George Tickner, the co-founder and original guitarist for Journey, has died at the age of 76.
News of Tickner’s death was confirmed by co-founding member Neal Schon on social media. No cause of death has been given at this time, reports The NY Post.
“Journey Junkies, I have some very sad news. George Tickner, Journey’s original rhythm guitarist and songwriting contributor on their first three albums, has passed away. He was 76 years old,” Schon, 69, wrote on Facebook Thursday.
“Godspeed, George… thank you for the music. We will be paying tribute to you on this page indefinitely.”
He continued, “Our condolences to his family and friends, and to all past and present band members. So heartbreaking. I think we need to do a group hug, JJ’s.”
The Grammy-nominated rock band has sold over 100 million albums — and the stadium anthem “Don’t Stop Believin’” has surpassed 1 billion Spotify streams.
Twenty-five of Journey’s songs — including “Open Arms,” “Who’s Crying Now” and “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” — charted on the Billboard Hot 100.
“Journey’s Greatest Hits” is one of three albums ever to spend 600 weeks on the Billboard 200 — joining Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon” and Bob Marley and the Wailers’ “Legend.”
Tickner, Santana’s Schon, and bassist Ross Valory joined forces in San Francisco to form the band together back in 1973.
Concerns intensified that a Russian-occupied nuclear reactor in southern Ukraine could be the target of fresh attacks as Kyiv and Moscow traded barbs over the potential of a radiological incident. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reinforced a warning overnight that Russia may be planning to sabotage the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which Moscow’s forces have occupied since the start of the war. The Kremlin responded Wednesday that the government in Kyiv is planning a provocation.
“We have information from our intelligence that Russian troops have placed objects resembling explosives on the roof of several power units” at Zaporizhzhia, Zelenskiy said in his nightly address to the nation. The objects may also be used to “simulate” an attack, he said. Inspectors from the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency have reported that they’ve seen no evidence of anti-personnel mines installed within the plant’s grounds that could endanger reactor safety. IAEA monitors at the facility continue to monitor the situation, a spokesperson said. The nuclear plant, the largest in Europe, has been the target of artillery, drone and rocket attacks on and off for more than a year, with Ukrainian and Russian official blaming each other for the strikes.
SNOW IN TWH: The Secret Service is carrying out fingerprint and DNA analysis of a bag of cocaine found at the White House to track down its owner. It comes after the Biden family showed a united front on the Truman balcony for Independence Day inviting recovering drug addict Hunter Biden and the rest of the clan to enjoy a dazzling fireworks display. The dime-sized bag was discovered on Sunday in a cubby hole in the lobby area of the West Wing, where visitors leave their cell phones and other electronics before entering the White House complex.
President Joe Biden laughed and again ignored questions about the cocaine found at the White House - as the administration tried to distance the first family and staff from the shocking discovery by suggesting it was a visitor. Biden sat and watched reporters as they tried and failed to get his response to the drug scandal while he was in the Oval Office with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Wednesday. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre implied in her daily briefing that a member of the public left the Schedule A substance in a 'heavily-traveled area' of the West Wing - the office space that includes the Oval Office and an area for staff.
'LOVE CHILD'? WHAT LOVE CHILD??: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre once again declined to answer questions about President Biden’s estranged granddaughter following a weekend report claiming that aides are told not to acknowledge Hunter’s child with a former stripper. Jean Pierre was asked about the NYTimes’ bombshell report Saturday on 4-year-old Navy Joan Roberts, whom Hunter Biden shares with Arkansas baby mama Lunden Alexis Roberts, at Wednesday’s press briefing. “There was a story in the New York Times over the weekend about Hunter Biden’s daughter in Arkansas. Does the president acknowledge this little girl as his granddaughter?” a reporter asked. “I don’t have anything to share from here,” Jean-Pierre bluntly responded.
A cyberattack left several California radio stations unable to broadcast last week, the owner of the stations revealed this week, according to The Desk.net.
The attack struck the Amaturo Sonoma Media Group, which operates four Santa Rosa-area radio stations, including KFGY (92.9 FM, Froggy), KVRV (97.7 FM, The River), KHTH (101.7 FM) and KSRO (1350 AM).
A person or group gained unauthorized access to several computer networks used by the station, including one that contained the programming database that the stations rely on to transmit music and talk shows. The incident left the four stations unable to broadcast for part of the day on Thursday.
The hackers also threatened Townsquare Media, if a ransom was not paid.
The Sonoma attack was confirmed in a pre-recorded message broadcast on some of the affected stations later in the week. The announcement was made by Michael O’Shea, the president and general manager of Amateura Sonoma.
“This station, and others in our radio group, has become the latest victim of a damaging, malicious, and intentional illegal server hack,” O’Shea said in the recording. “That is why you are hearing programming interruptions and awkward stumbles from time to time.”
A hacker collective known as ALPHV has taken credit for gaining unauthorized access to a significant amount of data belonging to the company in late June.
In a statement posted online, station officials said they are still working to determine the cause of the attack and respond to it, with some systems still affected. Online simulcasts of the four radio stations are still offline
“We are doing our best to keep you informed and entertained,” the statement said. “Our engineers continue to work to get us back to normal as soon as possible, but more work remains to be done. We apologize for the disruption of our programming, and thank you for your patience as we work to recover from this incident.”
GQ Editor Will Welch, Who Pulled Zaslav Article, Works for Warner Bros.
In an unusual step, GQ magazine removed an article critical of powerful media executive David Zaslav from its website just hours after it was published Monday, following a complaint from Zaslav’s camp.
The Washington Post reports the story, by freelance film critic Jason Bailey, excoriated the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery for his handling of the company’s entertainment properties — specifically perceived crimes against film, such as the layoffs at the Turner Classic Movies channel that outraged prominent directors and other superfans and his decision to not release finished movies such as “Batgirl” for tax purposes. At one point, Bailey compared Zaslav to tyrannical “Succession” patriarch Logan Roy.
“In a relatively short period of time, David Zaslav has become perhaps the most hated man in Hollywood,” Bailey wrote.
David Zaslav
A Zaslav spokesman complained to GQ about the story soon after it was published, according to people close to the process who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preserve confidences. By early afternoon on Monday, the magazine had made extensive edits to the story.
Archived versions of the original and edited versions of the article show significant changes that had the effect of softening its tone. A line calling Zaslav “the most hated man in Hollywood” was deleted. The “Succession” comparison was removed, as was a segment where Bailey called the reality shows that Zaslav oversaw while running Discovery “reality slop.”
The final paragraphs of the original article compared Zaslav to the pitiless businessman played by Richard Gere in “Pretty Woman,” with Bailey writing that the executive is “only good at breaking things.”
The ending of the edited article was much kinder to Zaslav, removing the “Pretty Woman” reference and simply noting that film aficionados’ complaints have “gotten personal.”
Bailey told The Washington Post that, after GQ made the changes, he asked editors to remove his byline. He said an editor told him that GQ would not keep an article on its website without the author’s name. By Monday afternoon, the article was removed entirely from the site.
GQ editor-in-chief Will Welch is producing a movie at Warner Bros. titled “The Great Chinese Art Heist,” which is based on a 2018 GQ article by Alex W. Palmer. Jon M. Chu (“Crazy Rich Asians”) is attached to direct and produce the film, which chronicles an audacious European museum crime wave that targeted Chinese antiquities.
The Broadcasters Foundation of America is launching a series of networking Media Mixers, with the first one scheduled for Thursday, July 20, 5:30pm to 7:30pm at the New York City studios of iHeart Media. The event will be hosted by nationally syndicated radio air personality Angela Yee, who will be joined by other radio and TV on-air talent. The purpose of the Media Mixers is twofold: to give up-and-coming professionals in broadcasting an opportunity to mix and mingle not only with their peers, but with talent, managers, and executives; and to increase their awareness of the Broadcasters Foundation charitable mission.
“We’re very excited about this new initiative,” said Tim McCarthy, President of the Broadcasters Foundation. “It’s imperative that we reach the next generation of broadcast industry leaders with our message of help and hope, while giving them an opportunity to network with higher level professionals who they may not otherwise have an opportunity to meet.”
The July Media Mixer is presented in part by industry sponsors Hearst, iHeart Radio, Katz Media, and the NY State Broadcasters Association. The two-hour event is free, but space is limited, and advance registration is required. Registration is available on the Broadcasters Foundation website at www.broadcastersfoundation.org.
Over its more than 70 years of existence, the Broadcasters Foundation has distributed millions of dollars in aid to broadcasters who have lost their livelihood through a catastrophic event, debilitating disease, or unforeseen tragedy. Personal donations can be made to the Foundation’s Guardian Fund. Corporate contributions are accepted through the Angel Initiative, and bequests can be made through the Foundation’s Legacy Society. For more information, please visit www.broadcastersfoundation.org, call 212-373-8250, or email info@thebfoa.org.
➦In 1921...in an experiment, Western Union transmitted by radio its first halftone photograph. AT&T followed in 1924, and RCA sent a Radiophoto in 1926. The Associated Press began its Wirephoto service in 1935 and held a trademark on the term AP Wirephoto between 1963 and 2004. The first AP photo sent by wire depicted the crash of a small plane in New York's Adirondack Mountains.
Technologically and commercially, the wirephoto was the successor to Ernest A. Hummel's Telediagraph of 1895, which had transmitted electrically scanned shellac-on-foil originals over a dedicated circuit connecting the New York Herald and the Chicago Times Herald, the St. Louis Republic, the Boston Herald, and the Philadelphia Inquirer.
➦In 1925...rock `n’ roll pioneer Bill Haley (William John Clifton Haley Jr.) was born in Highland Park, near Detroit (Died of a brain tumor at age 55 – February 9, 1981).
Bill Haley
He is credited by many with first popularizing this form of music in the early 1950s with his group Bill Haley & His Comets and million-selling hits such as "Rock Around the Clock", "See You Later, Alligator", "Shake, Rattle and Roll", "Rocket 88", "Skinny Minnie", and "Razzle Dazzle". He has sold over 60 million records worldwide and has been described as the greatest musical pioneer of the 20th century.
In 1929, the four-year-old Haley underwent an inner-ear mastoid operation which accidentally severed an optic nerve, leaving him blind in his left eye for the rest of his life. It is said that he adopted his trademark kiss curl over his right eye to draw attention from his left, but it also became his "gimmick", and added to his popularity. As a result of the effects of the Great Depression on the Detroit area, his father moved the family to Bethel, Pennsylvania.
One of his first appearances was in 1938 for a Bethel Junior baseball team entertainment event, performing guitar and songs when he was 13 years old.
The anonymous sleeve notes accompanying the 1956 Decca album Rock Around The Clock describe Haley's early life and career: "For six years Bill Haley was a musical director of Radio Station WPWA in Chester, PA, and led his own band all through this period. It was then known as Bill Haley's Saddlemen, indicating their definite leaning toward the tough Western style. They continued playing in clubs as well as over the radio around Philadelphia, and in 1951 made their first recordings on Ed Wilson's Keystone Records in Philadelphia." The group subsequently signed with Dave Miller's Holiday Records and, on June 14, 1951 the Saddlemen recorded a cover of "Rocket 88".
During the Labor Day weekend in 1952, the Saddlemen were renamed Bill Haley with Haley's Comets (inspired by the supposedly official pronunciation of Halley's Comet, a name suggested by WPWA radio station program director, Bob Johnson, where Bill Haley had a live radio program from noon to 1 p.m.), and in 1953, Haley's recording of "Crazy Man, Crazy" (co-written by him and his bass player, Marshall Lytle, although Lytle would not receive credit until 2001) became the first rock and roll song to hit the American charts, peaking at number 15 on Billboard and number 11 on Cash Box. Soon after, the band's name was revised to "Bill Haley & His Comets".
In 1954, Haley recorded "Rock Around the Clock". Initially, it was relatively successful, peaking at number 23 on the Billboard pop singles chart and staying on the charts for a few weeks. On re-release, the record reached #1 on July 9, 1955.
➦In 1925...Merv Griffin born (Died at age 82 of prostate cancer – August 12, 2007). He was a TV host and media mogul.
He began his career as a radio and big band singer who went on to appear in film and on Broadway. From 1965 to 1986, Griffin hosted his own talk show, The Merv Griffin Show. He also created the internationally popular game shows Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune through his television production companies, Merv Griffin Enterprises and Merv Griffin Entertainment.
Gemini XIII announces the acquisition of United Stations Radio Networks (USRN). USRN has served advertisers, broadcasters and content creators for over three decades.
The acquisition strengthens Gemini XIII’s position in the audio landscape, expands its sales offerings, and solidifies its commitment to delivering top-notch content and premium services to audiences worldwide.
This marks the return to network radio for Spencer Brown, CEO of Gemini XIII, and Charles Steinhauer, COO of Gemini XIII, who built Dial Global, currently part of Westwood One. Brown also co-founded leading podcast network Cadence13, which sold to Audacy Inc. In 2019.
“We’re excited to welcome USRN into the Gemini XIII ecosystem. We will be able to build on current successes and existing sales infrastructure to immediately grow and make Gemini a destination for producers, advertisers and sponsors looking to deliver to unique audiences.
The integration of Gemini XIII’s digital expertise and podcasting prowess will result in a robust content ecosystem that provides an immersive and diverse range of audio experiences for listeners across platforms,” said Steinhauer.
United Stations Chairman and CEO Nick Verbitsky commented, “Spencer Brown, CEO of Gemini XIII, and Charles Steinhauer, COO of Gemini XIII, have a track record of success in network radio having built Dial Global from the ground up. I am pleased that they will have the opportunity to continue to build United Stations, a company I started along with Dick Clark over thirty years ago and has been a leader in network radio.”
Audacy is proud to announce “Soundcheck,” one of the longest-running new music specialty shows in alternative rock radio history, will return to the Bay Area airwaves on the newly relaunched Live 105 (KITS-FM). Original show host and creator Aaron Axelsen will host the show every Sunday from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. PT beginning July 9.
From 1999 through 2020, “Soundcheck” was the go-to resource for new music discovery, bringing the Bay Area its weekly new music fix, including buzzworthy new bands, UK imports, indie rock, next big thing caliber artists, unsigned and independent artists and, of course, a healthy dose of local, homegrown music.
“Over the years, ‘Soundcheck’ has been instrumental in launching the careers of numerous notable artists who have achieved international acclaim. Bands like The Killers, Gorillaz, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Coldplay all received their North American commercial radio debuts on ‘Soundcheck,’” said Stacey Kauffman, Regional Vice President and Market Manager, Audacy San Francisco and Sacramento. “With Aaron Axelsen back at the helm, Sunday nights will once again become a beacon for music enthusiasts, a place to discover the sounds that will shape the future.”
“I’m thrilled for the opportunity to bring back ‘Soundcheck’ and to once again provide an important audio platform and voice for the incredible Bay Area music scene,” said Axelsen. “I’m excited to work with John Allers, Stacey Kauffman, Michael Martin, Jayn, Kevin Weatherly, Miles Anzaldo and the entire Audacy alternative team, and to resume championing new music and emerging artists to a large and passionate Northern California audience.”
A rumored sale of CNN to its onetime CEO could see the network come under foreign influence as one industry insider has warned much of the money could come from the United Arab Emirates, reports The Daily Mail.
Ivan Schlager of Kirkland & Ellis - an expert on foreign influence regulation - made the assertion on Monday, as the network could face being sold by boss David Zaslav and ousted Jeff Zucker emerging as a frontrunner to snap it up.
What could they be plotting? @donlemon enjoys dinner with ex-CNN CEO Jeff Zucker and Allison Gollust on the Amalfi coast amid rumors they could be putting together a bid for embattled networkhttps://t.co/xlp2ofIfhR
Just over a year ago, Zucker, who has close business ties Abu Dhabi-based International Media Investments, was forced to resign 15 years into his CNN tenure after the company found he was having a relationship with a fellow staffer.
After the surprise nixing of his replacement, former Late Show boss Chris Licht, the 58-year-old is allegedly ready to take the helm again - by shelling out what could be billions for the struggling news station.
But according to Schlager, such a transaction could prove troublesome, given much of Zucker's money could actually be quiet investments from the Middle Eastern country.
The news director of a Michigan TV station and three members of staff have been fired over an 'anti-gay' memo which encouraged reporters to get 'both sides' of LGBTQ issues.
The Daily Mail reports News Director Stanton Tang was let go from his role at WOOD-TV on Thursday during a one-to-one meeting with the general manager Julie Brinks after a two week investigation.
The Desk first reported that Tang had been investigated by executives at Nexstar Media Group, the station's parent company, over whether a memo violated corporate policy.
GM Julie Brinks
Tang had his assistant news director Amy Fox write and distribute a memo urging reports and producers to ease up on their coverage of LGBT events in Michigan.
As a result of the memo, Tang and Fox were let go from the company, while two producers, Luke Stier and Madeline Odle, who were accused of leaking the memo in the first place were also let go.
The original memo stated: 'We know that West Michigan is a Conservative area in many ways. We need to recognize that some stories related to LGBTQ issues are going to be controversial and polarizing in our community. While you personally may not agree with a certain position, people are entitled to their opinions, and they are our viewers. We should not cover every Pride event that we learn about. We need to do some work to discern the newsworthy-ness of the event. If we are covering Pride events, we need to consider how to make the story balanced and get both sides of the issue.'
Stier and Odle had publicly criticized the message on social media, saying it didn't represent the beliefs of the entire newsroom.
Beasley Media Group and Key Networks announce that Shawn Parr, host of Shawn Parr’s Backstage Country, welcomes an all-star lineup of guest hosts to the new nationally syndicated Country music show in the month of July.
Shawn Parr’s guest hosts in July include these Country superstars:
Week of July 3rd – Best of Shows, including guest hosts Lainey Wilson, Dan + Shay, Ashley McBryde, Luke Combs, and Jason Aldean.
Week of July 10th – Chris Janson
Week of July 17th – Dustin Lynch
Week of July 24th – Chase Rice
Week of July 31st – Justin Moore
Shawn Parr said: “In my 36 years in Radio, I'm having more fun NOW than I've ever had with these incredible Country artists. This show is a BLAST and July just keeps the Country hits coming!!”
Dennis Green, Chief Operating Officer, Key Networks, commented: “There is no other show in syndication providing the top artists not just being interviewed, but co-hosting the radio show every week. Shawn Parr’s Backstage Country is unique, topical and most of all, it’s fun and just sounds great! I really hope Country programmers will consider this show and add it to their schedule!”
Shawn Parr’s Backstage Country, is heard on over 80 U.S. radio stations and in 27 of the top 50 DMA markets. Shawn Parr’s Backstage Country affiliates include Beasley Media Group stations WKLB-FM, Boston, MA; WXTU-FM in Philadelphia, PA; WQYK-FM in Tampa, FL; KCYE-FM, Las Vegas, NV; WSOC-FM, Charlotte, NC; WKXC-FM, Augusta, GA; and WKML-FM, Fayetteville, NC.
