Gordon McLendon
Quick Summary
Gordon McLendon was an American broadcaster credited with co-creating Top 40 radio. In 1953, he transformed his Dallas station, KLIF, from live music programming to a format featuring records and disc jockeys. McLendon's innovations included station jingles, exciting contests, promotions, and a focus on local news. This approach, emphasizing hit music and the personality of the DJ, proved highly successful, drawing a significant portion of the Dallas listening audience. Top 40 radio, which featured the forty best-selling recordings, became a dominant format, particularly appealing to teenagers and featuring rock and roll music.123
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