Radio Waves Podcast #214

Radio: March 30, 2018

Andy Chanley, the first and last voice heard on the late-great album rocker The Sound (now KKLQ, 100.3 FM) has found a new home: The New 88.5 FM. He replaces afternoon drive personality Sky Daniels, who leaves the 3 - 7 p.m. shift to concentrate on his programming and management duties. 

In making the announcement, Daniels said in a written release, "As 88.5 FM continues its rapid growth, I knew my responsibilities as GM and Program Director would intensify. Looking for my replacement on-air required finding someone with passion, great knowledge of the Triple-A format, and relentless drive.

“Andy has been a stalwart at Los Angeles music discovery stations such as 100.3 The Sound, KACD Channel 103.1, and Y107 (KLYY). He understands, and welcomes, the challenge of providing a deeper musical experience to listeners."

Triple-A refers to the music played on 88.5, and is the format that The Sound aired when it began its ten-year journey before evolving into classic rock. It stands for “Adult Album Alternative,” and in this case is sort of a modern version of the old KNX-FM (now Jack KCBS-FM, 93.1): lighter-rock album cuts from established and emerging artists. 

Personally I’d like to hear a little harder rock occasionally, but that’s just personal opinion. Core artists include Bruce Springsteen, Bob Marley, Jack White, Arcade Fire, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Alabama Shakes, The War On Drugs, The National, and Sheryl Crow.

For his part, Chanley said, “I'm overjoyed, and this station sounds so good. Don't tell Sky, but I'd do this for free ... if free bought pull-ups." 

Chanley is the second former Sound personality to find a new home at 88.5: Mimi Chan’s “Peace, Love and Sundays” airs every Sunday afternoon from 1:00 to 3:00.

Classic Country

Saul Levine has brought classic country music back to Southern California via digital HD radio.

Go Country Classics can be heard if you own an HD radio, vis the Go Country HD3 stream, and replaces the adult standards “Unforgettable LA” formerly found there. Eventually it -- and Unforgettable ... as well as the other formats Levine provides -- will be online at www.mountwilsoninc.com.

Levine is an example of the power of local radio station ownership. He makes all his money from Go Country 105; the remaining formats and streams are provided essentially as a public service ... to my knowledge he barely covers the electricity bill -- and I’m not sure he even does that -- from L.A. Oldies K-Surf (1260 AM and 105.1 HD2), the now online Unforgettable format, classical and now classic country. Even Go Country itself is a format long abandoned in Los Angeles by the major group owners; Levine tends to find worthy formats he believes are missing from the local airwaves and finds a home for them.

He could have sold 1260 AM years ago, and in fact could have sold Go Country itself and retired decades ago. But he keeps running the stations because he believes in radio as an art form worth far more than the dollar value of the properties he owns. His giant competitors could learn something from him. As could the FCC and congress.

Predictions

Forbes -- and others -- are predicting a massive sell-off of radio stations by iHeart Radio as the company works its way through bankruptcy proceedings. Among the reasons given by Forbes: it has to. Basically, the current model of radio is dead. Deader than dead.

“Here’s the new model, writes Forbes contributor Gene Ely. “It’s the old model, what radio used to be all about and still is for many radio companies. You don't corner the market -- you can't. Instead you deliver value.

“The new-old model is local, local, local — stations deeply involved in their communities with local on-air talent that shows up at events and plays the music local listeners want. The DJs read the news. They talk about last Friday night’s high school football game. It’s the only way traditional radio can compete with digital.

“The question going forward will be: How many stations can iHeart manage under such demands? Bet the number will be well below 850.”

Hmm ... where have a heard that before? Oh yes, I remember. Here. I love being right.