More than three fourths of the American internet-using population over the age of 13 is now streaming music. That's according to MusicWatch's audiocensus Q2 2019 report on U.S. music consumption and listening habits, shared exclusively with Billboard in advance of its publication.
MusicWatch calculated 183 million Americans over the age of 13, or 77% of the U.S. internet-using population, are now streaming. That marks a 14% increase since the same time last year. Of those users, the report estimates 125 million are using paid music streaming subscription services. And while only 68 million of those subscription streamers are personally paying, that represents a 21% increase from 56 million just six months prior.
As for which streaming services are getting use, YouTube leads with a 30% share of weekly music listening, according to the study, followed by Spotify at 24% and Pandora at 17%. Apple and Amazon's music services each account for 6%. Even though those both have seen strong subscriber growth, MusicWatch found Spotify listeners spend much more time on the platform, driving its higher share of listenership.
The report also found that the population of Americans using smart speakers is primed to hit 100 million this year, with 40% of the internet population over the age of 13 claiming to use the devices.
The NFL and Roc Nation has announced artists Jennifer Lopez and Shakira will perform for the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV halftime show on February 2, 2020 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Pepsi and the NFL collaborated with Roc Nation to bring these two icons together for the first time ever, for what will be an unforgettable performance on the world's biggest stage.
"Ever since I saw Diana Ross fly off into the sky at the Halftime Show, I dreamed of performing at the Super Bowl," Lopez said in a statement. "And now it's made even more special not only because it's the NFL's 100th anniversary, but also because I am performing with a fellow Latina. I can't wait to show what us girls can do on the world's biggest stage."
"I'm so honored to be taking on one of the world's biggest stages in the company of a fellow female artist to represent Latinos and Latinas from the U.S. and all over the world -- and to top it off, on my birthday!" Shakira said. "This is a true American dream and we are going to bring the show of a lifetime!"
Jennifer Lopez is an award-winning singer, actress, producer, and entertainer who has established herself in music, film, and television. She is a successful recording and touring artist who has sold over 75 million records and has a cumulative worldwide box-office gross of over $3 billion.
Shakira is a Colombian singer-songwriter and multi-GRAMMY award winner. She has sold over 75 million records worldwide and has won numerous awards including three GRAMMYs, eleven Latin GRAMMYs, and several World Music Awards, American Music Awards and Billboard Music Awards, to name a few. She is the only artist from South America to have a number one song in the U.S., has had four of the 20 top-selling hits of the last decade, and is one of the top-5 YouTube artists of all time.
SiriusXM has announced the launch of The Johnny Carson Channel on October 1. The month-long special programming will air on channel 105 and feature the top, handpicked episodes of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
Johnny Carson’s influence on the comedy world and the history of American pop culture is immeasurable. From his can’t-miss opening monologues to classic characters such as Carnac the Magnificent, Carson broke the TV mold to inspire what is now the all-important genre of late night television. His tremendous national platform also helped launch the careers of household names including Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Carrey, Ellen DeGeneres, David Letterman, and Jay Leno, to name a few.
“Johnny Carson changed the game and set the standard for late night talk shows. It’s so good to hear these amazing shows again!” DeGeneres said of the new SiriusXM Carson channel.
SiriusXM’s The Johnny Carson Channel will feature notable classic moments, including the first Tonight Show stand-up appearances of Seinfeld (1981), Leno (1977), and DeGeneres (1986), in addition to the debut of Eddie Murphy (1982). There will also be hilarious moments from Richard Pryor and Rodney Dangerfield’s 1974 stand-up appearances, as well as interviews with Lucille Ball, Muhammad Ali, Bob Hope, Dean Martin, Billy Crystal, and Oprah Winfrey, in her first Tonight Show interview back in 1986. Listeners will hear the episodes from the classic theme song to the opening monologue to the guests, with the exception of musical performances.
Additionally, SiriusXM has produced and collected interviews with over 50 of the most respected comedians in the world reflecting on their favorite Carson moments, and their stories will be aired among the episodes. The talent will include: Leno, Bob Newhart, Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Howie Mandel, Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy, Kevin Nealon, Rita Rudner, Joel McHale, Bob Saget, and more.
“Johnny Carson was a national treasure who still holds a tremendous fan base,” said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer, SiriusXM. “SiriusXM listeners can now rediscover their favorite Carson moments, many of them for the first time in decades, and I’m also thrilled to help introduce his comedy to a whole new audience of young comedy fans.”
➦In 1920...William Conrad born (Died from heart failure at age 73. – February 11, 1994). His career spanned five decades in radio, film, and television, peaking in popularity when he starred in the detective series Cannon (1971–1976).
Conrad estimated that he played more than 7,500 roles during his radio career.
Most prominently, Conrad's deep, resonant voice was heard in the role of Marshal Matt Dillon on CBS Radio's gritty Western series Gunsmoke (April 26, 1952 – June 18, 1961). The producers originally rejected him for the part because of his ubiquitous presence on so many radio dramas and the familiarity of his voice, but his impressive audition could not be dismissed, and he became the obvious choice for the role. Conrad voiced Dillon for the show's nine-year run, and he wrote the June 1953 episode "Sundown." When Gunsmoke was adapted for television in 1955, executives at CBS did not cast Conrad or his radio costars despite a campaign to get them to change their minds.
In January 1956, Conrad was the announcer on the debut broadcast of The CBS Radio Workshop.
➦In 1933..."Waltz Time" debuted . It remained on the NBC Radio network until 1948. The show features Abe Lyman (August 4, 1897 – October 23, 1957) and his band, which was popular from the 1920s to the 1940s. He made recordings, appeared in films and provided the music for numerous radio shows, including Your Hit Parade.
➦In 1938...Comedian Bob Hope introduce a new song, "Thanks For The Memory". It was introduced in the 1938 film The Big Broadcast of 1938 by Bob Hope and Shirley Ross. In the film, Ross and Hope's characters are a divorced couple who encounter each other aboard a ship. Near the film's end, they poignantly sing one of the many versions of this song, recalling the ups and downs of their relationship (then they decide to get back together).
➦In 1985...The Howard Stern Show aired for the last time on 66 WNBC NYC.
The show developed in 1979 when Stern landed his first morning shift at WCCC in Hartford, Connecticut, four years into his professional radio career. He continued as a morning personality at WWWW in Detroit, Michigan in 1980, and was paired with Quivers in 1981 at WWDC in Washington, D.C. In 1982, Stern's success in Washington led to a spot at WNBC in New York City, where he hosted the city's top afternoon show until his firing.
That year, the show began a 20-year run at WXRK in New York City where it aired on a total of 60 markets across the United States and Canada and gained an audience of 20 million listeners at its peak. In the New York area, the show was the highest-rated morning program consecutively between 1994 and 2001.
Alison Steele
➦In 1995...Radio personality Alison Steele died (Born Ceil Loman - January 26, 1937). She was also known by her air name, The Nightbird. She amassed a large and loyal following on her night shifts on WNEW 102.7 FM in New York City during the late 1960s and 1970s. Her show featured progressive rock and artists associated with the counterculture of the time, combined with listeners' calls and Steele's own unique brand of mellow DJ patter, peppered with poetry and mysticism. Her original Nightbird show ran from 1968 to 1979.
Steele also worked in television for many years in a variety of roles including performer, writer, and producer. She returned to WNEW in 1982 for another three years, and then joined New York's WXRK in 1989 for another six. Steele was honored with the Billboard award for FM Personality of the Year (1976), and she was the first woman to receive it. Years later, the same magazine established a new award in her honor, The Alison Steele Award for Lifetime Achievement. She was also included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Steele developed her career by working for various New York City television and radio stations, eventually becoming a production assistant and associate producer. Along the way she worked for bandleader Ted Steele's television show, The Ted Steele Show, on WOR-TV, and by 1954 she was a regular cast member. At the age of 19, she married Steele and got her first taste of radio broadcasting with their husband and wife music show, Ted and the Redhead. The couple's marriage ended in divorce.
In 1966, the newly launched station, WNEW-FM sought to distinguish itself from its competitors by establishing an all-female disc jockey lineup. Out of the 800 women who applied, Steele was one of the team of four who were hired. Steele worked the 2–7pm slot, Sunday through Friday. In doing so, she became one of the first woman disc jockeys in the country.
When WNEW abandoned the format after the eighteen-month trial to the increasingly popular progressive rock format, Steele was the only host who was asked to stay at the station. On January 1, 1968, WNEW placed Steele in the overnight "graveyard shift" which granted her more creative freedom, leading her to develop her on-air personality and rapport with her listeners.
➦In 2012...Radio personality Chuck Crane died at age 58 in Sarasota, FL. Crane was the mid-day guy at WHTZ Z-100 back when they first went on the air in August of 1983. On-air, he used the name Dr. Christopher Reed. He also became the operations director in January of 1984.
In June of 1984, he left Z-100 and traveled to Chicago where he became the program director of WLS 890 AM. Then on September 29, 1986, he returned to New York to become the program director at WYNY. This was during their AC years and he would leave WYNY right before the switch to country. .
Entercom's WWL Radio on Wednesday broke a two-week silence about the homophobic slur someone using its Twitter account addressed to talk show host Seth Dunlap earlier this month, saying it had investigated the matter and — without revealing any findings — referred the case to New Orleans police.
According to nola.com, the station's announcement came after Dunlap took a polygraph test Wednesday that, according to his attorney Megan Kiefer, demonstrated he neither sent the tweet nor arranged for someone else to do it.
Seth Dunlap
Kiefer on Wednesday also announced plans to pursue a discrimination lawsuit against WWL Radio and its corporate parent, Pennsylvania-based Entercom Communications, saying Entercom had created a hostile work environment for Dunlap.
WWL’s statement did not accuse Dunlap, who is openly gay, of being responsible for the tweet. Nonetheless, an amicable resolution between the two sides seemed as far away as ever.
The saga dates back to Sept. 10. The sports show host had shared a link on Twitter to his analysis of recent National Football League action, and someone using WWL Radio’s account then retweeted Dunlap’s link while referring to him as “a fag.”
The tweet was deleted from the station’s account within minutes. But people already had screen-captured it and it received nationwide attention, especially in sports circles, where a number of journalists condemned WWL Radio while expressing support for Dunlap.
That night, WWL Radio said the tweet was “offensive” and promised to ferret out who sent it. But it wasn’t until Wednesday afternoon, more than two weeks later, that the station again publicly commented on the probe, saying it involved “a digital forensic firm and outside counsel” and had cost “considerable resources.”
Att. Megan Kiefer
The station said it had forwarded the investigation’s findings to law enforcement and could not comment further.
In theory, the police can obtain warrants allowing it to seize evidence, such as by searching electronics, something WWL couldn’t.
Dunlap hasn’t been on the air since the night the tweet, which came from an iPhone, went out. He has been on voluntary paid leave for nearly two weeks.
Kiefer said she and Dunlap had repeatedly requested updates and documents from WWL pertaining to its investigation but had been unsuccessful. She said that up to 14 station employees had the password to WWL’s Twitter account and that Dunlap was not among them.
In any event, Kiefer said her client intends to pursue litigation against WWL. “Once all of the evidence comes to light, the inescapable conclusion is that Entercom has allowed an anti-gay, bigoted and hostile work environment to flourish” even after being warned of its existence, she said. She also said neither the station nor Entercom did anything to shield Dunlap or other LGBTQ employees from “homophobia and discrimination.”
With vaping deaths a big concern to health officials across the United States, Entercom Communications on Wednesday banned e-cigarette advertisements on its more than 200 radio stations that reach 170 million Americans, reports inquirer.com.
Entercom CEO David Field said in a memo distributed on Wednesday that “in light of the concerns posed by vaping products (or e-cigarettes), we are revising our policy on this matter and we will no longer accept advertising in this category.”
Juul, which controls 75 percent of the e-cigarette market, faces intense regulatory scrutiny over the potential health risks of its products and said itself on Wednesday that it would suspend print, digital and broadcast advertising. Juul’s chief executive Kevin Burns also announced Wednesday that he’s resigning.
Megan Arendt, spokeswoman for the nonprofit anti-tobacco group Action on Smoking and Health, said of Entercom’s decision: “It’s absolutely a step in the right direction.”
CNN said earlier this month that it would suspend e-cigarette ads but only perhaps temporarily.
Kansas health officials confirmed this week a second death in the state tied to vaping, taking the death toll in the U.S. to nine, as health officials are still struggling to figure out the cause of a lung disease that has sickened 530 people across the nation.
“People are dying from vaping and there’s hundreds of new cases each week of serious and fatal lung injuries from vaping,” Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Lee Norman said in a video on the agency’s web site. “We used to think that vaping was a fairly straightforward way for people to wean off nicotine, but with young people vaping now, and even older people doing it, there’s lots of illnesses and curiously we don’t know with 100% certainty what’s causing it.”
Trump, at a White House meeting Sept. 11, said he supports banning almost all flavored e-cigarette products. The Food and Drug Administration is currently hammering out the policy and is expected to issue it in the next several weeks. Under the plan, all flavored e-cigarettes — except for tobacco-flavored ones — will have to be taken off the market until they get approval from the FDA, a process that could take months or years.
Juul Labs Inc. named a new top executive and vowed to end advertising and lobbying that had raised the ire of lawmakers, health officials and parents, as the highly valued private e-cigarette company confronts a growing public backlash.
AdAge reports the company said in a statement that Chief Executive Officer Kevin Burns will step down, to be succeeded by former Altria Group Inc. executive K.C. Crosthwaite, effective immediately. Crosthwaite had previously served as chief growth officer at the Marlboro maker, which took a $12.8 billion stake in Juul last year, and served as Altria’s observer on Juul’s board.
At the same time on Wednesday, Altria said it was ending merger talks with fellow tobacco giant Philip Morris International Inc. The companies said in a statement that they would focus on another smoke-free technology called IQOS in the U.S. electronic-cigarette market. Shares of Philip Morris jumped more than 7 percent in early trading in New York, while Altria rose about 2.4 percent.
Juul, maker of the top-selling e-cigarette device in the U.S., has found itself at the center of an increasing controversy over vaping. A mysterious lung illness has killed seven people and sickened more than 500 others in recent months, and U.S. health officials have said that vaping among youth has reached epidemic proportions.
David Field has presided over a period of dramatic growth at Entercom Communications, from its acquisition of CBS Radio to a pair of podcast companies. Now, reports Variety, he’s looking to supercharge the newfound scale of his audience with synergies to turn his business into a digital-audio juggernaut.
Last month, Entercom announced an agreement to buy full control of Cadence13, a New York-based podcast studio and distribution company — after acquiring a 45% stake for $9.7 million two years ago — in addition to the acquisition of podcast producer Pineapple Street Media. The deals helped pushed Philadelphia-based Entercom into the No. 3 spot among U.S. podcast publishers, after NPR and iHeartMedia.
While podcasts are a small piece of the overall business for now, “the podcasting business is exploding, and if you don’t create a strong position today I think you’re lost,” Field said on the latest episode of the Variety podcast “Strictly Business.” Entercom would have moved into podcasting sooner, he added, except it decided to hold off as it integrated CBS Radio.
Industry veteran Paul Briggs has been named vice president and general manager of Orlando TV for Cox Media Group. In his new role, Briggs will provide strategic leadership and oversight for all station departments and functions, including news, sales, marketing, production, programming, community affairs and more for WFTV and WRDQ.
Paul Briggs
“I am excited to be a part of Cox Media Group’s growth in the Orlando broadcast market and to lead an extraordinary team that is dedicated to providing outstanding news, information and entertainment to our viewers and tremendous results for our clients,” says Briggs.
With more than 20 years of broadcast experience, Briggs has a track record for driving top results in high-performing markets. His successful career includes sales and leadership roles in Charlotte, Memphis and Atlanta. Most recently, he served as the VP of content and broadcast operations for CMG Atlanta, overseeing the market’s TV, radio and newspaper brands.
“Paul is an outstanding broadcaster with a reputation for delivering top-quality journalism and leading award-winning teams. Under Paul’s leadership, I am confident that WFTV and WRDQ will continue to set the editorial agenda for Central Florida and deliver results for our clients with our on-air and digital portfolio,” says Paul Curran, market vice president for CMG.
Jason Meder
With the appointment of Briggs to his new leadership role, CMG also announced that Jason Meder will continue to lead Orlando Radio as vice president and general manager. He joined the CMG team in 2002, serving as the director of sales in Tampa before assuming the role as general manager in Orlando in 2018.
“The CMG Orlando radio team is a talent-rich group that I am fortunate to get to work with every single day. I am confident that our continued partnership with TV will yield even greater results as we forge ahead,” says Meder.
“Jason is an inspiring leader with a true passion for driving results and developing his people. Throughout his tenure, he’s increased ratings and revenue for our seven-station cluster, revamped operations and successfully created a work environment where our talented people can continue to grow,” says Bill Hendrich, executive vice president for CMG.”
Entercom has announced the addition of Jerry McKenna as Program Director for WSTR STAR 94.1, effective September 30.
In this role, McKenna will oversee the station’s on-air and digital content.
“I am excited for Jerry McKenna to bring his breadth of knowledge to STAR 94.1,” said Rick Caffey, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Entercom Atlanta. “His insight and experience will be invaluable as we continue to deliver the engaging content Atlanta listeners deserve and expect from our station.”
“I am thrilled to be rejoining the Entercom programming team in a dynamic city like Atlanta,” said McKenna. “I thank Rick Caffey and Pat Paxton [Chief Programming Officer, Entercom] for this great opportunity. There is no doubt, STAR 94.1 is a heritage brand with tremendous equity in the market. I look forward to working with the entire team to continue growing the brand.”
McKenna joins Entercom from Cape Cod Broadcasting where he was Director of Programming. Prior to that, he spent six years as Operations Manager and Regional Program Director for Cumulus Media in Worcester-Springfield, MA. He also held programming roles for sister station MIX 104.1 (WWBX-FM) and former Entercom stations in Boston from 2002 to 2008.
Listeners can tune in to STAR 94.1 (WSTR-FM) in Atlanta on air, as well as nationwide on the RADIO.COMapp and website. Fans can also connect with the station on social media via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
iHeartMedia/Little Rock has announced the addition of Jess Jennings as Assistant PD and midday host for country KSSN 95.7 FM, effective Monday, October 7.
She'll also voicetrack middays for co-owned Country KKIX-FM/Fayetteville, AR.
Jennings, who replaces Ashley King, most recently served as PD/middays at Saga's Country WCKN-FM (92.5 Kickin' Country)/Charleston.
Her previous posts include stints at Country KUPI-FM/Idaho Falls ID, Country WUBB-FM (Bob 106.9)/Savannah-Hilton Head and Country KTHK-FM (105.5 The Hawk)/Idaho Falls.
Senior VP/Programming and iHeartMedia Country Brand Coordinator Chad Heritage said, "We're excited to bring Jess' talent, personality and passion for the music to our legendary Country station. She'll be a great addition to KSSN and the Central Arkansas community."
iHeartMedia Philadelphia has named Matt Michaels Digital Program Director.
As Digital Program Director, Michaels will oversee website content and social media platforms for the cluster. In addition, he will continue to serve as a weekend on-air host for WISX 106.1 The Breeze. Michaels will report to Brian Check, Regional Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia Philadelphia.
Matt Michaels
“Matt has already proven he is a leader and is well respected by both programming and sales,” said Check. “Five years ago, he made an immediate mark as an intern and it has been incredibly rewarding to watch him grow and step into this new role.”
Most recently, Michaels served as iHeartMedia Philadelphia’s digital coordinator, where he produced Show Bizz Buzz with Valerie Knight on 106.1 The Breeze. In addition, he also served as a producer for Chio in the Morning Show for the station. Michaels is a graduate of Temple University.
“We have an outstanding team of talent who create unique digital content,” said Michaels. “I’m proud to lead the cluster to an even bigger digital reach. I also want to thank iHeartMedia Philadelphia for seeing my potential and supporting my growth here.”
Entercom has announced content distribution partnerships with Alpha Media and Salem Media Group.
As part of the agreements, RADIO.COM, the fastest-growing digital audio app in the U.S., will launch live channels for all Alpha Media and Salem Media Group radio stations nationwide, and will add premium on-demand audio and podcasts from both companies in the coming weeks. This announcement builds on RADIO.COM’s existing content distribution agreements with CNN, Bloomberg Media, Cox Media Group and Bonneville.
“We are pleased to welcome Alpha Media and Salem Media Group to the RADIO.COM platform as we continue to expand our content offerings to super serve our audience,” said J.D. Crowley, Chief Digital Officer, Entercom. “These partnerships further position RADIO.COM as the premiere destination for live and on-demand audio news, entertainment, music and sports content in markets all across the U.S.”
“We are thrilled to partner with Entercom to expand the distribution and engagement opportunities for our brands with the RADIO.COM platform,” said Bob Proffitt, Chief Executive Officer, Alpha Media. “This makes our content even more accessible to our fans and allows us to further serve our listeners and our communities.”
“Making sure our listeners have access to our content anywhere they want, anytime they want is paramount to our success,” said David Santrella, President of Broadcast, Salem Media Group. “We are thrilled to now provide that access through RADIO.COM.”
Alpha Media content to be available on RADIO.COM includes livestream broadcasts from 183 stations in 12 markets. Salem Media Group content to be available on the digital platform includes livestreams from their portfolio of 115 radio stations, including 73 stations in the nation's top 25 markets and 25 stations in the top 10, and over 700 podcasts. Salem Media Group will also partner with RADIO.COM to reach listeners directly and share information about local events, programming and promotions from their portfolio of stations.
Amazon has announced an array of new programs, devices, and features that make it easier than ever for customers to find, setup, and enjoy connected devices in their homes.
Amazon is making smart home simpler with Certified for Humans, a new program that helps customers find products that are tested to be simple to setup and work dependably with Alexa, and new devices like the Amazon Smart Oven that make cooking easy. New Alexa Guard capabilities help customers keep their home safe, and new features like WiFi access and easy reordering of household supplies with Alexa make homes even smarter and more convenient.
“Customers want their smart home technology to make everyday tasks easier, but not at the expense of spending their whole weekend, or hiring an expert, just to get everything setup,” said Daniel Rausch, Amazon Vice President, Smart Home. “We think customers will be delighted with what we have coming this fall—more ways to find smart home devices they can set up in minutes, new Alexa features that take the stress out of being away from home, and new products that help families enjoy great meals together or just have a little fun.”
The most notable new Echo was the $199 Echo Studio, which is bigger than previous models and features high-quality speakers that enable 3D sound, with help from Dolby Atmos. The device is similar conceptually to Apple’s HomePod, which focuses on audio quality.
General Motors is partnering with Amazon to enable the tech company’s Alexa voice assistant in millions of its vehicles.
CNBC reports the companies on Wednesday said the popular voice technology will be available on model year 2018 and newer Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles with compatible infotainment systems in the first half of next year.
The partnership is another step for both the automotive and tech industries as the sectors continue to converge in attempt to better integrate new features into cars to appease consumers who’ve grown accustomed to using technology in their homes and on their phones.
Data produced from the voice commands will be shared between both companies, according to officials. Financial details of the tie-up were not disclosed. GM also declined to discuss potential pricing for the in-vehicle Alexa app, citing additional information will be available closer to launch.
With the downloaded Alexa app, drivers will be able to control smart devices in their home such as thermostats and lights in addition to controlling in-vehicle features such as their radio, phone and navigation. A cell phone is not required to use the features.
Customers will be able to choose to either use Alexa via the infotainment screen or have it replace the in-vehicle voice software that can be prompted by a button on the steering wheel. They will be available to download the app via the vehicle’s infotainment screen.
Ned Curic, vice president of Amazon Alexa Automotive, said the integration of Alexa into GM vehicles via an app is a “much further and deeper integration” than anything the tech giant has previously announced with other automakers.
Amazon has previously announced Alexa in-vehicle partnerships with automakers such as Ford Motor, BMW Group, including Mini, and Audi. It initially started partnering with automakers on Alexa to do rudimentary tasks such as checking fuel levels and starting the vehicle remotely via Alexa-enabled smart devices in 2016.
