An ayoda on radio

When a company does a rebrand, there’s always suspicions as to why. Sometimes a new name is adopted because their product has evolved into something that’s truly different. Other times, the rebrand is to distance the company from their past. In 2014, Clear Channel rebranded itself as iHeartMedia. Its previous moniker was associated with some derogatory titles (remember “Cheap Channel?”), plus the corporation was carrying over $21 billion (!) in debt. But to claim the name change was just to distract the critics is – at least in my humble opinion – a bit limited. Almost simultaneously, Premiere Radio Networks – an iHeart subsidiary – dropped “radio” from their name even though their 60+ personalities (some with local roots include Rush Limbaugh , Ryan Seacrest , JoJo Wright , Bill Handel , Leo Laporte , Big Boy , Colin Cowherd , Jason Smith , Hollywood Hamilton , not a comprehensive list) provide programming for thousands of radio stations across the country. But there’s also the iHeart...

Sending healing thoughts and strength to Andy Chanley , music director and afternoon drive host at 88.5 FM (KCSN / KSBR). He recently shared an update about his health with his friends and listeners: Hey, friends.  I have something to share.  Yesterday, I was diagnosed with cancer.  Stage II Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) with Germinal Center Subtype, to be specific.  It’s very aggressive, but also very treatable — and I’m gonna treat the shit out of it.  Six three-week cycles of a chemotherapy regimen they call R-CHOP begin Monday, along with anything else my excellent oncologist from UCLA comes up with.  You have no idea how eager I am to start — and win — this fight. Rush Limbaugh, Dan Bongino Who will replace Rush Limbaugh ? “There is no clear-cut favorite at this time,” said Michael Harrison, publisher of Talkers Magazine. “It is generally accepted that no one can replace Rush Limbaugh, even Rush Limbaugh as a posthumous performer.” Premier Net...

  These are the names of the eight victims of the shooting spree in Atlanta. Their names are also posted in their native language as noted. I've been asked several times about my reaction to this tragedy. I kept trying unsuccessfully to come up with the right words, until I realized whatever I'm feeling, as an Asian male, is exponentially worse for my Asian sisters. So I asked two prominent on-air Asian American Pacific Islanders to share their perspective about what happened this past Tuesday. Mimi Chen  is a Julliard-trained musician who now offers "Peace, Love and Sundays" on 88.5 FM (KCSN / KSBR). She's also a veteran of FM 101.9 (KSCA) and The Sound 100.3 (KSWD): The recent spate of attacks against the elderly had already raised my hackles but the murders in Atlanta, were obviously based in racism no matter how you spin it. What especially sickens me are the folks who try to twist it into something it’s not, simply dismissing it saying, “it’s not racist, he h...

  Former KNX sportscaster Steve Grad  has passed. For 23 years, Grad offered sports updates in the afternoon and into the evening on the all-news station. He also did sports on weekends for KTLA/tv. He started his career while attending Southern Illinois University. Grad called baseball, football, basketball, hockey and boxing. After graduating in 1972, he was a TV sports anchor in San Antonio and Portland. In 1981, he moved to Kansas City working for KBEQ and KBEA. Grad landed on the west coast to work for K101 (KIOI) San Francisco.  He arrived at KNX in 1993. Despite once being referred to as "gravelly-voiced" by an unimpressed  Jim Healy , Grad continued his updates until 2016 when the station eliminated the afternoon sports anchor position. Grad interviewing Mickey Bly, GM’s Directory of Electrical Systems, at the LA Auto Show in 2010. (CBS Los Angeles) He was a two-time Golden Mike winner for his KNX sports segments. His daughter, Gina Grad , followed in his foo...

  I just finished my spring break from teaching, like everyone else at my school I could have used another week. I was productive, a bit more than usual, as my wife and I continue to clean out the garage. I found a box filled with newspaper clippings about local radio. It’s now somewhat organized, I’ll generate some stories from these files in the weeks ahead.   Gene “Bean” Baxter made an appearance Monday on KLOS, briefly reuniting him with former partner Kevin Ryder , now doing afternoons with Doug “Sluggo” Roberts . My correspondent Jodi-San listened in: “To hear that these three legendary DJs, Kevin Ryder, Sluggo & Bean were going to reunite over a small chat (and perhaps a cup of tea?) really made my day. And to top it off, they spoke of Bean’s disdain for people who say ‘Daylight SavingS” when it should be ‘Daylight Saving.’ Classic Bean.’”   This is not a contest, but I am curious to see who might know the answer. Which local radio station has had the ...

  Please indulge me for a moment, this isn't about radio but something that's important to me. Today marks 10 years since the Great Tohoku disaster, where a tsunami triggered by a 9.0 earthquake damaged and destroyed much of the northeast coast of Japan. I've had the privilege of being one of the thousands of volunteers who visited the disaster areas. If you're interested, my other blog about serving with disaster relief groups can be found here . I'll get back to radio again next time.

One of the privileges I had while contributing to Don Barrett 's LARadio.com was the opportunity to interview the people who made the Southern California airwaves so incredible. One of my favorite interviews (and favorite people) was Mike Nolan , the retired traffic pilot better known as "KFI in the Sky." He's now happily retired, enjoying the warm weather of Peoria, Arizona. We revisit his story, first published in December, 2014. ocregister.com For many, Southern California evokes images of Hollywood, the beach, Disneyland, Beverly Hills, the mountains and the deserts, and all points in between. Yet local residents know getting to these different places can be a major hassle – even a nightmare –due to the dreaded phenomena of crowded Southland freeways. For years, Mike Nolan , perhaps better known as “KFI in the Sky,” provided a friendly airborne voice guiding commuters each weekday through the SigAlerts and traffic jams. After a 28 year run, Nolan has decided it’s ...

I 've some ideas for future postings but can use some help. I’m soliciting your assistance if you'd like to participate in creating some stories: radio.com Perhaps better known nowadays as CHR (Contemporary Hit Radio), it may not have been invented on the airwaves of Los Angeles radio, but starting with the halcyon days of Boss Radio KHJ, there’s always been a station playing the hits. I mentioned previously that KIIS-FM is still a dominant station, yet it’s not “the” top station in the market. That’s also true around the country, CHR stations being popular, but not dominant. So my question is what’s the future of CHR? Is the format in the doldrums for now but will eventually regain its leadership, or does the format need an overhaul? And if so, how? I was introduced to HD Radio courtesy of Don Barrett , who gifted me the Boston Acoustics table radio. Subsequently, I’ve had HD radio in all of my autos, including a retrofit in a vehicle which I couldn’t wait to get rid of (the r...