Jones Radio Networks
Dial Global as a result of being purchased by Triton Media Group | |
Headquarters | Centennial, Colorado |
---|---|
Key people | Glenn R. Jones |
Products | Radio Services |
Owner | Triton Digital |
Jones Radio Networks & Jones Media Group were branches of
History
What became known as Jones Radio Networks started as a satellite format provider. The company originally started in the late 1960s as Drake-Chenault radio programming services. The company's services included music delivered on reel-to-reel tape, program consultation services, and station promotion. After acquiring TM Programming in 1986 (the 24/7 Format business owned by TM Communications in Dallas), the company made its first foray into satellite programming in April 1989 by launching five different full-time satellite-delivered formats under the name Drake-Chenault/Jones Satellite Services, a 50/50 partnership between Drake-Chenault and Jones International. In 1991 Jones acquired Drake-Chenault's interest in the partnership, and renamed it Jones Satellite Services. The remainder of the Drake-Chenault business was acquired by Seattle-based Broadcast Programming—which was later (below) acquired by Jones.
Though satellite-delivered formats were not new, its presentation was. Many stations using satellite formats were required to clear up to two minutes of network commercials as part of their affiliation agreement, on top of a monthly subscription fee, depending on the market's size. Drake-Chenault's formats were all commercial free, but the affiliate station paid more for the service rather than giving up commercial time. For example, while another network would charge inventory plus a $500 monthly subscription fee, a Jones affiliate could expect to pay just a flat fee of $2,000 a month. While that was substantially higher, it was still cheaper than paying a contingency of on-site announcers at the local stations, plus freed up big-ticket national advertisers to be sought locally by an affiliate station.
This practice ended in 1993, to mixed reactions from affiliate stations. Though affiliates now had to clear commercials like other networks, the format was available entirely through inventory barter, unlike its competitors, which required an affiliation fee plus inventory.
In 1996, Jones Media Networks started the cable network
In 1998, Jones acquired its advertising sales representative, New York-based MediaAmerica from its founders, Gary Schonfeld and Ron Hartenbaum, who continued with Jones as executives. Schonfeld as President of Jones MediaAmerica and Hartenbaum as President of Jones Radio Networks.
In 1999, Jones International acquired and absorbed Broadcast Programming, a company that handled syndicated radio shows, including the popular evening program
In 2002, Jones Radio Networks entered into a deal with the Sports USA Radio Network to distribute nationally syndicated sports programming, primarily National Football League games.[citation needed]
In 2008, Jones Radio Networks ceased operations after all of their radio programs and remaining satellite formats were acquired by
Satellite formats
Jones Radio Networks, the largest independent radio network, provided many programming options for local radio stations. The company provided many satellite-driven formats to affiliate stations, mostly in small & mid-size markets and on major market HD Radio subchannels, however they can also be used on some major market stations as alternate or permanent programming. They could operate their stations virtually unmanned with nothing more than a computer and a satellite hookup. The "clock" included options for a 2-, 3-, or 5-minute newscasts at the top of the hour, followed by other holes for local spots. While the programming was live, DJs had to avoid references to the weather or anything else that would not be appropriate in many time zones. An 800-line was eventually added, allowing the live DJs to take phoned in requests.[citation needed]
On June 20, 2008, Triton Radio Networks, a wholly owned subsidiary of
Network | Format | Fate of network |
---|---|---|
Adult Contemporary | Adult Contemporary
|
Relocated into Dial Global 's portfolio on December 29, 2008.
|
CD Country | New Country | Discontinued on December 29, 2008. Integrated into "Hot Country". |
Classic Hits | Oldies/Classic Hits | Discontinued on December 29, 2008. Integrated into " Kool Gold Timeless Classics ".
|
Classic Hit Country
|
Classic Country
|
Relocated into Dial Global 's portfolio on December 29, 2008.
|
Good Time Oldies | Oldies | Discontinued on December 29, 2008. Integrated into " Kool Gold Timeless Classics ".
|
Hot AC | Hot AC
|
Moved to Dial Global's portfolio on December 29, 2008, replacing "Bright AC ".
|
Jones Standards | Adult Standards
|
Discontinued on September 30, 2008. Integrated into "America's Best Music". |
Jones Variety Hits
|
Variety/Adult Hits | Discontinued on September 30, 2008. Integrated into "S.A.M.: Simply About Music". |
Music Of Your Life
|
Adult Standards
|
Spun off to Planet Halo in favor of its own short-lived standards format.[4] |
Rock Classics | Classic Rock | Relocated into Adult Rock and Roll ".
|
Smooth Jazz
|
Smooth Jazz
|
Discontinued on September 30, 2008. |
Sports USA Radio Network | Sports | Active during live Dial Global 's portfolio.
|
True 24-Hour Country
|
Country | Relocated into Dial Global 's portfolio on December 29, 2008.
|
U.S. Country
|
American Country | Discontinued on December 29, 2008. Integrated into "Mainstream Country". |
TM Studios, Inc. (formerly JonesTM, Inc.)
TM Studios, Inc. is a
Both jingle companies remained in business until 1990, when TM Communications, Inc. and Century 21 Programming, Inc. merged to become TM Century, Inc.[5]
Along the way, TM Productions acquired the ID jingle, syndication reels and production libraries of Media General Broadcast Services.
Other entities and audio assets incorporated into TM and Century 21 over the years included the audio works of Eastman Radio (founded by Robert Eastman), Ed Yelin, Ken Sunderland Productions, Sterling Sound and several other companies. Again, these assets were cherry-picked (or in some cases, just pulled out of the marketplace) and the master reels shelved.
Studio Dragonfly, a division of TM Studios, offers radio station jingles at low prices. Several of the jingles offered by Studio Dragonfly were previously produced by TM Productions, Century 21 and many others. TM Studios also has another division that exclusively handles commercial jingles known as JingleBank. In order to facilitate ID jingle enthusiasts the ability to purchase "personal cuts" TM Studios initiated a program called iJingles in 2006.
Over the years jingle composers such as Bruce Upchurch, Bruce Wermuth, Greg Clancy and Barry Young have composed jingle packages for TM Studios and its predecessors. Tom Merriman who composed several jingle packages for the company, most recently KLUV's Greatest Hits in 2005, died on November 11, 2009.[8]
Of all the radio stations using jingles from TM Studios and its predecessors,
TM Studios produces a line of promotional music products targeted for radio stations, internet stations and professional DJs.[9] Two lines are currently produced: HitDisc and PrimeCuts. HitDisc is aimed at radio stations. PrimeCuts mostly services the event entertainment market.[10]
In Indonesia, TM Studios produces many jingles from Radio Stations such as :
- CPP Radionet (JPI, Candisewu, Damashinta, SAS FM, Polaris, RCT FM, etc)
- EBS FM Surabaya
- Gajahmada Group
- KISS FM Medan
- Unisi Radio
- Many radio stations in Bandung
etc.
References
- ^ "Triton Radio Networks/Dial Global Announces Acquisition of Jones Media Group". bloomberg.com. 2008-06-23. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
- ^ "Triton/Dial Global Buys Jones Media Group". Radio Ink. 2008-06-20. Archived from the original on 2011-07-15.
Jones International has sold Jones Media Group -- which includes Jones Media America, Jones Radio Networks, and JonesTM -- to Triton Radio Networks, a wholly owned subsidiary of Triton Media Group.
- ^ Triton Radio Networks Archived 2008-06-15 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ jonesradio.net http://jonesradio.net/JStandards/index.asp. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help)[title missing] - ^ "About". TM Studios, Inc. Archived from the original on 2012-07-15.
- ^ Dougherty, Philip H. (1982-06-03). "Media General to Buy William B. Tanner Co". The New York Times.
- ^ "Media Preservation Foundation".
- ^ Wilonsky, Robert (November 11, 2009). "Dallas Radio and Jingle Pioneer Tom Merriman Died Early This Morning". Unfair Park. Dallas Observer.
- ^ TM Studios Music, July 24, 2011, archived from the original on February 4, 2013
- ^ PrimeCuts Music, July 24, 2011
- The Hits Between The Hits: The History Of Radio ID Jingles [1]. ISBN 0-9742689-0-9.