[BC] Reuters: David Lee Roth to replace Howard Stern

[Rob Atkinson]

>From Reuters report on Yahoo:

David Lee Roth to replace Howard Stern

By Chuck Taylor and Paul HeineThu Jul 7, 5:12 PM ET

Infinity Broadcasting isn't commenting on an online report penned by a 
former Howard Stern Show regular that suggests David Lee Roth will be one of 
the personalities that ultimately replaces the ribald DJ on the airwaves.

Chaunce Hayden, a gossip and celebrity writer for New York/New Jersey 
entertainment guide SteppinOutMagazine.com, writes that "an Infinity source 
has confirmed the signing."

In February, the Securities and Exchange Commission reportedly questioned 
Hayden about possible insider trading of shares in Sirius Satellite Radio. 
Hayden was in Stern's studio Oct. 6, 2004, the day Stern announced his plans 
to move to Sirius in January 2006. The news drove up Sirius shares by 16% at 
the close of that day's trading.

What is certain is that Roth is among many entertainers that Infinity has 
auditioned on-air since Stern's bombshell announcement last year. Infinity 
executives have repeatedly made it clear that they are not looking for a 
singular personality to succeed Stern.

In April, Infinity president of programing Rob Barnett told Billboard Radio 
Monitor he was working with Roth in Boston at classic rock station WZLX. 
"The station has kind of turned the town on its ear with cab drivers, 
waiters and waitresses and employees of Barnes & Noble talking about this 
amazing guy on the radio," Barnett said. "It's an example of just being able 
to surprise and entertain your listeners without necessarily giving them the 
exact same menu every day." In Boston, Stern is heard on Infinity modern 
rock station WBCN.

The Diamond Dave-as-morning-man idea actually sprung from an Infinity 
station 3,000 miles away. VP of FM talk Jack Silver put Roth on the air for 
three hours earlier this year at KLSX Los Angeles, which Silver programs. 
"We were so taken by that performance that we created a stunt here in Boston 
to give classic rock listeners the opportunity to hear him all week long," 
Barnett said in April.

Infinity chairman and CEO Joel Hollander said in February, "One thing you 
should expect not to happen, is one person to be dropped in to replace 
(Stern) at 27 radio stations."

While Stern's contract is set to end Dec. 31, 2005, Hayden says that Roth 
will hit the airwaves in early September. Asked to comment on the Roth 
rumor, an Infinity spokesperson said, "We are looking at a number of 
personalities to replace Howard Stern, however there are no imminent 
announcements at this time."

Roth has two summer concerts on his schedule: July 15 in Sarnia, Ontario, 
and July 29 in Redding, Calif.

Reuters/Billboard

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rob atkinson

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