For years everyone looked toward the demise of radio when television came along. Before that, they thought talking movies might eliminate radio as well. But radio just keeps getting stronger. – Casey Kasem
We tell stories. We talk about statistics. And in 1978, we added an element of the show that gave it its heartbeat: the long distance dedication. – Casey Kasem
I like the storytelling and reading the letters, the long-distance dedications. Anytime in radio that you can reach somebody on an emotional level, you’re really connecting. – Casey Kasem
We gave the show away and in return, we received a certain number of minutes per hour for the three-hour show that we could sell to Madison Avenue. One of the first sponsors was MGM Records. – Casey Kasem
Songs used to be short, then they became longer, and now they’re getting shorter. But otherwise, music is about a beat and a message. If the beat gets to the audience, and the message touches them, you’ve got a hit. – Casey Kasem
The stories are success stories. The letters from listeners often touch the heart and can be inspiring. – Casey Kasem
Despite all the technical improvements, it still boils down to a man or a woman and a microphone, playing music, sharing stories, talking about issues – communicating with an audience. – Casey Kasem
Growing up, I actually wanted to be a professional baseball player instead of a radio DJ. Believe it or not. – Casey Kasem
Garbage. It’s a natural quality of huskiness in the midrange of my voice that I call ‘garbage.’ It’s not a clear-toned announcer’s voice. It’s more like the voice of the guy next door. – Casey Kasem
That something extra, I believe, is a certain humanity that comes from upbeat and positive human interest letters and success stories. Advertisers like to be associated with those qualities. – Casey Kasem
For the most part, that message hasn’t changed a lot over the years – love is still love, and heartbreak is still heartbreak. – Casey Kasem
I started radio in 1950 on the Lone Ranger radio program, a dramatic show that emanated from Detroit when I was 18 years old and just beginning college. I did that for a couple of years. – Casey Kasem
I was drafted and went to Korea where I had an opportunity to create a production team that did dramatic and comedy shows. I had also done a little disc jockeying. – Casey Kasem
It’s been amazing, the number of commercials that I’ve done, starting back in 1968. It must be 8,000. – Casey Kasem
The first syndicating I tried was when two partners and I created a production company in 1952. We wanted to syndicate famous Bible stories and sell them for $25 a show. – Casey Kasem
I’d like to feel that an advertiser gets something extra when they advertise with us – a certain humanity that comes from upbeat and positive human interest letters and success stories. – Casey Kasem
Basically, radio hasn’t changed over the years. Despite all the technical improvements, it still boils down to a man or a woman and a microphone, playing music, sharing stories, talking about issues – communicating with an audience. – Casey Kasem
I probably would be continuing to do voice-overs, continuing to do cartoon shows, and at the same time I’d probably be on a sitcom or a dramatic television show. – Casey Kasem
Interestingly, songs used to be short, then they became longer, and now they’re getting shorter. – Casey Kasem
