The House Buys More Time For Internet Radio…

With the passage of H.R. 7084 in the U.S. House, Internet Radio now has more time to negotiate with the music industry for a lower royalty rate for the music they play.  Not a whole lot of time but more time than they had.  The Senate is expected to vote on the bill either Sunday or Monday…

I mean this is terrific news for Tim Westergren of Pandora who has become the surrogate whiner for Internet radio.  What gets me about Washington bending over backwards for Internet radio is that no branch of the government ever did anything for terrestrial radio besides imposing fines and yanking licenses through the FCC.  What is terrestrial radio - chopped liver?  Whether you like it or not, terrestrial radio will have to survive on its own and they’re not doing a very good job of doing it…

As a radio programmer I always had one fearful eye on the FCC but that was back when you actually had news and public service commitments to keep.  You also had ascertainments to do in order to ’serve your community.’  Do they even do ascertainments anymore?  And you kept the fines in mind and the ultimate - losing your license.  Living in fear of the FCC was part of the deal.  Does anyone worry about the FCC or any government agency anymore?  I doubt it.  If you’re an Internet radio station you get bills passed for you…  

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1951] In living color: The first network football game televised in color was the University of California vs. Penn on CBS-TV…
2. 1953] Premiered on this date: “Make Room For Daddy” starring Danny Thomas runs for 18 seasons…1960] “My Three Sons” starring Fred MacMurray runs for 12 seasons…1963] “My Favorite Martian” starring Ray Walston has a short 3 season run but it should have lasted longer…1971] “McMillan And Wife” starring Rock Hudson and Susan Saint James has a 6-season run…1985] “MacGyver” starring Richard Dean Anderson debuts for a 7-year run…1986] “Designing Women” lasts 7 seasons…1987] “Thirtysomething” runs 4 years…
3. 1954] Greatest catch: There have been better catches since but Willie Mays makes what’s considered the greatest catch of all-time against Cleveland’s Vic Wertz in game one of the World Series. The Giants not only win that game, they sweep the Indians in 4…
4. 1957] Back to the Polo Grounds:The Giants play their last game in New York, losing to the Pirates 9-1 in front of 11,606 either crazy or diehard fans…
5. 1974] The Beatle and The Professor: John Lennon sits in as a guest disc jockey on WNEW-FM. I believe this was on Scott Muni’s show…
6. 1976] It’s time for a change: Tommy Lasorda replaces Walter Alston as Dodger manager. Alston was mgr. for 22 years, Lasorda rings up 20…
7. 1978] ‘Happy Trails’: After serving barely over a month, Pope John Paul I is found dead of a heart attack. Some question whether or not the Pope was poisoned. The Pope was 66…
8. 1982] Tainted Tylenol: Seven people die in Chicago after taking capsules of Extra-Strength Tylenol that had been laced with cyanide. 264,000 bottles are recalled…
9. 1986] Mom always liked you better: For the first time in baseball history 2 brothers who are both rookies, pitch against each other in a game. Greg Maddux defeats brother Mike. Greg will waltz into the Hall of Fame 5 years after he retires while the closest Mike will get is by buying a ticket to get in…
10. 1989] Vhat? I did not do that: Zsa Zsa Gabor is convicted of battery for slapping a Beverly Hills police officer who had pulled her and her Rolls-Royce over for expired plates…

Music Memories:

• 1967] Released on this date: “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” - Gladys Knight & The Pips…
• 1969] Gold Standard: “Put A Little Love In Your Heart” - Jackie DeShannon…
• 1977] Number One on this date: “Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band” - Meco…

Commentary:

Paul Newman was one of the few true Hollywood legends left when he died from cancer at the age of 83.  The oscar-winning actor was also a director, gave away millions to charity with profits from his salad dressing, spaghetti sauces and ade-drinks and even competed as a race car driver.  Newman was also an social activist.  More on the legend of Paul Newman in this video tribute…A little known fact about the late Mickey Vernon who passed away at 90 was his tutelage of Don Mattingly.  The former batting champ was one of 3 batting coaches for the Yankees in 1982.  Prior to 1982 Vernon coached Mattingly in the minor leagues.  Vernon said one of his proudest accomplishments was “seeing Don Mattingly blossom both as a hitter and a first baseman.” …  

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday“:

Andrew “Dice” Clay (51), Bryant Gumble (60), Jerry Lee Lewis (73), Anita Ekberg (77) and Lizabeth Scott (86)…

Timeline Countdown: It’s hard to believe but it’s already 5768.  Rosh Hashana begins tonight at sundown.  Happy New Year…Two days away from the MLB playoffs and 24 days until the first game of the World Series…

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