Fox News Radio Host Banned from Facebook

Radio host Todd Starnes discusses his ban from Facebook

From Todd Starnes:

I got banned from Facebook. 

They blocked me for 12 hours and removed a message I had posted invoking the National Rifle Association, Jesus and Paula Deen. 

"I'm about as politically incorrect as you can get. I'm wearing an NRA ball cap, eating a Chick-fil-A sandwich, reading a Paula Deen cookbook and sipping a 20-ounce sweet tea while sitting in my Cracker Barrel rocking chair with the Gaither Vocal Band singing 'Jesus Saves' on the stereo and a Gideon's Bible in my pocket. 

Yes sir, I'm politically incorrect and happy as a June bug. 

The folks over at Facebook took great offense to that message. 

"We removed this from Facebook because it violates our Community Standards," Facebook wrote me. "So you're temporarily blocked from using this feature." 

I wasn't even allowed to post our daily Bible verse -- a popular feature called "Morning Glory -- Start Your Day Inspired."

Pittsburgh Radio: WZUM Set To Sign-On At 1550 AM

Ed DeHart

The call letters WZUM are returning to Southwest PA, at AM 1550.

On Wednesday, the Federal Communications Commission approved that callsign for AM 1550, a Braddock station now owned by AM Guys LLC.

“It will be easier to promote the new format using call letters that are familiar,” said AM Guys partner Ed DeHart told triblive.com, a fan of the first WZUM. He did not disclose AM 1550's format before its sign on.

“I think it's the best possible use of the frequency,” said Clarke Ingram, a veteran programmer who worked with Clear Channel and Broadcast Communications Inc. in North Versailles Township.

“Since we are not going to be a top-40 station, we feel our audience will have warm fuzzy feelings for the new call,” DeHart said.

Clarke Ingram

AM 1550 was Matta Broadcasting's WLOA from 1947-79. From 1959-79 Matta ran WLOA-FM and WFFM-96.9, now Steel City Media's WRRK.

Since 2003 “WLOA” has been used by a Mercer County AM. WZUM replaces WLFP calls used by Business TalkRadio, which sold AM 1550 to AM Guys for $14,515.

“If it gets any ratings at all, that will be a victory,” Ingram said. “(It) has been an absolute zero since the WLOA days.”

AM Guys LLC tested AM 1550 with an eclectic music mix as it installed automation.

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NAB: 'Shotgun' Tom Kelly To Host Marconi Awards Dinner

'Shotgun' Tom Kelly

The National Association of Broadcasters announced that the 2013 NAB Marconi Radio Awards Dinner & Show will be hosted by legendary radio personality "Shotgun Tom" Kelly.

The event will take place September 19 at the 2013 Radio Show at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in Orlando.

"'Shotgun's energy and vibrant personality will keep the show moving. Nobody loves Radio and Radio people more than 'Shotgun'!" said NAB Executive Vice President of Radio John David.

Kelly, who received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in April, has had a 40-year career in radio and television including 16-years in Los Angeles radio where he anchors the highly-rated afternoon drive shift at CBS Radio's K-EARTH 101 (KRTH-FM). Before joining KRTH-FM, Kelly deejayed at legendary stations in San Diego, including KGB-AM, KCBQ-AM and KFMB-FM.

Kelly has also been recognized for his work in television, hosting popular children's programs, "Words-a-Poppin," which was syndicated nationally and "Kids Club," which ran for twelve seasons. He won multiple Emmy Awards as outstanding host. His voice has long been featured in national TV and radio commercials, and he also appeared in the motion picture "Déjà Vu" with Denzel Washington. Most recently, "Shotgun Tom" is narrator of the worldwide TV show "A 1000 Ways to Die" and voice of the long-running television program, "America's Most Wanted."

Kelly has contributed to numerous community causes, including the MDA Labor Day Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy, the Bob Hope USO and the L.A. Police Department's "Cops for Tots" campaign benefiting Children's Hospital of Los Angeles.

Established in 1989 and named after inventor and Nobel Prize winner Guglielmo Marconi, the NAB Marconi Radio Awards are given to radio stations and outstanding on-air personalities to recognize excellence in radio. Winners will be announced at the NAB Marconi Radio Awards Dinner & Show.

DJ Skee to Host Weekly Show on AXS TV

Skee

DJ, composer and Internet sensation Skee will host a live, weekly show on AXS TV beginning July 30. Its initial run is for 12 weeks.

“SKEE Live” will feature Skee interacting with the musicians he works with -- Snoop Dogg, T.I., Lil Wayne and Justin Timberlake being prominent examples. The show will be live with guests, but will also include taped segments that provide an insider’s look at Skee’s life. He hopes to use the show to expose up-and-coming talent as well as established artists.

“A lot of it will be the people I’m working with and they’re pretty open with me so I think we’ll getting some news that no one else has,” Skee told Billboard last week. “It’s really a show about my life.”

Based in Los Angeles, Skee has toured internationally as a DJ, hosts radio shows on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles, Sirius XM Satellite Radio and Clear Channel’s iHeart Radio. And for the last six years, he has run a lifestyle channel on YouTube titled Skee.TV. He came to prominence in 2005 when he collaborated on the Game’s mixtape “300 Bars” and in 2010 was on Billboard’s “30 Under 30” list.

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Mancow: God, Guns and Automobiles

TRN-FM’s Erich “Mancow” Muller will co-star with his brother Mark Muller in the History Channel’s new series, “God, Guns and Automobiles” premiering Monday July 8th.

Described as an American reality show, the series revolves around the Muller families and an auto dealership named Max Motors.

Located in the tiny rural town of Butler, Missouri, Mark Muller makes car deals the old fashioned way. No trade or sales stunt, no matter how outrageous or controversial, is off the table if it can help him compete against the big city dealers.

Nationally syndicated radio host Mancow Muller is his business partner, he joins the show with an oddball staff that works the deals.

The Muller’s take pride in Max Motors as the embodiment of the values and spirit of the heartland of America. 

Gainesville Radio: “Talk” Segues To Online

Jake Fuller

Party 99.5 has been dropping the bass on Gainesville for a month, but some listeners are still adjusting to the loss of conservative talk radio to electronic dance music.

At midnight May 31, The Star 99.5 WBXY-FM switched to an electronic dance music format, sending “Talk of the Town,” a local political talk show, to the Internet. The show went off the air and online after JVC Broadcasting of Long Island, N.Y., bought five Gainesville-area FM stations.

According to  alligator.org, Jake Fuller and Ward Scott, co-hosts of “Talk of the Town,” can now be heard on www.alachuatalks.com or by tuning in to the station through the Live365 app on mobile devices.

“We don’t want any dead air time,” Scott said. “We want to be out there somehow with our voice in the community. If it comes from the Internet, then so be it.”

Ward Scott

But Fuller said the transition has been a challenge, especially for attracting advertisers.

Because most of the political show’s listeners are older voters in the community, Fuller said it has been difficult for fans to adjust to the new technology.

Despite the obstacles, Fuller said he still believes in talk radio.

“We’ve done a pretty good job at getting local issues out,” Fuller said. “We’ve filled in a lot of gaps as far as information goes for the public.”

Although Fuller and Scott said there are things they miss about the radio format, having the show online has lifted Federal Communications Commission restrictions, creating a freer working environment.

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Boston Radio: Selena Gomez Headlines AMP Birthday Bash

Selena Gomez 

The "Come & Get It" singer suffered a wardrobe malfunction Sunday night at WODS 103.3 AMP Radio Birthday Bash in Boston, revealing a glimpse of the flesh-colored underwear beneath her flowing boho-chic dress, according to E! Entertainment.

Fortunately, this little snafu didn't bother Justin Bieber's on-off love.

"What an amazing crowd!" she tweeted after the show. "Thank you @1033ampradio #AmyBdayBash Getting stoked for my tour!"

Selena's new album, Stars Dance, comes out July 23. Her world tour kicks off Aug. 14 in Vancouver, then wraps up Nov. 27 in St. Louis, Mo.

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Philly Radio: Darren Daulton’s Brain Surgery Called ‘Success’

Darren Daulton

Darren Daulton was awake, speaking with family and in good spirits after a seven-hour surgery Monday at Jefferson University Hospital to remove two tumors from his brain, his surgeon said. Kevin D. Judy reported that the procedure "went well," according to Philly.com.

Judy, a professor of neurological surgery at Jefferson, said he hopes to have the 51-year-old Daulton home for the Fourth of July. The former Phillies catcher and WPEN 97.5 FM The Fanatic radio personality will need to rest for three to four weeks before likely undergoing radiation treatment, Judy said.

Judy noted that the tumors did not originate from cancer elsewhere in the body. He said that one tumor was near an area of the brain that affects communication, and Daulton was awake for most of the surgery so that Judy could avoid further damaging that region.

Pathologists must do more tests to determine how to proceed. For patients over 40, radiation is usually required. Chemotherapy could also be recommended. Judy said Daulton will also likely require speech therapy. Judy cautioned that further monitoring is required but said Daulton was in good spirits.

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Ritchie Havens Ashes To Be Scattered At Woodstock

Ritchie Havens

Richie Havens' ashes will be scattered at the site of Woodstock, the iconic festival he opened in 1969. The folk singer died in April at age 72 from a heart attack.

According to Rolling Stone, the ceremony will take place on August 18th on the former location of Max Yasgur's upstate New York farm, which hosted the historic festival and its 400,000 participants; it is now home to the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.

According to Havens' official website, the "day of song and remembrance" will require a free ticket for admission. More details will be released soon.

Havens wasn't supposed to be the first act to perform at Woodstock, but with other artists stuck far away in traffic and the concert already running three hours behind schedule, organizer Michael Lang urged the folk singer to take the stage.

"I thought, 'Jeez, they're gonna throw beer cans at me because the concert's late,'" Havens wrote in Rolling Stone on the 20th anniversary of Woodstock. "So I did a little fast talking, a little rap, and then I did a nearly three-hour set, until some of the others finally showed up."

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Toby Keith’s Tour Bus Catches Fire

A tour bus carrying band members of country singer Toby Keith caught fire early today on I-65 just south of Lebanon, according to the Indianapolis Star, and forced closure of the interstate’s southbound lanes for several hours between Lebanon and Whitestown.

The country music star was not on board the burning bus, said Jason Lee, Lebanon Fire Department chief.

The report of the fire first came at 4:45 a.m. Everyone from inside the bus got out safely, authorities said.

Keith played Sunday in suburban Chicago. Driver Randy James, Hendersonville, Tenn., was taking crew members to Nashville, Tenn., when he looked in the driver’s side mirror and noticed flames shooting out the rear of the bus, he told officials. Moments later, the bus lost all power, and James coasted to the side of the road.

When firefighters arrived at 4:51 a.m., Lee said, they found heavy fire coming from the rear engine compartment and rear cabin/living area.

The bus was part of a convoy that included several other buses being used by Keith.

Estimated damage is at least $250,000, Lee said, and expected to increase once fire investigators determine the value of the personal property and equipment the bus was carrying. Although the bus was badly burnt, he said, some of the band members’ items were salvaged.

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Denver Radio: Peter Boyles Is MIA

Peter Boyles

UPDATE 07/03/13 12N:  Peter Boyles made it on-air Wednesday, However, he offered no explanation as to what the glitch was on the start date.


UPDATE 07/02/13 6AM
A message from Brian Taylor - General Manager:

Regarding our anticipated new programming lineup on 710 KNUS, I regret that our expected start has been temporarily delayed. We value the fact that you take time to tune in and we can relate to your enthusiasm for our new schedule. We hope to have a more definitive update for you very soon. We hope you will continue to support the programming of 710 KNUS and that we continue to be a favored choice when listening to the radio.

Earlier Posting....

This morning (Monday (07/01/2013) Peter Boyles was supposed to start his new on-air gig at KNUS 710 AM.  However, at the appointed hour, Boyle was nowhere to be heard.

.

Denver Westward spoke with Boyles Momday morning, and he offered no comment. His silence will no doubt fuel speculation that his appearance has been blocked by Clear Channel, owner of KHOW and his previous employer. But the one executive there that we've been able to reach this morning has no answers.

Greg Foster, vice president of programming for Clear Channel's Denver branch, is out of town. Dan Mandis, program director for KHOW offered: "I don't know what happened."

In the meantime, Boyles's name has been removed from the KNUS website, as has that of Steve Kelley, whose Kelley and Company show was set to move to afternoons in order to make room for Boyles.

 Boyles last week said his contract had just expired when he was fired -- and he was told he wouldn't be able to file for unemployment, because Clear Channel would argue that he had been dismissed due to workplace violence.

He admitted to grabbing the lanyard of producer Greg Hollenback during a late May program, resulting in red marks on Hollenback's neck.

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Clear Channel Pacing To Spend $4.5M On Lobbying In 2013

Clear Channel Communications is pacing to spend about $4.5 million on Congressional lobbying efforts this year.

The company’s most recent disclosure form indicates that the company spent $1,170,000.00 on lobbying in 1Q of 2013.

Clear Channel is spending a little over a million for lobbying every quarter: $1,184,600 in Q1 2012; $1,072,450 in Q2 2012; $1,200.000 in Q3 2012; and $1,085,000 in Q4 2012.

Clear Channel says it spent that cash on:

• Congressional oversight and legislative proposals regarding the Federal Communications Commission proceedings on broadcast localism MM docket #04-233. Congressional oversight and legislative proposals regarding the Federal Communications Commission proceeding on local radio ownership rules – MM docket #09-182.
• Congressional oversight and legislative proposals regarding broadcast decency enforcement.
• Congressional oversight and legislative proposals regarding tax incentives and loan guarantees to encourage diversity of ownership of telecommunications businesses.
• H. Con. Res. 16 / S. Con. Res. 6, Supporting Local Radio Freedom Act, all provisions. Congressional oversight and legislative proposals regarding low power FM stations.
• Congressional oversight and legislative proposals regarding privacy.
• Congressional oversight and proposals regarding emergency communications systems as pertaining to EAS and FCC oversight.”

TV Deal: Trib Buys 19 Stations

The Tribune Co said it would acquire 19 television stations from Local TV Holdings LLC for $2.73 billion in cash, a deal that would make it the largest TV station owner in the United States.

The deal is another step for Tribune, the publisher of the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune, to transform itself largely to a broadcast company as it seeks to sell off its newspaper division.

Tribune currently has 23 television stations and eight newspapers and emerged from bankruptcy protection in December.

Local TV is principally owned by Oak Hill Capital Partners.

Tribune is the latest company to snap up local TV stations as the industry consolidates. Last month, Gannett Co., the largest U.S.newspaper chain, bought Belo Corp and its 20 local TV stations for $1.5 billion.

Report: Smartphone FM Chips To Be ‘Watershed Moment’

Jeff Smulyan

While he can’t say much yet, Emmis Chairman/CEO Jeff Smulyan says the company is close to an official announcement about the initiative to embed FM chips in Sprint smartphones,

When it does happen, according to Radio World, he predicts it will be a “watershed moment” for the radio industry.

He didn’t discuss specifics of the agreement today, however we’ve reported it involves the industry providing some $15 million worth of ad inventory for each of the three years.

Radio broadcasts would be delivered through apps like the one Emmis has built and calls NextRadio.

Embedding an FM chip in a smartphone has the potential to change the industry “forever,” according to Smulyan, discussing what has become a more than five-year effort. When launched, if consumers love it, ultimately FM chips could be in 300 million cellphones, he predicts.

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iPhone Turns Six, But Not ‘Everybody” Is Using

As Apple’s iPhone celebrates its sixth birthday, the pioneering smartphone has carved out a solid market position, and a demographically distinctive user base, within the ever-expanding world of smartphones (which, according to the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, more than half of Americans now own).

The iPhone is, along with Google’s Android, one of the two dominant smartphone platforms in the United States. As of May 2013, according to a recent Pew Research Center report on smartphone ownership, 25% of all U.S. cellphone owners– and 43% of smartphone owners — own an iPhone, a few percentage points behind Android. Other smartphone platforms — Microsoft’s Windows Phone, the fading BlackBerry, the handful of Palms still in use — are far behind.

There had been smartphones before Apple launched its first-generation iPhone on June 29, 2007 (the Simon Personal Communicator from IBM had a brief, unsuccessful life in the mid-1990s), but the iPhone’s big touchscreen, ability to add apps and overall usability are widely credited with making smartphones mass consumer items.