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National Radio Wires 11-22-03!rronlineKISS is owned by Emmis, not Clear Channel... Webcaster KISS iFM (www.kissiradio.com) received a cease and desist request from EMMIS COMMUNICATION yesterday (11/20). EMMIS is the rightful owner of trademarks for the name KISS. In response to the order, KISS iFM GM/PD TOMMY WEST says that the website will cease broadcasting all station branding and just air uninterrupted music until further notice. WEST has requested that EMMIS allow KISS iFM to use the existing website for a time while the webcaster reconfigures its branding strategy. Once KISS iFM does get a new brand, it hopes to announce the name and website address on its current site to let listeners know where the "new" station can be found.
Los Angeles Radio Wires 11-22-03!rronlineINFINITY Alternative KROQ/LOS ANGELES soldout both nights of "KROQ ALMOST ACOUSTIC CHRISTMAS 2003" DECEMBER 13-14 at UNIVERSAL AMPHITHEATER before even announcing the line-ups KROQ put tickets on sale THURSDAY NOVEMBER 20 at 7p for both shows without anyone knowing who was playing. This morning (11/21) on KEVIN AND BEAN, the all-star line-ups were unveiled for KROQ's 14th Annual holiday shows.
"KROQ ALMOST ACOUSTIC CHRISTMAS 2003"
night #1 (12/13):
LINKIN PARK
THE OFFSPRING
P.O.D.
AFI
PUDDLE OF MUDD
PENNYWISE
CHEVELLE
DISTILLERS
THRICE
"KROQ ALMOST ACOUSTIC CHRISTMAS 2003"
night #2 (12/14):
KORN
BLINK 182
JANE'S ADDICTION
311
STAIND
RANCID
JET
TRAPT
BRAND NEW
This morning (11/21) in LOS ANGELES, EMMIS Top 40/Rhythmic KPWR (POWER 106)/LOS ANGELES held their annual BIG BOY'S THANKSGIVING O-BLIMPICS, the competition for listeners over 300 pounds. The events this year included: The Frozen Turkey Shotput, Frozen Pizza Discus, Belly Bounce Sumo Wrestling, Free-Style Dance and Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest. Morning sidekick FUZZY FANTABULOUS challenged fellow BIG BOY'S NEIGHBORHOOD resident JOE GRANDE, betting him that if he beat JOE in the competition, JOE would have to give FUZZY his autographed SHAQUILLE O'NEAL championship LAKER shorts and his 3-Peat Victory ring! JOE wagered that if he beat FUZZY in the O-BLIMPICS, FUZZY would have to cut off his dreadlocksà.dreads that FUZZY has been nurturing for over ten years. Who won the bet? Check out a bald FUZZY FANTABULOUS at www.power106.fm.
San Diego Radio Wires 11-22-03!rronlineRoyce Blake Now Mercury/SLC Station Manager... Blake, a veteran air talent who has been in mornings at Mercury Broadcasting's AC simulcast KOSY & KRAR/Salt Lake City for 3 1/2 years and also as the stations' Asst. PD, succeeds Keith Abrams in the Station Manager post. He'll start his new duties Nov. 28, and will now oversee KOSY & KRAR as well as Alternative KCPX. It's the first-ever multistation management role for Blake, who began his career in 1976 as a record librarian at then-Top 40 KTNQ/Los Angeles. He later held the morning shift at KCBQ-FM/San Diego and KKFR/Phoenix, and has served as OM/morning host of KXST (Sets 102)/San Diego, and was KCPX's afternoon host before moving over to KOSY & KRAR. While Mercury owns KCPX, KOSY & KRAR, Clear Channel handles the station's sales via a JSA.
All Access (registration required) ALL ACCESS hears that the investigation has focused on the company's dominance of ad sales in the younger male demographics. CLEAR CHANNEL operates a cluster larger than allowed elsewhere because of its control of several TIJUANA-licensed stations, including Sports XETRA-A, Urban Oldies XHRM (MAGIC 92.5), Alternative XETRA (91X), Country XHCR (BOB 99.3), and Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover XHTZ (Z90), as well as its own Talk KOGO-A, Adult Standards KPOP-A, Oldies KOCL (KOOL 95.7), AC KMYI (MY 94.1), Classic Rock KGB, Top 40 KHTS (CHANNEL 933), and Classic Rock KIOZ (ROCK 105.3). The SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE has quoted CLEAR CHANNEL's WASHINGTON lobbyist ANDY LEVIN as calling the inquiry routine and saying the company is fully cooperating with the probe. "They are asking for documents to determine if there is something wrong," LEVIN told the paper. "If they think there is, you'll probably hear about it. The problem is, if there isn't anything wrong, you probably won't hear anything about it." More excerpts: Under federal rules, a company may own up to eight radio stations in one media market. San Antonio-based Clear Channel owns seven in San Diego, but also has operating agreements with four Mexican stations. That total, which includes such popular stations as Jammin' Z90 and 91X, gives Clear Channel about three times the market share held by its closest competitor. Until this summer, Clear Channel's arrangement with the Baja California stations was within the scope of the rules. But in June, as part of a wide-ranging change in media ownership rules, the Federal Communications Commission determined that the Mexican stations counted toward its regulatory cap. Those revised rules are being challenged in court. If they are upheld, Clear Channel could be forced to sell some of its stations or end its cross-border operating agreements in two years.
San Diego Radio Wires 11-21-03!John Maffei - North County Times TV/SportsOne game ---- Saturday's Ohio State-Michigan tilt ---- will go a long way toward deciding the viewing habits of college football fans come January. The game fans want to see in the Jan. 4 Sugar Bowl, the national title contest, is Oklahoma-USC. But Ohio State, ranked No. 2 in the Bowl Championship Series, stands in the way of that dream matchup. So ABC officials expect a huge audience for Saturday's 9 a.m. national telecast of the Buckeyes and Wolverines, the 100th meeting between the teams. The network is so fired up about the game that it convinced Keith Jackson, its best college football announcer, to leave the comfort of the West Coast and "fly over the mountains" to call the game. Jackson will work the game with Dan Fouts and Todd Harris. Matthews said the 9 a.m. start for Ohio State-Michigan game will affect ratings on the West Coast. "We build momentum on the West Coast through the morning," Matthews said. "No doubt, the early start has a negative effect. But there is nothing we can do about it if we want to carry the USC-UCLA game." Superstation WGN will carry the Harvard-Yale game at 9 a.m. Saturday. Read more about it at Maffei's website. Also: All Aztecs men's basketball games can be heard on The Mighty 1090 with John Fricke and John Kentera calling the action. Channel 4 will carry a handful of University of San Diego men's games with Jim Laslavic and Brogan calling the action.
Jay Posner - TV/Radio Sports - The San Diego Union KSON All Over The World! 11-21-03!Yes, it was Michael Jac-KSON, that you saw on television sets all over the world yesteday. Talk about subliminal advertisement for a radio station in San Diego. No word from KSON about this.San Diego Radio Wires 11-21-03!All Access (registration required)91X's "The Truth" is being talked about, three days after we posted the link to the three-column table explaining the meanings of 94/9's marketing slogans on sandiegoradionews.com.
Los Angeles Radio Wires 11-20-03!Richard WagonerWhile Saul Levine continues to search for programming for the new Drama Hour on his radio station K-SURF (540 and 1260 AM), the station has already begun airing modern adaptations of Rod Serling's Twilight Zone ... the same programs that were formerly aired on KFI (640 AM) until the lunatic, er, Art Bell came back to host Coast to Coast AM and pushed The Twilight Zone Theater off the KFI schedule. So for the next few weeks or so, enjoy the Twilight Zone Theater on K-SURF at 8:00 PM and 1:00 AM. After that, look for a combination of some of your favorite old-time radio programs to air in that same time slot. Backwaves: The Readers Strike Back 11-20-03!John: The ad war between 94/9 and 91X is totally ridiculous. It's a guess that the reason listeners moved from 91X to 94/9 is because Clear Channel dicked their listeners by embargoing certain music acts who play for non-SFX Entertainment venues that Clear Channel owns and runs, raised the concert ticket prices, and destroyed The Flash 92.5 when Jacor (before CC bought the company) took over the station from the moron Luis Kaloyan who couldn't figure out what we wanted to hear. 94/9's sweepers blasting corporate radio and giving their listeners an impression that they are independent have worked in their favor less so than the listener's dislike of Clear Channel regardless of what 94/9 is playing. Therefore, the listeners are using 94/9 to get revenge on the buyer of 92.5 five years ago and taking it out on 91X by X-ing out 91 in favor of 94/9. San Diegans have very long memories.From Jared Wilson: 94/9 plays the exact same crap rock that 91X plays. Though 94/9 and 91X are good at digging out a few occasional album cuts every now and then, both continue to play the same hard rock crap that I can find on Rock 105.3. They call themselves alternative rock? What's so alternative about Linkin Park and Rage Against the Machine? The truth as exposed about 94/9 on 91X is unbelievable. I never would have guessed that men in suits run every radio station in town except for 94/9. DFSX's parody of the 91X Truth exposes some more autrocities in the way a marketing claim is implicated, saying that the marketing claims made at 94/9 can apply to any radio station in town. Let's hear from Star, KPRI, and Astor. Are these stations run by suits from out of town? DFSX came out and answered 94/9's marketing claims but how many listeners would have guessed what the implications are? It's like saying that Subway is where you eat fresh, and the implication is that Submarina, Quiznos, and Togo's is where you eat stale. Let's see them counter the implications of Subway's fresh campaign. Pizza Hut sued Papa John's over their claim of "better ingredients" because it implied that the other pizza chains had worse ingredients? The courts didn't agree with that. 91X could have answered some of the 94/9 marketing claims such as "Corporate Radio Sucks" and saying "if that's so, then why is 94/9 owned by an out-of-town insurance company instead of by locals?" Or "We're owned by an insurance company" with "We're just glad that we don't have an insurance policy with the owner of 94/9; there's no telling what they would do if we ever file a claim!" Whatever the truth is, neither station understands what being totally alternative is all about. Too mainstream for my tastes. Long live Pirate 96.9! From Mark Pfeifer: Premium 92.1 is dead because people have NOT been listening to it since 94/9 signed on last year, and you're all complaining that Astor sold the station to 94/9's parent company so they can put KSON on it? Give me a break! San Diego Radio-Info Messageboard is where talk about 91X's Truth is being discussed. From 80's Freak: 91X is ripping into FM 94/9's anti-corporate slogans. They're right to say that the slogans are somewhat hollow. However, 91X has only added more gold ("vintage 91X music") and "deeper album cuts" since 94/9 came on the air. Moreover, neither Jefferson Pilot nor Clear Channel would ever think of having a station that sounded like 91X or 94/9 in most markets around the country. Neither 91X nor 94/9 are playing anything other than White Stripes/Limp Bizkit/Korn/Linkin Park type stuff because they're charitable to people with different tastes (as they might have you think)...San Diego is just more friendly to true "alternative" music than most markets. From Tico: Oooh, this is getting intense. I have heard 91X snap back at 94/9, but this means war! I do agree with 80s freak, however, that 91X added all the gold music after 94/9 came on the air. X was sounding almost as edgy like Rock 105-3 without the Ozzy and Zeppelin music. From Lynp: This is war! I will admit that 91X has gotten better since 92/1 (R.I.P) and 94/9 have been on air. But there are many of us that are motivated by our dislike of Clear Channel. I turned off 91X (and FM radio) when Clear Channel bought 92/5 many years ago. And I tolerated Clear Channel owning XTRA 690 until they moved the station to L.A. Then Halloran ended up at 92/1 and alternative radio was back on my presets. So when 94/9 came on air, I was totally stoked. Don't get me wrong, I know JPC owns 94/9 and their promos about the "live person" bug me since they are not live on weekdays from 2am-6am, but 94/9 is a better station all around. Features like Halloran's Dog Dare and FTP, Anya's Desert Island Disks, and Big Sonic Chill are awesome. And there are many people who agree - 94/9 was voted best radio station by SD City Beat readers (see last week's issue). So I think 91X is just trying to put some spin to get listeners back...what this means for listeners is that we have a choce now. And isn't that what this great country is all about???? Yeah, I am not happy that JPC bought 92/1. But you don't think CC would have done the same if given the opportunity? I'll tell you the answer to that...Yes, they would have. So....both stations can mudsling all they want, as long as the competition drives up the quality of what they are both playing. I'm still anti-CC, so you know where I am tuned into.... From Mark: It's not that two stations are arguring over which one is more corporate. 94/9 is positioning themselves as an independent up against "The Man," while 91X is just letting it be known that 94/9 is "corporate" as well, whatever that means. Since 94/9 bought 92.1 and flipped it to country, I've noticed 94/9 has pulled off all those sweepers ragging on Clear Channel for buying and flipping 92.5 years ago. And, if it's supposed "About the music," could someone please tell Halloran to shut up and play some?
San Diego Radio Wires 11-20-03!The San Diego Union TV/RadioLarson re-elected KCBQ/FM 1170's Mark Larson has been re-elected to a seventh term as president of the San Diego Radio Broadcasters Association, which represents 25 San Diego radio stations. He was first elected in November 1997. Association executive officers also re-elected for 2004 are vice president Mike Glickenhaus (Clear Channel Communications) and treasurer Bruce Bauer (KPBS). "It's a thrill to get to champion radio every day," Larson said. "Yes, we're businesses ... but it's so much more than that. As we've seen again with the coverage of recent fires, radio is immediate, personal and powerful in helping the community rebuild. That's what we're here for." Currently, Larson's local morning talk show (6 to 9 a.m.) is heard throughout Southern California via the Salem Communications network.
Reader Blurt Four independent record stores, including Lou's Records in Encinitas, have filed a class-action lawsuit against the Best Buy chain. The suit alleges the retail giant violates federal U.S. antitrust laws by using its sales clout to buy CDs from major labels at a cheaper rate than smaller stores are charged. The lawsuit also claims that Best Buy illegally sells CDs at below cost, in violation of California law, making it impossible for small record stores to compete.
San Diego City Beat
Randy Dotinga
San Diego Radio Wires 11-19-03!SD UnionA One-Man Garrison - In an era of abrasive talk radio, Keillor holds the fort with fun. Excerpts: Not only is "A Prairie Home Companion" the best radio show there is, it's the only radio show there is. That's with the accent on show. Keillor, 61, created "A Prairie Home Companion" back in 1974 and over the years has made it a unique institution in modern American broadcasting. His philosophical, gentle, sometimes wildly funny Lake Wobegon monologues have drawn comparisons to Mark Twain's lectures, but Keillor looks back to radio talkers from long ago, broadcasters whose names he can't even remember. Over the years, Keillor said, "radio became balkanized. The idea of a radio station that people of all ages would listen to disappeared. That is practically gone." Today, he pointed out, with media conglomerates like Clear Channel taking over radio stations across the nation, "they don't allow that sort of behavior, the rambling. That's not what they're selling." With each radio station in every city trying to appeal only to a certain segment of the audience, and many of the seemingly "local" voices coming via satellite from studios far away, said Keillor, "they're heading down a dead-end road toward a cliff, and they'll figure this out. Mechanization is not really the answer in radio. They'll have to find that out on their own."
Ricochet Woes 2003
Los Angeles Radio Wires 11-19-03!All Access (registration required)INFINITY Alternative KROQ/LOS ANGELES morning show KEVIN AND BEAN release their XMAS CD, "THE YEAR THEY RECALLED SANTA CLAUS" on TUESDAY NOVEMBER 25 at area BEST BUY locations for only $6.99. The CD features 23 tracks, including these exclusives: JET "Backdoor Santa," THRICE "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)," PETE YORN "Do They Know It's Christmas," RYAN ADAMS "Sleighbells," BRAND NEW "Oh Holy Night," and LINKIN PARK "My December" (Live). The KEVIN AND BEAN MORNING SHOW will do an in-store live broadcast from BEST BUY in the CITY OF INDUSTRY on 11/25 with a special acoustic performance from GOOD CHARLOTTE. Listeners are encouraged to bring a non-perishable canned food to donate to the L.A. COUNTY FOOD BANK to help those in need on THANKSGIVING. The first 50 people to donate food get free tickets to see GOOD CHARLOTTE at the L.A. SPORTS ARENA. Los Angeles Radio Wires 11-18-03!All Access (registration required)INFINITY Alternative KROQ/LOS ANGELES announces the "KROQ ALMOST ACOUSTIC CHRISTMAS 2003" will be on DECEMBER 13-14 at UNIVERSAL AMPHITHEATER, but there's one small catch this year. Tickets go on sale THURSDAY NOVEMBER 27 at 7p before the line-ups are announced. KROQ is looking for risk takers, fans of KROQ music to go out and buy tickets without knowing who will be playing. The line-ups for both shows will be announced approximately 12 hours later on the KEVIN AND BEAN morning show. San Diego Radio Wires 11-18-03!rronlineDr. Laura, Roger Hedgecock Raise $600,000 For Kids... The Premiere Radio Networks syndicated host and local KOGO/San Diego afternoon talker staged their second annual My Stuff Bags Radiothon last week and collected more than $600,000 in funds and donated items for The Dr. Laura Schlessinger Foundation. The yearly live broadcast collected enough money and items this time out to fill 25,000 "My Stuff Bags" that provide personal and comforting items to some of the reported 300,000 children rescued from abusive or dangerous homes across America each year. National Radio Wires 11-18-03!rronlineRush Limbaugh: 'As I Was Saying....' Premiere host returns after five weeks in rehab. So quipped the Premiere Radio Networks host upon his return to his golden EIB microphone today for the first time since early last month, when he checked himself into rehab for addiction to prescription painkillers. "I'm really eager to share these last five weeks with you because I really think a lot of you could benefit from it, whether you have an addiction or not," he told listeners. "But I'm not qualified to teach it. All I can do is tell you the experience, and, rather than doing an hour or two hours on it today, it'll just happen. You'll hear it."
All Access (registration required) XM SATELLITE RADIO has unveiled a new ultra-compact tuner module, XM DIRECT, that can be connected to any satellite-radio-ready car stereo with "smart" digital adaptors developed and distributed by third-party companies like BLITZSAFE and TERK. The new tuners plug into the radios and let users operate the system with the radio's regular controls. The first adaptor works with OEM radios for 2003 and 2004 BMW and MINI models.
91X: The Truth Arrives 11-17-03!http://www.91x.com/truthtable.html has the dirt on their competetor. What do you think of the 94/9 promos and the 91X truth, readers? |