Category: MCRFB (Billboard) News

WJBK 1500 FORMAT CHANGE . . . MAY 14, 1966

From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1966

WJBK ‘Amends’ Its Format To Soft Rock

 

 

 

 

DETROIT — WJBK, 50,000-watt outlet here, has lauched 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.

WJBK Radio 15 Program Director John M. Grubbs.

WJBK has 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, also “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 Woman” by Bob Dylan, and “How Does That Grab You Darlin” by Nancy Sinatra. Album cuts with bright appeal are also being played.

“We’re going 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, as it is being planned, to increase its nighttime power sometime in the near future. END

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(Information and news source: Billboard; May 14, 1966)

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MEET THE BEATLES . . . JANUARY 18, 1964

From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1964

British Beatles Hottest Capitol Singles Ever  

 

 

 

 

 

HOLLYWOOD — The Beatles’ Capitol single, “I Want To Hold Your Hand” this week jumps aboard Billboard’s Hot 100 chart for the first time, landing at the No. 45 spot 10 days after the record hit the market, thus becoming the fastest-breaking disk in the labels history.

A BEATLES autographed ‘Meet The Beatles’ (back cover) on U. S. Capitol Records album, 1964 (click on image for larger view).

According to Capitol, dealer orders passed the million mark at press time with the new York City market alone responsible for 294,000. Billboard learned that Capitol called for a Record Industry Association of America audit for sales.

The label hopes to get RIAA certification in time so that Capitol President Alan Livingston will be able to present Britain’s Beatles with a gold record award when they arrive here February 7.

Capitol’s artist and repertoire Vice-President Voyle Gilmore told Billboard his company has shipped 640,000 copies during the first week of the disk’s release.

This surpasses the label’s all-time fast-breaking singles, Tennessee Ernie Ford’s “Sixteen Tons,” and the Kingston Trio’s “Tom Dooley.” To Keep pace with the demand, Capitol has had it’s plants in Scranton, Pa., and Los Angeles on 24-hour production schedules, and found it necessary to farm out 200,000 Beatle pressings to RCA Victor.

At week’s end, Capitol’s Livingston ordered the immediate release of its “Meet The Beatles” album, which had been scheduled for issue January 20. This stepped up pace, Livingston said, resulted from “pressure too great for us to hold back any longer.”

The Beatles, from Liverpool, U.K.
THE BEATLES hail from Liverpool, England

England’s hit act is scheduled for three appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show immediately after the band’s arrival here, the first to be telecast February 9, the second on February 16, and the final one to be pre-taped in Miami for a March show. The group appeared on the Jack Parr show on a film clip several weeks ago. END

BILLBOARD LATE SINGLE SPOTLIGHTS MEET THE BEATLES — Capitol T 2047 (M); ST 2047 (S) —  The Beatles, Britain’s prize group with the Liverpool sound, have created a great stir here. Their initial single “I Want To Hold Your Hand” is already well up the charts and this album, rushed out to cash in on the publicity splurge, should move out rapidly. For full review and cover reproduction see next week’s Billboard. END

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(Information and news source: Billboard; January 18, 1964)

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DEON JACKSON ON ATCO . . . JANUARY 15, 1966

A MCRFB NEWS brief: 1966

Atco to Handle Deon Jackson’s Hit

 

 

 

 

Deon Jackson on Carla Records; Ann Arbor, MI. (Click on image for larger view)

NEW YORK — Deon Jackson’s recording of “Love Makes The World Go Round” on the Detroit-based Carla label has been picked up for national distribution for Atco Records. The disk, issued in Detroit just a week ago, sold over 10,000 copies in three days after it’s introduction on Robin Seymour’s CKLW-TV show.

The Carla label is owned by Ollie McLaughlin, manager of Barbara Lewis who records for Atlantic Records. END

 

 

 

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 (Information and news source: Billboard; January 22, 1966)

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CKLW AND TOM CLAY SPLIT . . . JULY 11, 1964

From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1964

Clay, CKLW Split ‘Amiable’

 

 

 

 

Detroit radio disk jockey Tom Clay circa 1964.
Detroit radio disk jockey Tom Clay circa 1964.

DETROIT — The departure of featured deejay Tom Clay from CKLW last week was as an “amiable termination” based on Clay’s decision to quit because he was not able to spin his own records, and was not based on any difference of programming, as reported elsewhere.

Clay felt he was not doing enough on his show when not allowed to play the records himself, but John Gordon, CKLW’s program director, told Billboard that present contracts with both the engineers and AFTRA prohibit this practice at the station.

Last week the Tom Clay show was replaced by the Terry Knight show, Monday through Friday, 7 to 11 p.m. and 1 to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Knight comes from WTRX, Flint, where he had a similar show and was formerly a deejay on WJBK. END

 

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 (Information and news source: Billboard; July 11, 1964)

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WKNR LAUNCHES WINTRY “THINK SUMMER” CAMPAIGN . . . FEBRUARY 20, 1965

From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1965

WKNR Finds Way to Beat Old Man Winter in ’65

 

 

 

 

DETROIT — WKNR has found a way to help take the severe bite out of Old Man Winter with it’s “Think Summer” campaign.

WKNR “Think Summer” 1965 promotion button

The station has distributed some 77,000 “Think Summer“ buttons in conjunction with  extensive newspaper ads and billboard displays. On-the-air, WKNR is conducting a contest and awarding barbeque grills, badminton sets, and other summertime items. To keep things psychologically warm, weather forecasts include the more desirable temperatures of Hawaii, Florida, Southern California and other southern resort areas.

As a result of the promotion, Russ Yerge, Columbia Records promotion director for Detroit, suggested his record label cut a record on the theme. Clyde Otis obliged and the label has released a single by Susan Wayne entitled “Think Summer.” A Special tie-in promotion has been arranged by Columbia Records with 65 radio stations using the “Think Summer” theme by endorsing the Wayne single. END

ADDENDUM: for more on WKNR’s “Think Summer” radio contest and station promotions, see our previous “Think Summer” exhibit post (January 29, 2012) with mp3 audio, archived here on Motor City Radio Flashbacks.

(Information and news source: Billboard; February 20, 1965)

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