Untitled Document

L & L & Alpha Broadcasting Announce Merger; Acquires Main Line Group For $57M

THE MOUTH, APRIL 18TH, 2014 ––
Alpha Broadcasting & L & L Broadcasting announced today that they have entered into an agreement to merge the companies and upon consummation of the merger, will become Alpha Media. The current corporate team for Alpha Broadcasting and L & L Broadcasting will remain and operate the company from the corporate headquarters in Portland, Oregon. Alpha Broadcasting is headquartered in Portland, Oregon where it operates six stations. L&L Broadcasting is also headquartered in Portland, Oregon and operates 43 stations in seven markets. L&L has been overseeing the operation of the Portland stations for the last year pursuant to a management agreement with Alpha.
Larry Wilson, Chairman and an investor in each company, said that “the merger will be the culmination of a long term plan to ultimately combine the two companies and will allow us to streamline our oversight of all 49 stations to take advantage of the many synergies.” “We are proud to have partnered with Alpha Broadcasting over the past five years in the Portland market. This merger is the result of the Alpha team executing on its original disciplined growth plan, and we are excited to be a part of the new Alpha Media going forward,” said Mark Dorman, Managing Director of Endeavour Capital. L & L Broadcasting also announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire 19 radio stations from Main Line Broadcasting for $57 million. Main Line Broadcasting is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and operates 19 stations in four markets including Louisville, KY; Richmond- Petersburg, VA; Dayton, OH and Hagerstown, MD-Chambersburg, PA. There’s not a better company than L&L Broadcasting to ensure this continued success,” noted Main Line Broadcasting CEO, Marc Guralnick.

Pandora Sued By US Labels Over Royalties On Pre-1972 Tracks

THE MOUTH, APRIL 18TH, 2014 –– Pandora is being sued by a number of US music labels accused of failing to pay royalties on use of recordings made before 1972, according to Reuters. - US copyright law only covers recordings made after 1972, but some states such as New York where the lawsuit has been filed, do offer copyright protection for recordings made prior to that year. The labels including Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, ABKCO Music & Records, Capitol Records, and UMG Recordings are calling on Pandora to end what they describe as “massive and continuing unauthorized commercial exploitation” of these older music tracks, which include songs by the likes of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Marvin Gaye, and Fleetwood Mac. It added that the Internet radio service’s “refusal” to pay royalties for use of the material was “fundamentally unfair.” Pandora’s Mollie Starr told Digital Trends this week, the company is “confident in its legal position and looks forward to a quick resolution of the matter.” Since its launch in 2005, Pandora has grown to assume 31 percent of the market in the US. iHeartRadio follows with 9 percent and iTunes Radio in third spot with 8 percent.

STUDY: Most Listeners Think Radio Is Mainly A Local Medium; Move To National Slightly More Appealing To 18-24 Demo

THE MOUTH, APRIL 18TH, 2014 –– Michigan based researcher Mark Kassof completed 718 telephone interviews with 18-64′s in the U.S. at the beginning of this month which tested the the basic premise: Is radio’s brand local? They asked when thinking about media – TV, radio, newspapers, the internet and so on, some media are mainly local – focused on serving one city or town – while others are mainly national – focused on the serving the entire country. In your opinion, is RADIO a mainly local or a mainly national medium? A whopping 65% chose LOCAL over NATIONAL at 32%. Kassof writes from a demographic perspective, this perception is across the board. Men, women, 18-24′s through 55-64′s…they’re all in the 60% range seeing radio as LOCAL, first and foremost. He then asked "If a local station you listen to switched to focusing more on national programming rather than local programming, do you think you would listen to it MORE or LESS than you do now? MORE 31% - LESS 51% - Wouldn’t matter 14%. However, adds Kassof, when moving to 18-24 yr. olds, more of them say a move toward more national programming would make them more interested in listening: MORE 43%, LESS 36%. 'Keep in mind,' Kassof explains, 'that what listeners think they’ll do given a hypothetical situation isn’t necessarily what they would do…that’s a limitation of research. And there are other factors involved…for example, what if the national programming in question happens to be very appealing to them??? See ENTIRE REPORT HERE

STUDY: Listening Hours Moving Quickly To Internet Radio

THE MOUTH, APRIL 18TH, 2014 –– A new report by BIA/Kelsey shows that Internet Radio is changing consumer listening habits and the industry economics are starting to follow. Recognizing new opportunities to reach and engage with these audiences, national and local advertisers are shifting budget into Internet radio services. At the same time, new technologies such as Interactive Audio Ads are also emerging to take advantage of voice-activated consumer engagement and conversion opportunities. “The Internet Radio Revolution has Arrived” outlines how a combination of changes driven by platforms, services, audiences and advertisers is reinventing audio. "Listening hours are moving quickly to Internet Radio and audio consumption as mobile opens up new possibilities for consumer engagement," said Rick Ducey, managing director of BIA/Kelsey. "Shifts in consumer behavior are causing advertisers to set aside spending specifically for this channel. To take advantage of these new opportunities, Internet Radio is also leveraging new tools such as voice-activated, interactive audio ads that enable convenient in-ad conversions.” For purposes of this report, BIA/Kelsey defines the Internet steaming audio market as streaming radio services such as Pandora or Spotify, and Broadcast Radio Station Streaming, whether simulcast or not. Either type of audio service may provide advertising supported audio services that may be linear. XAPPmedia Chief Marketing Officer Bret Kinsella added, “At over $16 billion in revenue, radio is a large advertising market. As consumers migrate to Internet radio, billions of ad dollars are shifting to new audio platforms. Internet radio also presents new opportunities for two-way engagement and direct consumer conversion creating more value than traditional radio advertising. BIA/Kelsey’s analysis highlights the dramatic shift that is gaining momentum today.”

[LISTEN] WMMS' Erika Lauren Fronts Rock Group Hawkeye

THE MOUTH, APRIL 18TH, 2014 –– Her day job has Ericka Lauren (center) in the studio as co-host of WMMS-FM Cleveland's Alan Cox Show. But away from the station she leads the electronic rock group Hawkeye. "Paramore meets Shiny Toy Guns is how Erika describes her band to cleveland.com. The group debuted its "Ruthless" album last year. "We produced and recorded it ourselves," said Lauren, who has also appeared on MTV's "Real World DC." Lauren said While Hawkeye may have started off more than three years ago as a side project, today the full-time radio host seems conflicted. "Music has always been my No. 1 passion, so if something [bigger] happened with the band, I'd be at a real crossroads," Lauren said. "I'd have to really figure out how I can make both happen or I'd have to make a hard decision to go with one because they're both my passion." (left to right: Adam Kraft, Jim Bacha, Erika Lauren, Ian Ver and Steve Pisk) LISTEN TO HAWKEYE'S UNIVERSE HERE PHOTO/Anthony Franchino

The Loop's Rock Girl Covers Maxim's May Issue

THE MOUTH, APRIL 18TH, 2014 –– Blogger Rober Feder says "Maxim is not normally on my reading list (no, really), but the magazine’s latest cover model merits a special salute." Known to WLUP FM 97.9 as The Loop Rock Girl, Shannon Ihrke will now be covering Maxim’s May issue in its annual “tribute to the troops.” Ihrke connection with the military is that after majoring in marketing for two years at Saint Cloud University (in her native Minnesota), she joined the Marine Corps, where she specialized in legal administration and accounting and earned the rank of Sergeant. Feder writes after first named The Loop Rock Girl (and winning a $75,000 contract) in October 2012, she was renewed by the station for another year at the end of 2013. On her Facebook page she post: “I’M FREAKING OUT MAN!”“My friend just sent this to me this morning . . . I’m on the COVER of MAXIM Magazine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really can’t thank you all enough for all your support. It’s official — I’m a Maxim Cover Model AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Lost Radio Program Featuring Hank Williams Recordings Found Over 60 Years Later

THE MOUTH, APRIL 18TH, 2014 –– Add this story as one more reason to never throw away recorded material. According to AP, Previously unreleased recordings of country legend Hank Williams who performed on a 1950 radio show will be released next month. Called "The Garden Spot 50' Programs, it featured 24 songs and jingles from a taped show that aired on a number of country stations.. Sadly, most of the tapes were lost, but one station, KSIB-AM in Creston, Iowa, saved its copies. The recordings were transferred, restored and mastered for release on May 20 by Omnivore Records. Hank's daughter, Jett Williams, said in a written statement that no one knew these recordings even existed until now. A biographer Colin Escott wrote the liner notes for the album and said the recordings were used to augment live acts on local radio stations.

MOTION: Dan Dierdorf Returns To Michigan As Radio Analyst For Wolverines; Joins Jim Brandstatter For Play-By-Play

THE MOUTH, APRIL 17TH, 2014 –– Following last summer's announcement that legendary play-by-play announcer, Frank Beckmann was retiring, yesterday the University of Michigan athletic department announced that ongtime color analyst Jim Brandstatter will move into the play-by-play chair, and former Monday Night Football's Dan Dierdorf will sit in Brandstatter’s former seat. According to freep.com, they know each other well, having played together at U-M — Brandstatter backed up Dierdorf on the offensive line in 1969 and 1970. “First of all, I’m going to have to get over hyperventilating at the very beginning, because that’s probably what will happen when I’m in the booth for the first time,” Dierdorf said yesterday on WWJ-AM (950), U-M’s flagship station. “I’m just so excited.” Dierdorf mentioned it would be a challenge of adjusting his critiques, because “a guy who makes $6 million-$7 million a year is held to a different standard than a sophomore in college that’s 19 or 20 years old.”

Spike TV To Present All-Star Comedy Tribute To Don Rickles

Spike TV To Present All-Star Comedy Tribute To Don Rickles -[SPIKE TV]

UH OH: James Franco Calls Theatre Critic A 'Little B**ch - [GAWKER]

[WATCH] Chelsea Handler Tells Ellen 'I'll Never Go To CBS' - [TV GUIDE]

OH MY: Rosie O'Donnel Drops 50 LBs And Tweets Photo To Prove It - [E ONLINE]

[WATCH] 'I Wanna Marry Harry' First Promo - [THE WRAP]

'Law & Order's' Dick Wolf -- bleek bleek -- Bringing Reality Series to A&E - [VARIETY]

Mrs.Doubtfire' Sequel In The Works - [THR]

Bill And Hilary Clinton To Become Grandparents - [US]

Kylie Minogue Laces Up For Cover Of 'Vogue' Australia - [DAILY MAIL]

UH OH: ABC Dropping Bryan Singer's Name From Ads Amid Controversy - [BUZZFEED]

TRAILERS WE LOVE: 'Third Person' with Liam Neeson - [COMING SOON]

SHARE JOCKLINE DAILY WITH A FRIEND, CLICK HERE

Glenn Beck Goes Hollywood; 'I Bought A Studio For A Reason'

THE MOUTH, APRIL 17TH, 2014 –– Glenn Beck tells The Hollywood Reporter: "I bought a movie studio for a reason," he says. "I have every intent of finding great artists who will tell great stories that aren't typical. Everybody thinks they know who I am because of my stint on Fox -- that was two years of my life. I'm much more into culture than I am into politics, and that's where I intend on making my stand." In an expansive piece, the radio host and media mogul says he is "ramping up" a film division at Mercury Radio Arts, the parent company of his radio show and digital media operation TheBlaze. Beck says he has been refurbishing The Studios at Las Colinas, a 72,000-square-foot facility in Irving, Texas (shown), where such films as JFK and RoboCop and TV shows including Prison Break and Walker, Texas Ranger have been shot. "We're getting it ready for some big plans," he says of the property, which he purchased in June. Beck says he has optioned several other ideas, some of which could be adapted into VOD features. He adds that he has purchased rights to his 2008 best-seller The Christmas Sweater back from Sony and will turn the story into a movie for television or theatrical release. Beck adds "We're beginning to agree that Republicans and Democrats suck -- they've built this machine to grind people into the ground. I hate this stuff. I hate politics. I hate politicians and I feel like I'm wasting my life. Don't we all know what's happening? George W. Bush was taking us down a road, and Barack Obama is taking us down that same road. What difference does it make? I don't want to waste my life anymore."

Sean Hannity & Howard Stern Named Among Most Powerful Media Figures In New York By The Hollywood Reporter

THE MOUTH, APRIL 17TH, 2014 –– Sean Hannity and Howard Stern joined an elite cast of those named by The Hollywood Reporter as its 35 Most Powerful People in New York Media 2014. Along with new entries of BuzzFeed's Jonah Peretti and Ben Smith, Vice Media's Shane Smith and Gawker's Nick Denton, others included Fox News Roger Ailes, Bill O'Reilly, Megyn Kelly, Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert, NBC's Jimmy Fallon and Bob Costas, just to name a few. Each of their choices was then explained along with a short interview. In explaining Sean Hannity's influence, they wrote: "Liberal media pundits cited Hannity's move on Fox from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. in October as evidence his influence was waning. Since then, his ratings are 27 percent higher in the key 25-to-45 demo than previous time-slot occupant On the Record With Greta Van Susteren, and has a bigger audience than CNN's Anderson Cooper and MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell combined. Hannity also attracts an estimated 13 million listeners a week to his radio show, which makes him the second-most-popular political talker in the medium, trailing only Rush Limbaugh. As for his rivals, Hannity says "I don't give a flying rip. But I think they're arrogant, egotistical, selfish, narcissistic morons. Their channel is horrible. They're on a mission 24/7 of left-wing radicalism. I'll leave it to you to decide who I'm talking about." As for Stern, he tell THR: "You've got to care," insists Stern. "It would be very easy not to, [but] I never got into radio for the money. It was because I really cared about the medium; I thought I could be my funniest and my best on the radio, not anywhere else."

Opie and Anthony Celebrate Their 20th Anniversary

THE MOUTH, APRIL 17TH, 2014 –– Greg (Opie) Hughes (L) and Anthony Cumia (R) will celebrate their 20th radio anniversary today with a special party to air live at 4 p.m. from Carolines comedy club on Ch. 99, XM 103 and Sirius 206. According to the New York Daily News, it's called “O&A20: Unmasked” is a special edition of the show’s regular “Unmasked” feature to be hosted Ron Bennington, cohost of the Ron and Fez show that’s also heard on SiriusXM. Opie Hughes got his start as an intern where he worked for several western New York radio stations such as 96.5 WCMF in Rochester on The Brother Wease Show. Opie has often referred to Wease as a mentor. Later he joined WBAB on Long Island, where he met Anthony. They did their first show in 1995 on WAAF-FM in Boston, and later moved to WNEW-FM in New York with syndication on other stations. They moved to XM Satellite in 2004. Brother Wease tells Jockline Daily " Opie is one of a very few who never forgot where he came from. And Anthony, I'm very happy you can now afford health care! That's a personal joke. Love you guys...Wease!" PHOTO/Opie And Anthony shown with Jim Norton.

CCME Teams With IF ONLY To Support American Red Cross

THE MOUTH, April 17th, 2014 –– Beginning this month, The American Red Cross, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment and the California Earthquake Authority are working with IfOnly to offer several one-of-a-kind experiences through their online auction. According to artistdirect.com, The proceeds from the exclusive online auctions will help more people prepare and recover from California’s next big quake. Here are a few highlights from the Red Cross experiences offered at IfOnly.com: A trip to see Justin Timberlake in London! It includes airfare, five nights of accommodations, and VIP tickets for you and a friend to his London show on June 10. A VIP Carrie Underwood Concert experience, which includes two tickets (located within the first five rows) to see Carrie Underwood in Lake Tahoe on July 18. Guests get to meet Carrie backstage, take a photo with her and get a one night stay at the Resort at Squaw Creek. You can also snag two July 30th Tickets and a Hand-Signed Item for an Aerosmith concert in LA. There is also a Shania Twain VIP Vegas meet and greet, where fans can watch Shania in Las Vegas with the best seats in the house and then meet her backstage and take a photo with the famed country music star. ifonly.com/Red-Cross-Events to bid.

MOTION: Michael Graham Heads To 106.7 Atlanta; Sebastian Davis Rises To Executive Producer For The Regular Guys; Monica Nelson Joins KMVA-FM Phoenix As Morning Co-Host

THE MOUTH, APRIL 17TH, 2014 –– Longtime Boston host , Michael Graham (AR) is headed south to Cumulus All News 106.7 from 9 to noon. Graham posted at his website that his final day on New England Talk Network and Boston Herald Radio will be April 25.
According to the GoLocalWorcester website, “Graham has been a mainstay on conservative talk radio since 1998. Prior to his most recent gig on WCRN, Graham hosted the daily talk show, The Natural Truth on the Boston station WTKK. Graham is also the author of several books and is a columnist for the Boston Herald.” According to the AJC's Rodney Ho, a start date has not been finalized. ########### WNNX-FM/Rock 100.5 Atlanta has promoted Sebastian Davis (AL) to Executive Producer for "The Regular Guys" anchored by Larry Wachs. He follows Tim Andrews who will continue with the show as a content contributor. ########## Monica Nelson has joined Hot AC KMVA-FM/Hot 97.5 & 103.9 Phoenix as its morning co-host. She joins current host Vinnie Del Rosso where they'll be known as The Vinnie & Monica Show. Monica formerly handled morning at KPKX-FM/98.7 The Peak. ########## Live 95.5 (KBFF) Portland announced that Hannah Byrom will join Tanya Brown and Mike Edwards on the Morning Mess Morning Show weekday mornings 5a-10a starting Monday, April 21, 2014. Hannah’s experience includes Morning Show Co- Host at WAZO/ Wilmington, NC and Co-Host of nationally syndicated night show, “Zach Sang and the Gang.”

San Luis Obispo Host Realizes Life Long Dream With Film Debut

THE MOUTH, APRIL 17TH, 2014 –– More than 25 years after KVEC/San Luis Obispo afternoon host, David Congalton moved to California with dreams of becoming a Hollywood screenwriter, he's finally making his big-screen debut with “Authors Anonymous,” a comedy whose cast includes “The Big Bang Theory” standout Kaley Cuoco, “American Pie” star Chris Klein (both shown above)and “Get Shorty” actor Dennis Farina in one of his final film roles. It makes its Central Coast premiere Friday and being screened in select cities across the nation. He tells sanluisobispo.com, “There’s definitely a sense of accomplishment and validation,” said Congalton, who has hosted KVEC’s “The Dave Congalton Show” since 1992. “Authors Anonymous,” which debuted March 18 on iTunes and video-on- demand, follows a dysfunctional group of writers who meet every week to critique each other’s work. Jonathan Banks (“Breaking Bad”), Jonathan Bennett (“Mean Girls”) and Tricia Helfer (“Battlestar Galactica”) also appear in the film. Filming took place in August 2012 in Southern California locations including Burbank, Sherman Oaks and West Hollywood. Congalton says he was particularly pleased with Farina’s performance: “He just steals the movie,” Congalton said. Sadly, Farina died last July, wasn’t able to see the final cut of the film.