KRTH in the top ten

[calguy]

KRTH has finally made a jump in the ARB. They're now at number 7 behind 3 stations tied for number 6. Anyone think it was anything more than better music that did the trick? Most of the AC's dropped, so what do you think is the reason for their climb back up? Was their jump at the expense of the others?

 

[DonTMcCall]

...yet, another reason the Anti-Johnny posters should chill.
:-\

 

[StopWhining]

KRTH has finally made a jump in the ARB. They're now at number 7 behind 3 stations tied for number 6. Anyone think it was anything more than better music that did the trick? Most of the AC's dropped, so what do you think is the reason for their climb back up? Was their jump at the expense of the others?

It's because Jhani is one of the true great programmers in this city and he has made some incredible changes, musically and otherwise. K-EARTH sounds great!!! Congrats, Jhani and staff!!! It wouldn't surprise me if they were in the Top 5 by the end of the Summer book.

 

[bcradiodj]

Jhani should be commended for his expertise on how to focus a radio station. He did it with KBIG and KOST and now K-EARTH has the magic touch! K-EARTH sounds as good as when Mike Phillips was PD back in '91 and the were Hot then! Now KRTH is #2 25-54 Persons in the Winter '07 book. Will they be #1 after Spring? It wouldn't surprise me! Gary Bryan and the entire airstaff are cookin'!

 

[ercjncpr]

Yes, much as I have declined to listen to it, I guess that Jhani Kaye's Jukebox works!

 

[calguy]

Yes, much as I have declined to listen to it, I guess that Jhani Kaye's Jukebox works!

Look, no taking away from the success of KRTH in this latest book, but really there are a lot of knowledgeable PD's who with the actual go ahead from CBS could have opened up the play list and made KRTH sound as good as they do now musically. Would they have come up with all of the themed weekends? Maybe, maybe not. Kaye's knowledge of the market and the fact that he's been privy to research about LA for 25 years doesn't hurt either. I still feel that he's somewhat inhibited the air staff to a degree with some able to handle his hot-lining more than others. The air-staff that was in place before he got there and that remain are solid pro's. Getting rid of Hollywood in the morning was something that needed to be done no matter who became the PD. The 1-4pm shift is the only real suspect hire. That's when KRTH deviates from an otherwise great sound. It's like a square peg in a round hole, but has it hurt KRTH? No, it's just 3 hours. The heavy lifting is being handled by the people who know what they're doing and that's what counts. I might add about the music that since Kaye spent all that time doing AC he's been able to make music adds to the KRTH play list that can siphon off listeners from KOST and KBIG. It's a great strategy...

 

[doublecashkgb]

Cal guy is right. Some of you Johnny Worshipers need to get out more often. There are dozens of better programmers who wanted to program KRTH, and could have balanced the music while actually utiziling
jocks properly, and not create a 1980's era liner factory.

 

[calguy]

Okay, so the 1-4 jock at KRTH is thanking his listeners for voting them number one this afternoon. I realize that they took the top spot in the 35 to 64 demo, but it's just one segment. Does this merit the bragging? Kind of a stretch. This is the kind of stuff that sounds out of place on KRTH. Yes radio is somewhat narcissistic, but that usually isn't the trait of a Jhani Kaye station. He always used to take the humble route outwardly.

 

[scooty430]

I guess all those people predicting K-Earth's days were numbered were wrong.

As for Jhnai Kaye, he does a fine job, except for two areas:

- The terrible Christmas music and MOR Xmas jingles he brought over from KOST. One KOST is enough.
- Lack of any cool specialty shows that a good oldies station should have. KOLA has a good 70's show. No reason KRTH can't have a doo-wop, pre-64, rarities, or something to attract some actual oldies fans. Most of them are forced to listen to XM 60s on 6 at this point.

One or two lesser-heard songs per hour wouldn't hurt either. But everyone is too ruled by fear in radio to try something like that.

 

[calguy]

I guess all those people predicting K-Earth's days were numbered were wrong.

As for Jhnai Kaye, he does a fine job, except for two areas:

- The terrible Christmas music and MOR Xmas jingles he brought over from KOST. One KOST is enough.
- Lack of any cool specialty shows that a good oldies station should have. KOLA has a good 70's show. No reason KRTH can't have a doo-wop, pre-64, rarities, or something to attract some actual oldies fans. Most of them are forced to listen to XM 60s on 6 at this point.

One or two lesser-heard songs per hour wouldn't hurt either. But everyone is too ruled by fear in radio to try something like that.

Kaye does okay, but all the real work is done by his APD, always has been at every station he's programmed in LA. From the scuttlebutt I
heard Kaye was blown away to be expected to be in his office from 9 to 5. That's not the leisurely lifestyle he's been used to at KOST & KBIG.
You're points are well taken though, but I think he's trying to grow the station in the direction of some slightly younger listeners. But you're right.
He could serve those who like pre 64 product with a few specialty shows. They're almost always bartered so it costs little.

Hate to say it, but you're assuming that there are a lot of people in LA with XM receivers. I don't think it's a big number there...

 

[Marv-L.A.]

Kaye has certainly freshened the station substantially and cut back on the repetition which Mike Phillips and Jay Coffey used to burn some songs to death; when I read in an interview in R&R a few years ago that Phillips said that he was going to program KRTH like a top 40 station, I was throughly disgusted--that was the LAST thing the station needed.

Thank goodness that Kaye has cut back on the repetition which made the station unlistenable for an extended period of time thanks to Phillips.

It would be nice if KRTH COULD carry a four-hour all-seventies show which Charlie Tuna has; I heard it on KOOL-FM in Phoenix a couple of years ago, and it would be a VERY nice fit to run on Sunday evenings.

Carrying some of Dick Bartley's oldies shows on the weekends would also be terrific.

 

[Beachdog]

It would be nice if KRTH COULD carry a four-hour all-seventies show which Charlie Tuna has; I heard it on KOOL-FM in Phoenix a couple of years ago, and it would be a VERY nice fit to run on Sunday evenings.

Carrying some of Dick Bartley's oldies shows on the weekends would also be terrific.

I have to agree that KRTH is sounding a lot better, and NOT running outside show and going instead with live jocks is a great move!  Not too many LA stations are "live" overnights anymore, and KRTH is.   Thanks Jhani!

 

[calguy]

It would be nice if KRTH COULD carry a four-hour all-seventies show which Charlie Tuna has; I heard it on KOOL-FM in Phoenix a couple of years ago, and it would be a VERY nice fit to run on Sunday evenings.

Carrying some of Dick Bartley's oldies shows on the weekends would also be terrific.

I have to agree that KRTH is sounding a lot better, and NOT running outside show and going instead with live jocks is a great move! Not too many LA stations are "live" overnights anymore, and KRTH is. Thanks Jhani!

Am I wrong, weren't they live overnight before Jhani took over? And about the overnight jock. He's only been there for a decade as weekend and fill.
He's too good for that shift and deserved better... Don't get me wrong, KRTH sounds much better than when Jay Coffey was PD, but I think they passed over a great and dependable talent with decent chops and timing. He'd sound great during the day.

 

[scooty430]

I guess all those people predicting K-Earth's days were numbered were wrong.

As for Jhnai Kaye, he does a fine job, except for two areas:

- The terrible Christmas music and MOR Xmas jingles he brought over from KOST. One KOST is enough.
- Lack of any cool specialty shows that a good oldies station should have. KOLA has a good 70's show. No reason KRTH can't have a doo-wop, pre-64, rarities, or something to attract some actual oldies fans. Most of them are forced to listen to XM 60s on 6 at this point.

One or two lesser-heard songs per hour wouldn't hurt either. But everyone is too ruled by fear in radio to try something like that.

Kaye does okay, but all the real work is done by his APD, always has been at every station he's programmed in LA. From the scuttlebutt I
heard Kaye was blown away to be expected to be in his office from 9 to 5. That's not the leisurely lifestyle he's been used to at KOST & KBIG.
You're points are well taken though, but I think he's trying to grow the station in the direction of some slightly younger listeners. But you're right.
He could serve those who like pre 64 product with a few specialty shows. They're almost always bartered so it costs little.

Hate to say it, but you're assuming that there are a lot of people in LA with XM receivers. I don't think it's a big number there...

Agreed on the younger listener approach. From a business standpoint, he's making all the right moves.

You're right about XM. though you can listen online now, which is what I do. Sound quality is very bad, however, which is why I'd love KRTH to become more interesting.

I seriously doubt, though, they'll add in more nuggets or do any kind of specialty show, even a 70's one. They want their "product" to always be consistent, and it isn't worth the risk that someone will punch up 101.1 on a late Sunday night and be "put off." Again, probably wise from a business standpoint, but it adds to the sometimes soulless feel of the station. Even Elvis has been moved later and later in his Sunday time slot, to the point where he is now on at midnight.

While we're on the topic, I'm wondering. I know many offices have the same station on 9 to 5, and many stores I go to have KRTH on all day/every day. (Bay Cities Deli, Emil's Hardware, Patty's Pizza, to name a few.) When these people hear "Brown Eyed Girl" and "Unchained Melody," do they say, "Oh yes. I LOVE this song!" I just don't get how people aren't sick of these songs, great as they are. I know this has been discussed before on here, but it just baffles me.

 

[mostb1]

It would be nice if KRTH COULD carry a four-hour all-seventies show which Charlie Tuna has; I heard it on KOOL-FM in Phoenix a couple of years ago, and it would be a VERY nice fit to run on Sunday evenings.

Carrying some of Dick Bartley's oldies shows on the weekends would also be terrific.

I have to agree that KRTH is sounding a lot better, and NOT running outside show and going instead with live jocks is a great move! Not too many LA stations are "live" overnights anymore, and KRTH is. Thanks Jhani!

Am I wrong, weren't they live overnight before Jhani took over? And about the overnight jock. He's only been there for a decade as weekend and fill.
He's too good for that shift and deserved better... Don't get me wrong, KRTH sounds much better than when Jay Coffey was PD, but I think they passed over a great and dependable talent with decent chops and timing. He'd sound great during the day.

I believe overnights were a split shift when Jay Coffey was PD - at least at the end. Jay himself was tracking for overnights so it wasn't always live. Correct me if my memory isn't right on this one.

 

[calguy]

It would be nice if KRTH COULD carry a four-hour all-seventies show which Charlie Tuna has; I heard it on KOOL-FM in Phoenix a couple of years ago, and it would be a VERY nice fit to run on Sunday evenings.

Carrying some of Dick Bartley's oldies shows on the weekends would also be terrific.

I have to agree that KRTH is sounding a lot better, and NOT running outside show and going instead with live jocks is a great move! Not too many LA stations are "live" overnights anymore, and KRTH is. Thanks Jhani!

Am I wrong, weren't they live overnight before Jhani took over? And about the overnight jock. He's only been there for a decade as weekend and fill.
He's too good for that shift and deserved better... Don't get me wrong, KRTH sounds much better than when Jay Coffey was PD, but I think they passed over a great and dependable talent with decent chops and timing. He'd sound great during the day.

I believe overnights were a split shift when Jay Coffey was PD - at least at the end. Jay himself was tracking for overnights so it wasn't always live. Correct me if my memory isn't right on this one.

I believe you're correct. Under the Coffey regime the overnight show was part of the budget cutting. I think that Bill Stevens who is retired now may have actually started tracking his show and then upon his retiremment Coffey took over the tracking himself. But Stevens did it live for quite a while. If I recall correctly Stevens was a Boss Jock at KYNO. He also worked in the IE at KFXM.

 

[jonbruce]

Yes, Bill Stevens was on KFXM in the IE under the name Bill ("Beal") Surrey. He left in early 1967.

 

[Marv-L.A.]

Bill Stevens had been doing nights for MANY years at KRTH; he'd been on the air at various radio stations in LA over the past three+ decades.

I wouldn't mind seeing Danny Martinez return, or Bruce Chandler, or Eric Chase, or any of a number of longtime radio stars.

 

[calguy]

Bill Stevens had been doing nights for MANY years at KRTH; he'd been on the air at various radio stations in LA over the past three+ decades.

I wouldn't mind seeing Danny Martinez return, or Bruce Chandler, or Eric Chase, or any of a number of longtime radio stars.

Chase is full-time in Houston last I heard. He's been there for most of the last 25 years or so. Doubt he'd return unless the offer was really good.
Chandler is on KRTH, just weekends though. Danny Martinez is okay, but never a favorite of mine. He has the pedegree, but may be tired of air-work after years of ARROW 93. Thought I heard him do some fill-in last year at K-Earth. Been hearing Benny Martinez do fill lately. KRTH has a great overnighter in Dave Randell, but he should be working an earlier shift. 1-4pm would be good.

 

[Marv-L.A.]

If memory serves, Bruce Chandler used to work at KFXM, or possibly Anaheim's KEZY. Chris Roberts, who's been UCLA's football play-by-play guy since NBC hired Joel Meyers away in 1992, also worked at KFXM, I do believe.

Having Dave Randall doing the 1-4PM gig would be wonderful, but bringing back Johnny Hayes would be even better.

I've always enjoyed Bill Stevens; I remember listening to him at KUTE-102 while hanging around the student lounge at Long Beach State in the mid-seventies.

10-Q (KTNQ) had the Real Don Steele doing afternoon drive back then---oh for the good old days when radio was REALLY fun and a LOT less structured!!!!! That was a great radio station with a killer on-air lineup.