More Evidence That Radio's Growth Is Slowing...

(Weekend Edtion)
Still another advertising forecast for radio's growth has been adjusted downward. Could we be seeing a trend developing? Barclays Captial is forecasting radio revenue will grow this year by 6.8% instead of the previously predicted 7.4%. It's just a fractional shift but it translates into tens of millions of fewer revenue dollars. "Recent economic data has driven a more conservative consensus view" says analyst Anthony DeClemente in his report to clients. DeClemente adds that consumer confidence fell in July to its lowest level since February. He notes the strong correlation with advertising spending. "The U.S. economic recovery has lost some of its initial momentum." Most forecasters have put their forecast between 5% and 7% but DiClemente lowered his radio forecast by 0.6% and his outlook (6.8%) remains among the most bullish for the industry. He also lowered his outlook on magazines, newspapers, outdoor and Yellow Pages but upped his growth figures for broadcast television, cable TV and the internet and he's not alone in predicting growth for the internet...

SNL Kagan recently noted that digital radio ad revenue (including internet, mobile and interactive) is growing quickly but is still a small percentage of total radio revenues. Streaming and mobile applications are essential for continual growth. According to SNL Kagan, radio's digital revenue will double, from $552 million this year to $1 billion in 2015. That would account for 5.3% of radio's total revenue, up from 3.2% this year. Mobile is being viewed as "the next big thing" by online broadcasters. Smartphone owners - now 120 million and growing, are expected to reach 221 million by 2015. "The advent of mobile has grown the industry and transformed the business model" says SNL Kagan associate director Robin Flynn. Advertisers are paying a premium for targeted in-stream audio ads...

While radio growth is slower than expected, there is growth and DiClemente believes the strengthening automobile business bodes well for radio and other media. He also expects political spending to help lift the third quarter too, although most of those dollars will be funneled to local television. What radio has to focus on is that how ever 2010 finishes, it beats last year...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1956] Our motto is born: By order of Congress and approved by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, "In God We Trust" becomes our national motto (7/30)...
2.1965] Medicaring: President Lyndon B. Johnson signs into law, the Social Security Act, establishing Medicare and Medicaid (7/30)...
3.1966] Tower Horror: Charles Joseph Whitman, 25, climbs the University of Texas tower in Austin and starts shooting. Before he's through, 15 lay dead, 31 wounded. Whitman was gunned down by Austin police (8/1)...
4.1973] Where were you in 62?: Better yet, where were you on August 1st when "American Graffiti" premiered? The movie makes stars of Harrison Ford and Richard Dreyfuss, enhances the careers of Ron Howard, Cindy Williams and Wolfman Jack. Suzanne Somers debuts as the blond in the T-Bird (8/1)...
5.1975] Poof: Former Teamster Union President Jimmy Hoffa disappears in suburban Detroit. Although presumed dead, his remains are never found (7/30)...
6.1976] Real Golden Gloves: The U.S. picks up 5 gold medals in boxing at the Montreal Olympics. Sugar Ray Leonard, Michael Spinks, Leon Spinks, Howard Davis and Leo Randolph are the winners of the gold awards. Sugar Ray and Leon Spinks will become pro-boxing champions (7/31)...
7.1995] Sprouting mouse ears: The Walt Disney Co. agrees to buy Capital Cities - ABC Inc. for $15 billion (7/31) They will later buy Marvel...
8.2000] Wedding Bells: Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt walk down the aisle. They will divorce in 2005 (7/30)...
9.2003] The last Beetle: In Mexico the last 'old style' Volkswagen Beetle rolls off the assembly line (7/30). Sprechen Deutsch???
10.2005] "Happy Trails": The rock journalist who introduced Bob Dylan to the Beatles, Al Aronowitz passes away from cancer at 77 (8/1)...

Music Memories:
•1960] Released on this date: "The Twist" - Chubby Checker (8/1). The single will top the charts for one week on September 19th. Two years later, when it's re-released it tops the charts again on January 13, 1962 for two weeks...1971]: "Bangladesh" - George Harrison (7/30) (See: 1971] Live from Madison Square Garden: for video...
•1966] #1 on this date: "Yesterday...and Today" LP (7/30) - Beatles...
•1968] Recording finished on this date: "Hey Jude" is completed by the Beatles at Trident Studios in London (7/31)...
•1969] Pop goes the AC Festival: 110,000 attend the 3-day Atlantic City Pop Festival held at AC Race Course (Sorry - the video has no audio). The star-studded lineup includes: Janis Joplin, CSNY, Joni Mitchell, Jefferson Airplane, the Moody Blues, Three Dog Night, Canned Heat and others (8/1)...
•1971] Live from Madison Square Garden: "The Concert for Bangla Desh" starring George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Ravi Shankar, Bob Dylan, Billy Preston, Leon Russell, Badfinger and more (8/1)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (7/30) Hilary Swank (36), Lisa Kudrow (47), Laurence Fishburne (49), Anita Hill (54), Delta Burke (54), California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (63), Paul Anka (69), Peter Bogdanovich (71) and Edd "Kookie" Byrnes (77)...(7/31) J.K. Rowling (45), Wesley Snipes (48), Evonne Goolagong (59), Gary Lewis (65), William Weld (65), Sherry Lansing (66), Geraldine Chaplin (66), Lobo aka Roland Kent Lavoie (67) and Robert Morgenthau (91)...(8/1) Tempestt Bledsoe (37), Alfonse D'Amato (73), 'Ziggy' cartoonist Tom Wilson (79) and Geoffrey Holder (80)...

Timeline Countdown: 9 days until Pro Football's HOF induction & first pre-season game, 38 days until Labor Day and 41 days until the NFL opener (Minn. at New Orleans)...

Radio Growth Slows But Should Rebound...

You win some...you lose some, you're up...you're down. Life is like that you know and so is radio. While radio growth has been steadily gaining, it has suddenly hit a pot hole. David Field, eminent economy watcher and Entercom Communications President/CEO says "Recoveries occur in fits and starts", adding that "there are compelling reasons to believe that the growth rate will re-accelerate. We have an excellent opportunity to grow revenue over the next couple of years." According to Field, radio should count its blessings, "It's worth noting that we are now two quarters into a solid recovery in radio ad spending." When asked about pricing, Field said "We're making progress. We see that overall pricing in radio is up - not up as much as we would like and frankly, not up as much as it probably should be." Field also had an answer about ad placements, "Our visibility is probably a little better. I think people are buying a little bit earlier than they were, as a general statement but the change is not dramatic." ...

Although Television pricing is up more than radio, that medium is a different animal. Both radio and TV sell by the numbers but the latter sells seasonally more effectively than radio does, something radio needs to address. Add to that that TV has always generated more revenue because of their enormous network reach and highly rated shows...

Field remains optimistic about radio's turnaround, saying "economic jitters" in the overall economy has impacted radio's second quarter growth. Financial experts have already expressed the same view about the economy in general...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1957] Paar for the course: Jack Paar becomes the new host of the "Tonight Show". Paar will host until 1962 and the arrival of Johnny Carson...
2.1966] Rock and Roll Wreck: Bob Dylan crashes his motorcycle near his home in Woodstock, breaking his neck. He remains in critical condition for a week. When he recovers he becomes a recluse for months...
3.1974] "Happy Trails": Mama Cass Elliot dies from heart failure in London at the age of 32 (reports that circulated for years about her choking on a ham sandwich were bogus according to the coroner)...
4.1981] Royal Wedding Bells: England's Prince Charles, 32 and Lady Diana Spencer, 20, tie the royal knot at St. Paul's Cathedral in London (the royals will divorce in 1996)...
5.1987] Life is just a bowl of cherries: Ben & Jerry introduce a new flavor in honor of the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia: "Cherry Garcia", still their #1 best-selling flavor. Many assume that they created the flavor after Garcia died...not true...
6.1989] "Worst Trade": Texas Rangers' owner George W. Bush makes what he describes as his "worst trade": Sammy Sosa and 2 lesser players for Harold Baines (a pretty good hitter) and the immortal Fred Manrique. Sosa will only hit about 400 home runs after the trade...
7.1993] Ivan the Free: The Israeli Supreme Court acquits retired Ohio autoworker John ("Ivan the terrible") Demjanjuk as a Nazi death camp guard...
8.1998] Right you are: Miramax buys the rights to the Beatles film, "A Hard Day's Night"...
9.1999] Blood Bath: A day trader opens fire in 2 Atlanta brokerage offices, killing 9 and wounding 13. He then turns the gun on himself. Earlier in the day he had killed his wife and 2 children...
10.2003] Two Salami's, no waiting: Bill Mueller of the Red Sox becomes the 1st player in major league history to hit grand slams from both sides of the plate in a single game which the Sawx win 14-7 over Texas...

Music Memories:

•1959] Recorded on this date: "Shout" - Isley Brothers...
•1961] On the road again: Dick Clark premieres his "Dick Clark Caravan of Stars" at Atlantic City's Steel Pier. The show goes on the road with Chubby Checker, Duane Eddy, Bo Diddley and others and becomes a summer staple...
•1978] Released on this date: "Whenever I Call You Friend" - Kenny Loggins/Stevie Nicks...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Martina McBride (44), Patti Scialfa Springsteen (57), Ken Burns (57), Geddy Lee (57), Sen. Elizabeth Dole (74) and Robert Horton (86)...

Timeline Countdown: 10 days until the Pro Football HOF induction and first NFL pre-season game, 39 days until Labor Day & 42 days until Minnesota and New Orleans open the NFL season...

Year-Over-Year Comparison Shows Stability Of Radio Listening Habits...

Nielsen is calling their first year-over-year comparison of spring radio ratings "the most inclusive sample available in the radio measurement marketplace." The study measuring radio listening was conducted in March and April among 115,672 consumers representing a population of 14 million. "Nielsen's address-based sampling (ABS) captured all listeners regardless of whether they have a landline phone, cell phone only, or no phone at all - ensures that the ratings are based on the most reliable representation of the population in the 51 local radio metros." Now let's look at the findings of this all-inclusive study...

To no one's surprise the study shows that listeners age 25 to 54 continue to be the most desirable demo in the land. What was surprising was the strength of cell phone only (CPO) households which continue to listen at a higher rate than the 12+ population. An estimated 16.3% of households are cell phone only, or no phone at all. Listening among persons age 18 to 34 remains consistent with their counterparts age 12 and over. While the amount of listening in the 51 markets showed a slight uptick over 2009, the places where people listen to radio have remained virtually unchanged. Car listening tops the list with an estimated 40% of listening among persons 12+, next at 34% of listening takes place at home and 23% of listening is at work. CPO listeners skew even higher at work with 28.5% tuning in on the job...

Sooooo programmers, based on these year-over-year numbers supplied by Nielsen, you better be providing enough traffic information not only in drive-time but at all hours of the day when there are major traffic problems. You better be including at least 20% of cell phone only customers in your promotions. Finally, with 23 to 28% of your audience listening at work, your focus should be on car listeners first, at home next and at work last in that order...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1945] Empire is hit: A U.S. bomber crashes into the 79th floor of the Empire State Building, killing 14 and injuring 26. The building only sustained minor damage...
2.1973] Wedding Bells: Lee Majors and Farrah Fawcett tie the knot. The couple separates in 1979 in an "on-again, off-again" relationship...
3.1978] Heeeeeeee's back: At Old Timer's Day at Yankee Stadium it's announced that Billy Martin will return as Yankee manager in 1979 (I remember being at this game. My jaw didn't shut for a week after this bizarre announcement)...
4.1987] So Sue me: The remaining members of the Beatles and Yoko Ono sue Nike from using "Revolution" in one of its sneaker ads without permission or paying for it. An out-of-court settlement is made at an undisclosed amount...1995] A settlement returns the rights to Jimi Hendrix's estate to his father. The ruling includes all unmastered tapes, concert recordings, photographs and other personal possessions...
5.1991] A pair of perfectos: Texas pitcher Kenny Rogers pitches a perfect game against California, 4-0...1994] Three years to the date in 1994, the next perfect game is pitched by Montreal's Dennis Martinez against the Dodgers...
6.1995] A life sentence: A jury in Union (SC) rejects the death penalty for Susan Smith, sentencing her instead to life in prison for drowning her 2 young sons...
7.1998] Blanket immunity: Monica Lewinsky is given blanket immunity from prosecution in exchange for grand jury testimony in the investigation of her, uh, relationship with President Bill Clinton...
8.1999] Curtains: Detroit running back Barry Sanders, in the prime of his career, retires after 10 years at the age of 31 (a lot of teams would sign him today if they could)...2000] Kathie Lee Gifford makes her final appearance as co-host of "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee" (Sheeeeeee's back but this time Reeg lucked out)...
9.2002] Tour de Lance: Lance Armstrong wins his 4th consecutive Tour de France...
10.2004] Kerry's the one: The Democratic National Convention in Boston nominates Massachusetts Senator John Kerry for president (Vietnam veterans drop what they're doing and call information for the number of the White House)...

Music Memories:
•1957] TV debut: Jerry Lee Lewis makes his TV debut on "The Steve Allen Show" singing "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On"...
•1956] #1 on this date: "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" - Elvis Presley...
•1973] Released on this date: "We're An American Band" - Grand Funk Railroad...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Vida Blue (61), Sally Struthers (62), Georgia Engel (62), Jonathan Edwards (64), "Garfield" cartoonist Jim Davis (65) and Bill Bradley (67)...

Timeline Countdown: 11 days until the Pro Football HOF induction & 1st NFL pre-season game, 40 days until Labor Day & 43 days until the 1st NFL game (Minnesota at New Orleans)...

Radio Apps Start To Pay Off...

Proof that offering apps to radio listeners is now paying dividends comes from Clear Channel. Among the 8 million people who have downloaded Clear Channel's free mobile applications, the average user is spending 3.5 hours listening to the streaming radio service and visiting an average of 4 stations a week. Since the apps are free to download, what's the pay off? Evan Harrison, Clear Channel Radio's EVP/President of online music and radio tells us the applications generate revenues in two major ways. The apps, available on iPhone, Android and BlackBerry, increase a radio station's overall audience (by an average of 15% when combining both apps and online), and the apps create additional opportunities for ads. Then there are the affiliate fees that are generated when a user buys a song or album through the V Cast app store on Verizon Wireless, or through Apple's iTunes. Since Clear Channel considers this a "less substantial" benefit, the pay-out can't be great but it's revenue they didn't have before adding apps...

Ads don't appear in the app until a user selects a station. That's when the ad takes over the whole screen. Harrison says users either have the option to click-through or dismiss it. The ads are returning a roughly 3 to 4% click-through rate. My guess is that each time you see the same ad the "dismiss it" percentage increases dramatically. In the next iPhone version to be released, the application will feature ads from Apple's own iAd network, which are touted as being engaging and returning good results. The ad content also features the typical audio ads you'd hear on the radio...

Clear Channel apps feature a number of celebrity stations in addition to content from their 750 terrestrial stations. Radio shows hosted by the Eagles and Maroon 5 are available and the app is currently featuring an exclusive music video created for American Idol by runner-up Alex Lambert...

While Clear Channel's success hasn't presented them with a license to print money, it does prove that offering radio apps is starting to pay off. A good thing for an industry that sorely needs whatever extra revenue they can generate...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1940] Bugged: Bugs Bunny makes his debut in the Warner Brothers animated cartoon "A Wild Hare"...
2.1953] This war is over: The Korean War armistice is signed at Panmunjom, ending three years of fighting...
3.1960] Nixon's the one: VP Richard Nixon is nominated for president at the Republican national convention in Chicago. The funniest sign at the convention was the pregnant delegate with a "Nixon's The One" sign on her belly...
4.1980] The Shah checks out: The deposed Shah of Iran dies in Egypt at age 60...
5.1992] Another Celtic tragedy: Boston Celtics star Reggie Lewis, 27, dies after collapsing during practice...
6.1995] This is dedicated to the ones we love: The Korean War Veterans Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C...
7.1996] Dropping a bomb: A home-made bomb explodes in Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta (GA) killing one person and injuring more than 100. The games continue and a suspect (Richard Jewell) is charged in the case in 2003...
8.2003] Sir Lancelot: Lance Armstrong wins a record-tying fifth straight Tour de France title. Armstrong would go on to win 7...
9.2003] "Happy Trails": Legendary comedian Bob Hope dies at the age of 100...
10.2005] Foam fly-over: NASA grounds future shuttle flights after a sizable chunk of foam insulation comes flying off the shuttle Discovery's fuel bank during liftoff...

Music Memories:

•1959] Released on this date: "Sleepwalk" - Santo and Johnny...1974] "Sweet Home Alabama" - Lynyrd Skynyrd...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": Alex Rodriguez (35), Maya Rudolph of SNL (38), Maureen McGovern (61), Peggy Fleming (62), Bobbie Gentry (66), Ron Alexenburg (68), Jerry Van Dyke (79) and Norman Lear (88)...

Timeline Countdown: 12 days until the Pro Football HOF induction & 1st pre-season game, 41 days until Labor Day & 44 days until the Vikings open the NFL season in New Orleans...

It's More Than Just Music That Matters To Listeners...

So what does it take to have a winning radio station? First of all, it's not entirely about the music. Just playing listeners favorite music is not enough. They can get their favorite music on their iPod, YouTube or any other digital service. How that music is presented is what it's all about. What's happening between the songs is as important as the music itself. A new confirmation of that is included in the recent Alan Burns and Associates study of female radio listeners. Results showed that respondents distinguish between "entertaining talk" and "useless deejay chatter" and that distinction drives much of the behavior that is observed in PPM ratings. "CHR's unique advantage is providing fun and helping listeners plug into shared experiences and tastes" says the man who conducted the study. Burns adds that "the station that does those things better than others, wins." ...

The study ranked the top 5 favorite music artists among CHR listeners. They are, in this order: Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas, Beyonce, Rihanna and Usher. Ke$ha is the hottest new artist. And if you've been wondering why you just don't hear as much hip-hop booming out of cars recently, hip hop has slipped to 4th in popularity for CHR listeners. Other interesting findings include that the highly coveted CHR P1 listeners are more likely to tune out "A Song I Don't Like" (71%) than "A Song I'm Tired Of" (48%). Top needs in a morning show for CHR listeners are "Play A Lot Of Music" (66%) and "Make Me Laugh" (58%)...

In another key finding, respondents knew the difference between "entertaining talk" and "useless talk" which results in holding listeners' interest and getting repeat listening. Song or artist pre-sells into commercial breaks help bring listeners back for more tune-ins and finally the listeners most inclined to join a CHR station's Facebook tend to be its heaviest listeners...

With the exception of Facebook and different music artists, all of the findings in this study have been practiced by winning CHR stations since CHR started. There are no surprises here but lots of confirmation about what it takes to be a winner...

10 Timeline Memories:

1.1948] Final Bambino Sighting: Babe Ruth is seen publicly for the last time attending the premiere of "The Babe Ruth Story" in Manhattan...
2.1953] They say you want a revolution: Fidel Castro begins his revolt against Fulgencio Batista with an unsuccessful attack on an army barracks in eastern Cuba. Castro eventually ousts Batista 6 years later...
3.1971] Moon shot: Apollo 15 is launched on a manned mission to the moon...
4.1981] I started to choke: New York Mayor Ed Koch is given the Heimlich maneuver when he chokes on chinese food. It saves his life...
5.1984] Blue busted: Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn suspends pitcher Vida Blue for the remainder of the season for cocaine possession...
6.1987] Going to Hall: Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame are Catfish Hunter, Billy Williams and Ray Dandridge (from the Negro Leagues)...
7.1990] Acting on disability: President George H.W. Bush signs into law the Americans with Disabilities Act...
8.1992] "Happy Trails": Mary Wells, Motown's first Diva, dies from larynx cancer, first diagnosed in 1990. Mary was just 49...
9.1997] Going to Hall: Giants owner Wellington Mara and Dolphins coach Don Shula gain entrance into the NFL Hall of Fame (7/26)...
10.2006] Insanity ruling: A jury in Houston finds Andrea Yates not guilty by reason of insanity in the drowning of her children in a bathtub in her second trial. She will be committed to a state mental hospital...

Music Memories:

•1963] Released on this date: "Mickey's Monkey" - Smokey Robinson & Miracles...1969] "Beggar's Banquet" LP - Rolling Stones...
1968] Hey Jules: Paul McCartney writes a song in tribute to Julian Lennon while dad John adds his finishing touch to it on this date...
•1972] #1 on this date: "Alone Again (Naturally)" - Gilbert O'Sullivan...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Kate Beckinsale (37), Jeremy Piven (45), Sandra Bullock (46), Kevin Spacey (51), Dorothy Hamill (54), Helen Mirren (65), Mick Jagger (67), Bobby Hebb (69), Brenton Wood (69), Dobie Gray (70), Darlene Love (72) and Blake Edwards (88)...

Timeline Countdown: 13 days until the Pro Football induction, 13 days until the 1st NFL pre-season game, 42 days until Labor Day and 45 days until the NFL opener (Minn. at New Orleans)...

Smartphones And "The "Cloud" Take On Sirius XM...

(Weekend Edition)

SiriusBuzz, the Sirius XM blog says the satellite company should be aware that Google may be ready to offer up a "cloud" based music service which would have an impact on any music service globally. "The issue of cloud computing is something Sirius Buzz has been talking about both here and on our Satellite Radio News radio show. The important thing with cloud networks is that it makes music and video files for services available from anywhere. This gives consumers more options on using and accessing their content on virtually any device capable of accessing the internet, and storage capacity is not an issue." Sirius Buzz notes that in addition to Google, existing services like Pandora and Slacker "come in at less expensive price points than Sirius XM. Initially the battle will seem to be between Apple and Google but satellite radio investors and fans alike need to watch these issues play out over the coming months." Sirius stock at the moment is at 95 cents...

Another concern for Sirius XM has to be smartphones. The amount of customized radio-type listening services is almost limitless on iPhone or Android (Google). If you want more than Pandora, you can download the Stitcher app for Android or iPhone and you have Fox Radio, CNN and more, and podcasts are available at any time. Even though Sirius has apps for its satellite radio service on popular smartphone platforms will subscribers continue to pay for it with so many other options???

If you're Sirius XM you sell your exclusive brands. No other radio service has Opie & Anthony, Howard Stern, Bob Dylan, Martha Stewart, Oprah and MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, NASCAR, Indy. Recently Sirius XM added weather and traffic. And while internet radio and smartphone service is becoming accessible in cars, satellite is increasing it's reach. If you're already hooked on Sirius XM while driving over the years, the only reason to switch is cost and that's what it will come down to - paying and remaining loyal to satellite or get as close as you can without paying for it...

10 Timeline Memories:

1.1886] Brodie does it: Saloonkeeper/Bookmaker Steve Brodie must have been sampling the schnapps. Brodie jumps from the Brooklyn Bridge and survives (7/23)... 2.1904] One scoop or two?: The ice cream cone is invented by Ernest Hamwi during the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis (7/23)...
3.1956] Tragedy at sea: The Stockholm collides with the Andrea Doria off the coast of Nantucket. Survivors number 1,660 but 51, including the crew, goes down with the ship (7/25). The Andrea Doria lies in 200 feet of water, 45 miles south of Nantucket. Divers continue to brave the depth and sharks in order to salvage valuables that still remain...
4.1965] Curtains: At the age of 75 and nursing a broken hip, Casey Stengel calls it quits as manager of the New York Mets (7/24)...1978] A tearful Billy Martin gives his famous "One is a born liar, the other a convict" speech. The liar was Reggie Jackson, the convict - George Steinbrenner. With that statement made, Billy Martin "retired" as Yankee manager (7/24)...
5.1969] Splashdown: The Apollo 11 astronauts (Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins) splash down safely in the Pacific Ocean after their historic walk on the moon (7/24)...
6.1978] Tubular belle: Louise Joy Brown, the first test-tube baby is born. Louise is a happily married postal employee with a 4-year old son, born naturally. Louise will be celebrating her 32nd birthday (7/25)...
7.1983] The Pine Tar game: A George Brett home run is taken away from him for using too much pine tar on his bat. The score reverts back to 4-3 Yankees (7/24). Mel and Rob Phillips see Brett go berserk at Yankee Stadium. AL President Lee MacPhail overrules the umpires and the home run counts. The game is resumed on August 18th with KC winning the game 5-4 after the Yankees fail to score in the 9th inning...
8.1990] Rosanne Boo: Rosanne Barr gets booed in San Diego for her disgraceful singing of the "Star Spangled Banner". Following her mangling of the song, she grabs her crotch and spits on the ground (7/25)...
9.1997] Lost and found: Police find the body of Andrew Cunanan, the suspected killer of designer Gianni Versace, on a houseboat in Miami Beach. Cunanan was believed to be a suicide (7/23)...
10.2007] The Price was right: Drew Carey is announced as the replacement for the retiring Bob Barker as host of "The Price Is Right" (7/23)...

Music Memories:
•1965] Electrifying: Bob Dylan goes electric in his first non-acoustic set at the Newport Jazz Festival (7/25)...
•1966] Released on this date: "You Can't Hurry Love" - Supremes (7/25)...1970] "25 or 6 to 4" - Chicago (7/25)...1971] "Surf's Up" LP - Beach Boys (7/25)...
•1969] Adding the 'Y': With Neil Young now a member, Crosby, Stills and Nash make their debut at the Fillmore East in Manhattan (7/25)...
1978] Debuted on this date: The movie "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" premieres in New York City (7/24)...
1995] 80 and still swinging: Frank Sinatra celebrates his 80th year with 3 nights at Carnegie Hall. This appearance is from 1980 (7/24)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (7/23) Daniel Radcliffe aka Harry Potter (21), Nomar Garciaparra (37), Philip Seymour Hoffman (43), Slash (45), Woody Harrelson (49), David Essex (63), Tony Joe White (67) and Don Imus (70)...(7/24)Anna Paquin (28), Jennifer Lopez (41), Kristin Chenoweth (42), Barry Bonds (46), Lynda Carter (59), Michael Richards (61), Dan Hedaya (71) and Ruth Buzzi (74)...(7/25) Billy Wagner (39), Matt LeBlanc (43) and Iman (55)...

Timeline Countdown: 1 day until NFL training camps begin opening, 2 days until the MLB HOF Induction (Andre Dawson, Whitey Herzog & Doug Harvey) & 15 days until the Pro Football HOF induction...

Slacker Adds News To Their Menu...

Slacker listeners will now get the morning news with their coffee and whenever they choose, 24 hours a day. Customized streaming services like Slacker, Last.fm and Pandora had up-to-now been missing a huge piece of information with which to pepper their music with - the news. An alliance with ABC News will now allow Slacker listeners to intersperse news updates with their music, or listen nonstop on a dedicated ABC News channel. Jonathan Sasse, senior vice president of marketing at Slacker says "Our listeners have been excited about the prospect of accessing news in our service and we are pleased to be offering them premium content from one of the most respectable brands in a truly innovative way." For those wondering why Slacker or any other service would want news with their music, a recent Pew Internet study should answer that question...

The Pew Internet study showed that more Americans get their news from the internet than from newspapers or radio and three-fourths say they hear of news via email or updates on social media sites. A majority of those surveyed, a full 61% said they get their news online. That's compared with 54% who said they listen to a radio news program and 50% who get the news from a local newspaper. Almost all respondents, 92% said they get their news from more than one platform. "In the digital era, news has become omnipresent. Americans access it in multiple formats on multiple platforms on myriad devices" reads the report, based on a survey conducted in December and January. "The days of loyalty to a particular news organization on a particular piece of technology in a particular form are gone." ...

By adding the news, Slacker becomes the first of the major internet music services to come closer to becoming full service. Not only is this a smart move on Slacker's part but it's sure to be copied by other music streaming services...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1916] They forgot the “un": During a Preparedness Day parade in San Francisco, a bomb goes off killing 10…
2.1931] O Solo Mio: American aviator Wiley Post completes the first solo flight around the world in 7 days, 18 1/2 hours…
3.1934] Dillinger down: A man identified as bank robber John Dillinger is shot to death by federal agents in Chicago…
4.1963] A Sonny day: Sonny Liston defends his heavyweight crown with a KO of Floyd Patterson (for the second time) in one round. The fight in Las Vegas was a rematch of a 1962 fight…
5.1981] Justice served: Turkish extremist Mehmet Ali Agca is sentenced in Rome to life in prison for shooting Pope John Paul II. Agca is now a free man...
6.1991] He’s busted - we’re disgusted: Milwaukee police arrest Jeffrey Dahmer after finding the remains of 11 victims in his apartment. Dahmer confesses to 17 murders and is sentenced to life in prison…
7.1994] Guilty as charged: O.J. Simpson pleads innocent to the murders of his wife Nicole and her friend Ronald Goldman…1995] Susan Smith is convicted by a jury in Union (SC) of 1st-degree murder for drowning her 2 sons…
8.2003] Welcome back: Months after her P.O.W. ordeal, Pvt. 1st Class Jessica Lynch returns home to a hero’s welcome in Elizabeth (WV)…
9.2003] Saddam’s sons: Saddam Hussein’s sons Odai and Qusai are killed by U.S. forces when they storm their villa in Mosul, Iraq…
10.2004] Grave report: The Sept. 11 commission issues a report saying America’s leaders failed to grasp the gravity of terrorist threats before 911…

Commentary: They called him "The Major" for his commanding presence and years of service in World War II. As a player he was light years away from the hall of fame as a third-string catcher for the Yankees in the 50s but his managerial career was another story. He would win three straight American League pennants and two World Series championships in his first seasons as Yankee manager. Ralph Houk would manage for 20 seasons with the Yankees, Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox but his high mark came in his first two seasons in the Bronx in 1961 and 1962. Houk passed away yesterday at the age of 90...

Music Memories:

• 1967] Rock & Roll Debut: Vanilla Fudge make their concert debut in New York...
• 1977] Surprise: Tony Orlando surprises everyone (including Dawn) when he announces on stage in Cohasset (MA) that he was retiring from performing...
• 1979] The evils of R&R: The Reverend Richard Penniman aka Little Richard, warns his North Richmond (CA) congregation against the evils of rock & roll music...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
David Spade (46), Albert Brooks (63), Don Henley (63), Danny Glover (64), Sparky Lyle (66), Bobby Sherman (67), Ron Turcotte (69), Alex Trebek (70), Louise Fletcher (76), Oscar de la Renta (78), Orson Bean (82), Margaret Whiting (86) and Bob Dole (87)...

Timeline Countdown: 2 days until NFL training camps begin opening, 3 days until the MLB Hall of Fame Induction (Andre Dawson, Whitely Herzog & Doug Harvey) & 16 days until the Pro Football HOF induction...