{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Ep. 61: American Top 40 in the 80s","description":"Casey Kasem was at the height of his powers as the 1980s began. The countdown show that he launched on July 4, 1970, \u201cAmerican Top 40,\u201d was now an international phenomenon and could be heard on over 500 stations around the world. Casey had made rooting for your favorite single\u2019s climb up the Billboard charts akin to a sport \u2014 would your favorite song be played after the drumroll this week? He even branched out to a Top 10 countdown television show. However, you could also make the case that his success led to his own demise as \u201cAmerican Top 40\u201d attracted competitors, particularly in the form of radio disc jockey Rick Dees. This episode moves beyond the 70s and into 80s, following the changes in the music and the show itself, leading to the end of Casey Kasem\u2019s reign as the king of pop music countdowns. ","author_name":"For the Record: The 70s","author_url":"http:\/\/www.FTR70.com","html":"