Hey Guys:
Was KMEN ever an AC station or did it go from Top 40 to oldies in 1982?
Thanks
T.J.
Was KMEN ever an AC station or did it go from Top 40 to oldies in 1982?
Thanks
T.J.
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
KMEN 1290 AC?
- Thread starter thebeach33445
- Start date
I worked there in 1974 and 1975. In 1973 it modified the top 40 format to exclude the "harder" songs. So we were not really ac, I guess the old term "chicken rock" could be applied. We played a lot of oldies too at that time. In 1975 they started adding the harder tunes at night. By 1976 KMEN was back to full blown top 40.
In the late 70s, the then-station manager of KMEN appointed his son to be the PD. To make a long story short, he was, without a doubt, the worst Program Director in the history of K/MEN, and believe me, they had some stinkers in that chair over the years.
I have to admit, the way this guy destroyed the once-great KMEN was nothing short of spectacular. In his quest to corral a "sophisticated" audience for K/MEN, he:
1) Cross-pollinated the music to make it sound half-MOR, half-CHR.
2) Have the jocks read up to 15 minutes of news every half hour.
3) Give the marine weather forecast. San Bernardino is at least 60 miles inland, and 1290's signal does not reach the coast.
4) Clutter the already mangled programming with an afternoon drive sports talk show. It may have worked for KMPC, but this was NOT KMPC, needless to say.
5) Had whoever was Chief Engineer mess with the station's compression to the point where there practically wasn't any. The station soon sounded like it was coming out of a tin can with a string attached.
By the Winter of 1980, the all-cartridge automation system had been brought in and the voice tracking had begun. In either the Fall or Summer book of 1980, the manager's son had led KMEN to ZERO ratings. They literally did not show up in the Arbitrons. Heads rolled everywhere, from the station manager's office, to the PD's chair, to the control room. In late summer or early fall of 1980, KMEN became an Oldies station and listeners started coming back slowly.
I wish that I had a father who was a station manager to give me a station to destroy. However, I don't think that I could destroy a station as well as this guy did.
I have to admit, the way this guy destroyed the once-great KMEN was nothing short of spectacular. In his quest to corral a "sophisticated" audience for K/MEN, he:
1) Cross-pollinated the music to make it sound half-MOR, half-CHR.
2) Have the jocks read up to 15 minutes of news every half hour.
3) Give the marine weather forecast. San Bernardino is at least 60 miles inland, and 1290's signal does not reach the coast.
4) Clutter the already mangled programming with an afternoon drive sports talk show. It may have worked for KMPC, but this was NOT KMPC, needless to say.
5) Had whoever was Chief Engineer mess with the station's compression to the point where there practically wasn't any. The station soon sounded like it was coming out of a tin can with a string attached.
By the Winter of 1980, the all-cartridge automation system had been brought in and the voice tracking had begun. In either the Fall or Summer book of 1980, the manager's son had led KMEN to ZERO ratings. They literally did not show up in the Arbitrons. Heads rolled everywhere, from the station manager's office, to the PD's chair, to the control room. In late summer or early fall of 1980, KMEN became an Oldies station and listeners started coming back slowly.
I wish that I had a father who was a station manager to give me a station to destroy. However, I don't think that I could destroy a station as well as this guy did.
Over the years I thought I was the worst program director in the history of K/men! Well, I was the last. Still rockin' at www.kmen129.com. If you're hoping for a tribute to the 60's, sorry. We do play an occassional old jingle every now and then though.
theharleyshow said:
Not hardly, Harley. We've never met, but we do know some of the same people. Rest assured, you have both a good name and good reputation in the biz.
You know what they say about he who laughs last. ;D Seriously, I remember the last of KMEN. I'm sure that most of that circumstance was out of your control.
And as they said at better Boss Radio outlets, keep on keepin' on!
Original KMEN DJ Brian Lord tells some great K/MEN stories at this URL:
http://www.radiowest.ca/forum/viewforum.php?f=62
Re: KMEN 1290 AC 1985 to 1994?
Hey Rico:
Amazing story on how a PD can destroy a station. I feel your pain. I know what you are talking about. Happened to me when I worked for a station in West Palm Beach in 1996. We went from #1 25-54 to the bottom!!
To Rico and Guys:
In the broadcasting yearbooks KMEN is listed from 1985 to 1994 as AC. Is that true or did KMEN have that oldies format from 1980 to 1994?
Hey Rico:
Amazing story on how a PD can destroy a station. I feel your pain. I know what you are talking about. Happened to me when I worked for a station in West Palm Beach in 1996. We went from #1 25-54 to the bottom!!
To Rico and Guys:
In the broadcasting yearbooks KMEN is listed from 1985 to 1994 as AC. Is that true or did KMEN have that oldies format from 1980 to 1994?
Though not living out there during the time I made several business and personal trips to the area and made a point turning into 129, and this is what I remember.
I believe in the mid-80s KMEN was running a format kind of similar to KRTH, oldies heavy with a handful of modern AC songs thrown in.
In the late 80s KMEN was some kind of dance format, not unlike KIIS-AM at the time. Mind you KMEN's sister station was (1290 still is) KGGI, so there may have been some kind cross promotion between the stations.
Not too sure how long that format lasted, but in 1992 KMEN went all sports, though they seem to play oldies overnight.
In 1994 KMEN began an "Art Laboe-type oldies" format.
In 1997, to honor 35 years on-the-air, KMEN reverted back to traditional oldies and sometime during that year KMEN at had rather impressive on-air radio reunion of former K/MEN, including Bill Watson, Bruce Chandler, Marc Denis, Huckleberry, Ken Levine, and Ron Jacobs, among others.
As I recall sometime after that in summer 1997 KMEN came to an end.
I know they're probably some gaps, but what I wrote above I do clearly remember.
I believe in the mid-80s KMEN was running a format kind of similar to KRTH, oldies heavy with a handful of modern AC songs thrown in.
In the late 80s KMEN was some kind of dance format, not unlike KIIS-AM at the time. Mind you KMEN's sister station was (1290 still is) KGGI, so there may have been some kind cross promotion between the stations.
Not too sure how long that format lasted, but in 1992 KMEN went all sports, though they seem to play oldies overnight.
In 1994 KMEN began an "Art Laboe-type oldies" format.
In 1997, to honor 35 years on-the-air, KMEN reverted back to traditional oldies and sometime during that year KMEN at had rather impressive on-air radio reunion of former K/MEN, including Bill Watson, Bruce Chandler, Marc Denis, Huckleberry, Ken Levine, and Ron Jacobs, among others.
As I recall sometime after that in summer 1997 KMEN came to an end.
I know they're probably some gaps, but what I wrote above I do clearly remember.
Another interesting tidbit about KMEN:
Liverpool born John Peel, who was a major force in the UK's emerging alternative music scene by way of his BBC Radio 1 show, once worked morning drive at KMEN in the mid-60s under his birth name, John Ravenscroft. Some people talking about KMEN seem to recall that John Peel, in proper BBC style, called his morning drive time shift, "The Breakfast Show."
Mr. Peel also did hosting duties on BBC's "Top of the Pops," among other shows.
As for his stint at KMEN, it last for about a year in 1965.
Liverpool born John Peel, who was a major force in the UK's emerging alternative music scene by way of his BBC Radio 1 show, once worked morning drive at KMEN in the mid-60s under his birth name, John Ravenscroft. Some people talking about KMEN seem to recall that John Peel, in proper BBC style, called his morning drive time shift, "The Breakfast Show."
Mr. Peel also did hosting duties on BBC's "Top of the Pops," among other shows.
As for his stint at KMEN, it last for about a year in 1965.
In case anyone's interested, I just saw a KMEN "Mini-Magazine" from 1968 for sale on eBay (if someone hasn't bought it yet...)
J
Jknight
Guest
Mate, I don't know where you got your information but it appears you have confused the wrong people with the wrong periods of time. I am Mike Matthews brother and Jerry Jolstead is my Step dad. I am VERY familiar with the facts and circumstances of KMEN's illustrious history.RicoGregg said:
FOR THE RECORD: The person you are referring to is Mike Matthews. (Formerly of KSTN Stockton, KROY Sacramento, KYA San Francisco, KFXM San Bernardino, KMEN, KHJ (weekends) KRTH weekends and a few others I don't remember) BUT he was not the PD during the periods of time you describe. Mike was the PD of KMEN from August 1976 to January 1978. In 1976 he and Jim Zippo left their #1 rated time slots at KFXM and went to work for KMEN hoping to recreate a dream period in San Bernardino radio history. During this period KMEN enjoyed it's biggest resurgence in 8 years beating KFXM in both PULSE and ARBITRON MSA's. Unfortunately, the MSA was overshadowed by KFXM's massive survey area know as TSA (Total Survey Area) KMEN simply didn't have the signal to compete. Signal strength in 1976 became a much greater handicap than it was in 1963. Further Arbitron and Pulse had expanded their TSA survey areas giving the stronger signal an overwhelming advantage. In short, in every metro area where KMEN and KFXM had a signal, KMEN once again became the local leader. Unfortunately the war was no longer defined by the MSA as it had been in the 60's. The larger TSA was the determining factor that utilized areas where MOST Inland Empire stations, except KFXM, did not have signal!
As for programming: In response to your post, the periods of time you are referring to KMEN was programmed by Burkhart-Abrams consultancy. Dwight Rhodes was the PD for the Abrams group from January 1978 to August 1978. In August of 1978 the station dropped Burkhart-Abrams and hired Mike Novack as PD (formerly KYNO, KFRC and K100) In February of 1979 KMEN's owner Lincoln Dellar demanded that the station switch to a "times of your life" MOR format. Ted Brown (Formerly KFXM, KCBQ, KMEN, KYNO ect ect....) was the PD during this period. The station employed the late John Rebensdorf to host a sports talk show and also made a heavy commitment to news. The MOR format (TERRIBLE) lasted for 8 months until August of 1979 when station manager Jerry Jolstead hired Jerry Clifton to program KMEN and a new station they had just acquired (KBBL Riverside to become KGGI =99.1) 99.1 went on air in January of 1980. Mike left the station in June of 1980. He was a DJ during those very difficult final years BUT was NOT the PD.
Mike and Jerry both agree that the Burkhart-Novack-MOR-Clifton years were difficult particularly for those that remembered KMEN from the Glory days of the 60's BUT the REAL truth is: KMEN's inferior signal, the slow death of TOP 40 (CHR) and AM radio were the REAL culprits, not a program director or manager. Thousands of AM stations all over the country suffered the same fate as KMEN. The attempts at prolonging AM/TOP 40 radios life was noble BUT death was inevitable. Switching formats to NEW, SPORTS, TALK, RELIGION, ECT ECT... were temporary fixes as owners struggled to find a solution. In the end AM was relegated to NON music formats and there is only so much room in the market place. It was a Humpty Dumpty situation and although a number of very talented people tried KMEN could never be put together again. It's Death was not pretty. Mike and Jerry both believed it was a tremendous irony that they were there in KMEN's very beginning and it was only fitting that they should be there for it's end!
On a happier note: I am glad to see KMEN 129.com continuing to honor the legend and preserving the memories that my step dad, brother, family and thousands of faithful listeners still cherish until this day. Those were the BEST of times!
After KMEN, Mike worked for Harvest Christian Fellowship for 15 years producing A New Beginning with Greg Laurie. Additionally, from 1980 to 1990 he continued as the national voice for Firestone tires, Wells Fargo bank, Nordstroms and the Las Vegas Bureau of Tourism and a number of local businesses. He also was one of the last DJ's to work at KHJ-AM (weekends) before successive format changes. He is presently a Family Law Attorney (retired) and living in the Philippines. He wanted to reply to this post himself but apparently this site has blocked south east asian countries from posting.
I seem to recall that KGGI went on the air in 1978 with studios at the Riverside Plaza before moving into the cow pasture. -That is to say and ask, did KGGI have the same owners at the time of going on the air, or were they sold a short time later to the company that owned KMEN?
A lot of very good points in last post, particularly about signal coverage and sound. At 1290 AM in the Inland Empire by this time picking up KMEN in south Riverside/Corona, Ontario or even Fontana had become difficult.
Such signal issues may explain why KFXM was able to hold on to being some form of top 40 until its demise in 1986
As the previous poster said AM top 40/new music radio was well on its way out by the late 70s, however I do remember in the late 1970s KMEN gave its last gasp of breath producing classic AM top 40 radio, which made some headway in the ratings, but the writing was on the wall by way of posted up ratings.
Remember, by 1980 the once mighty 93/KHJ went country and the last great AM top 40 station, as said by Beaver Cleaver Ken Levine, KTNQ was no more.
A lot of very good points in last post, particularly about signal coverage and sound. At 1290 AM in the Inland Empire by this time picking up KMEN in south Riverside/Corona, Ontario or even Fontana had become difficult.
Such signal issues may explain why KFXM was able to hold on to being some form of top 40 until its demise in 1986
As the previous poster said AM top 40/new music radio was well on its way out by the late 70s, however I do remember in the late 1970s KMEN gave its last gasp of breath producing classic AM top 40 radio, which made some headway in the ratings, but the writing was on the wall by way of posted up ratings.
Remember, by 1980 the once mighty 93/KHJ went country and the last great AM top 40 station, as said by Beaver Cleaver Ken Levine, KTNQ was no more.
J
Jknight
Guest
Kggi went on the air as 99.1 in August of 1979. Jerry Clifton & Associates programmed both Kmen and 99.1. The initial offices were located just off Brockton and 8th street in downtown Riverside. Brian White was the PD.
S
Spunky711
Guest
I remember they kept playing "Hot child in the city" over and over again when when they first went on the air, there was some kind of 'sound off' and that song was the 'champion'. That was along time ago...
Thanks for the kind words about www.kmen129.com. After a lot of tweaking, we finally found a mix of oldies people seem to like. We'll keep doing it as long as it remains fun. Support from former KMEN staffers and Facebook fans help. Thank you again!
- Status