John Mack Flanagan

[SFStatic]

Couple of points.

iPods do seem to be getting into radio's pants with the younger listeners to a degree. OTOH, web stream listening to stations has exploded, and is still growing. Lastly, the people meters in the markets rolled out so far indicate that station cumes are much, much larger than the diary system ever showed, although time spent listening is a lot less, and people change channels more than the diary showed (but no suprise to anyone with kids or who has ever been in a car around non-radio people!)

 

[Starbucks]

You made some logical points....but I'll answer your question.....

"The next younger generation won't even care about the radio, whether FM or AM....it's like a turntable to them. And corporate or individual owners have to prepare for them. And there hands will be full. I don't disagree with you about radio in the past."

People on this board keep saying that, but I'm not sure it's true. Predictions about "new" media killing off "old" media started in the early 50s when it was predicted that TV would kill movie theaters. Thousands of theaters did go dark by the mid 50s, but as movie content changed, and became more daring, violent, and/or sexual...with content you couldn't see on TV, in other words - big screen movies survived and flourished. I think radio and i-pods can co-exist too. Radio will have to change, but I doubt they'll be successful if they become "just turntables" and imitate the i-pod. If that's the case, my i-pod is clearly superior, because it doesn't run commercials.

>>>>>>Back in 52' they never said TV will kill movie theaters....they said it would kill radio. (Reference: Buggles 1980) And that almost happened for a few years until the word contemporary and top 40 squeezed in a new life of blood that TV couldn't perform. Radio was getting out of network programming control and going local and hit music driven. Especially when you have only an average of 3 TV stations in a large market. Plus TV as popular as it became....they didn't have rights to run first run movies at that time. Would you prefer to sit home and watch an old spaghetti western or a first run John Wayne or Betty Davis movie at the theatre.

I wonder also - if it's true that younger generations will reject radio for i-pods, why is it that a lot of the stations with a younger demographic actually allow their DJs more time on the air? While the old fogey-formats (KOIT, KFRC) are increasingly "less talk" and have DJs that just read liners, it's NOT true if you tune in Wild 94.9, for example. You'll hear talented young jocks like Joe Breezy or Saint John cutting loose on the air a little. I've noticed the same thing on Alice.

>>>>I'll answer that.....number one the music is newer and fresher. There's more new artist and features to be added and annouced then adult hit radio. Plus you still have more call-ins for contest (even if it's free bubble gum) and your dealing with a much hyper audience that needs to be baby sitted. Ask any high school teacher. The adults from the KFRC days just want a no-thrills less three ring circus act after dealing with a day at work, traffic, politics etc. Plus how a many times can you discuss Madonna.

About the length of DJ airshifts. I'm sure it doesn't have anything to do with Free-FM - radiogurl must be around my age - Music DJs haven't worked 3 hour shifts since the 70s. If you think back to the 80s and the best personality driven "hit" stations like KYUU, K-101 or KMEL, all the jocks worked 4 or 5 hour shifts, typically 5AM or 6 to 10:00, mid-days 10-2 or 3PM, 2-6PM, or 3-7, and so forth. Late nights (after midnight or 1:00AM) was usually jockless. And these days, it seems like many weekday jocks are off weekends. In the 60s, the big Top 40 DJs on those 3 hour shifts would pull a 5 hour shift on Saturday or Sunday.

These are or always have been based on demographic hours. Morning , mid-day, afternoon drive, evenings, overnights (which has become pre-historic). it use to be 4 hour demos, but due to budgets, it became 6-7 spots, to 5 spots to now 3 or 4. All demographically. For adults.....they just want to hear their music... oldies, AC, if it's all familiar, all you need is auto, sweepers, commercials, or a guy who reads logs, and a sanitation engineer.

 

[XM RADIO]

Starbucks ,Im still stymied why is it that KRTH has an air staff on weekends and KFRC has JMF and his Beatle Brunch, and the rest is just a juke box! Huh both are CBS,, it seems like KFRC is the stepchild,,of CBS in a sense! Huh KRTH has Charley Van Dyke for VOs ,, A Southern Calif fixture for years, Bobby Ocean is the Bay Area Fixture, but oops perhaps hes too much for their budget! And the playlist on KRTH is much more 60s oriented than KFRC, perhaps you can answer these questions you seem to have a vast knowledge of radio,, what works and what doesent? Also your comments about age,, Huh Jim Carson has gotta be in his 60s and Im sure he commands big pay for his 3 hour show! Kenny in Concord ATHREE HOUR SHOW!!!!

 

[radiogurl45]

Starbucks ,Im still stymied why is it that KRTH has an air staff on weekends and KFRC has JMF and his Beatle Brunch, and the rest is just a juke box! Huh both are CBS,, it seems like KFRC is the stepchild,,of CBS in a sense! Huh KRTH has Charley Van dyke for VOs ,, A Southern Calif fixture for years, Bobby Ocean is the Bay Area Fixture, but oops perhaps hes too much for their budget! .....

KFRC is getting an on air staff for weekends, now that baseball is over. They already have finished hiring. It would bite major arse, to have a baseball game interrupt a jock's shift. That is why KFRC waited a few months because of baseball.

Bobby Ocean is not out of CBS' budget. I believe he was considered. There are reasons he doesn't have the job. They may be reasons we know nothing about. I can read and I get it (and maybe we all get it), XM Radio. Bobby Ocean=Bay Area legend. Bobby Ocean is PERFECT for the job. Bobby Ocean should have the job. And so forth. I'm tired of repeating myself. But just in case. He was considered. He doesn't have the job, not because KFRC can't afford him or doesn't like him, but because of other reasons we know nothing about.

Done.

 

[MikeAmatori]

Dear RadioGurl and Starbucks...

You are very kind to take the time to explain to Kenny about what appear to be the facts. However, he is just not interested in the facts. The poor fellow just
can't let go of 1972. or is it 75'? Or JMF or Bobby O.

Kenny, you are just gonna have to live with the 21st Century version of KFRC.
It's not a conspiricy...It's just business.

Perhaps you could contact John or Bobby and ask them why they are not more involved? They will probably answer you question, or tell you it's none of your business. Either way, no one on this board can answer for the gentlemen. And if I'm not mistaken, John has answered this question more than a few times.

 

[calguy]

Starbucks ,Im still stymied why is it that KRTH has an air staff on weekends and KFRC has JMF and his Beatle Brunch, and the rest is just a juke box! Huh both are CBS,, it seems like KFRC is the stepchild,,of CBS in a sense! Huh KRTH has Charley Van dyke for VOs ,, A Southern Calif fixture for years, Bobby Ocean is the Bay Area Fixture, but oops perhaps hes too much for their budget! And the playlist on KRTH is much more 60s oriented than KFRC, perhaps you can answer these questions you seem to have a vast knowledge of radio,, what works and what doesent? Also your comments about age,, Huh Jim Carson has gotta be in his 60s and Im sure he commands big pay for his 3 hour show! Kenny in Concord ATHREE HOUR SHOW!!!!

While not a fixture in Northern California Van Dyke actually was a jock at KFRC in the late 60's if I recall correctly and both he and Ocean are one of many to work in both Northern and Southern California for what was then RKO. Charlie has been the image voice at KRTH for many, many years and for a while a few years back KRTH used Bobby as well as Charlie. Actually Van Dyke probably worked at more RKO stations than anyone having jocked at KFRC, KHJ, KRTH, WRKO and I believe CKLW. Plus he worked for Drake at KGB and before becoming KHJ's PD did a stint at WLS. Now that's some resume'...

Carson actually works 4 hours in LA, on from 9am to 1pm and was Charlie's replacement in morning drive for more than a year when he stopped doing the wake-up show at KRTH.

Is the new KFRC a union shop? If not they may not need to have weekenders as it may not be in their contract, but my guess is that eventually they will, but being a new station in the CBS chain may not be budgeted for it right now, after all Steve Moore's show is tracked and if a full-time shift is VT'd their priorities are in a different place than KRTH's. I doubt KFRC will ever have jocks 24 hours a day as they didn’t when it was at 99.7.

 

[MikeAmatori]

They are not a union shop. Alice and KCBS are though. Doubt they will vote a union in. However, there sure are a lot of AFTRA members on that staff.

 

[doublecashkgb]

Starbucks, Maybe you feel pretty good about schooling a radio listener like Kenny. However I'm not that impressed. You have a lot of stock answers with the usual suspects (I-Pods, etc.) as selective evidence
of your points. Do this. Check out WCBS-FM. Tell me why they seem to be doing many of the things that Kenny in Concord suggests & they are winning. They get it. Before the fixed that situation people said the same thing about CBS-FM, the old days are over bla bla bla.

Agreed this isn't 1977, KFRC will never be what they were at that time. However what they are doing know is a flat out joke. Ocean is a wise man, he's not a fool and wouldn't take a station which changes directions every 10 months. Duke is no morning man and the format is dead in the water. Frankly, at some point Dan Mason will likely right the ship. I've worked for him and he's one of the best. Remember the current management team was hired before Mason took over.

 

[XM RADIO]

Doublecashkgb, thanks for the info, I agree The Duke is no morning man, a better choice would have been Joe Ike, much better choice, voice and he made it big at KFRC in the mid 90s and up until 2004 or so! Radiogurl and calguy. get it right go to KRTHs page,, Carson is 3 hours !! Your info is incorrect, and as for the 21st century and 1972 and 1975 todays radio cant hold a candle to this radio we have today! I would hope some day soon a station similar to KRLA comes to the Bay Area with a format worth listening to,, Harlow the PD and Gm at KFRC in 05 was finally getting a format together,then they flip the format, Still the fact remains KFRC today is in a class by itself,, KRTH has it together, Say no more KFRC constantly having a new morning show Gary Bryan is in his 5th year on the morning show,, at KRTH, I seriously doubt this morning show will be a 5 year stint,,As I remember they put Gary and Sue Hall together for a month, it failed,,Gary Bryan does it solo,,You can bet Bobby Ocean would haul in the ratings, and thats solo! Radiogurl and Calguy,, dont get to accustomed to what you hear currently!

 

[Talking Furniture]

Starbucks, Maybe you feel pretty good about schooling a radio listener like Kenny. However I'm not that impressed. You have a lot of stock answers with the usual suspects (I-Pods, etc.) as selective evidence
of your points. Do this. Check out WCBS-FM. Tell me why they seem to be doing many of the things that Kenny in Concord suggests & they are winning. They get it. Before the fixed that situation people said the same thing about CBS-FM, the old days are over bla bla bla.

Agreed this isn't 1977, KFRC will never be what they were at that time. However what they are doing know is a flat out joke. Ocean is a wise man, he's not a fool and wouldn't take a station which changes directions every 10 months. Duke is no morning man and the format is dead in the water. Frankly, at some point Dan Mason will likely right the ship. I've worked for him and he's one of the best. Remember the current management team was hired before Mason took over.

Winning? Winning what?

 

[radiogurl45]

Doublecashkgb, thanks for the info, I agree The Duke is no morning man, a better choice would have been Joe Ike, much better choice, voice and he made it big at KFRC in the mid 90s and up until 2004 or so! Radiogurl and calguy. get it right go to KRTHs page,, Carson is 3 hours !! Your info is incorrect, and as for the 21st century and 1972 and 1975 todays radio cant hold a candle to this radio we have today! I would hope some day soon a station similar to KRLA comes to the Bay Area with a format worth listening to,, Harlow the PD and Gm at KFRC in 05 was finally getting a format together,then they flip the format, Still the fact remains KFRC today is in a class by itself,, KRTH has it together, Say no more KFRC constantly having a new morning show Gary Bryan is in his 5th year on the morning show,, at KRTH, I seriously doubt this morning show will be a 5 year stint,,As I remember they put Gary and Sue Hall together for a month, it failed,,Gary Bryan does it solo,,You can bet Bobby Ocean would haul in the ratings, and thats solo! Radiogurl and Calguy,, dont get to accustomed to what you hear currently!

Just for the record, I never said anything about KRTHs shift lengths. I did bring up KFRC's shift lengths.

And let me tell you Tim Jordan, Mike Preston and Dan Mason are all in LOVE with the current lineup. Should we check back on your prediction in a year?

 

[XM RADIO]

Oct 1st 2008,, yes things will change,,This is KFRC and CBS,,, things Happen here in the Bay Area,, you wake up and your favorite Radio Personalities are gone!! Theres nothing etched in stone radiogurl!!! see you!! Kenny in Concord

 

[LKellerIII]

"Bobby Ocean is not out of CBS' budget. I believe he was considered. There are reasons he doesn't have the job. They may be reasons we know nothing about. I can read and I get it (and maybe we all get it), XM Radio. Bobby Ocean=Bay Area legend. Bobby Ocean is PERFECT for the job. Bobby Ocean should have the job. And so forth. I'm tired of repeating myself. But just in case. He was considered. He doesn't have the job, not because KFRC can't afford him or doesn't like him, but because of other reasons we know nothing about."

Here's what I remember..not that my memory is perfect. When people say Bobby is "out of CBS's budget" they are thinking back to 2003 or 04 when CBS decided Bobby was indeed out of their budget and let him go from the afternoon drive show on 99.7.

When CBS brought KFRC back to 106.9, somebody posting on this board (don't remember who) said that CBS had met with Bobby, and talked to him about coming back, but he turned THEM down because he felt CBS had treated him badly in the past.

 

[doublecashkgb]

"Bobby Ocean is not out of CBS' budget. I believe he was considered. There are reasons he doesn't have the job. They may be reasons we know nothing about. I can read and I get it (and maybe we all get it), XM Radio. Bobby Ocean=Bay Area legend. Bobby Ocean is PERFECT for the job. Bobby Ocean should have the job. And so forth. I'm tired of repeating myself. But just in case. He was considered. He doesn't have the job, not because KFRC can't afford him or doesn't like him, but because of other reasons we know nothing about."

Here's what I remember..not that my memory is perfect. When people say Bobby is "out of CBS's budget" they are thinking back to 2003 or 04 when CBS decided Bobby was indeed out of their budget and let him go from the afternoon drive show on 99.7.

When CBS brought KFRC back to 106.9, somebody posting on this board (don't remember who) said that CBS had met with Bobby, and talked to him about coming back, but he turned THEM down because he felt CBS had treated him badly in the past.

As far as Osh: Exactly what happened thanks for that L Keller. Radio Gurl: keep drinking the koolaid.

 

[calguy]

Radiogurl and calguy. get it right go to KRTHs page,, Carson is 3 hours !! Your info is incorrect, and as for the 21st century and 1972 and 1975 todays radio cant hold a candle to this radio we have today! I would hope some day soon a station similar to KRLA comes to the Bay Area with a format worth listening to,, Harlow the PD and Gm at KFRC in 05 was finally getting a format together,then they flip the format, Still the fact remains KFRC today is in a class by itself,, KRTH has it together, Say no more KFRC constantly having a new morning show Gary Bryan is in his 5th year on the morning show,, at KRTH, I seriously doubt thismorning show will be a 5 year stint,, As I remember they put Gary and Sue Hall together for a month, it failed,,Gary Bryan does it solo,,You can bet Bobby Ocean would haul in the ratings, and thats solo! Radiogurl and Calguy,, dont get to accustomed to what you hear currently!

No, my reply was to someone else, but 10-1 is a recent change as Carson was 9-1. My info may have been outdated, but he was on at 9 am not long ago. This leads me to believe that the morning show may now be tracked from 5 to 6 am. Gary Bryan is the name, and does the talk ups, but he does the show with Lisa Stanley and Bob Malik and bounces a lot off of Lisa in the breaks, so he's far from solo. But really, I never cared for him. He "borrows" way too much from other people. The last great morning man at KRTH was Robert W and those are big shoes to fill, shoes that many have tried on, but couldn't walk the walk in them. Even Charlie Van dyke couldn't do it, but I just don't think his heart was in it anymore. I do think that the current KFRC morning show may not last. My guess is that the station has an extremely small budget, but honestly I doubt that whoever does mornings at 106.9 will please everyone. Too many opinionated people out there... The real problem is that Dr. Don was always a tough act to follow. I personally feel that KFRC still needs time. It shouldn't as it could've come on like gangbusters from the start, but there is a completely different management team in place, and they just don't seem to be on the same page as WCBS-FM. Like I sad a few months ago, stations change before they're ready and before they have their ducks in a row now days. In another time, long ago stations had the air staff, promotions and everything else ready to go from the start. It's almost standard procedure to start jock-less.

 

[Starbucks]

Starbucks, Maybe you feel pretty good about schooling a radio listener like Kenny. However I'm not that impressed. You have a lot of stock answers with the usual suspects (I-Pods, etc.) as selective evidence
of your points. Do this. Check out WCBS-FM. Tell me why they seem to be doing many of the things that Kenny in Concord suggests & they are winning. They get it. Before the fixed that situation people said the same thing about CBS-FM, the old days are over bla bla bla.

New York is more of an oldies town. You have alot of old timers from the WABC days that never left. In the Bay Area....since 1990 and beyond...there must be at least 45 percent listeners who haven't the slightest idea who the Duke or even Bobby Ocean (unless they heard them during the oldies shifts)who they are or what they mean to Bay Area radio since their transplants themselves from different areas of the country. And I'm not referring to immigrants. Alot of them including me were never around to remember them. Even though I'm always up for a history lesson.



First of all your talking 2 or 3 different markets. K-Earth has been around forever, and there has never been an interruption of their tenure as an oldies station like KFRC. First thing they have to do is rebuild it. Why they took it off 99.7 beats me and everyone else. But it seems like a lot of cry babies clutching and grabbing on the direction of KFRC wherever they go......it sounds like there are no alternatives for oldies listeners. It's like there the last radio station broadcasting on the dial. The fact is ....THERE'S PLENTY.
You have a guy who posts himself as XM RADIO and has one, and he's complaining why KFRC doesn't do this or that? What's wrong with 60's on 6. There awesome! It's even more comical where postees lobby or speculate what some AM station at 1550 should do with their programming. Like the average Bay Area citizen won't survive life because this station won't do this or that. There's other alternatives....Shoutcast, Comcast, Podcast, and yesssssssssssssssssssssssss.........................................the IPOD.

Agreed this isn't 1977, KFRC will never be what they were at that time. However what they are doing know is a flat out joke. Ocean is a wise man, he's not a fool and wouldn't take a station which changes directions every 10 months. Duke is no morning man and the format is dead in the water. Frankly, at some point Dan Mason will likely right the ship. I've worked for him and he's one of the best. Remember the current management team was hired before Mason took over.

 

[blackhole]

I think there is ONE thing we can all agree on. Kenny just needs to go on vacation, preferably an extended one. You just don't get it, and you never will. You aren't inside the walls, and you have no clue as to the dynamic in which decisions are made. You love Bobby, but you don't understand what happened with that situation. JMF is great. We all love him, but if you knew him personally, you would know he is very happy doing what he is doing, and doesn't necessarly need the aggrivation of every day radio. A dose is good.

You are beating a dead horse Kenny. You are entitled to your opinion, but you can only post the same thing so many times before people just want to shut you off!!!

 

[XM RADIO]

Blackhole, its Radio-Info not your private board , so when you you see XM radio dont read it! Simple as for vacation huh sounds great are you a travel agency? I will let the moderator decide if my posts are out of line ,, as far as Gary Bryan, hes just another guy who KFRC ousted in March of 96 and put on Dean Goss and Erin Garrett, not my cup of tea, Now hes made it Big in Los Angeles amazing how far hes come since 1976 on KYA 1260, when he was "Jumbo Jack" !! As far as JMF, Ive read his posts and Im fully aware of his Security Position, and his reason for staying in the field hes in,, Im sure Ive not offended John in any way, However remember this "BLACKHOLE" nothings permanent at KFRC, Change is good, and im sure change will come soon! Comparing KFRC to KRTH is so noticeable,, their is a real commitment to the listeners,,,, Not so with 106.9,,, Its a Plain jane !!Kenny in Concord aka (XM RADIO)

 

[ng0g]

I just stumbled across this thread. Your name brings back some wonderful memories. KTKT cruising Speedway BLVD. Hot summer days and nights. Who else was there....Chris Borden....Frank Kahlil...You were the best. Thank You very much.

 

[skyrocker]

Re: "...The last great morning man at KRTH was Robert W ... Even Charlie Van dyke couldn't do it, but I just don't think his heart was in it anymore..."
FOR THE RECORD: Charlie's heart was totally into doing mornings at KRTH. But once there, CVD was surprized and saddened to learn how incredibly compartmentalized and political the inner workings of that radio station really is, and how subverted and unsupported that left him.