Radio Waves Podcast #287

 Radio: February 26, 2021

Something happened on the way to the future: the past got in the way.

I’ve been spending time lately reading online forums and other pages dedicated to “vintage” electronics. This includes sites that involve sharing the passion and getting help, as I did with an old Zenith console television my wife and I bought shortly before we were married. Certainly it isn’t truly worth anything, but I hate to dump it; $2, three capacitors and some time later, it’s working fine. I’ll be using sites like this as I repair and restore some old tube radios, along with the RCA transistor radio I mentioned here months ago.

In reading the information and viewing videos (one account on YouTube.com from Shango066 has been my guilty pleasure; a So Cal local, he gets old stereos and televisions working again … including some just found dumped on the side of the road) I have discovered something fascinating.

Remember those console stereos that could be found in living rooms of the 1950s and 1960s? They’re back. Seriously.

This was from an era prior to component stereos that took over in the late 1960s and ‘70s. The better models from Magnavox, Zenith, and others combined fine furniture, good sound, and even occasionally a large screen — for its time — television. Earlier models were of course tubes; solid state designs came later. 

There is a small but dedicated group that is restoring these old consoles, and there are companies around that will do it for you. Some restorations bring in modern technology such as bluetooth connections and media players. But what surprised me is that you can even buy models brand new from more than one company.

They are not cheap. In part because the wood used in crafting the furniture is stunningly beautiful, and the products are handcrafted here in the United States. Models from Wrensilva (wrensilva.com) and Luno (iamluno.com) are constructed in California; list prices run from about $7500 to $15,000 depending on the model.

The new consoles include a record player but no radio tuner. To play radio, they rely on streaming internet services, or you can add an auxiliary tuner. That’s not necessarily bad, as the apps they use are often as easy to use as an old radio and the sound is usually better.

So what’s the purpose in bringing back an old idea that is in most minds way past its prime? Interestingly, it is a new technology driving it: flat screen televisions. Match a new wall-hung large flat screen with a new or refinished console stereo made of finely polished walnut or mahogany, and you have a new elegance missing from most modern electronics. The added bonus: even the old ones can make your home entertainment system sound great.

Kevin and Sluggo

In case you missed the story, Kevin Ryder, longtime morning star on KROQ (106.7 FM) when he was half of Kevin and Bean, has been paired with Doug “Sluggo” Roberts for the Kevin and Sluggo Show on KLOS (95.5 FM). The program airs weekday afternoons from 3-7 PM.

So what are two ex-KROQ jocks doing on KLOS? Playing music and having fun. KLOS’ management is taking a different path than so many other stations by maintaining not only a local presence, but allowing the station to still have some personality. 

Weird.

I am looking to connect with station programmer Keith Cunningham over longterm plans, but I am absolutely pulling for this to work. In my mind, radio needs to be local to compete against Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora and the like. And KLOS is being smart by making the move just as other stations across the country go with regional or national programming. Smart. Very smart. I’ll be watching and listening closely.

Limbaugh’s Effect

It’s funny. Whenever I mentioned Rush Limbaugh in this column, no matter what I wrote, I’d get mail and emails from people accusing me of being both a left-wing wacko and a right-wing fanatic. I suppose this shows that there has been polarization with politics longer than I realized.

But it cannot be denied that Limbaugh’s show, at least in its earliest years, rejuvenated talk radio, and in a sense extended the useful life of AM radio. Certainly as the show aged, the average listener aged with it and him, but the early days of the program brought a new type of listener to talk radio and to the band. I am convinced that Limbaugh’s previous life as a top-40 DJ is one of the reasons.

Limbaugh knew how to entertain. Like Tom Leykis, another entertaining talker and who was once the liberal counterpoint to Limbaugh when they were both on KFI (640 AM),  his training came from playing the hits. He knew how to entertain, and keep people hooked. Indeed, if you listen to airchecks of Limbaugh in his early radio days when he was known as Jeff Christie, you hear someone who was actually a damn good DJ. And you hear early versions of some of the elements he used when he launched his talk show, first in Sacramento and later nationally.

It is the entertainment aspect that made Limbaugh different. His show was exciting. Topical. Funny. Fun. It was designed to appeal to conservatives, but — especially in its early days — also attracted some from the left. He even put liberal callers ahead of the line if they called in. And like many great stars — and stations — of the past, he was difficult to copy, though many tried. Most unsuccessfully, on both sides of the political spectrum.

Is there anyone who can take his place? That’s a tough one. For now, no one needs to … Premiere Radio, which distributes the program, is going to use “archived” programs to keep his voice on the air until a long-term plan is figured out.

Cold Cast

KSL Podcasts and Amazon Music teamed up for the distribution of COLD, a true crime podcast launched in 2018 to much success. COLD: Susan Powell Case Files now has nearly 45 million downloads with a 5-star rating and has been optioned for a limited series TV deal. 

Season 2 begins on March 10th … go to https://kslnewsradio.com/category/podcasts/? Where you can listen and subscribe.

Radio Waves Podcast #286

 Radio: Feb 19

Civil rights attorney and longtime KABC (790 AM) contributor and host Leo Terrell has been named to a new role on Fox News Media, available on various cable television channels as well as SiriusXM satellite subscription radio.

Terrell will act as an analyst and commentator across the various Fox channels and platforms including the Fox News Channel and the Fox Business Network. He will also continue his appearances on KABC radio — often heard on the John Phillips Show noon to 3 p.m. — and his program “Leo Terrell, America’s Fair Minded Civil Rights Attorney” heard on the Cumulus/KABC podcast network, available at KABC.com.

Side note: Phillips’ show is required listening in my house due to his 1 p.m. Doctor Hour. But I digress…

Terrell has been a practicing attorney since 1990, and has held leadership roles at such organizations as the Black-Korean Alliance, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and California’s Statewide Commission Against Hate Crimes.

For many years on various radio and television programs, Terrell was the liberal commentator often taking the opposing side to conservative Larry Elder. Something happened over the past few years, and in the most recent Presidential campaign, Terrell shifted positions and supported the reelection of President Trump. Calling himself Leo 2.0, it raised more than a few eyebrows. I asked Terrell if that made a difference in how his friends and associates saw him, and how he responds to the various critiques of Trump.

“I have definitely lost a few friends because of the change in my support of President Donald Trump,” he told me. “For the most part it’s been people who seem to have lost my phone number. A few friends on the golf course will say a word or two or just ignore me. My feeling is, if it’s that easy to lose a friend then they weren’t really a friend.

“I respond to the nonsense about President Trump being an alleged “racist” or “homophobe” by asking them to find the exact quote. The media seems to love taking parts of President Trump’s statements and making it fit their narrative. The truth is far far different. Prior to Covid-19, President Trump brought us the greatest economy in our history. This benefited minority communities more than any legislation from past Presidents. People may not like President Trump’s tweets - or his personality - but his policies did make America great again.”

Does he see problems with perceived or real censorship with news or social media? How should someone respond if they feel their views are being held back? “This is very simple - you must tell the truth and call the opposition out on their lies and talking points,” he said. “You can never argue with the truth. Ask the media what exactly they are afraid of. Put the pressure back on them to tell the truth and not just sell the narrative they’re being paid to sell.”

Any thoughts as he moves forward? “My experience since the Democratic party left me, and I joined sides with President Trump, has been wonderful. I have been embraced by a wide range of people from all over the country and all different backgrounds. People say I smile and laugh more on TV and it’s true. I definitely feel lighter since I stopped drinking the democratic koolaide. I am proud to be a Trump Republican.”

MailBag

“I enjoyed your article on many of the wonderful voices that I grew up with on the radio.  However, there was one missing that all my high school friends and I listened to at night until the early morning while we played cards and drank beer.  It was in the early 70's and we used to be in love with "The Burner" Mary Turner on KMET.  She played great music and all the long version of songs.  Can you please tell me what became of her?” — Larry Hatfield

What a great question!

  Turner was among radio’s first female DJs when she arrived at KMET in 1972. She stayed with the station for a full decade, then reappeared on KLSX (now KAMP, 97.1 FM) in 1993. Explains Don Barrett, of LARadio.Com:

“The Burner, Mary Turner, arrived at KMET in June of 1972 and left on the eve of her 10th year with the ‘Mighty Met.’ Mary reflected on her early radio days: ‘It was an exciting time back then, because you didn't operate under any rules. You could play anything you wanted, say anything you wanted and who cared? FM at that time was a joke, especially to Top 40 people. We were the hippies, and they were the stars.’

“On being a successful female: ‘I think being a woman helped more than anything else. The time was right for it, and I happened to be in the right place at the right time.’”

Turner married Westwood One founder and chairman Norm Pattiz in the early 1980s. Mary Turner Pattiz is currently the chairwoman of the Betty Ford Center at Eisenhower Hospital in Rancho Mirage.

This Just In`

KLOS (95.5 FM) just announced that Kevin Ryder, half of the Kevin and Bean Show once heard on KROQ (106.7 FM) has joined the classic rock station. Ryder has been paired with Doug “Sluggo” Roberts for the Kevin and Sluggo show, airing weekday afternoons on KLOS from 3-7 p.m. effective February 18th. More details next week.

Radio Waves Podcast #285

 Radio: February 12, 2021

Entercom is trying something new on its secondary HD digital stream for KCBS-FM, which can be heard if you have an HD radio at 93.1 HD3 as well as on the radio.com app available for smartphones.

Called “The Bet,” it’s a bit of a gamble (get it? OK, bad joke …) and replaces most, but not all, of the programming formerly heard on the station when it was running the CBS SportsRadio format.

The format is designed to tap into a growing interest in sports gambling, which may indeed become legal in California sometime in the future. For now you have to use out-of-state services such as those in Nevada to place bets on events.

Right now the programming is a bit of a hybrid, utilizing new programs as well as some that were previously heard on SportsRadio. According to company regional President Jeff Federman, “the move gives us an opportunity to dip our toes into the format in Los Angeles and Denver;” the plan is for The Bet to eventually be on its own.

Federman told me that the move follows Entercom’s purchase of BetQL, an online betting info app and service, providing information on anything game related: “Details on any game, how people are feeling, who is expected to throw more touchdowns … anything,” he explained. “It’s like having an electronic ‘tip book’ like is done for horse racing.”

Can the format work? In a sense, it doesn’t have to. The extra channels on HD radio currently, in general, make no money anyway. If this attracts people to the app and helps BetQL attract more users, it’s done its job.

Federman says his favorite program on the station is You Better You Bet, heard weekday afternoons from 1-5 PM. He’s also a big fan of SportsRadio’s Jim Rome, airing 10 AM to 12 noon. For more information and a full program schedule, heads over to tinyurl.com/RW20721.

Casey at (the KRLA) Bat

If you listened to radio any time during the 1970s through the ‘90s, you probably at least heard of Casey Kasem, the master of countdowns - the original voice behind American Top-40,  Casey’s Top 40, and Casey’s Countdown.

If you’re like me, you made it a regular listening habit. Perhaps not always for the entire show, as the bottom 20 songs could often be, well awful save for some new hits that would make their way to the top.

But Casey had a previous life, and it could be heard locally on the original KRLA (now KRDC, 1110 AM) from 1963 to 1969. Here you could hear elements of what would become his signature style of talking about the music rather than just playing it, a style he started developing in San Francisco at KEWB just prior to making the move to Los Angeles.

And though the magic of the internet, you can hear a sample as well … I just happened to run across one from 1964 via my friends on Facebook … at tinyurl.com/RW20721a.

One of the really “cool”  things of this air check is a full newscast, so you can get a feel for the era in which it aired in addition to hearing Kasem six years before the debut of AT40. Commercials, too, including one for the new Ford Mustang. KRLA at this time was the most popular station in town, just about a year away from the launch of Boss Radio KHJ (930 AM)

And a little known fact about Casey that I heard straight from his daughter, Kerri: In spite of his extensive knowledge of artists, bands, musicians and the popular songs they produced, Casey didn’t really like many of the songs he played. That surprised the heck out of me!

And if you want just a little more of KRLA from that era, head over to tinyurl.com/RW20721b for an hour of Bob Eubanks and Dick Mooreland. Eubanks was of course just a short time away from hosting televisions Newlywed Game, while Moreland was a DJ and programmer of KRLA, known to help expose new music on the station. He and his wife, Pat, later founded the record chain Music+. 

Remarkable is how professional the DJs all sounded on KRLA. The format was not nearly as “tight” as KHJ’s would be, but it’s definitely a sound that is “bigger than life,” and you can hear why it was so successful.

For Sale

Like hearing those KRLA air checks? Have a few bucks sitting around? You can buy the station for yourself and bring it back to its former glory. Unfortunately the call letters are not currently available — they are tied to our own talk radio station at 870 AM — but don’t let that stop you.

Current owner Disney is looking for interested parties to take the station off their hands. I haven’t seen an asking price,  but I would assume somewhere between $6 and $10 million. Maybe less if they get desperate …

Radio Waves Podcast #284

 Radio: February 5, 2021

KOST (103.5 FM) absolutely dominated the Nielsen radio ratings for Los Angeles in December, or the so-called Holiday ratings period (the 13th four-week ratings period of the year) after also dominating the “December” ratings (the 12th four-week period that are primarily in November). The Holiday ratings had KOST at 13.9, almost three times the rating of second-place KRTH (101.1 FM), which earned a 5.0 share. That’s an even bigger spread than “December,” when KOST earned a 10.7 share compared with KRTH’s 10.7, and may be a highest-ever rating for KOST.

The holidays were good for KFI (640 AM) as well, which was a strong third-place finisher at 4.7, followed by KTWV The Wave, 94.7 FM) at 3.9 and KBIG (104.3 FM) at 3.8. If you add in KTWV’s stream, which earned a 0.1 share on its own, The Wave had a 4.0.

The holiday period was not as kind to KLOS (95.5 FM), which for whatever reason had a drop that began in the December period, only to intensify in Holiday. This probably means it will spring back, but we’ll see … for Holiday, the station had a 2.7 share, preceded by 3.1 in December, 3.5 in November … and 3.8 back in August. That’s a full point drop since Summer.

KROQ (106.7 FM) had a little bump, which was some good news for the station which hit a low of 1.5 in October. With competitor KYSR (Alt 98.7) flat for the month and down since it had a 2.7 in November, the two alternative rock stations are once again within striking distance of each other. But, and this is important, both stations mirror the problems alternative rock formats are having in attracting large audiences nationwide. Neither station is tremendously popular compared with years past.

And what happened to Power 106? The rating for the station that once knocked KIIS-FM out of the top spot back in the 1980s is down to 1.5 … a lower rating than years ago when it dropped top-40 when it was known as K-WEST and even lower than when the station played adult contemporary music as Magic 106. Can we hope for a return of K-West? Is Chuck Martin willing to program it again? One can hope … Power’s direct competition KRRL (Real 92.3) was at 2.1.

Stevie Wonder’s KJLH (102.3 FM) — still licensed to the city of Compton, which I think is kind of cool  — is holding on to nice increase that began in November, 1.6. Just one month prior, it had a 1.2; it has been steady at 1.6 for three ratings periods. Go Country 105, which dropped country during the holidays in order to play holiday music, dropped a half point from the “December” period, 1.5 vs. 2.0. Back in November, Go Country had a 2.4.

KABC (790 AM) had a rough month, coming in at 0.8, a drop of 0.3 from December and 0.7 from November, when it had a year-long high of 1.4. Classical on AM — KMZT (1260 AM) came in lower than its previous incarnation as LA Oldies, but it didn’t drop off the map completely … earning a 0.1 share. That may not sound impressive, but the station was starting from nothing, and it marks the first time a station has earned any rating at all playing classical music on AM in, well, decades.

In total, iHeart earned a combined 31.5 share of the audience for its group of stations; Entercom earned a combined 19.1. Let that sink in for a second … one company controls almost one-third of the listening in town, and two companies combined control over 50 percent. Can we get the FCC to break up this essential monopoly before they drag every station in town into the revenue toilet? In my dreams …

The full story … each rating is an estimate of the average percentage of listeners aged six and older listening to a station between the hours of 6 a.m. and 12 midnight.

1. KOST (13.9) 2. KRTH (5.0) 3. KFI (4.7) 4. KTWV (3.9) 5. KBIG (3.8) 6. KCBS-FM (Jack), KLAX (3.4) 8. KLVE (3.3) 9. KNX (3.2) 10. KIIS-FM (2.9)

11. KLOS, KPCC (2.7) 13. KSCA (2.5) 14. KRCD (2.3) 15. KYSR (Alt) (2.2) 16. KKLQ, KRRL (Real 92.3), KXOL (2.1) 19. KROQ (2.0) 20. KLYY (1.8)

21. KUSC (1.7) 22. KJLH (1.6) 23. KCRW, KKGO (Go Country), KPWR (Power 106) (1.5) 26. KAMP (1.4) 27. KDAY, KEIB (The Patriot), KLLI (1.1) 30. KBUE (1.0)

31. KFSH (The Fish) (0.9) 32. KABC, KDLD, KLAC, KRLA (The Answer), KWIZ (0.8) 37. KKJZ (0.7) 38. KFWB (0.6) 39. KSPN (0.5) 40. KCSN, KTNQ, KYLA (0.4)

43. KHJ (0.3) 44. KIRN, KKLA (0.2) 46. KMZT, KPFK, KROQ HD2, KTWV Stream, KWKW (0.1)

Radio Waves Podcast #283

 Radio:  January 29, 2021

In case you’ve been away from pretty much every news source, longtime radio and television personality Larry King passed away on January 23rd. And while most probably remember him for his work on the Cable News Network (CNN), it is radio where he got his real start. A start that most happened primarily because station owners were cheap. More on that in a second.

Born Lawrence Harvey Ziegler in November of 1933, his first radio job was at a small station in Miami Beach, Florida, WAHR (now WMBM) He was hired for off-air work; his work as a DJ, news and sportscaster began on May 1, 1957. The name Ziegler was too hard for people to remember, he was told, so he took on the name Larry King after seeing a newspaper ad for King’s Wholesale Liquor, and eventually changed his name legally.

In 1978, The Larry King Show made its debut on the Mutual Broadcasting Network, giving him a national audience from 12 midnight to 5:30 a.m. Eastern time, eventually moving to an 11 p.m. start. Because of the timing, his show was not always carried for the full time, nor necessarily live. Some stations would carry portions live and then play previous hours after the live segments. This allowed stations to run it overnight even if they were not in the Eastern time zone.

King’s show was ultimately extremely popular and eventually had over 500 affiliates, but it did not get carried on so many stations because of its content, at least not at first. The show’s appeal at inception was that it was free, offered on a barter basis in which stations could trade advertising time for the ability to carry the show. This gave stations across the country the ability to have big-name talent and respectability overnight without a huge commitment.

As time went on the show became more popular. King started to have more power and influence as well, including influencing what stations carried his show. In 1991, KFI (640 AM) abruptly dropped the program when King announced on the air that he’d be moving to KMPC (now KSPN, 710 AM). King wanted the move because, while KFI had a superior signal, KMPC offered to carry him live beginning at 8 p.m. rather than on tape delay beginning at 1 a.m.

King made the move to CNN in 1985, though he kept with radio until 1994. But it is an interesting story to me that without station owners essentially being cheap and looking for basically free programming, King may never have been the successful national radio host he was, nor would he have necessarily been the CNN star he later became. And it once again points to the fact the good, compelling programming doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive … just creative. 

New Radio

It’s been a while since I last shopped for a car stereo. Last time it was a replacement for my wife’s car because she wanted built-in bluetooth in order to use a cell phone in the car. This time it was for the same reason, but it was my son who needed one. And I was frankly amazed how much I got for the price.

I was not looking for a touch-screen model, just a simple unit that included what I consider essential features: bluetooth, CD, iPhone compatibility, HD Radio built-in, and the ability to add a SiriusXM tuner. Basically everything I can think of that can be used in a car short of video. The model I found? A Kenwood, costing less than $150. $139.99 plus tax to be exact.

Now I did have to get a few extras … an interface to use the car’s built-in amplifier, an interface allowing steering-wheel controls to work, and a dash piece that allows the radio to look better than OEM factory. But the fact that the basic unit great specs and built-in HD at less than $150 was surprising. If I didn’t want CD, I could have saved another $20. And it even works with the phone (including both iPhone and Android) to play and control Spotify and Pandora, as well as play Apple Music and any apps you might use to tune into internet radio.

For that price, if you have a reason to upgrade your car stereo, you really should consider HD Radio along with the other features, You never know what you’ll find for listening.

Speaking of Radios

There was an old joke that basically revolved around the inability of finding an actual radio at the former Radio Shack chain of stores.

It was never actually that bad — even as it closed down, there were radio for sale in their stores. Apparently just not enough people wanting to buy one … hence the closure. But it turns out that the Radio Shack name lives on, at RadioShack.com, and there you can still buy radios, including what we once called “transistor radios” as cheap as $17. Just like you remember.

Radio Waves Podcast #282

 For years, political talk radio has been on the decline, both in ratings and influence. This is due to various reasons including an aging listenership in an era when advertisers want younger. This places formerly popular hosts on lower-quality signals such as when Rush Limbaugh was moved from Clear Channel blowtorch KFI (640 AM) to candle-powered KEIB (1150 AM) more than a few years back.

With rare exception, conservative talk radio was never the overall ratings juggernaut that people thought it was. Limbaugh helped put KFI on the map, but KABC, KRLA and KGIL all tried going conservative and it killed them. Same for just about every station in the country with few exceptions. So Limbaugh made it seem easy, but others couldn’t follow his success.  

But there is no denying that political talk has declined in importance, and nothing says that more clearly to me than a recent decree to tone it down. Cumulus — the owner of KABC (790 AM) locally  — recently sent a memo to all personalities and hosts stating that they would no longer allow suggestions that the election hadn't been decided.

It came from the company’s Brian Phillips, who wrote that the company was adopting a “zero tolerance” policy when it came to various topics, including any mention of a “stolen election.” This was sent to all on-air talent at all 416 Cumulus-owned stations. Any violation would lead to immediate termination. To my knowledge, I know of no Cumulus hosts, local or national, who were calling on anything close to a protest, and Jerry Del Colliano at Inside Music Media has speculated that this might be a way to reduce costs by cutting people or closing stations since they lose money on so many. 

So are the days of talk radio numbered? And if so, why?

The why part is easy. In addition to the above, there are numerous alternatives that did not exist when Limbaugh was king. Facebook, Twitter and other social media. Fox News. Online news sources. And more. With so many alternatives, talk on radio became less compelling and more loaded with commercials, and thus just like with music, talk fans found alternatives.

But a force is at work that may change that, and I definitely stress the word “may.” In addition to the above, with all that is going on with perceived and real censorship of political voices on social media, there is the potential for issues-oriented talk radio to return to the airwaves, bringing with it the kind of open discourse and listeners who are willing to work together to make things better. This may affect conservative voices more than liberal, at least at first, but I can foresee that - if done right - something very positive may come out of it. 

It’s not going to be easy or fast, but I can see it happening. What it will take is a good host to make it happen. Just one, as Limbaugh did in the 1990s. While Limbaugh, who has been doing it nationally since 1988 (and was local in Sacramento prior to that), probably isn't the guy for the future at this point, someone like him could be.

The trick is to recall what made Limbaugh so popular in the first place. And I am going to argue that it wasn’t (or wasn’t only) his political views. Limbaugh’s start was in top-40 radio. He knew how to entertain. Fast. Fun. Satire … bits. When he moved into talk, he kept those elements while he spoke — sort of a top-40 of talk, and similar to what KFI is still today. Indeed, if you hear airchecks of his work playing music, you can basically hear the same show he does today.

Who could do it now? It’s certainly not an easy job, and frankly, I am not sure a lot of people would want it. It’s much easier to be Limbaugh-lite. You need someone much stronger. Maybe Ben Shapiro if he could manage to speak slower and take a few calls.

But if social media continues its current course, it is certainly possible that the importance of radio will increase once more. Podcasts — Shapiro’s current focus outside of the Daily Wire (indeed his podcast is what is run on KABC weekday afternoons) — are the current alternative, but they pale in comparison to the potential listenership of a powerful radio signal.

Smart stations should be preparing for this, and they should be encouraging viewpoints from all sides. I still like balance. If a talk station can have conservatives and liberals on the same station — indeed, on the same show a la Ken Minyard and Bob Arthur in the old days of KABC or the “Meeting of the Mouths” as heard on KFI years ago — perhaps we as a nation can better see that the “other side” is not the evil side so many assume it is.

Classical AM

I happened to be close enough to the transmitter site for my car stereo to decode the digital HD stream of K-Mozart (1260 AM). And it sounded wonderful.

Well, at least on the local programming. I happened to hear a syndicated pre-recorded program that sounded a bit shrill due, I assume, to the multi-layered digital processing it went through. But the content from the K-Mozart studios sounded superb.

The problem is, you have to be near the Valley to hear it in HD; otherwise, it is analog. Still decent, but certainly not the same. I can’t wait until owner Saul Levine at least experiments with the newly-authorized all-digital mode to see if the signal would reach my home.

Radio Waves Podcast #281

 Radio: January 15, 2021

Have you ever binge-watched one of those home shows such as “Love It or Leave It,” and noticed that every episode has some major problem show up at the same time in every episode? That’s because, like all “reality” shows, they are all scripted. There are no surprises, just scripts that the producers feel will be good television.

 

And while it may make for some interesting home improvement ideas, once you know that the shows are far from reality, you are left feeling a little bit cheated; a little hollow.

 

That’s the feeling I get when listening to The Morning Mess on Amp Radio (97.1 FM). Scripted. Cheated. Hollow.

 

The Mess has been heard on Amp since August of last year, though it has been heard on Phoenix, Arizona’s Live 105 FM since 2013. The show features Joey Boy (aka Nachoo), Aneesh Ratan, Jeana Shepard and Karla Hernandez talking, calling, and playing a lot of music. 

 

It’s a show I really wanted to like. The team exudes friendliness and fun, something that I think the world could use more of. But it also exudes an artificial feeling that is just too hard to shake. Everything just seems to be too contrived, too convenient.

 

One of the staples of the show is a variation of the old Candid Phones done by Rick Dees years ago on KIIS-FM (102.7) and that guy who replaced Dees — Ryan Seacrest — who does a segment called Ryan’s Roses. The Mess does Nachoo’s Revenge… The idea is that someone sets up a story, the station calls an unsuspecting person to be pranked, and hilarity ensues.

 

The problem is - like all such calls, they are fake. They have to be: it is absolutely illegal to do them. According to Section 73.1206 of the FCC’s rules, it is prohibited to broadcast, or record for purposes of broadcast, telephone calls without first getting the consent of the person on the other end of the phone. That means that anyone “pranked” is in on the prank. If they are not, the station risks a huge fine for airing the call. 

 

There are actually actors and writers who can provide the content needed for a morning show to air such calls, and that is exactly how they are done. Consider it reality television on the radio.

But that’s not the only problem with the Mess. Regular listening indicates other calls and segments seem to be rehearsed as well. Last week there was a supposed live caller talking about something when a vulgar word was uttered. To my ears the caller seemed just a little too “polished” to be a typical listener, and I don’t mean that as an insult. Audio quality was just too pristine and the inflections and reactions seemed rehearsed. But when the word was used, instead of the call being “dumped,” in which the station’s delay system causes a noticeable jump in the audio, the word was simply “beeped.” This can’t happen in a live call system and was therefore either rehearsed or was previously recorded and edited.

 

The same day, references to “downtown” were not clear to listeners since the show is based in Phoenix, that the downtown was not Los Angeles. And it continues: it also seems that the hosts are just too conveniently stereotyped for their reactions to issues and events. 

 

Now, it’s certainly not a bad show. But it would be so much better if it were more “real.” If I were station management, I’d be working to let these kids fly. But then, I wouldn’t be relying on a show from out of town.

 

Problems at Entercom

 

It seems that KROQ (106.7 FM) is not the only alternative station having ratings issues in the Entercom-owned chain of stations. Jerry Del Colliano reported this week on his InsideMusicMedia.com  that outside of San Francisco, Seattle and Boston, Entercom’s alternative stations are underperforming both in ratings and revenue.

 

What’s causing the problem? Lack of events and concerts due to the COVID shutdown is certainly an issue, says Del Colliano, but a major problem is self-inflicted: The alternative format was among the first to go with regional and national DJs in an effort to cut costs, and listeners have responded by moving on to other stations.

 

KROQ fares better than most when it comes to local talent, but there are problems. Stryker and Klein (5 a.m. to 10 a.m.) are local, but syndicated to four other stations so they lose the local flavor. Same with Nicole Alvarez (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.)  and Megan Holiday (3 p.m. to 7 p.m.); Kevan Kenney (7 p.m. to 12 a.m.) is syndicated from New York, as is overnighter Bryce Segall. So in total, none of KROQ’s broadcast day is dedicated to truly local programming.

Imagine the stations in which the talent isn’t even in the same city … ever. 

 

Radio thrives when it’s live, local and a true part of the community. You can’t do that when you rely on syndication and cost-cutting. But you already know that.