Radio History: March 8

➦In 1925...John Bradley Gambling started on-air at WOR NYC. Bernard McFadden was a physical culturist who had a radio show in New York City. When McFadden failed to show up for his daily morning program, Gambling, a studio engineer was forced to ad-lib on the air for a solid hour. Thus, WOR decided to give the time slot to Gambling.

John B Gambling

John Bradley Gambling (April 9, 1897 – November 21, 1974) became the first of the Gambling family, 3 generations to host mornings on WOR. John B., John A. and John R. - were hosts of WOR Radio's 'Rambling with Gambling' over the course of over 80 years (1925–2000 and 2008–2013).

John B. was the host from 1925 to 1959, when he retired in favor of his son, John A. Gambling. With his Musical Clock, his all-in-fun setting-up exercises, cheerio music, wheezy gags, weather information and news scraps, John B. Gambling was a WOR fixture.

➦In 1945...George Michael 'Mickey' Dolenz Jr. born.  He is an actor, musician, television director, radio personality and theater director, best known as a vocalist and drummer of the 1960s pop/rock band the Monkees.

On January 10, 2005, Dolenz replaced Dan Taylor as the morning disc jockey at oldies radio station WCBS-FM in New York. On June 3, 2005, Dolenz celebrated his 100th show with a special morning show at B.B. King's. In an ironic and controversial twist, that was also his last regular show at the station; at 5:00 pm, WCBS-FM announced that the station would replace its oldies format with a "Jack" format.

However, WCBS-FM had since returned to its oldies format on July 12, 2007.

➦In 1949...WBAP 96.7 FM, Fort Worth Texas, signed-on. Today the station is Sports KTCK-FM, owned by Cumulus Media.

➦In 1979...Compact Disc Digital Audio, also known as Audio CD, is the standard format for audio compact discs, was first demonstrated.

➦In 1994...Jack Spector died at age 65 (Born - September 15, 1928). He was a longtime New York City radio personality.

Jack Spector

Spector began his career in 1955 and in 1961 became one of the original WMCA Good Guys.  In late December 1963, WMCA, with Spector, earned the distinction of being the first New York City radio station to play the Beatles' Capitol Records' single, "I Want to Hold Your Hand." (Outside New York, the single's broadcast debut is widely accepted to have occurred earlier at WWDC in Washington, D.C.)

After WMCA moved to a talk format, Spector went to WHN, then a vocal-based easy listening station. He remained for a while after WHN became a Country music station in 1973. In 1974, Spector left WHN to go to WCBS-FM where he hosted a 1955-1964 based Oldies show called "The Saturday Night Sock Hop" and another regular weekend shift. He was also a full-time swing host there, filling in for various airstaffers over the years. In 1983, Cousin Brucie began doing every third Saturday night of the month. Spector remained at WCBS-FM until the Spring of 1985.

In 1985, Spector was at WNBC as the original host of "Sports Night". He went then to WPIX-FM, which was playing an adult contemporary format. Upon their change to NAC and soon after to smooth jazz, he became one of the first air personalities on CD 101.9. Spector also worked as an optician when he was not on the air.

Late in 1988, Spector left WQCD and joined the staff of WHLI on Long Island, NY playing an Adult Standards format. That station began mixing in more rock and roll oldies by the early '90s. After a few Radio Greats Weekends at WCBS-FM, Jack Spector returned as a part-time swing announcer there in 1993 while working full-time at WHLI.

On March 8, 1994, shortly after starting a recording of Louis Prima's "I'm In The Mood For Love", he suffered an apparent fatal heart attack and collapsed.

➦In  2016… Ronald Herbert Jacobs died in Hawaii (Born - September 3, 1937). He is best known as the program director of KHJ radio in Los Angeles during its ground-breaking "Boss Radio" period (1965–1969), and as co-creator of the countdown show American Top 40, and the seminal radio program The History of Rock and Roll (1969).

Legendary Personality Joey Reynolds Recovering From Nasty Fall

Joey Reynolds with family and friends

Joey Reynolds, the renowned New York radio personality, recently faced a critical situation after falling headfirst onto the hardwood floor of his Manhattan apartment.

The accident occurred on February 28, and he remained unconscious for over 20 hours until his landlord discovered him. Fortunately, timely intervention prevented a tragic outcome. 

Reynolds, known for his extended tenure at WOR-AM, his Sunday show on 77 WABC, and his robust career throughout the 1960s, is currently recuperating in a New York City hospital. Although he has been moved from the Intensive Care Unit to a private room, he faces a long road to recovery. 

➤Well-wishers can send cards to Joey Reynolds via Art Vuolo at PO Box 55, Walled Lake, MI 48390, or by email1.

Detroit Radio: WJR's Mitch Albom Stuck In Haiti Mayhem

WJR's Mitch Albom, the founder of the Have Faith Haiti Orphanage, is currently stranded in Haiti due to a precarious situation. Let me provide you with the details:

Albom has been actively involved in humanitarian work in Haiti. His Have Faith Haiti Orphanage provides care and support to vulnerable children in the Caribbean nation.

Current Situation:

Recently, a group of gangs attempted to overtake Haiti’s main airport. As a result, the country is in turmoil, and the situation has become extremely dangerous.

The acting prime minister, Ariel Henry, traveled to Kenya to secure troops to deal with the rampant gangs. However, he is now unable to return to Haiti due to the gangs’ threats. The gangs are making their last stand, and the country is essentially shut down.

There are no airplanes, no helicopters, and no means of transportation. People, including those at the orphanage, are living in fear and uncertainty.

WJR's Mitch Albom is stuck in Haiti after gangs tried to take over the country's main airport. In his interview on "'JR Morning with Guy Gordon, Lloyd Jackson, and Jamie Edmonds," he discusses how the sitaution is affecting his orphanage in Haiti. https://t.co/xQnRDR6Qqh

— WJR 760am (@wjrradio) March 6, 2024

Safety Measures for the Orphanage:

Thankfully, the children at the Have Faith Haiti Orphanage are safe. Mitch Albom and his team have implemented safety protocols to protect the children. Despite the chaos outside, the children remain busy, even painting a mural.

Challenges and Fears:

The streets are empty, and people are afraid to venture out. Basic necessities like food, fuel, and supplies are scarce. Everyone is stuck, unable to leave the country. The situation is dire, and there is no clear solution in sight.

AM Act Reaches Milestone In Support

The AM For Every Vehicle Act has achieved a significant milestone in the US House of Representatives. Led by New Jersey Representative Josh Gottheimer, the bill now boasts 218 voting co-sponsors, ensuring a simple majority for its passage. This legislation mandates the inclusion of AM radio in all vehicles manufactured or sold in the US.

The surge of four new co-sponsors came on the same day as the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) joined state broadcast associations to advocate for AM radio and other critical broadcast policy matters. This development marks a substantial victory for those advocating for the bill on Capitol Hill1.

The total number of sponsors now stands at 224, including four non-voting members of Congress. Recent additions to the list include Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Rep. Brandon Williams (R-NY), Rep. John Rose (R-TN), and Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA). With these new supporters, the legislation has secured a simple majority of votes.

The Congressional version of the AM For Every Vehicle Act, led by Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Ed Markey (D-MA), is also making progress. It is only three co-sponsors away from achieving its own simple majority of 51 votes. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is expected to schedule a vote soon, after Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) previously blocked a bipartisan-driven majority consent vote in November. Senator Paul aims to use the legislation to end electric vehicle subsidies under the American Vehicle Tax Credit.

As the bill approaches its goal, the US Department of Transportation is prepared to implement it. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressed readiness to act once Congress finalizes the legislation1. The AM For Every Vehicle Act has garnered mass public support, with over 400,000 emails, letters, and social media posts directed to Senators and Representatives

Richmond Radio: WRVA Adds Brian Kilmeade Show

Brian Kilmeade

Audacy welcomes Brian Kilmeade to Newsradio WRVA (WRVA-AM/WTVR-HD2) in Richmond. Listeners can tune into his nationally syndicated program, FOX News Radio’s “The Brian Kilmeade Show,” for the latest breaking news, politics, sports and entertainment weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET.

“Brian is an important voice in the news today, and WRVA is delighted to have him live Monday through Friday all year long,” said Bennett Zier, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Audacy Richmond. “We are confident that Brian will deliver relevant updates about topics that matter to listeners.”

“Thankfully, over the last 14 years, we have had many great moments on ‘The Brian Kilmeade Show,’ but joining the prestigious lineup at WRVA is among the best,” said Kilmeade. “Richmond and this station have meant so much to this country over the years and always play a dominant role each election season. I’m honored to join the team at this critical time in the 2024 cycle.”

Kilmeade is ranked No. 3 on Talkers Magazine’s Heavy Hundred list of America's most important talk show hosts. He is the host of FOX News Channel’s (FNC) “One Nation with Brian Kilmeade” and FOX Nation’s “What Made America Great.” He is also the co-host of FNC’s “FOX & Friends,” the No. 1 cable news morning show for the past 22 years. A seven-time New York Times best-selling author, his latest recognition came for his Fall 2023 release, Teddy and Booker T: How Two American Icons Blazed a Path For Racial Equality.

📻Listeners can tune in to Newsradio WRVA (WRVA-AM/WTVR-HD2) in Richmond on air and nationwide on the Audacy app and website. Fans can also connect with the station via X, Facebook and Instagram.

FL Gov Expected to Sign Newly Passed Social Media Bill

With one lawmaker likening social media to a “dark alley,” the Florida House on Wednesday gave final approval to a bill that seeks to keep children off social-media platforms.

The House voted 109-4 to approve the bill (HB 3), which passed the Senate on Monday. It will go to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is expected to sign it after vetoing an earlier version.

DeSantis

House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, made cracking down on social media perhaps the highest-profile issue of this year’s legislative session. He contends that social media use harms children’s mental health and can lead to sexual predators communicating with minors.

“This is something that I believe will save the current generation and generations to come if we’re successful,” Renner said after the bill passed.

Rep. Tyler Sirois, a Merritt Island Republican who helped sponsor the bill, said that if social media “is the new town square, then God help us.”

“For our children, social media is no town square,” Sirois said. “It is a dark alley.”

The bill, in part, would prevent children under age 16 from opening social-media accounts — though it would allow parents to give consent for 14- and 15-year-olds to have accounts. Children under 14 could not open accounts.

Tech-industry and free-speech groups have already signaled that the bill is likely to face a First Amendment court challenge.

Saga Communications Says Lack of Political Revenue Impacted Earnings

Saga Communications, Inc. announced today that its Board of Directors declared a variable dividend of $0.60 per share in conjunction with the Company’s variable dividend policy. The dividend will be paid on April 5, 2024 with a record date of March 18, 2024. The aggregate amount of the payment will be approximately $3.8 million and the variable dividend will be funded by cash on the Company’s balance sheet.

The Company also reported that net revenue decreased 3.3% to $29.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 compared to $30.1 million for the same period last year. 

Political impacted the quarter’s performance as for the quarter the Company had $407 thousand in gross political revenue this year compared to $1.9 million for the same period last year. Without political revenue the Company’s gross revenue for the quarter would have increased approximately 1% compared to last year. 

Station operating expense increased 1.9% for the quarter to $23.3 million compared to the same period last year. 

3/7 WAKE-UP CALL: It's The Battle of Two Grumpy Old Men

The likely matchup between President Biden and former President Donald Trump is unlike any other contest in modern history. Never has America had to choose between two candidates so old, and never in modern times has the choice been between two so strongly disliked hopefuls. 

The campaign is playing out against a backdrop of criminal cases that could land Trump in jail, as he faces adverse civil judgments that could cripple his family business. The former president is on track to clinch the GOP nomination as soon as next week. His last Republican challenger, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, exited the race after a dismal showing in yesterday’s primaries but declined to immediately endorse him. Trump did pick up an endorsement from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, despite years of acrimony. Long-shot Democratic presidential hopeful Dean Phillips also suspended his campaign. After meeting with Trump on Sunday, Elon Musk said he won’t donate to either Biden or the former president.

At least three people were killed and four others injured in what was the first deadly attack on a commercial ship by the Iran-backed Houthis in the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday. The rest of the crew onboard was forced to abandon ship. pic.twitter.com/lGhfK3QhWA

— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) March 7, 2024

➤HOPES FOR GAZA CEASE-FIRE DIMS:  The Gaza cease-fire negotiations aren't going great. Hamas appeared to reject a plan Wednesday, saying it fails to meet crucial demands that Israel withdraw troops. A statement said Hamas was showing "flexibility" and would continue to work with mediators to reach an agreement.  What was the plan? The latest proposal calls for a six-week cease-fire, a sharp increase in humanitarian aid, release of the sick, wounded, elderly and female hostages as well as hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli jails. The U.S., Egypt and Qatar have scrambled to broker a deal ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which will start in a few days.

➤SOU TONIGHT: Just one week ago, President Joe Biden, ice cream cone in hand, signaled a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas could be in place in a matter of days − a political victory he desperately needed, and one he could taste. “My national security advisor tells me we’re close,” he said in a Van Leeuwen’s ice cream shop in New York City following an appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers. “We’re close. It’s not done yet. My hope is by next Monday, we’ll have a cease-fire.”

Not only did the breakthrough fail to happen, but cease-fire negotiations also appear to have stalled, tensions are running high, and conditions in Gaza have deteriorated to the point that the U.S. has begun airdropping food to Palestinians amid warnings of widespread starvation and disease. 

“These are pretty daunting numbers” — Fox’s @brithume on dismal new polling for Joe Biden ahead of his SOTU address on Thursday pic.twitter.com/ouVRnoSxYJ

— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) March 5, 2024

For Biden, the elusiveness of a deal to pause fighting and release some of the hostages held by Hamas means he will deliver his State of the Union address on Thursday, the five-month mark of the war, without the benefit of a crucial political victory and a key talking point.

NY Post 3/7/24

➤NAT'L GUARD ON PATROL: New York Gov. Hochul announced that 750 National Guard and 250 New York State Police troopers will be deployed to New York City subways after a series of violent attacks. The news comes amid another attack on a subway conductor in the Bronx.

Gov. Hochul announced that 750 National Guard and 250 New York State Police troopers will be deployed to New York City subways after a series of violent attacks. The news comes amid another attack on a subway conductor in the Bronx. @AaronKatersky reports. https://t.co/6ZinWstFvB pic.twitter.com/Ch7H6hCfp8

— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) March 7, 2024

➤FED ON TRACK TO CUTS RATES:  Jerome Powell told Congress the Fed is on track to cut rates this year. At the start of two days of testimony on Capitol Hill, the Fed chair said rate cuts won’t be warranted until officials have “gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably” toward the central bank’s 2% goal. Stocks bounced back on the news. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite ended 0.6% higher, the S&P 500 climbed 0.5% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.2%. Elsewhere in Washington, the SEC approved new requirements that public companies disclose their greenhouse-gas emissions, but dropped a key provision that was fiercely opposed by business groups.

➤TECH BROMANCE GONE WRONG:  A legal battle between OpenAI co-founders Sam Altman and Elon Musk is the latest twist in a volatile partnership. The two men co-founded the AI pioneer as a nonprofit research lab in 2015, with tens of millions of dollars of early funding coming from Musk himself. For years, Altman relied on Musk’s fame and fortune to get OpenAI off the ground. In a lawsuit filed last week, Musk accused his former protégé of abandoning its original mission in pursuit of profit, which OpenAI denies. Those close to Altman say Musk is jealous of how his former mentee upstaged him in the AI race. Those close to Musk say his concerns about safety are genuine, and that he sees his own AI startup, xAI, as crucial to developing a better alternative to OpenAI. In a blog post Tuesday evening, OpenAI said it intended to move to dismiss all of Musk’s legal claims.

🎥'RUST' JURY FINDS ARMORER GUILTY: A jury has found "Rust" armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the 2021 death of 42-year-old cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was shot when Alec Baldwin's gun went off during rehearsals for the Western film. The trial, which began in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Feb. 23 and saw various witness and expert testimony, concluded Wednesday with closing arguments from the prosecution and the defense. 

TV Ratings: Fox Stays Hot In Primetime

Fox News Channel extended its run atop the primetime ratings chart to seven straight weeks as it continues to dominate the cable network field during the early months of the year.

Fox News averaged 2 million viewers during the week of February 26-March 3, topping second-place MSNBC’s 1.2 million viewers and ESPN’s 1.1 million watchers, according to Forbes citing Nielsen numbers.

HGTV placed fourth with 740,000 viewers, followed by History’s 739,000 viewers and TBS’s 667,000 viewers. TNT was seventh with 645,000 viewers, followed by INSP (598,000), USA Network (584,000) and Hallmark Channel (574,000).

On a 24-hour basis, Fox News finished first with 1.3 million viewers, followed by MSNBC (822,000), ESPN (496,000), CNN (470,000) and HGTV (422,000), according to Nielsen.

According to TV Newser, Fox had 12 out of the 15 most-watched cable news shows of the week, led once again by The Five (3.125 million viewers at 5 p.m. ET). The return of Nicolle Wallace to Deadline: White House at 5 p.m. ET propelled the news program, making it MSNBC’s most-watched program at No. 12 with 1.645 million viewers. MSNBC had three of its shows in the top 15 most-watched cable news shows.

Meanwhile, Gutfeld! continued to be the top cable news program among Adults 25-54, averaging 326,000 A25-54 viewers at 10 p.m. ET. Fox News again led the way with 13 out of the top 15 cable news shows in the demo overall, with the Rachel Maddow/Alex Wagner timeslot landing at the No. 14 spot, earning 168,000 viewers for the demo at 9 p.m. ET. MSNBC’s All In with Chris Hayes was in the 15th spot with 167,000 at 8 p.m. ET. 

📺BROADCAST EVENING NEWS

“World News Tonight with David Muir” stood as the No. 1 program of the week for the 3rd consecutive week in Total Viewers (7.830 million) on all of broadcast and cable during the week of Feb. 26, 2024, based on Live + Same Day Data from Nielsen Media Research.

Super Tuesday: Fox News Leads Prime Time Ratings

Fox News Channel led all broadcast and cable news networks as results in the key Super Tuesday primaries came in Tuesday night, with the network drawing a total audience of 3.5 million viewers between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET. The ten o’clock hour saw the majority of races called, and FNC led among total viewers and viewers 25-54, the key demographic valued by advertisers.

According to ratings data compiled by Nielsen, Fox News’ total audience of 3.509 million viewers was well ahead of MSNBC, which finished second with 1.956 million viewers, followed by ABC (1.875 million viewers), NBC (1.672 million viewers), CBS (1.461 million viewers), and CNN (938,000 viewers).

Fox News finished first in the key demo with a total audience of 503,000 viewers, followed by NBC (396,000 viewers), ABC (343,000 viewers), CNN (277,000 viewers), CBS (268,000 viewers), and MSNBC (223,000 viewers).

Across all of prime time, Fox News led the cable news networks with 3.238 million viewers (8 p.m. ET to 11 p.m. ET), followed by MSNBC (1.9 million viewers) and CNN (900,000 viewers). In the key demo, Fox led with 455,000 viewers, followed by CNN and MSNBC, which both drew 234,000 viewers. Fox News’ ratings were down from Super Tuesday four years ago, when the network finished first in prime with 4.172 million viewers, the largest Super Tuesday audience in cable news history.

In the key demo from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET, CNN had its best ratings performance so far this election cycle, with 243,000 viewers, beating MSNBC’s 234,000 viewers. Fox News had the largest audience, 419,000 viewers. CNN’s margin over MSNBC kept alive a streak of beating MSNBC in the key demo on every Super Tuesday since 2000.

Seattle Radio: Dave Pugh Named SVP/Market Manager For Audacy

Audacy has named Dave Pugh Senior Vice President and Market Manager of its Seattle market. In this role, Pugh will oversee the market’s portfolio of brands, including 94.1 The Sound (KSWD-FM), 99.9 KISW (KISW-FM), 100.7 The Wolf (KKWF-FM), HOT 103.7 (KHTP-FM), 107.7 The End (KNDD-FM) and CHANNEL Q (KNDD-HD2).

Pugh adds Seattle to his remit and will continue to hold the same role for Audacy Phoenix, which includes Big 94.5 (KOOL-FM), Live 101.5 (KALV-FM), KMLE Country@107.9 (KMLE-FM) and CHANNEL Q (KALV-HD2).

Pugh succeeds longtime market manager Jack Hutchison, who has announced his retirement. Hutchison has been with the Company since 1998 and Senior Vice President and Market Manager of Audacy Seattle since 2009.

“After over 25 years of outstanding leadership and contributions to our company and industry, Jack has decided to retire. We extend our deepest gratitude to him and wish him the best in the next chapter of his life,” said Doug Abernethy, Regional President, Audacy. “Moving forward under Dave's leadership, we are well positioned to continue delivering exceptional content to our listeners and super-serving our clients.”

“Our success and the performance-based culture we built in Phoenix has led to this opportunity, and I am excited to lead the Seattle market,” said Pugh. “I look forward to building upon the incredible foundation established by Jack.”

Pugh has served as Senior Vice President and Market Manager of Audacy Phoenix since joining the company in 2016. Prior to that, he spent 19 years with iHeartMedia in leadership roles spanning Milwaukee, Michigan, San Francisco and Washington D.C. Pugh’s experience also includes leadership roles at Veritone and Magic Ruby.

Boston Radio: Tough Choices At WBUR, Sponsorhips Tank

NonCom WBUR, Boston’s NPR station, is facing significant challenges due to a dramatic loss of sponsorship support. Despite an increase in listeners and readers, the station has lost nearly half of its on-air sponsorship income over the last five years. This financial strain has led to the consideration of tough choices, including the possibility of layoffs or a hiring freeze.

WBUR CEO Margaret Low emphasized that this situation is unlike their usual on-air fundraising appeals. The decline in sponsorship money amounts to a staggering $7 million for the station, and unfortunately, it’s unlikely to return. Only 3% of WBUR’s annual budget comes from government funding via the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

In an effort to navigate these challenges, Low recently held an all-hands meeting with employees, where she shared that WBUR will “likely” need to take measures such as eliminating jobs or stopping hiring to address revenue shortfalls. However, she also highlighted the importance of maintaining quality journalism and avoiding short-term cuts that could undermine the station’s mission.

WBUR’s path forward lies in philanthropic investment, as local news organizations continue to face financial pressures. While philanthropists contributed $500 million to support local news in 2023, local newspapers have continued to shrink. Low aptly described the situation as a “race against time” to sustain WBUR’s vital work.

The challenges WBUR faces are not unique; other news organizations, including large newspapers and NPR affiliates, have also grappled with layoffs and financial difficulties. As the media landscape evolves, finding sustainable solutions becomes increasingly crucial for institutions like WBUR.

Chicago Radio: FCC Okays WMVP Nighttime Reduction In Power

Good Karma's Sports Station WMVP  1000 AM is set to relocate its transmitter site. Here are the details:

Current Tower Site: Downers Grove, Illinois (three-tower array)

New Transmitter Site: 820 WCPT (AM) nighttime transmitter site in Joliet, approximately 19 miles south of its current location1.

Good Karma Broadcasting, the station’s owner, filed an application to move WMVP from its existing tower site to WCPT’s facility. Along with the relocation, WMVP’s nighttime power will be downgraded from 50 kW to 37 kW while diplexing from WCPT’s site. Diplexing involves sharing a common antenna system with another station, allowing both stations to use the same tower and reduce infrastructure costs.

The move is a consequence of ESPN’s sale of WMVP to Good Karma Broadcasting. Notably, the transmitter property was not part of that sale. 

Despite an objection raised by Albert Adam David, the FCC has approved the relocation. David argued that WMVP’s power downgrade would negatively impact areas in the Appalachian Mountain region of Virginia and West Virginia due to reduced skywave propagation. However, the FCC ruled in favor of Good Karma, emphasizing that WMVP’s former Class I-B status allows for lower nighttime power levels while still meeting technical requirements.

Eagles Stolen Notes Trial Ends Suddenly

Don Henley (left)

Manhattan prosecutors made the stunning decision Wednesday (March 6) to drop a criminal case against three men accused of trying to sell stolen notes linked to the Eagles’ 1976 album Hotel California, with a judge saying Don Henley had “manipulated” prosecutors, Billboard is reporting.

At a hearing Wednesday, a New York judge dismissed the charges after prosecutors alerted him that newly uncovered evidence cast doubt on whether Henley’s notes had been stolen in the first place — the core defense advanced by Glenn Horowitz, Craig Inciardi and Edward Kosinski.

The disclosures came mid-way through a closely-watched criminal trial against the three men, in which Henley and longtime Eagles manger Irving Azoff had already testified. The proceedings had already run more than two weeks and had been expected to keep going until at least next week.

The sudden reversal was sparked by Henley producing new evidence that had been previously withheld under attorney-client privilege. The new materials touched on whether a journalist hired in the 1970s to write a book about the Eagles, Ed Sanders, had legitimately come into possession of Henley’s notes.

At a hearing in open court on Wednesday, Justice Curtis Farber sharply criticized Henley and Azoff’s conduct: “It is now clear that both witnesses and their lawyers … used the privilege to obfuscate and hide information that they believed would be damaging to their position that the lyric sheets were stolen.”

The judge said he was also troubled that prosecutors had been “manipulated” into bringing the charges, and questioned why they had not more thoroughly vetted the accusations and the evidence. But he praised them for dropping the case once new evidence had come to light.

Broadcasters Convene For Annual Advocacy

Today over 550 radio and television broadcasters from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C., for the National Association of Broadcasters’ (NAB) annual State Leadership Conference (SLC). The conference, held at Washington Nationals Park and emceed by Emmy award winning journalist Michelle Marsh from WJLA-TV, featured remarks from policymakers, panel discussions and briefings preparing attendees for meetings with legislators on Wednesday, March 6.

In his remarks to attendees, NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt welcomed the audience and thanked them for their participation, highlighting the grassroots power of local broadcasters. He underscored the critical role local stations play in delivering reliable and trusted information to their communities, particularly in an election year. LeGeyt also addressed critical issues for broadcasters, including the need for the passage of the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act (JCPA) to level the playing field with the Big Tech companies that utilize broadcasters’ content without compensation, and the overwhelming bipartisan support for the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act.

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson (LA-4) participated in a fireside chat with LeGeyt, where the Speaker gave an update on the House’s legislative activity and noted the importance of broadcasters being in Washington to personally meet with their legislators. Johnson, a former broadcaster and cosponsor of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act and the Local Radio Freedom Act, also discussed the importance of broadcasters delivering local content and sharing life-saving information during natural disasters. LeGeyt and Johnson also discussed the JCPA, the dominant market power of the Big Tech companies and the rapid evolution of AI and its impact on broadcast journalism.

Youngtown Radio: K105/WQXK-FM Radiothon Raises$147K+

Cumulus Media announces that Cumulus Youngstown Country station K105 /WQXK-FM raised $147,834 in the annual Country Cares for St. Jude Kids Radiothon, benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The successful two-day community fundraiser was hosted by K105 on-air personalities Doug and Mary Ann on Thursday, February 29th and Friday, March 1st, to support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude that no child should die in the dawn of life.

All funds raised during the event go directly to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and will support St. Jude patients and families who never receive a bill from St. Jude for the cost of treatment, travel, housing, or food. At St. Jude, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion, or a family’s ability to pay. Since St. Jude opened its doors in 1962, the survival rate for childhood cancer has risen from 20% to more than 80% today.

Sheri Lynch Spotlights Women In History In Her True Weird Stuff Podcast

The True Weird Stuff podcast is hosted by female broadcasting legend Sheri Lynch. Best known for her work on the nationally syndicated Bob & Sheri, Lynch is also a 10-time NAB Marconi Award nominee and three-time winner of The Alliance for Women in Media’s Gracie Award.

Bringing her broadcasting chops to the podcast world, Lynch has created the show of her dreams. Each week the True Weird Stuff podcast dives in to explore an inexplicable, but very true story. Many fascinating women have been highlighted on this popular and fast-growing podcast. With March being Women’s History Month, we would like to highlight these weird women who have a story to tell as well as the woman telling the story, Sheri Lynch.

“I’ve spent my whole life struggling to NOT talk about all the weird things that fascinate me and often make other people uncomfortable, such as reincarnation, near-death experiences, aliens, or the idea that reality is a simulation,” said Lynch. “It’s hard masking so much weird. The True Weird Stuff podcast is where I can bring all the quirky, cryptic, creepy, odd and just plain weird together in one place and share them with my listeners.”

True Weird Stuff is a weekly podcast exploring interesting historical stories about a range of topics. For Women’s History Month, we want to direct your attention to some of the True Weird Stuff episodes featuring women in history. Here’s some of our recent episodes. They range from Madame Tussauds to a the first-ever stagecoach robber. We hope you enjoy the sampling below and it gives you a few more fascinating females to consider when discussing Women’s History Month. Enjoy!

Chicago Radio: Q101 Feature Celebrates Women’s History Month

Cumulus Media announces that Q101, Chicago’s Alternative/WKQX-FM, will present a special daily on-air feature throughout March for Women’s History Month. The month-long feature, called “The Women Who Make Q101,” is hosted by Lauren O’Neil, On-Air Personality, Middays, on Q101. 

Every weekday at Noon, Q101 will showcase the most influential female artists who have left their marks on the Alternative Rock format. 

The daily feature will air two to three songs from each artist featured, with specially produced audio including exclusive interviews with the history-making artists. O’Neil will also share brilliant stories about the artists and their indelible music. Listeners across the U.S. can tune in each day from Q101.com or by downloading the Q101 app.

Lauren O’Neil said: “I am truly grateful for the opportunity to honor, amplify and celebrate the incredible Women Who Make Q101. These artists inspired me to get into radio and continue to inspire me every day. Join me every weekday at Noon as we celebrate the music, talent, art, tenacity, and impact of the icons who have blazed the path from the beginning - and those who continue to carry the torch with an hour-long special this Friday for International Women’s Day.”

For more information or to stream Q101, Chicago’s Alternative, visit: https://www.q101.com/.