Westwood One’s Red Eye Radio program will kick the Great American Trucking Show (GATS) into high gear with live performances, meet and greets, prizes and more! The Red Eye Radio Rendezvous Booth will be the hub of celebrity central in Dallas with live appearances and musical performances from Country artists Tyler Farr, Jerrod Neimann, Janie Fricke, Tony Justice, Jayne Denham, and Bill Weaver.
The Great American Trucking Show, a trucking convention with over 500,000 feet of exhibit space, will take place August 24-26, 2017 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas.
Eric Harley and Gary McNamara, hosts of Red Eye Radio, will be on site in the lobby to introduce attendees to the sizzling lineup of Country music artists and celebrities. The special guests will visit Red Eye Radio’s lobby booth to sign autographs, take photos, talk with drivers, and perform live. For specific days, schedule, and details visit www.redeyeradioshow.com.
Visitors to the booth will also be able to register to win Cobra Electronics Products, CB Radios, GPS Units, ToughTested Gear, and much more. Support for Red Eye Radio’s 2017 Great American Trucking Show events and activities include Pilot Flying J, Mercer Transportation, ToughTested, Chevron Delo, The St. Christopher Fund, Motel 6, and Uniroyal Commercial Truck Tires…Affordable and Dependable.
Red Eye Radio, hosted by Eric Harley and Gary McNamara, is the longest running nationally syndicated radio program focused on the needs of the trucking industry.
The show airs on over 220 stations nationwide Monday-Friday, 1a-6a EST. For 50 years, the show has been a part of the fabric of the trucking industry. Red Eye Radio has done this by consistently providing professional drivers up-to-the-minute news, information and entertainment that creates a positive in-cab experience while helping truckers become more efficient and stay entertained while on the road.
The audience includes shift workers, travelers, truck drivers and others who embrace the new 24/7 lifestyle, with many restaurants, retailers and other business establishments open round the clock.
The topic of women in country music has been a hot-button issue since 2015 when radio consultant Keith Hill compared women on country radio to the “tomatoes of our salad,” alluding to the fact that men make up the bulk of what was being played on air (à la the lettuce in the metaphorical salad). His comments caused quite the uproar within the format and the situation became widely known as “Tomatogate.”
According to soundslikenashville.com, little has changed in the two years since “Tomatogate,” even though the topic of women on country radio has been discussed time and time again. Although male artists have continued to reign over the charts, we have seen a number of female artists, such as Kelsea Ballerini, Lauren Alaina, RaeLynn, and Maren Morris, blaze their own paths at country radio.
Currently, however, there are only two women in the top 40, which proves that even though there has been some progression since 2015, we still have a long way to go for female voices to be heard.
The lack of women on the charts recently prompted superstar Miranda Lambert to speak out about the issue once again.
“It sucks. It makes me mad,” she expressed to Billboard. “You can print out any top chart, and you’ll see maybe a couple females, or not even one.”
Lambert believes the male chart domination “is just a phase” and that the ladies will once again rule as they did in the 1990s when Country queens like Shania Twain, Trisha Yearwood, and Faith Hill were cranking out the hits.
“I think there was a time [for women] before, and there will be again, and that doesn’t stop any of us,” she attests.
FLASHBACK: After his original comments were reported in June 2015, Country radio consultant Keith Hill spent about an hour with Radio Stuff host Larry Gifford explaining the intention and the origin of his comments that sparked #saladgate. He defends the recommendation he made to country programmers to increase ratings by limiting female artists to 15% of the song rotation, but insists it’s not sexist.
“Trust me, if playing 80% of females got me the highest ratings, I’d run over you in the hallway to put a female record on the air. I would walk over broken glass and chew razor blades to get to the studio to deliver what the audience will line up for.”
Jacobs Media/Jacapps President Fred Jacobs and Amplifi Media Founder/CEO Steven Goldstein will participate in a session titled "Radio's New Strategies and New Platforms” on Wednesday, September 6 as part of the 2017 Radio Show. Produced by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB), the Radio Show will be held September 5-8 at the JW Marriott Austin.
This two-part session, sponsored by vCreative, will first focus on the digital dash and how radio professionals can optimize the in-car presence of their stations. Fred Jacobs will reveal key findings from a recent NAB study on the topic and discuss actionable strategies for success. Steve Goldstein will then detail seven strategies for capitalizing on the expanding podcast industry. He will also introduce attendees to one of podcasting’s most popular hosts.
Credited for creating and popularizing the Classic Rock radio format, Fred Jacobs launched Jacobs Media in 1983. Prior to this, he designed and managed research projects for the radio and publishing divisions of Frank N. Magid Associates, a leading research and consulting firm. Later, Jacobs worked as director of radio research for the ABC-FM owned-and-operated radio stations and as program director for the legendary WRIF-FM in Detroit.
Recognized as an industry leader in audio programming, marketing and management, Steve Goldstein has created and developed numerous successful radio brands. After holding positions at several local radio stations, Goldstein co-founded Saga Communications, which currently owns or operates broadcast properties in 26 markets. In 2015, he launched Amplifi Media and works with broadcast and podcast companies on strategy, content and marketing in the rapidly growing on-demand audio space.
Additional information about the 2017 Radio Show is available here.
Lionel Richie said on Tuesday’s “Today” show that he is unsure he will attend Donald Trump’s reception for the Kennedy Center Honors. Watch the video below.
Earlier this month, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts revealed the 2017 recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors. In addition to being celebrated at a gala in December attended by the president and the first lady, the honorees are also typically feted at a White House reception. But one of this year’s selections, Norman Lear, has already said he will not participate in Trump’s event. He tweeted, “I could never turn my back on the @kencen. It represents the Arts and Humanities which mean everything to me. Of course, I’m accepting the honors. What I’m not accepting is the @WhiteHouse reception with @realDonaldTrump.”
It was with that in mind that Hoda Kotb asked Richie about his own plans during a live interview on “Today.” He responded, “I’m going to just play it by ear. I must tell you, I’m not really happy as to what’s going on right now with the controversies. They’re weekly, daily, hourly. But I think I’m just gonna wait it out for a minute, see where it’s going to be by that time.”
“This is going to be in December,” Richie stressed. “We may be in a whole other world by that time.
Beasley Media Group has announced the unveiling of a new company-wide “Community of Caring” Public Service initiative that will run throughout the organization’s 63 radio stations.
The initiative will consist of several aspects. A rotating PSA series will be aimed at shining a spotlight on important issues impacting our communities. Topics will range from the on-going opioid epidemic and bullying to racism and mental health awareness. The public service announcements will also be supported via social media campaigns.
In addition, Beasley Media Group will host specific “Day of Caring” events throughout the year in which teams, made up of employees from each market, will adopt specific non-profit organizations within the communities they serve and volunteer during company supported work hours over the course of the year in an effort to make a difference for those in need.
“As a company, we take all of these issues very seriously,” said Caroline Beasley, Chief Executive Officer of Beasley Media Group. “The rotating PSA and social media campaigns, combined with our Day of Caring events across all of our markets, underscores our company’s strong commitment to making a difference in the communities we serve.
The origins of WEAF go way back to 1919 when original owners, AT&T, inaugurated an experimental radio-phone station, 2XB, at 463 West St. in Manhattan. Then, on May 18, 1922, the Commerce Department granted a license to AT&T's Western Electric subsidiary to upgrade 2XB.
Original calls, taken from an alphabetical list, were WDAM, however they were deemed too profane. On May 29, 1922, the next available calls were assigned: WEAF.
WEAF stood for "Water, Earth, Air, Fire", the four elements of matter.
On August 16, 1922, WEAF hit the air on 360 meters (or 833 AM on our present AM band.)
WEAF was the first station to offer commercials, with the Queensboro Corp, a real estate company, being its first sponsor on August 28, 1922.
During hours when they had time to fill, AT&T recruited their office personnel who could sing or play music.
In July 1926, RCA took over WEAF as the flagship for the Broadcasting Company Of America, a name soon changed to the National Broadcasting Company. The purchase price was $1 million.
On November 11, 1928, WEAF moved to 660 AM.
The move that solidified WEAF's position as the most pretigious of all broadcasters took place in the autumn of 1933, when NBC moved to 30 Rockefeller Plaza and became the "radio" that gave Radio City its name.
WEAF Transmitter 1932
In October 1943, sister station, WJZ, dropped out of the NBC Blue Network and establshed the American Broadcasting Company and eventually became WABC.
In August 1946, "Buffalo" Bob Smith began hosting WEAF's morning show, then left in 1951 to concentrate on "Howdy Doody."
Later in 1946, NBC came to an agreement with a small station in New Britain CT to relinquish that city's initials from its call letters and on November 2, 1946 at 5:30p, WEAF presented its last broadcast, entitled "Hail And Farewell," and at 6p turned into WNBC
Then on October 18, 1954, WNBC switched calls to WRCA, as a tie-in to their parent company, RCA.
On June 1, 1960, WRCA became WNBC once again.
➦In 1937....The American Federation of Radio Artists (AFRA) was organized as a part of the American Federation of Labor. On September 17, 1952, the Television Authority and AFRA merged to create a new union, the present-day American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA).
➦In 1939...“Lights Out,” radio’s “ultimate horror show,” was heard for the last time on NBC Radio. It returned to the air on CBS in 1942. The show’s most familiar trademark, guaranteed to put you under the covers on a dark night was “Lights out everybody!” followed by 12 eerie chimes of a clock.
The Memphis Commercial-Appeal
➦In 1977…At his Graceland home in Memphis, Elvis Presley took the book he'd been reading, Frank Adams' "The Scientific Search For The Face Of Jesus," and went into his bathroom. "Don't fall asleep in there," said girlfriend Ginger Alden, knowing he had a habit of nodding off. "Okay, I won't," he said. Ginger went back to sleep.
At 1:30 p.m. CST, Ginger awoke and saw Elvis was still gone. When knocking on the bathroom door produced no reply, she entered and found his lifeless body on the floor in front of the toilet.
Alden called for Elvis associates Joe Esposito and Al Strada, who arrived and called the fire department. An ambulance was dispatched. Daughter Lisa Marie and father Vernon arrived in the bathroom, but Lisa Marie was quickly removed. Elvis was rushed to Baptist Memorial Hospital, where, after several attempts to revive him, he died at 3:30 p.m. CST. He was 42.
His autopsy was performed at 7:00 p.m. The official coroner's report listed "cardiac arrhythmia" as the cause of Presley's death, but this was later admitted to be a ruse by the Presley family with the help of autopsy physicians to cover up the real cause of death: a cocktail of ten prescribed drugs, taken together in doses no doctor would ever prescribe.
➦In 1989...WCVG, Cincinnati, Ohio dropped its "All Elvis" format in exchange for a business news format.
➦In 1995...Joseph Priestley "J-P McCarthy" died.
McCarthy was a radio personality best known for his over 30 years of work as the morning man on WJR in Detroit.
He got his first radio job at Flint radio station WTAC. While at WTAC he frequently auditioned for WJR, a leading radio station in Detroit, with a 50,000-watt clear-channel signal that could be heard in much of the Eastern United States and Canada. After frequent auditions, McCarthy was hired by WJR as a staff announcer in 1956.
The position of staff announcer was merely straight forward announcing, and McCarthy aspired to do more in radio. When Marty McNealy, the host of WJR's Morning Music Hall, left for WKMH in 1958, McCarthy was chosen to replace him. The station promoted him heavily, and he was soon the #1 rated radio show in Detroit.
WJR did not pay particularly well, and J.P. was offered the opportunity to do commercials for Stroh's, the top brewery in Detroit. Station management would not allow it, and after some discussion McCarthy left Detroit for KGO in San Francisco, where he took the morning show from #6 to #3.
In 1964, Goodwill Stations sold WJR to Capital Cities Broadcasting and the president, Dan Burke, asked station manager Jim Quello why they lost McCarthy. After explaining the situation, Quello re-recruited McCarthy to return to WJR, with a raise and the right to do commercials for anybody he wanted. J.P. returned to WJR in December 1964.
Upon his return to Detroit, McCarthy not only hosted the Morning Music Hall from 6:15 to 9, but also the Afternoon Music Hall from 3:15 to 6. Eventually, McCarthy's duties were relegated to morning drive, and a noontime interview program, "Focus". It wasn't long before McCarthy's morning show was #1 in Detroit, a perch that he held for about 30 years until his death, a feat unmatched in Detroit radio.
J. P. McCarthy was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1992, the first Detroit broadcaster to be inducted.
While at the peak of his career he contracted Myelodysplastic Syndrome, a very rare blood disease. J.P. McCarthy died of pneumonia in his sleep on the afternoon of August 16, 1995, with his entire family at his bedside. He was 62.
➦In 2003...DJ and General Manager, Dick Pike, died at age 78. Pike is best known for his work at WNOP-AM, a tiny, 1,000-watt, jazz-formatted Radio station licensed to Newport, Kentucky, that became legendary.
Former KYGO 98.5 FM morning cohost David Mueller, found to have groped Taylor Swift by a Denver jury, said there is still “no question” in his mind that he did not grab Swift’s backside during a 2013 meet-and-greet.
“What I’m saying is I didn’t do what they said,” the ex-DJ, David Mueller, told ABC News’ Clayton Sandell after Monday’s court ruling. “I never grabbed her. I never had my hand under her skirt and I can pass a polygraph,” according to Yahoo News.
Taylor Swift says groping trial was fight for anyone 'silenced by sexual assault,' promises donations to help assault victims.
Mueller contends he “wasn’t ready” for the photo, where he and his then-girlfriend Shannon Melcher posed next to Swift.
“I wasn’t invited to be in the photo,” he said. “I just moved into the shot the best I could.”
The former DJ first sued Swift in 2015, claiming that she falsely accused him of grabbing her backside at the meet-and-greet, causing him to lose his job. Swift then filed a countersuit for assault and battery, claiming that Mueller "took his hand and put it up my dress," according to court documents obtained by ABC News.
Swift testified that she first thought the alleged grope was a mistake but said Mueller did not let go when she lurched away from him.
Bloomsburg University has confirmed that it cutting broadcasting and advertising ties with WHLM 930 AM, which has broadcast Huskies’ games for years. That station also simulcasts on three FM translators in the area.
The university announced the severance in response to backlash from a video station staffer David Reilly produced over the weekend while at a white supremacist rally that turned deadly in Charlottesville, Va. Reilly is the son of Joe Reilly, the station owner.
Dave Reilly has been described as Media Director and evening DJ, who also maintains the station's website. The video in question was originally part of a Tweet. Twitter has since removed the video, although it is still posted on YouTube as of this writing. The nearly 5-minute video, mostly shot from a drone, shows the white supremacists marching with torches on Friday night, as techno rock music plays over the scenes.
The Press-Enterprise is also reporting a WHLM football broadcaster resigned from the station Monday, and a trio of prominent businesses pulled advertising from the station in response to critics of Reilly’s video.
Detractors denounced Reilly’s footage — which has drawn over 55,000 views on YouTube — as sympathetic to the white supremacist movement.
Dave Reilly
Some described Reilly, 28, in their social media comments as a racist “Nazi.”
Andrew Nebel, general manger of the Turkey Hill brew pub, The Inn at Turkey Hill and The Inn Farmhouse off Interstate 80 in Scott Township confirmed Monday night that all three business have ceased all advertising with WHLM in response to the video.
Tom Hughes, who is black and grew up in Bloomsburg, has worked several years as a color analyst for WHLM’s Friday night high school football broadcasts.
"I didn’t want to be associated in any way with any confusion in that area. I had to make a decision personally and professionally,” Hughes told the Press-Enterprise in Bloomsburg.
The station has posted the following statement on it's website:
WHLM and The Columbia Broadcasting has never condoned racism, bigotry, or hatred toward anyone or any group. Recent accusations that The Columbia Broadcasting condone such behavior are absolutely unfounded. Such accusations are not, and will not be handled lightly and there will be a full review of any and all materials concerning this situation at hand.
The Columbia Broadcasting Company has an enormous track record of serving the community with local news, sports, weather, editorial, giving ample time to opposing views and entertainment at a high level of community standards as recognized by such groups as The Columbia-Montour Boy Scouts of America, The Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters, etc. The Columbia Broadcasting Company intends to continue in this tradition of service to Bloomsburg, Berwick and Danville reflecting these positive community standards.
WHLM can be found on the dial in Bloomsburg at 930 and 104.3, Berwick at 1280 and 94.7, Danville at 105.5, Classic Rock 103.5 and online at WHLM.com.
Cumulus Media Inc. last Monday announced operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017.
For the three months ended June 30, 2017, the Company reported net revenue of $290.5 million, up 1.2% from the three months ended June 30, 2016, net income of $5.7 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $67.4 million which was up 6.7% from the three months ended June 30, 2016.
For the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company reported net revenue of 554.6 million, down 0.2% from the six months ended June 30, 2016, net loss of $1.7 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $106.1 million which was up 1.0% from the six months ended June 30, 2016.
Mary Berner, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cumulus Media Inc. said, "Our second quarter results provide further evidence of the success of our turnaround strategies as we posted a year-over-year increase in Adjusted EBITDA for the first time in over three years despite what continues to be a tough market environment."
During a conference call with analysts, Berner stated the quarter's performance "was driven by both our continued focus on judicious cost reductions to offset the contractual expense escalators that we've discussed in the past and our relentless effort to expand the topline." She shared her thoughts:
"The Market remains tough with the outlook in September particularly showing softness and for our business in Q3, we're currently pacing down slightly for the quarter and at on ex-political basis we're pacing almost flat.
Ratings: "We maintained our ratings share out performance in PPM markets through the quarter even though we are now lapping some considerable share growth in Q2 2016. Nonetheless, we were up again this quarter and Q2 2017 marks seven straight quarters of PPM ratings share growth which we converted to revenue share growth of 3% in PPM markets in Q2.
"On the diary side, after two consecutive quarters of share growth, we gave back ratings share in the spring 2017 books for our 4-book markets driven by some fairly isolated challenges. Six markets out of 27 drove the entirety of the decline with two markets representing nearly half of the impact and of course we are very focused on riding the ship in those situations.
Company Culture: "As I said from day one fixing Cumulus' culture was a top priority because a committed energized and highly engaged workforce is essential to the successful execution of the challenging operational agenda we've undertaken in this turnaround. Today are 180-degree change in culture is evident in every corner of our business and has become an ongoing contributor to financial progress we’re seeing.
"For example I talked before about our Be a LEADer sales lead-generation program, which is a cultural initiatives as much as it is a lead generator because its designed to connect non-sales employees more directly to the core of our advertising sales effort and thus our financial success.
"To-date the program has generated nearly 500 new advertisers for the company and millions of dollars in incremental revenue. Our cultural initiatives are even having the impact externally as positive employee sentiment has helped us recruit additional high-quality talent to the organization. It should go without saying that if preparing the culture was a precondition to our turnaround maintaining it is just as critical to our future success.
"And the result of our forthcoming wide survey demonstrate continued commitment to the turnaround plan with 90% of employees saying they are proud to work at Cumulus and 91% of our employees expressing a believe that Cumulus is changing for the better.
"Our turnover statistics also continued to beat our internal goals with overall turnover down to 24% and voluntary sales turnover down to 23% from the high 40s and the high 30s respectively when we began our turnaround effort."
Westwood One: It "is well positioned to take advantage of the rapidly growing podcast space, where industry revenue is projected to grow anywhere from $150 million to $200 million last year to as much as $500 million by 2020.
"With its massive promotional reach high quality audio production capabilities, relationships with virtually all of the advertisers that are spending on podcast today and significant connections with talent Westwood One brings to the table all the necessary elements to be a meaningful player in the space.
"In fact the entirety of our 6% revenue growth in Q2 the entirety was driven by this new business development effort which was virtually nonexistent a year ago. And importantly Westwood One is now leading the industry with its recent exclusive, big data partnerships that for the first time ever allow us to connect over the air radio listening directly with product purchasing behavior which of course is the Holy Grail for advertisers more on this exciting development in the future.
"Additionally we have fined tuned are stable of content partnerships, terminating certain relationships and enhancing others in the spirit of focusing on the areas that best serve our affiliates and listeners and are ultimately profitable for the business."
Taylor Swift won her civil trial against a Denver radio personality on Monday after a jury found that the former DJ assaulted and battered the pop star by groping her bare bottom, and awarded her the symbolic $1 in damages she had sought. Reuters reports Swift cried and hugged her mother as the verdicts were read in U.S. District Court in Denver and mouthed an emphatic "thank you" to members of the jury as they left the courtroom.
The six-woman, two-man jury, which deliberated for less than four hours following a sensational week-long trial, also rejected claims by radio personality David Mueller that members of Swift's management team - her mother and a radio station liaison - got him fired from his "dream job" as a DJ by making false accusations.
"I acknowledge the privilege that I benefit from in life, in society and in my ability to shoulder the enormous cost of defending myself in a trial like this," the 27-year-old singer said in a statement released immediately following the verdicts.
David Mueller
"My hope is to help those whose voices should also be heard," Swift said, adding that she would make donations to organizations that help sexual assault victims defend themselves.
Mueller, 55, showed no reaction as the verdicts were read.
Mueller, a former KYGO 98.5 FM radio host, sued Swift, her mother and her radio promotions manager, Frank Bell, in 2015. Mueller claimed that they interfered with his employment at KYGO after Bell reported to the station Swift’s claims that the host had groped her and said it could have “grave” consequences on the relationship between the singer and the station. Mueller had sought up to $3 million, saying the allegation cost him his job and reputation.
Swift countersued and sought the $1 in damages. She said she wants to serve as an example to other women who have been sexually assaulted.
“That dollar is of immeasurable value,” Swift’s attorney Douglas Baldridge said after the verdicts were read.
Frank Bell
According to the Denver Post, he said Swift had a lot of courage to come forward, and he called her an inspiration to others.
Last week, Swift used blunt language to describe the assault during a meet-and-greet photo session with fans and others before a June 2, 2013, concert at the Pepsi Center.
“He did not touch my rib, he did not touch my hand, he didn’t touch my arm, he grabbed my bare ass,” she said.
In her statement after the verdicts Monday, Swift spoke about helping other victims.
“I want to thank Judge William J. Martinez and the jury for their careful consideration, my attorneys Doug Baldridge, Danielle Foley, Jay Schaudies and Katie Wright for fighting for me and anyone who feels silenced by a sexual assault, and especially anyone who offered their support throughout this four-year ordeal and two-year long trial process.
"I acknowledge the privilege that I benefit from in life, in society and in my ability to shoulder the enormous cost of defending myself in a trial like this. My hope is to help those whose voices should also be heard. Therefore, I will be making donations in the near future to multiple organizations that help sexual assault victims defend themselves.”
The jury also found the singer’s mother, Andrea Swift, and manager Frank Bell not liable for tortious interference.
So far, the summer of 2017 is turning out to be a lot like last year when it comes to American radio listening habits, reports Nielsen.
Each year in the summer, audiences shift and certain formats surge during the dog days of the year. And with the release of Nielsen’s portable people meter (PPM) results for the July survey, a very similar story—as we’ve seen in past summers—is playing out again.
Classic Hits and Classic Rock stations are once again vying for the format of the summer designation; in this, we look at major music formats across the first five months of the year and then compare those with the results of the June, July and August surveys.
The summer of 2017 is turning into a two-horse race, with Classic Hits making strides in July. Classic Rock’s June and July audience share increased 9% from the beginning of the year, with Classic Hits just behind, up 6% over that same time.
Meanwhile, for Country radio, the days of setting new records in the summer are now in the rearview mirror; despite the slowed growth, however, the format has seen an uptick in tune-in this summer, with the share among listeners 6 and older up from last July.
Summertime is the annual peak for Country listening. In 2013 and 2014, the format surged to new heights, setting a bunch of records along the way.
“The Markley & van Camp Show” on news/talk WMBD 1470 AM / 100.3 FM in Peoria might sound a little different this week. That tends to happen when one of the hosts is more than 7,300 miles away.
Dave van Camp, who with Jamie Markley co-hosts the four-hour weekday-afternoon radio show, arrived Monday morning in Guam, a United States territory in the western Pacific Ocean, according to pjstar.com.
From a radio station on that island, van Camp is to perform his usual on-air duties with Markley on WMBD and the four other outlets on which their program is heard. Van Camp also is to provide perspective from the flashpoint of the latest conflict between the U.S. and North Korean governments.
North Korea officials say they are devising plans to fire nuclear missiles that would strike near Guam. That might seem almost as unlikely as a radio-show host from Peoria venturing there on a spur-of-the-moment work trip.
The plan to send van Camp to “where America’s day begins” — the island is 15 hours ahead of Peoria — was hatched late Friday afternoon, according to WMBD senior vice president Mike Wild. WMBD officials were brainstorming show ideas with counterparts from the “Markley & van Camp” affiliate in Portland, Ore.
“This Guam thing is going on, what if we sent the show over there?” Wild said about how the conversation went. “We took a couple of big gulps about what the flight was going to cost, but we said, ‘This is going to be a really good opportunity.’ So we did it.”
Wild declined to reveal the expense, other than to say “A lot.” An internet search Monday morning showed the cheapest round-trip Peoria-to-Guam air fare is $2,303. Connections would be made in Detroit and Tokyo for about 28 hours of travel, including layovers.
Van Camp’s trip took about 21 hours and included stops in Chicago, San Francisco and Hawaii, according to Wild. Van Camp departed from Peoria late Saturday or early Sunday.
“I know he hasn’t had much sleep,” Wild said.
Van Camp’s first broadcast from Guam was to begin at 2 p.m. Monday (5 a.m. Tuesday, local time) and continue daily through at least Thursday. He has arranged to interview Guam Gov. Eddie Calvo and other officials, as well as local residents, according to Wild.
Besides Peoria and Portland, “Markley & van Camp” also is aired on radio stations in Anchorage, Alaska; Orlando, Fla.; and Oklahoma City. Wild acknowledged van Camp’s long-distance voyage is good publicity for the show and for WMBD, but the journalistic rationale is paramount.
Guam residents received a nasty jolt Tuesday after two radio stations accidentally issued emergency warnings to indicate an imminent threat or attack, at a time when the US territory is already on edge over North Korean threats to fire missiles into nearby waters.
According the AFP News Agency, several concerned listeners were reported to have called police after the stations triggered the Emergency Alert Broadcast System, issuing "a civil danger" warning at 12:25 am that was later confirmed to be a mistake.
The unscheduled warningof the Emergency Alert Broadcast System was triggered from the radio station KTWG 800 and A/C KSTO 95.5 FM . The test was not connected to any emergency, threat or warning. Homeland Security worked with the radio station to ensure the human error will repeat itself, the release stated.
The unauthorized test message stated that:
"A broadcast station or cable system has issued a civil danger warning for the following countries/areas: Guam; at 12:25 a.m. on Aug. 15, 2017, effective until 12:40 a.m. Message from KTWG/KSTO."
North Korea had said it would finalise plans by mid-August on whether to fire missiles at Guam in response to "fire and fury" threats from US President Donald Trump.
But Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Tuesday reported that Kim had examined the plans but made no move towards an immediate strike.
"Residents and visitors are reminded to remain calm," said Guam's homeland security adviser George Charfauros.
"There is no change in threat level, we continue business as usual."
Westwood One is helping to transition radio listeners from weekend to weekday with the national syndication launch of Sterling on Sunday, a Sunday night talk show featuring longtime radio executive, innovator, and storyteller Walter Sabo a/k/a Walter Sterling.
The program, a mix of lifestyle, entertainment, and social conversation, will air live from CBS flagship station WPHT 1210 AM/Philadelphia from 10:00 pm ET to 1:00 am ET. In addition to WPHT, additional launch stations include WLS-AM/Chicago; WMAL-AM/FM, Washington DC; KDKA-AM/Pittsburgh; and KMOX-AM/St. Louis.
Walt Sabo
Walter Sabo has compelled positive change in radio's C-Suite and on the air for decades, from his early days at NBC, ABC, and RKO to the creation of Sirius Satellite Radio and New Jersey 101.5/WKXW, the most listened-to FM talk station in the world. In November 2014, Sabo took on the moniker “Walter Sterling” and began hosting a weekly show on CBS' WPHT/Philadelphia. The show has developed a strong following of highly engaged fans intrigued by Sterling’s stories of bad in-laws, trouble with neighbors, demands for air conditioning, and his hatred of cell phone companies and commercial banks.
"What two best friends talk about is not trivial, it's a very big deal. That's why Sterling on Sundays transitions the listener into the week with conversation about troubles at work, celebrity gossip, and why the engine light never goes out,” says Sabo. “The audience is highly engaged and very diverse – from young parents who only have alone time later in the day, to medical professionals on their way to work, and other shift workers and late-nighters.”
Suzanne Grimes, EVP, Corporate Marketing, Cumulus Media and President, Westwood One said, “Walter is a legendary radio figure who not only knows our industry inside and out but also has a unique handle on what people really care about. His perspective on today’s societal connections is what makes Sterling on Sunday captivating and relatable to all audiences. We are proud to have Walter transition all of us into the week.”
In addition to the Sunday night program, Westwood One represents Sterling's podcast, Old Dad, which is available on demand and is posted twice a week on iTunes. It reveals the secret powers of the oldest Dad in three different public schools.
Stations interested in Sterling on Sunday should contact Stuart Greenblatt at sgreenblatt@westwoodone.com or (212) 419-2946.
Alpha Media, Portland’s KBFF Live 95.5 has announced Amanda “ICE” Habrowski as Assistant Program Director. She remains Music Director and Midday Host.
Originally hailing from the city of Detroit, ICE is now a proud resident of Portland, OR., for the past 3 years, hosting Middays and serving as Music Director for Live 95.5. None other than Public Enemy’s, Flavor Flav coined her infamous “ICE” moniker during a stint on VH1’s “Flavor of Love 3,” where, unfortunately, Ms. Habrowski did not find the love she was searching for. But everything turned out just fine, because it left her with a rad nickname and another VH1 appearance on “I Love Money 2.” Her one-of-a-kind voice has been heard on the radio for over 10 years now, as she spins today’s hottest tracks fused with a Detroit-bred passion for music.
Alpha Media VP of Programming, Phil Becker commented on the announcement, “Over the last three years, ICE has been a vital part of our success and I’m thrilled to be able to offer her this opportunity.”
KBFF 95.5 FM (100 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area
“Dude! Is this real life?! I’d like to thank my mom, my dad, my #ICEcubes, my cat Smoke Man, my fellow co-workers and of course, the one and only Phil Becker for believing in me and letting me do what I love. There’s no other station I’d rather be at than Live 95.5. Alpha Media takes care of their employees and I cannot WAIT to make the most out of this opportunity,” remarked Ice.
SiriusXM announced Monday that veteran media executive Mike Connolly has joined the company as its new head of advertising sales. Connolly will oversee SiriusXM's ad sales efforts across its wide-ranging lineup of channels that take advertising, which includes entertainment, news, comedy and sports.
He will report to Scott Greenstein, SiriusXM's President and Chief Content Officer.
Connolly, 57, comes to SiriusXM from ESPN, where for the last eight years he had been Vice President of Advertising Sales and Affiliate Sales for ESPN Audio Network, leading efforts to generate ad revenue through ESPN's array of audio content across all its national platforms as well as overseeing station relations for its 500+ affiliates. He brings broad experience working with varied on-air audio content in his three decades in media sales. Prior to joining ESPN he served as Senior Vice President of Ad Sales for both Citadel Communications and ABC Radio Networks.
"I've been a longtime listener of SiriusXM content and have always been a huge fan," said Connolly. "A vast majority of my career has been in radio sales so the opportunity to lead the sales effort at SiriusXM is a dream come true."
"Mike is a proven ad industry executive and we are excited to have him lead SiriusXM's ad sales team and continue its strong sustained growth," said Greenstein. "Mike's extensive experience in audio entertainment will be of crucial importance to SiriusXM as our programming depth and variety expand and the national audience of subscribers and listeners continues to rise."
Connolly succeeds Bette Rockmore as the head of SiriusXM's ad sales team. Rockmore, who has run SiriusXM's ad sales efforts since 2009, is moving into a teaching role at Pace University. During Rockmore's tenure, SiriusXM has seen remarkable ad sales growth, with a double-digit percentage increase in total ad sales revenue year over year for six of the last seven years. Rockmore will assist in the transition and continue to work with SiriusXM as a consultant.
Longtime Fox News contributor and fill-in host Laura Ingraham is in line for her own show on the channel, possibly in a key prime time hour.
On Monday a source with knowledge of the matter told CNN that there are talks underway between Ingraham and Fox executives, but no decisions have been finalized.
The addition of an Ingraham talk show could be part of a bigger-picture reshuffling of Fox News Channel's highly rated schedule.
Matt Drudge, who is well-sourced in conservative media circles, spurred intrigue about potential changes when he tweeted this on Monday: "FALL PREVIEW: Laura Ingraham's prime time to shine! After years in the trenches, much deserved."
The prime time hours on cable news are 8, 9 and 10 p.m. When Megyn Kelly left for NBC in January, Tucker Carlson took over her 9 p.m. time slot. Then in April when Bill O'Reilly was removed amid a sexual harassment scandal, Carlson moved into O'Reilly's 8 p.m. time slot and the channel's 5 p.m. conservative talk show "The Five" moved to 9 p.m. Sean Hannity remained in place at 10 p.m.
The cable news channel now seems to be exploring programming options in the event that Eric Bolling does not return. Bolling is the centerpiece of the 5 p.m. show that was created when "The Five" moved to 9. It is called "Fox News Specialists."
Earlier this month Bolling was suspended pending a probe into accusations that he sent lewd texts to colleagues, which he has denied.
If Fox News executives need to replace "The Specialists," "The Five" could be shifted back to its original 5 p.m. time slot. Then Ingraham could take over at 9 p.m.
Alternatively, Hannity could move up one hour to 9, and Ingraham could take over at 10.
Along with the Bolling suspension, another subplot is the ratings race between Fox and MSNBC. The MSNBC host Rachel Maddow has snapped Fox's winning streak in the 9 p.m. hour.
The total eclipse of the sun across America (and specifically, in Missouri and Illinois) is taking place next Monday, 8/21! WARH 106.5 The Arch is celebrating by giving listeners a brand new…well a gently used…okay, a totally used 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse from Auto Centers Herculaneum, in Herculaneum, Missouri.
Have breakfast with Spencer’s Neighborhood and enter to win Monday, 6:00 am until 9:00 am at Bean Tree Café in Waterloo, Illinois or at the Monroe County Fairgrounds starting at 10:00 am near the “epicenter for eclipse totality!”
The ‘Hood will give you the keys to your 2007 Eclipse, complete with sunroof and CD player with Total Eclipse of the Heart on repeat, when the eclipse starts at 11:30 am!
Thanks to Auto Centers Herculaneum – guaranteed financing and free lifetime warranties!
Also for the eclipse - 106.5 The Arch will play THE soundtrack for the Eclipse starting at 12:30 pm on Monday, 8/21/17, with songs like Dancing in the Dark and Moondance!
