Testimony Continues in Trial Where Listener Died After Radio Station Contest
Remember the story about the radio station contest where participants had to drink water and hold it? It was a contest called "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" but nobody expected a mother of three to die from it. It was January, 2007 and the hosts of KDND-FM's 'Morning Rave' -- who went by the on-air names Trish, Maney and Lukas -- were fired over it.Jennifer Lea Strange, 28, died of water intoxication after participating and now it's in court. According to sacbee.com: "The broadcast executive in charge of the radio station...testified today that he never knew about the event until he got word several hours afterward that Jennifer Lea Strange had died."
Lawyers for the plaintiff are trying to establish that Entercom Communications, parent company to KDND-FM, "...lacked the internal controls to prevent the dangerous contests from taking place." The trial continues.
Hear It: Here is an edited version of some audio from the contest including members of the morning show including the voice of contestant Jennifer Strange. Listen here.
Posted on September 30, 2009
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MacKenzie Phillips Incest Allegation Forces Oldies Radio to Question ‘Mamas & Papas’ Airplay
Ever since this week's startling announcement by Mackenzie Phillips that she and her father, John Phillips (founding member of The Mamas and Papas), had an incestuous 10-year relationship there's been an ongoing conversation about airplay.For instance, spinner.com writes about Boston Oldies-formatted radio station Oldies 103.3 and quotes Program Director, Jay Beau Jones, saying, "If the station plays 'California Dreamin'' or 'Monday, Monday,' my concern is the audience will have a negative reaction and turn off the radio."
The article goes on to say: "When [Cammy] Blackstone [from KFRC] was on the air, there were numerous episodes involving core Oldies artists -- Phil Spector's murder case, James Brown's domestic problems, accusations of child molestation against Michael Jackson and Gary Glitter. 'I don't recall any listeners every calling and saying, Why are you playing that child molester she says."
Controversial Artists and Airplay:
Michael Jackson: England's Radio 1 Bans Michael Jackson Single, 18 Other Stations Follow
Chris Brown: Chris Brown Banned on Sacramento Radio Station
Dixie Chicks: Dixie Chicks Boycotted on Country Radio
Jethro Tull: New Jersey Radio Station Bans "Jethro Tull" Over Flag Flack
Posted on September 26, 2009
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Marconi Awards Handed Out to Radio’s Top Stations, Performers
This year's Marconi Award winners were announced last night (9/24). Some of the highlights include:
Major Market Station of the Year: WBEB-FM/Philadelphia
Large Market Station of the Year: WIBC-FM/Indianapolis
News/Talk Station of the Year: WGN-AM/Chicago
Oldies Station of the Year: WMXJ-FM/Miami
Rock Station of the Year: KQRS-FM/Minneapolis
Major Market Personality of the Year: Matt Siegel from WXKS-FM/Boston
Large Market Personality of the Year: Bill Cunningham from WLW-AM/Cincinnati
For a complete listing of award winners, go to www.nab.org.
Established in 1989 and named after inventor and Nobel Prize winner Guglielmo Marconi, the NAB Marconi Radio Awards are given to radio stations and outstanding on-air personalities to recognize excellence in radio.
Go Deeper: The State of Radio: A Conversation With Guglielmo Marconi and Edwin H. Armstrong
Posted on September 25, 2009
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The Battle Continues Between Old Radio and New Media
Who's listening to terrestrial Radio? More than you may think based on new stats from Nielsen, which just reported some results from it's new measurement service."...18-to-34-year-olds listen to radio an average of 21.5 hours per week. That puts their listening in line with all people over the age of 12, and debunks the assumption that young people are glued to their iPods for most of the day," reports Matthew Flamm at crainsnewyork.com.
Cumulus Radio, a client of Nielsen with radio stations in 51 markets, thought this was good news. According to Chief Operating Officer, Lew Dickey: "Most notable is the notion that radio has lost its hipness and relevance among younger audiences. Nielsen's data proves that this is not the case."
More: Tomorrow's Talk Radio: from Radio or Media Stations?
Posted on September 24, 2009
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See Glenn Beck as a ‘Morning Zoo’ Radio Host in the 1980s
A 1986 YouTube clip of a TV ad for the Y95/Phoenix "Morning Zoo" featuring Glenn Beck and Tim Hattrick is getting a lot of exposure. It's also garnering a lot of disdain from Beck critics.
Animalnewyork.com
Huffingtonpost.com quotes Beck's former partner, Hattrick, as saying: "...he was great at being a grandstanding, pompous idiot and shaking the brushes for attention."
For the record, the commercial was a syndicated ad which was customized for radio stations and "zoo-formatted" morning shows. In the mid 1980s, the zoo format was the hottest morning show format in commercial radio and the ad Beck and Hattrick appear in was duplicated many times over by various stations and personalities. In that respect, there is nothing special or unique about Beck or Hattrick's dialogue or the commercial's features, which include a monkey. It's a boilerplate ad.
To see the Y95 ad, view it on YouTube.
Related: Hear Rush Limbaugh as a Top 40 Radio DJ
Posted on September 23, 2009
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Mark Lloyd - F.C.C. Chief Diversity Officer Stirs Controversy in Radio Community
Mark Lloyd, the Chief Diversity Officer at the Federal Communications Commission, continues to stir controversy. Recently, a coalition of groups formed to support his appointment while critics continue to question his ideas are calling for Lloyd to answer questions from lawmakers. Read more. (Screenshot: YouTube.com)
Posted on September 21, 2009
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Last.fm Makes a Move: Internet Radio Jumps to HD
Since the inception of Internet Radio, the model for most established AM and FM terrestrial stations has been to use the Internet to stream already created content. Here comes a small paradigm shift: Last.fm is jumping from Internet to over-the-air broadcasting in four large markets.According to a Billboard article by Antony Bruno as reported by hollywoodreporter.com, "Starting Oct. 5, the Last.fm station will be multicast on CBS's high-definition radio channels in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco -- as well as streamed on CBS Radio's Web site -- as a programmed channel."
CBS Radio, which owns Last.fm, is betting Last.fm programming will give a boost to HD Radio.
More: HD Radio: What it is and What it is Not
Dig Deeper: HD Radio: More Aware, Some Confused
Posted on September 17, 2009
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BBC Radio Star Admits: Behavior Was Outrageous and Delusional
Chris Evans, who will take over the Radio 2 breakfast show from Sir Terry Wogan when he leaves next year, admits in his autobiography that, "...his behaviour while on Radio 1 [w]as 'outrageous' and 'delusional' and added he had 'lost all perspective'." (Photo courtesy of BBC Radio)
Evans worked for two years on Radio 1 in the mid 1990s and left in 1997. He admits: "I knew that for the first time in my career I had really messed up. I should have known better," according to a news item from the online version of BBC News.
Personally, I'm not surprised at any behavior I see from radio people, especially morning personalities. You'd know that if you read any of my "Wacky World of Radio" articles like this one: "The Wacky World of Radio - Deejays".
Background: Terry Wogan to Leave BBC Radio 2's Morning Show
Posted on September 15, 2009
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Talk Radio Hosts Converge on Washington Over Immigration Policy
47 radio talk show hosts from across the U.S.A. are in Washington, D.C. for a "radio-thon" September 15 and 16 to highlight illegal immigration. The event is called "Hold Their Feet to the Fire". (Right: Roger Hedgecock. Screenshot: www.rogerhedgecock.com)
The gathering, organized by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) and Radio America Networks' Roger Hedgecock, will feature listeners, immigration experts, high profile media personalities, politicians, and activists discussing immigration policy issues. This is the fourth consecutive year for the event.
This "Radio Row" broadcasting event take place Tuesday (9/15) and Wednesday (9/16) between 5 a.m. - 11 p.m. daily from the Phoenix Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.
Audio: Listen to this humorous aircheck excerpt from 1960 featuring KSFO/San Francisco's Hap Harper kidding around with "Jose Jimenez", a Mexican immigrant character created by comedian Bill Dana. Listen Here.
Posted on September 13, 2009
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iheartradio Version 2.2 Mobile Radio App for iPhone and iPod Touch Released
Version 2.2 of the iheartradio mobile radio application for the iPhone and iPod Touch has been released with new features including access to more than 300 radio stations. Read more. (Photo: Clear Channel Radio)
Posted on September 11, 2009
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Garrison Keillor Suffers Minor Stroke
Radio personality and humorist, Garrison Keillor, has suffered a minor stroke and was admitted to Saint Marys Hospital at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. (Screenshot: prairiehome.publicradio.org)
Chicagotribune.com reports: "...Keillor still plans to start his new season of 'A Prairie Home Companion' as scheduled in just over two weeks..."
Keillor created "A Prairie Home Companion" 35 years ago and each week 4 million people listen over 600 public radio stations in the United States.
More: A Profile of Garrison Keillor
Related: "A Prarie Home Companion" Now a Movie
Posted on September 10, 2009
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Radio Towers Bulldozed by Eco-Terrorists
It appears two radio towers in Everett, Washington were toppled by an eco-terrorist group. A neighbor who called 911 told the dispatcher someone attacked the towers with a bulldozer.According to breitbart.com: "A sign bearing the letters ELF was found near the towers, said Andy Skotdal, general manager of KRKO Radio in Everett, about 25 miles north of Seattle. The Earth Liberation Front is a loose collection of radical environmentalists that has claimed responsibility for dozens of attacks since the 1990s."
For over 10 years, KRKO has been engaged in litigation including an issue over whether a plan to increase its signal might interfere with a nearby trumpeter swan habitat, according to breitbart.com.
More Stories About Radio Towers:
* Using Google Earth to Find Famous Radio Towers and Landmarks
* Cops Stop Radio Tower Drop
* Impress Your Girlfriend: Climb a Radio Tower, Threaten to Jump!
Posted on September 8, 2009
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Terry Wogan to Leave BBC Radio 2’s Morning Show
On Monday, British radio icon, Terry Wogan, announced he would be leaving Radio 2's breakfast show. According to an AFP news story: "...the 71-year-old said the decision to leave "Wake Up To Wogan" at the end of the year was the hardest of his career." (Terry Wogan, screenshot: www.bbc.co.uk/radio2)
Wogan told listeners Chris Evans would take over upon his departure. "Recent figures show 'Wake Up To Wogan' attracts a weekly audience of 7.93 million listeners, making Wogan the king of breakfast radio," according to the AFP story.
Wogan began on the morning show in 1972, left in 1984 and returned in 1993.
More: A Profile of Chris Evans
Posted on September 8, 2009
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Mark Lloyd - the Federal Communication Commission’s Chief Diversity Officer
There's been a lot of talk lately about Mark Lloyd, the new Federal Communication Commission's Chief Diversity Officer, a position created during the Obama administration. (Mark Lloyd, Screenshot: YouTube.com)
So, who is this guy and why are many radio operators and performers worried about him? Have a look at this short profile of Lloyd and read more about his background, what he's done, and what he might do in the future to change the landscape of not only talk radio but radio broadcasting as a whole.
Read now: A Profile of Mark Lloyd
Posted on September 4, 2009
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Mark Lloyd - the Federal Communication Commission’s Chief Diversity Officer
There's been a lot of talk lately about Mark Lloyd, the new Federal Communication Commission's Chief Diversity Officer, a position created during the Obama administration. (Mark Lloyd, Screenshot: YouTube.com)
So, who is this guy and why are many radio operators and performers worried about him? Have a look at this short profile of Lloyd and read more about his background, what he's done, and what he might do in the future to change the landscape of not only talk radio but radio broadcasting as a whole.
Read now: A Profile of Mark Lloyd
Posted on September 4, 2009
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Books by Liberal and Conservative Talk Radio Hosts
It's never too early to start thinking about those radio fans on your gift list either for the holidays, a birthday, or even for yourself. I've prepared two lists: popular book choices for fans of conservative radio and choices for liberal or progressive listeners. ("Red, White & Liberal" courtesy William Morrow)
If you lean to the left, have a look at Books from Liberal Radio.
If you lean to the right, have a look at Books from Conservative Radio.
Included in each list are publisher comments and a convenient "compare prices" link from PriceGrabber.
Posted on September 3, 2009
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