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101-535: In 1946, the show (then performing at the Virginia Theatre demolished in 1962) was syndicated on the CBS radio network as "CBS Radio Saturday Night Country Style", becoming the first national radio broadcast from West Virginia. In 1997, WWVA dropped its country music format, although Saturday night broadcasts continued, from various theaters and managed by various entities, the final commercial one being Live Nation, initially

202-527: A 51% stake in Clear Media Ltd. in China. R. Steven Hicks and Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst began Capstar Broadcasting in 1996, and a year later had become the largest owner of radio stations in the country, with 243 stations in total. In August 1997, Capstar and Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst announced plans to acquire SFX Broadcasting , with the resulting company owning 314 stations in 79 markets and ranking as

303-540: A LMA with Clear Channel's KLRT-TV . Clear Channel also entered into a deal with Providence Journal Company , who owns Fox affiliate KMSB in Tucson to operate KTTU through a local marketing agreement. Memphis also jumped onto the board when WLMT entered into a LMA with Clear Channel's WPTY . Also in 1993, Clear Channel entered into a local marketing agreement with RDS Communications to operate KTFO-TV in Tulsa, which most of

404-930: A LMA with Clear Channel's WPRI . As part of the radio-TV strategy, Clear Channel acquired Jacor Communications , which incorporated WKRC-TV in Cincinnati into the Clear Channel Television branch. Once FCC relaxed its duopoly rules, Clear Channel acquired stations that were originally LMA markets outright, including WLMT in Memphis , KTFO in Tulsa , WTEV in Jacksonville , KASN in Little Rock and WJTC in Mobile . Also in 2000, Clear Channel sold WPRI to Sunrise Television for $ 50 million. Later on in 2001, William Moll become

505-655: A No. 29 Billboard "Top 100" hit. In the fall, it peaked at No. 7 on Billboard's "Adult Contemporary" chart. In 1963, Sovine passed on the helping hand given him by older performers when he heard the singing of minor league baseball player Charley Pride and suggested that he move to Nashville, Tennessee . Sovine opened doors for Pride at Pierce's Cedarwood Publishing, but his own career had stalled: "Dream House For Sale", which reached number 22 in 1964, came nearly eight years after his last hit. In 1965, Sovine found his niche when he recorded " Giddyup Go ", which, like most of his other trucker hits, he co-wrote with Tommy Hill. It

606-448: A billboard media company led by Karl Eller . In 1998, it made its first move outside of the US when it acquired the leading UK outdoor advertising company More Group plc, which was led by Roger Parry ; Clear Channel went on to buy many other outdoor advertising, radio broadcasting, and live events companies around the world, which were then re-branded Clear Channel International. These included

707-437: A channel (frequency) on which only one station transmits. In the U.S., clear-channel stations have exclusive rights to their frequencies throughout most of the continent at night, when AM signals travel far due to skywave . CEO Bob Pittman said that the company had been "doing progressive stuff", yet were still "named after AM radio stations". Beginning in 2008, iHeartMedia struggled to pay down more than $ 20 billion in debt

808-557: A contract with Decca in 1954. The following year Sovine cut a duet with Goldie Hill , "Are You Mine?" which peaked in the Top 15, and in 1956 he had his first number one hit when he duetted with Pierce on a cover of George Jones ' " Why Baby Why ". Sovine had two other Top Five singles that year and became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. After recording close to 50 sides with Decca by 1959, Sovine signed to Starday Records and began touring

909-497: A daytime show without a live audience. Many of the artists of the show like Doc Williams, Joe Barker, Curley Miller, Monte Blake, and Lloyd Carter got drafted and had to leave. During this period many war influenced songs were written and performed on the Jamboree : "A Hundred Million Kisses For Hitler," "The Devil and Mr Hitler," "A Letter To A Soldier," and "You Won't Know Tokyo When We Get Through." The war helped new acts on their way to

1010-400: A deal where the company might file for bankruptcy. On March 15, 2018, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and claimed that it reached an agreement to restructure $ 10 billion of its over $ 20 billion in debt. In September 2018, iHeartMedia acquired HowStuffWorks ' podcast network Stuff Media for $ 55 million. On November 19, 2018, iHeartMedia announced its intent to acquire Jelli ,

1111-448: A direct listing on the Nasdaq . On January 14, 2020, iHeartMedia announced a major restructuring, as part of an effort to "modernize our company to take advantage of the significant investments we have made in new technology and aligning our operating structure to match the technology-powered businesses we are now in." This included the restructuring of its Markets Group into three divisions:

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1212-530: A few cases, following purchase of a competitor, Clear Channel was forced to divest some of its stations, as it was above the legal thresholds in some cities. In 2005, the courts ruled that Clear Channel must also divest itself of some " border blaster " radio stations in international border cities, such as the alternative rock radio station XETRA-FM ("91X") in Tijuana / San Diego . In 1997, Clear Channel expanded and diversified its business, purchasing Eller Media,

1313-597: A four-year halt. It was held at the Virginia Theatre in Wheeling and contained 13 acts. New performers had been added to the show in 1945, including the "Singing Mountaineer" Reed Dunn and the honky-tonk vocalist Hawkshaw Hawkins . Hawkins soon became the most popular star on the Jamboree . He stayed with the show until 1954 when he joined Ozark Jubilee . He was nicknamed the Hawk or Eleven Yards of Personality during his time at

1414-425: A hundred stations were assigned to Aloha Station Trust, LLC upon the consummation of the merger. The television stations were sold to Newport Television , a broadcaster owned by Providence Equity Partners , on April 23, 2007. Due to the credit market crunch of 2007, Clear Channel encountered difficulty selling some of its radio stations. Clear Channel's attempt to sell off over 100 stations to GoodRadio.TV, LLC

1515-542: A job as a supervisor of a hosiery factory. With the encouragement of Bailes, Sovine formed The Echo Valley Boys. After a year of performing in West Virginia , Sovine moved to Shreveport, Louisiana , where the Bailes Brothers were performing on KWKH -AM. Sovine's own early morning show was not popular, but he gained greater exposure performing on the famed KWKH radio program, Louisiana Hayride . One of his co-stars

1616-513: A large following which increased even more at the outburst of World War II when most of the men were drafted. Some artists like Warren Caplinger, Hugh Cross, Frankie More and Slim McAuliffe had had recording experiences prior to the WWVA engagement and did fairly well. Others, like Johnny Bailes, Red Sovine , Charlie Monroe and Floyd Tillman did not. Many performers could only receive a salary if their sponsors sold any products via their shows. Rural comedy

1717-485: A major hit for John Denver , was inspired by the Jamboree . Written by two songwriters who had never been to the state, they lived in Massachusetts but thought that state was not particularly lyrical, so having heard the Jamboree on the radio and noting that "West Virginia" had the same syllabic rhythm, they made the song about West Virginia instead. The line in the song mentioning "radio reminds me of my home far away"

1818-484: A marketing partnership with Robert F. X. Sillerman 's SFX Entertainment (a second incarnation of a live events company that had been sold to Clear Channel, which spun off to form Live Nation), to collaborate on electronic dance music content for its digital and terrestrial radio outlets, including a Beatport top 20 countdown show. The partnership expanded upon the company's existing EDM-oriented outlets, including Evolution . Staff, including John Sykes , believed that

1919-627: A new location at Wheeling Island Exhibition Hall. In May 1966, Mac Wiseman was hired to work both as a performer and a talent agent. He started a new radio program in October, the Mac Wiseman Record Shop , which aired at midnight following the Jamboree . Wiseman would continue to direct the Jamboree until his departure in 1970. The deejay, Lee Moore, went on the air with a new program on November 1, 1966, The All Night Show . Lee Moore eventually left

2020-501: A number of its homegrown talk and music shows without the aid of Premiere. While Premiere actively sells its shows to stations, the non-Premiere syndicated shows are often used as a cost-cutting measure and do not have a large sales staff. Those shows also do not carry network-wide advertising (unless distributed by a third party), and allow the affiliates to keep all local spots, which increases their appeal. These networks carry many program hosts of various political ideologies and distribute

2121-521: A solo act. More modern performers such as Don Kidwell and the actor Jimmy Walker also joined the cast in 1949. Although Kidwell left the show in 1953, Walker continued on and off until 1964. The gospel quartet of the Sunshine Boys became part of the Jamboree in 1949 and they remained there for two years. The "Yodelin' Ranger" Hank Snow and the Colorado singing cowboy Ken Curtis joined the Jamboree in

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2222-580: A staple live performance at many promotional events during the 1970s. In the mid 80s a young Brad Paisley, a native of nearby Glen Dale first appeared on the Wheeling Jamboree. He became a regular member, until he moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1997 to complete his formal education. Though WWVA dropped its country music format in 1997, it continued to carry the Jamboree on Saturday nights. The station's ownership would change hands several times during this period; Atlantic Star Communications would sell

2323-475: A subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications , which had come to own WWVA. By the end of 2008, Clear Channel had restructured and became an iHeart media entity and the owners of the program (Wheeling Jamboree, Inc.) moved the broadcast to WKKX , a talk radio station with smaller coverage than WWVA, so supporters (including Brad Paisley whose career had launched on the Jamboree) created a non-profit entity to continue

2424-747: A variety of programs to both iHeartMedia-owned and non-iHeartMedia-owned stations. In addition to its own syndication network, iHeartMedia offers studio space and other services to the WestStar TalkRadio Network, which is based at iHeartMedia's studios in Phoenix, Arizona . As a result, many WestStar programs are heard on iHeartMedia stations. Not all programming heard on iHeartMedia's radio stations are produced in house; however, most of iHeartMedia's stations share many similarities to each other in branding and programming. Red Sovine Woodrow Wilson " Red " Sovine (July 7, 1917 – April 4, 1980)

2525-538: A wholly owned subsidiary of CC Media Holdings, Inc. On September 16, 2014, CC Media Holdings, Inc. was rebranded iHeartMedia, Inc., and Clear Channel Communications, Inc., became iHeartCommunications, Inc. iHeartMedia, Inc. specializes in radio broadcasting , podcasting , digital and live events through division iHeartMedia (sans "Inc." suffix; formerly Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, Clear Channel Radio, et al.) and subsidiary iHeartMedia and Entertainment, Inc. (formerly Clear Channel Broadcasting, Inc.);

2626-575: Is a subtle reference to the Jamboree . Eventually the song became the official song of the state of West Virginia. Recording Artist / Jamboree USA Performer Freddy Carr was contracted by the Tourist Development Division of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce to represent the state at numerous special banquets, concerts and sporting events throughout the U.S. and Canada. His signature rendition of "Take Me Home Country Roads" became

2727-534: Is an American mass media corporation headquartered in San Antonio , Texas . It is the holding company of iHeartCommunications, Inc. , formerly Clear Channel Communications, Inc. , a company founded by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs in 1972, and later taken private by Bain Capital and Thomas H. Lee Partners in a leveraged buyout in 2008. As a result of the 2008 buyout, Clear Channel Communications, Inc. became

2828-473: Is estimated that between 1933 and 1976, more than five million visitors attended The World's Original WWVA Jamboree . During the entire decade of the 1970s, former Country Music bandleader Glenn Reeves was the Executive Director and General manager of the show. Reeves' tenure lasted until 1982. Freddy Carr, Jerry Brightman , Gus Thomas, and Jim Sutton were included on his management team which launched

2929-399: Is played. Big Machine Label Group was announced as the first partner in this scheme. Pittman stated that the arrangement would let "labels and artists participate in the revenue of broadcast radio immediately and in digital radio as it builds". iHeartMedia has purchased stations from or acquired the following radio companies: Clear Channel Outdoor (CCO) is an advertising company that

3030-416: Is spoken, rather than sung, as the words of an older long-distance truck driver who rediscovers his long-lost son driving another truck on the same highway. Minnie Pearl released an answer song titled "Giddy-Up Go Answer". Sovine's version of the song spent six weeks atop the country charts. Other truck-driving country hits followed, including; Sovine was married to Norma Searls, who died on June 4, 1976, at

3131-472: The Jamboree but Doc Williams and John Corrigan wanted to revitalize the show instead. The Jamboree added 27 new acts within the next 15 months, including country and bluegrass music acts such as David Houston , Esco Hankins and the Stanley Brothers . On November 8, 1965, the new program director, Arlen Sanders, made WWVA a "full-time country radio station" and on January 15, 1966, the Jamboree moved to

Wheeling Jamboree - Misplaced Pages Continue

3232-406: The Jamboree in 1935. Cross, who was an experienced radio and recording artist, teamed up with Shug Fisher and they formed Hugh and Shug's Radio Pals. They left WWVA in 1939 for WLW in Cincinnati, Ohio . In March, 1935, announcer Murrell Poor was added to the Jamboree cast. Frankie More, who was sponsored by Pinex Cough Syrup, signed with the Jamboree in 1936. The name of Frankie More's band,

3333-522: The Jamboree when the Bailey Brothers and Their Happy Valley Boys were signed. The Bailey Brothers left the show in 1954 when Dan Bailey became ill and returned to Tennessee. The bluegrass duo of Jim & Jesse McReynolds and Hylo Brown had a short stint at the Jamboree during the summer months of 1955. In October 1956, the Osborne Brothers joined the Jamboree . They had previously been on

3434-581: The Jamboree . The professional trio of Cap, Andy and Flip also signed with WWVA in 1932. On January 7, 1933, the Saturday night Jamboree began and three months later, on April 1, a live audience was added. The live-audience premiere of The World's Original WWVA Jamboree took place at the Capitol Theatre in Wheeling. The following years, the Jamboree broadcast from a different location each Saturday. The Sparkling Four disbanded in 1933 and Bill Jones formed

3535-547: The U.S. Congress relaxed radio ownership rules slightly, allowing the company to acquire more than two stations per market. By 1995, Clear Channel owned 43 radio stations and 16 television stations. When the Telecommunications Act of 1996 became law, the act deregulated media ownership, allowing a company to own more stations than previously allowed. Clear Channel went on a subsequent buying spree, purchasing more than 70 other media companies and individual stations. In

3636-621: The 1960s and 1970s including Freddy Carr, Jimmie Stephens, Darnell Miller, Junior Norman, Kenny Biggs, Gus Thomas, Slim Lehart , and Bud Cutright. Also bluegrass groups like Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys, Charlie Moore & Bill Napier, Red Smiley and His Bluegrass Cutups, Tater Tate and the Shenadoah Cutups, and Frank Necessary and the Stone Mountain Boys became more common at the Jamboree . Even gospel groups like

3737-470: The Blue Ridge Quartet—who became the most popular act of 1970—and Walter Bailes Singers were regulars at the show. In the early 1970s, "Trucker's Jamborees" were held at the Jamboree with performers such as Dick Curless , Dave Dudley , and Patti Powell. Homecoming reunions were arranged where the old-timers of yesterday like Bill Jones, Elmer Crowe, Doc Williams, and Grandpa Jones could gather. It

3838-545: The Border Riders joined the program. The Border Riders became the Jamboree's most popular act of 1938. Joe Barker and the Chuck Wagon Gang came to the Jamboree in 1937. They remained favorites with the audience until 1950. In December 1937, the western singer Big Slim McAuliffe became a member of the Border Riders. In 1939, Lew Childre joined the Jamboree staying almost four years. An aspiring young star, Floyd Tillman

3939-575: The Capitol Theatre renovation. WWVA was granted a license on December 6, 1926 and its initial broadcast, via a 50-watt transmitter, was on December 13. Two-and-a-half years later, on July 1, 1929, WWVA had increased its power to 5,000 watts. Holland Engel and Howard Donahoe were among the first announcers, and in 1927, the station signed William Wallace "Bill" Jones and the Sparkling Four as its first hillbilly act. The quartet played requests made over

4040-629: The Chuck Wagon Doughboys, the Log Cabin Boys, Brown Eyes, Benny Kissinger and Smiley Sutter. The Fourth Goodwill Tour of 1942 consisted of Bill Jones, Big Slim McAuliffe, the Border Riders, Lew Childre, the Leary Family, Curley Miller, the blind twins Eileen and Maxine, Smiley Sutter and Millie Wayne. WWVA studios The acts and performers of the WWVA Jamboree and years they were added to

4141-428: The Jamboree. When Clear Channel morphed into iHeart Media in 2008, certain divestitures occurred and the jamboree ceased weekly shows. Since 2014 the Wheeling Jamboree has broadcast from noncommercial low-power station WWOV-LP at 101.1 FM. Since 2015 the Jamboree has aired quarterly live episodes (including an anniversary show, a Christmas show and a summer show), and expects to resume weekly broadcasts upon completion of

Wheeling Jamboree - Misplaced Pages Continue

4242-730: The Log Cabin Gang, varied between Log Cabin Boys or Log Cabin Girls during the "Gangs" period on the show. The most prominent member of the Log Cabin Gang was the banjo player Cousin Emmy. The Log Cabin Gang left the Jamboree in 1941. Grandpa Jones signed with the show in 1936 and joined the Rhythm Rangers, but he left the following year. He returned for a short stint in 1941 and 1945. In May 1937, Doc Williams and

4343-585: The Regions division for its largest markets, the Metropolitan division for other major cities, and the Communities division for smaller markets and added a multi-market partnerships unit, and announced the development of centers of excellence that would use technology investments to "provide a better experience for listeners and business partners and a more efficient process for all of its employees". The restructuring

4444-464: The Rhythm Rogues. On November 11, 1933, Cowboy Loye (Loye Donald Pack) joined the show, and based on the amount of mail he received, became one of the biggest stars of the Jamboree . Cowboy Loye often performed together with "Just Plain" John Oldham. Four years later, in 1937, Cowboy Loye left WWVA and moved to Nebraska . He died in 1941. Sponsored by Georgie Porgie Breakfast Foods, Hugh Cross joined

4545-575: The Tommy Nelson Gang. The Second Goodwill Tour of 1940 consisted of Bill Jones, Big Slim McAuliffe, the Border Riders, Fincher's Cotton Pickers, the Log Cabin Girls, the Radio Cirkus, the Tommy Nelson Gang, Pete Cassell, Mack Jeffers, Curley Miller and Blaine Smith. The Third Goodwill Tour of 1941 consisted of Bill Jones, Big Slim's Happy Ranch Gang, Lew Childre and His Buckeyes, Chief Redhawk,

4646-536: The Vertical Real Estate division and hired Scott Quitadamo to promote its tower portfolio. iHeartMedia owns and operates approximately 1,500 broadcast transmission towers across the U.S., many of which are available for co-location by third parties such as cellular and PCS companies, wireless internet, fixed wireless , and other broadcasters. iHeartMedia operates the country's largest syndication service, Premiere Networks . In addition, iHeartMedia syndicates

4747-446: The age of 57. On April 4, 1980, Sovine suffered a heart attack while driving in southern Nashville, causing him to run a red light and strike an oncoming vehicle. He and the other driver, 25-year-old Edgar Primm, were transported to St. Thomas Hospital. While Primm was treated and released for minor facial injuries, Sovine died shortly after arrival. According to a preliminary autopsy, Sovine sustained massive abdominal bleeding caused by

4848-544: The announcer Bill Thomas. They visited three towns in Pennsylvania and three towns in Ohio . The first Goodwill Tour was a success and thus, a new Goodwill Tour was arranged each year. The First Goodwill Tour of 1939 consisted of Big Slim McAuliffe, Elmer Crowe, Doc Williams' Border Riders, Fincher's Cotton Pickers, Frankie More's Log Cabin Girls, Joe Barker's Radio Cirkus, Hugh & Shug's Radio Pals, Jake Taylor's Railsplitters and

4949-452: The annual summer Country Music Festival, " Jamboree in the Hills " at nearby St. Clairsville, Ohio. This multi-day annual festival still continued through 2018. Live Nation decided to not have the festival again in 2019 due to their desire to change the festivals concession policies which permitted patrons to bring in their own coolers and contents as opposed to having to purchase concessions inside

5050-471: The board of iHeartCommunications and was replaced by Laura A. Grattan, a director at Thomas H. Lee . Grattan was named to the board of managers of iHeartMedia Capital I, LLC, the direct parent of iHeartCommunications, as well as the board of directors of iHeartMedia, Inc., the indirect parent of iHeartCommunications. On November 30, 2017, it was reported that a group of creditors had rejected iHeartMedia's latest debt restructuring proposal, instead bringing out

5151-472: The board. Later that year, MTV co-founder Robert W. "Bob" Pittman joined the company and would eventually become CEO of CC Media Holdings. In August 2013, Clear Channel sold its minority stake in Sirius XM for $ 135.5 million. This also resulted in the removal of most Clear Channel-programmed stations on the service, besides simulcasts of WHTZ and KIIS-FM . On January 6, 2014, Clear Channel announced

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5252-501: The club circuit as a solo act. That same year, Sovine was seriously injured in a car accident that claimed the lives of two of his band members, Douglas Nicks and Johnny Morris. In 1961, a song copyrighted in 1955 by Sovine and co-writer Dale Noe became a sizeable hit on the pop chart. The tune was the ballad " Missing You ", arranged in Countrypolitan style and was recorded by Ray Peterson for his own Dunes label. "Missing You" became

5353-464: The company also filed a proposed initial public offering . iHeartMedia emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2019, with a new board of directors and the spin-out of Clear Channel Outdoor, but maintaining its existing leadership of CEO Bob Pittman and President Rich Bressler. Rather than pursue its IPO (which was estimated to potentially be valued at $ 1.1 billion), iHeartMedia instead received approval for

5454-509: The company assumed from its leveraged buyout. Various media outlets, including Bloomberg News , Reuters , Radio Ink , and iHeartMedia's hometown newspaper the San Antonio Express-News , claimed that either bankruptcy or a major restructuring was likely. On April 20, 2017, the company warned investors that it might not survive over the following 10 months. In 2016, one of the company's directors, Julia B. Donnelly, left

5555-541: The company bought out KITN-TV in Minneapolis / St. Paul from Nationwide Communications , followed in 1994 by the purchase of WXXA-TV in Albany from Heritage Communications, for $ 25.5 million. In 1991, Clear Channel Television jumped into the foray of local marketing agreements , starting in 1991 with WJTC , which Clear Channel operated through a LMA with WPMI , and subsequently later on in 1992, when KASN entered into

5656-467: The company owns more than 860 full-power AM and FM radio stations in the U.S., making it the country's largest owner of radio stations. The company has also been involved in internet radio and podcasting via the digital platform iHeartRadio (from which the company derives its current name). In the past, the company was also involved in live events and out-of-home advertising . The company spun off these businesses in 2005 and 2019 respectively, as

5757-424: The deal would help provide a higher level of national exposure to current and up and coming EDM artists. In September 2014, it was announced that the company would be renamed from Clear Channel Communications to iHeartMedia, alluding to its iHeartRadio platform to reflect the company's growing emphasis on digital media and internet radio . The previous name "Clear Channel" came from AM broadcasting, referring to

5858-532: The death of Robert Smith, the founder of Smith Broadcasting . In 2005, Clear Channel acquired another Salt Lake City television station KUWB from Acme Communications for $ 18.5 million in cash. In 2006, Don Perry was then named president and CEO of Clear Channel Television. Ever that, in the 2000s, Clear Channel began the trend of using legacy callsigns for former radio sisters as new call designated signs for existing Clear Channel TV properties, since it already owned radio stations, although WKRC-TV already used

5959-481: The explosion of rock 'n roll through a mix of rockabilly and traditional music. In July 1962, the Virginia Theatre in Wheeling was demolished. It had been the home of The World's Original WWVA Jamboree since July 1946. The Rex Theatre became the new locale for the live-audience Jamboree . WWVA-AM changed ownership in the mid-1960s and a new program director was appointed in August 1965, Lee Sutton. Plans arose to cancel

6060-447: The festival if Live Nation changed the policies. To the last performance on the stage in 2018 it was one of America's major American Country Music festivals, featuring top-name stars on its headliners' list every year. (The Jamboree in the Hills was later spun off to Live Nation in 2006; WWVA owner iHeartMedia also continued to air the annual event on WOVK .) until the last performance in 2018. The song " Take Me Home, Country Roads ,"

6161-435: The group to Chancellor/AMFM Inc. which would ultimately merge into Clear Channel Communications (now iHeartMedia ). The Capitol Music Hall and the Jamboree would also be managed by Clear Channel's concert promotion division, Live Nation . WWVA's corporate owners elected to hire production entities to manage the weekly stage production of the show, eventually leading to operations of the show by Live Nation. The transition to

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6262-522: The honky-tonk vocalist Sidney "Hardrock" Gunter came to the show. He later branched out on his own recording rockabilly for Sun Records . During the 1950s, recorded music gradually replaced live performances and Hardrock Gunter and Lee Moore became the station's deejays . Married couples who performed at the Jamboree became increasingly popular such as Joe & Shirley Barker, Lee & Juanita Moore, Doc & Chickie Williams, and Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper. In April 1952, bluegrass music made its entry at

6363-610: The inventory will be supplied by KOKI. Later on, in 1994, in Jacksonville, WTEV-TV entered into a local marketing agreement with WAWS , the Clear Channel television station. In 1994, Fox shockingly announced its intentions to purchase WHBQ-TV , which displaced Clear Channel's WPTY-TV as its Fox Memphis affiliate. Also that year, as part of a group deal involving stations acquired by SF Broadcasting, Clear Channel's WPMI-TV in Mobile

6464-563: The late 1940s as two separate acts. Snow and Curtis left within a year and Curtis went on to become a successful Hollywood actor. The country music writer and musician George Morgan also worked at the Jamboree for a few months before leaving for Grand Ole Opry . In 1951, the Country Harmony Boys, the first country band to have a union contract joined the WWVA Jamboree . They worked as a staff band meaning they worked with anybody on

6565-622: The moniker when it was under Clear Channel ownership. In 2002, San Antonio's Clear Channel station KMOL-TV was rebranded to WOAI-TV , the original call letters that station is using from 1948 to 1974, matching up with radio sister WOAI-AM . In 2005, WOKR, the Rochester Clear Channel affiliate was rebranded to WHAM-TV , the original call letters for an unrelated Rochester station WROC-TV from 1948 to 1956, matching up for radio sister WHAM-AM . Also that year, sister station in Syracuse, WIXT

6666-528: The most spins played on radio stations in the United States and Canada . A majority of stations that report to Mediabase are iHeartMedia outlets but other companies also report to the Mediabase charts. In addition, countdown shows produced by Premiere will utilize Mediabase charts for the basis of their programs. Operates urban bicycle sharing systems in several European cities: In 2003, Clear Channel created

6767-804: The new satellite radio service XM Satellite Radio , giving it the rights to program a selection of stations on the service (which would be drawn from some of its stations and syndicated output). In 2000, Clear Channel acquired Robert F. X. Sillerman 's SFX Entertainment, a concert promoter that had focused on consolidation of regional promoters under a national operation. In 2005, Clear Channel spun off its entertainment and live events business as Live Nation . On November 16, 2006, Clear Channel announced plans to go private, being bought out by two private-equity firms, Thomas H. Lee Partners and Bain Capital Partners for $ 26.7 billion, which included their assumption of $ 8 billion in Clear Channel debt. This

6868-439: The non-profit and current unit of the Wheeling Jamboree took place between 2006 & 2007 through today. WWVA dropped the program in the late 2000s (part of a broader restructuring at Clear Channel that saw the spin-off of Live Nation, which continued to own the Jamboree in the Hills until its 2019 shutdown), and for the next several years, Jamboree broadcasts were carried on WKKX , another talk radio station, which also syndicated

6969-403: The number-two group owner, Audacy . In June 2012, the company announced that it would become the first U.S. radio group to partner with record labels to pay performance royalties directly to labels and musicians (in addition to songwriters and producers). The royalties are paid via revenue sharing for advertising across platforms (including digital), rather than a flat payment each time a song

7070-401: The other six were flipped to other buyers by Newport. In 2012 to mid-2013, Newport sold off all of its holdings to several other television groups, including Cox Media Group , Nexstar Media Group , and Sinclair Broadcast Group . Stations are arranged alphabetically by state and by city of license . iHeartMedia owns Mediabase , which provide music charts based on songs and tracks receiving

7171-676: The present-day Live Nation Entertainment and Clear Channel Outdoor . Clear Channel Communications purchased its first FM station in San Antonio, Texas in 1972. The company purchased the second "clear channel" AM station WOAI in 1975. In 1976, the company purchased its first stations outside of San Antonio. KXXO (now KAKC ) and KMOD-FM in Tulsa were acquired under the name "San Antonio Broadcasting" (same as KEEZ). Stations were also added in Port Arthur, Texas (KPAC-AM-FM, now KDEI and KTJM , from Port Arthur College ), and El Paso, Texas (KELP, now KQBU ) from John Walton Jr. In 1992,

7272-745: The president of Clear Channel Television, replacing Rioridan. In 2001, after acquiring the stations of Chris-Craft Industries , Fox Television Stations traded WFTC to Clear Channel Television for Fox's own TV stations KMOL-TV in San Antonio and KTVX in Salt Lake City . In 2002, Clear Channel acquired Ackerley Group , which incorporated its television holdings into the Clear Channel Television portfolio. Also that year, Clear Channel sold KTTU in Tucson to Belo outright. In 2003, Clear Channel announced that they would sell WUTR to Mission Broadcasting . In 2004, Clear Channel bought WETM outright after

7373-502: The provider of a programmatic advertising platform for radio stations. In January 2019, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas approved a creditor-supported plan for iHeartMedia to exit bankruptcy, which would reduce the company's debt from $ 16.1 billion to $ 5.75 billion. The plan included the spin-out of iHeartMedia's 89.1% stake in its out-of-home advertising division Clear Channel Outdoor . In April 2019,

7474-414: The regular cast, began to appear, and the regular artists were overshadowed. Despite the new format, Doc Williams continued to perform at the Jamboree well into the 1980s. Rockabilly singer Bob Gallion began to sing country duets with Patti Powell in the 1970s. The yodeler Kenny Roberts left the Jamboree in 1973 after a 14-year stint. A new roster of country music stars were tied to the Jamboree during

7575-551: The show in 1973 as he became increasingly tired of being a "button-pusher". On December 13, 1969, the WWVA Jamboree moved its live-audience shows back to the same Capitol Theatre used for the 1933 broadcasts. The Capitol Theatre had been purchased in the summer of 1969 by Communications Inc. and had its name changed to Capitol Music Hall . The Jamboree changed its name as well to the more cosmopolitan sounding Jamboree U.S.A . Special guest stars such as Buck Owens , Ray Price , Charlie Pride and Tammy Wynette , who weren't part of

7676-493: The show in an effort to make up WKKX's somewhat smaller coverage area. The nonprofit Wheeling Jamboree established WWOV-LP in 2014. Licensed to Martins Ferry, Ohio at only 6 watts of effective radiated power from a tower in Brookside, Ohio , the station covers most of Wheeling and a few of the city's suburbs. In April 1939, the Jamboree went on its first package tour which comprised two solo performers and seven bands led by

7777-576: The show that could use them. The majority of the cast at the Jamboree did not make recordings, but those who did include Hawkshaw Hawkins, Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper, Big Slim McAuliffe, Red Belcher, the Lilly Brothers, Gay Schwing, Lee & Juanita Moore, the Ritchie Brothers, Roy Scott, and the Radio Rangerettes. Doc Williams even founded his own record company, Wheeling Records. In 1953,

7878-568: The show, between August and December 1955, as part of Charlie Bailey's Band. The Osbornes left the show and moved to the Grand Ole Opry in 1963. As the fame of Elvis Presley began to increase, a similar decrease in honky-tonk and traditional styles began to take its toll among the members of the Jamboree and many was forced to leave. During this period rockabilly became a regular feature at the show with artists like Bob Gallion, Hardrock Gunter and Chuck & Jim Cook. All had joined earlier as straight country singers. The Jamboree managed to survive

7979-491: The show. In December 1947, Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper signed with the Jamboree . They had previously been members of the Jamboree act the Leary Family in 1942. The Coopers left the WWVA Jamboree in 1957 to join the Grand Ole Opry . The traditional acts of Red Belcher's Kentucky Ridge Runners and the duo of Lee and Juanita Moore were added in the late 1940s. Juanita Moore left the show in 1960 and Lee Moore carried on as

8080-546: The show: Abbie Neal and the Ranch Girls Sunshine Boys Rusty and Doug Kerahaw Donna Darlene in 1960 the vandergrift brothers, darrell, don, and ronnie joined the jamboree. they were regulars for several years, and recorded for king records. Lois Johnson Kirk Hansard Louella Perkins Bonnie Baldwin Clear Channel Communications iHeartMedia, Inc. , or CC Media Holdings, Inc. ,

8181-423: The stock. Chancellor Media later became AMFM Inc., which was acquired by Clear Channel in a deal announced October 3, 1999, and valued at $ 17.4 billion. The resulting company would own 830 radio stations, 19 television stations, and over 425,000 outdoor displays in 32 countries. In 1999, the company acquired Jacor Communications , a radio corporation based in Cincinnati . The company also made an investment in

8282-469: The telephone. Jones received so many requests for yodeling songs—because of the popularity of the Blue Yodeler Jimmie Rodgers —that he was dubbed Silver Yodelin' Bill Jones. The new program director, George W. Smith, was appointed in 1931 and he quickly saw the potential of country music. Other acts such as ballad singer Fred Craddock and His Happy Five and the traditionalist Elmer Crowe joined

8383-640: The termination date of the buyout from December 12, 2007, to June 12, 2008. On July 24, 2008, Clear Channel held a special shareholder meeting, during which the majority of shareholders accepted a revised $ 36-per-share offer from Bain Capital and Thomas H. Lee Partners , revaluing the deal at $ 17.9 billion plus debt. Shareholders received either $ 36 in cash, or one share of CC Media Class A common stock for each share of Clear Channel common stock held. The company announced that it would move to more centralized programming and lay off 1,500 employees, or approximately 7% of its workforce, on January 20, 2009. The reasoning

8484-522: The third-largest radio group by income. A year later, Chancellor Media Corporation and Capstar Broadcasting Corporation announced a merger that would result in Chancellor Media owning 463 stations in 105 markets when the deal was completed in second quarter 1999. Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst owned 59 percent of Capstar, with 355 stations in 83 markets, and was the largest single owner of Chancellor (which had 108 stations in 22 markets), with 15 percent of

8585-595: The top such as the 1943 addition of Radio Rangerettes consisting of Millie Wayne and Bonnie Baldwin. In 1944, Toby Stroud's Wyoming Ranch Boys became popular. Other popular acts were Honey and Sonny (the Davis twins), and Eileen and Maxine (the Newcomer twins). Two years later, in May 1946, program director George W. Smith died but was quickly replaced by Paul Miller and William Rine. On July 13, 1946, The World's Original WWVA Jamboree once again began its live-audience broadcast after

8686-459: The venue. They called it a hiatus to allow the fans and Live Nation to consider bringing the festival back in 2020 (something that would have been impossible due to social distancing mandates imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic ) with much different concession policies as well as some other traditional policies that Live Nation desired to change in the past but met with angry fans promising to boycott

8787-485: Was Hank Williams , who steered Sovine toward a better time slot at WSFA in Montgomery, Alabama , and toward a contract with MGM Records in 1949. That same year, Sovine replaced Williams on Louisiana Hayride when Williams jumped to the Grand Ole Opry . Another Louisiana Hayride co-star who helped Sovine was country music legend Webb Pierce , who convinced Sovine to lead his Wondering Boys band and helped him toward

8888-659: Was accompanied by a major round of layoffs and displacements, with a large number of staff members and on-air personalities impacted. iHeartMedia has purchased interest in, or outright acquired, companies in a number of media or advertising related industries. This is not an exhaustive list. With 855 stations, iHeartMedia is the largest radio station group owner in the United States, both by number of stations and by revenue. The 855 stations reach more than 110 million listeners every week, and 276 million every month. According to BIA Financial Network, iHeartMedia recorded more than $ 3.5 billion in revenues as of 2021 , $ 1 billion more than

8989-588: Was an American country music singer and songwriter associated with truck-driving country songs, particularly those recited as narratives but set to music. His most noted examples are " Giddyup Go " (1965) and " Teddy Bear " (1976), both of which topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Sovine was born in 1917 in Charleston, West Virginia , earning the nickname "Red" because of his reddish-brown hair. He had two brothers and two sisters. Sovine

9090-459: Was an integral part of the Jamboree with acts such as Crazy Elmer, Shorty Godwin, Dapper Dan Martin, Smokey Pleacher, Lazy Jim Day, and Cy Sneezeweed. On October 8, 1942, WWVA increased its power and became a 50,000-watt station. Because of the World War II, the WWVA Jamboree discontinued live-audience broadcasts between December 12, 1942 and July 13, 1946. The Jamboree , however, continued as

9191-425: Was bleak economic conditions and debt from its transition to a private company. By the completion of the restructuring in May 2009, a total of 2,440 positions were eliminated. In early 2010, it was announced that the company was facing the possibility of bankruptcy due to its "crippling debt". After 21 years, Mark Mays stepped down as president and CEO of Clear Channel on June 23, 2010. Mays remained as chairman of

9292-682: Was followed on July 3 of that year with the purchase of Fox affiliate WAWS-TV in Jacksonville, Florida , from Malrite Communications Group , for $ 8.1 million. Eventually over time, Clear Channel Television became the second-largest independent television group, behind Sinclair Broadcast Group . In 1990, Clear Channel bought out its fifth television station, KSAS-TV in Wichita, Kansas , for $ 7.9 million. In 1991, Clear Channel bought out KLRT-TV in Little Rock, Arkansas for $ 6.6 million. In 1992, Clear Channel bought out WPTY-TV in Memphis from Chase Communications for $ 21 million. Later on in 1993,

9393-492: Was initially headed by J. Daniel Sullivan, who set up as president of Clear Channel's television division. The group made its beginnings when the first television station iHeartMedia purchased as Clear Channel was WPMI in Mobile , Alabama in 1988. Later that year, Clear Channel Communications bought out KDTU-TV in Tucson, Arizona , which became Clear Channel's second television station. On March 13, 1989, Clear Channel Television bought out KOKI-TV for $ 6.5 million. This

9494-430: Was just under a 10 percent premium above its closing price of $ 35.36 a share on November 16: the deal valued Clear Channel at $ 37.60 per share. In a separate transaction also announced on November 16, 2006, Clear Channel said it would seek buyers for all of its television stations and 539 of its smaller radio stations, because the private-equity buyers were not interested in owning television or small-market radio. Over

9595-504: Was one of the members of Childre's group. Among other performers who passed through the Jamboree during the 1930s were the duets of Hank and Slim Newman, Chuck and Don, Handsome Bob and Happy Johnny; and the cowboy bands Slim Cox and his Flyin' X Roundup, and Tex Harrison's Texas Buckaroos. The concentration of female performers was larger at the WWVA Jamboree than elsewhere in the music business. Singers like Gertrude Miller, Mary "Sunflower" Calvas, Mary Ann Vestes, and Chickie Williams had

9696-470: Was previously owned by iHeartMedia. In May 2019, it was spun out from iHeartMedia as part of its exit from bankruptcy. Clear Channel Television is a defunct television broadcaster and a former subsidiary of the group that was in operation, for nearly 20 years, from 1988 to 2008. It owned more than 40 stations, most of them were from the Big Six networks, a few of which are independent (non-network affiliates). It

9797-529: Was rebranded to WSYR-TV , the original call letters for WSTM-TV from 1950 to 1980, matching up for radio sister WSYR-AM . In 2007, the company entered into an agreement to sell all its television stations to Providence Equity Partners for $ 1.2 billion, a deal that eventually closed in March 2008. Earlier that year, Don Perry left as president and CEO of Clear Channel Television. All former Clear Channel television stations were owned by Newport Television , while

9898-454: Was rejected by the equity firm backing the deal. The deal then shifted to Frequency License LLC, but took longer to resolve itself as the two parties were engaged in lawsuits. On top of that, the sale of Clear Channel's television portfolio to Newport Television had also turned uncertain, as Providence considered other options, although this transaction was ultimately completed. On December 4, 2007, Clear Channel announced that they had extended

9999-552: Was set to be displaced as Mobile's Fox affiliate by WALA-TV as part of a three-station deal with the other Burnham stations. These moves didn't sit well for Clear Channel Television, whose president Dan Sullivan thought they wanted to affiliate it with the ousted networks, including NBC in Mobile, and ABC in Memphis. In 1995, Clear Channel purchased its first Big Three network affiliate, WHP-TV in Harrisburg , for $ 30 million. It

10100-721: Was subsequently followed it up when Gateway Communications, owners of WLYH-TV entered into a LMA with Clear Channel's WHP-TV . Later on that year, J. Dan Sullivan left Clear Channel Television to start out Sullivan Broadcasting to acquire the Act III Broadcasting stations. He was then succeeded by Rip Rioridan as president. In 1996, it bought out WPRI-TV in Providence from CBS , which CBS did not keep due to slight signal overlap with WBZ-TV in Boston . Also that year, Argyle Television Holdings II , who owned WNAC-TV entered into

10201-553: Was taught to play guitar by his mother. His first venture into music was with his childhood friend Johnnie Bailes, with whom he performed as "Smiley and Red, the Singing Sailors" in the country music revue Jim Pike's Carolina Tar Heels on WWVA-AM in Wheeling, West Virginia . Faced with limited success, Bailes left to perform as part of The Bailes Brothers. Sovine got married, and continued to sing on Charleston radio, while holding down

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