, the most among the week’s cable programs.

Gibson Commits To $1M Drug Overdose Prevention

Gibson Gives - a nonprofit arm of the Nashville-based guitar giant - joins international pharmaceutical company Hikma in committing $1 million in medical supplies to combat drug overdoses in the music industry, the organization announced Wednesday, according to The Tennessean.

Hikma donated 16,000 doses of Naloxone, a nasal spray used in opioid overdose prevention known also by brand name Kloxxado, to Gibson Gives as part of a three-year program aiming to train musicians, crew members and concertgoers on properly administering the treatment. Gibson and Hikma value the Naloxone donation at $1 million, according to a news release issued Wednesday.

The donation folds into a program launched last year by Gibson Gives called TEMPO - "Training and Empowering Musicians to Prevent Overdose." The program teams with non-profit organizations such as MusiCares, The Scars Foundation and roadie advocacy group The Clinic to educate those in the music industry on overdose prevention in-part due to stronger amounts of fentanyl found in cocaine, heroin and other drugs.

VirtualJock Signs “The Sandy Show” and Its 15 Affiliates

Key Networks announced today that VirtualJock.com has signed nationally syndicated radio program The Sandy Show to its client roster. VirtualJock.com will provide programming localization and customization for the show’s 15 station affiliates in multiple formats. The Sandy Show features host Sandy McIlree (former host of the long-running Austin, Texas-based radio show The JB & Sandy Morning Show) and his wife and co-host Tricia McIlree, and is currently heard in markets from Austin to Cookeville, TN.

VirtualJock.com provides radio stations of all formats and market sizes with the opportunity to access Major Market on-air talent for voice tracking and programming services for their stations, on a cash or barter basis. Virtual Jock.com offers a five-star roster of experienced voice talent specializing in customization and localization across all formats. Key Networks provides syndication and ad sales services to VirtualJock.com.

VirtualJock.com is a product of New Generation Radio, a cutting-edge, one-stop shop media services company for radio stations. The company also offers innovative music formats, as well as programming stations remotely through its Virtual PD/MD services and voicing and producing all commercial production through KillerSpots.com – all available for cash or barter.