Happy Anniversary, Scott Shannon!
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On March 3, 2015, 101.1 WCBS-FM in New York City celebrated the first anniversary of The Big Show With Scott Shannon that airs weekdays 6-10am.
Scott has been one of my favorites for years. Born in St. Louis, his radio career has taken him from small markets in North Carolina and Georgia to Mobile. Memphis, Nashville, a Nashville record label, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Tampa, and New York. When I was working at WTSP-TV in Tampa/St. Petersburg from 1981-1983, Scott and his team developed the morning "zoo" format at Q105 (WRBQ-FM), a station and a show that I listened to frequently back then. His show increased the ratings significantly and Q105 became one of the most listened to stations in the country.
In 1983, as I moved to Phoenix, he made the move to the country's #1 market: New York, at Z100 (WHTZ-FM), a station that was not performing well. Shannon created the Z Morning Zoo there and put that station on the map (today it remains a top-rated CHR (contemporary hit radio) station in New York).
Prior to arriving at CBS-FM, he was program director and morning drive host at ABC Radio/Cumulus' WPLJ-FM. PLJ was a hard rock station for years but was a Hot AC station while Shannon was there. For 23 years, Shannon co-hosted the Scott & Todd In The Morning Show with Todd Pettengill. WPLJ had their on-air jingles created here in the DFW at TM Century (now TM Studios). The jingles, stagers, sweepers, top of hour ID's, etc. just popped! They were so good! Shannon's voice could be heard on the demo reel to tell other radio PD's to contact TM for their next jingle package. I used to have friends at TM that would send me the jingles on disc and I would just play them in the car!
Shannon has also done TV as an early VJ on VH-1 (as did Don Imus) as well as make appearances on the syndicated show Dish Nation. He also hosted a nationally syndicated Smash Hits video countdown show in the late 1980's. He also started a radio network designed for stations that needed a turnkey operation called The True Oldies Channel. When I traveled to Tuscaloosa AL to see our older son at the University of Alabama, Shannon had an affiliate there and it was fantastic!
In February 2014, he made headlines in the radio trades that he was retiring from WPLJ. Shortly thereafter, it was announced that he would be the new morning drive host on CBS Radio's WCBS-FM, a legendary station in its own right for years. As he did with previous stations, he has taken CBS-FM to new and higher audience levels.
CBS-FM ("New York's Greatest Hits") has been the home over the years for such well known personalities as Harry Harrison, Dan Daniel, Bill Brown, Bob Shannon, Joe Causi, Pat St. John, Sue O'Neil, Dan Taylor, Broadway Bill Lee, Dan Ingram, Ron Lundy, Big Jay Sorenson, Wolfman Jack, Steve O'Brien, Don K. Reed, Cousin Brucie, and many, many more! Former Monkees drummer Mickey Dolenz worked there to for a short period of time.
Shannon has also been recognized by his peers with an exhibit in his honor at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame; induction into the NAB's Hall Of Fame in 2003; induction into the National Radio Hall Of Fame; and awarded a Marconi Award as Personality Of The Year in 2010 by the NAB.
Scott, congratulations to you on your first anniversary with CBS-FM! See you next time.
