Radio Waves Podcast #190

Radio: September 29, 2017

Helen Borgers started her tenure at KKJZ (88.1 FM) long before it WAS KKJZ. Before it was even owned by the Cal State Long Beach Foundation. The station was KLON and it was owned by Long Beach City College when Borgers joined in 1979. Such an expert on jazz and blues, Borgers earned the reputation among many as a jazz educator.

She managed to stay on board for almost 40 years until she was let go from the jazz station last June. Cost cutting, I believe, but that is not the point. 

In being let go, she lost her medical insurance coverage and her replacement policy apparently is not as good as the old. Soon after her layoff, she became ill; while she awaits lifesaving surgery which cannot be performed until her health stabilizes, her medical bills and -- due to not being able to work, living expenses -- have piled up. She’s already gone through her savings and is looking at huge bills in the future.

The jazz community that she supported for so long has stepped up to support her, and has put together a benefit concert to be held this Sunday, October 1st at the Orange County Musicians Union Local 7, 2050 South Main Street in Santa Ana. Proceeds will go to help pay for Borgers mounting bills.

Still subject to change as more musicians are added to the list of performers, here are some of the artists scheduled to perform:

• The Tom Kubis Big Band

• Ernie Andrews

• Barbara Morrison

• Christian Jacob

• Richard Simon

• Dewey Erney

• Mongorama (led by Jose Rizo ... perhaps with Pancho Sanchez)

• Sal Cracchiolo with Melanie Jackson

• Dewey Erney

• Gordon Goodwin’s Little Phat Band

So many artists have joined the fundraiser concert that the time has been extended. Originally scheduled for 1 to 5 p.m., the concert at press time was already pushing past 7 p.m.

 

A freewill donation will be taken at the door, and you can donate using cash, checks or credit cards. For details you can write to Ken Poston, General Manager of jazz-formatted KSDS/San Diego, who is organizing the event. Reach him at info@lajazzinstitute.org.

World Record

Don Barrett reported at his LARadio.Com that Art Laboe has -- as of last weekend -- broken a Guinness World Records for “longest career as a radio presenter/dj (male).”

The legendary DJ launched his 75th year on the air, which began on September 23, 1943 at KSAN/San Francisco. The young 92 year old is credited with saving the original KRLA (1110 AM) back in the mid 1970s by creating a hybrid current-oldies format that attracted listeners from East Los Angeles to Palos Verdes and all parts in between. He also launched the Oldies But Goodies album series and ... well, suffice to say his accomplishments would fill this entire column.

Laboe is one of the few DJs who can connect with multiple generations at once. Now heard on 11 stations in three states, he can be found locally on KDAY (93.5 FM) Sunday nights from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight.

Radio Waves Podcast #189

Radio: September 22, 2017

Radio transmitter towers can be quite high. The top of KFI’s (640 AM) tower was at one time 760 feet off the ground, before a small plane hit it, causing it to collapse. It is now “just” 654 feet tall.

Radio stations have it easy. Some television towers can be as tall as 1500 feet ... or more. yet all towers must be equipped with a lighting system so that they are not -- or are at least less of -- a hazard to aircraft that may be in the area. The lights must be visible 24 hours per day as a safety measure.

It is quite impressive that these towers are built in the first place. But have you ever wondered what it is like to change one of those bulbs you see on a broadcast tower? Two videos give a glimpse into the work of a tower maintenance worker.

At http://tinyurl.com/RWTVTower1, you can see someone climb to the top of a 1500 foot tower to change a bulb and -- as is necessary now -- take a selfie from the top. A drone is used to catch the footage.

Then at http://tinyurl.com/RWTower2, a GoPro style camera is used to catch the climb of a 1768-foot high broadcast tower ... again, to change a light bulb.

At the top of any tower you get a view like no other. A view I will never see personally as I am deathly afraid of heights. As one comment said, “there’s a job I will never do.” But from the safety of your own home, you can see it now. Take a look at the videos and tell me what you think. And if you’ve ever climbed one yourself - please write to tell me of your experience!

Woody Phone

It seems like outside of talk radio, no station takes calls any more. Few have call-in contests -- whether that is because people don’t use a phone to talk any more or the stations are just cheap I don’t know.

So it was quite fun last week on Alt 98.7’s morning Woody Show, when much of one segment was taken up taking calls. In fact, it was more than one segment, as they stomped right over the commercial break to keep it going. Though it was not a contest, it was a great topic: “That Guy.” 

Listeners called in with descriptions of “that guy” (or girl) that annoys them. That guy who always has to be right. That girl who always works in something about her trip to Europe into the conversation. That guy who always dominates the conversation. On paper it may seem bland, but the bit was funny! Even my son glued to his phone was listening and laughing.

Misplaced Appeal

In the wake of Hurricane Irma, South Florida’s Sun Sentinel has joined the chorus of those asking smart phone companies such as Apple and Samsung to “turn on the FM switch” and allow people to receive FM signals on their phones.

“Smartphones contain an inner switch that lets them receive over-the-air analog signals from local radio stations,” said an editorial. They blame it on profit motives. But with that smartphone FM radio, people could have easily stayed informed.

But there is a problem. Problems, actually. Technical and practical. Technically, yes, an FM receiver is included as part of some wifi chips sets. But - and this is important - there is no supporting hardware to make it actually work. No antenna, no tuner circuit ... no way to make it work with a “flip” of a switch or a software update.

Secondly, even those phones that did have an FM radio in the past worked poorly. Reception was made through the headphone cable, and the result was that only the strongest stations could be heard. That’s why the supporting FM circuitry was removed.

As well, Apple and others have been moving to wireless headphones, so reception has more recently been made virtually impossible in the newest models.

Want an emergency radio that only lasts a day ... if that? That’s what you’re looking at. Power was off in many areas hit by a hurricane. Can’t charge your phone - lose your FM.

Finally, what good would FM be? Most FM stations today don’t even have a DJ many hours of the day, let alone a news department. In an emergency, who would give the news anyway? Oh, yeah the powerful AM station (locally it would be KFI or KNX) that can broadcast hundreds of miles and give real updates. An FM decoder on your phone won’t receive those AM broadcasts, as the phone’s internal chips create interference that wreaks havoc with AM reception.

So the editorial is misplaced at best. To be truly ready for an emergency, you need to have a real radio with a supply of fresh batteries. That will give you not just hours but weeks of radio play time. For the entire family, not just that guy with headphones.

Radio Waves Podcast #188

Radio: September 15, 2017

I should be excited.

What many consider one of the best radio stations in Southern California increased its coverage from a potential audience of 3 million to a whopping 11.5 million, through what is being called a merger of KCSN, which broadcasts from the campus of Cal State Northridge in the valley, and KSBR, from the campus of Saddleback College down South, both using the 88.5 FM frequency.

Considering how good KCSN is, I really should be excited. But I am not ... instead I am conflicted.

Don’t get me wrong. I give props to programmer/manager Sky Daniels for putting together one of the best AAA (Adult Album Alternative) stations -- OK the only one but you get the idea -- in Southern California. Musically, it is vastly more interesting than many other stations in town.

But the merger does nothing but remind me of my pet peeve of these supposed college radio stations: they have nothing to do with the colleges they serve.

These educational licenses are supposed to be for the benefit of students. Either in programming that expands student learning opportunities, or as student broadcasting laboratories where students do the work, on the air and off. There is nothing in an educational license that allows them do what they are doing: commercial broadcasts using professional staffs. In other words, if the FCC actually held them to their licenses, they would lose them.

 

I suppose one could argue that in this case it doesn’t matter much. Neither station used students pre-merger, the KSBR smooth jazz format will still be available on-line and via HD Radio. And KCSN really is great.

 

But former KCSN general manager Douglas Brown, who later went on to a long career in radio and production in part due to his experience at the station, explains it this way, in a letter printed at LARadio.Com:

“I find it really sad to see both KCSN and KSBR are no longer primarily student operated providing young people with a starting place in broadcasting.

“In fact, I don't get why the colleges are even holding these non-commercial licenses which are now run primarily by former commercial music radio people.

“In the late '60s and early '70s, the staff of KEDC/KCSN was well more than 100 students performing virtually every function: writing, performing, production, engineering, continuity, music programming, news, public affairs, publicity, etc. It was a great place to start for many of us.

“And BTW, the KCSN call sign was my idea (in January '73) to coincide with the university name change from San Fernando Valley State College to CSUN.”

It just seems wrong that students are not involved, since that is the sole reason the educational broadcast license exists. I’m calling on Daniels -- and operators of all other pseudo college stations -- to correct this error. Maybe if only like KKJZ (88.1 FM), which offers student-run K-Beach on one of its digital HD streams. That’s not much to ask.

Excellent

Mo’ Kelly had a very fitting program last Sunday on KFI (640 AM). His guest was Josephine Bias Robinson, former White House Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff under President George W. Bush. Robinson was in the White House as the 9/11 attacks began, and she gave her personal stories and memories of the day as it began, and the actions of her colleagues as the event unfolded. Included were recordings of news reports from the day.

Overall, typical Mo Kelly. Insightful, entertaining, and unfortunately too short. Hear it for yourself on the podcast page of KFIAM640.com; hear Mo’ Kelly every Saturday and Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m.

Radio Waves Podcast #187

Radio: September 8, 2017

The Sound (KSWD) currently occupies the broadcast space at 100.3 FM. But more than a few call-letters and formats ago it was known as KIQQ.

Actually, the station launched as a background music station called KMLA back in 1957. It later became KFOX-FM, country-formatted sister station to the original “Country King,” KFOX (now KFRN, 1280 AM) in Long Beach.

In 1972, a group that includes author and owner of LARadio.Com, Don Barrett, bought KFOX-FM and rebranded it as KIQQ, the letters resembling K-100 which it was called on the air to tie in its frequency. Originally the format was softer rock (early “Adult Contemporary,” but just months later Bill Drake and Gene Chenault were given programming control and changed to top-40, competing against KHJ (930 AM) which they previously consulted.

It was not to be. AM still reigned the king of the airwaves, and the FM top-40 audience ended up being split by the arrival of KKDJ (now KIIS-FM, 102.7). Neither one would do well until years later.

Once FM gained a foothold in the early 1980s, KIQQ evolved into an innovative top-40 hybrid, playing traditional top-40 hits with a twist: it played them far earlier than almost any other station. The station was the first to play songs form bands representing the British music invasion of the ‘80s; it was among the first to play anything new from Michael Jackson, and Rick Springfield’s entire album was already on the way out before Jessie’s Girl would be found on competing stations.

It didn’t last long. As KIIS-FM climbed in the ratings, others fell by the wayside. By 1985 KIQQ would be changing again, this time full-circle to light rock. But for a roughly three-year span, KIQQ was like magic to its fans. Managed by George Wilson and programmed by his wife Paula, DJs included Bruce Chandler and Tony St. James, “GW” McCoy (the GW was George Wilson, Jr.), Jay Coffee, Ernie Sanchez, and a few more. 

Due to its short history with this format, not many recordings of the era were made. To the rescue: Airchexx.Com, which just added an aircheck of G.W. McCoy from July of 1984. Most of the music is edited out, making the commercial sets sound even longer, but it’s a good representative of the sound of KIQQ during that time. Just go to Airchexx.Com, search for KIQQ, and it should be the first result to show up.

Make no mistake, though ... the heydays of 100.3 didn’t happen back then, as much as I enjoyed the music. They didn’t happen under numerous other formats that followed. No, the highest, most consistent ratings the station has enjoyed since it began broadcasting in 1957 are happening right now. Perhaps we need to be recording The Sound right now ... in 20 years we may be talking about how great IT was.

Inspiring

KOST (103.5 FM) morning host Ellen K and Alt 98.7 morning co-host Renae Ravey made the list of Inspirer Magazine’s “The Wonderful Women of Radio ... the women we love to listen to.

“Her unique voice, and fun and famous friends like Lisa Rinna and Kris Jenner, allow for an entertaining 5 hour morning block,” writer Haley DePass said of Ellen K, while Ravey “is refreshing and hilarious. Her laugh is absolutely contagious, and she wows with an impressive array of knowledge on sports, celebrities, and nerd topics. Ravey is a long time radio host, and is taking over airwaves alongside her hilarious co-hosts.”

SiriusXM’s longtime sidekick to Howard Stern also made the list, as did a few from BBC Radio. “These women are only a few of some of the amazing ladies in radio,” wrote DePass. “They utilize their platforms to shut down shamers, build up women, and create fun, relatable content. They are definitely providing some serious ear candy.”

Short Takes

Anyone catch Disco Saturday Night on K-SURF (1260 AM, 105.1 HD2)? Or how about the DJs in mornings and afternoons? ...

Why did SiriusXM place some of its best Summer programming on channels only available via radios that can receive the newest satellite feeds (known as SiriusXM as opposed to Sirius or XM)? I count at least 20 channels I can get in my truck that my wife can’t hear in her car. And what happened to George Carlin’s Corner? ...

Rumor has it that Jay Thomas, former morning host of Power 106 who recently passed away, was let go from the station back in 1993 because his acting was taking so much of his time he wanted to pre-record his radio show. Supposedly that didn’t sit well with Power management ...

I mentioned Don Barrett’s LARadio.Com earlier. Didn’t he retire? For the last time? Yes, indeed. But he can’t stay away and his site is still updated. You should check it out ...

Radio Waves Podcast #186

Radio: September 1, 2017

Most people know Jay Thomas as an accomplished actor, with roles on such shows as Mork and Mindy, Cheers, Murphy Brown, and more. But I know him as the second morning man on Power 106 (KPRW, 105.9 FM), replacing Tommy Jaxson and Deborah Rath in October, 1986 ... nine months after the initial dance/top-40 format made it’s debut on the station.

Born Jon Thomas Terrell, Thomas died of cancer on August 24th; he is survived by his wife and three sons.

He began his radio career as a sports announcer for high school football and college basketball in Charlotte, North Carolina. His career goal was to be a stand-up comic, which he accomplished while he stayed on the radio in addition to his appearances on television.

By the time he arrived at Power 106, he had a solid resume. The combination of acting, DJing and comedy made him a perfect choice for Power, as the station looked for someone to take on perennial morning leader Rick Dees who seemed unstoppable at competitor KIIS (102.7 FM).

Through a combination of mis-steps by KIIS and momentum of the new format at Power, it worked. Thomas was the first person to knock Dees out of 1st place since Dees started dominating in 1983.

Thomas left the station in 1993 when management took Power into a different direction, replacing dance with rap. He continued with acting, but until his death was still connected with radio most recently through an uncensored talk program on SiriusXM.

Celebrating 50

Andy Barber -- that is his real name -- grew up with radio heroes like The Real Don Steele, Robert W. Morgan and stations like the original KRLA (now KRDC, 1110 AM), KHJ (930 AM), KFWB (980 AM), listening from his home in the Los Angeles area as he studied to become an actor.

Acting never really happened, but he got hooked on radio, working his way to Los Angeles on the AM top-40 version of KROQ (1500 AM, now off the air) in the mid 1970s where he worked with one of his boyhood heroes, Charlie Tuna, and later at high-energy Ten-Q (KTNQ, 1020 AM) where he worked with another, Steele.

Steele, in fact, brought him his biggest thrill on the air when introducing him for the first time on Ten-Q. “He said, ‘and now on the air from Glendale, California, Little Andy Barber ... a-ha Andy, I have a connection ... he’s on Ten-Q!’

 

“I about peed my pants. He called my Dad to find out any idiosyncrasies and my Dad said ‘yeah he used to be called Little Andy.’ He used that and I was more shocked that he knew that than he was actually introducing me next.”

Interestingly, while he grew up locally, outside of KROQ, Ten-Q and later K-WEST (now KPWR), he’s spent most of his career outside of Los Angeles. “I always wanted to make it to LA; when I finally did, it just wasn’t like the other cities,” he explained. “It’s as different vibe.” He’s been in Tulsa, Oklahoma for the past 24 years and loving it.

Barber began his 50th anniversary on the radio airwaves last month Tulsa, still sounding great. You can hear him via his current station stream at www.929thedrive.com; if you want to hear the interview I (and Mike Stark) did with Barber, head over to LARadioWaves.Com and look for podcast #185. 

More Woody

Our own Woody Show, heard mornings locally on Alt 98.7 FM, has expanded to Portland Oregon via Alt 102.3 (KKRZ-HD2) ... a secondary HD channel receivable on digital HD radios.

I’m not sure which is the bigger news -- Woody syndicating in Portland or a major station using the secondary channel to run a viable format. Are the major broadcasters finally taking note of the success broadcasters like Saul Levine have had with HD streams? Could more interesting formats be moving to HD? Or is this just a blip? Time will tell.

Radio Waves Podcast #185

Radio: August 25, 2017

I never heard of consultant Walter Sabo before he arrived in Los Angeles in 1984 to destroy KHJ (930 AM) by instituting a format revolving around traffic reports.

I’m kidding. Truth be told, Sabo didn’t destroy the once-legendary top-40 station at all -- that honor belongs to some of his predecessors -- and while I disagree with some of the moves he made at KHJ (including changing call letters to KRTH-AM) and sister KFRC/San Francisco (radio game shows), it turns out there’s a lot more to Sabo than meets the eye.

In a recent “10 Questions With ... Walter Sterling a/k/a Walter Sabo” on AllAccess.Com, Sabo hit the nail on the head multiple times, from talk shows to weekend programming to ratings. Much of the conversation centered on compelling programming.

Sterling is the last name he uses as Sunday night talk host on WPHT/Philadelphia, where he earns high ratings by (gasp!) not talking politics on his (gasp! again) AM radio show.

On political talk: ratings for political talk stations have been essentially flat and “the few talk stations that have actual increases -- not a tenth of a share wobbles -- cover a wide range of subjects all day.”

On his own show: “In show-prep, I hyper-focus on what two friends would probably have talked about that afternoon and present that conversation. I also ask for calls and give the phone number -- surprisingly, many hosts do not.”

Sabo continues: “The closer to home, the better the subject. If you care passionately about a subject, it's not fluff, it's important ... Parent teacher conferences, losing weight, finding romance, putting out the engine light and realizing that once again you have no spare cash are subjects that elicit passion from many people.

On weekend programming: “Infomercials rob a station of about 1/3rd of its potential (number of listeners). Saturday 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. is the second highest “homes using radio” daypart. Putting infomercials on during that time easily cuts a 1 share from the total week audience delivery. 

The main point of his philosophy: offer compelling, entertaining programming always and a station will do well. AM or FM. Isn’t that the whole idea?

Speaking of AM Radio

I am a firm believe in AM radio. My feeling is that -- as mentioned above -- compelling programming will bring in listeners no matter the band. More specifically, I want to take over a money-losing AM station and successfully program it ... or at least convince the Catholics to give me a few weekend hours to play top-40 music on KHJ. But I digress.

I happened to run across a group on Facebook called I Love AM Radio and, of course, immediately joined. The first (linked) article I read?

“Coal Ain’t Coming Back & Neither is AM Radio.” (tinyurl.com/AMCoal)

Written by Dick Taylor, it is quite a depressing read. AM is doomed because no one listens. He doesn’t really get into why they don’t listen, but he is accurate when concludes that few radio listeners tune to AM.

But the why is extremely important. Is it interference? Yes. Is it bad radios? Yes. But there are short-term and longer-term solutions to those important issues. What any good owner and any good programmer will tell you is that compelling programming thing again. The responses to the story on Facebook were surprisingly positive and uplifting, echoing my own thoughts.

 

Is it coincidence that the last respectful ratings earned by KLAC (570 AM), XETRA (690 AM), KEIB (1150 AM) and others was when they played music? Why does KSUR (1260 AM), playing oldies, have a strong following in spite of a signal that doesn’t even cover much of the Los Angeles ratings zone? How are KFI (640 AM) and KNX (1070 AM) competing? They provide good programming you can’t find elsewhere.

The point is, whether it is music, news, or talk, if you provide what people want (and promote it!) they will listen. Perhaps if more programmers followed that idea, people would tune in to AM more often and receiver manufacturers would start building better radios again ... including special circuits that are able to minimize interference and improve the sound.

Chargers Update

Alt 98.7 FM dodged a bullet. According to sources close to the scene, it's been decided that LA Chargers football games will NOT air on 98.7 or any FM, only KFI. Pregame programming will simulcast on two other iHeart stations, KLAC and KEIB. I imagine the staff at Alt must be relieved.

Radio Waves Podcast #184

Radio: August 18, 2017

Andy Barber was a high energy Los Angeles DJ from 1974 to 1981, launching his local career at KROQ back when it was heard on the AM band (1500 AM, now dark) in 1974, moving to Ten-Q (KTNQ, 1020 AM) and eventually K-WEST (now KPWR, 105.9 FM) during it’s top-40 days under the direction of master programmer Chuck Martin.

As if it was one of those cosmic moments, I happened to hear hear an aircheck of Barber on Ten-Q last week, and contacted him to ask if he’d be interested in doing an interview. Turns out, he just happens to be beginning his 50th continuous year being on the radio airwaves; now heard on KBEZ/Tulsa, OK, he began his 50th year last Wednesday morning at 6 a.m.

And he said “yes” to the interview ... that will be happening in the next few days; look for it in this very spot within the next two weeks.

Portable Sounds

Readers often ask if anyone still makes a good radio any more. Not a fancy streaming device, just a regular radio with a knob for tuning, a knob for volume, and a speaker. 

While you don’t see them in many stores -- they were hard to find even at Radio Shack, which might explain that chain’s demise -- they are still available. And Sony even introduced a new one earlier this year, the ICF-506 “analog tuning” portable radio. It costs about $40-$50.

I put analog tuning in quotes because this is not an analog tuner as far as I can tell. As you move the dial, the stations seem to pop into place the same as if you were using a digital tuner, both on AM and FM. And on AM, the tuning dial is linear -- stations are evenly spaced throughout the band -- unlike analog tuners that give more space for the lower end of the band and space stations at the top of the band more tightly. I did not confirm, but I believe that the radio is fully digital.

Reception is excellent. Using just the built-in antennas, even distant stations on both AM and FM bands came in easily. And FM sound through the single small mono speaker was adequate. You won’t be thumping any rap tunes through this but the sound is pleasant. AM, on the other hand, is awful. Think transistor radio from the 1960s sound ... Sony totally dropped the ball here, considering how others have done better even in the past.

It runs on three AA batteries or a power cord (no storage on the radio for the cord). It would make an excellent emergency radio due to its small size and great reception, as long as you are OK with the lack of fidelity on AM.

Charging KFI

KFI (640 AM) has been named one of the flagship radio broadcast stations for the San Diego, er, Los Angeles Chargers. KFI will be airing play-by-play, while it and sister stations KYSR (Alt 98.7 FM) and KLAC (570 AM) will broadcast 10 hours of game-day programming.

Without being too obvious, I imagine that management from competitors KROQ (106.7 FM) and KNX (1070 AM) are looking forward to the upcoming season.