So ya think Bonneville might like a do-over? Further proof that "timing is everything" has just reared its ugly head. What was Bonneville thinking when they included WTOP-FM in their sale of 17 radio stations to Hubbard Broadcasting for $505 million? The proposed deal was filed with the FCC in January, 2011. Just two months later comes word that WTOP-FM is the top billing radio station in the U.S. BIA/Kelsey announced the list of top ten billing stations yesterday with an asterisk next to WTOP-FM indicating the pending deal from Bonneville to Hubbard Broadcasting. Hubbard will be holding its Christmas party today. Why wait???
In addition to WTOP-FM being on T-O-P of the top billing station list are four FM's & five AMs. Seven of the ten have either a news, talk or sports format, two are CHR with one Alternative formatted station in the mix. BIA/Kelsey notes that audiences attracted by news, talk or sports are very attractive to national and local advertisers and "thus, these stations can generate substantial revenues." Most of the stations in the top ten were there in 2009. They include KISS-FM (LA), WCBS-AM (NY), KFI-AM (LA), WLTW-FM (NY), WHTZ-FM (NY), WBBM-AM (CHI), WINS-AM (NY) & KROQ-FM (LA). The only newcomer was WFAN-AM (NY)...
WTOP-FM GM Joel Oxley tells Radio Ink the secret to his station's success: "People always know exactly what we're doing when they listen to us. Being on FM has been huge for us. A lot of our listeners are younger and we have an even split between male and female listeners." An FM news station (in stereo, no less) was tried by the late Jack Thayer when he headed NBC Radio in the 70's. He even used the call letters WNWS (FM). As with most of his innovations, he had the right idea. He was just about 40 years too early...
1.1867] North to Alaska: The U.S. purchases Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million. The deal will be known as "Seward's Folly" after Secretary of State William H. Seward who brokered the deal for the U.S...
2.1909] Feelin' Groovy: The Queensboro Bridge aka the 59th Street Bridge, linking Manhattan and Queens opens to traffic, becoming the first double-tiered bridge. Now you can call it the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge..
3.1966] Back to work: Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale end a 32-day double holdout and sign with the L.A. Dodgers for equal $135,000 salaries. A bucket of balls and a fungo bat costs more than that today...
4.1967] Pass the pepper: The cover picture of the Beatles "Sgt. Pepper" LP is shot at Michael Cooper's photo studio in Cheslea, England...
5.1981] 'Honey, I forgot to duck': President Ronald Reagan is shot by John Hinckley. Reagan will make a complete recovery as will D.C. police officer Thomas Delahaney, also shot. Press secretary James Brady is not as lucky. Brady is left with permanent brain damage from his gunshot wound to the head. The 'Brady Law' will be passed in his name...
6.1986] "Happy Trails": Legendary actor James Cagney dies from a heart attack at 86...2002] Queen Mother Elizabeth of England dies of natural causes at 101...
7.1987] This guy's smart: Keith Smart pops a 17-foot jumper from the corner with 4 seconds left to give Indiana a 74-73 win over Syracuse as the Hoosiers celebrate their 3rd NCAA title under coach Bobby Knight...
8.1992] Musical call letters: WNSR (105.1) changes call letters to WMXV (The Mix) in New York. Today, Power 105 occupies that frequency...
9.1993] Touch 'em all Charlie: Charlie Brown hits his 1st home run in the Peanuts comic strip. Charlie wins his first game in this clip...
10.2009] Government issue: President Barack Obama takes unprecedented government control over the auto industry, rejecting GM & Chrysler restructuring plans...
Music Memories:
• 1989] O Solo Mio: Gladys Knight performs solo for the 1st time since her grammar school days. She sings 'Pip-less' during a Las Vegas date. Gladys says the Pips could be the "Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me"...
(WRKO...The Launch (Part 22) (March marks the 44th anniversary of WRKO Boston. All month long, I will be serializing the story behind the actual launch of what would become one of the country's legendary Top 40 radio stations and today continues to be a mainstay in New England with a N/T format)...
The late Roger Allan was our News Director when WRKO was launched. Roger was there at the old Yankee Network and remained for our format changeover and over 20 years beyond. Roger added these comments shortly before his passing in 2008 at the age of 79: "How can I ever forget the day we kicked Boston in the ass? The Now Generation hit Boston big. It's a 'happening.' There was the Globe, the Herald and the WRKO top 40 sheets (click "Music Surveys"). We had the newest of the new broadcast styles with 20/20 News which won innumerable news awards from UPI, AP & RTNDA thanks to people like John ("the barrrrometric pressure") Masters & Bob Stevens, Bill Rossi and Bob Cusack. The George Capalbo studios had the nation's best equipment. What a time for all of us."...
Which leads us to George Capalbo (click "Miscellaneous" for some of George's handiwork). George was our Director of Engineering but he also did our station filings: "I vividly recall filing the change of call letters with the FCC to make it legal. I was working long and exhausting hours to prepare for the big changeover. I have fond memories of the management and staff all pulling in the same direction and the elation we still experience at the success of the legendary WRKO." Gordon Brown, was one of the younger technicians who would become a disc jockey favorite: "I was promoted from Production Supervisor to Engineer as management wanted younger guys spinning the rock for the new jocks. I was matched with Chuck "Chuckles" Knapp on the 9-midnight shift. Chuck and Gordy became a solid team for several years...
Bill Wayland was one of our best salesmen. Bill went from selling a N/T MOR format to a Top 40 without missing a beat. Bill was at the Sack Savoy Theater the night of May 6, 1967 when all hell broke loose at the 4am showing of "Casino Royale": "I remember standing on Washington Street at 3am watching the police arrive. Memories. But I knew way before the ratings came out that WRKO was a hit. I walked the Irish Riviera from Dorchester to Southie on Carson Beach, on a warm day and all I heard was WRKO and the Red Sox on WHDH. We were there."
(Tomorrow: "WRKO...The Launch" - Part 23: Final Thoughts)...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": Norah Jones (32), Celine Dion (43), Piers Morgan (46), Tracy Chapman (47), MC Hammer (49), Paul Reiser (54), Eric Clapton (66), Warren Beatty (74), Rolf Harris (81), John Astin (81), Richard Dysart (82) and Peter Marshall (85)...
Timeline Countdown: 1 day until MLB Opening Day, 3 days until Final Four, 20 days until Passover & 26 days until Easter...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": Norah Jones (32), Celine Dion (43), Piers Morgan (46), Tracy Chapman (47), MC Hammer (49), Paul Reiser (54), Eric Clapton (66), Warren Beatty (74), Rolf Harris (81), John Astin (81), Richard Dysart (82) and Peter Marshall (85)...
Timeline Countdown: 1 day until MLB Opening Day, 3 days until Final Four, 20 days until Passover & 26 days until Easter...
