93 KHJ Radio Aircheck

[davideduardo]

Those are 6+ numbers, though, and by the end KABC was skewing quite old. Even before the noise floor, migration to FM in Los Angeles was a big factor. By 1983, the only AM stations doing well playing music were KMPC and KPRZ, playing standards. Anything else where the same music could be found on FM was dead or close to it.

It's important to note that in the 50's and 60's when most buyers followed Pulse and Hooper there was either no age break data or very limited information. While Arbitron began in 1965, it was not dominant until the early 70's when it made the "Spring" and "Fall" sweeps uniform nationally.

And by the earlier 70's, we had started to see FMs growing so when demographic data appeared, it was obvious that the younger listeners had all migrated to FM or were in the process of doing so. FM achieved parity with AM in LA around 1979/80, a little behind most other markets, but by then non-ethnic music listening was about two-thirds on the FM band. And music listening was half on FM by about 1977.

 

[michael hagerty]

Michael... can you share insights on KEZY 1190 at that time as part of the mix of the area's Top 40s? While it was an OC based station, it earned share in LA County too in the 1960s and 1970s when it was a rocking well produced hit machine with robust ad sales success.

The first time I show KEZY cracking a 1 share is fall of '68, when they got a 1.0. They dropped below a 1.0 for the fall of '69, rebounded to a 2.0 in L.A. in the fall of '70, did a 2.0 again in fall '71 and a 2.3 in fall '72.

In fall of '73 they fell to a 1.4, and in fall '74 to a 1.3. They were below a 1.0 in fall '75.

For fall of '76, Rick Carroll, former PD at KKDJ (and future KROQ PD) brought in some name jocks (including Steve Lundy and Jay Stevens) and they managed a 1.5, but slipped to a 1.0 in fall '77. That was the last time they cracked a 1.0 during the 70s and that was pretty deadly---tied for 29th place with KKTT (the briefly renamed KGFJ).

 

[davideduardo]

Michael... can you share insights on KEZY 1190 at that time as part of the mix of the area's Top 40s? While it was an OC based station, it earned share in LA County too in the 1960s and 1970s when it was a rocking well produced hit machine with robust ad sales success.

I don't know when Orange County was added to the LA market, so that is a question in itself. But KEZY has always had a horrible night signal anywhere in LA County except for the area right on the two-county border, which in the 60's and 70's was nowhere nearly as populated as today; Knott's Berry Farm was, indeed, a farm!

 

[davideduardo]

The first time I show KEZY cracking a 1 share is fall of '68, when they got a 1.0. They dropped below a 1.0 for the fall of '69, rebounded to a 2.0 in L.A. in the fall of '70, did a 2.0 again in fall '71 and a 2.3 in fall '72.

In fall of '73 they fell to a 1.4, and in fall '74 to a 1.3. They were below a 1.0 in fall '75.

For fall of '76, Rick Carroll, former PD at KKDJ (and future KROQ PD) brought in some name jocks (including Steve Lundy and Jay Stevens) and they managed a 1.5, but slipped to a 1.0 in fall '77. That was the last time they cracked a 1.0 during the 70s and that was pretty deadly---tied for 29th place with KKTT (the briefly renamed KGFJ).

Considering the signal, that is amazingly good. Their real issue is that the so-called Spring and Fall books were done in months where the terrible night directional signal came on fairly early and that prevented much penetration into the more populated areas.

Interestingly, at the end of the decade KWIZ and KEZY were about tied around .5 or .6 each. And in that period, LA was still the #3 metro, beaten still by Chicago.

 

[briancraig]

Weren't the Dodgers an actual ratings factor back in the day? KFI I believe had the games until 1973, and then KABC took over in 1974.

I remember some articles talking about how much acquiring the Dodgers broadcasts helped KABC in the 1970s.

 

[michael hagerty]

What about KHTZ 97.1 and KWST 105.9? Both had short-lived efforts to occupy the Top 40 lane in that era too. Especially KHTZ, which was the direct descendant of KTNQ, but morphed away from Top 40 all too rapidly IMO.

I hope you saw my note about KWST a few posts down. Never really a factor.

It was five weeks between KTNQ flipping to Spanish (7/31/79) and Greater Media taking the keys to KHTZ (9/5/79), so 97.1 ran like an FM version of TenQ, same jocks, same music for that long. And on day one of Greater Media's ownership, all the jocks except Charlie Tuna and Jim Conlee were terminated.

Within two months, Greater Media was pushing the station to AC.

I don't think their heart was really in CHR, even though they hired hands-down the best CHR PD of the time, Bobby Rich. Way too many cooks in the kitchen---Julian Breen was National PD for Greater Media, Bob Henaberry was the consultant and the callout music research was done via long distance calls to L.A. by Greater Media back east and the results sent to L.A. I don't think they let Bobby do what he was good at, and in eight or nine months, Bobby left.

 

[michael hagerty]

Weren't the Dodgers an actual ratings factor back in the day? KFI I believe had the games until 1973, and then KABC took over in 1974.

I remember some articles talking about how much acquiring the Dodgers broadcasts helped KABC in the 1970s.

Yes. Dodgers baseball was a major ratings booster. A big help in the April/May and July/August books, but that's it unless the Dodgers were in the World Series, which was early-mid October back in the day---then you'd get a bump for maybe half of the October/November book.

What sent the Dodgers to KABC was that Cox bought KFI from the Earle C. Anthony estate in 1973. And for 1974, they wanted to tape-delay Spring Training games and shorten the pre-game show for in-season games. The Dodgers wouldn't do it.

 

[michael hagerty]

Considering the signal, that is amazingly good. Their real issue is that the so-called Spring and Fall books were done in months where the terrible night directional signal came on fairly early and that prevented much penetration into the more populated areas.

Interestingly, at the end of the decade KWIZ and KEZY were about tied around .5 or .6 each. And in that period, LA was still the #3 metro, beaten still by Chicago.

Back in the day, KEZY benefitted from analog tuning and being between KRLA and KGFJ (or KIIS-AM and KGFJ after 1970). Tune between those two and if KEZY's playing a song you like, you stop.

 

[Huff]

KEZY-AM peaked with a 2.5 in the LA book in Summer 1972, and averaged a 0.9 from 1976-80. It averaged a 3.0 in the Anaheim book in the same span.

 

[seatownmedia]

I think mlb radio on AM is the last savior. Mlb radio is still popular.

 

[Daryl Lynn L.A.]

Back in the day, KEZY benefitted from analog tuning and being between KRLA and KGFJ (or KIIS-AM and KGFJ after 1970). Tune between those two and if KEZY's playing a song you like, you stop.

In the 90’s, like from 1990-93 or so, KRLA was still playing their oldies format that they adopted in the 80’s. They still had live DJ’s most of the day. Mike Wagner was the PD, IIRC. But, they must have been about the last AM station playing music. They lasted until about 1998 or 99 when there was one remaining DJ, Dick Hugg. But in the late 80’s very early 90’s , they had some good air talent . Bill Earl documents that in his history of KRLA. However, is there any information about their ratings? How could they afford their talent? Their ratings would have been quite low, correct? Anyone know this? 😊

 

[oldies76]

What a great thread this has become!! All this wonderful history for L.A. radio. To add to this, there is a guy on YouTube (Retro Radio Joe) posting daily, some incredible airchecks, many of them local radio stations from decades past. He just posted one for KMET, an aircheck from 1968. Also Ten-Q, some KRTH, KIQQ, KLOS, KRLA, KHJ...etc...etc.... Just amazing!

 

[ChannelFlipper]

Yes. Dodgers baseball was a major ratings booster. A big help in the April/May and July/August books, but that's it unless the Dodgers were in the World Series, which was early-mid October back in the day---then you'd get a bump for maybe half of the October/November book.

The Dodgers did their part by making it to the World Series in 1974, 1977, 1978, and 1981, the last three against the arch-rival NY Yankees, actually winning it in 1981.

KABC benefitted greatly.

 

[davideduardo]

What a great thread this has become!! All this wonderful history for L.A. radio. To add to this, there is a guy on YouTube (Retro Radio Joe) posting daily, some incredible airchecks, many of them local radio stations from decades past. He just posted one for KMET, an aircheck from 1968. Also Ten-Q, some KRTH, KIQQ, KLOS, KRLA, KHJ...etc...etc.... Just amazing!

Note that this is the first time I've given you a "like" icon. Eventually we had to agree on something, and you are right that this has been a fascinating excursion through Top 40 history.

The key finding from my perspective is that the biggest factor in winning was the talent.

 

[ChannelFlipper]

Note that this is the first time I've given you a "like" icon. Eventually we had to agree on something, and you are right that this has been a fascinating excursion through Top 40 history.

Aww, this is so very good. Reminds me of that old War song, "Why Can't We Be Friends"

 

[oldies76]

Note that this is the first time I've given you a "like" icon. Eventually we had to agree on something, and you are right that this has been a fascinating excursion through Top 40 history.

The key finding from my perspective is that the biggest factor in winning was the talent.

David, I appreciate that very much. I’ve taken a different (and wiser) approach on my participation here since returning. Although my love for older radio and music still feeds my hobby, I am learning new things and ideas thanks to the knowledge of everyone here, including you and Michael.

 

[davideduardo]

David, I appreciate that very much. I’ve taken a different (and wiser) approach on my participation here since returning. Although my love for older radio and music still feeds my hobby, I am learning new things and ideas thanks to the knowledge of everyone here, including you and Michael.

There you go: two likes. Well said.

Michael is a "must read". He writes so very well, and conveys information and valid opinion in entertaining posts. He gets "likes" too!

 

[michael hagerty]

There you go: two likes. Well said.

Michael is a "must read". He writes so very well, and conveys information and valid opinion in entertaining posts.

Thank you, David. That's high praise!

 

[michael hagerty]

In the 90’s, like from 1990-93 or so, KRLA was still playing their oldies format that they adopted in the 80’s. They still had live DJ’s most of the day. Mike Wagner was the PD, IIRC. But, they must have been about the last AM station playing music. They lasted until about 1998 or 99 when there was one remaining DJ, Dick Hugg. But in the late 80’s very early 90’s , they had some good air talent . Bill Earl documents that in his history of KRLA. However, is there any information about their ratings? How could they afford their talent? Their ratings would have been quite low, correct? Anyone know this? 😊

KRLA's last book above a 2.0 share was fall of 1985. It bumped along in the low-mid 1s for the rest of the 80s and rarely got whole numbers in the 90s.

As for affording the talent, the high-dollar guys bailed out---Tuna and Steele for KODJ in 1989. Humble Harve came back from Seattle around the same time and may have agreed to work for less money. He jumped to KRTH in 1991.

I can't find documentation online, but I remember hearing that in his last round at KRLA and at KIEV, Harve was actually buying the airtime and then selling ads himself in hopes of a profit or at least breaking even. It's possible other KRLA jocks had the same arrangement in that era.

 

[michael hagerty]

The key finding from my perspective is that the biggest factor in winning was the talent.

Yes, but "talent" defined broadly.

Robert W. Morgan was #1 when he left KHJ. He was #33 in mornings at K-100 a year later. Bill Drake may have been nominally in charge at both, but Bill Watson was the day-to-day PD at K-100 and he wasn't Paul Drew, by a long shot (he wasn't Sean Conrad, for that matter). And K-100 had nowhere near the promotional resources that RKO gave KHJ.

Fast-forward five years and Rick Dees flopped at KHJ. He had record numbers three years later at KIIS-FM. Dees' act hadn't changed. But he had an FM signal, a great PD in Gerry DeFrancesco and a phenomenal GM, Wally Clark, who believed that 30% of a station's budget should be devoted to promotion.