Radio Waves Podcast #112

Bill Carroll, who held down the weekday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. shift on KFI (640 AM) has left the station.

 

His contract was up, and it is very possible that he was pushed out. My sources say no, although it does not seem that management tried hard to convince him to stay.

Here’s what seems to have happened. Carroll has been living in Los Angeles and doing his program from the studios of KFI in Burbank. He’s also been doing an afternoon show since January, 2013 for Toronto, Canada talk station CFMJ, which happens to also broadcast at 640 AM.

Carroll originally came to Los Angeles in 2010 when he was lured from Canada to host the noon to 3:00 shift at KFI. His contract was extended by KFI for three years in December, 2012, the same time that he announced his return to the Toronto airwaves.

At the end of his KFI program on January 8, he announced that he was leaving Los Angeles to return to Canada to be closer to his family.

I believe it. I also believe that if he wanted to stay, and was willing to work for whatever pay KFI offered, programmer Robin Bertolucci would have been happy to keep him on. My hunch, however, is that ratings are not what Bertolucci wanted, so she is not too disappointed that Carroll wanted to return to Canada.

The fact that the contract was not renewed, and that my sources say the separation was “mutual,” tends to make me feel my hunch is correct. 

There’s been no official word on the move from KFI, though the website now lists Gary (Hoffman) and Shannon (Farron) with a longer show and an earlier start: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (formerly 1-3 p.m.); John (Kobylt) and Ken (Chiampou) shifting an hour earlier (2-6 rather than 3-7) and Tim Conway with an extra hour beginning at 6:00 instead of 7:00.

Slater Leaves The Sound

Carroll was not the only one to leave the local airwaves. The Sound (KSWD, 100.3 FM) programmer Dave Beasing announced that longtime Sound afternoon personality July Slater is gone.

“One of our original DJs has left The Sound,” Beasing said in an email. “Please join me in wishing Julie Slater all the best. She remains a good friend to us all and will be missed.”

No word on her replacement, though my suggestion was to put Cynthia Fox in Slater’s afternoon spot and have me cover for Fox on the weekends.

Beasing neglected to respond immediately. I will be waiting patiently by the phone for his call ...

Tough Times Continue

Emmis is the latest radio company to report disappointing financials and layoffs. According to AllAccess.Com, the company laid off 32 employees -- only one on-air position -- and cut the salaries of all senior executives on January 6th. The radio division was off about 5 percent from last year due in large part to the problems faced by Power 106 (KPWR, 105.9 FM) -- it’s only Los Angeles station -- in having a new direct competitor: Real 92.3 FM.

KLOS Short Takes

Nothing confirmed at press time, but rumor has Jonsey’s Jukebox expanding to five days a week on KLOS (95.5 FM) -- Monday through Friday form noon to 2 p.m. ... perhaps before you even read this.

In the meantime, the station seems to be heading more current, with at least one morning show recently featuring numerous current rock songs in place of traditional classic rock. Is KLOS heading toward new ground? Indie 95.5? Stay tuned ...