Marc Malusis said on Sunday that he "was the last to know, which is hard," about being replaced on WFAN’s midday show last week, reports Neil Best at Newsday.
Malusis and Maggie Gray did their last 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. program on Thursday, after which the station announced that Brandon Tierney and Tiki Barber would succeed them effective on Jan. 3.
At the open of his Sunday morning NFL show on WFAN, Malusis addressed the matter, saying, "Management made the decision to go with a new midday show, which is tough.
"But I do want to thank management, old and new — Chris [Oliviero], Spike [Eskin], Mark Chernoff — for the opportunity I was afforded the last two years to do the midday show.
"I was the last to know, which is hard. But right now, all I can control is what I do and how I respond, and I will."
Malusis thanked listeners and sponsors but during his opening remarks did not mention Gray, who on Friday landed the CBS Sports Radio afternoon slot that Tierney and Barber currently occupy. She will partner with Andrew Perloff.
Malusis said the outpouring of support for him has been "overwhelming." He said he plans to continue doing the Sunday show with former Giants offensive lineman David Diehl.
"I’ve been here 21 years. WFAN has been my life, and WFAN means the world to me."
As for the future, Malusis said he will continue his NFL show on Sundays with former Giant David Diehl and will “figure some things out” with WFAN executives, according to The NY Post.
Over the weekend CNN fired Chris Cuomo amid an investigation into his involvement into advising his brother, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. He was suspended earlier mast week and the network conducted an investigation.
“Chris Cuomo was suspended earlier this week pending further evaluation of new information that came to light about his involvement with his brother’s defense. We retained a respected law firm to conduct the review, and have terminated him, effective immediately,” the network said in a statement on Saturday. “While in the process of that review, additional information has come to light. Despite the termination, we will investigate as appropriate.”
Following his dismissal from the network, former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo denies allegation of sexual misconduct, his representative says. https://t.co/rCSx1KY7rZ
In his own statement on Saturday, Cuomo said: “This is not how I want my time at CNN to end but I have already told you why and how I helped my brother. So let me now say as disappointing as this is, I could not be more proud of the team at ‘Cuomo Prime Time’ and the work we did as CNN’s #1 show in the most competitive time slot. I owe them all and will miss that group of special people who did really important work.”
Last Monday, new documents, released by the office of the New York Attorney General, revealed that Cuomo went to greater lengths than he previously disclosed while advising his brother. The documents, which were from an investigation of the sexual harassment accusations that forced the governor to resign, showed that the host used his contacts as a journalist to attempt to learn information about the accusers.
In addition, the documents reveal that Chris Cuomo was regularly in touch with Andrew Cuomo’s adviser Melissa DeRosa. A text message proves that in March, just days after a woman named Anna Ruch accused Andrew Cuomo of attempting to kiss her at a wedding, Chris Cuomo told DeRosa, “I have a lead on the wedding girl.”
Around the same time, Cuomo told viewers he “obviously” could not cover the accusations against Andrew. However, he did not disclose that he was already serving as a de facto adviser.
Chris Cuomo's spokesman on Sunday issued an extraordinary statement, claiming the CNN's president Jeff Zucker was fully aware of his star anchor's communications with his brother's team.
Chris, 51, was fired on Saturday from his $6 million-a-year job after CNN ruled that he had not been forthcoming about how much help he had given Andrew Cuomo when he was battling sexual abuse allegations. Yet Chris's spokesman on Sunday said Zucker knew all about the assistance - as did others around Zucker.
CNN's media correspondent has suggested that there could be more bad news for fired anchor Chris Cuomo, confirming that allegations of sexual misconduct did play a part in his ouster and claiming he 'was continually causing headaches for management'.
The Daily Mail reports Brian Stelter in his Sunday morning show on CNN said that Cuomo's firing the day before was both due to his failure to be transparent about his involvement in his brother's efforts to save his political career, and allegations that week of sexual misconduct.
And Stelter said on Sunday night said that there could be further revelations coming, with fresh accusations against Cuomo's ex NY Governor brother Andrew emerging after initial accusers came forward.
'Reporters at The New York Times and other outlets have pursued tips about Cuomo in the past, and the info about (Cuomo accuser's lawyer) Debra Katz's client was first reported by the NYT late Saturday.
'Katz did not respond to my requests for comment on Sunday. A spokesperson for Cuomo said, "these apparently anonymous allegations are not true."'
Stelter added: 'Jodi Kantor, who co-bylined the NYT reporting, observed that "this means that both Cuomo brothers have lost their positions in the wake of #metoo accusations..."'
Stelter also, in his evening newsletter, explained the pressure the allegations heaped on their star anchor.
'This was a case of death-by-a-thousand-cuts,' Stelter said.
'Cuomo was continually causing headaches for management and for CNN writ large. And the headaches were certain to continue...'
The allegations were made by a colleague from his time at ABC News, where Cuomo worked from 2006-13.
The unnamed woman's lawyer, Debra Katz, went to CNN executives on Wednesday - the day after Cuomo was 'suspended indefinitely' by the network for giving his brother Andrew's team far more extensive assistance than he had admitted.
Data reveals that listening to music radio in a car is popular among a majority of consumers across four in five markets of our survey - and is the most common way to listen for most.
In Australia, particularly, this method of music consumption is pervasive among three in five consumers (61%). Closely following are more than half of the consumers in Germany (58%), the US (54%) and Great Britain (56%). In contrast, this behaviour is less pronounced among adults in Indonesia – with under three in ten saying so (27%). It’s also worth noting that older consumers in Indonesia are likelier to listen to music radio in a car than their younger age cohorts (18-29: 20%; 30-44: 29%; 45+: 37%).
Americans like listening to free online music
However, there are stark differences across markets in how consumers choose different platforms to listen to music. In the US, for instance, consumers are more likely to stream free music online than via a paid service (35% vs. 33%). About three in ten US adults tell us they listen to music on CDs (29%), while internet radio and paid downloaded music (27% and 27% respectively) are also close contenders.
More than a quarter of Americans also show a preference for music available on video streaming sites (26%), reports Profiles at YouGov.com.
One in five Germans listen to music on portable radio
Consumers in Germany are more likely to listen to music on video streaming sites than via CDs they own (39% vs. 34%). Internet radio is used by close to a quarter of consumers (24%) and a similar share say they listen to paid online music (23%). Consuming music on portable radios, which ranks low on the list among respondents in other markets, is still preferred by one on five adults (20%). One in seven Germans also tell us that they listen to radio music via a television set (14%).
Brits listen to music via online platforms
In Britain, a substantial proportion of consumers tell us they listen to music on CDs (36%). However, it’s worth noting that online platforms too are popular among British adults as listening to paid online music (32%), internet radio (26%) and free music streaming platforms (25%) rank high on the list for consumers. A notable proportion also consume music on video streaming sites (18%).
Music CDs, followed by free online music – most popular in Australia
Listening to music on CDs ranks high on the list among consumers in Australia (36%). The use of online music platforms is pervasive among Aussie adults as a similar share of this audience listen to free online music (35%), followed by those who have a paid subscription (33%) and those who tune into music streamed through internet radio (29%). More than a quarter say they listen to paid downloaded music (28%) or video streaming sites (28%).
MORE INFORMATION NEEDED: Dr. Anthony Fauci said Sunday that early reports suggest the omicron variant of Covid-19 may be less severe than delta, but that more information is needed before making that conclusion. Appearing on CNN's State of the Union, President Biden's chief medical adviser said, "Thus far, it does not look like there’s a great degree of severity to it. But we have really got to be careful before we make any determinations that it is less severe or it really doesn’t cause any severe illness, comparable to delta." Reports from South Africa, where omicron emerged and is fast becoming the dominant strain, suggest there hasn't been a worrying spike in hospitalization rates. As of Sunday, omicron cases had been found in about one-third of U.S. states and health officials say it's spreading, but delta is still the dominant variant by far, and is causing a surge in hospitalizations in some northern states.
COVID Cases:updated: 12/6/21 at 2:22 AM SOURCE Johns Hopkins University; WHO; CDC; USA TODAY
SUPERINTENDENT: WILL BE OUTSIDE PROBE INTO EVENTS AT MICHIGAN HIGH SCHOOL BEFORE SHOOTING: Oxford Community Schools Superintendent Tim Throne said this weekend that there will be an investigation by a third party of the events at Oxford High School before the shooting at the Michigan school last week that left four students and six other students and a teacher wounded. Throne said he asked for the outside probe because parents have asked questions about, quote, "the school's version of events leading up to the shooting." Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald on Friday detailed many warning signs from the student charged as an adult in the shooting, 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley.
His parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, were charged with involuntary manslaughter. They pled not guilty Saturday and a judge imposed a combined $1 million bond hours after they were caught hiding in a Detroit commercial building following a manhunt. But defense attorneys for the couple insisted they never intended to flee and had left town for their own safety. The attorneys said the Crumbleys had made plans to meet their lawyers and had intended to return.
➤LAST MEMBER OF 'BAND OF BROTHERS' DEAD AT 99: World War Two veteran Edward Shames, who was the last surviving officer of “Easy Company,” which inspired the 2001 HBO miniseries, Band of Brothers, and the 1992 book on which it was based, died Friday (December 3rd) at his home in Virginia. He was 99. During World War Two, he was a member of the renowned Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. He fought in many of the war's major battles, and an online obituary said, "He made his first combat jump into Normandy on D-Day as part of Operation Overlord." After the war, Shames worked for the National Security Agency as an expert on Middle East affairs.
➤BIDEN, PUTIN TO HAVE VIDEO CALL AMID UKRAINE TENSIONS: President Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin will speak in a video call tomorrow amid increased tensions between the two countries over Russia's troop buildup on Ukraine's border that's seen as a sign of a potential invasion. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Saturday that Biden will, quote, "reaffirm the United States’ support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine." Putin, meanwhile, will make clear Russia's opposition to any move to admit Ukraine into NATO. However, NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said last week that Russia has no say in such plans by other countries or the alliance.
🛳CRUISE SHIP WITH AT LEAST 17 ON BOARD WITH COVID-19 DOCKS IN NEW ORLEANS: A Norwegian Cruise Line ship with at least 17 people on board, both passengers and crew, who were infected with Covid-19 docked in New Orleans yesterday. The cruise line said all of the identified cases on the Norwegian Breakaway ship were asymptomatic. Local station Fox 8 reported at least one of the cases was the omicron variant. All passengers and crew, a total of more than 3,200 people, were required to be vaccinated against Covid-19 before departure. The ship left New Orleans on November 28th and made stops in Belize, Honduras, and Mexico.
🍺SURVEY..U-S IS WORLD’S 4TH-DRUNKEST COUNTRY: Americans aren’t the drunkest people in the world. The latest Global Drug Survey spoke to 32,000 people in 22 countries and found Australia to be the drunkest country, with people there saying they drink alcohol about twice a week on average, and get drunk 27 times per year, more than people in any other country surveyed. The survey defined drunk as “having drunk so much that your physical and mental faculties are impaired to the point where your balance/speech was affected.” The US is the fourth-drunkest country in the world, according to the findings, coming in behind Denmark and Finland but just ahead of the UK. Data for this report was collected between December 2020 and March 2021. A few other interesting findings: Australia was first in the number of times people reported seeking emergency medical treatment after alcohol use; people from Ireland reported getting drunk an average of 14.6 times a year and were also most likely to regret getting drunk; and those from Denmark and Finland were least likely to regret getting drunk.
The Kennedy Center Honors return to tradition with an in-person gala and the presence of the president for the first time since 2016. https://t.co/pbo12oqBl3
➤STUDY..ALLERGY SUFFERERS HAVE NEARLY 40% LOWER RISK OF COVID-19 INFECTION: Having an allergic condition is no fun, but it could help protect you from COVID-19. Queen Mary University of London researchers found that people who suffer with conditions like eczema, hay fever, rhinitis, and asthma had a lower risk of contracting COVID-19. Those with eczema, hay fever, and rhinitis had a 23 percent lower chance of contracting the virus, while those with asthma had a 38 percent lower risk, and those taking immunosuppressants had a 53 percent lower risk of infection. Still, researchers say this study is observational and cannot prove causation.
🐶STUDY..FEED FIDO JUST ONCE A DAY TO PREVENT FUTURE HEALTH PROBLEMS: Feeding your pooch just once a day could reduce the risk of them dealing with age-related health issues. University of Washington researchers polled information from over 20,000 pet owners. About eight percent of dog owners reported only feeding their pet once each day. These dogs scored 0.63 points lower on a test for cognitive dysfunction compared to dogs who were fed more often. The dogs fed once a day also had a 59 percent lower risk of having liver issues, and 35 percent lower chance of having gastrointestinal disease, as well as lower risk for kidney/urinary issues, orthopedic problems, and dental concerns. Still, researchers acknowledge the study had limitations, but note if their findings are supported by future studies, it could be wise to revisit the currently predominant recommendation that adult dogs be fed twice daily.
➤ZOOM’S NEW ATTENDANCE TOOL WILL SNITCH ON ATTENDEES WHO ARE LATE TO A MEETING: Zoom is adding a new tool that will make it harder to sneak into a work meeting late. It’s called “Attendance Status” and allows Zoom hosts and co-hosts to use calendar integration from Google and Microsoft to easily see whether or not invited participants joined the meeting on time. According to Zoom’s support page, those who have been invited but have not joined will be listed on a “Not Joined” list that’s visible to all. Hosts and co-hosts can also see if the no-shows clicked the “Accepted,” “Declined,” “Maybe,” or “No” selections on their calendar response. If a user mistakenly logs into a Zoom meeting with an account other than the one they originally used to accept the invitation, Zoom says they will appear as both “Not Joined” and “Joined.” The tool could be useful for bosses or professors tracking who showed up to a meeting or class.
➤STUDY..TOYS PROVE TO BE BETTER INVESTMENT THAN GOLD, ART, AND FINANCIAL SECURITIES: It seems people who collected Beanie Babies in the ‘90s weren’t so crazy after all. A study finds that unusual ways of investment, such as collecting toys, can generate high returns. For example, secondary market prices of retired LEGO sets grow by 11 percent annually, which is faster than gold, stocks, and bonds. Higher School of Economics researcher and study co-author Victoria Dobrynskaya explains, “We are used to thinking that people buy such items as jewelry, antiques, or artworks as an investment. However, there are other options, such as collectible toys. Tens of thousands of deals are made on the secondary LEGO market. Even taking into account the small prices of most sets, this is a huge market that is not well-known by traditional investors.” In addition, researchers found that LEGO prices are weakly dependent on the stock market, and they were even growing during the financial crisis of 2008. Still, study authors say that investment in LEGO is worthwhile only in the long term, and incurs higher transaction costs (like delivery and storage) than investment in financial securities.
🏈LIONS FINALLY GET A WIN IN 29-27 VIKINGS DEFEAT: It took until Week 13 of the NFL season, but the Detroit Lions finally got a win yesterday, defeating the Minnesota Vikings 29-27. They did it at home in Detroit in a dramatic way, with quarterback Jared Goff throwing an 11-yard touchdown pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown as time expired. The Lions managed to get down the field for the TD without a timeout, after the Vikings went ahead on their own touchdown pass with 1:50 left, but missed a two-point conversion. Detroit has now put to rest a 15-game winless streak that dated back to last season.
🏈ALABAMA, MICHIGAN, GEORGIA, CINCINNATI TOP FOUR FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF: The College Football Playoff selection committee revealed its top four teams on Selection Day yesterday (December 5th) who will play for the national title: No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Michigan, No. 3 Georgia and No. 4 Cincinnati, which is the first Group of 5 team in the history of the CFP. Alabama will play Cincinnati in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, and Michigan will face Georgia in the Capital One Orange Bowl, both on December 31st. The winners will play in the national championship game on January 10th.
🏒CANUCKS NAME BOUDREAU NEW HEAD COACH, FIRE GREEN: The Vancouver Canucks named Bruce Boudreau as their new head coach last night (December 5th), firing Travis Green, as well as general manager Jim Benning, the assistant manager and assistant coach Nolan Baumgartner. Green was in his fifth season with Vancouver, which has a 8-15-2 record so far this season. Boudreau is a veteran head coach who's led the Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks and Minnesota Wild.
🏈OKLAHOMA NAMES VENABLES FOOTBALL HEAD COACH, REPLACING RILEY: Oklahoma named Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables its new head coach last night (December 5th), replacing Lincoln Riley, who left for USC last week in a surprise departure. This will be the first head coach position for Venables, who was previously with Oklahoma as co-defensive coordinator from 1999 to 2003 and defensive coordinator from 2004 to 2011.
⚾BUCK O'NEILL, HODGES, MINOSO AMONG SIX VOTED IN BASEBALL HALL OF FAME BY VETERANS COMMITTEES: Buck O'Neill, Gil Hodges and Minnie Minoso were among six inductees voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame Sunday by two veterans committees. The others were Jim Kaat, Tony Oliva and Bud Fowler. Oliva and Kaat, both age 83, are the only two who are still alive. This is the first year that O'Neil, Minoso and Fowler were able to make the Hall under new rules honoring contributions by Negro League players. After playing in the Negro Leagues, O'Neill was the first Black coach in MLB, and Minoso played in the Negro Leagues and then in MLB with the Chicago White Sox.
Katz Media Group reports the latest Nielsen PPM data for November 2021 show radio's weekly reach at 123.1 million, continuing a stretch of the highest weekly cume since before the onset of the pandemic. Weekly cume is up +2.8M year-over-year, and +16.5 ahead of the pandemic low of last April. Radio's Average Quarter Hour persons hit 7.7M in November, tracking an increase of +100,000 over last year, and +1.9M over the pandemic low. AQH levels are strong across various demos, with the greatest YoY growth seen among Hispanics and Black Americans (+5%).
November's AQH shows strong performance from all dayparts - especially Drive Times, which continue to maintain their highest levels since the start of the pandemic. Once again, Drive Times show the most year-over-year growth among the dayparts, up +9% (+800K) for AMD, and +4% (+400K) for PMD.
Weekends and Evenings were the first dayparts to rebound, regaining much of their lost audience by the summer of 2020. Therefore, their November performance is stable year-over-year. The slight dip in Midday listening YoY is likely reflecting a shift to AMD listening as more employed adults return to their regular daily commutes.
As for Morning Drive, figures from Katz show a radio recovery is further seen in key demos experiencing strong year-over-year growth and peak usage. Persons 18-34 listening has hit its highest level since the pandemic onset, up +6% YoY. Persons 25-54 are up +6% YoY as well, while Women 25-54 are up +15%. Teens 12-17 are up a whopping +76% over last November, experiencing marked growth every month of the current school year, and surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
Figures from Katz also prove consumers enjoy holiday music while taking parts in a variety of activities,even non-holiday related ones. Listeners are in the holiday sports at home, in the car, at work, and while out running errands. According to Katz, advertisers have ample opportunity to reach consumers.
Former President Donald Trump’s media company said Digital World Acquisition Corp. has agreed to a $1 billion investment following the combination of both companies.
Bloomberg reports Trump first announced the plan to merge with the so-called blank-check firm in October that would help enable him to regain a social media presence after he was kicked off Twitter Inc. and Facebook Inc. platforms. The new enterprise will be in operation by the first quarter of 2022 and plans to start a social media company called Truth Social.
The transaction will provide about $1.25 billion of proceeds to fund the operations of the combined entity, Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. said in the joint release Saturday, with the price conversion ratio adjusted based on the share performance of Digital World.
“$1 billion sends an important message to Big Tech,” Trump said in the statement, adding to earlier accusations of censorship and political discrimination. “As our balance sheet expands, TMTG will be in a stronger position to fight back against the tyranny of Big Tech.”
Bloomberg columnist Matt Levine said last week that Trump’s company hasn’t provided updates on its financials, operations and plans, and that the deal with Digital World has yet to close or file any proxy statements.
Pointing to the math for the transaction, Levine said Trump is “gonna get his money” because “retail investors and Trump political allies will pay $44 for the right to give Trump $10.”
Still, some investors have already gained from the planned deal.
Hedge fund manager Bruce Kallins just had the best month of his three-decade career after his event-driven fund, Yakira Partners, gained roughly 12% in October, far better than peers.
The fund got a big boost from its stake in Digital World following the announcement with Trump’s company. Yakira was the best performer among 67 event-driven funds tracked by industry research firm BarclayHedge. The fund’s returns were twice as high as the next best performer in the category, said BarclayHedge President Sol Waksman.
Spotify Technology has removed the work of hundreds of comedians, including John Mulaney, Jim Gaffigan and Kevin Hart, amid a new fight over royalty payments, reports The Wall Street Journal.
Tiffany Haddish, Mike Birbiglia and a host of other popular acts have joined a group of entertainers trying to get paid a royalty on a copyright for jokes they wrote when they are played on radio and digital service providers like Spotify, SiriusXM, Pandora and YouTube.
The comedians’ effort is largely led by Spoken Giants. The global rights administration company, founded in 2019, wants to collect royalties for underlying composition copyrights of spoken-word media—essentially, the comedians’ words—similar to how songwriters are paid for use of their music and lyrics.
Spotify took the content down after reaching an impasse with Spoken Giants.
Currently, comics are paid as performers through their label or distributor and digital performance rights organization SoundExchange when their recordings are played on a digital service. They aren’t directly compensated as writers of that work—for what Spoken Giants is calling their literary rights.
The complaints from comedians come as songwriters and artists are seeking ways to control their work and get more money out of streaming services and radio.
Spoken Giants is run by Jim King, a former executive at music performance rights organization BMI, along with Ryan Bitzer and Damion Greiman, co-founders of comedy label 800 Pound Gorilla Records. The company has started by representing writers of comedy bits and jokes, with plans to expand across podcasts, speeches and lectures.
The organization began reaching out to streaming services and satellite and terrestrial radio in the spring. Other services and radio companies have been talking with Spoken Giants. After some negotiations with Spotify, Spoken Giants said it received an email on the eve of Thanksgiving saying it would remove works represented by the organization until an agreement could be reached.
The dispute highlights a shifting media landscape disrupted by streaming. BMI and ASCAP were founded at the beginning of the 20th century to collect license fees on behalf of composers and songwriters as radio took off. Historically, comedy had very few listeners in comparison. That has changed, Mr. King said, with comedy albums available on streaming platforms and SiriusXM and others having entire stations dedicated to comedy.
Audacy rocked a weekend of live music on the beach during its inaugural “Audacy Beach Festival” in Fort Lauderdale, FL on December 4 and 5. The two-day event was powered by performances from Twenty One Pilots, Lil Nas X, Weezer, The Lumineers, Glass Animals, Modest Mouse, Bleachers, Steve Aoki, AJR, Bastille, Yungblud, Walk the Moon, Cold War Kids, Tai Verdes, MOD SUN, Milky Chance, Willow, Beabadoobee, Cannons, The Regrettes, girl in red and Daisy the Great.
“After years of our popular Riptide event, we could not have been more excited to get back to the beach for a weekend of fun on the sand with our fans for the first ever ‘Audacy Beach Festival,’” said Michael Martin, Senior Vice President of Programming and Music Initiatives, Audacy. “We can all do a little more to help protect and preserve our planet, and this event allowed us to unite with five great partners to promote easy, sustainable practices to live healthier lifestyles.”
With the sun beaming down on day one of Audacy Beach Festival, Glass Animals elevated the crowd with their top hit “Heat Waves.” Later, fans were dancing throughout an epic performance from Steve Aoki before The Lumineers serenaded attendees with new music from their upcoming album “Brightside.” Twenty One Pilots closed out the evening with top hits and surprise covers from various artists during a campfire acoustic set. Day two continued with jams from artists like Cold Ward Kids, Bastille and Yungblud, before Lil Nas X delivered an electric performance of Grammy Award-nominated “Montero.” AJR helped wrap the two-day festival with a “Bang” before Weezer sent the South Florida crowd to “Beverly Hills” and into a frenzy with their renditions of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” and Toto’s “Africa” to close the night.
As part of Audacy's 1Thing sustainability initiative to promote positive environmental practices and living, “Audacy Beach Festival” committed a portion of ticket sales to support REVERB, a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to empowering millions of individuals to take action toward a better future for people and the planet, and its Music Climate Revolution campaign focused clean energy and carbon fighting projects. Audacy’s 1Thing initiative also teamed up with Celebration of the Sea Foundation (CSF), the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (GHOF), Faith Farm Ministries, and Conservation International to promote ocean conservation and sustainability. Sustainability practices included paperless tickets, digital signage, refill water stations, and more. Proceeds of the event’s reusable water bottles sold benefitted ocean conservation and educational initiatives through the CSF and GHOF. Excess food was rescued by Faith Farm Ministries and a donation to Conservation International will plant a tree for every festival attendee.
Forty-one percent of UK residents age 16+ (approximately 23 million people) have listened to a podcast in the last month, according to The Infinite Dial 2021 UK, the first study of its kind in the United Kingdom.
The Infinite Dial 2021 UK was conducted by Edison Research and sponsored by Bauer Media Group UK and Spotify. The study surveyed 1,000 UK residents age 16+ on a variety of measures including online digital audio platforms, radio, social media, smart speakers, and more.
Findings from the study show several strengths in the audio space in the UK, including podcasts:
Seventy-one percent of those age 16+ are familiar with podcasts, and 59% of those age 16+ have ever listened to a podcast. The UK is on par with the U.S. regarding monthly podcast listening, as both countries have 41% of the 16+ population who have listened in the last month. The UK is slightly behind the U.S. regarding weekly podcast listening as 25% of the UK population age 16+ has listened to a podcast in the last week versus 29% of the U.S. population having listened in the last week. Weekly podcast listeners in the UK listen to an average of five podcast episodes per week.
Seventy-five percent of UK residents age 16+ listen to online audio each month, and 66% of UK residents age 16+ listen to online audio each week.
Facebook is the social media brand used most often, even among younger people. Fifty-five percent of social media users age 16+ in the UK use Facebook most often, followed by Instagram (8%), Snapchat (8%) and TikTok (7%). Among those age 16-34, the rank is the same but the proportions are different: 48% use Facebook most often followed by Instagram (14%), Snapchat (15%) and TikTok (10%)
One-quarter (25%) of the UK population age 16+ owns a smart speaker. Of those who own a smart speaker, 44% own one, 28% own two, and 28% own three or more of the devices.
According to Larry Rosin, President of Edison Research, “It is exciting to analyze the findings from the UK Infinite Dial in the context of other countries. It is evident that the UK is on par regarding many measures of consumption, including monthly podcast listening, and actually outpaces the US in areas like weekly radio reach and weekly online audio reach.”
Graham Bryce, Chief Operating Officer, Bauer Media Audio UK said, “The Infinite Dial research offers a unique insight into the consumption of digital media in the UK and highlights the growing opportunity audio provides commercial partners as a transparent and brand safe environment combined with data-led digital audio advertising at scale. We are now able to offer enhanced opportunities for advertisers which complement our leading radio business of 20 million weekly listeners in the UK, meaning we can offer the best of broadcast advertising and the advantages of digital targeting through our digital audio network Octave.”
James Cator, Spotify UK and Ireland, Head of Studios, said, “The first Infinite Dial report for the U.K. is a clear demonstration that consumers’ habits when it comes to audio consumption have changed rapidly, and are continuing to do so. As the UK’s most popular audio platform, Spotify is a key part of driving and delivering this change – as we’re seeing in podcast consumption in particular. You only have to look at how excited people have been to receive their Spotify Wrapped 2021 year-in-review to understand the enormous role that audio plays for people, and how creators soundtrack the world around us.”
Fox News Media’s new AVOD streaming service Fox Weather has started simulcasting its live weekend programming on the Fox Business Network.
TV Tehcnology reports the move to simulcast the Fox Weather streaming service marks the first time that the AVOD service has been made available to a linear network audience since the platform launched in October 2021, Fox Weather president Sharri Berg announced.
Every Saturday and Sunday FBN viewers will be able to watch America’s Weather Weekend live from 6-8 AM/ET from Fox Weather’s Studio W in the heart of Manhattan.
The program will emphasize the intersection of weather and business, spotlighting the potential financial impact of major and emerging weather systems, Fox said.
Following the two-hour simulcast on FBN, America’s Weather Weekend will continue live on Fox Weather from 8 AM to 12 PM/ET every weekend.
Fox noted that the Fox Weather app had more than 1 million downloads in its first week and that it has continued to add additional distribution partners, including Tubi which launched on November 15th, the Fox Nation CTV app, integration on iPads, as well as forthcoming integration on Apple Watches.
Fox Weather is a free platform available at foxweather.com and through the Fox Weather app for iOS and Android, as well as internet-connected TVs via Fox, the Fox News app, and Tubi.
Stonewall Jackson (November 6, 1932 – December 4, 2021)
Stonewall Jackson, a country singer and longtime Grand Ole Opry member known for his now-classic hit "Waterloo," died Saturday at age 89.
The Tennessean reports Jackson died early Saturday due to complications from vascular dementia, according to a statement from the Opry.
A classic country performer who charted songs in the 1950s, '60s and '70s, Jackson built his 65-year career on No. 1 hits "Waterloo" and "B.J. The D.J," as well as "A Wound Time Can't Erase," "Don't Be Angry" and his 1958 debut single "Life To Go," written by a young George Jones.
Born on Nov. 6, 1932, in Tabor City, North Carolina, Jackson was named after Confederate general Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. Raised on a south Georgia farm, Jackson at age 10 traded his bike for a guitar and began learning songs, according to his biography.
After serving in the U.S. Navy, he came to Nashville in 1956, knocking on the door of top publisher Acuff-Rose in hopes of launching a country music career.
“I came into town, stopped at a little motel on the south side of town, and checked in,” Jackson once said, according to the Grand Ole Opry. Across the street stood Acuff-Rose offices.
He added, “I said, I believe I’ll walk over there and see if anybody in country music will talk to me.”
He signed with publisher Wesley Rose and began climbing the country music ranks, becoming an Opry member on Nov. 3, 1956 — months before signing a record contract with Columbia. According to the Opry, Jackson worked in shipping for the institution before his career took off, including shifts where he mailed souvenir books from the basement of the National Life building.
He wouldn't be shipping collectables for long, though. Jackson's career took off in the late 1950s with "Life To Go" and "Waterloo," the latter spending five weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's country chart. The song remains Jackson's best-known, giving listeners a haunting story of three historical men — Biblical figure Adam, Napoleon Bonaparte and Tom Dooley — who "met (their) Waterloo," a nod to death. The song became a crossover hit for Jackson, breaking into the top five on pop charts.
Jackson regularly performed on the Opry throughout his career. The Opry dedicated Saturday night's performance to Jackson.
➦In 1877...Thomas Edison made his first recording of a human voice. On the recording Edison recited, “Mary had a little lamb. Its fleece was white as snow. And everywhere that Mary went, the lamb was sure to go.” Edison recordings were made on tin foil and could sustain replaying only a few times. Nevertheless, Edison’s little machine was an immediate sensation, widely demonstrated and covered by the press.
After the initial excitement around his invention, Edison turned from work on his “talking machine” to improve the electric light bulb. He would not work on the phonograph again until the late 1880s, when wax cylinders replaced tin foil as his recording medium.
Sound recording instruments before Edison’s did exist, but they were not intended to replay what had been recorded. Notable among these was Frenchman Leon Scott’s phonautograph.
Inspired by Edison’s work with sound recording, other inventors sought to improve the phonograph. Among the most noted were Alexander Graham Bell and Emile Berliner. Bell and his associates experimented with disc and cylinder recordings and their graphophone, which employed wax cylinder records, became a popular dictating machine. Berliner had commercial success with disc records and the machine to play them—the gramophone.
➦In 1923...President Coolidge became the first president to address the American people on broadcast radio from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC. Coolidge delivered a message about national priorities and the state of the nation to a joint session of Congress. Nowadays, that speech is known as the State of the Union address.
Over the years, technology has greatly changed the way Presidents deliver the State of the Union address. We've moved from broadcast radio to television, and now the Internet. Here's a timeline of some of the digital "firsts" when it comes to the State of the Union address:
President Calvin Coolidge in 1923: First radio broadcast of the address
President Harry Truman in 1947: First televised broadcast of the address
President George W. Bush in 2002: First live webcast on the Internet of the address
President Barack Obama in 2011: First to live-tweet the address
While there isn’t an exact number of how many people listened to President Coolidge’s first State of the Union address, the White House Historical Association estimates that his 1925 inaugural address reached more than 23 million radio listeners. In past administrations, reaching that many Americans was practically unheard of.
In 1877, President Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881) spoke on the telephone to the instrument’s inventor, Alexander Graham Bell. Two years later, Hayes had his own telephone in the White House, but the invention was so new that very few homes or offices in Washington had phones, so Hayes had few people to talk to. In fact, the president’s telephone number was "1".
➦In 1943...the prestigious hour-long drama show “Theatre Guild On the Air” began an almost ten-year run, debuting on CBS radio. For much of its run it was known as “The United States Steel Hour” first on ABC and then NBC radio, before moving to TV in 1953.
➦In 1957... Elvis Presley visited Memphis radio station WDIA 1070 AM where he met two of his music idols, R&B singers Little Junior Parker and Bobby “Blue” Bland.
➦In 1960...Gene Autry was attending the baseball winter meetings hoping to secure a broadcasting contract for KMPC, his Los Angeles radio station. The “Singing Cowboy” wound up as the owner of the expansion Los Angeles Angels (when no one came forward to bid for the team, Autry made a bid of his own). The team became the showpiece for KMPC.
➦In 1963...The Beatles issued their first of seven Christmas recordings featuring several renditions of the traditional carol "Good King Wenceslas" and individual messages from the four, ending with a closing chorus of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Ringo".
➦In 1971… John Lennon, Yoko Ono and the Plastic Ono Band released the single “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” with the Harlem Community Choir, was released in North America.
➦In 1980...BBC Radio aired a telephone interview with John Lennon in which he said he most enjoyed living in New York City because people there left him alone.
➦In 1988... Singer Roy Orbison suffered a fatal heart attack while on a visit to his mother near Nashville. He was aged just 52. His biggest hit was the million-selling No. 1 song “Oh, Pretty Woman.” During his heyday in the early 1960’s he had 27 straight records make the charts. He had been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. Earlier in 1988 Orbison had joined the superstar collaboration the Traveling Wilburys.
➦In 1993...actor Don Ameche died of prostate cancer at age 85. The movie star was first a star of bigtime radio, with such program credits as Betty & Bob, Grand Hotel, First Nighter, The (Battling) Bickersons, & the Charlie McCarthy Show. On TV the Frances Langford-Don Ameche Show ran just one season.
➦In 1994...WRKS NYC changed to a classic soul format
➦In 2003...Pat St. John aired first show on WAXQ NYC. He began his radio career on Windsor, Ontario's CKLW 800 AM in 1969 and 1970, followed by WKNR 1300 AM in late 1970 to early 1972, followed by WRIF 101.1 FM in April 1973.
St. John is best known for the 42 years he spent in the New York City radio market working for WPLJ, WNEW-FM, WAXQ and WCBS FM. He can now be heard on SiriusXM Radio '60s on 6 Weekdays 3PM to 7 PM ET and on Classic Rewind Weekends 6PM to midnight ET. St. John has done television voice-over work, including announcing for Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve from 2000 to 2010.
St. John is known for his conversational on-air style interspersed with bits of music trivia, along with "Collectible Cuts" from his extensive record library. He has been called a "walking encyclopedia" when it comes to his knowledge of music. St. John has interviewed many musicians.
➦In 2015…Washington D.C. sports talk host Ken Beatrice, who hosted a call-in show for 23 years, first on WMAL between 1973 and 1995 later on WTEM from 1995 to 2000, died of complications from pneumonia at age 72.
🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAYS:
Actor Patrick Bauchau (“The Pretender,” “Carnivale”) is 83.
Country singer Helen Cornelius is 80.
Actor James Naughton (“Hostages,” “Planet of the Apes”) is 76.
Singer Frank Beverly of Maze is 75.
Ashley Madekwe is 40
Actor JoBeth Williams is 73.
Actor Tom Hulce is 68.
Actor Kin Shriner is 68.
Talk show host Wil Shriner is 68.
Drummer Rick Buckler of The Jam is 66.
Singer Tish Hinojosa is 66.
Country singer Bill Lloyd of Foster and Lloyd is 66.
Comedian Steven Wright is 66.
Guitarist Peter Buck of R.E.M. is 65.
Drummer David Lovering of The Pixies is 60.
Guitarist Ben Watt of Everything But the Girl is 59.
Actor Janine Turner (“Strong Medicine,” “Northern Exposure”) is 59.
Director Judd Apatow (“The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” ″Knocked Up”) is 54.
Keyboardist Ulf “Buddha” Ekberg of Ace of Base is 51.
Actor Lindsay Price (“Splitting Up Together”) is 45.
