G Accelerate Networks continues to expand its footprint in quality network radio offerings with the announcement of a new partnership with Bridge Ratings Media Research, a leading research firm that studies and analyzes listener behavior trends.
The arrangement gives G Accelerate exclusive advertising and affiliate sales rights to Bridge Ratings’ StreamStats™, a proprietary research tool that provides market- station- and audience-based on-demand streaming data, associated with P1 listening, for fully comprehensive music research.
“On-demand music streaming consumption is exploding,” said Jim Higgins, Chief Executive Officer of G Accelerate. “Understanding the relationship between streaming and radio listening behaviors is helping StreamStats’ affiliates properly align their on-air playlists with the true song consumption of their audience. Dave Van Dyke is one of the most respected researchers in the industry, and we’re excited to bring these music listening insights to radio station program directors, who need and want this all-inclusive data.”
StreamStats’ provides insights not available from call-out or auditorium tests. It goes further than other on-demand streaming research services that measure only popularity. While stream counts are a basic indicator of popularity, StreamStats extends its research to include primary or P1 radio format listeners.
“Heavy radio listeners stream differently than light or non-radio users,” explained Dave Van Dyke, President and Founder of Bridge Ratings. “We see a direct correlation between use of on-demand streaming data for programming music and music selection and increases in audience tune-in occasions and time-spent-listening. This additional insight is key for program directors who seek to understand how their listeners are consuming music. That’s why I partnered with Jim and his team at G Accelerate. They understand the value of these insights and can effectively communicate those values to station program directors.”
Bridge Ratings’ streaming data is sourced through the volume of streams per platform. Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, Apple Music, and others contribute data points to StreamStats’ charts. Lifegroup profiles are also taken into consideration.
“Song popularity as measured by streams is a primary metric but is amplified by song passion,” Van Dyke added. “StreamStats provides this consumption metric in addition to a Passion Index, which reflects repeat listens of a song over time.”
Radio stations that want to learn more about Bridge Ratings’ StreamStats should contact Rich O’Brien at (212) 380-9338 or robrien@gognetworks.com
Benji Norton, a longtime fixture on the radio waves in Columbia, has died. WMFX Fox 102.3 FM, the classic rock music station in Columbia where Norton worked, posted news of his death on the station’s website, as well as its Facebook and Twitter pages, Sunday night, according to The State.
“It is with a heavy, saddened heart we must share that our brother, Benji Norton, has passed away,” the post said of the DJ and radio personality who was in his early 60s.
“Always the SPIRIT of Fox, Benji filled the lives of those around him with laughter and plenty of smiles!”
There was no word how Norton died.
“We are wishing Benji’s family courage and peace during this time of mourning,” 102.3 said.
Norton was born in North Myrtle Beach and was a 1980 University of South Carolina graduate. Although he got his degree from USC’s School of Journalism, Norton grew up a devout Clemson University fan, the alma mater of his father and three brothers, according to the radio station.
“Benji was kind and encouraging in my early days with a (M)idlands station and a fearless Tiger fan, even while working for USC’s flagship station,” Greenville Triumph public address announcer Michael Vaughn tweeted.
Norton had been in radio in Columbia since 1988 and was marketing specialist and host on 102.3 on Monday-Friday from 3-7 p.m. for the past three years. It was his second stint 102.3. He also worked there from 1990-95 as the station’s program director and and drive-time host.
Norton also worked for Cumulus Radio from 1996-2018 as senior sales rep and morning show host.
Prior to making his name in Columbia, Norton worked in various roles at stations in Knoxville, Nashville, and Raleigh-Durham, according to 102.3. He served as an on-air personality, music director, program director and account executive.
➦In 1904...Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby born (some sources list May 2 – Died from heart attack October 14, 1977).
Bind Crosby
He was he first multimedia star, Crosby was a leader in record sales, radio ratings, and motion picture grosses from 1931 to 1954. His early career coincided with recording innovations that allowed him to develop an intimate singing style that influenced many male singers who followed him, including Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Dick Haymes, and Dean Martin. Yank magazine said that he was "the person who had done the most for the morale of overseas servicemen" during World War II. In 1948, American polls declared him the "most admired man alive", ahead of Jackie Robinson and Pope Pius XII. Also in 1948, Music Digest estimated that his recordings filled more than half of the 80,000 weekly hours allocated to recorded radio music.
Crosby won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Father Chuck O'Malley in the 1944 motion picture Going My Way and was nominated for his reprise of the role in The Bells of St. Mary's opposite Ingrid Bergman the next year, becoming the first of six actors to be nominated twice for playing the same character. In 1963, Crosby received the first Grammy Global Achievement Award. He is one of 33 people to have three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in the categories of motion pictures, radio, and audio recording. He was also known for his collaborations with longtime friend Bob Hope, starring in the Road to... films from 1940 to 1962.
Crosby influenced the development of the postwar recording industry. After seeing a demonstration of a German broadcast quality reel-to-reel tape recorder brought to America by John T. Mullin, he invested $50,000 in a California electronics company called Ampex to build copies. He then convinced ABC to allow him to tape his shows. He became the first performer to pre-record his radio shows and master his commercial recordings onto magnetic tape. Through the medium of recording, he constructed his radio programs with the same directorial tools and craftsmanship (editing, retaking, rehearsal, time shifting) used in motion picture production, a practice that became an industry standard. In addition to his work with early audio tape recording, he helped to finance the development of videotape, bought television stations, bred racehorses, and co-owned the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team.
On September 2, 1931, Crosby made his nationwide solo radio debut. Before the end of the year, he signed with both Brunswick and CBS Radio. Doing a weekly 15-minute radio broadcast, Crosby became a hit.
His first commercial sponsor on radio was Cremo Cigars and his fame spread nationwide. After a long run in New York, he went back to Hollywood to film The Big Broadcast. His appearances, records, and radio work substantially increased his impact. The success of his first film brought him a contract with Paramount, and he began a pattern of making three films a year. He led his radio show for Woodbury Soap for two seasons while his live appearances dwindled. His records produced hits during the Depression when sales were down. Audio engineer Steve Hoffman stated, "By the way, Bing actually saved the record business in 1934 when he agreed to support Decca founder Jack Kapp's crazy idea of lowering the price of singles from a dollar to 35 cents and getting a royalty for records sold instead of a flat fee. Bing's name and his artistry saved the recording industry. All the other artists signed to Decca after Bing did. Without him, Jack Kapp wouldn't have had a chance in hell of making Decca work and the Great Depression would have wiped out phonograph records for good."
His social life was hectic. His first son Gary was born in 1933 with twin boys following in 1934. By 1936, he replaced his former boss, Paul Whiteman, as host of the weekly NBC radio program Kraft Music Hall, where he remained for the next ten years. Where the Blue of the Night (Meets the Gold of the Day), with his trademark whistling, became his theme song and signature tune.
Crosby's vocal style helped take popular singing beyond the "belting" associated with Al Jolson and Billy Murray, who had been obligated to reach the back seats in New York theaters without the aid of the microphone. As music critic Henry Pleasants noted in The Great American Popular Singers, something new had entered American music, a style that might be called "singing in American" with conversational ease. This new sound led to the popular epithet "crooner".
During the Second World War, Crosby made live appearances before American troops who had been fighting in the European Theater. He learned how to pronounce German from written scripts and read propaganda broadcasts intended for German forces. The nickname "Der Bingle" was common among Crosby's German listeners and came to be used by his English-speaking fans. In a poll of U.S. troops at the close of World War II, Crosby topped the list as the person who had done the most for G.I. morale, ahead of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, General Dwight Eisenhower, and Bob Hope.
The biggest hit song of Crosby's career was his recording of Irving Berlin's "White Christmas", which he introduced on a Christmas Day radio broadcast in 1941. The song then appeared in his movie Holiday Inn (1942). His record hit the charts on October 3, 1942, and rose to No. 1 on October 31, where it stayed for 11 weeks. A holiday perennial, the song was repeatedly re-released by Decca, charting another sixteen times. It topped the charts again in 1945 and a third time in January 1947.
The song remains the bestselling single of all time. According to Guinness World Records, his recording of "White Christmas" has sold over 100 million copies around the world, with at least 50 million sales as singles. His recording was so popular that he was obliged to re-record it in 1947 using the same musicians and backup singers; the original 1942 master had become damaged due to its frequent use in pressing additional singles. Although the two versions are similar, the 1947 recording is more familiar today.
➦In 1910...Norman Lewis Corwin born (Died at age 101 – October 18, 2011) . He was a writer, screenwriter, producer, essayist and teacher of journalism and writing. His earliest and biggest successes were in the writing and directing of radio drama during the 1930s and 1940s.
Norman Corwin
Corwin was among the first producers to regularly use entertainment—even light entertainment—to tackle serious social issues. In this area, he was a peer of Orson Welles and William N. Robson, and an inspiration to other later radio/TV writers such as Rod Serling, Gene Roddenberry, Norman Lear, J. Michael Straczynski and Yuri Rasovsky.
Corwin was a major figure during the Golden Age of Radio. During the 1930s and 1940s he was a writer and producer of many radio programs in many genres: history, biography, fantasy, fiction, poetry and drama.
In the early 1930s, he became involved with radio broadcasting. He first worked as the radio editor of the Springfield MA Republican and subsequently began broadcasting his own radio program. The date of his first broadcast has been reported as early as 1931. As radio editor of the Republican, he became known for his column "Radiosyncracies," which he published under the pseudonym 'Vladimir Shrdlu.' He also worked as a news commentator over WBZ and WBZA. In June 1935, Corwin accepted an executive position in Cincinnati at station WLW. By 1937, Corwin was hired to host a poetry program called "Poetic License" on New York station WQXR, which led to his being hired by the CBS Radio Network to produce and direct cultural programs. He remained with CBS until 1949.
➦In 1925...Rosemary Rice born (Died from a stroke at age 87 – August 14, 2012). Rice was best known for her role as Katrin Hansen, the oldest daughter in the television series, Mama, which aired on CBS from 1949 to 1957. She provided the opening voice narration for Mama through her character.
Rosemary Rice
Rice's acting career began during junior high student in Montclair, when she was cast in her first Broadway production, later attending New York's Professional Children's School. She appeared in twelve plays and musicals on Broadway. Her Broadway credits included the 1943 production of The Naked Genius, a play written by Gypsy Rose Lee, as well as Dear Ruth and Junior Miss.
Rice's first radio appearance was on Grand Central Station. She enjoyed an active career in radio, appearing in mysteries, comedies and soap operas. Her best known role was as Betty Cooper in the Archie Andrews radio series.Other radio credits included Ma Perkins (as Laura), The Right to Happiness (as Susan Wakefield), CBS Radio Mystery Theater, NBC Playhouse, Calvacade of America, Playhouse 90, When a Girl Marries (as Kathy), My True Story, Westinghouse Studio One, Young Doctor Malone (as Jill), and Let's Pretend.
In 1949, CBS debuted Mama, an early, live television series adapted from "Mama's Bank Account", a book written by Kathryn Forbes. The series, which was set in San Francisco, California, in the early 20th Century, centered on the life of a Norwegian American family.
➦In 1958...NYC personality Alan Freed faced controversy in Boston when he told the audience, "It looks like the Boston police don't want you to have a good time." As a result, Freed was arrested and charged with inciting to riot, and was fired from his job at 1010WINS.
➦In 1965...Personality The Real Don Steele started at 93KHJ-AM, Los Angeles in what would be a career that lasted decades at the station. Here's some audio...
Steele became nationally-known as a DJ on radio station KHJ in Los Angeles, where he helped to promote the "ultrahip" Top40 Boss Radio format which began at 3pm on April 27, 1965.
He also appeared on TV as host Boss City and The Real Don Steele TV Show, a show which ran from 1965 to 1975 on KHJ-TV channel 9 in Los Angeles.
When the popularity of AM radio gave way to FM stereo in the 1970s, Steele continued to remain a popular personality at the station. Following the years at 93/KHJ, The Real Don Steele continued to be heard on Los Angeles radio stations, including KIQQ (K-100), KRLA, KCBS-FM and KRTH-FM (K-Earth 101), until his death in August 1997.
➦In 1971...National Public Radio began in the US with 112 affiliates, mostly at colleges and universities, and the afternoon drive show that continues to this day, “All Things Considered.”
➦In 1982...President Ronald Reagan began the traditional of Saturday radio addresses by the Presidents. While the Mutual Broadcasting Service estimated that as many as 1.5 million people could have been reached by the addresses, few stations carried the broadcasts and citizens seldom provided responses to the radio stations. However, the network news often reported on the speeches and The New York Times often times ran full texts of the addresses.
The growth of the Saturday presidential address is one element in the evolution of presidential rhetoric and a chief executive's drive to reach citizens. When President Ronald Reagan sought to harness his legislative agenda amid congressional and media wrangling.
➦In 1982...Beautiful music WTFM changes to Album WAPP in NYC
➦In 1992...Elizabeth Lennox died at age 98. She was early recording artist during the 1910s. She was an early radio singer. She recorded cylinders for Thomas Edison. In addition to her recordings Elizabeth appeared on NBC Radio until she retired from performing.
➦In 2006...Bob Dylan hosted his first show on XM Satellite Radio, playing favorite tracks by Prince, Wilco, Blur, Billy Bragg, Blur, and LL Cool J, among others.
Frankie Valli is 88
🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAYS:
Singer Frankie Valli is 88.
Sports announcer Greg Gumbel is 76.
Singer Mary Hopkin is 72.
Singer Christopher Cross is 71.
Drummer Cactus Moser (Highway 101) is 65.
Keyboardist David Ball of Soft Cell is 63.
Cheryl Burke is 38
Country singer Shane Minor is 54.
Actor Amy Ryan (“Bridge of Spies,” ″The Office”) is 54.
Actor Bobby Cannavale (“Boardwalk Empire,” ″Nurse Jackie”) is 52.
Music producer-actor Damon Dash is 51.
Bassist John Driskell Hopkins of Zac Brown Band is 51.
Actor Marsha Stephanie-Blake (“When They See Us”) is 47.
TV personality Willie Geist (“Today”) is 47.
Actor Christina Hendricks (“Mad Men”) is 47.
Actor Dulé Hill (“Psych,” ″The West Wing”) is 47.
Country singer Eric Church is 45.
Actor Tanya Wright (“Orange Is the New Black”) is 44.
Dancer Cheryl Burke (“Dancing With the Stars”) is 38.
Cumulus Media announced today that Brian Philips has been promoted to Chief Content Officer, responsible for content across all Cumulus platforms, reporting to Mary G. Berner, President and Chief Executive Officer. Philips had previously served as Executive Vice President, Content and Audience, since 2019.
Brian Phillips
“Brian Philips is an exceptional executive and the perfect choice to lead our programming efforts as we continue to execute our audio-first strategy, which is transforming the Company from a traditional radio broadcaster into a multi-dimensional audio media company,” said Berner. “This promotion reflects Brian’s tremendous contributions, and I have full confidence in his creative vision, operational expertise, and savvy leadership to guide us through this critical evolution.”
Prior to joining Cumulus Media, Philips spent more than 30 years in television, film, and radio creation. He enjoyed an award-winning radio career, with more than 15 years leading radio programming at a number of major market stations, including Cumulus stations WNNX-FM and WWWQ-FM (Atlanta), and KPLX-FM (Dallas-Ft. Worth).
iHeartMedia, Inc. has named Sarah van Mosel as Executive Vice President of the iHeart Audience Network (iAN).
The iHeart Audience Network – the next evolution of audience-based buying – is a new service from iHeart that simplifies audio advertising. With inventory sourced from the expansive iHeartRadio database and other premium publishers across streaming and podcasting, the iHeart Audience Network is the leading service brands can rely on to reach addressable audiences in premium audio inventory at scale. Each network campaign will allow brands to unlock access to multiple services, including advanced targeting that looks across channels, devices and behaviors to pinpoint the right audience; and an upcoming one-of-a-kind brand safety tech tool, developed by iHeartMedia in partnership with Sounder, called Audio Intelligence, using AI and machine learning to check content against the IAB’s standards for brand safety. Today, the iHeart Audience Network spans streaming and podcasting – with the added reach of broadcast radio available too.
As Executive Vice President for the iHeart Audience Network, van Mosel will additionally assist with iAN sales operations, publisher development and podcast slate partnerships for iHeartPodcasts, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac. With her experience as a force in the podcasting business, van Mosel will work closely with Carter Brokaw, President of Digital Revenue Strategy to bolster iHeart’s continued growth in the space. She will report to Conal Byrne, Chief Executive Officer of the iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group.
“The iHeart Audience Network is the first and only audio marketplace that seamlessly unifies all forms of audio with one common set of audiences, and we’re thrilled Sarah is bringing her expertise, vision and talent to take these unique capabilities to their full potential for advertisers and publishers,” said Byrne. “She’s been at the forefront of innovation in podcasting from the very beginning and her unique perspective on the rapidly growing medium will ensure this venture becomes the premier service for all brands. The team is looking forward to seeing where she takes iAN next.”
A long-time champion of the industry and creator community, van Mosel most recently served as the Chief Revenue Officer at Stitcher, where she led podcast revenue strategy across SiriusXM, Pandora and Stitcher. Van Mosel was part of the leadership team that oversaw Stitcher’s acquisition by SiriusXM in October 2020. Following the acquisition, she was responsible for integrating Stitcher’s sales organization, setting direction for revenue growth and scaling opportunities for podcast monetization.
“My path to iHeart has been a long one, but each step of the way has equipped me with the exact set of skills I need to lock arms with this outstanding team,” says van Mosel. “Anyone who knows me knows I love to build. I love to push the industry forward. The team at iHeart is poised to completely transform the audio industry and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”
Today, Allen Media Group-owned The Weather Channel launched its new free television network The Weather Channel en Español, the first 24/7 Spanish-language free-streaming weather news network in the United States.
TVNewscheck reports The Weather Channel en Español makes its historic debut on the 40th anniversary of the launch of The Weather Channel television network. The new network has signed sponsors including Ford, Geico, General Motors, Toyota, Verizon and Walmart.
The Weather Channel en Español features a variety of Spanish-language weather content, including locally specific forecasting, storytelling that will help viewers understand the variation behind weather events, climate science, and its human impact.
Also, the new free-streaming network will use the full resources of The Weather Channel, including the network’s multiple Emmy-winning immersive mixed reality (IMR) technology. Allen Media said that viewers “can expect the same exceptional quality and timely reporting they rely on from The Weather Channel, along with seamless collaboration among other Allen Media Group platforms such as Pattrn — The Weather Channel’s climate, environment and sustainability network.”
Byron Allen, founder, chairman and CEO of The Weather Channel parent company, Allen Media Group, said: “The Hispanic marketplace is indexing extremely well with streaming services and is severely underserved. Our launch of The Weather Channel en Español is historic, and is a recognition of the continued and significant growth of the U.S. Hispanic population and the constant need to keep the entire public informed and safe as multi-billion dollar weather disasters are on the rise — especially in communities where Spanish is spoken as both the primary and secondary language in millions of households throughout America.
“I am proud to say viewers of The Weather Channel en Español will be able to increase their safety and awareness of extreme weather events with the full support of the number one weather news network, and its vast resources, infrastructure, technology, and scientists.”
Sussy Ruiz, editor-in-chief of The Weather Channel en Español, said: “I’m very proud to be a part of Allen Media Group’s significant investment in The Weather Channel en Español. The Weather Channel has been voted the most-trusted news brand in America for 11 consecutive years, and the fifth most-trusted brand overall. The full resources of The Weather Channel have been dedicated to ensure The Weather Channel en Español achieves The Weather Channel’s 40-year history of excellence.”
Nora Zimmett, president, news and original series for Weather Group, said: “The Weather Channel en Español represents the continued commitment of The Weather Channel to keep the entire public informed and safe when severe weather is about to strike. In addition to vital weather and climate information, The Weather Channel en Español also provides cutting edge technology, comprehensive storytelling, plus compelling and engaging original programming.”
Ukrainian civilians began evacuating over the weekend from the sprawling steel plant in Mariupol where they have been holed up for nearly two months in bunkers underneath the plant. They have been there along with an estimated 2,000 Ukranian fighters in the last remaining pocket not occupied by Russian forces in the devastated southern city. Video released Sunday by Ukrainian forces showed woman and children climbing over a large pile of rubble they left the steel plant and then boarding a bus.
This is how Mariupol civilians emerged from under the Azovstal steel works to flee the ruined city in UN-led evacuation. 100+ women and children were evacuated and are expected to reach Ukraine-controlled Zaporizhia tomorrow morning. Video by MP David Arakhamia via Azov regiment pic.twitter.com/JSY5GCgsWu
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an address on his Telegram messaging channel yesterday that more than 100 of the evacuated civilians were expected to arrive in the city of Zaporizhzhia Monday. A brigade commander of Ukraine's National Guard said Sunday night that several hundred civilians were still at the plant, as well as nearly 500 wounded soldiers.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi led a top-level U.S. congressional delegation that made a surpise visit to Ukraine on Saturday. Pelosi and the six members of Congress met with Zelenskyy and his top aides for three hours in Kyiv. In a video released by Zelenskyy's office, Pelosi says, "Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done. We are on a frontier of freedom and your fight is a fight for everyone." The trip wasn't disclosed until the U.S. group was out of Ukraine, and no details were released on how they reached Kyiv or left the country. Pelosi is set to meet Polish President Andrzej Duda today in Warsaw.
First Lady to Meet with Ukrainian Refugees in Slovakia: First Lady Jill Biden will meet with Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia next Sunday as part of a five-day trip to Slovakia and Romania that begins on Thursday, the White House announced yesterday. Both countries share borders with Ukraine and have been taking in some of the 5.5 million refugees that have fled the country since Russia's February 24th invasion. In additional to government officials, the first lady will also meet with U.S. servicemembers, U.S. Embassy personnel, humanitarian aid workers and educators during her trip.
➤TWO RESCUED AFTER CHINA BUILDING COLLAPSE, NEARLY 60 TRAPPED OR UNACCOUNTED FOR: Two people were rescued Sunday from the rubble of a building that collapsed in China more than 50 hours earlier. Seven people have been rescued in all from the collapse in the city of Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, while about 20 others were still trapped and another 39 hadn't been accounted for. Chinese news agency Xinhua said the building had eight floors, including a restaurant on the second floor, a cafe on the third floor, and residences on the top two floors. Meanwhile, nine people were arrested on suspicion of causing a major liability accident, including the building owner, three people in charge of design and construction, and five people for a false safety assessment for a guest house on three of the building’s floors.
Tulsi Gabbard suggests Obama behind 'Ministry of Truth,' says Biden just 'front man' https://t.co/OFfUTBsmNI
➤U.S. MARSHALS OFFER $10K FOR INFO ON ESCAPED INMATE, MISSING CORRECTIONS OFFICER: The U.S. Marshals Service said Sunday that it's offering up to $10,000 for information about a 38-year-old inmate who escaped in Florence, Alabama, Friday and a corrections officer who is considered "missing and endangered." Casey Cole White was jailed on a capital murder charge at the Lauderdale County Detention Center. The assistant director of corrections, 56-year-old Vicky White, left the jail Friday morning with Casey White to go to a nearby courthouse for what she said was a mental health evaluation for the inmate and they disappeared. She was alone with him, which the sheriff said violated department policy, and it turns out there was no such evaluation scheduled. No-one realized they were missing until about six hours after they left the jail. The vehicle they were in was later found at a nearby shopping center. The U.S. marshal for northern Alabama said in a statement Sunday, "Casey White is believed to be a serious threat to the corrections officer and the public." However, Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton said they are "aggressively investigating" and would be looking into previous interaction between the two to, quote, "see if something else was going on."
➤RUSSIAN OFFICIAL SAYS PULLING OUT OF SPACE STATION: The head of Russia's space agency said that his country is pulling out of the International Space Station because of the Western sanctions imposed to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, Bloomberg reported, citing Russian state media outlets Tass and RIA Novosti. Dmitry Rogozin said, according to the outlets, "The decision has been taken already, we’re not obliged to talk about it publicly. I can say this only -- in accordance with our obligations, we’ll inform our partners about the end of our work on the ISS with a year’s notice." NASA had said last month that Russia was committed to the ISS, despite Rogozin having threatened several times since the invasion that it would end cooperation on the space station over the sanctions.
➤GOOGLE MAKES IT EASIER TO REMOVE PERSONAL INFORMATION FROM SEARCH: Search engine Google is now making it easier to remove personal information from search results. The new policy will now remove links to sites that include a phone number, email address, or physical address. This information could potentially include images of identification documents or login credentials. To make a removal request, users can fill out a form that lists the URL of the content you want removed and screenshots showing the specific identifying content. Google will then review and grant or deny said request.
🏀NBA PLAYOFFS: Results from second-round games yesterday:
Milwaukee Bucks 101, Boston Celtics 89 - Milwaukee leads series 1-0
Golden State Warriors 117, Memphis Grizzlies 116 - Golden State leads series 1-0
🏀BUCKS, WARRIORS WIN TO KICK OFF NBA PLAYOFFS' SECOND ROUND: The defending NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks and the Golden State Warriors won yesterday to kick off the second round of the playoffs. The Bucks topped the Boston Celtics 101-89, helped by a triple-double from Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had 24 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists. The Warriors edged the Memphis Grizzlies 117-116, despite forward Draymond Green controversially being ejected for a flagrant foul just before halftime. Officials believed Green hit Memphis' Brandon Clarke in the face after a missed layup and threw him to the ground, but it appeared Green tried to help hold Clarke up as he hit the court. That's what Green said on his podcast, The Draymond Green Show, after the game, stating, "I actually tried to hold him up," and that the flagrant foul call was, quote, "probably a reputation thing."
🏒NHL PLAYOFFS BEGIN TONIGHT: The first round of the NHL playoffs begin tonight after the last game of the regular season yesterday, a 4-3 Winnipeg Jets win over the Seattle Kraken that was the day's only game. Neither the Jets nor the Kraken, who just finished their inaugural season, made the playoffs. Tonight's matchups are: Boston Bruins at Carolina Hurricanes; Tampa Bay Lightning at Toronto Maple Leafs; St. Louis Blues at Minnesota Wild; and Los Angeles Kings at Edmonton Oilers.
🎾DJOKIVIC, NADAL CRITICIZE WIMBLEDON BAN ON PLAYERS FROM RUSSIA, BELARUS: Top-ranked men's tennis player Novak Djokovic of Serbia and fourth-ranked Rafael Nadal of Spain yesterday criticized Wimbledon's decision to ban players from Russia and Belarus from this year's tournament, which begins in late June, over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Speaking from Spain, where both are preparing for the Madrid Open, 21-time Grand Slam winner Nadal said, "I think it’s very unfair . . . it’s not their fault what’s happening in this moment with the war." Djokovic stated, "I think it’s just not fair, it’s not right[.]" Both the men's and women's tennis tours have criticized the decision, which was announced last month. The most high-profile player affected is Daniil Medvedev of Russia, who's the second-ranked men's player in the world.
⚾REDS, AT 3-19, HAVE WORST START IN FRANCHISE HISTORY: The Cincinnati Reds were blown out 10-1 by the Colorado Rockies for a sixth straight loss yesterday, bringing their record to a dismal 3-19, the worst season start in franchise history. It's also tied with three other teams for the second-worst start through 22 games in baseball's Modern Era (since 1900), behind only the 1988 Baltimore Orioles, who began the season with a 1-21 record.
105.5 MPH 🤯
Tennessee pitcher Ben Joyce broke his own record for fastest pitch in college baseball history.
⚾COLLEGE PLAYER THROWS SECOND-FASTEST PITCH EVER RECORDED: Tennessee pitcher Ben Joyce threw the fastest pitch in college baseball history and the second-fastest pitch ever recorded in the Volunteers' 5-3 win over Knoxville on Saturday. Joyce threw the 105.5 mile-per-hour fastball in the top of the eighth inning, the hardest-thrown pitch ever recorded in college baseball. It was also the second-hardest thrown pitch in baseball history, behind only Aroldis Chapman’s 105.8 mph fastball in the major leagues in 2010.
Three University of Oklahoma meteorology students were killed in a car crash on Friday evening as they returned from storm chasing in Kansas. https://t.co/KqGPGxAbQM
CNN’s Dana Bash grilled Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about the role of its newly formed Disinformation Governance Board and whether it will increase governmental surveillance of U.S. citizens, ala George Orwell’s Ministry of Truth in “1984,” as some critics are calling it.
TheWrap reports Bash pressed Mayorkas on the matter during her “State of the Union” show Sunday, pointing out how quickly conservatives have denounced it. “Republicans are calling it ‘Orwellian,’” she said. “Can you clarify what exactly is this? What exactly will this disinformation governance board do? Will it monitor American citizens?” she questioned.
“Those criticisms are precisely the opposite of what this small working group within the Department of Homeland Security will do,” Mayorkas answered, though he conceded that “we probably could have done a better job of communicating what it does and does not do.” The official maintained the board’s necessity, reiterating that disinformation from other nations is a “threat to the security of the homeland.”
However, Bash pressed on, asking what the board will actually do and how it will approach tackling disinformation. Mayorkas said that the internal working group will “draw from best practices” that do not infringe on the rights of free speech and privacy.
Bash shifted gears, wondering if Mayorkas would “be OK if Donald Trump were president if he created this disinformation governance board? Or — if it is in place and he wins again in 2024 — that he’s in charge of such a thing?”
The secretary, not directly addressing the issue brought up in the question, again defended the board’s creation and its goals. “I believe that this working group, that gathers together best practices, makes sure that our work is coordinated, consistent with those best practices, that we’re safeguarding the right of free speech, that we’re safeguarding civil liberties, I think, is an extraordinarily important endeavor,” he concluded.
This year, Peacock will hit 64.3 million US viewers, up 25.0% from 51.5 million the year before. The Comcast-owned streaming platform will continue to grow as it rivals established competitors.
Beyond the chart:
Recent news of CNN+ shuttering after just three weeks and Netflix losing 200,000 subscribers worldwide is evidence that the future of streaming is still volatile, and Peacock aims to improve its status in the streaming arena.
Relative newcomer Peacock will still fall far behind Netflix, which will have more than 170 million viewers this year, as well as Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max, all of which have well over 80 million subscribers. That said, Peacock will rank ahead of ESPN+ and Apple TV+ in viewership, cementing its spot as a contender in the streaming wars.
While Netflix considers pivoting toward ad-supported tiers, Peacock has followed this model since its inception. Of the 24.5 million active accounts held by Peacock subscribers at the end of 2021, just over one-third existed at the free level. The majority of paid Peacock accounts are also ad supported, making ads a major revenue stream for the platform.
The NBC app benefits from a combination of linear and on-demand content as well as live sports broadcasts like the Olympics and Sunday Night Football. It has also drawn viewership with big titles available for exclusive streaming like “The Office” and “The Boss Baby 2.”
Looking ahead: Peacock will reach one-fifth of internet users by the end of this year. That figure will expand to more than one-fourth by 2026, for a total of 84.2 million viewers.
Brendan Carr, a commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), rejected a left-leaning organization's claim that the FCC has the authority to block Tesla CEO Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter, in part because Musk also owns Starlink, reports FOX Business.
After Twitter accepted Musk's $44 billion offer last week, the Open Markets Institute warned that the deal represents a threat to "American democracy and free speech," suggested the deal is illegal, and argued that the federal government has the power to block it.
"The Open Markets Institute believes the deal poses a number of immediate and direct threats to American democracy and free speech," OMI Director Barry Lynn said in a statement. "Open Markets also believes the deal violates existing law, and that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have ample authority to block it."
Lynn noted that "the deal would give to a single man – one who already wields immense political and economic power – direct control over one of world’s most important platforms for public communications and debate."
Citing Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, the Telegraph Acts of 1860 and 1866, the Mann-Elkins Act of 1910, and the Communications Act of 1934, the OMI director claimed that "the American people have an absolute right to ensure the full openness and neutrality of all essential public infrastructure." He also noted that the U.S. government has used anti-trust law in the communications sphere.
"Mr. Musk already controls one of the most important internet platforms in the world – in the form of the satellite communications system Starlink," Lynn noted. "Since the late 19th Century, the U.S. government has routinely acted to prevent mergers between existing essential platforms. … This means that just as we would now expect the U.S. government to block a takeover of Twitter by Google, Facebook, Comcast, or Verizon, the same rules apply to the owners of Starlink."
Lynn ended the letter by encouraging the federal government not just to block Musk's acquisition of Twitter, but to regulate Facebook, Google, and Amazon by firmly reestablishing "clear bans on any manipulation of communications by essential platforms, and to eliminate all business models that rely on such manipulation."
Brendan Carr, a Trump-appointed FCC commissioner, shot down Lynn's claim as "absurd."
"The FCC has no authority to block Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter, and to suggest otherwise is absurd," Carr said in a statement Wednesday. "I would welcome the full FCC making it clear that we will not entertain these types of frivolous arguments."
President Joe Biden’s nominee to serve on the Federal Communications Commission could come with yet another caveat regarding a battle between billionaires Elon Musk and Michael Dell over spectrum for internet access, reports FOX Business.
Several tech executives and advocacy groups want to allocate a public resource known as 12 GHz spectrum in a way that critics say would block out satellite internet services that are already delivering connectivity to hundreds of thousands of Americans across rural America. Satellite internet services have been a means for delivering internet service to rural America and tribal lands, particularly in mountainous regions.
Biden’s FCC nominee, Gigi Sohn, is tied to two advocacy groups lobbying for the spectrum change. However, she hasn’t taken a formal stance on the issue during her confirmation hearing.
"If you set aside satellites only for extremely rural areas, ultimately the business model will not work," Jim Dunstan, general counsel for TechFreedom, told FOX Business. "Starlink and other companies still need a subscriber base. They still need suburbs and urban areas. If satellites have to compete against the local cable or phone companies, that doesn’t help the satellite guys."
In some instances, this places the satellite companies in direct competition with local government-owned companies that have an advantage over private companies, Dunstan said.
"For municipal-owned utilities, municipal governments can play stupid government tricks and can make life miserable for competitors," Dunstan said. "To deploy 12 GHz to 5G, you would take away from the satellite guys. It’s great for urban areas, but the 5G is not more likely to get to rural areas. This would rob the rural areas to pay the urban."
MSD Capital, a private money management firm linked to Michael Dell, the founder of Dell Technologies, has called for the FCC to adopt a new policy for 12 GHz.
This policy could also have a particular impact on the Musk-owned Starlink firm that provides internet access to about 250,000 homes and businesses. In 2020, SpaceX urged the FCC not to expand the availability of the 12GHz spectrum.
However, the two spectrums — 5G and 12GHz — can co-exist without interfering with one another, contends Chip Pickering, CEO of Incompass and co-chairman of the 5G for 12GHz Coalition.
Moreover, Pickering doesn’t think approval of expanding the GHz spectrum relies on Sohn’s confirmation.
"I don’t see this depending on her confirmation. We think this has been a completely bipartisan process," Pickering, a former Republican House member, told Fox News. "In the race with China for 5G, this gives us an advantage in connecting every American, in rural areas especially, as well as urban areas. What we have now is a great waste of one of the most valuable strategic assets we have."
If confirmed, Sohn would be the third Democrat on the FCC, currently split 2-2.
Sohn is a senior fellow at the Benton Institute for Broadband and Society, an organization that is part of the 5G for 12 GHz Coalition.
The 5G for 12GHz Coalition includes Dell Technologies. The Benton Institute board of directors includes Mignon Clyburn, a former FCC commissioner and daughter of House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C.
Six weeks after pulling herself out of contention for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, saying she hadn’t “earned that right,” Dolly Parton has had a change of heart, reports Rolling Stone.
In a new interview with NPR’s Morning Edition, the country icon said would indeed receive the honor if she’s voted in. “I’ll accept gracefully,” she said. “I’ll say ‘thanks’ and accept that.”
She explained that her initial reaction to the nomination was based on a misconception about the institution. “It was always my belief that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame was for people in rock music,” she said. “I have found out lately it’s not necessarily that. But if they can’t go there to be recognized, where can they go? And so I felt like I was taking away from someone that maybe deserved it certainly more than me since I never considered myself a rock artist. But obviously, there’s more to it than that.”
Parton ignited a big debate on March 14 when she told her fans she was bowing out of contention. “I do hope that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will understand and be willing to consider me again — if I’m ever worthy,” she wrote. “This has, however, inspired me to put out a hopefully great rock & roll album in the future, which I have always wanted to do.”
The Hall of Fame responded three days later saying, in essence, it was too late to remove her from consideration. “Dolly’s nomination, along with the other 16 for the Class of 2022, was sent out earlier this month to our 1,100 general ballot voters, the majority of whom are artists themselves, for induction at our ceremony,” they said in a statement. “We are in awe of Dolly’s brilliant talent and pioneering spirit and are proud to have nominated her for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.”
Parton appeared on the 2022 Hall of Fame ballot alongside Duran Duran, Eminem, Devo, Carly Simon, A Tribe Called Quest, Beck, Lionel Richie, Rage Against the Machine, Pat Benatar, and several other icons.
Pj Maloney, a friend and former news colleague of Mr. James, said Mr. James had moved to San Francisco to be closer to his daughter after a fall in his Bethel Park home.
After serving in the Navy in World War II, Mr. James had worked in broadcast journalism, mostly in Pittsburgh, since the 1940s.
His résumé included stints at WJAS, WWSW, WIIC-TV and KQV Newsradio, where he put in nearly 20 years of airtime.
James eventually moved on to WFBG in Altoona before returning to Pittsburgh and Channel 11 (then-WIIC). His most recent work was at KQV (1410) where he is remembered for his professional and award-winning coverage whether serious or light-hearted. He retired from the all-news KQV 20 years ago.
The station shared time with Dallas stations WFAA and WRR. It was the first station in the United States to have an audible logo signal similar to the NBC chimes, the WBAP cowbell. According to President Herbert Hoover, the station's call letters stood for "We Bring A Program".
On May 15, 1923, the Federal Radio Commission expanded the broadcast band, and WBAP and WFAA moved to 630 kHz. Another expansion moved WBAP to 600 kHz effective April 15, 1927, and this frequency was shared with WOAI in San Antonio. On November 11, 1928, WBAP moved to 800 kHz, and on June 1, 1929, WFAA also moved to 800 kHz, sharing time (and NBC Red network affiliation) with WBAP.
Station owner Amon G. Carter was unhappy with having to share time on 800 kHz with WFAA. In May 1938, Carter Publishing purchased KGKO Wichita Falls (570 kHz) and moved it to Fort Worth as an affiliate of the NBC Blue network (which became ABC), and more importantly as a second frequency to be used when 800 kHz was not available. On March 29, 1941, as a consequence of the Treaty of Havana, WBAP and WFAA moved one last time, to 820 kHz.
Carter eventually sold half of KGKO to A.H. Belo, owners of WFAA, and on April 27, 1947, KGKO was replaced by a second shared frequency between WBAP and WFAA.
The dual frequency sharing arrangement between WBAP and WFAA continued through the 1950s and 1960s, with the stations switching frequencies several times a day. When WBAP changed frequencies, it signaled the change with a cowbell, which became widely associated with the station.
Even though the stations swapped frequencies several times each day, the network affiliations remained constant: NBC network programming stayed on 820 kHz and ABC network programming stayed on 570 kHz. This frequently proved confusing for announcers and listeners alike.
On May 1, 1970, the unique dual split-frequency lives of WBAP and WFAA ended when WBAP paid $3.5 million to WFAA in exchange for sole occupancy of 820 kHz (and the NBC affiliation).
WFAA took on 570 kHz (and the ABC affiliation) full-time. Once the frequency-sharing with WFAA ended in 1970, both stations were free to program musical formats, and WBAP began programming country music.
It also gained the added benefit of 820's clear-channel signal; previously WFAA controlled it during these prime nighttime hours. After a series of network affiliation changes in the late 1970s among WBAP, KRLD and WFAA, WBAP switched affiliations to ABC.
The original license for what would become KPQ was granted in 1927 to radio station entrepreneur Louis Wasmer, who named Seattle as the city of license and chose the call letters KGCL. He sold the not-yet-broadcasting station to a local sporting goods store, who officially changed the calls to KPQ. The store then resold it to Westcoast Broadcasting, who in 1928 "moved out" the station to Wenatchee.
➦In 1932...the first scheduled radio show featuring Jack Benny debuted on the NBC Blue Network. Here's a video clip from 1942.
Jack Benny first appeared on radio as a guest of Ed Sullivan in March 1932. He was then given his own show later that year, with Canada Dry Ginger Ale as a sponsor —The Canada Dry Ginger Ale Program, beginning May 2, 1932, on the NBC Blue Network and continuing there for six months until October 26, moving the show to CBS on October 30. Benny stayed on CBS until January 26, 1933.
Arriving at NBC on March 17, Benny did The Chevrolet Program until April 1, 1934 with Frank Black leading the band. He continued with The General Tire Revue for the rest of that season, and in the fall of 1934, for General Foods as The Jell-O Program Starring Jack Benny (1934–42) and, when sales of Jell-O were affected by sugar rationing during World War II, The Grape Nuts Flakes Program Starring Jack Benny (later the Grape Nuts and Grape Nuts Flakes Program) (1942–44). On October 1, 1944, the show became The Lucky Strike Program Starring Jack Benny, when American Tobacco's Lucky Strike cigarettes took over as his radio sponsor, through the mid-1950s. By that time, the practice of using the sponsor's name as the title began to fade.
The show returned to CBS on January 2, 1949, as part of CBS president William S. Paley's "raid" of NBC talent in 1948-49. There it stayed for the remainder of its radio run, which ended on May 22, 1955. CBS aired repeats of previous 1953-55 radio episodes from 1956 to 1958 as The Best of Benny for State Farm Insurance, who later sponsored his television program from 1960 through 1965.
➦In 1941...the FCC okayed the regular scheduling of TV broadcasts by commercial TV stations to begin on July 1. But the onset in the US of WW2 delayed the effective start television until the end of the decade.
➦In 1960...WLS 890 AM, Chicago, Illinois, flipped its format from Country to Top 40.
WLS had been wholly owned and operated by the radio division of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) since the purchase of its parent company in 1959. Five years earlier WLS was merged with WENR, a station with which WLS had shared its frequency since the 1920s
Mort Crowley was the first on-air voice of the new WLS (6 AM); the first song played was "Alley-Oop" by the Hollywood Argyles, four full weeks before it debuted on the Hot 100. Other notable disc jockeys who worked at WLS over the years include Fred Winston, Art Roberts, Ron "Ringo" Riley, Gene Taylor, Larry Lujack, Dex Card, Clark Weber, Chuck Buell, Kris Erik Stevens, Joel Sebastian, Gary Gears, Jerry Kay, Bob Sirott, John Records Landecker, Yvonne Daniels, Steve Dahl, Garry Meier, Brant Miller, Tom Kent Steve King, and Tommy Edwards. Some of the production directors responsible for the sound of WLS were Ray Van Steen, Hal Widsten, Jim Hampton, Bill Price and Tommy Edwards.
In the 1960s WLS was a major force in introducing new music and recording artists. WLS was voted by broadcasters nationally as "The Station of the Year" in 1967, 1968 & 1969. John Rook was named "Program Director of the Year" in 1968 & 1969 as WLS was estimated attracting 4.2 million listeners weekly by Pulse research.
The WLS News Dept included Lyle Dean, Jeff Hendrix, Catherine Johns, Dick Harley, Harley Carnes, Linda Marshall, Karen Hand, Jim Johnson, Jerry Golden, Jim Wynne, Stan Dale, Bill Guthrie and Les Grobstein was the Stations Sports Director.
For More WLS History: Click Here and Here.WLS-AM flipped to a talk format on August 23, 1989 at 7 pm.
In 1963...DJ Dick Biondi did his last show on WLS-AM, Chicago. Here's some audio from a 1962 show. He returned to WLS 94.7 FM and its Classic Hits format in November 2006. He has since retired.
➦In 1972...Bruce Springsteen auditioned for Columbia Records’ legendary talent scout John Hammond in his New York office. Hammond was so impressed that he arranged for Springsteen to perform that evening for other Columbia executives at the Gaslight Club. “The Boss” passed the audition with flying colors, and was signed that night to the Columbia label. His first album was released 8 months later.
➦In 1984...Game Show host and executive Jack Barry died (Born - March 20, 1918). He was best known as a game show host.
Barry served as host of several game shows in his career, many of which he developed along with Dan Enright as part of their joint operation Barry & Enright Productions. His reputation became tarnished due to his involvement in the 1950s quiz show scandals and the ensuing fallout affected his career for over a decade.
Jack Barry
In 1956, Barry and Enright launched Tic Tac Dough and Twenty-One. Both quiz shows were hosted by Barry. In 1958, a match between challenger Charles Van Doren and champion Herb Stempel was found to have been rigged, with Van Doren's victory having been pre-determined by the producers.
Though Enright and producer Albert Freedman actually carried out the rigging of Twenty-One, Barry admitted in the 1970s and 1980s his role in covering up for the partners. However, Barry himself was apparently not averse to "juicing" a show, even after the Twenty-One and Tic-Tac-Dough debacles left his career in eclipse.
Some years later, Barry borrowed $40,000 from his father-in-law and put a down payment on a Los Angeles-area radio station (KKOP 93.5 FM, Redondo Beach, later renamed KFOX, now KDAY). In later interviews, he stated that he bought the station specifically because it would require him to have a license from the FCC, and that if the FCC would be willing to grant him a license, it would decisively demonstrate that his reputation was no longer "tainted" by the game show scandals.
"Slowly," said a 1984 article in TV Guide that discussed game show hosts, "he began to receive calls: Would he fill in for five weeks on this game show? Yes. Of course." In December 1968, he resurrected his game hosting career.
Engelbert Humperdinck is 86
🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAYS:
Singer Englebert Humperdinck is 86.
Country singer R.C. Bannon is 77.
Actor David Suchet (TV’s “Poirot”) is 76.
Country singer Larry Gatlin is 74.
Singer Lou Gramm of Foreigner is 72.
Actor Christine Baranski is 70.
Singer Angela Bofill is 68.
Actor Brian Tochi (“Revenge of the Nerds,” ″Police Academy”) is 63.
Ellie Kemper is 42
Actor Elizabeth Berridge (“The John Larroquette Show”) is 60.
Country singer Ty Herndon is 60.
Actor Mitzi Kapture (“The Young and the Restless,” “Baywatch”) is 60.
TV commentator Mika Brzezinski is 55.
Wrestler-actor Dwayne Johnson is 50.
Singer Jeff Gutt of Stone Temple Pilots is 46.
Actor Jenna Von Oy (“Blossom”) is 45.
Actor Kumail Nanjiani (TV’s “Silicon Valley,” film’s “The Big Sick”) is 44.
Actor Ellie Kemper (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” ″The Office”) is 42.
Actor Robert Buckley (“One Tree Hill”) is 41.
Actor Gaius Charles (“Grey’s Anatomy”) is 39.
Singer Lily Allen is 37.
Guitarist Jim Almgren of Carolina Liar is 36.
Actor Kay Panabaker (“No Ordinary Family,” ″Summerland”) is 32.
StreamStats’ provides insights not available from call-out or auditorium tests. It goes further than other on-demand streaming research services that measure only popularity. While stream counts are a basic indicator of popularity, StreamStats extends its research to include primary or P1 radio format listeners.
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