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.