Colorado Springs Radio: Mason Stanfield Named KATC PD, AM Host

Mason Stanfield

Cumulus Media announces that it has appointed Mason Stanfield as Program Director and Morning Co-Host for Colorado Springs Country radio station, Cat Country 95.1/KATC-FM. 

Stanfield joins Cumulus Colorado Springs from Cumulus Shreveport, LA, where he has been Morning Host at Country-formatted 101.1 KRMD-FM since 2020. 

He also previously served as Program Director and Morning Host for stations in Las Cruces, NM, and Rochester, MN. Stanfield will debut this week on the “Cat Country 95.1 Morning with Wendy & Mason” and can be heard Monday through Friday from 5:00am-10:00am.

6/26 WAKE-UP CALL: Putin Blinked

Russia sought to restore calm on Monday after an aborted mutiny by Wagner Group mercenaries over the weekend, while Western allies assessed how President Vladimir Putin might reassert authority and what it could mean for the war in Ukraine. Ending their short-lived mutiny, Wagner fighters halted their rapid advance on Moscow, withdrew from the southern Russian city of Rostov and headed back to their bases late on Saturday under a deal that guaranteed their safety. Their commander, Yevgeny Prigozhin, would move to Belarus under the deal mediated by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Wagner chief's 24 hours of chaos in Russia https://t.co/QlTJkhyA9t

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) June 25, 2023

Monday has been declared a non-working day in Moscow to allow time for things to settle, and there was little evidence of increased security in the Russian capital on Sunday evening. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, one of the main targets of Prigozhin's anger, visited Russian troops involved in the military operation in Ukraine, state-run RIA news agency reported on Monday. But Putin, who has held power for more than two decades, had still to comment publicly since the de-escalation of one of the biggest challenges to his rule. The stunning rebellion in Russia — which raised the threat of a civil war in a nuclear-armed state — ended in under 24 hours. But Russian President Vladimir Putin is weaker, potentially changing the course of his war in Ukraine. After a deal with the Kremlin as his mercenaries advanced on Moscow, Yevgeniy Prigozhin, the Wagner Group owner who led the aborted mutiny, will go into exile in neighboring Belarus, and won't face charges.

Footage from Voronezh, russia:

yesterday russian Air Force was dropping unguided bombs on a highway with civilian cars in a desperate, last-ditch measure to halt the advance of russian Wagner rebels towards Moscow.#RussiaCivilWar #Wagner #Prighozin #RussiaCoup pic.twitter.com/xAnCnxJfIv

— Walter Report 🇺🇦 (@walter_report) June 25, 2023

Why it matters: Russians woke up to a changed country: Invading Ukraine has backfired on Putin. And Prigozhin punctured the 70-year-old leader's strongman swagger.  Prigozhin, 62, owns the once-Kremlin-allied Wagner Group, a private army of inmate recruits and other mercenaries that has fought some of the deadliest battles in Ukraine.

Sen. Ben Cardin on Sunday said that the attempted mutiny by Russia's Wagner Group of mercenaries on Russian President Vladimir Putin wasn't a surprise, describing the scenario as "thugs dealing with thugs." During an interview on "Fox News Sunday," the Maryland Democrat and former ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said Putin should have foreseen such an issue, pointing to the motivations of Wagner Group owner Yevgeny Prigozhin.

The Biden administration and other world leaders are reacting to the developments in Russia. CBS News’ @SkylerHenry reports. pic.twitter.com/KkkQxQrIaI

— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) June 25, 2023

Prigozhin had long been allied with Putin, and the group has been aiding the Russian military during the country's invasion of Ukraine. But tensions between the groups have flared as Russia became bogged down in Ukraine without the sort of progress envisioned by the Kremlin. The full story behind why Prigozhin launched—then stunningly halted—his revolt isn’t yet known. But the elements include the culmination of military infighting, financial pressures and Prigozhin’s personal political ambitions, according to Russian defectors, military analysts and Western intelligence officials.

2 Influential Senators Lobby Automakers On AM Radio

U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) published a Fox News op-ed this month highlighting the need for Congress to swiftly pass their AM for Every Vehicle Act. 

This bipartisan and bicameral legislation would direct federal regulators to require automakers to maintain AM broadcast radio in their new vehicles at no additional charge to consumers. They introduced this bill in response to the concerning trend of automakers removing AM radios from their vehicles.

This past Saturday, CBS News focused on the efforts to keep AM radio in EVs...

📻Read the full op-ed HERE.

Knoxville Radio: FCC Questions Integrity Of WJBE Owner

The owner of Knoxville, TN radio station, WJBE, is fighting back against the FCC as the agency is threatening to revoke his broadcast license because of a prior felony conviction.

Joe Armstrong, the owner of WJBE 99.7 FM/1040 AM — whose call letters pay tribute to the original WJBE's owner, the Godfather of Soul, James Brown — told NPR that the FCC is threatening to revoke his broadcast license over his prior conviction for a tax crime, one that occurred years before he took ownership of the station in 2012.

Armstrong said the radio station is a fixture in Knoxville, serving as a source of news for the Black community — being very much a community-oriented station.

The FCC is questioning whether Armstrong, a former long-serving state representative in the Tennessee General Assembly, would be able to own a radio station with integrity following his conviction in 2016 for making a false statement on his tax return.

Live Music Industry to Return From Covid Slump in 2023

by Felix Richter, Statista

This past weekend, Pilton, Somerset was the epicenter of the music world, as more than 200,000 people have made their way to rural South West England to attend Glastonbury Festival, where the Arctic Monkeys, Guns N’ Roses and Elton John are among the headliners this year. Founded in 1970 by local farmer Michael Eavis, Glastonbury is now a staple of the European festival summer and one of the most famous music festivals in the world.

After three festival seasons that were either severely subdued or practically non-existent due to Covid-19, 2023 is shaping up to be the long-awaited return-to-normal, as music lovers are enjoying the most carefree summer since 2019 and organizers are desperate to make up for lost time.

According to estimates from Statista Market Insights, the entire music event industry, including festivals and concerts but also musicals and operas, is expected to return to its pre-pandemic growth trajectory this year. Statista expects online ticket sales for music-related events to reach $33.8 billion this year, up 65 percent from 2022 and 49 percent from 2019, the last pre-pandemic year.

Bell Media Asks CRTC To Waive News Commitments

BCE Inc.'s media arm is asking the federal telecommunications regulator to waive local news and Canadian programming requirements for its television stations, saying its obligations are based on outdated market realities, according to Canadian Press.

In an application to the CRTC filed June 14, Bell Media requested the regulator drop requirements for spending on local news and on the number of hours per week that stations are required to broadcast locally reflective news in major and smaller markets.

The application was filed the same day Bell announced it is cutting 1,300 positions, shutting or selling nine radio stations and closing two foreign bureaus amid plans to "significantly adapt" how it delivers the news in the face of rising financial pressure.

In its filing, Bell noted its 35 local television stations branded as CTV, CTV Two, and Noovo plus three discretionary television news services — CP24, CTV News Channel and BNN Bloomberg — are under financial strain.

SacTown Radio: Mollie Kendrick New MD At 106.5 The End

Mollie Kendrick

Audacy has promoted Mollie Kendrick to Music Director of 106.5 The End (KUDL-FM) in Sacramento. Kendrick, who recently signed a contract extension with the company, will continue as afternoon show host for the station.

“As we pass the baton to Mollie to oversee 106.5 The End’s music cultivation, listeners can expect a dynamic listening experience that fuses classics and today’s hits defining the Top 40 format,” said Stacey Kauffman, Regional Vice President, Audacy Sacramento. “We’re excited to watch her take this next step in her career and leave her mark on this station.”

“Not only am I honored to be part of such an iconic brand, but I'm excited to contribute to shaping a sound that is uniquely Sacramento pop,” said Kendrick. “I'm grateful to Stacey Kauffman, Aaron Roberts, Sue O'Neil and Mike Danger for this opportunity to help continue the growth and success of KUDL.”

D/FW Radio: KSCS Feeds The City With 22,659 Meals

Cumulus Media New Country 96.3 (KSCS-FM), partnered with Tango Charities, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, to host a series of events called “Hawkeye and Michelle Feed The City – Making Meals for People in Need,” which created 22,659 meals for the hungry in Dallas-Fort Worth during the month of June.

New Country 96.3 announced the partnership on Tuesday, May 31st, asking New Country 96.3 listeners to volunteer and provide bread, lunch meat, mustard, chips, tangerines and ziplock bags to help make meals for DFW food pantries. If the listener signed up on the New Country 96.3 website and showed up at their designated volunteer event, they received two tickets to the station’s upcoming Private Show with Dan + Shay at Legacy Hall. The only way to get these tickets was to volunteer, as they are not available for sale.

MLB D-Backs Want Out Of Bally Broadcast Deal

Lawyers for Diamond Sports Group, the parent company for Bally Sports, filed an emergency motion Thursday requesting that a U.S. Bankruptcy judge reject the group's broadcast agreement with the MLB team. The ruling is expected this week.

“The rights fee payments under the Diamondbacks agreement total tens of millions of dollars annually and increase yearly,” the lawyers wrote in the motion, according to Front Office Sports. “Unfortunately, the debtors [DSG] lose significant sums on the Diamondbacks agreement.” 

Bally Sports Arizona currently airs Diamondbacks games through Diamond Sports Group's agreement with the team.

R.I.P.: Diana Castillo, San Antonio Radio's 'Lady Di'

 

Diana Castillo

Longtime San Antonio radio personality Diana Castillo, known by listeners as “Lady Di,” died Thursday, according to social media posts by friends and former co-workers. 

Castillo, who reportedly had breast cancer and had not been in the industry for some time, was remembered as a leading figure in the Tejano radio field.

In a Facebook video, friend Jonny Ramirez of KLEY Tejano 95.7 San Antonio called her “the first lady of Tejano in San Antonio.”

“The KXTN family has lost one of our own,” posted Naomi Garza. “It was an honor to work with such great talent. Your smooth sultry voice and that laugh will never be forgotten.”

June 26 Radio History

➦In 1909...Thomas Andrew "Colonel Tom" Parker was born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk (Died from a stroke at age 87 -  January 21, 1997).  He was the  was the Dutch-born manager of Elvis Presley. Before managing Elvis, Parker handled the careers of Minnie Pearl, Eddy Arnold, Hank Snow and Tom Mix.

At age 18, Parker had arrived in America by jumping ship, and never held a US passport, even when the 1940 Alien Registration Act would have entitled him to one. This is attributed to his uncertain legal status, possibly connected to police inquiries about a murder in his native Breda. To the puzzlement of overseas fans, he never allowed Elvis to work abroad.

Col.Tom Parker -1969

A carnival worker by background, Parker moved into music promotion, earning the courtesy rank of ‘Colonel’ from a grateful singer Jimmie Davis, who had become governor of Louisiana. After discovering the teenage Tommy Sands, Parker talent-spotted the unknown Elvis Presley, and skillfully maneuvered himself into position as his sole representative with control over much of his private life. Within months, he had won Presley a recording contract with the prestigious RCA Victor record label, made him a star with his first single Heartbreak Hotel, negotiated lucrative merchandising deals, made plans for TV appearances as well as a new career as an actor in film musicals.

When Elvis was drafted into the Army in 1958, Parker was shrewd enough to see that military service would boost his image, and made no attempt to stop his posting to Germany. He also judged correctly that public demand would be whetted by his two-year absence, and he stage-managed a triumphal homecoming rail-tour to Memphis.

But the 1960s would impact hard on Elvis's public and private life. The youth market was suddenly being taken over by The Beatles. The films were starting to look more like low-budget production-line work, however profitable. Also his bachelor live-in arrangement with the teenage Priscilla Beaulieu, against her father's wishes, threatened a possible image crisis, and Parker urged marriage. By the end of the decade, Elvis had gone back on tour, but years of binge-eating and unofficially prescribed drugs had ruined his health, and Parker saw very little of Presley before his death in 1977.

Parker continued to manage the Presley estate, but he had unwisely sold the rights to Elvis's early recordings, which would have ensured a steady income. Meanwhile, his gambling problem increasingly eroded the huge fortune he had built up by claiming between 25% and 50% of Elvis's earnings, and he died worth only $1 million.

Alex Drier

➦In 1916...Alexander M. Dreier born in Honolulu (Died at age 83 – March 11, 2000). He was a news reporter and commentator who worked with NBC Radio during the 1940s, and later with the ABC Information Radio network in the 1960s and early 1970s. As Chicago’s ‘man on the go’ he anchored first at WNBQ and then WBKB-TV’s top rated news in the late 50’s and 60. He later moved to California where he pursued a TV acting career and was a newscaster for KTTV.

➦In 1933…The Kraft Music Hsall Program debuted as a musical-variety program featuring orchestra leader Paul Whiteman and served to supplement print advertising and in-store displays promoting Kraft products.

During its first year the show went through a series of name changes, including Kraft Musical Revue, until it finally settled on Kraft Music Hall in 1934. Whiteman remained the host until December 6, 1935. Ford Bond was the announcer.