2008 in radio
Encyclopedia
Several events occurred in radio in 2008.
Events
- January 2: WWFTWRWMWRWM is a hot adult contemporary music-formatted radio station licensed to serve Fishers, Indiana, and broadcasting in the Indianapolis area. WRWM was recently granted a construction permit to move its city of license to Lawrence, Indiana, and upgrade its power from 2.95 kW to 6.9 kW in...
finished Christmas music stunting, rolling out the red carpet for Adult contemporary musicAdult contemporary musicAdult contemporary music is a broad style of popular music that ranges from lush 1950s and 1960s vocal music to predominantly ballad-heavy music with varying degrees of rock influence, as well as a radio format that plays such music....
branded as "Warm." - January 18: Music of Your LifeMusic of Your LifeMusic of Your Life is a satellite-delivered radio network featuring the Adult Standards music format. Created by record executive and jingle writer Al Ham, and now under the direction of Marc Angell, Music of Your Life has more than 50 AM, FM and HD-2 radio station affiliates, and has been in...
changes hands from Jones Radio NetworksJones Radio NetworksJones Radio Networks & Jones Media Group were branches of Jones International before being sold to Triton Media Group. JRN and JMN provide local radio stations with satellite-delivered formats. They also offer other services to local radio such as news and talk programs, syndicated radio shows,...
to Concierge Technologies. - January 21: XM Sports NationXM Sports NationSirius XM Sports Nation is a work-in-progress channel on Sirius XM Radio, and is mainly the result of a merging of Sirius Sports Central and XM Sports Nation, and a couple programming changes with sister channel Mad Dog Radio....
begins airing both The Dan Patrick ShowThe Dan Patrick ShowThe Dan Patrick Show is a syndicated sports talk show hosted by former ESPN personality Dan Patrick. It is currently produced by DirecTV Sports Group and is syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks. The three-hour program broadcasts live every day beginning at 9 a.m. Eastern/6 a.m. Pacific time on Fox...
and The Tony Kornheiser ShowThe Tony Kornheiser ShowThe Tony Kornheiser Show is a sports radio talk show out of Washington, D.C. hosted by Tony Kornheiser, which appeared on WTEM from 1992 to 1997; on ESPN Radio between 1998 and 2004; back on WTEM from 2004 to 2006; and on WTWP and then WWWT in 2007 and 2008; and back on WTEM since September 8, 2009...
. Kornheiser's show returns to air on the same date after a seven-month hiatus. - January 28: Tony BrunoTony BrunoFor Tony Bruno, the musician, see Tony Bruno Tony Bruno is an American sports talk radio personality in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
leaves Sporting News RadioSporting News RadioYahoo! Sports Radio, formerly Sporting News Radio is a United States sports radio network that broadcasts sports news, talk, scores, and highlights 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. On August 1, 2011, it was announced the network would change its name to Yahoo! Sports Radio, effective...
. - February: Mike McConnell's weekday show is pulled from syndication; it will continue as a local show, and his weekend show will remain syndicated.
- February 21: Air America RadioAir America RadioAir America was an American radio network specializing in progressive talk programming...
changes hands for the second time in less than a year; Pendulum Media purchases the network from Mark J. GreenMark J. GreenMark J. Green is an author, public interest lawyer and a Democratic politician who lives in New York City. He worked with Ralph Nader from 1970-1980, eventually as director of Public Citizen's Congress Watch, and is also the former president of Air America Radio .He was New York City Consumer...
. - March 1: Citadel BroadcastingCitadel BroadcastingCitadel Broadcasting Corporation was a Las Vegas, Nevada-based broadcast holding company. Citadel owned 243 radio stations across the United States and was the third-largest radio station owner in the country...
announces a large loss of revenue and jettisons several staffers. Among the notable names dismissed were John R. GamblingJohn R. GamblingJohn R. Gambling is an American radio personality. He is the son of John A. Gambling and the grandson of John B. Gambling, and as such was, and once again is, the third-generation host of The Gambling family's very-long-running New York morning radio show...
and Ron KubyRon KubyRonald L. Kuby is a criminal defense and civil rights lawyer, radio talk show host and TV commentator. He has hosted radio programs on WABC Radio in New York and Air America Radio.-Beginnings:...
of WABCWABC (AM)WABC , known as "NewsTalkRadio 77 WABC" is a radio station in New York City. Owned by the broadcasting division of Cumulus Media, the station broadcasts on a clear channel and is the flagship station of Cumulus Media Networks...
, Chris CoreChris CoreChris Core is an American radio and television personality formerly on Washington DC's 630 WMAL and host of The Chris Core Show from 9:00 AM to 11:45 AM EST...
of WMAL and Peter Tilden of KABCKABC (AM)KABC is a Los Angeles radio station, and a West Coast flagship station for the Cumulus Media company. A pioneer of the talk radio format, the station went "all-talk" in 1960 and was one of the first stations to do so...
. Melanie MorganMelanie MorganMelanie Morgan is an American radio personality. She was formerly a host at KSFO in San Francisco where her husband, Jack Swanson, was the General Manager. She was recently laid off due to budget cutbacks and declining ad revenue. She has also previously worked as a reporter for KGO-TV in San...
of KSFO, while not laid off, did not have her contract renewed. Meanwhile, Curtis SliwaCurtis SliwaCurtis Sliwa is an American anti-crime activist, founder and CEO of the Guardian Angels, and radio talk show host and media personality.-Guardian Angels:...
is promoted to midmornings at WABC, and a massive rollout of Imus in the MorningImus in the MorningImus in the Morning is an American radio show hosted by Don Imus on Cumulus Media Networks , and simulcast for television on Fox Business Network....
and The True Oldies ChannelThe True Oldies ChannelThe True Oldies Channel is a syndicated radio programming stream begun in the spring of 2004, hosted by American radio personality Scott Shannon...
commences. - March 1: Rollye JamesRollye JamesRollye James is an American radio talk show host. She hosted The Rollye James Show nationally and on international shortwave on WWCR from 2000 to 2011...
discontinues syndication of her show and continues the show as a satellite-only program. - March 3: CBS RadioCBS RadioCBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
divests itself of Westwood OneWestwood OneWestwood One was an American radio network and was based in New York City. At one time, it was managed by CBS Radio, the radio arm of CBS Corporation, and Viacom and was later purchased by the private equity firm The Gores Group...
; the latter company is sold to Gores Radio. - April: Triton Media GroupTriton Media GroupTriton Media Group, LLC, is a portfolio company of a fund managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., a global investment management firm. It is based in Los Angeles.-Triton Radio Networks:...
purchases Waitt Radio NetworksWaitt Radio NetworksDial Global Local is a national radio network based in Omaha, Nebraska, formerly owned by NRG Media and purchased in April 2008 by Triton Radio Networks...
and plans to consolidate its networks into its Dial GlobalDial GlobalDial Global is a radio syndication company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Triton Media Group and is a sister company to Townsquare Media, both of which are owned by Oaktree Capital Management....
brand. - April 1: WRNO-FMWRNO-FMWRNO-FM is an Interactive Talk formatted radio station serving New Orleans, Louisiana. The Clear Channel Communications station broadcasts at 99.5 MHz with an effective radiated power of 100 kilowatts.-History:...
in New Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
switches format to "Rush Radio" and all-day replays of The Rush Limbaugh ShowThe Rush Limbaugh ShowThe Rush Limbaugh Show is an American talk radio show hosted by Rush Limbaugh on Premiere Radio Networks...
in a stuntStunting (broadcasting)In radio broadcasting, stunting occurs when a station abruptly airs programming that is seemingly uncharacteristic compared to what they normally play...
that lasts six days. Limbaugh had previously been heard on crosstown rival WWL. - April 3: Randi RhodesRandi RhodesRandi Rhodes is an American progressive talk radio personality, formerly featured on Air America Radio and Nova M Radio and now on Premiere Radio Networks. Her eponymous program, The Randi Rhodes Show, airs live Monday through Friday from 3 pm to 6 pm Eastern Time.-Early life:Rhodes was born in...
is suspended from Air America RadioAir America RadioAir America was an American radio network specializing in progressive talk programming...
and quits the network a week later, joining Nova M RadioNova M RadioNova M Radio, later known as On Second Thought, was a radio syndication service providing progressive talk programming. Founded as Nova M Radio by Sheldon and Anita Drobny in 2006, its stated purpose was to purchase, own, and operate underperforming radio stations in small and medium sized markets...
on April 14. - April 11: Don GeronimoDon GeronimoMichael Sorce , better known by his stage name Don Geronimo, is an American radio personality formerly featured on the nationally syndicated radio talk show Don and Mike Show...
, of Don and MikeDon and MikeThe Don and Mike Show was an American nationally syndicated radio talk show hosted by the shock jocks Don Geronimo and Mike O'Meara, which aired from December 1985 through April 2008, when Geronimo retired in order to focus on his personal life. After Geronimo's retirement, the remaining cast...
, retires from radio. - April 14: WQNRWQNRWQNR is a radio station broadcasting a variety hits format. Licensed to Tallassee, Alabama, USA, the station serves the Auburn, Alabama, area...
is rebranded as 99.9 Kate FM with a variety hits format. - April 22: Drew Lane leaves his morning radio show Drew and MikeDrew and MikeDrew and Mike is a weekday morning drive radio show hosted by Drew Lane and Mike Clark on WRIF, 101.1 FM in Southfield, near Detroit, Michigan. The show was regularly the top rated show in the Detroit market for over 10 years until Drew Lane's departure, easily winning the time slot. The show had...
. - April 23: Steve Shannon leaves the nationally syndicated Steve and DC Morning Show to take a job at WERC in Birmingham. The show continues with D.C. Chymes as host, under the title of "D.C. and the Family."
- April 30: AOL and XM Satellite RadioXM Satellite RadioXM Satellite Radio is one of two satellite radio services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Radio. It provides pay-for-service radio, analogous to cable television. Its service includes 73 different music channels, 39 news, sports, talk and entertainment channels, 21 regional...
ended their partnership. - May 15: WYSP/PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
morning host Kidd ChrisKidd ChrisChris Foley, most commonly known by his nickname KiddChris, is an American shock jock. He hosted a radio show airing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 2005 until 2008....
and PD John Cook are fired by CBS RadioCBS RadioCBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
after learning that a parody song that was performed live on Chris' show, "Schwoogies" by Lady Gash, contained racial slurs and content. - May 24: Biz Radio NetworkBiz Radio NetworkThe Biz Radio Network is a small, privately held network consisting of three AM radio stations, as well as Internet streaming via iTunes distribution. The network is headquartered in Houston, Texas.- Overview :...
moves from KMNYKMNYKMNY KMNY KMNY (1360 AM, is a radio station in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex, which broadcasts on 1360 kHz and is under ownership of Multicultural Broadcasting...
to KJSAKJSAKVTT is an American radio station licensed to Mineral Wells, Texas. It is under ownership of Texoma Broadcasting, Inc. and is broadcasting a classic country format to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex...
in Dallas/Fort Worth MetroplexDallas/Fort Worth MetroplexThe Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington Metropolitan Statistical Area, a title designated by the U.S. Census as of 2003, encompasses 12 counties within the U.S. state of Texas. The area is divided into two metropolitan divisions: Dallas–Plano–Irving and Fort Worth–Arlington. Residents of the area...
. - June 1: The eXpat ChartThe eXpat ChartThe eXpat Chart is a syndicated radio-based Top 40 chart show broadcast across the globle on English speaking radio stations. It is based on the UK Top 40 format, and is derived from airplay from subscriber English-language radio stations across Europe and the Middle East...
launches on 4 English language radio stations across Europe. - June 10: AOL adds the streaming links from all of CBS RadioCBS RadioCBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
's 150 O&O stations to its online service. - June 11: Smooth AC returns to Denver and Honolulu full time via KKHIKXWAKXWA is a radio station licensed to Centennial, Colorado, USA. The station serves the Denver metropolitan area and is currently owned by Way-FM Media Group.-History:...
and KORL-FM, respectively. - June 13: WGVCWGVCSee also: WYRD-AM, WORD-AMWYRD-FM, known on-air as News Radio WORD, is a news/talk-formatted radio station in the Greenville-Spartanburg area of Upstate South Carolina. The Entercom Communications outlet is licensed by the FCC to Simpsonville, SC, and broadcasts at 106.3 MHz with an ERP of 25 kW...
/Greenville, South CarolinaGreenville, South Carolina-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
drops adult hitsAdult hitsAdult hits is a radio format, popular in the early 2000s, that does not adhere to a specific music genre, but instead draws from a wider playlist...
for an FM simulcast of news/talk WORD-AMWORD-AMSee also: WYRD-FM, WYRDWORD-AM, known on-air as News Radio WORD, is an News/Talk-formatted radio station in the Greenville-Spartanburg area of Upstate South Carolina...
/WYRD-AMWYRD-AMSee also: WORD-AM, WYRD-FMWYRD, known on-air as News Radio WORD, is an News/Talk-formatted radio station in the Greenville-Spartanburg area of Upstate South Carolina. The Entercom Communications outlet is licensed by the FCC to Greenville, SC, and broadcasts at 1330 KHz with an ERP of 5kw unlimited...
with a callsign change to WYRD-FM. - June 16: WGPRWGPRWGPR is an FM radio station in Detroit, Michigan brodacasting a Mainstream Urban format. Owned by the International Free and Accepted Modern Masons and operated under local marketing agreement by Radio One, the station operates on 107.5 MHz....
in Detroit, MichiganDetroit, MichiganDetroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
changes to full Urban AC dropping Smooth jazz (which they would sprinkle along side Urban AC) for a several years rebranded The New 107.5 WGPRWGPRWGPR is an FM radio station in Detroit, Michigan brodacasting a Mainstream Urban format. Owned by the International Free and Accepted Modern Masons and operated under local marketing agreement by Radio One, the station operates on 107.5 MHz....
. - June 19: WZZN in Chicago, Illinois changes its callsign to WLS-FM.
- June 20: Triton Media GroupTriton Media GroupTriton Media Group, LLC, is a portfolio company of a fund managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., a global investment management firm. It is based in Los Angeles.-Triton Radio Networks:...
purchases Jones Radio NetworksJones Radio NetworksJones Radio Networks & Jones Media Group were branches of Jones International before being sold to Triton Media Group. JRN and JMN provide local radio stations with satellite-delivered formats. They also offer other services to local radio such as news and talk programs, syndicated radio shows,...
and plans to consolidate its networks into its Dial GlobalDial GlobalDial Global is a radio syndication company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Triton Media Group and is a sister company to Townsquare Media, both of which are owned by Oaktree Capital Management....
brand. Jones Radio Networks officially signs off September 30. - June 26: In Vancouver, Oldies CKBD moves from 600 to FM 100.5 debuting an alternative rock format.
- July 25: The FCCFederal Communications CommissionThe Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
approved the merger of XM Satellite RadioXM Satellite RadioXM Satellite Radio is one of two satellite radio services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Radio. It provides pay-for-service radio, analogous to cable television. Its service includes 73 different music channels, 39 news, sports, talk and entertainment channels, 21 regional...
and Sirius Satellite RadioSirius Satellite RadioSirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
, with certain conditions. Four days later on July 29, the company is renamed Sirius XM Radio. - July 25: CTVglobemediaCTVglobemediaCTVglobemedia , was one of Canada's largest private media companies. Its operations include newspaper publishing , television broadcasting and production , radio broadcasting , and their respective Internet properties.Originally established by BCE and the Thomson family in 2001 combining CTV Inc.,...
announces a deal to sell 1331 Yonge Street1331 Yonge Street1331 Yonge Street was the civic address of an office and studio complex in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, It is located on Yonge Street, three blocks south of St. Clair Avenue...
, the longtime home of its Toronto radio stations CHUMCHUM (AM)CHUM, branded as TSN Radio 1050, broadcasting at 1050 kHz in the AM band, is a Canadian radio station licensed to Toronto, Ontario. The station is owned and operated by Bell Media....
and CHUM-FMCHUM-FMCHUM-FM is a Canadian radio station licensed to Toronto, Ontario and operated by Bell Media. It broadcasts at 104.5 MHz with a hot adult contemporary format that leans towards rhythmic adult contemporary...
, to a residential developer. The stations, along with the building's neon sign—which is considered a landmark piece of Toronto's cultural heritage—will move to new studios at 250 Richmond Street West250 Richmond Street West250 Richmond Street West is a studio complex in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The building now serves as the new headquarters of Bell Media Radio's national operations, a division of Bell Media and to the studios of the company's Toronto radio stations, CHUM , CHUM-FM as well as Bell Media's...
in downtown Toronto, near the 299 Queen Street West home of most of CTVglobemedia's cable televisionCable televisionCable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
channels, in early 2009. - August 1: Rush LimbaughRush LimbaughRush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
celebrates 20 years in national syndication. President George W. BushGeorge W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
along with former President George H. W. BushGeorge H. W. BushGeorge Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
and former FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
governor Jeb BushJeb BushJohn Ellis "Jeb" Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; the younger brother of former President George W...
called in at the top of the broadcast. - August 1: CBS RadioCBS RadioCBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
announces that it will put 50 radio stations in mid-size markets up for sale. - August 29: CHAMCHAM (AM)CHAM is a Canadian radio station in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The station is owned and operated by Astral Media, and transmits from towers located in Binbrook...
in Hamilton, OntarioHamilton, OntarioHamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
drops its classic countryClassic countryClassic country is a music radio format that specializes in playing mainstream country hits from past decades.This genre generally follows one of two formats: those specializing in hits from the 1920s through the early 1970s, and focus primarily on innovators and artists from country music's Golden...
format and begins stunting with Christmas musicChristmas musicChristmas music comprises a variety of genres of music normally performed or heard around the Christmas season, which tends to begin in the months leading up the actual holiday and end in the weeks shortly thereafter.-Early:...
, nominally becoming the first station in North America to switch to the format in 2008, before changing to talk radioTalk radioTalk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
on September 2. - September 30: Jones Radio NetworksJones Radio NetworksJones Radio Networks & Jones Media Group were branches of Jones International before being sold to Triton Media Group. JRN and JMN provide local radio stations with satellite-delivered formats. They also offer other services to local radio such as news and talk programs, syndicated radio shows,...
signs off as it was sold to Triton Media GroupTriton Media GroupTriton Media Group, LLC, is a portfolio company of a fund managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., a global investment management firm. It is based in Los Angeles.-Triton Radio Networks:...
ceasing broadcasting three services: Contemporary jazzSmooth Jazz (radio network)Smooth Jazz was a 24-hour music network produced by Jones Radio Networks. Its playlist consisted mostly of contemporary smooth jazz music from artists such as Boney James, Joe Sample, Kenny G., The Rippingtons, David Benoit and a dozen more artists...
, StandardsJones StandardsJones Standards was a short-lived 24-hour music format that was produced by Jones Radio Networks. Its playlist is composed of mostly adult standards from artists such as Frank Sinatra, Barry Manilow, Johnny Mathis, Rod Stewart and a dozen more artists....
, Adult hitsJones Variety HitsJones Variety Hits was a 24-hour music format produced by Jones Radio Networks. Its playlist was composed of adult hits from the 1970s to right now from adult contemporary/adult alternative artists of those eras such as Fleetwood Mac, John Mayer, Pat Benatar, Pearl Jam, etc; Variety Hits centers...
. See Jones Radio Networks#Satellite formats - October 10: WMVN, the former MOViN station in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, drops its format and becomes the first commercial station to change to Christmas musicChristmas musicChristmas music comprises a variety of genres of music normally performed or heard around the Christmas season, which tends to begin in the months leading up the actual holiday and end in the weeks shortly thereafter.-Early:...
for the entire holiday season, before planning to change to sports radioSports radioSports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
on January 1, 2009. When considering only non-stunting stations, WRIT-FMWRIT-FMWRIT-FM is a radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, owned by Clear Channel Communications. Branded as "Oldies 95.7", it airs a 60s-70s Oldies format....
in Milwaukee became the first non-stunting commercial station in the United States to change formats, on October 31. - October 31: KNRJKNRJKNRJ 101.1 FM, K224CJ 92.7 FM, K257CD 99.3 FM, and K228XO 93.5 FM are a quadrocast station serving the Phoenix area. KNRJ is licensed to Payson, Arizona, which is 57 miles north of Phoenix, while K224CJ is a 10-watt translator from South Mountain's antenna farm to provide a better signal to the...
/Phoenix, ArizonaPhoenix, ArizonaPhoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
says goodbye to their Dance format after six years, debuting Hip-hop music. - November 12: Sirius XM makes massive changes in its lineup on its Sirius and XM channels by eliminating or merging several duplicating formats.
- November 18: A.C. Nielsen announced that they will enter the radio ratings business, putting them in direct competition with ArbitronArbitronArbitron is a consumer research company in the United States that collects listener data on radio audiences. It was founded as American Research Bureau by Jim Seiler in 1949 and became national by merging with L.A. based Coffin, Cooper and Clay in the early 1950s...
. - December 15: CBS Radio trades five stations—KXJMKXJMKBFF is an Adult Top 40 radio station licensed to Portland, Oregon, USA, and serving the Portland area. The station is currently owned by Alpha Broadcasting.-Current Lineup:* Mornings 6a-10a: More Music Mornings with CJ & Nikki...
and KLTHKLTHKLTH is an Oldies/Classic Hits formatted radio station located in the Portland, Oregon, area and broadcasts at 106.7 FM. KLTH's studios are located in downtown Portland and its transmitter is located in Portland's west hills...
/Portland, OregonPortland, OregonPortland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, KBKS/SeattleSeattle, WashingtonSeattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, KQJKKQJKKQJK is a commercial adult hits music radio station in Roseville, California, broadcasting to the Sacramento, California, area on 93.7 FM. It is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications, which acquired it along with four stations in Seattle, Washington, Baltimore, Maryland, and Portland,...
/SacramentoSacramento, CaliforniaSacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
and WQSRWQSRWQSR is a radio station broadcasting on 102.7 FM. The station is licensed to Baltimore and serves that market. Its transmitter is located in Pikesville, next to the Pikesville Reservoir. It is under ownership of Clear Channel Communications. The station offers an adult rock hits format known as...
/Baltimore—to Clear Channel CommunicationsClear Channel CommunicationsClear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
in exchange for Clear Channel's HoustonHouston, TexasHouston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
outlets KHMX and KLOL. - December 17: Border Media Partners changes names to Border Media.
- December 28: The Sean Hannity ShowThe Sean Hannity ShowThe Sean Hannity Show is a talk radio show hosted by Sean Hannity on Citadel Media and Premiere Radio Networks. The program is broadcast live every weekday, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m...
is scheduled to change syndicators; Premiere Radio NetworksPremiere Radio NetworksPremiere Networks is an American radio network. It is the largest syndication company in the United States based on popularity of programming...
will take over syndication from ABC Radio; the show will continue to air on stations owned by ABC Radio parent company Citadel BroadcastingCitadel BroadcastingCitadel Broadcasting Corporation was a Las Vegas, Nevada-based broadcast holding company. Citadel owned 243 radio stations across the United States and was the third-largest radio station owner in the country...
as part of the deal. - December 31: Michael ReaganMichael ReaganMichael Edward Reagan is a former American radio host and Republican strategist. His nationally syndicated radio show, The Michael Reagan Talk Show, aired on stations throughout the United States on the Premiere Radio Networks before being dropped, after which it moved to Radio America...
's syndication deal with Radio America ends; Reagan will be replaced by Roger HedgecockRoger HedgecockRoger Allan Hedgecock is a conservative talk radio host and former mayor of San Diego, California. His show is syndicated by Radio America. Hedgecock still resides in San Diego...
in January 2009. Reagan will continue syndication through an as of yet unannounced syndication deal.
Debuts
- Lou Dobbs Radio. March 3. Talk radio program hosted by Lou DobbsLou DobbsLouis Carl "Lou" Dobbs is an American journalist, radio host, television host on the Fox Business Network, and author. He anchored CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight until November 2009 when he announced on the air that he would leave the 24-hour cable news television network.He was born in Texas and lived...
, independent political activist and host of CNNCNNCable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
's Lou Dobbs TonightLou Dobbs TonightLou Dobbs Tonight is an American editorial commentary and discussion program hosted by Lou Dobbs, previously broadcast on CNN and currently on Fox Business Network. The hour-long show aired live on evenings every weekday, and was replayed in the overnight/early morning hours. It covered the major...
. Syndicated by United StationsUnited Stations Radio NetworksUnited Stations Radio Networks is a radio network providing a wide range of programs and programming services for radio stations across the US and elsewhere...
. - Tom KentTom KentTom Kent ,is an American radio personality. As the head of the Tom Kent Radio Network, he hosts 105 hours of classic hits programming each week, which, as of February 2, 2009, is distributed through Cumulus Media Networks.-Biography:Prior to becoming syndicated, Kent worked on the air and in...
Radio Network. March 12. Kent, nine months after leaving the TKO Radio Network, launches a new network. - Your Time with Kim Iverson. March 31. Syndicated women's lifestyle program hosted by Kim IversonKim IversonKim Iverson is an American radio personality best known as the host of the nationally syndicated radio program, "Your Time with Kim Iversen", heard on many radio stations across the country. She is one of few notable women to have achieved national syndication in the radio broadcast industry...
and produced by Entercom CommunicationsEntercom CommunicationsEntercom Communications Corporation is the fourth-largest broadcasting company in the United States. As of November 2009, Entercom operates 110 radio stations in 23 markets across the United States....
. - April 8: KRBV/Los AngelesLos Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
drops urban adult contemporaryUrban Adult ContemporaryUrban adult contemporary is the name for a format of radio music, similar to an urban contemporary format. Radio stations using this format usually would not have rap music on their playlists. The format was designed by Barry Mayo when he, Lee S. Simonson and Bill Pearson organized Broadcast...
for adult album alternativeAdult album alternativeAdult album alternative is a radio format. A spinoff from the album-oriented rock format, its roots trace to the 1960s and 1970s from the earlier freeform and progressive formats....
as "100.3 The Sound." - Brantley and The Babe. April 11. The Fabulous Sports BabeThe Fabulous Sports BabeNanci Donnellan, best known by her title of "The Fabulous Sports Babe," is an American sports radio broadcaster, currently broadcasting on WHBO in the Tampa Bay, Florida area. She is best known nationally for being syndicated across the United States on both ESPN Radio and ESPN2, from 1994 until 2001...
marks her return to full-time radio after a seven-year hiatus, joining Scot Brantley on a daily afternoon talk show on WHBOWHBOWMGG is a talk radio station in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. WHBO is licensed to serve the community of Dunedin, Florida, USA, and is owned by Genesis Communications....
. - May 2: KVBE/Moapa, Nevada debuts with a dance top 40 format, targeting Las VegasLas Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. - Rambling with GamblingRambling with GamblingRambling with Gambling was a news and talk radio program aired on WOR 710 from 1925 until 2000. It was hosted by three generations of people named John Gambling throughout its entire 75-year run.-History:...
. May 5. The long-running morning show hosted by John R. GamblingJohn R. GamblingJohn R. Gambling is an American radio personality. He is the son of John A. Gambling and the grandson of John B. Gambling, and as such was, and once again is, the third-generation host of The Gambling family's very-long-running New York morning radio show...
returns to WORWOR (AM)WOR is a class A , AM radio station located in New York, New York, U.S., operating on 710 kHz. The station has a talk format and has been owned by Buckley Broadcasting since 1987, after the station was sold by RKO. The station has conservative, or right-of-center hosts.Its call letters have no...
in New York City. - May 12: KXJM/Portland, OregonPortland, OregonPortland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
drops rhythmic contemporaryRhythmic ContemporaryRhythmic contemporary, also known as rhythmic top 40, rhythmic contemporary hit radio or rhythmic crossover, is a music radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary rarely uses rock music or country music in its airplay, but it may...
for a sports talk format as "95.5 The Game." The KXJMKXJMKBFF is an Adult Top 40 radio station licensed to Portland, Oregon, USA, and serving the Portland area. The station is currently owned by Alpha Broadcasting.-Current Lineup:* Mornings 6a-10a: More Music Mornings with CJ & Nikki...
calls, rhythmic format and its popular morning show The PlayhouseThe Playhouse (radio show)The Playhouse was a Portland, Oregon-based syndicated morning drive time radio show which debuted on February 12, 2000. It originally aired weekday mornings between 5-10am on then-flagship radio station KXJM , with the last four hours of the show being broadcast live online with fully produced...
are picked up by CBS RadioCBS RadioCBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
outlet KVMX, which becomes "JAMMiN' 107.5" the same day. KVMX in turn becomes the first station to drop the rhythmic ACRhythmic Adult ContemporaryRhythmic adult contemporary is a format used on stations in the United States and Canada. It usually gears toward an older audience, ages 25 to 54. Stations using this format play disco from the 1970s and early 1980s, dance/pop music, adult-friendly hip hop/old school tracks, R&B, dance/freestyle...
"MOViN'Movin' (brand)"Movin'" is a brand name used for a variety of rhythmic AC and top 40 radio stations in numerous broadcast markets in the United States...
" format. - August 12: Bonneville International flips Oldies KBSG/TacomaTacoma, WashingtonTacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
/Seattle to all news. - August 18: GSN RadioGSN RadioGame Show Network Radio was an interactive internet radio game show that originally aired live on GSN.com from August 18, 2008 to November 13, 2009, hosted by husband and wife team Bob Goen and Marianne Curan. Other co-hosts filled in when one of them was unavailable. The four-hour program featured...
launches as an Internet only program, later to launch in syndication. - August 18: CICS-FMCICS-FMCICS-FM is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts at 91.7 FM in Sudbury, Ontario. The station airs a country music format, branded as KICX 91.7. The studio and offices are located at 60 Elm Street, and the station transmits a 50,000 watt signal from the CBC tower.-History:Owned by Larche...
, a countryCountry musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
station, launches in Sudbury, OntarioOntarioOntario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. - August 25: CKFM-FMCKFM-FMCKFM-FM, branded as 99-9 Virgin Radio , is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting at 99.9 on the FM dial in Toronto, Ontario. The station is owned by Astral Media...
in Toronto drops its Mix FM branding, becoming the first radio station in North America to license the British Virgin RadioVirgin RadioAbsolute Radio is one of the UK's three Independent National Radio stations. The station rebranded to its current name at 7.45am on 29 September 2008.The station is based in London and plays popular rock music...
brand. - September: A controversial revamping of the program schedule on Canada's CBC Radio 2 network is unveiled. New programs include Radio 2 MorningRadio 2 MorningRadio 2 Morning is the morning program on CBC Radio 2 in Canada, launched September 2, 2008. The program features a cross-genre selection of Canadian and international music....
, TempoTempo (radio show)Tempo is the midday program on CBC Radio 2 in Canada, launched on September 2, 2008.Hosted by Canadian opera singer Julie Nesrallah, the program airs classical music. Originally it ran from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each weekday; the show was later cut by an hour, and scheduled from 9 a.m...
and Radio 2 DriveRadio 2 DriveRadio 2 Drive is the afternoon program on CBC Radio 2 in Canada, launched September 2, 2008.On air from 3:30-7 pm, it is hosted by Rich Terfry, also known as Buck 65. The program airs a "mix of current singer-songwriters, roots and urban music."...
. - September: The PointThe Point (radio show)The Point was a Canadian radio program, which aired weekday afternoons on CBC Radio One. Hosted by Aamer Haleem, the program presented a mix of current affairs and lifestyle interviews and panel discussions....
debuts on CBC Radio OneCBC Radio OneCBC Radio One is the English language news and information radio network of the publicly-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It is commercial free and offers both local and national programming...
. - October 31: KWYD debuts a Rhythmic contemporaryRhythmic ContemporaryRhythmic contemporary, also known as rhythmic top 40, rhythmic contemporary hit radio or rhythmic crossover, is a music radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary rarely uses rock music or country music in its airplay, but it may...
format in Boise, IdahoBoise, IdahoBoise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
. - November 26: McGavren Guild Media forms a new radio representation company after the closing of Interep the day before.
- December 8: A radio version of the MSNBCMSNBCMSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
program Morning JoeMorning JoeMorning Joe is a weekday morning talk show on MSNBC, with Joe Scarborough discussing the news of the day in a panel format with co-hosts Mika Brzezinski and Willie Geist. It was created as the replacement for Imus in the Morning, which was canceled in April 2007 after simulcasting on MSNBC since 1996...
debuts on WABCWABC (AM)WABC , known as "NewsTalkRadio 77 WABC" is a radio station in New York City. Owned by the broadcasting division of Cumulus Media, the station broadcasts on a clear channel and is the flagship station of Cumulus Media Networks...
in New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, with a launch on other ABC Radio stations soon to come.
Closings
- Todd PettengillTodd PettengillTodd Clark Pettengill is a radio disc jockey for WPLJ 95.5 in the New York area. He is perhaps best known for his tenure in the World Wrestling Federation as an on-screen interviewer in the mid-to-late 1990s.-Radio career:...
's Saturday Night at the 80s. March 1. The ABC Radio program is quietly canceled due to network financial problems. - Sally Jessy RaphaelSally Jessy RaphaëlSally Lowenthal , better known as Sally Jessy Raphael, is an American talk show host, known for the eponymous Sally talk show she hosted for two decades.-Early years:...
on Talknet. July 7. The program, hosted by former television talk show host Sally Jessy Raphael, was cancelled without notice. - Mike and the Mad DogMike and the Mad DogMike and the Mad Dog was an afternoon drive sports radio program based out of WFAN in New York City that featured Mike Francesa and Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo talking sports and taking phone calls from listeners. From 2002 onwards the show was simulcasted on the YES Network...
. August 15. Host Chris "Mad Dog" RussoChris RussoChristopher Michael Russo , known as the "Mad Dog," is an American sports radio personality who is best known as the former co-host of the widely popular Mike and the Mad Dog sports radio show with Mike Francesa, which was broadcast on WFAN in New York City and simulcast on the YES Network...
abruptly left the show and its flagship station WFANWFANWFAN , also known as "Sports Radio 66" or "The FAN", is a radio station in New York City. The station broadcasts on a clear channel and is owned by CBS Radio...
on that day; Russo and Mike FrancesaMike FrancesaMichael Patrick "Mike" Francesa, Jr. is an American radio talk show host and television commentator. He is primarily known in his former role co-hosting the popular Mike and the Mad Dog show on WFAN in New York City...
had hosted the show together since 1989. Russo leaves to found Mad Dog Radio, a satellite radio channel, shortly thereafter. - 3WT Talk Radio. The Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
-based talk radioTalk radioTalk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
station, notable for being the successor to Washington Post RadioWashington Post RadioWashington Post Radio was a short-lived attempt by Bonneville Broadcasting and the Washington Post to create a commercial long-form all-news radio network in the style of National Public Radio...
and the home base of The Tony Kornheiser ShowThe Tony Kornheiser ShowThe Tony Kornheiser Show is a sports radio talk show out of Washington, D.C. hosted by Tony Kornheiser, which appeared on WTEM from 1992 to 1997; on ESPN Radio between 1998 and 2004; back on WTEM from 2004 to 2006; and on WTWP and then WWWT in 2007 and 2008; and back on WTEM since September 8, 2009...
, announces that it isn't earning enough ratings and will be giving up its frequencies to WTOPWTOP-FMWTOP is an all-news formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Washington, D.C., serving Metropolitan Washington, DC area. WTOP is owned by Hubbard Broadcasting.WTOP is one of two all-news stations in the Washington, D.C...
and WFED, two all-news radioAll-news radioAll-news radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcast of news.All-news radio is available in both local and syndicated forms, and is carried in some form on both major US satellite radio networks...
stations in the Washington market. Kornheiser will be without a flagship station upon his return in January 2009. - Smooth Jazz (radio network)Smooth Jazz (radio network)Smooth Jazz was a 24-hour music network produced by Jones Radio Networks. Its playlist consisted mostly of contemporary smooth jazz music from artists such as Boney James, Joe Sample, Kenny G., The Rippingtons, David Benoit and a dozen more artists...
. September 30. The smooth jazzSmooth jazzSmooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
network originated by Jones Radio NetworksJones Radio NetworksJones Radio Networks & Jones Media Group were branches of Jones International before being sold to Triton Media Group. JRN and JMN provide local radio stations with satellite-delivered formats. They also offer other services to local radio such as news and talk programs, syndicated radio shows,...
, and the last satellite smooth jazz radio network in the United States, will be eliminated in consolidation with Dial GlobalDial GlobalDial Global is a radio syndication company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Triton Media Group and is a sister company to Townsquare Media, both of which are owned by Oaktree Capital Management....
. Jones StandardsJones StandardsJones Standards was a short-lived 24-hour music format that was produced by Jones Radio Networks. Its playlist is composed of mostly adult standards from artists such as Frank Sinatra, Barry Manilow, Johnny Mathis, Rod Stewart and a dozen more artists....
and Jones Variety HitsJones Variety HitsJones Variety Hits was a 24-hour music format produced by Jones Radio Networks. Its playlist was composed of adult hits from the 1970s to right now from adult contemporary/adult alternative artists of those eras such as Fleetwood Mac, John Mayer, Pat Benatar, Pearl Jam, etc; Variety Hits centers...
will also be discontinued and consolidated with similar Dial Global networks on that day. Additional networks will be consolidated on December 29. - KBDSKBDSKBDS is a radio station licensed to serve Taft, California. The station is owned by Radio Campensina Bakersfield, Inc., which is itself owned by the United Farm Workers...
/Bakersfield, CaliforniaBakersfield, CaliforniaBakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
. November 14. The Rhythmic ContemporaryRhythmic ContemporaryRhythmic contemporary, also known as rhythmic top 40, rhythmic contemporary hit radio or rhythmic crossover, is a music radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary rarely uses rock music or country music in its airplay, but it may...
outlet goes dark due to a decline in advertising sales and a struggling economy in the Bakersfield market. - The Bob Grant ShowBob Grant (radio)Bob Grant , is an American radio host whose real name is Robert Ciro Gigante. A veteran of broadcasting in New York City, Grant is considered a pioneer of the "conservative" and "confrontational" talk radio format.-Early work:...
. November. Grant's evening show is bumped to make room for Curtis SliwaCurtis SliwaCurtis Sliwa is an American anti-crime activist, founder and CEO of the Guardian Angels, and radio talk show host and media personality.-Guardian Angels:...
's national syndication effort; Grant will continue fill-in work on the station until his contract expires, with the station's midmorning slot (where Sliwa was previously located) still a possibility. - Interep National Radio Sales. March 31, Declares Chapter 11 bankruptcy. November 25, declares chapter 7 bankruptcy. The agency, which represents radio stations in the United States, goes bankrupt and some of its assets are sold to Katz Media in court the same day.
- The Larry ElderLarry ElderLaurence Allen "Larry" Elder is an American radio and television personality. His radio program The Larry Elder Show airs weekdays 9 AM to noon on talk radio 790 KABC in Los Angeles, California...
Show. December 12. Elder's contract was not renewed; he had been on KABCKABC (AM)KABC is a Los Angeles radio station, and a West Coast flagship station for the Cumulus Media company. A pioneer of the talk radio format, the station went "all-talk" in 1960 and was one of the first stations to do so...
in Los Angeles since 1994. - KDXEKDXEKDXE is a radio station broadcasting a talk radio format. Licensed to North Little Rock, Arkansas, USA, it serves the Little Rock area...
. December 18. The Little Rock, ArkansasLittle Rock, ArkansasLittle Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
AM station, a former flagship of Nova M RadioNova M RadioNova M Radio, later known as On Second Thought, was a radio syndication service providing progressive talk programming. Founded as Nova M Radio by Sheldon and Anita Drobny in 2006, its stated purpose was to purchase, own, and operate underperforming radio stations in small and medium sized markets...
and a pioneer in children's radio, goes silent. - All Night with Danny WrightDanny WrightDanny Wright is a Seattle, Washington-based radio personality,The majority of his career and success was in the Cleveland, Ohio market, most notably at WGCL, where he was a Top-40 disc jockey known as "Dancin' Danny Wright." He departed WGCL when the station was sold by GCC Communications to...
. December 29. Wright and five other people are laid off as a result of Dial Global's takeover of Jones Radio, bringing an end to Wright's overnight country music show.
Deaths
- February 7 - Eugene "Rock" Brown, Philanthropist, DJ and Account Executive at WCKXWCKXWCKX is a radio station broadcasting an Rhythmic Contemporary format. The station is licensed to and serves the Columbus, Ohio metropolitan area. It first began broadcasting in 1993 under the call sign WJZA. The station is currently owned by Radio One...
/Columbus, OhioColumbus, OhioColumbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
(gunshot during a misunderstanding at a local bar innocent bystander) - February 12 - Bill Currie, Radio and TV sportscaster (Sports anchor at KDKA-TVKDKA-TVKDKA-TV, channel 2, is an owned and operated television station of the CBS Television Network, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. KDKA-TV broadcasts from a transmitter located in the Perry North neighborhood of Pittsburgh, and its studios are located in downtown Pittsburgh at Gateway Center....
; voice of North Carolina Tar HeelsNorth Carolina Tar HeelsThe North Carolina Tar Heels are the athletic teams for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The name Tar Heel is a nickname used to refer to individuals from the state of North Carolina, the Tar Heel State...
basketball; nicknamed "Mouth of the South") - February 13 - Jess Cain, morning host at WHDH-AMWEEIWEEI is a sports radio station in Boston, Massachusetts, that broadcasts on 850 kHz from a transmitter in Needham, Massachusetts, and is owned by Entercom Communications. The station is one of the top-rated sports talk radio stations in the nation. Studios are located in Brighton, Massachusetts...
(at 850; now WEEI) /Boston from 1958 to 1991 - February 27 - Myron CopeMyron CopeMyron Cope , born Myron Sidney Kopelman, was an American sports journalist, radio personality, and sportscaster who is best known for being "the voice of the Pittsburgh Steelers."...
, radio play by play commentator for the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... - March 4 - Fred Horton, program director at multiple stations in New York State
- March 22 - Big Jack ArmstrongBig Jack ArmstrongBig Jack Armstrong , aka Jack Armstrong, Jackson W...
, disc jockey at over 20 stations in California, Pittsburgh and at WWKBWWKBWWKB is an AM radio station in Buffalo, New York that operates on a frequency of 1520 kHz. It is owned and operated by Entercom Communications. The station carries a progressive talk radio format. Declaring itself as A New Voice, A New Choice, The Voice of the New Majority; WWKB carries a number...
in Buffalo, among others - March 26 - Wally PhillipsWally PhillipsWalter Phillips was an American radio personality best known for hosting WGN's morning radio show from Chicago for 21 years from January 1965 until July 1986, and was number one in the morning slot from 1968 until he left for an afternoon radio slot in 1986.Phillips was a pioneer of the radio...
, (b. 19251925 in radioThe year 1925 saw a number of significant events in radio broadcasting.-Events:*1 January: In Sweden AB Radiotjänst broadcasts its first programme....
), American radio personalityRadio personalityA radio personality is a person with an on-air position in radio broadcasting. A radio personality can be someone who introduces and discusses various genres of music, hosts a talk radio show that may take calls from listeners, or someone whose primary responsibility is to give news, weather,...
best known for hosting WGNWGN (AM)WGN is a radio station in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is the only radio station owned by the Tribune Company, which also owns the flagship television station WGN-TV, the Chicago Tribune newspaper and Chicago magazine locally. WGN's transmitter is located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois...
's morning radio showRadio programmingRadio programming is the Broadcast programming of a Radio format or content that is organized for Commercial broadcasting and Public broadcasting radio stations....
from Chicago for 21 years - April 8 - Gib ShanleyGib ShanleyGib Shanley was a sports anchor/reporter for ABC-TV affiliate WEWS-TV, Channel 5 in Cleveland, Ohio.- Biography :Shanley grew up in Shadyside, Ohio, attended Shadyside High School...
, radio play by play commentator for the Cleveland BrownsCleveland BrownsThe Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - May 3 - Lynne Cooper AurandtLynne Cooper HarveyLynne "Angel" Harvey was the producer for The Rest of the Story, and the first producer to enter the Radio Hall of Fame. Dubbed the "First Lady of Radio," Harvey's sixty year career in radio transformed American radio and television news format.Harvey was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and...
, better known as "Angel Harvey," radio producer and writer, wife of radio personality Paul HarveyPaul HarveyPaul Harvey Aurandt , better known as Paul Harvey, was an American radio broadcaster for the ABC Radio Networks. He broadcast News and Comment on weekday mornings and mid-days, and at noon on Saturdays, as well as his famous The Rest of the Story segments. His listening audience was estimated, at...
. - June 13 - Tim RussertTim RussertTimothy John "Tim" Russert was an American television journalist and lawyer who appeared for more than 16 years as the longest-serving moderator of NBC's Meet the Press. He was a senior vice president at NBC News, Washington bureau chief and also hosted the eponymous CNBC/MSNBC weekend interview...
, host of the radio/TV show Meet the PressMeet the PressMeet the Press is a weekly American television news/interview program produced by NBC. It is the longest-running television series in American broadcasting history, despite bearing little resemblance to the original format of the program seen in its television debut on November 6, 1947. It has been...
. - July 12 - Tony SnowTony SnowRobert Anthony "Tony" Snow was an American journalist, political commentator, television news anchor, syndicated columnist, radio host, musician, and the third White House Press Secretary under President George W. Bush. Snow also worked for President George H. W. Bush as chief speechwriter and...
, former talk show host on Fox News TalkFox News TalkFox News Talk is a satellite radio channel that showcases talk shows and news reports from Fox News Channel personalities, along with other Fox News and talk programming...
and White House Press SecretaryWhite House Press SecretaryThe White House Press Secretary is a senior White House official whose primary responsibility is to act as spokesperson for the government administration.... - July 28 - Khia Edgerton, better known as K-swiftK-SwiftKhia Danielle Edgerton , better known by the stage name K-Swift, was an American DJ, MC, radio personality and entrepreneur.-Early years:Born to Joseph and Juanita Edgerton, K-Swift was raised in Randallstown, Maryland...
, DJ/mix-show personality at WERQ/Baltimore, Maryland - August 8 - Ragan Henry, African-American radio station group owner
- August 9 - Isaac HayesIsaac HayesIsaac Lee Hayes, Jr. was an American songwriter, musician, singer and actor. Hayes was one of the creative influences behind the southern soul music label Stax Records, where he served both as an in-house songwriter and as a record producer, teaming with his partner David Porter during the...
, recording artist, TV/Film actor, voice actor, Radio DJ - September 12 - George PutnamGeorge Putnam (newsman)George Putnam was an American television news reporter and talk show host based in Los Angeles. He was known for his catchy phrase "See ya at ten, see ya then" intro prior to a broadcast of the news.-Biography:...
, 94, at the time of his death the oldest nationally syndicated talk radio host in the United States. Putnam was hosting Talk Back on CRN Digital Talk Radio Networks and KCAAKCAAKCAA is a commercial radio station located in Loma Linda, California, broadcasting to the Riverside-San Bernardino, California, area on 1050 AM with studios located in the Carousel Mall in San Bernardino, CA. KCAA airs news, talk, music and brokered programming.KCAA's most popular program was Imus...
. - September 23 - Ron Allen, 71, long running disc jockey and sports commentator for WARMWARM (AM)WARM is a radio station licensed to the city of Scranton, Pennsylvania. The station is also known as "The True Oldies Station" with Oldies programming featuring music from 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. The station is currently owned by Cumulus Media. The station is a Class B AM broadcasting station...
in Scranton, PennsylvaniaScranton, PennsylvaniaScranton is a city in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, United States. It is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest principal city in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. Scranton had a population of 76,089 in 2010, according to the U.S...
. - September 24 - Dick LynchDick LynchRichard Dennis "Dick" Lynch was an American football defensive back in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants. He was a one-time Pro Bowler in 1963, when he led the NFL in interceptions...
, radio color commentator for the New York GiantsNew York GiantsThe New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... - September 28 - John Harden Norris, 88, owner of WGCB-TVWGCB-TVWGCB-TV is a television station serving the Harrisburg/Lancaster/York region of Pennsylvania, United States. Broadcasting a digital signal on UHF channel 30, it is an independent station producing mainly Christian programs.It is also affiliated with Me-TV...
. Norris was the center of a dispute over the Fairness DoctrineFairness DoctrineThe Fairness Doctrine was a policy of the United States Federal Communications Commission , introduced in 1949, that required the holders of broadcast licenses to both present controversial issues of public importance and to do so in a manner that was, in the Commission's view, honest, equitable...
, one that he eventually lost, in 1964. (see: Red Lion Broadcasting Co. v. Federal Communications CommissionRed Lion Broadcasting Co. v. Federal Communications CommissionRed Lion Broadcasting Co. v. Federal Communications Commission, 395 U.S. 367 , established the doctrine that broadcast television stations are full First Amendment speakers whose editorial speech could not be regulated absent good reason...
) - October 27 - Dean BarnettDean BarnettDean Barnett was an American columnist and blogger and occasional fill-in radio host for Hugh Hewitt.-Early life:...
, 41, conservative commentator, blogger, occasional fill-in host for Hugh HewittHugh HewittHugh Hewitt is an American radio talk show host with the Salem Radio Network, lawyer, academic, and author. An outspoken Republican, evangelical Christian, he comments on society, politics, and media bias in the United States. Hewitt is also a law professor at Chapman University School of Law.-...
. - November 29 - Bill DrakeBill DrakeBill Drake , born Philip Yarbrough, was an American radio programmer who co-developed the Boss Radio format with Gene Chenault via their company Drake-Chenault.-Early career:...
, 71, Radio programmer, executive, DJ, and co-creator of the "Boss Radio" Top 40 format with partner Gene Chanault. - December 2 - Edward Samuel RogersEdward Samuel RogersEdward Samuel "Ted" Rogers, Jr., OC was the President and CEO of Rogers Communications Inc., and the fifth richest person in Canada in terms of net worth. His father Edward S. Rogers, Sr...
, 75, owner of the CanadianCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Rogers CommunicationsRogers CommunicationsRogers Communications Inc. is one of Canada's largest communications companies, particularly in the field of wireless communications, cable television, home phone and internet with additional telecommunications and mass media assets...
radio, television and cable empire.