Radio Waves Podcast #345

 Radio Waves: July 1, 2022

Can consumers help improve radio’s success?

Brian Winnekins knows radio. AM radio in particular, with special knowledge of analog AM stereo. He should … as owner of  “Reel Country” WRDN/Durand, Wisconsin, he bought a former has-been AM station that was often off the air or operating at reduced power, upgraded the transmitter site, added an AM stereo (C-QUAM) system and provided programming of interest to the local community.

Now he’s the owner of a successful (though admittedly small-town) AM radio station, and has become one of a small but growing number of small station owners acting as a united voice promoting AM, AM stereo, and highlighting the struggles felt by such owners such as the tremendous burden placed on music stations by the various music licensing companies.

Winnekins programs WRDN like the old days, with programming of help to local farmers in the area. Besides the requisite country music, listeners can tune in to information on agriculture trends, farm reports, local sports, and of course news. It is the only station providing programming specifically targeted to Durand.

I suppose in some ways, the purchase was an extension of his own interests – prior to buying WRDN, Winnekins was a farm reporter for another station in a neighboring town. Now as an owner, he doesn’t mind sticking his neck out in an attempt to attract attention to ideas that can help AM stations better compete.

Recently Winnekins attended a Wisconsin Broadcasters Association conference session on “The Connected Car – What Does it Mean for Radio?” and included a representative from Xperi, the company behind numerous audio and video technologies including HD Radio, Connected Car technologies, DTS and more.

“During his presentation, he talked about how Apple and Google are trying to use their operating systems not only for the ‘infotainment center’ but even the dashboard,” Winnekins told me. “He also mentioned how it gets harder and harder to keep radio as part of car entertainment systems as manufacturers focus on newer technologies. He said convinced one company to keep AM by showing them the number of AM affiliates for sports teams.

“I was able to talk with him after the session and I brought up the idea that we need to end the ‘analog vs digital AM’ war – such that radios should be able to receive both analog stereo and digital HD –  and have receivers just tune up the dial from 540 AM to 108 FM with no ‘band button.’”

Winnekins says that the representative from Xperi said he is open to both ideas. But … automotive companies will only put options in their products that they believe their customers want. That means for AM to truly have good receivers, customers need to demand it.

“The car companies will NEVER do anything unless people who are upset that their radios sound awful actually complain,” he explains.  And it needs to go straight to the manufacturers, not the dealers. And certainly not social media. “If people are just going to continue to complain on Facebook …  or the ‘radio experts’ (some of whom are owners!) continue to say that radio is dying, IT WILL DIE,” he says.  

“Frankly, this ‘woe is me’ crap or this ‘well the consumers don’t care about radio and want internet garbage’ is a self-fulfilling prophecy,” Winnekins says, adding that his own experience proves people will listen given the right programming and that consumers do indeed like the sound that better radios can provide.

“I’ve had farmers stop at the station with their old work trucks, and they are impressed with the way the station sounds on those radios … but then ask why their new $70,000 truck doesn’t sound as good,” he explained. “So here we have people who like the sound of  our signal on a good radio … shouldn’t we find a way to help them complain to the car companies about their new lousy radios rather than constantly lamenting that ‘radio is dead?’”

Want to hear it for yourself? Like WION/Ionia, Michigan (i1430.com), WRDN streams their signal as received over the Am airwaves by an actual AM stereo tuner, in this case a Carver TX11a. “Tune in” from the station web page at reelcountry1430.com.

New KROQ

The effect of Kevin Weatherly’s return to the programming position at KROQ (106.7 FM) is already having a positive effect. The station suddenly has a sound more in keeping with its history … a vibe, of sorts, that I have not heard in years. It’s as if everyone is suddenly proud to be there, rather than just “being there.” More oldies than I prefer, but at least some new music. So far I am liking it.

Radio Waves Podcast #344

 MBC Radio Hall of Fame 2022 Candidates Announced

The Chicago-based Museum of Broadcast Communications recently announced the nominations class of 2022 for the Radio Hall of Fame Twenty-four people were chosen by the nominating committee, including four of our own: two individuals and one set of two.

They are: KOST (103.5 FM) morning star Ellen K, KFI (640 AM) afternoon drive duo John and Ken, and former KABC (790 AM) and KRLA (870 AM) host Larry Elder. Actually there’s one more from LA radio’s past: Walt “Baby” Love, formerly heard on KHJ (930 AM), KFI (640 AM), and KMPC (now KSPN, 710 AM). He was nominated for his syndicated Gospel Traxx program.

While 24 are being considered for induction, more than 2500 names were suggested by industry veterans and listeners; the 25 members of the nominating committee took those suggestions and their own thoughts to pare down the list. Now more than 600 Museum members will vote for up to six of their favorites through the end of the voting cycle on July 8th, with the top-six vote recipients being inducted.

Two more inductees — for a total of eight — will be selected by the nominating committee itself. The winners will be announced on July 25th and honored at the official 2022 Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremony on November 1st in Chicago.

The Museum of Broadcast Communications’ Radio Hall of Fame honors those who have contributed to the development of the radio medium throughout its history in the United States.

Previous inductees include such legendary broadcasters as Abbot and Costello, Fred Allen, Jack Benny, Dr. Demento, Tom Donahue, Bill Drake, Rick Dees, Paul Harvey, Bob Hope, Kevin and Bean, Casey Kasem, Art Laboe, Robert W. Morgan, “The Real” Don Steele, Charlie Tuna, Dick Whittinghill, and Wolfman Jack, among many others, meaning that the current candidates are among really good company.

Ellen K, who has a long history in San Diego and Los Angeles radio including being a sidekick and news reporter for Rick Dees and Ryan Seacrest on KIIS-FM (102.7) before getting her own show on KOST and proving that she has not only the ability to shine on her own, she also has the ability to be among the most popular personalities in town. Indeed, Ellen is one of the reasons KOST so often dominates the LA radio ratings. Her show is usually at the top of the ratings in numerous demographics including all listeners aged 6 and over, adults aged 25-54, and women aged 25-54.

Likewise, John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou are a major reason for the continued success of KFI even as the station has tried to become less political overall. John and Ken, of course, are as political as ever, injecting themselves into local and state issues, and acting as the voice for things you want to say but can’t when it comes to local politics and political correctness. Sometimes they are off-base, but almost always entertaining. 

Elder is no longer on the air, having left KRLA and other affiliates nationwide in April, but continues as a contributor to Fox News and still has his own podcast. He spent many years on KABC as The Sage from South Central and giving a unique perspective on local and national issues. More recently, he was a candidate to replace Gavin Newsom had the recall of Newsom been successful.

Love, also known as Reverend Walter Shaw, was a popular DJ on the most popular station in the United States at the time he was on the air at KHJ in the mid 1970s. He became an ordained minister in 1997; his Gospel Traxx is an extension of his work in spreading the Gospel, and has won awards including Best Syndicated Urban/R&B/Gospel Show of the Year from Billboard Magazine in 2002.

“Life is all about how it feels and this nomination feels really great!!!” Ellen told me last week. “Being included amongst so many well deserving candidates is humbling, and I’m reminded of the incredible people and moments that have led to this. Most of all, I’m grateful to be surrounded by the best!”

I imagine all of the nominees feel something very similar. This is truly a big deal, and a big congratulations goes to all the nominees. For a full list, go to https://www.radiohalloffame.com/2022-nominees. 

While you’re there, take note of the fact that the photo used for John and Ken is the one I used to keep on my own website years ago just to tease the team… It has to be over 30 years old, as demonstrated by the cool 80s sweaters they don.

The Crummey Evil Side Show …

Toward the earlier days of KFI’s (640 AM) talk format, the station tended to lean political, even more than it does today. And while it tended to be on the conservative side of things, there was a semblance of balance … morning host Rush Limbaugh countered with afternoon drive’ s Tom Leykis. And in the evening was a little of both combined with a lot of levity in the form of Joe Crummey. I liked the show.

Crummey was a bit of an anomaly on KFI … at first his show seems to lean liberal, then shifted toward the middle and middle-right. But it was always a fun listen, and I was disappointed when he left the station for KABC (790 AM) — it never seemed quite the same as far as the fun factor went — and eventually he left for other cities: Phoenix and New York in particular.

While at KFI, he had a certain bit in which he would debate himself – “regular” Joe vs “evil” Joe. Logical and moral Joe vs. illogical and immoral Joe. When he went to KABC, KFI became the “evil” station.

Apparently Crummey has evil in his blood. At least part of it.

As of late, Crummey is hosting a conservative podcast, called, of course, Evil Thoughts with Joe Crummey, in which he takes issues of the day and breaks them down using quotes and soundbites from the politicians and supporters involved.

It’s a short program – usually about 15 minutes or so – but quite entertaining especially if you agree with his analysis. If you lean liberal, it is still entertaining, but I would assume you’d disagree with many of his thoughts, but truth be told, he’s hard on Republicans as well as Democrats.

Recent topics have mirrored current events: inflation, shortages, the Supreme Court, abortion, energy and more. Soundbites come from from politicians, The View, and news programs, interspersed with commentary from Crummey. But it’s not just skin-deep … a recent show on baby formula went into the why of the shortage, not just spinning blame.

In fact, that’s the premise behind most of his shows – having some fun with the soundbites as you learn a little more about the issues in a way that other sources tend to avoid.

Find it at http://joecrummey.com.

Golden

KNX (1070 AM, 97.1 FM) and KFI (640 AM) took top honors for radio … as per usual … in the recent Golden Mike awards held in late May.

KNX won for Best Radio Newscast Over 15 Minutes, while KFI won for Best Radio Newscast Under 15 minutes

But wait, you ask, aren’t these the only real news stations in Southern California … wouldn’t they win anyway? Not exactly. The awards cover all of Southern California, so there are stations from San Diego to Santa Barbara that compete. 

That’s a lot of stations!

Each year the Radio and Television News Association (RTNA) presents the Golden Mike Awards to radio and television stations, programs, and people involved in the production of quality newscasts, reporting, and features. This year, in addition to the regular awards, the RTNA presented its 2022 Broadcast Legend Award to Jaime Jarrin, longtime Spanish play by play broadcaster for the Dodgers. Jarrin is the longest tenured active announcer in Major League Baseball, and is currently in his 64th (and final) season as the Spanish-language voice of the Dodgers.

Other radio awards locally included:

Best Traffic Report: KNX

Best Individual Writing: KOGO’s (600 AM) Remembering the Day

Best Long Form Program or Documentary: KFI’s The Death and Life of Kobe Bryant

Best Hard News Series Reporting: KPCC’s (89.3 FM) Unpermitted Housing

Best Feature News Series Reporting: KCRW’s (89.9 FM) Wasted

There are many more, and you can access the full list at rtnasocal.org.

Radio Waves Podcast #343

 Radio Waves: June 10, 2022

Something new at SiriusXM

SiriusXM has some new channels, or at least new to me, that I happened upon during a recent trip to Central California. 

Most intriguing is arguably The 10s Spot on Channel 10, described as pop hits from the 2010s. What I find interesting about it is that I can’t figure out where its going, and that may be by design. Justin Timberlake, Drake, Fall Out Boy, Lady Gaga and the likes, of course, with a few country songs thrown in for flavor. What’s up next? You’ll never know. I like that.

Pandora Now on Channel 3 borrow’s my programming idea of getting into the services that younger listeners use to find songs to play on my station. It is described as “top-trending hits to the most anticipated new releases” and features current core artists as Cardi B, Post Malone, Khalid, and Dua Lipa; the difference from this and my idea is that I’d be using it to find new artists and not just new songs

Mosaic on Channel 15 plays “a colorful and diverse pop music collage from the 90s and 2000s” including Mariah Carey, Matchbox Twenty, Sheryl Crow, John Mayor, Gwen Stefani, and Kelly Clarkson. Sounds like KOST (103.5 FM). 

Channels 104 and 105 feature special programming from country and pop performers, respectively, on a varying schedule. For example, as I write this, 105 is running music from Prince; by the time you read this it may have switched over to the next featured artist: The Notorious B.I.G. 104 is running special programs for Country Pride, in commemoration of Pride Month.

Caliente on Channel 151 is where Latin music and culture meet … Salsa, bachata, and raggaeton in a mix that includes Shakira, J Balvin, Maluma, Bad Bunny, Daddy Yankee and more.

And just in case you were worried that holiday music might not be available until November, SiriusXM online has you covered: Yes, Holiday Traditions continues all year on line. As I write this, they are playing The Christmas Song by Johnny Mathis … just the song for early June.

Catching up on all the mail …

“When I was in elementary school, I made a crystal set.  A good one. Had a 50 foot long copper wire in back yard, above the roof line. I remember being able to hear Del Rio Texas, WLS Chicago and KSL Salt Lake …  on a crystal set!!!  All clear channels.

“In 1971, I spent the summer in Anchorage Alaska. Just about dusk with car antenna up full (4 feet). With the engine off in my 1960 Dodge Dart, the 4 tube radio would pull in the Dodgers in Los Angeles… The signal would come in like waves: loud then soft … but amazing … maybe 2500 miles.

Here is my 1960 Zenith. No bike at age14, so travel was limited.  The night time radio took me to places all over America. Salt Lake, Chicago, Seattle, Texas, San Francisco.  The call letters were fascinating. My pal Phil taught me to send a DX card; a few stations politely sent me a Thank You card. Radio was everything, a time machine for me.” — Victor D’Agostino

I checked with Victor, who told me the radio still works … loud and clear, he says, a testament to the Zenith build quality. He tells me the faded sticker on the back reads “Made in America, by Americans for Americans”

“Do I enjoy radio?  Yes. Why? Because it offers a variety of informative and enjoyable programming that I can listen from almost anywhere and while doing something else.

“My path to radio began in the ‘60s while listening to KHJ music on my transistor radio. In the early 1970s, influenced by my Mom listening to Joe Pyne, Michael Jackson and others, I became a talk radio fan. Not only did I follow Michael Jackson, but whether from home or in my car, I’d listen to Dr. Toni Grant, Dr. David Viscott, and several cooking and money show hosts on KABC Talkradio plus LA Dodger baseball and LA Kings hockey games on whatever stations they occurred.

“Today, I continue to enjoy a variety of shows (talk, music & sport) notably The Dennis Praeger Show; NPR broadcasts; and the KFI 640 lineup with The Tim Conway Jr. show topping my list.”  — Jeanie Harvey

“I was a KHJ fan in the 1960s … loved the Friday sign offs by Real Don Steele. I actually was so intrigued by radio that I seriously considered a career in radio.

I took a couple of classes at Fullerton College.  Did an interesting interview, as a class assignment, to talk with the station engineer at KWIZ..

“That’s when I figured out that it is a long road to the big radio markets like Los Angeles, New York or Chicago where the big money was. Not everyone was like Charlie Tuna, making the big time in a fairly short time. You would start in a very small market and not making very much money. 

“So I went another direction.  I went on to California State University, Fullerton.  Business degree. I am retired now, but I still enjoy the music from the ‘60s and ‘70s. — Bob Brown, Yorba Linda, CA

Radio Waves Podcast #342

Radio Waves: June 3, 2022

Advice for the “new” programmer

Monday, June 6th is the big day – the day Kevin Weatherly returns to program KROQ (106.7 FM). Weatherkly had programmed the station for many years and oversaw some of its highest ratings ever.

But he also oversaw the beginning of the decline. As previously mentioned, it was not necessarily his fault, but he was there. And the foundation for success that began crumbling years before he left the first time has never been repaired. Owner Audacy still believes cost-cutting is far more important than developing talent; indeed they have a well-deserved reputation as being cheap. Not in a good way, just cheap.

Add to that the fact that there is a need to protect sister station Jack (KCBS-FM, 93.1) — limiting the “gold” that KROQ can play, and you reduce Weatherly’s power even more.

He’s got his work cut out for him. But that’s not the focus of this column. Indeed, I want KROQ to excel. To return to glory. To do this, it helps to understand what put KROQ on the map in the first place.

Rick Carroll had programmed a few stations before be arrived at KROQ, most notably KKDJ (now KIIS-FM, 102.7) and KEZY (now KGBN, 1190 AM). When he arrived at KROQ in 1978, his idea was for more of an irreverent top-40 station — or perhaps a top-40/AOR hybrid — than an album-rock station. His basic plan was to go against the likes of his former stations by playing music long before they became hits, but indeed they would become hits. Listening to Carroll’s KROQ was like being part of a musical time machine, where Prince or Michael Jackson  or any number of new bands would be heard on KROQ … followed months later on all the rest.

A description on Wikipedia says it best: “Carroll’s approach was to play music from the emerging new wave, punk and related genres while retaining a Top 40 presentation style and Top 40 rotations. Noted for his ability to pick breakout hits, Carroll guided songs to prominence via the “Hot Clock,” a pie chart prescribing the music to be played during each portion of a disc jockey’s air shift. His system also included a “Jock’s Choice” at the end of each hour of programming, during which a DJ could play any song of his or her own choosing. The Jock’s Choice became a vehicle for new artists such as Depeche Mode and Juluka to break into KROQ-FM’s regular rotation.” (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Carroll)

It worked far better than anyone expected, and became the prototype of new-wave music stations everywhere. Carrroll himself consulted or helped launch numerous KROQ clones in such cities as San Diego, Sacramento, San Francisco, Seattle, and Pittsburgh. Here in Los Angeles it was KROQ more than direct competitor KLOS (95.5 FM) that put the final knife in KMET (now KTWV, 94.7 FM), as KMET had been the place to find new music … but KROQ got the jump on them and stole the new music thunder.

There are many who believe that you can’t play new music on the radio any more. That it will push away listeners. My take is that notplaying new music on the radio is why the average listener is aging older and older. Radio offers nothing to young people, who shun radio for Facebook, Apple Music, Pandora, Sound Cloud and more. Certainly KROQ’s current ratings prove they have nothing to lose. I believe Weatherly needs to recommit KROQ to the original intent: get local jocks who love music, let them be part of choosing that new music, give them the freedom to have some fun on the air while keeping it fast paced and entertaining, and most of all, expose new music.

It doesn’t mean playing new music for new music’s sake. But as the online streaming services and SiriusXM’s The Pulse Hits One prove, there is a lot of great new music around, and much of it never makes it to traditional radio airwaves.

Get into the areas where high school and college-aged kids and young adults hear music and find out what they like. Make it your purpose in life to break the next big act. Get them in concert for listeners. Become the must-be place on the dial for new music. Don’t limit yourself to one style – think top-40 … included everything. Young music fans are far more open to new styles than are m out adults, and adults already have their own stations.

Keep the commercials down in number and make the ads relevant and entertaining to listeners … yes, advertisements don’t have to be a tune-out. You know you have to run ads, unlike the streamers, so make them good. Most of all, treat listeners with respect. Earn their trust; earn their loyalty. You’ll have them locked in to 106.7 forever.

You may notice these are the same ideas I have for my future AM station … I’ll loan them for now to Weatherly, at least until I buy or am given my own station.

That’s my plan … what’s yours? What would you do with KROQ? It seems to me the slate is clean … am I off-base? Let me know your thoughts. 

Radio Waves Podcast #341

 Radio Waves: May 27, 2022

More Favorite “IM” Stations

A while back I asked you what your favorite app stations (IM – Internet modulation?) and podcasts were; I thought today would be a good time to feature a few more.

• Daryl James spent 25 years doing FM rock radio in the Inland Empire, most recently at KCXX (now KHTI, 103.9 FM) in the Inland Empire, where he worked for an impressive 17 years. He nominated his own station, which I’d like to point out is not against the rules, of which there were none.

“When KCXX went to pop, I started streaming music on Dirty Radio; we have two stations available, and stream rock, metal, alternative, and classic rock,” James told me. The two stations are Dirty Radio and Dirty Radio Classics, both of which are quite good. Find them at https://dirtyradio.fm, or visit the Google or Apple App stores and download the apps.

If you want some background on the stations, see https://www.sbsun.com/2016/01/16/x1039-dj-starting-dirty-radio-online-station/.

• “I actually keep a relatively long list of stations that I like to stream covering quite a few formats. I will limit myself to just three that are among the best of the best.

“WWOZ New Orleans – While classified as a non-commercial jazz station, there is no doubt this station has a total NOLA vibe that’s often more like listening to a Mardi Gras parade than a jazz club. https://www.wwoz.org/

“KBear 101 (KCVI Blackfoot, Idaho) – Especially since you have written a lot recently about stations that might flip to active rock, I’ve thought for a long time that this station does the best job with the music mix. It is at https://kbear.fm/

“Music City Roadhouse – A non-commercial online station out of Nashville playing southern rock, blues, and honky tonk, at least during the daytime when I usually get to listen, the main guy running this station knows what he’s doing.  He’s on live like an OTA station, knows how to connect with his audience, and plays a good mix of music that sticks within what he has staked out as his format.  I only wish I had the time and money to make my own online station sound this lively.  It is available on at least seven different apps including TuneIn and Live365. https://musiccityroadhouse.com” — Kevin Sammons, Crestline

• “The best radio app is KEXP out of Seattle!” — Matt Hommman

Found on various apps as well as at https://www.kexp.org, KEXP is celebrating 50 years of service to Seattle, currently playing a variety of music focussing on rock, including electronic, soul, hip-hop, alternative, and more. Studios are located in the city’s Uptown Arts District. Somehow that seems fitting.

• My favorite radio station is Cool Blue out of Taupo, New Zealand. It plays blues, Americana, soul, jazz etc, etc. No ads, no DJ’s, no repeats or high rotation…just Music! It can be found online here https://www.coolbluetaupo.com/“ — Bruce M

• “These are a few of my favorites for weekend listening.

“KHUG-LP 97.5 FM, Santa.Clarita: 

“12N Sunday- The Down Home Show: There’s no other show like it in Southern California; it salutes  talented artists from Valencia and San Fernando. 

“3:00PM – Side A / Side B with Lou Paparozzi:  A tasty bag of themed music that is always interesting and informative.

“4:00PM – Backbeat Charlie Show: A thematic music show offering up musical treats.

“KJAA 1240AM, Miami/Globe Arizona, another great oldies station. Their motto is “None of the hits, All of the time … We don’t play the old same songs over and over… we play different old songs over and over.”

All of these stations can be accessed on TuneIn Radio” — Mark C

• “A few years ago, somehow, I came across WLVN out of Livingston, Montana on Audacy. What I really like about this station is that most of the music is tied into the years of WWII.  The lyrics are very entertaining, and commercials are played from that time such as with Frank Sinatra talking about war bonds and one I recently heard with Bob Hope. I enjoy waking up and seeing what is on each morning.”  — Peter A. Keon

All excellent selections … thank you for sending them, ands keep ion sending them in.

You may notice I have not given my favorites yet. That is coming soon, after a few more of yours. One thing that Internet Modulation stations (you heard the term here first) do is give you formats, as you can read hear, that you can’t get locally on AM or FM.

Radio Waves Podcast #340

 Radio: May 20, 2022

In a case of going back to the future, or perhaps simply going full circle, KROQ (106.7 FM) and owner Audacy have announced the return of Kevin Weatherly as programmer of the once-mighty station.

I hate to use the word “alternative” to describe KROQ, because that’s not what KROQ was all about during most of its successful life … at least not in the traditional sense of the word. When KROQ was the trend-setting station, breaking new bands and new music in the days of DJs Rodney Bingenheimer, Jedd the Fish Freddie Snakeskin, Richard Blade, Poorman, Swedish Egil, Ramondo, etc., the songs heard on KROQ tended to appear there first, and later on KIQQ (now KKLQ, 100.3 FM) — though KIQQ broke numerous songs and bands itself — followed by other stations such as KIIS-FM (102.7), KKHR (now “Jack KCBS-FM, 93.1), and even KRTH (101.1 FM), KMET (now The Wave KTWV, 94.7 FM) and KLOS (95.5 FM).

For full disclosure, it must be pointed out that KNAC (now KBUE, 105.5 FM), during the Rock ’n Ryhythm days, played much of the same music with similar attitude … the limited signal out of Long Beach being KNAC’s downfall.

The Plimsouls, The Bangles, Oingo Bingo, The Blasters, Berlin, Wall of Voodoo, The Go Gos, Billy Idol, REM, A Flock of Seagulls, Kajagoogoo, Wham!, Human League, Peter Gabriel, X, Stray Cats, INXS, The B52s, Adam Ant, Psychedelic Furs, Prince, Rick James … almost every ‘80s band that you hear on flashback weekends — or now Jack FM — appeared first on KROQ. KROQ was the place for the hippest kids to find new music, and it was the soundtrack for so many of the era.

Which is why I was listening to other stations … I was never a trendsetter. But I digress. Intermixed with the new music, be it new-wave, British pop, or hard rock, was some traditional flavoring from The Rolling Stones, Cheap Trick, or even Led Zeppelin.

DJs on KROQ were funny, relatable, irreverent, sarcastic, and importantly, your friends. They curated the music, and especially in the case of Bingenheimer and his Rodney on the Roq Sunday evening show, they visited clubs, recording studios, and any other place they could think of to find new bands and new music. 

Original programmer Rick Carroll didn’t design the KROQ to be a station to hear “alternative” music. He wanted it to be an alternative to other stations … a  station where you heard something first. By the time you heard it elsewhere, KROQ had already moved on. 

Something changed along the way. The music got more predictable. More formatted. More limited in scope, such that the few new songs and new sounds got lost in the constant repetition of songs from bands — many of which were talented — that tended to all sound exactly like each other. I blame modern corporate ownership, in which executives are so afraid of taking chances, they choke the life out of such formats.

As time went on, ratings dropped. Stature dropped. The once mighty trend-setter became a has-been, almost embarrassing to its history. So it wasn’t surprising two years ago when Weatherly left KROQ to join on-line service Spotify as head of North America Programming. He could once again be free to innovate.

What is surprising is his decision to return. Nothing has changed at KROQ. The station is still owned by one of the worst companies to own radio stations, one in which innovation is actively blocked. One observer quipped that it probably had to do with “giving him some huge title and backing up the Brinks truck.”

Let me be clear, I hope I am wrong. If Weatherly is given the freedom to do what he wants, and he isn’t too old to remember that not everyone wants to live in the past and on past glories, KROQ could be in for something big.

The “big title” is Senior Vice President of Programming. In that capacity, he will not only oversee the programming — including content, talent operations and even the branding at KROQ, he’ll also advise the Audacy alternative stations throughout the country. No word yet on if he will be given a budget to hire DJs for each station, or if he will be stuck with the current policy to have a handful of DJs to work with, all pretending to be local, but spinning the tunes for stations nationally and regionally. 

I am not alone in my analysis. As another observer explained to me, “There's no question that KROQ's best years were under Kevin Weatherly's brilliant leadership. But let's not forget that KROQ's decline began under his watch, too. That wasn't his fault, of course. The firing of Ralph Garman, followed by failing to keep Kevin & Bean in place wasn't Kevin's idea. These moves are symptoms of the core problem. KROQ's new ownership has a deserved reputation for being cheap, especially on talent. Upon his return, Kevin will still be working for Audacy, so he'll have one hand tied behind his back.”

My message to Audacy management, and CEO David Field in particular: Leave. Weatherly. Alone. Let him do his job. Give him the financial backing to do it — invest in your stations and talent for a change. Weatherly — who officially starts June 6 — is talented enough to get the job done … when he is allowed to do his job. 

My message to Weatherly: Keep an open mind to new music. Start exposing new bands. Bring KROQ back to greatness. Los Angeles long ago lost the image of being a place to find new music … you have the ability to single-handedly change that, and in doing so save not just KROQ. 

And perhaps most importantly: don’t listen to David Field. Hopefully he has that in his contract.

I’ve reached out to Weatherly and hope to have a full interview with him in the very near future. At press time, I was unable to connect.

///

Radio Waves Podcast #339

 Radio Waves: May 13, 2022

Solving a Radio-Restaurant Mystery

One of my favorite non-radio ways to waste time, somewhat productively, is to watch videos of “LA In a Minute” on TikTok, in which Evan Lovett gives inside stories and information on attractions in and around Los Angeles. You can access his main page at https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTdgFpy8v/.

But a recent posting combined that with radio, when he told the story of Carney’s restaurant, one of my favorite chili burgers in town and a great place to go with my wife, Jean when we were dating and she lived in Hollywood. Carney’s Hollywood location is on the Sunset Strip.

Called “Five Facts about Carneys,” (https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTdgF7F2P/) Lovett mentioned — in fact one — that Carneys was launched by John Wolfe Senior, a “marketing genius” who was “the man responsible for KKDJ, adult contemporary radio station changing over to KIIS-FM, yes, that KIIS-FM, 102.7 and its top-40 format forever altering the landscape of Los Angeles radio, and he did all this while founding Carneys.”

That didn’t sound right… I have listened to and followed KIIS-FM for years, and prior to that KKDJ and 1150 KIIS … I had never heard of John Wolfe’s connection. Digging further with a search of his name and KIIS, I found an obituary of Wolfe’s on the LA Times site from April of 1999, when he passed away at the age of 72. In it, there is a statement that Wolfe “helped create and market Los Angeles’ KIIS radio (102.7 FM) in the 1960s.” It later mentioned that he left radio in 1973 to launch the restaurant.

This got me intrigued for a few reasons. First off, KIIS-FM didn’t exist in the 1960s; it launched the same year as Carney’s, in fact, when KIIS (1150 AM) and KKDJ were “married” on the air to form a two band simulcast, KIIS AM and FM.

Adding to the mystery is the fact that KIIS itself didn’t launch even on AM until 1970; prior to that it was KRKD, call letters it had held since 1932. So basically, there was no way that Wolfe could have been part of KIIS-FM, especially its move into top-40, something that didn’t happen until later 1981.

Searching more … nothing … outside of a few mentions that seem to all refer back to that one incorrect LA Times obituary. So what’s the true story? Related: does anyone outside of me care about it? Regardless, who would know the story?

Mike Wagner, who worked at KKDJ and later KIIS AM/FM, came through with some clues, stating “to my knowledge, Wolfe had NOTHING to do with the FM…strictly KiiS 1150 AM.” That matched my thinking: that Wolfe was at 1150 and might have helped launch KiiS … written with lower case “ii” in their marketing at the time; the iiS part of the call letters approximating the look of the frequency of 115, shorthand for 1150.

LARadio.com’s Don Barrett helped fill in some other details, using a memory from Chuck Blore, the legendary programmer who brought polished top-40 to Los Angeles via the launch of “Color Radio” KFWB in January of 1958. Interesting, though perhaps not surprisingly, Blore’s memory was also regarding Carneys. Answering the inquiry “When you have a special friend visit you, is there a favorite Southland restaurant you want to expose them to?” Blore wrote,

“Yes. Carney’s. Did you know that a radio sales guy started Carney’s? He was probably the best I ever knew. His name was John Wolfe. He was by far the Number One salesperson at KFWB when I was there and then went on to become the Number One sales person at KPOL. (Remember KPOL?) It was John who talked me into going back into radio and together we worked at KIIS/AM. Then one day he walked in and said, “I’m leaving radio.”

“’My God, John,’ said I, ‘what are you gonna do?’  ‘I’m gonna start a hot dog stand.’  ‘John! You’ve got two growing boys, and two wives to support. A hot dog stand?’  ‘Yeah,’ said John, ‘I thought about that, so I want you to do a commercial for me.’ And I did. And just today I saw a billboard for Carney’s using a line I wrote for John almost 30 years ago – ‘The best thing I ever tasted in my whole mouth.’ John died about seven years ago and today his two boys are engineering the Carney’s trains, one each. “

That memory was written in 2002; Blore himself passed away just last year — July 15, 2021 — at the age of 92.

And for the chili burger purists, Lovett does another TikTok on Original Tommy’s.

More on KHJ …

“Thank you, Richard, for reminding me how privileged & blessed I was/am to have participated in those glorious, fun-filled, nervous, energized, & ‘over-the-top’ busy days.  And the opportunity of working with some of the most talented radio people who ever ‘graced the airwaves’. 

“And it didn’t stop there – the entire team on & off air, administrative, engineering, clerical-support, sales, etc. all contributed their best efforts to make ’93/KHJ/Boss Radio’ the incredible and never duplicated success that it became. Being part of that is one of the great joys of my life! Thank you for bringing those memories forefront for me today.” — Betty Breneman 

As mentioned in the story last week, Breneman was the music director of KHJ at the launch of Boss Radio in 1965, and was definitely one of the reasons for its success. 

And KFI …

Barry Mishkind has an excellent online article giving a wonderful history of KFI as they celebrate 100 years on the air. Read it at https://www.thebdr.net/earle-c-anthony-drives-kfi-to-fame. An excellent read!