Thursday, October 27, 2016

Radio Waves Podcast #149

Radio October 28, 2016

Spanish broadcaster SBS -- Spanish Broadcasting System --  is being sued for wrongful termination by former KLAX (97.9 FM) personality Stephanie Himondis, known on the air as Chiquibaby, and her husband Gerardo Lopez in a twisted case involving allegations of illegally taking payment for the playing of music, or payola.

Himondis was hired originally to host the morning show, while Lopez was brought in as general manager of SBS’ Los Angeles properties KLAX and and KXOL (96.3 FM). Both began their positions in 2014.

According to the suit, SBS demanded that as part of their jobs, the two collect payments of $5000 from artists for their songs to be played on KLAX. When they refused and complained, the company retaliated first demoting Himondis by moving her to overnights and later by firing both her and Lopez.

According to Courthouse News Service (CourthouseNews.Com),    the two are seeking more than $10 million “for wrongful termination, breach of contract, Labor Code violations, breach of faith and intentional infliction of emotional distress.”

Surviving

Bruni Mars headlined the 4th Annual We Can Survive concert presented by CBS Radio at the Hollywood Bowl on October 22nd. Also on hand were Ariana Grande, Charlie Puth, G-Eazy, Meghan Trainor, OneRepublic, and Pitbull. Even the Backstreet Boys made an appearance, the first time they have played at The Bowl.

The annual event made its debut in 2013 and is held in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For every ticket sold, $2 benefited Young Survival Coalition, an organization dedicated to issues unique to young women who are diagnosed with breast cancer.

New this year is a web video series entitled “Survivor Stories,” which showcases some of the faces of Young Survival Coalition sharing their experiences with breast cancer. The episodes can be viewed on WeCanSurvive.com.

Rocking Dead

In celebration of the season premiere of AMC Network’s The Walking Dead last Sunday October 23rd, The Sound (100.3 FM) will be presenting The Rocking Dead all this weekend, October 28-30, beginning at 2 p.m. Friday.

No Rams game this weekend so the music will run Sunday too ... until 6 p.m.

What is it? Blocks of classic rock from bands in which at least one original member is deceased. See a satiric video of the “staff meeting” in which the weekend is announced at tinyurl.com/z45wdtm.

Mars Anniversary

I was never a huge fan of Mars FM, a simulcast of two stations broadcasting at 103.1 FM (now known as KDLD/Santa Monica and KDLE/Newport Beach). I just never got into techno music... but I know many who did, and the station itself was a powerhouse in terms of talent ... Freddy Snakeskin, Swedish Egil, Raechel Donahue, Big Ron O’Brien, and many more graced the halls of the station.

Turns out that 2016 marks the 25th anniversary of the debut of the New Music Invasion programmed by the legendary Los Angeles personality Snakeskin.

Now you can relive the station. Just head over to freddysnakeskin.com/marsfm/ where you can find not only a history of the station, but uncut recordings ... a virtual audio memorial of a format. Well worth listening.

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