Music To Watch the Eclipse By...

The 2024 solar eclipse will shroud much of the United States in darkness on Monday, leaving many people to wonder: Is it safe to drive during the celestial event?

We know Americans should wear certified eclipse glasses when looking directly at the eclipse. And millions of Americans are in the eclipse's path of totality, the moment that occurs when the moon completely blocks the sun's light from reaching us. During totality, the eclipse can be viewed with the naked eye.

The eclipse will begin in Texas at 1:27 p.m. CDT and end in Maine at 3:35 p.m. EDT, but the exact time of the eclipse varies by where you are in its path. If you plan to drive during this time, you may not only have to contend with traffic, but need to take steps to stay safe.

Solar eclipse playlist: 20 songs to rock out to on your cosmic adventure https://t.co/oJ7M4o14FW

— The Associated Press (@AP) April 3, 2024

“Total Eclipse of the Heart” is a powerful ballad by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler.  Song Details: The song was released in 1983 as the debut single from Bonnie Tyler’s fifth studio album, "Faster Than the Speed of Night".Composer and Producer: It was written and produced by the legendary Jim Steinman and recorded in 19821. The official music video for “Total Eclipse of the Heart” features Bonnie Tyler in a dramatic and visually captivating setting.

FOX Nation Debuts ‘Surviving Hamas: A Benjamin Hall Special’

FOX Nation will debut a two-part docuseries hosted by FOX News correspondent Benjamin Hall on April 9, announced Lauren Petterson, president of the platform. Entitled Surviving Hamas: A Benjamin Hall Special, the two hour-long episodes will explore the devastating firsthand experiences of individuals in the Israeli community following the October 7, 2023 attack.

In commenting on the announcement, Petterson said, “As we approach the sixth month anniversary of the October 7th attack on Israel, Ben’s unique perspective provides a powerful series that explores grief, resilience and survival through the lens of those most closely impacted.”

Surviving Hamas: A Benjamin Hall Special drills down on the events that unfolded that day and the impact it had on survivors. Throughout the series, Hall visits some of the hardest hit communities providing an update for viewers as the 200-day milestone nears. 

Herridge, Attkisson To Testify About Press Shield Law

Catherine Herridge

House lawmakers will hear from veteran investigative journalists about the significance of the press shield law, which aims to protect journalists and their sources from government overreach and censorship.

Former CBS News correspondents Catherine Herridge and Sharyl Attkisson are expected to testify Thursday at a hearing hosted by the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government.

The hearing, “Fighting for a Free Press: Protecting Journalists and their Sources,” will examine the federal government’s infringement on the First Amendment’s guarantee of freedom of the press and the federal shield law proposals.

The House passed the Press Act in January, protecting journalists from being forced to reveal sources to government agencies.

Both are also expected to talk about their exits from CBS News..

Herridge, whose files in February were seized by CBS after the network fired her, is ready to reveal the details about her termination before the House Judiciary Committee. One of her top stories involved the Hunter Biden laptop. Upon her firing, her documents and work laptop were seized and locked up at the CBS News bureau in Washington.

Herridge is a defendant in a First Amendment case, where she has appealed U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper’s decision to hold her in contempt for withholding a source’s name for a piece she wrote seven years ago as a correspondent for Fox News.

Attkisson was a CBS News anchor and correspondent from 1993 to 2014. She resigned from the network following tension with management over her investigative reporting into the Obama administration.

Paramount Reportedly Could Acquire Skydance

There are discussions underway regarding a potential deal between Paramount Global and Skydance Media, reports The Wall Street Journal. 

This deal would involve Paramount acquiring Skydance in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $5 billion. Here’s how it breaks down:

1. Paramount Global, the media conglomerate, would acquire the independent studio, Skydance Media.
2. In the first step of the transaction, National Amusements, which controls Paramount, would receive over $2 billion in cash.
3. Separately, Skydance could provide a substantial cash infusion to Paramount, the owner of Paramount Pictures film studio, to strengthen its balance sheet and help pay down debt.

By merging these two companies, the combined entity would gain more flexibility in managing franchises. While Shari Redstone, controlling shareholder of National Amusements, would receive cash, investors with nonvoting shares would receive stock in the combined company. The negotiations are more advanced than the offer from Apollo, and if successful, this deal would end Shari Redstone’s control of the media empire established by her late father, Sumner Redstone

Under the terms being discussed, Redstone’s firm would receive over $2 billion in cash in the first step of the transaction, people familiar with the situation said. Then Paramount Global, owner of broadcaster CBS, cable brands like Nickelodeon and MTV and the Paramount film studio, would acquire Skydance in an all-stock deal valued at around $5 billion.

A deal would require approval from a special committee of Paramount’s board, which has the responsibility of finding the best possible deal for all of the entertainment company’s shareholders. The company has been open to a deal for some time, but the rapid erosion of the cable TV business and difficulty of making money on streaming has complicated the sales pitch.

4/8 WAKE-UP CALL: U-S Interest Is Sky High

Monday marks one of the largest natural wonders of the year – a total eclipse of the sun that will cover much of the United States. The full total solar eclipse experience will plunge a strip of the country into darkness midday on Monday, but people outside the path of totality can still use eclipse glasses to see the moon pass in front of the sun – if it's not blocked by clouds. While the country gazes at the sky, many scientists will be directing their eyes on animals, like flamingos, which are known to show bizarre behavior during totality. Or they'll be looking at plants, noting weather patterns, or listening to the eerie, sudden silence known to accompany an eclipse.

➤ISRAELI WITHDRAWS SOME TROOP FROM GAZA:  The Israeli military said Sunday it has withdrawn most ground troops from the Gaza Strip after completing a withering offensive in the southern city of Khan Younis, leaving just one brigade in the battered enclave six months after the war began. The military has been reducing numbers in Gaza since the start of the year under growing global pressure to ease the impact of the war on civilians. The drawdown also has provided relief for reservists, many of whom have been away from their homes and jobs since Israel's offensive was launched within hours of the Oct. 7, Hamas-led assault on Israel.

Pres. Biden is under increasing pressure as the Israel-Hamas war drags on and the Humanitarian crisis intensifies. @selinawangtv reports as it comes after an announcement of the Israeli withdrawal. https://t.co/sO6kTgMho2 pic.twitter.com/qSUXegxKhF

— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) April 8, 2024

➤ISRAELI-HAMAS WAR REACHES SIX MONTHS:  Six months after a bloody attack that might have brought it the world’s sympathy, Israel is closer to being a global pariah than ever before. Its Saudi peace deal is on hold. The Palestinian question is again roiling its Arab neighbors. It is in open argument with its main ally, the U.S. And its physical living space has been shrunk by dangers on its northern and southern borders. The resulting isolation could be more of a threat to its future than the attack by Hamas. With the war in Gaza now entering its seventh month, Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns is in Egypt to try to break a monthslong impasse in the Israel-Hamas cease-fire talks, which are expected to resume in Cairo.

NY Post 4/8/24

Six months from Hamas' attack, the deadliest single assault against Jews since the Holocaust, there isn’t much celebrating going on in Israel. On Oct. 7, about 1,200 people were killed and 240 more were dragged to the Gaza Strip as hostages. More than 100 have been released and about 100 are believed to be still alive in captivity. And while global outrage grows about the catastrophic destruction in Gaza from Israel's military campaign to destroy Hamas, and the more than 30,000 Palestinians killed, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, Israelis remain traumatized, worrying that the world has forgotten about the hostages.

➤BIDEN MAY NOT BE ON OHIO BALLOT: The Ohio Secretary of State is warning that President Joe Biden won't make it on the general election ballot in Ohio unless a state law is changed or the Democratic National Convention meets earlier. The Secretary of State's office sent a letter April 5 to Ohio Democratic Party Chairwoman Liz Walters that alerted her to the issue. The Democratic National Convention meets August 19 to nominate its candidate for president but Ohio law sets a deadline of August 7 to certify presidential candidates for the November ballot.

Jelly Roll Dominates CMT Music Awards

The 2024 CMT Music Awards took place recently, celebrating outstanding achievements in country music. Hosted by Kelsea Ballerini, the event featured a star-studded lineup and recognized several talented artists.

Let’s dive into the winners:

• Video of the Year: Ashley McBryde for “Light On In The Kitchen”
• Collaborative Video of the Year: Carly Pearce featuring Chris Stapleton with “We Don’t Fight Anymore”
• Male Video of the Year: Jelly Roll for “Need a Favor”
• CMT Performance of the Year: Jelly Roll

You voted... and @JellyRoll615 IS OUR 2024 #CMTAWARDS WINNER OF VIDEO OF THE YEAR! 🎥 pic.twitter.com/uCHcemhQZW

— CMT (@CMT) April 8, 2024

Jelly Roll emerged as a big winner, taking home three trophies, including Video of the Year and Male Video of the Year for “Need a Favor”.

Thankful for @trishayearwood's beautiful #CMTAwards performance of "Put It In A Song" 🎵 pic.twitter.com/WZzmgbr87U

— CMT (@CMT) April 8, 2024

Trisha Yearwood was awarded CMT's new June Carter Cash Humanitarian Award, making history as the first artist to be honored by CMT for her devotion to giving back. Some of Yearwood's philanthropic endeavors include working with Habitat for Humanity efforts like the Carter Work Project and National Women Build Week.

Sammy Hagar took the stage wearing a Toby Keith t-shirt. Keith was a dear friend of Hagar's—the two spent a lot of time in Cabo San Lucas singing and partying at Hagar's bar. "It’s hard to get thrown out of your own bar and we managed to do that," he told the crowd. Hagar performed a hearty cover of Keith's song "I Love This Bar," one he used to sing with Keith in Cabo. Lainey Wilson finished out the tribute with song "How Do You Like Me Now?," which had the audience singing along again.

.@brooksanddunn paid tribute to Toby Keith on the #CMTAwards stage with a performance of "Should've Been a Cowboy" 🤍 pic.twitter.com/r5y9PMUmnH

— CMT (@CMT) April 8, 2024

🎵CMT MUSIC AWARDS WINNERS LIST:  HERE

CMT Music Awards winners are determined entirely by fan vote, and voting for the video of the year award remained open throughout Sunday night's show. There were originally 16 nominees announced for video of the year, but on April 1 the field was whittled down to six, based on voting. The final three nominees — Johnson, Jelly Roll and Ballerini — were announced on the day of the show.

The show was once again held in Austin, Texas, at the Moody Center. It was broadcast on CBS television stations and streamed live on Paramount+.

TV Ratings: Women's Final Four Most-Watched Ever

Women’s college basketball keeps on setting new television ratings records during the 2024 NCAA Tournament — and this time, it was ESPN’s most-viewed basketball broadcast ever.

Less than one week after Iowa’s Elite Eight matchup with LSU set the previous record for most-watched women’s NCAA basketball game with 12.3 million viewers, the Hawkeyes’ Final Four thriller against UConn garnered 14.2 million viewers, according to ESPN.

The Final Four matchup also peaked at 17 million viewers, The NY Post reports.

The network also said there was an average of 7.1 million viewers who tuned in to watch undefeated South Carolina beat North Carolina State in its Final Four matchup on Friday.

Both of Iowa’s last two games have shattered the previous NCAA women’s basketball ratings record (9.9 million viewers) that was set last year when the Hawkeyes fell to LSU in the national title game.

Those who tuned into Friday’s Iowa-UConn Final Four saw quite the game, with the Huskies containing Clark in the first half before she and Iowa rallied to take a late lead — holding a one-point edge in the waning seconds before controversy set in.

With 10 seconds to go and trailing by one, UConn ran a play to try and get star Paige Bueckers open, but Aaliyah Edwards was called for an illegal screen on Iowa’s Gabbie Marshall, all but closing out an Iowa win.

After Clark sunk a free throw on the other end, the Hawkeyes sealed a 71-69 victory and a second straight berth in the national title game.

With a Clark taking on a loaded South Carolina team, there’s a chance that the championship game on Sunday afternoon could set another ratings record.

760 WJR Named 'Station of The Year' by the MAB

760 WJR has been named Market One Commercial Radio Station of the Year by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.

The honor came Saturday night during the MAB’s Broadcast Excellence Awards, an annual red-carpet black-tie gala that was held at Sound Board inside MotorCity Casino Hotel. 

In addition to winning Station of The Year, 760 WJR also picked up an honor for “’JR Afternoons with Chris Renwick” as Best Regularly-Scheduled Broadcast Personality or Team, and another for the station’s efforts in Community Involvement.  

“Thank you to everyone associated with the Michigan Association of Broadcasters for this tremendous honor,” said 760 WJR Program Director Ann Thomas during her Station of The Year acceptance speech.

Palm Beach Radio: WUUB Ends Local Midday show

WUUB ESPN 106.3 FM West Palm is undergoing some significant changes.

LaVicka, Theo & Stone Show Ends: The midday show, LaVicka, Theo & Stone, which has been on the air for the past three years, is coming to an end. Hosts Ken LaVicka and Theo Dorsey discussed this development. While the show bids farewell, both hosts will remain associated with station owner Good Karma Brands.

Ken LaVicka expressed gratitude to his partner, Theo, and reflected on their journey together. He mentioned that Theo Dorsey will have his own on-air opportunity, although specific details are yet to be revealed. LaVicka conveyed his best wishes to Theo and expressed his intention to listen to Theo’s new venture1.

Ken LaVicka’s Unconventional Exit: Ken LaVicka, who has been with ESPN 106.3 since 2007, shared an unconventional twist to his departure. He clarified that this wasn’t a layoff or firing but rather a management decision. LaVicka stated that he won’t be heard live on ESPN 106.3 anymore. However, he emphasized that it’s not the end for him. Good Karma Brands is supporting him in transitioning to his next opportunity.

Starting May 1, ESPN 106.3 FM will introduce a revamped lineup:

• 6 a.m. - 10 a.m.: Golic & Wingo
• 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.: The Dan LeBatard Show with StuGotz (now airing live)
• 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.: Stephen A. Smith

BP America To Avoid iHM Podcasts Which Fund Politicians

BP America has asked iHeartMedia to not place ads on podcasts that use ad revenue to fund political contributions.

The announcement follows revelations that the radio giant funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars in ad revenue from Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz’s “Verdict” podcast to a pro-Cruz super PAC, Truth and Courage PAC.

iHeart Media has contributed $630,850 to Truth and Courage PAC since January, around one-third of the $2 million the super PAC reported raising this election cycle, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) data.

“We purchase advertising on iHeart based on the potential audience, and do not specify by podcasts.  We were never informed that media spend was going directly to a super PAC and have instructed iHeart to remove our messages from any podcasts that direct advertising revenue to campaigns, PACs or political parties,” Ross Parman, head of U.S. Media Affairs & External Communications at BP America, told The Hill.

'Cowboy Carter' Debuts At No 1 On Billboard 200 Album Chart

Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter gallops in at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart (dated April 13), debuting with 407,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending April 4, according to Luminate. It’s the superstar’s eighth No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200.

With 407,000 units earned, Cowboy Carter claims the biggest week of 2024 and the largest since Taylor Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version) bowed with 1.653 million units on the Nov. 11, 2023-dated list. Cowboy Carter’s launch is also Beyoncé’s biggest week, by units, since her Lemonade album debuted at No. 1 with 653,000 units (mostly from traditional album sales) on the May 14, 2016, chart. The new effort also lands Beyoncé her biggest streaming week ever.

Cowboy Carter also launches at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums, Americana/Folk Albums and Top Album Sales charts. She’s the first Black woman ever to have led the Top Country Albums list, dating to its January 1964 inception. Cowboy Carter also claims the biggest week for a country album, by units earned, since last July, when Taylor Swift’s Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), opened at No. 1 on the July 22, 2023 chart with 716,000 units.

Radio History: April 8

➦In 1961…The BBC banned the Top 40 hit 'A Hundred Pounds of Clay' by Gene McDaniels. The ban arose because the censors interpreted the song as suggesting women were created simply to be sexual beings, and the BBC felt something that was considered blasphemous should not air to avoid controversy.

➦In 1981...Radio personality Larry "Snortin" Norton completed a publicity stunt. Norton spent 20-plus days on the air at WGRQ-FM in Buffalo.

Larry Norton

Norton launched his virtually sleepless quest March 19, grabbing only two hours of shut-eye per night to break the record. Norton officially ended with 484 hours on the air, shattering the previous listing in the Guinness Book of World Records of 367 hours.

➦In 1985…John Frederick Coots died at age 78 (Born - May 2, 1897). He was a songwriter, who composed over 700 popular songs and over a dozen Broadway shows. In 1934, Coots wrote the melody with his then chief collaborator, lyricist Haven Gillespie, for the biggest hit for them both "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town." The song became one of the biggest sellers in American history.

In 1934, when Gillespie brought him the lyrics to "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", Coots came up with the skeleton of the music in just ten minutes. Coots took the song to his publisher, Leo Feist Inc., who liked it but thought it was "a kids' song" and didn't expect too much from it.  Coots offered the song to Eddie Cantor who used it on his radio show that November and it became an instant hit. The morning after the radio show there were orders for 100,000 copies of sheet music and by Christmas sales had passed 400,000.

➦In 1987...WFIL 560 AM, Philadelphia ended it's run as "Famous 56".  Capturing The True Sound Of Famous 56! Click Here To Listen.

In February 1964, Triangle moved the WFIL stations to a new state-of-the-art broadcast center at the corner of City Line and Monument Avenues in Philadelphia, from which WPVI continued to broadcast.

Starting on September 18, 1966, WFIL began playing "Top 40" rock and roll. It quickly became the most successful non-RKO "Boss Radio" formatted station, known locally as "The Pop Music Explosion".