Daily podcast consumption has recovered from a dip earlier in the year, at least among young listeners, according to Media Post citing Edison Research's latest Share of Ear audio listening diary survey analysis. The survey is conducted quarterly among 4,000 Americans ages 13 and older.
In Q1 2021, 28% of 13- to 34 year-olds reported listening to a podcast daily. That declined to 22% in this year's first quarter -- alarming many podcasters, according to Edison, which also saw a similar dip in other research it conducts.
However, in Q2, the demographic's daily listening rose to 29%, dispelling fears of a possible end to the medium's phenomenal growth in recent years.
Consumer publishers continue to spin new ad revenue from a growing number of popular podcasts. (One example: Hearst’s House Beautiful debuted season two of its haunted-house offering, "Dark House," last week.)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has hired radio veteran Shane Backler, formerly from news-talk WSB Atlanta, as its senior audio producer. And Condé Nast Entertainment last year appointed Chris Bannon SVP and head of global audio.
B2B publishers are also benefitting from high podcast consumption stats.
For instance, nearly three quarters (73%) of engineers listen to work-related podcasts during their work week -- up 33% versus last year, according to a study released earlier this year by TREW Marketing and GlobalSpec.
In general, 86% of marketers say they find podcasts effective, although they rank email newsletters and webinars ahead of them, according to a study by podcast audio-video platform Casted.
iHeartMedia announced today that Fernando A. Pérez has been named Program Director for WUMR Rumba 106.1, # 1 Para Reggaetón Y Variedad En Philadelphia, effective immediately.
As Program Director, Pérez will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the station’s music, programming, imaging, and branding. He will report to Derrick Corbett, Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia Philadelphia.
“It’s a privilege for us to be able to add a programmer with Fernando’s expertise to our team here in Philly,” said Corbett. “His incredible level of knowledge is exactly what we need to not only help grow Rumba, but to also utilize as a resource within our cluster.”
Fernando Perez
“Fernando is a programming scientist, a formidable talent coach and carries extensive expertise in very competitive markets,” said PJ Gonzalez, Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeartLatino. “He is someone who welcomes challenges and will definitely go down as one of the best in the business in Philadelphia radio market history.”
Fernando Arath Pérez is a veteran radio executive with over 20 years of experience programming multiple Spanish-language formats for US Hispanic audiences. Pérez believes that success comes from unleashing the power of teamwork in the service of our community.
“I’m thrilled to have the exciting opportunity to join the newly launched Rumba 106.1 and participate in this opportunity from iHeartMedia to serve one of the fastest-growing Hispanic populations in the country,” said Pérez. “I’m honored and grateful to be part of the talented team at iHeartMedia Philadelphia and iHeartLatino.”
Bob Rafelson, the writer, director, producer and maverick who set the tone for the swinging, psychedelic 1960s with The Monkees, then was a pioneer in one of the most influential eras in the history of independent film, has died.
He was 89, reports Billboard.
Rafelson, who collaborated with Jack Nicholson on seven features, including the classics Easy Rider (1969), Five Easy Pieces (1970) and The King of Marvin Gardens (1972), died Saturday night (July 23) of natural causes at his home in Aspen, Colorado, his wife, Gabrielle, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Rafelson earned Oscar nominations for co-writing and producing Five Easy Pieces and then, for an encore, produced Peter Bogdanovich‘s breakthrough hit, The Last Picture Show (1971).
The Easy Rider soundtrack reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200. It featured such rock classics as Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild.” Five Easy Pieces also had a strong music focus, from the classical pieces by Chopin, Bach and Mozart that inspired the film’s title to its use of four songs by country queen Tammy Wynette, most memorably “Stand By Your Man.”
Along with his late partner Bert Schneider, Rafelson created The Monkees, the touchstone NBC show that debuted in 1966. He conceived the idea of a program that mimicked the exuberance of The Beatles, specifically the freewheeling energy of their 1964 film A Hard Day’s Night.
The series, produced by Raybert Productions, featured the comic misadventures of a struggling musical quartet seeking fame and fortune while living in Malibu. The foursome was selected from an open casting call announced with full-page ads, including one in THR. Stephen Stills was among the hundreds who auditioned. For years, an urban legend circulated that Charles Manson also had tried out. Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork ultimately were picked.
Colorful, fast-paced and filled with slapstick and silliness, The Monkees embodied the rebellious sensibilities of a younger generation. And though it lasted only two seasons and 58 episodes, it became a pop-culture phenomenon (and brought Rafelson and Schneider an Emmy in 1967 for outstanding comedy series).
In addition to guiding the sitcom as a producer and then executive producer, Rafelson directed several episodes. He also is credited with writing two of the shows that revolved around the group performing on tour.
President Biden's physician, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, said in his latest update Sunday that Biden continues to, quote, "improve significantly" from his Covid-19 infection, while still having a lingering sore throat. O'Connor said that Biden's other mild symptoms, including a cough, runny nose and body aches, had "diminished considerably." Biden has been taking Paxlovid since he tested positive last Thursday, and O'Connor said he is responding "as expected." The White House Covid-19 response coordinator, Dr. Ashish Jha, said Sunday that Biden was infected by the highly contagious BA.5 omicron variant, which is believed to be responsible for most cases in the U.S. right now.
WaPo opinion piece calls for Biden to not run for reelection in order to save Democrats: 'Quit, Joe, Quit!' https://t.co/ntnkxXBQuj
➤RUSSIA CLAIMS UKRAINIAN PORT STRIKE HIT MILITARY TARGETS: Russian defense officials claimed Sunday that an airstrike on the Ukrainian port of Odesa a day earlier hit only military targets. However, the Saturday attack came one day after an agreement the two countries signed on resuming grain shipments, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly address Saturday that the attack, quote, "destroyed the very possibility" of dialogue with Russia. AP reports that under the grain shipment agreement, Russia and Ukraine both agreed not to target vessels and port facilities involved in resuming shipments, including the ports of Odesa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny. It wasn't immediately clear how the airstrike would affect plans to resume shipping Ukrainian grain out of the ports. The months-long standoff over shipments of Ukrainian grain has threatened food security around the world.
A Texas man is facing felony charges after police said seven dogs that he owned mauled a 71-year-old man to death in an unprovoked attack. https://t.co/qE5wbo7mc0
➤TWO KILLED, FIVE WOUNDED IN SHOOTING AT LOS ANGELES PARK: Two people were killed and at least five others wounded in a shooting at a Los Angeles park Sunday afternoon where an informal car show was taking place. The people who were fatally shot at Peck Park in L.A.'s San Pedro neighborhood were at the baseball diamond, according to police. LAPD Captain Kelly Muniz said investigators believe the shooting began as a dispute between two parties, and they were still trying to determine how many shooters there were. No arrests had been made as of late last night.
Suspects caught on video allegedly hit Bronx man with car, then robbed him https://t.co/XUHQz9GTuw
➤N.Y. GOV. CANDIDATE ZELDIN'S ATTACKER SAYS DIDN'T KNOW WHO HE WAS: The 43-year-old man accused of attacking New York Republican gubernatorial nominee Rep. Lee Zeldin at a campaign rally last Thursday told investigators he'd been drinking and didn't know who Zeldin was. David Jakubonis was arrested Saturday on a federal charge of assaulting a member of Congress with a dangerous weapon, after having been arraigned Friday on a separate state charge of attempted assault in the second degree. The federal criminal complaint said that Jakubonis, who's an Iraq War veteran, told investigators he was drinking whiskey Thursday before he went onstage as Zeldin spoke at a Veterans of Foreign Wars post in the upstate New York town of Perinton to ask the speaker if he was disrespecting veterans. The complaint said Jakubonis, quote, "did not know who the speaker was or that the speaker was a political person." In the incident, Jakubonis raised his arm toward Zeldin as he held a keychain with two sharp points. The congressman grabbed Jakubonis’ wrist and the two went to the ground as others jumped in to help. Zeldin only got a minor scrape.
Some Republicans "are very concerned" about Donald Trump potentially launching a 2024 presidential bid before November's midterm races, which could upend contests across the country, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan told @ABC News. https://t.co/wcGmxzQCdK
➤CHENEY: JAN. 6TH COMMITTEE MAY SUBPOENA JUSTICE CLARENCE THOMAS' WIFE GINNI THOMAS: Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, the vice-chair of the House January 6th Committee, said yesterday that the committee may subpoena Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' wife, Ginni Thomas. Cheney, who appeared on CNN's State of the Union and Fox News Sunday, said, "We certainly hope that she will agree to come in voluntarily. But the committee is fully prepared to contemplate a subpoena if she does not." Cheney said the committee sent her an letter last month seeking an interview. Ginni Thomas communicated with people in then-President Donald Trump’s orbit ahead of the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol and on the day it took place, and committee members want to learn more about her efforts to keep Trump in office. Cheney also said they "anticipate" talking to more members of Trump's Cabinet and more members of his campaign.
A majority of people in the U.S. have had Covid at least once — likely more than 70% of the country, White House Covid coordinator Ashish Jha says.
Scientists are wondering what's keeping the minority from getting sick. https://t.co/rGOndA9vfS
🎥‘NOPE’ TOPS THE CHART AT THE DOMESTIC BOX OFFICE: Jordan Peele’s new horror film Nope had a sizzling summer opening over the weekend, pulling in $44 million. Variety reports that it’s the best opening weekend for an original film since Peele’s film Us debuted in 2019.
Box Office Numbers from Friday (July 22nd) through Sunday (July 24th):
1. Nope, $44 million 2. Thor: Love and Thunder, $22.1 million 3. Minions: The Rise of Gru, $17.7 million 4. Where the Crawdads Sing, $10.33 million 5. Top Gun: Maverick, $10 million 6. Elvis, $6.3 million 7. Paws of Fury, $3.87 million 8. The Black Phone, $3.45 million 9. Jurassic World: Dominion, $2.96 million 10. Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, $1.35 million
➤MUSK DENIES HAVING AFFAIR WITH GOOGLE CO-FOUNDER BRIN'S WIFE: Elon Musk is denying a Wall Street Journal report yesterday that he had a brief affair with Google co-founder Sergey Brin's wife, Nicole Shanahan, that led to the deterioration of his friendship with Brin, as well as the end of Brin and Shanahan's marriage. Brin filed for divorce in January of this year, and the report says he filed several weeks after finding out about Shanahan's alleged fling with the Tesla and SpaceX CEO. The brief affair supposedly took place in early December. The report said Musk went to his knee at a party and apologized profusely to Brin, who's said to have acknowledged the apology, but is no in regular contact with Musk, who was a longtime and once-close friend. Musk tweeted in reponse to the Journal article, "This is total bs. Sergey and I are friends and were at a party together last night! I’ve only seen Nicole twice in three years, both times with many other people around. Nothing romantic."
⚾'BIG PAPI' ORTIZ GETS ROUSING RECEPTION AT BASEBALL HALL OF FAME INDUCTION: Former Boston Red Sox slugger David "Big Papi" Ortiz got a rousing reception as he headlined the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cooperstown, New York, on Sunday (July 24th). Ortiz, the first career designated hitter to be selected on first ballot, said, "I always tried to live my life in a way . . . so I can make a positive influence in the world. And if my story can remind you of anything, let it remind you that when you believe in someone you can change the world, you can change their future, just like so many people believed in me."
Also going into the Hall of Fame yesterday were six players voted in by veterans committees: Jim Kaat; Tony Oliva; the late Minnie Minoso; former Dodgers star Gil Hodges; and Black pioneers Buck O'Neil and Bud Fowler.
➤ELLIOTT WINS AT POCONO AFTER HAMLIN IN FIRST AND BUSCH IN SECOND DISQUALIFIED: Third-place finisher Chase Elliott was given the win at the NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway yesterday after first place finisher Denny Hamlin and runner-up Kyle Busch were disqualified after their cars failed inspection. It was an extraordinary decision, with NASCAR believing the last time it disqualified an apparent winner was in 1960. NASCAR Cup Series managing director Brad Moran said, "There was some issues discovered that affect aero in the vehicle." He said it was in the "front fascia," the cover of the front car bumper. NASCAR said it wasn't found in the pre-race inspection because the wrap wasn't removed from the cars until after the race.
Following the disqualifications to the Nos. 11 and 18 cars, NASCAR Cup Series Managing Director Brad Moran addressed reporters in the Pocono Media Center. pic.twitter.com/quADyCtaM1
🚴VINGEGAARD WINS TOUR DE FRANCE: Danish cyclist Jonas Vingegaard won the Tour de France Sunday, taking the championship of cycling's premier race for the first time. The 25-year-old Vingegaard had been the runner-up last year to winner Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia, who finished in second this year, reversing the results. Geraint Thomas of Great Britian was third.
🏌CANADA'S HENDERSON WINS EVIAN CHAMPIONSHIP: Canadian golfer Brooke Henderson won the Evian Championship in France yesterday for her second major title, six years after taking her first with the PGA Championship in 2016. She finished at 17-under 267. Coming in second place by one shot was American Sophia Schubert, an LPGA rookie.
🏈TEXANS ROOKIE METCHIE DIAGNOSED WITH LEUKEMIA: Houston Texans rookie wide receiver John Metchie III revealed yesterday that he'd been diagnosed with leukemia. The 22-year-old, who was chosen 44th in the first round of this year's NFL draft, said in a statement that he has acute promyelocytic leukemia, which he called "the most curable form" of the disease. Metchie said he expects, quote, "to make a recovery at a later point in time." Because of his diagnosis, Metchie said he "likely" won't be playing football this season.
🏈XFL ANNOUNCES THREE NEW CITIES, DROPS THREE FOR 2023: The XFL announced three new cities for the 2023 season last night, adding to five cities they're keeping, while dropping three other cities from the 2020 season, the last one it played. The three new cities are Las Vegas, Orlando and San Antonio, Texas. They will join: Arlington, Texas; Houston; St. Louis, Seattle; and Washington, D.C., meaning there will be three teams in Texas. Being dropped are New York, Los Angeles and Tampa Bay, after they had the lowest average attendance figures during the 2020 season. The league didn't announce names or branding for the teams. The XFL's 2020 season was cut short after five weeks by the pandemic. It was then sold to an ownership group that includes Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The XFL's first game in 2023 is scheduled for February 18th.
Howard, a native of West Hartford, Connecticut, became one of the most popular sports anchors in Nashville during the 20-plus years he spent at NewsChannel 5.
"My heart's broken," said retired NewsChannel 5 sports director Hope Hines. "I've lost one of my best and dearest friends. He was more like a son to me and he felt the same way, I was a father-like figure in many ways to him. I'm heartbroken for Jack his son, and Debra. He was a great, great talent."
Howard transitioned to radio in the early 2000s as host of a local political talk show.
In 2004, Howard returned to sports when he became co-host of the "Wake Up Zone" on WGFX The Zone 104.5-FM along with Kevin Ingram and former Tennessee Titan Frank Wycheck.
The show eventually became the No. 1-rated show in Nashville and among the top in the country and dominated morning drive for many years.
Howard and Ingram left the show in 2020. Howard spent a total of 21 years employed by The Zone.
“It’s been a great run. The (Wake Up Zone) show ran for 16 years with me and Kevin,” Howard said at the time. “They were some of the best years of my life. I’ve got nothing really but good things to say about my experiences there.”
Ingram said Howard was influential in bringing him to The Zone.
"I loved working with Mark, but the thing about Mark was that he was a great friend," Ingram said. "There weren't many people who were more supportive of me or my career than Mark. He was always very encouraging and gave good advice. There aren't too many people you'll find who were more knowledgeable about sports than Mark. It was almost scary how much he knew, especially about baseball."
This past year Howard worked as a part-time host at WPRT The Game 102.5-FM.
Howard also spent many years as host of a Tennessee Titans postgame show and as co-host of the Predators pregame and postgame shows.
Radio Resources, a new enterprise built as a toolkit for radio broadcasters and tailored for medium to small market owners and operators, launched today, it was announced by Alex Quintero, Director of Products and Services.
Radio Resources has partnered with recognized and trusted radio product and service providers to create a unique, single-source, turnkey platform that can solve resource and budget hurdles across all aspects of radio station operations, with the bonus of increasing asset appreciation for owners and investors.
“Until now, radio station owners and operators had to deal with multiple providers and retrofit the pieces together,” Quintero stated. “The Radio Resources toolkit offers broadcasters one central point of contact and stewardship for a wide array of products and services, streamlined across critical departments to deliver a more efficient, productive, and seamless experience. Accountability, quality control, and customer service are enhanced, and owners and operators are free to focus on revenue and growing their business.”
Radio broadcasters can choose one product or create a cost-saving customized bundle from the categories in the Radio Resources suite, which includes Programming and Content, Workflow Solutions, IT and Cyber Security, 24/7 Formats, Sales Strategy, Imaging and Production, Research, Online and Digital Integrations, Back-Office Operations, and more. Radio Resources products and services are available for cash, barter, or a mix of both.
“Radio Resources will continue to grow and expand as a full service solutions provider for radio broadcasters,” Quintero added. “We’re the only company that can aggregate such a broad range of radio products and services and provide this level of multi-resource support because our independent standing gives us the freedom to seek out the best providers to service our radio clients.”
Radio Resources is the latest evolution of parent company Gen Μedia Partners, which was formed in 2015 to deliver forward-thinking solutions to radio broadcasters by assembling customer-focused rep firms, networks, outdoor media, political and Hispanic expertise, and more under one roof. Radio Resources is the next natural progression, extending that model to partnerships with providers across every component of the radio business.
For more information on Radio Resources, station owners and operators may contact Alex Quintero at info@RadioResources.com and (212) 380-9323.
Floor seats to see Bruce Springsteen on his 2023 US tour are ranging from $4,000 to $5,000 on Ticketmaster because of the service’s “dynamic pricing” system that allows for extreme inflation from high demand.
The NY Post reports even nosebleeds are going for more than $1K as “platinum tickets,” which are simply considered seats sold throughout all sections of a venue, per the outlet.
One Springsteen fan, @puffwoody, spotted tickets going for $1,125 for an upcoming Albany show, prompting a “f–k off !” tweet in response.
“I’m rich and I think that’s f–king crazy,” podcast producer John Palumbo said in a video rant over the prices.
Almost a bigger slap in the face to these inflation-weakened customers is that Ticketmaster claims the dynamic method aims to “price tickets closer to their fair value,” an FAQ page reads.
“I’m sure you won’t see this @springsteen but you or your management need to have a word with the abhorrent criminals running @Ticketmaster who are charging exorbitant amounts to see you in concert. Please listen to your fans, nobody can afford these ridiculous ticket prices,” posted @Danny_Biggane.
Bruce Springsteen
“Dear kids, I just spent your inheritance on @springsteen tickets. Love, Mom.” tweeted @Kellylaw1216.
But Bruce is only the latest artist who’s had their show blinded by the light of absurd inflation at the hands of Ticketmaster.
Fans spotted that Paramore tickets for an upcoming Chicago show were billed at $8,018 and artists like Drake, Taylor Swift and Harry Styles have had their prices soar beyond reason as well.
Earlier this month Drake fans had to cough up between $573 to $1,480 to see his Young Money reunion show in Canada. Harry Styles fans were irate in May when prices went above $1K and Swifties lamented in 2018 that tickets originally priced $595 were selling just below $1K.
Around the time of that Taylor Swift bad blood, the dynamic pricing method was even called out by other ticket sale services.
“Ticketmaster Platinum uses a dynamic pricing strategy, allowing the price of a ticket to fluctuate based on demand. They control the demand of tickets by drip-feeding these tickets out into the market, ensuring that demand is high and in-turn charging an extortionate amount!” Tweeted Vibe Tickets, a “totally free” market space to sell or buy tickets.
Taylor Swift is celebrating celebrating yet another milestone. On Monday (July 18), the pop star’s music video for “Blank Space” hit 3 billion views on YouTube, reports Billboard.
Originally released as the second single from Swift’s blockbuster 1989 album, “Blank Space” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 back in 2014. “Blank Space” is the 11-time Grammy winner’s longest-running No. 1 single with seven weeks atop the chart.
The song also earned three nominations at the 58th annual Grammy Awards in the record of the year, song of the year and best pop solo performance categories. Though “Black Space” lost all of its nominations, corresponding album 1989 won the coveted album of the year title as well as best pop vocal album at the 2016 ceremony.
The Joseph Kahn-directed music video for “Blank Space,” meanwhile, took home the awards for best female video and best pop video at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards. “Blank Space” joins “Shake It Off” as the second 1989 video to cross 3 billion views on YouTube; those two clips are the two most-viewed music videos of Swift’s career.
Earlier this year, Swift released “This Love (Taylor’s Version),” further fueling speculation that 1989 would be the next album of hers to get the re-recording treatment. The updated version of “This Love” topped out at No. 50 on the Hot 100, surpassing the success of the original, which failed to enter the chart. “This Love” is the second 1989 track that the pop star has released a re-recording of. The Grammy-winning superstar unveiled “Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version)” in September 2021 after going viral on TikTok.
The January 6th Committee’s primetime hearing drew an estimated 17.7 million viewers, an 11% dropoff from the 20 million who watched the committee’s last nighttime event in June.
Deadline reports the figures from Nielsen are across 10 networks. The committee’s June 9 hearing, kicking off its series, drew about 20 million on 11 networks.
Nielsen said that each of the eight hearings averaged 13.1 million, while the two primetime hearings averaged 18.9 million. The daytime hearings averaged 11.2 million.
Those are solid albeit not blockbuster numbers. The committee’s hearings, though, have commanded news cycles, and moments have gone viral on social media. That happened on Thursday, when the committee played a clip of Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) running from the Senate floor as the mob approached on January 6. Hours earlier, Hawley had raised his fist in solidarity with the protesters.
The highest viewed daytime hearing was on June 28, drawing 13.2 million. That was the hearing featuring the testimony of Cassidy Hutchinson, the former aide to chief of staff Mark Meadows.
While MSNBC came out on top overall with 4.7 million total viewers for the primetime airing of the eighth U.S. House special committee hearing on the Jan. 6 insurrection on Thursday, ABC was the most-viewed among the broadcast networks with an audience of 4 million. It tied with NBC for a 0.4 rating in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic.
In a short but scathing Saturday op-ed, The New York Post editorial board has said there “is no defense” for Donald Trump’s “refusal to stop the violence” on Jan. 6, adding that the former president “has proven himself unworthy to be this country’s chief executive again.”
The 262-word piece in the Rupert Murdoch-owned tabloid cuts through the many layers of information brought to the surface by the Jan. 6 committee and gets right to the point, as they see it: Trump’s lack of action as he “sat in his private dining room, watching TV, doing nothing” for “three hours, seven minutes” while the US Capitol was stormed by his followers was “incitement by silence.”
“There has been much debate over whether Trump’s rally speech on Jan. 6, 2021, constituted ‘incitement,’” the editorial staff wrote. “That’s somewhat of a red herring. What matters more — and has become crystal clear in recent days — is that Trump didn’t lift a finger to stop the violence that followed.”
The outlet noted that Trump was the only person who could have stopped what was happening because he was the only one the crowd was listening to.
“It was incitement by silence,” The Post wrote. “Trump only wanted one thing during that infamous afternoon: to pressure Vice President Mike Pence to decertify the election of Joe Biden. He thought the violence of his loyal followers would make Pence crack, or delay the vote altogether.”
Yet, while he was being advised by aides, advisers and even family to tell the out-of-control crowd to go home, Trump instead “further fanned the flames” by condemning Mike Pence for not overturning the election results.
➦In 1908...Harold (Hal) Peary born in San Leanadro, CA (Died at age 76 – March 30, 1985). He was an actor, comedian and singer in radio, films, television, and animation remembered best as Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve, a supporting character on radio's Fibber McGee and Molly that moved to its own NBC radio hit, The Great Gildersleeve, the first known spinoff hit in American broadcasting history.
Born as José Pereira de Faria in San Leandro, California, to Portuguese parents, Harold Peary (pronounced "Perry") began working in local radio as early as 1923, according to his own memory, and had his own show as a singer, The Spanish Serenader, in San Francisco, but moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1937. While in San Francisco, he also had "several parts" in Wheatenaville, a program broadcast on NBC's Pacific network beginning September 26, 1932
Peary worked as a disc jockey at radio station WMGM 1050 AM in New York City. Beginning in 1953, he had a one-hour program Monday-Saturday.
➦In 1922...AT&T Western Electric began broadcasting WBAY New York City, the predecessor of WEAF, WNBC, WRCA and the current WFAN. AT&T broadcast assets within a few years were early NBC properties.
➦In 1925...2XAG (now WGY 810 AM) in Schenectady, NY became the first radio station in the U.S. to broadcast with a 50,000-watt transmitter.
Birthday Boy Scott Shannon with mini-Scott (2018)
➦In 1947...Radio personality-programmer Michael Scott Shannon was born. Presently hosting the morning show for Audacy's Classic Hits WCBS 101.1 FM in New York City, and host America's Greatest Hits syndicated nationally with United Stations. He has also worked for WHTZ, WPLJ, The True Oldies Channel, and he is the voice for the syndicated Sean Hannity Show.
He began his radio career during an Army stint at WFBS 1450 AM in Spring Lake, North Carolina (later WFBX). From there he moved to WCLS 1580 AM in Columbus, Georgia. After leaving the army, Shannon worked full-time in radio at WABB in Mobile, Alabama, where he acquired the name Super Shan. After a brief stint at WMPS in Memphis he moved to Nashville, where he was the evening disc jockey at WMAK 1300 AM, later becoming that station's program director.
Shannon left Nashville to take a job as a record promoter with Casablanca Records. Scott returned to radio in Washington, D.C. as program director of WPGC 95.5 FM, taking that station to the #1 spot in the Arbitron ratings. From there, he moved to WQXI 790 AM in Atlanta. Then, in Tampa, Florida, Scott, along with partner Cleveland Wheeler, he developed the 'morning zoo' radio format while at WRBQ 104.7 FM Q105.
Shannon is particularly known within the radio broadcasting industry for his work on WHTZ 100.3 FM Z100 in New York City in the mid to late 1980's. Along with former disc jockey Ross Brittain of WABC's "Ross & Wilson Show", he founded the "Z Morning Zoo." He was the driving force in helping Z100 go from worst-to-first in New York City within a mere 74 days of signing on the air.
In 1989, Shannon left Z100 for Los Angeles to start up Pirate Radio, KQLZ. Pirate Radio employed a similar Top 40 concept. As the 1990s began, Top 40 radio experienced a decline, and eventually Pirate Radio struggled as well, leading to Shannon's departure.
In 1991 he returned to New York and resurfaced on Z100's biggest rival, WPLJ 95.5 FM. This station had also been struggling since its glory days of the mid 1980s, and Shannon became program director and morning drive co-host. Shannon created a Top 40 format that was geared more toward the adult contemporary audience, brought in co-host Todd Pettengill to form "The Big Show," and the WPLJ call letters were re-emphasized. On February 7, 2014, he announced he was exiting WPLJ effective immediately.
On February 25, 2014, WCBS FM announced that Scott Shannon would be hosting a brand new Morning Show entitled Scott Shannon in the Morning in New York starting on March 3.
Shannon is one of several disc jockeys honored in an exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. In 2003, he was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in Washington, D.C., and in 2006 he was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in Chicago, Illinois.
In September 2010, Shannon was named Network/Syndicated Personality of the Year at the 2010 National Association of Broadcasters' Marconi Radio Awards.
➦In 1999....Broadcast journalist Martin Agronsky, who joined NBC Radio as a foreign correspondent in 1940, and went on to a distinguished career with all three U-S TV networks, died of congestive heart failure at age 84.
Bruce Woodley of The Seekers is 80
🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAYS:
Singer-guitarist Bruce Woodley of The Seekers is 80.
Drummer Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds is 79.
Bassist Verdine White of Earth, Wind and Fire is 71.
Guitarist Jem Finer of The Pogues is 67.
Supermodel Iman is 67.
Cartoonist Ray Billingsley (“Curtis”) is 65.
Guitarist Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth is 64.
Celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian is 63.
Linsey Godfrey is 34
Actor Illeana Douglas is 61.
Country singer Marty Brown is 57.
Actor Matt LeBlanc (“Joey,” ″Friends”) is 55.
Actor Wendy Raquel Robinson (TV’s “Grand Hotel,” “The Steve Harvey Show”) is 55.
Cellist Paavo Lotjonen of Apocalyptica is 54.
Actor D.B. Woodside (“24”) is 53.
Actor Miriam Shor (“Swingtown,” ″Hedwig and the Angry Inch”) is 51.
Actor David Denman (“Parenthood,” ″The Office”) is 49.
Actor Jay R. Ferguson (“Mad Men”) is 48.
Actor James Lafferty (“One Tree Hill”) is 37.
Actor Shantel VanSanten (“One Tree Hill”) is 37.
Actor Michael Welch (“Twilight” films, TV’s “Joan of Arcadia”) is 35.
Actor Linsey Godfrey (“The Bold and the Beautiful”) is 34.
Classical singer Faryl Smith is 27.
Actor Mason Cook (TV’s “Speechless”) is 22.
Actor Pierce Gagnon (“Boss Baby: Back in Business,” “One Tree Hill”) is 17.
✞DEATH ANNIVERSARIES
Hall of Fame golfer Ben Hogan died on this day in 1997. He was 84.
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