Airwaves: September 9, 2016
Readers Revenge
I received a lot of mail regarding the New American Songbook on KMZT (1260 AM, 105.1 HD3). Such as:
“We
were so pleased to find this station go back to The Great American
Songbook. What a pleasure it is to hear great music again. Our favorite
singers are ‘Dead Singers,’ such as Sinatra, Crosby, Clooney. etc. And
don't forget the Big Bands. -- Lee and Rusty Willoughby, Canyon Country
“I
read you column in the Daily News every week and enjoy it, but never as
much as last week when I read the American Standards were returning to
1260 AM here in Santa Clarita. I have nothing against Mozart and I do
listen to him, but when I'm driving I like to listen to American
Standards ... guess I'm getting older.
“I
used to listen to KRTH (101.1 FM) for the oldies I grew up with in the
late 50's-60's but now they play stuff I can't stand. Anyway just wanted
to let you know you made my day. M. Wright, Santa Clarita
With a slightly different view:
“I listened
to KGIL (now KMZT) in the ‘old days’ when they played wonderful,
varied, quality ‘adult’ music! From Sergio Mendez to Tony Bennett to
John Denver to The Beatles. I have tried to get into the new format a
few times over the past couple of weeks, but I just can't stick with it
for more than two songs in a row.
“It
reminds me of piano bar music from the 70s. There is an emotionally
flat nature to the music, and it seems to have the same, slow, tired
beat from song to song to song ... elevator music with a vocal
component. I keep wondering who their target audience is ... people over
85 who are confined to beds in convalescent hospitals? What a pity. It
would be thrilling if the station could go back to its roots. -- Marilyn
Noyes, West Los Angeles
Today’s Column Question:
“Is
there any radio stations that play music from the 1920's and
1930's? I've downloaded lots of songs and converted them to MP3's and I
thought there might be something on air. I've learned to enjoy Rudy
Vallée among others.” -- John Buckingham, Long Beach
I
am sure John already knows the answer to that: no, at least not on the
air. Even SiriusXM satellite radio doesn’t go back before the 1940s.
However, I did find The 1920s Radio Network on the Tune In smartphone
app. As I write this they are playing The Boswell Sisters. A search of
1920 or 1930 yields a few stations of interest, so while it’s nowhere to
be found on the traditional airwaves, you CAN use your phone as a
really expensive transistor radio. Or considering the era, a miniature
vacuum tube radio as the case may be.
Sirius-ly Exciting
SiriusXM
had gotten way too heavy with really bad television theme song
knockoffs that are part of the Totally ‘70s channel. Lately they’ve
thankfully pulled back a bit on those and added what are known in the
industry as “jock logos” or jingles featuring the DJ’s name just as done on top-40 stations of the past.
It
is a much-needed and welcome change to the programming. It’s a small
addition, but it makes the channel sound so much better. I hope they
keep it up.
Now to get my gig on the channel ...
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