January 12 Radio History

➦In 1925...WGBI-AM  (now WBZU) Scranton, PA signed on the frequency of 1250 kHz owned by Edward Megargee.

In 1927, the station moved to 1300 kHz which it time shared with Scranton's other radio station, WQAN (now WEJL). The two stations which were time sharing a single frequency, moved to 880 kHz in 1931,  and then again to 910 kHz by 1941 (the later move, forced by a nationwide frequency reassignment which took place in 1941). WGBI remained at 910 kHz (at 1,000 watts) when WQAN moved on to its own broadcast tower and new frequency of 630 kHz in 1948. This meant that WGBI had full-time use of the 910 kHz frequency where it remains to this day, as WBZU. WGBI was a CBS Radio network affiliated station by the 1940s.

The Megargee family's company, Scranton Broadcasters, spawned an FM station (now WGGY) and northeast Pennsylvania's second television station (now WYOU). The Megargees held on to the radio stations well into the 1990s. By the turn of the century, WGBI had been sold to Entercom and become a repeater of WILK-AM, existing mainly to improve its signal in Scranton. While WILK's daytime signal easily covers most of Scranton, the northern portion of the city only gets a grade B signal. At night, WILK-AM must power down to 1,000 watts, leaving most of Scranton with only a grade B signal.

WBZU in 2007 moved its transmitter to the tower location atop the Times Building at 149 Penn Avenue in downtown Scranton also being used by WEJL's transmitter. The full-time switch over to the new transmitter facility and tower location happened on August 2, 2007.  This tower sharing arrangement repeats an arrangement the stations shared over 60 years ago in their early history. The efficiency of the new transmitter tower location also caused WBZU to slightly reduce its power to 900 watts to keep within FCC rules on signal strength and coverage.





➦In 1926..."Sam 'n' Henry" began a two-year stay on Chicago's WGN Radio. The show's creators, Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll, quit the show and WGN when the station rejected a proposed syndication deal for the series. Since contractually their characters belonged to WGN, they changed the title and reworked the premise in 1928 to create the long running Amos'n'Andy show, orginally broadcast from WMAQ in Chicago.


➦In 1932...columnist & future TV host Ed Sullivan joined CBS radio in a program of gossip and interviews.

➦In 1951...Rush Hudson Limbaugh IIIIwas born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Limabugh is the most popular and most listened to conservative radio host in the United States.

Limbaugh began his career in radio as a teenager in 1967 in his hometown of Cape Girardeau, using the name Rusty Sharpe. Limbaugh graduated from Cape Girardeau, Missouri Central High School in 1969. He played football. Because of his parents' desire to see him attend college, he enrolled in Southeast Missouri State University but left the school after two semesters and one summer. According to his mother, "he flunked everything", and "he just didn't seem interested in anything except radio."

After dropping out of college, Limbaugh moved to McKeesport, PA. In 1972, he became a Top 40 music disc jockey on WIXZ, a small AM radio station that reached much of the Pittsburgh area. He started with an afternoon show and later did mornings, broadcasting under the name Jeff Christie. Limbaugh moved to Pittsburgh station KQV in 1973 as the evening disc jockey, succeeding Jim Quinn. He was fired in late-1974, when the station was sold to Taft Broadcasting.

Jeff Christie Aircheck: Click Here (courtesy of Jeff Roteman's radio website)

Limbaugh was reportedly told by management that he would never make it as on air talent, and should consider going into sales.

For the rest of the '70s, Limbaugh took jobs at several radio stations, working in music radio, before settling in Kansas City. In 1979, he left radio and accepted a position as director of promotions with the Kansas City Royals baseball team. There he developed a close friendship with then-Royals star third baseman and future Hall of Famer George Brett; the two remain close friends.

In 1984, Limbaugh returned to radio as a talk show host at KFBK-AM in Sacramento, CA, where he replaced Morton Downey, Jr.  The repeal of the Fairness Doctrine—which had required that stations provide free air time for responses to any controversial opinions that were broadcast—by the FCC in 1987 meant stations could broadcast editorial commentary without having to present opposing views.

On August 1, 1988, after achieving success in Sacramento and drawing the attention of former ABC Radio President Edward McLaughlin, Limbaugh moved to New York City and began his national radio show. He debuted just weeks after the Democratic National Convention, and just weeks before the Republican National Convention. Limbaugh's radio home in New York City was the talk-formatted WABC 770 AM.  Limbaugh now hosts from West Palm Beach.


➦In 1954...Howard Stern was born in Roosevelt, New York.

Stern's Class Photo

His first on-air job in radio was WRNW, where covered shifts in late December 1976. Stern was hired full-time, working a four-hour midday shift for six days a week on a $96 weekly salary. He subsequently became the station's production and program director for an increased salary of $250.

In 1979, Stern spotted an advertisement in Radio&Records for a "wild, fun morning guy" at rock station WCCC in Hartford, Connecticut.  He submitted a more outrageous audition tape featuring Robert Klein and Cheech and Chong records with flatulence routines and one-liners.Stern was hired.

It was at WCCC where Stern met Fred Norris, the overnight disc jockey, who has been Stern's writer and producer since 1981.  According to news reporter and author Paul Colford, Stern was influenced by listening to tapes of Steve Dahl sent from Chicago. In early 1980, Stern left WCCC after he was denied a pay increase.

1983

On April 21, 1980  Stern began a new morning position at WWWW, a rock station in Detroit after management praised Stern's audition tape during their search for a new morning man.  Stern was determined to be more open on the air, "to cut down the barriers ... strip down all the ego ... and be totally honest" to his audience.  However, the station struggled to compete with the city's three more popular rock stations. By January 1981, when Stern's quarterly Arbitron ratings showed no signs of a strong audience, the station changed to a country music format, much to Stern's annoyance. He lasted two weeks on the air as "Hopalong Howie" before his departure.   He declined offers to work at WXRT in Chicago and CHUM in Toronto, Canada.

Following his exit from Detroit, Stern moved to Washington, DC, to host mornings at rock station WWDC on March 2, 1981.  Feeling determined to develop his show further, he looked for a co-worker with a sense of humor to riff with on news and current events.[49] The station then paired Stern with Robin Quivers, a newscaster and consumer affairs reporter from WFBR in Baltimore.

In 1982, NBC approached Stern with an offer to work afternoons at WNBC 660 AM in NYC. After he signed a five-year contract worth $1 million in March 1982.

On April 2, 1982, NBC Magazine aired a news report on "shock radio" by Douglas Kiker that featured Stern in DC. The piece caused NBC executives to discuss the possible withdrawal of Stern's contract; however,  Stern began his afternoon program in September 1982 with management closely monitoring the show and advising Stern to avoid sexual and religious discussions.

In his first month, Stern was suspended for several days for "Virgin Mary Kong", a segment featuring a video game where a group of men pursued the Virgin Mary around a singles bar in Jerusalem. The station also installed a "dump button" that could cut Stern off the microphone should potentially offensive areas be discussed. This became the task of program director Kevin Metheny, who Stern nicknamed "Pig Virus".

In 1985, after hiring his new agent Don Buchwald, Stern signed a five-year contract with WNBC to continue his radio show. Despite management's restrictions, Stern's popularity increased.

In May 1985, Stern claimed the highest ratings at WNBC in four years with a 5.7% market share. In a sudden turn of events, Stern and Quivers were fired for what management termed "conceptual differences" regarding the show on September 30, 1985  Though Stern was not told whose decision it was, Stern believed that Thornton Bradshaw, chairman of RCA who owned WNBC, heard his "Bestiality Dial-a-Date" segment that aired ten days prior and ordered him to be fired.



Stern declined offers to work in Los Angeles, wishing to stay in New York to "kick NBC's ass".  He signed a five-year contract with Infinity Broadcasting worth an estimated $500,000 to host afternoons on its rock station WXRK from November 18, 1985.  Determined to beat Imus and WNBC in the ratings, Stern moved to the morning slot in February 1986.



The show entered national syndication on August 18 that year when WYSP in Philadelphia began to simulcast the program.


➦In 1955...WTRN 1340 AM signed-on.  WTRN's beginnings were part of a boom in local radio station construction in the northern and central part of Pennsylvania that began in 1950. In 1947, Allegheny Mountain Network founder the late-Cary H. Simpson helped build WHUN, where he also would serve as program director, in his hometown of Huntingdon, PA; approximately 20 miles southeast of Tyrone in Huntingdon County. Inspired by the station's success, Simpson built the first station in his group, WKBI-AM in St. Marys, PA. As this was the very first station in his group, WKBI served as the flagship station for the other stations that Simpson would build and put on the air over the next four decades.

courtesy of radio-locator

Desiring to put a station on the air in his newly adopted hometown of Tyrone, Simpson petitioned the FCC for an AM license to be assigned to Tyrone. A construction permit was granted, and Simpson signed WTRN on the air on January 12, 1955. Simpson also successfully applied for an FM license to also be assigned to Tyrone. That station, WGMR (which was sold to Forever Broadcasting in Altoona in 2008), was granted license to operate at 101.1 FM and signed on August 15, 1961.

As WTRN was close to his home, Simpson moved AMN's corporate operations to this station. Many of AMN's properties were in communities that were large enough to make the radio business profitable, but perhaps not quite large enough to support a typical radio station's staff at the time. Thus, many duties were centralized (traffic, billing, upper management) in the Tyrone office, requiring only airstaff and sales consultants at the individual stations. This business model would start to become the accepted standard following the first round of FCC ownership limit changes that began in 1992.

In the early summer of 2009, WTRN began broadcasting in Tyrone on W264BZ.




➦In 1956...At the KHJ Studios in Hollywood, Frank Sinatra recorded "I've Got You Under My Skin." He first sang this song in 1946 but he didn't actually record it until 1956 where it became a big hit for him.

➦In 1959...Berry Gordy Jr. borrowed $800 from his family and rented an eight-room house in Detroit at 2648 W. Grand Boulevard, which became Hitsville U.S.A., the home of his Motown Records and its subsidiary labels. His first release, "Come To Me" by Marv Johnson on the Tamla label, came nine days later.


➦In 1963...In London, Bob Dylan recorded the BBC Radio play "Madhouse on Castle Street," featuring his first recorded version of "Blowin' In The Wind" and his only recording of the original "Swan on the River."


➦In 2003...Bee Gees member Maurice Gibb died of a congenital bowel condition that he was unaware he had. He was 53.


➦In 2007...28-year-old Jennifer Lea Strange of Rancho Cordova, Calif. died after guzzling a large quantity of water as part of Sacramento radio station KDND-FM’s contest.


➦In 2015...Lou Miliano, who reported for CBS Radio News on the local and national levels as part of a distinguished 40 year career  as a broadcast journalist, died from lung cancer in a Pinellas Park, Fl., hospice.

He was diagnosed with lung cancer several years ago; he was 67.  Miliano spent much of the 1980s overseas as radio correspondent before joining  the local News Radio WCBS 880 AM in New York in 1989, where he could also be  heard nationally on other CBS-owned stations.

Emmis Reports 'Disappointing Quarter'

Emmis Communications Corporation today announced results for its third fiscal quarter ending November 30, 2017.

Emmis' radio net revenues for the third fiscal quarter were $34.0 million, compared to $42.5 million in the prior year.  Due to the sale of the company's Terre Haute radio stations in January 2017, KPWR-FM in Los Angeles in August 2017, and magazine sales last fiscal year, reported results are not comparable year-over year.  Emmis pro forma radio revenues per Miller Kaplan (which excludes barter and syndication revenues), were down 4% in markets that were down 2%.  Excluding political advertising, Emmis pro forma radio revenues in the third quarter would have been down 3%.

"Overall it was a disappointing quarter, but I am encouraged going forward by the ratings trends at our radio stations.  This fiscal year, our radio stations have been growing their ratings vis-à-vis our competitors, which should manifest itself in better revenue performance in Q4 and into the next fiscal year," said Jeff Smulyan, CEO & Chairman of the Board of Emmis.

"Another bright spot is the continuing progress of NextRadio, the Emmis-developed app embraced by the radio industry that provides a unique, measurable platform for radio content," Smulyan added.

"This week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, NextRadio announced a first-to-market connected car solution: JVCKENWOOD has adopted NextRadio's technology to provide an enhanced local FM radio listening experience. Samsung, the largest Android handset maker in the world, is the latest device OEM to continue its support for NextRadio by unlocking the FM chip in upcoming smartphone models in the U.S. and Canada. In addition, NextRadio recently had a significant win when a major prepaid wireless carrier in the United States agreed to begin preloading NextRadio on its devices starting in early 2018.  These are terrific wins and sustain our momentum."

Journalists Face Allegations Of Sexual Harrassment

James Rosen

James Rosen, a veteran Fox News correspondent, and Joel Achenbach, a longtime writer at The Washington Post, have left their positions under scrutiny for inappropriate behavior with female colleagues, according to USAToday citing two news reports.

Rosen, Fox's former Washington bureau chief and an 18-year employee, left the network in late December without the journalist or his network explaining why.

An NPR report Wednesday, which was based on interviews with eight of Rosen's former Washington, D.C., colleagues, says his departure was the result of an inquiry into "an established pattern of flirting aggressively with many peers" and sexual advances toward three female Fox News journalists.

Among the anecdotes mentioned, Rosen allegedly grabbed the breast of a colleague during a cab ride in the winter of 2001, the NPR report said, citing four unnamed Fox colleagues who told NPR the female reporter had relayed the incident as a warning. When Rosen's younger colleague rebuffed his advances, Rosen sought to "steal away her sources and stories related to his interests in diplomacy and national security," the report said.

Joel Achenbach

Late last spring, Rosen tried to forcibly kiss a young female reporter, the article says, citing colleagues the reporter had told. After she rejected him, Rosen asked her to keep the approach quiet and offered to help get her air-time on a Fox News show in exchange for her silence, according to the report.

A Fox spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Rosen declined to comment to NPR about the accusations.

The details of Achenbach's transgressions weren't disclosed. But they were enough to land the reporter, who joined the Post in 1990 and currently focuses on science, a 90-day suspension after interviews with the journalist and some of his colleagues found evidence of "inappropriate workplace conduct."

Achenbach said in his own statement to the Post that he had "said and done things that were unprofessional, and I apologize to the women affected by this and acknowledge their courage in speaking out.”

WaPo: 'We're Hiring'

After closing its second year of profits, the 140-year-old The Washington Post is poised to expand its newsroom and business operations, reports MediaPost.

In a brief sent to employees, Post publisher Fred Ryan stated the paper has seen record digital subscriptions. In fact, digital subscriptions have tripled since 2016, and the newspaper now has more than 1 million paid digital subscribers.

In an era when the promise of digital advertising dollars has dimmed, the newspaper reports exceeding its revenue targets. In 2017, digital advertising dollars contributed more overall revenue to the paper than ever before.

The combination of record subscribers and advertising dollars position the paper for further expansions, which includes acquiring more space in its building to accommodate a growing newsroom of more than 800 employees.

Since the paper was purchased by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos in 2013, the business and technology sectors of the paper have taken new precedent.

Tampa Radio: iHM Names Chris Soechtig New Market President

Chris Soechtig

iHeartMedia announced Wednesday that Chris Soechtig has been named Market President for Tampa Bay.

As Market President, Soechtig will work with the programming, marketing and sales teams for radio station brands in Tampa Bay to oversee on-air and digital programming as well as create new business and revenue opportunities. He will report to Linda Byrd, President of iHeartMedia’s North Florida Region.

“I am thrilled to bring Chris home to Tampa Bay,” said Byrd. “He’s back where he started his career and now as the Market President. Chris is an amazing leader with a track record of success in every position he has held in iHeartMedia. We’re so happy to have him on the North Florida Region team.”

Soechtig is an industry veteran with 25 years of experience at iHeartMedia. He most recently served as the Market President for the West Palm Beach/Treasure Coast markets. Prior to that, Soechtig held the post of Senior Vice President of Sales Operations, where he focused on the creation and management of a corporate sales operations and training platform designed to support Sales Managers and Account Executives across iHeartMedia’s over 150 markets. He previously was the Director of Sales for iHeartMedia Tampa Bay.

“I’m honored to be selected as Market President and beyond excited to return to my hometown of Tampa to lead our talented iHeartMedia team,” said Soechtig. “We have an amazing brand portfolio and a long history of success. I look forward to building on that success well into the future.”

IL Radio: WRXQ Fires Personality After CNBC Appearance

Ray Odom

Alpha Media has fired personality  Ray Odom, co-owner of an Illinois-based athletic apparel company called Rayjus,before his appearance this week on CNBC's "The Profit." He also has been placed on leave at Rayjus.

The Herald-News reports Odom, who goes by the name 'Crazy Ray' on an evening show on WRXQ 100.7 FM Coal City, Illinois is a key plot point of the show and his self-described sexist, racist persona was the topic of promo before Tuesday's episode.

"DJ Ray Odom, known as Crazy Ray on WRXQ, took part in a national television program," Alpha Media Market Manager Brian Foster said in an email. "We do not condone the views he expressed in the program. The feelings portrayed are that of his own and not of Alpha Media or QRock. After an internal review, we have decided to cut ties. No further information is available at this time."

"Unfortunately, we cannot allow these statements to go unchecked," a statement on Rayjus' Facebook page read. "While an integral part of our organization, Ray will be taking a leave of absence to spend time with his family and reflect on what is in the best interest of his family and company."

On Tuesday afternoon, Odom confirmed he was fired from the job, saying he had worked hard to keep his 'Crazy Ray Styles' radio persona separate from his business, not even using his last name during radio appearances and making sure the radio station's name wasn't mentioned during the show.

Odom said that he doesn't make racist or sexist comments but some listeners could take it that way.

"On the radio, this is not me, I’m a sexist, egotistical, racist pig on the radio,” Odom said in promo on CNBC.


The surprising reason why Marcus Lemonis walked away from investing in a company doing over $1 million in sales from CNBC.

Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis went to Rayjus Outdoors to help them turn their business around for Tuesday night's episode of "The Profit."

Rayjus Outdoors manufactures customized athletic jerseys, sun shirts, T-shirts, hats, neck gaiters and other apparel. They also produce banners, flags, lamb blankets, towels and tablecloths, all to the particular specifications of the customer.

Portland OR Radio: Joe Pags Reaches Affiliate Milestone

The Joe Pags Show adds KPAM 860 AM in Portland OR as its 100th affiliate.

The Compass Media Networks’ show launched in August 2015 and now, in less than 30 months, announces 100 stations including Flagship WOAI San Antonio, KPRC Houston and KTLK Minneapolis.

“Years ago a young TV anchor in Albany called me to ask how he could get into talk radio. That was Joe Pags, states Phil Boyse, Senior VP/Spoken Word formats for Salem Media Group.  "I figured it was a passing fantasy, but no, he was serious. What an honor to be his 100th affiliate in Portland at our newest talk station. Our listeners there are in for a real treat. And congrats Joe, you made it!”

Paga commented, “It’s an absolute thrill to add such a great station like KPAM in a top market like Portland! For this powerhouse to also be my 100th affiliate and to once again working with Phil Boyce is truly humbling.”

KPAM 860 AM (50 Kw-D, 15-Kw-N DA-N

To find out more about the Joe Pags show for your market contact Susan O’Connell  (914) 708-1450.

Jimmy Iovine Says He's Not Leaving Apple

Jimmy Iovine

Music mogul Jimmy Iovine shot down rumors that he plans to exit Apple in August telling Variety that he’s committed to staying on the team and helping the company get music streaming right.

“I am almost 65, have been with Apple for four years and in 2 1/2 years the [Apple Music] service has gotten to well over 30 million subscribers and Beats has continued its successful run. But there’s still a lot more we’d like to do. I am committed to doing whatever Eddy [Cue], Tim [Cook] and Apple need me to do, to help wherever and however I can, to take this all the way. I am in the band.”

Iovine, who became an Apple “executive” in 2014 when the company purchased Beats Electronics from him and artist and producer Dr. Dre for a reported $2.6 billion in cash and $400 million in stock, appeared on Monday night at the Grammy Museum for a screening and Q&A to promote the Grammy-nominated HBO documentary “The Defiant Ones.”

Iovine said that, as is common with stock swaps, his Apple stock has been vesting in stages since he sold Beats, and while he confirmed the last of it will vest in August, he was displeased at the mercenary tone of recent speculation.

Speculation emerged last week that the decorated music exec would split with Apple later this year after his shares in the tech company fully vested.

“My contract is up in August, but the funny thing is, I don’t have a contract,” he said. “I have a deal, and certain things happen along that deal. The bottom line is I’m loyal to the guys at Apple. I love Apple, and I really love musicians.”

Iovine said he sees more potential in streaming music to grow to scale and become even more appealing for the industry.

Report: Fox Close To Buying 10 Sinclair TV Stations

Twenty-First Century Fox is looking to finalize a deal to buy about 10 television stations from Sinclair Broadcast Group, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

Sinclair is selling the channels to win regulatory approval for its deal to buy Tribune Media Co., the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.

The channels being sold will include some in important National Football League markets, such as Seattle and Denver, the FT said, adding that the sale will help Fox monetize its NFL rights better.

The sales will be in regions where Sinclair owns two “full power” stations, prohibited under the current Federal Communications Commission rules.

Fox’s move comes less than a month after it decided to sell its film, television and international businesses to Walt Disney Co. for $52.4 billion in stock, according to The NYPost.

Cumulus CEO Mary Berner To Be Keynoter At CRS

Mary Berner

Mary Berner, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cumulus Media, Inc., will be the spotlight of a keynote conversation at Country Radio Seminar (CRS) 2018, Tuesday, February 6 from 3:30 to 4:20, at Omni Nashville.

Emmis Communications’ Charlie Morgan will conduct the interview, titled "Radio Today with Cumulus Media’s CEO Mary Berner." 

“This new broadcast industry leader joins us with her unique insight and winning view for Radio in 2018,” said Bill Mayne, Executive Director, CRB/CRS. “A ‘must attend’ for this year!”

Berner has served as president and Chief Executive Officer of Cumulus Media Inc., the country’s second largest radio company, since October 2015. 

Under Berner’s leadership, Cumulus has already reversed four years of revenue and listenership declines, and three years of profit declines. While advertisers, artists, and investors have taken notice of this momentum, the media has also recognized Berner’s accomplishments during her Cumulus tenure. She has been included on Billboard’s prestigious “Power 100” list, Billboard’s “Women in Music” power list, named one of The Hollywood Reporter’s 100 most powerful women in entertainment (the only radio executive on that list), and was the highest ranking woman on Radio Ink’s “40 Most Powerful People in Radio” issue.

As a first time guest of CRS, Berner will share her strategies for success and insights into the innovative tactics that have led to Cumulus’ recent success and growth.

The $699 final registration rate for Country Radio Seminar 2018 is available at www.CountryRadioSeminar.com.  Single-day passes are also being made available. 

R.I.P.: Longtime WGN Host Milt Rosenberg

Milt Rosenberg

Milt Rosenberg, the host of WGN Radio’s “Extension 720” for decades, he died Tuesday from pneumonia at the University of Chicago Hospitals, said his friend and frequent on-air guest, Chicago attorney Joseph A. Morris.

He’d recovered well from coronary bypass surgery more than 25 years ago. But Mr. Rosenberg, 92, had become frailer after suffering a fall around Thanksgiving.

With a Ph.D. in psychology and his work as a longtime professor at the University of Chicago, “He could discuss Shakespeare’s comedies one night, and the latest developments on what are black holes and physics the next night, and a roundtable on politics the next night,” said Morris.

“Extension 720” was already a WGN offering when Rosenberg was hired to be one of a revolving cast of hosts. An occasional guest on that program, he had scant other on-air experience, his radio work to that point consisting of moderating recorded conversations between faculty members and visitors to the U. of C. campus. One of those 30-minute-long tapes was mailed to more than 100 stations across the country to be used free of charge.

When he was offered the job of solo host on “Extension 720” in 1973, he was not particularly confident, saying, “I thought I'd do it for a year or two — to buy a new car.”

But he had a longer run. “He is the Lou Gehrig of intellectual talk radio,” Joseph Epstein, the essayist and occasional guest on the show, said in 2008, when Rosenberg was awarded a National Humanities Medal, which cited him for “bringing the world of ideas to millions of listeners.” “During a single week he can do shows about financial markets, American musical theater, the state of contemporary academic life, nuclear warfare and the modern novel,” Epstein said. “It’s amazing, really."

The Chicago Tribune reports the two-hour daily weeknight broadcasts (sometimes pre-empted by baseball or hockey games) featured an hourlong interview with his guests followed by an hour during which listeners could share by telephone their opinions, gripes and questions.

“He completely redefined the notion of talk radio,” Morris said. “Milt created a kind of radio talk show that was as roomy as his mind. He was an omnivorous reader and had mastered any number of fields of knowledge and enjoyed sharing them.”

“He knew a lot about a lot of things,” said Morris. And, “He didn’t require anyone to talk in seven-second soundbites. You could hear people speaking in complete sentences, complete paragraphs,” Morris said. “An entire thought would be put out on the table and looked at from many different directions.”

After being forced to retire from WGN in 2012, Mr. Rosenberg worked for WCGO-AM 1590, according to The Chicago Sun-Times.

He grew up in New York City, the son of Jewish immigrants from what is now Ukraine, Morris said. His father Jacob worked many jobs, including as a brush salesman. His mother Rachel was a polyglot who spoke six languages, Ukrainian, German, Russian, Polish, Yiddish and English.

January 11 Radio History

➦In 1927...the Royale Theater opened at 242 West 45th in New York City. It became home to several Radio program including "CBS Radio Playhouse".


➦In 1947..."Murder and Mrs. Malone" first aired on ABC radio.


➦In 1964...‘Louie Louie’ by Seattle’s The Kingsmen was the number one song on the Cash Box music chart. For a while, the record was banned by a handful of US radio stations because of its indecipherable lyrics, which were rumored to contain some naughty words. Even the FBI investigated the song, but finally concluded that they could find nothing wrong.


➦In 1993...Howard Stern's radio show began airing on WKBW 1520 AM, Buffalo, New York.


➦In 2006...Ray Hoffstatter died from injuries sustained in a hit-and-run accident from November 20, 2005. Hoffstatter was "Cowboy Ray" on the Mancow Morning Madness radio show.




➦In 2013…Former disc jockey (Los Angeles radio stations KRLA, KFWB, KDAY; WCAE-Pittsburgh) and network TV host (Shindig!) Jimmy O'Neill died after many years with a heart condition and diabetes at 73.

O'Neill was born in Enid, Oklahoma.  After taking a broadcasting class at Enid High School, he began his career in radio at WKY in Oklahoma City, OK. One year later O'Neill landed a job at KQV in Pittsburgh, PA at age 19.  He also worked at WCAE. He was hired at KRLA in Los Angeles, CA a year after working at KQV.

O'Neill was the first voice heard on KRLA-AM when it switched from a country-western format to top 40.  He worked at KRLA-AM from 1959-1962, then moved to KFWB from 1963 to 1967. He spent two years at KDAY from 1969 to 1971. He also hosted The Jimmy O'Neill Show on KCOP-TV.

After O'Neill moved to Los Angeles, Chuck Barris, then-ABC daytime programming executive, green-lit the pilot for Shindig!. The nationally syndicated show ran from 1964-1966.  He and his show were depicted on The Flintstones television animated sitcom in the season six episode "Shinrock A Go-Go," which originally aired on December 3, 1965. This episode featured O'Neill, as "Jimmy O'Neillstone", hosting the Bedrock analogue of Shindig, called "Shinrock"; that program featured as one of the guest performers The Beau Brummels (as "The Beau Brummelstones") performing their recent hit, Laugh, Laugh.

In the 1970s, he worked at KOB in Albuquerque, then it was on to Omaha, Nebraska, radio stations WOW (now KSXP) and KOIL. He returned to Los Angeles for two more stints at KRLA from 1984-1985 and from 1990-1993.

He retired in the mid 1990s and lived in West Hollywood, California. O'Neill died in his West Hollywood home five days after his 73rd birthday.

Ben Freedman

➦In 2013...Ben Freedman, owner of the oldest continuously operated radio ID jingle company, died  in Plano, TX at age 64.   Freedman was recovering from an October heart attack when he died.  He was also forced to cope with injuries sustained in a car accident a few years previously.

Freedman established WAY Productions and started producing jingles when he was just 14-years-old in his hometown of Buffalo, NY.

Ben had formed an admiration for the truly great jingle companies PAMS, Pepper and CRC, while serving as a "go-for" at WKBW 1520 AM with the famous jocks including Joey Reynolds, Dan Neaverth, Rod Roddy, Jay Nelson, Jeff Kaye, Stan Roberts and others.

In 1966, he landed his first air shift at Gordon McLendon’s WYSL FM in Buffalo under direct supervision of the Old Scotsman himself.

He first visited Texas in the late 70s and formed a new marketing association with several other audio producers including International Programming Services in Los Angeles, Tommy Calandra Productions in Buffalo, House Q Studios in Buffalo and ATB Productions in London. The new association is called Creative Productions Marketing Group or CPMG Incorporated for short.


➦In 2013...Cumulus took control of WFME 94.7 FM with simulcast of WPLJ in NYC

The 94.7 FM frequency signed on in 1947 as WAAT-FM, and was owned by the Bremer Broadcasting Company along with sister station WAAT (970 AM, now WNYM).

On January 6, 2012, Family Radio applied to the FCC  to change the license of WFME from noncommercial to commercial. This move followed the sales by Family Radio of stations in the Philadelphia (WKDN-FM, now WKVP) and Washington-Baltimore (WFSI, now WLZL) markets, and quickly prompted conjecture from radio industry monitors that WFME would be sold next. The application was approved on February 7, 2012.

The sale rumors were confirmed on October 16, 2012, when Family Radio announced that it would sell WFME to Atlanta-based Cumulus Media; the originally undisclosed price was later confirmed to be $49.5 million. In addition, Family Radio acquired Cumulus' WDVY 106.3 FM in Mount Kisco, NY. The FCC approved the sale/station trade January 4, 2013, making 94.7 FM a sister station to Cumulus' two existing New York market stations, WABC and WPLJ. Four days later, on January 8, 2013, Cumulus completed the purchase of WFME.  Family Radio programming on 94.7 FM ended on January 11, 2013; prior to signing off of the frequency, station manager Charlie Menut stated that the network's programming would be transferred to 106.3 FM, which became the new WFME on January 15, and that efforts to acquire an AM frequency that would cover the New York City area were being made.  Family Radio would announce in 2014 its acquisition of WQEW 1560 AM, the former East Coast flagship of Radio Disney, which is set to end terrestrial distribution.)

WNSH 94.7 FM (23.5 Kw) Red=60dBu Coverage Area

On January 11, 2013, under Cumulus's new ownership, 94.7 FM began a simulcast of WPLJ, which broadcasts a HotAC format. The frequency's call sign was changed three days later to WRXP, a call sign previously used on the 101.9 FM facility in New York City under two different owners and two different stints as an alternative rock station. The WPLJ simulcast ended on January 18 in favor of stunting with a self-described "Wheel of Formats."

The stunting continued until January 21, when WRXP adopted a new country music format branded as Nash FM 94.7.  The first song on "Nash FM" was "How Country Feels" by Randy Houser.

Survey: 1 In 6 Americans Own A Smart Speaker

New surveys from NPR and Edison Research confirm continued and rapid increases in ownership of voice-activated smart speakers, and reinforce the increasing impact these devices are having on consumer behavior across a variety of technologies and platforms.

One-in-six Americans now has a Smart Speaker (16%), up 128% since January 2017 according to a nationally representative telephone survey of 1,010 persons ages 18 and older fielded after Christmas 2017. This new data from The Smart Audio Report is available now at NPR.org/smartaudio.

The 2017 holiday season was a benchmark moment for Smart Speaker sales: 7% of Americans report acquiring at least one Smart Speaker between Black Friday and the end of December 2017, and 4% report acquiring their first Smart Speaker device during the holidays.

Amazon continues to dominate the Smart Speaker category. More than two-thirds of Smart Speaker owners report having an Echo, Dot or other Alexa-based product. One quarter of Smart Speaker owners report having a Google Assistant product such as Google Home or Google Home Mini.

Based on this survey, Smart Speaker adoption is occurring on pace with the rapid adoption of smartphones a decade ago. Apple's iPhone was introduced in Summer 2007. Three years later, Spring 2010, 14% of Americans owned a smartphone (Edison, Infinite Dial). Amazon's Echo, the first smart speaker on the market, was introduced in November 2014. Today, three years later, 16% of Americans own a smart speaker.

New survey data from The Smart Audio Report also reveals how voice-activation in the home is fueling adoption of smart technology broadly – including smart home applications – and affecting how often consumers engage with other platforms throughout the day. According to a survey of 800

Smart Speaker owners during the Fall of 2017:

• 30% say the Smart Speaker is replacing time spent with TV
• 71% are listening to more audio since getting a Smart Speaker
• 66% entertain family/friends with the Smart Speaker
• 64% of owners who plan to buy additional Smart Speakers want to use them to control smart home devices
• 44% of Smart Speaker owners are using the voice assistant on their phones more since getting a Smart Speaker
• 61% are interested in getting Smart Speaker technology in their cars

These, and other key findings from The Smart Audio Report, were presented at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas today.

"We are growing the NPR brand by meeting listeners where they are — driving to work, sitting at a desk, relaxing at home, walking outside," said Meg Goldthwaite, Chief Marketing Officer of NPR. "When people are familiar with NPR, they love NPR. So, we need to increase this familiarity and love by showing listeners how they can tune into NPR everywhere. It's pivotal to understand how people listen today — how are media habits and diets changing? Commissioning studies like The Smart Audio Report allows us to stay ahead of the curve, meaningfully connect with listeners, and continue finding ways to create a more informed public."

"Voice-activated speakers are perhaps the most dynamic sector not only in the audio space but in consumer electronics in general," said Tom Webster, Sr. VP at Edison Research. "In addition to all of the search-based conveniences and the home automation capabilities, they are increasing access to all manner of digital audio. Our research is finding very different behaviors within 'Smart Speaker-enabled homes' once people acquire these technologies, and I look forward to discussing these changes at our CES panel."

The Smart Audio Report from NPR and Edison Research, which debuted in June 2017, is a reoccurring study on trends in Smart Speaker ownership and user behavior. A full archive of research from the Report is available at NPR.org/smartaudio. NPR was the default Flash Briefing provider on Amazon Alexa devices at launch in 2014, and also on both Google Home and Microsoft Cortana devices. NPR will be available on Apple HomePod (forthcoming).

Alabama-Georgia Championship: No. 2 In Cable History

ESPN’s presentation of College Football Playoff National Championship between Georgia and Alabama (8 p.m. ET, Jan 8) averaged 28,443,000 viewers on its Nielsen-rated networks (ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU as part of its MegaCast production), up 13% from last season’s down-to-the-wire College Football Playoff National Championship on the same three Nielsen-rated networks.

This season’s College Football Playoff National Championship, the first ever to go to overtime, was also up 9% from ESPN’s MegaCast presentation (ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU) of the second CFP National Championship (January 11, 2016). For Georgia-Alabama, the ESPN-only telecast averaged 27,383,000 million viewers.

The massive audience for Alabama’s come-from-behind, last play victory is the second biggest for any cable presentation in history. Now, the College Football Playoff Era has delivered ESPN the four biggest audiences in cable history and seven of the top 10.

“The record-breaking audiences, over the course of multiple years, clearly reinforce how the College Football Playoff has quickly established itself as an elite event on the sports calendar,” said Burke Magnus, ESPN executive vice president, programming and scheduling. “Last night’s thrilling finish coupled with ESPN’s innovative MegaCast presentation showcased the incredible strength of college football and the deep connection live sports have with fans.”

ESPN Dominates Cable’s Most-Watched Telecast List

Additional Georgia-Alabama CFP National Championship Highlights:

• Audience Peaks at More than 30 Million: The audience peaked at 30,759,000 viewers late in the first half (9:30 – 10 p.m.) and more than 28.4 million viewers were watching as Alabama scored its game-winning, national championship-winning touchdown
•  Alabama, Georgia Fans Watch in Droves: Birmingham was the No. 1 rated market, with an astounding 57.6 overnight. Atlanta also had a record-breaking audience.

ESPN’s industry-leading postseason schedule, consisting of 35 games plus the CFP National Championship, averaged 5,682,000 viewers, up 11% from last year’s similar slate.

SiriusXM Reaches 27.5M Paying Subscribers

SiriusXM today announced it added approximately 1.56 million self-pay subscribers to finish 2017 with approximately 27.5 million self-pay subscribers, improving upon the company's increased guidance by approximately 160,000 net additions.

Total net subscriber additions in 2017 were approximately 1.39 million, resulting in total subscribers of 32.7 million at year end.

The company also announced that it expects to meet or exceed its 2017 guidance for revenue, adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow.

"2017 was a year of remarkable performance for SiriusXM, and I congratulate our team on its hard work and efforts to achieve these results. In addition to ending the year with a record number of subscribers and setting new high water marks for revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and free cash flow, we made substantial progress in our efforts to win business in used cars and deploy our next-generation 360L platform. We also continued to return significant capital to stockholders in 2017 via stock buybacks and an increased dividend, and we have set ambitious targets for continued growth in 2018," said Jim Meyer, SiriusXM's Chief Executive Officer.