LAist, others on the list, and short takes

 

KPCC no more, sort of: The Los Angeles Times, as well as other media outlets, are letting their readers know that local NPR affiliate KPCC is rebranding themselves as "LAist 89.3." As it turns out, the station's subscribers were informed of this change at the beginning of the year. Larry Mantle, the host of "Air Talk," KPCC...er, LAist 89.3's signature program, authored a letter sent out earlier in January. Here's some of what he said:

For the last five years, you've heard us refer you to LAist.com, and our reporters refer themselves as being part of the KPCC and LAist newsroom. But the truth is, this has caused confusion among many of our listeners and supporters - and if I'm being honest, a little confusion among us as well!

This new, unified cohesive brand will bring together our radio (LAist 89.3), digital news site (LAist.com), and podcasts (LAist Studios) under one name that clearly identifies what we are all about: serving Southern California the news and information that you count on every day.

There's no announced plans to modify the station's programming, only the moniker. Plus they'll still have to identify themselves as "KPCC" at the top of the hour.

Back in 2018, KPCC purchased the LAist website, abruptly shut down by previous owner Joe Ricketts, described as the "billionaire owner" of then-parent company DNAinfo. It was alleged Ricketts abandoned LAist and sister online publications in New York (gothamist.com) and Washington DC (dcist.com) when the New York operations voted to unionize. Private anonymous donors allowed KPCC, as well as WNYC-New York and WAMU-Washington DC to purchase the former DNAinfo sites. It allowed the public radio stations to have another platform for their journalists to share their stories covering their local areas. Worth noting, it's rumored Southern California Public Radio (the parent organization of KPCC) purchased the LAist website as well as its news archive and social media assets for as little as $50,000. 

Rob Archer, Brian Douglas, Karen Adams, Charles Feldman

Now it's LA in the afternoon: Speaking of news (I know, poor segue), Audacy all-news outlet KNX now offers an afternoon companion to their morning program, debuting "LA's Afternoon News" on Monday. Longtime LA veteran Rob Archer, who's been on the local and national airwaves hosting both music and news since 1999 and heard on KNX starting in 2015 joins current PM anchor Karen Adams. She's been at KNX since 2017 via an award-winning career in Washington DC and Philadelphia, starting as a street reporter and has anchored afternoons after Diane Thompson retired in 2019. Brian Douglas has been both a traffic anchor and airborne reporter since 2016, previously doing a national show for Westwood One. Charles Feldman is KNX's investigative reporter. The CNN veteran will continue to host "KNX In Depth" while adding additional live reports and interviews during afternoon drive.

Despedida: We're sorry to report about the passing of Eddie Lopez, host of KXLU's weekly "Alma de Barrio" program featuring "all things salsa." Lopez hosted the show for over four decades as a volunteer at the Loyola Marymount University campus station. Lydia Ammossow, KXLU Radio Director, offered the following tribute:

Eddie, an LMU alumnus from 1978, has been with KXLU since 1976 when he first began as a student deejay with Alma del Barrio. He was an exceptional pillar of our station for 46+ years who elevated Salsa music, artists, and musicians beyond measure. Eddie was a tireless champion of this life-giving genre of music, the quintessential radio professional on air, a seasoned curator of all things Salsa, and someone who cared deeply for the radio station. His presence will be infinitely missed, but the forever imprint of his spirit remains ever vibrant in our corner of these LMU blufftops as well as in the local and greater Salsa communities.

Lopez was 66. No cause of death has been announced.

Cannon fire(d): "Nick Cannon Radio," heard locally on Power 106 (KPWR) has ended. Teasing he has a "major announcement," Cannon ended both his daily program and the "Cannon Countdown," both offerings syndicated by Skyview Networks. Cannon debuted on the local Hip-Hop station as morning host in 2019 before moving to middays and syndication. He serves as the host of "The Masked Singer" on FOX, plus "Nick Cannon's Wild and Out" on MTV. He is also known as the father of 12 children with six different women.

The Dean's Office closes a door: We mentioned previously Fred Roggin was leaving his nightly sports anchor duties at NBC4 (KNBC-TV) but will continue his daily show on AM 570 (KLAC). He offered a farewell but not a retirement announcement when he signed off from Channel 4 last Thursday.

OK, back to grading papers. We can be reached at ayodaradio@gmail.com, let us know if you want to subscribe or provide us any feedback, just not in my headphones. I think that's the third time I've used that one-liner.