John Monds Returning To L.A.?

[radioresearcher]

Just turned on 100.3 and heard John Monds. Monds, was on KKBT back in the day, and has since been in D.C. and now Chicago at Bonneville's WILV.

Is this just a weekend thing - or a prelude to a more permanent position?

 

[JeremyAndrews]

WILV just posted a full time on air opening on the 14th. So its possible.

 

[mostb1]

Just turned on 100.3 and heard John Monds. Monds, was on KKBT back in the day, and has since been in D.C. and now Chicago at Bonneville's WILV.

Is this just a weekend thing - or a prelude to a more permanent position?

Big John was also the music director then program director of 92.3 The Beat. He's the one who told Cliff Winston he was being demoted from full time afternoon driver to part time and public service director (well, actually I did but Cliff didn't believe me). Cliff confronted Big John and he denied it. Two weeks later that was exactly what happened.

Big John was the morning guy at The Beat just before John London was hired.

Big John changed the music from being a near CHR/Rhythmic that Frank Miniaci left before leaving for Evergreen's sister station in Dallas to a total Urban sound.

 

[Radiogeek500]

Just turned on 100.3 and heard John Monds. Monds, was on KKBT back in the day, and has since been in D.C. and now Chicago at Bonneville's WILV.

Is this just a weekend thing - or a prelude to a more permanent position?

Researcher, please clarify, because you got me a little confused. Did you hear him on OUR 100.3 or Chicago's 100.3.

Sorry for asking, your post just kinda had me confused with the wording and all.

 

[radioresearcher]

Josh:

Think about it. Why would I post that he was on 100.3 in Chicago? He's been doing mornings on WILV for a while.

He was on KKBT yesterday from 12-4...

 

[Radiogeek500]

Well, sorry bro, I just got confused. I don't know why.

That's cool that someone is back in LA, but he's not back at KKBT, KKBT don't exist no more, it's Magic 100.3.

 

[radioresearcher]

Well, sorry bro, I just got confused. I don't know why.

That's cool that someone is back in LA, but he's not back at KKBT, KKBT don't exist no more, it's Magic 100.3.

Sorry - I figured what I said made sense ... but KKBT does exist. The call letters haven't changed.

 

[Damixah3]

Yes its official.....


http://www.suntimes.com/business/feder/185845,CST-FIN-feder26.article

 

[malibudude]

This is Frank Miniaci. And yes, it is good to hear that Big John is back at the Beat. I know the topic is about John but, the facts are incorrect regarding my leaving KKBT. I was hired by former radio group head Jim deCastro. When the Adult CHR was not working, Mary Catherine Sneed, Alan Sneed, Liz Kiley, and Myself launched the Urban Adult version of the Beat which blew up after just two books. We kicked Power 106's butt in no time. Michael Stratford was brought in to program. I was asked by deCastro to return to Dallas to take over the failing CHR Y95. That was not my choice but a favor that I regret but don't look back on. A lot happened to the station. It tried to be KMEL/San Francisco for a while under various industry names. But only remained a player when it went back to its roots. The station was created for a mainstream Urban audience and I think John fits the station like a Glove. There is no one smoother than Monds.

Happy New Year ....

Frank

Just turned on 100.3 and heard John Monds. Monds, was on KKBT back in the day, and has since been in D.C. and now Chicago at Bonneville's WILV.

Is this just a weekend thing - or a prelude to a more permanent position?

Big John was also the music director then program director of 92.3 The Beat. He's the one who told Cliff Winston he was being demoted from full time afternoon driver to part time and public service director (well, actually I did but Cliff didn't believe me). Cliff confronted Big John and he denied it. Two weeks later that was exactly what happened.

Big John was the morning guy at The Beat just before John London was hired.

Big John changed the music from being a near CHR/Rhythmic that Frank Miniaci left before leaving for Evergreen's sister station in Dallas to a total Urban sound.

 

[malibudude]

Even though I spend all my time now in Television and Film, it does not surprise me that the station flipped to "V." That is a heritage position in most markets in the east and southeast for full signal mainstream Urban stations. The Beat in my mind was too much like KMEL for years and blew. Power 106 was always better at that game then KKBT. It's about time it went back to its roots and heritage. It's all about packaging up stations for media buys anyway gang. The days of radio programming are over. Why do you think I left the biz after I left Radio & Records. Cuz the industry blows. Actually I left because Television and Film was more my thing. 16 years of radio was enough for me ... Uncle Mel, Jimmy, and all my radio heroes left.

This is Frank Miniaci. And yes, it is good to hear that Big John is back at the Beat. I know the topic is about John but, the facts are incorrect regarding my leaving KKBT. I was hired by former radio group head Jim deCastro. When the Adult CHR was not working, Mary Catherine Sneed, Alan Sneed, Liz Kiley, and Myself launched the Urban Adult version of the Beat which blew up after just two books. We kicked Power 106's butt in no time. Michael Stratford was brought in to program. I was asked by deCastro to return to Dallas to take over the failing CHR Y95. That was not my choice but a favor that I regret but don't look back on. A lot happened to the station. It tried to be KMEL/San Francisco for a while under various industry names. But only remained a player when it went back to its roots. The station was created for a mainstream Urban audience and I think John fits the station like a Glove. There is no one smoother than Monds.

Happy New Year ....

Frank

Just turned on 100.3 and heard John Monds. Monds, was on KKBT back in the day, and has since been in D.C. and now Chicago at Bonneville's WILV.

Is this just a weekend thing - or a prelude to a more permanent position?

Big John was also the music director then program director of 92.3 The Beat. He's the one who told Cliff Winston he was being demoted from full time afternoon driver to part time and public service director (well, actually I did but Cliff didn't believe me). Cliff confronted Big John and he denied it. Two weeks later that was exactly what happened.

Big John was the morning guy at The Beat just before John London was hired.

Big John changed the music from being a near CHR/Rhythmic that Frank Miniaci left before leaving for Evergreen's sister station in Dallas to a total Urban sound.

 

[mostb1]

Even though I spend all my time now in Television and Film, it does not surprise me that the station flipped to "V." That is a heritage position in most markets in the east and southeast for full signal mainstream Urban stations. The Beat in my mind was too much like KMEL for years and blew. Power 106 was always better at that game then KKBT. It's about time it went back to its roots and heritage. It's all about packaging up stations for media buys anyway gang. The days of radio programming are over. Why do you think I left the biz after I left Radio & Records. Cuz the industry blows. Actually I left because Television and Film was more my thing. 16 years of radio was enough for me ... Uncle Mel, Jimmy, and all my radio heroes left.

This is Frank Miniaci. And yes, it is good to hear that Big John is back at the Beat. I know the topic is about John but, the facts are incorrect regarding my leaving KKBT. I was hired by former radio group head Jim deCastro. When the Adult CHR was not working, Mary Catherine Sneed, Alan Sneed, Liz Kiley, and Myself launched the Urban Adult version of the Beat which blew up after just two books. We kicked Power 106's butt in no time. Michael Stratford was brought in to program. I was asked by deCastro to return to Dallas to take over the failing CHR Y95. That was not my choice but a favor that I regret but don't look back on. A lot happened to the station. It tried to be KMEL/San Francisco for a while under various industry names. But only remained a player when it went back to its roots. The station was created for a mainstream Urban audience and I think John fits the station like a Glove. There is no one smoother than Monds.

Happy New Year ....

Frank

Just turned on 100.3 and heard John Monds. Monds, was on KKBT back in the day, and has since been in D.C. and now Chicago at Bonneville's WILV.

Is this just a weekend thing - or a prelude to a more permanent position?

Big John was also the music director then program director of 92.3 The Beat. He's the one who told Cliff Winston he was being demoted from full time afternoon driver to part time and public service director (well, actually I did but Cliff didn't believe me). Cliff confronted Big John and he denied it. Two weeks later that was exactly what happened.

Big John was the morning guy at The Beat just before John London was hired.

Big John changed the music from being a near CHR/Rhythmic that Frank Miniaci left before leaving for Evergreen's sister station in Dallas to a total Urban sound.

Frank, we already had V103.9 in this town. loser. Same pd, too.

 

[mostb1]

This is Frank Miniaci. And yes, it is good to hear that Big John is back at the Beat. I know the topic is about John but, the facts are incorrect regarding my leaving KKBT. I was hired by former radio group head Jim deCastro. When the Adult CHR was not working, Mary Catherine Sneed, Alan Sneed, Liz Kiley, and Myself launched the Urban Adult version of the Beat which blew up after just two books. We kicked Power 106's butt in no time. Michael Stratford was brought in to program. I was asked by deCastro to return to Dallas to take over the failing CHR Y95. That was not my choice but a favor that I regret but don't look back on. A lot happened to the station. It tried to be KMEL/San Francisco for a while under various industry names. But only remained a player when it went back to its roots. The station was created for a mainstream Urban audience and I think John fits the station like a Glove. There is no one smoother than Monds.

Happy New Year ....

Frank

Just turned on 100.3 and heard John Monds. Monds, was on KKBT back in the day, and has since been in D.C. and now Chicago at Bonneville's WILV.

Is this just a weekend thing - or a prelude to a more permanent position?

Big John was also the music director then program director of 92.3 The Beat. He's the one who told Cliff Winston he was being demoted from full time afternoon driver to part time and public service director (well, actually I did but Cliff didn't believe me). Cliff confronted Big John and he denied it. Two weeks later that was exactly what happened.

Big John was the morning guy at The Beat just before John London was hired.

Big John changed the music from being a near CHR/Rhythmic that Frank Miniaci left before leaving for Evergreen's sister station in Dallas to a total Urban sound.

Frank I worked with you at FM 92 The Beat at that time. I beg to differ.

The station debut may have been an Urban AC but not by the time you left for Dallas. We were playing Vanilla Ice's Ice, Ice Baby (what Urban AC played that?) and Sky Walker was doing a Top 8 at 8 mainstream CHR-style countdown. Power was playing Richard Marx along with dance hits. It was a joke. Not only did we blow Power away, we were heading for KIIS's throat. If you had not left, I have no doubt in my mind we would have topped KIIS and been the leader in the market. But the music changed after you left and Monds made it much more black. Stratford didn't add anything to the mix. He was only interested in his industry hook-ups and schmoozing the artists. He was a poor p.d.. He couldn't even write a liner (many of us re-wrote them). And his on-air skills were even less good than that (thank goodness he rarely filled in). You on the other hand, with the help of the winning team that was already in place at The Beat, would have made a great Program Director for FM 92 The Beat. And The Beat might still be around today as the leader in this market, not KIIS.

Monds is smooth but his numbers were never the strongest on the station. When John London was hired (a great move) and Monds moved to mid-days is when The Beat's numbers really exploded although it was already doing excellent 25-54 numbers. Nothing like an all white programming and front office management staff running a black staion.

V will never be a success in this market. There has been no growth to the black population plus you've got 2 other competitors, one of those in the same format, and another who attracts much of what could be your morning audience. It's a loser out of the gate. I will give them credit for one thing though - at least it's local. No more satellite jocks who didn't fit Los Angeles AT ALL.

One last thing. Rock With A Beat still goes down as one of the worst jokes to ever hit this market. Sorry Frank and "Warm and Fuzzy" Liz...

 

[malibudude]

Well I have a mixed response to all of this. I said it well in my post then, lost the whole damn thing. So here it goes (second time).

I appreciate your support on my music/programming skills =). And yes, we would have topped KIIS. We did have a 4.0 and was trending through the roof over Power. I remember the day well when we showed up in the Valley at Dalt's and Jeff Wyatt was at the bar throwing back a few, lol. We put a lot of fear in this market. But over time, the universe gets smaller and smaller and radio now is nothing more than maintenance people with programming titles and music director salaries. Programming is done for clusters and advertising. I have love and ties to radio and music but, staying close to the money is where it is at these days.

As for Urban stations playing Vanilla Ice. We broke ground dude. There were 11 Urban stations playing Vanilla Ice because of us. Don't be embarrassed. We broke records back then. And the station was in transition. "Rock with a Beat." wasn't my baby as you know. I would have eliminated 30% of the library and we would have topped KIIS as well as Power. KROQ was not in the picture yet because this was pre-Kevin Weatherly times.

And my trip back to Dallas was what deCastro wanted me to do. I wanted them to hire Paul Cannon at Y95/Dallas and let me take over the Beat. But I went along with the potential of becoming VP/Programming down the road. Unfortunately, both LA and Dallas flipped. Naftally ended up as Jimmy's VP/Programming, and I ended up with the trades - Hitmakers & R&R (great transition for me actually). And it put me where my future was ... TV & Film. You can check out my production company which is launching in 2007. Soft launch actually www.fastlaneent.com.

Yes there are white boys programming Urban radio. I take great pride in winning MD of the year for Urban Network during my time at the Beat. I am a purist if you remember. But I was also an innovator. It was never about me. We were a team. And my dream was to take the Beat to the top of L.A. I had my 16 years in the radio and music industry. Good years. Nothing smaller than working in Market 6 (Dallas). I worked for Top programming minds and corp folks like Uncle Mel and deCastro were my mentors. I miss it. My fiancee says I still know hits before they are hits. But I now reserve that energy and focus for Television and Film. And god willing, I will experience my radio success in a global capacity in the visual arts. I have already taken a stab at a few, LOL. Don't be a stranger ..... regards .... Mini-ach.

PS - Remember when I came to work for Halloween dressed as deCastro? Died my hair red and everything ... LOL. Also don't diss on Monds. Hate the owner not the playa. Better yet, hate the GSM and the GM. I don't miss the suits. I deal with budgets now on one project that is more than they bill in an entire year for one station =) ... Times change my friend.

This is Frank Miniaci. And yes, it is good to hear that Big John is back at the Beat. I know the topic is about John but, the facts are incorrect regarding my leaving KKBT. I was hired by former radio group head Jim deCastro. When the Adult CHR was not working, Mary Catherine Sneed, Alan Sneed, Liz Kiley, and Myself launched the Urban Adult version of the Beat which blew up after just two books. We kicked Power 106's butt in no time. Michael Stratford was brought in to program. I was asked by deCastro to return to Dallas to take over the failing CHR Y95. That was not my choice but a favor that I regret but don't look back on. A lot happened to the station. It tried to be KMEL/San Francisco for a while under various industry names. But only remained a player when it went back to its roots. The station was created for a mainstream Urban audience and I think John fits the station like a Glove. There is no one smoother than Monds.

Happy New Year ....

Frank

Just turned on 100.3 and heard John Monds. Monds, was on KKBT back in the day, and has since been in D.C. and now Chicago at Bonneville's WILV.

Is this just a weekend thing - or a prelude to a more permanent position?

Big John was also the music director then program director of 92.3 The Beat. He's the one who told Cliff Winston he was being demoted from full time afternoon driver to part time and public service director (well, actually I did but Cliff didn't believe me). Cliff confronted Big John and he denied it. Two weeks later that was exactly what happened.

Big John was the morning guy at The Beat just before John London was hired.

Big John changed the music from being a near CHR/Rhythmic that Frank Miniaci left before leaving for Evergreen's sister station in Dallas to a total Urban sound.

Frank I worked with you at FM 92 The Beat at that time. I beg to differ.

The station debut may have been an Urban AC but not by the time you left for Dallas. We were playing Vanilla Ice's Ice, Ice Baby (what Urban AC played that?) and Sky Walker was doing a Top 8 at 8 mainstream CHR-style countdown. Power was playing Richard Marx along with dance hits. It was a joke. Not only did we blow Power away, we were heading for KIIS's throat. If you had not left, I have no doubt in my mind we would have topped KIIS and been the leader in the market. But the music changed after you left and Monds made it much more black. Stratford didn't add anything to the mix. He was only interested in his industry hook-ups and schmoozing the artists. He was a poor p.d.. He couldn't even write a liner (many of us re-wrote them). And his on-air skills were even less good than that (thank goodness he rarely filled in). You on the other hand, with the help of the winning team that was already in place at The Beat, would have made a great Program Director for FM 92 The Beat. And The Beat might still be around today as the leader in this market, not KIIS.

Monds is smooth but his numbers were never the strongest on the station. When John London was hired (a great move) and Monds moved to mid-days is when The Beat's numbers really exploded although it was already doing excellent 25-54 numbers. Nothing like an all white programming and front office management staff running a black staion.

V will never be a success in this market. There has been no growth to the black population plus you've got 2 other competitors, one of those in the same format, and another who attracts much of what could be your morning audience. It's a loser out of the gate. I will give them credit for one thing though - at least it's local. No more satellite jocks who didn't fit Los Angeles AT ALL.

One last thing. Rock With A Beat still goes down as one of the worst jokes to ever hit this market. Sorry Frank and "Warm and Fuzzy" Liz...