Industry News

As different as they may not sound, radio station jingles serve important purposes: to promote DJ shows, contests, station-produced concerts and, of course, the stations themselves. They are, essentially, commercials for the station, and they are known as “audio imaging and contesting elements,” or sweepers, according to Ron Hummel, who has been producing them for almost 40 years.

Getting to the bottom of BBM ratings puts 92 CITI on top

June 8th brought us actors Robert Preston, Kathy Baker and Penticton's Alexis Smith; comedians Joan Rivers and Jerry Stiller; and rapper Kanye West. Airing for the first time were radio's "Lassie" and Milton Berle's legendary Tuesday night TV show. Frank Sinatra played Vancouver, and Rod Stewart played Toronto. The finale of "Welcome Back Kotter" aired on ABC-TV, while actor Robert Taylor, singer Jimmy Rushing and hotliner Pat Burns breathed their last. Details of these and scores more anniversaries INSIDE.

With Rogers Sportsnet having scooped CFL host Dave Randorf from TSN for future NHL telecasts, insiders suggest there could be more jumping of ships in the works with a couple of potential Vancouver ties, e.g. Ray Ferraro and Farhan Lalji.

June 7th gave us singers Dean Martin and Tom Jones, and provided Al Martino with his 1st #1 hit. It also was the premiere date for the radio hit "The Adventures of Topper, plus "The Johnny Cash TV show" and "The $64,000 Question." Checking out on June 7th were sportscasters Jim McKay and Wayne Cody, Norris Goff of radio's "Lum & Abner," and Vancouver singer and broadcaster Arnie Nelson. Details of these and scores of other anniversaries INSIDE.

Bell Media Report goes market by market, along with the demo and time as well as block breakdowns for Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal

Radio personality Casey Kasem, who is at the center of a legal battle between family members over his care, was in critical condition at a Washington state hospital with an infected bed sore. Kasem, 82, was brought to the emergency room at St Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor, Washington, on Sunday suffering from the infection and was admitted that day, His condition has since deteriorated, and his family has gathered at his bedside.

KING director of sales Jim Rose has been promoted to VP and station manager of the Seattle NBC affiliate. Rose started at KING in 2000. Previously he worked for KTVX in Salt Lake City and was a research manager for Blair TV in New York. He started his career as promotion coordinator withWPLJ-FM in New York.

As well as D-Day in WWII, June 6th gave us Front Page Challenge on CBC-TV; Gordon Sinclair gave the first of what would be a lifetime of personal newscasts on Toronto's CFRB; Herman's Hermits headlined the Ed Sullivan Show, while Rod Stewart started his solo singing career. Bob Barker taped his final Price is Right, and Bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock," the record that revolutionized the music business, hit #1 for the first time. Details on these and scores of other anniversaries INSIDE.

For those who maintain the 2+ numbers are of little value, David Bray breaks out the ratings leaders for each city in the various demo groups.