Bill Clark, previous President of Shamrock Broadcasting and Chairman of Chancellor Broadcasting, has been announced as the recipient of the 2019 Lowry Mays Excellence in Broadcasting Award.
The award will be presented at the Broadcasters Foundation of America’s annual breakfast at 7:00AM, Wednesday, April 10 in the Brahms Room of the Encore Hotel in Las Vegas, during the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show.
Bill Clark
As President of Shamrock Broadcasting’s radio division, Clark created one of the first ‘super groups,’ decades before consolidation. Under his leadership, Shamrock grew from nine radio stations to 21, with outlets in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Detroit, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Denver, Kansas City, and Minneapolis. When the company was sold to Chancellor Broadcasting, Clark was named its Chairman with responsibilities for both radio and television.
During his 42 years in broadcasting, Clark was deeply involved in the culture and direction of the industry. He was instrumental in bringing radio into the fold at the NAB in 1975 and served as an NAB Director. He was a member of the Radio Advertising Bureau’s Executive Committee for ten years, President of the Northern California Broadcasters Association, and a Director of the California Broadcasters Association. He received the NAB Radio Award in 1991 and was named California Broadcaster of the Year in 1992.
The Lowry Mays Excellence in Broadcasting Award is bestowed annually on an individual in broadcasting whose work exemplifies innovation, community service, advocacy, and entrepreneurship. It salutes its namesake Lowry Mays and is underwritten by The Mays Family Foundation.
The breakfast is complimentary to all in broadcasting, although pre-registration is required. To register, please click here. To register via phone or email, and to obtain information on reserving a page in the Program Guide, please contact the Broadcasters Foundation at 212-373-8250 or info@thebfoa.org.
➦In 1893...Nikola Tesla gave the first public demonstration of radio in St. Louis on March 1, 1893, although he had presented his work prior to this behind closed doors. Tesla first demonstrated wireless transmissions during a lecture in 1891. Just days before the St. Louis presentation, Tesla addressed the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, on February 23, 1893, describing in detail the principles of early radio communication.
Nikola Tesla
Tesla presented the fundamentals of radio in 1893 during his public presentation, "On Light and Other High Frequency Phenomena." Afterward, the principle of radio communication--sending signals through space to receivers--was widely publicized from Tesla's experiments and demonstrations.
Even before the development of the vacuum tube, Tesla’s descriptions contained all the elements that were later incorporated into radio systems. He initially experimented with magnetic receivers, unlike the coherers (detecting devices consisting of tubes filled with iron filings which had been invented by Temistocle Calzecchi-Onesti in 1884) used by Guglielmo Marconi and other early experimenters.
Radio offers another example of Tesla’s work receiving minimal or no long-term public acknowledgement. While Marconi is often credited with inventing the radio, this presentation by Tesla was recalled in courts several years later in invalidating Marconi patents.
Indeed, it, among other facts, pushed the United States Supreme Court in the 1943 case of Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of America vs. the United States to state that "it is now held that in the important advance upon his basic patent Marconi did nothing that had not already been seen and disclosed."
To be true, what Tesla demonstrated had more scientific interest than practical use, but he believed that by taking the “Tesla oscillator,” grounding one side of it, and connecting the other to an insulated body of a large surface, it would be possible to transmit electric oscillations a great distance and to communicate intelligence in this way to other oscillators.
In 1898 at the Electrical Exhibition in New York, Tesla would successfully demonstrate a radio-controlled boat. For that work, he was awarded US patent No. 613,809 for a "Method of and Apparatus for Controlling Mechanism of Moving Vessels or Vehicles." Between 1895 and 1897, Tesla received wireless signals transmitted via short distances in his lectures. He transmitted over medium ranges during presentations made between 1897 and 1910.
➦In 1904...Alton Glenn Miller born (Died: December 15, 1944 at age 40). He was an American big-band trombonist, arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era.
He was the best-selling recording artist from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best-known big bands. Miller's recordings include "In the Mood", "Moonlight Serenade", "Pennsylvania 6-5000", "Chattanooga Choo Choo", "A String of Pearls", "At Last", "(I've Got a Gal In) Kalamazoo", "American Patrol", "Tuxedo Junction", "Elmer's Tune", and "Little Brown Jug".
In just four years Glenn Miller scored 16 number-one records and 69 top ten hits—more than Elvis Presley (38 top 10s) and the Beatles (33 top 10s) did in their careers. While he was traveling to entertain U.S. troops in France during World War II, Miller's aircraft disappeared in bad weather over the English Channel.
Harry Caray
➦In 1914...Harry Caray born (real name Harry Christopher Carabina..Died from a heart attack just shy of his 84th birthday February 18, 1998). He was an American sportscaster on radio and television. He covered five Major League Baseball teams, beginning with 25 years of calling the games of the St. Louis Cardinals with two of these years also spent calling games for the St. Louis Browns. After a year working for the Oakland Athletics and eleven years with the Chicago White Sox, Caray spent the last sixteen years of his career as the announcer for the Chicago Cubs.
Caray caught his break when he landed the job with the Cardinals in 1945 and, according to several histories of the franchise, proved as expert at selling the sponsor's beer as he'd been in selling the Cardinals on KMOX. In 1982 he began 15 years of calling the Cubs games on superstation WGN which won him a national following.
➦In 1928...KGFJ Los Angles went on-air 1926. Amd on this darte it became the first radio station in the United States to adopt a 24-hour broadcast schedule. Today the station is know as KYPA 1230 AM and airs Korean-language programming.
➦In 1941...The National Life and Accident Insurance Company, owners of WSM-AM , became the first commercial broadcaster in the U.S. to receive an FM license from the Federal Communications Commission in 1941. Originally known as W47NV, the station operated for about 10 years, until NL&AI realized that few area households had FM radio receivers and that its commercial potential was lacking. NL&AI shut down WSM-FM in 1951 and returned the license to the FCC.
The present-day FM began broadcasting on November 1, 1962 as WLWM-FM, owned by C. Webber Parrish, a local Nashville businessman. National Life & Accident Insurance purchased the 95.5 MHz frequency from Parrish in 1968, and after a short period of simulcasting the AM, programmed an easy listening format (the format WLWM used) on it from 1969 until early 1976.
FM broadcasting in the United States began in the 1930s at engineer and inventor Edwin Howard Armstrong's experimental station, W2XMN.
➦In 1949...WFLN 95.7 FM signed on in Philadelphia. 95.7 FM was founded by Philadelphia civic leaders as a fine arts station, which signed on as WFLN at 5PM on March 14, 1949. In the early years, programming was heard in the evening hours only. In 1956, an AM operation was added, which mostly simulcasted the FM.
WFLN, which stood for "Franklin Broadcasting" was the first stand-alone (not co-owned with a local AM) station in Philadelphia. For nearly 50 years, the station's studios, transmitter and self-supporting tower were located at 8200 Ridge Pike, at the western edge of Roxborough, a few miles apart from the cluster of other antennas in Roxborough. From the late 1960s until the late 1980s, WFLN also maintained a small office in center city Philadelphia on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway near 17th Street. This facility was used as a sales office and small studio where host Ralph Collier would do live and recorded interviews. Until about 2004, remnants of white plastic letters spelling "WFLN" could be observed on a low brick wall at the abandoned location, but they have since disintegrated.
Station leadership was carried out by the Smith and Green families. Programming consisted of classical music along with a number of short "feature" programs. Little emphasis was placed on making the station profitable, and most years it simply broke even.
Today it's WBEN-FM 'Ben FM'. And the WFLN call letters are being used by station in Arcadia, FL/
➦In 1953...WJZ 770 AM changed call letters to WABC. The original Westinghouse Electric Corporation, whose broadcasting division is a predecessor to the current broadcasting unit of CBS Corporation, launched WJZ in 1921, and was located originally in Newark, New Jersey.
WJZ was sold in 1923 to the Radio Corporation of America, who moved its operations to New York, and on January 1, 1927, WJZ became the flagship station for the NBC Blue Network. NBC Blue would become the American Broadcasting Company in 1942. ABC later established WJZ-FM and WJZ-TV at the same time in 1948.
➦In 1999...WBIX 105.1 FM in NYC became know as WTJM. On December 10, 1998, at 6 p.m., after playing "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" by Green Day, the station flipped to the then-popular "Jammin' Oldies" format, branded as "Jammin' 105." The first song on "Jammin'" was "Celebration" by Kool & the Gang. On this date WBIX changed call letters to WTJM, in order to match the "Jammin'" branding. The station, which would play popular urban, dance, and rhythmic pop music of the mid-1960s through the 1980s, did better in the ratings than the previous format, and WTJM's results initially challenged those of longtime oldies station WCBS-FM.
Today the frequency is iHeartMedia's WWPR.
➦In 2007...Radio, TV character actor Eddie Firestone died (Born: December 11, 1920 at age 86). When he was 12, Firestone was in the cast of Wheatenaville, broadcast on NBC's Pacific network. He also have early success in the title role of radio's That Brewster Boy. He left the show in 1943, during World War II, to join the United States Marine Corps where he was commissioned reaching the rank of Captain. He remained in the Marine Corps Reserve from 1942-1957. At the time, he was billed as Eddie Firestone Jr. He went on to hundreds of appearances over 40 years of episodic TV, from “Bonanza” and “Perry Mason” to 'Dallas" and “Gunsmoke”.
Don Berns
➦In 2015…Veteran radio personality and actor Don Berns died of a heart attack at age 67.
Berns lived in Toronto, where he continued to innovate and create. As Dr. Trance, he was considered the “Godfather of Toronto’s Rave Scene.” He grew up in Hartford and did some acting in Toronto theater. And he continued to share his wit and humor with frequent postings on Facebook. Berns arrived in Buffalo in fall 1970. He and Jack Armstrong were the two new voices of Top40 WKBW 1520 AM. Berns hosted middays while Armstrong rocked Eastern America and Canada at night. Together, they brought new energy to KB. Berns’ trademark ending each day was “The Don Berns Show is a Dr. and Mrs. Berns production.”
He also worked in the Providence, Hartford and Albany markets before arriving in Buffalo.
After nearly four years at KB, Berns stunned many of his listeners when he announced he would be joining album rock WPhD 103.3FM. He changed his high energy top 40 sound to the slower-paced delivery of “progressive” jocks of that era. But his time at WPhD was short. Soon after he started, the station’s owners changed formats to top 40, and Berns was back doing what he did so well. Berns stayed at WYSL AM/FM through 1975 and then left the Buffalo market for Dallas.
He finally settled in Toronto. For many years, Berns was a personality on CFNY 102.1FM. He did voice over work, in addition to his dance parties and theater performances.
John Rook - 2013
➦In 2016...John Harlan Rook died (Born: October 9, 1937 - March 1, 2016). He was a radio programmer and executive, most known for his tenure in Chicago. He was most known for his tenure in Chicago.
Under his guidance in the 1960s, 50,000-watt ABC-owned WLS became the highest rated station in the Chicago metropolitan area, known as one of the greatest Top 40 stations in America. After leaving WLS to form a radio consultancy in 1970, WLS' rival, WCFL-AM, beat WLS in the ratings after retaining Rook's services. Throughout his programming career, Rook won numerous national radio awards and was repeatedly singled out for his ability to pick hit records. He would later own his own radio stations.
Rook started in radio as a DJ KASL in Newcastle, Wyoming; KOBH in Hot Springs, South Dakota; and KALL in Salt Lake City, Rook programmed KTLN in Denver, where his success led to ABC hiring him to be program director at KQV in Pittsburgh. KQV, owned by ABC, had initial success with the Top 40 format, but was floundering prior to Rook's arrival.
Rook quickly became known for his musical instincts, repeatedly breaking hit records before the rest of the country aired them. He was early on recognizing The Beatles and developed an inside track to their future releases. Under Rook, KQV played world-premieres of new Beatles songs before sending them to other stations owned by ABC in New York City and Chicago. In 1965, KQV had an eight-day start on the rest of the country with “Yes It Is” and “Ticket To Ride”. KQV also was known nationally for its record-breaking concerts.
In 1967, due to KQV’s success under Rook, ABC appointed him as program director of WLS in Chicago, which, like KQV when Rook arrived, was a major station facing increasingly successful competition. In 1964, WLS had a 34% share of the night time audience while competitor WCFL had 3%. At the time of Rook's arrival in 1967, WLS was down to 16%, virtually tied with WCFL’s 15%.
By 1968, under Rook, WLS again led the market and WLS was named Station of the Year at the Gavin Convention. WLS programmed by Rook became such a legendary Top 40 station that program directors and personalities including Rush Limbaugh and David Letterman cite its programming and personalities under Rook as a major inspiration. Popular disc jockey Larry Lujack, who worked for Rook first at WLS and later at WCFL, considered Rook to be “The greatest program director of our generation.”
John Rook's final interview, a comprehensive overview of his entire life and career, was broadcast on Marcus Singletary's Far Out Flavors podcast on December 15, 2015. Topics included breaking into radio, meeting Mick Jagger, Ted Kennedy, and The Beatles, and the emergence of Republican Donald Trump as a viable presidential candidate
➦In 2016 ...KFWB 980 AM The Beast ended operations as an all-sports station after it’s assets in a trust were sold to Universal Media Access KFWB-AM LLC headed by Charles W. Banta of Buffalo NY. for $8M. Universal Media Access launched South Asian “Desi 980“.
Banta was President at Mercury Capital Partners which he founded in 2000. In 1994, Mr. Banta became the President and Founder of Mercury Radio Communications and acquired radio stations in Buffalo, New York and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Earlier he served as Group Head of Greater Media’s Radio Division where, he oversaw 16 radio stations in Los Angeles, Detroit, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Central New Jersey, and Boston. Banta has been actively involved as an operator or owner in the media business for more than 28 years.
KFWB 980 AM (5 Kw) Red=Local Coverage
Since November 2011, CBS Radio put KFWB into a trust managed by Diane Sutter, President and CEO of ShootingStar Broadcasting. The business move was needed since CBS Corporation owned and operated two TV stations and two radio stations in the L.A. market.
The station's history goes back to March 3, 1925, when it was launched by Sam Warner, a co-founder of Warner Bros.. The station launched the careers of such stars as Ronald Reagan and Bing Crosby. The station was the first to broadcast the annual Rose Parade in Pasadena, California.
Although some think its call letters stand for Keep Fighting Warner Brothers or (K)-Four Warner Brothers, actually the callsign was sequentially issued by the Department of Commerce, predecessor to the FCC (March 1925) at the same time as KFWA in Ogden, Utah (Feb 1925) and KFWC for San Bernardino (also Feb 1925).
After first broadcasting on 1190 kilocycles in 1925, KFWB was moved from 1190 to 830 on the radio dial on June 15, 1927. In February of 1928, the Federal Radio Commission (FRC) assigned KFWB to broadcast on 850 kilocycles, but one month later, moved the station back to 830 on the dial. Also in March of 1928, KFWB increased its transmitter power from 500 to 1,000 watts. As part of the national restructuring of the Broadcast Band (AM) by the Federal Radio Commission, KFWB was moved from 830 to 950 kilocycles on November 11, 1928.
With the move to 950, KFWB was forced to share a small portion of its broadcast day with the Pasadena Star-News station KPSN for one year, until November 15, 1929. But KPSN, which went off the air in 1931, was given only 30 minutes to one hour of air time each day, and KFWB was able to broadcast the remainder of its hours. By the 1936, the station was operating with 5,000 watts day and 1,000 watts at night, from 6:30 am until midnight and on Sundays from 8 am until midnight. By 1939, transmitter power was 5,000 watts day and night. On March 29, 1941, KFWB changed its frequency again, from 950 to the current 980-AM.
Jack, Harry Warner 1925
KFWB was the first station in Los Angeles to sense the commercial possibilities of baby boomers. In 1958, the station unveiled a Top 40 song format, calling itself "Color Radio, Channel 98." (Click Here to listen for jingle), The term referred to color television, which was catching on. Program director Chuck Blore made personalities out of his jocks, including Bill Ballance, B. Mitchel Reid and Ted Quillin, dubbing them the "Seven Swingin' Gentlemen."
KFWB was purchased by Westinghouse in 1966. On March 11, 1968, the station was relaunched as an all news radio station. The station promoted itself with its slogan, "You give us 22 minutes, we'll give you the world," as first used by New York Westinghouse station WINS, although the station's format used a 30-minute news cycle.
Until spun off into a trust, KFWB was owned by CBS Radio, a subsidiary of CBS Corporation, formerly known as Westinghouse, which also owns KNX, the only all-news station in Los Angeles. KFWB and KNX feuded as all-news rivals for years, both on radio and in television advertising. Like its former sister stations (and fellow all-news stations) WINS in New York and KYW in Philadelphia, KFWB had a running Teletype sound effect in the background during regular newscasts.
On September 8, 2009, the station adopted a news-talk format, adding syndicated shows such as Dave Ramsey, Laura Ingraham, Laura Schlessinger and Michael Smerconish.
By the summer of 2014, KFWB's weekday line-up included: LA's Morning News with Penny Griego and Phil Hulett; Money 101 with Bob McCormick; "As We See It" with Phil Hulett and friends; LA's Afternoon News with Maggie McKay and Michael Shappee; and The Amani & Eytan Show from NBC Sports Radio.
On September 22, 2014, KFWB became "The Beast 980", an all-sports format.
The Academy of Country Music® revealed today the full list of Radio Award winners for the 54TH ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS™, Country Music's Party of the Year®.
Though not part of the telecast, the awards will be presented during the annual radio winners reception which will be held on Saturday, April 6 in Las Vegas, NV, the day prior to the ACM Awards® live telecast from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 7, 2019 at 8:00 PM ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.
This marks the fifth ACM National On-Air Personality of the Year win for Country Countdown USA with Lon Helton. Helton has been nominated in the category 7 times, with his most recent previous win taking place in 2016. Additionally, this year marks the seventh win for WIVK-FM and sixth win for KNIX-FM in Radio Station of the Year categories.
Below is a complete list of the Radio Award winners for the 54th Academy of Country Music Awards:
⏩ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR WINNERS:
NATIONAL - Lon Helton - Country Countdown USA with Lon Helton
MAJOR MARKET - Tanner in the Morning - Rob Tanner, Catherine Lane, Chris Allen, Captain Jim, and Mimi - WSOC-FM (Charlotte, NC)
LARGE MARKET - Jim Denny, Deborah Honeycutt, Kevin Freeman - WFMS-FM (Indianapolis, IN)
MEDIUM MARKET - Mo & StyckMan Show - WUSY-FM (Chattanooga, TN)
SMALL MARKET - Brent Lane and Candy Cullerton - WYCT-FM (Pensacola, FL)
⏩RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR WINNERS:
MAJOR MARKET - KNIX-FM (Phoenix, AZ)
LARGE MARKET - KUBL-FM (Salt Lake City, UT)
MEDIUM MARKET - WIVK-FM (Knoxville, TN)
SMALL MARKET - KHAY-FM (Ventura, CA)
For more information on the ACM Awards and all ACM events, visit ACMcountry.com.
SiriusXM today debuted more than 100 new curated commercial-free streaming music channels featuring multiple variations of SiriusXM's acclaimed lineup, giving listeners more music variety than ever before. SiriusXM's new Xtra Channels break down and mash up many of the SiriusXM channels to match any mood, occasion or activity.
SiriusXM's new Xtra Channels are available exclusively to SiriusXM All Access and SiriusXM Premier Streaming subscribers – as well as all SiriusXM trialers – via the SiriusXM app, web player, and select connected devices. Subscribers can also preview a selection of Xtra Channels on SiriusXM Spotlight (channel 4) on SiriusXM radios in their vehicles throughout the month of March.
These music channels also feature skip-ahead functionality that makes it easier for listeners to find the songs they love.
"With more than 100 new commercial-free channels to choose from, SiriusXM is offering even more variety for our subscribers. The new channels have the DNA of current SiriusXM channels that our subscribers love, but offered in a variety of new versions that fit listeners' tastes, moods and activities," said Steve Blatter, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Music Programming, SiriusXM. "We have also developed channels that satisfy the demand for combining SiriusXM channels together into exciting new curated experiences. These new channels are sure to make our streaming service even more attractive and valuable to our listeners."
SiriusXM listeners will be able to explore new Xtra Channels that break down and mash up current favorites, allowing listeners to explore top music by decades, discover newly created formats, and hear the latest hit songs by music style, all from the acclaimed SiriusXM music curation team. For fans of 80s on 8, new channels include 80s on 8 Top 100, 80s on 8 Workout and 80s on 8 Party; avid Prime Country fans can check out Prime Country Top 100, Prime Country 80s Hits and Prime Country Party; and BPM listeners who follow dance music will have options that include BPM Top Hits, BPM Discovery and BPM Workout. Pop and rock music is mashed up in channels that play music from across the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s. And for those looking for the very latest music that's about to break, there is a Discovery category featuring new channels from the taste-making programmers behind channels including SiriusXM Hits 1, The Highway, Alt Nation, and The Heat.
SiriusXM All Access and SiriusXM Premier Streaming subscribers, and all trial subscribers, have streaming access to SiriusXM via the SiriusXM app and web player, enabling them to connect to their favorite channels online, on-the-go and at home on connected devices and speakers. SiriusXM's Premier Streaming offering is a standalone streaming subscription, while All Access combines streaming with SiriusXM's in-car audio offering.
With the new Xtra Channels, the SiriusXM app now offers more than 300 channels of world class programming to choose from, plus video from the Howard Stern Show, and thousands of hours of on-demand content.
Liberty Media, the company controlled by billionaire mogul John Malone and which houses such assets as satellite radio company SiriusXM Radio, the Atlanta Braves baseball club and the Formula One racing circuit, on Thursday reported higher fourth-quarter financials.
Operating income for the period rose 15 percent to $379 million. Adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization (OIBDA), another profitability metric, rose 3 percent to $650 million. The company's fourth-quarter revenue edged up 1 percent from $1.99 billion to $2.01 billion.
Highlights include:
Attributed to Liberty SiriusXM Group
SiriusXM reported strong full year 2018 results
Self-pay net subscriber additions of 1.4 million in 2018; total subscribers top 34 million
Record 2018 revenue of $5.8 billion
Full-year net income grew 81% to $1.2 billion; diluted EPS climbed 88% to $0.26
Adjusted EBITDA(2) climbed 6% to $2.2 billion
SiriusXM confirmed guidance for 2019
Completed transaction with Pandora on February 1st
Liberty Media’s ownership of SiriusXM stood at 67% pro forma for Pandora transaction
From November 1st through January 31st, repurchased 4.2 million LSXMK shares at an average price per share of $38.12 and total cash consideration of $159 million
“SiriusXM finished strong, hit financial milestones and ended the year with 34 million subscribers. The transaction with Pandora closed on February 1st and we are excited for the innovative audio entertainment offerings to come,” said Greg Maffei, Liberty Media President and CEO. “F1 concluded an exciting 2018 season and increased fans at the races, TV viewership and social media engagement. The Braves posted strong financial results in their second year at SunTrust Park and the Battery Atlanta, and we look forward to the start of the season on March 28th.”
SAG-AFTRA members are calling on Entercom Communications Corporation to engage in what calls 'fair contract negotiations'.
SAG-AFTRA members working at Entercom news and music stations in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and San Francisco have been in active negotiations for new union contracts since late last year. Negotiations are ongoing, but SAG-AFTRA members are going public for the first time with their disappointment with the company’s proposals.
“The company’s suggested proposals would erode significant benefits in our members’ contracts and lack recognition of the major contributions our members make to Entercom stations across the country,” said SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris. “We encourage a real partnership with Entercom as we look to achieve a meaningful and fair resolution of these negotiations.”
“We are members of the SAG-AFTRA Entercom family. Broadcasting is an industry of continual change and evolution, yet we have been the constant. We are devoted to our craft and embrace the opportunity to deliver the highest quality and most highly trusted content for our radio audiences."
“As SAG-AFTRA union members, we have advocated for our contracts to grow and evolve with our changing landscape to meet the needs of our work. We want our stations to grow and expand with new technologies and formats, and grow with them. Whether working in news or music, each of us and all of us are proud and strongly motivated to maintain and build upon the four pillars of our SAG-AFTRA agreements that:
Establish and maintain industry standards for compensation, health and retirement, and severance benefits.
Keep on-air voices live and local, and not voice-tracked and pre-recorded.
Recognize the contribution of our part-timers as core members of our teams, through benefits and fair compensation.
Keep and attract the best talent at our stations.
The SAG-AFTRA Broadcast Steering Committee, a national member committee of SAG-AFTRA will be meeting in Los Angeles on March 9th and the Entercom negotiations will be a priority topic of discussion. In 2017, Entercom merged with CBS Radio, resulting in the broadcaster expanding its network to nearly 250 stations. Because of this merger nearly all of the SAG-AFTRA-represented radio stations are now bargaining for the first time with their new employer.
In response, Entercom has released the following statement:
“We are incredibly proud of the award-winning work of our on-air teams and value their contributions to the company and the communities we serve. We have been negotiating with SAG-AFTRA in good faith to reach fair agreements. These discussions include contracts that had been open for years prior to our merger with CBS Radio, as well as more recently expired agreements. We prefer to negotiate directly with SAG-AFTRA and our employees, not publicly, and do not intend to comment further.”
Staff at News/Talk non-com WBUR 90.9 FM in Boston have voted overwhelmingly to recognize SAG-AFTRA as their union with 96 percent voting in favor.
The election was conducted Wednesday by the National Labor Relations Board.
The victory allows them to move forward to negotiate a first contract. The new bargaining unit will cover the public media professionals who create content for all areas of the station, including those working in the news department, on the digital team, on Here and Now, Radio Boston, On Point, Only a Game, on podcasts and in the production departments.
"On behalf of our SAG-AFTRA membership, I want to welcome the media professionals at WBUR. SAG-AFTRA will support you in your fight for transparency, equity in compensation, a more diverse and inclusive workplace as well as protections for freelancers and temporary workers that make WBUR a vital public radio station", said SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris.
WBUR represents the latest in a series of organizing victories for public media professionals with SAG-AFTRA. In recent years, employees at KPCC in Pasadena, KPBS in San Diego, WBEZ in Chicago, KUOW in Seattle, Minnesota Public Radio, and digital and per diem employees at New York Public Radio have all unionized with SAG-AFTRA. SAG-AFTRA also represents public media professionals at National Public Radio (NPR) and several other public radio and television stations.
SAG-AFTRA represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other entertainment and media professionals.
Cumulus Media announces that it has appointed Justin Taylor as Operations Manager for Cumulus Oxnard-Ventura, CA, and Program Director of Country station KHAY 100.7 FM.
Taylor succeeds Chris Cox, who will retire March 4th after 45 years in radio. Taylor departed Broadway Media/Salt Lake City in November after 12 years with the cluster.
Sommer Frisk, Regional Vice President, Cumulus Oxnard-Ventura and Stockton-Modesto, said: “We are fortunate to add programming star Justin Taylor to our successful programming roster. Justin’s experience and genuine love for the product is the ideal choice to continue to drive the success of our heritage stations.”
Taylor said: “I could not be happier to be joining Sommer Frisk and her amazing team as the Operations Manager for Ventura /Oxnard, and even more excited to take over the ACM nominated
K-HAY!”
Max Media has announced today's debut of WGH 1310 The Power.
It will provide the best talk and timeless soul for the diverse Hampton Roads area. 1310 The Power will include entertaining and informative talk covering everything from liberal and conservative topics to lifestyle and celebrity news.
Max Media moves the oldies format previously heard on WGH Norfolk to the HD2 channel of WGH 97.3 fM HD-2 branding as Solid Gold WGH.
“I’m very excited to launch this great mixture of talk and music all on one station,” remarked Rusty James, V.P. Operations and Programming at Max Media of Hampton Roads.
1310 The Power’s line-up includes a civil rights leader, comedians, writers and lifestyle experts.
Townsquare Media/Amarillo has announced the addition of Danny Wright as Brand Manager and afternoon host of CHR KXSS 96.9 KissFM.
"From the first time Danny and I spoke on the phone, I knew he was going to be a perfect fit for our cluster and KISS FM," said Townsquare/Amarillo OM Braden Smith. "His energy is ideal for live, local radio which we love."
"I've worked with some great people and it looks like my journey is about to add a few more" said Wright. "My incoming role as Brand Manager is something I have strived for and I look forward to being in that position for years to come. Thank you to everyone at Townsquare Media for welcoming me to the family."
Wright's previous stops included WNCI Columbus, WSTR Atlanta, and WPRO Providence, among others.
NRG Media has announced veteran radio programmer Mike Thompson is mew Operations Manager and Program Director for its AM stations in Omaha.
Previously, Thompson has worked at ESPN in New York and Los Angeles. Prior to that he was with WCNN/Atlanta, XTRA Sports 1150/Los Angeles (running the Dodgers Radio Network), KTCK (1310 The Ticket)/Dallas, WABC/New York and NBC Radio/New York. Most recently Thompson was involved in acting and voice work in Los Angeles.
Market Manager Mark Shecterle said, "Mike will be a great addition to our already talented and award winning staff, and has an outstanding programming mind as well as a strong sales mentality."
Thompson added, "I am excited to join a great brand of sports and news talk with NRG Media in Omaha. NRG Media's slogan is Great Local Radio -- for me that's what I am all about. Working with Market Manager Mark Shecterle and talented hosts and producers it will be rewarding to always live up to that slogan."
Triple A WYEP 91.3 FM in Pittsburgh has announced that longtime public radio personality Liz Felix will join the station as host of the Evening Mix.
“I’m thrilled that Liz will be joining us to host the Evening Mix,” said Mike Sauter, Director of Content and Programming. “With her depth of experience in public radio and her passion for music she’ll not only be a great host, but she’ll be able to help us serve our community with fresh and creative programming ideas.”
A radio programmer and host with 15 years of experience in the Triple A format, Felix has been part of the on-air programming teams at four stations, most recently at WNKU in Cincinnati and WAPS in Akron, OH. She is currently the communications director at BirdNote, a public media program about birds and the environment that airs on over 200 radio stations nationwide.
“I believe that public radio is an invaluable resource for the communities we serve,” said Felix. “I love introducing audiences to great music, and I know from experience that public radio is the most powerful way to reach music fans and connect a strong community of listeners. I am truly looking forward to joining the team at WYEP.”
Global News Radio CFMJ 640 Toronto today announced two new shows, and the debut of a simulcast of Global Toronto's Global News at 6, in a refreshed programming lineup.
Amidst tremendous ratings success – outpacing rival Newstalk 1010 for the first time since 2009* – Global News Radio 640 Toronto will premiere shows hosted by Global News’ Alan Carter and Jeff McArthur. Both Carter and McArthur will continue with their respective hosting roles on television.
As two of Global’s most recognizable and respected broadcasters, they’ll each bring their own provocative savvy to the airwaves every weekday, starting March 4, with Carter on air from 12-1 p.m. ET and McArthur on air from 1-3 p.m. ET; while for the first time in Toronto, listeners will be able to enjoy Global News at 6 – with anchors Alan Carter and Farah Nasser – on the radio from 6 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. ET.
Alan Carter is the host of Global Toronto’s weekly political affairs show, Focus Ontario, and an anchor for the station’s flagship newscast Global News at 5:30 & 6. Lauded for his political acumen and signature sharp levity, Carter brings 30 years of broadcasting experience to Global News Radio 640 Toronto.
A veteran in his own right, Jeff McArthur – co-host of Global’s national morning program The Morning Show – returns to his roots, having started his career on talk radio. His career in radio and television spans more than 20 years, during which he’s interviewed the biggest newsmakers from the world of politics, business and sports.
“We’re very pleased to add two talented, experienced broadcasters to Global News Radio 640 Toronto,” said Ward Smith, Senior Vice-President, Global News. “It’s a great opportunity for both Jeff and Alan to showcase their versatility, wit, and wide-range of insights. Great questions, informed guests and razor sharp context is what our growing audience demands from our entire team throughout the day. The addition of Jeff and Alan truly rounds out a great line up.”
As part of the lineup overhaul, Kelly Cutrara’s show expands as she moves to the mid-morning timeslot (9 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET), John Oakley’s show shifts one-hour earlier (3 p.m. – 6 p.m. ET), and Alex Pierson’s show expands by 30 minutes (6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. ET).
Global News Radio 640 Toronto’s new programming lineup premieres March 4, 2019. For full programming information visit Globalnews.ca. Global News Radio 640 Toronto was the #2 ranked AM station in the Toronto market (A25-54) during the fall 2018 ratings period**.
*/**SOURCE: Numeris PPM Data: Toronto CTRL, Fall ’18, A25-54, Mo-Fr, 5am-1am
An analysis of Fall 2016 Nielsen ratings for more than three-dozen full-time NPR News/Talk stations reveals that in many markets the NPR station has a greater AQH share that all local commercial news and talk stations.
A new chart from Spark News shows 25 News/Talk stations that had a 3.0% AQH share or greater in the Fall 2018 ratings. Thirteen of the 25 (52%) performed better than all commercial News/Talk stations in the market.
NPR News/Talk stations were number one in well-known NPR-friendly places like Burlington, Ann Arbor and Eugene. But NPR News/Talk stations beat all commercial news and talk stations in Anchorage, Roanoke and Grand Rapids.
NPR News/Talk stations also scored the top spot in multiple metro areas. KCLU had the highest AQH share in Oxnard-Ventura and Santa Barbara. Michigan Radio, shown on the chart as WUOM, was the number one News/Talk station in Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor.
Michigan Radio was also the top performer in the number of estimated weekly listeners in Fall 2018, followed Vermont Public Radio News, Maine Public’s news channel and WAMC in Albany.
Overall more stations (64%) had a declining number of weekly listeners in Fall 2016 than Fall 2018. Ten stations (36%) had more estimated weekly listeners in Fall 2018 then they did in Fall 2016.
