Rick Dees Signs Multi-Program Deal w/ Westwood One

[johnm1120]

www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/86653/rick-dees-partners-with-westwood-one-for-multi-pro

WESTWOOD ONE has announced a partnership with DEES ENTERTAINMENT to add a brand new suite of RICK DEES shows to its roster of programming, including: THE DAILY DEES, RICK DEES 80s AT 8, RICK DEES 90s AT 9, WEEKLY TOP 40 (archives) and THE TEEN TOP 20 WITH KEVIN DEES.

As part of the deal, WESTWOOD ONE will also take over syndication of the RICK DEES WEEKLY TOP 40 and TOP 20 COUNTDOWNS for Top 40, Hot AC, and Mainstream AC Stations.

WESTWOOD ONE also grabs immediate support for the new suite of programs, inking a deal with more than 25 CUMULUS stations to carry the shows.

DEES commented, "Having a single product on the WESTWOOD ONE platform would be a thrill, but to have 10 is a dream come true! I'm excited to partner with these visionary companies to bring our topical, fun and PPM friendly shows to new audiences. It is the perfect time to launch our daily radio show, and having the CUMULUS stations right out of the box is huge."

"These are innovative new products from one of the most recognizable brands in radio history, and it is a privilege to welcome RICK DEES to the WESTWOOD ONE family," said WESTWOOD ONE EVP/Affiliate Sales DENNIS GREEN. "RICK has been connecting with audiences and advertisers for over 20 years, and he's only getting better."

CUMULUS EVP/COO JOHN DICKEY added, "CUMULUS is pleased to work with RICK's company to find quality solutions to fit its programming needs. RICK is one of the biggest brands in radio. These new products like the DAILY DEES are going to allow our radio stations to sound even more competitive and relevant to our listeners. We view RICK and his company as a true brand enhancer."

[richie]

Is there a chance we'll hear the weekly top 40 again in Miami, FL?

[tico]

The Teen Top 20? Yay, that's greaaaaaaat.

[johnm1120]

Feb 1, 2011 16:20:56 GMT -5 richie said:

Is there a chance we'll hear the weekly top 40 again in Miami, FL?

I doubt it. The empire seems to have cut all ties with him, and Y100 seems more interested in being a generic ClearChannel station.

[tico]

The only Clear Channel station that I know right off that plays Rick Dees is Kiss FM in Fort Collins, CO. Most others (CC and non-CC) have switch over to AT40.

[musicfanpete]

Feb 2, 2011 0:26:06 GMT -5 @tico said:

The only Clear Channel station that I know right off that plays Rick Dees is Kiss FM in Fort Collins, CO. Most others (CC and non-CC) have switch over to AT40.

I don't get it. Rick's charts are fresher and he is certainly more knowledgeable about the artists than Ryan is!

[tico]

But Rick is now over the age of 60. Being 60 is not perceived to be young and hip in today's CHR world.

[Libra]

Feb 21, 2011 22:10:19 GMT -5 musicfanpete said:

Feb 2, 2011 0:26:06 GMT -5 @tico said:

The only Clear Channel station that I know right off that plays Rick Dees is Kiss FM in Fort Collins, CO. Most others (CC and non-CC) have switch over to AT40.

I don't get it. Rick's charts are fresher and he is certainly more knowledgeable about the artists than Ryan is!

Traits that Clear Channel clearly has no interest in...

Plus, Ryan has such an extensive deal with them that basically, the only way anyone not named Ryan Seacrest will ever have even a loose affiliation with anything CC-owned would be for Ryan to sever his ties with CC completely...and yet, I could see him still having some kind of deal with them even on his deathbed, years down the road.

[BillboardBoy]

From Inside Radio:

With a new L.A. radio home and a syndicated show, Rick Dees is enjoying a career revival. Less than three months after launching a new Westwood One-syndicated daypart show, Rick Dees has landed back in mornings in the market where he enjoyed more than two decades at the top. Clear Channel has snagged Dees for AM drive at rhythmic oldies “Hot 92.3” KHHT starting May 4th — seven years after it replaced him with Ryan Seacrest in mornings on KIIS-FM. Dees hasn’t been heard in AM drive in L.A. since 2009, when Emmis pulled the rug out from under him at “Movin 93.9” KMVN to lease the station to Mexico’s Grupo Radio Centro. At that point, Dees had less than two years of experience working in a PPM-measured market and neither his show nor the “Movin’’’ format moved the ratings needle. When Westwood launched “The Daily Dees” in February, it marketed the FTP site-delivered, long form show
as “PPM-friendly.” That experience could help Dees jumpstart what is one of KHHT’s lowest-performing dayparts. The station ranked eighth in women 35-64 in March but only tied for 11th in mornings. Dees should be a good fit with KHHT’s upper demo female strength and old school R&B position. “Rick is synonymous with radio in Los Angeles and this genre of music is perfect for him as he introduced many of these artists that ultimately paralleledhis career path of popularity,” market manager/president Greg Ashlock says. Dees racked up market-leading ratings and a bookshelf full of industry awards at KIIS from 1981-2004. To create talk for his local radio return, he’ll throw out the first pitch for the Dodgers-Cubs afternoon game at Dodger Stadium after his May 4th debut show. “We asked Hot 92.3 listeners who their favorite radio personalities were and the two most mentioned were Art Laboe and Rick Dees,” Clear Channel Los Angeles head of programming, John Ivey says. “So, with Rick starting the day with his infectious humor and old school hits and Art ending the day with requests and dedications, we are going to have some very happy listeners.”