Winston-Salem Radio: JR Snider Has Backyard RR Yard

JR Snider has been a familiar voice for radio listeners in the Piedmont for years, as the host the morning show on WSJS 600 AM in Winston-Salem, NC.

When he’s not on the air, he can be found in his backyard running his 500 ft. model railroad yard!

Radio Huckster Sentenced To 20 Years

Patrick Kiley

A small-time Minneapolis salesman who found his niche on the radio peddling investments in foreign currencies was sentenced Monday to 20 years in federal prison for his role in a $194 million Ponzi scheme that bilked more than 700 investors nationwide.

According to startribune.com, Patrick Kiley, 75, had attracted 70 percent of the investors through his former radio program, “Follow the Money,” which was broadcast on a Christian shortwave network and bought time on about 200 stations at its peak. He appealed to listeners with a pitch that fomented distrust of the U.S. government and fanned fears about a cratering stock market.

But the investment product Kiley sold was a sham created by his longtime sidekick, Trevor Cook, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty in 2010 to running a Ponzi scheme. Several other participants in the scheme were sentenced in January to terms ranging from 7½ years to 30 years in prison.

Kiley has protested his innocence all along, claiming he was duped just like the investors. Then in January, he managed to delay his sentencing, accusing his attorney at the time of misconduct and ineffective advocacy. Chief U.S. District Judge Michael Davis delayed the sentencing, appointed new attorneys to represent Kiley and ordered an independent psychiatric and physical evaluation.

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Philly Radio: GZ Attorney Is A Former Jock

Don West

Don West, the defense attorney for George Zimmerman in the Trayvon Martin case, used to be a DJ at WMMR 93.3 FM.

According to the Philly Daily News, former 'MMR DJ Michael Tearson said West worked for the station between 1977 and 1978, during the second tenure of legendary program director Jerry Stevens.

“Although he appears to have a made-for-radio name, not even the longest tenured employees recall his time at 'MMR," said program director Bill Weston. "

West received a bachelor's degree and a master's of education from Penn, according to his LinkedIn profile, and has a history in radio, working at Los Angeles' KROQ 106.7 FM before his WMMR shift.

He then moved up to Toronto's CHUM 104.5 FM.

West has been practicing law in Orlando since the early 1980s.

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Tom's Take: A tip of the headphones to Don Anthony at Jockline Daily on this story.

Official: Jenny McCarthy Joins The View

Jenny McCarthy

After 17 appearances on ABC’s The View, eight as a guest co-host, Barbara Walters ended months of rumors and speculation this morning with her announcement that Jenny McCarthy will join the popular talk show as a co-host this fall.

The comedian/actress/host and best-selling author officially starts on Monday, September 9 the kick-off to Season 17.

“We are delighted that Jenny will be joining us as a permanent co-host on The View starting in September. Jenny brings us intelligence as well as warmth and humor. She can be serious and outrageous. She has connected with our audience and offers a fresh point of view. Jenny will be a great addition to the show as we usher in an exciting new chapter for The View,” said Ms. Walters.

"I'm beyond thrilled to be joining Barbara and the other amazing women at the table. I'd like to thank ABC for this great opportunity. I'd also like to give a big thank you to Vh1 for their support and for allowing me to fulfill this lifelong dream. I look forward to helping make hot topics a little bit hotter, and showing my mom that my interrupting skills have finally paid off," said Ms. McCarthy.

Graffiti Radio: Delmarva Banking On Younger Sound

Delmarva Broadcasting Co. is betting the combination of new artists, young programmers and new technology will prepare the company nicely for the HD radio world of the future.

“If you’re an early adopter, you do it because you believe in it, there is a future, there will be a tipping point,” said Pete Booker, president of the company told delawareonlibne.com. “The time will come very soon.”

HD radio, which requires a special receiver, provides CD-quality sound for the listener, Booker said. For the radio station’s operators, it allows them to use the spectrum they already have to add additional stations.

So although WSTW advertises itself as 93.7 FM, it technically occupies the spectrum between 93.6 and 93.8, Booker said. That, he said, allows the station to squeeze three HD stations into its existing spectrum, he said.

LISTEN-LINE: Click Here

In the summer of 2005, they called together all of the company’s employees younger than 30 to provide their ideas for what a new radio station should be. In reality, it was the people in their early 30s who took the most interest in crafting the station – “Everyone thinks they’re younger and hipper than they are,” said Booker, who has been in radio since 1969.

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Graffiti Radio – “graffiti is a creative expression of contemporary art,” Booker explained – began broadcasting in October 2006, under the formal name WSTW HD2, or 93.7-2.  At first, the music had a much harder edge, reflecting the alternative music of the day, Weidel said.

THE PLAYLIST: Click-Here

They later switched to a format which includes indie rock, funk, synth pop and hip-hop. In 2010, they hired two employees to program the station and be its on-air personalities. Today, they are Sabrina Sabia, its program director, and Amber Macey, its content producer.

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IHeartRadio Music Festival Line-Up Unveiled For 2013

Elton John

Clear Channel today announced the artist line-up for the biggest live concert event in radio history, the iHeartRadio Music Festival, taking place in Las Vegas on September 20 and 21.

This year’s extraordinary line-up includes Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, J. Cole, Elton John, Muse, Tiësto, Chris Brown, Keith Urban, fun., Miguel, Bruno Mars, Phoenix, Zedd, Maroon 5, Tim McGraw, Ke$ha, Thirty Seconds to Mars and Benny Benassi, plus a rare live appearance by legendary rock band Queen + Adam Lambert, this year's Macy's iHeartRadio Rising Star winner, The Summer Set and other special surprise guests to be announced later.

Ryan Seacrest, host and producer of the top-rated nationally syndicated LA Morning drive-time show - “On Air with Ryan Seacrest” on Clear Channel’s 102.7 KIIS-FM, will return for a third record-breaking year to host the Festival, kicking off the two-day event on the evening of Friday, September 20 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.

Katy Perry

The Festival will broadcast LIVE across Clear Channel radio stations in 150 markets nationwide, and this year will air as a two night special on The CW Network on Sept. 30 (night one) at 8-10 p.m. ET/PT and Oct. 1 (night two) at 8-10 p.m. ET/PT, to launch the network’s fall season.

This year, the Festival gets even bigger with the addition of the “iHeartRadio Music Festival Village” on Saturday afternoon. The Festival Village will feature live performances on two stages by nearly a dozen popular and up-and-coming artists, including Miley Cyrus, The Wanted, Jason Derulo, The Band Perry, Avril Lavigne, Krewella, Cher Lloyd, twenty one pilots, Pete Tong, AWOLNATION and a special guest appearance by Ne-Yo.

“The iHeartRadio Music Festival truly captures the essence of what music is all about — excitement, energy and the deep connection between artists and fans,” said John Hogan, Chairman and CEO of Clear Channel Media and Entertainment. 

“Every year, we try to push the boundaries of what live music events can be by showcasing the hottest artists across all genres and radio formats all on one stage. And year after year, the iHeartRadio Music Festival produces more and more of music's most memorable moments. Now, with the addition of the iHeartRadio Music Festival Village featuring even more artists, this year will push those limits even further — it's going to be incredible.”

Promotion of 2013 iHeartRadio Music Festival kicked off this morning with a simultaneous roadblock announcement by all 850 Clear Channel radio stations nationwide, their websites and iHeartRadio. In addition, throughout a summer-long on-air and online promotion, Clear Channel station listeners across the country will have the chance to win one-of-a-kind, all-expense paid dream trips to Las Vegas where they will join thousands of other dedicated music fans to experience the 2013 iHeartRadio Music Festival at the legendary MGM Grand.

GZ Attorney Blasts News Media As 'Mad Scientists'

Mark O'Mara

George Zimmerman defense attorney Mark O’Mara claims that a gullible news media along with the prosecution tried to railroad his client on second-degree murder charges.

As the whole world knows, George Zimmerman, who is Hispanic, was found not guilty on all charges last night by a six-member, all-female jury in Seminole County, Florida in the death of Trayvon Martin.

According to inquisitor.com, at the very end of the press conference, O’Mara asserted that George Zimmerman had two foes for the past 16 months during which he may have been the most hated man in America:

“Two systems went against George Zimmerman that he can’t understand. You guys, the media… he was like a patient [on] an operating table where a mad scientist was committing experiments on him and he had no anesthesia. He didn’t know why he was turned into this monster but quite honestly you guys had a lot to do with it… you took a story that was fed to you and you ran with it and you ran right over him. And that was horrid to him. Then he comes into a system that he trusts — let’s not forget, six voluntary statements, voluntary surrender, and he believes in the system that he really wanted to be part of… and then he gets prosecutors that charged him with a crime that they could never, ever prove… those two systems failed him.”

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ALSO READ: The role of the media cannot be ignored in the Zimmerman case. Click Here.

Detroit Radio..Reports Say WMGC-FM Flipping To Sports

There could be a another sports formatted station on-air soon and it could include at least half of the “Drew & Mike” duo.

According to Crain’s Detroit Business, Greater Media Inc.’s WMGC-FM 105.1 will change formats, dropping AC for  sports and as early as August.

Crains quotes a source at indicating Drew Lane, previously of “Drew & Mike” on WRIF-FM (101.1), could be  a potential show host.

Both stations, WMGC and WRIF, are Greater Media-owned.

“Like other broadcasters, we are always exploring our options, but we don’t have any specific plans at this time,” Heidi Raphael, Greater Media’s vice president of corporate communication, told Crain’s.

It has been a number of years since another sports radio stations competed with WXYT 97.1 The Ticket in the market.

Clear Channel owns WDFN 1130,AM The Fan but that frequency primarily consists of nationally syndicated shows from Fox Sports Radio.

Crain’s cites radio insiders as saying that Greater Media has been pursuing rights to ESPN Radio content, which would be a good start to step in the ring with the long-standing success of “The Ticket.”

WCAR 1090 AM has been airing ESPN Radio but according to Radio Insight,  Birach Broadcasting  over the weekend has given up the affiliation with the Worldwide Leader and signed on with NBC Sports Radio.

WXYT's rating dominance is largely because it has the rights to air live all four of Detroit's professional sports teams' games. The radio contracts for the Detroit Lions, Tigers, Red Wings and Pistons don't expire until 2015, meaning it would be more than a year before a flipped WMGC could theoretically pursue and air pro games. University of Michigan football and men's basketball games are aired on CBS Radio-owned WWJ 950 AM under a five-year deal signed in 2011.

Miami Radio: Jorge Sedano To Exit WQAM

Jorge Sedano

Sports Radio 560 WQAM 560 AM program director and afternoon host Jorge Sedano will leave the station for ESPN, According to South Florida Sport.

Sedano was named to both positions in late August 2012 and began his work there in early September 2012 as he replaced Dan Sileo for afternoon duties and Andy King, who was the interim program director.

In addition, he will exit his job at Sun Sports as the Miami Heat studio host for road broadcast games. He joined them in August 2012 and lasted one season on the job as the team won their second straight NBA championship. He had previous television experience as a weekend sports anchor at WFOR-TV Channel 4 for several years until the fall of 2012.

Sedano, a Florida International University grad,  joined 790 The Ticket WAXY-AM in August 2007 as a midday host. He would later replace Sid Rosenberg as the morning host at that station in April 2009. Sedano was also a radio game analyst for FIU football games alongside Jeremy Marks-Peltz in 2009 and 2010. He exited 790 The Ticket in early April 2012.

Philly Radio: The I-Man Returns

The irascible, cantankerous, humorous New York City cowboy, Don Imus, will arrive back on Philly's radio dial starting Monday morning.

According to philly.com, his return on WWIQ 106.9 FM talk radio station comes six years after he was last on radio in Philadelphia. He was dropped in 2007 after some racist/sexist remarks about the Rutgers University women's basketball team.

Imus will be heard 6 to 9 a.m. each weekday on 106.9, a Merlin Media-owned station that fills out its nationally syndicated daily schedule also including Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity.

Imus is replacing another New York City-based personality Lionel and squarely puts 106.9's national talking heads against the local-heavy lineup on Philadelphia's The Big Talker 1210 AM.

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FL Radio: Three Stations “Suspend” Broadcasting

Radio station WQLC 102.1 FM in Watertown, FL  has temporarily suspend its broadcast effective at 7 p.m. Friday night with a projected return for this fall in order for the company “to re-tool its country music format into a much more dynamic and improved radio product,” General Manager Scott Savage stated in a press release.

The suspension will also affect WGRO 960 AM in Lake City and WNFK 92.1 FM in Perry, all under the Power Country Radio Network umbrella, according to suwanneedemocrat.com. 

WQLC 60dBU Coverage Area

“Long recognized as the leading radio stations in their communities, owner Nick Bolton is orchestrating their first major overhaul in many years and plans to bring an exciting new offering to the region when operations resume this fall,” Savage wrote.

The stations will continue playing country music when they return in the fall, Bolton said.

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Texas Explosion Rocks TV Studio

An early morning explosion Friday in Corpus Christi, Texas started a fire that rushed through the neighborhood.

Two people were injured and are in critical condition. Three homes were flattened and about 70 others were damaged.

KIII Meteorologist Kristin Diaz and News Anchors John Thomas and Jane Monreal were rattled by the explosion.

Tony Kornheiser Putts with the President

Tony Kornheiser

'Pardon the Interruption' co-host and longtime Washington sportswriter and radio personality Tony Kornheiser turned 65 on Saturday. For his momentous birthday, he got a pretty unusual gift – a round of golf with his PTI co-host Michael Wilbon and President Obama.

Obama spent more than four hours at the golf course at the U.S. Army's Fort Belvoir in Virginia, south of Washington, D.C., according to the Associated Press. There apparently was a fourth in the golfing group, but the White House didn't identify him (or her).

Even though Kornheiser customarily ends each show with a shoutout to Canada, Obama is a something of a PTI fan, according to the PGA.  Back in October of 2011, he taped a special message commemorating the show's 10th anniversary.

Ann Arbor Radio: WUOM #1 Non-Com In USA

A new report highlighting the nation's top public radio stations reveals that Ann Arbor, Michigan's WUOM-FM ranks highest in 7-day cume listening.

According to The Media Audit study, 25.1% of Ann Arbor's metro area adult population has listened to the public radio station in the past 7 days, ranking the station as the number one highest ranked public radio station across The Media Audit's 80+ measured markets. 

Aoccrding to The Media Audit, public radio stations represent the largest number of non-commercial radio stations in the U.S. and in many cases they can be formidable competition for local advertising dollars.  Among one of the strengths of public radio is its ability to keep listeners coming back for more.

Public Radio ranks as the third highest reaching radio format, with an estimated 22.5 million listeners across The Media Audit's measured markets. On average, 64% of those who listened to a public radio station in the past week also listen to the station more than any other station in the market.  The figure, when compared to other commercial radio formats, ranks Public Radio third highest in converting cume listeners to "most often" listeners, creating an opportunity for underwriters to garner greater frequency from an underwriting campaign.

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