Results tagged “radio”

As you may have heard by now, Air America has gone bankrupt, having announced on their website yesterday that they'd be ceasing live programming operations immediately. The progressive radio station's chairman explained in his statement: "The very difficult economic environment has had a significant impact on Air America's business. This past year has seen a 'perfect storm' in the media industry generally. National and local advertising revenues have fallen drastically, causing many media companies nationwide to fold or seek bankruptcy protection." more ›

Yesterday the sad news came out that Howard Stern sidekick and comedian Artie Lange attempted suicide over the weekend by stabbing himself nine times. His mother found him in his Hoboken apartment around 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning. Wishing the incident hadn't hit the press, Stern addressed it on his show once it did (listen below), saying in part: "I'm pissed off that this story got out there. I'm pissed off at the shithead who maybe got paid 10 bucks to tip off Page Six." more ›

Citadel Broadcasting, which syndicates Don Imus's radio show, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy yesterday. The NY Times reports it did so "after agreeing to turn over control of the company to its creditors in exchange for reducing its debt. The filing by the company, which owns 224 stations across the country... was not unexpected but does reflect the troubles plaguing the radio industry amid steep declines in advertising revenue and big debt loads." The AP adds that Citadel also owns KABC-AM in Los Angeles, WLS-AM in Chicago, WABC-AM and WPLJ-FM in New York and KGO-AM in San Francisco and that "Citadel's WABC is home to several syndicated hosts, including Don Imus, Rush Limbaugh, Joe Scarborough and Mark Levin." more ›

It wasn't bumbling prosecutors, arguing jurors, or untrustworthy mob informants that kept mob scion John Gotti Jr. from being found guilty in his racketeering and murder trial. The former Gambino boss told reporters after his fourth mistrial yesterday that his deceased father was watching out for him — and sending him messages on the radio through songs like "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" and Sting's "Fields of Gold," according to the Times. more ›

After splitting up last year, Mike Francesa and Chris Russo were back on the air together—at least for today. Newsday's Neil Best writes, "Their mini-reunion at Yankee Stadium began with the old 'Mike and the Mad Dog' theme music, and Russo's familiar, 'Aaaand, good afternoon everybody!'" (Here's video.) Russo said, "This will put the kibosh on the idea you and I hate each other," and "I miss talking sports with you." Aww. Apparently the pair will sit together during tonight's game. more ›

Today WNYC Radio celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Brian Lehrer Show. Lehrer will be hosting a special anniversary broadcast taking a look back to when it all began in 1989. more ›

The Great New York Times Company Fire Sale of 2009 continues this week as the media company announced Tuesday it has sold WQXR-FM, the last classical-only radio station in New York. In a deal worth $45 million, WNYC and Univision will take over operation of the station but won't change its format, pledging to continue its broadcast partnerships with the Philharmonic, Met, and Juilliard. What listeners are likely to notice is a change in WQXR's spot on the dial—105.9 will be the new home for the station. It's also going to be broadcasting a weaker signal, which will reach about 4.5 million fewer people. So, with its future a little more certain, now all WQXR has to do is find funding, and WNYC's already raising money on that front, having begun a campaign to pay for the station that concert pianist Emanuel Ax calls "the sonic equivalent of saving Carnegie Hall from the wrecker’s ball." more ›

Before MTV made the full switch to becoming a universe inhabited by the Spencer Pratts and Tila Tequilas of the world, there was a strange moment in the late '90s when the network appeared to be at a crossroads. After years of serving as the launching pad for models-turned-VJs, one face on the network stuck out like a sore thumb when he arrived on the scene—Matt Pinfield's. Pinfield quickly made a name for himself as the only guy on the air who appeared to be completely serious and passionate about the music he played, as he would sputter off obscure punk references while engaging bands in ways they were unaccustomed to when dealing with MTV. He went from hosting the weekly alternative video show, 120 Minutes, to appearing on-air so often at one point that the Post joked they just give him his own daily block and call it "360 Minutes." more ›

Yesterday was Cardinal Egan's final "Conversation with the Cardinal on Sirius Radio's Catholic Channel. The NY Times reports that he tried to set the record straight: "In jocular, yet pointed remarks, he said that he would not, in fact, retire to a penthouse apartment in Paris; that he did not play Mozart sonatas for friends on the baby grand at his residence behind St. Patrick’s Cathedral; that he does not dine frequently at 'Upper East Side gourmet eateries'; and that he was not against continuing the rule of celibacy for priests." Egan, who also turned 77 yesterday, explained why he went on satellite radio, "I live in a town where the media are not friendly. They feel that they are going to be important only to the extent that they pull down not only ourselves, but any other institution that seems to have some standing. So I think it’s important to talk over the media." The new Cardinal, Timothy Dolan, will be installed on April 15, 2009. more ›

Don Imus, the (in)famous longtime morning DJ, announced on his radio show this morning that he has stage II prostate cancer. During "Imus in the Morning" (now on WABC 770 AM), he sounded optimistic saying, "I have great confidence in my doctors. I'll be fine. If I'm not fine, I won't be fine. It's not a big deal. The prognosis couldn't be better." The 68-year-old Imus said that he thought stress could be a factor, something he hasn't been lacking in recent years. He shared few details on his diagnosis or treatment, but did add, "The day you find out is fine. But the next morning when you get up, your knees are shaking. I didn't think I could make it to work." more ›

If you haven't heard by now, WFMU (91.1 on the FM dial), New York's most loved listener-supported radio station, is on week two of their two week pledge drive. They only ask for handouts once a year, so drop some change in their jukebox. Currently they're $556,000 away from their goal and need help to "pick up the pace and make our goal by this Sunday." Tonight's a good time to tune in, from 8 to 11 p.m. musicians Ted Leo and Aimee Mann will play songs for pledges on Tom Scharpling's show, and they'll also be joined by comedians Paul F. Tompkins and John Hodgman. If you don't pledge, get ready for a future filled with even more soul-crushing, mind-numbing Top 40 tunes. Oh wait, that's already happening. Yesterday K-Rock announced it'll be dropping Pearl Jam and Led Zeppelin for the likes of Beyoncé and Justin Timberlake. What's more, the station will be re-branded 92.3 NOW FM, and a senior VP at CBS Radio notes that “It’s the first new mainstream music station to be launched in New York in nearly 30 years" and the change is meant to “diversify our radio portfolio in New York City.” more ›

If you believe Page Six, then you might believe that Rudy Giuliani may be headed to the radio. Bill O'Reilly is going to be ending his radio show to focus on Fox News, so... "Now, Page Six has learned the leading candidate to succeed him is Rudy Giuliani (above). Westwood One, which syndicates the O'Reilly show, is negotiating with the former mayor." more ›

Last night at the Garden was the annual Christmas concert thrown by Z100 known as the Jingle Ball. Perusing a list of its performers is a bit of an eye-opening experience for some of us in realizing just how long it's been since we had "the phrase that pays" rolling off the tips of our tongues. But dare we say that in its thirteenth year, the Jingle Ball has been running for long enough to be considered an adolescent institution here in the Big Apple. Plus we can always delude ourselves of our relative youth status by reading the Daily News description of the tweenage girls "having one heck of a good time." more ›

The new home of WNYC might not be much to look at on the outside compared to its old perch at the iconic Municipal Building, but it's what's on the inside that counts. Since June, the station has been in its own space for the first time since 1922, only taking about eleven years from when it became independent of city ownership. Still the two and a half floors of former printing plant at 160 Varick Street, just a few blocks from the entrance to the Holland Tunnel in sort of a nebulous confluence of SoHo and TriBeCa which developers want to call Hudson Square, is a welcome change. more ›

During the September 11 attacks, the police and fire departments weren't able to communicate with each other. Now, almost seven years late, the NY Times reports the agencies have improved their "ability to...operate together." Now, the Fire Department can receive information from police helicopters over a scene and emergency works will be able to "contact the police directly via radio." NYPD Deputy Chief Charles F. Dowd said, "Right now we are fully interoperable on all levels," and FDNY Fire Chief Salvatore Cassano said the departments need to "have more drills, more participation, to increase not only awareness of the other agencies’ needs but also make the other agencies aware of our needs." more ›

A week after conservative radio host Michael Savage made controversial remarks suggesting a child with autism was really "a brat who hasn't been told to cut the act out," advertisers and some radio stations are distancing themselves from his show. According to Newsday, "Radio Shack, Aflac and Sears say that their advertisements should not have appeared during Savage's show and will not for the foreseeable future," while Anheuser-Busch explained "it has never advertised on Savage's program." And Mississippi network of radio stations SuperTalk dropped the program, with its president explaining, "We're a conservative network. I just didn't see why a person with so much hatred had a place in our network." more ›

Last week conservative radio host Michael Savage blathered on air about every child with autism being “a brat who hasn’t been told to cut the act out,” and today is still standing by his remarks, which were plentiful and included calling the disease “a fraud and a racket.” The NY Times noted that Savage's audience "ranks in size behind only those of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity," and you can bet all of those listeners--and then everyone else who hears about this--have opinions. more ›

After many questioned his Monday morning remarks about Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones, radio shock jock Don Imus defended them, explaining he was being "sarcastic." more ›

Don Imus, who was fired from his CBS morning radio show after insulting the Rutgers' women's basketball team, is back in the spotlight today. more ›

Over the weekend, Newsday reporter Neil Best suggested the wildly popular and successful 'Mike and the Mad Dog' radio show could be finished. According to radio industry sources, Mike Francesa and Chris "Mad Dog" Russo haven't been getting along well enough to continue their afternoon program on WFAN. more ›

Who knew radio could be so dangerous? The Daily News reports that deejay Wendy Williams' husband (the two are pictured together) had plotted to kill one of Hot97's deejays, a rival who allegedly trashed his wife on the air. more ›

K-Rock 92.3 FM has had some sexy, new billboards proclaiming its return to rock (it went talk for over a year) up, but one NJ town isn't thrilled. Enough Denville, NJ residents--and both men and women seemed skeptical of the ads--complained for Mayor Ted Hussa to request one billboard on Route 10 be taken down. more ›

Another week, another free summer concert series announced. One of the most enjoyable ways to spend a summer Sunday in the city in the last couple years has been out at McCarren Pool, with the competitive dodgeball, slip and slides and sweet, sweet music. The lineups for these shows have never disappointed, but this year seems to be bigger than ever. There has been some growing speculation that this might be the last year for the Pool Parties, and recently released plans for the pool added to those concerns. Regardless of the future, they're all go for 2008. Enjoy it while you can. Among many, many more, The Breeders, MGMT, The Hold Steady, Liars, Black Lips and Deerhunter are all confirmed. Dates and complete lineups to come. more ›

Another Will Ferrell sports flick will inflate this weekend, capping off a nationwide “Funny or Die” promotional tour that brought him to Radio City Music Hall Sunday night. The movie is Semi-Pro, which stars Ferrell as Jackie Moon, owner of the 1976 Flint Michigan Tropics, a team in the maverick ABA basketball league. To keep his career alive against all odds, Moon initiates off a series of increasingly desperate publicity stunts to attract fans – behavior that does sound awfully familiar. more ›

Back in 2004 we talked to KEXP deejay John Richards, who was here broadcasting from the (then named) Museum of Television and Radio. KEXP is a Seattle listener-supported station, but while they're based in the Pacific Northwest, they are heard worldwide via their online stream. more ›

Maybe you've received a flier to see a show at Radio City Music Hall called Chinese New Year Splendor, which is promoted as a holiday celebration of China’s diverse cultural riches. But mixed within the traditional Mongolian dancing, orchestral music and Buddhist parables are dramatizations of the Chinese government’s oppression of Falun Gong, a qigong-based spiritual practice that is banned in China. And the show’s political content is prompting audiences to walk out by the hundreds. more ›

MOVIE: Every national election year reminds us of that part in The Dark Crystal where the hideous Skeksis systematically drain the Gelfling’s “essence” and drink it to increase their power. If you don’t know the scene we’re talking about, you need to go see it on the big screen tonight – a regular-sized TV monitor just doesn’t do Jim Henson’s creepy masterpiece justice. The one-night-only screening will be introduced by one of the film’s puppet makers, Cheryl Henson, daughter of Jim. She’ll be joined by Robbie Barnett, who operated some of the main Skeksis; the pair will sign merch after the screening. more ›

THEATER: Wolf Lane Productions presents Victims of the Zeitgeist (The Tragedy of Martin Luther King, Jr.), written & directed by Ellwoodson Williams. The production "offers an exciting and telling insight into just who Martin Luther King, Jr., was as leader and simply as a sensitive and intelligent human being who loved life and who had a sense of humor, a deep understanding of the human condition - its strengths and weaknesses - and a profound belief in justice." more ›

• SFist saw Christmas Day turn tragic after a Siberian tiger escaped from her pen at the San Francisco Zoo, killing a visitor and mauling two others.
• Phillyist counted down the top ten items on Philadelphia's New Year's wish list.
• Gothamist looked at the wooden bikes being offered for NYC's first bike share program on Governors Island.

If you’re the type of parent who wears a Ramones T-shirt to a P.T.A. meeting, the idea of taking your kids to some sappy Christmas show is probably abhorrent; you wouldn’t be caught dead at Radio City’s spectacular and schlepping into Times Square to spend a fortune on “Grinch” is unthinkable. But if you’d still like to catch a holiday show with the whole family, there’s a limited-time-only alternative in the heart of the East Village, where the Chicago import 500 Clown Christmas is making merry mayhem. more ›