NYC Radio: Nicki Minaj Ends Feud With Hot 97

Last year it hit the fan at Summer Jam 2012 when Nicki Minaj did not go on stage to perform due to WQHT HOT 97 radio personality Peter Rosenberg's comments right before the concert in the Festival Village.

The rapper agreed to be a guest on New York City's Hot 97 morning radio show Tuesday, in an effort to clear the air and squash her almost year-long beef with DJ Peter Rosenberg, and it looked like the duo made some good progress.

“Relentess” Cuts Coming To News Corp Papers

Robert Thomson, chief executive of the new News Corp, said there will be "relentless" cost cuts in store for the newspaper business as it prepares to separate from Rupert Murdoch's entertainment empire.

The new News Corp, as it will be known on June 28, will be "relentless" in cost cutting, said Thomson, who remained bullish about the business, according to a Reuters story.

"Let me be clear, print is still a particularly powerful platform," Thomson said.

The new News Corp will include The Wall Street Journal and The Times in London, Australian pay-TV services, book publisher HarperCollins and fledgling education division Amplify.

The Fox network, the movie studio and a set of lucrative cable properties will become a separately traded company called 21st Century Fox.

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Know Your Listeners: Breadwinner Moms

A record 40% of all households with children under the age of 18 include mothers who are either the sole or primary source of income for the family, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The share was just 11% in 1960.

These “breadwinner moms” are made up of two very different groups: 5.1 million (37%) are married mothers who have a higher income than their husbands, and 8.6 million (63%) are single mothers.

The income gap between the two groups is quite large. The median total family income of married mothers who earn more than their husbands was nearly $80,000 in 2011, well above the national median of $57,100 for all families with children, and nearly four times the $23,000 median for families led by a single mother.

Other Key Findings

• Both groups of breadwinner mothers, married and single, have grown in size in the past five decades
• The total family income is higher when the mother, not the father, is the primary breadwinner.
• Married mothers are increasingly better educated than their husbands.
• Most people reject the idea that it is bad for a marriage if a wife out-earns her husband. Today’s single mothers are much more likely to be never married than were single mothers in the past.
• Never married mothers have a distinctive profile.

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Blake Shelton Added To Pepsi' Iconic Summer Series

Pepsi is partnering with reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year and Grammy nominated artist Blake Shelton to kick-off summer 2013 by inviting fans to join Pepsi for an "Iconic Summer" to remember. 

With the launch of www.iconicsummer.com, Pepsi will offer consumers fun summer rewards and unparalleled access to great music and great summer events, including: Beyoncé's The Mrs. Carter World Tour, the MTV Video Music Awards, the MLB All Star Game in NYC, the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas, the Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam in Florida, and many more.

"I am excited to be part of Pepsi's Iconic Summer," said Blake Shelton . "Music fans are the absolute best and I am looking forward to offering up some memorable opportunities to them during CMA's Music Fest next month and throughout other events coming up. It truly will be an iconic summer."

Shelton will help the brand illustrate the program experience and encourage fans to participate for giveaways and prizes through his digital platforms and select in-person appearances.

"This summer, Pepsi will invite consumers to make the most of the season," said Angelique Krembs , Vice President, Marketing, Trademark Pepsi. "We're excited to offer our fans so many opportunities to enhance their iconic summer experience."

As part of this campaign, Pepsi unveiled plans to bring fans closer to their favorite country artists at this year's CMA Music Festival in Nashville.  Making the country fan experience truly iconic, Pepsi will invite consumers to experience the CMT Music Awards on June 5 and the CMA Music Festival from June 6-9 in Nashville, TN. The week will include an appearance by Blake Shelton at the newly debuted Pepsi Fan Engagement Bus, artist meet-n-greets, and opportunities to win prizes and rewards.

R.I.P.: Mack Emerman Founder Of Criteria Recording Studios

Mack Emerman

Mack Emerman, a jazz lover whose hobby recording bands at nightclubs led him to found Criteria Recording Studios in Miami, where dozens of celebrated pop and rock records were made, died on May 17 in Miami Beach.

He was 89, according to a NY Times obit.

Some of the most well-known albums of the 1970s were recorded at Criteria, either entirely or in part, among them “Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs” by Eric Clapton’s band Derek and the Dominos, “Eat a Peach” by the Allman Brothers, “Rumours” by Fleetwood Mac and the soundtrack to “Saturday Night Fever,” featuring the Bee Gees.

Criteria was a quixotic enterprise when it opened in 1958; most recording studios were in New York and Los Angeles at the time. But as Criteria established a reputation for up-to-date technology and quality engineering, it became a recording option for musicians on tour and those on the East Coast who simply preferred warm weather.

By 1965 the studio had its first gold record, James Brown’s funky hit “I Got You (I Feel Good).”

Hired by other labels, Criteria was also used by the Count Basie Orchestra, Jimmy Buffett, Wilson Pickett, KC and the Sunshine Band, Abba, Aerosmith, Delaney and Bonnie, John Cougar Mellencamp, the Eagles, and Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band.

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Arbitron Sues Saga Communications

Arbitron has filed a Federal lawsuit suit against Saga Communications in United States District Court in Delaware alleging it’s Milwaukee stations illegally used its rating for both sales and programming decisions.  The suit also claims Saga organized a bonus structure based on Arbitron ratings.

Saga Communications does not subscribe to Arbitron’s ratings. 

Arbitron claims obtained copies of the ratings “which were reproduced and circulated among its personnel.  These unauthorized copies were then used on a regular and systematic basis by Defendants for various purposes including setting advertising rates charged by Defendants’ radio stations and making programming decisions… Defendants decided whether to give their employees bonuses and if so, the size of those bonuses based on the station’s performance in the Arbitron ratings.  This system was so widespread, open and notorious at Defendants’ radio stations, that station personnel including senior management commonly referred to the system as the ‘Arbitron Bonus.’”

Arbitron is seeking $150,000 per act of infringement plus fees.

Saga Communications has yet to publicly comment.

Consultant Jaye Albright says this one is going to be worth watching, and yet most Arbitron legal actions against non-subscribing stations are kept under wraps, so we may never know the outcome in court.

ALSO READ:  "Hardball" from Jaye Albright's Breakfast Blog.  Click Here.

NYC Radio: ESPN Radio Moves To New Studios

ESPN New York 98.7 FM and WEPN 1050 AM moved into new studios Thursday. The Michael Kay Show was the first to broadcast from the brand new facilities on the sixth floor of 125 West End Avenue, the facility that was the longtime home of the ABC Radio Networks.

Don LaGreca, Michael Kay

The new studios include a large bullpen area and multiple on-air and production rooms – and a more spacious base from which ESPN Radio can originate programming in New York as well as from its mothership in Bristol, Connecticut.

Trenton Radio: Andy Rosen Market Manager At WPST

Andy Rosen

Connoisseur Media has announced Andy Rosen as its new Market Manager for WPST-FM & WCHR-AM radio in Trenton, NJ.

Rosen brings with him over 25 years of experience in radio broadcasting. He comes to the company from Target Spot, where he served as Vice President of Strategic Sales.  He has also served as Vice President and General Manager for Clear Channel in New York, Radio One in Philadelphia, and Cumulus Media Partners in Atlanta.

“To say that I am excited to join the Connoisseur Family would be an understatement.  Connoisseur’s commitment to delivering quality to listeners, advertisers and communities with integrity, service and innovation aligns with my core operating values. Between my management background in radio and my experience in digital, I look forward to creating exciting new initiatives and building on the strong foundation that already exists at WPST and WCHR”, says Rosen.

Connoisseur COO, David Bevins comments, “We are pleased to have Andy join our team. He is an experienced media executive, that has excelled at all levels of the industry, including national representation of firms, and in large, medium and small market senior leadership positions. His teams have consistently produced exceptional results in highly competitive environments and I’m confident he will continue this success in Trenton.”

Chicago Radio: Mary Francis Bragiel exits WLS-AM

Mary Francis Braigel

After over a decade of working as a news reporter and anchor for Chicago radio and television, Mary Frances Bragiel has decided to exit radio to become the Communications Director for Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford.

According to Chicago Radio&Media, she begins her new role on June 3rd and will be based out of the Treasurer's Chicago office.

Mary Frances Bragiel began her career in local media as a news intern at WGN-AM in January 1996. From there, she moved into TV news as a reporter, working in such smaller markets as Grand Junction, CO, Lynchburg, VA, and Roanoke, VA. In April 2002, she was given the opportunity to return to her hometown and work as a general assignment reporter for CLTV, where she stayed for three and a half years.

In October 2005, Bragiel returned to her radio roots, joining WBBM-AM as a part-time reporter. Just under six years later, in August 2011, she exited WBBM-AM to take a more prominent role at WLS-AM as their evening news anchor and morning/afternoon reporter.

For WLS-AM, they have now lost their third evening news anchor in a little under two years. In June 2011, Lise Dominique exited to join FM News 101.1. Her replacement, Monica DeSantis, left WLS-AM just a couple of weeks later to also join FM News 101.1. Now their replacement, Mary Frances Bragiel makes her exit.

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FNC’s Chris Wallace Lashes Out At Mike Gallagher

On Mike Gallagher’s Friday radio show, “Fox News Sunday” host Chris Wallace had a heated debate with Gallagher over the Boy Scouts lifting its ban on openly gay boys.

Wallace called himself “conflicted” on the issue and laid out his argument for gays in the Boy Scouts, likening it to changing attitudes about interracial marriage.

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DC Radio: Salem's WWRC To Add Andy Parks Show

Andy Parks

The Washington Times and Salem Communications announced Tuesday that radio host Andy Parks‘ daily show is moving to middays next week on WWRC 1260 AM, Salem’s flagship news talk radio station in the nation’s capital.

Mr. Parks launched his new show two years ago from inside The Times’ newsroom, integrating reporters and breaking news from the newspaper with his well-known commentaries and newsmaker interviews.

“Andy Parks Live from The Washington Times” launched in the 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. afternoon drive slot on WTNT 730 AM.   He is perhaps best known for his award-winning morning drive show on WMAL with former Congressman Fred Grandy that commanded big ratings for years.

Next Monday, the show will move into the 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. midday slot on WRC, extending its audience reach. Salem recently announced it is upgrading WRC’s daytime signal to 35,000 watts and has struck rebroadcast deals with smaller stations into central and southern Virginia and northern Maryland.

“Andy’s show created the perfect marriage between a newspaper newsroom with breaking-news capabilities and deep policy expertise with one of talk radio’s most entertaining intellectual thought leaders,” Washington Times President and CEO Larry Beasley said. “It was an instant hit and the move to WRC now allows Andy to reach even larger audiences right in the middle of the day.”

“Andy packs a lot into his show and his show will be a distinctive yet complementary addition to Salem’s great lineup of talents that includes Bill Bennett, Dennis Prager, Michael Medved, Michael Gallagher and Hugh Hewitt. We’re thrilled to be in such great company,” Mr. Beasley said.

Mr. Parks‘ show will slide into a slot between Mr. Gallagher’s and Mr. Prager’s shows, continuing a recent push by Salem to inject local talk radio talents into its nationally syndicated lineup of shows. New Salem hosts in Houston, Dallas and Chicago have proved to be instant successes in those local markets.

“We are thrilled to bring the ‘Andy Parks Live from The Washington Times’ show to WRC 1260 AM,” said Thomas Moyer, the manager for Salem’s three flagship stations in Washington, D.C., the Christian-formatted WAVA FM and AM and the news talk-formatted WRC AM.

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Survey: Pandora’s Not A Huge Threat To Radio

Advertisers are becoming increasingly interested in learning about Pandora, the online radio service that recently passed 200 million users.

But Pandora’s still not a serious threat to traditional radio, say media buyers and planners, despite all the hoopla around it.

That’s the finding of a recent Media Life survey on Pandora, which asked readers to weigh in on their clients’ attitudes toward the service.

Less than a third of readers, 28 percent, see Pandora as a serious threat to terrestrial radio.

The largest percentage, 39 percent, called it a medium threat, saying it could develop into a bigger one in the future but for now is more of an afterthought.

And 22 percent dismissed it as a small threat, saying it has little more than buzz around it and does not represent an effective alternative to traditional radio.

“While it certainly has many advantages (targetability, don’t have to buy multiple formats, tracking) there is still value in local radio with the DJ connection, and the time-shift listening from one medium to the other based on daily behavioral habits,” noted one reader.

Wrote another: “Without any local content it’s just a music source not the same as traditional radio.”

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Toledo Radio: Informal Radio Reunion Set For Tuesday

Pete Cavanuagh

Former Toledo radio broadcasting executive Peter Cavanaugh is planning a meet-up with friends when he hosts what he’s calling an “informal Toledo Radio Reunion” today at a downtown restaurant.

The purely social event will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. at Manhattan’s Restaurant, 1516 Adams St., with a cash bar and no cover, according to the Toledo Blade.

Cavanaugh was executive vice president and chief operating officer of Reams Broadcasting from 1983 through 1992, when it owned WIOT-FM 104.7 FM and WCWA-AM 1230 AM, and helped in the careers of some of Toledo’s best-known radio on-air personalities.

He was then vice president and general manager of WSPD-AM 1370 AM and WLQR-106.5 FM 1470 AM in 1994 through the middle of 1995.

.“Radio people love to talk. You put a whole bunch of them together at the same time; it’ll be bedlam,” Mr. Cavanaugh said Monday.

Among those Cavanaugh invited and hopes to see are former WIOT personalities Jeff Lamb and Mark Benson, Becky Shock and Bob Kelly of WRQN-FM, former WIOT program director Lyn Casye.

Cavanaugh, 71, is a private broadcast consultant and writer for McClatchy Newspapers, lives with his wife, Eileen, in Oakhurst, Calif.

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Paul McCartney Visits Graceland

Paul McCartney

Sir Paul McCartney paid a visit to Elvis Presley's grave on Sunday.

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The Beatles legend toured Graceland mansion before stopping by the final resting place of the late musician and leaving one of his own guitar picks so ''Elvis can play in heaven''.

Paul - who tweeted a picture of himself at the grave - was in the Southeastern US state of Tennessee for the latest gig on the North American leg of his 'Out There' tour when he decided to make the trip to Elvis' former home.  McCartney left behind a guitar pick for Elvis "to play in Heaven".

Recently John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono praised Paul as ''sweet'' for insisting she ''could not be blamed for anything'' to do with The Beatles' split in 1970.

Tweets by @PaulMcCartney

Toronto Mayor Apologizes to Media

Facing a growing crack cocaine video scandal turning to farce, embattled Toronto mayor Rob Ford on Monday had to apologize to the City Hall press corps after calling them “a bunch of maggots” on his weekly radio show.

The Hollywood Reporter says his attack on the media Sunday was also followed Monday by the resignation of George Christopoulos, Ford’s press secretary, and Isaac Ransom, the mayor’s deputy press secretary.

And earlier on Friday, Mark Towhey, Ford’s chief of staff, was reportedly fired and escorted by security out of Toronto City Hall after telling the mayor in private to resign and seek medical help.

That followed the U.S. gossip website Gawker and the Toronto Star newspaper both revealing they had viewed a smartphone video of a disoriented Toronto mayor allegedly smoking crack cocaine.

“I do not use crack cocaine, nor am I an addict of crack cocaine,” Ford told the media Friday as he addressed the allegations against him for the first time.

That statement failed to quell the growing scandal, which includes reports that Toronto police detectives last week talked to a senior member of the Ford mayoralty staff about the crack video allegations.

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R.I.P.: KNX News Anchor Harry Birrell

Harry Birrell

Harry Birrell, a radio reporter and news anchor whose deep bass voice was heard on KNX 1070 AM for more than 30 years, died Saturday at his home in Thousand Oaks of complications from interstitial lung disease, said his son Walker.

He was 85, according to a story at the LA Times.

Birrell joined KNX in 1968 and was a regular weekday anchor on the all-news station until 1993, when he retired. But  he continued to file daily reports of Ventura County news from his home in Thousand Oaks until January 1999.

The Radio and Television News Assn. of Southern California recognized Birrell with multiple Golden Mike awards for excellence in local broadcast journalism.

He was born Henry Walker Birrell in Steubenville, Ohio, on March 5, 1928, but he was known throughout his life as Harry. He attended Miami University before he started his broadcasting career at WBVP in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania in 1949. From there he moved to WEIR in Weirton, West Virginia. Then on to WSTV in his home town, KLIF-Dallas, WNOE-New Orleans, KCBQ-San Diego, WINW-Canton, Ohio and WGBB-Merrick, Long Island, New York.

He joined KFWB, Group W Westinghouse, before being called by CBS and KNXNewsradio in 1968. He was hired as a news anchor and worked there for 25 years before retiring in 1993. But not completely. For the next 5 1/2 years, from his home studio, he continued to send in daily reports of Ventura County news that were heard throughout the day on KNX.

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R.I.P.: Iowa Broadcasting Legend Jim Zabel

Jim Zabel

Jim Zabel, the broadcasting legend whose hyperbolic descriptions of University of Iowa sports teams entertained radio listeners for more than half a century, died Thursday at his Scottsdale, Ariz., home.

He was 91.

His wife, Jill, confirmed the news.  “He loved everybody, and his world was Iowa and the Iowa Hawkeyes,” she told the Register.

She said Jim was working in his office, preparing for his Sunday evening radio show, “Two Guys Named Jim,” which airs on WHO radio in Des Moines.

In a career spanning nearly seven decades at WHO radio in Des Moines, Zabel was the colorful play-by-play voice for more than 6,100 sporting events, including six Rose Bowls, 26 NCAA basketball tournaments and several runnings of the Drake Relays.

He once ran a footrace against Jesse Owens, followed Ronald Reagan as WHO’s sports director and hosted the longest-running bowling show in television history.

But Zabel was best known for his cries of “I love it! I love it! I love it!” that punctuated climactic moments during Hawkeye football and basketball games. “Hug and kiss those radios, folks,” he implored fans when his beloved Hawkeyes faced a dramatic turning point. “Man-oh-man-oh-man,” he groaned when critical fumbles or rim-clanking foul shots put a game out of reach.

“If you want to know what to put on my tombstone,” Zabel said in 1994, “just three words: I HAD FUN.”

In addition to his radio work, Zabel was the sports anchor for WHO-TV for many years. He hosted dozens of televised coach’s shows, as well as “Beat the Bear” and “Let’s Go Bowling,” which ran for more than 30 years. He was proud of his seven-days-a-week work schedule.

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