Satellite Music Network

Satellite Music Network

Type	Radio network
Country	United States
Availability	National, through regional affiliates
Key people	Bob Leonard, & Gary Semro
Launch date	1981
Dissolved	1989 (absorbed by ABC Radio)

Satellite Music Network was the first satellite delivered network to provide complete live 24-hour a day music programming to local stations, under several different formats. Affiliate stations, mostly in small and medium markets, could operate their stations virtually unmanned with nothing more than a computer and a satellite hookup offering major market talent that they could never afford. The "clock" included options for a 2-, 3-, or 5-minute newscasts at the top of the hour, followed by other holes for local spots. While the programming was live, DJ's had to avoid references to the weather or anything else that would not be appropriate in many time zones. An 800-line was eventually added, allowing the live DJ's to take phoned in requests. They began in 1981 in Mokena, IL in a strip mall with two formats: AC (adult contemporary) - signed on by Bob Leonard, and Country - signed on by Gary Semro. By the late 1980s, SMN was broadcasting to more than 600 stations nationwide and in the Caribbean. In late 1989, SMN merged into ABC Radio (now Citadel Media) and moved operations to Dallas. As of right now, this division is now known as "ABC Music Radio".

Bonneville Broadcasting also signed on with an easy listening format simultaneously to SMN - signed on by Tim Kolody from the same studios in August 1981. Bonneville pulled out of SMN in June 1984.

Among the talent that was employed at SMN was Chicago radio legend Eddie Hubbard on the Stardust format, Dean Richards who can be heard on WGN-AM and WGN-TV in Chicago, Karen Williams of WNUA, Dennis Jon Bailey,now morning show host and Marconi Award winner at WIKY Radio in Evansville and John Calhoun, who continues to broadcast in the Chicago market. A top 40 network called "The Heat" also existed, but little historical information is available for this network. The networks were later moved to Dallas Texas where talent on Country Coast to Coast included: Jim Casey, Steve Sharp, Jerry Walker, R.J. Steele, Mark Edwards, Becky Wight, Catfish Prewitt. On StarStation the talent included: Peter Stewart, Bob Leonard, John Lacy, and others. Country Coast to Coast in the early 1990s had the phone number 1-800-US-SONGS which later changed to 1-800-457-6647, Starstation 1-800-832-0208.

Former Satellite Music Network networks

	Network Ident	Format	Notes
	Pure Gold	Oldies from 1960s to 1970s	Later "Oldies Radio", now known as "Classic Hits".
	The Classic Rock Experience	Classic rock	Now rebranded as Classic Rock by Cumulus Media in 2011.
	Starstation	Adult Contemporary	Now known as "Hits and Favorites"
	Kool Gold	Oldies from '50s-early '60s	Discontinued by ABC Radio Networks, 1995. Eventually replaced by The True Oldies Channel. An unrelated network of the same name was created by Dial Global in 2005.
	Real Country	Classic Country	founded by Buck Owens
	Stardust	Oldies/Standards	Later "Timeless Classics" and "Timeless Favorites," now "Timeless". Discontinued February 2010.
	Country Coast to Coast	Country	Later "Best Country Around," now known as "Today's Best Country"
	The Touch	Urban Adult Contemporary	Briefly rebranded as "MyFavStation" in 2010. Reverted back to original branding.
	Z Rock	Heavy Metal	Discontinued in late 1996

Later added by ABC

	Network Ident	Format	Additional Notes (if any)
	The Christmas Channel	Christmas Music	Available from the day before Thanksgiving through Christmas Day.
	Jack FM	Variety/Adult Hits	Spun off to Dial Global.
	Radio Disney	Children's	Retained by Disney in ABC Radio Sale.
	Rejoice! Musical Soul Food	Urban Contemporary Gospel	Spun off to Urban Choice Media.
	Today's Best Hits	Hot Adult Contemporary	Formerly known as "ABC Hot AC"
	The True Oldies Channel	Oldies from 1950s to 1970s.
	Unforgettable Favorites	Soft Oldies/AC	Merged into "Stardust"/"Timeless Classics" to create new "Timeless" (formerly "Timeless Favorites") format.

= Currently active on ABC Radio.
= Active on ABC Radio on a seasonal basis.
= Divested to other companies.
= Formats combined.
= Currently discontinued.
= Retained by origin of network.