What's good or bad about LA radio

So what are your opinions about the current state of LA Radio good or bad. What do you think needs to change on the dial or is everything ok with everyone? Let me know.

First off krth is doing real good they balance 70 percent classic rock and classic alternative and 30 percent classic Pop what does everyone think? Agree disagree?

30james said:

First off krth is doing real good they balance 70 percent classic rock and classic alternative and 30 percent classic Pop what does everyone think? Agree disagree?

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But as the Four Tops once sang..........."It's the Same Old Song".

oldies76 said:

But as the Four Tops once sang..........."It's the Same Old Song".

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But it has a different meaning once you're gone.

I left several years ago.

Actually, I think the market is at its most stable, programming-wise, in a few decades.

K.m. welcome back

Thanks, James. It's my understanding from talking with Lance and David and posts Scott (Fybush) have made that RD is going to have less tolerance for "fantasy" posts and people insisting they are correct when facts are presented to the contrary.

They wanted me back. I did not ask to be reinstated. Apparently my 50+ years' worth of knowledge about the industry is considered useful, and as long as there will no longer be tolerance for trying to start an argument with me I am happy to again participate.

The "new" RD policy is pretty much what I had privately advocated for in the first place.

And NO, I will not be a moderator. I have enough to do running The Eighties Channel™.

(Tongue firmly planted in cheek)
I think it's irritating that all LA radio stations don't play what I want when I want it. They have too many commercials. Too many chatty jocks, and the reception isn't as good as it should be at all locations I could be at in a given hour.

Careful, Kelly. Certain people will ignore that tongue-in-cheek and use your comment as "proof" that KRTH's library doesn't go back far enough ... 😝

As for "chatty jocks" I am sure there are people who wish we could bring back Robert W. Morgan, The Real Don Steele, Charlie Tuna and Jim Carson from the dead. I have heard morning jocks at Classic Hits stations these days -- in a number of markets -- who can talk for five minutes into a stopset and not actually say anything ...

K.M. Richards said:

Careful, Kelly. Certain people will ignore that tongue-in-cheek and use your comment as "proof" that KRTH's library doesn't go back far enough ... 😝

As for "chatty jocks" I am sure there are people who wish we could bring back Robert W. Morgan, The Real Don Steele, Charlie Tuna and Jim Carson from the dead. I have heard morning jocks at Classic Hits stations these days -- in a number of markets -- who can talk for five minutes into a stopset and not actually say anything ...

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What's missing is an understanding of the fact that from the 50's through the 80's people had few easy and inexpensive ways to have friends other than at school, work, or the neighborhood. Phone calls to the other side of town were toll calls. There was no "social media". No video calls at all.

So when you were alone, you had "your friend on the radio". There were even jingles that said that!

Now, I can chat instantly with friends in Buenos Aires or Milano just as easily as I can order a pizza. Heck, I can even do a video call where I can insert a backdrop that makes it appear that I am on a beach in Puerto Vallarta!

Being one's friend is not radio's job or role today.

DavidEduardo said:

What's missing is an understanding of the fact that from the 50's through the 80's people had few easy and inexpensive ways to have friends other than at school, work, or the neighborhood. Phone calls to the other side of town were toll calls. There was no "social media". No video calls at all.

So when you were alone, you had "your friend on the radio". There were even jingles that said that!

Now, I can chat instantly with friends in Buenos Aires or Milano just as easily as I can order a pizza. Heck, I can even do a video call where I can insert a backdrop that makes it appear that I am on a beach in Puerto Vallarta!

Being one's friend is not radio's job or role today.

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I don't mind today's radio being nothing more than an online julebox, but surely there is no harm in wishing that the jukebox be just a bit...better.

DavidEduardo said:

What's missing is an understanding of the fact that from the 50's through the 80's people had few easy and inexpensive ways to have friends other than at school, work, or the neighborhood.

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The other part of the DJ's job was to provide a connection to the artists at a time when there was no access to the people making the music. Jim Ladd lived the lifestyle and knew the artists. Same with Mary Turner. That was not an act. These days, the artists recognize the importance of the fan base, and speak to them directly. There's no need for an interpreter when you can get the real story from the artists themselves.

TheBigA said:

The other part of the DJ's job was to provide a connection to the artists at a time when there was no access to the people making the music. Jim Ladd lived the lifestyle and knew the artists. Same with Mary Turner. That was not an act. These days, the artists recognize the importance of the fan base, and speak to them directly. There's no need for an interpreter when you can get the real story from the artists themselves.

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But there were only a handful of DJs on a small number of larger market stations who had such access. In Toledo or Tampa or Tulsa or Tucson the talent did not have that access or the talent and skill to make contact. And 99% of the time on 99% of the stations in the U.S., there was no such contact and no such content.

I agree that, when such access can be had, it is powerful. At Emmis' Mega in Argentina, we had two or three times a week our "Megacoustics" (Megacousiticos) where a group or artist would stop by at 11 AM and do an "unplugged" 30 to 45 minutes in our live music studio. Because we set a requirement of "no new songs... only real hits" the show was great.

But that was the the #1 station in one of two or three largest markets in the Western Hemisphere, we could pull it off. But, in another market and case, even at the #1 station in LA, KLVE, visits by truly big artists were not common... maybe 6 to 10 a year. And, like that case, most stations can't even get a recorded promo liner from an artist, let alone a live interview.

DavidEduardo said:

But there were only a handful of DJs on a small number of larger market stations who had such access. In Toledo or Tampa or Tulsa or Tucson the talent did not have that access or the talent and skill to make contact.

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Correct, but a good personality could use public interviews and articles to come up with interesting tidbits. That was part of the talent. By the 80s, there were prep services that provided actual artist interviews to radio stations. These days, everybody can get everything they need from an artists' social media.

TheBigA said:

These days, everybody can get everything they need from an artists' social media.

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And so can the fans. So when a station does it "the next day" the real fans have already heard and seen it and think it is a ripoff. And those who are not big fans of the artist think it is pretentious.