Radio History: March 30

➦In 1922...KGY-AM, Olympia, Washington, signed-on.

KGY has a long history in Olympia, going back to Saint Martin’s College (now Saint Martin’s University). It was there that Benedictine monk Father Sebastian Ruth began experimenting with radio, and when the FCC first started licensing radio stations, KGY was one of the first stations in Washington State to be licensed. “In fact, the three letter call stations are a heritage, the oldest around,” Kerry said.

In 1939 Nick Kerry’s great-grandfather Tom Olsen, an Olympia native, purchased the business. In 1960 KGY moved to its current location on Marine Drive overlooking Budd Inlet and neighbor to Swantown Marina and Hearthfire Grill.

It was built on pilings and has dramatic views of Budd Inlet and the Olympic Mountains. “This was the perfect location for an AM tower. The radials went into the saltwater which they believed created a stronger signal,” said Kerry.

Barbara Olsen Kerry ran the stations until the mid-2000s and today the family continues to remain owners, the majority of whom live in Olympia.

➦In 1922...WWL-AM, New Orleans signed-on.

Circa the '50s

After receiving permission from the Vatican, the Jesuits at Loyola University started WWL on March 31, 1922, with a piano recital and a three-minute request to listeners to support construction of a new classroom building on campus.  The advertisement above says the 10-watt transmitter was “made from $400 worth of spare parts from a Government War Surplus Ship.  The studio audience — 20 Loyola students —- gave a spontaneous cheer at [the] conclusion of [the] historic broadcast.”

The advertisement also claims other firsts.  For instance, the 1922 broadcast of a recording of John McCormack singing “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” is claimed as the first music broadcast in the South.

Over the years, WWL moved to different positions on the dial and steadily increased its power.  In 1938, WWL boosted its signal to 50,000 watts, sending the sounds of New Orleans across much of North America.

WWL became a CBS affiliate in 1935.  During World War II, Loyola University offered WWL’s facilities to train soldiers in radio operations. The station also produced wartime radio programs.  WWL again allowed the government to use its facilities in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

WWL-AM avoided the turn toward rock in the 1950s and became well known in the region for its broadcasts of local Dixieland jazz bands and big band music.  The Leon Kelner Orchestra was popular for its broadcasts from the Roosevelt Hotel’s Blue Room.  The broadcasts were heard far and wide over WWL’s 50,000-watt signal. The LPB radio history site says comment cards were received from as far away as Finland.

In 1971, the station started a long-running overnight country music show targeted at long-haul truck drivers called “The Road Gang.”

Loyola sold the WWL stations to separate companies in 1989.  WWL-AM and WLMG-FM are now owned by Audacy.-Faded Signals

➦In 1936...Backstage Wife, a soap opera radio program that details the travails of Mary Noble, a girl from a small town in Iowa who came to New York seeking her future, moved fro the Mututal Broadcasting System to NBC Radio.

Vivian Fridell had the title role from 1935 until the early 1940s. It was then taken over by Claire Niesen, who played Mary Noble for 14 years, until the end of the series. Mary's husband, Larry Noble, was portrayed by Ken Griffin, then James Meighan and finally, Guy Sorel. The music was supplied by organist Chet Kingsbury.

The program continued on for the next 23 years. Claire Niesen played the title role for the last 17 years.

➦In 1937...Charles Wesley Leonard born (Died – August 12, 2004).  Known as Chuck Leonard. he was a radio personality at 77WABC during the 1960s and 1970s. His deep voice and smoothness resonated across 38 states for 14 years at ABC.

Chuck Leonard

During his over 40-year career in broadcasting, Leonard worked virtually every shift and played all styles of music at stations including WWRL, WABC, WXLO, WRKS, WBLS, WQEW, WNSW-AM and WJUX. He has been inducted in the Museum of Television & Radio and is known as the first African-American disc jockey to work on a mainstream radio station.[1

Leonard began at ABC's flagship New York radio station, Musicradio 77WABC, under program director Rick Sklar in 1965. He broke the color barrier for all who followed — the first African-American to cross over from black R&B radio to (then-mostly white) mass-appeal radio.

Leonard began in the 11 p.m. to midnight slot, and continued working late nights and Sundays at the station until November 27, 1979. He did the 10:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. shift following “Cousin” Bruce Morrow and later George Michael.

Elon Musk Sells X To His Company xAl for $45B

Elon Musk announced that his artificial intelligence company, xAI, had acquired his social media platform, X—previously known as Twitter—in an all-stock transaction. 

Musk shared this development in a post on X, stating that the deal valued xAI at $80 billion and X at $33 billion, with the latter figure accounting for a $45 billion enterprise value minus $12 billion in debt. This acquisition marks a significant move in Musk’s business strategy, merging two of his high-profile ventures under one umbrella.

Musk originally purchased Twitter in October 2022 for $44 billion, taking it private after a contentious process that included legal battles and attempts to back out of the deal. Following the acquisition, he rebranded it as X, slashed its workforce, and made sweeping changes to its policies and operations, leading to a rollercoaster in its valuation. At one point, investors like Fidelity marked down X’s value to as low as $10 billion due to an advertiser exodus and operational upheaval. However, its fortunes rebounded recently, partly due to Musk’s growing influence as a key advisor to President Donald Trump and a resurgence in ad revenue, with X reportedly achieving a $44 billion valuation in a secondary deal earlier in March 2025.

In his announcement, Musk emphasized the synergy between xAI and X, noting, “xAI and X’s futures are intertwined. Today, we officially take the step to combine the data, models, compute, distribution and talent.” He highlighted that the merger would “unlock immense potential by blending xAI’s advanced AI capability and expertise with X’s massive reach,” aiming to create a platform that delivers “smarter, more meaningful experiences” while advancing the mission of “seeking truth and accelerating human progress.” Musk also claimed X now boasts over 600 million active users, though he didn’t specify how this figure was calculated.

Reuters reports Musk, the world's wealthiest man, has also consolidated his power in Washington, D.C. by overseeing the Trump administration's cost-cutting efforts as head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. That has also put him in the position to potentially influence agencies that oversee his business dealings.

An investor in xAI, and now in the combined entity, told Reuters they were not surprised by the deal, viewing it as Musk consolidating his leadership and management at his own companies. The investor declined to be named.

Musk did not ask investors for approval but told them that the two companies had been collaborating closely and the integration will drive deeper integration with Grok.

FCC Chair Opens Investigation Into Disney Over DEI

Brendan Carr, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), announced Friday that he is launching an investigation into the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices of The Walt Disney Company and its ABC unit. 

Carr stated that the probe aims to determine whether Disney’s DEI initiatives may have violated U.S. equal employment opportunity (EEO) regulations, which are enforced by the FCC for entities under its jurisdiction, such as broadcast licensees like ABC.

In a letter addressed to Disney CEO Robert Iger, Carr expressed concerns that the company’s DEI policies might constitute “invidious forms of discrimination.” 

He argued that Disney, historically known for its focus on entertainment successes, had shifted in recent years, becoming “embroiled in rounds of controversy” over its diversity efforts. Carr specifically pointed to past Disney practices, such as a reported policy at ABC requiring that at least 50% of certain production roles—like writers, directors, and crew—be filled by individuals from underrepresented groups based on race or gender. He suggested that such quotas could breach FCC rules, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, or gender in employment practices at regulated companies.

Carr acknowledged that Disney had recently scaled back some of its DEI programs, including a February 2025 shift in executive compensation metrics from “Diversity & Inclusion” to “Talent Strategy.” 

However, he maintained that “significant concerns remain,” asserting that any rollback must eliminate discriminatory practices “in substance, not just name.” The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau has been tasked with reviewing Disney’s DEI programs, policies, and practices to ensure compliance.

Disney responded to the announcement with a statement indicating that it is reviewing Carr’s letter and looks forward to engaging with the FCC to address its questions. The investigation aligns with a broader push by the Trump administration to challenge DEI initiatives across both public and private sectors, reflecting a policy shift that began with an executive order on Trump’s first day of his second term in January 2025, banning DEI considerations in federal hiring.

Paramount-Skydance Merger Deal Remains In Limbo

NY Post Graphic

Charles Gasparino’s report this week in the New York Post delves into the ongoing delays surrounding the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) review of the $8 billion merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media. 

Titled “Why the Paramount-Skydance merger remains in FCC purgatory,” the article outlines how the deal, initially expected to close by spring 2025, has been bogged down by regulatory scrutiny and political pressures, potentially pushing approval into the second half of the year.

Gasparino highlights that the FCC’s investigation stems from a complaint by the Center for American Rights (CAR), a conservative group, which alleges that Paramount’s CBS News violated the agency’s “public interest” rules. 

The complaint focuses on CBS’s handling of a “60 Minutes” interview with Vice President Kamala Harris in October 2024, where two different edits of her responses were aired across CBS programs, prompting accusations of deceptive editing. This “news distortion” probe, led by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, has become a significant hurdle, as Carr has tied it explicitly to the merger review process.

The report notes that the FCC signaled a prolonged timeline during a February 2025 meeting with CAR officials, suggesting the agency might impose “remedies” before approving the deal. 

Gasparino cites sources indicating that this could extend the process for months, with no resolution expected before summer 2025. Adding complexity, President Donald Trump has filed a $20 billion lawsuit against Paramount and CBS News over the same Harris interview, claiming it cost his Truth Social platform viewership.

TV Ratings: Men's Tourney Attracting More Viewers

Ratings for the first two rounds of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament have risen 4% to an average of 9.4 million viewers across CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV, according to Nielsen, marking the highest two-round average since 1993. 

Sunday stood out as the stronger day, with viewership up 13% to 10.1 million. The early-evening slot averaged 15.3 million viewers—a 2.6% increase from last year—while later evening games surged 19% to 8.0 million. This year’s figures reflect Nielsen’s full integration of out-of-home viewing across all measured markets, implemented earlier in 2025.

The tournament’s top draw so far was Kentucky’s 84–75 win over Illinois on Sunday, pulling in 15.3 million viewers. Major advertisers fueling the broadcasts include AT&T Wireless, Geico, Capital One, The Home Depot, State Farm, Progressive Insurance, Samsung Galaxy, Nissan, and Invesco Funds Group.

In contrast, the first two rounds of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament saw a sharp 26% drop to 602,000 viewers on ABC and ESPN compared to last year. The 2024 tournament had been buoyed by the record-breaking performances of Caitlin Clark and the University of Iowa, setting a high bar.

Judge Halts Trump’s Effort to Dismantle Voice of America

A Federal Judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to shut down the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees Voice of America (VOA). 

The ruling followed a lawsuit by VOA journalists and unions, who argued that the shutdown—initiated by Trump’s executive order and led by adviser Kari Lake—violated the First Amendment and congressional funding authority. The order had furloughed 1,300 VOA employees and cut 550 contractors, aiming to dismantle what Trump called “propaganda.” Oetken’s decision halted the cuts, citing insufficient justification, and echoed a prior ruling protecting RFE/RL funding. The temporary restraining order preserves VOA’s operations for now, pending further litigation, amid debates over its role in countering global disinformation.

Kari Lake

During a 90-minute hearing Friday, Judge J Paul Oetken called the administration’s actions a “classic case” of arbitrary policymaking. He argued that the USAGM leadership, including Lake and acting CEO Victor Morales, lacked sufficient justification to override congressional intent with what amounted to a one-sentence rationale tied to Trump’s executive order. 

The order prevented the administration from firing hundreds of contractors (set to occur on March 31) and from targeting the 900 employees on leave for a reduction in force, at least temporarily.

This ruling followed a similar decision on March 26, when U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth in Washington, D.C., granted RFE/RL a temporary restraining order against its funding cuts, forcing the administration to disburse $7.5 million it had frozen. 

Together, these judicial interventions underscored a legal pushback against Trump’s strategy, supported by Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), to shrink federal agencies deemed non-essential. Critics, including VOA director Michael Abramowitz, who filed a separate suit on March 26, decried the shutdown as an attack on a vital tool of U.S. soft power, especially amid rising global disinformation from adversaries like China and Russia.

Radio Remains Essential To Reach Consumers

The automobile is prime real estate for marketers looking to reach consumers on-the-go, close to the point of purchase - when messaging can be most effective. To make the most of these marketing moments, brands need an ad-supported media that maximizes both in-car reach and engagement. No small feat, but one radio continues to master even in the evolving media landscape.

The latest Infinite Dial provides a wealth of information about the audio landscape and insight into the plethora of entertainment options readily available to consumers in, and around, their cars: 9 in 10 people have a smartphone, placing endless entertainment options truly at their fingertips; nearly three-quarters listen to online audio each week, and nearly one-third listen to podcasts. Yet, even with these growing digital entertainment options, the Infinite Dial once again affirms radio's dominant reach in the in-car media environment.

Radio is essential for marketers looking to reach consumers where and when other media cannot - in the car. Radio provides opportunities to connect brands with attentive and captive audiences by effectively owning the in-car audio space. By choosing to advertise on AM/FM Radio, both OTA or streaming, brands are maximizing their in-car messaging opportunities and engaging on-the-go target consumers.

Cumulus Takes At Least 3 More Stations Off Air

Cumulus Media, which operates 400 stations across 84 markets, has cited economic pressures and a need to focus on "strengthening and maximizing the impact of our other brands" as reasons for a number of its stations going dark this year.

The company’s Q4 2024 earnings report, released in February 2025, revealed a net revenue decline to $218.58 million (down 1.2% from $221.3 million in Q4 2023) and a widened net loss of $231.08 million, exacerbated by national advertising headwinds and a slowdown in local broadcast ad dollars. These financial strains, coupled with a stock price languishing at $0.63 per share (a 52-week low as of early March), have driven Cumulus to trim underperforming assets.

Among the stations most recently confirmed to have gone off the air permanently:

• Jefferson City, MO: On March 21, both KLIK (1240 AM and 103.5 FM), a conservative talk station featuring Westwood One programming, and KJMO (97.5 FM), a classic hits outlet, ceased operations. These closures left the mid-Missouri market without these local signals, as reported by local outlet The California Democrat.
• San Francisco, CA: KZAC (560 AM), formerly the iconic KSFO (now branding on 810 AM, went silent on February 28. Its shutdown marked a significant loss for the Bay Area’s AM dial.
• 
  Richmond/Lexington, KY: WLXX (101.5 FM), branded as “101.5 Jack-FM,” also shut down on February 28, ending its variety hits format in the region.
• Des Moines, IA: KBGG (1700 AM), a sports station carrying ESPN Radio, went dark on March 28. This closure reflects Cumulus’s broader retreat from less profitable sports formats in smaller markets.
• Flint, MI: WWCK (1570 AM), another AM station, ceased broadcasting on March 28. Previously a simulcast partner for its FM sister, its closure aligns with a trend of AM stations bearing the brunt of cuts.
• Fort Walton Beach, FL: WYZB (1550 AM), a minor player in the market, also went off the air on March 28, signaling Cumulus’s exit from marginal AM properties.

Additional closures earlier in March included stations like WAPI (1070 AM) in Birmingham, AL; WLWI (1440 AM) in Montgomery, AL; WRIE (1260 AM) in Erie, PA; and KOLI (94.9 FM) in Electra, TX, among others. 

Cumulus has indicated that at least 20 stations were slated for shutdown. Formats affected range from sports and talk to country and classic hits, suggesting a broad reassessment rather than a focus on any single genre.

The company’s strategy appears to prioritize its stronger brands, such as Westwood One (the largest audio network in the U.S.) and key FM stations in major markets, while shedding smaller or unprofitable AM signals and some FMs. Cumulus’s moves come as the industry grapples with declining terrestrial radio listenership—down to 78% of Americans monthly in 2024 from 92% a decade ago, per Edison Research—pushing companies to consolidate or pivot to digital platforms.

While Cumulus has not released an exhaustive list of all stations going dark, the pattern indicates a focus on cutting AM stations (often reliant on translators) and weaker FMs in mid-to-small markets.

Greg Maffei’s Liberty Media CEO Pay Fell Before Exiting

Greg Maffei, who served as the President and CEO of Liberty Media for nearly two decades, saw his compensation drop to $24.3 million in 2024, his final year in that role before stepping down at the end of the year.

The figure represents a decrease from his 2023 pay of $28.7 million, though it was higher than the $22.4 million he earned in 2022 and the $21.6 million in 2021. The details of his 2024 compensation were disclosed in a regulatory filing by Liberty Media, a company controlled by media mogul John Malone, which owns assets like Formula One, SiriusXM, and a stake in Live Nation Entertainment.

Greg Maffei

Breaking down Maffei’s 2024 pay, it included several components: his stock awards increased to $8.7 million from $7.1 million in 2023, and he received a $1 million bonus, which he hadn’t gotten the previous year. However, his non-equity incentive plan compensation—a significant cash component—dropped sharply to $9.5 million from $14.3 million, and his option awards fell to $1.1 million from $3.8 million. These reductions in incentive and option values largely account for the overall decline from 2023 to 2024. Notably, the filing didn’t specify his base salary for 2024, but historically, it’s been a smaller fraction of his total package—around $871,880 in 2020, for instance—suggesting the bulk of his earnings consistently came from performance-based awards.

Maffei’s tenure at Liberty Media, which began in 2005, was marked by significant growth and dealmaking, including the acquisitions of the Atlanta Braves, DirecTV, SiriusXM, Live Nation Entertainment, and Formula One. 

His exit coincided with a simplification of Liberty Media’s corporate structure, including the spin-off of most assets except Formula One and the pending MotoGP acquisition into a new entity called Liberty Live. This restructuring was announced in November 2024, with Maffei transitioning to a senior advisor role starting January 1, 2025, and John Malone stepping in as interim CEO.

Deadline Is Monday For Radio Hall of Fame Nominations

The Museum of Broadcast Communications has announced that the Radio Hall of Fame Nominating Committee is currently accepting suggestions for the 2025 class of nominees, with a submission deadline of Monday, March 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. PST. This window, which opened on February 1, 2025, invites input from both the radio industry and the general public, a process designed to identify individuals who have made significant contributions to radio in the United States.

The Radio Hall of Fame, originally established by the Emerson Radio Corporation in 1988 and operated by the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago since 1991, honors broadcasters for their lasting impact on the medium. The Nominating Committee, a 24-member group comprising industry programming leaders, executives, observers, and academics, reviews these suggstions to compile a slate of 24 nominees. This volunteer committee, serving two- or three-year terms, considers submissions across commercial and public radio sectors to ensure a diverse pool.

Suggestions can be submitted via the Radio Hall of Fame website (radiohalloffame.com/nominate), where anyone—listeners or industry professionals—can nominate candidates they believe deserve recognition. 

After the March 31 deadline, the committee will deliberate and select the 24 nominees, who will then be voted on later in 2025 by a panel of over 900 industry members. The top six vote-getters will be inducted, with two additional inductees chosen directly by the committee, forming an eight-person class. The 2025 induction ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, October 30, 2025, in Chicago.

First Alison Krauss Album In 14-Years Released

The new Alison Krauss & Union Station album, Arcadia, was released Friday marks the band’s first studio effort in 14 years since their 2011 Grammy-winning album Paper Airplane.

This highly anticipated return reunites the legendary bluegrass and roots ensemble after a decade-long hiatus from touring and recording together, delivering a 10-track collection that blends their signature sound with fresh dynamics. Available via Down the Road Records—a label founded by Rounder Records veterans Ken Irwin, Marian Leighton Levy, Bill Nowlin, and John Virant—Arcadia is self-produced by the band and showcases their enduring influence in the genre.

The album features Alison Krauss on fiddle and lead vocals, joined by long-time members Jerry Douglas (dobro, lap steel, vocals), Ron Block (banjo, guitar, vocals), and Barry Bales (bass, vocals), alongside newcomer Russell Moore, a six-time International Bluegrass Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year from IIIrd Tyme Out, who steps in on guitar, mandolin, and co-lead vocals. Notably absent is Dan Tyminski, a fixture since 1992, who contributed to the songwriting but is focusing on his solo career. The addition of Moore, a traditional bluegrass stalwart, complements the band’s core lineup, which collectively boasts over 70 Grammy nominations.

Arcadia opens with its lead single, “Looks Like the End of the Road,” written by Jeremy Lister, which Krauss has described as the spark that ignited the album. She first heard it during the COVID pandemic and felt an immediate connection, saying, “It just felt so alive—and as always, I could hear the guys already playing it.” 

Recorded across various Nashville studios, Arcadia arrives alongside a massive 75-date North American tour kicking off April 17 in Louisville, Kentucky, running through September

Shopping Channels QVC, HSN Merging

QVC Group is cutting approximately 900 jobs as part of a major restructuring effort, which involves moving its HSN operations from Florida to its West Chester headquarters campus, as reported by The Philadelphia Business Journal. 

The company stated that these layoffs mark a transition from its three-year turnaround plan to a new WIN growth strategy, focused on strengthening its core QVC and HSN home shopping networks while expanding into social media and streaming platforms. 

The job reductions will affect workers across HSN, QVC U.S., and the global shared services division. With QVC Group’s 2024 annual report listing a workforce of about 17,000, the layoffs account for roughly 5% of its total staff. 

“For many of these individuals, today will be their last day with QVC Group,” the company announced on Thursday. “Some will remain with us for several months, primarily to assist with the HSN broadcast transition and the St. Petersburg campus wind-down.” 

While QVC Group didn’t provide a detailed geographic breakdown of the affected employees, it highlighted the closure of HSN’s St. Petersburg, Florida, facility as the central element of the cuts. In a notice submitted to the Florida Department of Commerce on Friday, the company confirmed that shutting down the St. Petersburg site will lead to approximately 730 HSN layoffs.

Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints Returns to FOX Nation

FOX Nation will roll out part two of its hit docudrama series Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints beginning on Friday, April 4th and through the Easter season. 

Hosted, narrated and executive produced by celebrated Academy Award-winning filmmaker Martin Scorsese, the exclusive docudrama from Lionsgate Alternative Television explores the remarkable stories of men and women who risked everything to embody humanity’s most noble and complex trait — faith. 

Throughout each episode, Scorsese journeys over 2,000 years of history focusing on these extraordinary figures and their extreme acts of kindness, selflessness, and sacrifice. With each episode focusing on a singular saint, the final three episodes of the season will spotlight Francis of Assisi, Moses the Black, and Mary Magdalene. The season first kicked off in November 2024 with Joan of Arc, John the Baptist, Sebastian, and Maximilian Kolbe.

R.I.P..: Jim Johnson, Longtime Chicago Broadcaster

(1944-2025)

Jim Johnson, a beloved Chicago radio personality and newsman, passed away Friday, just days before his 81st birthday on April 1. 

His death was announced by colleagues and reported across various platforms, marking the end of a remarkable 45-year career in broadcasting, primarily with WLS (AM) 890 in Chicago. Johnson had been battling Alzheimer’s disease in recent years, a struggle his daughter, Alexis Del Cid, publicly documented on her Facebook page since July 2021.

Johnson’s career began in 1968 at WLS, a pivotal year in Chicago history marked by events like the Martin Luther King Jr. assassination riots and the Democratic National Convention protests. Starting as a news writer and editor, he later became a prominent news anchor, most notably on The Roe Conn Show, where his sharp wit and creative storytelling shone. 

Colleagues praised his unique style—Steve Scott, a former WLS colleague, recalled Johnson’s memorable line, “The wind was so strong it blew the cherry out of my Manhattan,” highlighting his flair for engaging, vivid news writing. Roe Conn credited Johnson with coining the term “Canarble Wagon,” a popular segment on their show that became a hallmark of his legacy, stemming from a humorous anecdote about a reporter’s slurred pronunciation of “cocktail.”

Born in 1945, Johnson grew up in Chicago and Wisconsin’s North Woods, where his family ran a hunting and fishing lodge frequented by notable figures like Mayor Richard J. Daley. His father was a newsman at the City News Bureau and the Chicago Sun-Times, embedding journalism in the family—Johnson’s daughter, Alexis, also pursued a career as a reporter and anchor in Kansas City. 

After earning degrees in communications from the University of Illinois, Johnson’s broadcasting journey took him from television news in Champaign, Illinois, to decades in Chicago, including stints at ABC 7 and as a fill-in anchor for The Steve and Garry Show in the 1980s before settling into his long tenure with Roe Conn.

Johnson retired from WLS in June 2013, delivering his final newscast at 6:30 p.m. on April 30 that year. 

Radio History: March 29

➦In 1888...Radio, film actor Earle Ross born (Died of cancer at age 73 – May 21, 1961).

While in school he became interested in dramatics and was usually cast as a villain or an old man because of his unusual voice characteristics. In 1908 he worked with Colonel Bill Selig in his first 5-reel movie film The Holy Cross. In 1912, he ventured to the East Coast and worked on Broadway in such shows as Where the Trail Divides and Cost of Living. From there, he started his own chain of theaters but went broke in the Wall Street Crash of 1929.

Ross became a radio broadcast pioneer and had his own show, The Earle Ross Theater of the Air and also starred in Inspector Post, a continuing radio drama.  Ross's most memorable roles were on radio: that of Judge Horace Hooker on The Great Gildersleeve and Howie MacBrayer on Point Sublime.

➦In 1904..Thomas Edison received a patent for the alkaline storage battery (U.S. Patent No. 755,728). This innovation was foundational for powering early radio equipment, enabling longer and more reliable transmissions—a critical step for the medium’s development. Edison’s work indirectly supported the growth of radio technology in its formative years.

Jack Benny

➦In 1932...Jack Benny first appeared on radio as a guest of Ed Sullivan. He was then given his own show later that year, with Canada Dry Ginger Ale as a sponsor —The Canada Dry Ginger Ale Program, beginning May 2, 1932, on the NBC Blue Network and continuing there for six months until October 26, moving the show to CBS on October 30. With Ted Weems leading the band, Benny stayed on CBS until January 26, 1933.

Arriving at NBC on March 17, Benny did The Chevrolet Program until April 1, 1934 with Frank Black leading the band. He continued with The General Tire Revue for the rest of that season, and in the fall of 1934, for General Foods as The Jell-O Program Starring Jack Benny (1934–42) and, when sales of Jell-O were affected by sugar rationing during World War II, The Grape Nuts Flakes Program Starring Jack Benny (later the Grape Nuts and Grape Nuts Flakes Program) (1942–44).

On October 1, 1944, the show became The Lucky Strike Program Starring Jack Benny, when American Tobacco's Lucky Strike cigarettes took over as his radio sponsor, through the mid-1950s. By that time, the practice of using the sponsor's name as the title began to fade.

The show returned to CBS on January 2, 1949, as part of CBS president William S. Paley's "raid" of NBC talent in 1948-49. There it stayed for the remainder of its radio run, which ended on May 22, 1955. CBS aired repeats of previous 1953-55 radio episodes from 1956 to 1958 as The Best of Benny for State Farm Insurance, who later sponsored his television program from 1960 through 1965.

➦In 1936..radio took a political leap when it was used prominently in a U.S. presidential campaign, often credited as the first significant instance of such broadcasts. President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration leveraged radio to reach voters directly, a strategy that built on his famous "Fireside Chats" (which began in 1933). This event underscored radio’s growing role as a tool for mass communication and political influence, shaping how campaigns would use media moving forward.

➦In 1937...The radio soap opera Our Gal Sunday made its first national broadcast on CBS.  It continued until January 2, 1959.  The origin of this radio series was a 1904 Broadway production, Sunday, which starred Ethel Barrymore. This play was the source of the catchphrase, "That's all there is, there isn't any more."

➦In 1941...WPAT AM NYC Market signed-on.

For many years, the station (along with its FM counterpart) would broadcast a beautiful music format under the slogan "Easy 93".

The WPAT stations were purchased by Capital Cities Communications in 1961.  In the 1970s, WPAT began integrating some baby boomer soft vocals such as the Carpenters, Neil Diamond, Dionne Warwick, and others, still playing one vocal per 15 minutes. In 1982, the stations began playing soft rock songs mixed into the format a couple times an hour and cut back on pop standards artists and songs.

In 1985, Capital Cities announced that it would buy ABC.  As a result of Federal Communications Commission regulations at the time, the company decided to sell WPAT and WPAT-FM because ABC already owned WABC and WPLJ in New York City. The WPAT stations would be sold to Park Communications.

In January 1996, WPAT-FM was sold to Spanish Broadcasting System and switched to a Spanish-language adult contemporary format. Around the same time, WPAT was sold to Heftel Broadcasting and switched to an automated Classic Salsa/Tropical music format on March 26. Heftel tried buying the FM station but was narrowly outbid by SBS. Heftel bought WPAT with plans to sell it to Multicultural Broadcasting and buying an FM station.

Weeks later, the station would start adding ethnic and paid programming.  By the next year, the station's ownership would change finally when its current owners, Multicultural Broadcasting, would buy the station in exchange for WNWK plus Multicultural was paid some cash for WNWK as well. (WNWK subsequently would become WCAA, then in 2009 would switch frequencies with WQXR-FM, New York. It is now known as WXNY-FM and broadcasts at 96.3 FM.) The new owners of WPAT would soon modify the station to its current paid ethnic programming format, moving Radio Korea to WZRC.

➦In 1941...Under the provisions of the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement, stations assigned to 760 kHz were shifted to 770 kHz, which has been WJZ / WABC's dial position ever since.   WABC started off as WJZ when it signed on October 1, 1921.

Musk Defends DOGE And Cuts on Fox News

Elon Musk appeared on Fox News' "Special Report" with host Bret Baier Thursday for an exclusive interview alongside seven members of his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team. This marked the first time Musk and his DOGE associates spoke together in a group interview since launching their initiative to cut trillions of dollars in federal government spending under the Trump administration.

During the hour-long segment, Musk and his team discussed their efforts to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse within the federal government. Musk emphasized that their goal was to reduce government spending by approximately 15% without compromising critical services, asserting that the level of inefficiency they uncovered was "astonishing" and "mind-blowing." He cited examples of routine discoveries of billion-dollar wastes, framing their work as a revolutionary step toward making America solvent and ensuring a "fantastic future."

Musk downplayed the impact of job cuts, claiming "almost no one has gotten fired" and that many departures were voluntary, despite reports of plans to eliminate up to 100,000 federal jobs facing legal challenges. 

Elon Musk says cost-cutting measures won't affect services like social security, but instead, recipients will get more in an interview on Fox News' "Special Report with Bret Baier." pic.twitter.com/CgkeRyZ2vO

— USA TODAY Politics (@usatodayDC) March 28, 2025

He and his team, which included figures like Steve Davis of SpaceX and Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia, defended their approach amid public backlash, particularly over cuts to agencies like the Social Security Administration. They pitched a vision of transforming government operations to be more efficient, likening it to an "Apple Store-like" experience.

The interview served as a charm offensive, with Musk portraying himself and his team as public servants aiming to improve America’s fiscal health. He addressed critics, including Democrats who warned of the risks to essential services, by insisting that vital programs would remain intact. The appearance came on the heels of a contentious week, following a Capitol Hill hearing where GOP lawmakers grilled NPR and PBS executives, aligning with Trump’s renewed call to defund those broadcasters—a cause Musk has supported through DOGE’s broader cost-cutting mission.

Musk’s high-profile role in the Trump administration, often seen at the President’s side, was a backdrop to the discussion, though his team members, typically low-profile, also shared insights into their findings across various federal departments. The interview aired at 6 PM ET, offering an unprecedented look into DOGE’s operations and reinforcing Musk’s narrative of tackling government inefficiency head-on.

Katz: 3-Minute Qualifier Reveals Key Nielsen Findings

Nielsen’s measurement modernization is proving to capture a more accurate view of radio listening. With 2 months worth of data implementing the new 3-minute quarter-hour qualifier, Nielsen and the Radio Advertising Bureau have released some key findings for the marketplace.

Nielsen reports a +13% year-over-year audience increase, bringing PUMM to the highest level since 2022. Listener levels are up across demos, including +9% among Black Adults, and +20% among Hispanics.

The new Nielsen data shows that all dayparts have experienced growth in average audience, spread relatively evenly across the dayparts.

Nielsen's 3-Minute Qualifier offers a more realistic definition of the listening behavior of radio’s audience. By capturing more moments of listening, the radio industry can now give brands more comprehensive measurement to prove radio’s value in the media mix.

Spotify, Apple Music Enjoy A Duopoly of Music Streaming

Spotify and Apple Music collectively dominate the U.S. music streaming market, claiming more than two-thirds of total subscribers. 

Spotify continues to lead as the largest player in the U.S., with its subscriber base growing steadily. Recent estimates suggest Spotify holds around 36% of the U.S. music streaming subscriber market, translating to approximately 49-50 million paying subscribers as of mid-2024, a figure that likely increased into 2025 given its consistent growth trajectory. This dominance is fueled by its extensive music catalog, personalized playlists like "Discover Weekly," and a robust free tier that often converts users to premium subscriptions.

Apple Music follows closely as the second-largest service, commanding about 30.7% of the U.S. market, equating to roughly 41-42 million subscribers in mid-2024, with projections suggesting it could reach 40.6 million in the U.S. alone by the end of 2025. Apple Music benefits from seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem, high-quality audio options like lossless and spatial audio, and exclusive content, appealing especially to users already invested in Apple devices.

Together, these two giants account for over 66%—or two-thirds—of U.S. music streaming subscribers.

 This combined market share is underscored by data indicating that, as of mid-2024, Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music collectively held over 90% of the U.S. market. Trends suggest their lead has solidified driven by pricing adjustments, feature enhancements, and market saturation in North America.

This concentration highlights a duopoly in the U.S. streaming space, where Spotify’s algorithm-driven discovery and Apple Music’s hardware synergy have outpaced competitors like Amazon Music, YouTube Music (6.8% market share), and smaller players like Pandora, Tidal, and SoundCloud.

Trump Renews Call to Defund NPR, PBS

President Donald Trump renewed his call to defund National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), escalating his ongoing criticism of the publicly funded media outlets. 

His statement came just one day after top executives from NPR and PBS faced a contentious hearing on Capitol Hill, where Republican lawmakers intensely questioned them about alleged bias in their reporting and the use of taxpayer funds.

The hearing, held on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, was led by the House Oversight Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE), chaired by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). During the session, NPR CEO Katherine Maher and PBS CEO Paula Kerger were grilled by GOP lawmakers who accused the broadcasters of promoting a liberal agenda. Republicans pointed to specific instances, such as NPR’s handling of the Hunter Biden laptop story during the 2020 election and its coverage of COVID-19 origins, as evidence of editorial bias. Maher acknowledged during the hearing that NPR’s leadership viewed the decision to downplay the Biden laptop story as a mistake, a point seized upon by lawmakers like Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio).

Trump’s renewed push to defund NPR and PBS followed his comments earlier in the week, where he described the networks as a “waste of money” and expressed his desire to see them stripped of federal support. In a late-night post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “NPR and PBS, two horrible and completely biased platforms (Networks!), should be DEFUNDED by Congress, IMMEDIATELY.” 

🚨 JUST IN: President Trump tells @brianglenntv that he’d LOVE to defund propaganda outlets NPR and PBS

YES! DO IT! 🔥

“I would love to do that. I think it's very unfair, it's been very biased, the whole group. The kind of money that's being wasted, and it's a very biased… pic.twitter.com/fUDmUzPh2h

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) March 25, 2025

He reiterated this stance on Thursday, aligning himself with GOP figures like Greene, who concluded the hearing by announcing plans to call for the “complete and total defund and dismantling” of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which provides federal funding to NPR and PBS.

The Wednesday hearing saw Republicans argue that NPR and PBS no longer serve as trusted, neutral news sources for Americans, with Greene labeling their content as “communist” and out of touch with the public. Some lawmakers, including Rep. James Comer (R-Texas), expressed a complete loss of confidence in public media, asserting it should not receive federal funding. Meanwhile, Democrats on the subcommittee, such as Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), defended the broadcasters, accusing Republicans of distracting from more pressing issues and using the hearing to attack the free press.

Trump’s call to action reflects a long-standing Republican effort to reduce or eliminate government funding for public media, a goal he pursued unsuccessfully during his first term when Congress rejected his proposed cuts to the CPB. 

About a quarter of U.S. adults (24%) say Congress should remove federal funding from NPR and PBS, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted March 10-16. A larger share (43%) say NPR and PBS should continue to receive funding from the federal government, while 33% say they are not sure.

The funding structures for NPR and PBS are complicated, and much of their revenue comes from nongovernment sources like member donations and corporate sponsorships. But the proposed bill would ban all federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which has received $535 million annually in recent federal budgets. The CPB helps to fund NPR and PBS both directly and through individual local public media stations, many of which pay NPR and PBS in the form of membership or programming fees.

PBS, NPR Trust Divided Along Party Lines

Pew Research has released a chart this week that looks at partisans’ trust in NPR and PBS. According to a new Center survey, Democrats are more likely than Republicans to trust NPR and PBS as sources of news. Nearly half of Democrats (47%) say they trust NPR as a source of news, compared with 12% of Republicans. The same pattern applies to PBS, with 59% of Democrats and 23% of Republicans trusting the outlet. For both public broadcasters, Republicans are much more likely than Democrats to say they distrust the outlets. 

About a quarter of U.S. adults (24%) say Congress should remove federal funding from NPR and PBS, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted March 10-16. A larger share (43%) say NPR and PBS should continue to receive funding from the federal government, while 33% say they are not sure.

Report: Layoffs Continue at The Los Angeles Times

The Los Angeles Times has undergone another round of layoffs, with cuts targeting the business side of the organization, specifically in operations and communications. 

The layoffs follow closely after an earlier event where 40 newsroom employees accepted buyouts, which occurred just weeks prior to this latest announcement.

Historically, The Los Angeles Times has faced significant financial challenges, leading to multiple rounds of layoffs in recent years. For example, in January 2024, the newspaper laid off at least 115 employees—more than 20% of its newsroom—due to a reported annual loss of $30 million to $40 million, as stated by owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong. 

This was one of the largest workforce reductions in the paper’s 142-year history and included both unionized and non-union staff. Earlier, in June 2023, over 70 positions were cut, representing about 13% of the newsroom at that time. These recurring cuts reflect ongoing struggles with declining subscriptions, advertising revenue, and the broader shift in the media industry away from traditional print models.

The latest layoffs appear to shift focus from the newsroom to operational and communications roles. This follows the pattern of cost-cutting measures to address persistent financial difficulties. The buyouts of 40 newsroom staffers, noted as occurring weeks before this latest round, suggest an attempt to reduce headcount voluntarily before resorting to additional involuntary layoffs.

CNN 'Reality Check': Trump More Popular Than Ever

CNN’s senior data analyst Harry Enten appeared on the network this week to provide what he called a “reality check” regarding President Donald Trump’s popularity and public sentiment about the direction of the United States. Enten argued that despite frequent media narratives focusing on Trump’s unpopularity, the president is currently experiencing a level of favorability higher than at any point during his first term or immediately after his reelection in November 2024.

Enten highlighted Trump’s net favorability rating, which stood at -4 points at the time of his analysis. While this figure indicates more Americans view him unfavorably than favorably, he compared it to previous lows: -7 points after winning the 2024 election and an average of -10 points during his first term in March 2017. 

“When you compare Trump against himself, he’s actually closer to the apex than he is to the bottom of the trough,” Enten noted, emphasizing that Trump’s numbers have historically been underestimated in polling.

NEW: CNN's Harry Enten disproves the media narrative that Trump supporters are regretting their votes, says Trump is *more* popular now than when he won the election.

Another media narrative destroyed.

"I think sometimes it's important to do a little bit of a reality check and… pic.twitter.com/k0gHCjI7US

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 25, 2025

Enten’s analysis came amid a backdrop of significant policy moves by the Trump administration, including aggressive spending cuts via the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and immigration enforcement efforts.

Radio A Bright Spot for Urban One

Urban One, Inc. reported its fourth-quarter results for 2024 on Thursday. The company experienced a mixed financial performance during the last three months of the year, reflecting both strengths and challenges across its various segments.

For Q4 2024, Urban One’s net revenue reached approximately $117.1 million, marking a 2.7% decline from the $120.3 million recorded in Q4 2023. This drop was primarily driven by a significant decrease in cable television revenue, which fell to $39.8 million from $47.3 million, attributed to lower audience viewership and ongoing subscriber churn in the linear TV market. 

Despite this, the radio division shone as a bright spot, with net revenue rising to $47.7 million from $41.7 million, fueled by strong political advertising revenues. The digital segment also showed resilience, posting a solid performance with revenue increasing to $20.5 million and Adjusted EBITDA surging by 50.7% to $5.3 million from $3.5 million, despite a challenging advertising environment. However, Reach Media, the company’s national radio arm, saw a slight decline, with net revenue dropping to $9.6 million from $10.8 million.

Financially, Urban One swung to an operating loss of $1.9 million in Q4 2024, compared to an operating income of $6.8 million in the same period the previous year.

CEO Alfred C. Liggins III highlighted the radio division’s outperformance, driven by political advertising, which helped the company achieve an annual Adjusted EBITDA of $103.5 million, hitting the midpoint of its guidance. However, he acknowledged ongoing challenges in the cable TV segment, noting some stabilization in Q1 2025 delivery that could mitigate further subscriber losses. Looking ahead, Liggins emphasized cost containment and deleveraging as key focuses for 2025, with optimism about political ad revenue potentially offsetting declines in other areas. Despite the Q4 setbacks, Urban One’s diversified portfolio and strategic financial moves position it to navigate a shifting media landscape.

ESPN To Air UFL Doubleheader

ESPN’s coverage of the 2025 United Football League (UFL) season kicks off this weekend with a Sunday doubleheader, marking the start of its 22-game broadcast slate for the league’s second season. 

The UFL, formed from the merger of the XFL and USFL, began its 10-week regular season on Friday, but ESPN’s portion of the schedule starts with two games on Sunday, both airing on ESPN and streaming on ESPN+.

The first game of the doubleheader features the Michigan Panthers facing off against the Memphis Showboats at noon ET (9 a.m. PT). This matchup pits two teams from the USFL Conference against each other, with the Panthers looking to build on their 2024 performance and the Showboats aiming to make a mark in their home opener. 

The second game, starting at 3 p.m. ET (12 p.m. PT), showcases the defending UFL champion Birmingham Stallions traveling to Washington, D.C., to take on the DC Defenders. The Stallions, led by coach Skip Holtz, have dominated spring football with a 26-4 record over the past three seasons, including the 2024 UFL title and back-to-back USFL championships in 2022 and 2023. The Defenders, from the XFL Conference, will look to challenge Birmingham’s reign in this high-profile clash.

ESPN’s 2025 UFL schedule is part of a broader media partnership with FOX, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, and FS1, which will collectively televise all 43 games of the season, including the regular season, playoffs, and the championship game on June 14. 

ESPN itself will air 22 games across its platforms—9 on ESPN, 1 on ESPN2, and 12 on ABC—covering both regular season and postseason action. The Sunday doubleheader sets the tone for ESPN’s commitment to showcasing the league, with commentary teams announced earlier this year featuring a mix of UFL veterans and prominent college football voices, though specific broadcasters for these opening games weren’t detailed in the latest updates.

The weekend’s action began earlier, with FOX airing the season opener ;ast night (St. Louis Battlehawks vs. Houston Roughnecks) and a Saturday game today at 4 p.m. ET (San Antonio Brahmas vs. Arlington Renegades).