L-A Radio: NAB To Induct KROQ's Kevin & Bean Into HOF

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced today that the long-running Kevin & Bean Morning Show, which airs on CBS Radio’s KROQ 106.7 FM in Los Angeles, will be inducted into the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

The induction will occur during the NAB Show Radio Luncheon, held Tuesday, April 14 in Las Vegas.

The “Kevin & Bean Morning Show," hosted by Kevin Ryder and Gene "Bean" Baxter, is the longest-running a.m. drive show on the air in Southern California. The show, which debuted on January 2, 1990, features music and news mixed with comedy, celebrity interviews, listener call-ins and live music performances. Consistent with “The World Famous KROQ” modern rock format, Kevin and Bean’s “Breakfast With…” series features bands like No Doubt, Foo Fighters, Weezer, Nine Inch Nails and U2.

"The talented team of the ‘Kevin & Bean Show’ is a true radio success story,” said NAB Executive Vice President of Radio John David. “The morning show has made a huge impact on Los Angeles with its mix of music, entertainment and humor that has resonated with Southern California listeners for decades.”

Dan Mason, President and CEO, CBS Radio said, "Kevin and Bean have been dedicated entertainers and broadcasters in Los Angeles for more than two decades with their own sense of humor that will never be duplicated. This award is truly a well-deserved recognition of a job well done. I couldn’t be happier for them and the entire team."

SiriusXM May Have Found A Pre-'72 Hits Lifeboat

SiriusXM recently suffered a series of disastrous courtroom defeats that threaten to harm not just its own digital radio service, but other companies — from YouTube to FM radio — that also play oldies from before 1972. In response, SiriusXM is pinning its hopes on an oldie of its own, in the form of a 1940 copyright case.

According to Gigaom.com, the case in question concerns phonograph records, and SiriusXM is asking a New York judge to use it as a basis to reconsider her finding in November that based on state laws, performers from the band The Turtles deserve an unprecedented copyright payout when companies play their old songs.

SiriusXM believes U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon overlooked the phonograph decision’s significance. A further report, meanwhile, suggests the company scored a point when the judge this week said she hadn’t considered the case and that it “might require her to rethink the ruling.”

Penned by the famous jurist Judge Learned Hand, the 1940 decision concluded that a radio station did not have to pay an orchestra band leader, in addition to the song composer, each time it played a recording of his performance.

Judge Hand

Learned Hand wrote that state law should not let performers, once a phonograph was sold, control how and when it was played:

we think that the “common-law property” in these performances ended with the sale of the records and that the restriction did not save it; and that if it did, the records themselves could not be clogged with a servitude.

Now, 65 years later, the case could prove decisive in the high stakes dispute between SiriusXM and the music industry. If the 1940 rule does not stand, and the Turtles’ position prevails instead, it will mean bring higher music prices for everyone, and yet another expansion of U.S. copyright law.

The Turtles claims are also just the tip of the iceberg, since every other performer (or their heirs) will be in a position to make claims over unpaid per-1972 royalties too. This could represent a major financial blow to radio stations and to music websites like YouTube and Vimeo, and would likely lead them to simply pull most oldies music from their playlist altogether.

Hartford Radio: Feds Urge Four Year Sentence For WTIC Talker

John Rowland

Describing former CT Governor and former WTIC 1080 AM talk show host John G. Rowland as an ethically challenged politician who has repeatedly broken his trust with voters, federal prosecutors are arguing that he should serve from roughly three to four years in prison for his most recent conviction for political crimes, according to The Hartford Courant.

"As a former congressional representative, governor, and radio talk-show host, Mr. Rowland displayed great political talent alongside a troubling disrespect for the law," federal prosecutors argued in a long document filed Friday with Rowland's sentencing judge. "He has repeatedly shown a willingness to manipulate the political process for his own personal benefit, undermining the fragile trust that binds citizens to each other and to their elected representatives."

Late Thursday, Rowland filed his own long plea for leniency.

The correct sentencing range for Rowland, according to his lawyers, is 18 to 24 months. But the defense lawyers are asking Arterton to scrap the advisory guidelines and sentence Rowland to less.

Rowland's prosecutors argue that Rowland should be sentenced to a stiffer 37 to 46 months in prison, a punishment that recognizes that two of the seven crimes of which he was found guilty by a jury in September involve obstruction of justice, or attempts to block the work of federal investigators.

The prosecution also wrote that it has reserved the right to seek a "further enhancement" of Rowland's sentence based on his use of his political talk show on CBS Radio's WTIC-AM to promote the 2012 congressional candidacy of Lisa Wilson-Foley. Foley and her husband, Brian Foley, have pleaded guilty to conspiring to hide secret payments to Rowland for his political consulting services.

Rowland used the radio station to "harshly criticize" Wilson-Foley's "principal opponent in exchange for pay," the prosecution wrote in its legal filing.

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D/FW Radio: WBAP 's Alan Scaia Seriously Injured In Accident

A WBAP 820 AM reporter and two occupants of a pickup were injured Friday night in a head-on collision in Wise County, according to WFAA-TV8.

Alan Scaia

30-year-old Alan Scaia, morning drive reporter for WBAP, was critically injured, said Tyler Cox, WBAP operations manager and program director.

According to police, rhe pickup was southbound near Springtown, TX when it crossed the center line. The pickup and a northbound Toyota Camry collided, Haschel said.

The Camry had a WBAP logo on the doors. Cox said WBAP is "not sure what [Scaia] was covering."

Cox said Saturday that Scaia, who's been with WBAP for about five years, was in intensive care. His condition was upgraded over the weekend from critical to serious.

"Our news department is obviously shaken by this," said WBAP/KLIF News Director Rick Hadley. "Alan is a good friend and important part of our team and right now our main concern is for him and the others inujured in the wreck to get better."

Hadley, who visited Scaia on Saturday afternoon added, "It was very encouraging to get the word of Alan's improvement. He is certainly badly hurt, but having seen the photos from the accident scene we are relieved this is not much, much worse." Several friends, co-workers and former co-workers visited Scaia on Saturday.

Scaia was recently promoted to morning drive reporter at WBAP/KLIF and had been named a correspondent for a new national news operation. He had previously been a dayside reporter and fill-in anchor with WBAP/KLIF. He is a Ball State University graduate who previously worked at radio stations in Houston and Portland.

Binghamton Radio: iHM Launches Classic Country

iHeartMedia/Binghamton overnight launched a US 96.9 Binghamton's Classic Country. The station made the flip from Oldies at midnight.

The station features music from Alabama, Garth Brooks, George Jones, Reba, George Strait & Merle Haggard.

WINR operates at 680AM and on a translator at W245BV 96.9 T-FM.

The station can be found at US969.com, on facebook/US969Country & Twitter @US969Country.

W245BV 96.9 FM (65watts) 60dBu Coverage

Tom Scott is the PD who also handles New Country WBBI 107.5 FM/B1075 and WMXW 103.3 FM/Mix, a mainstream AC which is "Binghamton's Christmas Music Station" through the holiday.

iHeartMedia also operates rocker WKGB 92.5 FM, CHR WBNW 105.7 FM/NOW  & FOX Sports WENE 1430 AM in the market.

Greenville SC Radio: The Tara Show Arrives At WYRD-FM

News/Talk WYRD 106.3 FM (WORD) in Greenville, SC has announced it has hired veteran talker Tara Servatius for its morning show.  She starts today.

Servartius fills the role of former morning host Russ Cassell, who died last motnh.

Servatius joins the Entercom station from her most recent stint at Cumulus' WTMA 1250 AM in Charleston and previously worked at Greater Media's WBT 1110 AM / 99.3 FM in Charlotte.

WYRD 106.3 FM (25Kw) 60dBu Coverage

Also starting Monday, Vince Coakley starts a new mid-daye show on WORD.  Coakley is a 20-year market radio and TV veteran who has been hosting a weekend show and doing regular fill-in work at WORD for the past year.

VP/Market Manager Steve Sinicropi expressed confidence in the new lineup. “We are energizing morning radio with the launch of these vibrant, live and local shows,” he said. “Both Tara and Vince will deliver fresh, thought-provoking commentary on the issues and news our community cares about most.”

Veteran WORD newscaster Lee Rogers will continue as morning news anchor on The Tara Show.

Eastlan Ratings Adds Three Markets

Eastlan Ratings' steady expansion continues as Jackson TN is now among its newest markets.

The Fall 2014 survey period is Eastlan first measurement in Jackson.

Other new Eastlan markets this Fall include a pair of previously unrated markets in the Pacific Northwest: Pendleton, OR and Walla Walla, WA.

Mike Gould

"Our status as the senior radio ratings provider in the United States combined with our steadfast commitment to helping protect revenue streams in small and medium radio markets allows our company to continue to grow our influence," said Eastlan President/CEO Mike Gould.

"This year has been a terrific year of increased acceptance among media buyers around the country, too. Each day, more are becoming appreciative of the tools Eastlan can offer to help in their challenge of buying radio in small and medium markets where audience data is often no longer available or dependent on undersized samples."

Philly Radio: CBS Radio Likes Its Demo Diversity

CBS Radio has completed its exchange with Beasley Broadcast Group as part of a larger station swap.  The deal, announced in early October, includes Beasley obtaining 13 stations in Tampa and Charlotte as well as WIP 610 AM for five stations in Philadelphia and Miami, which CBS says is part of its strategy to grow the division's major market presence, especially in markets where it has also has TV.

The Philadelphia stations being acquired by CBS are Top40 WRDW 96.5 FM/Wired, and Country WXTU 92.5 FM. Now CBS Radiohas six Philly stations, including SportsRadio WIP 94.1-FM,
NewsRadio KYW 1060-AM and Talk WPHT 1210-AM and Classic Hits WOGL 98.1-FM.

Three CBS stations —1210-AM, 98.1-FM and 94.1-FM — are located at 400 Market Street. KYW moved out of 400 Market earlier this year into CBS3's studios at 1555 Hamilton Street in Center City.

The two stations it is acquiring are located at 555 E. City Ave in Bala Cynwyd, Pa.

CBS Radio Philadelphia President Marc Rayfield said WRDW and WXTU occupy two floors and possess what he calls some of the most technologically advanced studios he has seen. So there are no plans to relocate the stations into Old City to join WIP, WPHT and WOGL at 400 Market Street.

The two program directors, Shelly Easton of WXTU and Buster Satterfield of WRDW will continue to run their respective stations. When asked if there would be any layoffs due to redundancies, Rayfield said he couldn't say for certain but that is was not in the plans at this time.

"It's not our intention to make many changes," Rayfield told The Philadelphia Business Journal. "We think these stations are well operated."

Rayfield said the two stations provide CBS Radio with some programming and demographic diversity to offer to listeners and marketing partners. WXTU appeals to women and adults and WRDW to young adults.

CO Radio: In A World Of Radio Goliaths..Meet A 'David'

In a world filled with streaming music services, satellite radio, iPods and even the occasional CD and cassette player, does anyone listen to radio anymore?

Mike Knar

Why, yes they do, Mike Knar tells the Colorado Springs Gazette, which is why he and his wife, Lori, started Southern Colorado Radio - better known as SoCo Radio - nearly three years ago. They began with one station, KFEZ 101.3 FM, which went live at the end of 2012. Now, two years later, they have four southern Colorado stations, including one that launched Nov. 1, plus a management agreement with a station in Pueblo and a sales arrangement with two others in Colorado Springs.

They have 20 to 25 employees.

And the operation is profitable, he says.

Still, they're mindful of the challenges, not only from the constant advancements in technology, but from the David-and-Goliath landscape of radio. The U.S. radio industry is dominated by two giants: iHeartMedia, formerly Clear Channel, and Cumulus Media. iHeartMedia owns and operates 840 broadcast radio stations in 150 U.S. markets, while Cumulus has 525 stations in 110 cities, according to the companies' websites.

Knar, however, sees opportunity in a locally owned enterprise with a regional presence.

"Sure, the bigger conglomerates are funneling money into the market through the employees they hire," Knar says. "But most of that money is taken out of the market. We tell advertisers that."

KFEZ 101. FM (95.5Kw) 60dBu Coverage

An even bigger advantage, he says: Major decisions don't have to make their way up the corporate ladder.

"If someone in my string of stations needs something, it's provided rapidly," he says. "I don't have to ask anybody."

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ASCAP Releases List Of Most-Performed Holiday Songs

It’s become an annual tradition: at the beginning of every holiday season, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) announces its list of the most-performed holiday songs of the year - the evergreen hits that accompany more family get-togethers and wintertime shopping trips than any others.

This year, ASCAP presents its 100th birthday celebration into the holiday season by unwrapping the top 30 ASCAP holiday songs of all time. Topping the list is “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” written by Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie.

Paul Williams

ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams commented: “Music reminds us that the holidays are supposed to be about togetherness and good cheer. These 30 ASCAP classics perfectly capture those themes and for many are a bridge to wonderful memories of days gone by. The list is a testament to the enduring importance of great songs and songwriters. It’s also a reminder of the essential role that ASCAP and our members play in our lives, year after year. It simply wouldn’t be the holidays without ASCAP music.”

“Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” became an unexpected hit for songwriters Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie when radio star Eddie Cantor was looking for a holiday song to sing on a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade radio broadcast.

It became a smash, selling 30,000 copies of Cantor’s rendition and another 100,000 copies of the sheet music within a day of the broadcast. Perry Como, the Four Seasons, Luis Miguel and Bruce Springsteen have recorded beloved versions of “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” over the decades; recent covers by ASCAP members Justin Bieber (2011), Rod Stewart (2012) and Sufjan Stevens (2012) have kept it relevant to today’s listeners, 80 years after it was written.

Below is the list of the top 30 most-performed ASCAP holiday songs of all time. Each song includes songwriter credits, plus the year that the song was first released, performed or published.

1. “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” (1934)
Written by Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie

2. “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” (1944)
Written by Mel Tormé and Robert Wells

3. “White Christmas” (1941)
Written by Irving Berlin

4. “Winter Wonderland” (1934)
Written by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith

5.  “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” (1944)
Written by Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin

6. “Sleigh Ride” (1948)
Written by Leroy Anderson and Mitchell Parish

7. “Jingle Bell Rock” (1958)
Written by Joseph Carleton Beal and James Ross Boothe

8. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1949)
Written by Johnny Marks

9. “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” (1945)
Written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne

10. “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” (1943)
Written by Kim Gannon and Walter Kent

11. “Little Drummer Boy” (1941)
Written by Katherine Davis, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone

12. “Silver Bells" (1950)
Written by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston

13. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” (1958)
Written by Johnny Marks

14. “Frosty the Snowman” (1950)
Written by Steve Nelson and Walter E. Rollins

15. “Blue Christmas” (1949)
Written by Billy Hayes and Jay Johnson

16. “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” (1963)
Written by Edward Pola and George Wyle

17. “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” (1951)
Written by Meredith Willson

18. “Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)” (1947)
Written by Gene Autry and Oakley Haldeman

19. “Do You Hear What I Hear?” (1962)
Written by Gloria Shayne Baker (SACEM) and Noël Regney (SACEM)

20. “Carol of the Bells” (1936)
Written by Mykola Leontovych and Peter Wilhousky

21. “Feliz Navidad” (1970)
Written by Jose Feliciano

22. “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas” (1965)
Written by Johnny Marks

23. “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” (1952)
Written by Tommy Connor (PRS)

24. “Last Christmas” (1984)
Written by George Michael

25. “Home for the Holidays” (1954)
Written by Robert Allen and Al Stillman

26. “Wonderful Christmastime” (1979)
Written by Paul McCartney (PRS)

27. “Happy Holidays” (from Holiday Inn) (1942)
Written by Irving Berlin

28. “All I Want for Christmas Is You” (1994)
Written by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey (BMI)

29. “Santa Baby” (1953)
Joan Javits, Philip Springer and Tony Springer (SOCAN)

30. “This Christmas” (1970)
Written by Donny Hathaway and Nadine McKinnor

R.I.P.: San Antonio Indie DJ Jason Gonzales

DJ Shabbytiger

Local indie DJ, sometime musician, visual artist and former KSYM 90.1 FM radio personality Jason R. Gonzales, known to his fans as DJ Shabbytiger, died unexpectedly from an apparent heart attack Thursday.

Gonzales was 39.

To his friends, Gonzales will always be DJ Shabbytiger, a fixture on the underground scene and an avid supporter of bands and experimental artists. His tastes ran toward post-punk, alternative, shoegaze, emo and electronic music.

“Jason epitomized San Antonio. He wasn't a hipster, he was just hip,” said Brian Parrish, radio host of “The Casbah” on KSYM, the San Antonio College radio station where Gonzales worked in the mid-1990s.

“He loved this town. I just can't imagine not seeing him around anymore. Everyone loved him.”

R.I.P.: Longtime SC Radio/TV Personality Monty DuPuy

Monty DuPuy

Longtime radio and TV broadcaster Monty DuPuy died Saturday.

He was 85-years-of-age.

DuPuy went on the air on radio in Greenville starting in 1949.

When WYFF 4 started as WFBC TV in 1953, he worked for both the radio and TV stations.

He hosted the top rated morning show on WFBC radio, while on TV he was best known for anchoring weather, and hosting the popular children's show "Monty's Rascals."

His last children's show and weathercast was in 1978, when he left to start his own radio station.

DuPuy was honored in 2002 with the Masters Award from the South Carolina Broadcasters Association for his on-air work.

McCartney Calls Lennon Killer 'Jerk of All Jerks'

John Lennon was assassinated outside his Manhattan apartment 34 years ago today, on 8 December 1980. Paul McCartney has said he got an early morning phone call. "It was just so horrific, you couldn't take it in and I couldn't take it in." (BBC, ITV, me)

Lennon's killer Mark Chapman (in jail) reportedly said he had heard voices in his head telling him to kill the musician. McCartney said: "The phrase kept coming in my head, 'The jerk of all jerks.' It was just like 'this is just a jerk, this is not even a guy politically motivated, it's just some total random thing.'"

Referring to the Beatles' break-up in April 1970, McCartney said, "We got to a point where we got really crappy over business." They didn't see each other for four years. McCartney said they became "good friends" again after becoming new fathers in the mid-1970s

McCartney said the fighting between them had become "boring" and they bonded over "normal stuff" - being new fathers and bread-making recipes. "The story about the break-up, it's true but it's not the main bit, the main bit was the affection." McCartney spoke on the Jonathan Ross Show on ITV.

December 8 In Radio History

In 1928…In Nashville, George D. Hay used the term "Grand Ole Opry" for the first time when introducing the show to the WSM radio audience.


In 1940...the first NFL championship was broadcast on national radio. The Bears beat the Redskins, 73-0.




In 1941…A Presidential Address was delivered at 12:30 p.m. to a Joint Session of Congress by U. S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, one day after the Empire of Japan's attack on the Pearl Harbor Naval Base in Hawaii. Roosevelt described the previous day as "a date which will live in infamy." Within an hour of the speech, Congress passed a formal declaration of war against Japan and officially brought the U.S. into World War II. Britain and Canada also declared war on Japan, although both countries already had been fighting World War II in Europe against Germany.


In 1943....The Doors' lead singer Jim Morrison was born. He died of heart failure in Paris on July 3, 1971 at 27.


In 1962…In New York City, disc jockey and promoter Alan Freed appeared at his payola trial and admitted to receiving money from record labels to play their songs on the air. He was found guilty, fined $300, and given six months probation, but the irreparable damage to his reputation and career had been done. Dick Clark, host of ABC-TV's "American Bandstand," was also questioned but was cleared of all charges.


In 1962...New York newspaper strike begins - WABC FM goes all news




In 1980…Two months after his 40th birthday, John Lennon was murdered by Mark David Chapman, outside his home at the Dakota apartment building on the northwestern corner of 72nd Street and Central Park West in New York City.

After approaching the former Beatle and calling his name, Chapman dropped into a combat stance and shot John in his chest, back and left arm. Lennon staggered into the porters' vestibule and was comforted by porter Jay Hastings, who covered him with his jacket and removed his glasses. Police were quickly summoned and took John to Roosevelt Hospital on West 59th Street. Doctors did everything they could to save him, but John Lennon was pronounced dead at 11:07 p.m. A sobbing Yoko Ono cried "Oh no, no, no, no ... tell me it's not true," and was led away in shock.

The 24-year-old Chapman remained at the scene, took out his copy of "The Catcher in the Rye" and read it until the police arrived and arrested him without incident.

Many Americans learned of the tragedy while watching ABC-TV's "Monday Night Football." Howard Cosell announced the news of the murder: "This, we have to say it, is just a football game, no matter who wins or loses. An unspeakable tragedy, confirmed to us by ABC News in New York City: John Lennon, outside of his apartment building on the West Side of New York City, the most famous perhaps of all of the Beatles, shot twice in the back, rushed to Roosevelt Hospital, dead on arrival."

After being denied parole multiple times, Lennon's killer remains in prison.


In 2004…Producer/former "American Bandstand" host Dick Clark was hospitalized in Los Angeles after suffering a stroke. Clark later reduced his workload and public profile but returned to Times Square for limited TV segments during the annual New Year's Eve celebrations. He died of a heart attack in April 2012.




In 2012…Arnold Dean, a radio broadcaster for nearly 65 years and the host of WTIC-Hartford's "SportsTalk" show since 1976, died a day after he had his pacemaker replaced at age 82.