This weekend  marks the 40th anniversary (July 4th 1970) of the debut of “American Top40″. New York Daily News columnist David Hinckley does a nice historical perspective on the show from the original created and hosted by Casey Kasem to the current incarnation hosted by (who else?) Ryan Seacrest.

Michael Jackson’s farewell tour was to be called “This is It.” That’s also an appropriate title for Casey Kasem‘s send off this weekend. The radio legend winds up his “American Top 40” spin-off programs, “American Top 20” and “American Top 10” exactly thirty nine years after the American Top 40 franchise debuted on July 4, 1970.  Kasem said in a statement, “Hosting various versions of my countdown program has kept me extremely busy, and …

American Idol, E! News, American Top 40, New Years Rockin Eve and a morning show on KIIS in Los Angeles, the new Dick Clark, Ryan Seacrest is the definition of ubiquitous, he’s everywhere! Now it’s been announced that not only has he re-upped his deals for AT40 and his KIIS morning show but he’s cut a deal with Premiere Radio Networks to re purpose the morning show into a three hour show for syndication called …