IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

THE JOE WALSH OLD-FASHIONED ROCK N’ ROLL SHOW IS SO POPULAR IN LA THAT 88.5 FM GAVE IT A SECOND HOUR

Earlier this week we told you about KCSN’s new program The Joe Walsh Old-Fashioned Rock n’ Roll Show [link]. 

It debuted on 88.5 FM on May 22^nd. 

On Thursday, KCSN announced that, due to overwhelming demand from listeners, the show has added a second hour. Beginning this Saturday (5/30) it will air live from 6pm-8pm Pacific Time.

Patrick Osburn, the GM of KCSN, told us in an email that it is too soon to discuss syndicating of the show because:

“No one knows how long it will be until The Eagles can resume performing live shows and festivals.  In the mean time, his show n 88.5-FM is a great outlet for his creative juices.  It’s fun, and easy for Joe, and both parties benefit greatly.  I seems like we all share the same musical core values, so we’ll let him have the mic as longs he wants it.”

If you want to hear what The Joe Walsh Old-Fashioned Rock n’ Roll Show sounds like click here.

“LAID OFF” PORTLAND PROGRAMMER & HOST RANDI KIRSHBAUM WILL SUE SAGA COMMUNICATIONS

Randi Kirschbaum

On Thursday (5/21), Spark News reported that Saga Communications, a large commercial media company, “laid off" Randi Kirschbaum, a veteran programmer of Saga’s Portland, Maine, cluster of stations.

Saga said it took the action because Kirschbaum did not return, as ordered, to the office on Monday (5/18).

She and other Saga employees were working from home for six weeks.

Inside Radio was the first to report [link] that Kirschbaum has hired employment attorney David Webbert. She told local media that she will sue Saga for discrimination and violation of the Maine Whistleblowers Protection Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Kirshbaum had worked for Saga in Portland for 38 years. Her doctors said she has a risk of contracting pulmonary fibrosis if it is triggered by Covid-19. Kirschbaum offered to continue to work from home, but Saga denied her request.

Portland media has pummeled Saga for their action and their confusing responses when asked questions about the matter. Rumors are circulating that Saga’s reason for terminating Kirschbaum was to cut costs.

MOST NEWS/TALK STATIONS SAW BIG GAINS IN AQH LISTENERS IN THE APRIL NIELSEN PPM RATINGS

According to analysis by Mike Kinosian, Managing Editor of the publication Talkers, many commercial and public radio stations saw record average-quarter-hour shares in April’s PPM ratings.

Kinosian’s analysis of the April ratings appeared in Thursday’s edition (5/28) of Talkers [link].

The chart on the right shows the stations that had the biggest gains in AQH share in the April book, compared to March.

Nielsen’s PPM ratings for May will be released beginning June 8^th.

CAN’T SLEEP? TAKE A LOOK AT PUBLIC TELEVISION ID’S FROM THE PAST

Spark News reader Don McCullen sent us a tip about a YouTube page that is devoted to heritage PBS station ID’s, promos and logos.

The collection includes visual images from KCET in Los Angeles, WTTW in Chicago, Twin Cities Public Television (TPT) and Milwaukee Public Television. Much of the material originally aired in the 1970s and 1980s.

The curator of the page is Stephen Cezar, a former PBS video editor. You can see the collection here.

Cezar’s archives are fun to watch, particularly after eating a pan of brownies.