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The Wires - Los Angeles (May 15, 2004)All Access (registration required)One way to celebrate an unbelievable victory is to prove to yourself it really happened, which must be the case with CLEAR CHANNEL Sports KXTA-A and XETRA-A (XTRA SPORTS 690 AND 1150)/LOS ANGELES this morning. Instead of TONY BRUNO's syndicated morning show at 5a, the station aired a loop of JOEL MEYERS and MYCHAL THOMPSON's call of the last 0.4 seconds of THURSDAY's LAKER game for sister KLAC-A, describing DEREK FISHER's last-split-second miracle shot that beat SAN ANTONIO over and over and over, interspersed with clips of LEE KLEIN's post-game show asking callers where they were when the shot went through. After over a half-hour of that, the station's JEFF BIGGS took over to take calls from celebrating fans.
The Wires - San Diego (May 15, 2004)All Access (registration required)CLEAR CHANNEL KIOZ (ROCK 105.3)/SAN DIEGO announces that "THE MIKEY SHOW," which currently airs in the station's night slot, will take on mornings effective JUNE 1st. "THE MIKEY SHOW," which is currently broadcasting from sister Active Rock KSJO/SAN JOSE (where it airs in mornings), moves the whole team south to SAN DIEGO to fill the hole left when CLEAR CHANNEL said goodbye to THE HOWARD STERN SHOW earlier this year. KIOZ has yet to announce plans for a night replacement, but look for word shortly. KSJO management has yet to comment on the matter. 91X and 94/9 Go Country? (May 13, 2004)North County Times - Randy DotingaY'all brace yourselves for this one... There you are, minding your own business, riding along in the car with a rock station on the radio ---- say, KPRI or FM 94/9 ---- and suddenly the world falls off its axis. The voice you hear isn't that of Morrisey or Jack Johnson or Chris Martin. No, it belongs to a certain coal miner's daughter named Loretta Lynn, adding her famous twang to a background of hard rock. Even for those who have read about Lynn's much-praised venture into alternative rock, hearing her in the company of White Stripes frontman Jack White can be a shock. The surprise doesn't last long, however. Many listeners want to hear Lynn again. Her new song "Portland Oregon," a duet with White, immediately became a hit when KPRI disc jockey Keith "Madison" Miller cued it up for the first time recently. "I never thought I'd be playing Loretta Lynn, but I'm glad I am. When it came to country music she is very honest. It's just the kind of person she is." Meanwhile, Lynn's new album, "Van Lear Rose," is rising up the charts. Featuring an unusual mix of country, rock and blues, it's revitalizing Lynn's career and boosting White, who recently got in hot water with the law. Read the rest at Dotinga's website. The Wires - Nationwide (May 15, 2004)We'd much rather see the country's television and radio broadcasters police their own content than have government do it for them. Given the choice between voluntary self- control and censorship, we'll take self-control. According to a report in The New York Times, that's what appears to be happening. Broadcasters are being more cautious with content these days, apparently because government has shown a willingness to act if they won't ... The airwaves belong to all Americans, and their government has a responsibility to make sure licensees act as good stewards. As we say, it works best when broadcasters do this themselves (read The Oklahoman Editorial) readFloyd Kalber, a television news anchorman whose career included stints on NBC's ``Today'' show and on two highly rated programs in Chicago, has died of emphysema, family members said. He was 79. Kalber, a winner of five Emmy awards, died Thursday at his home in the Chicago suburb of Burr Ridge. ``He was the same kind of man in private as he was in public principled at all times,'' said his daughter, Kathy Kinsella. Kalber left WMAQ-TV in Chicago in 1976 after 16 years as the 10 p.m. anchorman to appear on the ``Today'' show in New York. He left the position after three years to work as a network correspondent with NBC until 1981, when he retired (read CBS 2 - TV) read Radio is changing. With a computer and an internet connection it's possible to tune in to radio broadcasts from anywhere in the world, or even listen to shows you might have missed the first time around. Moreover, the latest digital technology ensures that audio quality is always crystal clear and crackle free. So does this mean it's time to say goodbye to the FM wireless receiver? There's certainly evidence to support this view. Radio stations such as Jazz FM have found that listeners are increasingly moving away from using traditional radio sets. The station's latest research reveals that one in five listeners are opting to tune in online or via digital radio (read VNU Net) read
The Wires - Nationwide (May 15, 2004)A Tightwad's Guide to Ad Blockers (IT/IS Important 2:00 a.m. PDT)...Sick of obnoxious video and audio advertisements hogging up bandwidth? No worries. While one can always spring for blocking software, simply switching browsers or employing a few simple hacks can keep annoying marketing pitches at bay. By Michelle Delio.
The Wires - Nationwide (May 14, 2004)Today, we can get our Radio via satellite, the Internet, through cable, even in our PDAs and cell phones. Oh yeah and even through those old "AM/FM Radio things". So, where is all this going? My gut tells me your cell phone is vehicle of natural portability - and the heir to the transistor radio which revolutionized RadioĘs portability in the 1960Ęs. The convergence of wireless technology, content and size make the cell phone the perfect host for taking your favorite sounds to the beach, a doctorĘs waiting room or the park near your home. Many higher-end cell phones have already incorporated the ability to receive FM signals. This ability will only continue to increase as new generations of lower-end phones become even less expensive to manufacture and providers strive to offer more options to new users. FM Radio is a nice feature but I suspect there is more to come (read Corey Deitz) readDespite the objections of TV broadcasters, the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday is expected to propose allowing unlicensed wireless services to use vacant airwaves between TV stations. Under the plan, unlicensed wireless high-speed Internet services could use unused frequencies between channels 2 and 51 in each market, as long as they didn't disrupt existing stations. The proposal, expected to lead to a final ruling later this year, would pave the way for more robust and less expensive wireless Internet services by 2006. But some broadcasters say the new offerings could interfere with over-the-air TV signals (read USA Today) read Air America has shut its sales offices in Los Angeles and Chicago and is recasting its business plan, the network's president said on Wednesday as troubles beset the liberal talk show network. With Air America not broadcasting in those two cities after a financial dispute in April, network president Jon Sinton said, "There's not much sense in having sales offices in cities where you don't control a station." About 15 to 20 people were laid off in the closing of the sales offices, the latest sign of problems for Air America, launched on March 31 as a liberal alternative to the country's predominantly conservative talk show culture led by right-wing icons like Rush Limbaugh (read Reuters) read It's not always easy being Sirius. Last night, the satellite radio upstart announced that it had surpassed the 400,000-subscriber mark. In a vacuum, that's great news. Every listener the company signs up is another step towards viability. Sirius does have a few advantages over XM. It does. It sports a stronger balance sheet. It has developed superior content programming when it comes to pro sports. Its satellite situation is more stable. It draws a larger sum when it comes to average revenue per subscriber. Those are valid strengths. No, Sirius isn't doomed. This market will continue to grow as people become enamored with the prospect of commanding over 100 digital channels. There will be plenty of market-share pie to share. And while the steep losses by both players are troubling, they are par for course during the customer acquisition phase (read Motley Fool) read
FMQB: DMCA Amendment Spurs Debate...Legislation that would permit "fair use" copying of CDs and DVDs sparked debate on Capitol Hill yesterday
All Access (registration required)
The Wires - Nationwide (May 14, 2004)Microsoft to Battle Spyware (Technology 2:00 a.m. PDT)...Microsoft says the upcoming release of Windows XP Service Pack 2 will make it much harder to sneak deceptive software onto users' computers. Is it game over for spyware authors? By Amit Asaravala.
AUTHENTIC ROCK ADVENTURE #59 (May 13, 2004)Congratulations to our winners ... Anne Cave & Rebecca Carter!We're calling out our final winner name Friday, May 14th ... It could be you .... Listen at 7am on the KPRI Morning Show ... Get your passwords in! GET TICKETS TO FOR THE DOHENY HERITAGE MUSIC FESTIVAL Taking the Authentic Rock Challenge puts you in the running for tickets to see ... James Brown, Los Lobos, Etta James & more ... at the Doheny Heritage Festival on Doheny State Beach, May 22nd & 23rd.
The Wires - Nationwide (May 13, 2004)Two Major Papers Editorialize For Stern...USA Today's Tony Mauro and Public Radio's Ira Glass (via The New York Times) find inconsistencies in recent indecency rulings against Howard Ster
All Access (registration required) Less than four years ago, the Federal Communications Commission approved Clear Channel Communications Inc.'s acquisition of AMFM Inc., paving the way for the creation of one of the biggest communications companies in the world. Now, in a span of seven days, one of the key individuals instrumental in that deal has resigned from Clear Channel's board of directors and another one is recovering from brain surgery ... In recent years, some radio industry insiders had speculated that Hicks could look to increase his stake in Clear Channel. Instead, Hicks has resigned from the Clear Channel board and has already indicated that he will resign from Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst in the spring of 2005. His departure from Clear Channel, say analysts, could impact some 38 million shares of company stock ... As of press time, Clear Channel's board of directors had not made a decision to replace Hicks (read San Antonio Biz Journal) read
The backlash over Janet Jackson's halftime performance at the Super Bowl has now stretched through spring training and into the Stanley Cup playoffs. Congress is working on a bill that would give the Federal Communications Commission the power to levy fines up to $500,000 for each "patently offensive" broadcast incident ... Whether a reaction to the fear of global violence or just the natural ebb and flow of popular trends, many of today's artists are finding success in uplifting spirits rather than playing on traditional stereotypes of sex, violence and drugs. The music industry has put self-absorbed, violence-driven rap music on hold and is instead churning out fun-loving party music. Outkast's infectious and retro dance hit Hey Ya could be heard about every 90 seconds on a number of radio stations. Similarly, Black Eyed Peas' Hey Mama was one of the songs chosen to push the new iPod in Apple's colorful commercials (read Houston Chronicle) read
In the wake of "Nipplegate"-the infamous Super Bowl halftime show in which Janet Jackson's breast was exposed-the Federal Communications Commission has very pushily pursued a crusade against broadcast indecency. But behind the scenes the FCC has been on the lookout all along. The task of policing the airwaves lies with its Enforcement Bureau, created in 1999 to centralize investigations of "obscenity" And "indecency." To fine a broadcaster, the FCC must complete an "indecency analysis" that considers whether material is explicit; whether it is repeated or dwelled on at length; and whether it is pandering, titillating, or shocking. Here are the cases that, according to published documents, resulted in the ten largest fines the FCC has levied since 1999 (read the list at The Atlantic) read
Janet Jackson's breast-baring at this year's Super Bowl was, as all the world knows, the catalyst for a full-blown backlash against "indecency" in the media. The fallout -- so to speak -- culminated in two recent rulings by the Federal Communications Commission that amount to a moralistic crackdown on broadcasters. In the first, NBC was rapped for indecency for having aired the now immortal moment when Bono, collecting an award for U2 at the 2003 Golden Globes, pronounced the result "f---ing brilliant." In the second, the FCC fined radio stations running a Howard Stern segment that contained -- brace yourselves -- sexual content (read Deborah Ziff - Mother Jones) read
Las Vegas and Howard Stern. Sounds like a match made in heaven -- or hell, depending on your point of view. Sin City and Stern, the self-proclaimed King of All Media and the country's reigning shock jock, are reunited Tuesday through Thursday for a series of broadcasts from The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel. But it's happening in a different atmosphere than Stern's visit last year. This time there's a chill wind blowing through the broadcast industry, a wind blown up by conservatives who are pushing to bring their version of decency to the radio and television airwaves (read Las Vegas Review-Journal) read
Sirius, the satellite radio provider, announced that it reached the 400,000 subscriber mark for its nationwide service of over 60-commercial-free music channels and more than 50 channels of news, traffic, weather, sports, information and entertainment (read) read
Jimmy Valentine Flashfax: Friends Is News? (May 11, 2004)**LOCAL NEWS AIN'T!! We try to avoid local TV news whenever we can but sometimes it's impossible (don't ask). So of a recent evening we tune in.think it was KNSD.and they are all about the final show called "Friends." Like the entire half hour. Marty Levine of all folks. Actual so-called news reports on "Friends." Course the General Manager sez the news department has to do that for the ratings. But what about us folks who need news? Oh, never mind.95.3 Tecate Boosts Power 5-12-04!Longtime Tecate radio station, XHATE, has boosted its power strong enough to be heard all over south-western San Diego county. The transmitter is located about 17 miles south of Tecate and seems to have boosted its power in the last week of April.The call letters will be changed to XHHIT-FM. The station once broadcasted on 99.3 MHz when it began in 1988 at a measly 4kw, not enough to reach El Cajon, but the station was shifted over to 95.3 MHz around 1994 because KKOS 95.9 in Carlsbad desired to move to 95.7 (now KUSS), then occupied by X96 on 95.7, a Mexican-owned station, which moved to 99.3, the present location for XOCL. Ironically, that station is operated by Clear Channel, which owns and operates KUSS. In 1987, 94.9 FM once used a 99.3 translator in El Cajon to add east county coverage of its then-lite music format. It abandoned the translator in 1988.
The Wires - Nationwide (May 11, 2004)Study: Americans Consume Way More Media Than They Think... Americans spend more than double the time using the media than they think they do -- 11.7 hours a day in total, according to a new study by Ball State University.
The Wires - Nationwide (May 11, 2004)Jefferson Pilot Communication's President-Radio Division Clarke Brown will receive the NAB National Radio Award at the 2004 NAB Radio Show in San Diego, on Friday, October 8. As president of Jefferson Pilot's Radio Division, Brown oversees stations in Miami, Charlotte, San Diego, Denver and Atlanta. He first joined WQXI-AM/FM, Atlanta as an account executive in 1967 readSIRIUS Satellite Radio has reunited three of MTV's original VJs -- Mark Goodman, Alan Hunter and Nina Blackwood -- as new hosts of its commercial-free, hit music channel Big '80s. Goodman, Hunter and Blackwood, along with Martha Quinn and the late J.J. Jackson, were the five original faces and voices of MTV when it debuted on August 1, 1981 read Ever since The Nipple That Shocked the World buzzed across TV screens for a millisecond during the Super Bowl, the Federal Communications Commission has been taking its mothering role more seriously, fining the pants off people for airing material it considers harmful to America's eyes and ears, even if, as is the case with Howard Stern, the material in question has been part of the culture at large for a quarter-century or so. A new book, Taboo Tunes: A History of Banned Bands & Censored Songs, is a lengthy, detailed account of similar efforts by our government and others to control what the people are exposed to, and more than anything, author Peter Blecha shows what a history there is when it comes to government acting as a societal baby-sitter (read Salt Lake Tribune - Dan Nailen) read RadioRecorder lets you take a record of your favorite internet radio stations. RadioRecorder supports any number of scheduled recordings that can be active simultaneously. Pick up an existing recording from the list at the top. New, Delete, Save and Revert buttons work as expected. The first time you run the program, or if you delete all your recordings, a new one will be automatically created. You need to fill in a URL of the radio station. The easiest way to do this is to drag a radio station track from iTunes to the RadioRecorder window (read MacDaily)
The Wires - Nationwide (May 10, 2004)Taking a Second Shot at Spammers (Politics 2:00 a.m. PDT)...Contrary to popular belief, the U.S. Can-Spam Act leaves states a lot of leeway to make laws of their own to target junk e-mailers. But will the one-two legal punch keep your inbox clear? By Amit Asaravala.U.S. Moves Against Online Pirates (DAT's Entertainment Thursday)...The FBI seizes more than 200 computers in a worldwide operation aimed against Internet piracy. Suspects, including more than 100 Americans, are implicated in the thefts, which amount to $50 million.
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