Country Radio Broadcasters To Honor Wariner, Morgan

The Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. have announced Steve Wariner as the recipient of the 2018 CRB Artist Career Achievement Award, and Charlie Morgan as the recipient of the 2018 President’s Award.

Steve Wariner

Both awards will be presented during the Country Radio Hall of Fame Dinner and Awards ceremony, to be held on Wednesday, June 20th at 6 p.m. CDT at the Marriott Nashville.

Twenty albums into his five-decade career, 2018 CRB Artist Career Achievement Award recipient, Steve Wariner has become a modern-day multi-genre icon earning fourteen #1 hits, over 30 Top 10 hits, three Gold albums, four GRAMMY Awards, three CMA Awards, one ACM Award, a Christian Country Music Association Award, a TNN/Music City News Award, a CMA Triple Play award, and 15 BMI Million-Air Awards. He is a member of the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, the National Thumbpickers Hall of Fame, the Music City Walk of Fame, and one of only five guitar players in the world to be given the “Certified Guitar Player” (CGP) award by Chet Atkins. The now Grand Ole Opry member was discovered by the legendary Dottie West at just 17 years old as he played a set in an Indiana club. West hired him on the spot to be her bass player. Upon accepting the offer, Wariner played bass for three years with her before his next gig playing in Grand Ole Opry member, Bob Luman’s band and was a featured musician on Luman’s Alive and Well record, which was produced by Johnny Cash.  Working with Luman’s band led to Wariner being commissioned by his idol Chet Atkins to play bass in his band. It was Atkins that eventually signed Wariner to his first recording contract at RCA in 1977 and produced Wariner’s first recording session at the historic RCA Studio B.

The CRB Artist Career Achievement Award is presented to an individual artist or act that, through their creativity, vision, performance or leadership has made a significant contribution to the development and promotion of country music and country radio.

“Steve Wariner is still enjoying of one of the most amazing careers in Country music history; singer, songwriter, Grand Ole Opry member, contributor to his fellow artists, and a member of the most prestigious clubs for extraordinary guitarists. All of this in addition to being the best friend any one on earth could be blessed to have!” says Bill Mayne, Executive Director of CRB.

Charlie Morgan

Charlie Morgan is Senior Vice President/Market Manager of Emmis New York, which includes WBLS, WLIB and WQHT.   Morgan has supervisory responsibility for Emmis-Indianapolis, which includes WIBC, WFNI, WYXB, WLHK and Network Indiana.

A Butler University graduate, Morgan has over 35 years of radio experience, the first 23 years with Susquehanna Radio, (WFMS/WJJK/WISG) in roles from Morning host to SVP/Market Manager. In 2007, Morgan joined the team at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway, serving as President and COO of IMS Productions. In 2009, he returned to radio joining the Emmis team managing the Indianapolis cluster for seven years (WLHK, WIBC, WYXB, WFNI) and now the Emmis New York cluster (WBLS, WQHT, WLIB.) 

Additionally, in 2013 Morgan formed the Rith Group, a marketing consulting agency with longtime associate Bob Richards. Morgan has been widely recognized for his leadership in Radio, honored on multiple occasions as one of the top Managers in radio, most recently in 2016.  Also named the 2013 Country Aircheck/Country Radio Broadcaster’s Large Market Manager of the year and the 2012 Radio Wayne Award winner for Market Manager of the Year.  Additionally, Morgan has received the CMA Large Market Personality of the Year Award in his on-air role and been General Manager of stations receiving multiple CMA, ACM and Marconi Awards for Station of the Year. Morgan has served the industry as President of the Board of the Country Radio Broadcasters, and is a current Board Member of the Country Music Association, the New York Market Radio Group (NYMRAD), and the New York State Broadcast Association. In addition to his industry involvement, Morgan is active in the community. He currently serves on the Boards of Heartland Films, and Classical Music Indy.  Morgan was past Chairman of the 500 Festival Board of Directors.

CRB/CRS President, Kurt Johnson comments, “Charlie is simply one of the best at what he does. And he does a lot. It’s hard to think of anyone who’s made more impact as a leader across a diverse list of organizations in and around Country Radio, earning accolades at every step. He’s been a fixture at CRB and CRS for years and is a good friend to artists, managers, labels, DJs…basically pro’s in every part of Country music. Charlie personifies the spirit of CRS and I’m proud to give him the President’s Award on behalf or the CRB Board.”

The Country Radio Hall of Fame event will also honor the “Class of 2018” radio inductees that were announced during Country Radio Seminar (CRS) 2018.

Seven on-air personalities and two off-air broadcasters will be honored and include Radio category honorees Michael O’Malley of the Albright, O’Malley & Brenner consulting firm, and the late Lisa McKay, VP/Programming at Curtis Media/Raleigh, who doubled as PD for WQDR. The On-Air Personality category includes Andy Ritchie and Alison Mencer (“Andy & Alison”) formerly of WIVK/Knoxville; Steve Harmon and Scott Evans (“Harmon And Evans”) formerly of KPLX/Dallas and WXTU/Philadelphia; and Bill Barrett, Tim Fox, and Tracy Berry (“Barrett, Fox, And Berry) still active at KKNU/Eugene, OR.

The Country Radio Hall of Fame is dedicated to the recognition of those individuals who have made significant contributions to the radio industry over a 20-year period, 15 of which must be in the Country format.  The Country Radio Hall of Fame was founded in 1974 to recognize outstanding individuals working in the broadcasting industry who are promoting the Country radio format.

A limited number of individual tickets are still available, and are $130 each and tables are $2500. Individual tickets can be purchased here or by contacting Darcie Van Etten at darcie@crb.org. For tables and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Brooke Sanders at brooke@crb.org.

May 22 Radio History

➦In 1900...In New York City, the Associated Press was incorporated as a non-profit news cooperative.

➦In 1922..WGR in Buffalo, NY signed-on...

The history of one of Buffalo's earliest radio stations has its roots at sea. On April 1, 1921 the Governor, a passenger ship, sank to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean after collision with a freighter, the West Hartland.

The passenger ship’s assigned radio call letters were WGR. Due to maritime superstition, the call sign was never reissued to another ship and reverted to a pool of available call signs for new radio stations.

That same year, the Federal Telephone & Telegraph Company (FTTC), headquartered in a sprawling manufacturing complex in North Buffalo, began marketing its first, completely assembled radio sets. To fill a radio void in the city, and to stimulate sales of their new "high-tech" products, the FTTC applied for (and received) a commercial radio license from the Department of Commerce. The station was named "WGR" after George Rand (founder of Remington Rand), a key investor in the FTTC.

WGR Transmitter Equipment Early '20s

On May 22, 1922, WGR's broadcast operations commenced, beginning nine decades of continuous service to Western New York and Southern Ontario. It is the oldest continuously operating station in Buffalo.

1738 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo - Birthplace of WGR Radio

Published reports say that the first programs on WGR were: a clergyman’s lecture; a concert from Victor’s Furniture Store showroom; and a presentation on the advantages of a college education by Dr. Julian Park, from the University at Buffalo.

In the late 1940s, the station was bought by a consortium of Western New York families known as the WGR Corporation, which signed on WGR-TV (channel 2) in 1953. WGR Corporation bought several other television and radio stations in the 1950s, and eventually became known as Transcontinent Broadcasting. Transcontinent merged with Taft Broadcasting in 1964. Taft sold off WGR-TV in 1983 (it is now WGRZ-TV), but kept the radio station until 1987.

During its days as a full service radio station, its roster of personalities included "Buffalo Bob" Smith, later famous for TV's Howdy Doody children's show, and popular national TV and nightclub comedian Foster Brooks.

The station's longtime music format combining Adult Top 40 hits and rock oldies and featured some of Buffalo's top radio personalities, talk hosts and news reporters including Stan Roberts, Frank Benny, Tom Donahue, Randy Michaels, Jim Scott, Jerry Reo, Shane, Joe Galuski, Tom Langmyer, George Hamberger, Tom Shannon, John Otto, Chuck Lakefield, Don Dussias, Lauri Githens, Wayne Smith, Sandy Kozel, Jane Tomczak, Craig Matthews and Tom Bauerle. WGR gradually evolved to news/talk during the late 1980s.

In 1987, Taft sold the station to Rich Communications, which was part of the Robert Rich family's business holdings, which also included a major processed-food company and a venture applying for a National League expansion baseball franchise (for which WGR was projected to be flagship station of the team's projected network). Although the Rich interests were the National League's choice for the new franchise they dropped out of the competition for an expansion team (which ultimately went to Denver, Colorado (Colorado Rockies) for cost reasons. Soon after, WGR was eventually spun off to new owners.

Today,  WGR 550 AM airs Sports.

➦In 1922…Singer Ada Jones, the most popular female vocalist of the early 20th century, died of kidney failure at age 48. Between 1905 and 1922, she had an astounding 108 Top 10 singles, seven of which went to #1.



➦In 1955…Jack Benny's broadcast run of live network radio programs ended after 23 years. His TV show aired from 1952-1965.

➦In 1972...Dave Herman starts at WNEW 102.7 FM in NYC.  Herman interviews Elton John from 1976..

➦In 1998…Los Angeles radio disc jockey (KHJ, KMPC, KRTH) Robert W. Morgan died of lung cancer at age 60.

As a youth growing up in Galion, Ohio, Morgan's interest was piqued while listening to his favorite DJs on Cleveland's top forty giant KYW which would eventually lead to his first on-air job was at Wooster College in 1955 on WWST & WWST-FM, for an initial salary of $1 per hour.

In 1959 Morgan moved from college radio to KACY Port Hueneme, California where he hosted the over night show called Kegler's Spare Time with Bob Morgan live from the Wagon Wheel Bowl before moving on to a succession of brief stints beginning in 1961 at KTEE Carmel as the second half of a two-man classical music announcer on KTEE with Bob Elliott, a Marine Corps Heavyweight Champion who later went onto radio fame as "K.O. Bailey," then a short time later as the morning drive DJ and mid-day board op for the Arthur Godfrey Show at KMBY, Monterey, then a jump to KOMY Watsonville, then back to KMBY Monterey followed in 1962 at "K-MAKE", KMAK, Fresno where he first worked with program director Ron Jacobs. This was followed in 1963 by an eight-month stay at KROY Sacramento before finally landing his first major-market job in 1964 at KEWB, San Francisco. It was here that he met and worked with his lifelong friend "The Real" Don Steele.



On April 27, 1965 the careers of Morgan, Steele and programer Ron Jacobs would gain superstar status when they joined the staff of KHJ 930 AM, Los Angeles almost overnight. Programming genius Bill Drake along with a staff of talented DJs called "Boss Jocks" had transformed a sleepy giant into the city's most dominant radio station. It was here that Morgan enjoyed his greatest on-air success as one of the original "Boss Jocks" on 93/KHJ which dominated the Top 40 radio market in Southern California from 1965 to 1973. Morgan's signature, "Good Morgan Boss Angeles!" to his devoted morning drive time audience would stay with him until the end of his career. It was also Morgan that voiced much of the "Boss Radio/93 KHJ station promos and imagery.

It was also during this time that Morgan co-produced and narrated the 48-hour History of Rock and Roll in 1969, a definitive on-air encyclopedia of Rock & Roll. It was the first-ever "rock-umentary" aired worldwide as a definitive history of the Rock & Roll genre—a "rockumentary," as producers Drake and Gene Chenault would call it—that would stretch from the early 1950s to 1989.

In 1970 Morgan made a surprise move from Los Angeles to WIND Radio Chicago where he remained in the morning slot until finally being enticed back to his KHJ morning show in 1972.

Until his departure from KHJ in October 1970, Morgan had commanded unparalleled radio ratings in Los Angeles. Morgan's return to his former time slot in L.A., which saw a significant spike upward for KHJ until he departed just a year later.

In 1973, Morgan and Steele walked out of KHJ and joined Bill Drake six months later at KIQQ-FM, Los Angeles. The ratings were sub-par, though, causing Morgan to leave the morning slot a year and a half later for weekends and fill-in slots at the prestigious KMPC Los Angeles. He did that for four years before legendary morning man Dick Whittinghill retired in 1980, allowing Morgan to go back to mornings. He stayed at KMPC until 1984. After a short stint at KMGG, Morgan returned to KMPC.

Morgan was heard in 1973 on Saturday night segments of the long-running NBC Radio program Monitor, an attempt to freshen that program's image. While with KMGG, he was at one time heard as a substitute host of American Top 40. During the mid to late 70s, Morgan also did his own one hour radio weekly special highlighting one artist or group per show. "Robert W. Morgan's Special of the Week" was often played on radio stations that also carried Casey Kasem's American Top 40 as the same company, Watermark, distributed both.

The year 1992 would signal the twilight years of Morgan's distinguished radio broadcast career when he signed on as the morning show host of "oldies" K-EARTH 101 where he again enjoyed solid ratings in the Los Angeles market before announcing in May 1997 that he was suffering from lung cancer.



According to L.A. radio personality Bob Shannon, Morgan told his listeners, "It could have something to do with the two packs a day cigarette habit I had for the last 35 years." In an emotional on-air statement, Morgan stated that he was taking some time off to fight the disease full-time. His friend and colleague Don Steele died, also of lung cancer, in August 1997. Morgan continued to do broadcasts from his home studio until 1998.

On January 9, 1998, K-EARTH 101 held a retirement tribute for Morgan at the Museum of Television and Radio in Beverly Hills. The tribute included a re-dedication of his Star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, and a three-hour broadcast from the museum’s theater, hosted by Gary Owens and Morgan's KRTH co-host, Joni Caryl. It concluded with a thirty minute retrospective on Morgan’s career, narrated by Dick Clark.

Morgan died on May 22, 1998. He was 60 years old. Morgan was married twice and was survived by a daughter.

D-C Radio: Urban One To Acquire Sports WTEM

Urban One, Red Zebra Broadcasting and the Washington Redskins announced today that Urban One has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of the radio station WTEM The Team 980 AM from Red Zebra Broadcasting, pending FCC approval.

In addition, Urban One has also entered into an agreement with the Washington Redskins to ensure that all Redskins games, as well as pregame and postgame programming, will remain on The Team 980.

The acquisition is the first step in a collaborative effort between the Redskins and Urban One to keep The Team 980 as the fans’ premier source for radio coverage of the Washington Redskins.

“We believe the future of The Team 980 is in great hands with Urban One,” said Terry Bateman, Chairman of Red Zebra Broadcasting. “We view this as an opportunity for Urban One and the Redskins to build a close partnership to continue to provide the Redskins’ fans with unparalleled access and content, keeping The Team 980 as the fans’ destination for the best Redskins coverage.”

In addition to The Team 980, the Redskins game day broadcasts – including pregame, in-game and postgame programming – will air on WMAL 105.9 FM / 630 AM as a valued part of the Redskins Radio Network.

WTEM 980 AM (50 Kw-D, 5 Kw-N DA2)

“This is a tremendous opportunity for Urban One and we are especially pleased that through our acquisition, The Team 980 will continue to be locally owned. The acquisition of The Team 980 is very much in line with our strategy of super-serving our community of listeners. We have deep roots in the greater Washington, DC area and are well aware that The Team 980 has always been a fan favorite,” said Alfred C. Liggins, President and CEO of Urban One. “Red Zebra has a track record of producing great programming that engages our hometown sports fans. We look forward to working with the Washington Redskins organization to continue this tradition.”

Chicago Radio: WLIT Welcomes Back Melissa Forman For Mornings

Melissa Forman

iHeartMedia Chicago announced today that Melissa Forman has returned as Morning Show Host for WLIT 93.9 LITE FM,­­­­­­­ starting May 29.

Melissa can be heard live in studio weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. As morning show host, Melissa will kick off the workday with two hours of commercial free music from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Melissa’s tradition of informing and entertaining listeners will continue through celebrity interviews, charity involvement, and the unique relationships that she’s built with the people of Chicago. 93.9 LITE FM delivers a strong return on investment for clients reaching consumers through iHeartMedia’s unmatched assets, including on-air, online, social media, personalities and live events.

Forman will report to Mick Lee, Program Director of 93.9 LITE FM. She replaces Kristina Kage, who departed May 18.

“I am so excited to welcome Melissa Forman back into the iHeartMedia Chicago family,” said Matt Scarano, President, iHeartMedia Markets Group’s Chicago Region. “She has a rich history with Chicago and 93.9 LITE FM’s listeners, and we are looking forward to working with her again.”

Forman, a Chicago native, hosted mornings on 93.9 LITE FM for eight years before leaving in 2009 to join WCIU-TV (The “U”) to Co-Host “You & Me This Morning” with Jeanne Sparrow. She also worked at WLRW-FM/Champaign-Urbana, WVMX-FM/Cincinnati, before returning home to Chicago to work at WKIE-FM.

WLIT 93.9 FM (4 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area

Forman says of her return, “It’s an opportunity to go home again. To a station that I have always loved, with listeners I have really missed. I’m humbled and excited.”

Denver Radio: Larry & Kathie Get Double Duty At Max Media

Max Media Denver has announced the return of two of The Mile High City's all-time favorite on-air personalities.  Larry Ulibarri and Kathie J are back to make Denver laugh weekday mornings from 5-10 on KFCO FLO 107-1 FM, and weekday afternoons on sister station KJHM Jammin' 101-5 starting Monday, June 4th!

Jeff Norman, President/General Manager states:

"We couldn't be more excited to welcome Larry and Kathie J to the Max Media Denver family. With over 16 years in the Denver market, they have an incredible track record of driving station ratings and growing businesses to the next level.  Research proves the Denver community craves more of Larry & Kathie. Therefore, in addition to mornings on KFCO, FLO 107-1, listeners will get a double dose of their show during afternoon drive on our sister-station, KJHM, JAMMIN 101-5.  It's time to make Denver laugh again."

Current FLO AM Drive host Nina Blanco will enjoy sleeping in for a change as she joins SLiM's Playhouse weekday afternoons at 3.

KFCO 107.1 FM (97 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area

The Jock line-up on FLO starting June 4th:

• Larry and Kathie - Weekdays mornings 5-10
• DJ Bedz - Weekdays 10 to 3
• SLiM's Playhouse (Starring SLiM and Nina Blanco) - Weekday afternoons 3-6 
• DJ A-Rich - Weekday Evenings 6-10
• DJ KTone - Weeknights 10-Mid 

Billboard Music Awards Show Hits All-Time Ratings Low

UPDATED 2PM 5/21/18:  Adjusted Nielsen numbers put the 2018 Billboard Music Awards at a 2.4 rating in adults 18-49 and 7.9 million viewers. That is a new low for the awards show in the key demo. It is also a decrease of approximately 8% in the demo and 9% in total viewers compared to the 2017 ceremony.

Earlier Posting....

The Billboard Music Awards took place Sunday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. Kelly Clarkson played host, with Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, and Pulitzer Prize winner Kendrick Lamar leading the way with 15 nominations each. Sheeran took home the top artist prize.

The 2018 Billboard Music Awards paid tribute to the students and teachers affected by recent deadly shootings in Texas and Florida, while the night also featured show-stopping performances by iconic singer Janet Jackson and K-pop group BTS.

➤Click Here For The Complete Winner's List

A tearful and emotional Kelly Clarkson, who hosted the awards, opened the show in honor of the 10 people who died Friday at Santa Fe High School, barely able to speak as she urged the audience and the world to do more to prevent deadly shootings from happening. She said she was asked to hold a moment of silence, but chose instead to call for “a moment of action.”

“Once again we’re grieving for more kids that have died ... I’m so sick of moment of silences ... it’s not working,” she said Sunday, almost in tears. “Mommies and daddies should be able to send their kids to school.”

Our hearts go out to all the victims in the Santa Fe community and their families. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/7ejLAd8nKk

— Billboard Music Awards (@BBMAs) May 21, 2018

The 2018 Billboard Music Awards featured performances from Janet Jackson, who accepted the 2018 Billboard Music Awards ICON Award and performed for the first time on television in nine years, as well as BTS, Kelly Clarkson, Ariana Grande, John Legend, Dua Lipa and Ed Sheeran with collaborations from Christina Aguilera featuring Demi Lovato, Camila Cabello and Pharrell Williams, Khalid & Normani, Jennifer Lopez featuring DJ Khaled, Macklemore and Kesha, Salt-N-Pepa featuring En Vogue, Shawn Mendes & Khalid and Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey.

After rocking the stage with her incredible performance, @JanetJackson accepts the 2018 #BBMAs Icon Award! #ICON_JANET pic.twitter.com/S7nDbrGJQI

— Billboard Music Awards (@BBMAs) May 21, 2018

Jackson rocked the Billboard Awards with an energetic and powerful performance of her past hits in an epic week that included her 52nd birthday and the 25th anniversary of her groundbreaking “janet.” album.

In a glittery gold sweater-dress and thigh-high boots, Jackson sang “Nasty,” ″If” and “Throb” as audience members such as Ciara and Tyra Banks danced along at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

“Women have made it clear that we no longer will be controlled, manipulated or abused. I stand with those women and with those men equally outraged by discrimination who support us in heart and mind,” she said onstage.

Taylor Swift won top female artist and top selling album for “reputation.”

She said that before she created “reputation” she “felt really misunderstood by a lot of people.”

“Thank you for making me feel understood again,” Swift said to her fans.

Relive the most buzzworthy BTS moments of tonight’s #BBMAs! https://t.co/Zm8izjiCbq

— Billboard Music Awards (@BBMAs) May 21, 2018

Salt-N-Pepa closed the show with high-energy, performing the hits “Push It” and “Whatta Man” alongside R&B group En Vogue and even Clarkson.

Industry Exec Dennis Green Joins Sun & Fun Media

Sun & Fun Media, a leading radio operations solutions network offering stations a unique suite of products and services designed to increase sales, improve ratings, and reduce expenses for 100% barter, announces that it has appointed veteran radio affiliate sales executive Dennis Green as Chief Revenue Officer.

In the newly created position, Green will lead the development of new products and services for radio stations, and will manage a team of six affiliate sales professionals to grow the company’s affiliations across the U.S. He will continue to be based in New York City.

Dennis Green

Green joins Sun & Fun Media following a highly successful 22-year career at Westwood One, where he was Senior Vice President of Affiliate Sales and Broadcast Operations. During his tenure at Westwood One, Green held positions including Executive Vice President of Affiliate Sales, and Vice President of Affiliate Sales, Talk Programming. He was also Vice President, Broadcast Operations and Affiliate Sales, for Cumulus Media Networks. Prior to that, Green was Head of Multimedia Syndication at Bloomberg in New York, and was also Director of Affiliate Sales and Operations, Illinois & Wisconsin Radio Networks. He holds a Master’s degree in Sports Administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a B.A. degree in Telecommunications/Political Science from Indiana University at Bloomington.

Sun & Fun Media’s products for radio stations include: Vacations, Gift Cards, Vehicle Wraps, Branded Station Merchandise, and Bill Pay for NTR Events, Television and Billboard Advertising for radio stations, Research, Consultants, Equipment, Software and more, all available exclusively through barter.

Rob Koblasz, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Sun & Fun Media, said: "Dennis Green is one of the most respected, experienced and trusted affiliate sales executives in the radio industry, and we are thrilled that he is joining Sun & Fun Media as Chief Revenue Officer. With Dennis’ considerable expertise in radio operations and network radio sales, we will be able to offer our affiliates more and better solutions exclusively for barter than ever before.

Green said: "I am excited to tackle my next challenge in the media world with Sun & Fun Media. This company has enjoyed a track record of success for 22 years and I look forward to helping lead the charge to expand the company’s product offerings and grow its affiliate base. Thanks to Sun & Fun Media Co-Founders Rob Koblasz and Roger Fray for this opportunity. To all our current and soon-to-be affiliates: Prepare to be wowed!”

For more information about Sun & Fun Media’s 100% barter one-stop shop for all radio station operating needs, contact Dennis Green at 917.723.5655 and at dennis@sunfunmedia.com. 

Backstage At The BBMAs With Westwood One

Chris Daughtry performs

It was all hustle and bustle this past weekend at Westwood One’s Backstage at the BBMAs event at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

More than 25 top music stations and Westwood One nationally-syndicated shows The Adam Bomb Show, The Zach Sang Show, and WPLJ's Jayde (Donovan) were on hand doing interviews with artists and capturing exciting content for listeners and fans, all leading up to tonight’s broadcast of the 2018 Billboard Music Awards on NBC.

Adam Bomb with BTS

In addition, Westwood One featured exclusive, live backstage performances from In2une Music’s Kim Petras, Records’ Noah Cyrus, Columbia Record’s MAX, Island Record’s Loote, and RCA Record’s Chris Daughtry, with a special appearance by Enrique Iglesias.

WPLJ's Jayde Donovan interviews Kim Petras

Some of the recording artists who stopped by Westwood One Backstage at the BBMAS included wildly-popular K-Pop band BTS, The Backstreet Boys, Kelly Clarkson (host of Billboard Music Awards), Echosmith, En Vogue, Luis Fonsi, DJ Martin Garrix, Bryce Vine, Kygo, and more.

Mike McVay, EVP Content & Programming, Cumulus/Westwood One; Enrique Iglesias; Christina Albee, Cumulus/Westwood One CMO

Nielsen: 29.2 Million Watched The Wedding

29.2 million people tuned into the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry of Wales and American actress Meghan Markle on Saturday May 19, per Nielsen.

As one might expect, viewership of yesterday’s festivities was significantly up from the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011 (22.8 million), according to TVNewser.

In the U.S., while coverage varied by network the wedding ceremony of was carried live from approximately 7 a.m. a.m. ET to 8:15 a.m. ET on 15 networks. The networks carrying live coverage of the ceremony included ABC (inclusive of Freeform simulcast), BBC America, CBS, CNN, CNNe, E!, Fox News Channel, HLN, MSNBC, NBC, PBS, Telemundo, TLC and Univision.

NBC News was the big winner of the day. It sent a ton of its talent and resources to Windsor, and it ended up money well spent because the network ended up finishing No. 1 in the TV news ratings race in all measurements.

1. NBC delivered 6,417,000 total viewers / 2,314,000 A25-54
2. ABC delivered 6,348,000 total viewers / 1,984,000 A25-54
3. CBS delivered 4,786,000 total viewers / 1,392,000 A25-54
4. Fox News delivered 1,941,000 total viewers /425,000 A25-54
5. CNN delivered 1,793,000 total viewers / 604,000 A 25-54
6. MSNBC delivered 994,000 total viewers / 241,000 A25-54

Modesto Radio: KMRQ Adds The Woody Show For AM

iHeartMedia’s KMRQ Rock 96.7 FM has announced the debut of The Woody Show, effective Monday, May 28. The top-rated morning show will broadcast on the Modesto station Monday through Friday from 5 – 10 a.m. PT, and Saturdays from 6 – 10 a.m. PT.

Woody Fife

The Woody Show is highly-interactive, socially-engaging appointment radio.  Featuring Woody, along with co-hosts Ravey, Greg Gory, Menace and Sebas, The Woody Show is described by listeners as “authentic,” “raw,” “unapologetic” and “recess/happy hour on the radio.”

In 2016, the popular program was a NAB Marconi Radio Award finalist for “Major Market Personality of the Year,” and it was launched into national syndication by Premiere Networks in 2017. Fans can follow the show on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

“I’m thrilled that Rock 96.7 made the decision to #JoinFun and go #ALLIN with #TheWoodyShow,” said Woody. “Without #Modesto, and PD Louie Cruz, my quest for worldwide (or at least California) #domination would simply be a dream.”

KMRQ 96.7 FM (6 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area

“The Woody Show is a proven winner and we’re excited to bring them to Northern California,” said Louie Cruz, iHeartMedia Modesto/Stockton SVP Programming/Program Director. “The Woody Show is a destination program – it’s fun, addictive and bound to bring new fans to Rock 96.7 and create fanatics of current listeners! This is a big step in building the Rock 96.7 brand toward our ultimate goal of world domination, or at least California’s Central Valley!”

CO Radio: Grand Junction Media To Acquire 4 FMs

Grand Junction Media Inc. has entered into an agreement to purchase the Redrock Radio Group, which operates four FM radio stations in the Grand Valley.

The deal is subject to approval from the Federal Communications Commission.

Grand Junction Media owns and operates The Daily Sentinel.

If approved, Grand Junction Media would own Oldies KGJX Redrock 101.5 FM, K284AP Juan 104.7 FM, CHR Kiss 94.3 FM (KGJX-HD3) and K297BR Canyon Country 107.3 FM (KGJX-DH2). The idea would be to infuse more local news into these stations' broadcasts.

"We're really excited about the possibilities and potential not just for this company, but for the community as well," Grand Junction Media Executive Vice President Jay Seaton said.

The deal became possible in November 2017 when the FCC eliminated a ban on cross-ownership between media entities. It also made it easier for companies to buy additional radio stations in some markets and to jointly sell advertising time or space.

"It's an exciting and unique opportunity that wasn't available a couple of years ago," Redrock Radio Group Owner Tom Troland said.

KGJX 101.5 (3.02 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area

FCC approval could take up to three months. The sale will be submitted to the FCC this week with the hope that the sale will be official in August.

Seaton said that he believes this is one of the first deals of this kind after the FCC lifted its ban.

G-R Radio: 'Producer Joe' Scheduled For Abuse Trial Tuesday

Joseph Gassman

A personality on the popular radio program "Free Beer and Hot Wings" is scheduled for trial Tuesday on two domestic battery charges.

Joseph Gassman, 35, pleaded not guilty in April to two misdemeanor counts that stemmed from an altercation in Naperville, Ill. on March 18.

Gassman, known as "Producer Joe" on the radio show, was suspended from his job last month after he was charged in DuPage County, Ill.

"Free Beer and Hot Wings" is produced in Grand Rapids at WGRD 97.9 FM and can be heard at more than three dozen radio stations around the country.


Court documents give more details into domestic battery charges.

Gassman was charged with two counts of misdemeanor domestic battery while in Naperville, Illinois, which is just west of Chicago. According to his online bio, Gassmann is a Chicago native.

The complaint record filed by Naperville Police alleges that Gassman, 35, picked up his girlfriend and threw her to the ground during the altercation. The woman landed on concrete which caused marks to her shin, hand and breast area, according to the complaint.

Lyor Cohen: YouTube's Rocky Past With Music Industry Is Over

Lyor Cohen

To hear Lyor Cohen tell it, the long-running conflict over music licensing between YouTube and the major record labels is over.

"We're now starting to have real connective tissue," said Cohen, YouTube's global head of music who was in San Francisco promoting the upcoming launch of YouTube's latest subscription music service. "We're working together in building these products."

That's a big statement. For the past two years, leading up to the recent licensing negotiations, the music industry has routinely labeled YouTube as an enemy of recording artists. Music videos helped turn YouTube into an entertainment juggernaut, but in return the world's largest video-sharing site paid peanuts to artists, or at least that was how the record companies saw things.

But that was before the top three labels, Universal Music Group, Sony Music and Warner Music Group completed licensing deals earlier this year with YouTube. Far fewer complaints are coming out of the record companies now, and Cohen said the improved relationship is about more than just money.

According to him, Spotify and Apple Music, the top two subscription services, frighten record executives far more than YouTube does.

"Forget the past," Cohen told BusinessInsider on Friday.

He said that YouTube is now "working in collaboration with the industry because the industry is terrified that this could be a two-horse race" between Apple and Spotify. The music industry thinks partnering with YouTube to distribute music could prevent such a duopoly, he said.

The suggestion is that Spotify and Apple Music pose a threat to the labels. Should they obtain too much power over the distribution, they could, presumably, dictate terms to the record companies.

L-A Radio: KIIS-FM Airs Woman & Child Reunion

In 1998, a jogger found a newborn baby buried alive in the foothills of Altadena, his umbilical cord still attached. The baby, not more than a few hours old, hovered near death, reports The L-A Times.

For decades, Azita Milanian would wonder what happened to the boy after he recovered at a Pasadena hospital and was put up for adoption. This week, 20 years to the date of when she found him, the two were reunited.

"I was waiting for you for 20 years," a tearful Milanian said as she hugged Matthew Whitaker.

It was a reunion that came about in an unlikely way. The mother of one of Whitaker's friends wrote into the KIIS 102.7 FM radio station explaining Whitaker's story and asking for a 23andMe DNA kit so he could learn more about his ancestry.

Whitaker agreed to take the test and have the results revealed during the "On Air with Ryan Seacrest" program. When one of the show's producers, Patty Rodriguez, read a 1998 Los Angeles Times story of Milanian finding him, she decided to try to reunite them.

Ahead of the program's taping Wednesday morning, Milanian waited anxiously in a nearby room, with a bag filled with clothes that she had brought for Whitaker. In the bag was a card, with an envelope reading, "Happy Birthday! Baby Christian Mountain Angel Mathew."

When Milanian walked into the studio and saw Whitaker, she began to cry, sobbing into his shirt as he hugged her and called her an angel.


"Finally, all my dreams came true," Milanian said. Many in the studio cried.

On the program, Milanian shared the story of how she found Whitaker on a Saturday night when she had been invited to go dancing, but decided instead to go running.

May 21 Radio History

Dennis Day

➦In 1916...comic actor/singer Dennis Day was born in New York City. He came to stardom as the longtime singing fixture.. and character .. on radio’s Jack Benny Show. He went on to star in his own NBC radio sitcom (Dennis Day Show.) On TV he appeared in 237 episodes of the Benny Show, plus about a dozen guest acting gigs. He died of Lou Gehrig’s Disease June 22 1988 at age 72.


➦In 1931...WOR radio in New York City premiered The Witch’s Tale. Beginning in 1934 the pioneering horror show was broadcast on the Mutual Broadcasting System (of which WOR was the flagship station) where it aired until 1938.

➦In 1955...Comedian Ernie Kovacs begins a daily morning radio show (6-9a) over WABC 770 AM NYC.


➦In 1960...KFAX 1100 AM in San Francisco debuts a news and information format. It’s the first new radio format without a single record. No music anywhere. The format consists of a 15-minute newscast on the hour, a five-minute summary onthe half-hour, plus news analysis commentary, editorial and features to fill-outeach hour. (KFAX is still on-air, owened by Salem Media, and airs Christian teachnig programs.)


➦In 1961...Capital Cities Broadcasting Corp. purchased easy listening WPAT 930 AM  in Patterson, NJ for $5 million. It's  the first company purchase of a station outside a “capital city.” They own WTEN-TV/WROW-AM - Albany, WPRO-TV/Radio -Providence and WTVD-TV/Raleigh-Durham. WPAT is a successful stationserving the New York area.  In 1986, following the Cap Cities purchase of ABC, WPAT was sold to Park Communications.

➦In 1963... MGM Records was promoting a deejay-listener contest, tied to Connie Francis’ new single - “If My Pillow CouldTalk.” Participating deejays are asking their listeners “If Your Pillow Could Talk, WhatWould It Say?”

Writer of the winning lettergets a $100 U.S. Savings Bond, a phone call from Connie Francis and a complete library of her albums.

The deejay that receives the winning letter gets a week’s vacation at the Americana Hotel in Puerto Rico

Donna Reed, Carl Betz, Bob Crane

➦In 1963...It was announced that Los Angeles Disc Jockey Bob Crane will be a regular on the “Donna Reed Show” in the Fall. Bob has slowly built his acting career ever since he began doing mornings on KNX 1070 AM in 1956.

Barry Gray

➦In 1966..."two-way talk radio" is making a name for itself and is a viable format on some stations. On the East Coast, Barry Gray is one of the best-known two-way radio hosts. He conducts his show on music station WMCA 570 AM from 11p to 1a.

This week, Barry Gray signs a new contract with WMCA, which will take him into1970. The new arrangement is expected to give Gray $150,000 annually - a 50% raise!

WMCA was anxious to keep the high-rated talker. One reason, WCBS-AM made a bid for his services. Gray will actually split the show’s profits - 50/50. Atthe going rate (and his show is sold-out between 11p and 1a).

WMCA has been riding higher than high in the New York ratings. The musicstation topped all its competitors again in the recent Hooper and Pulse ratings.

Bob Grant

➦In 1971...Los Angeles radio talk transplant Bob Grant now does an afternoon talk show over WMCA 570 NYC. Grant says that New York is not like Los Angeles, where he spent many a year doing telephone talk radio over KABC and KLAC.

“L.A. radio is really hip compared to New York. Here the scene is very provincial and ethnic and liberal. Being a conservative, I am referred to by most of my callers as the house right-winger or fascist. Actually, it gets pretty funny because they do more yelling at me than engaging in useful debate. The audience in Los Angeles was much more sophisticated. Since WMCA started Dialog Radio, it’s really shot up in the ratings, we’ve gone from around 12th to third in the market.  One of the things WMCA is big on, though, is newsmaker calls and I do a lot of them."


➦In 1973...singer and bandleader Vaughn Monroe died shortly after stomach surgery at age 61. An immensely popular performer on radio and records, Monroe had more than 50 hits on the Billboard charts in the pre-rock ‘n’ roll era. Among his number-one records were 1945′s “There I’ve Said It Again” — revived by Bobby Vinton in 1963 — and 1949′s “Ghost Riders in the Sky.”

➦In 1975...More than ever, disco music is spilling over to top-40.

The influence of the Discotheque – big in New York, is spreading. Disco records have been breaking into the top-40 more and more because of the initial play at discos. The so-called discotheque came to the U.S. from France during the early 1960’s, but the current trend came from gay clubs. Tom Moulton, who writes about the disco scene for Billboard – summed it up by saying New York is the hub of America’s disco scene. “The disco scene has doubled in New York in the last two years. New discos are opening all the time. In the New York area there are about 600 discos and about 30 key discos that you can look at to find out what songs are popular.”


➦In 1980...FCC realigns AM Clear Channel Stations.

The FCC votes to limit the coverage of so-called “clear channel” AM stations to 750 miles. The restriction covers 25 clear channel stations including KFI, Los Angeles, WCBS, WABC, WNBC in New York City, WLS, WBBM and WMAQ, Chicago and WSM - the home of the Grand Ol’ Opry in Nashville. These stations are “protected” so that their nighttime signals can be heard in outlying areas, providing radio service to rural communities at night where there was no radio service. The FCC modified the rules in the mid-40’s, to allow new nighttime stations to operate on some of the channels, but the distance between stations was far away (WABC- KOB, Albuquerque) and only two operated (at the most) on one channel at night in the continental USA. Some channels still remain clear, such as WCCO in Minneapolis and WSM, which can still be picked-up thousands of miles away from Nashville on a clear channel.

The new rules will allow smaller stations to broadcast at night, thereby “interfering” with the distant broadcasts. The FCC says it will make room for 125 more nighttime AM stations.

Other stations with clear channel status - WSB - Atlanta, WBAP - Ft Worth, WLW  - Cincinnati, WJR - Detroit, KDKA - Pittsburgh, KMOX - St Louis, WWWE - Cleveland, WHAM, Rochester, WCAU - Philadelphia, WOAI - San Antonio, WHO - Des Moines, WOR - New York, WWL - New Orleans, KSL - Salt Lake City, WBZ - Boston.

Certain mediumwave frequencies were set aside under the North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement (NARBA) for nighttime use by only one or two specific AM stations, covering a wide area via skywave propagation; these frequencies were known as the clear channels, and the stations on them are thus clear-channel stations. Where only one station was assigned to a clear channel, the treaty provides that it must operate with a nominal power of 50 kilowatts or more; stations on the other clear channels, with two or more stations, must use between 10 kW and 50 kW, and most often use a directional antenna so as not to interfere with each other. In addition to the frequencies, the treaty also specified the specific locations where stations on this second kind of channel (known as class I-B) could be built.

Some of the original NARBA signatories, including the United States, Canada and Mexico, have implemented bilateral agreements that supersede its terms, eliminating among other things the distinction between the two kinds of clear channel: the original "I-A", "I-B", and "I-N" station classes are now all included in class A.

Clear-channel stations, unlike all other AM stations in North America, have a secondary service area—that is, they are entitled to protection from interference to their nighttime skywave signals. Other stations are entitled, at most, to protection from nighttime interference in their primary service area — that which is covered by their groundwave signal.