The Wires (Aug 13, 2009)

St. Louis Dispatch: Congress is considering legislation, a performance tax by broadcasters, which would levy a fee on radio stations that play music. Radio stations already offer free promotion to record companies, promotion that generates between $1.5 billion and $2.4 billion in music sales annually

PC World: A Seattle man was sentenced to more than three years in prison Tuesday for using the Limewire file-sharing service to lift personal information from computers across the U.S. The case highlights a type of identity theft that is probably more common than most people realize

PC Mag: Newspapers, magazines, and just about everything else is doomed because of the Internet. This will be the continuing theme for the next year or two as newspapers and magazines go under. I have a solution

Mel Phillips: Radio programming consultant Randy Kabrich has something that Arbitron wants back by tomorrow afternoon - three Portable People Meters (PPMÆs). In one of the most bizarre yet entertaining radio stories of this or any year, Kabrich bought three early versions of the PPM on eBay in an auction held last month. Kabrich planned to dismantle the PPMÆs and conduct his own, unscientific tests

Inside Music Media: Radio Acquisitions: Cash for Clunkers: Now that there is a little bright light at the end of the economic rainbow, we will likely enter an era where consolidated radio groups - hopelessly burdened with debt -- will be able to sell some of their stations. It's happening already - as witnessed by Larry Wilson's deal to steal the four-station Portland cluster from CBS Radio for $40 million to add to the two he acquired from Paul Allen for $11 million there

Gorman Media: Radio-oriented research has become so tainted and implausible that itÆs not taken seriously by anyone other than those in the industry that concoct them. Most level-headed individuals in radio would prefer that these radio witch doctors would just go away. If you want one true fact, itÆs this. When a troubled industry churns out highly questionable and excessively positive ôresearch studies,ö like it or not, they send the wrong message

Follow My Followers on Twitter (Aug 12, 2009)

Just added. Celtic musician Marc Gunn, former "Sabrina" star Melissa Joan Hart, 619 Sports, and General Hospital (former Santa Barbara) actress Nancy Lee Grahn.

Also following funny folker Carla Ulbrich, El Pollo Loco, KPRI-FM, Chrishell Stause, CBS 8, Fox 5 San Diego, Twitter, Rick Dees, Matt Diablo, Roger Hedgecock, Weird Al Yankovic, Tony Gwynn, and more!

The Wires (Aug 12, 2009)

Crains NY Biz: Brooklyn-based Mega Media has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. ItÆs Pulse 87 plays dance music through the audio portion of a low-power television stations.

L.A.'s KFWB drops all-news. (Aug 11, 2009)

KFWB will feature local hosts in drive time with syndicated personalities.

Market Manager Ed Krampf says "when the opportunity to add Dr. Laura became available, we moved swiftly."

The Take On The Day talker will anchor noon-3pm, Pacific Time.

Here's the new schedule that debuts September 8: Local News with Phil Hulett and Penny Griego, 6-9am. Laura Ingraham, 9am to noon. Dr. Laura, noon to 3pm. Local Talk/news, with talent to be announced, 3 to 6pm. Philadelphia-based Michael Smerconish, 6 to 9pm.

CBS doesn't immediately supply a lineup for the 9pm to 6am hours.

CBS has recently positioned KFWB as an all-news station focused on Hollywood - but now chooses to go toward talk.

Source: Radio-info.com

The Wires (Aug 11, 2009)

Inside Radio: Clear Channel Radio down 20%. The radio division saw revenues fall to $174 million in the second quarter with both local and national billings down. The company says, "Our radio business has been adversely impacted and may continue to be adversely impacted by the difficult economic conditions." Outdoor revenues were off 24%.

GSN (Game Show Network) Radio extrends to more than 70 affiliates with the addition of KBHI-FM 107.1 in Missouri

Jacobs Media: This performance tax kerfuffle keeps bringing out the worst in everyone - especially some of the fringe artists who are just waking up to the notion that perhaps they've been screwed by their record labels, and now look to radio to fix everything

Brooks and Dunn are done. The country duo since 1989 have called it quits after 20 years.

CBS CORPORATION has made it official, and signed a definitive agreement to sell four of its owned radio stations in PORTLAND, OR, AAA KINK, Country KUPL, Alternative KUFO and Talk KCMD-A to ALPHA BROADCASTING for $40 million in cash.

CITADEL Classic Rock KLOS (95.5) KLOS/LOS ANGELES morning team MARK & BRIAN have re-upped with the station for another three years. They've been doing mornings there for 22 years.

Miley Cyrus, Jonas Bros. Win Big At Teen Choice Awards

Westwood One Posts Loss, 16.7% Revenue Decline In Q2

SUNDAY night (8/9) at 6p, KIRKMAN BROADCASTING Spanish WAZS (98.9)/CHARLESTON, SC flipped the switch to AC becoming "98.9 CHICK FM" and will target women 35-45.