Radio Waves Podcast #321

 Special guest on this week's show:  The Poorman

Radio: December 31, 2021

Looking for something to do on New Years Eve? How about joining low-power community station KOCI’s (101.5 FM) Jim “Poorman” Trenton for a 29-hour New Years Party Marathon!

“Poorman? The same one I used to listen to on KROQ (106.7 FM)?” I hear you ask. Yes, the very same. Poorman — who got his name writing The Poor Man’s Guides to inexpensive dining in the early 1980s — has been with KOCI for a few years playing classic rock and roll along with seldom heard cuts every weekday from 6-11 a.m. 

This is the second year for the New Years radio marathon party, which will begin at 6 a.m. December 31st and run through 11 a.m. on January 1st.

Poorman says the inspiration for the marathon came from what he calls the mythical DJ - “the DJ who locks himself in the studio, won’t let anyone in, and won’t get off the air,” he says. The covid shutdown gave him the chance to actually do it … and considering that all the guests will arrive via Skype, the show is covid-safe,

The first five hours will be his normal show … “normal” being a strange description for what is one of the most unusual shows on the radio. “We - either me or listeners - choose and theme, and then listeners call in to suggest songs that match the theme.” The show last Thursday, for example, was on holiday food. After that, “it’s an all-instant request morning,” he explains.

At 11 a.m. New Years Eve, Poorman turns the program over to his guests — leaders in the community, artists, CEOs — who are allowed to do basically anything they want. Poorman essentially acts as the Master of Ceremonies and stays on hand to handle any issues or problems that come up. 

Which means that, while Poorman is partying, he can’t really “party” … staying on the air so long and needing to remain sharp and  alert means lots of coffee, and no drinking or other mind-altering substances allowed for him. Not that the rule necessarily applies to his guests …

Each hour will also be dedicated to a charity, either one chosen by Poorman, listeners, or guests; each one will be given on-air recognition with listeners being directed to the designated charity’s website.

“This is so exciting, as in addition to being a fun show to do, it benefits a lot of good causes.” It also harkens back to the type of radio Poorman and others were doing in the studios of KROQ. Or KMET (now KTWV, 94.7 FM) … radio that helped bond listeners to stations and created lifelong, almost rabid fans.

Want to hear it but don’t live near Costa Mesa, the low-powered station’s area of coverage? They have you covered as well: “tune in” through KOCI.com, www.poorman.net, and via Alexa, TuneIn and the Smart Radio app available for Android and iPhones.

The Poorman will also live stream the event on video through his Facebook page at Facebook.com/jim.p.trenton.

KNX-FM Returns

Not the Mellow Sound, unfortunately. For that, you have to go online. But as expected once the simulcast with KNX (1070 AM) began, on December 21st, owner Audacy changed the call letters of KNOU to KNX-FM (97.1) to better reflect the ties with the all-news format.

It still remains to be seen what will happen to the AM signal … my sources tell me that Audacy would love to switch all the listeners to FM. However, the AM signal is actually better, with longer reach and — if you can find a decent radio — fidelity that comes darn close. KNX engineering has long been a high point of the station; perhaps they could lead a charge to bring stereo sound back to the AM band if, as seems to be happening, most AM stations are giving up on digital HD broadcasts.

New Year Wishes

2022 will be the 35th Anniversary of this little radio column, which got its start in the old San Pedro News Pilot and Torrance Daily Breeze “Entertainer” section when former editor Don Lechman gave me the chance to write about my love: radio. 

In the early days, I was a caustic, cynical young man longing for radio the way I like it, hoping to stay in touch with radio program directors and and a job playing the hits. Much has changed since then … now I’m a caustic, cynical old man longing for radio the way I like it, having given up on program directors and planning ways to buy my own AM station for peanuts so I can play the hits.

I have always written this column from the perspective of someone who loves radio and wants it to be as good as it can be. I still love radio, and obviously you do as well, otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this right now. I appreciate that you do, I love reading your letters and emails; as we begin a new year together, I wish you the best for 2022, and hope you will continue to stay in touch.

Radio Waves Podcast #320

 Radio: December 24, 2024

Seasoned Sounds

Just like my annual watching of It’s a Wonderful Life, one of the “must-dos” this time of year is to tune in to Sounds of the Season, which will once again be heard on Ken Borgers’ internet tribute to the original KNOB (now KLAX, 97.9 FM). You can find it at www.JazzKnob.org. 

The program is a 36-hour program that starts at noon Christmas Eve and runs continuously through midnight on Christmas day. It features some excellent jazz instrumental and vocal interpretations of holiday music favorites; along with what many consider a highlight of the season: a reading of the classic “Twas the Night Before Christmas” by the late, great LA Jazz DJ Chuck Niles. This reading will be heard six times throughout the program: 12 noon and 6 p.m. December 24th; and at 12 midnight, 6 a.m., 12 noon, and 6 p.m. on December 25th.

The program will also feature holiday favorites by Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Marcus Roberts, Ramsey Lewis, Wynton Marsalis, Vince Guaraldi and many more.

If you happen to be in the San Diego area and want to hear it on the radio, you can also find it on KSDS/San Diego (88.3 FM or www.jazz88.org) during the same hours as a simulcast with the internet version. In past years, the netcast and broadcast were slightly different; show producer David Grudt tells me that this year only the hourly station ID will differ.

Niles was on heard on a variety of jazz-formatted stations including KLON (now KKJZ, 88.1 FM), KBCA (now KKGO, 105.1 FM), KFOX  (now KFRN, 1280 AM), and of course KNOB.

JazzKnob.org is an online tribute to Sleepy Stein’s KNOB/Long Beach, which played mainstream jazz. Stein was the owner of the station in 1957 when he launched the jazz format with just 320 watts at its original frequency of 103.1 FM. One year later, he was able to increase power to 79,000 watts by moving to a new frequency, 97.9 FM.

Stein sold the station in 1966 and the new owners changed the format to MOR (Middle of the Road) music … think standards and lighter fare … then Beautiful Music and eventually soft rock. Today the station is known as “La Raza,” playing Regional Mexican music, which it has been playing since 1988.

Now at JazzKnob.org, you can tune in any time 24/7 and hear mainstream jazz from artists both past and present.

KNX Response

One of the letters below highlights something I had thought of after writing the column last week: there anew so few AM stations worth tuning in, KNX (1070 AM) gets a prominent preset. On my FM tuner, I already filled all the presets with stations that play music … so while the sound may be better on most FM radios, it may or may not be good enough to be “preset worthy” on the 97.1 FM simulcast. 

Here’s a sample of the letters I received on the subject:

“My car has 3 radio ‘bands' that I can access with the press of just one button - one AM and two sets of FM stations that I have preset. The only AM station that I have set is KNX 1070, so I can conveniently get there, and the reception is almost always perfect … but my primary means of access to KNX will continue to be through 1070 AM due to its clear signal and quick access.” — Richard Berenson

“I’ve been a KNX 1070 listener for probably 60 years. Growing up in Torrance we didn’t watch much TV but there was always a radio in the kitchen set to KNX (or KFWB if my sister and I were hand washing the dishes). 

“That’s where I first heard old radio shows late in the evening, listened to Bob Crane, horse races live from Hollywood Park and heard the news about countless world and national events like Alan Shepherd’s blast into space and the first heart transplant. 

“When I was commuting to work for 32 years, it was KNX 1070 that rode along with me. Oh, who can forget all the good traffic reports you got from Bill Keene?! It was only on the weekends that I turned to FM for music rather than news, traffic and weather. 

“I still listen to KNX in the car as I run errands around town and have always been amazed that I can still pick them up as I head over the Grapevine. 

I’m sticking with AM 1070 as long as they’re there live.” — Debbie Musser

“I switched to KNX FM. I’ve always enjoyed KNX, but even more now because of the sound clarity.” — Hector 

“I'm an older listener who remembers the old jingle ‘KNX 11070 Newsradio.’  I'll listen to 1070 for as long as it's available, and if I have to eventually switch, I will, but grudgingly.” `— Judy Browning

One unrelated question … with KNX now found on FM, and the possibility of the KNX-FM call sign returning to the band — on 97.1 instead of its old home of 93.1 — will owner Audacy be bothered by the KNX-FM tribute station found at knxfm93.com? Hopefully not.

KSPN sold

Disney has agreed to sell KSPN (710 AM) to Good Karma Broadcasting, which will retain the ESPN sports format currently found on the station as well as on KRDC (1110 AM). KRDC itself is not part of the deal, and it is unknown what Disney will do with it in the interim as it continues to look for a buyer; Disney previously announced plans to exit radio broadcasting completely.

Radio Waves Podcast #319

Former PD of "The Sound" in LA Dave Beasing helps sort out the move of KNX Newsradio to the FM dial.

Radio: December 10, 2021

KROQ (106.7 FM) has ended its “two minute promise” of short commercial breaks, under the direction of owner Audacy, which discontinued the idea on all of its owned and operated alternative music stations. According to AllAccess.com, the move was made due to higher demand for commercial time.

Doubtful, but we’ll pretend it’s true, at least for now.

Unfortunately, this brings back the long commercial breaks that have been the bane of radio for a long time, and one of the reasons listeners search out other entertainment sources such as Spotify and Apple Music. In reality, the idea was sound: fewer commercials per break makes each spot worth more to an advertiser, due to the fact that the message isn’t buried among so many others, and the obvious tune-out that long breaks almost force on listeners.

Once again, stations miss the message that was sent by KHJ (930 AM) during the Boss Radio days of the late 1960s: shorter commercial sets and shorter commercials — especially interesting ads or those read by the personalities themselves — create a situation where listeners stay tuned in, they  gain marketing information, and the advertiser gets a new customer. Long blocks destroy all that.

New Mornings

Mornings on the Beach, an award-winning show airing on Cal State Long Beach’s student-run 22-West Media Radio (formerly K-Beach, www.22westmedia.com and 88.1 HD3)  Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Essentially, the current “non-student” hosts — Danny Lemos, Charley Sharp, and Michael Stark — fired themselves. The last new show aired on December 3rd, and “best of” programs will air through December and likely until at least the end of the university’s winter break. 

But the show is not going away. Lemos, who also acts as the station’s advisor, explained that the decision was made to turn the show over completely to students. In that spirit, the station has launched an all-out search for the next hosts, involving CSULB’s Associated Students organization, the Daily 49er campus newspaper, on-air announcements and more. Current students who are part of the roundtable, including news reporter Nick James, are expected to return. Lemos will stay on as the show’s producer.

“Us leaving is not important,” said Stark. “The search for some new personalities who will carry on the show’s tradition is the real story.” The show will feature all student-hosts when it returns.

Needing a Doctor

While they originally said the 1:00 p.m. Doctor Hour — primarily starring Dr. Kelly Victory — would return to KABC’s (790 AM) John Phillips program, it appears that it will not be happening. Now at 1:00 on Phillips’ show is the Saving California Hour, and Victory says that neither Phillips nor station manager Drew Hayes have seriously discussed her return.

It was an all-volunteer position for Victory and the other doctors involved, so it’s not a true loss for her or them, but it is a huge loss for listeners. The Hour was the best hour on KABC, and was a calming, informative hour giving not just advice on all things Covid, but any medical issues important to callers.

Hopefully another station will take the initiative and bring it back. In the meantime, Victory still makes appearances on various radio and television stations across the country, as well as podcasts.

Future Tease

Is the future of radio here? Will AM and FM merge to become IP Radio? Or perhaps IM Radio for Internet Modulation? Regardless, it’s an intriguing question that many observers believe will indeed happen. The idea is that the new protocols can make the internet a viable medium for radio content, paving the way for an entirely new version of radio.

In a future column, I’ll present some opinions from trendsetters who are on the forefront of what could possible be a radio revolution. In the meantime, would you be willing to transition to a new type of radio if the content you want was available?

Radio Waves Podcast #318

 Radio: December 3, 2021

The announcement was intriguing: Accuradio goes for the record by adding 100 holiday music channels to its online service. “We’re highlighting the upstart, competitive nature of AccuRadio by launching 100 holiday season channels at a pace of one at least one a day,” says company spokesman Michael Lev.  “Dozens more than Pandora is offering. Last time I looked we were at 68 channels; last year we did 81 stations.:

OK, I think they have the record already, though to be honest I haven’t verified the numbers of either Accuradio or Pandora. It’s barely past Thanksgiving … I just started thinking about Christmas. But Accuradio is new to me, so I began my quest to find out more.

You can listen to Accuradio through the company website (AccuRadio.com) or via smartphone apps available for the iPhone or Android. Audio quality is superb, with full fidelity as I listened in my truck.

One killer feature I found almost accidentally is station blending … if you find a channel you like and want to add to it, you can combine the two. Or three. Or more. I combined top-40 HitKast with Alternative Now and Today’s New Country to create a channel I haven’t named yet. Maybe K-WAG would work.

The app is “compatible” with Apple Car Play and Android Auto in the sense that you can stream through your phone into your car stereo, but it is not “native,” meaning you cannot access the app directly and make selections or changes on your car stereo’s main screen, but you can use the “now playing” screen to pause music or skips songs.

Likewise, there is no native support for smart speakers, but you can send audio from your phone or computer to your speakers as long as you have the right set-up.

Unlike Pandora’s and Spotify’s free versions, Accuradio — which has no paid versions — allows unlimited skips, so if you don’t like a song or just don’t want to hear Maggie May right now, you can just skip on to the next. Or the next, without running out of skips and being stuck with Modern Love.

Here’s what caught me off-guard: the service isn’t new! It launched back in the early days of radio streaming in 2000. Originally called RAIN radio due to its connection to founder Kurt Hanson’s RAIN newsletter - Radio and Internet News — Hanson later changed the name to Accuradio. The original three channels — pop standards, modern rock classics, and piano jazz — have evolved into roughly 1000 channels covering more than 50 musical genres. All of therm curated by actual people who are said to love music; many of whom have backgrounds in music, radio, or television.

What inspired Hanson to develop an internet music service after a successful career in and around radio itself? Besides RAIN, he founded Strategic Media Research where, among other things, he launched an alternative ratings service to Arbitron (now Nielsen) called AccuRatings. He’s worked in radio since high school and has advised stations throughout the country.

“I haven't thought about this for a long time --  it was actually when I was in high school in 1972 in Milwaukee, listening to one of the first FM top 40 stations (WZUU-AM/FM), he explained. “It was a great summer for music -- Jackson Browne, the Stylistics, Badfinger, America, the Chi-Lites, Don McLean, Paul Simon, etc. Except every 70 minutes the station wrecked the music flow by playing Sammy Davis, Jr.'s  "The Candy Man" because 8-year-olds were buying and requesting it!   ARRRGHGH!!!!  I dreamed of the day when radio programmers would have a better handle on what their listeners wanted to hear -- and even better if listeners could control what they heard."

That led Hanson to found Strategic Media Research and eventually launch Accuradio.

What sets Accuradio apart from other streaming services? Hanson says it’s the personalization and customization. “We have a lot more variety and personalization options than AM/FM streams, and unlike Pandora (which is programmed primarily by computer algorithms using their Music Genome Project), our channels are curated by real human beings who love music

We also have, unlike Pandora and and its ilk,” he says, “some actual station voices to give us "stationality," but they're mainly brief sweepers that don't draw attention away from the music.”

Treasures for Troops

The little AM station I wrote about recently in Michigan — WION/Ionia (i1430.com) recently completed its Treasures for Troops event, in which the station collects donations to be sent to U.S. service men and women around the world. This is the eighth year for the event.

Boxes are packed with donations including letters, cards, and notes from Saranac, Ionia, Lowell students, Ionia area residents, and others. Each box  also contains three “staple” items of Peanut Butter, Chunky soup, and some beef jerky, along with a variety of items from the needs list published locally each year.

“186 boxes were mailed to active military members deployed far from home,” according to station manager Jim Carlyle. “The boxes will be a surprise to most recipients, however some addresses were provided to the Blue Star Mothers by families and friends of the deployed.”

Radio Waves Podcast #317

 Radio: October 29, 2021

It’s kind of funny, perhaps a bit sad, and definitely a reality that while some supposedly are working to improve the AM band, others — primarily owners — are doing things that actually hurt it..

I’m not talking programming here, though that is certainly a major cause of the lack of listeners to broadcasting’s oldest and original band. No, I’m talking the economic reality that the land many AM transmitters sit on is often worth more than the radio station itself. To the point where many stations, dominant in the past with monster signals, are now often barely receivable.

The next station to make the move appears to be KSPN (710 AM), as the all-sports station has been approved by the FCC to move to a different transmitter site, and at a lower level of power.

As explained by Doc Searls —  a fellow since 2006 at what is now the Berkman Klein Center who studies technology and related issues including radio — the plan has KSPN moving to the KRDC (1110 AM)  site and sharing the transmitter.  “That plan is in place because the current KSPN site (in use since the 1930s) is the vast spread of land in the Valley on which the station's three towers sit, and that land, surrounded by suburbs, is worth far more than the signal itself.” 

Searls expects that the format and call letters will be transferred to 1110 AM, which is already simulcasting KSPN’s programming, though that is complete conjecture. But the move is not unexpected … as he says,  “AM station owners are doing this everywhere. KHJ (930 AM) and KABC (790 AM)  have already done it — moving to other sites they share with other stations —and unloading the land under their old towers. In both those cases, the signals aren't much different.”

Unlike KHJ and KABC, however, this one appears to be something that will cause signal degradation … lower power on a former landfill in Irwindale — worse land as far as signal propagation — cannot be an improvement. I can barely receive 1110 AM in some rooms of my house near San Pedro.

But the reality is that real estate is indeed more valuable than many AM stations. Sad, but true. Makes you wonder how much longer the cycle can continue.

What’s With Bongino?

Dan Bongino, heard locally on KABC from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, has been “fighting” with Cumulus Media — distributor of his syndicated show as well as owner of  many stations on which his show is carried — threatening to quit over the company’s Covid vaccine mandate.

Interesting especially since Bongino has already been vaccinated. For his part, he claims he is sticking up for his fellow employees who may not wish to get it; like may others it appears that he is pro-vaccine, anti-mandate. And it may indeed be true.

But a few flags were raised when I first heard the story. First off, Bongino is no Limbaugh. Yes, his show is run at the same time, but like all wanna-be Limbaugh’s from both sides of the political isle, Bongino doesn’t get what made Limbaugh tick … what made him popular. Essentially, outside of Cumulus Media management, which would need to find a replacement if Bongino actually did quit, few would care.

Secondly, by protesting, he is breaking the intent of company policy … Cumulus doesn’t want to be part of anything that may be considered anti-vaccine. So you have someone with marginal ratings threatening to leave a company barely hanging on when he probably doesn’t much care if he has a daily radio show or not … he can always go back to podcasts and cable television exclusively.

My hunch? Cumulus wants or at least likes the publicity. We’ll see how this plays out.

War

Almost 85 years ago — October 30, 1938 — War of the Worlds was broadcast on CBS Radio, including KNX (1070 AM) here in Los Angeles. In it, Orson Welles scared the nation into believing that the earth was being taken over by martians through his presentation of a radio adaption of H. G. Wells’ book on his program Mercury Theater on the Air.

Panic ensued as people believed that the program was actually real radio bulletins and news being reported over the network. Or at least that’s what we have all been led to believe.

While there may have been a few who missed the numerous announcements — made at every break — that this was a play, the idea that the entire country panicked has been at best an exaggeration. An urban myth.

As it turns out, the audience for War was small. Most of the nation was tuned to the popular NBC program, Edgar Bergen’s Chase and Sanborn Hour, a comedy and variety show. In fact, the Hooper Ratings service had telephoned households the night of the broadcast for its national ratings survey and determined that only two percent of the potential audience was listening to Welle’s show. This means that 98 percent of America was not.

Slate.com stated it this way, in a report they ran about ten years ago:

"Far fewer people heard the broadcast — and fewer still panicked — than most people believe today. How do we know? The night the program aired, the C.E. Hooper ratings service telephoned 5,000 households for its national ratings survey. 'To what program are you listening?' the service asked respondents. Only 2 percent answered a radio 'play' or 'the Orson Welles program,' or something similar indicating CBS. None said a 'news broadcast,' according to a summary published in Broadcasting. In other words, 98 percent of those surveyed were listening to something else, or nothing at all, on Oct. 30, 1938. This minuscule rating is not surprising. Welles' program was scheduled against one of the most popular national programs at the time — ventriloquist Edgar Bergen's Chase and Sanborn Hour, a comedy-variety show.”

(See it for yourself at https://slate.com/culture/2013/10/orson-welles-war-of-the-worlds-panic-myth-the-infamous-radio-broadcast-did-not-cause-a-nationwide-hysteria.html”)

It must also be added that some CBS affiliate stations had preempted the Mercury Theater program in favor of local programming, further limiting the audience.

So how did a non-panic become a known panic? Blame newspapers. As Slate explains, “Radio had siphoned off advertising revenue from print during the Depression, badly damaging the newspaper industry. So the papers seized the opportunity presented by Welles’ program to discredit radio as a source of news. “ Kind of sounds like television news today … but I digress.

Regardless, the show is considered a classic. While KNX no longer airs the Drama Hour that once ran War annually at Halloween, you can still find it on-line. Do a search or just go to one of the Old Time Radio sites, such as otr.net, which has a download available at http://www.otr.net/?p=merc.

///

Radio Waves Podcast #316

 Southern California radio’s latest ratings offer surprises and a new No. 1

As recently as July, KOST (103.5) was getting beaten by KRTH (101.1 FM) in the local Nielsen ratings. But with just a few weeks to go before its annual switch to holiday music (and the annual ratings bonanza), KOST pushed ahead to become the No. 1 station in town a bit early, edging out KRTH by a whisker: 5.5 vs 5.3 in the September ratings.

The two dominant stations were almost a full point ahead of third-place KTWV’s (94.7 FM) 4.6, and the 4th place tie of My FM (KBIG, 104.3 FM) and KLVE (107.5 FM) at 4.5.

Each rating is an estimate of the percentage of listeners aged 6 and over tuned to a station between the hours of 6 a.m. and midnight. For the most part, with just a few exceptions, things are generally the same as they were when I last reported the ratings back in July.

As usual, KFI was the No. 1 AM station in town, tying KIIS-FM (102.7) for 7th place at 3.8. This made KIIS-FM the top “top-40” station, though there is so much overlap between it and My FM that the lines of top-40 vs. My FM’s “hot adult contemporary” format are certainly blurring. Stations that might be considered true direct competition to KIIS are Power 106 (KPWR, 105.9 FM) at 1.9, and Now (KNOU, 97.1 FM) at 1.5.

Both Power and Now beg the question: What are they doing to address this? Both stations have signals that are among the best in the city; to be rated so relatively low makes one wonder why the owners are staying with the formats they currently run. Both stations changed formats in the past with ratings that at the time were higher than they both earn now. Heck, most AM stations abandoned music with ratings higher than that back in the last 1970s and early ‘80s.

It was not a good month for alternative rock, with both Alt 98.7 (KYSR) and KROQ (106.7 FM) down compared with the last quarter. For September, Alt was at 2.3; KROQ at 2.0. Back in June, the stations had shares of 3.2 and 2.3, respectively. In San Francisco, the former alternative leader once known as Live 105 just changed to a Jack (KCBS-FM, 93.1) clone called Dave. That won’t happen here as we already have Jack, but it does make you wonder how much longer KROQ’s ratings in particular will be tolerated.

As mentioned, KFI was the top AM station in town, and therefore has the top talk ratings in town as well. KFI’s competition? KRLA (870 AM) earned a 2.0 share, KABC (790 AM) had 1.1, and KEIB (1150 AM) had a 1.0. That means KFI had just slightly less than the total of its competition … not bad, not bad at all.

On the strength of the Dodgers, KLAC (570 AM)  took top sports honors, with a solid 2.1 share. KSPN (710 AM) — which simulcasts its programming on KRDC (1110 AM) — was at 0.5. Repeat: 0.5. On two signals. Wow. Perhaps oldies on 1110 AM would work better? And perhaps some middle-of-the-road music combined with sports on 710? Just thinking out loud.

People are listening to online streams … KLOS (95.5 FM), which earned a 2.6 share on FM, earned another 0.2 on its stream. KPWR earned a 0.1 share with its stream. And a couple of HD Radio signals showed up as well, with LA Oldies on 105.1 HD2 and ‘80s alternative on 106.7 HD2 both earning 0.1 shares. Interestingly, while you’d think that Mose people would listen to classical music on HD or online, it was KMZT’s AM signal (at 1260) that earned the rating … also at 0.1.

Here’s one I can’t figure out: What happened to KKLQ (100.3 FM)? They seemed to be doing fairly well just a short time ago. Did something happen? Or is this a case of one or two ratings meters making a huge difference in the ratings calculations? Or are people not liking a canned syndicated format?

The full story:1. KOST (5.5) 2. KRTH (5.3) 3. KTWV (4.6) 4. KBIG “My FM”, KLVE (4.5) 6. KCBS-FM “Jack” (4.2) 7. KFI, KIIS-FM (3.8) 9. KLAX (3.5) 10. KNX, KPCC (3.0)12. KLYY (2.7) 13. KLOS, KRCD (2.6) 15. KRRL (2.5) 16. KSCA, KYSR (2.3) 18. KKGO, KLAC (2.1) 20. KRLA, KROQ (2.0)22. KLLI, KPWR, KXOL  (1.9) 25. KCRW, KUSC (1.7) 27. KBUE, KJLH (1.6) 29. KNOU (1.5) 30. KDAY, KKJZ (1.2)32. KABC (1.1) 33. KEIB (1.0) 34. KDLD (0.9) 35. KFWB (0.8) 36. KFSH (0.6) 37. KCSN, KSPN, KWIZ (0.5) 40. KKLA (0.3)42. KLOS Online Stream, KTNQ (0.2) 44. KHJ, KIRN, KKGO-HD2, KMZT, KPWR Online Stream, KROQ-HD2, KWKW (0.1)

Kelly honored

KFI’s Mo’ Kelly says he is “honored … and humbled” by his being named radio’s Journalist of the Year, 2020 and having radio’s Best Personality/Profile Interview according to the Los Angeles Press Club at the organization’s 63rd Annual Journalism Awards Dinner held on October 16th. Will this recognition lead to more time on the air? One can hope …

New name

Ted Stryker left KROQ’s morning show and reporter Kelli Skye Fadroski talked to the DJ about his new podcast “Tuna on Toast.” KROQ’s morning show, now called Klein and Ally, also airs in Kansas City and Dallas and was heard on Klein’s former station in San Francisco until that station changed formats from alternative to “Dave.”

Radio Waves Podcast #315

 Radio: October 15, 2021

By now — especially if you’ve read this column very long — you’ve probably heard of HD Radio, the broadcasting system authorized by the FCC where digital broadcasts are sent along with regular analog signals, giving supposed better sound quality (promised in last advertising as “like FM on AM, like CDs on FM”) and for now only on FM, extra channels. All of which available over the air only if you have an HD Radio tuner.

But what are those extra channels, and is it worth upgrading to an HD Radio at home or in your car? Those are the big questions, and today I will try to answer them. First the extra channels you can hear broadcast along with your favorite FM station; the following is a list of the available extra HD stations in Los Angeles, and the format they run.

(Key: 88.1-2 refers to the second audio channel for KKJZ, found at 88.1 FM; all -1 channels duplicate the regular analog station and are therefore omitted).
88.1-2 Jazz vocals
88.1-3 Cal State Long Beach student run station; various programs from oldies to hip-hop; the home of Mornings on the Beach, an award-winning morning program covering various lifestyle issues
88.5-2 Contemporary Jazz, local news, and entertainment from Saddleback College
88.5-3 The Latin Alternative: Alternative music, electronic dance music, indie pop, Sal Soul and classic rock … en espanol
89.3-2 The Current: Contemporary alternative music from Minnesota Public Radio
89.9-2 Eclectic 24: a continuous stream of eclectic music curated by KCRW’s own Chris Douridas
92.3-2 News/Information from the Black Information Network
93.1-2 Simulcast of K-Frog’s (KFRG/Riverside) country music programming
93.1-3 The Bet: Sports gambling information and CBS Sportsradio programming
93.9-2 Spanish adult contemporary music
94.7-2 Rhythmic contemporary music
94.7-3 Radio Hamrah: News, information and talk programming for the global Persian community
95.1-2 Owner Audacy lists KFRG-HD2 as Next Country, supposedly playing the next country hits before they are hits. But when I tuned in, the station was playing light rock in Spanish.
95.5-2 Southern California’s FM Talk Station… 24/7 repeats of KLOS (95.5 FM) morning show, Heidi and Frank. Other shows were/are promised, but for now that’s it.
95.5-3 News, information and talk in Armenian from SoCalArmenian.com
97.1-2 Channel Q: Electronic Dance Music and other programming designed to appeal to LA’s LGBTQ residents
97.1-3 Firelane: non-stop dance music
98.7-2 Simulcast of KLAC ’s (570 AM) sports programming
100.3-2 Air 1 Radio: contemporary Christian religious/worship music (essentially a simulcast of KYLA/Fountain Valley 92.7 FM and a handful of other stations in areas surrounding Los Angeles)
100.3-3 Radio Nueva Vida: Christian music and talk in Spanish
101.1-2 Simulcast of KNX (1070 AM) newsradio
101.9-2 Simulcast of KTNQ (1020 AM) Spanish-language news/talk
101.9-3 Armenian Music Radio
103.5-2 Simulcast of KFI (640 AM) talk radio
103.5-3 The Breeze: Soft Rock similar to what KOST (103.5 FM) itself used to play
103.9-2 El Sembrador: Spanish-language Catholic radio programming from El Sembrador Ministries’ ESNE Radio network.
103.9-3 Another simulcast of KTNQ
104.3-2 Pride Radio: “The Pulse of LGBTQ+ America” - iHeart’s version of Audacy’s Channel Q. Electronic Dance Music and a little top-40.
105.1-2 LA Oldies, as formerly heard on the old KSUR (now KMZT, 1260 AM). Oldies from the 1950s through the early 1980s with an emphasis on the late ‘60s and ’70
105.1-3 Unforgettable FM: all Frank Sinatra, all the time
105.1-4 Simulcast of K-Mozart (KMZT): classical music with a few related specialty programs
105.9-2 Simulcast of KDAY (93.5 FM) old school Hip-Hop
106.3-2 AAX Radio: Not really sure here. Supposedly Vietnamese programming, but when I tuned in I heard an english-language discussion on weddings and masks.
106.3-3 Simulcast of KYPA’s (1230 AM) Korean-language programming of music (including english-language oldies) and information. Interestingly, it wasn’t an exact simulcast … background music that played on the online stream and on the AM signal was absent on this version. I assume the processing was different and something got nulled-out as it made its way here.
106.7-2 Roq of the ‘80s: The music that made KROQ (106.7 FM) famous; pop and alternative music from the 1980s
107.5-2 Radio Jan: “the best Armenian radio station in the USA.” Launched first in Armenia in 2012 and in Los Angeles in 2017, the station plays Armenian popular music
107.5-3 Radio ITN: 24-hour news and entertainment serving the Persian-speaking community

Currently, only FM stations can broadcast the extra channels, though the HD system would allow AM stations to do so if they went all-digital. There is not enough space in the AM band to allow extra channels using the current hybrid (analog and digital) system; unfortunately going all-digital means a station would lose traditional radio listeners. A few stations nationwide have done so, but none locally.

So you can see that there are many “secret” stations that can be heard using an HD Radio tuner. Should you go out and buy one? Chances are you already have one in your car if you own one bought in the last ten years … many models come as a stepped-up audio option. And ten years ago, I would have said “yes” to buying one.

But there is a problem with the extra channels on FM: unlike the main station, there is no buffering. This means if you don’t have a clean signal, the extra station just drops out. Maybe for a half second, maybe for a minute. This is not a problem at home, but while driving, the signal can pop in and out constantly. VERY annoying.

Combine this with the improvement in internet accessibility, apps you can use via modern stereos and your smart phone in your car, along with smart speakers and bluetooth connections at home and today, I’d say pass. This doesn’t mean avoid the stations listed above, just listen through your phone app and your smart speakers.

My recommendation: Skip the HD, and use an app. Of course if you do already own HD Radios, by all means use them … I have four. But the apps are actually better now in use, and they also stream AM stations, most of which no longer broadcast in HD anyway.

Radio Waves Podcast #314

 Radio: October 8, 2021

It was more than 56 years ago when Boss Radio launched in 1965 on KHJ (930 AM). I was just two years old when the format debuted in town with a young but experienced on-air staff, but I’ve had a connection to the station and the format long enough to understand its significance. KHJ literally changed Los Angeles top-40 radio forever.

So while perhaps it should not be surprising to lose another, it is still sad when an original Boss Jock passes away.

It happened this past week as news came out that Sam Riddle passed away at the age of 85 on September 27th. Riddle’s passing leaves only two remaining original Boss Jocks still living, Gary Mack and Johnny Williams.

KHJ was not Riddle’s first local station. He actually came to Los Angeles from the former KDEO (now KECR, 910 AM) in San Diego to work at the original KRLA (now KRDC, 1110 AM) in 1960 to take on former top-40 leader KFWB (980 AM). Riddle stayed at KRLA a few years, leaving in 1963 for a spot on KFWB, and then in 1965 for KHJ, where he stayed until 1970.

Sam Riddle passed away at the age of 85 on September 27, 2021. (Image courtesy of KHJ)

It was during those Boss Radio years that Riddle’s broadcasting career truly took off. In addition to his work on-air at KHJ, he became a television star via the programs “9th Street West” and “Boss City,” both airing on the then-KHJ sister television station, KHJ-TV Channel 9. Other television shows included “Hollywood A Go Go,” “Sounds of Now” and perhaps his most famous work, the syndicated “Star Search,” which he produced throughout its run. (He’s even listed as providing voice work on an episode of “Gilligan’s Island”, “Don’t Bug The Mosquitoes.”)

But radio was his first love and he stayed with it for quite some time. After leaving KHJ in 1970, he found himself up the dial at KDAY (now KBLA, 1580 AM), the top-40 version of KROQ (1500 AM, no longer on the air)  in 1972, and once more on KHJ in 1974. His famous opening line to his shows was, “Hello music lovers,” a line he used for many years.

Friends of Riddle were posting remembrances of him on Facebook recently, with one in particular from Beach Rogers (KNX 1070 AM Newsradio fame) that described Riddle succinctly: “Got to know Sam during his two years at KFWB, and it was one of the best of times. Such a good guy to be around and not surprising he went on to be a success at whatever he tried. A Good Man now lost.”

I was supposed to do a career-spanning interview with Riddle on the podcast series I do with Mike Stark, but due to the pandemic and Riddle’s health issues, it never happened. That is a shame, but Riddle will be remembered as one of radio (and television’s) best. Alas, another good one gone. He is survived by his wife Adrienne, children Scott and Courtney, and grandchildren Miracle and Garin.

Morning Shows

The emails started arriving almost immediately after the column hit the street: Who do you like in the morning and why? Please keep the emails and letters coming; here are a few of the initial responses…

“I am very old school and still enjoy radio. I grew up in New York City listening to lots of AM stations. I even got to see the Beatles live in concert twice! In the morning, I listen to KOST 103.5 the Ellen K Morning Show. I enjoy the banter and the contests. However, I don’t agree with Christmas music starting in November. In fact, the station loses me as a listener until right before Christmas.” — Phyllis Metzger, Long Beach

Don’t get me started on that Christmas music. Apparently, you and I are the only ones who feel that way, since KOST dominates the ratings when they do it. But Ellen is fabulous as the morning host on KOST, exhibiting a great talent that solidified when she got out on her own after playing second fiddle on the KIIS-FM (102.7) morning show for many years.

“My favorite morning show is Poorman’s Morning Rush on KOCI (101.5 FM) out of Newport Beach. You probably remember him from the ’80s KROQ. He does what you have been preaching … he has no playlist. He has a musical theme every day (for example “fun”) and the listeners call in with their song requests that contain the theme in the name of the song, in the lyrics or in the artist. He plays any era, any genre of music. He fields as many calls on air as possible.  He also has segments from local businesses. It’s so much fun; you get to know the regular fans and you feel like part of a family in no time.” — Cindy Curti (Cee Cee)

I will check this out. Thanks for the tip.

“I too listen to The Woody Show and have been since their LA debut. I like the easy flow of Woody’s conversations and really enjoy all of the team. I really like the getting to know….segments when we get a deep dive of each person’s likes and dislikes. Woody and Greg Gory are probably my favorite; Ravey is hilarious – I  love her fondness for Harry Potter and all the nerdy stuff. The best part of the show is when Woody and team are recapping their regular life shenanigans and when Menace is trying to pronounce something.“Sometimes I can do without the raunch talk. As sensible as Greg seems, once he starts talking his gibberish about ‘your mom’ jokes, I feel like maybe we really don’t know him as well as he appears to be.” — Lynn Romero

I agree … it’s kind of funny, as the show, in general, is pretty clean. But every once in a while they get stuck on a subject that you have to tune out… luckily it’s not too often.

“I love the Klein and Ally show on KROQ (106.7 FM) after listening to Kevin and Bean for 30 years and before that the Raymondo and Evans show. …I go to Woody during the commercials, and from 5-6 a.m. since Klein doesn’t start until 6:00.” — Daniel Klatte

That’s a lot of dedication to KROQ! All are great shows indeed.

Radio Waves Podcast #313

 Radio: October 1, 2021

Radio has always had trends, and one trend that always seems to periodically reappear is the idea of “narrowcasting” — generally thought of as limiting the various genres a station may play.

The idea is relatively sound in a programming research way: super-serve your audience by playing what they want to hear, and leaving out the songs that many cause tune-out. And over the years in its various cycles, the plan has worked, broken up by the sudden (and sometimes unexpected) resurgence of mass-appeal top-40 formats that broaden the playlist significantly.

One example harkens back to the late 1970s, in which many of the formerly top-rated Am top-40 stations were replaced by stations forcing on one style of music, be it rock, alternative, new wave, disco, or even country. But then stations like KIIS-FM went mainstream in the early 1980s and brought top-40 back into the limelight, blowing out the competition by playing a wide playlist once again.

It seems like this is the way it goes… stations get big playing a huge playlist, then others come in and steal listeners by going narrow. Indeed, KIIS-FM itself was temporarily knocked out of the top spot by Power 106 in 1986, when Power focussed on dance music, though one could easily argue that KIIS reacted too much and started sounding too much like Power itself, sending listeners elsewhere.

More recently, it seems that narrowcasting has become the norm again, and longer than the typical cycle. Yet a recent article on PowerGold questions the wisdom of the trend in today’s competitive reality.

In the column, Sean Ross argues that with online music services — he specifically mentions SiriusXM, but the same argument could be applied to Apple Music, Spotify, and even many independent streaming services — doing the narrowcasting, is it truly a good idea for a broadcast station to maintain such a narrow playlist? Might it be better to expand?

In Ross’ opinion, yes. And he gives examples of stations that have expanded with great success. WISX/Philadelphia, WLTW/New York, WFEZ/Miami as a few examples, and the resurgence of a format known as Active Rock, a format I’ve been pushing to get in Los Angeles for years. 

Ross’ examples are mostly related to light-rock and adult contemporary formats, and he is on the money. One reason that KOST (103.5 FM) and My FM (KBIG, 104.3 FM) beat sister KIIS-FM (102.7) — at one time the music leader of all music stations in the country — is that KOST and My FM tend to play more styles of music … exactly what KIIS-FM used to do when KOST and KBIG stayed tight with only light hits and oldies.

If you were not paying that close attention, you might even say that My FM, especially, sounds much KIIS-FM of the 1980s. And like KIIS-FM of the 1980s, My FM is one of the dominant music stations in town.

The problem with narrowcasting is that it works … but only for a while. Eventually, people tire of the same sound. That’s what happened with KROQ (106.7 FM), KLOS (95.5 FM), to a lesser degree Alt 98.7, and why KRTH (101.1 FM) and KOLA (99.9 FM) have thrived by adding more recent but still older songs and leaving behind what many consider true oldies, the songs from the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s.

KLOS figured it out … the playlist has been expanded (though still not as much as I’d like), and the ratings have rebounded. I think the time is ripe for an Active Rock station — one playing a wider variety of rock and roll — to make an appearance, perhaps at KROQ, a station that once defined the format. Active Rock plays literally anything, and can adapt with the times. You aren’t stuck with songs from Twenty One Pilots.

And it must be noted that KIIS-FM is even expanding somewhat, such that you can once again hear songs that don’t sound like all the rest.

So while it may be an accident, and many successful business decisions and creative ideas are, stations that stop trying to program against online services are going to be the next big thing. You’re already seeing it … broadcast radio’s future may indeed be bright.

Morning Woody

While there are numerous morning shows I enjoy, The Woody Show on Alt 98.7 is still my favorite. The primary reason is that the team — Woody, Ravey, Greg Gory, and Menace — are all friends, and more importantly fun. Listening lately, I have realized that Ravey is my favorite because she constantly says things that just crack me up. Is it the sarcasm or the dark humor? I’m not sure. Probably both.

The show has been among the most popular shows in town since shortly after it arrived in April, 2014. If you have not checked it out, tune in to Alt from 5 to 10 a.m., though be aware: they rebroadcast earlier segments in the final hours … something I detest …

What are your favorite morning DJs and hosts? Do you prefer music? News? Shows like Woody? Let me know what you like and why … send me a note and I’ll put your favorites together for a future column so that we can all find something to suit our tastes. 

Radio Waves Podcast #312

 Radio: September 24, 2021

Audacy — owner of numerous stations in Los Angeles including KRTH (101.1 FM) and KROQ (106.7 FM) — is getting ready for the 8th Annual “We Can Survive” concert to be held at the Hollywood Bowl on October 23rd.

Black Eyed Peas, Coldplay, Doja Cat, Shawn Mendes, The Kid LAROI and more will use their musical powers to help strengthen — and raise money to help — mental health via a partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The Foundation funds research, supports survivors of suicide loss, advocates for public policies to help mental health, and educates the public about the issues.

Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster.

Where’s Red?

“I was a listener to Rock ‘n Roll in the 50’s/60’s living in the San Fernando Valley … a cruiser of Van Nuys Blvd back when … I went to school with the local DJ Red Blanchard’s daughter…..do you have any updates on his whereabouts?: — Drexel Smith

This was an interesting one to me, as Blanchard is just a little before my time. But I love a mystery; here’s what I found:

Richard Bogardus “Red” Blanchard was a DJ on a variety of stations in town, including KABC (790 AM), KXLA (before it was KRLA; now KRDC 1110 AM), KPOP (now KTNQ, 1020 AM), KFWB (980 AM) and KNX (1070 AM). His longest tenure at any of the LA stations was about five years - from 1960-65 at KNX; the others were only for a year or two.

But he had a long history in radio prior to arriving in town back in 1956: he was interested in radio at a very early age and in 1938, at the age of 18, he got his first ham radio license (W1LDI). Commercial radio came after he got out of the Army, starting in 1945 at Riverside’s original KPRO. After that he was at a variety of stations in San Diego, Las Vegas, and San Francisco; his last station before arriving in town locally was at the Bay Area’s KCBS.

As a DJ, he specialized in novelty songs and comedy, making for a very entertaining program and explaining his presence on many of the top stations in town of the era. One description had him as a master of puns and parodies, along with the always on hand “gross out” gag. He made a few of his own novelty recordings as well, including Captain Hideous (King of Outer Space), Pagan Love Song, and Ape Call, among others.

In San Diego, the Daily Journal gave him the recognition as “Show of the Month.” 

His work at KNX included staff announcer, but he always had a love of the technical side of things, so in 1965 he left radio for television, and became the technical director for KHJ-TV Channel 9, where he stayed until he retired sometime around 1980.

Talking about his career with LARadio.Com's Don Barrett, Blanchard spoke of being let go from one of his stations: “I was fired due to illness,” he said. “The boss got sick of me.”

Blanchard passed away in June of 2011 at the age of 91; his death was from complications during his recovery from cancer surgery.

Hawking Wares

“When I started listening to talk radio in the 80's, it was unheard of for the radio hosts to hawk their books on the air. One host who did that was Dr. Toni Grant, who was fired from at least three stations (KFI, KRLA, and one in Texas) for doing that in the 90's. Now they all do it to some degree. Mark Levin is by far the worst and for five months he has spent 90% of his show reading from and hawking his latest book. 

“Why do the syndicators allow that … is that part of the hosts' compensation? And why do the affiliates put up with it?” — Judd Silver

Easy one: money, and lack of caring.

An unfortunate side-effect of the modern radio model is a singular focus on easy money. It takes time to develop a program, let alone a full format, so many stations rely on free (where the show is provided at no cost to a station in exchange for the show being able to sell some of the commercial time) or even paid programming (where the host or distributor pays to have the programming carried by a station) to make ends meet.

It isn’t the best quality, but it’s cheap. Many talk programs heard in the evening or on weekends are paid programming, many syndicated programs get placed for the advertising agreement. Stations with small budgets or operating losses can thus carry programming, even if it isn’t the best.

Now I have no clue as to the financial agreement the hosts you mention had or have with any stations. But because the programming is no longer under the direction of a local program director or owner, the content of the show can be passed off as being the responsibility of the show provider. And that allows exactly what you are witnessing, and it is something I think is not helping radio maintain listeners.

Radio Waves Podcast #311

 Radio: September 17, 2021

KOST (103.5 FM) morning personality Ellen K has been selected to host the annual 2xU Malibu Triathlon to be held at Zuma Beach in Malibu on September 25th and 26th.

The event is sponsored by Bank of America and brings together triathletes of all levels who compete to support the Pediatric Cancer Research Program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Participants come from around the country and include professional athletes, Hollywood celebrities, amateurs and what the organizers call “challenged athletes” to race on what many consider one of the most beautiful courses in the sport of triathlon.

This year the event is expecting to include Super League Triathlon athletes and recent Tokyo Olympic triathlon medalists Flora Duffy, Georgia Taylor-Brown, and Katie Zaferes. Celebrities will include Chace Crawford, Eric Etebari, Daniela Ruah, Sean Dominic, and Alexi Papas … and many more. For a full list of celebrities and professional athletes who are participating, go to https://malibutri.com/celebrity-division.  You can be there too, either as a competitor or spectator … go to https://malibutri.com for information and to register.

Ellen K has been a longtime supporter of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and is even a CHLA Foundation Board of Trustees member. The annual broadcast has helped raise more than $650,000 for CHLA .

Banana Joe Passes

Cable television Game Show Network’s David Schwartz — formerly with the late-great original KRLA (now KRDC 1110 AM) — broke the news locally that Banana Joe Montione passed away on September 11 at the age of 67.

Natural causes is the official reason, though that seems way too young for my 58-year old soul. Regardless, if you  were listening to KHJ (930 AM) during the famous “miracle” that via great programming and a top-notch staff on the air and off brought the station back to greatness, you would have heard him: Banana Joe was an instrumental part of that resurgence.

Then-programmer Chuck Martin recently spoke of Montione on KHJ, stating that he was exactly what the station needed on the air - someone young, upbeat and hip. Unfortunately, personal issues caused Montione to leave the station, something that Martin still feels badly about today, fully 42 years after the separation. Yet in spite of letting him go, “we remained good friends throughout the years,” Martin said.

After leaving KHJ, Montione eventually became a station owner along with an investment group that purchased a station in York, Pennsylvania, and another soon after in Pittston, Pennsylvania. He held them for a few years, then sold them in 1988 to get his production company off the ground, launching the syndicated Banana Joe Flashback Show in 1991 that ran on KIIS-FM (102.7) locally. 

In 2003 he formed the Banana Joe Radio Group, and launched an internet station soon after called FlashbackTop40.Com, a version of which has been syndicated to a handful stations across the country. He called the format, consisting of hits from the 1970s through the ‘90s with a top-40 sound, “a modern version of the great top-40 radio sound so dominant during the eras we cover.”

Through the years of this column I conversed with him occasionally, and he was always upbeat and sounded just as I remember him on KHJ. Even though he hasn’t been on the air here in many years, he will be missed.

Titanic Limits

The National Association of Broadcasters is trying to convince Congress and the FCC to allow even more stations to be owned by even fewer companies than is currently allowed — including total abolishment of ownership caps in some cases. This means that one company could own every AM station in a city, as but one example, depending on circumstances.

Considering how poorly the radio industry has fared under deregulation, the NAB’s position is akin to thinking that the Titanic would not have sunk had it only hit more icebergs.

Radio Waves Podcast #310

 This LA radio station is doing something that no other is doing right now

Bilingual Latin pop station KLLI (Cali 93.9 FM) has gone with an on-air lineup solely of women on the air for much of its schedule. All daytime shifts are now held by women, and the station claims it is the first time this has ever been done in the history of Los Angeles radio.

Well, not quite. KOST has had an all-women air staff for a while now. But as KOST afternoon personality Sandy Stec broadcasts her show from a studio in San Francisco, Cali does seem to be the first all-female air staff broadcasting locally. (Stations have been using distance broadcasting for a while now – half of the former teams of Kevin and Bean and Mark and Brian Show were beaming in from thousands of miles away.)

Regardless, it wasn’t that long ago that having just one female DJ was unusual, so I understand Cali’s excitement. Angelica Vale starts the day at 6 a.m., followed at 10:00 by Caro Marquez, and Melissa Rios from 3 – 7.

Moreover, in this era of negativity, Cali stands out by trying to be as uplifting on the air as possible. “We’re just getting started,” said General Manager Irma Barrios, who is proud of the success the station has seen thus far. “And it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Long-distance local?

When the FCC realized that local communities were being left behind in the post-deregulation era of radio, it began licensing low-powered stations designed to super-serve those same communities. And while not perfect, the idea is not only sound but needed. Indeed, the major broadcasters often don’t even have a local studio anymore, and programming is often done from cities thousands of miles away.

But what happens when the low-powered community stations are themselves run from a city thousands of miles away? We’re finding out right now right here, as KLBP-LP (99.1 FM if you are near Long Beach; online at klbp.org) General Manager Rose Lozon announced on her Instagram that she’s been in Philadelphia for a while now.

“So the cat’s out of the bag … We moved to Philadelphia, intuitively following some opportunities,” she announced. “I love the culture, the activism, the food, the nature, the people … and I’m just really so truly happy.”

She hasn’t resigned from her post as GM of the LPFM community station she runs, at least yet. In her Instagram message, she writes that October is when she plans to do so, though she plans to stay on as an advisor.

Considering the spirit of what a local station is and should be, I hope the next GM is a member of the community.

Country Guest

Superstar Jason Aldean has taken over the midday shift on Go Country (105.1 FM) for the month of September. Weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Aldean can be heard spinning the tunes along with friends Hardy and Lainey Wilson, both of whom are part of Aldean’s Back in the Saddle tour of concerts. The guest shift runs through September 24th.

Letter of the Month

In response to my column last week regarding how to get young listeners back to radio, I received this from reader Mark Bradley:“I have 5 kids in their 20’s and 30’s. They have Spotify, so they don’t need radio…The problem is a lack of good new musicians. You don’t get it.”

Actually, I do get it, and you do, too: They are listening to Spotify because radio doesn’t play what they want; that was exactly my point. The sad thing is that programmers don’t get it. I just don’t understand why they don’t remember history. The story is that in the 1960s, Tom Donahue actually reached out to stations that had disconnected numbers — the ones having financial issues — and they were the ones he would pitch his format to — the very format that helped put FM radio on the map, and helped make FM eventually be the dominate radio band.

Why stations that are essentially losing money — and make no mistake, they are — don’t just try something different is beyond me. And beyond stupid. Radio needs young people to survive.

Of course maybe if they keep going the way they are, I will indeed get to buy my own station, once the value is about $10 total …

Radio Waves Podcast #309

 Radio: September 3, 2021

            Radio’s Future Problem

            Besides writing about what I love - radio - I also teach high school math classes. This year I teach two sections of statistics, and as an introductory lesson I had my students create a set of questions for a survey. There were few rules, as it were, as I wanted them to discover for themselves the basics of what makes a good survey question.

            As an example, I did my own basic survey and asked the students — all juniors and seniors — if they listen to the radio. To my shock, not one did. Two classes, with an enrollment of 39 students each, had not one person who stated that they listen to the radio.

            Now, as any statistician knows, these two classes are not necessarily representative of the world at large. Certainly there are young adults who do indeed listen, but the fact that none here do is a problem nonetheless.

            So I asked why, and I asked others including the guitarist of local band Law, which had just come back from playing a show in Ventura. The responses were surprisingly similar: in general, radio stations don’t play anything that appeals to them.

            This, of course, is not news to me. You may remember my AM Improvement column a while back in which I would use high school and college students to help me program my station by finding what they like, what they listen to on streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music, along with what they find entertaining on YouTube, TikTok, and the like. I’d even hire teens and young adults to both consult and work on the air, and get them out into the community to serve as station ambassadors.

            My ideas are not new by any means … that was the game plan for top-40 stations years ago. But somehow this has all been lost in the modern era, when most local stations don’t even have local DJs on the air all day, if they have local DJs at all. And don’t get me started on contests that are run nationally, such that the chance of anyone in Southern California actually winning are lower than winning the lottery.

            The problem is, it’s not being done …  so young listeners - radio’s future - are being pushed away to the competition. If something doesn’t happen soon, it’s all over… meaning that radio could be dead within one generation.

            What can be done? Stop marketing solely to old folks like me. Or better yet, stop assuming that even someone as old as I am (58) only wants to hear the same music I heard in my high school days. Here’s a clue: I don’t. I like new music. I don’t like knowing every song I hear. But like Law’s guitarist Aidan Palacios explained, “unless you like oldies or one type of pop, you are not going to find anything of interest on the radio today.” Country music excepted.

            The great thing is, young people aren’t truly averse to radio listening if they found something of interest. They don’t shun radio because it’s old technology, as so many experts say. They just want to hear something designed for them. So rather than this being a doomsday message, this is actually a message of hope. All it would take is a local owner to start the trend. Now to get that trend started …

            Mailbag

            “I lived in Southern California for 26 years, moving to Arizona 14 years ago. I continue to listen to John & Ken, John Phillips, and Frank Mottek on-line. I do visit SoCal four times a year.

            “AM sounds so tinny compared to online and KFI on KOST-HD2 has dropouts on the 405 around the  Sepulveda Pass and into Ventura County and as you know, on the FM HD2 it doesn't revert to the analog signal. I listen to both KFI and KABC thru the iHeart app and it does a good job of integrating online ads with the program content. So even if I still lived in Simi Valley, I'm sure I would listen mostly online (especially KABC).” — Bob Bartholomew, Yuma, Arizona

            That’s what I’ve found. The extra HD streams on FM drop out way too much to the point of annoyance, while streaming tends to work well in most areas. 

            “Thanks for bringing up 88.5 Not enough people know about this wonderful station. Good Job.” — William Dunaway

            Thank you. I am trying to promote good radio, so if you know of something I miss, please let me know.

            “I love reading your weekend articles, sure brings back a lot of good memories. Back in the late Sixties I remember my Mother always listening to a radio program daily and I believe it was the Bill Balance Show. Do  you remember that by chance?  — Randy Miera

            Absolutely! In fact, I interviewed him years ago for the short-lived RadioGuide Magazine. He started in town playing top-40 music, but eventually became even more famous for his Feminine Forum, which brought huge ratings and success to KGBS (now KTNQ, 1020 AM) and later KFMB/San Diego. His best segments ended up on top-selling records, and he even released books giving relationship advice. All with a comedic twist. 

Radio Waves Podcast #308

 Radio: August 27, 2021

Low-power FM radio stations are tough to come by in Southern California. Not that there is no interest in launching them, and not that there actually aren’t any. The problem is that commercial stations in San Diego, Riverside, Orange, Los Angeles, and even Santa Barbara counties fill every available frequency, and the weather often allows the commercial stations to cover vast areas … meaning that supposedly distant stations can overpower the low-power FM station even it’s licensed area.

Add to that the fact that the LPFMs, as they are called, cannot run commercial advertisements, and you have a situation where a hard-to-find station usually cannot support a budget allowing it to get the word out on its existence.

Of course the whole idea of LPFMs only came about because the FCC allowed the educational band of full-powered stations to stray from its intent of serving local communities, along with allowing huge conglomerates to take control of the rest of the band such that few stations program to a local audience. But I digress.

As I said, though, there are a few LPFMs around. Among them is one I just discovered, quite by accident, due in part to the odd weather conditions near my house.

I happened to be testing out my “new” car stereo — a Kenwood removed from my wife’s car — when I happened upon a station at 90.3 FM. Of course I know 90.3, and you may as well. It’s XHITZ, broadcasting from just South of the border with a transmitter in Tijuana, Mexico. I used to listen long ago when it was a good rock station, with such DJs as Bill Hergonson.

But this time I wasn’t hearing top-40 music as the station now plays. It was oldies, primarily from the 1960s, along with some old-school from the ‘70s and ‘80s. And I wasn’t hearing commercials. Did XHITZ change into something different? Then I heard the top-of-the-hour ID: KLIE/Fountain Valley: Radio Suerte.

It’s apparently not a new station, as it received special recognition from the United States Congress in 2019 even though RadioLocator.com says the license was granted in January of 2021. Either way it is new to me, primarily due to atmospheric conditions that blocked XHITZ and allowed its 90-watts of power to reach me as I was driving around upper San Pedro last weekend.

The station is bilingual, English and Spanish, but the music is the language it speaks. Songs — and occasionally versions of songs — you haven’t heard for a while are the stars. Station CEO Maria Luisa Luna puts it this way, as an introduction of the station website (radiosuerte.com): “Radio Suerte is like no other station you have heard. We are the first bilingual station bringing you golden hits, playing jewels from the 60's - 70's -80's and 90's. We pride ourselves in playing music the whole family can hear.”

I wouldn’t be surprised if Maria grew up with the original KRLA (now KRDC, 1110 AM) or even the Chuck Martin-programmed KHJ (930 AM) circa 1979-80, which did the same thing. KRLA in particular, when the legendary Art Laboe was involved, created a format often listened to by multiple generations in families.

The station is downright fun. And you can hear it at radiosuerte.com by clicking on the player link on the main page.

HD Update

HD Radio, the digital radio broadcasting system authorized in the United States, had its genesis as a way to improve the sound of AM radio. Yet the state of HD on AM is dismal, at least in Southern California. While almost every FM station in town uses HD to add extra channels (that they rarely promote) and hopefully improve fidelity if heard over an HD Radio tuner, there are only two HD AM stations left that I know of — KBRT (740 AM) and KMZT (1260 AM).

Why did KFI (640 AM), KABC (790 AM), KFWB (980 AM), and KNX (1070 AM) turn off the HD? A KFI spokesperson told me it had to do with a listener in the fringe reception areas annoyed by the drastic sound change when the station switched between analog and HD. I’m not sure about the other stations, but for those of us with HD Radios, it is unfortunate - the sound quality and lack of background noise is striking compared with typical analog.

But perhaps it doesn’t matter, as the future of AM radio — or perhaps radio in general — may be online. Between online internet access, smartphone apps, smart speakers and the like, the value of HD on AM or even FM is somewhat diminished. AM stations sound great via apps, and you can listen to distant stations with ease. 

I’m not ready to say AM and FM over the regular airwaves are dead, but it’s an interesting thought. What are your views?

Tuna on the AM and FM

Charlie Tuna from August 23, 1976 is the star of KIIS AM and FM on a recent MixCloud addition. The short segment features a full newscast, and a reminder that the station was not known as “kiss” back then … it was still K-double I-S, including the jingles that have a groovy soul-full “AM and FM” vocal a part of the package. Also included: a montage of Neil Diamond songs that the station custom assembled. Tuna, as always, sounds great … though he isn’t heard nearly enough.

Hear it at https://www.mixcloud.com/retroradiojoe/kiis-fm-los-angeles-charlie-tuna-8-23-1976/

Radio Waves Podcast #307

 Radio: August 20, 2021

The tremendously accurate recreation of Mellow Sound KNX-FM (now KCBS-FM, 93.1) that was so popular in the 1970s and part of the ‘80s — KNXFM93.com — has another special in store.

Saturday at 5 p.m. and again Sunday at 12 noon (Pacific time), the popular internet station will present 90 minutes of Linda Ronstadt recorded live “over space and time,” says station spokesman and producer Douglas Brown. What he means is that it’s not one concert on one date but a combination of her best performances — and those of some of her friends — recorded over the years and in different venues. Perhaps you were at some of the concerts yourself.

It’s another of the station’s “In Concert” series, and it’s available only inline via the internet, your smartphone using a radio app, or your smart speaker when you say tell Siri, Google or Alexa to “play knxfm93 on TuneIn Radio.”

If you haven’t sampled it yet, by the way, you owe it to yourself to do so. The music mix is huge, and the presentation is top-notch, from the jingles, to the announcements, to the all-new Odyssey File. If you weren’t paying attention to the fact that they run no commercials, you’d swear you were hearing the original KNX-FM. 

Honestly,  I am not sure why someone doesn’t put the format on the traditional radio airwaves. 

DJ Denning

Country artist Travis Denning is performing October 12th at the Greek Theater as part of the Brothers Osborne “We’re Not For Everyone” tour. In celebration, Go Country 105 (105.1 FM) is giving away tickets all this month and giving Denning control of the Go Country airwaves weekdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through the end of the month as the August mid-day guest host.

The station is also giving away tickets to the concert, which are actually possible to win being that the contest is for local listeners, not nationwide like so many cheap discount huge corporate-owned competing stations. You know which stations I mean … 

Speaking of Go Country, station owner Saul Levine is a huge lover of animals and has spent many years promoting and supporting the adoption of shelter animals. He and the station promote the adoptions right on the website, GoCountry105.com.

Valley Fest

Independent 88.5 FM invites you to join them for an evening of great food, fun, and live entertainment as you support local small businesses. It’s called The Valley Fest, and it will be held on Saturday, August 28th from 5 - 10 p.m.

The station calls it an assembly of “hidden gems,” featuring food, brewers, artists, creators, and entertainers. Registration needs to be done through Eventbrite; find information and a link to register at the station website, 885fm.org. The event is sponsored by 88.5 FM, The 818 Insider, and Westfield Topanga and the Village

What is 88.5, you ask? Quite simply a hidden gem itself. Over the air, I think the signal reaches about 27 people … maybe 28. But you can listen online at the website or via your smartphone or smart speaker. One of the few stations that plays new music and new artists, albeit on the adult alternative light-rock side. Definitely worth searching out. It is a service of Cal State Northridge and Saddleback College.

Takeover

Want your 15 minutes of fame? Want to be on KIIS-FM (102.7)? Get both by nominating yourself for Takeover Tuesdays, winners are announced Tuesdays at 2 PM.

Shy? Nominate your friend. Sketchy details are at kiisfm.com.

Radio Waves Podcast #306

 Radio: August 13, 2021

AllAccess.com broke the news that Garry Meier — perhaps best known for his many years paired with Steve Dahl on WLS, WLUP and WLUP-FM in Chicago — has started hosting a new show on KABC (790 AM) Sunday nights at 10:00.

As half of the Steve and Garry Show on WLUP, Meier was part of the WLUP Disco Demolition Night held in July of 1979 which was originally conceived as a publicity stunt for the station to “end disco once and for all.” What ended up happening is that the event, held between games of a doubleheader between the Chicago White Sox and the visiting Detroit Tigers, got out of hand when fans stormed the field after the records were blown up, and refused to leave. The second game of the day was first postponed and later ruled a forfeit win for the Tigers.

It was perhaps one of the most notorious radio events of the decade, with news coverage all across the country.

A member of the Chicago Radio Hall of Fame, Meier’s one-hour program  is a lighthearted look at the news and current events … no particular topic is to be discussed or not discussed. The program is also available as a podcast on the KABC.com website.

Speaking of KABC

The station is placing the daily 1 p.m. Doctor Hour — among the highest-rated hours of its broadcast day — on hiatus, “officially” in order to devote time to covering the issues behind the recall of Gavin Newsom. The hour — one third of John Philip’s noon - 3 p.m. weekday program (formerly) airing at 1:00 — is expected to return after the election.

But it won’t necessarily return with Dr. Kelly Victory, the primary and most popular guest on the segment and someone who has been with the station for almost seven years as the go-to expert when public health issues arise. For the past year and a half, Victory has been on the air almost daily weekdays taking calls and answering questions for all things Covid-19.

“After 18 months of donating my time, five days a week, to be the voice of calm and reason on KABC, they called me recently and said they are canceling the hour. They are ‘worried about any negative information about the vaccines.’”

Part of that worry is a corporate culture that lives at the major mega-corp radio companies like KABC owner Cumulus. Cumulus talk host Phil Valentine, heard on 30 affiliates nationwide, was an outspoken anti-vaccine proponent until he became ill with Covid-19 and was placed on a ventilator in late July. The worry, says observers, is listener or regulatory backlash due to the nature of the discussions and public policy.

That’s a bit hard to understand in this case, though. Victory is far from anti-vaccine, though she believes in presenting information and letting people make the risk-benefit decision themselves. She thinks that is exactly the problem.

“I always present a balanced view when I do these segments, whether on KABC or elsewhere,” says Victory, an emergency trauma expert and public health specialist. Part of her expertise is on disaster preparedness and response. “If I can’t speak the truth, then my job is over,” she told me, adding that she always strives to be calm, balanced and measured.

“You can’t make good decisions out of fear,” Kelly said.

Her decision right now is to seek out a different platform to help spread accurate information and help people make informed decisions. “My mission hasn’t changed.” But it does apparently signal a split from KABC, with Kelly stating that she won’t return unless she gets a guarantee that she can say what she believes as truth. My hunch is that she’ll return to the local airwaves, but on a different station. “I’m not going to sign up to be censored.”

“Virtue untested is no virtue at all,” Kelly told me, reflecting on what she feels is the station dropping the segment due to perceived pressure from outside. “I broadcast from the ICU when I was in the hospital – as a patient, rearranged flights and travel plans to accommodate the show, and was on the air almost every day for 18 months — as a volunteer — just to help people out.”

It’s unfortunate, as the doctor hour is definitely one of the best hours on the radio. Hopefully it will be back on the air sooner than later. Somewhere.

Letterbag

“I'm a dedicated listener to Swing Time and I can't find any information about why Johnny Magnus will no longer be hosting. Can you enlighten me?” — Frank Coffey

“Good morning from West Hills!! Did Johnny Magnus leave… there’s a new guy on the air this morning!” — John Del Gatto

“Do you know what happened to Johnny Magnus on K-Jazz?  I don't understand why DJ changes are so secretive.” —  Alex Nigian

It appears to just be a change, with longtime radio personality and programmer Chuck Southcott taking over the Swing Time program from former host Johnny Magnus. Like Magnus, Southcott is an expert on the genre, and can be heard from 7-10 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays on KKJZ (88.1 FM). Southcott tells me he loves playing the music once again. 

I am told that the health of Magnus is not an issue. 

“I have been searching the airwaves for a station to take the place of 1260AM when classical music replaced the oldies.  I found it at 88.1 FM coming out of  Cal State University at Long Beach.  They play some jazz and a good mix other stuff and very little talk.  Love it!” — Katherine Samuelsen

Interesting replacement, aside from the difference in music. Saul Levine of 1260 also runs 88.1 — they even use his studios in West LA for the programming.

By the way, the oldies formerly found on 1260 AM can still be heard at LAOldies.com, as well as via phone apps and smart speakers, and on HD radios (KKGO HD2).

Radio Waves Podcast #305

 Kevin Ryder responds to KROQ column, talks connection to listeners of the World Famous 106.7

The mail was almost 100% in agreement with my commentary last week on KROQ’s (106.7 FM) has-been status. Only one letter disagreed, and it pointed to a website of supposed radio insiders who disagreed. I am absolutely wrong, they all said.

I know them well. I call them the corporate radio apologists. They will defend to the death what iHeart, Audacy and Cumulus have done to radio, which is to send listeners to alternative sources such as Apple Music and Spotify, make radio a background entertainment service minimizing ad rates and station value, and, in general, make radio less important in the lives of people.

You, on the other hand, said this:

“Unfortunately the state of radio is more concerned with the bottom line instead of evolving a brand into the tech era. “ — Don A

“You nailed it. Good job. It's about time.” — Max Tolkoff

“Been listening to KROQ since their AM days. Regarding your brief article, they let go of all their talent. I could list them but you know who they are starting with Ralph and Lisa. I finally cut the cord and now listen to KLOS. Feels like the old days with Kevin Ryder and other familiar voices. I love Heidi and Frank. Feels like the old days just with (expletive deleted) music, but that's what my music library is for.” — Scott W

Kevin Ryder, who spent 30 years waking up Los Angeles on the Kevin and Bean morning show on KROQ — and currently heard doing afternoons on KLOS (95.5 FM) as half of Kevin and Sluggo — agreed with my analysis.

“I didn’t understand the level of connection that you can have with listeners. I had no idea,” Ryder told me recently on the LARadiowaves podcast. “Until probably 12 or 13 years into doing the morning show on KROQ, did I realize, people are really invested in this, and invested in me as a person,” later explaining that “the problem I think is there are so few huge corporations that own so many radio stations … and I just think that they have miscalculated that connection, many different times.

“It’s a real connection … and it’s the connection that they don’t understand.” Ryder's former partner, Gene "Bean" Baxter chimed in on Twitter as well, saying "I'm sad to see what it's become."

There were more letters (and more of the interview with Ryder at LARadiowaves.com where he talks about KROQ, radio people and his new gig at KLOS), but the idea is there. I just don’t see any real progress until KROQ is either independent again, or Audacy let’s the local creative juices flow. National and regional programming just doesn’t cut it.

No Rush

There was always a bit of mystery surrounding the success of radio talk host Rush Limbaugh, who passed away this past February 17th. Not that there should have been, but there most definitely was: to this day, few seem to understand what made him successful.

Yes, I know there are those who will analyze the show and say that it was his conservative views presented in a liberal-dominated media world. I've said it before but this absolutely misses the real reason he was popular. And the lesson not learned is the reason that so many competitors on all sides of the political spectrum have missed the boat … few conservatives ever matched his success, and liberal Air America failed miserably.

What made Limbaugh tick was that he was an entertainer first, political talker second. There were times his show segment didn’t even feature politics at all, with football being his main diversion. The point is that he was fun. And while I am sure to get a ton of hate mail (mostly from those who never heard his show), it is an absolute fact. Especially in his early days, it was not just conservatives who listened. He didn’t insult listeners who disagreed; he embraced them. In the political arena, he was friends from the full spectrum of politics.

I bring this up now because I’ve been sampling his supposed replacements, Dan Bongino — heard locally from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on KABC (790 AM) — and (Clay) Travis and (Buck) Sexton — heard locally on KEIB (1150 AM).

Both shows are fine, for what they are: political commentary mixed in with interviews of political leaders. But they are not Limbaugh … they are the equivalent to the shows that ran on many stations that carried Limbaugh, and were just there to fill space on the hours Limbaugh was not broadcasting himself.

That doesn’t mean they are bad, and it doesn’t mean they can’t become something better. But when I listen, I cannot get past the preaching to the choir feeling that was never there with Limbaugh. They are informative, and of course similarly biased … but lacking the fun.

Part of that fun came from Limbaugh’s first jobs in radio: playing top-40 music. He honed his craft making the most of his limited time in between the records, and as my RadioWaves podcast partner Mike Stark always says, it is what is between the records that counts.

Limbaugh didn’t bring people back to the AM band and launch a talk-radio revolution by sounding like everyone else, and he never did sound like everyone else. Bongino, Travis and Sexton need to think about what they are doing and make their shows not only more entertaining, but present their views in such a way that they, too, can attract those who may disagree but are willing to listen to views other than their own.

I just don’t see that right now. But they can do it. And should.

Richard Wagoner is a San Pedro freelance columnist. Email rwagoner@socalradiowaves.com

Radio Waves Podcast #304

Special guest Kevin Ryder formerly of "Kevin & Bean" on KROQ - now "Kevin & Sluggo" on KLOS

Radio: June 25, 2021

By now you probably know that KROQ (106.7 FM) is in trouble. The once trend-setting station that helped put New Wave on the map and helped create the eventual “alternative” format in radio has seen better days, to say the least. Most recently, while ratings edged up slightly in May to 2.2 from April’s 2.0, the fact is that since the beginning of the year KROQ has been beaten in the ratings every month by Alt 98.7 … in two months by a full point.

There are numerous reasons for this, not the least of which is that the station is owned by Audacy, a company so desperately trying to stay afloat under massive debt that it no longer has local personalities or local programming for numerous formats they run nationwide … including alternative, which means KROQ is hobbled by upper management.

Oh, sure, you could make the station perhaps slightly more successful than it is now if you get the music mix just right, have the right promotions, and maybe do something to knock Alt off the air. But the fact remains that KROQ was KROQ precisely because it was Los Angeles. You can’t do KROQ unless you make it its own.

Students of local radio history have seen this exact thing before. No one outside of former programmer Sam Bellamy, former General Manager David Moorhead, and a handful of others understood what made KMET tick in the late 1970s when they dominated their format. When Bellamy was let go and management got lazy, it was KROQ itself that did the Mighty Met in. And they did it by beating KMET at its own game - playing the right music for Los Angeles, finding the right attitude in the personalities, and being a part of a new wave (no pun intended) of music and listeners … made for Southern California.

KROQ today? Meh.

The music is programmed nationally. Most of the personalities are broadcasting from here, but are syndicated as well. The remaining come from other cities. This is just a national version of an alternative format, sounding exactly like you would hear in Portland. Or New York. Or wherever. 

Definitely not Los Angeles. Nor Southern California. And no one cares any more, including listeners who at one time were among radio’s most passionate.

So excuse my lack of enthusiasm for the search currently in progress for the “solid, strong anchor for the morning show on this legendary radio station” as was posted on consultant Steve Reynolds’ Facebook page. Reynolds is helping with the search from his home base in Raleigh, North Carolina.

“Know how to build a great culture and do spectacular radio?” He continued. “You super talented, have a great attitude, and ready to do the work that'll make you an even bigger superstar in the industry?  DM me any names (yours or others, even if they're working).  This is freakin' KROQ, folks.”

Except that it isn’t. For all intents and purposes, KROQ is dead, and will remain so as long as it is part of Audacy. It isn’t the morning show that is the problem — the station had great talent there with Ted Stryker … at least until they removed him from mornings. But a replacement won’t make a bit of difference until KROQ is freed from the restraints given by overpaid, useless upper managers and a CEO who don’t “get” radio. KROQ cannot be KROQ when it has to play everywhere. It just sounds canned. Predictable.

When was the last time you listened to KROQ? See my point?

New Talker

After months of anticipation, KBLA (1580 AM) has launched its new talk format with an all-new lineup of hosts.

Weekdays from 6 to 9 a.m., it’s First Things First with Dominique Diprima, described as news and commentary from a uniquely different perspective. Following DiPrima at 9:00 is station owner Tavis Smiley with “insightful conversations with thought leaders, opinion makers, celebrities, authors and artists.”

At 12 noon Middays with Danny Morrison presents a community-centered program from “a politically astute, socially conscious, unapologetically opinionated, call to action warrior.” D.L. Hughley lightens afternoons somewhat from 2-4 with a “no hold barred ride of reality and humor.” At 4:00 every weekday afternoon, Alonzo Boded asks “Who’s Paying Attention?” As he attempts to root out the truth in an entertaining fashion.

At 7 p.m., Dr. Jeshana Johnson gets to the heart of relationships on Let’s Get Intimate … something particularly important as we re-enter life after the pandemic. Finally at 9:00, Don Amiche Vs. Everybody + Crysta and Kiara bringing “the other side of news, politics, pop culture, and life.” Repeats and best-of segments will air on the station between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m.

Using the branding of “unapologetically progressive,” the station launched on Saturday June 19th — Juneteenth — with a sort of sneak preview; the official format began this past Monday June 21st. Give it a listen and tell me what you think.

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