Post summer solstice short takes

"We've got a lot to talk about": Promising to be “unapologetically progressive,” Tavis Smiley’s new talk station KBLA (1580 AM) debuted this week. I’ve sampled the station at different times. I listened to Don Amiche, formerly of KJLH, during a Sunday night sneak preview, making some comments (“I don’t like other groups hijacking the discussion about racism”) which were quickly challenged by co-hosts Crysta and Kiara. The station describes the duo as “not one, but two, brilliant Black women, whose aim is to keep (Amiche) in check. We’ll see.”

Most of my listening has been spent with comedian Alonzo Boden. I admit I’m a fan of his, having seen him during a live taping of NPR’s “Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me” at L.A.’s Greek Theater in 2018. So far he’s demonstrated he’s done his homework, offering details to support his arguments. Nonetheless there hasn’t been much comedy on his show, I’m hoping to hear more of his witty observations of current events in the days to come. More forthcoming.

The ROQ rolling the news: Richard Wagoner has been writing about radio for many years, most recently for Torrance’s Daily Breeze, the Orange County Register, and the Daily News. His most recent headline asks “What’s wrong with KROQ 106.7 FM, and what can be done to fix it” (read it here). 

Wagoner's story has elicited opinions from his readership throughout social media. Kevin Ryder, now heard afternoons on KLOS (95.5 FM) with Doug “Sluggo” Roberts tweeted his response:

It’s the connection.

Rick Carroll built KROQ to be unique, and listeners felt deeply connected.

Entercom / Audacy made it generic. People don’t respond to generic.

Wagoner said KROQ was a significant reason KMET dropped rock for The WAVE 94.7 (KTWV). Others argue KMET's competition was KLOS, instead KROQ developed a different, loyal audience with their tightly programmed alternative format that was one of the first of its kind throughout the 1980s and 1990s. 

I once mentioned my teenage son stating the issue nowadays is the music – what was once alternative is now considered mainstream. It’s an interesting point, given KROQ’s reputation for being cutting edge, although rival ALT 98.7 [KYSR] is getting decent ratings. Then there's listeners who haven't listened to 106.7 since the demise of the Kevin and Bean morning show. 

Then there's changing demographics. We’ve noted the rise of Reggaeton and Spanish stations (think Cali 93.9 / KLLI-FM and Mega 96.3 / KXOL-FM) and the likelihood that the largest demographic in L.A. will be Hispanic listeners, if that hasn’t happened already. My understanding is KROQ never had a significant Hispanic following.

Back in 2005, KROQ was considered one of the top billing stations in the country, bringing in approximately $68 million, rivaling and sometimes exceeding KIIS-FM for the number one bragging rights. Considering current ratings, one observation is there may be no real issue here. KROQ still ranks in the top 20, with a weekly cume of 1.2 million listeners, slightly more than ALT 98.7.

Finally, it's worth noting that the station is looking for a new morning host, to replace Ted Stryker who left the shift earlier this month. Steve Reynolds, a consultant based in Raleigh, North Carolina has offered postings on Twitter and other media looking for new talent. 

Charlie Kirk, Clay Travis, Buck Sexton, Dan Bongino

The Rush is on - sort of: The question “who will replace Rush Limbaugh” continues to offer different answers. Salem Radio is featuring 27-year-old Charlie Kirk as the heir apparent, running ads stating “Momentum Continues Building for Charlie Kirk in Former Rush Slot.” But so far in L.A., Rush’s former station KEIB (“The Patriot 1150”) debuted Clay Travis and Buck Sexton on Monday from Premier Networks for midmornings, while Westwood One’s Dan Bongino occupies the 9 to noon slot on KABC. Kirk is heard locally on KRLA (“The Answer 870”) from 10 p.m. to midnight.

 

Reunited: More from Nicole Sandler’s podcast interview with former KLOS morning man Mark Thompson:

I’m very proud of (my career), because I came from a really, really small town of Mussel Shoals, Alabama, and I climbed the ladder of radio because that was my dream, to make it into major market and to be one of the best I could possibly be. And to have done that, and to have accomplished that, is a huge feeling of pride and proudness for me.

We’ll share some more excerpts over the next couple of postings (hear the complete interview here). Asked what it was like to have a reunion of sorts, Sandler said “Mark and I have kept in touch over the years, though there were times we went years without talking. But it’s like we never skipped a beat. It reminded me that when we had fun, we really had fun.”

Dr. Don Rose, Bobby "Whaddaguy" Ocean

Whaddaguy - the Doctor is in: I may have mentioned previously I spent some time in Northern California for school. KFRC was still a dominant station in the Bay Area, each morning waking up to, and laughing with Dr. Don Rose, amazed at the endless one liners and sounders pouring out of my clock radio. I later heard a familiar on KFRC who had arrived from sister station KHJ. Watch Dr. Don and Bobby Ocean share some airtime together here.

Thanks for sending me updates to your email addresses (seems people are all migrating to Gmail), if you’d like to be informed when the blog is posted, reach me at ayodaradio.blogspot.com. Unless there’s more breaking news, I hope to finally offer my ten questions with Perry Michael Simon next week.