ISSUE NUMBER 450 THE INDUSTRY'S NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 17, 1982 SPEECH CALLS FOR "STATION BREAK" INSIDE RiifR: NRBA Focus: i I Sales Costs Fowler Calls For Dramatic New Broadcast Bureau And Business Reorganized: Atter threatening Sparked by an adventurous Radio Deregulation At NRBA for years, the FCC finally opening address by FCC Chairman FCC Chairman Mark Fowler against the Fairness Doctrine and regrouped the Broadcast Bureau Mark Fowler (see separate story), proposed sweeping new deregula- any other restrictions on broad- Fowler Plan under the new designation Mass the National Radio Broadcasters tory initiatives for radio in a start- casters' freedom to air political Media Bureau 4 Association's ninth annual conven- ling speech opening the ninth an- material, calling for equality in For New Deregulation tion generated healthy attendance nual NRBA convention in Reno treatment for broadcast and print and generally positive reactions this past weekend. Fowler's media under the First Amend- Weed out "regulatory Morning Mystique: A close- from Like the participants. remarks surprised nis broad- ment. underbrush" up look at WZUU/Milwaukee's NAB Radio Programming Con- caster audience by not only He also praised NRBA's stand morning master Larry "The ference just two weeks before, the celebrating his Commission's de- in proposing that broadcasters No FCC supervision of: Legend" Johnson, and the NRBA's Reno meeting placed a regulatory achievements since he pay a spectrum fee to help aid 1) Ratings period hypoing anatomy of a PD/morning man strong emphasis on business con- took over in 1981, but proposing to public radio in exchange for even and promotion relationship, as told by cerns, with a more pronounced cut back "regulatory underbrush" greater freedom from regulation. 2) Fraudulent billing KZZP/Phoenix programmer Randy orientation toward management in new areas. He qualified his endorsement of 3) "Repetitious" airing of Stewart and personality Jonathon resulting in a heavy concentration Fowler specifi- the spectrum fee principle by records Brandmeier 28,20 on sales as well. cally proposed warning that excessive or unfairly Cautious endorsement of NRBA estimated 2800 regis- eliminating FCC levied spectrum fees could NRBA spectrum fee trants and over 4000 participants at rules on radio discourage marketplace activity, proposal Look Out For That Cable: the four -day meeting (September station promo- but said a fee "carefully tailored Is cable TV a bigger threat to 12-15). The official theme was tion and "hypo- to the realities of the broadcasting to endangered formats and non- radio? television or Some "Radio: Win Big In The 80's," but ing" during rat- business" could prove beneficial profit broadcasting. interesting answers lead naturally a number of well -attended ses- ings periods, KELLY FORMS Fowler also reviewed the FCC's to more questions. Plus a Christal sions on sales indicated stations' repetitious play- deregulatory "report card," coup 19 concern for generating enough in- ing of records, CONSULTANCY citing the elimination of Form 324, come to hold their own. Best - and perhaps the AM stereo marketplace deci- attended cessions were "Financial most significant- Mark Fowler WRKS Names sion, and proposed eliminations of WLOL Sets New PD: Management: Buying and Selling ly, fraudulent billing. He sug- logs and trafficking rules, among Minneapolis CHR outlet nails Radio Stations," in which a gested that these areas were not Mayo PD others, as significant reforms. down Tac Hammer as its new substantial increase in major proper concerns of the FCC, and And he warmed broadcasters' . WRKS/New York PD Don Kelly programmer 3 market stations' pricetags was in the case of fraudulent billing, will leave the RKO station at the hearts by announcing a "review of anticipated if the current limit of advocated "other solutions" such end of October in order to set up every rule that makes headaches seven AM's and seven FM's per as criminal and civil suits in local no to the NRBA Reno Convention his own consultancy. Immediately for you with payoff owner is lifted; "How To Max- courts. public." Fowler termed these Coverage: Pictorial promoted to fill the programming imize National Sales"; and rules coverage of the NRBA's First Amendment And vacancy was Kelly's assistant for "regulatory underbrush," "Management: Cost -Cutting, Col- and added, "We've assigned a successful gathering and an Fee the past 18 months, Barry Mayo. lections, And Maintaining Cash Spectrum group of highly competent law- R&R bonus: the complete text WRKS GM Lee Simonson told Flow." NRBA/ See Page 18 Fowler also came out strongly yers with legal machetes to cut it of Mark Fowler's revelatory R&R he was sorry to see Kelly back." thoughts on new MMR JOINS INTEREP NET leave, but understood his motives deregulation .. 10 & 11 in wanting to go out on his own. "I McGavren Buys Major Market think Don has as good a program- Small Becomes ming track record as anybody out Griffey New BMA McGavren-Guild has acquired entity for radio, with the present there," Simonson said. "He UPI President President: Solar Records Major Market Radio, the rep firm profit squeeze on agencies. The should do very well." Chairman Dick Griffey elected to formerly owned by Golden West. reps can eliminate this problem Commenting on Mayo's promo- Former NBC News President top BMA post, and gets set to McGavren will combine MMR by completing mast of the work tion, Simonson said, "Barry is a and longtime radio and TV broad- launch new "pop" label, with its Hillier, Newmark & and planning research, place- very talented program director, caster Bill Small was named Constellation 3 Wechsler and Bernard Howard & ment, and payments to the af- and a wonderful human being. President and Chief Operating Of- Co. subsidiaries under the Interep filiates. The agencies work with I've enjoyed working with him ficer of UPI Tuesday (9-14). He umbrella identity to create what it fewer sales, one order, and one over the past year and a half. replaces Roderick Beaton, who Birch Spring Scoreboard: terms the "number three rep net- bill." When Barry joined us from WGCl/ retired earlier this month. Small Jhan Hiber compares Birch's work," behind McGavren itself Chicago, where he had been PD, it headed NBC News from 1979 until performance in some key ratings and Katz Communications. Gold- Dunn Appointed was with the understanding that March of this year. From 1962 un- parameters to Arbitron. Five en West had announced its inten- he would ultimately become the til joining NBC in 1979, he had random markets are studied, and tion to sell MMR in August (R&R VP/GM At WBCS PD of WRKS. Don's decision to been with CBS as Manager/Wash- the results may surprise you .. 12 8-6), with Interep and a consor- John Dunn has been appointed leave allows me to fulfill the pro- ington Bureau, Senior VP/Direc- MMR employees tium formed by VP/GM of Great Trails Country mise made to Barry." tor of News, and VP/Washington. as the probable purchasers named 1950's worked in radio stations WBCS-AM & FM/Mil- Kelly told R&R, "I think that In the Small WEBN's Denton Marr, at that time. No financial details waukee, replacing Gina Gallagh- my background in both the A/C as News Director at WHAS/Louis- AOR Survivor: After 15 years were disclosed. er, who has exited the company. and Urban formats gives me a ville and WLS/Chicago. Rush of rockin' on Cincinnati's oldest MMR President Warner Dunn comes from the chain's versatility that no other consul- "I am honored to have been we were unable to AOR, this programmer's thoughts told R&R, "Once Dayton station WJAI, which tant can offer. It's difficult to chosen and I'm delighted be to buy the rep firm as a group, we reflect a format that is ever- recently switched formats from leave an organization like RKO, with UPI," Small commented. "It to do changing 24 felt the best thing was join Country to Big Band. but the time is right for me, and is a great worldwide news service with (McGavren-Guild head) Great Trails President Alexand- I'm leaving the station in very with standards of journalistic ex- Guild. We see tremendous of Ralph er Williams told R&R, "John's capable hands. Barry Mayo is one cellence that span almost all opportunity with the resources of Alternate Programming done a super job for us in Dayton, of the brightest young program- this century." Interep and with all the key For Country AM's: You can so he's moving back to Milwau- mers in the business today. He is Douglas Ruhe, Managing Direc- players remaining on the court. call it Classic Country or you can kee, his hometown. We've also ap- completely qualified to keep tor of Media News Inc., which We will have autonomy from the call it Country Gold. Either way, pointed a new GM to take John's WRKS in its strong position." bought UPI from Scripps -Howard other Interep companies." AM's in Jacksonville, San Diego, place, Carl Evans, formerly GSM Mayo, who was attending the in June, said, "Bill Small is one of MMR VP/Director leaders. Houston and Cincinnati are doing Network at WGBF & WHKC/Evansville, birth of his first child at a New the news industry's true will it now 29 Tony Miraglia coordinate the IN. York hospital on Tuesday (9-14), He is a first-class newsman and Interep sales of the newly -formed Dunn commented, "I have mix- was unavailable for comment. His news executive who brings with network. He stated, "I believe rep appointment as PD is effective him strong organizational and $3.8o tunte Copy ed emotions about leaving what is networks are the fastest -growing DUNN/ See Page 22 November 1.