Saturday, December 19, 2015

December 20 Radio History




Bob Hope
In 1920..Engllish-borrn comedian Leslie Townes Hope became an American citizen. He had lived in the US since 1908 and became one of that nation’s true ambassadors for show business and charity. We say, “Thanks for the memory,” to Bob Hope.

Hope's career in broadcasting began on radio in 1934. His first regular series for NBC Radio was the Woodbury Soap Hour in 1937, a 26-week contract. A year later, The Pepsodent Show Starring Bob Hope began, and Hope signed a ten-year contract with the show's sponsor, Lever Brothers. Hope hired eight writers and paid them out of his salary of $2,500 a week. The original staff included Mel Shavelson, Norman Panama, Jack Rose, Sherwood Schwartz, and Schwartz's brother Al. The writing staff eventually grew to fifteen.  The show became the top radio program in the country. Regulars on the series included Jerry Colonna and Barbara Jo Allen as spinster Vera Vague. Hope continued his lucrative career in radio through to the 1950s, when radio's popularity was overshadowed by television.


Charita Bauer

In 1922...radio/TV actress Charita Bauer was born in Newark.  While she had participated in 2,000 dramatic radio broadcasts by 1944, her most memorable role was as the soap opera Guiding Light’s Bert Bauer for 35 years, first on radio & later television.  She died of complications from diabetes Feb. 28 1985 at age 62.


In 1939...Radio Australia began its overseas short-wave service.




In 1957...Elvis Presley received his draft notice from the U.S. Army. He immediately applied for, and was granted, a 60-day deferment that allowed him to complete the filming of "King Creole."


In 1971...Talk show host Larry King was arrested in Miami on charges of grand larceny. He'd accepted money on a promise of influence he couldn't deliver, and didn't have the money to pay it back. The charges were eventually dropped because the statute of limitations ran out. King pled guilty to passing a bad check, however, and was out of radio for three years.


In 2002...WRAL Mix 101.5 FM became the first licensed commercial radio station on the east coast to broadcast in HD Radio.


Les Tremayne
In 2003...Les Tremayne died. Tremayne was a leading man during Radio's Golden Era.  On radio during the 1930s and 1940s, Tremayne was heard in as many as 45 shows a week. Replacing Don Ameche, he starred in The First Nighter Program from 1936 to 1942. He starred in The Adventures of the Thin Man and The Romance of Helen Trent during the 1940s. He also starred in the title role in The Falcon, and played detective Pat Abbott in The Abbott Mysteries in 1946–47.

AUDIO: Click Here

Tremayne was married four times. He did a morning talk show: The Tremaynes with his second wife, Alice Reinhardt. When Tremayne died in 2003, he was married to his fourth wife, Joan.  Tremayne was once named one of the three most distinctive voices on American radio. The other two were Bing Crosby and President Franklin D. Roosevelt.


In 2014…Longtime Nashville radio and television personality (WSM-AM, WSM-TV, WKRN-TV) Teddy Bart died at age 78.

Teddy Bart
Bart was the personality on several shows during his career, including long-running hits such as the "Waking Crew" on WSM 650 AM radio, the "Noon Show" and "Teddy Bart's Nashville" on WSM-TV, and "Teddy Bart's Round Table" with co-host Karlen Evins on a number of radio stations. He was also a news anchor for WKRN-TV.

"It was like Johnny Carson asking you to be on his show," said David Ewing, a lawyer and Nashville historian who was on "Round Table" several times. Local politicans and business leaders tuned into the show, and guests would often have messages waiting for them when they got back to work after an appearance, Ewing said.

The shows tackled local news and issues with lively yet civil debate.

Bart's legacy in Nashville loomed large in the broadcast community even after he retired, and he was inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame in May 2014.

Twin Cities Radio: Brian Oakes Exits Cities 97

Brian Oakes
Longtime Twin Cities radio personality and music curator Brian Oake surprised KTCZ Cities 97 FM listeners Friday morning by announcing he is leaving the iHeartMedia station.

"This is something that if I didn't take a shot at it I would regret it for the rest of my life," Oake said when he explained why he was calling it quits.

Oake, known for his love and staunch support of local music and the artists who make it, announced his departure from Cities 97 at 8 a.m. with his morning on-air partner Keri Noble. He assured listeners that the choice to leave was his, saying he struggled with the decision more than any other he has made in his adult life.

"Change is part of what we do," he assured listeners. "It's what we have to do."

Most recently he was paired with musician-turned-radio host Keri Noble for the Cities 97 morning show. The two had instant chemistry, and their back-and-forth exchanges and battle of the sexes banter provided plenty of laughs. Oake nearly made it through his announcement without tears, but his voice broke when he thanked Noble for their time together. "I fell in love with radio again," Oake said, expressing his love and friendship with Noble.

KARE11-TV  reports Oake offered no details on exactly why he made his decision to leave or what comes next, but did cryptically refer to "an opportunity" he will be pursuing. He left no doubt, however, that he won't forget his time at Cities 97.

Oake left a written statement on the Cities 97 website Friday morning. It reads:
It's hard to believe that nearly 15 years have gone by since I started at Cities97. I mean, that's half of my adult life! Still, they are years I wouldn't trade for anything. This has been the most unexpected, satisfying and genuinely amazing ride. It's hard to imagine that I am actually closing this chapter, but the time has come for me to move on. However, I have a few thank you's before I go. 
First, a sincere thank you to my many colleagues over the last 15 years. Radio is a very dynamic business i.e. people get fired a lot. I have been here long enough to see so many amazing people come and go. Programmers, Sales Staff, Promotions Staff, Management, Interns, Fellow DJs... people who taught me, challenged me, inspired me and made me better. Way too many to list, but please know that anytime I sounded good or was part of something amazing, there were dozens of talented people all around me that were likely more responsible for it than I was. I like to say 'I love working with professionals' and I have been fortunate to have been surrounded by a great many of them. I am deeply in their debt. 
Thank you, Cities97. Here, I found a home. A place that valued music as much as I do. I think my very favorite part of working here was all the Studio C performances. As the Afternoon Drive Guy for 11 years, I had a front row seat for hundreds and hundreds of the most intimate, amazing musical performances. I've interviewed some of the biggest names in music in that room. I've also made a few friends. But whether it was a superstar like Adele/Ed Sheeran, or a little indie band no one had ever heard of, it didn't really matter. Every time the doors closed and the lights dimmed, you could tell that something special was about to happen. A nervous hush would fall over the audience and the alchemy of that incredible room would begin...I saw it so many times and it never, ever got old. 
But mostly, I want to thank you, the listener. You are the reason everything Cities 97 does works. You are the ones who listen. You are the ones that made 13 seasons of Oake On The Water the best summer party there was. You are the ones that, year after year, get up early to go out and buy the Sampler. You are the ones that come by the thousands to the Basilica Block Party. You complete the circuit. Over the years, you have been very, very kind to me. I am humbled. Thank you. 
Finally, I want to thank Keri Noble. My ally, my confidant and my dear, dear friend. You helped me fall back in love with radio, for which I can never repay you properly. I have enjoyed our partnership so much. I hate leaving our show, but you know this is something I have to do. You're funny, you're smart and you're kind. I'm going to miss you like crazy, partner. 
For legal reasons, I cannot say what is next for me. Suffice to say, I have an opportunity in the coming year. I cannot be certain that this is the right move, but I do know that if I didn't at least try, I'd regret it for the rest of my life. 
Be well. Be decent to those around you. Keep exploring and celebrating music. Thank you, for all of it.

NYC Radio: WCBS-FM Hosts Annual Auction Benefit

L-R: Scott Shannon, Patty Steele, Joe Nolan, WCBS-FM's Broadway Bill Lee
For the last 23 years, Scott Shannon has broadcast his final live show of the year from Blythedale Children's Hospitalin Valhalla, NY - a day that is a perennial favorite for our children, their families, staff and supporters.

This year, Scott and his team from WCBS 101.1 FM treated attendees to performances by Rob Thomas (who returned for his 16th consecutive year), Harry Connick, Jr., Mark Rivera (Billy Joel's sax player), and Holiday Express.

Joe Nolan, Scott Shannon, Rob Thomas, Patty Steel, Mark Rivera, Harry Connick Jr.
CBS2 News meteorologist John Elliott broadcast the weather live from Blythedale, and conducted interviews with staff and patients.

The "rock and roll" auction to benefit Blythedale included top-bid items such a VIP package to a Billy Joel concert and luxury box seating for a New York Yankees game. Followers of Blythedale on Twitter and Facebook received up-to-the-minute updates on their favorite auction items during the four-hour broadcast, as well as photos and videos of the performers.
Santa & Mrs. Claus with Harry Connick Jr. & new friend
At the end of the four hour show totals for the benefit neared $85,000; the proceeds of which will support Blythedale's Child Life Program.

Cincy Radio: Radio One Names Kenard Karter As Cluster OM

Kenard Karter
Radio One/Cincinnati has announced the appointment of Veteran Chicago personality Kenard Karter as its new Operations Manager in Cincinnati.

The Cincinnati cluster consists of Urban Oldies WOSL 100.3 FM, Talk/Urban Gospel WDBZ 1230 AM and UrbanAC WIZF 101.1 FM.

Karter most recently worked at iHeartMedia's Urban WGCI 107.5 FM in Chicago after four years of with iHM co-owned Rhythmic CHR KMEL 106.1 FM in San Francisco, where he served as the Assistant PD and middays.

Karter is a Chicago native that began his radio career in his hometown ten years ago.

Radio One VP/Programming Colby "Colb" Tyner stated, "We are excited to be working with Kenard; he is a very smart programmer with a lot of creative energy. Our team in Cincy can't wait to get started."

Station Manager Mitch Galvin added, "Kenard will be bringing strong leadership to our station cluster and a drive to win."

Karter shared their enthusiasm, stating, "I am truly humbled and excited about the opportunity to lead the Cincinnati radio brands that Colby Colb, Jay Stevens and the Radio One family have afforded me. I'm proud to join a team that's so full of passion and promise."

Muncie Radio: WMDH Treats 372 "Secret Families"

Cumulus Media announces that WMDH NASH FM 102.5 FM Muncie joined forces with Toyota & Scion of Muncie to provide Christmas cheer on December 5 – “Secret Families Day”, to 247 area families in need through the annual “Secret Families” Christmas Charity.

“Secret Families” provides a complete Christmas (tree, stand, decorations, food, pet supplies, cleaning supplies and wrapped gifts for each family member) to families needing a hand up in Delaware County during the holidays. “Secret Families” also provided holiday deliveries to an additional 125 families the following week.

NASH FM 102.5 conducted on-air interviews, live broadcasts from related events, recorded promos, and website, social media, and e-mail marketing to drive awareness, contributions and volunteers for this annual station promotion benefiting families in East Central Indiana. Over 1,000 volunteers, nearly $200,000 in Christmas gifts and items for families, and countless volunteer hours make “Secret Families” one of the area's premiere charitable programs.



Each family served by “Secret Families” receives an average of $550 in Christmas essentials, including items from their respective lists, including at least one toy for every child in the family. In addition to private donations, a number of area businesses and organizations donate the trees, stands, decorations, household and pet supplies. Volunteers are divided into teams for shopping, wrapping, tree delivery, gift delivery, and general logistics for communicating with and delivering Christmas cheer to the families served.

2015 was a milestone year for “Secret Families”. Every year, school principals from all Delaware County Schools identify families in need and these are the families that “Secret Families” reaches out to for support during the holiday season. This year, the “Secret Families” program cared for every family identified as needing assistance.

“Secret Families” has grown every year, gaining national attention in 2012 when the Today Show attended the event, and will launch “Secret Families” programs in four additional communities in 2016. “Secret Families” will also launch a new fundraising campaign platform in 2016, that founder Al Holdren anticipates will fully fund the Delaware County event on its own before the donation campaign even begins. If this sounds ambitious, Al Holdren said just a few short years ago that he wanted this organization to eliminate families not having a Christmas within a decade. Based on identified families, the program has achieved this goal in half the time.

Richmond Radio: The Lite Goes Off, WTVR Rebrands As Mix 98.1


Richmonders will soon hear some familiar voices on local radio. Lite98 is going away and WTVR FM will relaunch as MIX 98.1.

When the new radio station debuts on  Monday, December 28, it will feature radio personalities who once worked at both Q94 and B103.
  • Jeff Wicker will host a new morning show from 5:30-9 a.m. He once hosted mornings on Q94.
  • Jackie Cunningham who previously hosted “Jackie and Bender” on 106.1 KISS FM in Seattle, will host weekdays from 9 a.m – noon. Jackie hosted mornings on the former B103 until 2000.
  • Kat Simons, will return to the station and host from 12 – 3 p.m.
  • Billy Surf, who once worked at Q94, will host an evening radio program
“I am thrilled to launch MIX 98.1 and am so fortunate to have assembled a team of talent that has so much Richmond history and popularity,” said A.J., Senior Vice President of Programming, iHeartMedia Richmond.

“This new on-air team will instantly deliver over 35 combined years on the radio in Richmond. That’s huge!”

WTVR 98.1 FM (50 Kw) Red=Local Coverage
MIX 98.1 will play a mix of music from artists like Taylor Swift, Maroon 5, Adele, Bruno Mars and Pink.

Kokomo IN Radio: WWKI We Care Raises $411K+

It was another successful year of fundraising for WWKI 100.5 FM's We Care, which announced a total of $411,820.16 raised for 2015.

The organization announced the total Wednesday morning on Hit Country 100.5, with the final figure tallied from money raised during numerous fundraisers held throughout the year, including a 48-hour telethon, Trim-A-Tree Festival, We Care Store and a Wrap-Up auction.

Becky Varnell, a veteran volunteer for the organization, said announcing the total of We Care's 2015 efforts provoked tears of compassion for what the money will do for the community's members.

Hit Country 100.5 WWKI is involved annually in giving We Care a voice on its radio airwaves. John Spilman, vice president and general manager at Cumulus Media, says the partnership between WWKI and We Care is one that represents how radio and fundraising can work together to serve local communities.

“We’re grateful to be part of We Care’s beginnings and our continued involvement with an organization that has such an impact on the heart of our community,” Spilman said. “We Care started Monday with $411,000 in the bank, then gave it all away. That really hits home.”


Along with We Care's sanctioned fundraisers, community members host their own fundraisers to contribute to the organization. We Care Park is perhaps one of the brightest of those fundraisers, with a multi-million light display spanning nearly a mile. Kokomo resident Mike Wyant's donates every dime raised from We Care Park to the organization. This year, that amount was $62,000.

We Care is unique in that all money raised goes directly to five of Kokomo's nonprofit organizations – with no administrative costs being removed from the fundraising total.

December 19 Radio History


In 1932...The British Broadcasting Corp. began transmitting "Empire Service" to Australia and New Zealand, the BBC's first overseas service.




In 1956...Elvis Presley had 10 singles on the Billboard chart, a record high number for an individual act, which stood until 1964 when the Beatles had 14 simultaneous chart hits.


In 1958...the first radio broadcast from space occured when President Dwight D. Eisenhower said "To all mankind, America's wish for Peace on Earth & Good Will to Men Everywhere".


In 1985...ABC Sports announced that it was parting company with Howard Cosell and released him from all TV commitments. He continued on ABC Radio for another five years.


In 2004...a single-engine Cessna 182 crashed into the KFI 640 AM radio tower knocking the station off-the-air for an hour and killing the two people in the plane.


On December 19, 2004 at 9:45 am Pacific Standard Time, Jim and Mary Ghosoph were killed when their rented Cessna 182P single engine airplane, travelling from the El Monte Airport to Fullerton Municipal Airport, struck KFI's transmission tower, located in the City of La Mirada.

The solid steel truss, originally built in 1948, collapsed upon itself, mostly landing in a parking lot to the north of the site (KFI was relatively late to convert from a horizontal to a vertical antenna—same-market Class A KNX converted to a vertical in 1938, and same-state Class As KGO and KPO (now KNBR) converted to verticals in 1941 and 1949, respectively). KFI's signal was knocked off the air for approximately one hour.

Pilots had complained for years to KFI management that it needed to put strobe lights on the tower and highly reflective balls on the guy wire. KFI and Clear Channel Communications management responded by saying the tower was in compliance with Federal Communications Commission and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and that it did not need to make any changes. Until a replacement was successfully erected, the station transmitted from a 200-foot auxiliary tower at a power of 25,000 watts.

On Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at 2:30 pm Pacific Standard Time the replacement tower collapsed while under construction.  The tower was about 300 feet tall (the final height was to be 684 feet) when a guy wire support failed, causing the tower to tip over the opposite direction. There were no major injuries, and only limited collateral damage.

A new tower began construction at the end of July 2008 and was completed on August 14, 2008. The station returned to full power (50,000 watts) on September 25, 2008 at 17:00 PT.

The new tower has a 50-foot-wide (15 m) top-loading "capacitance hat", which electrically extends the tower's height another seventy-five feet, effectively, without actually needing more tower sections (the local regulation authorities in apparent defiance of electrical engineering principles, and communications law, demanded "a 10 percent reduction in overall height", otherwise the necessary permits would be refused, not withstanding the federal government's primary authority over radio communications, and KFI's strategic role as an Emergency Alert System station for the western U.S. region).

The new tower is also equipped with high intensity strobe lights due to its proximity to the Fullerton Municipal Airport, and additional safety upgrades because of the previous plane crash. The new tower has torque arms which limit the twisting of the tower in high winds. The tower has been dedicated to the memory of John Paoli, KFI Chief Engineer from 2000 to 2008, who died suddenly from a previously unknown genetic heart condition soon after overseeing the construction of the new tower.

Friday, December 18, 2015

DC/Balt Radio: WNEW 99.1 FM Flips To Business News


CBS Radio has thrown in the towel.

The company has announced it has dropped the general news format of WNEW 99.1 FM in favor of Bloomberg Radio buesinss news.

CBS is leasing the station via an LMA to  Bloomberg Media, the New York-based arm of billionaire Michael Bloomberg’s business empire.

Bloomberg took over management of WNEW-FM  Friday morning and it now branding as Bloomberg 99.1.

WNEW started in early 2012 as a competitor to all-news WTOP 103.5 FM and news-talk WAMU 88.5 FM, two of the area’s leading stations. But WNEW was never able to gain traction with its mix of local news reporting, weather, sports and traffic reports, and it was hampered by an identity split between Washington and Baltimore.

According to The Washington Post, it ranks 24th among Washington-area stations, finishing just behind Spanish-language pop-music station WDCN 87.7 FM and religious broadcaster WAVA 105.1 FM.

Bloomberg, which specializes in financial news, will broadcast primarily business-oriented programs from New York on 99.1.

“We’re not looking for a mass audience,” Justin Smith, Bloomberg Media’s chief executive, said in an interview. “We’re looking for a niche audience” of business executives and entrepreneurs.

The company said it will operate 99.1 with about a half-dozen local employees. WNEW had a staff of about 20, most of whom will be dismissed, said Steve Swenson, who runs CBS Radio’s Washington division.

WNEW 99.1 FM (45 Kw) Red=Local coverage
With its flagship station WBBR 1130AM in New York, WXKS 1200 AM/94.5 FM-HD2 in Boston, and KNEW 960 AM/KOSF 103.7 FM-HD2 in the San Francisco Bay Area, Bloomberg Radio now reaches four of the leading global business markets in the country. Earlier this year, Bloomberg Radio partnered with CBS RADIO to deliver business reports which air on stations in 12 key markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco, among others.

The station will continue to carry live broadcasts of Washington Wizards games.

NYC Radio: Rita Cosby Named Political Editor At WABC

Rita Cosby
Talk Radio WABC 770 AM announces that it has signed a new deal with Emmy-winning journalist, Rita Cosby, as the station’s Political Editor.

In her expanded role with 77 WABC Radio, Cosby will cover the 2016 U.S. Presidential race and other major political stories, bringing the freshest angles and key newsmakers to WABC Radio, including exclusive interviews with the most important and intriguing candidates.

She will continue to host “The Rita Cosby Show” on Sunday mornings and will debut a new weekly election round-up show, “Election Central with Rita Cosby” on Sunday, December 20, at 7:00 p.m. Her first guests will include GOP Presidential Candidate Donald Trump and New York Mayor Bill De Blasio. Cosby will also oversee a weekly political column for “Election Central”, 77 WABC Radio’s weekly political e-newsletter, and contribute interviews to Westwood One News Network.

Craig Schwalb, WABC Program Director said: "Rita’s vast political experience and unparalleled access to the major political players continue to make her a huge asset to 77 WABC in this expanded position."

Cosby said: "This is arguably the most fascinating and historic election of our time and I am very excited to be at the helm of political coverage for 77 WABC."

Cosby, a native New Yorker, is one of the most recognized and respected broadcasters in America and has been quoted and profiled by hundreds of media outlets across the country and overseas. She is a renowned Emmy-winning TV host, veteran correspondent and multiple best selling author, who anchored highly rated primetime shows on Fox News Channel and MSNBC. She is currently a special correspondent for the top-rated CBS syndicated newsmagazine, Inside Edition, and does frequent hosting and reporting for CNN/HLN.

Named one of the Most Influential Women in Radio in both 2014 and 2015 by Radio Ink Magazine, Cosby was also honored in 2015 with two prestigious Gracie Awards for both “Outstanding Host” and “Outstanding Talk Show.”

Denver Radio: Cruisin' Oldies Moving Up The Dial

The ever changing world of Denver sports talk radio is about to change again.

In the wake of the news (Click Here)  that KJAC 105.5 FM ESPN is going belly up comes the news that KSE Radio Ventures a division Kroenke Sports, owners of the Avalanche, Nuggets, Rapids and Altitude TV is purchasing KRWZ 950 AM (for Classic Top40 fans, it was Top40 KIMN back in the day) from Entercom who purchased the signal not too long ago from Lincoln Financial Media.

BsnDenver reports the plan is to develop a radio version of Altitude TV and that this new station would carry the Avs and Nuggets games live as well as provide talk programming.

KRWZ 950 AM (5 Kw) Red=Local Coverage
There is also buzz that iHeartMedia is also poised to bring sports talk to the AM dial at KDSP 760 AM, a signal that once housed “760 the Zone”. Assuming that happens Denver will suddenly have four signals dedicated to sports, 104.3 the Fan, Altitude, 760 and Mile High Sports Radio at 1340 AM.

Starting December 27, Entercom will move the  Cruisin' Oldies up the dial to 1430 AM. The new outlet will target Baby Boomers with the greatest music from the birth of Rock 'n Roll in the 50's through the British Invasion, Motown, The Summer of Love and Woodstock in the 60's.

"Cruisin' is a great brand in Denver and we are thrilled to combine the best personalities, content and programming from Cruisin' and KEZW," said VP/Market Manager Amy Griesheimer. "Cruisin' 1430 will be unduplicated and unmatched, as the only station in Denver playing the music that Baby Boomers grew up."

KEZW 1430 AM (5 Kw)
Operations Manager Mike Peterson commented, "Cruisin' 1430 includes well-known, local personalities and will deliver music fans the best in Oldies Rock 'n Roll in a fun, upbeat environment. And the station will continue to offer listeners and advertisers tremendous ways to connect with audiences at events throughout Denver."

FNC’s Bret Baier Praised for Tough Ted Cruz Interview

Sen. Ted Cruz was put on the defensive Wednesday about the role he played in a failed Senate attempt at immigration reform, asserting that he did not support granting undocumented immigrants a pathway to legalization.

Appearing on Fox's  "Special Report with Bret Baier," Cruz was pressed by the anchor for his reasons for putting forward an amendment that allowed undocumented immigrants to get legal status -- a position Cruz is now against. Cruz's plan would have stripped out a provision granting a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants -- which Cruz calls "amnesty" -- but would have allowed them to have some type of legal status, such as a work permit.


Baier played a clip of Cruz saying he wanted immigration reform to pass and that the amendment would have let "those illegally to come in out of the shadows."

Cruz is against undocumented immigrants receiving legal status, a position he long dodged.



Host, Anchor Michelle Norris To Exit NPR

Michelle Norris
After 13 years at NPR, Michele Norris is dropping the microphone. The longtime public radio personality and former "All Things Considered" host (who pronounces her first-name as Me-Shell) says she is leaving NPR at the end of the year to focus on growing The Race Card Project, which she created in 2010.

"The Race Card Project has grown larger and more robust than I ever imagined,” Norris told KPCC 89.3 FM in L-A on Thursday. “I want to figure out how I can grow it and find active partners to work with me.”

The Race Card Project earned a Peabody Award in 2013 and tackles issues of race, identity, sexuality and aging. Or as Norris puts it, starts dialogue around “the boxes that people feel like they’re put in or the angst that they feel in having to check a box.”

Norris says she's looking forward to taking some time away from public radio to study how the media landscape has changed.

In an email announcing her departure, Mike Oreskes, senior vice president of news and editorial director at NPR, said Norris brought audiences profoundly moving, award-winning coverage ranging from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to interviews with leaders in politics, art, culture.

Adele US Concert Tickets Sell In Minutes


(Reuters) -- Tickets for Adele's first concert tour of North America in five years sold out within minutes for venues on the U.S. East Coast on Thursday, leaving thousands of fans empty-handed and venting their frustration on social media.

Adele
The British singer's 56-date tour, announced earlier this week, follows record-breaking sales of 5.2 million units in the United States alone of her new album, "25."

Fans reported getting stuck for 45 minutes or more on ticketing websites, only to find that seats were sold out for major cities on the tour that starts in July in St. Paul, Minnesota and ends in Mexico City on Nov. 15.

Adele's representatives said tickets for some shows were going on sale at 10 a.m. local time in the relevant cities, but otherwise declined to comment.

Tickets for many shows appeared within minutes on secondary market sites like Stubhub, with asking prices ranging from $9,999 each for seats closest to the stage at New York's Madison Square Garden to $300 each for those in the furthest reaches of the arena. Official prices ranged from $40 to $750 each for premium packages.

Adele's "25" album is already the biggest selling album of 2015 in the United States, and has broken records dating back to 1991 when Nielsen Music first started tracking sales.

Tickets for the singer's UK and European concert tour, starting in February, also sold out within minutes when they went on sale earlier this month.

CBS Unveils Extensive Coverage Of Super Bowl 50

CBS on Thursday unveiled its extensive game plan for Super Bowl 50 coverage -- one that includes contributions from most divisions of the company and a "Super Bowl City" in San Francisco.

Beginning Feb. 1, CBS will offer "around-the-clock" multiple-platform coverage from San Francisco and the Bay Area, leading up to the big game Feb. 7 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. The network will wrap up its game-day coverage with special editions of "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" and "The Late Late Show With James Corden."

Featuring shows from nine CBS divisions, much of company's coverage will originate from its Super Bowl City at the foot of Market Street in San Francisco. The area will feature multiple sets, a football field and fan activation zone. CBS will also be based at Radio Row at the Moscone Center in San Francisco as well as in Santa Clara.

Les Moonves
In a statement released Thursday, Leslie Moonves, President and CEO, CBS Corporation, said, "We are putting the full weight of the company behind everything surrounding the game."

"We are looking forward to being the home of the biggest event in Super Bowl history, just as we were for the first Super Bowl 50 years ago," he Moonves said. " ... The entire experience will be a huge honor for CBS, and our coverage will provide some of the best television that viewers will see all year."


The shows and divisions broadcasting from the Bay Area are:

  • THE SUPER BOWL TODAY -- "The NFL Today" hosts James Brown, Tony Gonzalez, Bill Cowher, Bart Scott and Boomer Esiason will count down to kickoff on the 50 pregame show with various guests and analysts.
  • CBS NEWS -- The division will provide extensive, multi-platform coverage in the weeks leading up to the game. CBS News will have correspondents in San Francisco and around the country reporting on the significance of the game and the business implications of television's most-watched event. Reporting on the game will also be presented on CBSN, CBS News' live, anchored streaming network, CBSNews.com and CBS News Radio.
  • 'THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT' -- Colbert will host a special live edition of his show immediately following the game from the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City. This will be the first time a late-night series has aired in the post-Super Bowl time slot.
  • 'THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH JAMES CORDEN' -- The network's other late-night show will air after late local news.
  • SUPER BOWL LIVE -- CBS Sports Network will go prime time with news and information surrounding the game, as well as guest analysts including current and former players and coaches.
  • 'THAT OTHER PREGAME SHOW' -- CBS Sports Network's Sunday pregame show will expand to the week leading up to the game, airing live from Super Bowl City.
  • 'NFL MONDAY QB' -- Trent Green, Rich Gannon and Steve Beuerlein preview the game from a quarterback's perspective live from Super Bowl City.
  • 'WE NEED TO TALK' -- CBS Sports' all-female sports show will air a Super Bowl special from San Francisco on Saturday.
  • 'INSIDE THE NFL' -- The Showtime cable program with Adam Schein, Phil Simms, Boomer Esiason, Michael Irvin and Brandon Marshall will air Tuesday.
  • CBS SPORTS DIGITAL -- CBS Sports Digital will offer wall-to-wall preview coverage of Super Bowl 50 across CBSSports.com and the CBS Sports app for mobile devices, featuring a daily podcast from NFL writers and experts on Radio Row in San Francisco, plus news and real-time analysis of the top stories all week leading up to the game. Video programming will include the CBS Sports Digital show "Back to Backer," taping a special series of episodes in the Bay Area before and after the game.
  • CBS INTERACTIVE -- CBS Interactive will also offer additional coverage across its properties, including CBS.com, TVGuide.com, CNET, Chowhound and GameSpot.
  • "SUPER BOWL'S GREATEST COMMERCIALS" -- CBS will offer two shows celebrating the greatest Super Bowl Commercials over the past 50 years. On Feb. 2 (8 p.m.), "Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials 2016" will count down the Top 50 ads, culminating in a live announcement of the greatest Super Bowl commercial of all time from Levi's Stadium. The special will be hosted by CBS Sports' Boomer Esiason and Katharine McPhee. On Saturday, Feb. 6 (8 p.m.), Kevin Frazier hosts "Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials All-Star Countdown" from Pier 48 in San Francisco. The program will take viewers through the Top 10 spots and offer sneak peeks of the ads that will air during the game.
  • CBS RADIO -- Local sports stations from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Sacramento and Washington, D.C., will broadcast live from Radio Row throughout the week.
  • CBS SPORTS RADIO -- More than 300 affiliate stations across the country will feature live programming from CBS Sports Radio hosts in San Francisco, presenting the latest news, celebrity interviews and trending stories.
  • "BOOMER AND CARTON," "THE JIM ROME SHOW" AND "THE DOUG GOTTLIEB SHOW" -- CBS Sports Network will simulcast the three CBS Radio shows, which will broadcast from Radio Row in San Francisco throughout Super Bowl week.

ESPN Radio Begins Countdown To Super Bowl 50

ESPN Radio will begin a 50-day countdown to Super Bowl 50, with special programming on SportsCenter All Night and vignettes airing throughout the day beginning Saturday, December 19.

ESPN Radio interviewed 19 Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks, an additional 22 players who have played in Super Bowls and 11 Hall of Famers to create vignettes, two one-hour shows and a podcast that will air throughout the 50 days leading to the Super Bowl:
  • John Clayton's Golden Arms on The Golden Game Special (one-hour show): Stories from Super Bowl winning quarterbacks.
  • Mike Tirico hosts Gold Memories of the Golden Game (one-hour show): Players discuss the special moments of their Super Bowl experience.
  • Golden Jackets on the Golden Game Podcast: Hall of Famers on the Super Bowl.
In addition, the programming will conclude with a live, two-hour special, ESPN Radio's Live Super Bowl Show, hosted by John Saunders with Wendy Nix, Chris Mortenson and Herm Edwards, airing at 3pm on Saturday, February 6.

SiriusXM To Air 38 Bowl Games

SiriusXM will offer listeners a schedule of 38 live bowl games this college football postseason, more than ever before, including the College Football Playoff Semifinals and National Championship.

The schedule begins this Saturday, December 19, with a lineup of five games beginning with the inaugural Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl at 12:00 pm ET.  A complete schedule of games and their SiriusXM channel assignments can be found at www.SiriusXM.com/bowlschedule.

On New Year's Eve, subscribers can tune in for both College Football Playoff Semifinal games – the Capital One Orange Bowl featuring #4 Oklahoma vs. #1 Clemson (4:00 pm ET) and the Goodyear Cotton Bowl featuring #3 Michigan State vs. #2 Alabama (8:00 pm ET).  Eleven days later listeners will get live play-by-play as the winners of those two games face off for the College Football Playoff National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ (Jan. 11 at 8:30 pm ET).  All three CFP games air on ESPN Radio, SiriusXM channel 80.

Scott Greenstein
"As the college football postseason gets underway we're excited to offer our subscribers a more extensive schedule of games than ever before," said Scott Greenstein, SiriusXM's President and Chief Content Officer.  "With live play-by-play and our dedicated SiriusXM College Sports Nation channel, fans get an extraordinary level coverage through the crowning of this year's national champion and beyond."

In addition to the extensive schedule of games, SiriusXM offers fans the most in-depth radio coverage of the college game with daily talk, up-to-the-moment news and expert analysis on SiriusXM College Sports Nation, channel 84 on satellite radios and the SiriusXM app.

SiriusXM College Sports Nation features a roster of expert hosts that includes Heisman Trophy winners, National Championship winners, and standout former coaches and players.  Listeners will hear from Tim Brown, Butch Davis, Eddie George, Brady Hoke, Lou Holtz, Brad Hopkins, Matt Leinart, Greg McElroy, Kirk Morrison, Rick Neuheisel, Houston Nutt, Phil Savage and Gino Torretta; as well as Jack Arute, Rachel Baribeau, Chris Childers, Braden Gall, Mark Packer, Chris Spatola, Andy Staples and Taylor Zarzour.

Twenty-nine of the bowl game broadcasts – including the College Football Playoff Semifinals and College Football Playoff National Championship – are produced and provided by ESPN Radio.  Other broadcast providers include IMG, Learfield, RedVoice Productions, Orlando Sports Foundation and Go Daddy Bowl Radio Network.

December 18 Radio History






In 1890...Edwin Howard Armstrong was born in New York City. He was an early radio pioneer and also the inventor of FM, Frequency Modulation. A motorcycle visit to the Armstrong Tower in Alpine, NJ, the world's first FM radio tower.

Rather than varying ("modulating") the amplitude of a radio wave to encode an audio signal, the new method varied the frequency FM enabled the transmission and reception of a wider range of audio frequencies, as well as audio free of "static", a common problem in AM radio. (Armstrong received a patent on wide-band FM on December 26, 1933.

Edwin H. Armstrong
In 1934 Armstrong began working for RCA at the request of the president of RCA, David Sarnoff. Sarnoff and Armstrong first met at a boxing match involving Jack Dempsey in 1920. At the time Sarnoff was a young executive with an interest in new technologies, including radio broadcasting. In the early 1920s Armstrong drove off with Sarnoff's secretary, Marion MacInnes, in a French sports car. Armstrong and MacInnes were married in 1923. While Sarnoff was understandably impressed with Armstrong's FM system, he also understood that it was not compatible with his own AM empire. Sarnoff came to regard FM as a threat and refused to support it any further.

From May 1934 until October 1935, Armstrong conducted the first large scale field tests of his FM radio technology from a laboratory constructed by RCA on the 85th floor of the Empire State Building. An antenna attached to the spire of the building fired radio waves at receivers about 80 miles away.  However RCA had its eye on television broadcasting, and chose not to buy the patents for the FM technology.  A June 17, 1936, presentation at FCC headquarters made headlines nationwide. He played a jazz record over conventional AM radio, then switched to an FM broadcast. "[I]f the audience of 50 engineers had shut their eyes they would have believed the jazz band was in the same room. There were no extraneous sounds," noted one reporter. He added that several engineers described the invention "as one of the most important radio developments since the first earphone crystal sets were introduced."

In 1937, Armstrong financed construction of the first FM radio station, W2XMN, a 40 kilowatt broadcaster in Alpine, New Jersey. The signal (at 42.8 MHz) could be heard clearly 100 miles away, despite the use of less power than an AM radio station.


In 1920...broadcaster Willis Conover was born in Buffalo. He was known as the man who “fought the Cold War with cool music.”  For 40 years he presented American jazz heard round the world on The Voice of America.  He died May 17 1996 at age 75.


In 1956...Phil Rizzuto contracted to be a New York Yankee radio-TV announcer. He held the position for 40-years.


In 1958...U.S. launches SCORE (Signal Communication by Orbiting Relay Equipment) to transmit radio message from President Eisenhower, effectively becoming the first communications satellite



In 1967...Radio Personality Scott Muni started at WNEW 102.7 FM.

Born Donald Allen Muñoz in Wichita, Kansas, Muni grew up in New Orleans. He joined the United States Marine Corps and began broadcasting there in 1950, reading "Dear John" letters over Radio Guam. After leaving the Corps and having considered acting as a career, he began working as a disc jockey; in 1953 he began working at WSMB in New Orleans. His mentor was Marshall Pearce. In 1955 he began broadcasting at station WAKR in Akron, Ohio, and after that worked in Kankakee, Illinois.

Muni then spent almost 50 years at stations in New York City. He became a Top 40 broadcaster at WMCA in the late 1950s, just before the start of their "Good Guys" era, and did a number of record hops in the New York area. In 1960, he moved to rival Top 40 station WABC. There he did an early evening show called "Scotland's Yard" and was the first WABC DJ to capture the attention of the teenage audience the station would become famous for. He also participated in the competition to cover The Beatles on their first visits to the United States, and thus began a long association with them.

In 1965, Muni left WABC and ran the Rolling Stone Night Club while doing occasional fill-in work for WMCA. Muni had explored some opportunities beyond radio: he had recently co-hosted a local weekly television show on WABC-TV with Bruce "Cousin Brucie" Morrow.

In 1966, Muni joined WOR-FM, one of the earliest pioneers of freeform-based progressive rock radio. The notion did not last at that station, but in 1967 Muni moved to legendary rock station WNEW-FM, where the format really took hold. Muni stayed there for three decades as the afternoon DJ and sometimes program director. Muni was described by fellow WNEW-FM DJ Dennis Elsas as "the heart and soul of the place". Under assorted management changes during the 1990s WNEW-FM lost its way, and in 1998 Muni ended up as a one-hour noontime classic rock personality at WAXQ "Q104.3", where he worked until suffering a stroke in early 2004.


In 1971...the CBS Radio network cancelled Saturday morning band concerts.


In 1993...WNCN changes to rock WAXQ in NYC



In 2010...NYC Radio/TV Personality Clay Cole died from a heart attack at age 72


In 2012…Two global audience-measurement giants announced plans to join forces as Nielsen, the dominant source of TV ratings, agreed to buy Arbitron for about $1.26 billion to expand into radio measurement.



In 2013...longtime Chicago ‘superjock’ Larry Lujack, who early in his career had a stint at KJR Seattle, succumbed to esophageal cancer at age 73.

Lujack initially came to Chicago to work for WCFL-AM. He spent a few months there before being hired at WLS. While at WCFL, Lujack drew the air studio curtains during public visiting hours.

"Animal Stories" came about because WLS was still receiving farm magazines long after they went into Rock and Roll in 1960. Lujack started reading some of them and began airing stories from them instead of reading the grain reports connected with the Farm Report. When the Farm Report was officially discontinued, the feature became Animal Stories.  A perfectionist about his work, Lujack would review every word he said on the air after each broadcast by listening to an audio cassette "skimmer" tape

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Report: Steve Cutler Exits iHeartMedia

Steve Cutler
Steve Cutler, Head of Business Development & Corporate Strategy at iHeartMedia, Inc., has left the company, according to Reuters.

Cutler left earlier this fall, according to sources, asking not to be named because the departure had not been announced. Cutler had been at iHeartMedia since 2011 and reported directly to Chief Executive Officer Bob Pittman.

Cutler is still working on some projects for the company and remains a partner at Pittman's New York-based private investment firm Pilot Group, according to one of the people.

A spokeswoman for iHeartMedia declined to comment. Cutler could not immediately be reached for comment.

IHeartMedia has been struggling to trim its $20.6 billion in debt. In recent weeks, it has been selling billboard assets from its subsidiary Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Inc that could be worth at least $800 million, Reuters previously reported. IHeartMedia, previously known as Clear Channel Communications, was taken private in 2008 by buyout firms Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners for $19 billion.

(Reporting by Liana B. Baker in New York; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

DC/Baltimore Radio: Radio One Plans Big Changes

Russ Parr Morning Show moving to WMMJ Majic 102.3 FM
Starting On Tuesday, January 19, 2016, Radio One has planed a number of programming changes involving its stations and on-air talent.  The change take effect January 19, 2016.

Tom Joyner moving to WOL-AM
According to Urban Radio Magazine, the changes inlude:
  • The Tom Joyner Morning Show moves from WMMJ Majic 102.3 FM to WOL 1450 AM. The show will also air on WPRS 104.1 HD2, WKYS 93.9 HD2 and WMMJ 102.3 HD2.
  • WOL’s Carl Nelson will move to PM Drive.
  • The FAM with Lil Mo and DJ QuickSilva moves PM Drive on Baltimore’s WERQ 92.3 FM to AM Drive on DC’s WKYS 93.9 FM.
  • The Russ Parr Morning Show will move from WKYS to WMMJ Majic 102.3 FM.
“To get what you’ve never had, you have to do what you’ve never done,” said Jeff Wilson, Senior Regional Vice President and General Manager of Radio One DC. “We are excited for the unique opportunity to expand our audience and promote fresh new talent on WKYS with The FAM with Lil Mo and DJ QuickSilva while serving our loyal listeners and keeping the momentum we have with Russ Parr, Tom Joyner and Carl Nelson in the market.”

Earlier this month, Joyner dismissed a newspaper story which stated he was being forced into retirment. He termed the report an "inaccurate". (Click Here for Posting)

2016 R&R Hall Inductees Announced

The names of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 2016 Inductees have been released. They are:



The 31st Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Friday, April 8, 2016 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York for the second time.

Click Here for alphabetical list for all HoF inductees

Click Here for HoF inductees by year

California rap group N.W.A., British metal band Deep Purple and rock-pop group Chicago are among the musicians chosen to join the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016, organizers announced on Thursday.

Singer Steve Miller, who crosses multiple genres from blues to pop, and 1970s rock band Cheap Trick will round out the five 2016 inductees, which were chosen by fans and more than 800 voters of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation.

Artists are eligible for inclusion in the Cleveland, Ohio-based Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25 years after the release of their first recording.

Pop singer Janet Jackson, English progressive rock band Yes and Britain's The Smiths were among those on the short list but who failed to make the cut this time.


The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, will also open a special exhibit on the 2016 Inductees in conjunction with the 2016 Induction Ceremony.

N.W.A., formed by five rappers including Dr Dre and Eazy-E in the troubled Compton neighborhood of Los Angeles, revolutionized the music scene in the mid 1980s with lyrics drawn from the violence, crime and anti-police sentiments that the rappers themselves experienced growing up.

They went on to sell more than 100 million albums and their story was chronicled in this summer's hit movie "Straight Outta Compton," which has been nominated for a Screen Actors Guild award.

Deep Purple, formed in England in 1968, are regarded as heavy metal pioneers thanks to their ear-splitting live shows, ground-breaking albums and flagship track "Smoke On The Water."

Cheap Trick "display a musical consistency over almost 40 years," Hall of Fame organizers said in a statement, while Miller, 72, has moved from blues to pop and back again, producing classic hits like "Fly Like an Eagle" and "Take the Money and Run."

Chicago, who broke onto the music scene in the late 1960s, fused jazz and rock to produce hits like "25 or 6 to 4" and the romantic ballad "If You Leave Me Now."

The 2016 induction ceremony will be held in New York on April 8, and broadcast later in the year on cable channel HBO.

Tickets will go on sale to the public in February. A limited number of pre-sale tickets will be available for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members in advance of the public sale date. To be eligible for the member pre-sale, you must be an active Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member by December 31, 2015. Exact sale dates and ticket information will be announced in late January.

ESPN's Mike&Mike Make It To NAB's Broadcasting HoF

Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg, hosts of ESPN Radio’s weekday morning show “Mike & Mike,” will be inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

The induction will occur during the NAB Show Radio Luncheon, held Tuesday, April 19 in Las Vegas and sponsored by ASCAP..

“Golic and Greenberg, with their mix of sports savvy and humor, have been informing and entertaining fans for more than 15 years,” said NAB Executive Vice President of Radio John David. “The two have seamlessly combined their passion for sports with radio, and we are honored to add them to our distinguished Hall of Fame.”

Golic is a nine-year NFL veteran, where he played defensive tackle for the Houston Oilers, Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins. While in Philadelphia, he began his television career with a weekly segment on the “Randall Cunningham Show.” He received a Mid-Atlantic Region Emmy Award for his feature “Golic’s Got It.”

Greenberg joined ESPN in September 1996 as an anchor on ESPNEWS and also later anchored SportsCenter. Prior to joining ESPN, he worked as a sports anchor for CLTV, the regional cable news network in Chicago. While there, he covered all local sports teams, anchored sportscasts and hosted “SportsPage,” a one-hour Sunday night program featuring in-studio guests and viewer calls. In 2007, Greenberg published his first book, “Why My Wife Thinks I’m an Idiot,” followed by his first novel in 2013, “All You Could Ask For,” both of which were featured on the New York Times best-sellers list. His third book, “My Father’s Wives,” was published in 2015. Greenberg is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.

Previous NAB Radio Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductees include KROQ’s Kevin and Bean, Steve Harvey, Dave Ramsey, Bob Uecker, Gerry House, Ron Chapman, Vin Scully, Jack Buck and Harry Caray, among others.

'Thriller' First To Sell 30M In US

(Reuters) -- Michael Jackson's album "Thriller" is still breaking barriers more than 30 years after its release and six years after the pop superstar's death, becoming the first album in history to cross the 30 million mark in U.S. sales, record industry officials said on Wednesday.

"Thriller," released in 1982 and featuring seven hit singles including "Billie Jean," "Beat It" and its title track, had already crossed 20 million copies in U.S. sales by 1984 during its 112th week on Billboard's album chart, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.

Its continued popularity after Jackson's death in 2009 from an overdose of the powerful anesthetic propofol underscores the strength of the late singer's appeal. The King of Pop remains the biggest-selling recording artist of all time.

"RIAA has awarded gold and platinum records on behalf of the music business for nearly 60 years, but this is the first time an artist has crossed the 30X multi-platinum plateau," RIAA Chairman and Chief Executive Cary Sherman said in a statement.

"Thriller" has also surpassed sales of 100 million copies worldwide, according to the RIAA statement.

"Thriller" has sold more than 2.1 million units in the United States since Jackson's death, according to Nielsen Music.

The album and its music videos, including one for the title song "Thriller" that took its inspiration from horror films and won widespread acclaim, helped the African-American singer overcome racial barriers by earning Jackson a place on MTV, which until then had overwhelmingly featured white rock acts.

The next highest-selling album of all time after "Thriller" is the Eagles' "Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975," with sales of 29 million, according to the RIAA.

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)

SoundExchange Doesn't Like New Pandora Rate




“We believe the rates set by the CRB do not reflect a market price for music and will erode the value of music in our economy.”

SoundExchange is not hiding its disappointment at new webcasting royalty rates set by the US Copyright Royalty Board yesterday. (Click Here for Posting)

A panel of federal judges has ordered Pandora Media Inc. and other Internet radio stramers to pay higher royalties for sound recordings in a ruling that could have broad ramifications for the music industry.

The Copyright Royalty Board on Wednesday ruled that online radio companies will have to pay 17 cents per 100 plays of songs through 2020. That's a notable increase over the current rate of 14 cents per 100 streams.  For the past five years, AM/FM broadcasters have been paying a rate of 25 cents for every hundred songs played on a stream-only channel. Starting in January, that also drops to 17 cents. The new rates take effect Jan. 1.

The LA Times reports the decision appeared to mark a compromise between the wishes of the labels and the streaming service. SoundExchange was asking for 25 cents for every 100 songs, while Pandora was seeking a lower rate of 11 cents.

“The fundamental challenge for Pandora is now they've got increasing royalty payments and slowing user growth driven by growing competition,” said BTIG Research analyst Richard Greenfield, who follows the company.

Still, the long-anticipated ruling came as a relief to investors. Uncertainty over future royalties had weighed on Pandora's stock. Its shares soared more than 20% in after-hours trading following the announcement. The stock had closed Wednesday at $13.44, down about 40% from its 52-week high in October.

The board's decision also affects royalty payments from iHeartRadio, the online service run by the AM/FM radio giant iHeartMedia, and satellite radio company SiriusXM.

The ruling does not apply to on-demand services such as Apple Music and Spotify, which have direct deals with the record companies that determine royalty payments.

 In response to the announcement of new webcast royalty rates, NAB Executive Vice President of Communications Dennis Wharton issued a statememt:
"We are reviewing the CRB decision, but are pleased that streaming rates have begun to move in the right direction. Broadcasters want to expand into new distribution platforms; the challenge has been that rates are too high for thousands of local stations. We hope today’s decision alleviates some of the rate burden and will enable more radio stations to stream music, which will benefit artists, songwriters and our millions of listeners." 
On background, for the past five years most local radio stations have paid streaming rates nearly double those of “pureplay” streaming services. For example, most NAB member radio stations that stream music pay 25 cents for every 100 songs streamed, compared to the rate paid by Pandora, which is 14 cents for every 100 songs streamed.