KEARTH

[mostb1]

Chuck Martin's K-WEST had a 2.3 or so before Sullivan pulled the plug to go Magic, as I recall. I think given more time, they could have held off KIIS.

You don't know your Los Angeles radio history very well.

First, I know this well as I hold thousands of hours of airchecks from Los Angeles radio during the 1980's that I personally taped. I use to aircheck like mad (I am not kidding). I taped the original aircheck of Rick Dees first shift which years ago was copied everywhere (he was on at 11 PM on a Saturday night). I also hold an unscoped aircheck of the first day of K-West 106 on Wednesday night 6/24/1981 (Chuck Martin first jock, "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" first song...and Bobby Ocean was the last jock on the AOR format, btw). I also have the entire first shift of London & Engleman and Bobby Ocean at Top 40 K-West 106 from the next morning.

I am, as I post this, listening to an aircheck that I personally taped from early 10/1982. "KWST Los Angeles has become The New Sound of Magic 106"..and it had already become AC. London and Engleman were still there under the AC format that Jeff Salgo instituted (who replaced Chuck Martin at the Century Communications station). Dana Lauren did middays. Lauie Allen nights.

KIIS WAS NOT Top 40 at the time that K-West became Magic 106. K-West 106 NEVER acheived a 2.3. Never! It never got about the 1's.

Also on the aircheck I am listening to is Rick Dees from 10/1982. KIIS hadn't even started to become Top 40 again then. Rick was GREAT then, though (I hear what is missing from his show at Movin...it was Rick, Rick and ONLY Rick doing great bits). Great live and pre-taped spots from "The Lab" (radio d.j. school), Hiney Wine ("The wine that made Inglewood" "Hiney in the morning, hiney in the afternoon, hiney at at supper time...great jingle his people made up, too.), Liz "Rug burns" Fulton, Dees doing live tags like "Head products are available at Vons. Get Head at Vons". And Rick really talking WITH the listeners. Dees was playing Dan Fogelburg, Chicago, Neil Diamond, Barbara Streisand & Berry Gibb, Fleetwood Mac (Gypsy)...Men at Work (Who Can It Be Now) was the most uptempo Top 40 tune during the two plus hours of his shift that I've heard again so far (the i.d. was very ACish (in a softer tone)..."102.7 KIIS-FM is KIIS Los Angeles"...and that was it - over music). Not Top 40 yet but I can feel the beginning of the coming evolution back to top 40...

Also on my tape is K-Earth with Pat Evans. KIIS shared many Rock AC tunes with them.

So, K-West was really only around about 15 months. And many changes occured during that time (including Ocean leaving). It was never a factor in the Los Angeles radio ratings.

What is Jeff Salgo doing these days?

Last I knew he was IT manager at KROQ and Arrow 93. Someone else will have to provide an update.

Listening to an aircheck right now of Hitradio 93 KKHR. So odd to hear Charlie Van Dyke doing the imaging for them and not K-Earth. I so expect to hear him say K-Earth and not KKHR - "You're in the middle of a Guaranteed 10 in a row on 93.1 KKHR". Jack Armstrong was still sounding great.

 

[Beachdog]

Jack Armstrong was still sounding great.

IMHO Jack Armstrong always sounded great!

 

[Marv-L.A.]

Jack Armstrong always sounded great; I used to howl with laughter when he worked at KKHR; C K Cooper (aka Ken Cooper, who later did mornings at KZLA) was also equally hysterical when he worked at then-top 40 KFI-AM.

Since KRTH has just signed 'Shotgun Tom' Kelly to a THREE-year contract extension (through 2011), he's not going anywhere, and that's awesome as well!!!!!!!

 

[scooty430]

KRTH has been one of the premiere oldies stations in the US for years. Part of the success is re-creating the sound of years past. I say, leave the old processing, re-create the sound of yester-year, and don't try to re-invent the wheel. Listeners who loved the music from the 60's & 70's probably love the style of radio too. Don't change it for the sake of trying to sound like a "today" radio station. The nostalgia of the music is not far removed from the nostalgia of the radio style. (BTW, I'm 35 years old, and am not trying to live in the past!)

I'm currently listening to K-Earth from 1982. It was highly processed. They played "Our Lips Are Sealed" and "Turning Japanese" during the early 80's (although it was live assist and automated during the late 70's and early 80's). I don't hear those classic songs on K-Earth. And the jocks could talk about fun things and things in the community without a bunch of moronic positioning statements that have never meant anything to anyone except for a few consultants that have to figure out how to keep their bloated fees. K-Earth was SO MUCH better then than Jhani Kaye has made it. All he is doing is putting one more nail in it's coffin. It's sad that Jack is really the most creative, fun station in L.A. now.

I think most people in LA think K-Earth has always been oldies. I certainly did. But they really only adopted a full oldies format mid-80s, as I'm sure some of you know. Prior to that, they were sometimes Adult Contemporary-ish / sometimes light Top 40-ish. So that's what you were hearing in 1982.

The big problem for K-Earth since it's been oldies has been the tightening playlist. Not so much that they aren't playing 80s stuff, but that their selection of 60s stuff is very small. They also dropped pre-64 oldies, making things even more boring.

I would say "Turning Japanese" doesn't quite fit the K-Earth sound, though the Go-Gos MIGHT work. They are actually being very smart in the adds they're making from the 70s and early 80s. It's still too repetitive, but hearing Dancing Queen, Grease, and I Can't Go For That next to the Beatles, Beach Boys, and CCR seems to work. The music sounds pretty much the same under Jhani Kaye. Unlike JACK, it's all pretty "good" music, subjective as that is. You've got to wade through some Whitesnake and who knows what else on Jack.

Kaye's sins, IMO, are limited to two: The ridiculous canned statements he forces DJs to read is one. The other is of course the crapola KOST Christmas music and KOST-esque jingles he had on at Christmas. Great way to boost ratings for one month while alienating your core audience. Maybe Mannheim Steamroller cut a payola deal or something. Since when are they an oldies act?

 

[calguy]

Kaye's sins, IMO, are limited to two: The ridiculous canned statements he forces DJs to read is one. The other is of course the crapola KOST Christmas music and KOST-esque jingles he had on at Christmas. Great way to boost ratings for one month while alienating your core audience. Maybe Mannheim Steamroller cut a payola deal or something. Since when are they an oldies act?

Actually he's recycling a lot of the liners from KOST, only he has Charlie Van Dyke doing most of them. Yeah, Christmas was a mistake, he should've stuck with KRTH style Christmas songs, only expaned on it a bit more. The jingles sounded like standard Johnny Mann stuff to me. You know, like the old "Merry Christmas From Boss Radio", but maybe I didn't hear all of the ones he used.

 

[radioresearcher]

KRTH has been one of the premiere oldies stations in the US for years. Part of the success is re-creating the sound of years past. I say, leave the old processing, re-create the sound of yester-year, and don't try to re-invent the wheel. Listeners who loved the music from the 60's & 70's probably love the style of radio too. Don't change it for the sake of trying to sound like a "today" radio station. The nostalgia of the music is not far removed from the nostalgia of the radio style. (BTW, I'm 35 years old, and am not trying to live in the past!)

I'm currently listening to K-Earth from 1982. It was highly processed. They played "Our Lips Are Sealed" and "Turning Japanese" during the early 80's (although it was live assist and automated during the late 70's and early 80's). I don't hear those classic songs on K-Earth. And the jocks could talk about fun things and things in the community without a bunch of moronic positioning statements that have never meant anything to anyone except for a few consultants that have to figure out how to keep their bloated fees. K-Earth was SO MUCH better then than Jhani Kaye has made it. All he is doing is putting one more nail in it's coffin. It's sad that Jack is really the most creative, fun station in L.A. now.

I think most people in LA think K-Earth has always been oldies. I certainly did. But they really only adopted a full oldies format mid-80s, as I'm sure some of you know. Prior to that, they were sometimes Adult Contemporary-ish / sometimes light Top 40-ish. So that's what you were hearing in 1982.

The big problem for K-Earth since it's been oldies has been the tightening playlist. Not so much that they aren't playing 80s stuff, but that their selection of 60s stuff is very small. They also dropped pre-64 oldies, making things even more boring.

I would say "Turning Japanese" doesn't quite fit the K-Earth sound, though the Go-Gos MIGHT work. They are actually being very smart in the adds they're making from the 70s and early 80s. It's still too repetitive, but hearing Dancing Queen, Grease, and I Can't Go For That next to the Beatles, Beach Boys, and CCR seems to work. The music sounds pretty much the same under Jhani Kaye. Unlike JACK, it's all pretty "good" music, subjective as that is. You've got to wade through some Whitesnake and who knows what else on Jack.

Kaye's sins, IMO, are limited to two: The ridiculous canned statements he forces DJs to read is one. The other is of course the crapola KOST Christmas music and KOST-esque jingles he had on at Christmas. Great way to boost ratings for one month while alienating your core audience. Maybe Mannheim Steamroller cut a payola deal or something. Since when are they an oldies act?

Personally, I love hearing Whitesnake on Jack - and I think most of it is pretty good music. And, apparently most of the L.A. metro agrees - as it has been the No. 1 25-54 English-language station for almost its entire two-year run.

That's one hell of a radio station I wouldn't be criticizing. And Kevin and company continue to keep it fresh.

 

[Marv-L.A.]

Numerous oldies stations across the country have cut back on the number of sixties titles in their libraries and added some more music from the eighties, and Kaye's tweaking of the library at KRTH shouldn't surprise anyone.

It's still a someone smallish library, but at least it's larger than most of LA's radio stations, with the noticeable exception of JACK-FM.

He's not running it the way that Mike Phillips and Jay Coffey did; there is less repetition, since NO baby-boomer (including this one) needs to hear ANY song as often as MP and JC pounded the same 12-15 songs to death.

 

[Anonymous Deejay]

KFI was CHR but never really got any ratings to write home about. Many good jocks and programmers went though there though, Jack Armstrong, Big Ron, Charley Fox, Lohman & Barkley, Doug Banks, Bobby Rich,..too many to list. You seem to forget Eric Chase, El Chasero, absolutely without doubt, one of the best! I heard him on KRTH a few summers ago, he sounded great and then he disappeared. That was L.A.'s loss!

 

[calguy]

KFI was CHR but never really got any ratings to write home about. Many good jocks and programmers went though there though, Jack Armstrong, Big Ron, Charley Fox, Lohman & Barkley, Doug Banks, Bobby Rich,..too many to list. You seem to forget Eric Chase, El Chasero, absolutely without doubt, one of the best! I heard him on KRTH a few summers ago, he sounded great and then he disappeared. That was L.A.'s loss!

Without a doubt Eric Chase is one of the best Top 40/CHR jocks! There's a great aircheck or two of him from KFRC on reeleadio.com He's been in Houston for a few decades now as a PD and air talent. He did weekends at KRTH and KFRC-FM for a very short period of time a few years back when he was out of a job. I think he's back in Houston. By the way, he's always gone by Paul Christy in Texas because when he got there some other yokel was using his name. I should add that besides working PM Drive at KFI he was also middays and PD at K100 under Drake. So does anyone have any airchecks of Chase from KRTH or KFRC-FM?

 

[Anonymous Deejay]

KFI was CHR but never really got any ratings to write home about. Many good jocks and programmers went though there though, Jack Armstrong, Big Ron, Charley Fox, Lohman & Barkley, Doug Banks, Bobby Rich,..too many to list. You seem to forget Eric Chase, El Chasero, absolutely without doubt, one of the best! I heard him on KRTH a few summers ago, he sounded great and then he disappeared. That was L.A.'s loss!

Without a doubt Eric Chase is one of the best Top 40/CHR jocks! There's a great aircheck or two of him from KFRC on reeleadio.com He's been in Houston for a few decades now as a PD and air talent. He did weekends at KRTH and KFRC-FM for a very short period of time a few years back when he was out of a job. I think he's back in Houston. By the way, he's always gone by Paul Christy in Texas because when he got there some other yokel was using his name. I should add that besides working PM Drive at KFI he was also middays and PD at K100 under Drake. So does anyone have any airchecks of Chase from KRTH or KFRC-FM?

yeah ... i have eric chase and paul christy airchecks. send me private email. i think that krth should get him back .. or if the rumour is true about jack-fm only bringing in 50% revenue that arrow 93 did ... and that they may bring it back ... that would be the PERFECT place for chase. they could get danny martinez back on nights ... i could go on with my l.a. dream team ... if only we could have some quality radio back here in la la land .... :-\

 

[davideduardo]

yeah ... i have eric chase and paul christy airchecks. send me private email. i think that krth should get him back .. or if the rumour is true about jack-fm only bringing in 50% revenue that arrow 93 did ... and that they may bring it back ... that would be the PERFECT place for chase. they could get danny martinez back on nights ... i could go on with my l.a. dream team ... if only we could have some quality radio back here in la la land .... :-\

Jack in 2006 billed over $20 million more than in 2004, its last year as Arrow. That is more than 60% higher than it billed as Arrow; Arrow was declining in billings.

The 2006 billings were the 7th highest of all 13,000 stations in the US, and 4th highest in LA, after KROQ, KIIS and KFI.

This rumor you report has to be the most baseless one I have heard all year.

 

[scooty430]

You may be thinking about the New York JACK. I've heard it has not done so well, most likely because they removed a popular station that was an icon. Like tearing down the Empire State Building. Even the mayor commented on it.

The LA JACK, on the other hand, has been a huge success. I'm personally over the novelty, but it's clearly still popular.

 

[mostb1]

You may be thinking about the New York JACK. I've heard it has not done so well, most likely because they removed a popular station that was an icon. Like tearing down the Empire State Building. Even the mayor commented on it.

The LA JACK, on the other hand, has been a huge success. I'm personally over the novelty, but it's clearly still popular.

Jack FM in Los Angeles will always have an edge over all other Jack stations nationwide since the voiceover guy for the Jack stations lives in Los Angeles. Love the playlist which is so much unlike any other L.A. station (thank goodness).

They've been running a few "bloopers" - on purpose - recently that have been quite good. Jack stays fresh and original. Wish I could say that about ANY other Los Angeles radio station.

 

[StopWhining]

JACK FM's music sounds great, but those voiceovers between songs are weeeeeeeak. I don't know who is writing them, but they should be fired. Immediately. Unbelievable that in a town this size, with so many good writers, that JACK FM has such lame and painfully embarrassing liners. Most make me cringe, to be honest. It's like "I am saying something in a monotone voice, so it must be funny"? JACK FM needs to hire a REAL writer or just scrap those lame attempts at comedy altogether.

 

[calguy]

JACK FM's music sounds great, but those voiceovers between songs are weeeeeeeak. I don't know who is writing them, but they should be fired. Immediately. Unbelievable that in a town this size, with so many good writers, that JACK FM has such lame and painfully embarrassing liners. Most make me cringe, to be honest. It's like "I am saying something in a monotone voice, so it must be funny"? JACK FM needs to hire a REAL writer or just scrap those lame attempts at comedy altogether.

So you don't like the voice over either? Believe it or not, I think JACK actually employs people to come up with ideas for the imaging statements. But if I recall correctly from an article written last year they'll take ideas from any of their employees. Guess they really meant "any" ideas. Funny though, some people LOVE the JACK imaging. It seems to be aimed at younger male demos, kind of like the stuff you see on Spike TV. I don't have as much a problem with what they say all the time as much as I do the voice-over itself. It's too contrived. But some of the writing is lame…

 

[mostb1]

JACK FM's music sounds great, but those voiceovers between songs are weeeeeeeak. I don't know who is writing them, but they should be fired. Immediately. Unbelievable that in a town this size, with so many good writers, that JACK FM has such lame and painfully embarrassing liners. Most make me cringe, to be honest. It's like "I am saying something in a monotone voice, so it must be funny"? JACK FM needs to hire a REAL writer or just scrap those lame attempts at comedy altogether.

So you don't like the voice over either? Believe it or not, I think JACK actually employs people to come up with ideas for the imaging statements. But if I recall correctly from an article written last year they'll take ideas from any of their employees. Guess they really meant "any" ideas. Funny though, some people LOVE the JACK imaging. It seems to be aimed at younger male demos, kind of like the stuff you see on Spike TV. I don't have as much a problem with what they say all the time as much as I do the voice-over itself. It's too contrived. But some of the writing is lame…

Jack has producers for some shifts in addition to board ops, KROQ veteran Freddie Snakeskin being one who was hired as a producer-wtiter. Sad to say but for being topical and current, Jack is the best sounding station in this market. i like the entire concept but since the original vision was to hire jocks 6 or 7 months into the format, I would have preferred that.

 

[Beachdog]

Jack has producers for some shifts in addition to board ops, KROQ veteran Freddie Snakeskin being one who was hired as a producer-wtiter. Sad to say but for being topical and current, Jack is the best sounding station in this market. i like the entire concept but since the original vision was to hire jocks 6 or 7 months into the format, I would have preferred that.

The Jack music with live jocks would sound great. Any idea why they went with the automation sound instead?

 

[mostb1]

Jack has producers for some shifts in addition to board ops, KROQ veteran Freddie Snakeskin being one who was hired as a producer-wtiter. Sad to say but for being topical and current, Jack is the best sounding station in this market. i like the entire concept but since the original vision was to hire jocks 6 or 7 months into the format, I would have preferred that.

The Jack music with live jocks would sound great. Any idea why they went with the automation sound instead?

Ratings. Why hire jocks when you're got great ratings without them. I wouldn't call it automation since they do have live board-ops 24/7 and do keep the station topical. Today Jack even made mention of the Griffith Park fire.

 

[scooty430]

JACK FM's music sounds great, but those voiceovers between songs are weeeeeeeak. I don't know who is writing them, but they should be fired. Immediately. Unbelievable that in a town this size, with so many good writers, that JACK FM has such lame and painfully embarrassing liners. Most make me cringe, to be honest. It's like "I am saying something in a monotone voice, so it must be funny"? JACK FM needs to hire a REAL writer or just scrap those lame attempts at comedy altogether.

So you don't like the voice over either? Believe it or not, I think JACK actually employs people to come up with ideas for the imaging statements. But if I recall correctly from an article written last year they'll take ideas from any of their employees. Guess they really meant "any" ideas. Funny though, some people LOVE the JACK imaging. It seems to be aimed at younger male demos, kind of like the stuff you see on Spike TV. I don't have as much a problem with what they say all the time as much as I do the voice-over itself. It's too contrived. But some of the writing is lame…

Jack has producers for some shifts in addition to board ops, KROQ veteran Freddie Snakeskin being one who was hired as a producer-wtiter. Sad to say but for being topical and current, Jack is the best sounding station in this market. i like the entire concept but since the original vision was to hire jocks 6 or 7 months into the format, I would have preferred that.

Wow. Freddie Snakeskin. I still have a tape of the April Fools Day prank KROQ did in the mid-90's, where they became "Groovy Hits of the Super 70's" for an entire day. Freddie's 70s DJ persona was hilarious (as was Scott Mason.)

I hope when JACK starts to falter in ratings, and they make the knee-jerk reaction to bring in live DJs, they put Freddie Snakeskin on the air. Either that or give him (and Tami) a live shift on the KROQ2 HD channel.