Radio: October 26, 2018
I’ve decided to branch out … I’m going to contact the judge involved in the Sears bankruptcy to convince him or her to let me run Sears. As part of my revival of the storied catalog and retail company, I will buy WLS/Chicago and return the station to the company that launched it more than 90 years ago.
I know what you’re thinking. Sears? WLS? What’s the connection?
Sears actually launched WLS — the calls stood for World’s Largest Store — on April 12, 1924 after a few days of experimental broadcasts that “lit up” the Sears switchboards at the company headquarters in Chicago with listeners calling in after hearing the broadcasts.
The idea for WLS was simple. Sears had been buying time on area stations to target the lucrative farming market in the Midwest. By the early 1920s, the company understood the potential of radio and decided to launch its own outlet; Sears president at the time Julius Rosenwald approved a plan to construct a station as the company set up the Sears-Roebuck Agricultural Foundation, a clearinghouse of farming information and assistance. The station and the Foundation would work together to help local farmers.
And of course sell stuff. A lot of stuff. Not only farm equipment, which was a major part of the catalog, but radios. Like RCA, Sears understood that it was easier to sell radios when there was compelling content. And it didn’t hurt that Sears sold a full line of radios … and the electronic tubes needed to keep them playing.
According to the website, WLShistory.com, “As stated in the 1925 Sears Catalogue, ‘WLS was conceived in your interests, is operated in your behalf and is dedicated to your service. It is your station.’
“Broadcasting several hours a day, the station's slogan becomes ‘Bringing The World To The Farm.’ According to accounts, in little more than four years, WLS went from being an obscure signal to a Midwestern powerhouse. It was even rumored to be heard as far away as New Zealand!
“The station aired speeches from President Calvin Coolidge, Ralph Stockton's sermons, the comedy of Pie Plant Pete and the wit of Will Rogers. WLS hosted a 1925 Military Tournament as well as Chicago's reception of Colonel Charles Lindbergh.”
Of course none of this has anything to do with retailing or radio today. Except that it does. In fact, it has everything to do with today. Sears lost its way by not focussing on the customer. I worked for Sears years ago, and I can tell you, the customer was absolutely the focus back then. From training on how to help customers buy the best items for their needs — not just the item with the highest markup — to customer service backed by a true Satisfaction Guarantee that had no time limit, Sears was a company I was proud to be part of.
Similarly, radio lost its way by not focussing on the listener. Instead the focus became bean-counting. How much can we cut programming costs so we can increase the pay of upper management of the huge companies that bought up the majority of radio stations throughout the country?
Listeners are no longer the focus of most stations; I’d venture that listeners are not even mentioned in the Mission Statements of most major radio group owners. That is why so many listeners are no longer are loyal to the majority of stations and radio ad revenues are still down years after the end of the last recession.
By focusing on the consumer, whether in retail, catalog … or radio, you benefit all. So I see no conflict or problem with taking over Sears and WLS. Eventually, I will buy back other legendary stations such as KHJ (930 AM), KCBQ/San Diego, and relaunch KFRC/San Francisco where it should be at 610 on the AM dial. When my Sears dominates retail again and my network of stations — I think I’ll call it RKO — shows the big boys how radio can be done, then I’ll start looking to do things that are actually difficult.
November 2
My wife Jean and I were having an ‘80s flashback last weekend as we watched the movie “Valley Girl.” Some of the best elements of the movie are the songs chosen to represent the various parts of Los Angeles, particularly Hollywood and the Valley.
Of course, the oddball radio guy in me came out halfway through the movie: It reminded me too much of KIQQ (now KKLQ, 100.3 FM). Now keep in mind, I’m weird. Some people remember a song by the life event they associate with it. I remember music (sometimes artists) by which radio station I heard it or them on.
Bryan Adams’ “Cuts Like a Knife?” KFRC/San Francisco. REO Speedwagon’s “Take it on the Run?” K-West (now KPWR, 105.9 FM). Almost every song in Valley Girl? KIQQ.
That KIQQ could be so represented by music in a movie where music is an essential element of the storyline is a testament to what the station once was: a new music force the likes of which have not been seen since.
KIQQ is what most people think KROQ (106.7 FM) was … even if it didn’t get the credit. While KROQ at its FM inception under then programmer Rick Carroll was intended to be a more open top-40 format with an emphasis on new music, the station quickly found its niche and tended to focus on alternative bands.
On the other hand, KIQQ focussed on top-40, with an emphasis on breaking new bands and new songs before anyone else, including that new thing on cable television, MTV. The new wave of British bands were heard first on KIQQ, often months before they were heard on stations elsewhere. Sometimes the songs were played so long on KIQQ that by the time they made the playlist of KIIS-FM (102.7), they were already burnt.
Every song in Valley Girl was played on KIQQ, and that says a lot about the influence of the station. General Manager George Wilson (Crowell) wanted the station to take chances, and it did. And there was more: Most hits from Prince were heard first on KIQQ. Michael Jackson’s songs often hit KIQQ first. Eddie Grant’s “Electric Avenue” was a hit there long before anywhere else. Spandau Ballet, Culture Club, Rick Springfield… the list goes on.
I don’t even know if it was a hit or not, but “She Means Nothing to Me” by Phil Everly and Cliff Richard was so popular on the station that it must have made some mark – though I honestly cannot remember hearing it on any other station beside UCLA’s student station KLA. I know it was on KLA because I played it there, after hearing it first on KIQQ.
I bring this up not to be nostalgic. I save that for my ongoing discussions about buying KHJ (930 AM) and proving top-40 music could make it in AM radio even today. What I am thinking is that we desperately need a station like KIQQ, now.
Don’t get me wrong – I do like KROQ and Alt 98.7. Both do a superb job of presenting new(er) music from some interesting bands. But it’s not the same thing as was done by KIQQ … KIQQ was truly mainstream, yet cutting edge. And even KROQ and Alt 98.7 suffer from nostalgia sickness: You can still hear songs in rotation that are many years old on stations that have reputations — often deserved, sometimes not — of focusing on new music. Under Wilson, supported by his wife, Paula, no song older than a year or two was played on KIQQ because they had so many new songs to play.
I’d like to hear new music that isn’t the typical bland pop heard on KIIS-FM or My FM (KBIG, 104.3 FM). That isn’t just typical alternative fare as on KROQ and Alt. I want a mixture of everything, from local bands to up and coming national talent to talent from other countries.
There is an amazing amount of good music that can’t get airplay in the overly formulated afraid-to-take-chances radio of today.
And that includes KROQ and Alt. If it doesn’t fit the niche, it’s not allowed.
Lack of new music is one reason kids shun radio. Even I get tired of the same songs I’ve heard forever. A KIQQ for today would be a breath of fresh air in a city stagnating in repetition and copycats. Of course, this is the same format I would put on my AM station just to prove it would work, but until then, perhaps someone else can try.
Radio: November 9, 2018
Power 106 (KPWR, 105.9 FM) is focussing on new music through a new program that made its debut recently: New at Night, which airs every Tuesday through Friday early morning, 12 Midnight to 2 a.m.
The first hour of each show is hosted by personalities Felli Fel and Justin Credible; the second hour by Mando Fresko. The show is programmed and mixed by Few and Credible as well.
“Over the years I have been able to watch artists like Kendrick, YG, Logic, J. Cole and Big Sean grow from our new music platforms to become superstars off their first airplay and discovery on Power 106!” Incredible told All Access Music Group (AllAccess.Com). “I’m excited to help bring two hours of new Hip Hop every night from Soundcloud to the streets! I look forward to breaking more new artists both in LA and around the world.”
While Hip Hop is most definitely not my style, I have to commend Power 106 for adding this show to the on-air lineup. And it is not the only way for new music to hit the station’s airwaves. The Power website, Power106.Com, has a link for artists to submit their songs for potential addition to the station playlist.
As I mentioned recently, it is imperative for at least some stations to focus on new music if young people are going to listen to traditional radio instead of alternatives like Soundcloud, Apple Music, or even discovering new bands on Facebook. Now if we can just get other formats on board …
Cancer Scare
Jillian Barberie, half of KABC’s (790 AM) afternoon (3-7 p.m.) The Drive Home alongside John Phillips, announced last week that she has breast cancer. She told of the diagnosis on Twitter, and her story has inspired other women to tell their own stories or simply have their annual mammograms.
"Results back. It’s cancer in my right breast but also it has spread to my lymph node,” she wrote November 1st. “Appointment at Bedford Breast to assess everything. I’m going to be super aggressive and do double mastectomy and they said I need chemo for the lymph. Thanks for coming on this journey with me!
“Meeting with team this morning to get a game plan,” she said the next day. “To be honest, I just want the boobs gone and the cancer outta me. Then tackle the lymph node. But hey I’m no expert. And all I can think is ....... damnit. I should have done Playboy while I had those beauties.”
Surfing with Allen
Yes, that is Laurie Allen playing the oldies weekday afternoons on K-Surf (1260 AM, 105.1 HD2). Allen has been doing weekends and fillips at sister station Go Country 105 (KKGO, 105.1 FM) for quite some time; it is nice to hear her daily again … I used to work with her as an intern when she did weeknights years ago on Magic 106 (now Power 106).
Speaking of K-Surf, the station will be adding recordings of Dick Clark’s Rock, Roll and Remember starting November 18th. The program will air Sundays from 8 a.m. to 12 Noon.
Write-Back
“I appreciate your articles in the daily breeze on radio, and I'm a fellow San Pedran. I like to listen to Jack-FM 93.1 in the morning. On some days, it is very clear. On others we can hardly hear it. I wondered if you could explain why that is happening.” — Lauren
Absolutely. It is caused by good weather.
What is happening is that the clear weather conditions have allowed stations from San Diego and possibly Northern Mexico to travel up the coast; the signals, which have a nice straight path over the ocean, can at times be quite strong, and they interfere with the signal from Jack-FM. Southern San Pedro is especially vulnerable to such interference as the hills tend to block out the signals from Los Angeles giving San Diego or even Santa Barbara stations to come in as strong or stronger than the locals.
I noticed it last week when KROQ (106.7 FM) was barely receivable on some radios. Interestingly, the digital HD stream was able to push through even when the analog signal was compromised, so I was able to hear it in my truck — I have an HD Radio — fairly consistently.
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