Radio Waves Podcast #95

                 Details are still sketchy but KRTH (101.1 FM) has demoted popular afternoon drive host “Shotgun” Tom Kelly. Kelly – whose contract was up for renewal – will be removed from the afternoon drive slot he has hosted for the past 22 years and will instead become the station’s “ambassador.” His last day is said to be scheduled for today (August 28).

                “Ambassador” according to the press release issued by the station means someone who will make personal appearances, work with clients (advertisers), be showcased in on-air features, and work on charitable events and special projects.

                “Ambassador” according to everyone outside of the (KRTH owner) CBS la-la land means “we don’t care that you’re one of the primary reasons for KRTH’s monster ratings and success for almost a quarter century, we pay you too much and we need to cut costs now.” Kelly is not the only long-time high-paid personality to be removed from their positions in the last few weeks. It does showcase that any class CBS once had is all gone. And for that matter, CBS radio itself is probably on the way out.

                Kelly deserves better. I hope he gets it.

                CBS Gone?

The latest -- and I must stress: totally unconfirmed -- rumor has cost-cutting at CBS-owned radio stations nationwide in full swing. It seems that no station in the chain is not being at least evaluated, and no personality is necessarily safe. KRTH is but one example.

Not that this is new in our corporate McRadio world. Large group owners such as CBS, IHeartMedia and Cumulus were never able to make their multiple-station pseudo-monopoly business plans work, so for years they’ve been laying off the very people who made radio what it once was, and have relied on their essential monopolies to retain ratings.

The ratings side has basically worked. If you don’t count teenagers who haven’t tuned into radio for at least a decade, total listenership to radio has held fairly steady. The problem is that advertisers figured out that listeners with no passion for a station do not make very good consumers. End result: revenue throughout the industry has dropped and the major corporate players are caught with staggering debt. Future years will be worse as the industry has no one to replace current listeners. No wonder stocks are at an all-time low for most radio groups.

In the case of the CBS, the rumor -- and again I must stress it is a rumor -- is that there is pressure on upper management to just dump the stations. But the stations cannot be sold until costs are in line with a supposed goal.

Here’s the juicy part of the rumor: once those costs hit that certain threshold, I am told, the stations are ready to go under pre-negotiated terms to Cumulus and one of the few remaining decent large radio groups, Entercom.

If true, that would shake up the entire industry. CBS is the last of the “original” group owners, though the line back to the original Columbia Broadcasting Company is stretched quite slim. KNX, for example, has been owned by CBS for the vast majority of its 93-year existence. NBC and ABC sold off their radio stations years ago.

Before the recent cuts that include the removal of Kelly from KRTH afternoons, I personally hoped the rumor was false. Now I am not so sure. It seems CBS is hell-bent on destroying stations the same way Cumulus has done with theirs, so I would be fine with Entercom taking control of the local CBS properties. Hopefully Cumulus won’t take part in the fire sale … if, again, the rumor is true.

Of course if they all went away and local ownership returned, that would be the best solution...

The Sage is Back

Since being removed from the lineup at KABC (790 AM), Larry Elder has been doing a podcast at www.larryelder.com. Currently the podcast is live from 12 noon the 3 pm, with the first two hours being available as a simulcast on CRN Digital Talk Radio (online) at crntalk.com.

Now those first two hours can be heard via tape delay every weeknight at 9 p.m. on KRLA (870 AM). Why not live and why not all three hours I don’t know, but fans of Elder are happy just to have him on the air again.

Ratings Quickies

I don’t cover the ratings monthly because I think we would both be tired of the constant coverage. But here’s some quickies from the July Nielsens:

• IHeartMedia and CBS combined control almost half -- 47.4 percent -- of the ratings. IHeart owns such stations as KIIS-FM (102.7), KOST (103.5 FM), and KFI (640 AM) among others. CBS counts KNX, KRTH, and KROQ among its eight local stations.

• The next largest group owner ratings-wise is Univision, with 8.6 percent of the radio listenership. Univision owns four stations in Los Angeles including KTNQ (1020 AM).

• The Sound (KSWD, 100.3 FM) found itself in the top-5 overall ... the best the frequency has done ever.

• KRRL (92.3 FM) and KPWR (105.9 FM) are neck and neck (3.2 vs. 3.1, respectively) after a few months of domination by KRRL. Interestingly, the station that seems to have been hurt more by KRRL’s format change early this year? KRRL sister station KIIS-FM, which found itself down in 4th place ... out of the top-three for the first time since, well, I can’t even remember.

Radio Waves Podcast #94

K-Jazz (88.1 FM) has added iconic jazz vocalist Steve Tyrell to its roster; Tyrell will host “The Steve Tyrell Show” weekdays from 6 to 9 p.m. beginning Monday August 31st.

Tyrell is an accomplished vocalist and entertainer with a talent to attract listeners cutting across generations and a very distinctive voice. Under then-programmer Brad Chambers, he was the image voice for adult standards station The Fabulous 570 (later The Fabulous 690) back in the days when KLAC (570 AM) wanted ratings.

Following Tyrell at 9:00 is a new program focussing on bebop hosted by Bubba Jackson and dedicated to the memory of Chuck Niles, one of the foremost advocates of bebop on jazz radio for decades. 

Blame Arbitron

Nielsen owns the company now, but it was Arbitron that developed the PPM system for ratings collection. PPM is a system that “hears” what station someone tunes in and uses the data to calculate ratings.

The problem is that the system relies heavily on audio ... the PPM signal “hides” in the station’s audio, and experts tell me that many voices don’t work well with the system. In other words, talking and silent passages won’t work, so talk and classical music stations -- which feature voices or silent passages -- are at a distinct disadvantage.

That’s why stations put those awful music beds under much of the programming, including KFI, which will now play an upbeat diddy as they tell you of some tragic news event.

And there’s the rub: the move may allow for better ratings collection, but it makes the station unlistenable. Ratings may be “higher,” but the count in my estimation includes fewer actual listeners. I know I for one cannot stand the music beds, and I tune out.

I cannot be the only one. This is a problem that must be addressed before the system implodes. PPM seems to be unfixable.

OTR Convention

SPERDVAC - the Society to Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety And Comedy - is in the late planning stages for their annual convention. This year it will be held in Burbank at the Holiday Inn Media Center, 150 E. Angeleno Avenue on November 6th, 7th and 8th.

I’ve been to a few of the conventions and they are a blast. There are Meet and Greets with stars old and new, panel discussions, and old time radio program re-creations that are amazing to watch. It truly takes you back to another time.

Information will be updated as it is confirmed on the SPERDVAC web site, www.sperdvac.com.

Mighty Five

My wife says I live too much in the past. But it’s not just me. 

Chris Torrick was a huge fan of one of my favorite stations of the past, XETRA/Tijuana, Mexico, which during the early 1980s was using their huge transmitter just South of the US border to send top-40 hits our way as “The Mighty 690.”

The Mighty 690 was one of the last high-powered top-40 AM stations in the country (U.S. or Mexico, in case you are asking which country). Torrick liked it so much he set up an online streaming station playing much of the same music.

“That crazy idea I had about bringing ‘The Mighty 690’ back as an online station is creeping up on its 5th anniversary,” Torrick told me. “Since we started we have exceeded 2000 Facebook friends and have exceeded an average of 10,000 listening sessions per month.”

And now it’s not just on your computer. Apps are available for iPhones, Androids and Blackberries so you can now tune directly via your smart phone.

 

“I never thought that it would grow like it has, but I am so stoked about this and the future,” Torrick concluded.

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        Monday, August 10th at 9 a.m., KFI (640 AM) made the switch to the FM band. At least through the magic of digital HD radio. KLAC (570 AM) did the same.

It’s not really anything new, as KABC (790 AM) has been simulcast on KLOS’s (95.5 FM) extra HD stream for years, as has KMZT (1260 AM) which is one of the extra channels on Go Country’s (105.1 FM) HD signal. To hear any of these HD signals over the broadcast airwaves you must use an HD-capable tuner, found in many new cars and trucks. They are available online as well.

 

What makes KFI’s move significant is that the station has essentially given up on the AM HD signal. The significance? KFI was among the first to broadcast using HD, and it is -- or was -- considered one of the best success stories for HD digital broadcasts on the AM band. More on that later.

Here’s how it works: using an HD radio, tune to KOST (103.5 FM) and wait for the radio to lock onto the digital signal. Once that is done, simply tune up one channel to hear the KFI simulcast. To hear KLAC on FM, do the same thing but on KYSR (Alt 98.7 FM). You can save them as presets for direct tuning in the future, though you won’t hear anything until the tuner buffers enough data ... similar to listening online.

Audio quality is good, though it could be better. Surprisingly, the KFI feed sounded a bit less “full” to me than I remember from when they used HD on their AM signal until earlier this Summer, though that could be a false memory. Currently KNX (1070 AM) and KMZT (if you are close enough to receive it) have the best sounding AM HD signals in town.

The problem comes when you reach a bad signal area. Unlike AM HD or the main signals on FM, which drop to analog in weak signal areas, the signals on the extra FM channels just drop out completely. I found KFI dropping out as I drove to the beach Monday on the South side of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. KLAC dropped out even more, which is not that unexpected: the signal for Alt 98.7 itself is among the worst in town, so the HD has trouble staying locked.

But when it works, it does sound nice. If you happen to own an HD radio, give it a listen and let me know your thoughts.

Dead

That KFI would drop their HD signal on AM may be a signal of sorts ... that owner IHeartMedia believes HD on AM is dead. Ultimately, that would mean AM itself is dead, since HD was originally conceived to help bring AM on par with FM in sound quality. If HD doesn’t work on KFI -- among the most powerful stations in the United States and one in which it should work flawlessly -- small stations are doomed. Or so some say.

The loss of HD wouldn’t be a bad thing if AM stations would open up their audio as they did during the AM stereo days; audio bandwidth was cut drastically on the analog signal to make room for the HD stream. Without HD, perhaps wideband AM can return. Wideband analog AM sounds wonderful on a good radio, though still noisier than HD.

And of course there is that pesky need for programming that people actually want to hear.

Wheel ... Of ... Hits

You know his as Pat Sajak, longtime host of the immensely popular television game show, Wheel of Fortune. But Sajak has an earlier life, a more important life ... as a top-40 radio DJ.

Airchexx.Com found a tape of Sajak as heard on WSM/Nashville, recorded June 23, 1975. It’s a different style, though still laid back and in control as he is with Wheel.

Hear Sajak play the hits at http://tinyurl.com/SajakWSM

Radio Waves Podcast #93

I had a chance to visit the studios of The Sound (KSWD, 100.3 FM) last week as a fly on the wall of the Mark in the Morning program. Primary host Mark Thompson was in town for some events related to the Orange County Fair so Sound programmer Dave Beasing thought it would be a good time to come up; Thompson normally does his part of the show from his home in Charlotte, North Carolina vis the magic of computers.

I figured I better dress up for the occasion ... instead of shorts and a t-shirt I went all out and wore jeans and a t-shirt. Thompson, on the other hand was in shorts, a t-shirt and flip flops, more often walking barefoot around the studio as the morning’s events unfolded.

I was fascinated to find that the show had less prep work than I had anticipated ... and at the same time, more prep work than I had anticipated. In different ways, of course.

The day’s program was fully structured down to the minute as to the type of material -- comedy bit, interview, music, etc. -- to be presented. Yet nothing was in any way pre-rehearsed. Even a recording of a comedian’s opinions on clowns or an old sound bite of Thompson himself was scheduled, but not pre-played. The crew actually had no idea what was going to be said; that information was exclusive to show’s producer who provided the audio clips.

“I do that on purpose,” Thompson explained. “I want the reactions to be real. When you hear laughter, or anything else for that matter, it’s real.”

Also real is the reaction when things go wrong. The show is planed down to the minute, but that doesn’t mean it actually happens as scheduled. Segments may run long, stars to be interviewed may be late. While I was observing, Parker Posey (Starring in “Irrational Man”) was delayed and her time ran into time that was for Simon Pegg (“Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation”). Thompson decided to interview them together, and for a time Pegg interviewed Posey. Live radio at its best, though it could have turned into a real fail had the stars not been so gracious to each other.

The main studio features screens everywhere. Direct access to the internet, the main program screen which controls the music and commercials played (a computer version of the old cart system for radio old-timers), a television showing current news and a web-cam enabled computer that normally acts as the feed for Thompson when he’s back home in Charlotte. Andy Chanley runs the main board, Gina Grad (who has one of the most infectious laughs I have ever heard) is constantly able to look up information via her own iPad, and even Thompson is constantly checking things on the net or via the show notes he keeps in a pile in front of him.

 

Things you may not know:

 

• Little is discussed ahead of time, other than what comes up next. Thompson calls it “improv radio,” even as he claims to hate improv.

• The show actually only runs until 9; the 9-10 a.m. hour is a “best of” from each morning’s program. “We found that the typical listener listens for a very short time,” says Thompson, “and the audience in later hours is totally different than the earlier hours.”

• Even the end of the program, where the show is “turned over” to “Uncle” Joe Benson at 10 a.m., is pre-recorded before hand, in a different studio. That the entire thing is seamless is a testament to the talent of the producers and modern computer-based recording equipment.

My take on the whole thing: Thompson, Grad, and Chanley may be the most interesting -- and intelligent -- program of its type on the radio.

Correction

I had hoped to blame my editor, but alas, it was all my fault. Reader Ralph Westfall asked, “Saw your column in the Long Beach paper. It didn't say how serving Southern California for 93 years correlated with a 47th anniversary. Maybe like a guy in a bad marriage? Joking...”

As I said, it is my fault. I should have said KNX is celebrating its 47th year as an all-news station, though it went on the air in 1922.

Radio Waves Podcast #92

KNX (1070 AM) recently won three awards for editorial excellence from the Los Angeles Press Club at its 57th Southern California Journalism Awards dinner held in late June at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles.

 

Programming (as well as producers and anchors) that won the awards included Investigative, for “Running on Empty: Our Epic Drought” (Charles Feldman and Laraine Herman; News/Feature Short Form, for “Ed Begley’s Not Running on Empty” (Chris Sedens); and Talk/Public Affairs, for the continuing program “Ask the Mayor” (Charles Feldman, Tom Haule, Jonathan Serviss, Diane Dray, and Logan Moy).

 

KNX celebrated its 47th anniversary in April and has been serving Southern California for 93 years.

 

Digital Mozart 

 

I had read in the trades that K-Mozart (KMZT, 1260 AM) had started broadcasting using HD digital radio streams in addition to the regular analog signal most people hear. 

 

At first I thought it was a mistake since I could not even receive the text data that shows up on an HD radio receiver prior to you being able to hear the improved signal quality.

It turns out I was just too far from the transmitter, which is located deep in the San Fernando Valley. As I traveled recently to Studio City, I was finally able to hear it for myself. And it sounds impressive.

 

Keeping in mind that my ears are novices when it comes to classical, I thought the HD signal sounded superb. No noise, clear highs, and an overall sound that I considered superior to that found on the 105.1 HD2 simulcast. If I lived locally, that’s how I would listen; those like me further away would either need to listen to analog or the FM HD simulcast.

 

This “listening test” came about the same time that a report was released studying the feasibility of an all-digital AM band. I asked KMZT owner Saul Levine his thoughts on the issue. It’s a risky venture, as all digital would make the vast majority of AM radios obsolete.

 

“I believe the future of AM radio is full HD digital operation,” he told me enthusiastically. “I am prepared to go all HD at least part time in the future.” It appears that the broadcasting maverick -- he launched one of the earliest FM stations in Los Angeles back in 1958 -- is still a maverick. 

 

Yet over at KFI (640 AM) the HD signal has been of for close to a month. I tried unsuccessfully to get through to the engineering department by press time to find out why; I’ll (hopefully) have an update soon.

 

New Weekenders

 

Alt 98.7 (KYSR) has added Marty and Ashlee to the weekend air staff. I think it’s great that iHeart Media is finally working on building up local talent, As you know radio will only survive if if does what it constantly claims to do: serve the local community.

 

What’s that? “Both Marty and Aslee will still continue in their current roles at sister Active Rock KIOZ (Rock 105.3)/San Diego,” according to the press release. So iHeart, er, iHate Media is still too cheap and, let’s just use the correct word -- stupid -- to actually program a local station? You mean to tell me there were no local DJs that could have helped develop a station for Los Angeles? Or put another way, you mean to tell me that a major Los Angeles station cannot afford -- or lacks the drive -- to hire their own talent for their own station?

 

Seriously?

 

Tell me again why I should bother listening to an iHate Media station rather than my iPod? Crickets ...

 

I cannot wait for iHate, CBS and Cumulus to just implode from the staggering debt they have collectively taken on by destroying radio as we know it.

 

Cuts

 

Nationwide cuts at CBS Radio and Cumulus Media have been in the news lately, though determining who was cut where is proving difficult. The only one I can verify locally is Freddy Snakeskin, who was the “image writer” for Jack FM (KCBS-FM, 93.1) as well as the programmer for the Roq of the 80s format heard on digital 106.7 HD2.

 

As these companies amputate appendages and sever arteries in an attempt to make money before their business model fails ... again, one thing stands out: a rumor that CBS radio stations are going to be offered up for sale and that Cumulus may be the buyer.

Radio Waves Podcast #91

“My mom passed away early this morning in Detroit,” began the message posted to Shana Livigni’s Facebook page last weekend by her son Tony. “There is nothing at all to indicate how she passed away; it happened in her sleep.”

Livigni (born Margaret Reichl), who on the air was known only as “Shana,” was a pioneering female in male-dominated top-40 and album-rock radio. She was the first female DJ on top-40 KFRC/San Francisco back in 1974; in 1976 she became the first female DJ to hit the airwaves of top-40 KHJ (930 AM) when programmer Charlie Van Dyke lured her to Southern California.

“She worked overnights,” said Van Dyke on Facebook. “Our shifts crossed every day at 6 a.m.; I loved driving in, listening to her skills on the air. Her first language was German, so her English had a unique quality that you couldn’t nail down. KHJ’s first lady DJ. A lady, indeed.”

After KHJ she moved on to KEZY (now KGBN, 1190 AM) during its AOR years, followed by a year at KROQ (106.7 FM). But it was at KLOS (95.5 FM) where she really made her mark.

She started at KLOS in 1980. But in 1984 she was paired with newsman Chuck Moshontz to replace Frazier Smith in the morning shift, one of the few times -- still -- that a woman hosted a morning show. Interestingly, the same “experiment” was happening at crosstown rival KMET (now KTWV, 94.7 FM) where Cynthia Fox was paired with newsman Pat Kelley. Shana is still fondly remembered for her work -- including a sense of happiness and humor that permeated her shows at KLOS and later KLSX (now KAMP, 97.1 FM), where she stayed until 1995. 

She was a writer and editor for Album Network Magazine, taught broadcasting classes at UCLA and Pasadena City College (even hosted at show at KPCC 89.3 FM in 1996 and 1997), worked as a talent coordinator for the syndicated radio program Rockline, did voiceover work and hosted fundraising events. Her last regular on-air shift locally was at KCBS-FM (93.1) in 2005.

She had just recently moved to Michigan to be closer to her family. According to her son Tony, “She was very happy in recent months and living some of the happiest days of her life.” 

“I worked with Shana twice, once indirectly and more recently, a lot closer,” Mary Lyon -- another female LA radio pioneer -- told me. “She was already a pioneer, as one of the first women to break into major market rock radio in the mid-70s, at KFRC in San Francisco. I first met her after she arrived in L.A., at what was then the Top-40 powerhouse 93 KHJ-AM, where I handled morning news. She ruled late nights, and thus became a distinguished member of the then-fledgeling L.A. radio sisterhood.

“She later took over morning drive on KLOS -- the first woman to do that. Her face was on every bus billboard in town! I felt so proud of her, because women at the helm in morning drive were rare back then. It was a HUGE accomplishment at that time. “She was funny, too, with her smoky voice and quick wit. Great show - very irreverent, a touch rowdy, add some rock 'n' roll gossip and lots of laughs, plus, she sure knew her music and most of the artists behind it. If you were marooned in morning traffic, she was always terrific company! 

“And all the while she was a devoted mom juggling the responsibilities of three kids she adored. Shana eventually became a rock 'n' roll godmother to my son's rock band, ACIDIC, when they were just starting, and she helped guide them on their way to becoming a national touring band. I was so glad to have her as a friend! We all were. I miss her a lot.”

We all do. Services are pending.

Safe and Sound

When word came down last week that Bonneville Broadcasting was going to trade The Sound (KSWD, 100.3 FM) to Entercom in exchange for a cluster of stations in Denver, I assumed the worst.

As of now, however, it seems I was wrong. With the station hitting a high in the ratings and it seeming to be on a roll, it appears that Entercom will let it roll, and no staffing changes or changes in direction are expected. That is good. Entercom assumed operations of The Sound July 13th.

In other news, The Sound was nominated for a Marconi in the category of Rock Station of the Year for the second year in a row ... the only local album rock station to be nominated.

KIIS-FM (102.7 FM) was nominated for Major Market Station of the Year; My FM (KBIG, 104.3 FM) for Adult Contemporary Station of the Year, KKLA (99.5 FM) for Religious Station of the Year, and KIIS-FM’s Ryan Seacrest was nominated for Network/Syndicated Personality of the Year.

The Marconi Awards are presented by the National Association of Broadcasters and winners will be announced October 1st.

Radio Waves Podcast #90

Any doubts regarding the direction of the music on KRTH (101.1 FM) have been put to rest with the release of the June Nielsen ratings. The oldies -- er, classic hits -- station had the top spot to itself, completing at least six months as the top-rated station in Los Angeles with the exception of April, in which it was 2nd.

And for one of the very few times since I have been writing this column, KIIS-FM was not in the top-two. It was close, but the longtime leader was bested by sister stations My FM (KBIG, 104.3 FM) and KOST (103.5 FM) which tied for 2nd, leaving KIIS-FM at 4th. A very close 4th.

 

Generally speaking, all the regulars were in their place ... The Sound (KSWD, 100.3 FM) as the top classic rocker 6th, followed by Jack (KCBS-FM, 93.1) in 7th, for example. But two stations managed to either make or solidify previously-made moves and each one is worth mentioning.

First is The Wave, (KTWV, 94.7 FM). As Dan Kearney, Senior VP and Market Manager of the station explained, “What began as a hip-hop battle between Power 106 (KPWR, 105.9 FM) and Real 92.3 (KRRL) has turned into a bigger story for The Wave. We were already making changes to the Wave’s sound and then caught a break when Hot 92.3 decided to go after Power and switch to Real.”

The result? In October, the Wave was #22 in the Los Angeles ratings market. Now it is 5th ... with the highest share of the ratings since ... I can remember, perhaps since it was album rocker KMET. And it’s not a fluke ... outside of a slight statistically insignificant drop this month to 4.2 rating compared with May’s 4.4, the station has been building a steadily and has added nearly a million listeners. I guess those old-school hits The Wave added when Hot dropped the format are a little more appealing than thought ...

The second station with big news is Go Country (KKGO, 105.1 FM) which jumped more than half a point to its highest rating. For the frequency. Ever. It’s 12th place 3.0 share along with a daily cumulative audience of over 1.3 million places it in the coveted position of being the most-listened-to country station in the United States. 

Ironically, Go Country beat Power 106 (2.7 rating; ted for 15th) which is owned by the company that dropped country years ago because of owner Emmis’ thinking that the potential country audience was too low. I’m not sure what this means for Power 106, which has been hard hit by competitor Real 92.3 (11th place at 3.1). Is Power on its way out? Can we get Chuck Martin to recreate K-West 106? Hey, I can dream ...

KLOS (95.5 FM) is finally moving in the right direction, tied for 16th at 2.7. Just two months ago the station was on life support at 2.0, the rating it held since at least January. Why the move? KLOS programmer Keith Cunningham is deliberately differentiating the station from the competition playing a different mix of music.

Correction: Last week I mentioned talk station KRLA but had a flashback to the old top-40/oldies station. The correct frequency for talker KRLA is 870 AM).

The full story; 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 12 midnight as determined by Nielsen Ratings:

1. KRTH (5.2) 2.KBIG, KOST (5.1) 4. KIIS-FM (4.9) 5. KTWV (4.2) 6. KSWD (3.7) 7. KCBS-FM (3.6) 8. KFI (3.5) 9. KAMP (3.4) 10. KLVE (3.3)

11. KRRL (3.1) 12. KKGO (3.0) 13. KLAX (2.9) 14. KRCD (2.8) 15. KLOS, KNX, KPWR, KROQ (2.7) 19. KSCA (2.4) 20. KLYY, KYSR (2.3)

22. KPCC (2.0) 23. KXOL (1.8) 24. KBUE (1.6) 25. KUSD (1.5) 26. KCRW (1.4) 27. KSPN (1.3) 28. KDAY (1.2) 29. KJLH (1.0) 30. KEIB, KFSH, KLAC, KSSE, KWIZ (0.9)

35. KKJZ, KRLA (0.7) 37. KKLA (0.5) 38. KABC (0.4) 39. KLAA, KTNQ (0.3) 41. KFWB, KPFK (0.2)

Radio Waves Podcast #89

Last month I mentioned just a handful of what I consider interesting non-political talk shows, including some on the air and one available as a podcast. This was in response to a letter from reader Evelyn in Sylmar, who lamented a lack of choice regarding many talk shows.

The limited handful was on purpose. I didn’t want to mention many because I wanted to see what you thought. And as always, you came through. Here is a sample:

Michael R. Moore or Duarte, who has been reading the Pasadena Star News for over 52 years (thank you!) wrote, “I could not believe you overlooked one individual. I will assume it was simply an oversight ... I am referring of course to Leon Kaplan's "Motor Man" radio show on KABC every Sunday morning from 8:00 am to 10:00 a.m., where he helps so many callers with their car, truck, motorcycle, and airplane questions. He has been on the air for DECADES. It is a first class show and very educational.”

Saundra Sheffer of San Dimas says: “Anybody who wants humor, stories, memoirs, issues, etc, etc. would do well to check out KPCC (89.3 FM). Weekend programming is different from weekday programming. Try it all! 

“I especially recommend Larry Mantle (weekdays 11 - 1) for issues. The wonderful Click and Clack the Tapit Brothers are still on via re-runs on Saturday mornings, along with the quiz show Wait, wait, don't tell me! Then there's Garrison Keillor and his weekly mix of humor, fake ads, corny jokes, the week in Lake Wobegon, some hymns thrown in now and then--real down home stuff. Science, recipes, you can find it all on KPCC. They strive to be non-partisan and equal when it comes to politics and controversial issues”

Edward Larkin of San Gabriel wrote: “Here is one I enjoy ... it's on Saturday morning 7-9  on KSPN  710 AM) and it's called “Weekend Warrior” and it features an Orthopedic Doctor who answers questions from the listeners on their sports injuries. The show is part medicine and part philosophy ... Give it a try.” (I can use that one).

One reader mentioned Dennis Prager, heard locally on KRLA (1110 AM) 9 a.m. to 12 noon or on KTIE (590 AM) in the Inland Empire 7 - 10 p.m. I had to disqualify his program from the discussion, though, since it is a political talk show (even if it is one of the better of the genre) and this discussion is on non-political shows.

Other shows mentioned by readers include Tim Conway (KFI 640 AM weekdays 7 - 10 p.m., Coast to Coast (KFI weeknights 10 p.m. to 12 midnight), Dr. Drew Midday Live (KABC 790 AM weekdays noon - 3 p.m.), John Phillips and Julian Barberie (KABC  weekdays 3 - 6 p.m.), and a few that I already mentioned including podcast Phil Hulett and Friends available at PhilHulettandFriends.Com.

Of course what column on non-political talk shows would be complete without mention of The Tom Leykis Show? Yes, he does get political -- politics was Leykis’ first entry into talk -- but for the most part it is politically incorrect. Relationship advice from a male perspective (i.e. how to bag a chick) along with ... well, maybe that’s about it ... (BlowMeUpTom.Com).

Have SiriusXM? Talk with your animals with host Sonya Fitzpatrick on Animal Intuition (Sundays 1-3 p.m. and 7 - 9 p.m. on Channel 109); and hear Dr. Laura still giving advice to people who should already know what she’s going to say (weekdays 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Channel 109)

Shutting Down

LARadio.Com is shutting down. Again. This time I think it’s for good. It was actually supposed to be gone already but site owner Don Barrett just can’t get radio out of his blood. The problem is the site still makes little money for the time spent reporting and Barrett wants to spend more time with his family. Expect it to shut down by the end of the month, after he is done highlighting radio’s best on and off-air people, and allowing readers to reminisce.