Radio Waves Podcast #74

It was over a decade ago -- 2002, to be exact -- that the FCC selected Ibiquity Digital Corporation’s HD Radio as the only digital broadcasting system allowed in the United States. In those 13 years a lot has changed in the world. But one thing has remained relatively constant: most people still don’t know what HD Radio is, and even fewer know if they want an HD Radio receiver.

For the uninitiated, HD Radio is the brand name for a system that sends one or more digital streams right next to the analog signal received by traditional radios. Because it is sent in the assigned channel of a particular AM or FM station, it is considered “in band, on channel” ... though the system’s detractors will point to interference caused by the digital signal’s “splatter” as proof that it isn’t quite as on-channel as fans suggest.

I own an HD radio. In fact I own a few, both in the house and my truck. Home radios are all but impossible to find now -- at least without spending big bucks, but the availability of car radios is exploding due to the system’s inclusion on many factory stereos as well as aftermarket units from companies like Alpine, Sony, Kenwood, JVC and Pioneer.

Most people actually discover HD Radio by accident when their factory stereo suddenly makes their favorite AM station sound better than they are used to hearing ... at least if their favorite AM station broadcasts in HD.

The original intent of HD was to make AM sound better and FM sound phenomenal. Along the way, National Public Radio had another idea: multiple stations on the same frequency (FM only; AM is limited to the primary signal due to small channel spacing). So most FM stations take route two ... multicasting. It lowers the potential sound quality but can still sound good to most people. And the extra stations can add more choices to your daily drive.

 

It works like this: tune to an FM station; wait for the digital signal to lock, and then tune up a channel ... formerly “hidden” stations will appear. Such as:

K-Beach, the student-run radio station broadcasting out of Cal State University Long Beach and carried digitally via KJAZ (88.1 FM). Officially the K-Beach signal is found on KJAZ 88.1 HD3, the third digital stream on the frequency. This station plays student and local volunteer shows with a variety of interests including music, talk and sports; it’s morning program “Mornings on the Beach” (9-10 weekday mornings) features Golden Mike winning “Hi-Definition News;” my favorite musical program is Even Richard Steven’s “Classic Hits at the Beach” Mondays from 3-4 PM.

Speaking of classic hits, while KRTH (101.1 FM) plays primarily music from the 1980s, K-Earth Classics on 101.1 HD2 still plays those songs you love from the 1960s. A few from the ‘50s and ‘70s as well. And nary a commercial to be found.

Remember when KROQ (106.7 FM) was on the cutting edge of music? Relive those days -- including some of the original DJs -- via “Roq of the ‘80s” on 106.7 HD2. Programmed locally by Freddie Snakeskin, this is one of the few corporate HD stations run like a real station ... DJs, ads (though few) and great music. Thus it is also one of the most successful HD stations in America.

Love classical music? Want an alternative to KUSC (91.5 FM)? Then KKGO 105.1 HD2 is your “go to” station. It is a simulcast of K-Mozart (1260 AM) in very full fidelity.

Can’t figure out what KTWV (94.7 FM) is playing this week? Tune into 94.7 HD2 and hear what The Wave once was: smooth jazz. Very relaxing. Very hip. For ten years ago at least.

And that’s just a sample -- stations up and down the FM dial broadcast multiple HD streams. The problem is that no station properly promotes itself to begin with, and they don’t promote their HD streams at all. No wonder more than a decade has passed since approval and most people still don’t know what HD Radio is.

Which is too bad. Radio has the potential to reinvent itself, and feature formats that are not necessarily mass appeal but could still attract a dedicated audience. Formats like those above along with big bands and adult standards (Chuck Southcott and Brad Chambers: we need you on an HD signal in town) would sell HD radios AND whatever product advertisers wanted to sell. 

I wonder why radio station owners are so afraid to promote this correctly? Or at all?

Radio Waves Podcast #73

It’s been years since anyone paid attention to KLAC (570 AM). So long ago that many forgot that the station used to play music ... like most AM stations, music is the last format that attracted an audience large enough to be meaningful. In the case of KLAC, it was adult standards that immediately followed country.

 

But that was a long time ago. For the past decade or so KLAC has been sports. Not that anyone cares. Outside of the entertaining Petros and Money Show in the afternoon, none of the shows have been noteworthy. And the ratings have reflected that for seemingly ever ... such as in the most recent Nielsen Ratings that has KLAC at a 0.5 share of the audience. Put into perspective, if you combine the ratings of all the sports stations in town -- KLAC, KLAA (830 AM), KSPN (710 AM) and KFWB (980 AM) -- you have a 1.8 share of the audience ... good for 24th place. Combined.

Time was when you had a SINGLE station with signals as strong as these you’d be looking to change formats. 

But all that’s about to change ... owner iHeartRadio, formerly known as Clear Channel, has the answer. KLAC as we know it is gone. In it’s place: AM 570 LA Sports.

What’s new? Get this ... a brand new logo! A couple new shows, too. Oh, and did I mention the brand-new logo? It’s a really nice logo.

The day starts with Dan Patrick 6 to 9 a.m., followed by the all-new “LA Today” with Bill Reiter and Leann Tweeden from 9 a.m. to noon. Jay Mohr follows until 3:00, at which time Petros and Money take over.

Highlighting the co-ownership of the station with the Los Angeles Dodgers, “Dodger Talk” featuring David Vassegh and Kevin Kennedy will air every night all year long at 7 p.m., or following the Dodgers games when they are playing.

Letterbag

“Your  report should of been about how iHeart Radio changed nice family station Hot 92.3 from a station with loved DJs such as Art Laboe, who is a legend here in Los Angeles, honored by Angelinos ...  to a vulgar, thuggish, no class or respect station. This is a travesty. Our Latino culture was kicked to the curb ... total discrimination ... for a station that totally glorifies  thugs, drugs, and vulgarity. Sick. And Big Boy was totally in on it; he already had a million dollar job he walked out on, for 3.mill, knowing his fellow DJ's would be kicked to the curb. Los Angeles lost a fabulous station ... for a group of greedy low lifes.” -- Dorothy Ortega

I’ve gotten emails and read posts on Facebook stating pretty much the same thing. Losing Hot is particularly tough for fans because there is no replacement: no other station in town plays the same music. If you live in the right area you can hear old school -- and Art Laboe, whose syndicated show moved after Hot changed formats -- on KQIE/Riverside (104.7 FM). 

Of course what I really want is for Laboe to bring back the original 1110 KRLA (now KDIS, 1110 AM) and program the tunes as he did in the 1970s and early ‘80s. KRLA was the original old school station ... with ties to East LA going back decades. But that’s just me living in the past again.

“How do I go about letting KABC (790 AM) know that they did not make a good choice in replacing Brian Suits with Judge Christina Perez? While she appears to know her legal stuff, her voice -- which is all soft and sweet -- is annoying to listen to speaking about such heavy duty matters. Does anyone else feel the way I do? I change the station to KFI (640 AM) from the 9-10 a.m. spot when I am in the car during morning drive.” -- Fern Reisner 

No, you are not the only one. I’ve received a few letters such as yours, along with quite a few asking where they can find Suits (short answer: I cannot find him either). My hunch: I’m not expecting the show to last. 

Rumor Mill

John Phillips is on the short list to become the new host of the syndicated Red Eye Radio, to replace Greg Gutfeld. I unfortunately have not been able to catch Phillips to get his thoughts ... we keep missing each other. Next week, I should have the scoop. 

Radio Waves Podcast #72

The Los Angeles Superior Court lifted a temporary restraining order that prevented Kurt “Big Boy” Alexander from joining the air staff of the new Real 92.3 (KRRL). Emmis Broadcasting had sought the order and a preliminary injunction (denied by the court) after Alexander left Power 106 to join iHeartMedia’s Real.

Emmis’ position was that they had the final right of refusal as well as the ability to meet any offer made by competitors. They also stated that they had invested heavily in Alexander, in effect making him the star that he is.

The court disagreed, and Alexander should be in place at Real waking Los Angeles from his new home as of this week.

New PD

Keith Cunningham is the newest program director to make his way through the revolving PD door that is KLOS (95.5 FM). He replaces Derek Madden, who was promoted to run a station in Minneapolis, KXXR.

The revolving door of PDs -- Cunningham is the third at the station in three years, including almost a year with no PD at all after Jack Silver was let go in 2012 -- is an expression of how bad things have gotten at the aging rocker. I’ve seen this before at stations that lost their way. Most dramatically, it parallels what happened with former competitor KMET (now KTWV, 94.7 FM), which went through numerous programmers after the legendary Sam Bellamy was forced out ... none of whom understood what she did and why it worked.

For the most recent ratings, KLOS found itself at a 2.0 share, behind The Sound’s 3.4, Jack-FM’s 3.2, KROQ’s 2.9 and 98.7’s 2.5.

The problem has much to do with competition that never existed before. KLOS has for years played rock form the 1970s ... I used to joke that listening to KLOS today is the same as listening to the station when I was in junior high and high school ... the music is the same. And it worked for a long time ... back when stations like KRTH (101.1 FM) were playing hits from the 1950s and ‘60s.

Now its a different era ... you can hear essentially the same music on Jack, KRTH, The Sound, and KOLA (99.9 FM), all of which have done a better job at staying fresh-sounding. The Sound, for example, throws in “ah-ha” songs you haven’t heard in a while. And they’ve hired some of KLOS’ best talent to play those songs -- Rita Wilde, Joe Benson, and Cynthia Fox. KRTH has the upbeat “Boss Jock” image with great DJs and exciting jingles. Jack has the variety and KOLA has a playlist that eclipses most of the others.

KLOS? Not so much. Stale might best describe it, though that sounds far more harsh than I intend. On the positive side - it IS a heritage station and it does have a name. I hope new programmer Cunningham takes the time to learn the history of the station and its contribution to Southern California radio. Perhaps he can freshen up the music, and even take the station back to the present. It certainly would be nice to have an album rocker that plays current music not heard on 98.7 or KROQ (106.7 FM). Fans of Sirius/XM’s The Pulse know what I am talking about.

What I really expect to happen? Nothing. That’s been the course for years, and I am not sure why it would change now.

Radio Waves Podcast #71

The ink had barely dried on last week’s column regarding cutbacks at local stations when it was announced that KROQ (106.7 FM) -- the station that showed newsman Boyd R. Britton the door -- had let another part of the morning Kevin and Bean Show go.

Technically, it was not a firing. Lisa May worked for the company that supplies traffic reports to KROQ and management simply decided to cancel the contract for traffic reports.

Or at least -- based upon initial reports and statements made on the air -- it was assumed to be management. Turns out it was Kevin and Bean themselves who made the decision to terminate both Doc and May. The logic being that no one tunes to KROQ for news or traffic, and it was time to take the show in a fresh new direction.

I disagree. Not everyone goes to the internet for news. Well-done news reports are a tune-IN, not a tune-out. Intelligent people WANT news on the radio; they WANT to be informed on their way to school. To the office. To wherever. Stations that treat their listeners with respect do well. It appears that Kevin and Bean don’t necessarily think too much of their listeners. Or at least their listener’s intelligence.

Regardless, the entire world knows that May was far more than traffic. She was indeed an integral part of the program. In fact, I would bet that most people didn’t realize she wasn’t in the studio with the boys. Of course the boys themselves aren’t in the same studio either; Bean -- Gene Baxter -- moved to Seattle over a decade ago and (like Mark Thompson does on The Sound) broadcasts from his house.

May has been with the show almost since it’s inception, back in 1990. She’s funny, intelligent, and a perfect partner for Kevin and Bean. She could have easily been hired away from Total Traffic to sit in studio, though I am not sure she would go for it, or that Total Traffic would allow it. So that “new direction” means no news and a new partner, Allie MacKay, who most recently worked with the KTLA Channel 5 Morning News as a lifestyle reporter.

Listeners are not sitting by idly. A “Boycott KROQ until Lisa May Comes Back” Facebook page appeared on February 20 -- merely two days after she was let go -- and there are online petitions to get her back. One on PetitionBuzz.Com had the message that “We’re Out Without Lisa May” ... #WOWLisaMay.

May’s own Facebook page has been swamped with posts from fans offering support, while posts on KROQ’s page have been harshly critical of the decision ... with KROQ staffers seemingly busy removing said posts as quickly as they can. Fans of Doc are ticked off as well, posting that mornings will not be the same.

Frankly, I am surprised that KROQ management went along with the decision. It takes the station down at least a tier, allows listeners to sample other stations -- and perhaps stay away -- and most likely will yield nothing in return. But then again, I’m old-school ... I like radio news. I like pros like Doc. And while I always thought traffic reports on radio were pretty useless, I still tune in to them. And I also like Lisa May.

On the other hand, I’m old-school. Kevin and Bean don’t want old-school ... they want young. They want increased ratings. Will it work? Time will tell. In the meantime, what are your thoughts?

Radio Waves Podcast #70

Cutbacks at several local stations have affected numerous on-air personalities.

Boyd R. Britton is a longtime newsman in Los Angeles radio, having spent time at KKDJ (now KIIS, 102.7 FM), KIIS-FM, Ten-Q (KTNQ, 1020 AM), KWST (now KPWR, 105.9 FM) and KHTZ (now KAMP, 97.1 FM). In his earlier days, I remember him as the newsman on Charlie Tuna’s morning show on Ten-Q, where he was occasionally the subject of Tuna’s “Morning Wakeup Story” joke of the day.

More recently he’s been known as “Doc on the Roq” and part of the Kevin and Bean morning program on KROQ (106.7 FM). To thank him for his work over the past 27 years, station management cut him loose to cut costs on February 18th. The recipient of a Golden Mike in 1981, he’s an LA legend who will hopefully land on his feet.

She’s probably been on almost every shift at Go Country (KKGO, 105.1 FM) and most recently was paired with Larry Morgan in afternoon drive. With the station since 2008, Ginny Harman was coincidentally let go on February 18th as well. 

“If you know anyone looking for a fun, Harley-riding, cat-loving talent, please let me know!” she wrote to LARadio.Com’s Don Barrett. “Will back-sell for food!”

Over at KSPN (710 AM), Dave Joseph, Pete Fox and Beto Duran were all let go ... again on February 18th. The three were known as “update anchors,” giving sports updates throughout the day on various shows.

More changes may be coming at KSPN as the syndicated morning show of Mike (Greenberg) and Mike (Golic) is expected to move up the dial to KLAA (830 AM) starting March 2nd. Travis Rogers is supposedly moving from KLAA to KSPN mornings the same day joined by Kelvin Washington for the shortest morning show in America, 5-7 AM.

Of course no one really cares.

Ratings Shorts

In its last ratings period as an “old school” station, Hot 92.3 -- now called Real 92.3, KRRL -- earned its best ratings in years, 13th place at 2.6. The competitive baseline has been set: Real starts with Hot’s last share of 2.6 while competitor Power 106 starts the contest at 5th place and a 4.0 raring. The next few months should be interesting.

KFWB, which has struggled in the ratings since dropping news years ago, continues to struggle as a sports station ... last place in the ratings list at 0.2. About what I expected.

Maybe my plan to bring back top-40 on KHJ (930 AM) isn’t such a bad idea ... as religious talk, the station didn’t even make the list. 

KABC (790 AM) was up a tad to 0.7, reversing a long decline. KFI remained the king of talk, though, with a 3.3 share at 10th place. Perhaps the most surprising news came from KNX, which came in as the top-rated AM station in town: 8th place and a 3.4 rating, tied with The Sound.

And speaking of The Sound, this is the last survey prior to the arrival of new morning man Mark Thompson. Will Sound programmer Dave Beasing look like a genius if the ratings continue to build? Currently the station is at its highest point ever in its current incarnation. Pressure ... pressure.

Leading the pack in January? KOST (103.5 FM).

Anniversary

Weird that February 18th is the date again, but it was on that date in 1959 that Saul Levine launched KBCA using a used transmitter and a home-made antenna. The station later became KKGO and is still owned by Levine. That’s something to celebrate. Interestingly, in the history of the station, it has run only three formats: classical (twice), jazz, and country.

Radio Waves Podcast #69

Perhaps most of the world remembers him from Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In, which aired on NBC Television from 1968 to 1973. On that, he played the wacky announcer for the show “from beautiful downtown Burbank” with his hand constantly over his ear.

We, of course, knew him even better as the quick-witted, wacky, corny DJ on such stations as the original KMPC (now KSPN, 710 AM), KPRZ (now KEIB, 1150 AM), KFI (640 AM) and of course KFWB (980 AM).

Gary Owens passed away on February 12 at the age of 80, surrounded by relatives at his home in Encino.

Don Barrett of LARadio.Com mentions in his book, Los Angeles Radio People, Volume 2, that Owens’ first radio job was prophetic in retrospect -- KORN in Michell, South Dakota. He sued his given name of Gary Altman until he landed at KOIL/Omaha, Nebraska two stations later.

He arrived in Los Angeles in 1961 after some time at sister station KEWB/San Francisco. Almost immediately, the the station went on strike and Owens was off the air -- he honored the striking newsmen. After the strike was settled, Owens moved into the morning slot and quickly became the top-rated morning show in Los Angeles, leading shortly to an offer from KMPC that he accepted. He remained at KMPC from 1962 until 1981.

In addition to his radio and television announcing, Owens was in cartoons -- both as a writer and characters (most famously Bullwinkle) -- and commercials. He created humorous radio station giveaways at some of his earlier stations including a two-piece jigsaw puzzle that is described by Barrett as still looking wrong after being assembled. Owens was also the host for the pilot episode of television’s The Gong Show and the host of that show’s first season in nighttime syndication.

He was a mentor and friend to many, including David Letterman who had written to Owens while a student at Ball State asking for advise about writing creative comedy. He even contributed to children’s television through his announcing and contributions to PBS Television’s Sesame Street and The Electric Company.

His star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is right next to Walt Disney, which I am sure made Owens happy. His quick wit, flawless timing and (when appropriate) deadpan seriousness will be missed throughout the broadcast industry. You can hear samples of his work on www.reelradio.com (small subscription donation required) and remembrance letters from fans and colleagues are available on www.LARadio.Com.

Quick Takes

Did anyone else take note of the fact that this year is not only the 50th birthday of the Boss Radio format on 93/KHJ (930 AM), it is also the 93rd year of broadcasting for the station that launched in 1922? 

Can’t get your fix of old school now that Hot 92.3 FM has become essentially unlistenable? You might see if you can pick up KQIE/Riverside (104.7 FM) ... they just picked up the Old School pop format. Makes sense ... Hot 92.3 was itself very popular in the Inland Empire.

Radio Waves Podcast #68

Getting Real: Friday, February 6th marked the first local format change of the year as Hot 92.3 FM became Real 92.3, “the new home of Hip Hop and R&B for Los Angeles.” The change took place at 9:23 a.m. following the conclusion of the Hot 300 Countdown; after a prerecorded transitional segment in which comments were made such as “having the power” -- an obvious swipe at Power 106 -- Real launched with the playing of "Only" by Nicki Minaj.

All of the Hot jocks were let go: Jimmy Reyes, Damon Knight, Renee Taylor and Josefa Salinas. The station is currently running jockless, “rolling 10,000 joints in a row” commercial free. At least they have class.

Doc Wynter is the new programmer; he had previously been owner iHeartMedia’s senior vice president of Urban programming and is considered by some to be one of the best Urban programmers in the country. In Wynter’s sites: Power 106.

In order to go after Power, one of the first things done was to lure Power morning icon Kurt “Big Boy” Alexander down the dial. No word on when Alexander will start waking LA from his Real home, but if Power 106 owner Emmis has its way, it will be “never.”

Emmis claims that Alexander is in breach of contract by refusing to abide by the “right of first refusal” clause in his contract with the company. Emmis is seeking an injunction to prevent Alexander from moving to iHeartMedia as well as asking for millions of dollars in damages. One of Emmis’ claims, according to RadioInsite.Com: they discovered him and invested heavily in him and his career over the past 20 years, making him the star he is today.

That right of first refusal in an interesting one. The agreement stipulates that Emmis has the right to match a competitor’s offer of employment. Emmis did, but Alexander left anyway. What will need to be sorted out: Did a match automatically mean that Alexander had to stay? Also unsaid: Is the offer from iHeartMedia exactly the same, or were there other perks unmatched by Emmis? If allowed to move, will iHeart pull an iHeart and syndicate Big Boy’s Neighborhood? Did Emmis meet or beat? Finally, was there any indication that Alexander was unhappy with his situation?

My take: Alexander will be allowed to move. He will do mornings on Real. iHeart will destroy more small-market radio by syndicating the show. But in the end locally, it won’t make much difference ... Power has been THE Hip Hop station (OK, purists, I know that no radio station plays “real” Hip Hop) for more than 20 years.

 

iHeartMedia -- then known as Clear Channel -- has tried to compete with Power in the past -- using The Beat 92.3 -- but was unsuccessful. This time could be different, but I sincerely doubt it will. If it IS successful, maybe we’ll see Chuck Martin bring back true top-40 on K-West 106 ...

Hey, I can dream.

Valentine’s Day Bliss

Always the romantic, internet talk host Tom Leykis (www.BlowMeUpTom.Com) is offering listeners discounts on flowers from ProFlowers.Com or gourmet dipped fancy strawberries from Berries.Com. With a twist.

Leykis, married and divorced four times, wrote this in an email to listeners: “Your Professor is absolutely opposed to marriage, relationships and living together. Let there be no doubt: if there is any way to avoid giving anyone the key to your front door, money, copies of your ATM or credit cards, or your DNA for child creation, you must absolutely avoid that.

“Your Professor also believes that dating is for (one thing) only ... You don't want to be paying your date's bills, helping her out, or showering her with attention and gifts. The more you give, the higher you set the expectation bar, the less respect you get in return.

“Your Professor also knows that, for many listeners, that ship has already sailed. Many of you have already selected a girlfriend or a wife (while secretly wishing you hadn't) and a large number of you are married or have kids.”

Speaking to the offers, which are actually available through other radio and online sources, Leykis explains, “These gifts are so good that it will look as if you really care, when all you really did was log onto a website and insert our promo code, your address, and your credit card number. Five minutes and you're DONE without having to think about it! 

“Give her the impression that you still care while you secretly support your friends at The New Normal.”

And isn’t that what love is all about?