Bay Area Radio Digest

Ken Dito To Join KTRB?

2009-07-01T14:30:00.000-07:00

Unconfirmed -- the I's haven't been crossed and the T's haven't been dotted yet -- but I've heard from a couple of people that Ken Dito will be heading to reconstructed Xtra Sports 860 (KTRB) as sports director and morning show host.

Dito (photo, right) had been reporting sports on the radio at KGO, and is a veteran of KNBR, KSFO and KYA.

No word yet on when the show will start, but Dito's potential presence on KTRB would certainly offer an alternative to KNBR's morning program.

KTRB continues its significant effort in going from third or fourth-tier (and, in some cases, fifth-tier) talk programming to a sports-oriented format, centered around Oakland A's baseball, Sporting News Radio and Ron Barr's Sports Byline USA.

PHOTO: Ken Dito, from the Bay Area Radio Museum Archives, courtesy of Ken Dito.

Dave McQueen Signs Off At KCBS Tonight

2009-06-26T07:05:00.000-07:00

Dave McQueen, one of the best newsmen we'll ever hear, retires after his late-night shift at All News KCBS (740/106.9) tonight. KCBS has been running a tribute piece by Mike Sugerman as their cover story today, and his friends and colleagues will hold a retirement party for him tonight.

McQueen (photo, right) came to the Bay Area forty years ago from Texas as the news anchor at KSAN during its nascent days as "The Jive 95." He had a deep, solid, authoritarian voice -- a "network voice" -- which belied his appearance: Dave McQueen was a full-on long-haired hippie.

He also worked at KFRC, KNEW, KKCY and KKSF. McQueen's last shift tonight (through early Saturday morning) has him on from 9 to 11 PM, then again from 2 to 5 AM, according to the KCBS program schedule.

UPDATE (6/27/2009 5 AM): As I fully expected, Dave McQueen -- who declined to be interviewed for Mike Sugerman's tribute piece -- signed off his final broadcast on KCBS in simple, by-the-book fashion: he mentioned the features that were coming up in the next hour, and then, after the top-of-the-hour time signal, he intoned "five o'clock."

The KCBS audio tribute to McQueen may be streamed at the station's website.

PHOTO SOURCE: Dave McQueen, circa 1973, from Jive95.com.

Karel Show Loses Energy

2009-06-25T09:27:00.000-07:00

As tipped by Rich "Big Vinny" Lieberman in his "City Brights" blog this morning, Karel has announced on his own website that he has been dropped from Energy 92.7's schedule.

Energy 92.7 has decided to not carry the Karel Show any longer. The reasons stated were financial reasons and the fact that it’s a new show and so as ratings tend to do they drop off at first and then rebuild. The building process isn’t happening fast enough for management so the money men (and women) said, stop.

According to Big Vinny's blog, Karel emailed him that the show will continue on Peter Laufer's KRXA (540 AM) in Monterey, and that "we are looking towards another station in [the Bay Area], perhaps Green 960 or such," to pick up the program.

Live 105: The Return Of "Yes/No" Radio

2009-06-17T06:40:00.000-07:00

The Chronicle's SFGate.com reports this morning that Live 105 (KITS 105.3 FM) will turn its 10 PM to midnight block on Sunday nights into "listener's choice" in conjunction with a San Mateo social media startup -- kind of like KLOK's old "Yes/No Radio" mashed up with Russ "The Moose" Syracuse's bombing runs on bad records back in the day on KYA

Jelli's website proclaims this to be "100% User-Controlled Radio. No Suits. No DJs. No Kidding."

(Brilliant! Remote-controlled radio! We've now got an app to replace the music director and the disc jockey -- just what radio needs these days! Wouldn't it be easier to tell your listeners to go out and buy an MP3 player and shut off the transmitters completely? Here's an idea: how about an app that replaces all the listeners that previously flocked to radio?)

The first iteration of "LiveJelli 105" rolls out on Sunday, June 28.

Excerpts from the article on SFGate:

Jelli Inc., which officially launches Wednesday, lets listeners vote up or down on a play list of songs streamed on its Web site, Jelli.net.

Songs chosen as "Rocks" get bumped up the list and will be chosen seconds before it actually streams. Songs marked as "Sucks" can get bombed off the list, even while it's playing.

UPDATE (10:45 AM): FMQB has more about this wonderful innovation that will revolutionize radio as we know it, including this nugget:

"We want to change the entire concept of what ‘traditional radio’ can be, via real-time web services, enabling new experiences, social web integrations and content possibilities," said Jateen Parekh, CTO and co-founder of Jelli. "Jelli helps traditional broadcasters convert active listeners into active web users, drive ratings and revenue, and access reporting about what their audience cares about."

UPDATE (3:30 PM): Man, is this thing getting coverage in the trades. By early afternoon, in addition to SFGate and FMQB, there have been detailed articles in Billboard Business News, CNET, Radio World, Streaming Magazine, Radio Online, Kurt Hanson's RAIN and Media Buyer Planner about this. Google News has updated links to all industry coverage on this topic.

Greg Jarrett To Wake Up In Chicago

2009-06-15T13:35:00.000-07:00

According to Crain's Chicago Business website, former KGO (810 AM) afternoon news anchor Greg Jarrett (photo, right) has landed a plum gig -- morning anchor at the legendary WGN (820 AM) in the Windy City:

WGN-AM has hired a San Francisco radio news veteran to host its morning rush-hour show and will move the program’s current host, John Williams, to the mid-morning slot that until last month was the home of the “Kathy and Judy” talk show.

There's more juicy details on the Chicago Tribune's website, which rates the selection of Jarrett as a "stunner":

Even more of a surprise is the selection of a complete outsider in Jarrett, who brings a newsman's sensibility to his work as host.

In his memo to staff announcing the moves, WGN Program Director Kevin Metheny described Jarrett's new morning show as "an information and services intensive morning broadcast with emphasis on usable news and information, leveraging the substantial resources of Tribune Co. newsgathering assets."

Jazz Format In Trouble At KCSM?

2009-06-11T23:10:00.000-07:00

KTVU (Channel 2) did a story this evening about venerable KCSM (91.1 FM) and its struggles to retain funding to keep its Jazz format on the air. (The video from Rita Williams' report is available on KTVU's website.)

The station will be holding a pair of benefit concerts at Yoshi's on Jack London Square in Oakland to help close the gap from its budget shortfall. The shows will take place at 8 PM and 10 PM on Tuesday, June 30.

In addition to its Jazz programming, KCSM and the College of San Mateo continues -- as it has for decades -- to develop an increasingly rare commodity: well-trained broadcasters.

More info about the benefit on the Yoshi's website.

The KCSM Jazz 91 website is at kcsm.org/jazz91.

Kava: High Level Cuts At KGO

2009-06-09T13:00:00.000-07:00

Just moments ago, Brad Kava blogged about rumored cuts at KGO (810 AM):

Weatherman Leo Ciolino is gone, apparently, as is assistant program director Trish Robbins and news director Paul Hosley. If you have information to confirm or deny, drop me a comment.

UPDATE (6/9/09 2 PM): Subsequent to BK's post, Rich "Big Vinny" Lieberman has blogged on SFGate.com that he spoke with Trish Robbins, who confirmed that she has been terminated. Rich also notes that Paul Hosley's role will be covered by KSFO program director Ken Berry.

KCBS Heads To San Jose For A Day

2009-06-08T15:10:00.000-07:00

This Thursday (June 11), All News KCBS returns to its ancestral roots for one afternoon as it sends morning co-anchor Stan Bunger (photo, right) and midday co-anchor Rebecca Corral to the approximate spot that the station originally broadcast from a century ago.

Bunger and Corral will anchor the KCBS (740 AM and 106.9 FM) noon newscast from Fairmont Plaza in San Jose, once the site of the Garden City Bank Building, where Prof. Charles D. Herrold developed the world's first broadcasting station in the late 1900s.

When the government began licensing stations for commercial broadcasting in 1921, Herrold's pioneering station became KQW. A migration to San Francisco began in 1942 with the opening of studios at the Palace Hotel, along with becoming CBS' key affiliate in the Bay Area.

In April 1949, the station was purchased by CBS, at which time it adopted the KCBS call letters. The station's transmitter remained in the Southbay, near Alviso, until moving to Novato in August 1951.

(For more on the history of KQW and Doc Herrold, check out the Bay Area Radio Museum's website.)

Thursday's live broadcast is open to the public, and will include giveaways of snappy KCBS centennial T-shirts (got one; love it) and passes to view an exhibit of Doc Herrold memorabilia at the nearby Tech Museum of Innovation.

KTRB Files For New Daytime Site

2009-06-05T07:05:00.000-07:00

Pappas Radio's KTRB (860 AM), which has been operating with a directional 50,000-watt signal from the Livermore hills for the past few years, has filed an application with the FCC to move its daytime transmitter to the Hayward shoreline, where it would transmit a non-directional signal.

The move, if approved, should provide KTRB with one of the strongest AM signals in the Bay Area. Only KNBR (680 AM) operates a fulltime 50,000-watt non-directional signal in the Bay Area; KTRB would have a comparably equal signal from local sunrise to sunset.

Other 50,000-watt AM stations in the Bay Area, including KCBS and KGO, operate with directional signals, which limit their coverage in some parts of the region.

KTRB's new location in Hayward would have them sharing the existing KFAX (1100 AM) transmitter site. KTRB's signal would be transmitted through KFAX's current tower #3.

KFAX is owned by Salem Communications, which also operates KDOW (1220 AM), which has been working towards a power increase of its own for several years.

At nighttime, KTRB -- which re-branded itself as "Xtra Sports 860" recently -- would continue to broadcast with a directional 50kw signal from the Livermore site.

The technical exhibit, with all the details, may be reviewed on the FCC website.

San Jose's KLOK Sent To Principle's Office

2009-05-20T17:00:00.000-07:00

Radio-Info.com is reporting that Univision's KLOK (1170 AM) in San Jose has been sold to Principle Broadcasting, a New York-based outfit that specializes in "ethnic and other niche radio plays":

Principle, run by President/CEO Bill Saurer, is paying $7,650,000 for the facility, which has 50-kw days and 5-kw nights. Univision will retain the current "Radio Cadena" news/talk format and move it to the HD-2 signal of its "Recuerdo" KBRG-FM (100.3).

Last November, Your Intrepid Reporter had blahhhhged that KLOK's expected sale was to Salem Communications (owners of KFAX and KDOW here). Wrong? You betcha.

UPDATE (6/5/2009): Here's your coat and hat, what's your hurry? A quick twist of the wrist finds that Principle has already taken over KLOK's programming. At this moment, there is some truly swingin' South Asian music rockin' the 1170 airwaves...

Smooth Jazz Splits KKSF For "The Band"

2009-05-18T21:05:00.000-07:00

'Round about 3 PM today, legacy Smooth Jazz KKSF (103.7 FM) made a quick transition to a Classic Rock-ish format, rebranding the Clear Channel-owned station as "103.7 The Band."

On The Band's new website, a welcoming blurb purports:

103.7 The Band has been designed around the rich heritage of the San Francisco music scene. A time and place where music was filled with passion and reflected the ideals of a generation.

So far, the music -- being run jockless -- is a fairly standard mix of classic rock chestnuts (think 98.5 K-Fox without Greg Kihn) (yet) ... but also without hardly any of the "rich heritage" of actual San Francisco music.

But it's a new station. Let's wait'n'see.

Meanwhile, it's so long to KKSF and its talented troupe of tonsils, including Maria Lopez and Miranda Wilson. KKSF had been one of the earliest adopters of the Smooth Jazz genre, beginning its run in the Summer of 1987.

UPDATE (6/4/2009): The original KKSF website, complete with more than 6,000 irate comments (as of now) from displaced listeners, has been updated to note that the music -- now bird-beamed from the Smooth Jazz Network -- has been moved to 98.1 Kiss FM's HD-2 side channel, and is also streamed online at KKSF.com.

In addition, comments on KKSF.com by program director Michael Erickson note that:

"...beginning this Sunday June 8th, (and every Sunday) from 8am to 10am you can listen to 'Smooth Jazz Weekend' on 98.1 KISS FM. (regular FM radio) This two hour show features the same great Smooth Jazz music you are used to listening to, plus interviews with some of your favorite artists. ... No, this is not supposed to be a replacement for KKSF, just a way to keep Smooth Jazz on the airwaves, and to support the music and artists in the Bay Area."

RIP: Brian James

2009-03-07T16:25:00.000-08:00

You probably don't recognize his name, let alone his face, but Brian James (photo, right) wasn't in the business for his name or face value. Brian James was, simply, one of the most popular voice imaging guys in the industry, heard on hundreds of radio and television stations, and countless commercials.

Word came today that Brian James has passed away at the ripe young age of only 48. The reported cause was a heart attack.

How good was he? In the Bay Area, he was the imaging voice at two major stations, KFRC (106.9 FM) and KNBR (680 AM) -- at the same time. According to his website, James was also the imaging voice at KIIS/Los Angeles, Z100/New York, Capital Radio/London, WSIX/Nashville, WFLA/Tampa and WLW/Cincinnati, among many others.

He was also widely heard on VH-1 and the entertainment gossip show "Extra," as well as numerous commercials and promotional bits.

On KNBR, his voice is currently heard on those ubiquitous imaging liners, such "Don't be a playa-hata ... You're rolling with Gary Radnich on KNBR."

More at Radio & Records...

JV's Back ... Is Karel Next?

2009-02-24T07:30:00.000-08:00

A post on the ba.broadcast Usenet group, picked up by the respected San Francisco Peninsula Press Club, predicts that Karel will be returning to the local airwaves soon -- perhaps as early as next week.

The ba.broadcast post reads:

Well it's official. Karel is going to be a syndicated on Energy 92.7 FM and KRXA 540 AM. The show airs Monday through Thursday from 9PM-12AM. Good to see Karel is back on the air.

Karel was fired by KGO (810 AM), along with his board op, back in November after his expletive-laden comments about a fictional plumber made it onto the airwaves.

Now, Karel has a "countdown clock" on his website, leading to next Monday (March 2).

What is it about KGO and ex-KGOers and dagnabbed countdown clocks?

Dots & Dashes (Nov. 18 Edition)

2008-11-18T22:45:00.000-08:00

A few quick hits...

* All News KCBS (740 AM and on 106.9 FM, as they say) switched to a new, fresher "sounder" package today, obviously intended to brighten up the sound of the presentation on the FM side. The new package is close to the previous set, but with a livelier, more "techno"-ish feel.

The new sounders are heard leading into various news segments (sports, traffic, weather, business, etc.) on KCBS.

* Deposed KGO Newstalk 810 (and FM Don't Get Me Started) weekend performer Karel will be back in San Francisco at the Nikko Hotel's Rrazz Room (222 Mason St.) on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m. for a stand-up gig appropriately titled "Karel Stands Up."

Mo' info at Mr. Bouley's utterly fabulous website, www.RadioKRL.com.

* Speaking of KGO, heartiest congratulations to the almighty Ronn Owens, who celebrates his 40th anniversary on the air (including stops in Philadelphia, Miami, Cleveland and Atlanta) this Friday, Nov. 21. Here's a tip of the cap to you, Ronn, for four decades of greatness, and a wish for many more years (if not decades) of outstanding entertainment on the air.

"Skyrocker" Post Disappears Into The Ether...

2008-11-10T22:20:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend, an exceedingly interesting post by one of my favorite radio people (writing under the nom de tableau "Skyrocker") appeared on one of my favorite radio boards.

Unfortunately, Skyrocker's comments apparently violated the rules of that board, and it was deleted, along with all links and replies, as if it never existed.

Since I ain't got no such rules, and since I asked Skyrocker politely, what follows is his original post:

My Story Is Your Story.

I have worked in this radio broadcasting swirl for decades -- maybe too long. More than that, I love it. Consequently, I feel more at home in radio as I do in my own skin.

Early on (we all seem to live by decisions made by our teenaged selves) I chose an all-California career path, informed from several years hitch-hiking across the USA, which was my personal Right Of Passage.

I was too late for a ride with Huck & Tom on their raft, so I made use of Route 66 and our nation's hiway system to get a good up-close look at our country's diverse regions. And quite an earful of our differences in audio preferences. Like its listeners, each radio station was different.

Way different.

Fortune was on my side in that I met "guides and spirits all along the way," in the form of weathered jocks, insightful program directors and great characters. Within my chosen state, I made my way up through the various California markets -- from the Monterey Peninsula, through small towns (Pittsburg, Fresno), medium markets (San Diego) and into San Francisco and L.A., learning and improving as I went.

I realized my voice wasn't as deeply textured as many of my contemporaries, so I learned to work it. I studied timing, phrasing, inflections -- not from any licensed schools, but from the masters themselves; in other words, like you, I watched a lot of TV. And, just like you, I learned.

I became intricately connected with the sound image of each station that brought me into play. They all had their own jingles, some their own production packages, or, when there was no budget, great shelves full of movie and instrumental music. I learned to use a razor and splice the music to fit my vision. I discovered images in my mind that mirrored the sound I was working with and brought them into my work.

Once, in the 70s, I wrote a magazine article about radio production ("Imaginative Radio Production," Broadcast Programming & Production, Oct. 1975), featuring cartoons I drew to illustrate my points. Many years later, as computers entered our lives, imagine my amazement when I saw these exact same images on the screens of wave editors. Ooh.

These days, broadcasting is going through a dark period. The bottom line has always been about profit, but NEVER BEFORE at the expense of the product. Once, one simply wouldn't allow themselves any vulnerability in the commercial marketplace. Apparently, not now. There seems to be an unquestioned assumption that the audience will always be there, no matter what.

No matter that their listeners are finding other outlets in which to listen, investing in MP3 Players, whereas the radio just came free with the car. Pay no attention to listeners who all now have computers that play music from either online or a collection on their hard drive. No matter that former radio hot-shot programmers are now designing channel after channel of mostly commercial-free music on satellite radio. No matter that, any day now, shareholders are going to be demanding to know where the listeners are and who's responsible.

Bad news.

And good news: This means that I can out program practically any radio station in the USA. I've worked with the best, radio geniuses that are simply no longer available. I have understood not only their visions but that which the listeners could percieve as such while being entertained. Compellingly.

Now, I, with a small cadre of pro friends, are willing to take on a very few projects. We don't need the money -- by now we've proved everything we needed to prove - to ourselves (hell, I don't even put anything on my web site other than an email and telephone number anymore: www.bobbyocean.net) -- we just love this stuff and we do it well. There's a lot of satisfaction in that.

And we play it to win. We think that'll impress the shareholders, too. Interested, call and learn more. It's not the budget buster you may fear, but it won't be inexpensive. Winning never is.
Just a couple stations, though.

Then - door closed.

More Osh things:

* The Bobby Ocean Sunday Radio Cartoon

* Bobby Ocean In The 93/KHJ Boss Blog

Image: Bobby Ocean by Bobby Ocean (2008), by courtesy of Bobby Ocean.

Rumor: Salem Buying KLOK/1170?

2008-11-09T08:05:00.000-08:00

The rumor being bandied about last night in the high-altitude press box at HP Pavilion in San Jose was that KLOK/1170 has been/is on the verge of/might be sold to Salem Communications by Univision.

From there, the scenarios started being thrown about: perhaps Salem would either (a) move the KDOW/1220 programming to 1170 and put the KLOK programming on 1220; or (b) abandon the plan to build a new transmitter plant for 1220 in Hayward and diplex both KLOK and KDOW off the same 1170 towers on South King Road in San Jose, which seems like a more NIMBY-proof way of doing things.

All of this is, of course, rumor and speculation, as far as I can figure at this point.

The San Jose Fighting Sharks, by the way, defeated the Dallas Stars on a last-minute slam dunk by Patrick Marleau, and are easily the best, most talented and most exciting sports team in the Bay Area in many years — the perfect tonic for those of us disenchanted by the moribund Raiders and 49ers.

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Hello, Eye! Calling All Idiots...

2008-11-02T17:05:00.000-08:00

Great news this afternoon from the great M. Dung, who announced (by way of Radio-Info.com) that he's returning to the airwaves with his popular Sunday Night Idiot Show, after a brief hiatus.

...Okay, it's actually been sixteen looooong years.

The return of The Idiot Show comes in two weeks, on November 16 from 6 to 8 p.m., on K-You Radio (KYCY 1550 AM), a station which Dungboy incorrectly notes "no one listens to!"

(Not true, M! To quote the legendary Bob Falfa, "I ain't nobody, dork.")

The show will also be streamed online on the K-You Radio website.

According to Dung, The Idiot Show -- once a staple of KFOG's lineup -- was last heard on reg'lar radio in these parts back in 1992, when it was broadcast by the old Double 99 FM (98.9 KDBK).

An Hour Of Fear & War Of The Worlds...

2008-10-31T14:26:00.000-07:00

From the great Norman Davis (www.radiothrills.com), formerly of KYA, KSFO, KSAN, KMPX, et al., comes word of a programming note:

Norman Davis' special tongue-in-cheek program for Halloween, "The Hour of Fear," will air tonight (Oct. 31) at 9 p.m. on KYOU Radio 1550, San Francisco. Also available as a download after airtime at www.kyou.com.

Sidebar: Largely unnoticed went the 70th anniversary yesterday of the infamous "War of the Worlds" Halloween broadcast by Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre On The Air, which took place on Oct. 30, 1938.

If you haven't experienced James Gabbert's 1964 Bay Area-ized version of "War of the Worlds," I invite you to turn down the lights tonight and enjoy:

http://www.sfradiomuseum.com/audio/kpen/

(Scroll down to "1964" to launch the audio.)

"Countdown Clock" On New KGOFM.com

2008-10-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

This morning, a linked line of text reading "Countdown Clock by Zoodu.com" has appeared on the brand-new KGOFM.com website ... but nothing happens.

As the website loads, it shows that it is trying to pull a file from http://mailhost.citcomm-sf.com/pics ... but nothing happens.

The corporate parent website for KGO (radio 810 AM, not TV Channel 7) shows something unusual, though.

...But wait a second!

Because the KGOFM.com page is trying to drag some Flash code from the Zoodu.com website, and since it isn't connecting, the KGOFM.com front page isn't loading correctly (at least for me).

But if you pop open the source code for KGOFM.com's front page, you find this in the HTML:

It begins

[ZOODU COUNTDOWN CLOCK CODE]

Tune into AM 810 to learn about the future

Three-and-a-half hours and counting...

UPDATE (9 a.m.): Br'er Rabbit, we've been had...

No FM simulcast. No new 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. host.

MEDIA ADVISORY

MADAM SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI THROWS SWITCH:
KGO NEWSTALK AM 810 GOES SOLAR
LIVE FROM THE RONN OWENS SHOW

WHAT: KGO Newstalk AM 810 will be the first commercial major broadcast media outlet in California to reach its listeners by harnessing the power of the sun and reducing its use of the power grid. In partnership with PG&E and SolFocus, KGO will unveil its new state-of- the-art solar power system during the Ronn Owens Show with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi this Thursday, October 30. The system will generate clean, renewable energy, marking the first of many new green initiatives by KGO Radio.

WHY: KGO takes leadership in making eco-friendly business practices “the norm” through promoting public awareness about the benefits of renewable energy and sustainable practices. KGO Radio’s website [kgoradio.com] is featuring photos and blog updates that will allow the public to learn more about solar power. In addition, the station will be conducting a Bay Area-wide search for a student reporter who in 2009 will report on green initiatives in his/her school through KGO Radio’s “Making the Grade Green Program.”

UPDATED UPDATE: Although it may change down the line, here's what the KGOFM.com website looked like post-announcement...

Thanks for playing, indeed.

KGO Hints At Big Announcement

2008-10-28T07:03:00.000-07:00

Newstalk behemoth KGO (810 AM) is promoing that they'll have an "illuminating" announcement coming up on 10/30 (this Thursday) at 10:30...

Speculation in the ba.broadcast Usenet group (in threads here and here) has run to the naming of a new 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. host on the station, such as Alex Bennett (doubtful) (I think).

Christine Craft, posting in ba.broadcast, noted "Engineers (were) building a new studio where the old Dean Edell studio used to be ... All seemed hush/hush when I worked all last week."

Could the "103" in 10:30 and 10/30 refer to an FM dial position ... 103.7? 102.9? Is there a chance that Citadel could buy or LMA either KKSF (from Clear Channel) or KBLX (from Inner City)? Perhaps another FM signal can be lassoed, such as KNGY (92.7), KCNL (104.9), KRTY (95.3) or Stockton's KSTN-FM (107.3, which actually covers a lot of the Bay Area).

A WHOIS search shows that Citadel/KGO has registered KGOFM.com, just a few days ago:

Domain Name: KGOFM.COM
Created on: 24-OCT-08
Expires on: 24-OCT-09
Last Updated on: 25-OCT-08

Administrative Contact:
webmaster, FM engineering@abc-sf.com
Citadel Communications
900 Front Street
San Francisco, Ca 94111
US
415-954-8100
415 398-5995

Technical Contact:
Berry, Ken engineering@abc-sf.com
ABC Radio
900 Front Street
San Francisco, Ca 94111
US
415 954-8100

Comments? Go here...

It's 7:40 AM. Do You Know Where Your News Is?

2008-10-27T08:10:00.000-07:00

Rather anticlimactic, the crossover this morning to the KCBS simulcast on AM 'n' FM...

Journey ("Don't Stop Believing," rather than "Lights," which I thought would be more of a nod to the old KFRC), some stunt-ish stuff (news timeline audio clips, reminding me of the stunting used before 106.9 became Free FM), then Stan Bunger spake "Well, welcome to FM 106-9, and let's get back to doing what we do here at KCBS."

A time check (7:41), over to Susan Leigh-Taylor and, just like that, we now have a KCBS news simulcast at 740 AM and 106.9 FM.

The top of hour ID?

"What's happening, and why. KCBS AM and HD, KFRC-FM and HD-1, San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose."

KFRC "Farewell Show"? Not...

2008-10-22T08:34:00.000-07:00

The Classic Hits KFRC "Farewell Show" that was hinted at in the SFPPC blog the other day ain't going to happen.

I just heard from the lovely and talented Celeste Perry, who said (among other things):

Just read a post on the blog about Dave, Sue and I doing a farewell show at KFRC. Not true. We recorded little goodbye promos after we were unceremoniously laid off on Monday morning.

"Farewell Show" For KFRC's Sholin, Perry?

2008-10-21T07:30:00.000-07:00

The terrific S.F. Peninsula Press Club blog reports that the Classic Hits KFRC crew will return to wrap things up this week:

KFRC's Dave Sholin, Celeste Perry and Sue Hall have been let go, but they will return this week (we don't know when) to do a farewell show.

There's also an interesting snippet of conversation from the company meeting that is reprinted in the SFPPC blog.

CBS is also in the process of putting in a booster in Pleasanton to increase 106.9's coverage in the Tri-Valley area. Right now, when driving, the station's signal begins to decay as you head east on 580 past Hopyard and Hacienda.

Of course, KCBS' signal is loud, strong and clear all the way out into the Valley on 740 AM, so I'm not certain why this is an issue now.

Hello, Goodbye: KFRC Dies Again

2008-10-20T14:39:00.000-07:00

Not much more to say beyond what Ben Fong-Torres broke in this email blast to a few friends this afternoon:

"We expect this music to live forever..."

Just heard that liner on KFRC ... it's 1:47, and -- I'm sure you've heard -- KFRC is just about gone.

If you haven't heard: CBS Radio just announced that KFRC is being replaced with the programming on KCBS; at a meeting this morning, KFRC staffers were told the station is over as of today. Since then, it's been just music, liners & commercials. Dave Sholin, Celeste Perry, Sue Hall, Jay Coffey, Dean Goss (fill-in/weekender)-- all gone.

CBS is saying they'll keep the KFRC call letters on FM and run KFRC music online and on the HD-2 channel linked to 106.9. Up to now, it'd been the opposite. KFRC was on HD-1, KCBS on HD-2.

I'm sure you both know who to call for details. I'm running just a tiny item in my next col. (still nearly 2 weeks away), bec. of coverage of the radio hall of fame inductions...

Oh -- needless to say, my show, Backstage, is out the rear door. 52 shows, 100 or so hours (there were some repeats); absolute fun.

That's what radio is: fun and heartaches.

cheers,
ben

Damn. I had just commented to Ben about what a great show "Backstage" is (was). This past weekend's program was phenomenal. How can you beat Leo Sayer doing karaoke to his own "When I Need You" in your living room?

It's funny how much I listened to KFRC this past weekend, digging my old buddy John Mack Flanagan doing the Beatles shows, and Big Tom Parker playing back-to-back hits.

Oh, well. If you need a good 1960s Oldies fix, give a listen to the radio museum's Classic KYA. Since old-fashioned radio is being killed off by its caretakers, you might as well invest in a WiFi set and join the future.

Radio is dead. Long live radio.

Comments? Get on board at Radio-Info.com.

Dave Morey Bidding KFOG Adieu

2008-10-17T10:17:00.000-07:00

So I'm off listening to KNBR's Gary Radnich this morning (still smarting from a sassy email gone wrong yesterday) when The Great Radu mentions in passing that the great Dave Morey is retiring from Cumulus sister-station KFOG (104.5 FM).

Hustling over to KFOG, we learn that Morey's retirement isn't immediate -- he'll hold down the morning shift until December 19, then head off to Michigan. (Strange ... most Michiganders do just the opposite, it seems, as you'll witness at any Sharks, Warriors or A's game.)

On KFOG's website, the terribly underrated Morey blogged:

To: All
From: Me
Re: The Master Plan.

It is time to announce my retirement … EVEN THOUGH I AM NOT THAT OLD.

My decision.

Last show for KFOG will be Friday, December 19th.

Here’s the deal:I’ve been thinking about this for a couple years. Thanks to excellent planning and despite global collapse of the financial industry, I will be able to realize a dream I’ve had for a long time.

I’m leaving the Bay Area – returning to Michigan. It’s hard to explain to someone who’s not from there so I won’t even try. I think y’all know how I feel about the Midwest.

Dave Morey has spent 26 years on the air in the Bay Area, beginning at KSFX before crossing over to KFOG. He will continue to host the popular "10 at 10" daily feature by long distance following his retirement.

More details in Dave's blog at http://tinyurl.com/morey-kfog

UPDATE: Ben Fong-Torres' "Radio Waves" column in Sunday's Datebook is awash in Morey minutia. Somebody got the advance scoop!