Live365 Intros Pro Talk Radio Package

(PRNewswire) Live365, the world's most diverse Internet radio network and provider of premier broadcasting services, announces the launch of its new professional talk radio package. Talk radio enthusiasts now have an opportunity to broadcast their voice to a global audience using Live365's extensive distribution network and complete suite of easy-to-use broadcasting tools.

Live365's latest professional package delivers superior sound quality, no listener caps, and distribution on multiple platforms including mobile (iPhone, Android) and audio devices (TiVo, WD players).

The Live365 talk radio package allows users to choose between two broadcasting options, including one that offers full music royalty coverage. With the royalty-covered option, broadcasters can play music worry-free throughout their shows. From DJ novices to professional talk bloggers, the Live365 talk broadcasting package allows anyone to get their message heard.

"Live365 is excited to introduce our latest professional broadcasting package," said Jason Stoddard, Director of Broadcasting Sales. "The talk radio package delivers not only a powerful new social platform for talk enthusiasts and bloggers, but also helps bring new, diverse content to our base of three million listeners."

To learn more about talk radio broadcasting on Live365, visit: http://www.live365.com/pro/talk.

Whitney Houston Checks Back Into Rehab

The singer, who has struggled with addiction for years, is undergoing treatment in an outpatient program for drug and alcohol treatment, according to a story by christina Everett at nydailynews.com.

The 47-year-old is said to have voluntarily checked herself into treatment to support her "longstanding" recovery process.

In 2004, Houston entered rehab for substance abuse. Before admitting her problems, she had dismissed rumors of her drug use in a now-infamous sitdown interview with Diane Sawyer.

"Crack is cheap. I make too much for me to ever smoke crack," Houston said at the time. "Let's get that straight, okay? I don't do crack. I don't do that. Crack is whack."

Houston received treatment again in 2005 under the order of her mother, Cissy Houston, who petitioned a Georgia court to order the singer to rehab.

Marking her return to music with a comeback album in 2009, Houston declared herself healthy and clean.

However, her 2010 tour overseas was plagued with problems.

Read More.

Meredith Vieira: 'It's A Difficult Day For Me'

Official: Viera To Leave Today in June, Ann Curry named co-anchor

After nearly five years as co-anchor of TODAY, Meredith Vieira has decided to leave the show in June. Ann Curry will take her place as co-anchor of America’s No. 1 morning show alongside Matt Lauer. Meredith will continue in a new role at NBC News, with an official announcement in the coming months.

Today’s current third hour co-host, Natalie Morales, has been named news anchor, and NBC News White House correspondent and msnbc anchor Savannah Guthrie will be co-host of the third hour of Today. The new anchor team will debut in June.

From The '60s: John Walker Dies at 67

Founding member of the Walker Brothers

John Walker, one of the founders of the Walker Brothers, has died at the age of 67, according to an article at the guardian.co.uk.

The songwriter, vocalist and guitarist, who played a pivotal role in the band, which scored huge commercial success in the 1960s and 1970s with songs such as Make It Easy On Yourself and The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Any More), passed away at his Los Angeles home.

He had liver cancer.



Born John Maus, he and the other two unrelated members of the group, Scott Engel and Gary Leeds, adopted the Walker Brothers name after their formation in 1964.

His spokeswoman said: "Sadly John passed away yesterday morning Californian time, after a six-month battle with liver cancer."

In a mirror image of sorts to the British pop invasion of the US in 1960s, the band's fame flourished after travelling to the UK during the same decade.

The official John Walker website said it was with "deepest sadness" that it had to report the musician passed away.

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Morning Joe's Mika: Almost Quit Over Gender Pay Gap

MSNBC Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski has revealed she almost quit the show because she was earning far less than her male colleagues. Brzezinski makes the revelations in her new book, 'Knowing Your Value', in which she discusses how women can negotiate the salary they're worth.

Maddow Leads NBC News Video Consumption

The Rachel Maddow Show enjoys the highest degree of engagment, meaning minutes spent per month, among all the NBC News and MSNBC news programs, according to MSNBC.com president Charles Tillinghast, in this inteview with Beet.TV.

Part of its success has been from an online/offline strategy, involving high degree of interactivity around Apps and social media, Tillinghast explains in this video.

Is Robin Quivers Leaving 'Howard Stern Show'?

Howard Stern's sidekick Robin Quivers may not be on his Sirius-XM satellite radio show for much longer, according to a story by Courtney Hazlett, for today.com.

In an exclusive interview with Radar Online, Quivers said that she may soon leave to do her own thing. "I love to do radio and television and I've always wanted my own television show, so I've been putting out feelers for those kinds of things," she told the website.

And she apparently already has a goal in mind: to potentially replace Oprah as the queen of daytime TV. (The final episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" airs May 25.) "Let's hope," she replied when asked if she was angling to replace Winfrey.

"It will be like a talk show, but with subjects that I'd be interested in," Quivers told Radar of her television plans. "I think I have some interesting things to say and I don't think anybody out there is saying them."

Stern signed a new five-year deal in December with Sirius-XM, but had said that the rest of the cast would be negotiating their own contracts. Not long after, Quivers announced her own deal on the show: "I have decided ... after a long and very wonderful association with this show for almost 30 years ... that it's time ... It is my decision to go out ... after this next five years!"

Read More.

Clark, Clear Channel Part Ways

Comedian leaves WPYX after newspaper article

Radio personality and comedian Eddie Clark and Clear Channel Communications came to a decision to part ways on Friday following a meeting between the two sides, according to a story by Tom Quinlan at
timesunion.com.

The former co-host of 106.5 WPYX's "Wakin' Up With The Wolf" weekday morning program had recently done an interview with the Times Union which appeared in Friday's sports section and was not reported to Clear Channel Communications before it was published, a violation of company rules according to Clark.

But Clark was quick to point out that Clear Channel Communications specifically told him this was not the reason which ultimately led to Clark and the company's separation. Clear Channel Communications was not available for comment.

"At the end of the day, they did what they had to do," said Clark, who said he harbors no ill feelings toward his former employer.

Clark is also currently appearing on WOFX Sunday mornings on the nationally syndicated "Race Day On Fox" program.

Read More.

Andrew Breitbart On MSM's "Contempt" For Americans

Conservative publisher Andrew Brietbart sat down for an extensive interview with Brian Monopoli of CBSNews.com Friday in which he discussed his disdain for the mainstream media, offered his perspective on the Republican presidential field, said President Obama should have released a post-mortem photo of Osama bin Laden, and complained that men have been turned into eunuchs by political correctness.

Breitbart, author of "Righteous Indignation," said reporters don't respect the people they see as "middle Americans from flyover country."

People in the mainstream media and Hollywood, he said, see such people as "heathens" who are "beneath contempt."



Read More, More Video.

Glenn Beck Interviews Radio Legend Don Imus

Glenn Beck Friday interviewed his good friend and radio legend Don Imus about the 22nd Annual Imus Radiothon, benefiting the Imus Ranch for Kids with Cancer, the Tomorrows Children’s Fund and the CJ Foundation for SIDS.  Click here for more info and to find out how you can donate.

Don Imus is a longtime friend of Glenn, and the two had a hilarious back and forth that you can see in the clip above. You can find out how Don Imus has tricked people into listening to him for years, how Don’s wife convinced Tania to put Glenn on his hippie diet, and of, course, how to donate to the Imus Ranch.

Rick Dees' Humor Returns To LA Radio On KHHT

In the 32 years since Rick Dees arrived in Los Angeles, he had worked at just three radio stations: KHJ, KIIS-FM - where he spent an amazing nearly quarter of a century waking up Southern California - and Movin' 93.9.

Last Wednesday, he added a fourth employer, Hot 93.9 FM (KHHT), where you can hear Dees from 5 to 9 a.m. weekdays. Technically, he's on until 10 a.m. but the last hour is continuous new old-school.

According to a story by Richard Wagoner, at dailybreeze.com, it was just over two years ago that Dees left Movin' due to a station sale and format change, and it has been more than seven years since he left the employ of Clear Channel Communications, replaced on KIIS-FM (102.7) by Ryan Seacrest.

Did Dees think he would return? Did he think he would make it back to morning drive, and on another Clear Channel station?

"I have to admit right now it feels a little weird. Great, but just a little strange," Dees said in an interview Wednesday, after his first shift back on the air. "But I am so excited to be back and so excited to be working with old friends again. We have some amazing people here."

Those people include Greg Ashlock (Clear Channel Los Angeles market manager), John Ivey (Los Angeles programming manager) and Ron Shapiro (Hot 92.3 assistant program director).

"We have some of the most talented people in the business, and we have a mutual admiration for each other," Dees said. "At the same time, it is humbling to have had my name in the survey."

The survey Dees is referring to was one conducted by the station asking listeners who their favorite radio personalities were. Two names dominated - Art Laboe (heard on the station nightly) and Dees.

Humbling, perhaps, but not unexpected. You don't have a 23-year run on one of America's most popular radio stations without building a reputation - in this case, a reputation for good, clean, usually family fun, someone you can listen to as you drive your kids to school.

To celebrate his return to the morning airwaves, Dees threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Dodger game April 27. It was a throwback day, with the Dodgers and Cubs both sporting old-school uniforms - the perfect way to highlight the old-school tunes Dees is playing on Hot 92.3

At Hot 92.3 (website), Dees is bringing back old favorites, some with a twist: "Candid (Smart) Phone," celebrity gossip "Dees Sleeze," and the "Cast of Idiots" including Willard Wiseman.

Humor is where Dees shines, of course. And if you pay close attention, you'll notice he always leaves the more risque humor or double entendres to one of his alter-egos, such as the Wiseman.

Not that it ever gets out of hand. Dees is a master of clean humor and, like Jerry Seinfeld, can make people laugh over everyday events.

"I want to be there when Justin Bieber's voice changes," he quipped.

Read More.

'Golden-voiced' Ted Williams Heads Back To Rehab

X17online photo

The homeless Ohio man who became a worldwide internet hit because of his golden voice was back in rehab Friday as he continued his battle with drug and alcohol addiction, according to a story posted at poconorecord.com.

Ted Williams was due to return to the Origins Recovery Center on Texas' South Padre Island.

The center is the same place he retreated to in January as he faced his drug and alcohol demons after seeking advice from TV's Dr. Phil McGraw.

"I'm going back to get some real recovery and some rest," Williams said at Port Columbus International Airport as he was about to board a plane to Texas. "Dr. Phil's concerns and cares will not go in vain. I hope I can successfully complete this whole journey and come back and say, 'Hey Dr. Phil. I did it.'"

McGraw offered to pay for Williams' treatment at the facility after he appeared as a guest on the TV doctor's show. Williams took up the offer -- but left the center after just two weeks' treatment in January.

He said he was unsure if McGraw's offer was still on the table but added, "If I have to pay for it myself, that's what I'll do."

Read More.

Williams' manager tells E! News that his decision to head back to rehab is not due to a drug relapse. He claims the problems are all "emotional."

His manager Al Battle tells us that after a joint decision between Williams and himself, they've decided to send him back to Origins in Texas, to commit to a 90-day program.

"All of the shooting for his reality show has taken a serious toll on him," Battle said. "This is not a trip back to rehab because of a drug or alcohol relapse. It's all emotional. Ted is exhausted."

Battle added that getting Williams away from the spotlight for a while would be the "right start."

"It was more of an emotional thing. He just needed to get back to his psychologists," Battle said, adding that the program Williams is entering is "intensive" and that he will embrace the treatment this time around.

Read More.

ALERT FM Plays Key Role in AL Storm Coverage

ALERT FM, the system that uses the reliable FM radio platform to deliver emergency alert text messages, helped save hundreds of lives during the devastating tornados that ripped across the South last month.

In Alabama, the ALERT FM system is deployed in 18 counties, across one-third of state. ALERT FM uses Radio Broadcast Data Service (RBDS) FM-subcarrier technology to deliver text alerts up to 240-characters to any electronic device with ALERT FM software and an enabled FM radio receiver chip.

“With an FM receiver chip in every fixed and mobile device, the ALERT FM emergency alert text message broadcast would be ubiquitous and reach even more people during times of local or national disasters and other emergencies,” explained Robert L. Adams, President and Chief Executive Officer, Global Security Systems (GSS), parent of ALERT FM. “In addition,” adds Adams, “ALERT FM ‘wakes up’ the FM enabled device when an emergency alert message is delivered, further enhancing public safety.”

David DuBose, Vice President and Market Manager for Cox Media Group’s Birmingham, Alabama radio stations -- a seven-station cluster that played a key role in sending ALERT FM messages to help protect thecommunity -- stated, “I know we saved a lot of folks because we are saw the posts on our Facebook page. Many people called our stations to say their power was off at their home due to the storms early on Wednesday morning before the killer tornados even touched down. They relied on our stations and The GSS ALERT FM system for vital information.”

Pickens County, Alabama, Emergency Management Director Ken Gibson confirmed that the ALERT FM system functioned exceptionally well during the multiple tornado storm warnings and without interruption–an advantage of the FM-based delivery system in contrast to cellular signals that are notorious for experiencing drop-outs from overload, most notably during high-volume usage like in an emergency.

In addition, ALERT FM can target FM-enabled devices in a single school, a football arena, or the entire country.

The deployment in Alabama was part of the Remote Community Alert Systems Program, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Weather Service (NWS) effort to provide for outdoor alerting technologies in remote communities underserved by commercial mobile services.

The Sunday Funny

WFAN'S Imus In The Morning Montage of shows on MSNBC. Featuring Imus in the Morning executive producer Bernard McGuirk and co-host Charles McCord and Imus engineer Lou Rufino.