Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Tom Weinberg at the Billy Goat

This evening I'll be at the Billy Goat Tavern on Lower Michigan from 5:30--7:30 for a book signing. Tom Weinberg, the author of a great new book "Chasing the Lost City", will be on hand. He says he'll buy a cheeseborger for anyone who buys a book.

Of course, if you can't make it, "Chasing the Lost City" is available at Eckhartz Press.
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Eddie O

Great news for hockey fans. Eddie Olycyk is returning to the broadcast booth tomorrow night. From NBC Sports...

The Chicago Blackhawks visit the St. Louis Blues for Wednesday’s Rivalry Night contest on NBCSN, and there will be a familiar voice on the broadcast. Eddie Olczyk will return to the broadcast booth for this contest — the first meeting of the season between these two Central Division rivals — just over two months after it was publicly revealed that he had been diagnosed with colon cancer and was undergoing treatment following surgery to remove a tumor.

“We have some dates that we have highlighted and hopefully I will be strong to do the job,” Olczyk told USA Today. “If I am not feeling good, I just have to be honest with everyone and tell them I can’t do it.”
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The Lonely Crusade of Jim DeRogatis

Mark Caro has written this piece for Chicago Magazine about Chicago music critic Jim DeRogatis, and his 17 year quest to uncover sexual abuse by Chicago's very own R. Kelly.

Great read. Highly recommended.
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The Price That Journalists Can Pay

Despite what you hear about the mainstream press from some quarters, legitimate news outlets in America provide an invaluable service to our country. They are staffed with professional journalists who report what they find, even if that upsets the people in power.

In other countries it often doesn't work that way, and when it does, the journalists themselves are in danger. Daphne Caruana Galizia was a journalist from Malta who wrote about corruption. Among the stories she broke, the Panama Papers, which exposed Vladimir Putin's worldwide money laundering.

Yesterday Daphne got into her car, turned the ignition, and was blown to bits.
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Doin' the Cruise on GoodReads

The reviews have been coming in about Mitch Michael's book "Doin the Cruise". Here are a few on GoodReads...


Bart Shore
Oct 13, 2017 Bart Shore rated it it was amazing
I loved this book - Doin' The Cruise was a great read, I used to hear Mitch back in his WDAI days when I was in High School, then followed him along his path of rock and roll radio. Having been in the radio industry myself, starting out in Iowa and then coming to Chicago for my own path on the radio dial, it was so interesting to me to hear Mitch's stories. In fact while I was in Iowa, we used to run some of the radio commercials Mitch talked about producing in the book, and it was always cool for me to hear Mitch on my station in Iowa, knowing that this was "the guy in Chicago" who I used to listen to. For me, there were so many names in the book that I either knew personally or heard on the radio over the years, it was like finding a long lost friend or two, in fact I just reconnected with someone in the book that I haven't talked to in years. So, even if you're not in Chicago Radio, this is a fun read to hear it from a guy who was there for some of the greatest times in FM Rock Radio. Mitch is still "Doin' The Cruise" ..thank goodness.

Karen
Sep 22, 2017 Karen rated it it was amazing
For *anyone* who grew up on a steady diet of rock radio in Chicago, this is a MUST READ. And if you're not in that category, but you have a sincere love of and passion for the music, this is a MUST READ. This is a first-class, first-hand story from a guy who helped fashion the rock-radio landscape in Chicago, and how hard he worked to survive all the ups and downs in a brutal industry...thanks to a sincere love of and passion for the music. It always comes back to the music. Mitch Michaels, currently doin' the cruise at 95.9 The River, thank you for your hard work and for your honesty in sharing your journey. And for believing in the music. KC sez "check it out!"

Jan
Oct 08, 2017 Jan rated it it was amazing
If you have any interest in Chicago radio and/or the rock music scene in Chicago, this is the book for you. Well-written and full of interesting stories. I couldn't put the book down.

Bob
Sep 20, 2017 Bob rated it it was amazing
A must-read for fans of radio and rock & roll music. Radio legend Mitch Michaels takes you behind the scenes of some of Chicago's most popular radio stations that were part of his remarkable career. An honest, in-depth, revealing look at the radio stations, DJ's, management, and rock stars that created the soundtrack to our lives. The memoir is very enlightening, and at times extremely funny, but also with moments that are heartbreaking. Mitch Michaels along with Ken Churilla have perhaps written the best book to date that captures the life of one of Chicago's most beloved radio personalities. A great read from start to finish.
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Monday, October 16, 2017

This is how you play soccer, boys and girls

Absolutely amazing...

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What happens when you answer spam

My Minutia Men partner Dave did this a few years ago. This guy did too, and turned it into a Ted talk...

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O'Donnell Leaker Fired

Remember that embarrassing meltdown tape of Lawrence O'Donnell that got leaked a few weeks ago?

Well, the people at NBC tracked down the person who leaked it. It was an editor at the Today show.

That person has been fired.
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Nimm ein Knie

The German professional soccer team Herta Berlin took a knee before their game this weekend to show solidarity with American football players protesting racial discrimination.

The Washington Post has the story.

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What it's like to be an Illini fan these days

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Eaten by the Dog

John Landecker got the first copy of his special Hall of Fame edition of "Records Truly Is My Middle Name" and it's already been claimed by the boss of his house...his dog Colt. The rest of the books are being printed as I write this. John will autograph every copyof this limited edition (which is available for pre-order now! https://eckhartzpress.com/shop/records-truly-middle-name-radio-hall-fame-limited-edition/)

We will make sure that Colt isn't around when John signs them.
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Full Page Ad


Larry Flynt took out a full-page ad in the Washington Post asking for dirt on the president that could lead to his impeachment. He is willing to pay $10 million.

Here is the ad.

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SNL Takes on Harvey Weinstein



By the way, you know that President Trump isn't happy this subject has come up again. It's causing people to remember that 11 (!) women accused him of similar behavior.

One of them subpeoned his campaign yesterday.
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Sunday, October 15, 2017

Pretty Darn Funny

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Tom Weinberg in the Chicago Tribune

Tom Weinberg has written an incredible book called "Chasing the Lost City: Chronicles of Discovery in Honduras". This weekend it got the attention of the great Rick Kogan, who comibined Tom's book and another book by Chicago legend Bruce Elliot (owner of the Old Town Ale House) into his column. You can read the entire column here.

Below are a few excerpts about Tom's book...

Tom Weinberg, longtime and pioneering videographer, gives us “Chasing the Lost City: Chronicles of Discovery in Honduras” (Eckhartz Press), a lavishly illustrated and compelling tale of his more than 20-year obsession (his word) with and journeys to, as he writes, “one of the wildest and most dense spots anywhere in the Americas.”

Weinberg was born and raised in Highland Park, where as a child he loved “tromping through the ravines” near his home. Elliott was born and raised in Downers Grove, which he ever refers to as “Uppers Grove.” Though both have spent most of their lives in Chicago, their paths have crossed only a couple of times, and those in recent years. They likely have some friends in common and both certainly knew (Weinberg knew very well) the author-radio host Studs Terkel who, in his fashion, gave them each a philosophical life road map when he said that he wanted his own epitaph to read, “Curiosity did not kill this cat.”

As Weinberg writes, “For me, the driving force in the exploration wasn’t so much the buried objects that might be in the jungle… (It was) the tingle, the drive, the thing that has always taken over whatever else I was doing … the gut need to go and experience what it feels like to be in an unknown place on the earth, no matter how big or small.”

Weinberg’s book is detailed and evocative, a grand adventure tale that has already received some serious praise. Preston calls it “gripping, frightening and sometimes humorous” and that it is. It makes for compelling and enlightening reading. For Weinberg it represents something more: “(This) was the personal adventure of a lifetime — with major impact on my mind and body — unprecedented and indelible. It brought out the best of my abilities and my most vulnerable feeling.”
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Friday, October 13, 2017

Cubs Reaction

That felt like a World Series game to me last night. It was so tense and exciting it took years off my life. Here are a few reactions from around the twittersphere...





















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A Damning Editorial

Michael Gerson is the former head speach writer for President Bush (43). Yes, he has always been a critic of Trump, but yowza, today's editorial is the roughest one I've ever seen. This one calls out his fellow Republicans. It's called: "Republicans, it's time to panic"
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Thursday, October 12, 2017

Love this picture

It's like one of those pictures from the circus in Victorian times...

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Minutia Men, Episode 69



EP69 – Rick and Dave discuss Jenkins during a robbery, a Dutch treat, anti-Nazi video games, a man called Pep, and Rick’s brush with Bill Kurtis.

You can listen to it here.
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Trump Threatens NBC License

There was another story by NBC that the president didn't like yesterday. He called it Fake News and untrue. I've begun to believe that every time he says "Fake News" the story is 100% accurate. These stories usually have quite a few sources (as this one does--even though they are anonymous), and end up being confirmed by other news outlets.

But apparently, calling them Fake News is no longer good enough for the insulter-in-chief.

Now he says NBC should lose their broadcasting license.

Can we all just take a breath and realize where we are headed?

UPDATE: I didn't see this response yesterday from an FCC Commissioner. Good on her...

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Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Actual Shark Tank

This is exactly how I would have handled this...

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More Pub for Eckhartz Press Author Bill Paige

Unfortunately, it's not available on-line. For you youngsters, this is a newspaper...

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Cavuto Takes a Shot

Here's something I never thought I'd write: I agree with Neil Cavuto...

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Eminem Goes Nuts on Trump

He will lose fans over this. He knows it too. But that's some authentic rage right there...

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USA Blows It

I couldn't watch the game last night because it was on beIn TV (?!?), and it looks like that was a good thing. All the US had to do was beat or draw with Trinidad and Tobago, the worst team in the entire bracket, and they would have qualified for another World Cup.

They lost 2-1. The first goal was an own goal.

They could have still made it to the World Cup if Honduras lost to Mexico (Mexico was heavily favored) and Panama lost to Costa Rica (Costa Rica was heavily favored). Both teams upset the favorites.

The USA not only didn't qualify for the World Cup, they ended up in fifth place in the weakest bracket in the world.

Time to blow it all up.

Just saw this Taylor Twellman rant. I agree with every word...



Roger Bennett is one of the "Men in Blazers"...

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He's got the highest IQ

Funny observation by MSNBC's Chris Matthews...

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Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Harvey Weinstein, Part 2

The piece in the New York Times last week was bad, but this piece in the New Yorker (written by Ronan Farrow) is worse. It has names and details and reveals what a monster Weinstein really is. It also, I think, correctly points out why people didn't (and felt they couldn't) out him publicly until now. Really disturbing stuff. The issue shouldn't be "outing" him, by the way. The issue should be "why isn't he in jail?"

UPDATE: The New York Times has another piece today. This time involving Paltrow, Jolie, and more.
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Equal Comedy Time for Trump

P.S. Don't mess with the late night comics, Mr. President. They will always win.



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More Pub for Chasing the Lost City

Thanks so much to Robert Feder for posting this information in his column this morning...

Tom Weinberg, the veteran Chicago producer who created “Image Union” and founded the Media Burn Independent Video Archive, has a new book out about his life’s greatest adventure. Chasing the Lost City: Chronicles of Discovery in Honduras is a first-person account of the expedition in search of the Lost City of the Monkey God hidden deep in the dense Central American jungle. It’s a miracle that he and his companions endured and overcame the incredible challenges they faced. And it’s a pleasure that he shares their story with such honesty and insight. Weinberg will celebrate the publication with friends October 17 at Billy Goat Tavern, 430 North Michigan Avenue. Published by Chicago-based Eckhartz Press and featuring more than 180 stunning photos, the book is available at chasingthelostcity.com.
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Russia Story is CLEARLY not a Hoax

Now that Facebook and Twitter have confirmed that Russians bought ads in support of Trump and/or anti-Hillary, it's obvious that the Russian story is real. Every day there are more revelations. This morning it's further confirmation from Google that Russians bought ads on YouTube. They still haven't found one example where the Russians were helping Hillary. Again, it was all Anti-Hillary, or anti-racial unity, or Pro-Trump.

The Russians flat out tried to sabotage our election.

Next time someone calls the story a hoax, it's time to call them out. Period.

And here's an idea for Congress. Let's figure out how to make sure they never do it again.
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WBEZ Wins a Murrow Award

Congratulations to WBEZ, the only Chicago radio station to win a prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award this week. They won their award for writing.

This is the incredible piece that brought home the hardware: The Gross Gatherings: A Climate Fight on Chicago's South Side.
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Jemelle Hill Suspended

She got in trouble last week for calling the president a white supremacist on social media, but she got suspended for another reason altogether. She told people to boycott Jerry Jones' advertisers. Now THAT'S over the line. From Radio Ink...

In a story that has ramifications for radio, Foxnews.com is reporting that ESPN personality Jemele Hill has been suspended for two weeks for breaking the network’s social media policy. In the wake of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones statement that any of his players who don’t stand for the national anthem will be benched, Hill called on fans to boycott advertisers associated with the club. ESPN called this a “second violation” after Hill had previously calling on fans to boycott the NFL and calling President Trump a White Supremacist.

Hill’s latest tweet read: “Change happens when advertisers are impacted,” Hill wrote. “If you strongly reject what Jerry Jones said, the key is his advertisers.”

Mess with the president, fine. Mess with the advertisers? Grab some bench. That's the media, baby.
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CUBS WIN!

I went to the game yesterday afternoon with my old buddy (and Eckhartz Press author) Bobby Skafish. We saw one of the best games I've ever seen. We were on the edge of our seats the entire game.

Thanks to my brother-in-law Brian for getting me the tickets, thanks to Bobby for coming to the game with me, and thanks to the Cubs for an incredible win! Bridget is going to this afternoon's game. Hopefully it's the clincher.

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Our latest Eckhartz Press signee

We met at the East Bank Club yesterday for lunch and finalized the deal. Chet Coppock is writing his fifth book for Eckhartz Press. It will coming out in April.

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Monday, October 09, 2017

Happy Birthday John!

He would have been 77 years old today. He may have been a dreamer, but he's not the only one...

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Just Like Columbus Did

My annual posting of the only pop song ever written about Christopher Columbus...

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Another New Eckhartz Press Author

Our latest author is Tom Weinberg.

He's a well-known media figure in Chicago, former producer of Image Union on WTTW, and owner/proprietor of the great website mediaburn. He's also the author of our very first coffee table book, Chasing the Lost City: Chronicles of Discovery in Honduras. It's an incredible story about his years-long quest to find this lost city in Honduras. (Spoiler alert: He found it!)

The orders have been pouring in for this book, available for pre-order now (until Oct 16) at a discount price. On the 17th, he'll have his book launch party at the Billy Goat downtown (lower Michigan). More details to come on that.

In the meantime, congrats to Tom!

Here are a few incredible photos from the book...

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Very Sad News

Delilah hosts a nationally syndicated show that aired for years in Chicago on WLIT. From this morning's RAMP newletter...

The thoughts and prayers of a nation are with Premiere-syndicated personality Delilah, who is now dealing with the unimaginable -- the suicide of her 18-year-old son, Zachariah. On Saturday, Delilah shared the devastating news with her millions of fans via Facebook. The post reads, "My dear friends, I need to share some devastating news with you. In the early morning hours, Tuesday, October 3, my son, Zachariah, took his life. He was being treated, counseled and embraced fiercely by family and friends while battling depression for some time now. My heart is broken beyond repair and I cannot fathom how to go on... but I have to believe he is at peace with the Lord and that God will get us through."

She continued, "I will be absent from the radio and on social media for a time as I grieve and try to process this loss with my family. In the meantime we'll be playing some of my favorite shows from the recent past. I'll look forward to my return, as you all lift me up so very much! Please pray for my beloved Zacky, and I will pray for all suffering from this debilitating disease called depression."
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The Drive's Ratings

Robert Feder takes a closer look at a local success story. The Drive is suddenly surging in the ratings...

WDRV FM 97.1, the classic rock purveyor that’s been on the air since 2001, is enjoying an outstanding resurgence in the ratings. In the Nielsen Audio quarterly survey released last week, The Drive ranked No. 1 among men in three age groups — 18 to 49, 25 to 54, and 35 to 64. With a cumulative weekly audience of 1,450,500, it tied for fifth place among all listeners with a 3.9 percent share.

Congrats to my friends who are still over there.
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The Ridiculously Expensive Publicity Stunt

Vice President Pence was so outraged (outraged!) that he spontaneously left the stadium when a few players kneeled during the anthem.

Of course, he kept the press outside the stadium because he knew he probably would be leaving "very early" and the president later tweeted that he sent him there to do this. It was strictly a pre-meditated publicity stunt.

That trip to Indy probably cost the taxpayers close to a million dollars.
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Corker vs. Trump

If you weren't following the news over the weekend, you missed a full-on hissy fit from the commander-in-chief after a Republican senator took a shot at him. The Washington Post has the details...

Trump Tweeted...“Senator Bob Corker ‘begged’ me to endorse him for re-election in Tennessee. I said ‘NO’ and he dropped out (said he could not win without my endorsement),” Trump tweeted. “He also wanted to be Secretary of State, I said ‘NO THANKS.’ He is also largely responsible for the horrendous Iran Deal! Hence, I would fully expect Corker to be a negative voice and stand in the way of our great agenda. Didn't have the guts to run!”

-- Corker, who has felt liberated since announcing his retirement last month, gleefully fired back. His office quickly went on the record to insist that Trump had, in fact, promised to endorse him, urged him not to retire and just last week asked him to reconsider his decision. The 65-year-old then tweeted this:


Corker later went on to do an interview in which he warned that every Republican senator essentially agrees with him, and that they fear our reckless president could inadvertantly start World War III.

Again, this is a Republican senator saying these things. Nothing to worry about here.
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Harvey Weinstein Fired

Yes, it took far too long for Hollywood to react to this. But don't forget that the press DID out him, and the company DID fire him.. And at no point has anyone defended him (like they did the president or O'Reilly or Ailes or Cosby) as a "very good man". The one way that this case is the same as the others is that he almost certainly won't end up where he deserves after this.
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The Doors at 50

The Doors debuted 50 years ago. The two surviving members talk about that to the Washington Post.

I was never a huge Doors fan, although I do really like a few of their songs. This one is probably my favorite...

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SNL Gets it Right

Perfect opening of SNL this weekend. The man who was performing during the massacre in Vegas sings a song from a rock icon we lost this week. I got chills.

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Saturday, October 07, 2017

Memory Lane

I had a nice lunch with Fran Gatziolis a few weeks ago, and she gave me her sister Cindy Gatziolis' treasure trove of Loop newsletters from the late 80s/early 90s. "Loop Scoop" was written by the Loop's promotion department to keep all Loop employees informed about what was happening on our many shows. The other night I came across these two items from 1990 and 1991. What a trip down memory lane! (Click on photos to enlarge)



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Friday, October 06, 2017

Minutia Men, Episode 68

EP68 – Rick and Dave discuss ridiculously complicated shopping lists, things that children inhale, how to lure a crook out of a tree, the most famous homer in Wrigley history, and Rick’s brush with Hugh Hefner and Tom Petty.

Listen to it here.
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US Mens National Team

Looks like I'll be flipping back and forth between Cubs and USA game. Cubs start at 6:30 (Central Time) on TBS. USMNT starts at 6:35 on ESPN 2. Two wins would bring a giant exhale from Mt. Prospect.

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Playoff Roster

I used to peruse Cubs playoff rosters to predict who the goat would be. Last year was the first time I didn't do that. I think I'll try that approach again.

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Here Come The Hawks

Amazing opener last night for the Blackhawks.

Absolutely crushed the Stanley Cup champs, 10-1.

It's been a few years boys. Let's bring that Cup back home.
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Tornado of Fake News

Jimmy Kimmel last night on ABC...

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RIP Skip Haynes

Two thirds of Aliotta, Haynes, and Jeremiah are now gone. Skip Haynes was 71.

Haynes and his bandmates will always be remembered in Chicago for their hit song "Lake Shore Drive"...

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Highest Paid Radio Hosts

From Tom Taylor's NOW Column this morning...

Howard Stern, Rush Limbaugh and Ryan Seacrest top the Forbes list of “Highest-paid Radio Hosts.” Stern earned a Forbes-estimated $90 million between June 2016 and June 2017, and his estimated $450 million net worth makes him “one of America’s wealthiest celebrities.” Forbes staffer Hayley Cuccinello says the deal he signed with SiriusXM in late 2015 “includes digital distribution channel like apps and video streaming, which could pad Stern’s paycheck in the future.” (Though we haven’t yet seen the promised new products and management says they’re in the works.) #2 on the Forbes “Highest Paid Radio Hosts” ranking is Premiere’s Rush Limbaugh at $84 million. The Wednesday “fourth hour” on his paid subscription service probably encouraged more sign-ups – so Rush might do even better in next year’s accounting by Forbes. #3 is radio/TV personality and entrepreneur Ryan Seacrest, at an estimated $58 million. #4 is onetime radio host Bill O’Rielly – though calling him a “radio host” misses that he’s been making his money from cable TV (his former Fox prime-time gig) and all those “Killing...” books. #5 is Sean Hannity of Premiere and Fox News Channel, at an estimated $36 million. Forbes compiler Cuccinello says it’s been a rough patch for Premiere’s Glenn Beck. His $10 million take is “our lowest estimate since we started tracking his earnings in 2009.”
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Landecker Adventsingen

John Landecker sent me this yesterday and asked me what in the world it meant...

I explained it to him this way. Landeck is a town in Austria. Someone from there is called a Landecker. Every year they stage an Advent festival, a sort of Christmasmarkt like they have in Daley Plaza in Chicago. At the festival in Landeck, they sing Christmas (or Advent) songs. So...Landecker Adventsingen literally means "singing at the Landeck Advent festival"

German is a very literal language
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Everyone is picking the Nationals

It's weird to be the underdog when you have the best record in baseball in the second half of the season, and you're the defending champions, but that's how it is. All the experts are picking the Nationals.

Here's an example from former big league GM Jim Bowden: “Even though the Cubs are basically the same team we saw last year – with (Wade) Davis replacing (Aroldis) Chapman and (Jon) Jay replacing (Dexter) Fowler – the fact of the matter is the starting pitching isn’t what it was a year ago,” Bowden said. “We don’t know about (Jake) Arrieta’s hamstring. We’re waiting to see on that. (Kyle) Hendricks certainly has pitched well lately. (Jon) Lester had a good start Saturday, which was a good sign. But the pitching is just not what it was before. So I like the Nationals in this series. I won’t be surprised if it goes to four or five games. I don’t think it’ll be a quick, easy sweep, but this year, the Nationals are the better team."

In theory I agree with a lot of that. The Nationals do have a better pitching staff, and I will panic every time Daniel Murphy comes up, but the National also have one thing that gives me hope. I'll give you a hint. He'll have a toothpick in his mouth.

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Q&A with Rick Balis

Not to be confused with Chef Rick Bayless. This Rick Balis is my former program director at the Loop, a Chicago native and U of I alum (and WPGU), who is best known as the longtime program director of KSHE-FM in St. Louis.

His St. Louis station is celebrating its 50th anniversary, so he sat down and did a Q&A with Inside Radio.

You can read it here.
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Thursday, October 05, 2017

Harvey "Cosby O'Reilly Ailes" Weinstein

Turns out there was a good reason Harvey Weinstein didn't want this article to come out.

He's a sexual creep too.

Sexual predator behavior is bipartisan.
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Why are there so many guns in Chicago?

This is an argument we hear all the time. Guns are illegal in Chicago. You can't buy them within the city limits. So how is it possible that there is so much gun violence in the city? That's proof the laws don't work, right?

Of course not. All you have to do is drive to Indiana (which is very close if you live on the south side) or one of the many nearby Illinois municipalities that sell guns. If you don't have a car, you can reach all of these places via train. Super easily. Unbelievably easily.

The New York Times shows how this is true of every place in America that has restrictive gun laws.

I'm not saying that more universal gun laws will work. But it's obviously not provable that they won't.
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Did Vegas Shooter Plan Lolla Attack First?

That's the implication from this report via DNAinfo, which relies on TMZ.com. According to this piece, the shooter had booked a hotel room at the Blackstone overlooking the Lollapalooza festival this summer. The hotel doesn't confirm it, although they do say they are in touch with authorities about it. He never checked in, however.
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Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees

The latest nominees to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame were announced this morning.

First time nominees are: the Moody Blues, Dire Straits, Eurythmics, Judas Priest, Kate Bush, Nina Simone, Radiohead, Rage Against Machine and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

Nominated for a second or more time are: the Zombies, Rufus (Chaka Khan), Link Wray, the J. Geils Band, the Meters, the Cars, Bon Jovi, Depeche Mode, LL Cool J, and MC5.

The Cars have to be in there, as far as I'm concerned. I'd also vote for Dire Straits. Not so sure about the rest of them.
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The Eagles to Play Grand Ol' Opry

From this morning's RAMP Newsletter...

The Eagles will perform a special invitation-only concert for SiriusXM listeners at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville on Sunday, October 29. The show will mark the first time the legendary Grammy Award-winning band -- Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit, along with Deacon Frey and Grand Ole Opry member Vince Gill -- will perform at this historic venue.

It will air on Sirius/XM's Eagles channel.
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One Satirist Takes a Crack at it

Yesterday I lamented that satirists can't possibly satirize someone who goes to a natural disaster and essentially says "I'm great. But enough about me. Tell me what you think about me." When reality is that ridiculous, how can you make it more ridiculous? Impossible, right?

Wrong.

Dana Milbank of the Washington Post gives it a go today. His column is titled: A Narcissist’s Guide to Helping Others Understand It Is All About You

Nicely Done.
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Judd Sirott Heads to Boston

The Boston Bruins have named Judd Sirott as their new radio play by play man. Sirott had been the radio studio voice of the Blackhawks for years (and a former play-by-play guy for the Chicago Wolves). Congrats to Judd, who sounded pretty darn excited: "I didn't just hit the lottery, I hit the Powerball," said Sirott. "An Original Six team; a spectacular hockey market; one of the world's greatest cities; a terrific partner to work with in Bob Beers; and a fabulous station to be a part of. I am incredibly fortunate, privileged and humbled to be the radio voice of the Boston Bruins on 98.5 The Sports Hub."

Replacing him at WGN Radio is former CSN (and CBS) sports anchor Chris Boden.
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Harvey Weinstein

The New York Times and the New Yorker are both working on a piece about Harvey Weinstein, and it appears neither article will be friendly towards the famous movie producer. Harvey has lawyered up big time.

The Hollywood Reporter has the story behind the story this morning.
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Randy Richardson Receives National Award

Look who is on the cover! Eckhartz Press' very own Randy Richardson is the cover boy of National Federation of Press Women's quarterly newsletter, just released yesterday. The photo was taken a month ago during their conference in Birmingham, Alabama, moments after the announcement that he'd been selected as their 2017 Communicator of Achievement.

Congrats Randy!

(Randy has written "Cheeseland" and "Lost in the Ivy" for us, and has a new book coming out in early April of next year. Details coming soon.)
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Wednesday, October 04, 2017

The USMNT roster for last two qualifiers

These are both "MUST WIN" games for the US Men's Soccer National Team this weekend. First comes Friday against Panama. Here's the roster...

GOALKEEPERS
Brad Guzan (Atlanta United FC), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

DEFENDERS
DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana), Tim Ream (Fulham), Jorge Villafana (Santos Laguna), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

MIDFIELDERS
Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution), Paul Arriola (D.C. United), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)

FORWARDS
Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Bobby Wood (Hamburg)

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Eliminating the Main Studio Rule

From this morning's Tom Taylor NOW column...

“Elimination of the Main Studio Rule” is likely at the FCC’s October 24 meeting. Last month FCC Chair Ajit Pai told the NAB/RAB Radio Show “It’s time for the Main Studio rule to go” – and he meant it. The Chairman recycled a story he’s told about a Minnesota station owner who didn’t build out an AM construction permit because of the cost of complying with the rule (September 7 NOW). That’s not just a physical space near the community of license (within the primary signal contour), but also “full-time management and staff during normal business hours” and “program origination capability.” To Pai, “local access to a physical station is no longer necessary” in 2017. Yesterday’s FCC “Fact Sheet” traces the requirement to back to 1939, “to ensure that stations would be accessible and responsive to their communities.” But now, says Pai, it’s a burden and erasing it “will produce substantial benefits.” Not everybody in the radio community’s going to like this. The Fact Sheet reveals that licensees would still have to maintain a local or toll-free phone number. And they’d be expected to “maintain any portion of the public file that is not part of the online public file at a publicly-accessible location within the station’s community of license.” Will it pass a vote? Chairman Pai can count on Republicans Mike O’Rielly and Brendan Carr, and that’s enough.

Let me translate this for you. Radio stations run by conglomerates no longer have to be located in the town they broadcast, so they won't be. Soon all radio stations will be run out of the conglomerate headquarters and your town will simply have a toll free number. Imagine the cost savings for the conglomerates! The chairman delviers for them again, and local radio (and people who listen to it) can take a flying leap.

The FCC was created to protect the public airwaves. it is now intentionally doing the opposite.
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How Chicago’s WBBM Covered The Vegas Shooting

Radio Ink has an interview with WBBM Radio's Ron Gleason about their coverage of the Vegas shooting in the middle of the night.

It's actually a very interesting piece, examining how an all-news station covers an out-of-town tragedy.
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