Showing posts with label Thom Brennaman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thom Brennaman. Show all posts

Friday, August 09, 2024

Media Notebook--8-9-24















MEDIA NOTEBOOK

A curation of news items about the media from this past week, with a particular emphasis on Chicago.



RADIO/PODCASTS

 

*Chicago Radio Ratings

=The numbers for July are out, and here are the top ten rated stations in Chicago (M-Sun, 6am-Mid, 6+)…

WDRV—6.6

WVAZ—6.5

WLIT—5.9

WXRT—5.3

WBBM-AM—5.2

WUSN—4.0

WLS-FM—3.9

WRME-FM—3.9

WOJO—3.1

WBMX—3.0

WTMX—3.0

=The Drive is back on top after a big month (+0.5) but take a look at WRME’s (Me-TV FM) numbers. The little engine that could moved up a whole ratings point (1.0) in the last month to vault into the top ten (tied for 7th). WXRT also took a nice jump (+0.6) to finish in fourth.

=On the other side of the ledger, the biggest drop occurred at US-99 (WUSN). They are down over a full point (-1.1).  WLIT (-0.7) and WOJO (-0.6) also took a hit.

 

 

*Is Danny Parkins Leaving the Score?

=According to this piece in Barrett Media, Parkins has been offered a seven-figure deal to move to FS1.

=If he is leaving, it won’t be in the next few weeks. Next week he is hosting the Score’s Cubs-for-a-Cure Radiothon beginning at 10am.


 

 

*White Sox Announcer Escalates Fight with the Score

=Yes, it’s true that Score talk show hosts have been pretty rough on new White Sox TV Play-by-Play man John Schriffen. But I don’t think this is a good way for him to win them over. Awful Announcing reports.


 

 

*Remembering Triad Radio

=Really interesting piece in the Reader about Triad Radio. It went off the air in 1977, but while it was around, the commercial free experimental station (remember the term “progressive rock”?) made its mark. Saul Smaizys is now trying to digitize his archives.


 

 

*Rewound Radio

=It’s coming back again this Labor Day weekend, a tribute to WCFL and WLS. A whole weekend of airchecks with music and original commercials from the all-time great jocks of the 1960s and 1970s. I interviewed Ted Gorden Smucker about it this week for Illinois Entertainer and I’m very excited. He even sent me a few promos, which I’ll give you between now and then. Here’s one of my all-time favorites, the great Fred Winston. Listen to Fred’s quips in this 40 second bit. Is there anyone better?



 

 

*Music News

=Taylor Swift shows in Austria were canceled because of a threatened terrorist attack.

=Steven Tyler’s vocal injury will prevent the band from ever performing again. Variety has the details. I only saw them in concert once, in 1984 in Springfield IL, and it did not go well. (This was pre-rehab). Tyler fell off the stage during the first song, the band got into a fight on stage, and just like that, show over.

 

 

*Ex-Chicago Radio

=Jaybeau Jones was once a program director in Chicago (Jammin’ Oldies). He is now the new morning man on Frank-FM in New Hampshire. For the past twelve years he was on Sirius/XM.

=Native Chicagoan (Former B-96 and WSHE) Rob Rose has gone into radio sales in Columbia, Missouri.

 

 

*Podcast Corner

=Hubbard named a new VP/Podcasts this week. John Goforth is his name. He is based in Chicago.

=The Pod Save America gang is undergoing a bit of labor unrest. Variety has the details.

=One of the most popular podcasters in America is Joe Rogan, the comedian. But how good is he at comedy? The New York Times reviews his latest Netflix special.

=Another popular podcaster, Bill Simmons, will become a free agent in 2025. That’s when his contract with Spotify runs out.

 

 

*Rest in Peace

=David Graves

Transformed WIND from a music station into a news/talk station. He was 76 years old.

=Ina Jaffe

Scott Simon eulogizes his NPR colleague. She was 75.

=Larry Nelson

Treasurer of the Illinois Broadcasters Association. He was 74.


 

 

MEDIA BIRTHDAYS/MILESTONES

 

 

*August 4, 1957—Robin Robinson birthday

=For many years Robin anchored the marquee newscast at Fox-32. She retired a few years ago after a distinguished career.

 

*August 4—Phil Manicki birthday

=Former Loop/Drive jock was a fixture of rock radio in Chicago for decades. My 2019 Illinois Entertainer interview with Phil is here. He also did a stint as a fill-in host at WGN, but for the last year or so he has been the program director of Me-TV FM. I interviewed him about that earlier this year.


 *August 4—Scott May birthday

=Scott worked with Kevin Matthews on the Loop, with Mort Downey Jr.’s television show, and is currently the keyboardist for the Ides of March. I interviewed him last year for my podcast.


*August 5, 1962

=Marilyn Monroe found dead in Los Angeles. This is the Newsreel report on the day of her death.


*August 5—Geoff Pinkus birthday

Geoff is a former WIND/WCKG talker. My 2008 Chicago Radio Spotlight interview with Geoff is here. 

 

*August 6—Fahey Flynn birthday

=Fahey Flynn was born this week in 1916. He also passed away this week in 1983. Fahey was one of the most popular and successful television news anchors in Chicago history, especially during his time paired with Joel Daly at Channel 7.


*August 6—Elizabeth Hess birthday

=Elizabeth worked at WJMK and WCKG in Chicago, and later co-hosted a show on WDWS-Champaign Urbana.

 

 

 *August 6—Tom Kent birthday

=Kent was a veteran of the WLS music era, and became the president of the Tom Kent Radio Network, which syndicated programming to 600 stations nationwide. He passed away earlier this year.

 

 

*August 7—Lorna Ozmon birthday

=Lorna was an air personality (WKQX), and program director (WTMX) in Chicago. She is now a very successful radio consultant and has been for decades.

 

 

*August 7—Chuck Knapp birthday

=Chuck is another alumni of the WLS-AM music era (1971-1972) and WCFL-AM.

 

*August 8, 1958—Deborah Norville birthday

=The host of Inside Edition worked locally here at Channel 5. For one of the greatest stories you’ll ever hear about Deborah, check out cameraman Chuck Quinzio’s book Life Behind the Camera.

 

 

*August 9—Bob Sirott birthday

=The WGN Morning man was inducted into the Illinois Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in September. Click here to read my most recent profile of Bob from 2021. 

 

*August 9--Fred Weintraub birthday

=Fred is a Renaissance man. He co-hosts a radio show from all over the globe, covers the Royal family, and handles the local high school sports programming for WCIU-TV. I interviewed him in 2020.

 

 TV/STREAMING

 

 *Pat Boyle Re-Signs with Blackhawks TV

=He confirmed the news himself this week on X/Twitter



*Thom Brennaman’s Second Chance

=There are a couple of interesting nuggets in this piece about Thom Brennaman and his return to sports broadcasting. Among them, the roles played by NexStar’s Perry Sook and Sean Compton. They championed his return.


 *Judd Sirott Moves to Boston Bruins TV Booth

=The Chicago native and former WGN radio announcer got a promotion this week in Boston. He moves from the radio booth to the television booth on Boston Bruins broadcasts. Judd is the nephew of WGN Radio morning man Bob Sirott.


*Colin Jost’s Bumpy Ride as a Surfing Correspondent

=He was in Tahiti covering the Olympic surfing events, which sounded like a dream gig. But he cut his foot and got a staph infection. Then he got an ear infection. And now he’s back home.


 

 

*Price Hikes Coming for ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu

=CNBC has the details.

=Also, I’m guessing the folks at Disney aren’t thrilled with Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. They’ve asked the DOJ to investigate the new sports streaming service Venu as a monopoly.


 

*Cable News Corner

=CNN’s media reporter Oliver Darcy has left the network to start a media newsletter called Status.




*Barkley Not Retiring After All

=This week he signed a new long-term contract with TNT. 10 years/$210 million, despite the fact that there will only be one more season of NBA basketball on TNT. Should be interesting to see what else they assign him to do in the following years.


 

 

*Maya Rudolph

=Not sure if there’s anyone more excited about Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign than Maya Rudolph. She’ll be back on SNL this season to portray Kamala on the show.


 

 

*Art Norman

=It turns out that Donald Trump’s appearance at the NABJ conference wasn’t the only thing that happened there…


 

*Fergie and Kenny

=Like I said, it turns out that Donald Trump’s appearance at the NABJ conference wasn’t the only thing that happened there…


 

*Rest in Peace

=Patti Yasutake

Asian-American actress, starred in television (Star Trek Next Generation) and films (Gung Ho). She was 70.

=George Schenk

Showrunner/writer/producer for NCIS. He was 82.


 

DIGITAL/PRINT

 

*Broadcasting + Cable to Cease Print Publication

=The news was announced this week. Print editions will cease at the end of September. The newsletter will also go away but will be replaced by “a new curated SmartBrief newsletter on Media and Entertainment.”


 

*Layoffs at Axios

=50 people across the country, or about 10% of their staff.


 *Bloomberg Disciplines Reporter/Editor Over Prisoner Swap Story

=One of Bloomberg’s top reporters Jennifer Jacobs was fired for violating the embargo on the story. An editor has been demoted. The New York Times has more.


 


STAGE/SCREEN

 

*Vince Vaughn Interview

=I thought this profile of Lake Forest’s very own Vince Vaughn was very revealing. He talks about his upbringing in a way I hadn’t heard before. It was in the Sunday New York Times.



 

*Bill & Ted on Broadway

=The actors who played Bill & Ted in the movies, Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter, are going to co-star again, but this time on Broadway. And no, it’s not a stage version of Bill & Ted. They’ll be doing “Waiting for Godot”.



*Glengarry Glen Ross Revival Coming to Broadway

=Check out this cast...Kieran Culkin, Bill Burr, and Bob Odenkirk. 


 

*Rest in Peace

=Jay Kanter

Hollywood agent to stars like Marlon Brando and Marilyn Monroe. Inspiration for the film The Apartment. Click on his name to read the obit. What an interesting life! He was 97.



SOCIAL MEDIA/TECH

 

*Google Loses Monopoly Case

=This is probably the biggest story in the media news this week. Google has legally been declared a monopolist. CBS News explains the implications of this decision.

=Six ways the Google case could change the internet


 

 

*Grok Pushing Misinformation on X

=Five Secretaries of State are urging X to fix their AI Chatbot Grok, which sent out false information about the upcoming election. Reuters has this story.


 

 

*Google Pulls AI Ad

=Perhaps you saw the ad while you were watching Olympic coverage. It was about AI helping a child write a fan letter to an athlete. I must admit, it bugged me when I saw it. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one. Google has pulled the ad.



As always, if you have any media story you’d like to share or think that I might be interested in sharing, drop me a line at rick@eckhartzpress.com or amishrick@yahoo.com. If you're in Chicago media and wondering why I didn't mention your birthday, it's probably because I don't know it. Drop me a line and let me know and I'll put you on my calendar.


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Friday, July 26, 2024

Media Notebook--7-26-24















MEDIA NOTEBOOK

A curation of news items about the media from this past week, with a particular emphasis on Chicago.



RADIO/PODCASTS

 

*Rest in Peace

=Don Buchwald

One of the most famous talent agents in America. This is what one of his former clients, former Chicago radio morning man Paul Barsky, wrote on Tuesday to eulogize Don…

        Today I learned that legendary broadcast talent agent Don Buchwald passed away. He's quite famous for being Howard Stern's long-time agent and in my opinion, he's the main person responsible for Howard's financial success. But a couple years before he became Howard 's agent, Don was my agent. Here's how I met him :

In the early 80's I was hired to be part of a new coast to coast music radio network that ABC radio constructed called " Superadio". One of the personalities on the network was the greatest top 40 DJ of all time...Dan Ingram of 77 WABC fame. Anyway, a month before the network was supposed to launch all over America...the entire staff was called into a conference room for a 2pm meeting at the ABC building in NYC and given the bad news that the project was " postponed indefinitely", which was another way of saying " canceled".

After the meeting, Ingram asked me who my agent was. I said I didn't have one. Then he said..." you need one, and I'm going to introduce you to mine.. his name is Don Buchwald....let's go". So now I'm walking down East 44th st. in NYC with Dan Ingram heading over to meet his agent. We get to the building, head up in the elevator , the doors open and Dan leads me directly into Buchwald's office and shouts, "Superadio's dead, and here's one of the casualties ...Paul Barsky...you need to sign him..he's gonna do big things". And right then and there , and without ever hearing a sample of my work...I became Don Buchwald's brand-new client.

Not long after that, Don went to work quickly and literally changed the trajectory of my broadcasting career. He landed me my first major market morning radio hosting job.... the morning show on WCAU-FM in Philly, and then a few years later he secured for me the morning drive hosting job at WLS-FM in Chicago. Always impeccably dressed, I used to call him " Dapper Don"... he was brilliant, wise, laid back yet fearless. May he rest in peace.

 


*Sound Exchange Sues AccuRadio

=Kurt Hanson is the long-time Chicago radio guy who created the internet radio powerhouse AccuRadio. Sound Exchange is the service that collects royalties for recording artists. The RAMP newsletter has the blow by blow of this lawsuit.


 

*Musberger Media Buys Back VSiN

=A few years ago (2021) Brian Musberger and former Chicago Tribune writer Bill Adee sold their multi-platform sports betting site to DraftKings. This week they bought it back from them. In a release, Musberger said:  "We truly appreciate the work we've done with DraftKings and look forward to continuing to collaborate on future projects. Bill and I couldn't be more excited about leading VSiN into the future and cementing our position as a trusted authority in sports betting."

 


*Blues Brothers, on Audible

=Dan Ackroyd is at the helm of this project on Audible. Count me in. The Associated Press has more information about it.



 

*Ex-Chicago Radio

=Jay Styles, who was here in Chicago at WSHE for about five years as the afternoon man/MD, has re-emerged on the radio dial. He is now hosting afternoons at WHEL in Ft. Myers, Florida.

 


*New Illini Announcers

=Two former Illini players will join the radio coverage of University of Illinois football this year, Carey Davis and Kevin Mitchell.  Davis was a co-captain for the 2003 Illini and later became a Super Bowl winner with the Steelers. Mitchell was one of the co-captains of the 2008 Illini team that went to the Rose Bowl.


 

*Rest in Peace

=John Mayall

British blues musician. He was 90.

=Abdul “Duke” Fakir

Last surviving member of the Four Tops. He was 88.

=Dick Asher

Former president of Polygram and Columbia Records. He was 92.

 

 

MEDIA BIRTHDAYS/MILESTONES

 


*July 21—Mary Ann Ahern birthday

=Political reporter at NBC-5 Chicago. Winner of multiple Emmy awards, and a Lisagor Award for Lifetime Achievement (in 2012). A native of Michigan City, Indiana.

 


*July 21—Danielle Tufano

=Danielle was a morning personality and program director at the River for several years before leaving the radio business. This has always been my favorite photo of her, strangling her fellow River air personality Mitch Michaels at one of Mitch’s book signings. I interviewed Danielle for Illinois Entertainer.



 

*July 21—Spike Manton birthday

=Probably best known for his years paired up with Harry Teinowitz at various different Chicago radio stations. Spike also co-hosted with Steve Dahl at WCKG and was the morning man at the Loop with Dobie Maxwell and Max Bumgardner in the early 00s. In addition, Spike is an award-winning playwright. I interviewed him on my podcast a few years ago.


 

*July 21—Tim Virgin birthday

=Tim is the afternoon man at WLS-FM but also had a long and successful stint at both Q-101 and WLUP. I interviewed him for Illinois Entertainer.


 

*July 21—Rich Strong birthday

=Rich has worked at WMAQ radio, CBS-2 television, and still works as a news anchor for USA Radio Networks. He now lives in Denver.

 


*July 22—Sam Alex birthday

=Nationally syndicated country music radio personality, originally from the Chicago area.

 


*July 23--Ray Rayner birthday

=The beloved children’s TV host of the 1960s and 1970s at Channel 9 was also a war hero. He was one of the men who escaped the German POW camp memorialized in the film “The Great Escape”.

 


*July 24—Sky Daniels birthday

=Sky was the evening jock and music director of the Loop during its initial heyday in the late 70s, early 80s. (PHOTO: Paul Natkin). I interviewed Sky for Illinois Entertainer just last year.



 

*July 24--Kathy Brock birthday

=Kathy was an anchor at ABC-7 in Chicago for 28 years. She retired in 2018. It was clear her co-workers thought very highly of her…


 

*July 25--Anna Davlantes birthday

=Anna has worked at high profile gigs in both radio and television in Chicago, WGN Radio, and Fox-32, NBC-5, and WTTW.

 


*July 26—Steve King birthday

=Steve had a famous run at WLS during their music radio days but is best known for his two-plus decade run as the overnight host at WGN Radio along with his wife Johnnie. He’s also the writer of a cult rock and roll hit. I wrote about that in the Illinois Entertainer in 2021.


 

*July 26—Charlie Van Dyke birthday

=One-time WLS-AM morning man during the station’s music radio days. Really made his mark out on the west coast at KHJ. Voice of television stations around the country. Father of Kiss-FM’s morning man Christopher “Brotha Fred” Frederick.

 


*July 26—Jim Avila birthday

=Award-winning television journalist, best known for his years at ABC network. He also worked here in Chicago at Channel 2 and is originally from the Chicago area (Glenbard East High School grad). Currently working in local television again in San Diego.


 

*July 27—Jon Hansen birthday

=Jack of all trades. Has worked in both radio (WGN) and television (WCIU, Fox-32), and also provides the in-arena entertainment at Chicago Blackhawks games. He’s also in the Illini Media Hall of Fame. I interviewed him for Illinois Entertainer.


 

July 27—Will Byington birthday

=Will is one of the premier photographers in Chicago. He’s also a frequent radio guest. He combined those two back in November when he came out to the first book signing for The Loop Files, hopped on the bar at Pippin’s, and took this photo.



 

TV/STREAMING

 


*Olympic Coverage

=There’s no excuse to miss any part of the Summer Olympics you’d like to see. NBC-5 Chicago and Telemundo Chicago will have 500+ hours of coverage beginning today with the Opening Ceremonies. The newscasts on both Channel 5 and Telemundo will also feature locally-focused coverage in every newscast through the closing ceremonies on August 11.


*Gaynor Hall Leaves WGN

=She announced the news on Friday just a few hours after my last column came out….


 

*Jon Lester on Marquis Network

=They gave Lester a tryout in the TV booth alongside the Hall of Famer Pat Hughes. If you want to see how he did, here’s a little taste of it.


 

*Ernie Johnson Takes a Leave of Absence from TBS

=He was the in-studio anchor for TBS baseball coverage, but he’ll be taking off the rest of the regular season and post season to attend to a personal matter. More info here.


 

*He’s Back

=Meanwhile, it appears someone else’s exile is over.


 

*The BBC to Lay Off 500 People

=That’s a big number, even if it’s over a two-year period as this article explains. 

 


*Rupert Murdoch’s Battle with his Children

=Reading this article it’s almost impossible not to think about the show Succession. Rupert is trying to change his “inviolable trust” so that his oldest son inherits it all because he has the same politics as Rupert. Murdoch considers his other three children too politically moderate to “maintain the value of his media properties”. He’s pitting his children against each other exactly the way Logan Roy would have done it.


 

*One more Newhart item

=This was one of my favorite pieces about Bob Newhart in the wake of his passing. Block Club Chicago explained the opening sequence of his show set in Chicago, and why he was hopelessly lost every day.


 

*Rest in Peace

=Autumn Crittendon

The former 16 and Pregnant star was 27.

=Ester TerBlanche

South African actress who appeared in All My Children. She was 51.


 

DIGITAL/PRINT

 


*RIP Walter Shapiro

=Jeff Greenfield announced the news via Twitter

=In addition to being a great political commentator, Walter also wrote a book about one of his ancestors who hustled Adolf Hitler. I talked to him about that for my podcast just last year.


 

*Gershkovich sentenced to 16 years in Russian Prison

=Evan Gershkovich was given a 16-year sentence. 

=Meanwhile another US/Russian journalist (Alsu Kermasheva) was given 6 ½ years in a Russian prison after a rushed and secret trial. The AP has that story.



As always, if you have any media story you’d like to share or think that I might be interested in sharing, drop me a line at rick@eckhartzpress.com or amishrick@yahoo.com. If you're in Chicago media and wondering why I didn't mention your birthday, it's probably because I don't know it. Drop me a line and let me know and I'll put you on my calendar.

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