Happy 50th Birthday, AT40!
• Premiere Networks announced that this weekend, July 4 & 5, marks the 50th anniversary of American Top 40 (AT40) — the most famous countdown show in radio history. As part of a year-long celebration, AT40 host Ryan Seacrest will highlight an iconic artist moment from the show’s archives every weekend, including interviews with the stars and the show’s creator and original host, the legendary Casey Kasem. Listeners will also have the opportunity to win prizes and one-of-a-kind experiences throughout the year.
“Over the past five decades, American Top 40 has become a cultural touchpoint for millions of people around the globe,” said Julie Talbott, President of Premiere Networks. “Casey Kasem created the gold standard that we carry on today, and we’re so proud of how Ryan has expanded that legacy. He’s taken the show to new heights over the past 16 years with added reach, engagement and technology, while continuing to drive impressive results for our partners.”
American Top 40 was created by Casey Kasem in 1970. Seacrest debuted as host of the program in January 2004, and continued the tradition of counting down the Top 40 songs and interviewing the biggest stars in entertainment. The program was also revolutionized with added technology — building on the interactive quality of at40.com, the audience was allowed to vote for their favorite songs, enter contests for concert flyaways and communicate directly with Seacrest. Today, American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest continues to be the No. 1 countdown show in the U.S. and can be heard on nearly 500 radio stations worldwide.
