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Published on Monday, 15 March 2010 01:40
A few years ago, two talented Chicago radio vets had the idea of taking a then mostly out-of-work 60's/70's pop star and bringing him to radio in a daily syndicated radio show. The two Chicago radio people, Matt DuBiel & Mike Noonan and their syndication company, Broadcast Barter Radio Networks, connected with Donny Osmond in 2006 and put together the program "8 Track Playback." The show, which is only a few minutes long, became a pretty decent success since its debut in the Spring of 2007. In the show, Donny talks about events that happened on that calender date, often during the 70's or concerning 70's stars. It then played a song that fits along with a subject Donny was talking about. It could be customized for Oldies, Classic Hits, AC or with the song removed for talk stations. Broadcast Barter Radio Networks signed Osmond to an exclusive radio contract. However, at the end of 2009, Mike McVay started up McVay Syndication and announced to the world that he had signed Donny Osmond to a contract to do a 5-day-a-week, 5 hour, voice-tracked, syndicated radio program called "The Donny Osmond Show." Obviously, that did not sit too well with the Chicago company that had Osmond's exclusive radio rights. It took many weeks, but the situation has been completely resolved now.
It was just announced that Mike McVay's company is purchasing the daily "8-Track Playback" short-form program from Chicago's Broadcast Barter Radio Networks. This eliminates the need for any ugly court battles and puts both of Donny Osmond's radio projects under one roof and both under McVay's control. The sale amount between the two syndication companies is not being disclosed.
Matt DuBiel, co-founder and COO of Broadcast Barter Radio Networks said this about the sale, "Mike Noonan & I are extremely proud of the role we played in Donny's broadcast success in recent years. We're particularly thrilled and honored we landed on the radar of an industry legend like Mike McVay. Now that we know Donny's feature is in good hands, BBRN will be 100% focused on our other syndicated products."
Mike McVay, McVay Syndication President added, "Matt & Mike at BBRN created an excellent feature that many of our client stations already air as a part of their programming. Given that Donny's daily show is growing, and given the growth that '8-Track Playback' is already enjoying, it made sense for us to combine the programs and give stations even more of what is The Donny Osmond franchise."
"8-Track Playback" is syndicated in over 75 markets, including on Chicago's WLS-FM and Peoria's WHPI-FM. The long-form "The Donny Osmond Show" is heard in around 60 markets. It does not air on any Chicago radio stations, but can be heard on WJDK-FM in far suburban Morris. Both shows will now be syndicated by McVay Syndication, along with Citadel Media in the United States.
