Saturday, October 1, 2016

October 2 Radio History



Groucho Marx
In 1890...“The one, the only, Groucho” (Marx) was born in New York City. In fact his birth name was Julius Marx. He topped the Marx Brothers` vaudeville & film career as host of the radio & TV quiz show You Bet Your Life.

He died from pneumonia Aug 19, 1977 at age 86.


In 1896...the ultimate straight man (to partner Lou Costello)  (William Alexander) Bud Abbott was born in Asbury Park New Jersey.  Movies, radio & TV all garnered laughter from Abbott & Costello.

Bud outlived his partner by 15 years, succumbing to cancer Apr 24, 1974 at age 77.


In 1900...talented radio actor  Barton Yarborough was born in Goldthwaite Texas. He is famous for his roles in the Carlton B. Morse productions I Love a Mystery, where he played Doc Long, and One Man’s Family, where he spent nineteen years portraying Clifford Barbour. He also spent three years as Ben Romero on Jack Webb‘s Dragnet.

He started work on the Dragnet TV series in 1951, but the day after he filmed the second episode, he suffered a heart attack and died four days later Dec. 19, 1951 at age 51.


In 1928...The first professional recordings in Nashville took place as DeFord Bailey lays down eight tracks in Victor Records (later RCA) Studios.

DeFord Bailey
Bailey was an American country music and blues star from the 1920s until 1941. Bailey was both the first performer to be introduced as playing on the Grand Ole Opry and also the first African-American performer on the show. He played several instruments but is best known for his harmonica tunes.

Bailey also had several records issued in 1927-1928, all of them harmonica solos. In 1927 he recorded for Brunswick records in New York City, while in 1928 he recorded eight sides for Victor in Nashville, of which three were issued on several labels, including Victor, Bluebird and RCA. Emblematic of the ambiguity of Bailey's position as a recording artist is the fact his arguably greatest recording, John Henry, was released separately in both RCA's 'race' and 'hillbilly' series.



He was a pioneer member of the WSM Grand Ole Opry, and one of its most popular performers, appearing on the program from 1927 to 1941. During this period he toured with many major country stars, including Uncle Dave Macon, Bill Monroe, and Roy Acuff.  Like other black stars of his day traveling in the South and West, he faced many difficulties in finding food and accommodation because of the discriminatory Jim Crow laws.

Bailey was fired by WSM in 1941 because of a licensing conflict with BMI-ASCAP, which prevented him from playing his best known tunes on the radio. This effectively ended his performance career, and he spent the rest of his life shining shoes and renting out rooms in his home to make a living. Though he continued to play the harp, he almost never performed publicly. One of his rare appearances occurred in 1974, when he agreed to make one more appearance on the Opry. This became the occasion for the Opry's first annual Old Timers' Show.

He died on July 2, 1982 in Nashville and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery there.


In 1930...“The Lutheran Hour” began its weekly broadcasts which continue on today, on some 800 radio stations worldwide.  It is the longest running Christian broadcast in the world.


In 1933...“Red Adams” was heard for the first time on NBC radio. Later, the program was retitled, “Red Davis” (starring Burgess Meredith), “Forever Young,” and, finally, in 1936, “Pepper Young’s Family” (starring Mason Adams).

(Mason would later find TV fame as Lou Grant’s boss, and the voice of Smucker’s Jams.) Pepper Young’s Family kept daytime radio listeners tuning in for another 23 years.



Pepper Young's Family was one of radio's more popular daytime drama series, with various format and title changes during its long run from 1932 to 1959. It was created and written by short story author and playwright Elaine Sterne Carrington. With Burgess Meredith in the title role, the program began as Red Adams, about high school athlete Red Adams, his family and friends. The 30-minute series was broadcast on the Blue Network, airing on Sunday nights at 10:30pm. When Beech-Nut Gum signed as a sponsor, they wanted no mention of their competition, Adams gum, so the title changed to Red Davis, a 15-minute series heard three times a week from 1933 to 1935. The series was again retitled, and the 15-minute Forever Young was heard on NBC weekdays at 3pm from January 13 to June 26, 1936. Three days later, on June 29, it became Pepper Young's Family, continuing on NBC for the next 23 years with Procter & Gamble's Camay as the sponsor.




In 1939...the most celebrated portrayal of Sherlock Holmes came to the US airwaves, as Basil Rathbone debuted in the title role on The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes on the NBC Blue network. As in the movies, Nigel Bruce played the bumbling Dr. Watson.


In 1949...the popular family comedy,  The Aldrich Family, became one of TV’s first hits, as the longtime radio show appeared on NBC-TV for the first episode in a 4-year run.  It thus earned the distinction of being the very first TV sitcom.


Elvis at Grand Ole Opry
In 1954...Elvis Presley bombs at the Grand Ole Opry, which does not approve of his take on traditional country music. The Opry's talent director, Jim Denny, famously tells Presley he should go back to driving a truck. Elvis swears never to return.



In 1962...Johnny Carson made his debut as host of the The Tonight Show. Johnny went on to host The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson for 30 years and became one of the biggest stars of the 20th century.




In 1965...The Hot 100...It was up against tough competition but the McCoy's reached #1 with "Hang On Sloopy".  Barry McGuire slid to 2 with "Eve of Destruction" and the Beatles made an incredible move from 45 to 3 with "Yesterday".  Any doubt what would be the #1 song the following week?  The Dave Clark Five were stuck at 4 with "Catch Us If You Can" and the former #1 "You Were On My Mind" from We Five was still at #5.

The rest of the Top 10:  The great instrumental "The 'In' Crowd" from the Ramsey Lewis Trio, Roy Head was up from 12-7 with "Treat Her Right", the Fortunes cracked the Top 10 with "You've Got Your Troubles", followed by two songs from Sonny & Cher--"Baby Don't Go" and "Laugh At Me" finished the list.


In 1971...The Album Chart..Rod Stewart was making an impact as a solo star as Every Picture Tells A Story reached #1 on the Album chart.  Carole King of Stanley, Idaho was three weeks short of setting the record for weeks at #1 (18) with her masterpiece Tapestry.  The Moody Blues were a solid #3 with Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, Isaac Hayes was up to 4 with Shaft and Paul & Linda McCartney were at position #5 with Ram.

The rest of the Top 10:  Who's Next from the Who, the Carpenters' self-titled release, Master of Reality by Black Sabbath, The Partridge Family Sound Magazine and John Lennon moved from 134 to 10 with his first solo album Imagine.

In 1976...The Hot 100...Newcomer Wild Cherry remained at #1 with "Play That Funky Music", leader of a great Top 10.  A new duo on the scene, England Dan & John Ford Coley, would have to settle for having one of The Top #2's of the Rock Era* with "I'd Really Love To See You Tonight".  Walter Murphy had one of The Top 100 Instrumentals of the Rock Era with "A Fifth of Beethoven".  For laughs, we had Rick Dees with "Disco Duck" and Boz Scaggs' great song "Lowdown" remained #5.

The rest of the Top 10:  Cliff Richard's biggest hit "Devil Woman", War with "Summer", Chicago had their 22nd career hit and 11th Top 10 with "If You Leave Me Now", K.C. and the Sunshine Band's former #1 "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty" and Orleans moved up to #10 with "Still the One".

In 1976...The Album Chart...Former Humble Pie member Peter Frampton was enjoying great success with the double-live album Frampton Comes Alive!--it was #1 for a ninth week.  It had to be a special album to hold off Silk Degrees from Boz Scaggs.  Hasten Down the Wind was right behind by Linda Ronstadt.

The rest of the Top 10:  Wild Cherry with their debut, the Greatest Hits album from War, Spirit by John Denver at #7, Jefferson Starship's Spitfire, Steve Miller moved into the Top 10 with Fly Like An Eagle and Chicago's ninth consecutive Top 5 album (Chicago X) was now at #10.


In 1995...FCC eliminates licensed operator requirements.


In 1998...career New York radio actor Lon Clark, who starred for 12 years as Mutual radio’s Nick Carter, Master Detective, died at age 87.




In 1998…Singer/actor/MLB team owner/radio station group owner (Golden West)/Country Music Hall of Famer Gene Autry, "The Singing Cowboy," died of lymphoma at the age of 91.




In 2003...It was announced that talk show host Rush Limbaugh was being investigated for allegedly buying thousands of addictive painkillers from a black-market drug ring.


In 2014...CBS Radio, Beasley Media agreed to swap stations.  Beasley announced today that it entered into an asset exchange agreement with CBS Radio, whereby Beasley will exchange five stations in Philadelphia and Miami for fourteen CBS Radio stations in Tampa-St. Petersburg, Charlotte and Philadelphia.

Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, there is no cash consideration or other contingent consideration to be paid by either party beyond the asset exchange.

Lawmaker Blasts FCC Chairman On Secrecy

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune (R-S.D.) is calling on Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler to release the FCC’s latest proposal on rules for pay-television set-top boxes.

John Thume
According to The Hill, Thune’s letter was delivered a day after Wheeler indefinitely delayed a vote on his latest proposal to change the rules for set-top boxes, a market that has been dominated by cable companies.

Wheeler’s rule would require companies to make their television feeds available as apps to other companies, such as Apple and Google, that might make set-top boxes.

The decision to delay the vote shows Wheeler does not have support on the FCC for his rule to be approved at this time.

Thune said the public should be able to see the latest version of the rule and be able to comment on it.

“Your new proposal is intended to benefit consumers, yet those same consumers are not currently able to read this far-reaching new plan,” Thune wrote in the letter.

“For a rulemaking that is expected to take years before it is fully implemented, there is no need or urgency for the Commission to rush behind closed doors to adopt a final order. Sunlight in government proceedings is critical for ensuring outcomes that provide the most benefit possible for the American people,” Thune continued.

Wheeler has argued that the public has already had substantial time to weigh in on the proposal.

Viacom Forms Committee To Consider CBS Merger

(Reuters) -- Viacom Inc (VIAB.O) said it had formed a special committee to consider National Amusements Inc's proposal to combine the company with CBS Corp (CBS.N).

National Amusements, owned by media baron Sumner Redstone and his daughter Shari Redstone, on Thursday urged the boards of Viacom and CBS to explore a combination.

National Amusements, the majority shareholder of CBS and Viacom, also said it would not support the acquisition of either media company by a third party or surrender its control of either firm.

The committee consists of independent directors Thomas May and Nicole Seligman, who will act as co-chairs, and Kenneth Lerer, Judith McHale, Ronald Nelson and Charles Phillips, Viacom said in a statement.

Apart from Phillips, a long standing member of the Viacom board, all the other members were picked by the Redstones as a part of their battle for control of Viacom which resulted in the departure of former CEO Philippe Dauman.

National Amusements owns 80 percent of the voting shares of both media companies.

Shari Redstone, Sumner Redstone's daughter and an owner of National Amusements, has favored recombining the two companies under the leadership of CBS CEO Leslie Moonves, sources have previously told Reuters.

Viacom has hired Debevoise & Plimpton LLP as its legal advisor, and also expects to retain a financial adviser.

The Wall Street Journal reports Redstone was in the emergency room on Wednesday with a respiratory infection, his first visit to the hospital in months, and was home recovering on Friday, according to people familiar with matter.

Media-Buyers Salivating Over Potential Viacom, CBS Merger

As Viacom Inc. and CBS Corp. explore a merger that would reunite the two media companies after more than a decade, media buyers who control a large portion of their ad revenues are offering their nods of approval. They envision complementary audiences, ad products and possible discounts for bulk buys across multiple clients.

According to The Wall-Street Journal, media-buying executives see the potential union as a one-stop-shop where they’d be able to buy ads targeting young viewers on Viacom cable brands like MTV and Comedy Central, and ads aimed at older audiences on broadcast juggernaut CBS. The ability to commit ad dollars to one larger unified group instead of two separate groups could lead to increased commitments and ultimately cost efficiencies, several buyers said.

National Amusements Inc., which holds nearly 80% voting stakes in CBS and Viacom, on Thursday called for the companies’ boards to explore a reunion. In a letter to the boards, National Amusements said it believed a merger could “allow the combined company to respond even more aggressively and effectively to the challenges of the changing entertainment and media landscape.”

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Trump Still On Offensive Against Former Beauty Queen

(Reuters) -- Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump increased his attacks on a former beauty queen with a vague and unsubstantiated allegation about a sex tape in predawn Twitter posts on Friday, and Democratic rival Hillary Clinton denounced him as "unhinged."

Trump's refusal to drop his invective against Alicia Machado, the Miss Universe from Venezuela whom he criticized for gaining weight after she won the crown in 1996, threatened to damage his already weak standing among women and Hispanics.

With less than six weeks to go until the Nov. 8 election, Trump made reference - without giving evidence - to a sex tape involving Machado, who had publicly denounced him all week as a humiliating bully. His attacks provided critics with new fodder to question his temperament for the White House.

"Did Crooked Hillary help disgusting (check out sex tape and past) Alicia M become a U.S. citizen so she could use her in the debate?" Trump said in his Twitter messages in the early hours of Friday.

He did not elaborate on his allegations beyond saying that the Clinton campaign was unaware of the beauty queen's past and had been "duped" by her.

At a campaign rally in Coral Springs, Florida, Clinton said the episode was evidence that "a man who can be provoked by a tweet should not have the nuclear codes."

“Who gets up at 3 a.m. in the morning to engage in a Twitter attack against a former Miss Universe? I mean he hurled as many insults as he could. Really, why does he do things like that?

Later on Friday, BuzzFeed said Trump made an appearance in a Playboy softcore pornographic movie from 2000 that it said it had obtained from an online adult video store in New York state.


"Trump’s role in the porn is relatively benign and centers around him breaking a bottle of champagne on a Playboy-branded limo while several of the playmates are visiting New York City," the online media outlet said.

"There's been a lot of talk about sex tapes today and in a strange turn of events only one adult film has emerged today and its star is Donald Trump," Clinton spokesman Nick Merrill told reporters after a campaign event in Florida.

HRC Strategy: Get Under Trump's Skin

Hillary Clinton’s campaign is doing everything it can to get under Donald Trump’s skin, according to The Hill.

The Democratic presidential nominee tore into Trump in a series of tweets on Friday that ripped the Republican nominee for saying that people should check out a former Miss Universe’s sex tape.

“What kind of man stays up all night to smear a woman with lies and conspiracy theories?,” Clinton tweeted, targeting Trump’s temperament and personality.


Around the same time on Friday, Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta poked fun of the 70-year-old Trump’s age while questioning both his maturity and self-control.


While the goading by Clinton and Podesta were a direct counterattack on Trump’s tweets about Alicia Machado, the former Miss Universe, they were reflective of a trend by Team Clinton.

On Wednesday, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) needled Trump by calling for a “weigh in” of the Republican nominee, saying Democratic women senators are “concerned about Trump’s weight.

Trump’s feud with Machado originated when he criticized the beauty queen’s weight gain. McCaskill’s tweet came as surrogates were being asked by the campaign to keep the pressure on Trump.

Howard Dean, the former Vermont governor and Democratic National Committee chairman, needled Trump on Twitter and cable television this week over his sniffling during the first presidential debate on Monday.

Dean also came under criticism for the attacks, which suggested Trump’s sniffles might have been linked to cocaine use.  Dean apologized on MSNBC for the insinuation on Friday, but also kept up the personal attacks, suggesting there was something wrong with Trump.


“He was tweeting at 3 and 4 o'clock in the morning about sex tapes. This guy is running for president of the United States,” Dean said. “People who stay up at 3 and 4 and 5 o'clock in the morning tweeting about sex tapes — these are not normal people. And there is something the matter with him and I don't know what it is.”

Democratic strategist Jamal Simmons said Clinton is employing a fairly basic strategy that he described as “trying to poke the bear.”

“They’re trying to get him to growl and so far it’s successful,” Simmons said.

Megyn Kelly Rips HRC For Mary J. Blige Interview

Fox News Channel anchor Megyn Kelly has unloaded on Hillary Clinton for spending a half-hour conducting an 'interview' with singer Mary J. Blige while dodging her prime-time show on the nation's most-watched cable news network.

According to The Daily Mail, Kelly fumed on Twitter about the Democratic presidential nominee spending her time answering softball questions instead of rolling up her sleeves to talk about policy substance.


She pressed Clinton press secretary Brian Fallon on Monday night, after the first presidential debate, for keeping the Democratic nominee out of her interview chair.

Kelly recalled how Clinton praised her during an episode of 'The View' – at a time when Republican Donald Trump was publicly feuding with her.

'Hillary Clinton went on record and called yours truly a superb journalist when Trump was attacking me,' Kelly told him.

'Why won't she come on "The Kelly File?"'

Fallon insisted it was 'only a matter of time.'

Report: Roger Ailes Buys $36M Home In Florida

Former Fox News Network founder Roger Ailes is the secret buyer of a house in the swanky town of Palm Beach, Florida, bought earlier this month for $36million, DailyMail.com has learned.

And the breathtaking modern-style beachfront house could become a way for Ailes to shield a part of his personal fortune from future sexual harassment lawsuits like those already brought by at least two former Fox News anchorwomen, Gretchen Carlson and Andrea Tantaros.

In Florida, courts cannot force the sale of someone's home to pay off judgments, and troubled tycoons have routinely used the state's law to invest in real estate.

The six-bedroom, ten-bathroom house was finished in late 2015 and boasts an interior designed by the high-profile Florida-based Marc-Michaels Interior Design.

It offers 12,700-square-feet of sheer luxury with sweeping views on the ocean and the property's private beach from the dozens of large windows.



Ailes' new purchase, which closed on September 19, was made in the name of a trust from City National Bank of Florida. Neither Ailes nor his wife Elizabeth figures are in official records.
The trustee is Palm Beach County estate lawyer Ron Kochman, who declined comment before hanging up the phone without waiting for follow-up questions.
.
The founding CEO of the conservative-leaning Fox in 1996, Ailes was forced to resign in July and reportedly offered a $40 million-golden parachute.

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October 1 Radio History


In 1909...actor Everett Sloane  was born in New York City. From the mid-1930’s to the 1960’s, for 20 years on radio & 15 on TV, Sloane was a prominent part of New York’s drama broadcast scene.  He won raves for a supporting role in the movie classic Citizen Kane.  Reportedly depressed over the onset of blindness, Sloane committed suicide in 1965 at age 55.


In 1922...the first daily news program on radio, “The Radio Digest,” debuted on WBAY in New York City.


In 1942…Art Linkletter took over from Art Baker as the host of NBC Radio's "People Are Funny." Linkletter remained with the show on radio until 1960 and hosted a television version of the program on CBS from 1954 to 1960.


In 1952...Ralph Edwards  began a new TV program on NBC called This is Your Life. Each show began with Edwards surprising some unsuspecting victim, er, lucky person. The surprisee would then be presented with the story of his or her life, complete with friends and relatives who had been brought in for the big occasion. The popular show, which had debuted on NBC Radio in 1948, ran for the next nine years on TV.


In 1975...Seattle radio station KOL changed its call letters to KMPS,surrendering forever the three-letter call that had served the Puget Sound well for nearly 50 years. While the modern incarnation of 1300 AM uses KOL as its ID, the official call sign is KKOL.


In 1979...the RKO Radio Network began operation.


The newscasts, aimed at a young adult audience, had a conversational, high-energy style developed by co-founders Vice President and News Director Dave Cooke, and Vice President of Programming Jo Interrante.

RKO was popular from the start, signing up hundreds of affiliates coast to coast. Its base was the RKO General-owned radio stations in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and other large markets. RKO initially purchased downlink satellite dishes for its affiliates, creating the nation's first satellite-delivered commercial radio network.

The original network, which fed newscasts at :50 repeated at :00, became known as RKO 1 when RKO 2 debuted on September 1, 1981. RKO 2 fed newscasts at :20 repeated at :30 and was aimed at an older audience. Both networks offered sportscasts, music, public affairs programming and closed-circuit affiliate feeds of news and sports correspondent reports and news-maker actualities.


The networks were home to three groundbreaking long-form programs. NightTime America with Bob Dearborn was the first live, daily, satellite-delivered music show in radio history. Dearborn produced and hosted the five-hour adult contemporary show from January 9, 1981 until 1984.

January 9, 1981 was also the premier of America Overnight, a six-hour interview and call-in show hosted by Eric Tracey in Los Angeles and Ed Busch from Dallas. It was the first national talk show delivered by satellite. It also marked the first time a network offered simultaneous overnight programs.

Dick Bartley created, produced and hosted the first live national oldies radio show, Solid Gold Saturday Night.


In 1977...The hot 100...1977:  Meco flew up from #8 to #1 with "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band". K.C. and the Sunshine Band were next with "Keep It Comin' Love", amazingly jumping over Fleetwood Mac and "Don't Stop".  The Emotions' former #1 "Best Of My Love" was fourth followed by "Strawberry Letter 23" from the Brothers Johnson.

The rest of the Top 10:  Carly Simon scored her fourth Top 10 song and 12th hit with "Nobody Does It Better", ELO was on hold with "Telephone Line", Shaun Cassidy had #8--"That's Rock 'N' Roll", Foreigner's second hit "Cold As Ice" was #9 and Andy Gibb's former #1 "I Just Want To Be Your Everything" closed out the list


Early Sony CD Player
In 1982...First CD players are sold in Japan


In 1983...The Album Charts...The Police topped the Album chart for the tenth week with Synchronicity.  Thriller by Michael Jackson had 20 weeks at #1 and needed 11 more to tie Fleetwood Mac's Rumours.  It would get them.  The Soundtrack to "Flashdance" was a distant third, followed by Pyromania from Def Leppard and An Innocent Man from Billy Joel.

The rest of the Top 10:  Asia had Alpha at #6, Metal Health by Quiet Riot was #7, Bonnie Tyler shot up from 17 to 8 with Faster Than the Speed of Night, the Fixx and Reach the Beach and Robert Plant's solo album The Principle of Moments was #10


In 1983...The Hot 100...Bonnie Tyler reached #1 with the biggest hit of her career--"Total Eclipse of the Heart".  Billy Joel relinquished the spot with "Tell Her About It".  Men Without Hats had one of the top #3 songs of the Rock Era--"The Safety Dance".  Air Supply's 10th career hit "Making Love Out Of Nothing At All" was #4 with the Stray Cats moving up with "(She's) Sexy + 17".

The rest of the Top 10:  The Police with "King Of Pain", Spandau Ballet moved from 13-7 with their only Top 10 song "True", Michael Sembello's former #1 "Maniac", Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton had a huge hit with "Islands In The Stream", which moved from 17 to 9 and Sylvester Stallone's brother Frank made the Top 10 with "Far From Over".

In 1991...Howard Stern added Baltimore to his radio network (WJFK-AM).

In 2003...Rush Limbaugh resigned from ESPN after comments about black quarterback, Donovan McNabb (Philadelphia Eagles) caused controversy.

Friday, September 30, 2016

Indy Radio: Smulyan Again Extends Go-Private Offer Deadline

Emmis Communications Corp. CEO Jeff Smulyan has again extended his offer to take the company private as critics ratchet up their rhetoric in opposition to a deal.

According to The Indy Star, Smulyan on Friday sent a brief letter to Emmis' board pushing the deadline for his go-private offer to Oct. 7. It had been set to expire Friday.

Smulyan, who founded Emmis in 1979 and took it public in 1994, is offering $4.10 per share for a deal that would amount to about $46.5 million. It's his third attempt to take Emmis private. Smulyan made the offer public Aug. 18 and extended it Sept. 16.

Jeff Smulyan
Emmis' board has appointed a special committee consisting of Susan Bayh, an Indianapolis business leader and wife of U.S. Senate candidate Evan Bayh, and Peter Lund, a former CEO of CBS Television, to consider the offer. Smulyan did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but said earlier in September that the special committee had requested more time to review his offer.

Meanwhile, investors who oppose Smulyan's offer are pressuring the special committee — and Emmis' board — to reject the deal. Those investors argue Smulyan is drastically undervaluing the company, pointing to what they say is the unlocked potential of an Emmis product called NextRadio that lets smartphone users access radio signals through their devices.

Critics say the 3.5 percent premium Smulyan offered on top of Emmis' stock price amounts to a lowball offer. Timothy Stabosz, a member of the LaPorte City Council and an investor who owns about 150,000 shares of Emmis, said in his own letter to the special committee that Smulyan is "acting selfishly and disingenuously, knowingly seeking to capture the value of the company all for himself at an INSULTINGLY low price."

St. Louis Radio: iHM Launches The Beat On 100.3 FM

iHeartMedia/St. Louis announced today that KMJM 100.3 FM The Beat is now the home of STL’s new Hip Hop and R&B music as well as The Breakfast Club, the world’s most dangerous morning show. 100.3 The Beat launched its new programming today, Friday, September 30 at noon.

The station had been airing Classic HipHop.

100.3 The Beat will broadcast a variety of programs as well as popular Hip Hop and R&B music, including hits from Kanye West, DJ Khaled, Rihanna, Chris Brown and Usher. The station’s premier lineup of shows will include The Breakfast Club, featuring DJ Envy, Angela Yee and Charlamagne Tha God. 100.3 The Beat will also broadcast “10 Jointz in a Row,” an hourly commercial-free segment that plays 10 consecutive hit songs.

“We’ve listened to the fans of Hip-Hop and R&B in St. Louis who have been asking for a true Hip-Hop and R&B station with a stronger connection to the local urban community and a morning show that really fits with their lifestyle,” said Beth Davis, President for iHeartMedia’s St. Louis Region.

KMJM 100.3 FM (17 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area
“The New 100.3 The Beat will feature a unique music brand tailored to St. Louis, with fewer commercials and unrivaled celebrity interviews, as well as a signature blend of honesty and humor with The Breakfast Club Morning Show,” said A.J., Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia St. Louis.

Full Programming Lineup
  • 5 – 9 a.m. The Breakfast Club
  • 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Tammie Holland
  • 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. Osei
  • 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. T-Roy
  • 10 p.m. – 2 a.m. Michaelae
  • 2 – 5 a.m. Roxy
Listeners can tune in to 100.3 The Beat via its website, www.thebeatstl.com, and on iHeartRadio, iHeartMedia’s all-in-one digital music and live streaming radio service.

The Beat will be competing head-on with Radio One’s WHHL104.1 FM Hot 10, which ranked third among listeners aged 6+ in Nielsen’s September survey with a 6.5 share, up from a 4.9 in August. KMJM ranked 18th with a 2.1 share.

iHM Names Tim Herbster SVP/P For Pacific NW

Tim Herbster
iHeartMedia announced today that Tim Herbster has been named Senior Vice President of Programming for its Pacific Northwest Region and Program Director of Z100 Portland and JAM’N 107.5 in Portland, effective October 3.

iHM’s Pacific Northwest Region has a strong cross-platform presence in five markets, including Portland, OR; Seattle, WA; Spokane, WA; Fairbanks, AK; and Anchorage, AK.

Herbster will work closely with program directors, on-air personalities and sales to oversee on-air, digital and music programming for the radio station brands and their local events in iHM’s Pacific Northwest Region. He will report to Robert Dove, President of the Pacific Northwest Region for iHeartMedia, and will be based out of Portland.

“I’m thrilled to have Tim as my partner in overseeing the Pacific Northwest Region,” said Dove. “His extensive background in CHR and Rhythmic CHR formats will be key in the continued strategic development of our contemporary brands.”

“Tim’s smart, creative and calculated in his approach to programming stations,” said Andrew Jeffries, Executive Vice President of Programming, West Division for iHeartMedia. “He’s also great with talent – as he’s still filling that role each week on his national show – which gives him a unique perspective and interaction with people. We’re extremely excited to integrate him with our exceptional teams in the Pacific Northwest Region as they begin the next chapter with our products.”

Herbster, known widely as “Romeo,” is the host of the nationally syndicated “Most Requested Live with Romeo” and “The iHeartRadio Countdown” shows and will continue to host both shows in conjunction with his new position. In 2012, he was named Vice President of Special Programming Projects for iHeartMedia, where he managed large-scale national projects, including advertiser integration programs, and developed on-air and digital music programming and content. Herbster previously served as Program Director and hosted afternoons at Q102 in Philadelphia, where he was named FMQB’s “CHR PD of the Year” and the station was named “CHR Station of the Year” during his first year as Program Director in 2010.

His extensive background also includes serving as Vice President of Programming at GOOM Radio, night on-air personality and Music Director at Z100 in New York City and on-air host and programming positions in Detroit, MI; Salt Lake City, UT; Nashville, TN; Erie, PA; and St. Marys, PA.

“It’s a true honor to lead programming for our roster of heritage and developing brands in our Pacific Northwest markets,” said Herbster. “Working alongside Andrew Jeffries and Robert Dove, we will continue to expand upon the Pacific Northwest Region’s commitment to ratings and revenue excellence. Thanks to iHeartMedia for the continued guidance and the opportunity of a lifetime!

PA Radio: Alpha Promotes Ed Dorsey To VP/MM

Ed Dorsey
Alpha Media, Hagerstown-Chambersburg announces Ed Dorsey as VP/Market Manager.

The market is home to Oldies WHAG 1410 AM tricasts with WCHA 800 AM, W242BY 96.3 FM, AC WIKZ 98.1 FM, Rock WQCM 94.3 FM, and Top40 WDLD 96.7 FM.

Most recently, Dorsey held the position of Director of Sales in the Hagerstown-Chambersburg market.

Alpha Media EVP Eastern Region, Bill McElveen commented on the announcement, “We’re delighted to have a market veteran of Ed’s caliber take over the leadership of our great team in Hagerstown-Chambersburg. Ed has a strong commitment to live and local radio in the community.”

“After 24 years in the business with the same radio stations, I’m honored and humbled to have this wonderful opportunity to continue my radio journey onward with a great company like Alpha Media,” remarked Dorsey.

FCC Eases Broadcast Foreign Ownership Rules

The Federal Communications Commission unanimously approved rules Thursday that will allow broadcast stations to seek approval for foreign ownership under the same rules and processes undertaken by wireless providers.

According to The Morning Consult, The rules adopted by the agency will implement new procedures for broadcasters who want a foreign entity to own more than 25 percent of a station. Broadcasters will no longer have to perform surveys on random samples of shareholders as they were required to do before.

Ajit Pai
“These same streamlined procedures have worked well in the common carrier context, and I’m confident they’ll work in the broadcast context,” Republican FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai said at the agency meeting Thursday. “They’ll make it easier for broadcasters to access capital, while at the same time ensuring that any foreign ownership above the 25 percent benchmark… does not compromise our national security or any other public interest.”

The rules “provide more efficient approaches, offer greater transparency and predictability, and enhance access to capital opportunities for broadcasters, while reducing regulatory burdens and costs,” Democratic Commissioner Mignon Clyburn said.

The National Association of Broadcasters applauded the move. “The FCC has taken an important step in allowing broadcasters to more freely and fairly compete for investment dollars,” said NAB Executive Vice President of Communications Dennis Wharton.

FCC Delays Final Vote On Pay TV Box Reform

(Reuters) -- The U.S. Federal Communications Commission said on Thursday it would delay a final vote on a landmark reform of the $20 billion television set-top box market -- a blow to advocates seeking to cut bills for tens of millions of subscribers.

The three Democrats on the commission said in a joint statement that they backed the idea of allowing users to drop the boxes that route cable and broadcasting to consumers' televisions but are "working to resolve the remaining technical and legal issues." The final vote had been set for Thursday.

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has touted his plan -- backed by President Barack Obama -- to allow tens of millions of U.S. pay TV subscribers to ditch costly set-top boxes and access video programming online. But his position has faced fierce criticism from cable companies, programmers and many in Congress.

Wheeler rejected the suggestion that the delay was a major setback to complete his aggressive agenda before the end of year, which also includes finalizing new broadband privacy regulations and reforming the $40 billion a year business data service market. "We just ran out of time," he told reporters, declining to discuss specific hurdles. "We intend to get something done."

The plan, first proposed in January, is aimed at ending the cable industry's long domination of the $20-billion-a-year set-top box market and lowering prices for consumers. Nearly all pay-TV subscribers lease set-top boxes from their cable, satellite or telecommunications providers at an average annual cost of $231.

FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, the key swing vote, disclosed at a U.S. Senate hearing earlier this month that she had "problems" with Wheeler's proposal. It included a new licensing body to ensure that pay-TV companies do not make anti-competitive agreements.

In recent months, the plan drew fierce opposition from television and content providers, including AT&T Inc, Comcast Corp and Twenty-First Century Fox Inc.

Comcast and AT&T on Thursday both urged the FCC to make the new proposal public. AT&T said in a statement "no FCC proceeding in recent years has drawn more unified opposition and bipartisan expressions of concern."

The new rules would require companies covering 95 percent of U.S. TV subscribers to comply by September 2018. Wheeler in January initially proposed open standards for set-top boxes that would allow tech companies to re-tool the delivery of video content. The proposal grants device makers the ability to integrate cable company apps.

Set-top box rental fees have jumped 185 percent since 1994, while the cost of televisions, computers and mobile phones has dropped 90 percent, the FCC has estimated.

Senator Edward Markey criticized the delay as "an unequivocal loss for the tens of millions of Americans across the country who are forced to spend their hard-earned money on overpriced set-top box leases."

Cable companies have expressed concerns that rivals like Alphabet Inc or Apple Inc could create devices or apps and insert their own content or advertising in cable content.

Nielsen Releases Final Batch Of September 2016 PPMs

Nielsen on Thursday 09/29/16 Released the final batch of September 2016 PPM Data for the following markets:


    35  Austin TX

    38  Indianapolis IN

    40  Raleigh-Durham NC

    41  Milwauke-Racine WI

    43  Provident-Warwick_Pawtucket RI


    44  Nashville

    45  Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News

    46  Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point NC

    48  West Palme Beach-Boca Raton

    49  Jacksonville FL

    51  Memphis

    52  Hartford-New Brittain-Middletown CT

Click Here for the Topline numbers for subscribing Nielsen Stations

NYC Radio: WFAN Sportscaster John Minko Witnessed Transit Accident

WFAN 660 AM / 101.9 FM sportscaster John Minko was among those who witnessed Thursday morning’s NJ TRANSIT train crash at the station in Hoboken and then ran for safety.

According to CBS Local, Minko said he was at the top of a stairway headed down to the PATH train when he heard screams and saw the NJ TRANSIT train crash into the station around 8:45 a.m.

“The train simply did not stop,” Minko told CBS2. “It’s similar to a situation in which you try and change a gear and a gear gets stuck, and it would not stop.”

NYC Radio: Mike Francesa’s Unveils Final WFAN Show Date

Mike Francesa announced Thursday that his final show on WFAN 660 AM  / 101.9 FM will be Friday, Dec. 15, 2017, accoridng to the NewYork Daily News.

“I have no plans, right now, to discuss anything about my future right now,” Francesa said. “Plus I promised this place I would not spend time talking about my future until I get close to that.”

He then talked, vaguely, about his plans for the future.  “I’m very open to different things,” he said. “In broad strokes I have been contacted by some broadcast entities about what I would do.

 "I won’t be going to satellite, it’s just not something I want to do. I have a few things that do interest me, that’s not one of them. It has nothing to do with Dog being there,” he said.

“I wish Dog well there (SiriusXM), I know he signed a new contract, so congratulations on that, but it’s not going to have anything to do with me.”

Francesa said that they’re planning some remote shows during his final year-plus on WFAN’s airwaves, including his regular stops at Bar-A on the Jersey Shore and at Mohegan Sun. He said that his dates will be announced during the winter.

FL Radio: Mike Vincent New OM For Cumulus Melbourne

Mike Vincent
Cumulus Media announces that it has appointed Mike Vincent as Operations Manager for its four-station group in Melbourne, FL.

Vincent will also serve the cluster as Program Director of  Top40 WAOA 107.1 FM.  Other stations in the cluster include: NashFM Country WHKR 102.7 FM, CBS Sports Radio WLZR 1560 AM and Classi Corck WROK 95.9 FM.

Vincent joins Cumulus Media-Melbourne from WSJR NASH FM 93.7 in Wilkes Barre, PA, where he was Program Director and Afternoon On-Air Personality. His 28-year radio career includes programming and on-air positions in San Francisco, Fredericksburg, VA, and Poughkeepsie, NY.

Gary Mertins, Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus Media-Melbourne said: “I’m excited to have Mike Vincent join our cluster as OM. He is an experienced major market air talent and manager and will be a tremendous addition to our stations. I look forward to having him lead our programming team in Melbourne.”

WAOA 107.1 FM (100 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area
Vincent said: “It has been a longtime dream to do what I do best in the Sunshine State, and this dream could never have been realized without the help of my fellow Program Directors in Wilkes Barre, as well as the other PA markets. I also want to thank Melbourne VP/Market Manager Gary Mertins, Mike McVay, Charlie Cook, Greg Frey, and Doug Hamand, who all supported me in getting here. I am beyond excited to up my radio game with these stellar Space Coast radio brands and can’t wait to get started."

Portland OR Radio: Chris Stewart To Program KWEE


Alpha Media, Portland names Chris “Lucky The DJ” Stewart Program Director of KWEE WE 96-3 FM.

Chris Stewart
Stewart first started his radio career as an intern at KTTB-Minneapolis. From there, he served in several different roles including; Morning Producer at WRDW-Philadelphia, Nights at KQQB-Spokane, and Assistant PD/Afternoons at KSAS-Boise.

Most recently, Stewart has spent the past two years at Alpha Media Peoria as PD/Afternoons on WNGY and OM of WXCL. During his time in Peoria, he raised awareness for child abuse by breaking the world record for longest tag team radio broadcast and running 102 miles in 102 hours. Stewart was also an integral part of launching G102.3.

Alpha Media VP of Programming, Phil Becker commented on the announcement, “It has been years since an authentic, unique, and original hip-hop station has been in such a large market.  Much like the station, Chris is an authentic, unique, and original programmer. WE are ‘Lucky’ to promote him from within the nation’s fastest growing media company.”

Alpha Media Portland SVP/Market Manager, Milt McConnell added, “Chris is in tune with the WE brand and we are excited about having him be the driver of this important component to our cluster. His format knowledge and passion is a welcomed addition to our programming brain trust.”

KWEE 96.3 FM (1.4 Kw) Red=Local coverage Area
“I’m unbelievably excited and humbled for this opportunity to work with and learn from the absolute best minds in the industry. Alpha Media continues to provide incredible opportunities for their employees to grow. Thanks to SVP/Market Manager, Milt McConnell and VP of Programming, Phil Becker for the opportunity to program this exciting new brand. I have no doubt, WE will do exciting things,” remarked Stewart.

Political TV Advertising Is Forecast to Fall

Kantar Media/CMAG, a top ad-tracking agency, is forecasting that political spending on local broadcast television in 2016 will reach $2.8 billion—about $300 million less than what was spent in 2012, and $500 million less than the agency’s initial estimate for 2016, reports The Wall Street Journal.

The reason: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump hasn’t embraced ads in the way political candidates typically have in the past.

“It’s hard to grow when one party stays off TV for so long at the top of the ticket,” Steve Passwaiter, vice president of Kantar’s political ad monitoring unit, said in an interview.

Trump has aired far fewer TV ads than his rival, Democrat Hillary Clinton, and his predecessor, 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney. The New York businessman didn’t begin airing ads in the general election until mid-August, while Mrs. Clinton was on the air all summer. Last month, Mr. Trump spent $5 million on ads, compared with Mrs. Clinton’s $32 million.

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