Bay Area's JV found, other short takes

 

We're sorry to report a body found near San Francisco's Pier 39 has been identified as Jeffrey Vandergrift. Better known as "JV," he was the morning man at iHeart's WiLD 94.9 (KYLD-San Francisco). Vandegrift was last seen on February 23. He had challenging health issues, including a difficult recovery from Lyme Disease. JV chronicled his encounter with the illness on social media. His survivors include his wife, Natasha Yi, who was also featured on his morning show.

NPR West facilty on Jefferson Boulevard in Culver City

Cut cut: National Public Radio, probably better known by its initials NPR, announced layoffs which will result in $30 million in savings. About 100 jobs, ten percent of their workforce, was cut. This follows a freeze on most new hires, internships, and travel back in November 2022, saving $20 million. Additionally, NPR has "stopped production" with four of their podcasts, Invisibilia, Louder Than a Riot, Rough Translation, and Everyone and Their Mother. The narrative was these podcasts may possibly return, though on the NPR website it stated these programs were cancelled.

Veteran foreign correspondent Sylvia Poggioli has retired after 41 years with the network. As for the layoffs, those identified include podcast hosts Emma Choi, Gregory Walker, and Yowei Shaw, along with staffers Gabriella Bulgarelli, Soraya Shockley, Sam J. Leeds, and Mano Sundaresan

The network previously had significant layoffs during the 2008 recession. Since then, the NPR workforce has increased by approximately 50 percent. The apparent strategy is to spare the news operation from the brunt of the reductions. Podcasts were considered to be a growing revenue source for the network, yet it appears their online efforts will experience more of the current round of cuts.

Rain, rain, go away: With still more rain forecast for the rest of March, it's also noted snow levels have dropped significantly. David Cendejas is the site supervisor at Mount Wilson Observatory. He took this photo earlier this month. He told RadioWorld details about the pic: “I was temporarily forced to turn around due to the high winds and falling ice from the tower. I took this just as I turned around.”

Jennifer York

By the way, kudos to our local stations, particularly KFI and KNX, for keeping this commuter out of trouble during the recent storms. Thanks to KNX traffic anchor Jennifer York, I avoided a couple of freeway hazards and managed to miss the potholes on my 46-mile commute to work.

Smiliey smiling - and talking: He lost his nightly PBS talk show over allegations of sexual harassment. For five years, no one had heard anything from Tavis Smiley. But in 2021, he announced he was part of a group purchasing KBLA, with the intent of creating a Black-focused progressive talk station.

The station has already tried to make its mark, providing an opportunity for Larry Elder a forum to discuss his ultimately unsuccessful 2021 run for Governor of California, as well as hosting a "homecoming party" for then-newly elected Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Smiley didn't hold back when he interviewed controversial Los Angeles City Council representative Kevin de León about his comments about Blacks in a covert recording, stating “when people see you as a hypocrite, how can you stay in that seat?”

Los Angeles Times reporter James Rainey wrote a feature story on Smiley and KBLA. He provided an update on the status of the station since its debut in June 2021. It was one of the few interviews of Smiley since his PBS departure:

"On this side of the PBS drama, what you hear in my voice is a sincere depth of gratitude to be back in the game, back in the business, to be in this space,” Smiley said recently in a lounge at his Crenshaw Boulevard studio, in one of the few interviews he has given in the last five years. “The sweet spot for me has always been talking to people. These three hours on the radio are the best part of my day.”

Smiley acknowledges his station still has a small listenership (KBLA does not subscribe to the Nielsen ratings) but said the number of downloads of the talker is "moving abouve 30,000" per month, plus the station's app has been downloaded over 20,000 times.

He maintains his innocence regardging the sexual harassment charges, though PBS is attempting to collect $2.6 million, a 2020 judgement against Smiley for violating his contract. While maintaining his innocence, Smiley and PBS will again go to court later this as the broadcaster attempts to claim the money from him. 

It was noted the license has not yet officially been transferred from previous owner Multicultural Broadcasting, pending approval of a Small Business Administration loan. Smiley sates the sale should close on April 15.

Roq and rent: We had mentioned previously Audacy has created something called "Audacy Atlas," an LLC which transferred various properties into a portfolio making it easier to sell assets. RadioInsight is reporting Audacy has sold the tower sites for six of their stations, including the Verdugo Hills site for KROQ.  This means Audacy now leases the property from the new owner. The sale of the towers will generate $17 million for the company whose stock price is now 11 cents a share. 

Also of note: Audacy has also divested Channel Q (KQPS-Palm Springs), a station targeted to the LGBTQ community, to Brad Fuhr, owner of rival KGAY. Channel Q is heard locally on 101.1 FM HD-2 and 97.1 FM HD-2.

Please stay dry and stay warm, subscribe to the blog at ayodaradio@gmail.com.