KMET is back !!??????

[OC Radio Geek]

While the 1.7 shares for KMET were reality when they left the air, like KHJ before them they were a shell of themselves by the time they left the air. KMET wasn't "all about the music" as The Sound tries to be; KMET was all about the listener. A lifestyle station. It was fun to listen to, and the DJs were allowed to do more than read liners. ANd they happened to play music ... A fish report today? No, sadly. Informing Southern California? No one does that any more.

If the Sam Bellamy version of KMET were to return, it would destroy KLOS, in my opinion, and it might bring AOR radio back from the grave. Dave Beasling and Bonneville should think hard about this. Maybe we could convince Bellamy to get involved.

I completely agree. KMET was fun to listen to because the DJs were so personable. They were like your best friends! In fact, every successful radio station over the years has had the same in common. KHJ had Boss Jocks like Don Steele and Robert W.......KRLA had Casey Kasem and Charlie O'Donnell......KIIS had Big Ron and Rick Dees.....etc. Today, there are not many radio stations who have great jocks or on-air personalities. Since everything is so corporate and all about the money, most stations don't have much talent.

Yes, KLOS would be in big trouble if KSWD adopted the old KMET philosophy and attitude. KLOS has gotten very complacent since they are basically an uncontested classic rock station in LA.

how has the arrival of KSWD affected KLOS since the launch ratingswise?

It seems to have considering KLOS drops dramatically at 10am. The two appear to be sharing a very small non-ethnic 45-54 cell.

KLOS would be nothing without M&B.

And Glenn has said before that he thinks Classic Rock could be in trouble in L.A. There may be something to that as well - especially as the audience ages well over 50. IMHO, JACK is Classic Rock for L.A. - because of the KROQ influence in this market during the 80's and the 80's audience (35-44) is now the center of the money demo.

My father is over 60 and he really likes classic rock, but he hates KLOS because their playlist has not changed at all! It is the same music everyday. He prefers KSWD more because he says, "They have more variety in their playlist than KLOS." However, he really likes Jack except when they play 80's music. He says, "If I have to hear 'Melt With You' or 'If You Leave' one more time, I'm gonna kill someone!"

 

[radioresearcher]

While the 1.7 shares for KMET were reality when they left the air, like KHJ before them they were a shell of themselves by the time they left the air. KMET wasn't "all about the music" as The Sound tries to be; KMET was all about the listener. A lifestyle station. It was fun to listen to, and the DJs were allowed to do more than read liners. ANd they happened to play music ... A fish report today? No, sadly. Informing Southern California? No one does that any more.

If the Sam Bellamy version of KMET were to return, it would destroy KLOS, in my opinion, and it might bring AOR radio back from the grave. Dave Beasling and Bonneville should think hard about this. Maybe we could convince Bellamy to get involved.

I completely agree. KMET was fun to listen to because the DJs were so personable. They were like your best friends! In fact, every successful radio station over the years has had the same in common. KHJ had Boss Jocks like Don Steele and Robert W.......KRLA had Casey Kasem and Charlie O'Donnell......KIIS had Big Ron and Rick Dees.....etc. Today, there are not many radio stations who have great jocks or on-air personalities. Since everything is so corporate and all about the money, most stations don't have much talent.

Yes, KLOS would be in big trouble if KSWD adopted the old KMET philosophy and attitude. KLOS has gotten very complacent since they are basically an uncontested classic rock station in LA.

how has the arrival of KSWD affected KLOS since the launch ratingswise?

It seems to have considering KLOS drops dramatically at 10am. The two appear to be sharing a very small non-ethnic 45-54 cell.

KLOS would be nothing without M&B.

And Glenn has said before that he thinks Classic Rock could be in trouble in L.A. There may be something to that as well - especially as the audience ages well over 50. IMHO, JACK is Classic Rock for L.A. - because of the KROQ influence in this market during the 80's and the 80's audience (35-44) is now the center of the money demo.

My father is over 60 and he really likes classic rock, but he hates KLOS because their playlist has not changed at all! It is the same music everyday. He prefers KSWD more because he says, "They have more variety in their playlist than KLOS." However, he really likes Jack except when they play 80's music. He says, "If I have to hear 'Melt With You' or 'If You Leave' one more time, I'm gonna kill someone!"

And that's the inherent problem. He's over 60 and likes KSWD. That's who they appeal to - the 55+ crowd.

Unfortunately (and I do not agree with this at all) - advertisers don't care after someone hits 55. It's short sighted - especially with baby boomers into their 60's now.

I have a lot of colleagues and friends in their late 50's and early 60's who are very plugged in. They love technology, are computer savvy, and have disposable income.

Sadly, advertisers remain youth obsessed. I think that thinking is outdated - but I don't see it changing.

 

[davideduardo]

.....and those are all morning show jocks. I should have been more clear in my post above. I meant to say excluding morning show jocks. What about the rest of the day for radio stations? Where is the talent?

I don't listen to a lot of English language radio, as I get upset with the music before I can catch the execution details...

But taking the Spanish language section, look at folks like...

Amalia González on KRCD... has been as high as top 5 in 18 49 on a Class A.
And speaking of KRCD, Alfredo Nájera at night has been # 1 in LA, as well as his syndicated markets. Both are content driven personalities.

Chiquibaby on KSCA. La Bronca on KLAX, Carlos Alvarez on KLVE, Grecia Lemus on KLVE are a few of the considerable number of personalities on Spanish language radio in LA...

Saving the best for last, Mario Fernando Pessina on KRCD... live overnights, lots of talk and audience interaction, and generally top 5 in 18-49 in its hours.

 

[TheBigA]

I should have been more clear in my post above. I meant to say excluding morning show jocks. What about the rest of the day for radio stations? Where is the talent?

I think that's a good question, and the answer is that the audience has demonstrated that it only wants strong on air talent in drive time, and most importantly in morning drive. And this may be more of an LA thing than other places, but I notice most people commute at about the same time in the morning, but at different times on the way home. Perhaps non-hourly workers stay at their offices longer, or socialize near their jobs after work, before heading home.

So with the concentration of audience in morning drive, that's where stations put all their eggs. Then focus on more music and less talk, assuming radio is being used in the workplace, so the radio becomes more of a background thing.

But lately I'm also noticing a very different kind of personality emerging after 7 PM. It's different in that it's more about interaction than morning drive, and less about entertaining. In other words, a Kevin & Bean morning show with comedy bits simply wouldn't work after 7, because the audience wants to interact, rather than be entertained. Someone who takes more calls, and might even be at home, because they're not going to work, but relaxing and looking for something other than TV to do.

 

[OC Radio Geek]

I should have been more clear in my post above. I meant to say excluding morning show jocks. What about the rest of the day for radio stations? Where is the talent?

I think that's a good question, and the answer is that the audience has demonstrated that it only wants strong on air talent in drive time, and most importantly in morning drive. And this may be more of an LA thing than other places, but I notice most people commute at about the same time in the morning, but at different times on the way home. Perhaps non-hourly workers stay at their offices longer, or socialize near their jobs after work, before heading home.

So with the concentration of audience in morning drive, that's where stations put all their eggs. Then focus on more music and less talk, assuming radio is being used in the workplace, so the radio becomes more of a background thing.

But lately I'm also noticing a very different kind of personality emerging after 7 PM. It's different in that it's more about interaction than morning drive, and less about entertaining. In other words, a Kevin & Bean morning show with comedy bits simply wouldn't work after 7, because the audience wants to interact, rather than be entertained. Someone who takes more calls, and might even be at home, because they're not going to work, but relaxing and looking for something other than TV to do.

Well, for me at work, I like to listen to a good mix of music with an entertaining jock who announces what's happening, announces the latest radio contest, and posts a song every 2 or 3 songs to keep me listening. But that's just me....

 

[SuperRadioFan]

I enjoyed the KMET reunion on KSWD

Yes even though I wasn't a listener in the days KMET was at its Zenith, I still enjoyed what I heard on Friday the 10th. The music was different enough, though the music took a back seat to the jocks demonstrating that they were having fun. This is what I remember I liked about radio. Its now in the past but jocks can still be entertaining even in today's PPM world. Some of the best examples are the informative and entertaining jocks on stations like WXPK, KINK, KFOG, WXRT and WCBS-FM.

Kudos to The Sound for doing the tribute.

 

[scooty430]

I moved to LA in late 86 from Boston, when KMET was in its dying days. It was sort of my new WBCN (and KLOS was my new WAAF.) I listened intently in early 87, I think it was Valentine's Day, to the flip to what was promised to be an exciting "new" kind of music. It turned out to be.....ugh....the WAVE. It was really depressing, even to an 18 year old.

How coincidental that the same week KMET is resurrected, WBCN (which in reality died in 1995) was finally put to rest.

Anyway, it is neat to see KMET honored in this way. KLOS may have won the war, but you'll never see anyone try to mount a "KLOS Tribute Day." (LOL)

 

[SuperRadioFan]

KLOS tribute = Stairway to Heaven; Hotel California; Won't Get Fooled Again; and Freebird ;D

 

[ChannelFlipper]

KLOS tribute = Stairway to Heaven; Hotel California; Won't Get Fooled Again; and Freebird ;D

Don't forget "Back in Black", "Sweet Emotion" and "Smoke on the Water"

 

[goodhelp]

I also posted this on the latest "Sound" comment thread...yeah, sure the KMET Friday on 100.3 was fun as far as it went. But something essential was missing.

Now that it's over, I can say, "Whew, what a monumental trip through truncated time!" Seriously, where was ANY mention of the "Obscene" Steven Clean, Mary "Tacos" Turner, Richard Kimball, Shadoe Stevens, B Mitchell Reed and Mikel Hunter???

You know, the original crew who built the station that the later bunch to rode into the ratings history books. Mikel programmed the Mighty Met to its first ratings achievements in the early-mid 70's and undeniably deserves recognition as do all of the aforementioned on the "KMET Friday" promotion staged by KSWD.

Seems to me that Mr. Jeff Gonzer was the leader of this event and he so conveniently wiped away a giant chunk of the K-Met's history. Now why would he do that? :-\

 

[ChannelFlipper]

I understand if you didn't have a chance to read all 15 pages of this thread, but a few of us have commented on this fact even before the day of the event when it was clear that Shadoe Stevens among the others that you list would not be invited. I know Gonzer organized the thing and I give him big congratulations on a job well done for what it was, but he must think that KMET did not exist before his arrival because outside of a small mention of B. Mitchel Reed, no discussion was even entered on the personalities that came before the Bellamy era KMET.

I have a feeling there are some bitter feelings between some of the earlier KMET personalities and some of the later ones. I have heard bickering through the years about who started what, and who deserves credit for this and that. It would have been nice if they could have put it all aside for the one day that it really mattered.

And I am amazed still that no one has said anything of the absence of Paraquat Kelley on the day of the event. Paraquat wouldn't miss a day like that, particularly when he was advertised so heavily. Something is going on and the silence is deafening.

 

[OC Radio Geek]

I understand if you didn't have a chance to read all 15 pages of this thread, but a few of us have commented on this fact even before the day of the event when it was clear that Shadoe Stevens among the others that you list would not be invited. I know Gonzer organized the thing and I give him big congratulations on a job well done for what it was, but he must think that KMET did not exist before his arrival because outside of a small mention of B. Mitchel Reed, no discussion was even entered on the personalities that came before the Bellamy era KMET.

I have a feeling there are some bitter feelings between some of the earlier KMET personalities and some of the later ones. I have heard bickering through the years about who started what, and who deserves credit for this and that. It would have been nice if they could have put it all aside for the one day that it really mattered.

And I am amazed still that no one has said anything of the absence of Paraquat Kelley on the day of the event. Paraquat wouldn't miss a day like that, particularly when he was advertised so heavily. Something is going on and the silence is deafening.

Perhaps Paraquat is currently involved in a contract and couldn't do it.

 

[ChannelFlipper]

I understand if you didn't have a chance to read all 15 pages of this thread, but a few of us have commented on this fact even before the day of the event when it was clear that Shadoe Stevens among the others that you list would not be invited. I know Gonzer organized the thing and I give him big congratulations on a job well done for what it was, but he must think that KMET did not exist before his arrival because outside of a small mention of B. Mitchel Reed, no discussion was even entered on the personalities that came before the Bellamy era KMET.

I have a feeling there are some bitter feelings between some of the earlier KMET personalities and some of the later ones. I have heard bickering through the years about who started what, and who deserves credit for this and that. It would have been nice if they could have put it all aside for the one day that it really mattered.

And I am amazed still that no one has said anything of the absence of Paraquat Kelley on the day of the event. Paraquat wouldn't miss a day like that, particularly when he was advertised so heavily. Something is going on and the silence is deafening.

Perhaps Paraquat is currently involved in a contract and couldn't do it.

Possible, but unlikely.

Paraquat and his wife have been in real estate for a number of years and Paraquat has not been on the radio in any regular capacity since KMET. I have heard him do some work on Mark and Brian on a substitute visit a few years back, but that had the feel of either a friendly visit or a failed try-out. It was clear he had not been behind the mic for a long time and it showed.

It was all highly disappointing to me because he was my favorite KMET jock back in the day. Just seemed to me that he was wittier, funnier, and cooler than all the rest, regardless of how high Jim Ladd thinks of himself. Oops, did I just let that one slip out??

 

[Paul M A]

This is a good topic. I wish I could have heard the broadcast.

I live in the east now but I was in LA back in the old KMET days. Actually I first moved to LA in the nid 60's then to NY in 69 and back again in 72 to 74 then back in 78 to 97. I remember a lot of those days listening to KMET. I agree with most of you guys that by the late 70's it was starting to wane. The problem I had with KMET from 79 on was that the jocks were kinda getting to big for themselves. I started havening the feeling that they sorta believed that they were bigger than the music. The station seemed pretty full of themselves. My opinion only.

Havening had the opportunity of living on both coasts I think that WNEW was a better "music" station than KMET. The jocks were more knowledable about the music and the musicians. KMET jocks were certainly more personable (like someone else here said they were like your best friend). It seemed to me that it was a continous party in LA. Either way they were both great stations to listen to.

 

[DoctorWu]

Anyone have airchecks? I'd love to hear this... Message me please.

-- Doc

 

[voice of reason]

ChannelFlipper you are right on.
Knowing how important KMET was to the music scene and to radio, I think the Sound's reunion attempt was well meaning but ended being low wattage, uninspired and lame. When they replayed Pat Kelly's fish reports as if they were reminiscent of the good old days of great radio, I came to the conclusion that this tired station deserved to be put to sleep. It had run out of gas by 1986 and there was nothing going on at KMET when they pulled the plug. Mr. Flipper you are absolutely correct about Shadoe Stevens. He was a genius at both KRLA and KMET. Having this reunion without Shadoe, Stephen Clean, Jimmy Rabbit and Rachel ODonahue missed the whole point, ignoring KMET when it was at its trailblazing peak. It would have been good to have Ladd on the air, but the other three KLOS jocks who were also not allowed to participate wouldn't have brought much to the table either. Just more pleasant sounding warm bodies who still have a radio job and who still show up to work. I am sure Jeff Gonzer is a nice guy, and he certainly deserved to be at this thing, but there was never anything magic or compelling or bigger-than-life about his on-air work. Except for Dr. Demento and Frazier Smith, the magic that was KMET was simply not there at this tribute. I know BMR and Mikel Hunter are dead and that Mary Turner opted not to participate. But there was no excuse to not invite the other people who made KMET magic. By telling everyone that KMET was all about the Paraquat era is dishonest and unfair. It's a little like George Bush trying to polish the lagacy of his turdlike presidency. The only difference is that Gonzer et al may get away with it.

 

[SuperRadioFan]

Good post, reason... But what do you mean by "get away with it"?

 

[voice of reason]

What I mean is that Gonzer may succeed in getting everyone to think that KMET's legacy as a great radio station was only from 1978 until it kicked the bucket which isn't true at all. He made no effort to bring in the really great surviving talent. And that George Bush, by comparison, will probably not be as successful in rewriting history. Gonzer organized this reunion and obviously did not want to bring in any of the greats from before 76. I say let Shadoe organize KMET Reunion Phase II, with all his production work which was light years ahead of its time. What we got from Gonzer's tribute was old tapes from Paraquat making puns about about lines at the ski lifts and lines of cocaine. This wasn't a slice of pop culture treasure. This was uninspired, unimaginative shit.

 

[scooty430]

As you KMET fans may know, another station from that era, WBCN, recently bit the dust. Somehow, they managed to put together a four day tribute with people from every era represented. Everyone from the first jock on the air in 68, to the first program director, to the guy who started the station.....all the way through to its current (sorry) incarnation as an "active rock" station. They did justice to the heritage. Sad that never happened to KMET, and it sounds like the Sound thing did not rectify that either.

I still don't really understand the motivation behind the Sound's doing this. They are not even coming close to "inheriting" KMET's legacy, if that is their goal. All about the music? More like "all about the research."

 

[voice of reason]

Exactly Scooty. But I don't think The Sound necessarily wanted to inherit KMET's legacy. I think they just tried to do a good thing and tried to telescope 18 years of a once legendary station into 13 hours. The only problem is they let Gonzer run the show and he opted to ignore KMET's first 10 years just so they could focus on the last eight. And while it is true KMET ruled the local ratings from 78 to 81, their laziness and lack of focus and lack of vision took them way down really quickly. For anyone who knows anything about great L.A. radio, you know that Shadoe Stevens, Stephen Clean, Flo and Eddie, Mary Turner, B. Mitchell Reed and Jimmy Rabbit are as vital as Robert W. and the Real Don Steele. Ace Young, Dr. Demento and Frazier Smith participated in last month's reunion and they certainly mattered. But where was everyone else from that trailblazing first decade?