It's the final countdown — again — for Casey Kasem. The radio legend will wind up his "American Top 40" spinoff programs, "American Top 20" and "American Top 10," on July 4 — a date of significance: Kasem, 77, created the franchise on July 4, 1970.

But that famous voice (he also provided the vocals for Shaggy on the "Scooby Doo" cartoon series) will live on. His classic 1970s and 1980s "AT40" countdowns will continue to be distributed by syndicator Premiere Radio Networks.

The departure of the "King of the Countdowns" from the adult contemporary-oriented franchise is nothing new. After contractual concerns in 1988 with the show's owner, ABC Watermark, Casey left "AT40." But ownership reverted back to Kasem and he returned in 1998 to host the revived version. He stepped down in 2004 and gave hosting duties to Ryan Seacrest.

FUNDING ISSUE STALLS KERRY'S FILM PLANS

It's not a wrap yet on John Kerry's plans to become a movie producer.

The Federal Election Commission failed to reach a decision yesterday on the Massachusetts Democrat's request to use $300,000 from his campaign funds to invest in a documentary about injured Iraq war veterans.

The panel will not issue an advisory opinion on Kerry's request.

A major issue was whether Kerry's proposal should be considered as an investment of campaign money, which is allowed, or as a business operated by campaign money, which is not allowed.

Kerry attorney Marc Elias said he didn't know whether Kerry would proceed with his movie plans without an FEC advisory opinion to guide him.

FOUNDER OF '60S BAND SEEDS DIES

Sky Saxon, lead singer and founder of the 1960s band the Seeds, who had a Top 40 hit in 1967 with "Pushin' Too Hard," has died after a brief illness.

Publicist Jen Marchand said Saxon died yesterday but did not have other details. He was in his 60s.

The Seeds sprang up in California, and their garage-band sound with Saxon's distinctive vocals became a favorite of the flower power generation.

The Mick Jagger-influenced vocals by Saxon (born Richard Marsh) dominated the sound and in turn influenced later punk rockers.

WARHOL WORKS FETCH $10.5 MILLION

Three works by Andy Warhol sold for a total of $10.5 million in London last night as Sotheby's relied on established names to bolster the contracted auction market for contemporary art.

Warhol's 1963 silver paint-and-silkscreen on canvas, "Mrs. McCarthy and Mrs. Brown (Tunafish Disaster)," was one of three Warhol works entered by a private European collector, who had bought them during the 1990s.