'Wilhite & Wall' Heads For Syndication

Rockcastle Media Networks has announced “Wilhite & Wall” to its lineup of affiliate-friendly, listener-focused programming beginning Monday, September 4th.

“Darren [Wilhite] & Tim [Wall] are born entertainers who not only understand the audience, but also the needs of affiliates who want compelling, top-notch content,” said Rockcastle Media Networks President & CEO Will Sterrett. “Unlike many competitors today, ‘Wilhite & Wall’ gives stations complete control over their music log, stopset lengths, and imaging. The result is a show that works with the rest of the day to maximize affiliate success.”

“We are really excited about growing our show with Rockcastle Media Networks”, said Darren and Tim. “We’re ready to share our brand of humor and give stations something different in a morning show. The timing is perfect.”

“Wilhite & Wall” are two-time CMA Personalities of the Year, and the show has an established track record in Country mornings on stations such as WYCD/Detroit, WDAF/Kansas City, and WTNR/Grand Rapids. “Wilhite & Wall” is already a success at Country radio and is also available to stations seeking quality, personality-driven content for other dayparts and formats. The program is delivered via FTP, and is offered on a 100% self-contained barter basis.

Rockcastle Media Networks is a radio programming provider to affiliate stations across the U.S. and Canada. The company’s ‘Partners First’ initiative ensures a focus on error-free program feeds and exceptional service to stations and advertising partners. Rockcastle Media Networks’ offerings include Wilhite & Wall, The MusicWeek Countdown, The Neon Beat with John Christopher, and the short-form features Think Fast! and The Motivation Minute with Greg Knapp.

Philly Radio: Report..Tony Bruno May Be Joining 97.5

Could Anthony J. Bruno be joining Anthony L. Gargano on WPEN 97.5 FM The Fanatic?

Anthony Gargano, who launched his morning show on the station in April 2015, has been without a permanent co-host since Jon Marks walked away from the station last September to join SportsRadio 94.1 WIP. But after months of pairing Gargano with a stream of fill-in hosts, it looks as if station management is getting close to hiring a full-time replacement.

There’s no official timeline, but sources say the yet-to-be named co-host is expected to start before the beginning of the new NFL season.

According to numbers obtained by Philly.com, Gargano finished in a distant fourth place behind WIP’s Angelo Cataldi in the coveted men’s 25-54 demographic in the spring ratings book, dropping slightly from last year’s numbers. At one point, Gargano was actually closing in on Cataldi in the ratings.

The most surprising name mentioned more than once is Tony Bruno, the veteran sports talker who has been successfully podcasting since abruptly walking off his top-rated afternoon show on WIP in July 2015, a show he co-hosted with Josh Innes. Innes was subsequently fired by former co-host and current WIP program director Spike Eskin, and now hosts a sports talk show in Houston.

Bruno has been friends with Gargano for a long time, and both were actually neighbors at the Residences at Dockside. The two worked together in the past at Fox Sports radio (Bruno had a daily show and Gargano worked on weekends), which Gargano spoke about in a nearly 2-hour appearance on The Tony Bruno Show last week.


Bruno would consider joining Gargano if the situation were right. But accoding to Rob Tornoe, Brunoe would have a lot to overcome before he joined the station. Before his stint at WIP, Bruno worked for The Fanatic for four years as a midday host alongside Harry Mayes before walking away after a contract dispute in 2014.

Gloria Allred Calls For Parole Revisions

Gloria Allred is calling for Nevada to reform its laws governing parole considerations in the wake of the state parole board's Thursday decision to grant O.J. Simpson an early release from prison, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Gloria Allred

Simpson will be freed in October after serving the minimum nine years of his 33-year sentence for a 2007 armed robbery in Las Vegas. During the parole hearing, a member of the board held up a stack of papers representing hundreds of letters of support for Simpson's parole, as well as hundreds in opposition. She said the majority of letters opposing parole urged the board to consider the case resulting in "[Simpson’s] 1995 acquittal"; that is, the Trial of the Century concerning the murders of Simpson's ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman. However, the parole board member said that per Nevada guidelines, that prior legal history would not be factored into the board's deliberations.

"The parole of O.J. Simpson cries out for reform of law," said Allred in a press conference immediately following the decision. "Justice is blind, but it should not be blind to the public legal record."



The famed attorney, who represented the Brown family during the 1995 criminal murder trial, believes that had the parole board been allowed to factor in Simpson's court history, "it's possible it might have made a difference." Specifically, she cited the 1997 civil verdict that held Simpson liable for the deaths of his ex-wife and Goldman, as well as Simpson's 1989 conviction of misdemeanor spousal battery.

Meanwhile on Foix News, Judge Jeanine Pirro said O.J Simpson is "delusional" in his descriptions of himself. Pirro objected to Simpson's characterizations that he does not have a bad demeanor or has ever threatened anyone with violence. She said he was convicted with beating his ex-wife, Nicole Brown, in 1989.

Ex-Senior Obama Official Alleges Media Colluded With Russia

Edward Price, a former CIA employee who served as a top spokesman and a senior director for President Obama’s National Security Council, accused the media of colluding with Russian intelligence officials during the 2016 presidential election while taking part in a panel discussion at the Aspen Security Forum on Thursday.

The panel discussion titled “The Kremlin Plan to Beat the West without Firing a Shot,” dealt with Russian’s involvement in the 2016 election and was moderated by CNN’s Jim Sciutto.

During the discussion, Price took exception with how the media covered Russia’s involvement in the election citing October 7, 2016, as the most vivid example of the media’s poor coverage of Russia’s role.

On October 7, Price noted when the United States government formally attributed the meddling in the election to the most senior levels of the Russian government, the Donald Trump “Access Hollywood” tape was released, and John Podesta’s emails started getting released.

“From October 7th to November 8th, there was a media frenzy on John Podesta’s emails focused on the substance and the content but not the origins,” Price remarked.


CNN’s Sciutto took objection to Price’s accusation that the media colluded with Russia and asked Price to explain what he meant.

According to to ntknetwork.com, Price stood by his claim telling Sciutto to call it, “cooperation, collusion, whatever you want.”

Sciutto pointed out that collusion implies willing corporation.

“At a certain point, you had to have blinders and earmuffs on not to know that Guccifer 2.0 was a Russian intelligence official,” Price responded.

Price left the CIA earlier this year writing in a widely criticized op-ed in which he said he could not “in good faith serve this administration as an intelligence professional.” Price was a donor to Hillary Clinton’s campaign, but said that his decision was not politically motivated.

Orlando Radio: WOTW To Host Blue, First Responders

Orlando Country radio station WOTW 103.1 The Wolf  has announced its 2nd Annual BBQ 4 The Blue, a FREE family-style picnic for Central Florida law enforcement officers, first responders, and their families.

This non-profit event features food from the best local restaurants, music, and family fun!  BBQ 4 The Blue will be held at Ocoee’s Bill Breeze Park on Saturday August 19th, 2017 from 11a-2p and is open to any local law enforcement officer, first responder, and their family.  Click Here to donate or volunteer.

Chad Hallmark, 103.1 The Wolf’s Marketing Director says, “We are making the 2nd Annual BBQ 4 The Blue an even bigger celebration for LEOs and first responders with more family activities and food plus giveaways and live music. We are also inviting notable local, state, and national law enforcement figures and celebrities to further enhance the fun and support!

“103.1 The Wolf supports the brave men and women in law enforcement and first responders both locally and across this great country who protect us day in and day out”, says 103.1 The Wolf Program Director Len Shackelford.  “BBQ 4 The Blue is our way to give back and bring together our local heroes and families for a down-home backyard picnic.  We couldn’t do this without the amazing support of our partners and the City of Ocoee.”

The Wolf’s General Manager Chris Ganoudis adds, “For the second year, many thanks to the City of Ocoee and Mayor Rusty Johnson for helping us host BBQ 4 The Blue – they are great partners and immediately offered the use of Bill Breeze Park for this non-profit event.  Community involvement is one of the hallmarks of 103.1 The Wolf and JVC Media.  We want LEOs, first responders, and their families to enjoy a day of fun, relaxation, and fun for FREE!”

YouTube TV Expands To Ten More Markets

YouTube TV, Google’s entry in the crowded market of live TV streaming services, is now available in ten more U.S. metros, the company announced this morning. In nine of the ten markets, the service will include the live local feeds from all four major broadcasters – ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC.

According to TechCrunch, the ability to watch live television from major broadcasters has been one of YouTube TV’s differentiated features since its debut, as it chose to go forgo nationwide availability in favor of a promise to deliver broadcast channels in the markets it serves.

Initially, the service was available only in top U.S. metros including L.A., New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and the San Francisco Bay area.

As YouTube Chief Business Officer Robert Kyncl explained in February when the service was first unveiled, the goal is to offer “comprehensive national coverage with ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox all included” on YouTube TV, so users wouldn’t have to miss out on those “can’t miss” live TV moments, he said.

The company in June said at the VidCon industry conference that it would soon triple its footprint with launches in 10 more metros. Those are the same markets that are actually going live today.

This includes: Washington, D.C., Houston, Atlanta, Phoenix, Detroit, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne, Charlotte, and Dallas-Fort Worth.

In all of the markets except Dallas-Fort Worth, streamers will be able to watch live TV from ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC. The Dallas-Fort Worth market has CBS, FOX and NBC, but only on-demand prime-time programming from ABC. (It’s still possible that this could change in the future, as new deals are forged).

In total, YouTube TV now offers nearly 50 networks, including also sports from ESPN, NBC Sports and Fox Sports.

R.I.P.: Iconic Twin Cities Radio Showman Bill Diehl

Bill Diehl - Early '80s

Back in the days when there were “showmen,” Twin Cities media personality Bill Diehl embodied the concept. In a career that spanned more than half a century, he was a radio disc jockey, a film critic, a newspaper columnist, an entertainment emcee and a star in his own right. Called “the last of his kind” by his newspaper colleague Rick Shefchik, Diehl passed away Wednesday while in hospice care at St. Paul’s Sholom Home East. He was 91.

Longtime Twin Cities personality Bill Diehl died Wednesday in hospice care.

He was 91-years-old age, according to The Star-Tribune.

Born in 1926, Diehl started working for the St. Paul Pioneer Press as a paperboy at age 15. From there, he managed to land a job in the newsroom, eventually becoming the paper’s lead movie critic and befriending many Hollywood stars. He also helped establish the Top 40 format for Twin Cities radio stations, moonlighting as an on-air personality for WMIN (now known as KMNV), WDGY and WCCO.

Steve Moravec, a radio station consultant in St. Paul, was 19 when he met a “glib and clever” Diehl at WDGY in the 1960s. Moravec remembers admiring the “commanding figure.”

“I don’t know how he did what he did,” Moravec said of Diehl’s varied professional pursuits. “I don’t think I have ever in my life had as much energy as Bill Diehl did for years and years.”

Diehl will be remembered as “the godfather” of the mid-century Twin Cities music scene, according to Moravec. For years, Diehl used his role as a radio personality to help Minnesota musicians book live shows and otherwise promote their work. He was a mentor and adviser to several local acts, introducing audiences to their music with airplay and by emceeing concerts.

Radio listeners knew him as “Bill Diehl, the Rajah of the Records, the Deacon of the Discs, the Purveyor of the Platters and the Wizard of the Wax, with all the musical facts.” When he wasn’t ruling the AM airwaves, he appeared on local television, emceed teen dances and concerts, booked and mentored young rock bands, introduced local audiences to the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, befriended Hollywood stars like Grace Kelly and Judy Garland, collected everything from records to World War II memorabilia, and traveled the world while documenting it all on 16mm film.

“I can’t believe there were enough hours in the day for him to do all the things he did,” marveled Rick Shefchik, a former Pioneer Press writer and columnist who devoted an entire chapter to Diehl in his 2015 book “Everybody’s Heard About the Bird: The True Story of 1960s Rock ‘n’ Roll in Minnesota.”

Read More Now

R.I.P.: Linkin Park Frontman Chester Bennington

Chester Bennington, the lead singer of Linkin Park, was found dead on Thursday of apparent suicide a week before the California alt-rock band was due to embark on a U.S. tour.

Bennington, 41, known for his powerful, belting vocals, died at his Palos Verdes home near Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Coroner's office said.

According to Reuters, spokesman Brian Elias said the death was being handled as an apparent suicide, and celebrity website TMZ, citing law enforcement sources, said Bennington had hung himself while alone at the house when his family was out of town.

"Shocked and heartbroken, but it's true. An official statement will come out as soon as we have one," tweeted Linkin Park vocalist Mike Shinoda.

Bennington had a history of alcohol and drug abuse. He spoke openly in the past about his struggles to overcome his demons when Linkin Park first found fame in 2000 with their best-selling debut album "Hybrid Theory" and went on to become one of the most popular alt-rock bands of their generation.

The band's latest album, "One More Light," was released in May, and Linkin Park had been touring South America and Europe until two weeks ago.

Bennington's death came a week before the band was due to kick off the U.S. leg of the tour on July 27 in Mansfield, Massachusetts. It also came the same day as the release of Linkin Park's music video "Talking to Myself."

Watch the official #TalkingToMyself music video now - directed by Mark Fiore. #OneMoreLight 🌅 https://t.co/eiqZC9F7EX

— LINKIN PARK (@linkinpark) July 20, 2017

Bennington, who was twice married and had six children, was a close friend of Soundgarden front man Chris Cornell, who committed suicide in Detroit in May.

Fans noted on Thursday that Bennington had apparently taken his own life on what would have been Cornell's 53rd birthday.

The band has sold more than 70 million albums worldwide.

A statement from Kevin Weatherly, CBS RADIO SVP of Programming and KROQ Program Director, on the passing of Chester Bennington:

“On behalf of everyone at KROQ, I would like to extend our deepest condolences and prayers to Chester Bennington’s family, friends and Linkin Park bandmates. KROQ, Chester and Linkin Park have been together since day 1, and our long history extends beyond the music. Chester and Linkin Park headlined many of our shows over the years, entertaining audiences and pushing the boundaries of music along the way. We are without words to describe how terribly saddened we are today. RIP friend, KROQ will miss you.”

July 21 Radio History

Himan Brown

➦In 1910...radio’s most prolific producer Himan Brown was born in New York City.  Over a span of 65 years Brown produced more than 30,000 radio programs, including The Adventures of the Thin Man, The Affairs of Peter Salem, Bulldog Drummond, Dick Tracy, Flash Gordon, The General Mills Radio Adventure Theater, Grand Central Station, The Gumps, Inner Sanctum Mysteries, Joyce Jordan, M.D., Marie, the Little French Princess, The NBC Radio Theater,  Terry and the Pirates, numerous daytime soap operas, and many lesser known programs.

After the end of most network radio programming in the early 60’s Brown persisted with such series as the CBS Radio Mystery Theater, thereby keeping the art of radio drama alive for another generation. He died June 4 2010 at age 99.





➦In 1969...Six hours after first landing on the moon, American astronaut, Neil Armstrong, stepped on the Moon at 2:56:15 AM and the world watched and listened, all made possible by the transmission of radio waves.


➦In 1980...WMCA 570 AM, New York, hosted a reunion featuring Joe O'Brien, Harry Harrison, Dan Daniels, Jack Spector and B. Mitchel Reed.

In 1960, WMCA began promoting itself by stressing its on-air personalities, who were collectively known as the Good Guys. Led by program director Ruth Meyer, the first woman to hold the position in New York City radio,  this was the era of the high-profile Top 40 disc jockey with an exuberant personality aimed at a certain audience segment. With the advent of the Good Guys format, WMCA became more "on top" of new music and started to become known for "playing the hits."

In the early 1960s, the top 40 format was still young, and the field was crowded in New York City. Two major 50,000-watt stations, WMGM (now WEPN) and WINS, had battled each other, playing pop music for years. Then in 1960, WABC joined the fray and started featuring top 40 music. Ultimately, it was WMCA's earnest competition with rival WABC that forced WMGM (in early 1962) and then WINS (in spring 1965) to abandon the top-40 format. There was so much attention on the high-profile WMCA-WABC battle that WMGM and WINS were each summarily forced to find a new niche.


➦In 2011...WRXP 101.9 FM NYC changes call letters to WEMP


 In 

➦In 2013…Cabaret singer Page Morton Black, who sang the Chock Full o' Nuts coffee jingle in radio and TV commercials during a two-decade run in the middle of the 20th century, died at age 97.


➦In 2016…Roger Ailes resigned as CEO/Chairman of Fox News in the wake of sexual harassment allegations made by former Fox host Gretchen Carlson and as many as 20 other current or former female employees of the cable network.


➦In 2016....Longtime Pittsburgh radio personality (WJAS, WIXZ, WPEZ)/TV host Bill Cardille, who for 37 years handled local segments of the annual Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association Labor Day telethon, died of liver cancer at age 87.

Ryan Seacrest To Host 'American Idol' Reboot

Ryan Seacrest

As widely expected, Ryan Seacrest will back as host of “American Idol” when the singing contest jumps to ABC next year.

His return was announced Thursday on “Live With Kelly and Ryan,” Disney|ABC’s nationally syndicated talk show. The ABC network is owned by Disney.

Seacrest has hosted “American Idol” since it started in 2002 on Fox and steered the show through 15 seasons on that network.

Auditions for the 16th season start Aug. 17 in Orlando, according to The Orlando Sentinel.

Seacrest will have a very busy schedule. He will...

• Continue to host “Live with Kelly and Ryan” with Kelly Ripa from New York.
• Host “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” on ABC.
• Host “On Air with Ryan Seacrest,” his nationally syndicated L.A. morning drive-time radio show on KIIS 102.7 FM, and his nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show from his iHeart studio at New York’s ABC7

“It’s genuinely hard to put into words what ‘American Idol’ means to me,” Seacrest said in a statement. “I’m so grateful for the show and all the career and life opportunities it’s allowed me to experience. It’s been an incredible journey from day one. To be asked to return this year, at my new home at Disney|ABC, is an honor, if not a bit surreal. I believe ABC is the perfect home for ‘Idol,’ and I’ve every confidence the show’s legions of fans will love it — especially ‘Idol’’s best traditions of showcasing heartwarming stories, remarkable talent discovery, and, best of all, making dreams come true.”

ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey said much of “American Idol’s” success can be attributed to Seacrest.

“We are thrilled to be ushering in this new era of ‘American Idol’ with Ryan at the helm,” Dungey said. “So much of ‘American Idol’s’ overwhelming success can be attributed to Ryan, whose larger-than- life personality and laudable dedication to creating quality entertainment has made him a true master of his craft. His talent is limitless, and I can’t think of a more appropriate person to honor the ‘Idol’ legacy as it takes on new life than the man who has been there through it all.”