Radio History: Dec 15

➦In 1922...Albert James "Alan" Freed was born in Johnstown, PA (Died – January 20, 1965). He became internationally known for promoting the mix of blues, country, rhythm and blues music on the radio in the United States and Europe under the name of rock and roll. His career was destroyed by the payola scandal that hit the broadcasting industry in the early 1960s.

Alan Freed

While attending the Ohio State University, Freed became interested in radio. Freed served in the US Army during World War II and worked as a DJ on Armed Forces Radio. Soon after World War II, Freed landed broadcasting jobs at smaller radio stations, including WKST (New Castle, PA); WKBN (Youngstown, OH); and WAKR (Akron, OH), where, in 1945, he became a local favorite for playing hot jazz and pop recordings. Freed enjoyed listening to these new styles because he liked the rhythms and tunes.

Freed is commonly referred to as the "father of rock 'n' roll" due to his promotion of the style of music, and his introduction of the phrase "rock and roll", in reference to the musical genre, on mainstream radio in the early 1950s. He helped bridge the gap of segregation among young teenage Americans, presenting music by black artists (rather than cover versions by white artists) on his radio program, and arranging live concerts attended by racially mixed audiences. Freed appeared in several motion pictures as himself. In the 1956 film Rock, Rock, Rock, Freed tells the audience that "rock and roll is a river of music which has absorbed many streams: rhythm and blues, jazz, ragtime, cowboy songs, country songs, folk songs. All have contributed greatly to the big beat."

In 1945 Alan Freed joined WAKR and became a local favorite, playing hot jazz and pop recordings. The radio editor for the Akron Beacon Journal followed Freed and his "Request Review" nightly program of dance. When he left the station, the non-compete clause in his contract limited his ability to find work elsewhere, and he was forced to take the graveyard shift at Cleveland's WJW radio where he eventually made history playing the music he called "Rock and Roll."

In the late 1940s, while working at WAKR 1590 AM in Akron, Ohio, Freed met Cleveland record store owner Leo Mintz. Record Rendezvous, one of Cleveland's largest record stores, had begun selling rhythm and blues records. Mintz told Freed that he had noticed increased interest in the records at his store, and encouraged him to play them on the radio. Freed moved to Cleveland in 1951, still under a non-compete clause with WAKR. However, in April, through the help of William Shipley, RCA's Northern Ohio distributor, he was released from the non-compete clause. He was then hired by WJW radio for a midnight program sponsored by Main Line, the RCA Distributor, and Record Rendezvous. Freed peppered his speech with hipster language, and, with a rhythm and blues record called "Moondog" as his theme song, broadcast R&B hits into the night.

Mintz proposed buying airtime on Cleveland radio station WJW 850 AM, which would be devoted entirely to R&B recordings, with Freed as host. On July 11, 1951, Freed began playing rhythm and blues records on WJW. While R&B records were played for many years on lower powered, inner city radio stations aimed at African-Americans, this is arguably the first time that authentic R&B was featured regularly on a major, mass audience station. Freed called his show "The Moondog House" and billed himself as "The King of the Moondoggers".

He had been inspired by an offbeat instrumental called "Moondog Symphony" that had been recorded by New York street musician Louis T. Hardin, aka "Moondog". Freed adopted the record as his show's theme music. His on-air manner was energetic, in contrast to many contemporary radio presenters of traditional pop music, who tended to sound more subdued and low-key in manner. He addressed his listeners as if they were all part of a make-believe kingdom of hipsters, united in their love for black music. He also began popularizing the phrase "rock and roll" to describe the music he played.

Later that year, Freed promoted dances and concerts featuring the music he was playing on the radio. He was one of the organizers of a five-act show called "The Moondog Coronation Ball" on March 21, 1952, at the Cleveland Arena. This event is known as the first rock and roll concert. Crowds attended in numbers far beyond the arena's capacity, and the concert was shut down early due to overcrowding and a near-riot. Freed gained a priceless notoriety from the incident. WJW immediately increased the airtime allotted to Freed's program, and his popularity soared.

In those days, Cleveland was considered by the music industry to be a "breakout" city, where national trends first appeared in a regional market. Freed's popularity made the pop music business take notice. Soon, tapes of Freed's program began to air in the New York City area over station WNJR 1430 (now WNSW), in Newark, New Jersey.

In July 1954, following his success on the air in Cleveland, Freed moved to WINS 1010 AM in New York City. Hardin, the original Moondog, later took a court action suit against WINS for damages against Freed for infringement in 1956, arguing prior claim to the name "Moondog", under which he had been composing since 1947. Hardin collected a $6,000 judgment from Freed, as well as an agreement to give up further usage of the name Moondog.  WINS eventually became an around-the-clock Top 40 rock and roll radio station, and would remain so until April 19, 1965—long after Freed left and three months after he had died— when it became an all-news outlet.

In 1956, Freed hosted "Alan Freed's Rock 'n' Roll Dance Party" on CBS Radio from New York. Freed’s life was dramatized in the film “American Hot Wax.”

➦In 1936....What is now known as KFNQ began as KGBS in 1927, changing to KVL in 1928, then KEEN in this date in 1936 and KEVR in 1940.

The station is considered the third oldest radio station in Seattle, the first being KJR, which began broadcasting in 1922, and the second being KOMO, which began in 1926.pioneering Seattle radio station KVL changed its call letters to KEEN.

➦In 1941...We Hold These Truths, a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the United States Bill of Rights, aired as an hour-long radio program that explored American values.   It was the first show to be broadcast on all four major networks (CBS, NBC Red, NBC Blue, and Mutual) simultaneously.

It was written and produced by Norman Corwin, who won a Peabody Award for the show, which commemorated the ratification of Bill of Rights on December 15, 1791.

The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 — a week before the scheduled broadcast — may have contributed to what the Crossley Rating Service estimated to be 63 million listeners (almost half of the U.S. population), the largest audience in history for a dramatic performance.

The radio program had been commissioned by the United States government under the auspices of the Office of Education, and was scheduled for live broadcast on that date well before the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred. When producer Corwin asked on December 7 whether the show was still on, the response wired to him the next day was, "The President thinks it's more important now than ever to proceed with the program."

➦In 1944...The plane carrying Alton Glenn Miller disappeared.  He was an American big-band trombonist, arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era.

He was the best-selling recording artist from 1939 to 1942, leading one of the best-known big bands. Miller's recordings include "In the Mood", "Moonlight Serenade", "Pennsylvania 6-5000", "Chattanooga Choo Choo", "A String of Pearls", "At Last", "(I've Got a Gal In) Kalamazoo", "American Patrol", "Tuxedo Junction", "Elmer's Tune", and "Little Brown Jug". In just four years Glenn Miller scored 16 number-one records and 69 top ten hits—more than Elvis Presley (38 top 10s) and the Beatles (33 top 10s) did in their careers.

While he was traveling to entertain U.S. troops in France during World War II, Miller's aircraft disappeared in bad weather over the English Channel.

➦In 1956…Elvis Presley gave his final performance on the "Louisiana Hayride" a weekly show aired by KWKH in Shreveport, Louisiana.  Elvis made 50 appearances.

➦In 1957…Columbia Records executive Mitch Miller and entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. disparaged rock 'n' roll as "the comic books of music" during a radio talk show hosted by Davis. Another guest on the radio show, Arnold Maxim, president of the MGM record label, disagreed with them saying he saw no end to the fad in the near future.

➦In 1966...Walt (Walter Elias) Disney died in Burbank at age 65. Disney had been a heavy smoker since World War I. He did not use cigarettes with filters and had smoked a pipe as a young man. In November 1966, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. On November 30 he felt unwell and was taken to St. Joseph Hospital where, on December 15, ten days after his 65th birthday, he died of circulatory collapse caused by lung cancer.  Disney's remains were cremated two days later, and his ashes interred at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

Stevie Nicks Grappling With Macular Degeneration

Stevie Nicks

Anybody who caught Stevie Nicks’ two sets on “Saturday Night Live” in October — during which she performed her brand-new female empowerment anthem “The Lighthouse” as well as her classic “Edge of Seventeen” — now knows that her pipes are still as strong and true as they were when she made her SNL debut in the 1970s as a member of Fleetwood Mac. 

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of her eyesight, according to The Palm Beach Post. 

Also in October, the legendary 76-year-old singer — a two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — revealed in a Rolling Stone interview that she’d recently been diagnosed with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

In October, 76-year-old rock legend Stevie Nicks revealed in a Rolling Stone interview that she's been diagnosed with wet age-related macular degeneration and, in order to try to stave off disease progression, will need to receive injections in both eyes every six to nine weeks for the rest of her life. 

As she would come to learn, macular degeneration is an eye disease that occurs when the central part of the retina, call the macula, at the back of one’s eye(s) starts to waste away for unknown reasons and eventually starts to affect the sufferer’s central vision.

There are two kinds of macular degeneration — dry and wet. Anywhere from 80% to 90% of the 20 million macular degeneration sufferers in the U.S. have the former.   The latter, which Nicks has, is far rarer — and more serious.   

Macular degeneration is often an inherited eye disease, but it also develops in people with no family history. While age is the most common cause of the disease, people can develop it at any age. (Non-age-related macular degeneration is often associated with such factors as diabetes, traumatic head and/or brain injuries, serious infections and/or a diet lacking in proper nutrients, among others.) 

TikTok Denied Request to Freeze Sale-or-Ban Law

A federal court on Friday denied TikTok’s request to temporarily freeze a law that requires its Chinese parent company to sell the app or face a ban in the United States as of Jan. 19, a decision that puts the fate of the app in the Supreme Court’s hands.

The NY Times reports the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said in a filing late on Friday that an injunction was “unwarranted,” and that it had expedited its decision so that TikTok and its users could seek an emergency freeze from the Supreme Court.

A week ago, three judges in the same court unanimously denied petitions from the company and its users to overturn the law. TikTok then asked the court on Monday to temporarily block the law until the Supreme Court decided on TikTok’s planned appeal of that decision, and sought a decision by Dec. 16.

The court said on Friday that TikTok and its users “have not identified any case in which a court, after rejecting a constitutional challenge to an Act of Congress, has enjoined the Act from going into effect while review is sought in the Supreme Court.”

Michael Hughes, a spokesman for TikTok, said, “As we have previously stated, we plan on taking this case to the Supreme Court, which has an established historical record of protecting Americans’ right to free speech.” He said that American users’ voices would be “silenced” if the law were not stopped.

The decision represents another setback for TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, and is facing new peril under the law, which was passed citing national security concerns. TikTok, which boasts 170 million users in the United States, has said that a sale is impossible in part because of restrictions from the Chinese government, and that a subsequent ban would violate the First Amendment rights of users.

Study: Musk's X Most Balanced Social Media Platform

CNN Pundit Scott Jennings last month left a fellow CNN panelist speechless after he claimed X is the most ideologically balanced social media platform – and backed it up with one of the left-leaning network’s own reports.

“I saw a survey this week – it’s [X] now the most ideologically balanced user platform of any platform,” Jennings said during CNN NewsNight on Monday.

CNN panelist and television personality Cari Champion shot back: “You cannot say that.”

“Who’s your source?” she demanded as the network’s panelists talked over one another.

Elon Musk is winning, even if his popularity ratings are down.

He's remade X/Twitter in his image... Turning it from a Democratic bastion to one that is far more evenly divided (& friendlier to the GOP).

Moreover, Musk's wealth has ballooned in ways that are tough to imagine. pic.twitter.com/CobSoYuiaY

— (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) November 19, 2024

The week before, CNN senior data reporter Harry Enten had discussed survey findings from the Pew Research Center that found billionaire Elon Musk’s X userbase has grown more politically balanced – though the platform has lost users and Musk himself has grown less favorable.

The social media platform’s userbase is a nearly even split between 48% of Democrat users and 47% of Republican users, according to the data. In 2022, a 65% majority of the platform’s users had identified as Democrats, Enten said.

Birmingham Radio: ‘Rick and Bubba’ Do Final Broadcast

Rick and Bubba are no longer in the house

That memorable theme song, which begins with “Rick and Bubba’s in the house,” will end.

The “two sexiest fat men” alive, as they called themselves, Rick Burgess and Bill “Bubba” Bussey have been making Alabama laugh for more than 30 years on the radio, since 1994. They did their last live show on the air together this morning.

“This ends an era,” Burgess said. “Nothing will ever be ‘Rick and Bubba.’”

AL.com reports Burgess has announced that he will be doing a solo show, with a launch date for “The Rick Burgess Show” on Monday, Jan. 6. “Best of” re-runs of “The Rick & Bubba Show” will air in the time slot until then.

Bussey announced he’d be joining the athletic administration at Jacksonville State University. He’ll serve as the school’s assistant athletics director for broadcasting, overseeing broadcast operations for various athletic events. Bussey, a JSU alumnus, got his start in radio on campus station WLJS during his student days in the early 1980s. He met Burgess and started working with him at WLJS. “That’s where we learned it,” Burgess said. “I don’t remember the classes, but I do remember that campus radio station.”

The “Rick & Bubba Show,” nationally syndicated and produced at WZZK, 104.7 FM in Birmingham, aired live on weekdays, 5 a.m.-10 a.m., on more than 60 radio stations across 18 states, according to the WZZK website and the “Rick & Bubba” YouTube channel.

NFL Stands By Jay-Z

The partnership between the NFL and Jay-Z and his entertainment company, Roc Nation, won’t change despite a woman accusing the rapper and business mogul of raping her when she was 13 years old, league commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday, according to The LA Times.

Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, was added as a defendant last Sunday to a civil lawsuit filed against fellow hip-hop star Sean “Diddy” Combs in U.S. District Court in New York. The complaint, originally filed in October, now alleges that the two men raped the 13-year-old at a party after the MTV Video Music Awards in 2000.

Combs and Jay-Z have denied the accusations, with the latter issuing a lengthy statement Sunday vowing to fight the “idiotic” charges.

Goodell addressed the issue with reporters following the conclusion of the NFL owners meetings this week in Irving, Texas.

“We’re aware of the civil allegations and Jay-Z’s really strong response to that,” Goodell said. “And we know obviously the litigation’s happening now. And from our standpoint, our relationship is not changing with them, including our preparations for the next Super Bowl.”

In 2019, Roc Nation signed a deal with the NFL to consult on live music entertainment and social justice issues. The partnership has resulted in several well-received Super Bowl halftime shows — including performances by the Weeknd, Shakira and Jennifer Lopez as co-headliners, Rihanna and a West Coast hip-hip lineup that featured Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and more — and was renewed in October.

Kendrick Lamar, the Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper who had three Billboard No. 1 hits in 2024, will be the halftime performer at Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Music superstar Beyoncé, who is Jay-Z’s wife, will perform during halftime of the Baltimore Ravens-Houston Texans game on Christmas Day on Netflix.

‘You Have Stage 5 Trump Derangement Syndrome’

Fox News contributor Kellyanne Conway shredded a Never Trump activist and argued that the movement helped cost Democrats the election.

During the New York Times’ DealBook Summit, a large panel of political figures offered their autopsies on the failed Kamala Harris campaign and how the Donald Trump campaign tapped into changes reshaping American culture in 2024.

“The Democratic Party right now, every day they wake up, it’s still January 6, 2021, on the calendar,” Conway said. “You’re out of touch with the public. This election was a rejection of wokeness, and people — every state went more red except Nebraska and Washington state. That is a sweep. That is a mandate. That is President Trump coming into office and the American people saying, ‘Please make my life safer, more secure, more affordable, please get us out of these foreign engagements.’”

But, The NY Post reports, the anti-Trump Republicans, she said, were on another trajectory. 

“I think the always-wrong Never Trumpers, who had unlimited money, cost the party, cost the Democratic Party, which they say they’re not even a member, another presidential election,” she said.

Sarah Longwell, publisher of Never Trump news outlet the Bulwark and host of “The Focus Group” podcast, began to respond and got into a back-and-forth with Conway.

“You have stage 5 Trump Derangement Syndrome,” Conway charged. 

Longwell replied, “I think you guys are bad people who are bad — yes — who are bad for the country — yes — who attacked the Constitution,” while Conway continued talking and asking, “Who’s ‘you guys’? The country?”

The Election Was The Leading Topic In 2024

The election was the top news readership topic in 2024, according to MediaPost citing an analysis by Taboola.  

Running a distant second was the Midnights album by Taylor Swift. Swift was also the most read-about musician during the year, with more than 3 billion page views.  

Taboola analyzed hundreds of millions of views on the Taboola publisher network worldwide from January 1 through November 12, 2024. 

Here are the biggest news stories, with their total page views: 

• Election—42,614,562,000 
• Midnights: Taylor Swift’s Album--2,677,710,600
• Olympics--1,752,453,800 
• NFL Draft--892,239,000 
• Boeing Aircraft Issues--558,109,400 
• Jeffrey Epstein Files Made Public--255,356,400
• Met Gala--141,887,800 
• Kentucky Derby—124,797,600 
• US Open—119,623,200 
• Alec Baldwin Involuntary Manslaughter—93,424,600

Meanwhile, Elon Musk was the top business leader in terms of page views--by far:

• Elon Musk--1,027,072,000 
• Jeff Bezos—144,023,000 
• Mark Zuckerberg—114,264,400
• Tim Cook—23,468,400 
• Bob Iger—21,351,200
• Sergey Brin--15,778,400
• Larry Page--8,297,800 
• Satya Nadella--6,970,800
• Jensen Huang—6,132,600 
• Reed Hastings—4,952,000 

The top TV shows was Hacks: Season 3, which pulled 102,664,000 page views. The most-viewed TV awards show was the Oscars, accounting for 643,717,200. 

Second among musicians was Kanye West, who generated 777,805,200 page views. Ed Sheeran was third with 526,531,000 and Beyoncé fourth with 380,216,600.

NYC Radio: Owner Of 77WABC Lobbies To Support AM Radio

John Catsimatidis, owner of 77WABC continues to take an active role in the 'Save AM Radio' initiative.

As owner of Red Apple Media, Red Apple Audio Networks and the iconic 77WABC Radio, Catsimatidis has been committed to protecting the AM Radio band and ensuring the public retains access to life-saving information, especially during emergencies.

He has been working to garner support from politicians in Washington and reports significant progress advocating AM Radio's future.  His efforts include a series of advertisements appearing in the NY Post. The ads are designed to inform listeners in the nations number one radio market about plans car manufacturers are considering.

Catsimatidis believes amplifying a pro AM Radio message is critical.

Philly Radio: BEN FM Hosts 13th Annual Adopt A Family Radiothon

Beasley Media Group’s BEN FM proudly presented the 13th Annual Adopt A Family Radiothon, supporting Volunteers of America’s Adopt A Family Program. The event took place on Wednesday, December 11th, broadcasting live for 12 hours from Cherry Hill Mall in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

The Radiothon aimed to help nearly 1,200 local families in need to enjoy a joyful holiday season. Listeners were encouraged to sign up to “adopt a family,” providing a complete holiday experience that included toys, gift cards, clothing for each family member, and a full holiday meal. Monetary donations and contributions through an Amazon Wishlist were also accepted to support the initiative.

BEN FM collaborated with Philadelphia’s local ABC affiliate, 6ABC. Eight of the station’s prominent anchors joined the live radio broadcast, while 6ABC delivered real-time updates and coverage from the event location throughout the day.

“We are absolutely thrilled to help Volunteers of America with this amazing program that brings joy to so many families in our local community,” said Kristen Hermann, Program Director of BEN FM. “A huge thank you to our listeners, partners, and the entire team who made this possible. Together, we’re making a meaningful difference this holiday season.”

The Adopt A Family Radiothon continues to be a heartwarming tradition, embodying the spirit of giving and making a tangible impact in the lives of families during the holidays.

R.I.P.: Thomas and Ruth O'Brien, Parents of The TV Host

The O'Briens

The parents of Conan O’Brien, the longtime late-night television host and a star in the comedy world, died this week within days of one another, The NY Times is reporting.

Thomas Francis O’Brien, 95, an epidemiologist, and Ruth Reardon O’Brien, 92, a lawyer who made strides for women in the legal field, both died at their home in Brookline, Mass., according to the Bell O’Dea Funeral Home. Dr. O’Brien died on Monday, and Ms. O’Brien, died on Thursday.

Happy families are not exactly a common topic in comedy. The parents of Conan O’Brien, 61, were not only celebrated in their respective fields but by the most well-known of their six children.

Conan O'Brien

Conan O’Brien credited his father with introducing him to comedy and described him in an interview this week in The Boston Globe as “the funniest guy in the room.” He added that his father had a “voracious appetite for ideas and people and the crazy variety and irony of life.”

Thomas O’Brien spent most of his career at what is now Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, where he was the first director of the infectious diseases division, and was on faculty at Harvard Medical School. He also was a co-founder of the Collaborating Centre for Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance for the World Health Organization. He became known for his work around antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Ms. O’Brien was one of only four women in her law school class at Yale and, in 1978, became the second woman to be named partner at the Boston firm of Ropes & Gray, where she was a real estate attorney.

Over the years, when the comedian spoke of his parents on air, he often joked that they did not know what he was really up to — namely, writing sketch comedy and bawdy jokes for late-night television — but instead thought that he was in law school, or working in real estate.

Radio History: Dec 14

➦In 1877...Ernst Werner von Siemens received a patent for improving the performance of Thomas A Edison's loudspeaker.  He was a German electrical engineer, inventor and industrialist. Siemens's name has been adopted as the SI unit of electrical conductance, the siemens. He was also founded of the electrical and telecommunications company Siemens.

➦In 1908...Actor/comedian Morey Amsterdam was born in Chicago.  While he was featured on NBC Radio’s weekend Monitor programming in the 50’s & 60’s, and had his own show in the earliest days of the TV era, he will always be best remembered as Buddy Sorrell on The Dick Van Dyke Show.  He died after a heart attack Oct 27, 1996 at age 87.

➦In 1942...Onetime New York City personality, Dave Herman, was born. Most notably heard on WNEW-FM and WXRK-FM.

Dave Herman

Herman began his career at WHTG in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and then moved on to become WMMR's first rock DJ. His show, dubbed The Marconi Experiment, debuted on April 29, 1968. The first song played on the show was "Flying" by The Beatles. He then moved to WABC-FM, which would later become WPLJ.

Most notably, he later became the morning drive host on WNEW FM, where he was the morning host from 1972 to 1982, 1986 to 1991 and then again from 1996 until the station dissolved in 1998. He was one of the station’s best-known voices.  He was included on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of notable disc jockeys.

In 2013, Herman was arrested at the airport in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, after going there from his vacation home in the area. The criminal complaint stated he expected to meet a woman and her six-year-old daughter, who he allegedly believed was being brought for a sexual encounter with him. He was charged with transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

Herman died of an aneurysm on May 28, 2014, in Essex County Jail in Newark, NJ, while awaiting trial. He was 78.

➦In 1953...WWRL 105.1 FM in NYC signed on. Station is now iHeartMedia's WWPR.

The station was co-owned with WWRL 1600 AM by radio enthusiast William Reuman.  The call sign was changed to WRFM in October 1957, breaking away from the AM simulcast with a diversified and classical music format.

According to Wikiwand, Bonneville International, the broadcast arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, purchased WRFM in 1967. The following year, WRFM, billing itself as "Stereo 105," adopted a beautiful music format.  Ratings for the station were good, and for a couple of times, WRFM was the top-rated FM station in New York.  The station's ratings continued to be strong, but by 1985, the easy listening audience was starting to age and was not as attractive to advertisers. On April 17, 1986, the station switched to a gold-based adult contemporary format with the call letters WNSR, for New York's Soft Rock.  WNSR focused on songs from the 1960s and 1970s, with some 1980s titles and a moderate amount of current adult contemporary songs as well. Initially, the station's ratings were modest. However, once AC competitor 103.5 WYNY went to a country music format, WNSR's ratings went up.

By 1990, the station became known as "Mix 105", and shifted to more of a hot adult contemporary format, focusing on 1970s, 1980s and current hits, with only a few 1960s titles. By April 1992, when the station changed its call letters to WMXV, the 1960s hits were gone, and more recent music was added.  On November 13, 1996, the Hot AC format at WMXV abruptly ended, the station switched formats to an adult-friendly Modern AC format as WDBZ ("The Buzz").

On August 5, 1997, with ratings on the decline, the call sign changed back to WNSR. The original plan was for the station to drop the "Buzz" format in favor of an oldies-based AC format, playing songs from 1964 to current hits. Bonneville sold the station to Chancellor Media, which also owned WHTZ, WLTW, WKTU, and WAXQ.

Gradually, from September through November 1997, the station returned to HotAC, and then Mainstream AC. For the next few months, the station would simply be known on-air as "FM 105.1", and only used the WNSR call sign for the legal IDs.

On January 21, 1998, at 6:30 p.m., the station relaunched as "Big 105," with the call letters WBIX.

Initially, Big 105 was musically very close to WLTW, but evolved to a HotAC format by that May, similar to what WPLJ was playing at the time. WBIX also added Danny Bonaduce of The Partridge Family TV show fame as its morning show host.

On December 10, 1998, at 6 p.m., the station flipped to then-growing "Jammin' Oldies" format, and branded as "Jammin' 105." On March 1, 1999, WBIX changed call letters to WTJM, in order to match the "Jammin'" branding. The station played rhythmic and dance pop hits of the mid-1960s through the 1980s. TV comedian Jay Thomas was hired for morning drive time. WTJM did better in the ratings than the previous format, and its results initially challenged those of longtime oldies station WCBS-FM.

Chancellor merged with Capstar Broadcasting to form AMFM Inc. in 1999. Then, in 2000, Clear Channel Communications merged with AMFM Inc., giving WTJM and the other four stations a new owner. Under Clear Channel (now iHeartMedia), WTJM evolved into an urban oldies direction, and then to an urban adult contemporary format, while keeping the "Jammin' 105" moniker.

At 6:05 a.m. on March 14, 2002, the station abruptly changed, as it flipped to its current mainstream urban format as WWPR-FM "Power 105.1." A speculated reason for the format change is that while they could not beat competitor WQHT Hot 97, they could take enough ratings away from them to keep them from being number one, which would leave WWPR's sister station WLTW as the number one station in the market, after battling WQHT for top honors.

➦In 1959…Billboard magazine reported the record industry’s practice of payoffs to disc jockeys and radio station music directors was all but dead, after it was exposed in the government’s “payola” investigation.

➦In 1977..."Saturday Night Fever," premiered in New York City. It was a huge commercial success. The film significantly helped to popularize disco music around the world and made John Travolta, already well known from his role on TV's Welcome Back, Kotter, a household name.

WBD Sets Stage For Potential Cable Deal

Warner Bros Discovery on Thursday decided to separate its declining cable TV businesses such as CNN from streaming and studio operations such as Max, laying the groundwork for a potential sale or spinoff of its TV business as more cable subscribers cut the cord, according to Reuters.

Shares of Warner jumped after the company said the new structure would be more deal friendly and it expected to complete the split by the middle of 2025. Warner shares closed at $12.49, up more than 15%.

Media companies are considering options for fading cable TV businesses, a longtime cash cow where revenues are eroding as millions of consumers embrace streaming video.

Comcast plans to split most of its NBCUniversal cable networks into a new public company. The new company would be well capitalized and positioned to acquire other cable networks if the industry consolidates, one source told Reuters.

Bank of America research analyst Jessica Reif Ehrlich wrote that Warner Bros Discovery's cable television assets are a "very logical partner" for Comcast's new spin-off company.

"We strongly believe there is potential for fairly sizable synergies if WBD's linear networks were combined with Comcast SpinCo," wrote Ehrlich, using the industry term for traditional television.

"Further, we believe WBD's standalone streaming and studio assets would be an attractive takeover target."

Under the new structure for Warner Bros Discovery, the cable TV business including TNT, Animal Planet and CNN will be housed in a unit called Global Linear Networks.

Streaming platforms Max and Discovery+ will be under a separate division along with film studios, including Warner Bros Pictures and New Line Cinema.

The restructuring reflects an inflection point for the media industry, as investments in streaming services such as Warner Bros Discovery's Max are finally paying off.

Country's Morgan Waller Pleads Guilty Sentenced to 7 Days

Morgan Wallen pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment, reduced from the three Class E felonies he was initially charged with, ending an eight-month process for the CMA's Entertainer of the Year.

the Tennessean reports he will be held for seven days in a DUI education center. He will then be on supervised probation for two years.

Wallen, with a fresh haircut and clean shave, appeared alongside his attorney, Worrick Robinson, to accept the plea. It was the first time the singer made an in-person appearance in a courtroom for the charges. The hearing lasted 10 minutes.

When Judge Cynthia Chappell asked how Wallen pleaded, he simply replied "Conditionally guilty."

.@MorganWallen pleaded guilty after throwing a chair off a Nashville rooftop bar in April. The judge sentenced the country music star to seven days at a DUI education center along with two years of supervised probation. pic.twitter.com/LZyNZhbO1Z

— Fox News (@FoxNews) December 12, 2024

As soon as Chappell entered her judgement, Wallen was swiftly ushered out of the courtroom, Robinson beside him and body guards flanking them. Wallen made no comments as he got into an elevator.

Wallen will also have to pay a $350 fine and court fees.

"Upon the successful completion of his probation, the charges will be eligible for dismissal and expungement," Robinson said. "Mr. Wallen has cooperated fully with authorities throughout these last eight months, directly communicating and apologizing to all involved. Mr. Wallen remains committed to making a positive impact through his music and foundation.”

Wallen was charged with three counts of reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon and one count of disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, after he threw a chair from the roof of Chief's, a six-story honky-tonk on Broadway opened by Eric Church, in April.

According to court records, it was minutes before 11 p.m. when police officers standing in front of Chief's bar saw a chair come flying down, crashing onto the street just three feet from two officers. Security footage from the bar showed Wallen throw an object over the roof, according to his arrest affidavit.

Philly Radio: Preston & Steve's Camp Out Benefits The Needy

Beasley Media Group’s 93.3 WMMR-FM have announced the 27th Annual Preston & Steve Camp Out For Hunger event raised nearly 1.7 million pounds of food and over $995,710 dollars cash to benefit needy individuals and families. 

Camp Out for Hunger proceeds directly benefit local hunger relief organizations through Philabundance – The Delaware Valley’s largest hunger relief organization, which acquires, rescues, and distributes food to help feed those in need, while also advocating for policies that increase food access.

Beginning at 6am on Monday, December 2nd through 11am Friday, December 6th, 2024, morning personalities Preston and Steve camped out and broadcast live outside of Xfinity Live!, located within the Wells Fargo Center Complex in South Philadelphia, in an effort to collect food and monetary donations from listeners and businesses throughout the tri-state area.

Dozens of local and national celebrities, performers, and athletes were on hand all week to lend their support. The event also featured live music performances from different house bands each morning along with special performances from Return To Dust, The Hooters, Adam Weiner of Low Cut Connie, and Don McCloskey.

Boston Radio: Non-Com WBUR Cancels Midday Talk Show

WBUR announced plans Friday to cancel its midday talk show, Radio Boston, and to shift more resources to its flagship morning and late afternoon news programs, which draw the station's largest number of listeners.

Radio Boston has been a staple of WBUR since it launched 17 years ago as a weekly program and then became a daily show in May of 2010. The move comes just months after its host, Tiziana Dearing, was named anchor of WBUR’s Morning Edition show, where she continues to interview major newsmakers on a regular basis, including Gov. Maura Healey and Mayor Michelle Wu.

WBUR Executive Editor Dan Mauzy acknowledged that dropping Radio Boston, the station’s sole purely local news show, will be a loss for its faithful listeners.

"I think a lot of people will really miss Radio Boston and I'm among them," said Mauzy, who got his own start at WBUR as a producer on Radio Boston 14 years ago.

WBUR managers said no jobs will be lost in the move. But the Radio Boston decision follows cost cuts at the public radio station earlier this year that included cutting staff by more than 13%. Since then, management has had to make strategic choices about how to best serve listeners and readers with a leaner staff.

Producers who currently work on Radio Boston will be redeployed to Morning Edition and All Things Considered, the afternoon news show, enabling them to do more reporting and arranging of interviews with local newsmakers. Yasmin Amer, the current executive producer of Radio Boston, will continue to lead a production team and coordinate local stories across the afternoon and morning shows, which also feature national NPR feeds.

Starting Jan. 6, WBUR plans to extend Morning Edition for a fifth hour, to 10 a.m. The BBC NewsHour will shift to 10 a.m. and On Point will air at 11 a.m. (repeated at 7 p.m.). The station’s midday news magazine, Here & Now, will run for a third hour at 3 p.m.

Atlanta Radio: NBA Hawks, The Fan Announce Partnership Extension

The Atlanta Hawks and Audacy today announced an extension of their multi-year relationship to continue making Sports Radio 92.9 The Game (WZGC-FM) the proud flagship station of the Atlanta Hawks Radio Network. As part of this agreement, all 82 Hawks games can be heard throughout Georgia on the Atlanta Hawks radio network, which consists of affiliate stations in multiple markets and reach millions of listeners throughout the season.

Atlanta Sports Hall of Famer and Georgia Radio Hall of Famer Steve Holman, also known as the Voice of the Hawks, is in his 40th season and has never missed a Hawks' regular season or playoff radio broadcast. Holman has totaled more than 3,000 consecutive games. Joining him on the broadcast is Brand Manager Mike Conti, who has been with the Hawks Radio Network as a pregame, halftime and postgame host, and as a game commentator, since 2014.

“We’ve taken great pride in seeing the growth and success of Sports Radio 92.9 The Game as the flagship station of the Atlanta Hawks Radio Network since its inception,” said Hawks’ President of Business Enterprise and Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Saltzman. “We are excited that our growing fanbase will continue to enjoy Hawks basketball game coverage on The Game along with compelling sports talk every day from their line-up with the most talented hosts in the business.”

As part of the partnership, the “Hawks Basketball Show” and “Hawks CEO Show featuring Steve Koonin” on-air segments will feature leaders from the Hawks Basketball Operations team such as General Manager Landry Fields or Head Coach Quin Snyder.

"We are proud to continue our long standing relationship with the Atlanta Hawks," said Rick Caffey, Senior Vice President and Market Manager of Audacy Atlanta. "With our partnership now in its second decade, we look forward to continuing our comprehensive Hawks coverage on Sports Radio 92.9 The Game, V103, and worldwide on the Audacy app."

🎧Listeners can tune in Sports Radio 92-9 The Game (WZGC-FM) in Atlanta, as well as on the Audacy app and website. Fans can also connect with the station on social media via Facebook, X and Instagram.

Cumulus Podcast Network Reports Outstanding Podcast Rankings

The Cumulus Podcast Network announces the exceptional November performance of several of its top podcasts, as reflected in the latest Triton Ranker, Podtrac, and LiveSearchApp reports.

In the November Triton Ranker, The Dan Bongino Show was #3, followed closely by The Shawn Ryan Show at #13 and The Mark Levin Show at #23. These notable rankings underscore the broad appeal and strong audience connection these programs continue to cultivate.

Hot on the heels of the election, News/Talk podcasters dominated the Live Streaming charts in November, with The Dan Bongino Show securing the #1 spot and The Benny Show (hosted by Benny Johnson) coming in at #5.

Additionally, Podtrac’s list of the top 25 new podcasts included Bongino Report Early Edition with Evita at an impressive #11. This strong debut reflects the podcast’s rapid audience growth and host Evita Duffy’s ability to engage listeners right out of the gate. These outstanding results highlight the Cumulus Podcast Network’s continued success in delivering content that resonates, engages, and informs listeners across the country.

YouTubeTV Raises Price 14 Percent

YouTube said it would raise the monthly cost of its TV streaming service to $82.99, up from $72.99 starting Jan. 13. The Alphabet said the increase was due to the rising cost of content.

“We don’t make these decisions lightly, and we realize this has an impact on our members,” YouTube said in an email to subscribers. 

The Wall Street Journal reports when YouTube TV made its debut in 2017, the company charged roughly $35 a month for the service. YouTube TV offers livestreaming of local TV networks and access to networks like ESPN, CNN and TNT. It last increased its rate in March 2023.

YouTube has been aggressive in expanding its offering, growing from a provider of prank and cat videos into a global entertainment hub. The streamer in 2022 acquired exclusive rights to the National Football League’s Sunday Ticket—for which it pays about $2 billion a year—luring the subscription franchise from DirecTV.

Over the past decade, millions U.S. households have given up on cable, abandoning their traditional pay-TV plan. Viewers grew tired of traditional cable packages with numerous channels they never watched and were drawn to cheaper streaming options. But streaming services have been raising prices on a regular basis, eating into the savings many cord-cutters were seeking by giving up cable.

Disney raised subscription costs in August for its ad-supported and ad-free versions of Disney+ streaming service by $2 to $9.99 and $15.99, respectively. It also increased monthly costs for Hulu. Both the ad-supported and ad-free versions of Hulu + Live TV, Disney’s streaming version of the cable bundle, rose $6 a month, to $82.99 and $95.99 respectively.

Cyclical price increases for streaming services have become a trademark of the industry. The average cost of watching a major ad-free streaming service is going up by nearly 25% in about a year, according to a 2023 Wall Street Journal analysis. Entertainment companies are hoping customers will either pay the new prices or switch to their cheaper and more lucrative ad-supported plans.

BBMAs: Taylor Swift Makes History

Taylor Swift celebrated the eve of her 35th birthday by making history at the Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs), becoming the most decorated artist of all time, reports USAToday.

Going into the Thursday night broadcast, the "Bejeweled" singer was tied with Drake at 39 career wins each. The odds were in her favor with 17 nominations in 16 categories.

"This is like the nicest, early birthday present you could have given me so thank you very much," Swift said after the announcement in a video before kissing one of the golden microphones she won.

The singer-songwriter walked away with 10 BBMAs for her work in 2024 including:

• Top Artist
• Top Female Artist
• Top Billboard 200 Artist
• Top Hot 100 Artist
• Top Hot 100 Songwriter
• Top Streaming Songs Artist
• Top Radio Songs Artist
• Top Billboard Global 200 Artist
• Top Billboard Global (excluding U.S.) Artist
• Top Billboard 200 Album for "The Tortured Poets Department"

Long Live all the magic of @taylorswift13! 💫

Congrats on your 10 #BBMAs wins tonight and 49 all-time! 🏆💛 And happy early birthday to you 💖 pic.twitter.com/keWFqMknrF

— Billboard Music Awards (@BBMAs) December 13, 2024

"Thank you to the Billboard awards," Swift said. "Thank you to the fans, because Billboard is counting your stuff. They're counting what you're listening to, the albums that you're passionate about. So I count these as fan voted awards, because you guys are the ones who care about our albums and come see us in concert."

🎵BBMAs 2024 Winner's List:  Click HERE

Morgan Wallen is thankful to his fans following his big win at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards. The country music star won four awards at the award show, which aired Thursday on FOX, including top country artist, top male artist, top country male artist and top collaboration, for his song "I Had Some Help," with Post Malone.

During his acceptance speech, which appeared to be pre-recorded, Wallen expressed how grateful he is to his fans for always giving his music a "chance."

"I just wanted to say thank you guys for everyone who's supported me along my journey and, as always, most importantly, thank you to my fans," he said. "You guys have just given me so much freedom to make music that I want to make."

Denver Radio: Big Rob Named PD For KIMN

KSE Radio has announced that Big Rob has joined Hot AC KIMN (Mix 100)/Denver as the station’s new Program Director and will also serve as an on-air host.

A 21-year Colorado radio vet, born and raised in Denver, Big Rob comes to Mix 100 from Townsquare of Northern Colorado, where he was Brand Manager for KKPL-FM (99.9 The Point) and KMAX-FM (94.3 The X) since 2021. Big Rob spent 18 years with iHeartMedia at KSME (96.1 KISS FM) in Fort Collins and KPTT (95.7 The Party/Hits 95.7) in Denver. He was the host of “The Big Show” on nearly 30 radio stations nationwide.

Big Rob

“Having grown up listening to radio in Denver, including the legendary Mix 100, this is like a dream come true,” Big Rob said. “To have the opportunity to work with this outstanding live and local airstaff, I could not be more excited about the future of Mix 100. If this is a dream, please don’t wake me.”

In addition to radio, Big Rob is in his 10th season as Public Address Announcer for the Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse Leage (NLL) in Denver as well as Arena Host for the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League (AHL) in Loveland.

“I could not be more excited to have Big Rob leading the Mix 100 programming initiatives,” said Dave Fleck, KSE Radio Senior Vice President & General Manager. “We are fortunate to already have a group of talented individuals and Rob will be the perfect complement to our team. I am confident that his leadership, fresh ideas, and overall passion for the radio business will take Mix 100 to new heights, making it a ‘Favorite Button’ on your radio dial

Milwaukee Radio: 105.7 The Fan Collects $100K+ For Toys

For its 18th annual Toy Drive, Audacy Milwaukee’s 105.7 The Fan (WSSP-FM / 1250AM) with support from 103.7 KISS-FM, collected $100,000 to benefit the Robyn’s Nest program at Children’s Wisconsin. Robyn’s Nest supports children in foster care and their caregivers with clothing, hygiene items and supplies, as well as Children’s Wisconsin families who have unmet needs.

“Thanks to the generosity of the community and incredible partners like 105.7 The Fan and 103.7 KISS FM, Children’s Wisconsin is able to spread joy to the kids and families we serve. We are so grateful this holiday season and always for their support.” said Christine Baranoucky, Vice President of Engagement and Stewardship, Children’s Wisconsin Foundation.

From December 2 to December 6, listeners were able to donate online or in person at Blain’s Farm & Fleet between 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CT. “Wisconsin Sports Daily” with Steve “Sparky” Fifer airs live each day from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT on The FAN.

“I’m grateful for the compassion the Milwaukee community has to spread holiday cheer to all children that are experiencing challenging times.” said Jason Bjorson, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Audacy Madison and Milwaukee. “Thank you to our dedicated 105.7 The Fan and 103.7 KISS-FM team and volunteers who were able to make this toy drive an impactful event this holiday season.”

105.7 The Fan’s Toy Drive is a part of Audacy’s commitment to making a meaningful difference at scale. Audacy uses its reach and personal connection with listeners to advance causes that promote strong mental health and build sound communities.

NYC Radio: 77WABC MusicRadio Goes Live With Santa

L-R: Santa, Isidoro Albino, Senior, Operations Manager; Jaime Chavez, General Manager; Miss Richmond County; The Grinch; Samantha Carestia, Marketing Manager, and Stephanie Brew, Specialty Leasing Manager

77WABC MusicRadio partnered with Empire Outlets in Staten Island for a live performance by on-air talent and Staten Island’s own singing sensation, Vinnie Medugno. 

Empire Outlets is New York City’s only outlet shopping destination, located steps from the Staten Island Ferry. Medugno is a Staten Island native and a dynamic singer, whose repertoire is all oldies, including a powerful rendition of one of the most vocally demanded songs, Cara Mia, originally by Jay & The Americans. Medugno’s MusicRadio program airs every Saturday from 5-6pm on 77WABC.

“This is a great time of year to celebrate local businesses,” said Chad Lopez, President of Red Apple Media and WABC Radio. “Empire Outlets on Staten Island offers listeners a great shopping experience, especially during the holidays. Vinnie is a young man with a passion for the music our listeners want to hear. We put Vinnie on 77WABC MusicRadio weekends and it’s a been pleasure watching him.”

“Empire Outlets was delighted to have Vinnie Medugno and 77WABC back for a second year in a row to kick off the holiday season. said Samantha Carestia, Marketing Manager, Empire Outlets. The tree lighting event was a special one once again. We always love having Vinnie Medugno and WABC here at Empire Outlets.”

Empire Outlets is New York City’s premier outdoor shopping destination with thirty-four stores, a broad range of eleven dining options, many with waterfront views, plus food trucks, and the Staten Island Playhouse, on four acres of live, green rooftops, with picture-perfect views of Lower Manhattan and access to some of the best deals.

Philly Radio: WXTU 25th Annual Toy Truck Parade is Saturday

Beasley Media Group’s 92.5 WXTU-FM, Philadelphia’s Country Station ,in partnership with the Camden County Board of Commissioners, invites listeners to participate in its 25th Annual Toy Truck Parade to collect toys to benefit The Boys and Girls Clubs of Camden County.

Listeners are encouraged to get in the holiday spirit by decorating their cars, trucks, SUV’s and emergency vehicles and filling them with new and unwrapped toys.

The event will feature WXTU-FM 92.5 on air personalities, including The Andie Summers Show, Razz on the Radio and Nicole Michalik. Country Artist Corey Kent will serve as the parade’s Grand Marshall and will perform live at the Scottish Rite Auditorium.

Participating vehicles will line up in the parking lot of the Cooper River Park and judges will walk the lines of cars and trucks to judge the best decorated in four categories: Big Rig, Commercial, Personal and Emergency. Vehicles will then parade through Collingswood, NJ beginning at Cooper River Park and ending at the Scottish Rite Auditorium to deliver the toys where we will build a mountain of toys.

92.5 WXTU-FM’s on-air personalities will present a special trophies to the best decorated trucks.

• WHEN:  Saturday, December 14, 2024 8:00am – Participating vehicles line up and judging of decorated trucks  9:45am – 10:00 a.m. Parade will begin
• WHERE:   Parade starts at Cooper River Track in Collingswood, NJ 08107