MCRFB (Billboard) News – Motor City Radio Flashbacks

DETROIT EXPECTS TOP CHRISTMAS . . . NOVEMBER 14, 1964

Higher Detroit Consumer Spending Anticipated for Christmas Holiday Season, 1964

DETROIT — Christmas business should hit an all-time high, Motor City dealers report. If the boom fails to materialize, it will be a big disappointment to the industry in view of the present highly optimistic mood.

An important consideration affects all marketing here – Detroit has been without newspapers for three months, and prospects for settlement appear remote. Consequently all promotional plans are on a catch – as catch can basis.

Despite the newspaper void, however, business among retail stores is reported good. And it is on this background of solid cash register performance that retailers rest their pleasant anticipations for the holidays.

The automobile labor negotiations are having little effect here. Wearied by the months of seesawing, the public appears to be spending for home entertainment resources. The dealers are profiting and expect to continue.

**Downtown Detroit** bustle with traffic amid throngs of holiday shoppers. Woodward Ave., mid-1960s.

Business is up some 30 per cent over 1963, according to Milt Keverson, Uptown Radio Company, a major suburban outlet. One big reason is that the firm has concentrated on better merchandise-lines like Scott, Magnavox, Imperial and Ampex. “This means dollar volume, and better profit as well,” says Keverson. Significantly, he finds that people are buying better quality tape recorders than a year ago. For the holidays, “the outlook is very good. We are looking forward to showing a lot of high end goods.”

Business has been well ahead of last year for the great Grinnell chain. One reason has been a program of growth, with a new store just opened in Toledo, two in Michigan opening this week, and another shortly in the new Mall Shopping Center at Louisville, operated under the Shackleton chain name. The impetus of fall is expected to carry right through the holiday season – and even the absence of newspapers is not expected to hurt too much in the home town.

One of the most significant points noted in assessing business came from Lou Salasin, operator of the Mumford Music Shop. “The perennial slump in record sales, when the youngsters return to school in September simply failed to materialize, and the high summertime business level stayed firm. A very slight drop came a few weeks later and then was offset. The Beatles are credited with setting the pace for the music business this year.

There is one fly in the ointment according to Salasin: “The profit picture is not as good (despite high volume) because we are selling at greater discount to meet the competition. “This, however, is apparently only a local phenomenon.

At the Good Housekeeping Shops, an important chain, business is “excellent – perhaps the best ever. We can’t understand it. Business is running at an all-time high. The year as a whole will be up substantially,” according to Harold Baker, advertising manager. He stressed the point that this climactic level has been held despite the missing newspapers.

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(MCRFB note: The two Detroit newsprint dailies ceased publication in July that year. The stilled presses began rolling on November 25, 134 days after the unionized publications went on strike. Making it the longest shutdown of any newspaper daily in American history).

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Plans for Christmas

**J. L. Hudson building**, ornate in lights for Christmas in the 1960s.

With this prevailing high optimism, retailers are varying their plans for holiday promotion.The day-to-day uncertainties of the strikes make confirmation of detailed plans impossible. In addition, retailers are naturally reluctant to tip off their plans to their competition.

Some major changes in use of media are expected. Merchandise men are striving to keep their programs flexible. J. L. Hudson Company, generally regarded as the world’s largest department store (doing tremendous business in the home entertainment field) has been doing excellent business throughout the newspaper strike.

A special tabloid circular, with a few outstanding offers from each department is being planned by Good Housekeeping Shops for Christmas promotion – but only if the papers stay out.

Good Housekeeping will push stereo, and put a little more emphasis on television, Baker said, because TV is generally more suitable as a gift for the whole family.

Mumford Music is turning to increased use of FM stations to promote classical music in its Christmas planning. The store will also rely heavily on window displays. This is in line with long range plans to increase the inventory of classical music, making this an important department for the gift trade.

Knowledgeable People

**Downtown Detroit**. Street lamps decorated for the Christmas holidays, mid-1960s.

Knowledgeable personnel are another important asset, Salasin believes, in meeting vigorous competition – “Classical record buyers are getting tired of trying to find their records on a rack. Cheapness does not make up for lack of knowledge in a discount store.”

Grinnell’s is putting out an annual catalog for the holiday trade. Other Christmas plans are not available or firmly set. Pre-holiday promotion is being built around the Grinnell-sponsored “My Fair Lady,” who is also the “Detroit Teen Queen.” A special sideline will be a theater dinner party for five couples tied in with the opening of the movie “My Fair Lady.”

At Uptown Radio, a series of four or five brochure holiday mailings is being made to a list of about 50,000 names – some 30,000 from the store’s own files and the rest from directory listings. Brochures from manufactures like Magnavox and Pilot are being used. In addition some custom-prepared material is being used.

Lists of professional people are used for the mailings. Milt Keverson says, “We try to aim at some of the better income groups . . . . We feel that repetition (of mailings) will be more effective. This seems to work better than anything else.”

Uptown will spend about $500 on decorations for the Christmas season, to make the store attractive and seasonal in its visual impact upon customers and passing traffic. END

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Information, credit and news source: Billboard, November 14, 1964

A MCRFB Note: Above republished. Previously posted, November 11/10/2021.

CAMEO-PARKWAY IN LP COMEBACK BID . . . OCTOBER 1, 1966

Young C-P Executives Springs Label into Album Oriented Format for First Time Since 1964

NEW YORK — After a virtual absence of two years from the album field, Cameo-Parkway Records has re-entered the LP race with a six-record release. The move is a major step in the rejuvenation of the label which was among the hottest independents in the industry in the early 1960’s.

Cameo-Parkway’s resurgence reflects the aggressive policies of its young
management, with three of its top executives in their twenties.

Three of the album releases are LP debuts for artists who have hit the singles charts. They are the Five Stairsteps, ? (Question Mark) and the Mysterians and Terry Knight and the Pack.

The other three include a Sounds Orchestral package, a “Psychedelic Mood,” by the Deep, and “The Flying Saucer Story” narrated by Long John Nebel.

Cameo is basing its album push on the recent single performances of its artists – with seven singles on the charts in the last six months. These include two by Terry Knight and the Pack, two by the Five Stairsteps, one by Chubby Checker and the latest and hottest one by ? (Question Mark) and the Mysterians, currently on Billboard’s Top 10.

‘Youth’ Pays Off

Al Rosenthal, who heads the publicly-held company, feels that the youth of sales manager Neil Bogart (age 23), national promotion manager Cecil Holmes (age 29), and regional promotion manager Marty Thau (age 27), has had a lot to do with the label’s comeback.

The manner in which Cameo-Parkway acquired ? (Question Mark) and the Mysterians is a case in point. The group’s record, “96 Tears,” had been making noise in Texas, and several companies had called Paulino Bernet and Joe Gonzales of Bago Records, for whom the group recorded. Gonzales told Bogart, by telephone, that he had a contract from another label, and that he intended to sign the contract and return it.

Despite this discouraging news, and despite the airlines strike, Bogart flew that night to McAllen, Tex., met the Bago people, and wrapped up the deal. The same aggressive tactics brought into the C-P fold the Five Stairsteps and Terry Knight and the Pack.

Bogart said “96 Tears” has already sold more than 500.000 copies.

In addition to the label’s chart entries, Bogart said the firm has been getting regional hits accounting for sales of from 25,000 to 50,000 each.

[MCRFB Note: Cameo Records released single, “Respect”, was localized in SE Michigan, mainly Detroit, and in NE Ohio, in the Toledo area.]

Cites Artists

He cites recent efforts by the Rationals, Bobby Marchann, the Dantes, Dandy Dan Daniels and Eddie Holman, all of whom have had regional hits.

According to Rosenthal, C-P is embarked on a program of developing recording acts with the ability to sustain and sell albums rather than going for the hit-and-run, one-shot single. He said the label will work on a tight release schedule, so that every single can get a maximum promotional effort, and, at the same time. build the artist as a future album property.

Bogart added that the album schedule calls for four annual releases by the Sounds Orchestral in addition to the product by the newer artists. END

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Information, credit and news source: Billboard, October 1, 1966

BEATLEMANIA TURNS TO ‘BEATLEWANEIA’ . . . . SEPTEMBER 3, 1966

Beatles Shea Stadium Second Appearance Disappoint Anticipated Tickets Sellout

NEW YORK — There were certain unmistakable signs at Shea Stadium Tuesday night (Aug. 23) that the phenomenal popularity enjoyed by the Beatles has begun to wane. Although their 35-minute concert netted them a whopping $189,000, the Liverpool moppets drew only 45,000 fans compared with the capacity crowd of 55,000 that jammed the ball park for last year’s show.

Perhaps a more significant omen came from being able to understand some of the lyrics to the group’s 11 songs, including “Yesterday,” “If I Needed Someone” and “Paperback Writer.” In their previous appearances, the din of hysterical, teen-age girls drowned out all sound emanating from the highly amplified speakers.

Another indication that the Capitol Records stars are declining in popularity was the reaction, or lack of reaction, of the screaming Beatlemaniacs. In contrast to last year’s concert, when the young teeners in the lower boxes stormed the stage en masse, only a score of hysteria-clutched fans braved the bolstered police lines (upward of 400 on the field).

It’s doubtful that recent statements from John Lennon, concerning the status of Christianity in the world today, caused a dip in attendance. It is more likely that the mop-tops have saturated the market.

Whatever the reason, it seems that the Beatles have begun the long, slow downward journey, even though their concerts will attract thousands and their records will continue to gross millions for some time.

Other groups that shared a slice of the $292,000 gross, and a much smaller share of the crowd’s enthusiasm, were the Cyrkle, the Remains, the Ronettes and Bobby Hebb. The WMCA Good Guys, Murray the K, “Cousin Brucie” Morrow and Hal Jackson handled the emcee chores for producer Sid Bernstein.

Are the Beatles on the Wane?

The Beatles appearance in Boston (August 18) created only wild enthusiasm for 20,000 youngsters and left next day $60,000 richer. Attendance of 30,000 was hoped for. It is reported that Frank Connelly, impresario of the big Framingham Carosel Theater, who staged the show, took in a gross of from $125,000 to $160,000. Tickets were scaled at $4.75 and $5.75.

The more than 350 State and local police kept the crowd orderly, had little trouble in handling the few recalcitrants who jumped fences and got onto the vast infield where the stage was set up. Local deejays tried to calm the crowd, but in this modern trend, the audience wanted to be the show.

The Remains performed in a nasal imitation of the Beatles; Bobby Hebb and the Cyrkle went on to the thunderous rumble and good-natured screams of the crowd. Then three slim girls in gold-lace dresses, the Ronettes, tried to make themselves heard.

Finally at 9:55 p.m. the Liverpool group sang “If I Needed Someone” to the screaming crowd. And at 10:25 p.m. it was all over. The Beatles gave all they had and it was a good show. END

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Information, credit and news source: Billboard, September 3, 1966

BEATLES ‘HELP’: ALBUM GETS INITIAL PRESSING OF MILLION . . . AUGUST 14, 1965

One Million Pressing Reportedly the Largest Single Order in Business History

NEW YORK — An initial pressing of 1 million albums, reportedly the largest single order in the history of the business, is in the works for “Help!” the Beatles album scheduled to be released by Capitol Records when the United Artists film of the same name opens Wednesday (Aug. ll).

A previous Beatles album, “Beatles VI,” had an initial pressing order of 500,000. The film will be accompanied by a publicity barrage calculated to blast the American public out of its homes and into the movie houses.

In New York, Murray the K will introduce the British group on his hour-long Channel TV show Saturday (Aug. 14). The show will be televised in 40 major markets.

The evening after the telecast, the Beatles make their much-heralded appearance in New York’s Shea Stadium.

Gary Stevens, WMCA disk jockey, is conducting a “Beatles Stakes” contest, with tickets to the Shea Stadium concert as prizes. Here’s how it works: From 7-11 p.m., during Stevens’ show, fans telephone the jockey, guess which Beatle will be talking to them next.

Tapes of individual Beatles will be played on the program. Those who make the correct predictions get pairs of tickets to the concert. END

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Information, credit and news source: Billboard, August 14, 1965

The below featured Capitol Records ‘Help’ LP advertisement was digitally restored by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.

WKNR, WJR HITS BIG PAY DIRT . . . . JULY 24, 1965

WKNR, WJR Hitting Pay Dirt in Detroit, Thanks to Two Air Personalities

DETROIT — Two deejays — one in the Top 40 field and the other from a ‘middle-of-the-road’ easy music station, are basically responsible for the tremendous success of radio stations WKNR and WJR here in influencing the sales of records…. and may be largely responsible for the success of their respective radio stations in reaching a large audience.

WJR station manager James H. Quello, said that his good music station was proud of J. P. McCarthy. “He’s the number one radio personality in town. Everybody knows him and he’s in good part responsible… a major factor… in influencing the sale of LP’s in Detroit.”

According to Billboard’s Radio Response Rating Survey last week of the Detroit radio market — ranked the country’s fifth radio market — McCarthy was rated No. 1 in influencing radio listeners to purchase popular LPs. The station was rated first in the same category, but what makes it a unique situation is that the station gained strength to capture the top position since a similar Billboard survey of May 16, 1964, had placed WJR in second-place behind WCAR.

And the reason, according to Quello, is the power of McCarthy. McCarthy had been with the station at one time, then left WJR in Detroit to work for another radio station in San Francisco. He returned back to Detroit since the last Billboard survey. He’s so effective that WJR placed him on mornings in their 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. time-frame, and he returns for the 3:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. drive time. “After all, this is the motor city of the world… a big car place,” Quello went on to say. McCarthy features mostly MOR records (middle of the road), Quello said, “but we’re programming more contemporary music now, anything short of rock and roll.”

In influencing the sale of popular LP recordings, the major stations, in order, are WJR, WCAR, WWJ, and WJBK. WJR and WCAR has most of the power; in fact, WJR’s McCarthy had 52 per cent of the total points in Billboard’s survey, followed by WCAR deejay Joe Bacarella with 36 per cent overall.

WJR, incidentally, tied for second-place with WWJ in influencing the sale of conservative type records, was No. 1 in influencing the sale of classical records, and showed up fairly well as a power in influencing the sale of folk records as well.

Both Gain

The top position in the sale of popular record singles was again captured by radio station WKNR and its popular disk-jockey, Bob Green. In fact, both station and deejay gained in strength. WKNR radio was rated at 33 per cent in May 16, 1964, but increased its influence to 44 per cent as of last week. Green increased two points to 30 per cent.

WKNR radio station manager Walter Patterson said the Top 40 station isn’t doing anything different, “but we are fortunate in accumulating listeners.” A recent Pulse study showed that the 24-hour Detroit station as reaching 292,900 separate households during a given day.

“We’re not cocky, but we watch our position closely and never let up,” Patterson said. While the station does believe in strong air-personalities, — “some are and some are not” — it also practices “playing more music and keeping talk to a minimum.” The station’s “sound” is very important,” Patterson said.

WKMH the former, now WKNR, featured a “middle-of-the-road” music format until November 1, 1963, when it went Top 40. “We’ve pulled the fastest turnaround of any station in the country,” Patterson said. “What’s happening is the more we go, the more we get.” The station plays the top 31 records and distributes 99,000 copies of the station’s own survey guide of featured songs and hits. Patterson also said the station has a “refrigerator full” of promotions and uses them as the need arises.

Also in the Top 40 market, radio station CKLW has increased its power in influencing the sales of records since the last Billboard survey. The market saw WJBK change format from Top 40, where it ranked No. 2 last May, to good music. In May 1964, it was No. 4; now it ranks second. Dave Shafer and Tom Shannon of CKLW now rank second and third behind WKNR’s Bob Green.

John Gordon, the program director of CKLW, received the Billboard nod as most co-operative in exposing new records.

Close in R&B Field

In the R&B field in the Detroit market, it was a close race, but WCHB radio came out on top in influencing record sales. WCHB had 49 per cent, WJLB had 44 per cent and FM station WGPR had 7 per cent. WJLB ranked first last May.

Bill Williams, program director at WCHB, attributed the station’s increase in influence to a “much tighter format that was launched in January.” The station also went 24-hours in April. Williams said deejays on WCHB are now faster with delivery than before. “We play 35 of the top-selling R&B records, interspersed with every third record with one we think is a good prospect for a potential hit-maker to climb-up the chart.” This has made the station very important in getting listeners to go out and buy more into the R&B product,” Williams said.

“This is a good R&B market, its the home of the Motown sound,” he said, adding that he liked to think of his market as the entire population of Detroit. WJLB, however, scored with the top disc-jockey — Ernie Durham — in the power of influencing record sales. In fact, Durham almost captured the whole thing with a 44 per cent influence in the Detroit R&B market. The second-place honors goes out to Le Baron Taylor of WCHB, who held the No. 2 spot at 27 per cent.

Interesting to note is that an FM station, WBRB-FM is now showing muscles in influencing the sales of country music records. The field is still dominated by country powerhouse WEXL, which still came up with 86 per cent of the total points, but it’s no longer a one-station field. WBRB showed up with a 14 per cent; it’s a new station since the last Billboard survey. Bill Samples, of WEXL, is still the No. 1 deejay in the motor town getting country music records sold. END

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Source information and credit: Billboard July 24, 1965

WEE SURF DISK RIPPLE BUILDING INTO BIG WAVE . . . JUNE 29, 1963

California’s Wild Surf Sound Sweeping Across the Nation

HOLLYWOOD — A batch of West Coast labels — Liberty, Dolton, Capitol, Del-Fi and Dot — have helped turn the surfin’ fad into America’s latest musical craze, with the help of swinging records, astute promotion and a dash of showmanship.

Riding with the surfing wave when it was little more than a “shore break,” these firms and a few others, helped turn it into a “cruncher.” Right now one of these labels, Del-Fi, is devoting 50 per cent of its activity to the surfing market.

One of the first national surfing hits was originally issued on the Candix label. It featured the Marketts and was called “Surfer’s Stomp.” Liberty picked up the master and turned it into a national hit, which made the top 10 of Billboard’s “Hot 100.” The Marketts also had the first surfing LP, also called “Surfer’s Stomp,” which has sold more than 50,000 albums.

Another pioneering surfing hit, also originally issued on the Candix label, featured the Beach Boys, and was called simply “Surfin’.” The record was issued in December of 1961 and by January, 1962, had turned into a big West Coast hit. The Beach Boys were signed shortly after by Capitol.

National Noise

Since then, there have been a number of national surfing hits, both singles and LP’s. The Beach Boys, on Capitol, have had two big singles, “Surfin’ Safari” and “Surfin’ U.S.A.” The Chantays on Dot had a solid hit with “Pipeline.” The Marketts’ second big hit was “Balboa Blue.” And currently Jan and Jean, on Liberty, have a big, big smash with their recording of “Surf City,” a disk that jumped to No. 10 on Billboard’s “Hot 100” this week.

Del-Fi is not the only label to work hard on surfing disks. Liberty and its subsidiary label Dolton, have issued a surfing LP with the Ventures (on Dolton), and another with the Marketts called “The Surfing Scene” and the latest Jan and Dean “Jan and Dean Take Linda Surfin’.”

Capitol hasn’t been idle, either. In addition to the Beach Boys the label has one of the biggest West Coast surf names in Dick Dale. His sales of LP’s and singles on the Coast have been solid both on his own label Del-tone, and on Capitol. In order to try to break his disks nationally, especially his new single and LP “King Of The Surf Guitar,” the firm is sending him on a national tour under the aegis of GAC. And the Beach Boys have a tour being set by the William Morris office.

Hearse Contests

Del-Fi has “Win a Hearse” contest going in San Francisco, Portland, Washington, Seattle, St. Louis, Chicago, Cleveland, Buffalo and Dallas, to help its record by the Lively Ones, and to cash in on the surf hearse nuttiness.

Dot has recently issued singles by the Surfaris, Gene Gray and the Sting Rays, and has a good selling LP in the Chantays’ “Pipeline” album.

As of now the surfing trend in the music world, born just a year and a half ago, appears to be on the verge of a national and possibly international breakthrough.

The big firms are getting on the band wagon, even those located in the East. Recently a Chicago label, Stacy Records, issued a surf record that had a touch of folk-country to it. It is called “Doin’ the Surfin’ Hootenanny,” with Al Casey, and it is reportedly getting attention from both markets. END

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Information credit and source: Billboard, June 29, 1963

BEATLEMANIA RETURNS AS ‘LET IT BE’ CLICKS . . . JUNE 6, 1970

‘McCartney’ LP Number One; Beatles’ Let It Be’ Album Leaps to Number Two, Just Two Weeks on Billboard

NEW YORK — Beatlemania — this time in the form of increased productivity from the group and individual members and in booming sales figures for Beatle product — is still alive and kicking. Beatles’ business manager, Allen Klein, revealed that 3.2 million copies of the group’s “Let It Be” album had been shipped in 13 days. At No. 2 on the Billboard album chart, this week, it jumped from 104 (May 31). Another Apple album, “McCartney,” by Paul McCartney, retains the top spot.

According to Klein, “Let It Be” is already the fourth best selling Beatle album. The list is headed by “Abbey Road” (about 5 million, said Klein), followed by their first ever U.S. album, “Meet the Beatles” (4.3 million) and “Hey Jude” (3.3 million). In fifth place, behind “Let It Be,” is “Sgt. Pepper,” usually regarded as the biggest Beatle seller (2.7 million).

Pointing out that “Abbey Road,” “Hey Jude” and “Let It Be” are all recent product, Klein sees this as justification for the present Apple method of operation. “Since January, Apple has, in effect, taken a unique position in the record business, having total control of and responsibility for the amount of product to be manufactured and shipped,” he said. “Apple is an independent record company using wholly owned distribution and marketing procedures of another major record company. Apple takes all the risks of obsolescence and returns.

“The best evidence of the success of this type of distribution is in the enormously high sales of ‘Hey Jude’ which sold more in total than ‘Sgt. Pepper.’ And this sold without the usual amount of airplay that a new Beatle album or single gets because there was nothing new in the album.

“‘Abbey Road’ was less of a miracle because it was new product and had much airplay. And ‘Let It Be’ had two top singles and a film to help it along.”

Capitol, United Artist Praised

Klein praised the resources of both Capitol and United Artists in contributing to the success of the “Let It Be” album. “We used Capitol’s manufacturing facilities to press 4 million-a million ahead, which is the risk that Apple takes. We drop shipped an initial 2.7 million, around 60 percent to major distributors and the rest to United Artist depots. We get daily information on key retail movement across the country so we know pretty quickly how things are shaping up.

“We have airplay in 40 percent of the country and with the film on release we managed to create the excitement of the release which is so important.

“We are now in a position of discussing what the potential sales of a Beatle album is, in a country of 200 million I don’t know — I reckon they should sell 20 million. But I do know that right now we have coordination. We are maximizing their potential.”

Klein has figures for other Beatle albums that were tied in — as is “Let It Be” –with films: “A Hard Day’s Night” (2.5 million), “Help” (1.5 million), “Magical Mystery Tour” (2 million) and “Yellow Submarine” (700,000).

Klein claims that the restructuring of Apple, freeing the Beatles from business duties, is the reason for the increased flow of material from the group. In the last 12 months the group has brought out five singles and three albums. Klein estimates the sales for that year at 13 million units in the U.S.

“This control they have in their own product is a spur to productivity,” he said. “The incentive to call their own shots means a lot. John Lennon finished ‘Instant Karma’ on a Friday and the record was in the shops the following Thursday. This is a great incentive to making records.”

Klein has reassurance for those surprised at the sales figures for the “Sgt. Pepper” album: “It is still selling a regular 50,000 copies a month. The Beatles catalog is also very strong. END

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Information, credit, and news source: Billboard June 6, 1970

**Allen Klein** with George Harrison, circa 1970.

MICHIGAN MOBILE RADIO BIG ON AUTO SOUND . . . MAY 14, 1966

Tape Player Installer Advertises Heavily in Weekly Ads on Local Radio in SE Michigan

DETROIT — An $1,800 investment about five years ago has grown into the flourishing Michigan Mobile Radio, Inc., which bills itself as the “world’s largest automotive sound specialist.” The present 11,000- square-foot installation handles the complete Muntz line of 4-track stereo tape CARtridge players for car and home.

Jack Frankford, 27-year-old president of the corporation, estimates sales of about 500 units a month from the present 11,000-square-foot outlet, which does retailing and installations.

Michigan Mobile also carries the cartridge catalogs of ITCC and Muntz, and recently completed a deal with Motown Records to distribute Motown tapes in 4-track cartridge. Frankford said the Motown arrangement means the label will sell and promote tapes as a separate item for the first time. The importance of Motown in the Detroit scene was evidenced by Frankford’s initial order of 1,500, followed by an additional 1,500 order.

Frankford, using the image of “Crazy Jack,” has relied heavily on radio advertising to spur business, buying 43 broadcast hours a week on stations in the Detroit area and nearby Canada. The idea is to hit the potential buyer via the car radio. The nickname was born as an ad lib, by a local disk jockey. It was used by Frankford when he began operations in a former car wash of 2,400 square feet because he felt the Michigan Mobile name would sound too imposing for the relatively small operation. The firm’s present advertising agency developed the name further to personalize the corporation.

After going from car lot to car lot since the age of 16 repairing auto radios, Frankford opened his first outlet to sell car radios in 1960. Late that year the business was expanded to include citizen bands. In 1962 Motorola Vibrosonic sound units were added, with record players coming 18 months later, the A. R. C. (Automatic Record Changer) Electronics 45 r.p.m. machine. Late in 1964 and early the next year, cartridge players were added.

Michigan Mobile Radio also is involved in the distribution of cartridges to other dealers, both in and outside of Michigan. Frankford pointed out that the cartridge market was different from the record field, thus making it difficult for record distributors to hit major outlets in the automotive field, including service stations.

Frankford said there were now three distinct markets, records, 8-track cartridges and 4-track cartridges. He conceded he couldn’t supply record dealers, who work through their record distributors, but he said he supplies an inventory of cartridge product to non-record outlet. END

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Information, credit, and news source: Billboard May 14, 1966

WJBK AMENDS ITS FORMAT TO SOFT ROCK . . . MAY 14, 1966

Station Lightly Modify Current Format Geared to Attract Younger 18 plus Audience

DETROIT — WJBK, 50,000-watt outlet here, has launched a soft-rock format, giving the market four Hot 100 stations. Program director John M. Grubbs said the format is more “amended,” than changed. The new programming operation is being changed slowly, but should be complete by May 9.

Dick Boyer has been added to the air personality roster to handle all-night chores. Jerry Blocker, a Negro, formerly of WCAR, will handle the 7-midnight slot, accenting light commercial jazz.

[MCRFB Note: Click on ad image 2x (PC) for largest detailed view. Or tap and stretch image across your device screen of choice for detailed DJ line-ups, names, and times.]

WJBK had tried a Hot 100 format before, but in August 1964, switched back to good music. The station is now injecting current Hot 100 Chart singles of non-raucous nature.

“What we’re looking for is the uptempo, but not specific, teen tunes,” Grubbs said. As an example, the station was playing last week, “Monday Monday” by the Mamas and the Papas. “Sloop John B” by the Beach Boys, “Secret Agent Man” by Johnny Rivers, “Daydream” by the Lovin’ Spoonful, “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” by B. J. Thomas and the Triumphs, “Rainy Day Women,” by Bob Dylan and “How Does That Grab You, Darlin’, ” by Nancy Sinatra. Album cuts with bright appeal are also being played.

“We’re trying to create a hip sound for the 18 and-up age bracket,” Grubbs said, “and we’re getting a good reaction.” Last July the station placed fourth in Billboard’s Radio Response Rating survey for influencing sales of albums in the market. There are presently three Hot 100 stations in the market besides WJBK. WKNR, CKLW, and WXYZ. WJBK just recently upped its daytime power to 50,000 watts from 10,000; the station hopes to soon add to its nighttime directional pattern with the increased wattage power. END

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Information, credit, and news source: Billboard May 14, 1966

MONKEES THE TOP BANANA GLOBALLY . . . FEBRUARY 11, 1967

Hot Popularity Fuels Monkees’ Recordings Across Europe and Beyond

NEW YORK — The Monkees are swinging to the top on a global scale. Their Colgems releases, which are distributed by RCA Victor, are following the phenomenal sales pattern set in the U. S. in such foreign countries as England, Holland, Sweden, Belgium, Norway, Germany Canada, Japan, Australia and the Philippines.

In the U.S., the Monkees’ two album releases, “More Of The Monkees” and “The Monkees,” which holds the one and two spots in Billboard’s best-selling popular LP chart this week, have sold in excess of three million copies. Their two single releases, “Last Train To Clarksville” and “I’m A Believer,” have sold more than 5,000,000 copies.

In England, “I’m A Believer,” has passed the 600,000 sales mark, and their first album, “Monkees,” is selling at a fast-sales clip. The first single release, “Last Train To Clarksville,” which failed to stimulate much interest in its initial round, is now beginning to perk up in sales.

“I’m A Believer” is No. 1 in Holland and Sweden; in the Top 10 in Belgium and Norway; a run-away seller in Canada; in the Top 10 in Japan and Australia, and starting to move up in Germany and the Philippines.

Victor also reports that the Stereo-8 version of the Monkees LP is a fast moving item, and that “More Of The Monkees” is scheduled for Stereo-8 cartridge release later this month. END

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Information, credit, and news source: Billboard; February 11, 1967