Rick Dees Weekly Top 40
Encyclopedia
Rick Dees' Weekly Top 40 (sometimes known as The Weekly Top 40) is an internationally-syndicated radio program
created and hosted by American radio personality Rick Dees
. It is currently heard on over 200 radio stations worldwide and the American Forces Network
. It is distributed domestically by Citadel Media Networks and internationally by Radio Express
. It is also heard on Dees' official website.
The Weekly Top 40 countdown is available in two versions: Hit Radio (for Top 40
stations), and Hot Adult (for Hot AC stations). A version for AC
stations called Weekly Top 30 debuted in July 2009.
, lost American Top 40
to a rival station, KIQQ (now KSWD) over the playing of network commercials. Initially syndicated by United Stations
, the show was initially heard on ten stations, but would expand to 40 by the end of 1983.
After ABC Radio Networks pulled AT40 from American stations in July 1994, it picked up the Weekly Top 40 for national syndication.
In January 2000, Weekly Top 40 would move to Premiere Radio Networks
(ironically, the same company that owned AT40) until 2005, when Dees left KIIS-FM
and its owner Clear Channel Communications
, which owned Premiere. (Dees had apparently been passed up as Casey Kasem
's successor at AT40 in favor of current host Ryan Seacrest
, which may have played a role in his departure.)
The Weekly Top 40 moved its distribution over to Dial Global
from 2005 to 2008. It has been streamed on Dees' official website since 2006.
In January 2009, Dees and the Weekly Top 40 returned to ABC Radio, which has since been acquired by Citadel Broadcasting
, with ABC Radio's programming division renamed as Citadel Media.
Reruns of the Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 from the 1980s began airing on the TKO Radio Network in 2010 after a trial run on WQMA
in Mississippi. A few stations under the "Gen X" moniker air old 90's versions of the countdown starting in summer of 2010. Recently the AC version of the countdown was shortened to the Weekly Top 20.
On February 1, 2011, it was announced that the Weekly Top 40 franchise will switch syndication to the Westwood One
radio network. The new syndication deal will include additional programming in the franchise, including "The Daily Dees", "Rick Dees 80s and 8", "Rick Dees 90s at 90", repeats of past editions of "Weekly Top 40", and the "Teen Top 20 with Kevin Dees".
The show was produced in a "faux-live" style. Dees would encourage callers to "call in" to the show, and often pre-recorded calls and caller montages would air as though listeners were actually calling in at the time of broadcast, even though these shows were recorded and distributed to stations at least a week ahead of the air date.
Often these shows would feature celebrity guests (either call-in or in-studio) who were promoting events, movies, TV shows or albums un-related to the show. Guests included people like Patrick Swayze, Milli Vanilli, Jon Provost of Lassie, Cher's mother, etc.
At the end of 1988, Dees would leave the program, to be replaced by Bruce Vidal, who regularly subbed for Dees on his countdown show. It is unknown when "American Music Magazine" left the air, though at least one show from June 5, 1989 has surfaced in online show trading.
Radio programming
Radio programming is the Broadcast programming of a Radio format or content that is organized for Commercial broadcasting and Public broadcasting radio stations....
created and hosted by American radio personality Rick Dees
Rick Dees
Rigdon Osmond "Rick" Dees III is an American comedic performer, entertainer, and radio personality, best known for his internationally syndicated radio show The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown and for the novelty song "Disco Duck." He is a People's Choice Award recipient, a Grammy-nominated...
. It is currently heard on over 200 radio stations worldwide and the American Forces Network
American Forces Network
The American Forces Network is the brand name used by the United States Armed Forces American Forces Radio and Television Service for its entertainment and command internal information networks worldwide...
. It is distributed domestically by Citadel Media Networks and internationally by Radio Express
Radio Express
Radio Express is an independent radio syndication company based in Burbank, California, whose main focus is in markets outside the USA. The company was founded by Tom Rounds, one of the creators of American Top 40...
. It is also heard on Dees' official website.
The Weekly Top 40 countdown is available in two versions: Hit Radio (for Top 40
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
stations), and Hot Adult (for Hot AC stations). A version for AC
Adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music is a broad style of popular music that ranges from lush 1950s and 1960s vocal music to predominantly ballad-heavy music with varying degrees of rock influence, as well as a radio format that plays such music....
stations called Weekly Top 30 debuted in July 2009.
History
The Weekly Top 40 debuted in September 1983, after Rick's station, KIIS-FMKIIS-FM
KIIS-FM is a Los Angeles, California, USA-based radio station with a partial Top 40 musical format. It is owned by Clear Channel Communications. KIIS is also simulcasted on KVVS in Rosamond, at 105.5 MHz...
, lost American Top 40
American Top 40
American Top 40 is an internationally syndicated, independent radio program created by Casey Kasem, Don Bustany, Tom Rounds and Ron Jacobs. Originally a production of Watermark Inc...
to a rival station, KIQQ (now KSWD) over the playing of network commercials. Initially syndicated by United Stations
United Stations Radio Networks
United Stations Radio Networks is a radio network providing a wide range of programs and programming services for radio stations across the US and elsewhere...
, the show was initially heard on ten stations, but would expand to 40 by the end of 1983.
After ABC Radio Networks pulled AT40 from American stations in July 1994, it picked up the Weekly Top 40 for national syndication.
In January 2000, Weekly Top 40 would move to Premiere Radio Networks
Premiere Radio Networks
Premiere Networks is an American radio network. It is the largest syndication company in the United States based on popularity of programming...
(ironically, the same company that owned AT40) until 2005, when Dees left KIIS-FM
KIIS-FM
KIIS-FM is a Los Angeles, California, USA-based radio station with a partial Top 40 musical format. It is owned by Clear Channel Communications. KIIS is also simulcasted on KVVS in Rosamond, at 105.5 MHz...
and its owner Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
, which owned Premiere. (Dees had apparently been passed up as Casey Kasem
Casey Kasem
Kemal Amin "Casey" Kasem is an American radio personality and voice actor who is best known for being the host of the nationally syndicated Top 40 countdown show American Top 40, and for voicing Shaggy in the popular Saturday morning cartoon franchise Scooby-Doo.Kasem, along with Don Bustany and...
's successor at AT40 in favor of current host Ryan Seacrest
Ryan Seacrest
Ryan John Seacrest is an American radio personality, television host, network producer and voice actor. He is the host of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, a nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show that airs on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles and throughout the United States and Canada on Premiere Radio Networks,...
, which may have played a role in his departure.)
The Weekly Top 40 moved its distribution over to Dial Global
Dial Global
Dial Global is a radio syndication company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Triton Media Group and is a sister company to Townsquare Media, both of which are owned by Oaktree Capital Management....
from 2005 to 2008. It has been streamed on Dees' official website since 2006.
In January 2009, Dees and the Weekly Top 40 returned to ABC Radio, which has since been acquired by Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting Corporation was a Las Vegas, Nevada-based broadcast holding company. Citadel owned 243 radio stations across the United States and was the third-largest radio station owner in the country...
, with ABC Radio's programming division renamed as Citadel Media.
Reruns of the Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 from the 1980s began airing on the TKO Radio Network in 2010 after a trial run on WQMA
WQMA
WQMA is a broadcast radio station licensed to Marks, Mississippi. The station is owned by Jason Konarz and operates an oldies format over the air on 1520 kHz...
in Mississippi. A few stations under the "Gen X" moniker air old 90's versions of the countdown starting in summer of 2010. Recently the AC version of the countdown was shortened to the Weekly Top 20.
On February 1, 2011, it was announced that the Weekly Top 40 franchise will switch syndication to the Westwood One
Westwood One
Westwood One was an American radio network and was based in New York City. At one time, it was managed by CBS Radio, the radio arm of CBS Corporation, and Viacom and was later purchased by the private equity firm The Gores Group...
radio network. The new syndication deal will include additional programming in the franchise, including "The Daily Dees", "Rick Dees 80s and 8", "Rick Dees 90s at 90", repeats of past editions of "Weekly Top 40", and the "Teen Top 20 with Kevin Dees".
Segments aired on the Weekly Top 40
- Sure Shot - a song predicted to crack the Top 40 in the following weeks
- Weekly Top 40 Challenge - during the program, listeners will claim their prize
- Behind the Velvet Rope with Kevin Dees - a gossip segment hosted by Rick's son Kevin; previously known as a segment hosted by Rick, Dees' Sleaze
- What's Happening - a rundown of new movies, DVD's and music
- Number One's Around the World - a look at the Number One song in various nations
- Top Downloads - the hottest music, ringtones, TV shows and videos being downloaded from the Internet.
Spinoff
In 1985, Dees would create and host a syndicated weekday music program for United Stations, American Music Magazine -- the daily, hour-long program would be similar to his countdown show, except that it played the "most requested songs", as phoned in by listeners to an 800 number hotline. The songs were not typically played in countdown fashion, but the most requested was always played at the end of the show. As with most syndicated radio programs, the shows were distributed to radio stations in collector-type boxes—which has been most helpful in keeping the shows in good condition for collectors—by United Stations Programming Network on 5 LPs, one for each day of the week. Each week's box of LPs typically contained two promo spots: one for weekdays and one for the weekends.The show was produced in a "faux-live" style. Dees would encourage callers to "call in" to the show, and often pre-recorded calls and caller montages would air as though listeners were actually calling in at the time of broadcast, even though these shows were recorded and distributed to stations at least a week ahead of the air date.
Often these shows would feature celebrity guests (either call-in or in-studio) who were promoting events, movies, TV shows or albums un-related to the show. Guests included people like Patrick Swayze, Milli Vanilli, Jon Provost of Lassie, Cher's mother, etc.
At the end of 1988, Dees would leave the program, to be replaced by Bruce Vidal, who regularly subbed for Dees on his countdown show. It is unknown when "American Music Magazine" left the air, though at least one show from June 5, 1989 has surfaced in online show trading.
External links
- Rick.com - Official website for Rick Dees.
- The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 - Citadel Media Network's page for the show.
- Listen to Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 online - A partial list of radio stations carrying the Rick Dees Weekly Top 40, including XM Satellite Radio's channels, with scheduled broadcast times and streaming links.