San Antonio: Alpha Launches Alternative on 103.3 The App

Alpha Media/San Antonio, TX has announced the launch of San Antonio’s Alternative Station, 103.3 The App on "103.3 The App" K277CX 94.1 T-FM in Terrell Wells and fed via KTFM 94.1 FM-HD2 Floresville, TX.  The station will target millennials ages 18-44.

“San Antonio is ground zero for the first station using our national service mark; The App. Alpha Media continues to innovate by launching the first app with a radio station attached to it. Many stations have an app, but only one app has a radio station attached to it,” remarked Scott Mahalick, Alpha Media Executive VP of Programming.

Alpha Media VP of Programming, Phil Becker commented, “With 103.3 The App, the broadcast paradigm has changed. True convergence has arrived, so much so that it’s our name. Wish you had an original station name? Now there’s an App for that.”

Listen-Live: Click Here

Greg Martin, Director of Operations, added, “103.3 The App most certainly fills a void in the San Antonio market. This is a very exciting new sound unlike any heard in this market in many years”.

K277CX 103.3 FM (185 watts) Red=60dBu Coverage Area

“I’m thrilled to be programming San Antonio’s exclusive home for alternative music, 103.3 The App! So many hit records have been absent from this market over the past few years, but now that is finally going to change. We’ve positioned the station as the first app with a terrestrial FM signal, since prior to our launch, listeners had to seek out this format via other mediums. This is just one example of the forward thinking and creativity that listeners can expect from Alpha Media in 2015,” said Program Director, Pat Cerullo.

Download the App now from the Google Play or the App Store now. Just search “103.3 The App.”

NBC Pulls Brian Williams Name From Show Opening

NBC News pulled Brian Williams'name from its “Nightly News With Brian Williams” broadcast starting Wednesday evening.

His name is also be pulled from the “Nightly News With Brian Williams” logos that are prominently plastered on the broadcast’s Web site, social media feeds and other promotional and marketing materials while he serves a six-month, unpaid suspension for fudging the facts about being hit by enemy fire while covering the Iraq War in 2003.

“If they left Brian’s name on there, [his replacement] Lester Holt would have to explain to the audience every night that he’s standing in for Brian, which is not an ideal situation,” a source said.

Internal debates over removing Williams’ name went on at the network up until Wednesday evening before the show aired. One consideration was whether such a move kicked up any contractual issues, an insider explained.

Crisis Mode At NBC Over Brian Williams

Interviews with people with knowledge of the process, as well as former employees who spoke to people at NBC, portray a news division operating in crisis mode as it investigated its own celebrity anchor and assessed whether he could salvage his position.

The NY Times is reporting control of the situation quickly passed to Stephen B. Burke, chief executive of NBCUniversal. A week ago (2/515/), Burke called the first of a series of secret meetings, this one at the conference room in the executive suites on the 51st floor. Those present included Patricia Fili-Krushel, chairwoman of NBCUniversal News Group, and Deborah Turness, the president of NBC News. Mr. Williams did not attend.

Burke acted decisively, according to one person, telling his colleagues to gather the facts so that they could make an expeditious but fair decision. He decided to hold meetings at 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. each day until the issue was resolved.

Burke sought advice from Mr. Williams’s predecessor, Tom Brokaw, who canceled a vacation in the Virgin Islands to offer his feedback. The two shared uncertainties about the best approach, with Mr. Brokaw expressing concerns about how the episode would affect NBC News employees, according to one person with knowledge of the discussions. Mr. Burke also consulted David L. Cohen, an executive vice president at NBCUniversal’s parent company, Comcast, who was busy on an issue with much higher financial stakes — Comcast’s attempt to gain regulatory approval for a $45 billion merger with Time Warner Cable.

During the next week, according to the NYTimes' Emily Steel, NBC News buckled down as both Mr. Williams and the network came under scrutiny, people with knowledge of the events said. An internal investigation and high-level meetings continued through the weekend, including one Saturday morning at Mr. Williams’s Manhattan apartment, at which it was decided that Mr. Williams would have to temporarily step aside. It culminated Tuesday morning, when Mr. Burke told Mr. Williams that he was being suspended without pay for six months.

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Suspension Hits NBC News Room Hard

M-C has learned that during suspension talks, Brian Williams failed to secure a promise that he can return to the anchor chair. Steven Burke, chief exec of NBC Universal, told Williams of the decision. NBC News President Deborah Turness told the staff of Nightly News, with Williams calling in to tell them to take good care of the program.

According to reports, people were sending up red flags about Williams's self-aggrandizement about a year ago. No one took action earlier because the statements that drew attention of staffers weren't aired on the news broadcast.

"It was very painful," one NBC News journalist said. "We all worked so hard at establishing our credibility, and it feels like our credibility has been damaged. People are angry at Brian."

There's also a sense that the newsroom has been adrift since Comcast Cable took over NBC Universal in 2011. NBC journalists said editors who once kept a close watch over the broadcast have departed, leaving Williams to operate with few meaningful checks and balances

As managing editor, Williams held enormous sway over story selection and over which reporters would appear on the broadcast. Journalists with serious reputations were forced out or left on their own. "There was constant changing to his whims," a former top NBC news manager said. "No one said, 'No.'"

News Media 'Trust' Takes A Hit

Even as NBC News wrestles with what to do with evening anchor Brian Williams, fewer Americans are getting their news predominately from television, and they trust the news they are getting less than they did a year ago.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 60% of American Adults regard the news reported by the media as at least somewhat trustworthy, but that includes just seven percent (7%) who think it is Very Trustworthy.

Thirty-eight percent (38%) do not trust the news media, with eight percent (8%) who believe the news reported is Not At All Trustworthy. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 800 American Adults was conducted on February 7-8, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.

Last June, Gallup asked Americans to rate their confidence in television news in their annual Confidence in Institutions poll. Overall in 2014, only 18% of Americans said they had a "great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in television news, putting it next-to-last on the list of 16 institutions tested, ranking above only Congress (which has a 7% confidence rating). Television news was the lowest rated of the three media sources tested, slightly below Internet news and even further behind newspapers.

Baltimore Radio: Scott Masteller Named PD At WBAL

Scott Masteller

Scott Masteller has been named Program Director of N/T/Sports WBAL 1090 AM

The appointment was announced Wednesday by Cary L. Pahigian, President and General Manager of WBAL-AM and WIYY-FM.  Masteller will begin his new position February 19.

“Scott is among the most accomplished news, talk and sports radio executives and his ESPN experience will be key to WBAL’s role as the radio home of the Ravens and unmatched breaking news coverage 24/7,” Pahigian said.  

“He holds a strong appreciation for the role of this iconic radio station as part of Baltimore’s heritage and our relationship with listeners and the community.”

WBAL-AM 1090 is the radio home of both the Baltimore Ravens and Navy football; it is Baltimore’s longtime news/talk leader and among the nation’s most honored radio stations for journalism; since 2010, the station has earned dozens of regional Edward R. Murrow Awards and three National Awards, and its WBAL Radio Kids Campaign has earned the National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation “Service to Children Radio” Award.

Masteller joins WBAL from ESPN in Bristol, Connecticut, where he most recently was Senior Director of Affiliate and Syndicated Content, responsible for development of programming strategies and collaboration with top market affiliates of the ESPN Radio Network.

Previously he served as ESPN’s Senior Director of Radio/Audio Content, responsible for all oversight of studio programming at ESPN Radio Network, which provides content to over 400 radio stations.  Before moving to ESPN’s Bristol headquarters he served as Program Director for ESPN-affiliated ABC station KESN-FM, Dallas and, before that, as Program Director at KFXX-AM in Portland, Oregon.

Amanda Gifford to ESPN SR/Director, Daytime Programming

Amanda Gifford

Amanda Gifford has been promoted to Senior Director, Daytime Programming, ESPN Audio. Gifford will continue to oversee all aspects of Mike & Mike, in addition to The Herd with Colin Cowherd, SVP & Russillo and The Dan Le Batard Show.

For the past year, Gifford was responsible for all components of the Mike & Mike franchise. Most recently, she led successful week-long, onsite coverage of Super Bowl XLIX that included more than 90 hours of live programming.

Gifford, a 2004 graduate of Penn State, joined ESPN Audio in May 2004, and has in the past overseen ESPN Audio’s College GameDay and the evening programming lineup, as well as producing The Herd with Colin Cowherd from 2005 - 2010.

She began at ESPN Audio as an intern and was a production assistant, associate producer, and producer prior to her role as program director.

LasVegas Radio: KLUC Renews Morning Zoo

CBS Radio/Las Vegas has signed Chet Buchanan & The Morning Zoo to a new multi-year deal that will continue to have them waking up Las Vegas on Top40 KLUC 98.5 FM.

The show, produced by Davey The “Showkiller”, has been heard on 98.5 KLUC since its debut in 1999.

“We are beyond excited that the longest running and most successful Morning Show in Las Vegas has decided to stay at KLUC!” says, Cat Thomas, KLUC Program Director.  “Their ability to be such a major part of our community on a daily basis has brought them to the pinnacle of success in one of the most competitive radio markets in the country.  Like all of Las Vegas, we love them and are so happy to continue to work with the amazing talents that are Chet, Lauren & Spence.  Chet Buchanan & The Morning Zoo is back, we got them and we’re happy as hell!”

KLUC 98.5 FM (97 Kw) Red=60dBu Coverage Area

The show has become engrained in the Las Vegas community over the last 16 years in large part due to the love and support they have for their listeners. Chet, Spence and Lauren are involved with countless charities throughout the valley and spearhead one of the largest single location toy drives in the country. 98.5 KLUC’s Chet Buchanan & The Morning Zoo Toy Drive just celebrated its 16th year this past December by breaking all previous records  over the course of the 12 day event that included filling (29) 50-foot semi truck trailers with toys, collecting 5,146 bikes and raising $323,092 in cash and gift cards.

"It seems like it was just yesterday that we joined together!  We're proud to be Las Vegas' longest running morning show with the most fantastic listeners anywhere, and we're only getting better every day,” says Chet Buchanan. “Thank you to CBS Radio, our Senior Vice President/Market Manager, Jerry McKenna, and our esteemed fearless leader and Las Vegas Radio Legend Cat Thomas for the opportunity to stay together for another three years!"

Joe Galante Receives Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award

Peter Fisher (Opry VP/GM) Joe Galnte, Bob Kingsley, Kenny Chesney

Tuesday night, music industry veteran Joe Galante was honored with the Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award for his work and impact on modern Country music.

His oversight of countless superstar careers over the past 40+ years has transformed the perception of Nashville as a music center and helped propel Country music into the global phenomenon it is today.

Further, his continued engagement in cutting-edge business ventures proves this visionary is far from done making history in Music City.

Last year the inaugural event honored Bob Kingsley, host of Westwood One’s Country Top 40.  Due to the overwhelming response, the night’s beneficiary--The Opry Trust Fund--opted to make it an annual event where one individual would be honored on the stage of the Opry annually.  The award will recognize the most deserving individuals across the spectrum of record label, radio, media, and industry.

Among the artists who participated in the honor for Joe were Matraca Berg, Kix Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Jessi Colter, Ronnie Dunn, Sara Evans, Foster & Lloyd, Brett James, Naomi Judd, Lonestar, Ronnie Milsap, Lorrie Morgan, KT Oslin, Kellie Pickler, Eddy Raven, Restless Heart, The Robertson Family, Sylvia, Phil Vassar, and The Warren Brothers.

Rdio, AEG Announce Music Partnership

Rdio Wednesday announced an exclusive partnership with AXS, an AEG joint venture, that enables concert goers ‎to hear their favorite songs anytime, anywhere even before the concert starts – on mobile phones, on the web, in some cars and on Internet-connected TVs and wireless speakers.

All AXS.com ticket buyers will automatically be eligible to receive free, trial subscriptions to Rdio Unlimited, which provides on-demand access to Rdio’s comprehensive catalog of more than 32 million songs. Rdio Unlimited also includes Rdio's curated Internet radio stations that create programming based on genres and your musical tastes.

Rdio's breadth of radio and on-demand formats bridges the gap between the easy lean back radio listening experience and the ability to lean forward and pick specific songs.

This deep integration with the live music experience will allow direct engagement with fans, notifying them immediately when new music from bands they've enjoyed live is added to the Rdio catalog and helping them discover new music that is similar to the artists for whom they've purchased concert tickets. Each new Rdio account will be personalized based on prior concert purchases in order to create the best listening experience, bringing artists and their fans closer together.

“We are thrilled to partner with AXS to provide millions of concert goers access to our vast music library of over 32 million songs through this seamless integration with the live performance purchase experience,” said Anthony Bay, CEO of Rdio. “Rdio’s music discovery features and unlimited streaming service will provide AXS customers a unique and always‑on experience that is second only to hearing your favorite music live.”


iHM Gets Landlord In San Antonio

W. P. Carey Inc., a global net lease REIT specializing in corporate sale-leaseback financing, build-to-suit financing and the acquisition of single-tenant net lease properties, announced Wednesday the acquisition of an office and data center facility on behalf of CPA:17 – Global, one of its managed non-traded REITs.

The 120,147 square-foot facility is located at 200 E. Basse Road in San Antonio, Texas and will be leased back to iHeartCommunications, Inc. for a period of 20 years.  The total acquisition price was approximately $22 million.

Constructed in 2002 as a build-to-suit for Clear Channel, the facility serves as the company's primary IT and finance shared service center.

W. P. Carey Managing Director and Co-head of Global Investments, Jason Fox, commented: "Given the valuable data center space and improvements to the building, we believe that we were able to acquire the facility at below replacement cost.  The terms of the triple-net lease provide for an attractive initial cap rate, as well as annual built-in rent increases.  iHeartCommunications' position in the broadcast and outdoor advertising sector and the highly critical real estate make for what we believe will be a long-term, income-generating investment for CPA:17 – Global's investors."

“Nobody is moving or leaving the company as a result,” said Wendy Goldberg, executive vice president for communications in New York City, in an email last October to the San Antonio Express-News. “This is part of our liquidity strategy, and it’s a financially efficient way to manage our assets.”

Most of the iHeartMedia executives work in New York City and elsewhere. Only about 30 percent of the company’s executives work in the San Antonio corporate office, running the information technology, accounting and legal functions.

Peppy, Happy Music Best For Commercials

It’s hard to deny the connection between tunes that resonate with audiences and the impact those songs can have when it comes to advertising—especially with critically acclaimed music. But can that impact be measured?

To find out, a Nielsen analysis looked at the top ads featuring popular songs, which include this year’s Grammy-nominated “Happy” by Pharrell Williams and “Rather Be” by Clean Bandit, as well as previous year’s nominees like Kenny Roger’s classic country ditty, “The Gambler.”

The lineup makes a strong case that some songs have a stronger influence when it comes to certain consumer segments.

According to the analysis, half of the top 10 ads that resonated among the general population (aged 18-49) also resonated among Millennials (age 18-33). Beats by Dre was on both lists multiple times, likely aided by “the natural synergy between this particular brand and music. Brands such as Coca-Cola and Amazon also leveraged popular songs and ended up earning multiple top spots.

Click to Enlarge

Peppy songs that focus on happiness were a common theme–“Make Someone Happy” by gravel-voiced legend Jimmy Durante, “Happy Place” by Oh, Hush! and Pharrell’s “Happy” all found spots on at least one of the lists. Among Millennials, hip hop songs like “Pay for It" by Jay Rock and “Slam” by Onyx also made the list, but they weren’t top ads among the general population. Meanwhile, more nostalgic, emotion-based songs like “I’m Coming Home” by Diddy and “Where everybody knows your name—the theme song to the classic TV show “Cheers”—were on the top 10 list for the general population, but not among Millennials.

“There are definitely some lessons to be learned by advertisers looking to invest in a popular song to connect with wider audiences,” says Randall Beard, President, North America, Nielsen. “Some musical genres perform better with younger or older consumers—like hip hop among Millennials. Uplifting, happy music resonates well across all consumers, which is important if advertisers are looking to connect with general audiences.

Iowa Radio Personality Avoids Deportation

James Shaman

A Mason City radio personality says it's like the "weight of the world" was lifted off his shoulders after learning he could stay in the U.S. following a potential deportation to Canada, according to The Des Moines Register.

James Shaman of KLKK 103.7 FM /The Fox said he learned federal prosecutors have agreed to settle his case.

The 40-year-old native of Manitoba, Canada, says he should get his green card back soon. He came to the U.S. with his parents when he was 2.

See Original Posting: Click Here

Shaman, now Program Director at KLKK and mid-day host, says a record check over three years ago at a border crossing alerted officials to a 1993 burglary conviction. He says he has turned his life around since then.

Federal law allows legal foreign residents to be deported for a number of criminal convictions.

R.I.P.: Bob Simon Of CBS News Killed In Accident

Bob Simon

UPDATE 1PM 2/12/2015:   A preliminary investigation by New York City police has determined “speed may have been a factor” in the car crash that killed “60 Minutes” correspondent Bob Simon, a law-enforcement official said Thursday.

The impact of the crash caused severe trauma to Mr. Simon’s head and neck, and he was in cardiac arrest as he was being transported to St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital, the official said. He was pronounced dead on arrival at 7:23 p.m., the official said.

Earlier Posting...

Bob Simon, the longtime "60 Minutes" correspondent and legendary CBS News foreign reporter died suddenly Wednesday night in a car accident in New York City.

The award-winning newsman was 73, according to CBS News.

"Bob Simon was a giant of broadcast journalism, and a dear friend to everyone in the CBS News family. We are all shocked by this tragic, sudden loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with Bob's extended family and especially with our colleague Tanya Simon," said CBS News President David Rhodes.

"It's a terrible loss for all of us at CBS News," 60 Minutes Executive Producer Jeff Fager said in a statement. "It is such a tragedy made worse because we lost him in a car accident, a man who has escaped more difficult situations than almost any journalist in modern times.

"Bob was a reporter's reporter. He was driven by a natural curiosity that took him all over the world covering every kind of story imaginable," Fager said. "There is no one else like Bob Simon. All of us at CBS News and particularly at 60 Minutes will miss him very much."

NY Daily News photo

Simon was riding in the backseat of a livery cab around 6:45 p.m. Wednesday on New York City's West Side Highway when the car rear-ended another vehicle and crashed into barriers separating north- and southbound traffic, the New York Police Department said in a statement. Unconscious with head and torso injuries, Simon was transported to St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital where he died. The livery cab driver was taken to another hospital with injuries to his arms and legs. Police were investigating but made no arrests.




Over a 47-year career at CBS News, Simon earned more than 40 major awards, including 27 Emmys, believed to be the most ever earned for a field reporter and four Peabody Awards.

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Simon joined CBS in 1967 and covered unrest on college campuses, inner-city riots and the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. He found his niche as a war reporter covering the Vietnam war. He left Saigon on one of the last helicopters out of the city in 1975. He covered conflicts in Northern Ireland and Portugal

He also covered American military actions in Grenada, Somalia and Haiti. He was assigned to CBS's Tel Aviv bureau, then to DC's State Dept bureau. He returned to New York as a national correspondent, then back to Tel Aviv as chief Middle East correspondent. He was last working on a piece on Ebola with his daughter who is a producer at 60 Minutes.

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February 12 In Radio History

In 1924…"The Eveready Hour," paid for by the National Carbon Company which at the time owned Eveready Battery, became radio's first commercially sponsored network program. It originated from WEAF (later to be WNBC and now WFAN) in New York City and was hosted for many years by the banjo-playing vocalist Wendell Hall.


In 1940…"The Adventures of Superman," with Bud Collyer in the title role, began its 11-year run on radio as a syndicated show on New York City's WOR. It became a network show on Mutual in August 1942 as a 15-minute serial airing three to five times a week.

St. John, Age 18

In ????...New York City Radio Personality, Pat St. John, was born. Most notably known for his airwork on WPLJ-FM.

St. John is one of the U.S.'s preeminent and longest serving radio personalities and voice-over artists.

Known as The Dee-Jay’s DJ, he began his radio career on Windsor, Ontario's CKLW 800 AM in 1969 and '70, followed by WKNR 1300 AM in late 1970 to early '72, followed by WRIF 101.1 FM to April 1973.



Pat is best known for his work in the New York City market on WPLJ, WNEW-FM, WAXQ and WCBS FM where he is currently on the air every Sunday from 11AM to 3PM.



He can also be heard on several Sirius XM Radio channels, including 60s on 6 afternoons (Eastern).

Pat has done extensive television voiceover work, including announcing for Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve from 2000 to 2010.

St. John is known for his conversational on-air style with interspersed bits of music trivia, along with "Collectible Cuts" from his extensive record library. Pat has been called a "walking encyclopedia" when it comes to his knowledge of music.

Over the years Pat has had the opportunity to interview all his heroes, from Little Richard to The Beatles, from Eric Clapton to The Rolling Stones, from B.B. King, Freddie King and Buddy Guy to those who he has become friends with like Bob Seger, Leon Russell, and Johnnie Johnson ("Father of Rock'n'Roll" who played piano on almost all of Chuck Berry's recordings and in fact hired Chuck Berry to join his band).

In 1949...there was panic in Quito, Ecuador, after the radio program "War of the Worlds", aired.




In 1964...The Beatles concert at Carnegie Hall with WMCA 570 AM Good Guys. The late promoter Sid Bernstein speaks about Brian Epstein , The Beatles , their first trip to America in 1964 and Carnegie Hall

In 1999...Baseball broadcaster Jimmy Dudley, play-by-play voice of the Cleveland Indians for nearly two decades and the lead announcer for the short-lived Seattle Pilots in 1969, died at age 89.