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Satellite Music Network was the first satellite deliverednetwork to provide complete live 24-hour-a-daymusic programming tolocal stations, under several different formats.

Affiliate stations, mostly in small and mediummarkets, could operate their stations virtually unmanned with nothing more than its existing tape-based playback equipment, acomputer and a satellite hookup offering high quality air talent that they could never afford.

The concept was the presentation of live, carefully selected and rotated hit music, presented by experienced major market industry veterans over a satellite channel in real time.

Though nationally distributed, the presentation was localized by the network's talent pushing a button sending asubaudible tone over the network that would trigger a tape machine at the receiving station. For example, a button would be pressed triggering a local station's call sign and frequency (referred to as "magicalls") at the receiving station that was pre-recorded by the talent. The talent would then wait anywhere from 3 to 5 seconds before beginning to speak. Another button pressed at the end of a talk break by the talent would trigger a cluster of local commercials at the receiving station, or a closure tone at the receiving station would send control back to the network if there were no commercials. The network provided music and DJs, localized talent-matching liners, limited promotions support consisting of ideas used by other affiliates, and years later, a website. As the network moved from analog to digital satellite, it also provided receivers to affiliates to use on a loaned basis.

A "clock" was provided to affiliates outlining the placement of news and commercial cut-aways, and differed throughout the day and weekends. The clock included options for a 2-, 3-, or 5-minutenewscasts at the top of the hour, followed by other holes for local spots. While the programming waslive, DJs had to avoid references to theweather or anything else that would not be appropriate in manytime zones. An 800-line was eventually added, allowing the live DJs to take phoned in requests.

SMN began in 1981 inMokena, Illinois in a strip mall with two formats:AC (adult contemporary) – signed on by Bob Leonard (not the basketball player of the same name), andcountry music – signed on byGary Semro. In less than three years, the network had signed more than 300 affiliates. By the late 1980s, SMN was broadcasting to more than 600 stations nationwide and in theCaribbean. In late 1989, SMN merged intoABC Radio and moved operations toDallas, and expanded the number of available formats to ten. ABC sold the former SMN suite toCitadel Broadcasting in 2007, who in turn sold it toCumulus Media in 2011; Cumulus then merged its suite with competitors.

In 2019, ABC Radio re-entered the 24/7 music format with a partnership with Local Radio Networks.^[1]

Bonneville Broadcasting also signed on with aneasy listening format simultaneously to SMN – signed on byTim Kolody from the same studios in August 1981. Bonneville pulled out of SMN in June 1984.

Among the talent that was employed at SMN wasChicago radio legendEddie Hubbard and Joe Lacina on theStardust format,Dean Richards who can be heard onWGN andWGN-TV in Chicago; Karen Williams ofWNUA; Dennis Jon Bailey, now morning show host and Marconi Award winner at WIKY Radio in Evansville; News was done by Larry Langford also of WIND at the time and later WMAQ in Chicago; andJohn Calhoun, who continues to broadcast in theChicago metropolitan area. Atop 40 network called "The Heat" also existed, but little historical information is available for this network. "The Heat" was originally called "ALL Hit Radio", air staff included: Monty Foster (MoFo), Vic Saint John, Jason Taylor, Pat Clarke, Jack Murray. The networks were later moved to Dallas, Texas, where talent on Country Coast to Coast included: Jim Beedle, Jim Casey, Ted Clark, Steve Sharp, Jerry Walker, R.J. Steele, Mark Edwards, Jim Brady, Becky Wight, Catfish Prewitt. On StarStation the talent included: Peter Stewart, Bob Leonard, John Lacy, Janice Williams 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.

	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	Rebranded asClassic Rock byCumulus Media in 2011. Merged into itsWestwood One counterpart in 2014.
	Starstation	Adult Contemporary	Later known as "Hits and Favorites". Merged into its Westwood One counterpart in 2014.
	Kool Gold	Oldies from '50s-early '60s	Discontinued by ABC Radio Networks, 1995. Eventually replaced byThe True Oldies Channel. An unrelated network of the same name was created byDial Global in 2005.
	Real Country	Classic Country	Partnership withBuck Owens and flagshipped at Owens-ownedKCWW inTempe, Arizona.
	Stardust	Oldies/Standards	Later "Timeless Classics", "Timeless Favorites," and "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 to original branding.
	Z Rock	Heavy Metal	Discontinued in December 1996

	Network Ident	Format	Additional Notes (if any)
	The Christmas Channel	Christmas Music	Available from the day beforeThanksgiving throughChristmas Day. Discontinued
	Jack FM	Variety/Adult Hits	Spun off toDial Global. Cumulus acquired the company and merged its Cumulus Media Networks into the new Westwood One.
	Radio Disney	Children's	Retained by Disney in ABC Radio sale; discontinued on April 14, 2021.
	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". Discontinued in 2014 after Cumulus Media Networks merged with Westwood One.
	The True Oldies Channel	Oldies from 1950s to 1970s.	Retained by host and founderScott Shannon after his departure in 2014.
	Unforgettable Favorites	Soft Oldies/AC	Merged into "Stardust"/"Timeless Classics" to create new "Timeless" (formerly "Timeless Favorites") format.

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

• Defunct radio networks in the United States
• Radio stations established in 1981
• Radio stations disestablished in 1989

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