Tracing the true beginning of AIMS is a daunting task. All records of its founding are lost and many, if not all of its earliest members, are deceased. We’ve located only a single published item with a mention of “AIMS”; an agency-client mailer dated October 1952 from KOWH Omaha (Todd Storz’ first station). The 500 watt daytimer on 660 AM was purchased in 1949; the founding of what was to become the Storz Broadcasting empire. The front page of this mailer reads as follows:

“The last meeting of the Associated Independent Metropolitan Stations, with 32 member stations in the United States, saw KOWH General Manager Todd Storz elected General Secretary of the organization. Mr. Storz has been manager of Mid-Continent Broadcasting Co. since the station was acquired from a local newspaper publishing firm. It has been under his direction that KOWH has achieved a position of eminence as the nation’s most listened-to independent station. He has taken an active part in the formulation of policy for the AIMS group for several years.”

Todd Storz, who had no previous radio experience, quickly achieved dominant ratings. By 1953 he tried his then unique format with a small full-time facility, WTIX (1450 AM; 250 watts) in New Orleans, with great ratings results. Within a few years the Storz formula came to Kansas City, WHB; (710 AM; 10 kw), St. Louis, KXOK; (620 AM; 5 kw) and Miami, WMAQ (550 AM; 5 kw), with outstanding results. Miami was a six week runaway to #1. St. Louis took longer. The St. Louis story is exceedingly well told in a recent publication reflecting on St. Louis media (see attached). The story accurately profiles a winning Hit Music station (circa 1960).

Suffice it to say, the Storz stations were successful. By February 1958, Storz was hosting the first ever disc jockey convention and seminar at Kansas City’s historic Muehlebach Hotel. Underwritten by a plethora of record companies, the event was free! With the original big market disc jockey, Martin Block (WNEW) as guest of honor, everybody came, and it was proclaimed when the 50’s decade began. The next year, however, the convention came to Miami. It was here that Storz lost control to the record companies. Debauchery was everywhere. The radio industry suffered a serious and costly black eye. Many careers were ruined as this one event became the catalyst for a massive government payola investigation. The front page headline of the Miami Herald the morning after the convention closed said it all – “Booze, Broads and Payola”.

Todd Storz would have left AIMS in the late 50’s, as his growing empire would encroach on member stations in Oklahoma City (Lee Allen Smith) and St. Louis (John Fox). Nonetheless, the Storz brand of radio was certainly emulated by a great many of his fellow AIMS members and scores of those who followed.