Thursday, August 7, 2014

Jim Jones Named Sr.Dir. For WWOne News Affiliates Sales

Jim Jones
Industry veteran Jim Jones has been named Senior Director, News Affiliate Sales. In his new position, Jones will be overseeing affiliate sales for Westwood One’s News vertical.

He will be based in Washington, DC, and will report to Dennis Green, Senior Vice President, Affiliate Sales for Westwood One.

This is a homecoming for Jones, as he was formerly Vice President of Affiliate Sales, News/Talk for Westwood One in Washington, DC, for 15 years. He was most recently with Focus 360.

Dennis Green, Senior Vice President, Affiliate Sales for Westwood One said: “Jim has an extensive knowledge of the news product and has been involved in the affiliation of major news networks with a high level of success.  Our affiliates will have the benefit of Jim and his team’s knowledge of integrating our new white label news product into the stations lineup as we find new audiences to bring news and information from around the world.”

Jones said: “I am excited to rejoin Westwood One, helping radio stations deliver meaningful news and information to listeners across the country. After more than 20 years producing and selling news/talk content, I am glad to represent the best news brands and content in the business. I look forward to continuing the highest level of service and delivery with Westwood One’s new white label news product, launching this fall.”

Arbitron's Sean Creamer Lands At MSG Company

Sean Creamer
The Madison Square Garden Company has announced that Sean Creamer, a well-regarded executive with nearly three decades of financial experience, has been named executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective September 1, 2014.

Mr. Creamer joins the Company from Arbitron Inc., where he most recently served as president and chief executive officer. He will report to MSG president and CEO, Tad Smith.

As a member of the company's executive management team, Mr. Creamer will help lead the overall advancement of the company.  He will provide strategic financial insight regarding all facets of the business, helping prioritize opportunities and drive value creation. In addition, he will partner with the company's leadership in the strategic planning process.

On a day-to-day basis, Mr. Creamer will be responsible for all of MSG's financial and accounting matters, including forecasting, budgeting, and financial planning and analysis, as well as the company's treasury, investor relations, tax and risk management functions.

"We are extremely pleased to welcome Sean, who brings considerable financial and operating experience, along with a proven track record of creating value for shareholders at publicly traded companies," said Mr. Smith. "We look forward to his leadership as we continue to pursue excellence across our operations and strategic growth opportunities ahead."

"I have long admired the legendary and iconic brands and assets of The Madison Square Garden Company and am thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of its management team," said Mr. Creamer. "I look forward to working with Tad's and MSG's outstanding team to drive sustainable growth and value enhancement from the company's unparalleled portfolio of assets and support the continued development and execution of its strategic plan for the future."

Sac News Anchor Quits Over Shoplighting Charges

Sabrina Rodriguez
A popular Sacramento news anchor has resigned from her post at FOX40 over allegations that she conspired to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars in luxury goods with her fiancé, who was recently arrested for manufacturing drugs, according to media reports and her Twitter account.

Sabrina Rodriguez, 31, had been at FOX40 since 2011 after stints in Bakersfield, Oregon and on the East Coast. The Bay Area native racked up prestigious honors, including multiple Emmy Awards and an award for investigative journalism from the Associated Press in 2008, according to the Sacramento Bee.

Rodriguez, though, was arrested last week on charges of orchestrating an extensive shoplifting plot with her fiancé Nicholas Gray, the Sacramento News and Review reported.

Court records and police reports obtained by Sacramento media outlets detail an alleged plan by the couple to shoplift high-end luxury items to sell on the black market.


According to data obtained from a cell phone seized from Gray, the couple allegedly drove from Vacaville to San Francisco in January 2013 to fence a number of stolen sneakers and wallets. Police said the phone contained a picture of Rodriguez holding up a pair of Nike AirMaxs that still had the security tag attached.

The next month, Gray allegedly texted Rodriguez, telling her he had shoplifted about $3,000 worth of cashmere sweaters.

“I got rent,” the purported text said.

FCC Receives Just 4 Miley Cyrus Complaints

Although TMZ has reported that the FCC received a "slew" of complaints about the poorly-rated concert special Miley Cyrus: Bangerz Tour, which aired on NBC over the July 4th weekend, the agency tells Rolling Stone it has received only four. Currently, the FCC is determining whether the program indeed violated any of its indecency and profanity rules.

Cyrus filmed the show, which was toned down from her usual exploits on the road, earlier this year at her Bangerz stops in Barcelona and Lisbon, incorporating behind-the-scenes footage that showed her doing far-from-shocking things like hanging out with her sister backstage and singing a Dolly Parton song.

Clips from the show reveal that, while onstage, Cyrus wore a skin-tight unitard with a hoodie – as opposed to the nudity of her "Wrecking Ball" video – and, at one point, dressed one of her backup dancers like a blunt and others like cigarette lighters. For "Get it Right" the singer snuggled up to several men and women in a giant bed. During one song, Cyrus also danced suggestively with somebody who was dressed like Abraham Lincoln, which prompted one complaint.

Although the Freedom of Information Act revealed the contents of three of the four FCC complaints, it presented an interesting look at what upset a handful of people about Bangerz, from one person feeling uncomfortable with the suggested homosexuality of the bed scene to another saying "F-no" to what he or she felt was an XXX performance all around. Read the grievances in full. (The FCC did not make the fourth complaint publicly available.)

Detroit Radio: Sports 105.1 Covers Lions From Above

Jimmy Kemp photo
WMGC 105.1 FM Detroit Sports 105-1 had hoped to broadcast shows live from Detroit Lions Training Camp.  Citing their rights agreement with the Lions, the “other sports station in town” blocked the move, forcing Detroit Sports 105.1 to think outside the box.

They approached Tech Shop Detroit, whose facility borders the Lions practice field, and obtained permission to broadcast from the Tech Shop parking lot.

The station then rented a 50-foot scissors lift from NES Rentals.  Wednesdat, from 10 a.m. – 12 noon, Ryan and  Rico broadcast live for the first time from the scissor lift.

They’ll bring Lions fans info on the Lions practice as it happens, from 50 feet above the field.

August 7 In Radio History


In 1886...Louis Hazeltine, who  invented the neutrodyne circuit, was born.


In 1942...NPR host, Garrison Keillor, was born. ("A Prarie Home Companion").


In 1969...Charlie Greer did his last show on WABC 770 AM New York.

Charlie Greer (1923-1996) did middays and overnight. Given WABC's 50,000 clear channel signal, Greer became a popular all-night disc jockey heard on more than 38 states punching his way through famous tongue twister commercials for an all night clothing store called Dennison's in Union, New Jersey.


Greer also spent time with New York City's WCBS-FM in 1973, then and became part of WCBS-FM's Rock and Roll Radio Greats Weekend in the eighties and nineties.

From WAKR in Akron Ohio, Charlie started at WABC on December 7, 1960. He moved back and forth between overnights and middays a couple of times. He was one of the original Swingin’ Seven from Seventy Seven.

He moved to Philadelphia's WIP in 1969 and then back to the New York area to WRKL in New City for a short while, and later worked at WHAM in Rochester, before returning to Akron.


In 1971... 93/KHJ - Los Angeles early evening Disk Jockey - “Humble’ Harve Miller pled guilty to second degree murder of his adulterous wife Mary. In a short statement, he said he accidentally shot his wife and still loved her. Miller was the subject of a 13-day nationwide search after the murder in May.

"Humble" Harve Miller began his career in 1958 at radio station WAAT in Trenton, New Jersey. Soon after, he moved to WIBG in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he worked from 1958 to 1962. Miller subsequently moved to Los Angeles, California, and became part of the enormous hit station KHJ as part of the "Boss Radio" DJ teams working under Bill Drake and other executives.

Humble Harve was the top-rated nighttime disc jockey throughout a five year period, and also did commercials, voice-over work, and narrated the 1967 counterculture documentary film Mondo Mod. He also narrated the late-1969 syndicated version of KHJ's The History of Rock and Roll 48-hour special, which aired throughout the early 1970s.

In 1971, Miller's career took a dramatic turn when he was found guilty of murdering his adulterous wife Mary and wound up serving a ten-year prison sentence for manslaughter. In 1980, Harve was released from prison and soon found work at LA station KKDJ.

Among the Los Angeles radio stations Humble Harve has worked for throughout the years are KIQQ, KIIS, KUTE, KRLA, KRTH, KCBS-FM, and KZLA. In addition, Miller also worked for WIBG in Philadelphia in 1985 and KVI in Seattle, Washington from 1986-1989, and also narrated a variety of syndicated radio specials during the 1980s and 1990s.

In 1995 Miller was inducted into the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame.




In 1974...Cousin Brucie (Bruce Morrow) did his last show on WABC 770 AM/New York and moved over to WNBC 660 AM.


In 1981...FCC established General Radiotelephone Operator License, ceased issuing First and Second Class Operator licenses.


In 2000...NYC's WADO 1280 AM increased power to 50 Kw Day / 7.2 Kw Night

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Buffalo Radio: Bans Bon Jovi Songs


The region’s top three radio groups – Entercom, Cumulus and Townsquare Media – that own 10 FM music stations have stopped playing Bon Jovi songs here in a protest of the belief that the Toronto group Jo Bon Jovi has aligned with may buy the Buffalo Bills and eventually move them north, according to The Buffalo News.

Bon Jovi
The reason for Buffalo radio’s way of making a statement less crass, but certainly equally as effective as Andre Reed’s R-rated comment directed at Bon Jovi last week, is simple, explained Entercom General Manager Greg Ried.

He said Entercom’s WTSS 102.5 FM Star stopped playing Bon Jovi’s tunes weeks ago after getting complaints.

“There is a saying in radio: ‘You only get hurt from what you air and not from what you don’t air,’ ” explained Ried. “The listeners don’t want to hear it, and we listen to them.”

Local radio certainly wasn’t about to change its tune after reading the letter carried in Sunday’s Buffalo News that Bon Jovi wrote to Bills fans in a public relations move that appears to have backfired.

John Hager, the program director of two Cumulus stations, WGRF 96.9 FM 97 Rock and Sports Radio WHDL 1270 AM The Fan, said the group’s local FM stations have stopped playing Bon Jovi as well. Besides 97 Rock, Cumulus owns WEDG 103.3 FM The Edge and Classic Hits WHTT 104.1 FM.

Rich Chiaino, general manager of the local Townsquare Media stations, which includes WBUF 92.9 FM JackFM said a former brand manager suggested WBUF, 92.9, which is called Jack FM, start a Ban Bon Jovi Summer. The station declared itself a Bon Jovi-Free Zone in early June.

Read More Now

A-E-B Radio: Cumulus Promotes Elizabeth Pembleton To VP

Elizabeth Pembleton
Cumulus has  announced that it has promoted 30-year radio veteran Elizabeth Pembleton to Vice President/Market Manager of Cumulus Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton.

Pembleton has been Director of Sales for WCTO 96.1 FM and WLEV 100.7 FM in Allentown since 2011. Prior to that, she was Director of Sales/General Sales Manager for Citadel Broadcasting in Bethlehem, PA. She was also Senior Account Executive for Clear Channel Radio’s four Allentown stations for 10 years.

Gary Pizzati, Senior Vice President for Cumulus said: “This was a natural move elevating Liz to the VP/Market Manager level within Cumulus. The performance in the market speaks for itself. Liz has done amazing work assembling an award-winning team of broadcast professionals within Cumulus of Allentown. We look forward to many years working with Liz in her new role.”

Ron Giovanniello, Regional Vice President for Cumulus said: “I have had the pleasure of working side by side with Liz for the past two and a half years. Liz is a hard-working and very deserving person to join the Cumulus VP/Market Manager ranks. This is a great opportunity for us to recognize and promote one of our best.”

WCTO 96.1 FM (50Kw) 54dBu Coverage
Pembleton said: “I'm both honored and excited to continue in this new role with Cumulus Media, and specifically my Allentown team. I literally have lived and breathed these formats for more than a decade. Thirty years after selling my first radio spot, I still love the medium and am passionate about the expanding digital platforms that provide free access to our audiences…anywhere! Most of all, I am incredibly fortunate to have the best team in radio, mentors in Gary Pizzati, SVP and Ron Giovanniello, RVP as well as the support from an exceptional senior leadership team at Cumulus.”

Cumulus Media Reports Revenue Increased 21.4 Percent

Cumulus Media Inc. today announced operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014.

Cumulus said second-quarter net income declined to $15.14 million from last year's $27.10 million. Income per share was $0.06, compared to $0.11 in the prior year.

Income from continuing operations per share advanced to $0.06 from $0.05.

Net revenue was driven by the acquisition of Westwood One and climbed to $328.25 million from $270.31 million in the prior year. Analysts expected revenues of $330.55 million.

Operating highlights are as follows (in thousands, except percentages):

DC Radio: Makes It Seven Wins-In-A Row For WTOP

Hubbard's News WTOP 103.5 FM captured another #1 book during July, despite wobbling a bit 8.2—8.0 (6+ AQH). At #2 is American University's non-com N/T WAMU 88.5 FM. WAMU moved upward 6.2—6.4.

CCM+E Top 40 WIHT 995. FM Hot enjoyed an uptick 6+ 6.2—6.3. But that's not the entire story. WIHT took #1 honors 25-54, 18-34 and 18-49 and is the market's Cume leader.

Howard University's Urban AC WHUR 96.3 FM had an uptick 5.5—5.6 and is in the #4 spot, trading places with CCM+E AC WASH 97.1 FM which dropped to #5 after a 5.8—5.1 slip.

25-54: WIHT...WHUR...WOP...WASH...WWDC

18-34: WIHT...WKYS...WPGC...WMZQ...WWDC

18-49: WIHT...WHUR...WKYS...WASH...WWDC

Cume: WIHT-FM 1,269,100...WASH-FM 1,199,100...WTOP-FM 1,196,200...WBIG-FM 892,000...WPGC-FM 862,200

Philly Radio: Country WXTU Continues Hot Streak

Although WEAZ Radio's AC WBEB 101.1 FM More-FM (7.3—6.5) retained the #1 spot (6+ AQH) during the July PPMs, WXTU seems to be closing-in.  And WBEB dropped out of the Top 5 25-54. 

Beasley's Country station WXTU 92.5 FM wobbled a bit 6+ 6.4—6.3, the station is now #2 making life a bit uncomfortable for WBEB. However, PD Shelly Easton guided WXTU to #2 25-54, and #1 18-34 AND 18-49.

CBS Radio Classic Hits WOGL 98.1 FM dropped a full-share 6.8—5.8 and ended up in #3. CCM+E Urban AC WDAS 105.3 FM enjoyed some upward movement 5.3—5.5 to claim the #4 position. And Greater Media clustermates WMGK and WMMR are tied for #5 . Classic Rock WMGK 102.9 FM dropped 5.9—5.4 and Active Rock WMMR 93.3 FM was up 5.2—5.4.

25-54: WMMR...WXTU...WMGK...WDAS tied WRFF & WBEN

18-34: WXTU...WRFF..WUSL...WMMR...WBEB

18-49: WXTU...WMMR...WRFF...WUSL...WBEB

Cume: WBEB-FM 1,549,200...WOGL-FM 1,125,400...WMGK-FM 1,100,800...WIOQ-FM 1,083,900...WRFF-FM 982,600