The Wires - Nationwide (June 19, 2004)

rronline
FCC Raises Maximum Fine Amounts... The increase was made as part of a rule that allows the commission to raise its enforcement fine amounts every four years due to inflation. However, legislation currently pending in Congress seeks to raise the FCC's fine amounts by as much as tenfold. For broadcasters, the maximum per violation or per day of a continuing violation fine has increased from $27,500 to $32,500. The commission recently started to penalize broadcasters on a per-utterance basis, instead of its old method of per broadcast. While the House recently passed a bill that would greatly increase the fine amounts the FCC could impose for broadcast indecency, a similar bill has stalled in the Senate due to debate over extraneous amendments that have been added to the bill.

All Access (registration required)
The FCC adjusts its maximum fines to $32,500 per violation or per day and $325,000 total for a continuing violation. The adjustment comes as part of the federal mandate to adjust maximum statutory civil monetary penalties at least once every four years to reflect inflation.

97X To Return? (June 18, 2004)

From the Cincinnati Enquirer: "The Web radio station 97X 'The Future of Rock and Roll' has risen from its cyber-ashes and will return to Web-broadcasting modern rock within two weeks.

"Two anonymous investors have saved the Web signal at www.woxy.com for tens of thousands of devoted listeners worldwide and for the eight people to be employed at the cyberstation, which will remain in Oxford.

"The investors contacted Doug and Linda Balogh on May 13, the morning after the alternative rock station's cyber-signal went silent because of a lack of funding, said Doug Balogh, 97X founder...

"The Baloghs sold the terrestrial signal at 97.7 FM to Dallas-based First Broadcasting earlier this year for $5.6 million. But the husband-and-wife founders of the critically acclaimed station hung onto an 11,000-disc library of music and the 97X and 'Future of Rock and Roll' brand with plans to continue broadcasting over the Web. Royalty and broadband costs mounted, however, and the Baloghs were soon forced to close down the station...

"The Web station will be live from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays and will initially be largely free of commercials, Balogh said."

Read the entire Cincinnati Enquirer article online here.

WOXY, at the time of Arbitron's final market study (the week of March 22, 2004), was the highest-rated commercial U.S. broadcaster, with 87,598 hours Total Time Spent Listening, and 14,228 cume for that week (see ratings here). RAIN covered the WOXY story recently here.

All Access (registration required)
Longtime Alternative WOXY (97X)/OXFORD-CINCINNATI will be making a comeback as an Internet-only station at www.woxy.com. Former PD MIKE TAYLOR and MD MATT SHIVERDECKER (aka SHIV) have returned and they'll re-launch the station in JULY. The exact date has not yet been determined, but the station has received the financial backing to bring back "97X -- THE FUTURE OF ROCK AND ROLL."

It's a little confusing, because there are actually two WOXYs. BALOGH BROADCASTING sold the terrestrial station to FIRST BROADCASTING, which re-launched in mid-MAY as "X97.7" with the WOXY call letters. However, BALOGH retained and trademarked WOXY.com.

For now, WOXY.com is back in its old studios. Get your music to: MIKE TAYLOR and SHIV at: 5120 College Corner Pike, OXFORD, OH 45056.

XTRA Sports 690/1150 Adds More Raiders Football (June 18, 2004)

XTRA Sports 690/1150 Adds More Raiders Football (June 18, 2004)

Two Energy Dance Stations To Merge (June 18, 2004)

"KNRJ FM and ENergy 98 Will become one Station and you can listen live right now http://www.energyarizonafm.com

"On Friday Morning Energy 92.7 fm, Energy 101.1 FM Arizona and Internet-Based Energy 98 Will be Merging On Friday Morning at 7:20am PST, plus You Listen Live Using Energy 98 Website or http://www.energyarizonafm.com and http://www.Energy98stl.com to listen Live on The Net

"IT Will All New Energy FM, Plus If You Live In Phoenix AZ You Can Listen Tommarow at 7:20am on 92.7 FM or 101.1 FM"

The Wires - Nationwide (June 18, 2004)

The sound was uniform and universal: lush string arrangements (almost never with vocals) of popular songs and show tunes, with minimal announcements. The stations called it "beautiful music" or "easy listening"; detractors labeled it elevator or dentist-office music because that's where it was often played in the background. At one time every major market had at least one beautiful-music station. Some had several. "Seattle had a colorful history in easy listening," says Robert Unmacht a one-time owner of stations in the Northwest and now a consultant with iN3 Partners. Good luck finding one of those stations today. Radio trade publication M Street Database tracks how the format has nearly disappeared. In 1990 it listed 294 stations playing easy-listening nationally. At the end of 2003, the count was just 18. In Seattle, the roster of easy-listening stations included KIXI (AM and FM), KEUT-FM (where KMPS-FM is now), KSEA-FM (now KQBZ-FM) and KBRD-FM (now KMTT-FM). So what happened? (read Bill Virgin's Seattle Radio Beat) read

Over the past few months, Sirius and XM began presenting local traffic and weather for many markets around the country. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has challenged this decision. They maintain that the purpose of both companies was to offer nationally distributed programming, not local content. They hope to convince the FCC to stop XM and Sirius from continuing this practice. I feel that the NAB is wasting their time worrying about whether XM or Sirius violated their original agreements. I think instead they should be concentrating on the reasons for the growth of this new expanding service. If you ask the average person why they are purchasing equipment for satellite radio, they will tell you that they get more music and that too many commercials exist on the radio. It is important to point out that people will pay for something that they used to get for free as long as they listened to their favorite stations and supported the advertisers. The problem is not the amount of commercials. it is the way they are done. In other words, most stations these days present many commercials that last a long time. They usually start at approximately 10 minutes before the hour and continue for several minutes (read Lawrence Stoler) read

FMQB
Seacrest Takes AT40 To TV... The "American Top 40 Awards" will honor the year's biggest Pop hits.

Star Wars Panel in Albany... Terrestrial and satellite radio executives square off at the New York State Broadcasters Association meetings next Tuesday.

All Access (registration required)
CLEAR CHANNEL RADIO's "GAS FOR LIFE" promotion is currently in full swing. The national contest, which rolled out in earlier this month, will give one lucky listener the opportunity to win $250,000 in cash, which is enough dough to buy gasoline for the rest of their lives (or for approximately 2.5 years worth of purchases in CALIFRONIA). For a chance to win, listeners must register via one of the 480 participating radio station websites. The winner will be randomly selected from all entries and announced on THURSDAY, JULY 8th.

The Wires - San Diego (June 17, 2004)

North County Times - Randy Dotinga
It's time once again for everyone's favorite pastime: Ask the Radio Columnist. Unfortunately, nobody has asked me much lately, so I've been forced to make up my own questions. On the bright side, this sort of fakery is virtually guaranteed to impress the folks at The New York Times, who seem to be fabricating things all over the place.

But never mind my career prospects. Here are this week's Q&As.

Q: Last week, the Federal Communications Commission announced it will levy a $1.75 million fine on Clear Channel, largely over obscene content heard during the syndicated Howard Stern show. Is this kind of financial hit going to bring down the company?

A: That's about as likely as Britney Spears joining the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. In the big scheme of things, Clear Channel's fine is teeny.

Consider these facts: The CEO of Clear Channel made almost $3 million in various types of compensation in 2003, plus stock options worth more than $4 million. And many of the company's radio personalities make well into the six figures each year. In San Diego, where Clear Channel runs 13 stations, some hosts of its local morning shows reportedly earn in the range of $500,000.

Clear Channel, of course, dumped Stern from the handful of its stations that aired his show, including San Diego's Rock 105.3. Clearly, its management is trying to kiss up to the political powers in Washington, D.C., and keep Congress from sticking it to the radio industry.

More fake Qs and As at his website.

Reader Blurt
Britney Spears (looks like everybody is all of a sudden talking about her) is being sued by a San Diego firm for $10 million in a trademark infringement action connected to her In the Zone CD and concert tour. Local Sportswear company Lite Breeze uses the brand name "In the Zone" for a line of clothing and sports team uniforms, as well as for promoting live music and sports events. Lite Breeze alleges Spears's unauthorized use of its trademark is causing confusion in the marketplace and has harmed its trademark. Read more about it in Blurt.

LIVE 365 AND GARAGEBAND.COM MAKE DEAL |FOR ROYALTY FREE MUSIC FOR WEBCASTERS (June 17, 2004)

Press release: (June 16, 2004 8:47am) It's an idea that has just been waiting in the wings to happen.

Webcasters are joining with a music community to expose their music on internet radio and the RIAA is no where to be found.

This morning Live365, the largest Internet radio network, and GarageBand.com, the web's largest independent music community, announced that Live365 will make hundreds of new tracks by emerging musicians available to its broadcaster community and Garageband.com will waive the digital performance royalties.

GarageBand's unique review process sorts through thousands of songs by independent musicians and uses listener ratings to find the cream of the crop. In return for waiving their digital royalties, GarageBand's top musicians will receive exposure and airplay to a potential audience of millions.

Live365 will add the GarageBand.com tracks to the Live365 Music Library -- an online repository of songs with 'click-to-add' functionality enabling Live365 Broadcasters to easily add tracks to their playlists.

"We're thrilled to be working with GarageBand to deliver music from unsigned musicians to our Broadcasters while lowering our royalty bill in the process," said Rags Gupta chief operating officer, Live365.

"GarageBand.com's listener-rating process is the perfect filter to find the best of independent music." "This deal opens a spectacular new opportunity for the independent musician," said Ali Partovi, CEO of GarageBand.

"With its gigantic radio audience, Live365 is a powerful promotional avenue never before tapped for breaking new music."

Additionally, GarageBand and Live365 intend to enable revenue opportunities for independent musicians by translating radio airplay into sales via links that encourage listeners to purchase downloads or CDs.

The Wires - Nationwide (June 17, 2004)

EARTHQUAKE (June 16, 2004)

Michael Reagan's syndicated show will run on KOGO Wednesday and Thursday 3-6pm, two additional days.

Voiceover Legend Danny Dark Dies (June 16, 2004)

Additional info from miamimadman: He might of only said K-O-L-A, or at times K-O-L-A San Bernardino, but he was the Voice of KOLA in the 70's and early 80's!

Dark, who during his career served as the voice of the NBC and CBS television networks and of Budweiser, Texaco, AT&T, Keebler and countless other national brands, died Sunday. He was 65. Dark's career began in radio, at KICK/Springfield, MO in the 1950s, and he went on to work at such stations as WIL/St. Louis and KLAC/Los Angeles. His distinctive voice was heard on more award-winning commercials than any announcer in broadcast history. He also supplied the voice of Clark Kent and Superman in the '70s animated series Super Friends. Services will be held Saturday, June 19 at the Church on the Hill at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills, CA.

Danny Dark was just a 'guy' you heard for Years on NBC, worked in L.A. Radio and even had an on Camera part in "the Groove Tube" or "Kentucky Fried Movie". KOLA had no live Announcers, most of our Current Music Reels were Open Announced cold by Al Barnet, KOLA's Local, Regional, and National Sales Manager. The Music Carts along with the older Reels featured the awesome sounding Danny Dark just saying K/O/L/A , with a "San Bernardino" at the Bottom and Top. I'm not sure Al did Back Announcing, it's possible too Flipper, my mind is going?. The Job for $2.90 an Hour/no Benefits was to run the homemade Automation System and to voice the Weather/Traffic Casts and Production, I became an Expert in saying "Now Playing", "Starts Friday", and who can forget "There's a Cal Stereo near you in San Bernardino, Riverside, Ontario & Upland"!. Fred Cote, the Owner, now known as Prisoner #5603456838 liked using Al Barnet, who was pretty cool for a Sales guy, however not an Announcer! Bought for $50,000 in the Mid 60's, worth $50 Million when he went to Jail for Murder, this Class B Powerhouse (about 15x the Indie Signal) was a great and Scarry place to Work at, the Mission Inn in Downtown Riverside!

KSON Streaming Audio Returns (June 16, 2004)

You donÆt have to download a special program or even have a top of the line computer. Any old computer connected to the Internet will work just fine. ItÆs never been easier to listen to KSON whether at home or at work. Maybe you havenÆt been able to hear your name being called for Double Your Paycheck because you're not allowed to listen to the radio at work. Well, not anymore! With KSON online you'll never miss an opportunity to Double Your Paycheck.

Think about it. No matter where you go in the world, KSON is there for you. You donÆt have to miss another moment of Cliff and Company, Nick Upton, Deb Spring, or Kimo Jensen anywhere your travels take you. To check out KSON online right now click this link!

As long as we're in touch, just a quick reminder that the 25th Annual Dance Under The Stars is coming July 24th. It's a full evening of entertainment and live music, starring Chris Cagle, for only $5.00! Yes, just $5.00!

For more about Dance Under the Stars, just visit www.kson.com or click here!

THANKS for listening to San Diego's #1 Country Station, KSON-FM 97.3 and 92.1.

- The KSON Team

The Wires - Nationwide (June 16, 2004)

U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback said on Monday he would try to add a provision aimed at substantially hiking fines for airing indecent material on broadcast television and radio to a defense measure now being debated by the Senate. A stand-alone bill that would raise the fines tenfold to $275,000 per violation has been stuck in the Senate in part because it includes a provision that would tighten media ownership limits, which has less support among lawmakers (read Reuters) read

Radio Babe's column is switched around and a bit lopsided this week to focus on Internet radio's People's Voice Award winner in "Radio" from the eighth annual Webby Awards (www.webbyawards.com Webbyawards.com) -- specifically, Live365, www.live365.com live365.com. Also called "The World's Largest Internet Radio Network" (because it likely is), Live365 offers more than 20,000 separate stations encompassing 60-odd genres, which are accessed via whatever media player one might have installed on a computer (Real Player, Windows Media, i-Tunes, etc.) or, alternately, through its own "Player365." (read the Radio Babe - Dawn Scire) read

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will promote Sirius, a satellite radio network, network officials said Monday. The two-time Super Bowl MVP will promote the network's NFL programming and coverage of games in advertisements in print, on television and on the radio (read CBS 4 - Boston) read it

Michael Reagan, President Reagan's eldest son, returned to his nationally syndicated Radio America show. But he won't be doing media interviews for a while. "Out of respect to my father and Nancy û other than my radio show, which is my career and my job û I now need time to mourn," Mike Reagan said. "And I will not be doing any media other than my radio show for the time being." Michael Reagan said he is anxious to continue sharing his father's vision and legacy with America. But he is slated for hip replacement surgery on June 21, 2004 (read NewsMax) read it here

All Comedy Radio (ACR), the Hollywood-based radio network announced that veteran Denver radio broadcaster Steve Keeney joins the company as Vice President of Owned and Operated Stations. Keeney has been serving as Senior VP, Market Manager for Infinity Broadcasting for the past ten years, most recently with that companyÆs Denver radio group and prior to that InfinityÆs KINK-FM, Portland, Oregon. Before that Steve served for over 18 years as VP/GM of Denver market leaders KHOW-AM/FM and KIMN-AM/KYGO-FM. He will open All Comedy RadioÆs ôowned and operatedö group office in Denver (visit AllComedyRadio.com) read it

The Wires - Nationwide (June 15, 2004)

XM Tops Two Million Subscribers... After taking almost two years to sign one million subscribers, the satcaster doubles that in only eight months

Kurt Hanson
Record companies are paying radio stations to play songs as advertisements -- often with much more frequency than they would have normally (one Nashville station played a song 18 times in one overnight period). Critics say this muddles with the reliability of music charts (not to mention making for some intolerable listening!), but stations are defending the practice. Find out more in today's "RAIN: Radio And Internet Newsletter," online now at http://www.kurthanson.com .

The Wires - Nationwide (June 15, 2004)

Press release:

(June 13, 2004 8:38pm) All Comedy Radio (ACR), the Hollywood-based radio network today announced that veteran Denver radio broadcaster Steve Keeney joins the company as Vice President of Owned and Operated Stations. The appointment is effective immediately.

Keeney has been serving as Senior VP, Market Manager for Infinity Broadcasting for the past ten years, most recently with that company's Denver radio group and prior to that Infinity's KINK-FM, Portland, Oregon. Before that Steve served for over 18 years as VP/GM of Denver market leaders KHOW-AM/FM and KIMN-AM/KYGO-FM. He will open All Comedy Radio's "owned and operated" group office in Denver.

All Comedy Radio has closed two major market stations under ACR's "O&O" banner in the past 100 days, converting both stations to the company's full-format, 24/7 comedy format. KPHX-AM, Phoenix on March 1 and KCKN-AM, Kansas City on April 1. Steve will oversee these properties, plus new acquisitions as this division of ACR grows.

"We have created a terrific business driving revenues in major markets, with single-station operations, using our compelling and unique format", commented ACR CEO and co-founder Michael O'Shea. "All Comedy Radio has more major market acquisition announcements to make soon and I am delighted to have such a talented and respected radio leader as Steve Keeney guiding our O&O managers to revenue success. Comedy is a great sell at the local station level".

"I announced three months ago that I would `retire' after 28 years with just three companies" Steve Keeney said. "But how many times do you get to go to work with the goal of putting a laugh-button on the American radio dial? ACR is the antithesis of corporate radio. The partners told me if I ever wore a tie, they'd light it on fire. I knew right then this group of lunatics was for me."

About All Comedy Radio: All Comedy Radio's programming is a high powered blending of tightly edited standup comedy, interview segments of touring and superstar comedians and morning show-type radio comedy, including parody songs, topical bits, and relevant, timely parody news. Hosted from Hollywood by ACR's team of comedy jocks (CJ's), the unique programming is offered in 24/7 full format presentation, selected dayparts, such as nights or weekends and in short-form (1-3 min) feature bits. All satellite delivered, via barter. All Comedy Radio programming is now featured on 56 radio stations in the US, Canada and South Africa. ACR's website: www.allcomedyradio.com.

The Wires - Nationwide (June 15, 2004)

Parents Television Council calls Clear Channel's settlement with the FCC "unacceptable." And they're out for blood, claiming the $1,750,000 settlement is too small and means that "hundreds of pending indecency complaints" will be rejected, "sight unseen." More in today's Inside Radio.

Is Infinity lining up new Howard Stern affiliates in markets where he's been dumped? Ad buyers tell us they're being told he'll return to several of the six markets where Clear Channel dropped him -- which would send a strong signal about Viacom's support. (Could KPLN be the new Stern affilliate in San Diego? If Infinity has its way, it could be there. I don't see any other radio station in sight that could accomodate Stern.)

Paul Hornung says his inadvertent racial remark cost him his football commentator gig on network radio. The Heisman trophy winner and NFL Hall of Famer seemed untouchable until his off-hand remark about lowering academic standards at Notre Dame. Now Paul's apparently been dumped from the nationally-broadcast Saturday games.

Clean Cars Lean on Dirty Old Gas (Autopia 2:00 a.m. PDT)... Researchers have come up with a way for cars to run cleaner -- using hydrogen pulled from gasoline. There are still plenty of hurdles to overcome. By Mark Baard.

Saturn Moon Up Close (Technology Sunday)...Preparing to enter a four-year orbit to study the ringed planet, the internationally built Cassini spacecraft came within 1,285 miles of Saturn's dark moon Phoebe. The craft sent data to NASA's Deep Space Network.

Backwaves: The Readers Strike Back! (June 14, 2004)

From Francine.Nguyen: A while back there is a AM Radio station from Rosarito Beach Baja California play Excelent Latin Music ( I think it a 1090 bank). I could not tune to that station nowaday, do you known they are discontinue broadcast or they change to another bankwidth.
Thanks,
P.S. I miss that Music.

Reply: It's now all sports Mighty 1090 since March of 2003.

From Cazador Brad: Help!! I need to find The Adventures of the O.B. Ranger vol.2 and 3! I've tried Amazon and Ebay but no luck. Do you have any ideas???? I really want to get it for my dad!! Please Email me back a soon as you get this!! Please!!

Answer...The O.B. Ranger lives at davesfunstuff.com's FunnyCities section here

http://www.davesfunstuff.com/funnycity/obranger.htm

From Fred Christy: I'm enjoying my Sirius satellite radio in my car and at home. I decided to tune in local radio for a while and hear what I've been missing. Not much intelligent life there anymore. KGB likes to play a lot of reruns. Channel 933 likes jailbait acts. 94.9 likes to play that Date Rape song a lot. Star is still playing that blasted Santana song. 91X bores us with Beastie Boys. My likes to play songs for women. KSON and KUSS like to play soft country, so does 91X for some strange reason (theme from the OC is country?) I'm wondering what these music directors are really programming radio for if the only people they are reacing are those who like to hear a lot of same boring music all the time. I don't miss hearing local radio at all. They like to play commercials with overpaid actors who perform stupid sketches that are dumber than anything Bob and Tom think of. I'll bet you that the radio actors in the commercials are also starring in those dumb network sitcoms as well.

From Irwin Jones: I've gotten a job transfer to a city I won't disclose, because I don't trust Clear Channel reading my letter. I want to hear Howard Stern, not some [freak]wit Mikey in the Moroning. This is the last letter I'll be writing to any San Diego website which is the best news site here and I thank you for printing my complaints about the radio station that dropped Stern because the Clear Channel guy didn't like it when someone said ****er on the show, yet I can tune in some of their rap stations, they got three in San Diego, and I hear the ****er word sometimes. I'm out of this America's Behindest City for good. Clear Channel has ruined radio here and I'm going to a city with no Clear Channel stations in it. There's better radio out there than here. Thanks, David, and [freak] you, Clear Channel.

Editor's Note: I can't publish the "F" word here because Carla Ulbrich wants to have a copyright on the "F" word, and if she wins, I'll have to pony up royalties to her. Get your copy of her song at http://www.carlau.com/. Besides, she's cute.

From Kram in sdnet.music: One of the techs where I work listens to KGB - when I go into the lab I hear it on his radio. I have not listened to KGB for many years, but could swear that their playlist is the same as it was ten or twenty years ago,

With all the music there is n the world, you would think that they could play someting other than the same old Boston, Frampton, Floyd, etc, songs over and over and over...