Charlie Van Dyke no longer will work for K-EARTH 101

[Hot Hits]

K-EARTH Loses Voice. Contract negotiations between Charlie Van Dyke and K-EARTH for imaging services have apparently reached a stalemate. “My contract expired on July 31st,” emailed Charlie. “My agents attempted a renewal. After some conversation, we found a compromise we could agree with. However, K-EARTH stated that they would not pay AFTRA P&W and, in fact, they did not pay that amount last year while the contract clearly stated that they would. AFTRA was notified of that lack of payment and the claim is in process. As an AFTRA member, I do not have the authority to give away what is automatic with members.”

Charlie began with the Classic Hits station when then-program director Mike Phillips hired him as image voice in the early '90s and later as morning man. Following that time, he continued to image for K-EARTH for Mike, then Jay Coffey and most recently, Jhani Kaye. “Keith Smith (creative production director) has always made my work sound better,” said Charlie.

“This is a very difficult decision on my part,” continued Charlie. “I feel great loyalty to K-EARTH after this many years with the team. However, the lack of reply from the station leaves me with no options. I have enjoyed a great run with the station and wish it could continue. The silence from the station on the AFTRA matter leaves me no choice.”

“I will always hold great positive feelings for the station and the air staff,” concluded Charlie. “This is very sad. I wish them well.”

Charlie is the imaging voice for close to 50 radio and tv stations around the country, including KABC/Channel 7 News.

 

[RBRadioWaves]

Well, that's a bit of a shocker. Just wondering, does that mean that Charlie Van Dyke will also stop providing imaging for, say, WCBS-FM, WJMK, and other CBS Classic Hits stations across the nation?

Also, who do you think will be the new voice for K-Earth imaging?

 

[TheBigA]

Seems like it's an AFTRA issue to me. I assume all CBS radio LA talent are in the union. Why is he the exception? Or is he? This calls into question the union's overall agreement with the company.

 

[Thomps2525]

This might be a dumb question---in which case it wouldn't be the first dumb question I've asked---but does the expiration of Van Dyke's contract mean that KRTH can no longer use IDs and promos that he's already recorded or does it just mean that he won't record any new IDs and promos?

Here's an idea---and it saves money, too: KRTH could have Charlie Tuna and Shotgun Tom Kelly do all the IDs and promos. Why not?

 

[michael hagerty]

This might be a dumb question---in which case it wouldn't be the first dumb question I've asked---but does the expiration of Van Dyke's contract mean that KRTH can no longer use IDs and promos that he's already recorded or does it just mean that he won't record any new IDs and promos?

Here's an idea---and it saves money, too: KRTH could have Charlie Tuna and Shotgun Tom Kelly do all the IDs and promos. Why not?

Depends on how the contract is worded, Steve. As of 4PM, CVD's still on the legal ID.

Your idea also might not save money. It's an AFTRA shop. Tuna and Shotgun (happy birthday, Shotz!) would have to be paid for the additional work. And if I were representing them, I wouldn't take a dime less than they were paying CVD.

Honestly, as sad as I am about this, I think it was inevitable. I expect whatever's coming at KRTH will step away from the Bill Drake legacy and another image voice is almost a given. I just would expect it to be handled better than this was by CBS.

 

[Thomps2525]

Remember in the 1990s when KIIS was almost an AC station and soft-spoken Bobby Ocean voiced the IDs?

Here is a scoped 1976 aircheck of Charlie Van Dyke and some guy named Rick Dees, who had the number one song at the time, Disco Duck. I think Rick also did some work as a DJ.

http://airchexx.com/2013/04/26/archives-charlie-van-dyke-with-rick-dees-1976-2457-scoped/

 

[michael hagerty]

Remember in the 1990s when KIIS was almost an AC station and soft-spoken Bobby Ocean voiced the IDs?

Here is a scoped 1976 aircheck of Charlie Van Dyke and some guy named Rick Dees, who had the number one song at the time, Disco Duck. I think Rick also did some work as a DJ.

http://airchexx.com/2013/04/26/archives-charlie-van-dyke-with-rick-dees-1976-2457-scoped/

In the 90s? No, I missed that. I'm amazed they survived doing that in that decade.

I've heard the CVD/Dees aircheck before. I like Rick and he obviously became the most successful CHR morning jock in L.A. history (so far), but I've always marveled that Van Dyke didn't toss him out on his ear that day. It was all about Rick and you can hear Charlie gamely trying to preserve his otherwise meticulously well-planned and timed morning show.

 

[calguy]

Seems like it's an AFTRA issue to me. I assume all CBS radio LA talent are in the union. Why is he the exception? Or is he? This calls into question the union's overall agreement with the company.

Not all of the CBS radio stations are SAG-AFTRA. But KRTH and KTWV as well as the two AM's in the Wilshire studios are. I could be mistaken, but I wonder if having an image voice with a union contract is not the norm anymore for the most part? What's interesting is that CVD would still make decent money from KRTH no matter what. Isn't it better to have a job, than not have one? Then again, he comes from an era where these things are taken as insults. To them it's the principle. Plus, there is no one like Charlie, and he worked at so many of the Drake/RKO stations in addition to mornings at KHJ.

The other story is, this allows the new PD to make changes to the imaging. I would think that new jingles will be next, or perhaps they'll go jingle free.

For LA this is all especially sad as this is where major market Boss Radio exploded and the former KHJ-FM has been carrying the Drake torch for all these years. I wonder, is any other station in America doing the Drake style?

Remember in the 1990s when KIIS was almost an AC station and soft-spoken Bobby Ocean voiced the IDs?

I remember Ocean doing some imaging for KIIS, but almost AC? Sure don't remember that!

 

[michael hagerty]

Seems like it's an AFTRA issue to me. I assume all CBS radio LA talent are in the union. Why is he the exception? Or is he? This calls into question the union's overall agreement with the company.

Not all of the CBS radio stations are SAG-AFTRA. But KRTH and KTWV as well as the two AM's in the Wilshire studios are. I could be mistaken, but I wonder if having an image voice with a union contract is not the norm anymore for the most part? What's interesting is that CVD would still make decent money from KRTH no matter what. Isn't it better to have a job, than not have one? Then again, he comes from an era where these things are taken as insults. To them it's the principle. Plus, there is no one like Charlie, and he worked at so many of the Drake/RKO stations in addition to mornings at KHJ.

Charlie has at least 50 other clients. That not only allows him to reject a bad offer, it pretty much means he has to. If he lets one slide on a contract issue, they're all likely to try. He actually protects his standing in the industry by turning down a bad offer from KRTH.

CVD not only worked for Drake and/or RKO (at CKLW, KFRC, KGB, KHJ and WRKO), he did mornings at KRTH after Robert W. Morgan's death.

 

[landtuna]

Does CVD still do the "12 News" voice with a clothespin on his nose? ;D

(Sawwy Chawlie but Stawkist wants tunas that tastes gud)

 

[observer8057]

K-EARTH Loses Voice. Contract negotiations between Charlie Van Dyke and K-EARTH for imaging services have apparently reached a stalemate. “My contract expired on July 31st,” emailed Charlie. “My agents attempted a renewal. After some conversation, we found a compromise we could agree with. However, K-EARTH stated that they would not pay AFTRA P&W and, in fact, they did not pay that amount last year while the contract clearly stated that they would. AFTRA was notified of that lack of payment and the claim is in process. As an AFTRA member, I do not have the authority to give away what is automatic with members.”

Another "genius" blows in to town, ready to prove his "cajones" by "fixing" that which isn't broken. Aah, such is radio in the big city. And what's the deal with CBS apparently choosing to overlook little things like AFTRA contracts. Guess where I'm putting my money in this little battle. If the new PD messes with the format, the talent, or HD-2, bye bye KRTH. It's a legend. Maybe a tiny tweak here or there, but don't mess with what Jhani has wrought!

 

[TheBigA]

And what's the deal with CBS apparently choosing to overlook little things like AFTRA contracts.

What's the deal with AFTRA not supporting its members? Why isn't the head of the local on the phone asking what's the story? That's why you pay your dues. It's not CBS's fault if the union lets it slide.

 

[mjb1124]

Well, that's a bit of a shocker. Just wondering, does that mean that Charlie Van Dyke will also stop providing imaging for, say, WCBS-FM, WJMK, and other CBS Classic Hits stations across the nation?

Charlie Van Dyke does not currently do voiceovers for either of those stations (or any other CBS Classic Hits stations as far as I know). WCBS-FM has used Ziggie Pelzer for years, and also now uses voiceovers by Earl Mann, who also voices WJMK, KLUV, WOCL, and WRBQ. I wouldn't be surprised if Mann became the voice of KRTH as well.

Here's an idea---and it saves money, too: KRTH could have Charlie Tuna and Shotgun Tom Kelly do all the IDs and promos. Why not?

Charlie Tuna does do voiceovers for other stations, so that's another possibility.

The other story is, this allows the new PD to make changes to the imaging. I would think that new jingles will be next, or perhaps they'll go jingle free.

For LA this is all especially sad as this is where major market Boss Radio exploded and the former KHJ-FM has been carrying the Drake torch for all these years. I wonder, is any other station in America doing the Drake style?

I do agree that this probably has as much to do with updating the imaging as it does with money and unions. But to be honest, I think the time has come to move away from the Drake sound. It's become a bit anachronistic as Classic Hits stations are largely moving away from the 60's and putting more emphasis on the 80's. I don't think that they necessarily had to get rid of CVD as I'm sure he could adapt. But I definitely think it's time to update the jingles. I'd go with 80's JAM KIIS material.

 

[TheBigA]

I think the time has come to move away from the Drake sound. It's become a bit anachronistic as Classic Hits stations are largely moving away from the 60's and putting more emphasis on the 80's.

I agree, and you give a good reason why. But that's not what happened here. The station didn't end their relationship with CVD. They were willing to renew. But they stopped paying his union benefits. So Charlie stopped working for them. That's a very different situation.

 

[calguy]

It was announced today that KRTH and CVD have reached an agreement, so he will be staying with KRTH.

 

[MadMan]

It was announced today that KRTH and CVD have reached an agreement, so he will be staying with KRTH.

So I imagine CVD has been gone for a couple weeks now if his contract extension expired on 8/16. As I mentioned other talent changes are very possible, some have already happened!

 

[ChannelFlipper]

So I imagine CVD has been gone for a couple weeks now if his contract extension expired on 8/16. As I mentioned other talent changes are very possible, some have already happened!

I noted his absence on the Labor Day promos they had going last week on another thread. When his voice is missing it is very noticeable. With his voice, K-EARTH has that big city heritage oldies/classic hits BIG sound. With his replacement, K-EARTH sounds like just another oldies station that could be heard in Des Moines - completely forgettable.

 

[Thomps2525]

As I mentioned on another thread, KRTH's new imaging voice is Joe Cipriano. He worked at WRQK in Washington DC in the '70s and at KHTZ, KKHR (as "Dave Donovan") and KIIS in the '80s. He is also the voice of CBS, Fox, the Emmy awards, the Grammy awards, and many radio/tv stations. Don Barrett says that KRTH will continue to air some promos voiced by Charlie Van Dyke; Cipriano is an "addition."

 

[RadioFaninTexas]

I noted his absence on the Labor Day promos they had going last week on another thread. When his voice is missing it is very noticeable. With his voice, K-EARTH has that big city heritage oldies/classic hits BIG sound. With his replacement, K-EARTH sounds like just another oldies station that could be heard in Des Moines - completely forgettable.

Radio has changed radically since 1996. Before that year, the FCC limited companies to one AM-FM combination in each city, and each station had a distinctive sound.

 

[TheBigA]

Radio has changed radically since 1996. Before that year, the FCC limited companies to one AM-FM combination in each city, and each station had a distinctive sound.

Except they really didn't. KHJ sounded like every other RKO station by design. Same with the ABC rockers. In the late 60s, successful program directors became group program directors, and their goal was to spread their local success nationally. Then they started consulting companies and syndication companies. So limited ownership didn't mean distinctive sound once that sound became successful.

In the case of CVD, it's obviously about evolving into a station that is about attracting listeners who grew up on KIIS or KKHT, not KHJ.