ItalianAce said:
I haven't listened to K-RTH for several years. I would say the last time I sat down and really listened to the station was back in 2001ish before I went to Internet and other means of radio listening. I'm a huge fan of oldies especially the 1954-1969ish format. Anyhow, I sat down and listened to KRTH the last few days to compare the station to the buzz on this forum.
First off I was a major listener of KRTH 101.1 back in the late 1980s and 1990's (along with than KODJ/KCBS-FM when they were oldies). I noticed KRTH 101.1 still has the same jingles more or less. But, the talent is very slow and boring. Pretty much like everyone said on this forum. The DJ's play a song, say a one liner, than flip to a new song. The DJ's are for sure nothing like the golden era of KRTH when they had Reel Don Steel, Robert W. Morgan, Mr. Rock 'n' Roll and Jonie Caroll (I know I spelt her name wrong). KODJ/KCBS had Machine Gun Kelly and Charlie Tuna. I remember KRTH had a show called "Live from the 60's", and they had the Big Kahoona, and other fun means to bring listening pleasure.
Keep in mind these DJ's were part of KRTH back in the 1988-1995 era. I guess it's just the way FM is going with these type of DJs. Little say or no say at all. The music has made a big turn but I know FM oldies stations have gone into the 60s/70s format and away from the 50s/early 60s format. But speaking on for DJ's...KRTH has taken a major dive with their Jocks from what I can tell listening in Feb. 2007.
KRTH on the other hand did always have a tight playlist after around 1994-96ish. I noticed after KCBS ditched oldies and went classic rock, and later on KRLA went silent music wise, that KRTH stuck to a very tight rotation of songs and they stopped playing some songs I was use to hearing. I remember very clearly calling KRTH one time back around 1996 to request the early 1960's song "You Can't Sit Down" by The Dovells which use to be played on KRTH only to have the DJ tell me they know longer play that song nor have it in their playlist. But that's FM, and FM stations do what they can to target listeners and advertisers.
When KRTH starts streaming over HD-2 it should be interesting to hear their HD format since they've stated (Wikipedia/HDRadio) that the format will be Pre-Beatles oldies only. All and all the station needs to do something with their DJ's. The station needs personality life.
A.
K-Earth isn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be. It's just a little...OK, a LOT boring with its repetitive playlist. Adding the 70s has helped jazz things up, but those songs will soon be burned out too. For now, I enjoy hearing a little Earth Wind and Fire, Bread, and Bee Gees from time to time. Their 60s tracks are totally burned out, though.
Even when they had those classic KHJ jocks, K-Earth never really let its jocks say too much. It's always been about the music and the jingles. Since our KOST FM friend signed on, you can really tell the jocks are being fed things to say. Often the fit between the jock's style and what is on the card is really poor, and it sounds awkward. Seems like an overly controlling thing for a PD to do, scripting the jocks' comments.
The few times they let jocks talk, it jumps out at you and slaps you in the face, it's so shocking! For example, when Shotgun Kelly spoke about playing the (cheesey but popular among some) God Song around Christmas. He was actually speaking off-the-cuff, and for probably a minute straight!
A dream oldies station would play 1955 through about 1982, emphasis on 64-75 maybe, would let jocks talk a bit, and would have every third or fourth song be a real surprise "wow, I haven't heard that in a while" song. The "sound" could actually be pretty close to the K-Earth we have now, I think, in terms of the lean toward R&B, disco, Latino-influenced stuff (Santana, Malo, War,) and lots of Beatles and Beach Boys. That's a great sound mix. It would also have a specialty show or too to showcase doo-wop, and an Elvis show at a time when people are awake. The station would reach out to younger listeners and promote themselves to keep the music popular with the next generation. They would of course keep the KHJ jingle tunes! And it of course will never happen, though XM 60s on 6 comes close.
