"Big Announcement" Regarding John and Ken on Monday

[Yabadabado1]

That picture has to be at least a decade old.

That's not so bad. Here's the one a station used of me when I was first starting out:

 

[michael hagerty]

It was Top 40 during that period, because I listened to it. (Funny, that I have absolutely no recollection of the station being country other than the later Gentle Country format.)

You may have perceived it as Top 40, but KGBS did not consider itself that. I was wrong in an earlier post when I said "adult contemporary" wasn't really in use, because that's the phrase KGBS used to describe its format to Billboard in the November 9, 1968 issue---saying it was trying to "bridge the gap between KMPC and KHJ."

In the April 12, 1969 issue, the PD talks about strengthening his position against KLAC and KFI, both of which were doing an uptempo MOR.

In 1970, Ken Draper was hired as a consultant to focus on adult female listeners---an outgrowth of that was Bill Ballance's "Feminine Forum".

KGBS wasn't a typical AC, as they played some harder records, but they also were on much softer records that weren't going anywhere near the Top 40, and played way too many stiffs to be a legitimate competitor to KHJ and KRLA. What they were was a contemporary music station aimed at the people---especially females---who had been KFWB listeners a decade before.

Its worth mentioning that KGBS was the "infamous" station in LA that edited out "Christ" from the chorus of "The Ballad of John and Yoko". It seemed absurd. Was the Storer company run by particularly religious folks?

No, but neither was the RKO chain, which refused to play the record entirely. It never aired on KHJ. Radio resistance based on what at the time was widely considered blasphemy, is why "The Ballad of John and Yoko" peaked at #8, the worst performance by a Beatles' single since "Matchbox" in 1964.

 

[Robert Douglas]

It was Top 40 during that period, because I listened to it. (Funny, that I have absolutely no recollection of the station being country other than the later Gentle Country format.) Its worth mentioning that KGBS was the "infamous" station in LA that edited out "Christ" from the chorus of "The Ballad of John and Yoko". It seemed absurd. Was the Storer company run by particularly religious folks?

In the early 60s when I thought of Country radio it was really just KFOX 1280 (if you could hear it) or KWOW 1600 (really hard to hear) and finally KIEV 870 in between their blocks of paid programming.

At some point, maybe late 60s, I remember clearly that my car had five presets, all country. KLAC 570, KIEV 870, KGBS 1020, KFOX 1280, KWOW 1600. Kind of like here in San Antonio today: The Bull 93.3, KAJA 97.3, KCYY 100.3, KKYX 104.9, KGNB 1420, KWED 1580. But, the other set of 6 presets is all spanish!

 

[michael hagerty]

At some point, maybe late 60s, I remember clearly that my car had five presets, all country. KLAC 570, KIEV 870, KGBS 1020, KFOX 1280, KWOW 1600.

Memories are funny things.

KLAC didn't go country until September 28, 1970.

And it couldn't have been then, or right after, because KGBS dumped Country two years earlier and didn't go back to it until October of 1974.

Trouble was, in 1973, KIEV dumped Country, as did KWOW.

The late 60s (before fall of '68) makes sense because four of those five you remember---KIEV, KGBS, KFOX and KWOW---were all country. But not KLAC.

 

[TomásEstefan]

You may have perceived it as Top 40, but KGBS did not consider itself that. I was wrong in an earlier post when I said "adult contemporary" wasn't really in use, because that's the phrase KGBS used to describe its format to Billboard in the November 9, 1968 issue---saying it was trying to "bridge the gap between KMPC and KHJ."

In the April 12, 1969 issue, the PD talks about strengthening his position against KLAC and KFI, both of which were doing an uptempo MOR.

In 1970, Ken Draper was hired as a consultant to focus on adult female listeners---an outgrowth of that was Bill Ballance's "Feminine Forum".

KGBS wasn't a typical AC, as they played some harder records, but they also were on much softer records that weren't going anywhere near the Top 40, and played way too many stiffs to be a legitimate competitor to KHJ and KRLA. What they were was a contemporary music station aimed at the people---especially females---who had been KFWB listeners a decade before.



No, but neither was the RKO chain, which refused to play the record entirely. It never aired on KHJ. Radio resistance based on what at the time was widely considered blasphemy, is why "The Ballad of John and Yoko" peaked at #8, the worst performance by a Beatles' single since "Matchbox" in 1964.

Thanks for the info Michael, I was totally unaware that KHJ didn't play the record (probably because I rarely listened to KHJ). I was a "KRLA" type of listener. I wonder if KGB (1360) played the tune, they were Drake programmed but I don't think they were owned by RKO.

 

[michael hagerty]

Thanks for the info Michael, I was totally unaware that KHJ didn't play the record (probably because I rarely listened to KHJ). I was a "KRLA" type of listener. I wonder if KGB (1360) played the tune, they were Drake programmed but I don't think they were owned by RKO.

I said RKO, but there wasn't a Drake station (which included Gene Chenault's KYNO and Willet Brown's KGB) that played "Ballad of John & Yoko".

And they weren't alone. More than 100 Top 40 stations in the U.S. refused to play it.

In larger, more liberal markets with two Top 40 stations, the competition often did play it---KRLA did, as did KYA in San Francisco (since KFRC did not).

I can't tell whether KCBQ did because there's a gap in their surveys, but San Diego is and was pretty conservative for a major California city, so it wouldn't surprise me if they passed.

 

[CTListener]

I said RKO, but there wasn't a Drake station (which included Gene Chenault's KYNO and Willet Brown's KGB) that played "Ballad of John & Yoko".

And they weren't alone. More than 100 Top 40 stations in the U.S. refused to play it.

In larger, more liberal markets with two Top 40 stations, the competition often did play it---KRLA did, as did KYA in San Francisco (since KFRC did not).

I know it was played in Boston, and since I listened to WRKO a lot back then, very seldom to rival WMEX, I would have bet anything that I heard it on WRKO. But I guess I must have heard it either on 'MEX or on WBCN, the album rock station. Are you sure that RKO didn't carve out an exception for Boston, a liberal market?

 

[michael hagerty]

I know it was played in Boston, and since I listened to WRKO a lot back then, very seldom to rival WMEX, I would have bet anything that I heard it on WRKO. But I guess I must have heard it either on 'MEX or on WBCN, the album rock station. Are you sure that RKO didn't carve out an exception for Boston, a liberal market?

Liberal, but overwhelmingly Catholic---especially in 1969.

In fact, Van Dyke has told me that a decade later, when he was programming WRKO, the Archbishop's office would call to complain about content.

WRKO did not play it. There's too big a gap in WMEX playlists to tell.

I think we all forget how many radio stations we listened to back in the day. For me, at that particular time, KFI, KMPC, KHJ, KGBS, KRLA, KGFJ, KGIL, KDAY, KABC-FM, KMET and KHJ-FM.

I heard "Ballad of John & Yoko" on KRLA, KABC-FM and KMET.

 

[TomásEstefan]

I said RKO, but there wasn't a Drake station (which included Gene Chenault's KYNO and Willet Brown's KGB) that played "Ballad of John & Yoko".

And they weren't alone. More than 100 Top 40 stations in the U.S. refused to play it.

In larger, more liberal markets with two Top 40 stations, the competition often did play it---KRLA did, as did KYA in San Francisco (since KFRC did not).

I can't tell whether KCBQ did because there's a gap in their surveys, but San Diego is and was pretty conservative for a major California city, so it wouldn't surprise me if they passed.

I was wondering if KCBQ did, because I didn't spend a lot of time there at that point in time to know.

 

[TomásEstefan]

Liberal, but overwhelmingly Catholic---especially in 1969.

In fact, Van Dyke has told me that a decade later, when he was programming WRKO, the Archbishop's office would call to complain about content.

WRKO did not play it. There's too big a gap in WMEX playlists to tell.

I think we all forget how many radio stations we listened to back in the day. For me, at that particular time, KFI, KMPC, KHJ, KGBS, KRLA, KGFJ, KGIL, KDAY, KABC-FM, KMET and KHJ-FM.

I heard "Ballad of John & Yoko" on KRLA, KABC-FM and KMET.

I listened to all of those stations too, and I particularly miss the late Lucky Pierre (Gonneau) when he was on KGFJ, weak as the signal was in my area.

 

[CTListener]

This particular rabbit hole is dangerously close to black hole status, as everyone who wasn't alive or listening to Top 40 radio in 1969 asks whether such-and-such a station in such-and-such a city played this one Beatles song.

 

[michael hagerty]

This particular rabbit hole is dangerously close to black hole status, as everyone who wasn't alive or listening to Top 40 radio in 1969 asks whether such-and-such a station in such-and-such a city played this one Beatles song.

Hey, you asked about WRKO...

 

[hotpatrick2004]

I think John is the much more entertaining one than ken. Ken is fine solo but not as fun. I love johns raw anger about everything

 

[radiofan2023]

I think John is the much more entertaining one than ken. Ken is fine solo but not as fun. I love johns raw anger about everything

It’s probably performative

 

[ChannelFlipper]

I think John is the much more entertaining one than ken. Ken is fine solo but not as fun. I love johns raw anger about everything

His anger (and perhaps lack of anger management skills) plus some radio talent has served him very well, at least career-wise.

 

[hotpatrick2004]

His anger (and perhaps lack of anger management skills) plus some radio talent has served him very well, at least career-wise.

I remember when John was flying solo labor day 2006 and John Ziegler had his show at 7 then and he brought Ziegler on and the Iraq war came up and Ziegler said kobylt has his head up his a##. That was the beginning of the end for Ziegler. John and Ken don't care for Ziegler. That was pretty entertaining.

 

[ChannelFlipper]

I remember when John was flying solo labor day 2006 and John Ziegler had his show at 7 then and he brought Ziegler on and the Iraq war came up and Ziegler said kobylt has his head up his a##. That was the beginning of the end for Ziegler. John and Ken don't care for Ziegler. That was pretty entertaining.

You are correct. Ziegler probably could have survived the episode, but he had a unique way of consistently agitating co-workers and employers everywhere he went, especially after that.

Too bad, I always found him to be quite entertaining and a good host, but to get ahead in this world, people skills are most important, and Ziegler didn't seem to have very many.

 

[DavidEduardo]

You are correct. Ziegler probably could have survived the episode, but he had a unique way of consistently agitating co-workers and employers everywhere he went, especially after that.

Too bad, I always found him to be quite entertaining and a good host, but to get ahead in this world, people skills are most important, and Ziegler didn't seem to have very many.

Keep in mind that program directors of talk stations like conflict within the air staff... as long as it is controlled and under the supervision of the PDs.

I've programmed talk in markets like Miami, LA, New York, Chicago as well as Santo Domingo, San Juan, Quito, Buenos Aires and others and I encourage staff to take different perspectives. On occasion, I've had "the great debate" between two "feuding" staff members and did broadcasts from arenas or auditoriums. It gets listeners personally involved with the station, much in the way that sports teams do!

 

[hotpatrick2004]

Seems like if you cross certain people at stations your time is ticking look what happened w Jamie White when Bill handel in 06 brought his kids to work and they were bothering Jamie White. Bill handel wasn't happy how she handled it pardon the pun and he goes on air on star 98.7 and says you get loser numbers etc...So your right both were drama over the air. Unplanned drama.

I don't believe Ziegler even does talk radio. I remember when he lost his show on 870 the answer which he paid for he blamed trump when it went away. Ziegler doesn't at least not back then take responsibility for his actions.

I remember when in 2012 john and ken got in troubles for his remarks bout Whitney Houston. So drama sells!!! Whoda thunk???

 

[Robert Douglas]

Memories are funny things.

KLAC didn't go country until September 28, 1970.

And it couldn't have been then, or right after, because KGBS dumped Country two years earlier and didn't go back to it until October of 1974.

Trouble was, in 1973, KIEV dumped Country, as did KWOW.

The late 60s (before fall of '68) makes sense because four of those five you remember---KIEV, KGBS, KFOX and KWOW---were all country. But not KLAC.

I'm sure you're correct Michael. Maybe the fifth LA country station in 1968 was KBBQ 1500? Or were they still Top 40 KBLA? What a weird signal that was - AM on Verdugo mountain top! How does the ground conduction work in that case?

Also, when I finally got FM in the car, KFOX FM on 100.3 from Mulholland was way stronger throughout the area than 1280 AM.