Less than a year after hiring a new program director, ESPN 980 will again be making changes at the top.
Dan Zampillo
The Washington Post is reporting staffers were told in an e-mail Monday evening that Dan Zampillo — hired last April in the aftermath of the “Man Cave” fiasco — had resigned his position, although he had agreed to work with the station through the transitional period. No replacement was mentioned.
Last month, the Redskins confirmed that Red Zebra broadcasting chief executive Rick Carmean had left the company and would not be replaced. The team also said that Redskins Executive Vice President Terry Bateman, the chairman of Red Zebra, would take a more active role in running the stations, including 980, the team’s flagship station. Bateman said then that the move signaled a closer business relationship between the Redskins and the station, but there would “absolutely not” be increased control of the station’s content.
A Redskins spokesman confirmed Tuesday that the station is “in the process of restructuring.” Zampillo, the former director of programming for Bleacher Report and NBA Radio at SiriusXM Radio, declined to comment.
Monday’s e-mail to 980 staffers thanked Zampillo “for his continuous support,” and asked employees to wish him success in future endeavors.
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Glenn Frey, the prolific guitarist, singer, songwriter and founding member of the Eagles, died on Monday at age 67, the American rock band known for "Hotel California" and dozens of other hits said on its website.
Frey died in New York City of complications from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia, the band said.
The Eagles, whose album, "Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975," is the second-best-selling record of all time in the United States, helped create the freewheeling soundtrack of 1970s America and remain ubiquitous on rock radio nearly half a century later.
Their blend of rock with country music influences fueled their success with hit songs such as "Desperado," "Already Gone" and "Take It to the Limit."
Frey collaborated with drummer Don Henley to co-write many of the band's biggest hits. While Henley most often sang lead vocals for the band, Frey played guitar and piano, was key to the band's harmony as a back-up vocalist, and at times sang lead.
His performances on "Take It Easy" and "Peaceful Easy Feeling" on the band's debut album in 1972 helped rocket the Eagles to fame, and he later sang lead on hits "Lyin' Eyes" and "Already Gone."
Frey died a little more than a week after another rock great, David Bowie, died at age 69 in New York, apparently of liver cancer.
Detroit-born Frey and Henley co-founded the Eagles in 1971 in Los Angeles after playing backup for rock singer Linda Ronstadt.
Henley in a statement praised Frey as the "one who started it all" for the Eagles.
"He was the spark plug, the man with the plan," Henley said. "He had an encyclopedic knowledge of popular music and a work ethic that wouldn’t quit. He was funny, bullheaded, mercurial, generous, deeply talented and driven."
The band's original members also included Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner. Several other musicians, including Joe Walsh, joined in the 1970s.
SOLO SUCCESS
After the Eagles disbanded in 1980, Frey had a successful solo career, recording the songs "The One You Love" and "The Heat Is On." Several of his compositions were for films or TV shows, and Frey took on a side career as an actor, including a small part in 1996 film "Jerry Maguire."
In 1994, the Eagles reunited and released an album titled "Hell Freezes Over." The name jokingly referred to Henley's previous statement that the band would only get back together when "hell freezes over."
Henley said he viewed Frey as a kind of brother, but acknowledged that, like in many families, "there was some dysfunction" in the relationship.
The Eagles, who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 and have played many sold-out shows since their reunion, most recently completed a two-year tour last July.
Frey, in an interview with the Tampa Bay Times in 2012, credited his band members' physical health as one reason for their success. "We managed to get off the party train pretty early," he told the paper.
But last year, Frey's health took a bad turn, as he suffered from intestinal problems.
The Eagles had been slated to join songwriter Carole King, "Star Wars" director George Lucas and others in receiving the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors in Washington last month. But in November, the center announced the Eagles could not participate because of Frey's health, and said the award would be presented in 2016.
"Thank you for the music that paved the way for so many others," country star Brad Paisley said in praising Frey on Twitter.
Frey is survived by his wife, Cindy, and their three children.
(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles; Editing by Jonathan Oatis, Mary Milliken and Lisa Shumaker)
Gary Loizzo a major part of the “Chicago Sound” of the 60s and lead singer of the American Breed is dead at age 70.
Loizzo died late Saturday night after a two-and-a-half year battle with cancer.
He left the spotlight in the 70s and opened his own recording studio in Oak Lawn where he worked with REO Speedwagon, Styx, Bad Company, Slash, Survivor and Liza Minelli to engineer albums that would sell more than 25 million copies worldwide.
Loizzo had golden ears. He became an integral member of the Styx production team when he first began working with the band as an engineer on their 1974 album Man of Miracles. He garnered a pair of Grammy nominations for Best Engineered Album of the Year for his work on 1979’s multiplatinum-selling Cornerstone and 1983’s Kilroy Was Here, both of which were recorded in Oak Lawn, Illinois at his own Pumpkin Studios, as was 1981’s Paradise Theater, which reached #1 on the album charts.
Ultimately, he graduated to the role of the band’s co-producer on albums like 2003’s Cyclorama and 2005’s Big Bang Theory. “Gary understood our music from a live, front-of-house perspective as well as from the console in the recording studio with us. He was a world-class engineer with great ears,” says Styx guitarist/vocalist Tommy Shaw. “I feel blessed to have worked with him for so many years, and to call him my friend. He was a good man, and a straight shooter whose opinions I respected and always took to heart.”
Gary was uniquely adept at getting great live sound for the band no matter the venue challenges he faced night after night on the road. All told, he mixed no fewer than 1,500 shows for Styx, according to his obit.
JVC Media has announced the addition of Country Radio veteran and former WWKA, Orlando Program Director Len Shackelford for programming duties on Orlando Country station WOTW 103.1 FM The WOLF.
Len has over 30 years of experience in markets from Raleigh, NC, Columbus, GA and most recently Cox Media Group, Orlando as Operations Manager and Country Format Coordinator. Len has a long list of successful radio victories under his belt and has developed many market leading stations during his tenure at Cox and Curtis Media Group. During his oversight of WWKA Orlando, the station was a top performing Country station in rank and revenue.
Len will take over programming duties on WOTW, 1031 The WOLF on Tuesday January 19th and adds, “I am thrilled to be coming back to Orlando and I am extremely excited about getting into Country radio again, my favorite format, I’m ready to take this great radio station to the next level.” Len continues, “Thanks to John Caracciolo, Vic Canales, and Shane Reeve for the opportunity to do radio the way it was supposed to be… local, entertaining, and FUN!”
Afternoon Drive host Murph Dawg, will remain in that slot and will handle APD duties.
JVC’s Executive Vice President Shane Reeve says, “Since the launch of 103.1 The WOLF the feedback from the community has been fantastic, we have been tweaking and changing, working to give our Orlando listeners a great Country station. With the addition of Len at the helm programming 103.1 the WOLF, JVC will be even better equipped to do what we do best… super-serve our clients, listeners, and communities with great promotions, events, music, and FUN!“
President and CEO of JVC Broadcasting John Caracciolo adds, “We are 100 percent committed to Country radio in Orlando and with one year under our belt we are ready to bring in an industry pro, a market expert, and a programmer that can take this station to the next level, 2016 will be a breakout year for the WOLF!”
WOTW 103.1 FM (22 Kw) Red=Local Coverage
JVC Broadcasting was formed in July 2009. The company operates over one dozen radio stations. Four stations in the Nassau-Suffolk-Long Island market, one radio station in Orlando, five stations in the West Palm Beach market, and four stations serving Florida’s Gainesville-Ocala market.
Though his time with WHNN 96.1 FM has come to an end, popular morning radio show host Johnny Burke still is connecting with listeners and fans.
From his couch Monday, Jan. 18, the well-known on-air personality told viewers via Periscope that he and his co-host Blondie were "escorted" from the studio Friday, Jan. 15, after what would be their final show.
"We were escorted out the door after our show Friday. We didn't know," Burke said.
But Burke was back at it with his own morning show Monday. Blondie wasn't there, though she had planned to be, he said.
"Thanks for the support. We've got just tons of support and love on Facebook and on Twitter, on the websites, Johnny and Blondie fan page and the WHNN website," Burke told viewers Monday.
According to mlive.com, Burke said he intends to do this new program every weekday morning, possibly at 6:30 a.m. and possibly more than once per morning.
"I don't know how this is going to end up. It's going to evolve over time," he said.
Burke said he and Blondie were "shell shocked" by Friday's announcement that the station was dropping Classic Hits for an AC format.
"Nine o' clock, we were told Friday morning that it was over, that the station was opting for a more music, younger sound, which they've done, which I don't totally disagree with," he said. "What I do disagree with is our not being given the opportunity to try it."
WHNN explained the change in a news release Friday, Jan. 13.
"Johnny Burke and Blondie will be leaving WHNN with our thanks for their contributions to the heritage and history of the station," Operations Manager Scott Stine said in a released statement.
The Mix Group and Premiere Networks have enjoyed a decade of success and are celebrating the milestone with a long-term renewal. Premiere Networks, a subsidiary of iHeartMedia, continues to nationally represent The Mix Group in advertising sales. Since partnering with Premiere in 2005, The Mix Group has grown from 35 stations to more than 900 and has seen over 1,200% growth in revenues.
President of Premiere Networks Julie Talbott comments, “Jason and the team at The Mix Group have been incredible partners for the past 10 years, and we’re delighted to continue offering advertisers a powerful network of affiliates as a result of The Mix Group’s unique brand of customized imaging production.”
President of The Mix Group Jason Garte says, “If you aren’t using Mix to do your imaging on barter in 2016, you’re probably stuck in the 80’s watching reruns of Press Your Luck while putting together amateur production using a Commodore 64, Casio keyboard, and a crusty, old cart machine. Or even worse, you might be paying cash for some random guy in “BFE” who takes three weeks to squeeze out a promo.”
As one of the biggest names in radio imaging and production, The Mix Group works with such stations as KDAY 93.5 FM in Los Angeles, WPWX 92.3 FM in Chicago, and Easy WFEZ 93.1 FM in Miami. Additionally, Mix Talent Management represents top voice over talents like Dr. Dave, Scott Matthews, Rick Party, Joe Cruise and Brian Christopher.
gray/black = primarily free format; green = primarily paid format
According to a survey recently conducted by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and Entertainment Retail Association (ERA) in the UK, roughly 71 percent of all music listening is unpaid.
Digital Music News reports even formats commonly regarded as paid are predominantly free. In the case of downloads, the BPI earlier estimated that 95% of all song downloads are unpaid and illegally acquired, an estimate that doesn’t even consider songs ripped from CDs.
Radio, across all broadcast and online formats, is nearly 100% free, with extremely small subscription percentages from online players like Pandora. ‘Other’ formats like podcasting also unpaid.
That leaves CDs, vinyl, and subscription streaming as the remaining paid formats, which account for less than 28 percent of the total. The remaining 1 percent comes from paid downloads, leaving a paid tally of roughly 29%.
Singer-songwriter Don McLean was arrested near Portland ME early Monday and charged with misdemeanor domestic violence assault.
The 70-year-old McLean, best known for his song “American Pie,” was arrested after police responded to a 911 call at his Camden home shortly before 2 a.m. McLean was released from jail after posting $10,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 22.
An arrest affidavit wasn’t available Monday and it wasn’t clear if McLean’s wife, Patrisha, or two children were at home at the time of his arrest.
The Press-Herald reports McLean was fined $400 in 2013 for driving 43 mph through a school zone when the speed limit was 15 mph. The singer contested the charge, saying the school zone warning lights weren’t flashing.
McLean, 70, began to gain international fame in 1971 with the release of “American Pie.” The song reached No. 1 on the record charts and went on to be one of the best-known songs in rock music history. The eight-minute song’s dream-like lyrics were based on the 1959 death in a plane crash of early rockers Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson, known as “The Big Bopper.” McLean famously labeled it “the day the music died.”
In 2015, McLean sold his original draft of the lyrics, some 16 pages, at auction for $1.2 million.
Authorities said a person of interest is in custody after a former radio talk show host and her daughter were killed near Gary, Indiana.
Lana Taneff, 64, was found dead in the family's home on Sunday. The body of 86-year-old Velia Taneff was found at her rental property next door on Taft.
"Autopsy results determined both women died of result of strangulation and blunt force trauma," Lake County Sheriff John Buncich said.
WLS-ABC7 reports investigators said the handyman of the Taneff family is linked to their deaths. Investigators said the nephew of the person of interest went to police on Saturday, fearing that the two women might be hurt.
Velia Taneff used to host a radio show on WLTH 1370 AM in Gary IN, and she had recently started video blogging.
Dale Griffin, drummer for rock group Mott The Hoople, has died aged 67.
He was a founder member of the group, best known for classic tracks Roll Away The Stone and All The Young Dudes.
The latter was written and produced by David Bowie, who sang backing vocals on the track.
The band, who made eight albums during their five-and-a-half year existence, reformed to mark their 40th anniversary in 2009 - but Griffin was too ill to take part.
The BBC reports he died peacefully in his sleep on Sunday night, said Peter Purnell from record label Angel Air records.
He called Griffin "one of the nicest, friendly and talented men I have ever known."
A man known for bringing county music to Western NY has died.
Ramblin’ Lou Schriver passed away Sunday. He was 86-years-old, according to WKBW-TV.
Schriver began his radio career in 1947 in Niagara Falls. In 1970, he bought WMMJ, which changing the name to WXRL 1300 AM and format to classic country. The station has been going strong every since and blazed a path for country music in WNY.
Schriver worked with and sponsored hundreds of country music shows dating back to the 1950s, including well known names like Hank Williams Sr., Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Roy Clark, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Dolly Parton, just to name a few.
He’s survived by his wife of 54 years, Joanie, who he met in 1961 while looking for a guitar player for his band “Twin Pine Mountaineers,” as well as their four children and five grandchildren. His family makes up the “Ramblin’ Lou Family Band,” which celebrated their 51st consecutive year at the Erie County Fair in 2015.
Schriver was a member of the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame, Buffalo Broadcaster’s Hall of Fame, New York State Country Music Hall of Fame, Country Music Association and he and his wife were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Walkway of Stars.
In 1903..the first Transatlantic Radio broadcast took place. King Edward VII and President Theodore Roosevelt spoke with one another in a coded radio transmission between Cape Cod, Massachusetts and Cornwall, England.
In 1905...pioneer radio writer/producer, Anne Schumacher Hummert, was born. With her husband Frank she produced some of radio’s most memorable melodramas, including Our Gal Sunday, The Romance of Helen Trent, Mr Keen Tracer of Lost Persons, Betty & Bob, and Backstage Wife. The Hummerts also produced several simple down-home musical series, like Waltztime and The American Album of Familiar Music. Their “radio factory” produced as many as 125 series, 61 of them soap operas. Anne Hummert died July 5 1996 at age 91.
In 1908...comic singer Ish Kabibble was born Merwyn Bogue in rural Pennsylvania. He sang and played trumpet with Kay Kyser’s Kollege of Musical Knowledge on radio & record in the 30’s and 40’s. His dim witted characterization was said to be a later inspiration for Jerry Lewis. He died June 5, 1994 at age 86.
In 1922...actor Guy Madison was born Robert Ozell Moseley in Bakersfield Calif. He is best remembered as western hero Wild Bill Hickok on radio & TV in the 1950’s. He died of emphysema Feb 6, 1996 at age 74.
George Klein
In 1923...WMC 790 AM in Memphis, Tennessee began broadcasting. The station currently airs Fox Sports Radio.
In addition to sports talk shows, WMC-AM features longtime Memphis disc jockey George Klein's weekly tribute program to Elvis Presley. Klein and Presley were close friends and confidantes during the latter's lifetime and the former's long stint on WHBQ-AM.
The station's license is currently held by Entercom Communications, which it purchased from CBS in September 2006.
In 1943...the FCC endorsed Restricted Radio Operator Permits.
In 1943...Rock singer Janis Joplin was born. She died of a heroin overdose on October 4, 1970 at 27.
In 1967…At EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London, the Beatles began recording "A Day In The Life," which had the working title "In the Life of..." The basic track was refined with remixing and additional parts added at recording sessions the next day and on February 3. The track was completed with the recording of the orchestral part on February 20. The total length of time spent recording "A Day in the Life" was 34 hours. By comparison, their first album, "Please Please Me," was recorded in its entirety in just 10 hours.
In 1998...Hall of Fame rockabilly singer Carl Perkins died. He was 65.
In 2005...Clear Channel Radio began its rollout of HD Digital Radio Multicasts in 28 Markets.
Glenn Frey, a founding member of the Eagles, died at age 67 on Monday in New York City, the band’s website has announced.
“Glenn fought a courageous battle for the past several weeks but, sadly, succumbed to complications from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia,” the Eagles’ website stated.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that usually affects joints in the hands and feet, and ulcerative colitis affects a person’s digestive tract and can be life threatening.
Frey was the lead singer and played guitar, among other instruments, for the Eagles, known for hits such as “Take It Easy,” “Already Gone” and “Hotel California.”
“Words can neither describe our sorrow, nor our love and respect for all that he has given to us, his family, the music community and millions of fans worldwide,” the website stated.
Frey suffered health problems, causing the band to defer accepting their planned Dec. 6 Kennedy Center Honor until 2016, the Washington Post reported in November.
He had a recurrence of “previous intestinal issues, which will require major surgery and a lengthy recovery period,” a statement from the Eagle read, according to the Post.
