American Forces Network

The American Forces Network (AFN) and the American Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) serve as systems offering radio and television to US military personnel overseas.

Due to its presence in many countries all around the world, including locations where English is not the primary language, AFRTS is a cultural ambassador for the United States.

Newscasts via AFRTS are compiled from American networks, wired services and other sources.

For years, Americans who live overseas have tuned in to AFN as an alternative to the national public broadcasters since American pop culture was rare in the early stages of the post-WWII era.

The British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) is AFN's British answer.

Like AFN, BFBS offers programs to British military personnel worldwide.

Due to its presence in numerous locations all across the world, including areas where English is not the primary language, BFBS is a cultural ambassador for the UK.

AFN has been the best and most effective way people all around the world could get American culture since May 26, 1942; in fact, many of the best global celebrities were influenced by AFN.

Famous advertising executive Tom Lewis utilized his Hollywood connections to launch the worldwide AFRTS system on May 26, 1942.

1953 was when AFRTS entered television, with a station at Limestone Air Force Base in Maine.

From 1942 to 1954, AFRTS was called the Armed Forces Radio Service (AFRS).

By adding television to this mission, AFRS became known as the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) in 1954.

In 1969 or the late-1960's, a small name change for AFRTS resulted in it being known as the American Forces Radio and Television Service; in the early-1980's or after 1981, its name reverted to Armed.

AFRTS reverted its name to American before 2001; in 2017 or the late-2010's, AFRTS became AFN.

The American Forces Network Europe, usually known as AFN Europe, is one of the affiliates of the worldwide AFRTS system.

AFN Munich is one of the AFN Europe stations.

Southern European Broadcasting (SEB) and the Blue Danube Network (BDN) are the other AFRTS outlets based in Europe.

From its 1942 inception, Hollywood was the base for AFRTS.

In 1986, AFRTS relocated its operations to the Sun Valley portion of Los Angeles.

With this relocation of its operations from Hollywood to Sun Valley in 1986, the AFRTS Programming Centre became the AFRTS Broadcast Centre (AFRTS-BC).

Initially, AFN Europe came from London, using equipment and studio facilities from the BBC.

Soon, AFN Europe's operational headquarters moved to Paris, though its administrative headquarters remained in London.

Moving from London to Frankfurt, where it operated from a confiscated house, in August 1945, AFN Europe then moved its headquarters to Frankfurt's medieval Höchst Castle a year later.

Frankfurt's Höchst Castle was/is the first ever proper headquarters for AFN Europe located in post-war Germany, but also the most remembered and well-loved location AFN had ever had.

In 1966, AFN Europe relocated its headquarters from this well-loved Höchst Castle to its new home in Dornbusch, which is north of Frankfurt's downtown core.

Built in a more modern and open design than the famous and well-loved Höchst Castle, AFN Europe's headquarters at Dornbusch in Frankfurt lasted 38 years since its move in 1966.

Just before 2005, after nearly 60 years at its iconic and famous Frankfurt home, AFN Europe made the relocation of its headquarters to Coleman Barracks in Mannheim.

2014 was when (after a decade at Coleman Barracks in Mannheim) AFN Europe made the move of its headquarters to Sembach Kaserne, which is located in Sembach near Kaiserslautern.

Since November 1945, BDN had been popular among American troops and Austrian citizens with its American programming line-up, but ended in the mid-1950's after 1954.

Although famous Hollywood stars have kept US troops entertained through the AFRTS system, it also introduced American citizens to famous faces involved with AFN.

Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey are also pop culture icons.

Some Whitney Houston trademarks are her beautiful smile and her soulful mezzo-soprano vocals.

Through her powerful and soulful singing voice, her charisma and charm, Whitney Houston impresses many people across the world, especially America.

Oversinging is a trend aimed at vocal styles dominating the music they are performed in.

Riffs, runs, melisma and belting are some vocal styles most frequently associated with the oversinging trend, all popularized by Whitney Houston.

In addition, Whitney Houston popularized the big voice, little woman trend, also being used by Aretha Franklin, who is a frend and collaborator of her mother Cissy Houston.

The Voice is one of Whitney Houston's nicknames, along with Nippy and The Prom Queen of Soul.

Known as the "Songbird Supreme," Mariah Carey impresses many people across the world, especially America, with her melismatic singing style and her use of the whistle register.

Marilyn Monroe is one of Mariah Carey's major inspirations.

Both Marilyn Monroe and Mariah Carey utilize moles/beauty marks under their cheekbones; they also have their given names begin with the letters M, A, R and I.

Furthermore, Mariah Carey has Marilyn Monroe's piano, but also has her daughter being named after Marilyn Monroe.

Lambs are Mariah Carey's dedicated fanbase.

For years, both Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey have left their mark on pop culture in the Western world and beyond, inspiring countless artists and shaping music and other pop culture forms.

Plus, the influences involving the likes of both Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey on pop culture are undeniable, like Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Michael Jackson and Madonna.

Riffs, runs and melisma are soulful singing trends used by both Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey.

Respect, which was originally performed by Otis Redding, was popularized by Aretha Franklin as her signature tune, doubling as a anthem for girls/women.

Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad are Michael Jackson's Epic albums that achieve critical and commercial successes and earn legendary status, all co-produced by Quincy Jones.

The first of three albums being released for Michael Jackson by CBS' Epic Records label, Off the Wall established him as a pop star, also marking a transition from a child icon to a mature solo artist.

Plus, Off the Wall is a significant departure from Michael Jackson's former work for Motown, but also represents a major breakthrough for him.

Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough is Michael Jackson's first solo tune where he had full creative control.

For his second album released by Epic Records, Thriller significantly cemented Michael Jackson's pop culture status, largely due to the innovative music videos accompanying this album.

Billie Jean, Beat It and Human Nature, aside from the title track, are some tunes for Michael Jackson's Thriller album.

The music video for Michael Jackson's Billie Jean, directed by Steve Barron, is the first ever by a black artist to earn heavy rotation on MTV.

Due to the huge success and popularity of Michael Jackson's Billie Jean music video (plus many others from his Thriller album), MTV's initial focus on white artists was broken down.

At the same time, the music video for Michael Jackson's Beat It, directed by Bob Giraldi and filmed in Los Angeles, established the pop star as an international icon.

Michael Jackson's Thriller music video, directed by famous film director John Landis, sealed MTV's position as a major cultural force and revolutionized music video production.

Praised for its innovative production, its stunning choreography and its cinematic approach, Michael Jackson's Thriller music video inspired countless artists and directors to emulate its style.

Taking responsibility for the choreography in Michael Jackson's innovative and groundbreaking music videos Beat It and Thriller was Michael Peters.

Bad, which is Michael Jackson's third Epic album, represents a shift towards a more mature and edgy image, departing from his boyish persona.

Whitney Houston's rendition of Saving All My Love for You is her first ever number one single on the Billboard Hot 100, but also her worldwide breakthrough.

How Will I Know is Whitney Houston's second chart-topping hit, which is accompanied by a colourful music video, directed by Brian Grant and choreographed by Arlene Phillips.

The music video for How Will I Know was Whitney Houston's first to receive heavy rotation on MTV, which gave her exposure to teenagers and made her the first black woman to do so.

I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) is a shift for Whitney Houston by reaching a wider audience with a more pop-oriented music sound after hits with ballads on her debut album.

George Merrill, Shannon Rubicam and Narada Michael Walden are the masterminds behind Whitney Houston's upbeat tunes: How Will I Know and I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me).

The soulful rendition of the Dolly Parton song I Will Always Love You serves as Whitney Houston's signature tune, but also a cultural phenomenon.

Vision of Love, which is Mariah Carey's first single, is also the tune popularizing vocal riffs, runs and melisma in mainstream pop music, styles also notably shared with Whitney Houston.

Co-written by Mariah Carey and Ben Margulies, Vision of Love is regarded as the blueprint for future singing girls utilizing her techniques.

Someday (1990) is Mariah Carey's first upbeat single, also for her self-titled debut album.

Emotions is Mariah Carey's sophomore album, which, besides its title track, features others like Can't Let Go, Make It Happen, etc.

Music Box features one of Mariah Carey's most inspirational ballads called Hero.

The music video for Mariah Carey's 1998 cover version of the 1980's tune I Still Believe, for whose original version she sings background vocals, is inspired by Marilyn Monroe's 1954 USO tour.

Years later, Mariah Carey made a surprise appearance in the musical iteration of the 1950's Marilyn Monroe film Some Like It Hot, which she joined in November 2022 as a co-producer.

Plus, Marilyn Monroe's 1954 USO tour, as covered by the American Forces Network, inspires Mariah Carey's music video for I Still Believe.

Gary Bautell is one of the former AFN disc jockeys, having worked at AFN Europe since 1962.

During Gary Bautell's first few decades, German radio played traditional music.

Though broadcasting was limited to American military personnel, both Gary Bautell and AFN Europe introduced American music to German listeners.

Having worked in Germany for over 50 years, Gary Bautell had been involved in promoting relations between Germany and the United States.

Plus, Gary Bautell, once known as "the voice of the U.S. military in Europe," influenced German pop culture, especially introducing elements in American pop culture.

Chris Noel is also a former AFN disc jockey, having worked at the American Forces Vietnam Network during the 1960's, but also sometimes called "the next Marilyn Monroe."

From 1966 or the mid-1960's to before 1972, Chris Noel hosted her own radio program on AFVN.