KOA - One of the Best Billing AM Stations in the U.S.

[Mark Roberts]

I thought of KQED first, since that’s where former KGO host Michael Krasny went.

Krasny was very much an acquired taste, in my opinion. There's also something about KQED generally that I find off-putting. I can't put my finger on exactly what it is, though. That said, there are some good people there.

Edit to add: it will be interesting to compare it to Colorado Public Radio, leaving aside its unfortunate acronym. CPR does appear to have quite a bit of field reporting, which KOA lacks, in my estimation.

 

[davideduardo]

Those were the days when Cumulus was making a lot of bad decisions.

But they inherited a dead radio station. Not their fault. Blame Mickey.

That said, and this is an anecdote and not data, I can say that when I first moved to the Bay Area 24 years ago, I tried listening to KGO because I had heard so much about it. And I couldn't stand it. It seemed like a station old people called into for the purpose of airing their complaints, the newscasts came across as fluffy, and it seemed like its best days were past.

But it was still at the top in the diary world due to long written in listening spans.

I would posit that KGO was going to sink anyway. They had a 55-to-death problem. The "all news some of the time" effort was an attempt to fight that off, but its execution was inconsistent albeit with some bright spots, and it came too late to have much effect. It should have happened when KGO was on top, but that particular goose was still laying precious metals back then.

They still had good 25-54, but mostly 45 and over. But the talent got stale, and the management long before the sale could not refresh it.

 

[Mark Roberts]

But they inherited a dead radio station. Not their fault. Blame Mickey.

But it was still at the top in the diary world due to long written in listening spans.

They still had good 25-54, but mostly 45 and over. But the talent got stale, and the management long before the sale could not refresh it.

I think we're saying much the same thing, from different perspectives. I never had stars in my eyes about KGO the way some folks did.

 

[davideduardo]

I think we're saying much the same thing, from different perspectives. I never had stars in my eyes about KGO the way some folks did.

I loved them in the later 90's when I was doing KTNQ (which beat KFI sometimes in 25-54) because of its superb mechanics and Gary Owenns Ronn Owens (corrected courtesy of Mark. I have trouble with Anglo names at times). I did not listen enough to become tired of it, but had my staff listen to tapes to get the mechanics, how to refresh, how to end phoners, etc. They had superb technique, but got stale.

They also were learning what Rush taught us all... phoners are boring if overdone.

 

[radiofan2023]

Krasny was very much an acquired taste, in my opinion. There's also something about KQED generally that I find off-putting. I can't put my finger on exactly what it is, though. That said, there are some good people there.

When I was at KQED he was nice, but not that chatty. If you asked him something, he’d talk to you, but he just rarely started conversation off air. Usually he was just really busy prepping for upcoming shows, buried in an upcoming guest’s book/article/whatever. He does a podcast now that I just recently found out about, but I’ve never listened to it. Scott Shafer and John Myers were more outgoing.

 

[Mark Roberts]

I loved them in the later 90's when I was doing KTNQ (which beat KFI sometimes in 25-54) because of its superb mechanics and Gary Owenns. I did not listen enough to become tired of it, but had my staff listen to tapes to get the mechanics, how to refresh, how to end phoners, etc. They had superb technique, but got stale.

Did you mean Ronn Owens?

 

[Mark Roberts]

When I was at KQED he was nice, but not that chatty. If you asked him something, he’d talk to you, but he just rarely started conversation off air. Usually he was just really busy prepping for upcoming shows, buried in an upcoming guest’s book/article/whatever. He does a podcast now that I just recently found out about, but I’ve never listened to it. Scott Shafer and John Myers were more outgoing.

Scott and John also were regulars on This Week in Northern California on KQED-TV back in the Belva Davis era and even beyond, and very clearly were steeped in the news stories of the day. On the radio side, I think they were positioned more as reporters who happened to be doing a talk show, while Krasny's background was somewhat different.

 

[davideduardo]

Did you mean Ronn Owens?

Yep, my bad. Thinking

Did you mean Ronn Owens?

Thinking of other Owens in other media. Fixed.

 

[radiofan2023]

Scott and John also were regulars on This Week in Northern California on KQED-TV back in the Belva Davis era and even beyond, and very clearly were steeped in the news stories of the day. On the radio side, I think they were positioned more as reporters who happened to be doing a talk show, while Krasny's background was somewhat different.

I remember reading an interview with Krasny where he said when he was at KGO, he had good numbers but whoever was in charge at the time said having authors as his guests made the numbers crater. That was why he went to KQED and took over Forum.

To me, Forum when Krasny hosted vs. when Mina Kim or someone else hosted, seemed more of a college professor vibe (he knew a lot about the guest and he was going to show the listeners and the guest how much he knew as he interviewed the guest - which might be a bit of the way KQED is that you can’t put your finger on).

 

[Mark Roberts]

I remember reading an interview with Krasny where he said when he was at KGO, he had good numbers but whoever was in charge at the time said having authors as his guests made the numbers crater. That was why he went to KQED and took over Forum.

I hadn't heard that, but it wouldn't surprise me if that was the case.