~Los Angeles Radio People, Template

1. KIIS (Top 40/M) 5.9 - 5.4
2. KBIG (MY/fm) 5.7 - 5.3
3. KAMP (Top 40/M) 4.5 - 4.4

18. KYSR (Alternative) 2.4 – 2.5
19. KCBS (JACK/fm) 2.4 – 2.3
20. KLOS (Classic Rock) 2.3 – 2.1
(tie) KPCC (News/Talk) 2.2 – 2.1
(tie) KUSC (Classical) 1.8 – 2.1

Hear Ache. Trip Reeb, former KROQ gm, moves from Ohana Broadcast Company in Hawaii to vp/market manager for Hubbard's cluster in Phoenix … Bob Stevens saw a license plate over the weekend that read: ‘KHJKMET’ on a Toyota. Wonder who owns it … Kanye West was a surprise guest at KROQ when he walked in on the Kevin & Bean Show, just as the show was ending. He was in the building to be on AMP Radio, and pd Kevin Weatherly brought Kanye down the hall to KROQ. This is not unusual. Kanye made a surprise appearance during KROQ's Almost Acoustic Christmas show in Los Angeles in 2008.

2012 - Barbra Streisand performs with a full orchestra and choir at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.
2009 - CBS announces plans to syndicate KROQ, WFAN and other stations on HD subchannels.
2009 - Jury finds KDND negligent in woman's death after "Hold Your Wee For A Wii" contest.
1996 - Stone Roses break up; singer Ian Brown calls the music industry the "filthiest business."
1971 - Rock guitarist Duane Allman dies at age 24 in a motorcycle crash in Macon, Georgia.
1966 - Beale Street in Memphis is designated a national landmark as "Home of the Blues."
1965 - The Rolling Stones begin their fourth North American tour at the Montreal Forum.
1946 - Peter Green, guitarist and founder of Fleetwood Mac, born Peter Greenbaum in London.
1944 - Denny Laine, Moody Blues/Wings guitarist, born Brian Hines in Birmingham, England.
1940 - President Roosevelt goes on Mutual Network to inaugurate first peacetime draft lottery.

On October 29, 1973, Midnight Train To Georgia was number one on KKDJ. The Rolling Stones' former number one Angie was at #2. ("Angie" was long thought to be Angie Barnett, David Bowie's wife, but in the liner notes to Jump Back, a 1993 Rolling Stones compilation CD, Keith Richards says the song was named for Dandelion Angela Richards, his daughter born in 1972 to Anita Pallenberg.) Chicago climbed from #16 to #8 with Just You 'N' Me. High debut was Jim Croce's I Got A Name at #13. John Lennon's Mind Games was new. (LARP Rewind is meticulously prepared by Steve Thompson)

Go Country Expands. Saul Levine has acquired a new station in the Antelope Valley at 98.5/fm and plans to simulcast his successful Country format at KKGO, “Go Country 105.” The new facility, to be named KGIL, will serve Johannesburg, Lancaster, Palmdale, China Lake, and Ridgecrest. Saul acquired the station three years ago in an auction. The station plans to begin operation November 1.

“I actually bought a product once that was endorsed by one of L.A.’s most popular radio talk show hosts. It turned out to be such a rip-off that the advertiser, to its credit, gave me my money back. I emailed the talk show host to complain and, surprise, no response. I don’t think any LARP has ever seen an endorsement deal he or she couldn’t pass up.” - Tom Burfield

“This is a huge bombshell! But not a surprise to the lazy programmers who put this garbage on the air, knowing it's just a step removed from bogus cancer cures. No one's listening except the feds. Why not invest in live and local talent and build a real station. Save money by firing the overpaid blabbermouths with national shows.” - Connie Ramsland, Glendale

His legend endures. Not a week goes by that I don't receive email or messages on my Facebook page from people who were fans of RDS or a radio professional who was influenced by him - and he has been gone for 16 years.

The Real Don Steele is one of the best there ever was, and the Radio Hall of Fame is a Midwest-centric, big fat nothing until he is inducted!

“Such a great column yesterday. I am reading Pat Kelley's book, And There Will Always Be Termites, and having a hard time focusing on work right now. I am feeling a kinship with him and I'm only 10% into the book!

And the Bill Drake service story was, is and will be a winner. History. Fucking history.

“XLNT! Glad to see KFI where they belong, Top 10. They’re too good at what they do to languish behind! Love ‘em or hate ‘em, the listener is always stimulated!” – James Curran

At some point, and I'm not sure whether Pat decided this before I arrived for the interview, he decided to tell me that he had been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Outside of his doctors, Melody and his best friend, Jim Ladd, no one knew of the secret until he revealed it to the LA Radio community – the place where he finds so much comfort, love, and appreciation for his life.

Since that revelation, the disease has taken a sharp toll on his life. Pat “wrote” the book by, ironically, talking into a microphone with special voice recognition software. Anita Garner, herself a LARP working afternoons at KBIG a while back, runs an agency that specializes in writing, editing and turning the written word into magical phrases. For months, Anita consulted with Pat and Melody from her bungalow office in Northern California. Now that the project is finished, she hopes one day to meet the subjects of the love affair in this book - the couple whose very personal stories she worked with.

Steve Edwards wrote the Foreword to the book. He wrote, in part, “Pat, along with thousands of other men, has been in love with Melody Rogers for years. The only difference is that Patrick married her, while the others can only admire him for that accomplishment. Patrick's been battling an insidious disease for too many years now, as you will see, it may have physically brought him to his knees at times, but he stands taller than ever—sharply observant, never losing that Patrick Kelley sense of humor. I hope you're up for the adventure Patrick will take you on. It's a bumpy ride at times, but you're not going to want to get off.”

Do yourself a favor NOW and click the artwork of their book and order And There Will Always Be Termites. You will gain an insight into a world filled with optimism and love, despite overwhelming daily challenges, filled with spiritual and physical obstacles. You will come to an understanding of how two powerful people dealt with darkness when their showbiz light was turned off. They took their celebrity into the world of real estate and just when success was building in this new area, Pat’s diagnosis attempted to sideline them again. But it didn’t.

The human spirit triumphs in this wonderful eBook. Technology will bring their story to your Kindle right now or you can download And There Will Always Be Termites to your computer or Smart Phone. Read a piece of LA radio and tv history starring Pat “Paraquat” Kelley and Melody Rogers. You won’t be disappointed.

Charlie Van Dyke, an ordained minister and a former Drake jock and pd at KHJ from 1972-77 and on-air at other Drake stations in San Francisco, Boston and the Detroit market was chosen by Drake’s longtime partner, Carol Scott, to officiate the services. Charlie addressed his Lutheran clothing complete with clerical collar and stole early in his opening remarks. “And about now, I can see Bill looking at all of us and me dressed this way and saying, ‘Watson what happened to Van Dyke? I always thought he was one of us!’”

Charlie created a tight format for the afternoon’s proceedings that most of the participants adhered to. “And I can hear Bill again saying, ‘That’s fine…just keep it moving…remember forward momentum!’ So, we have chosen a few people to share reflections today. And I think they represent a good variety of Goldens, Boss 30 hits, and Boss hitbounds and just a taste of a rockumentary. So, moving past the Top Of The Hour ID, and sweeping the :03 continuing sign-on, we pause at the :07 promo set for a prayer.” After some laughs, Charlie brought in a spirit of spirituality to the proceedings with a couple of readings from the Bible.

(KIIS and KTLA/Channel 5 airborne reporter Commander Chuck Street, Bill Watson;
former Drake program director Sean Conrad; and K-EARTH'sCharlie Tuna)

Charlie continued: “So, we share the confidence that there was a room waiting in the Father’s house for Bill. Well, not really. In Drake’s case, it would be a suite. It would have a well stocked bar. Shelves of audio equipment, of course. And just beside his favorite chair, there is the batphone. And we can have pretty good confidence that he will put his talents to work up there. Many have talked about the Righteous Brothers song, ‘Rock and Roll Heaven,’ when I’ve talked with them about Drake. So, we can predict that as he takes over consulting K-GOD, he is pleased to know that some of the finest talent to ever grace the airwaves is waiting for him. Talent that he selected and groomed welcomed him to the jock lounge and helped him get up to speed. And after experiencing the early examples of Boss Radio on earth, he’ll dazzle the galaxies with his next project. And can you begin to imagine what the jingle singers sound like up there? One day, we will be able to hear it to…because, Ladies and Gentlemen, in faith we know…the beat goes on!”

Bill Watson was Drake’s national program director. Watson now lives in North San Diego County. He hitched a ride to the Celebration of Life with KIIS’ Commander Chuck Street. Chuck met Watson as a youngster hanging outside the K/men studios in the Inland Empire, where Watson was pd. That’s where Drake and Watson first met. “Drake told me to sit tight, I have something in mind for you when the time is right. It was mysterious and I had no idea what he meant,” said Watson.

(Drake's partner of 11 years Carole Scott and Drake's daughter Kristie flank Kristie's husband; Lisa Osborn;
and record promo guru Don Graham and former K-EARTH personality Johnny Hayes)

Watson went on to consult r&b KDIA-Oakland. During a San Francisco visit, Drake and Watson met for the first time. “Obviously I can’t be everywhere at once so I need someone to be where I am not. And that’s you.” And that’s how the magical relationship began.

Ken Levine was another of the half-dozen speakers. “Bill Drake fired me,” opened Ken. “It was 1974 at K100. I was on the air as Beaver Cleaver. No, he fired me for another reason. Actually, he had Watson do it. Anyway, you’d think I would be resentful. And usually I am. But I owe so much to Bill Drake. The impact he had on my life is immeasurable.”

(Gary Owens, Ken Levine; former KOST midday host Mike Sakellarides;
and former Boss Jock Humble Harve, Bill Mouzis, and Charlie Tuna)

Ken talked about being “mesmerized” when hearing KHJ for the first time in 1965. “If Tom Cruise had discovered Boss Radio before Scientology he’d have that same profound feeling but be far less nuts today. Bill set the course for my life’s work and I am forever in his debt."

“It was always amazing to me how Drake had such a keen understanding of people and the world around him,” continued Levine. “He never got out. When your sample size of America’s taste and teenage behavior is a 65 year-old waiter at Martoni’s named Nunzio, how do you program so insightfully, so pinpoint perfectly to an entire generation? Bill Drake did. He had this uncanny knack of knowing what we wanted before we did. Even Sonny & Cher. Boy, how did he make that call?”

Levine continued: “But from his fortress in Bel Air – where only Bernie Torres and the delivery boy from Vendome Liquor were allowed to enter – Bill Drake created a format that forever changed an entire medium and shaped the lives of millions of young people – all for the better. We baby boomers felt energized, optimistic, excited about a future that held endless possibilities. How much of that is because we also had Fractious Fridays and Million Dollar Weekends and a Big Kahuna handing out money at junior highs (although that one was a little dicey)? My entire generation owes a debt to Bill Drake and his vision, even if they have no idea who he was.”

(Two-time Drake music guru Annie Van Bebber, Bernie Torres;
former KTWV personality Amy Hiatt; and Charlie Van Dyke)

Jhani Kaye is having enormous success as program director at K-EARTH. In the early 1990s, Bill put his programming stamp on the station playing the “Greatest Hits on Earth.” Jhani talked about growing up in Hemet, and remembering the exact moment he was introduced to ‘93/KHJ’ and the Drake formatics for the first time. “The presentation we heard on the air was something new and exciting and far surpassed the programming we heard on the two Top 40 radio stations in nearby San Bernardino. That was the beginning of Bill Drake’s influence in my life. And little did I know then that he would become so influential in my role as a programmer.”

While studying for a 1^st Class Radio License at Bill Ogden’s Radio Operational Engineering School in Huntington Beach, Jhani remembers that he along with some classmates would listen to KHJ and airchecks of KFRC, ‘The Big 6-10’ in San Francisco. “We would take turns at talking up the songs along with The Real Don Steele and Sam Riddle, and all the rest. Bill Drake stations were the ‘Gold Standard’ and our goal was to perhaps one day sound good enough to work on a Drake station.’

“Bill Drake was the ‘ultimate programmer’ and perhaps the greatest teacher of radio in the country,” said Jhani. “It was a challenge for us younger programmers to listen to Bill’s stations and analyze why Bill would play two jingles with the weather, or only allow the jock to speak on the second record of a two-song sweep, and so many other intricacies of his formats.”

(Shaune McNamara Steele, K-EARTH's Shotgun Tom Kelly; K-EARTH morning man Gary Bryan,
K-EARTH middayer Jim Carson, Gary Owens, Ken Levine; and Radio & Records founder Bob Wilson)

When Jhani was appointed program director at K-EARTH a few years ago, Bill Drake was the first to call and offer his congratulations. “He reminded me how much he loved K-EARTH and that the station is a ‘grand lady’ and I should use all the programming instincts I had learned from him in order to honor the heritage that came along with the position. What a thrill that was. And on behalf of all the programmers that followed in your footstep, ‘Thank you Bill. It’s been a real privilege to learn from the best and thank you for being our mentor, our friend, and a stellar example of what a radio programmer should be.”

Jhani concluded with: “Before 20/20 News, there was news on the hour. Before ‘forward momentum,’ there was ‘This is and that was.’ Before ‘hot clocks’ there were no clocks. Before Johnny Mann’s a capella jingles, there were station ‘songs’ that lasted almost as long as records. And before ‘all others’ there was Bill Drake. God bless you, Bill.”

Bill Mouzis was a production engineer at KHJ for 14 years before he met Drake in 1965. “You know, I am fully convinced that one of the reasons I survived World War II was that I was destined to work with the likes of a Bill Drake. It appears FATE insisted upon it,” said Mouzis.

(Former KHJ newsman Roger Aldi, 20/20 newsman Lyle Kilgore; Gary Owens; and Jhani Kaye and Charlie Van Dyke)

Mouzis provided some of the history of KHJ just before Drake came on the scene. “A format was emerging which would make KHJ ‘the Personality station,’” said Mouzis. “Gypsy Rose Lee and comedian Morey Amsterdam were in the process of being signed, and Steve Allen was already on the air daily with a show from his home in the Valley, in fact I was his producer / engineer. At the very same time, and unbeknownst to practically everyone, the change of all changes was being discussed with President Tom O’Neil behind closed doors at RKO headquarters in New York.”

Shortly thereafter, it was announced that KHJ would be abandoning its current programming plans and go rock ‘n roll. “The news was shocking and it caught everyone by surprise,” remembered Mouzis.

Bill Drake and Gene Chenault took complete control of the RKO Radio division in the Spring of 1965. Mouzis thanked Clancy Imislund, who was the promotion director at the time, for coming up with the actual term “Boss Radio.”

(Engineer Ken Orchard, former Boss Jock Mark Elliott; K-EARTH's Bruce Chandler and Keith Smith;
and former Robert W. Morgan producer Kevin Gershan and KHJ Boss Jock Dave Sebastian Williams)

“Subsequently and on a more personal note, a working relationship between Drake and I evolved that was magic,” continued Mouzis. “It was creatively instinctive, it was warm and it forged a bond of respect and friendship between us that was never to be broken. With the advent of ‘Boss Radio,’ America heard radio as it never had before. It was simply a smash.”

Over the years Mouzis and Drake lost track of each other. A few years ago, Mouzis ran into Drake and his partner Carole Scott at Monte’s in Woodland Hills. “I cannot begin to tell you how emotional it was getting together with him after all this time, and we did it a number of times after that, the latest being only a few month ago. Never did I have an inkling though that he might be sick.”

Mouzis concluded: “Bill Drake was not only a great talent, but a wonderful down-to-earth human being who knew how to treat you with the genuine and gracious smile of a southern gentleman which he truly was. I have already shed my tears, and in closing I would refer you to Frank Sinatra’s version of ‘Thanks for the Memories,’ introduced by Bob Hope as his theme song many years ago. I think this particular lyric relates somewhat to Mr. Drake’s untimely passing. It reads: ‘I had my bed of roses, but forgot that roses die.’ Carol, I too thought he would live forever.”

(KNX & KCAL/Channel 9 Money 101 host and former KFRC newsman Bob McCormick, KFWB's Bill Nesbitt;
Bill Watson at podium; Julio Flores and Lee Chambers)

Les Garland, former pd at Drake-stations KFRC-San Francisco and CKLW-Detroit, flew from Florida to attend the services on Wednesday. He read the moving letter that he wrote to his two sons about Bill Drake. The letter and Drake’s response appeared in Wednesday’s LARadio.com.

In introducing Charlie Tuna, Van Dyke said: “He wasn’t there on Day One of Boss Jockdom but he got there as fast as he could and he holds the record for Boss Jock longest on the air in Los Angeles who is just about out of call letters.”

Tuna remembered that it was on Thanksgiving Day 41 years ago that he joined KHJ. “Bill Drake to me was someone was immortal. You never thought Bill would leave. You always thought he would be there for you,” said Tuna.

A year later Tuna was in Boston when Drake was in town and invited him to join KHJ. “On my first day I walked into Bill Mouzis’ production room. The first thing I saw was the blinding jewelry that Bill Watson wore in those days. Then I saw the towering presence of this man, Bill Drake, and it was one of those larger-than-life moments. I had never met the man yet but I knew he was responsible for getting me to KHJ. I stood there in absolute awe and I can’t tell you the details of that meeting because it was like you met God. I remember that he had a quick smile and he was very warm – a real southern gentleman and he made me feel like I belonged.”

“The Drake format could make a good jock sound great. It could take a pretty good jock who had great content and make him a super star,” said Tuna. “And that happened time and time again with Bill Drake. With Robert W. Morgan and The Real Don Steele in heaven, that’s a party.”

Gary Owens recounted meeting Bill Drake when he still used his birth name Phil Yarbrough. “I was the morning man at WNOE in Louisiana for Gordon McLendon. A good friend of ours, formerly from KIMN in Denver, Jimmy Neil, became Scotty Day with the Bartell organization. My wife and I drove up to Birmingham and that’s when I met Phil Yarbrough. My name at the time was Lucille Ball.”

“From 1957 until today, I’ve always liked Bill Drake. He did such a great job with the broadcast industry and was one of the great innovative people.”

Owens left the packed house with a laugh. “There was a KHJ Boss Jock who will remain nameless. Just last week this jock was probably not quite as vivid as he used to be. He went to proctologist for a check-up and accidentally yelled out the name of another proctologist.”

I was able to share a historical perspective about the importance of Bill to not only Los Angeles radio but to the entire radio community. “To have lived in our hearts and minds, is not to die.”

In conclusion, Ken Levine said: “Wherever you are up there, Bill, just know that we love you, we miss you, and the kid from Vendome Liquor needs your new address.”

If You Loved KNX/fm, You’ll Love PRP

(October 24, 2013) Christopher Ames is one of those ubiquitous LARP who excels at every stop along the way. During KNX/fm's heyday, Chris was the news director/news anchor/public affairs director and morning drive personality. He also created the interview shows "Insight Out" and "After Midnight." He produced news and music documentaries for which he won numerous awards. Plus, Chris was responsible for the station’s "Sixty Seconds" feature. He was a participant with the "Odyssey File," one of the classic features on Los Angeles radio during the '70s.

Chris later became a screenwriter in Hollywood with his wife Carolyn Shelby. They wrote a first-rate action film starring Gene Hackman for 20th Century Fox called Class Action.

Chris was born in Santa Monica and grew up in the San Fernando Valley. He worked in the news departments at 93/KHJ and 1110/KRLA before KNX/fm. He went on to a fascinating stop at KFWB writing, delivering news, and airing special features.

Chris, now living in Portland, is helping to launch a radio station newly available on the internet, and the station needs people to tune in. It’s called Portland Radio Project (PRP). Today, Chris is working as the midday jock from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If this works out, he’ll be adding his award winning editorials, quirky commentaries and public service interviews down the line.

PRP is a commercial-free digital audio radio network that only last Friday night started steaming live to the public. They are playing a mix of rock/folk/blues that is cool, intelligent and sophisticated. If you remember Chris from his KNX/fm days, you’ll recognize the sound. But the music has been updated with a great blend of contemporary artists along with the old favorites from past decades. Right now, the station is committed to no more than 10 seconds of talk of any sort between music other than the obligatory top of the hour news.

“There's a lot of great music emanating from Portland,” emailed Chris. “They will be featuring local news but, if you’re not in the NW, don’t worry. Portland is a famously colorful and eccentric city ... sorta like San Francisco back in the 60's and 70's. You won't be bored.”

Chris is asking you to tune into between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. via your computer. To do this, just enter www.prp.fm into your URL. That'll take you to their home page. Hit the button to let you listen and that's it.

Bubblin’ Under. We continue to honor the LARP who were nominated as Best LARP of 2013. These men and women continue to share their great talent in front of and behind the microphone, earning them the praise of colleagues. Tied at 11th:

(JACK, Deborah Howell, Chris Carter with Ringo, Ryan Seacrest and Sylvia Aimerito)

Hear Ache. Didja know that Steve Harvey’s parents were married for 64 years? … Ryan Seacrest is signed a multi-year deal to remain as host and executive producer of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest … RBC Communications, Inc. has given notice to KDAY that RBC has terminated the Asset Purchase Agreement relating to the assignment, and requested that the FCC dismiss the Application. For now, the station will continue its current Hip-Hop format … Sky Daniels has dropped Classical music from KCSN HD2 and switched the station to Latin Alternative, a mix of Latin pop, modern rock, classic rock, hip-hop, dance music and salsoul. The channel can be heard online at http://www.latinalt.org/... Mike Walker, former KABC Talker and gossip editor of the National Enquirer, has written a new thriller, Out for Blood. His pal John Phillips is throwing a book party next Monday, October 28 at Gallerie Sparta at 8641 Sunset Blvd in West Hollywood from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Funnie. “I was doing any number of public affairs shows for KHJ at the time, and I had the American Lung Association on. The spokesperson was in an iron lung. The machine made a horrible racket, but I didn't think it was coming from the machine – so I chastised the engineer, and asked him to please turn down whatever machine was creating that god-awful noise. The attendant standing behind the woman in the iron lung was making silent frantic motions to me while I was on my tirade. He was pointing to the woman and mouthing the words ‘It's HER machine.’ I finally got it. DUH. I felt like a complete and total moron. (Eva Kilgore)

“On Saturday, Sweet Dick Whittington was interviewed on TalkRadioOne.com. Dick sounds good enough to be doing a show today. Not sure why he's not. He was very gracious and polite and just wonderful.

This man's contribution to talk radio and morning drive radio is huge. I would say most people have no idea who he is, but he left a huge mark and a big legacy in my life. What a treat to hear those pipes again. When I was a kid my mother would be getting ready for work on any given week day and would be howling with laughter. We actually went to the station and gave dick a birthday cake. He put us on the air briefly. He was a big part of my growing up in Sherman Oaks. Thanks Dick!” - Go listen to the show: http://www.talkradioone.com/steven-spierer-10-19-13/” - JP Myers

“Keith Olbermann does not pass the ‘so what?’ test. Ho hum.” - Susan Burke, Astor Broadcast Group

“What Scott St. James has quoted are unbiased statistics procured by an independent and supposedly dispassionate source, indicating that the pie slices [audience share per station] are getting smaller and smaller as time goes by; yet, the SCBA proclaims that the Titanic is not slowly sinking.

They will be happy to sponsor their own [ahem] studies indicating otherwise and quote them fervidly. A more productive approach for them would be to try to find out why this erosion is happening, face up to it, and try to fix the problem, rather than deny that any problem even exists. Of course, a person in charge of SCBA is indeed a cheerleader, or a ‘flag waver,’ but they're on the sidelines. The real team is playing on the field, and they're the ones that really need to address these problems.

Like Scott and Ken Levine, I love the industry and have been involved with it since almost childhood. It's difficult for me to see what has happened to it. There's no art left in the business. Now it's all business.” – Al Gordon

Earlier this week, there was a lively exchange between radio veteran Ken Levine and Thom Callahan, president of the Southern California Broadcasters Association, about the current status of the medium. Ken and Thom are chatting on the phone today to explore the possibility of getting together to discuss the State of Radio. All of our emails today are about the potential event.

“Maybe we could have a boxing match between Ken Levine and Thom Callahan live on the Kevin & Bean show!

Isn't that the kind of fun we are supposed to have on radio? What happened to that stuff? Any research on that Thom?” – Howard Lapides

“I agree with Ken Levine's radio industry rant. And now that he's going to have a debate with Mr. Callahan who happens to be the Southern California Broadcasters Association President, here comes an observation and a couple of questions: Thom, I'll always love a ‘Flag Waver’! Buuuuut, why did those 30 and 20 share numbers disappear? Unfair to comment on something that hasn't been ‘real’ for a long time? Okay, how about 10-share numbers? 9? 8? 7? 6? Get a 5-share and that represents what 30 or 20 shares used to be? Or would that be a 4-share?

“The irony of having this debate take place at KFI or KNX is that, as Ken Levine pointed out in his piece, the constraints of a heavy commercial load and likely a limited amount of time to actually debate. A further irony would be that they do host the debate - and then podcast it - in full on the Internet.” – Mike Stark

“Sadly, Don, I don't think either KFI or KNX would agree to air the debate. Clear Channel and CBS would feel it too ‘insider’ for their listeners.

Otherwise, maybe it can be a SCBA-sponsored live event. I'd buy a ticket to see it.” - K.M. Richards

“Ken Levine's view is spot on. As I wrote a couple of months back, my 22-year-old son bought a new Scion car, with factory HDRadio, Bluetooth and high performance speakers.

His primary mode of listening is the music on his phone, or Pandora via the bluetooth. He doesn't know what station plays what, or where, on the dial. In fact, I turned his radio on recently, and it defaulted to 87.9/fm.

While I enjoy Tim Conway Jr., at night [ding-dong!], I am the exception. At 56-years-old, I'll probably take radio to the end. My son, however, will be surfing music in a new medium.” - Christopher Carmichael

“Why don't you set up a discussion between Levine and Callahan and you can be the moderator. You can record it and provide readers with your summation.” – Bob Fox

Now, this debate/discussion would be of interest to everyone interested in LARadio. Do we suggest that a news-oriented AM station like KFI or KNX provide a forum? Do you have any suggestions on how this debate/discussion should take place?

(If you missed the exchange between Levine and Callahan, perhaps you are not on the mailing list. Easy to sign up. Just email a request to subscribe at: db@thevine.net)

Dodger Finish. Jeff Gonzer is disappointed that the Dodger season is over. “Vin Scully was right when he said the team's enthusiasm was not only appropriate but more players should display the fun that baseball should be,” wrote the former KMET morning man. “This isn't about being stoic it's about going to the ballpark and having a great time. I wish the Cardinals well because of my friends Gary Wilson and Ace Young but I hope the Sox make it into the fall classic so they can kick some Cardinal ass! Until next season, go Blue!”

On October 22, 1980, Barbra Streisand's Woman In Love was in its second week at number one on the KFI Top 30. The song was written by Barry and Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees. Devo was at #2 with Whip It. Willie Nelson jumped from #20 to #14 with On The Road Again. Carly Simon climbed from #28 to #16 with Jesse. Don Williams' I Believe In You debuted at #28. Williams would have 17 number-one country hits but I Believe In You was the only one to make the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #24. (LARP Rewind is meticulously prepared by Steve Thompson)

Rush/Hannity. From TALKERS.com: “Rush Limbaugh doesn’t do a lot of appearances on affiliate stations these days but his [and fellow Premiere Networks star Sean Hannity’s] return to CBS Radio’s WPHT-Philadelphia this month was cause to appear on the WPHT morning show with host Chris Stigall to talk about his return and the state of the news/talk product. When Stigall brought up that there’s controversy in the industry over the notion political news/talk radio is a dying format, Limbaugh asked, ‘Who says that? Is it consultants?...That’s the wrong instruction to give people. Do a good show! What I told the affiliates at the NAB Radio Show was if people have to listen with two tin cans and a piece of string, they will if the show is good. Limbaugh said the concept of getting away from politics because the country’s tired of it is wrong. ‘The country is not fed up with it. A large and potentially huge audience is really engaged and fit to be tied and is waiting for either engagement, instruction, conflict, drama, what-have-you about it. I don’t know who comes up with these ideas.’ Limbaugh says on-air talent has to be passionate about the topics. ‘It’s a performers business; it’s a talent-driven business.’”

Marshall Celebration. This Sunday at noon, there will be a memorial celebrating the life of KFWB’s Andi Marshall. Everyone is welcome to join family and friends on the USS IOWA in San Pedro Harbor. A buffet lunch on the ship will follow.

In order to prepare for space and food, if you are planning to attend please RSVP to andiwm@cox.net with your name and expected number of guests. When the service is over you may tour the ship for free. Guests may expect to pay $1/hour for parking. The USS Iowa is easy to find as you cross the Vincent Thomas Bridge, as it’s the only 888’ battleship in sight.

“Even smart people try to shoot the messenger. We criticize what we do not understand. Look! The Emperor isn't wearing any clothes. Ken Levine may very well be the one eyed man in a community of blind people, etc. etc.

So I guess every tired old expression in this case here is very true!” – Don Elliot

“I appreciate that Ken Levine included several solutions in his assessment of what is ailing terrestrial radio, and did not just walk away after laying out the problem by suggesting that someone else just ‘fix it.’

Local focus and personality charged is what once made radio great during the transistor era. Relating to local audiences, local events, local traffic, local news in sync with providing sound production values is something that can’t be easily replicated online.

Commercials used to be islands, and advertisers paid a premium to be that single pod before the stop-set proceeded to ‘get back to the music faster,’

As an online advertising executive I constantly encourage my clients to leverage all the tools and platforms available online to maximize their visibility and impressions. For radio, the alignment is coming quickly into view once again as more and more of my online advertising strategies are looping in mobile, and radio is a natural partner to mobile. With transistor excellence in its roots, radio can leverage the mobile web in ways that may have been more difficult to integrate during the desktop and laptop era.

To quote Ken - You knew how to fight in the handheld arena. And you knew how to win. Don’t lament – rather pick up a sword!” - David Alpern, Long Beach

“How this guy can write this response as if terrestrial radio is the vibrant, exciting medium that it has been in the past, is unbelievable to me. ‘Live, local and ubiquitous?’ What planet is he listening to the radio on? He can't be serious or he's a shill for the ‘business’ of radio. OH, wait a minute, what is his title again? DOH!” – Mike Stark

“Commercial loads have not increased since....when? Since Mel Karmazin decided that we could tolerate 18 mins/hour? “ – Harry Shearer

“Radio programmers don’t want to lose listeners, and they also don’t want to lose their job by telling the general manager that there are too many commercials on their radio station.

Also, the commercial quality, creativeness, and thus the listen ability of today’s commercials ‘stink,’ and programmers think it’s smart to run 6 to 10 minutes of commercials in a row. The radio audience doesn’t need those kinds of non-creative programmers.” - Bill Taylor, former KFWB air personality and news anchor

“Wow , if this is the same Ken Levine who is a writer etc, then I believe he is the same Ken Levine who: was a radio/tv commentator for the Seattle Mariners for several seasons in the early 1990s, and whose father is Cliff Levine who was an important part of the KLOS/KABC RADIO sales staff. This is the same media that afforded him the hand he is biting.

“After reading Ken Levine’s blog about the health of terrestrial radio vs Internet radio and Tim Conway’s on-air rant, I laugh. There were always healthy debates in my radio ad sales days. I worked and sold ads for California Sports Inc. [Jack Kent Cooke, Lakers basketball/Kings hockey], KLVE , KMPC, KABC, KLAC, and Fox Sports radio.

Who cares to argue? I don’t even know what Ken and Tim are talking about? Most likely, because they are talent, they are talking simply about which deliver system will outlive the other.

All radio, plus with all the newer components of radio - social media, Twitter, Facebook, live streaming, the Internet, car devices and all the other stuff, folks, no need to argue. It’s all good. All will survive by it being there together. Matter of fact, bring on more new technology and platforms. Let my 2 ½ year old grandson enjoy a career in radio, like my son, has and does.

The bottom line, or point is, ‘talent, on air, product is obviously important,’ but even more important is the ad sales. He, she, who sells the most wins. Ad revenue. It’s all about the money. Without the MONEY, the talent doesn’t exist in whatever the form of radio it is. With good revenue, all will survive and throb.” - Alan L. Gottfried, Sherman Oaks

“One of my most cherished emails following my being let go is from Dick Whittington. Such a dear and still funny as can be man.” – Keri Tombazian

“I am also as CONSERVATIVE as Mark Levin, but that should have nothing to do with our friendship with others with different views. Interesting that during my long career in Los Angeles radio and tv we never knew the political views of the people we worked with every day.” – Roger Carroll

“So. How do you get attention in the fantasy world of right wing haters, and disturbed wanna-be Constitution lovers who would happily turn back the clock to 1775 when those darn blacks and women knew their place?

Well, out ‘Nutty’ them, of course! Congrats Mr. Levin. You are this month’s model. A book/screed, and that prized gig of sharing a platform with another off-kilter right-wing windbag Sarah Palin with some notice for your right wing hate-fest radio show and you’re in. That’s all you need! Of course if you knew anything about the Constitution, you’d know that when Congress passes a bill, the President signs it into law and the Supreme Court approves it, it’s a LAW!

Like President Obama said, [a more accomplished man than you will ever be], if you don’t like something, work within the system to change it. But this nutty rabble-rousing is more fun right? Plus, you don’t have to bear responsibility for your words. Free speech right?

You wouldn’t know Edmund Burke if he walked up to you at one of your rallies and told you how silly and clueless you are. Footnote: Burke is the Father of Conservatism. That kind of stiff you learn in college. I think they teach that at Liberty College right?” - James P. Curran

“Regarding the item in Friday's column about the 50th anniversary of KCSN, add me to the list of broadcasters who got their start at the campus station while attending classes at CSUN. I was on the air in the afternoons for a time during the summer, then did a Friday overnight shift for a while when school was in session, 1987-88. Format at the time was ‘traditional Country’ M-F, then various programs on the weekends. KCSN also was a NPR affiliate at that time, and ran some programming from that network. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1988.

The overnight shift, by the way, was my first paid gig. Several students auditioned for a $5-an-hour shift paid with funds that came from a state grant, and I was one of five chosen. The station had a CD player, as I recall, but it was almost never used - the vast majority of the music library was record albums. [I loved learning how to properly cue a platter, then make a segue between two records on turntables, just like djs in the ‘olden’ days!]

The studio was tucked in between classrooms on the second floor of one of the campus buildings at the time. It has since moved.

“I always enjoy reading LARadio. I am a fan of Doug McIntyre and Terri-Rae Elmer.

Do you have any ratings information for them? The month ratings for KABC are awful. KUSC does better than KABC.

Any prediction in what direction the new program director will take the station? I would hate to see that program cancelled.” – J Currie Mitchell, Laguna Beach

“I find this totally AMAZING that after Spanish broadcasters win a lawsuit over the ratings service Anglo Talk Radio takes a big dump in the ratings. Wow KFI went from 1st to 13th. I thought the ‘people meter’ was supposed to give us a fair and accurate ratings picture? I guess it did until lawyers got involved and returned our ratings to the old unfair ‘give Hispanic broadcasters a break.’

Results are being ‘weighted’ in favor of minority listeners now. Why is this the case ? Do they not know how to strap on a ‘people meter ?’ We lived with this flawed service for years. Give KFI and Talk Radio a break. Talk Radio and Country radio always take hits with these flawed reports.” - Michael J. Horn, President\CEO, CRN Digital Talk

4. You lost a morning team with a quarter of a century with KLOS. How are Heidi & Frank doing? How are the ratings compared to when Mark & Brian were in their last year? Have you made any changes to the morning show?

I was at CBS when Howard Stern left, and I saw firsthand how tough a task it can be to replace a legendary show. I think Heidi and Frank have done an outstanding job in the most challenging of circumstances. They work hard, they're idea machines, they make me laugh, and the numbers are much better than I would have anticipated coming into the station.

5. In the last year, in addition to Mark & Brian, you’ve lost Uncle Joe Benson, Cynthia Fox and Jim Ladd. What are your feelings about personalities on a Classic Rock station? Any assessment with the current staff?

Wow, all those questions only get one number? I think personality is absolutely critical to Classic Rock. At the end of the day, I think we win by getting people to punch back in a few more times a week. And I think you do that by being compelling and it's tough to do compelling radio without strong personalities. I LOVE the team we have in place today now. We talked about Heidi & Frank, Gary Moore does a fun, culturally literate, high energy show in the afternoons, and Melissa Maxx is doing a really fun, interactive show at night. And I think the midday show is pretty good, too, but I'll let you judge for yourself. (Madden hosts the midday show.)

I was thinking of going on Million Second Quiz and wearing a KLOS T-shirt. What could possibly go wrong?

The Sound is the station we share the most music with, and if their personnel moves are any indication, they've certainly got an interest in our heritage. But, and I say this with all due respect to them, that's not the same thing as ‘our major competition.’ I've got my eye on the stations who are bigger players 25-54. Those are the stations in our way, and those are the stations we share the most audience with.

I guess I'm of the radio generation that doesn't really know anything else. I've been on the air at just about every gig I've ever had, and I really think it has its advantages. You get to know your product and your audience on a much deeper level.

9. Sales seems to put enormous pressure on programming for sales-related promotions. What is your philosophy about the relationship between sales and programming?

The challenges facing all large-scale media in this world are great enough. Our company's developed fruitful partnerships with other radio companies, and with Internet music purveyors. In that context, an "us vs. them" dynamic with your sales department is worse than anachronistic, it's fatal. That said, it's my job to look out for the listener experience, and I'm not shy about stepping in to figure out how we can turn a sales idea into something that positively impacts that experience.

10. How has your adjustment to living in Southern California been? Where did you end up living? Close to the KLOS studios on La Cienega?

Man, this place is massive! I'm really looking forward to getting to know all the nooks and crannies. I live about 10 minutes from the station. And that's only because our market manager wouldn't let me install a shower and a daybed in the programming offices.

(October 18, 2013) The latest ratings for morning drive provides some real insight into the listening habits of Southern California listeners. Ricardo "El Mandril" Sanchez from KLAX is the morning man of the AM hours with a sweep as the most listened to show in all three demographics listed.

Public station KPCC makes a Top 5 appearance in morning drive in Adults 25 – 54. Last spring the NPR station was tied for 19^th. Did KPCC pick up some listeners from KFI? Last October, Bill Handel was #1 in Persons 12+. Now, he’s 4^th. In Persons 25-54, last October he was 5^th. This ratings book he is 10^th.

And how is the Mark & Brian replacement team of Heidi & Frank at KLOS doing? A year ago they were tied for 18^th with Persons 12+. Today they are tied for 16^th. But in Persons 25-54, they moved from a tie for 13^th to 9^th.

The following is from the latest survey, September ’13 Mon-Fri 6a-10a:

Persons 12+ Mon-Fri 6a-10a

1. Ricardo "El Mandril" Sanchez (KLAX)
2. Kevin & Bean (KROQ)
3. Ryan Seacrest (KIIS)
4. Bill Handel (KFI)
5. Gary Bryan (KRTH)

Persons 18-34 Mon-Fri 6a-10a

1. Ricardo "El Mandril" Sanchez (KLAX)
2. Ryan Seacrest (KIIS)
3. Kevin & Bean (KROQ)
4. Carson Daly (AMP Radio)
5. Omar y Argelia (KLVE)
5. (tie) Big Boy (KPWR)

Persons 25-54 Mon-Fri 6a-10a

1. Ricardo "El Mandril" Sanchez (KLAX)
2. Kevin & Bean (KROQ)
3. Ryan Seacrest (KIIS)
4. Valentine (MY/fm)
5. Omar y Argelia (KLVE)
5. (tie) Morning Edition (KPCC)
5. (tie) KSCA

Bubblin’ Under. We want to pay special homage to those LARP who were nominated as Best LARP of 2013. These tireless men and women in front of and behind the microphone deserve the praise of their colleagues. Tied at 11th:

(Shotgun Tom Kelly, Heidi & Frank, Ralph Garman, John Phillips, and Pat Prescott)

Ask the Mayor. For the first time since assuming office on July 1, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti will be featured on a live, listener call-in show, “Ask the Mayor,” to air exclusively on KNX. The hour-long, quarterly program will debut on Thursday, October 24 at 10 a.m.

“Ask the Mayor” will be hosted by KNX news anchor Tom Haule and chief investigative reporter Charles Feldman and will give Angelinos the opportunity to put the mayor in the hot seat. Listeners will be able to pose questions directly to Mayor Garcetti by calling 866-569-1070 or through Twitter using #knxmayor. “Ask the Mayor” will stream live on cbsLA.com.

Valley Station Anniversary. KCSN (88.5/fm) celebrates 50 years of broadcasting next month. The station, then known as KEDC, first signed on from San Fernando Valley State College (now CSUN) in November 1963.

Doug Brown and David Schwartz provided some of the LARP that started their radio careers while attending school. Besides Doug and David, some LARadio people who started out at KEDC are: Rich Marotta (KFI), Geoff Witcher (sports czar), Michelle Roth (K-EARTH), Mike Horn (ceo/founder CRN), Jack Roth (KRLA pd), John Newton (KRLA, KKLA), Joanne Cunha (sales KNX, KABC, KFWB, etc.), Bob Turner (engineer KHJ, KFI, etc.), and Chris Hays (engineer KHJ, KRLA, KABC).

“It’s had a pretty interesting history, starting out as a campus station that was only on the air when school was in session to evolving around 1970 into a station on the air year round and staffed by students,” wrote Brown.

“During the 80’s the station evolved from being staffed by students into staffed by professionals, as it is today. The format has changed over the years. They used to air foreign language programming during the day, then rock and roll with an all-girl afternoon team (the 3 to 5 girls).”

2011 - FCC orders W284BQ-Detroit off the air because of interference with WIOT-Toledo.
2009 - HD2 channel of WOGL-Philadelphia is first station in 2009 to switch to Christmas music.
1989 - During Guns N' Roses show at Coliseum, Axl Rose threatens to quit over band's drug use.
1987 - Singer/actor Zac Efron (High School Musical, Hairspray, 17 Again) born in San Luis Obispo.
1982 - Ne-Yo (So Sick, Because Of You, Miss Independent) born Shaffer Smith in Camden, AR.
1976 - TV actor/singer Joey Lawrence (Nothin' My Love Can't Fix) born in Montgomery, PA.
1961 - Jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis (J Mood, Citi Beat, Melancholia) born in New Orleans.
1956 - Fans mob Elvis Presley at a Memphis gas station; owner gets upset, brawls with Presley.
1951 - KWIK-1490 in Burbank changes call letters to KBLA; station would move to 1500 in 1964.
1926 - Chuck Berry (Maybellene, Carol, Johnny B. Goode, My Ding-A-Ling) born in St. Louis.

On October 18, 1977, It's Ecstasy by Barry White was in its third week at number one on AM 1230 The Kat. (KGFJ had changed call letters to KKTT on October 10 and would return to the KGFJ call letters in October 1979.) High Energy, a female quartet from Pasadena, jumped from #5 to #2 with You Can't Turn Me Off. Millie Jackson climbed from #19 to #12 with If You're Not Back In Love. New music included I'm Here Again by Thelma Houston and Pack Up Your Bags by singer/drummer Harvey Mason. Top album was In Full Bloom by Rose Royce.

Funnie. T. Michael Jordan sent a photo of his dog following a de-worming procedure:

“What a great video on the Fox ‘girls’! A million laughs … and drools. It made my Thursday morning.

“Many of the ladies on FOX are attorneys and attractive. People on the left think everything on FOX is political. I think HARD news on FOX is the best they have. They have the top news people in the business and the HARD NEWS.

“Thanks so much for running the article. Whew … this is a difficult business and to survive this long even blows my mind!” - Talaya Trigueros

Talaya Trigueros Rides The Wave to 25

(October 16, 2013) Twenty-five years at the same job nowadays is amazing. In radio, that’s almost unheard of. Yet Talaya Trigueros, midday personality at KTWV (94.7 / The Wave) has hit the elusive milestone, celebrating her silver anniversary at the smooth jazz station.

“It’s about embracing the music, it’s presenting the product with passion, it’s having sincerity about what you’re doing,” said Trigueros, when asked about how she’s maintained her broadcasting tenure. “You wrap yourself around the music and present it to your listeners on a silver platter. I honestly love the music. I’m thankful to the musicians who share their instruments, their voices and how they inspire with their music.”

The Albuquerque, New Mexico native wanted to be either a singer or on the radio, and found the latter more suited to her talents (“singing was hard…radio was a little easier for me”). After volunteering at the local college radio station, Trigueros attended San Francisco State, where she was hired at her first job at Berkeley’s KRE. “I did a Latin music show and a jazz show on the weekends, it was the last of the free-form jazz stations. The albums were all mine – I was able to express my personality through the music.” A change in ownership led to KRE becoming KBLX, then known to Bay Area listeners as “The Quiet Storm.” When the owners of KBLX purchased KUTE in Southern California, Trigueros accepted the offer to move to Los Angeles and work in a bigger market.

After subsequent stops at KNX/fm and KOCM (K-Ocean), Trigueros arrived at KTWV in 1988 and has been there ever since. “I’m again playing Randy Crawford, Ramsey Lewis, and the Crusaders. I’ve come full circle since my beginnings (in radio).” Trigueros has seen The Wave evolve from its beginnings playing New Age music. “We’ve always relied on the instrumentals, but now we’ve evolved to include more vocals. We’ve moved from New Age to progressive jazz to smooth jazz. We’re currently in a direction that flows well for the station.”

Trigueros raised two children with her husband and currently “really enjoy my time with the grandchildren.” She also volunteers with several charities, including the annual benefit for High Hopes based in Costa Mesa, a provider of services for recovering brain trauma patients. Trigueros also shares her time with the Latino Theater Center, and performs announcing duties for the yearly Imagen Awards. She periodically speaks with college students about their future aspirations, mindful that she’s one of the few Latinas on the dial, especially English language radio. “I’m aware I’m representing Latino women in Southern California. I’m always humbled that people admire my work. I hope that I can encourage others.”

In addition to her radio career, Trigueros has done voiceover work in both Spanish and English, “which is a real challenge. I love being bilingual and bicultural – I can enjoy watching a tv show on CBS, then view a novella on Univision.” Trigueros has been the “Voice” of various radio stations including KOAS / The Oasis in Las Vegas, KSJZ-Reno, WLVE-Miami, WLOQ-Orlando and KEZL-Fresno. She also voice tracked a full time show for KYOT in Phoenix for five years. Additionally, Trigueros hosted a Latin Music show for the Armed Forces Radio Network called “Nuestra Musica,” playing Rock en Espanol, Mariachi, Salsa and Latin Pop for American soldiers worldwide.

“Twenty-five years at one station in radio is a very special achievement and to go into year 26 sounding on top of her game and better than ever shows the true talent and character of Talaya,” said Rick Thomas, pd of The Wave. “I am obviously very proud of her!”

As for the future, Trigueros still sees value in local radio. “Advertisers used to consider print, radio, and tv – now it’s print, radio, tv, satellite, and Internet - there’s more competition. Still, terrestrial radio will continue to thrive. When you get in your car, your radio is still an important source of entertainment, the key is being local.”

One of her most memorable on-air moments was a visit with legendary singer Smokey Robinson. “I learned he was a loyal listener. When he was visiting the station, Smokey came into the studio and said he was ‘honored to meet me.’ I thought to myself ‘Wait, this is Smokey Robinson. There’s something wrong with this picture!’ It’s times like that when you know that you’re blessed.”

“As I sit in the studio, I realize I’m talking to L.A., but I also know I’m talking to friends. I realize it’s not even what you say or how much you say, it’s how you say it,” said the KTWV veteran.

Trigueros is quick to credit her listeners for keeping her inspired and on the job for 25 years at The Wave.

She shared a Turkish proverb: “Speaking is silver, listening is gold.” (The story was written by LARadio.com senior correspondent, Alan Oda)

My 50 Years in Radio
By Ron Shapiro

(October 15, 2013) It was 50 years ago this month that I decided that I’d like to be a disc jockey or a tv cameraman. With the help of my dad, he built a radio station for me with two kiddie turntables and some remote switches to turn them on and off. I played disc jockey with my friends Gary Lazoff and Cindy Kurland as we broadcast from the bedroom to the bathroom and kitchen.

When I hit junior high, Jeff Stein helped me put together special programs. He gave me great advice to write down what I wanted to say, so it would sound perfect. No ‘ums’ or ‘ahhs’ trying to figure what’s next. It was the precursor to my syndication career.

Then I got to be on the high school radio station with my on-air partner Matt Krimsky. Ronnie & Ace was some good radio.

After college radio I got my first real job. Thank you to Johnny Biggs who hired me to work on American Top 40 with the legendary Casey Kasem, plus all the other legends who passed through the doors of Watermark like Robert W. Morgan, Gary Owens, Bob Kingsley and Charlie Van Dyke.

Ron Cutler stole me away to work on Tom Joyner’s first syndicated show, and Cousin Brucie’s first national show.

Thank you to Mark Driscoll who quit KIIS/fm. Steve Rivers asked me to fill in for three days and I lasted eight years at L.A.’s Number One Hit Music Station!

Thank you to Rick Lemmo who hired me for my first programming job. Lite 92.7 was the first ‘Trimulcast’ in Los Angeles and we did some surprisingly good radio considering the owner was insane, while Paul Mahler was my music director.

Don Parker, thank you for hiring me at Mega 100. I’ve never had a better time in radio than working with Ricci Filiar, Mark Morris, Christina Kelley and everyone else at L.A.’s Jammin’ Oldies.

Robin Lia and Chris Leary made my 18 years with Fox an experience that not only benefited me, but my family as well. My daughter Casey got to meet a member of her favorite group, Fall Out Boy, and I got to be a cool uncle when I was able to introduce my nephews to a Power Ranger!

Through mergers and acquisitions I’m back working with some of my KIIS-mates at Hot 92.3.

Rick Nuhn has been my business partner for 9 years and now “Top Ten Now & Then” is an International Hit. It’s been quite a journey and I hope it continues for many more years.

I’ve rambled way too long, but on this Golden Anniversary I want to thank everyone whose path I’ve crossed. I’ve been living a dream thanks to each and every one of you. You can congratulate one of the real nice guys in the business: ronshapiro@clearchannel.com

Hear Ache. Bet K-EARTH got a ton of new listeners during its MTV weekend. They should have promoted it beyond their listening audience … I was in Durango, Colorado last week and was listening to local radio that was airing Ryan Seacrest and Ellen K. Clear Channel really makes that syndicated show sound seamless with local inserts … Richard Stellar, social media specialist, lost his mother to Alzheimer’s. “It's a challenge to diagnose, but it's certainly a killer,” emailed Richard. He is supporting an event in Century City on November 3^rd. Check out: http://tinyurl.com/l7runmm ... Rush Limbaugh is doing his show from Southern California this week ... KNX has added Steve Lopez as a contributor to report on Los Angeles. Maybe this will open the door to having an entertainment reporter to cover Hollywood news in-depth.

LARP Rewind: October 15

On this day in 1971, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Rick Nelson and Bobby Rydell performed at a Rock & Roll Revival show at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Nelson, wearing bell-bottom jeans and sporting shoulder-length hair, sang his 1961 hit Hello Mary Lou, then performed the Rolling Stones' Country Honk, a country arrangement of Honky Tonk Women. Many in the audience, expecting Nelson to perform more of his early hits, began booing. Nelson left the stage and refused to join the other acts for the finale. The incident inspired him to write Garden Party, which went to number one on the adult contemporary chart and #6 on the Hot 100. The lyrics spoke of lessons learned: "If memories were all I sang, I'd rather drive a truck...You can't please everyone so you've got to please yourself."

Born on October 15: Disney Channel actor Billy Unger (1995), Keyshia Cole (1983), Ginuwine (born Elgin Baylor Lumpkin, 1970), Eric Benét (1966), tv chef Emeril Lagasse (1959), Tanya Roberts (born Victoria Blum, 1955), Tito Jackson (1953), Chris DeBurgh (1948), Richard Carpenter (1946), Penny Marshall (1942), Alice star Linda Lavin (1937), Barry McGuire (1937), jazz singer/pianist Freddy Cole (1931). (LARadio is meticulously prepared by Steve Thompson)

TALKERS Confab. From TALKERS.com website:

“During the TALKERS Los Angeles 2013 conference at the Steve Allen Theater in Hollywood, RAB ceo Erica Farber moderated a panel of industry pros working in the sales end the business that addressed the current struggles talk radio faces in the national and network areas but also pointed to success on the local level. Sports USA Media president Bob Moore told the attendees, ‘Network business, as a whole, sucks. There are 35 buyers controlling radio and forcing down rates. I happen to be in one of the positive aspects of the business – sports. No-buy lists are killing talk radio as we know it. We need to find new clients and [bypass the buyers and] get to the ceo’s and presidents and present our cases.’”

“Salem Los Angeles vice president and general manager Terry Fahy concurred saying, ‘It’s tough out there with the rate suppression. Our challenge is to tell our story. We’re still getting results for our advertisers but the digital competition is intense.’”

Jingle Ball. KIIS’ Jingle Ball concert is set for December 6 at Staples Center. Ryan Seacrest announced the performers last week, which will include Miley Cyrus, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Selena Gomez, Enrique Iglesias, Robin Thicke, Ariana Grande, Austin Mahone, Jason Derulo, Fifth Harmony, Travie McCoy and Chris Brown. Ryan will host the event alongside the entire KIIS personality lineup.

“KIIS/fm’s Jingle Ball is the must-see holiday event in Los Angeles and has become a tradition to our loyal listeners,” said John Ivey, KIIS pd. “Each year we look forward to bringing the most influential artists in the industry to entertain our listeners and further our station's core dedication to music.”

Every year KIIS/fm’s Jingle Ball gives back to the community to celebrate the holiday season. This year’s official charity for KIIS/fm’s Jingle Ball 2013 is the Ryan Seacrest Foundation – $1.00 of each ticket sold will be donated to the non-profit organization, which is dedicated to inspiring today’s youth through entertainment and education focused initiatives.

Overheard.

“Getting fired from radio today doesn’t carry the stigma it used to so you might as well do whatever you want, hell, it may even work.” (George Johns, radio consultant)
“Can’t wait for Halloween promotion to be over so I don’t have to say Boo-gie Bash anymore.” (Gary Bryan, KRTH)
“The ‘Welcome to Las Vegas’ sign turned pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Will it turn yellow for National Banana Day?” (Ira David Sternberg)
"The Credibility Gap with Harry Shearer and Richard Beebe, did a hilarious send-up back in '69 on KRLA that included something about, ‘if you take a hubcap from a 1956 Buick, and put it on your turntable and play it backwards, you'll hear the message that ‘Paul is Dead.’” (Joe Collins)
“Sarah Palin and Ted Cruz, both non-veterans, commandeered the Veteran’s March. There were people behind them waving Confederate flags as a symbol of American patriotism.” (Stephanie Miller, KTLK)
“Good luck sleeping that one off, Detroit.” (Jim Rome)
"The illegals got their rally, the Vets got locked out. Yes you can." (Rush Limbaugh, KFI)
“If my hair gets any whiter, I’ll look like George Washington.” (Don Imus)
“The reality of baseball is that during the regular season you never do anything to sacrifice to win the game in June. In the playoffs it is the opposite. You do everything you can to win now. It is day trading. It is not a 401K.” (Colin Cowherd, KSPN)

Captain Organic. Andy Harrison, better known as Captain Organic from the early KROQ days checked in. “I worked in the LA radio market for five years. First as Captain Organic at KROQ for most of 1978 and then moved the C.O. Show to KNAC in Long Beach from February 1979 through the end of 1981. I also was a member of the Rick Dees radio crew known as the ‘Cast of Idiots and did voices on his KIIS/fm radio show in 1985/86 as ‘Andrew Bond.’ I appeared on his I'm Not Crazy LP, performing the first track on the record, Who's the Boss, in which I performed and co-wrote that Bruce Springsteen impersonation track [we called him Bruce String Cheese on the LP].

“Maybe my career amounted to a tick on an elephant, compared to many, but I see plenty of ticks on this site as well. Just want to be remembered for my 15 [more like 5] minutes of fame.”

Funnie. Sent by Sam Bellamy

Email Tuesday

We GET Email …

** Talk Radio Should Change

“I believe that Perry Simon got it right in his speech to the TALKERS group in Hollywood last week when he told them that they had to change or face certain declines. I missed his talk, but after I arrived, it was the same topics, the same suits, the same, same, same, so I left and went to see Gravity at the Arclight.

Music radio has a near automatic way of changing their stripes as the music changes, as they switch up rotations, but these talk shows just sit there talking about the same topics with the same hosts, over and over and listeners have simply gravitated to other stations where they feel they can get more entertainment. Points of view are being handled well from Internet based sources and we don’t need the crackle/pop of AM radio to tell us how we feel anymore.” - Ed Mann, MannGroup Radio

** Over for KFI?

“I remember an article years ago when Robin Bertolucci bragged about the heavy KFI ‘spot load.’ I knew then that it would eventually bite her. Fact is, John & Ken are sounding tired and are not a compulsively listenable as they were back in 2003. I don't see any remedy for them. Their time is over. Jerry Brown is now Governor, and ‘the path to amnesty’ for undocumented immigrants seems all be inevitable. There is nothing for them to rail against, and when they do, it sounds forced and phony now.

I think Bill Handel still does the best local morning radio show in the country. Bill Carroll is dull as dishwater, and Tim Conway is an overgrown frat boy gone to seed.

I grew up in New Jersey listening to New York talk radio like Howard Stern and Bob Grant, even remember listening to John & Ken when they were in New Jersey.

I went to school in Boston and interned at the then-great WRKO with Gene Burns and Jerry Williams. Now THAT was a talk station!

Moved here in 1992 and have basically been listening to KFI ever since [though not as much lately]. I think Bertolucci has been living off David Hall's glory for years now. Can't think of a single person she brought in who was good for the station. Without Bill Handel and John & Ken, KFI would be nothing.” - John Dalton, Los Angeles

** Different Talk Radio

“Regarding your article on the KFI ratings slide, I believe we're witnessing a cultural shift away from the anger, hostility, and no-so-veiled racism and misogyny that's become the hallmark of right-wing Talk radio in the past two decades. While there is, of course, much legitimacy to conservative points-of-view, Talk radio has pushed the right, politically, over the edge. By and large, Americans are becoming burned-out, turned-off, and increasingly intolerant of the angst -- not for political reasons, so much as for cultural reasons. Young people especially are turning to Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert and Bill Maher for their ‘news.’ Ever wonder why there's no levity, no humor, no happiness, nothing that feels good in right-wing radio and tv programming?

I believe the pendulum is swinging back toward a desire to hear positive, solution-oriented talk and news programming that is both honest and true - not liberal radio per se, but the kind of diverse, EGBOK family feeling we heard from KABC in the '80's when callers were featured, and everyone was treated with respect regardless of their opinions.

Just MY opinion ... thanks for what you do.” - Michael Benner, Personal Development & Emotional Intelligence , Verdugo City

** Talk Radio and Growing Disgust

“The ratings erosion that KFI and Fox News have experienced, I'm convinced, has less to do with ‘staleness’ or commercial load and more to do with listeners' growing disgust with the political trench warfare being fought out in Washington.

All of the recent polls have pointed to a decline in the favorability ratings of both major parties, but the Republican Party has been hit hardest, and its members represent the bulk of the audience for Fox News and most talk radio stations. I haven't checked, but I'm fairly certain that if I accessed the monthly favorability polls of the Republican Party and the monthly ratings of KFI, I would see a nearly identical graph.” - Lew Irwin, STUDIO BRIEFING

** More Female Anchors

"Fox News rules because it has found opinionated female anchors who viewers can relate to. The bombastic male anchors bore me to death. And this is why KFI and all talk radio fails. You can only hear a women's voices on the weekend, which does nothing for my drive-time commute. We're a captive audience that is not being served by radio.

Thank you for your site. I always enjoy reading it." - Connie Ramsland, Glendale

** Ratings Question

"Regarding all the comments concerning the declining KFI ratings, it would be interesting to see ratings for each of the KFI shows. Bill Handel is taking all the criticism [most I agree with] for the decline, but if his show is still #2, the other shows must be accounting for most of the decline." - Joe Petritsch, Huntington Beach

Callaghan Set to Retire After 40 Years with KIIS

(October 9, 2013) Mike Callaghan, chief engineer at KIIS for four decades, is calling it quits. “After 40 odd years at KIIS/fm, I decided it was time for a rest,” emailed Mike.

Dennis Sloatman, engineering director at Clear Channel Media + Entertainment, wrote to the staff:

"Hello, everyone:

It is with much regret that I announce that Mike Callaghan, after a long and productive career in broadcasting, has resigned from Clear Channel/Los Angeles.

As I said to Mike when we spoke this morning, Mike should take great pride in his innovations, hard work and in his service both to Clear Channel, and to our industry as a whole.

Mike is a true gentleman and scholar, so please join with me in wishing Mike the very best in the coming years and for his dedication to our industry.

Mike has indicated he will be with us until at least November 1st – the actual final date to be determined.

For a decade from 1975-85, Mike was also a teacher of telecommunications at Pasadena City College. In 1995 Mike designed the KIIS Megacruiser, a 46 foot long remote semi-trailer with two fully functional on-air studios, one of which rolls out of the side of the trailer. In 1998 he upgraded KXTA (Clear Channel) from 5,000 to 50,000 watts. (You write Mike at: mail@mike.fm)

** "Please give Mike Callaghan my fondest regards. He is a fine man and a great Chief!" - Doug Cox

Send mail to db@thevine.net with questions or comments about this website. Copyright © 1997-2013 Last modified: October 20, 2014

Send mail to db@thevine.net with questions or comments about this website.
Copyright © 1997-2013
Last modified: October 20, 2014