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Radio Wires (June 1, 2002)North County Times "San Diego Radio Static" - Randy Dotinga102.1 Sets Sail For a New Course (the page was updated a few days late). ...it's too early to tell if the well-publicized "rebranding" of North County radio station Sets 102 will do anything to improve its fortunes, especially when it seems that little other than its name ---- at least for now ---- is much different. The presto-change-o came last Friday at 3 p.m., a couple of days after the honchos at Sets 102 alerted the media to watch for a big announcement. The station's call letters (KXST-FM, rather uninspiring) and its nickname (Sets 102, ditto) went bye-bye, making way for KPRI-FM. Natives and longtime residents of San Diego County ---- all three of you ---- may remember KPRI's first incarnation, which lasted from 1968 to the early 1980s (actually, January 1984 to be precise, Randy). While it went through a few formats, the station at 106.5 FM was known for much of its history as a place where programmers were brave enough to experiment and treat the music with respect. Rock writer Cameron Crowe even paid tribute to the station in his movie "Almost Famous." If you saw the film, which was partially shot in San Diego, you'll remember the young William Miller character visiting a studio where he meets famed rock critic Lester Bangs. That's KPRI. At the new KPRI, co-owner Robert Hughes promises that listeners will hear more songs and musicians they don't know. The station will also adopt a "looser" feel, said Hughes, who doubles as a disc jockey at the station. "Listeners will notice that we've taken a wider stance with the music," he said. "They'll hear some things they haven't heard on a station before or haven't heard in a long time." So far, though, listeners haven't noticed any difference in the station's programming. Madonna, Eminem and Britney Spears didn't suddenly make appearances, but R.E.M., Sheryl Crowe and Dave Matthews were on hand as always. The special programs and the lineup of disc jockeys remain the same as before. Can the new KPRI not just survive but thrive? According to the ratings, it does fairly well in North County proper ---- its transmitter is in San Marcos ---- but people down south don't tune in, for reasons that aren't entirely clear. One problem may be that KPRI (corrected)/Sets 102 is simply too uptight for its own good. During its introductory blitz on Friday, the station played some old sound bites from the original KPRI, featuring a disc jockey named Bree Walker introducing songs by the likes of REO Speedwagon. (Walker went on to become a television news anchorwoman [Dotinga's remarks deleted].) Walker's voice oozed overt sexuality, a quality that seemed out of place on KPRI/Sets 102, where the female disc jockeys sound great but for the most part treat their work very seriously. I was just a wee whippersnapper during KPRI's heyday. But from what people tell me, it sounds like the gang behind the microphone at the new KPRI will have to go over the top ---- and let their hair down ---- to bring it back to life.
Most Recent Wayback Machine Playlist (Jun 1, 2002)wayback@independent.fm The Wayback Machine KFSD 92/1 6.01.02 CLASH - WASHINGTON BULLETS BOWIE - WATCH THAT MAN MATTHEW SWEET - THE UGLY TRUTH X - TRUE LOVE B52's - MESOPOTAMIA JIMI HENDRIX - GOLD AND ROSE DEVO - ARE YOU EXPERIENCED? PJ HARVEY - ONE TIME TOO MANY MINISTRY - THIEVES MINISTRY - NEW WORLD ORDER JOE JACKSON - BEAT CRAZY SISTERS OF MERCY - THIS CORROSION WOODENTOPS - GET IT ON YARDBIRDS - UNDER, OVER, SIDEWAYS, DOWN BLOW MONKEYS - SWEET MURDER BLOW MONKEYS - FORBIDDEN FRUIT REPLICANTS - CINNAMON GIRL SMITHS - DEATH OF A DISCO DANCER STEREO MC's - LOST IN MUSIC STYLE COUNCIL - THE WALLS CAME TUMBLING DOWN OMD - FOREVER LIVE AND DIE DANDY WARHOLS - BOHEMIAN LIKE YOU SPACE - THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES WALL OF VOODOO - SPY WORLD NED's ATOMIC DUSTBIN - KILL YOUR TELEVISION 3rd BASS - POP GOES THE WEASEL 999 - INSIDE OUT 999 - OBSSESSED MORPHINE - CURE FOR PAIN THOMAS DOLBY - ONE OF OUR SUBMARINES IS MISSING DREAM ACADEMY - LOVE VELVET UNDERGROUND - WAITING FOR MY MAN RAMONES - I WANT YOU AROUND NICK DRAKE - RIVER MAN EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL - CORVOCADO XTC - LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT (live) XTC - THE BEATING OF HEARTS DAMNED - GRIMSLY FIENDISH Clear Channel Wires (June 1, 2002)North County Times "San Diego Radio Static" - Randy DotingaThe programmers at My 94.1 seem to be stealing from Star 100.7's playbook by focusing on the three P's ---- personalities, promotions and persistence. My 94.1 has plastered the county with billboards touting its morning team of "jagger & kristi." (Maybe there's a shortage of upper-case letters.) My 94.1 is also running commercials featuring little kids lip-syncing to rock songs. A girl and a boy (with Jagger-style long-hair wig) even speak with the voices of Mark Jagger and Kristi Knight-Jagger. The production values could use some work. (Mr. Listener, this column's resident supplier of snotty remarks, said he's seen better dubbing in Godzilla movies.) Meanwhile, men who accidentally tune in to 94.1 may fear they'll get estrogen poisoning from all the songs by Shania Twain, Madonna and Jewel. Correction: Strong 92.9 Signal from Ensenada (May 31, 2002)The Ensenada station out of Mexico seems to be broadcasting at 100,000 watts, not a new weak radio station in Tijuana broadcasting on 92.9 as the Mexican station ID's and ads show that the station is originating from Ensenada. I also noticed that I had more trouble than usual in picking up K-Frog 92.9 out of Temecula or KJEE 92.9 out of Santa Barbara. Is this a dogfight frequency or what?Chris Carmichael has some input: I suspect ducting. I have an outside antenna [in fact, I don't have cable tv at all] and Channel 3 from Santa Barbara has been overiding the TJ-channel 3 the past few days. XETV 6 has been very crisp ... I have a throw about 65 miles to my location in Oceanside if the map coordinates are right. FM wise, I don't scan the dials like I used to. From the north KNBC/TV 4 and KABC /TV 7 from la LAnd are the crispist I've seen since last fall. KCOP.UPN is my 'weakest' station on 13. [I can't get XHHUPN from Tecate at all, as there is a LPTV on 49 in Vista. Hope this helps. Favorite Types of Radio Stations (May 31, 2002)National Family Opinion recently took a poll to tell them their favorite type of radio station. The poll was taken among radio listeners, age 18 to 99.
18.7% Classic Rock 16.8% Country/Western 13.8% Adult Contemporary 9.7% Talk Radio 6.2% News Radio 4.7% Public Radio 4.6% Hip Hop/Rap 4.5% Oldies 4.5% Religious/Gospel 4.2% Jazz 4.1% Classical Music 3.3% Pop/Pop Rock 2.4% New Wave 2.5% All Other Types Radio Wires (May 31, 2002)http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/tv/72450_radio30.shtmlRadio Beat: Songs will fly by in KBTB-FM's new Quick 96 format By BILL VIRGIN New Century Media yesterday said it is not only dropping the format of KBTB-FM (95.7), it's dropping the idea of playing entire songs. Instead of The Beat, which featured dance and rhythmic hits, the station will be known as Quick 96, and will feature "only the best parts of your favorite songs." The station plans to offer country, Top 40, rock and adult hits, and play short sections from each. Quick 96 said it will play selections from more than 400 songs each hour; the selections will be numbered, and listeners will need to log on to www.Quick96.com to look up the song title and artists. A release from New Century said the format will "address the short attention span of today's busy music fan." Station officials weren't available for comment on whether the quick format is permanent format or a stunt to set up a change to another. The announcement came the same day as the Federal Communications Commission released a 21-page decision approving Clear Channel Communications Inc.'s acquisition of Seattle-based The Ackerley Group, the parent of New Century Media. The deal had been announced last October. Radio Wires (May 30, 2002)Radio & Records (includes Arbitrons)GO>>> ABC's 20/20 Fails To Shed New Light On Indie Promo... Months in the making, the much ballyhooed investigation aired on Friday - the same day 10 record-industry trade organizations made public their request that the FCC investigate independent promotion at radio. And while the program referred to indie promotion as "radio's dirty little secret," a preview of the broadcast only rehashes previous comments from record companies, recording artists and Radio One executives - including COO Mary Catherine Sneed, who says her company's use of indies is legal. "It's also another revenue stream," she says, "so are we going to be the only major broadcasting group out there not taking advantage of that?" Radio One CEO Alfred Liggins told ABC the indies pay for the right to consult with PDs but do not dictate which songs are played. On the flip side, RIAA Chairman/CEO Hilary Rosen says, "There's this sort of implied fear that if you don't play the game, you're not going to be able to be at the table. Maybe the next time you've got a record you want the stations to consider, they won't." Veteran rock producer Jeff Robinson is quoted as saying radio's "not even listening" to one artist's new record he worked on "because we're not going through an independent radio promoter." ABC reports the now-defunct Work Group paid $400,000 in indie promotion for Fiona Apple's hit song "Criminal" and another quarter-million on airplay for an unnamed Jamiroquai recording. Editor: also note that 20/20 airs on a network whose parent, Disney, also owns radio stations nationwide. There could be more to the payola story than was outlined here, but Disney would not allow ABC News to elaborate too much on the payola issue since there is a possible conflict of interest inolved with Disney owning radio stations. We don't know if any of Disney's radio stations are involved in any sort of indie-payola scheme, but they had no problem with picking on Disney Radio's competetors such as Clear Channel and others. Now Ernest Hollings Wants Study Of Media Concentration... The Senate Commerce Committee Chairman wrote to FCC Chairman Michael Powell on Friday asking the commission to examine whether consolidation, primarily in the TV industry, has made programming less diverse. "The effort to promote diverse voices has been undermined over the last decade by extensive media concentrations and changes to FCC rules governing media outlets," he wrote. Among other things, Hollings wants an evaluation of to what degree broadcasters have increased their interests in programming businesses over the past decade.
Radio Wires (May 30, 2002)The San Diego Reader Blurt - Various journalistsHot Country under CC Control Butts Into KSON Events. Z90 Under CC Control Guts Community Connection. Victor Diaz, like Luis Kaloyan in 1998, sold out to the dark side of the radio force. KSON News Yesterday, Wednesday, May 29thth , KSON-FM's "Tony & Kris in the Morning" hosted country Superstars Montgomery Gentry and Phil Vassar to the KSON studios. They were in San Diego as part of a multi-act ensemble tour headlined by Kenny Chesney. The tour includes Chesney with Montgomery Gentry, Phil Vassar, and Jamie O'Neal. Tony & Kris have long been known to have the best in country music come through their doors when in town to perform.
Star 100.7's New Look Soon---new Star bumper stickers sporting the new updated Star logo will be out soon.
Details here... Radio Wires (May 30, 2002)Radio & Records (includes Arbitrons)GO>>> Gary Bryan Set For Mornings At KRTH/L.A.... Bryan - a veteran programmer and morning host known for stints at New York's WHTZ and WPLJ, KJR-FM/Seattle and KKRZ/Portland, OR - will begin handling the wakeup shift at the Infinity Oldies station on June 10, PD Jay Coffey tells R&R ONLINE. As a result, current morning co-host Jim Carson will shift to the 1-4pm shift. Remaining morning co-hosts Joni Caryl and the recently hired Frazer Smith are expected to remain in mornings. Two people went to a tattoo parlor to get a permanent tattoo of Star 100.7 in the hopes of getting $150,000. They are suing the station because the station didn't give them the money as they claim they promised. Hmmm. $150,000 for advertising a radio station on your forehead? Clear Channel better talk to us about an advertisement program. We could use the money to promote 91X (to cover the Premium 92.1 tatoo we're proudly displaying for free).
The Wires (May 2002) |
