Monday, January 17, 2022
Talk Radio Legend Michael Jackson Passes at 87. Talk radio host Michael Jackson, who achieved legendary status during his career in Los Angeles, died on Sunday (1/16) at his home in L.A. at the age of 87. Jackson, who retired from radio in 2007, had been suffering from Parkinson’s Disease for the past 10 years. He is best remembered for his iconic work at KABC, Los Angeles that lasted from 1966 to 1998. TALKERS founder
Michael Harrison (who served as a talk show host on rocker KMET in Los Angeles between 1975 and 1986) issued the following statement: “Michael Jackson was one of the all-time greats – a founding father – of talk radio. During his 32-year run at KABC, his very presence gave the station prestige and national stature as one of – if not THE – first very rare commercial outlets fully committed to the spoken-word format. Michael Jackson and KABC were synonymous with the phrase ‘talk radio.’ It should also be pointed out that his heyday in the format began prior to the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine in 1987 which, in my opinion, marked the beginning of the modern era of talk radio. That made him the member of an exclusive club of radio performers whose historical relevance and influence on things to come in the broadcasting industry are incalculable.” Jackson’s longtime producer
Lyle Gregory remembers Jackson in a piece you can read
here.
Monday Memo: Podcasting ‘Will Continue to Explode.’ In a marketing piece to the advertising community,
iHeartMedia CEO
Bob Pittman sees “no signs of growth abating.” In this week’s column, consultant
Holland Cooke outlines opportunities at the station level. Read it
here.
Pending Business: Early Warning. According to the “sales calendar,” January is over, and the first quarter is headed toward spring. Radio sales pro
Steve Lapa says it’s time for an early review of your sales game plan. “Like any other performance skill, practice, evaluation and repetition makes for improvement. The skills required for success in today’s sales environment may be different from the last few years.” Read about Lapa’s six questions you can ask yourself
here.
Chicago Sports Personality Les Grobstein Dead at 69. Windy City sports media
personality and WSCR “The Score” overnight talk host
Les Grobstein was found dead at his home in suburban Elk Grove Village on Sunday, according to a
report from Chicago media writer
Robert Feder. He reports that WSCR operations director
Mitch Rosen said Gobstein had been away from his show since last Wednesday due to illness. During his career, Grobstein was sports director at WLS-AM, Chicago for 10 years. He served at sports talk WMVP from 1991 to 1997. He began his overnight stint with WSCR in 2009. He began his overnight stint with WSCR in 2009.
MIW Names Three to Board of Directors. Three new members are joining the board of directors for Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio. Haley Jones of MRC Data, Melissa Mitchell of Bonneville International, and Brittney Jackson of Urban
One/
Radio One are joining the board of the organization that “consists of top-level female radio professionals who use their experience, influence, and resources to help other women in radio develop management and leadership skills.” Jackson currently serves as the general and digital sales
manager for Urban One/Radio One in Richmond where she is responsible for recruiting and developing new talent, leading multi-platform sales efforts, and increasing annual revenue. Jones serves as head of independents for MRC Data where she oversees independent labels, small radio groups, and managers with music intelligence for today. Mitchell is Bonneville International’s director of finance, corporate controller
and is based in their Denver market. MIW board president
Ruth Presslaff says, “We are extremely fortunate to have not one, but three powerhouses join our board. Their success speaks for itself; it’s their willingness to pay it forward for the good of women and our industry that makes each so special and appreciated. I’d be remiss in not thanking the three members leaving our board as their terms end:
Kay Olin, principal of
Olin & Associates, and past MIW spokeswoman, whose constant leadership, dedication, and long term participation profoundly impacted MIW and me personally;
Valerie Blackburn, principal at
VKB Consulting, whose financial expertise led MIW through the arduous process of establishing a formal 501(c)(3) status; and
Beth Neuhoff, president & CEO
Neuhoff Media who provided invigorating energy and challenging ideas that MIW will push ever forward.”
Cowboys Great Chad Hennings Takes Part in SRN News Series. Pictured here is
Salem Radio Network VP of news
Tom Tradup (left) with three-time Dallas Cowboys Superbowl champion
Chad Hennings. Hennings is in the SRN studios working with Tradup on a special, week-long special series on SRN News aimed at getting men involved in Christian ministries. The five-part series titled, “Get Off the Bench,” begins airing today (1/17).
COVID-19, Midterm Elections/Trump & the GOP, Texas Synagogue Assault, Djokovic Booted from Australia, NFL Playoffs, Winter Weather, and Martin Luther King, Jr Day Among Top News/Talk Stories Over the Weekend. The high rate of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. and the Supreme Court’s rejection of the Joe Biden vaccine mandate; the battle for control of Congress in November midterm elections and Donald Trump’s influence in the GOP; the Texas synagogue hostage incident; Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic is kicked out of Australia ahead of the Australian Open after violating the country’s COVID protocols; the NFL’s Wild Card weekend; intense winter weather hitting the Eastern U.S.; and the Martin Luther King, Jr weekend and holiday were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio over the weekend, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.
KFRU-AM/FM, Columbia Seeks Talk Show Host. KFRU-AM/FM, Columbia, Missouri is looking for a dynamic full-time, talk show host who will hit the ground running and immediately contribute to the successful community-based heritage radio station. The
successful candidate understands the broadcast business and takes pride in their work. This candidate needs to be a strategic and pro-active thinker. We require creative idea generating skills to constantly put the station in a position to succeed. Candidate needs a deep understanding of on-air, digital, and social media branding as well as a passion for impacting listeners in the community. If you enjoy a fast-paced work environment and have the gift to talk, please apply. Send your information to:
casey.bartholomew@cumulus.com.
Tags: Bob Pittman, Bonneville International, Brittney Jackson, Chad Hennings, Chicago, dead, Fairness Doctrine, Haley Jones, Holland Cooke, iHeartMedia, KABC, KMET, Les Grobstein, Los Angeles, Lyle Gregory, Melissa Mitchell, Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio, Michael Harrison, Michael Jackson, Mitch Rosen, MIW, MRC Data, news/talk radio, Parkinson's disease, Podcasting, Producer, Radio One, radio sales, Ruth Presslaff, Salem Radio Network, sports director, SRN News, Steve Lapa, talk radio host, Talkers Magazine, The Score, Tom Tradup, Urban One, WLS-AM, WMVP, WSCR
Category: Front Page News, Industry News