The Weekly Top 40 logo |
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| Genre | Music chart show |
|---|---|
| Running time | Approx. 3 hrs. and 55 mins. (including commercials) |
| Country | United States |
| Languages | English |
| Hosts | Rick Dees Kevin Dees |
| Air dates | since September 1983 |
| Audio format | Stereophonic sound |
| Website | rick.com |
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.
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The Weekly Top 40 debuted in September 1983, after Rick's station, KIIS-FM, lost American Top 40 to a rival station, KIQQ (now KSWD) over the playing of network commercials.[1] 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.[2]
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".[3]
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.