Radio AM to FM

Radio AM to FM: May 5, 2000

Mark Denis Passes

Forty-year Southern California radio veteran Mark Denis passed away last Saturday, April 29th. The cause of his death is unknown; he was 59.

One of the nicest guys to ever work in radio, Denis was the "image voice" of KFI (640 AM) as well as the station's main traffic reporter. Perhaps you heard some of his station IDs, all ending with "KFI Los Angeles, more stimulating talk radio." He also covered traffic for KFI sister station, KOST (103.5 FM)

Denis was one of those people with an impeccable memory, calling every one of his friends (and he had a lot of friends) on their birthdays. If he didn't call, he sent a card. "Universally liked" was the description Los Angeles radio historian Don Barrett used on his web site, a term that fits Denis perfectly.

He was born in Glendale on February 8, 1941 and grew up in Compton. His local radio credits include KFXM and KMEN in San Bernardino, KGB (now KPOP 1360 AM) in San Diego, KEZY (1190 AM) in Anaheim (where he "proudly survived five program directors), KHJ (930 AM), and KFI. He was also the voice of the monorail at Disneyland for about five years.

In January he had heart surgery and had returned to work part time at KFI in March. He had been complaining about a "burning sensation" last week, missed work on Wednesday and went to the hospital Friday night. Tests came back negative, so he was sent home; he apparently died in his sleep sometime early Saturday morning.

Barrett's web site (www.laradio.com) is overflowing with tributes to Denis, who was highly respected throughout the industry. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, and his six children, Denise, Mark, Julie, Matt, Tim and Ashley.

Winter Arbs

Another big quarter for KIIS (102.7 FM) places the hit music station within striking distance of the number one spot in the Los Angeles Arbitron ratings, a spot it has not held since Reagan was in the White House.

For the quarter, Spanish station KSCA (101.9 FM) claimed first place overall with a 6.1 share, followed by KIIS at 5.5, KLVE (107.5 FM) at 5.1, KROQ (106.7 FM) at 4.3, and KPWR (105.9 FM) at 4.2.

KRTH (101.1 FM) won the oldies race, handily beating Mega 100 (KCMG, 100.3 FM) by a full point. With a frequency swap set for later this year, Mega may temporarily find itself at an even greater ratings disadvantage, at least until listeners find the new frequency (Mega is moving to 92.3 FM later this year).

In the talk arena, KFI led them all once again with a 3.5 share, while KABC (790 AM) and KLSX trailed with a 1.9. Way down the line was KRLA (1110 AM) with an embarrassing 0.6; KIEV (870 AM) earned a 0.5 share.

Adult Standard fans helped propel KLAC (570 AM) to a 2.0 share, and that rating should do nothing but go up as former KGIL listeners find the station. It may be too late, however, as owner Clear Channel still appears to be planning on taking the station into the no-ratings zone of all-sports sometime this Summer. If the rumor is true, mark my words: KLAC will never see ratings even close to this high as a sports station.

The full story: each rating is an estimate of the percentage of listeners aged 12 and over tuned to a station between the hours of 6 m and 12 midnight.

Station - Fall '99 - Winter '00

KSCA - 6.8 - 6.1

KIIS - 5.0 - 5.5

KLVE - 4.9 - 5.1

KROQ - 3.9 - 4.3

KPWR - 3.8 - 4.2

KOST - 3.6 - 3.9

KBUA/KBUE - 3.7 - 3.5

KFI - 3.2 - 3.5

KRTH - 3.0 - 3.3

KTWV - 3.2 - 3.1

KBIG - 3.0 - 2.6

KKBT - 2.4 - 2.6

KYSR - 2.8 - 2.6

KLAX - 2.1 - 2.5

KCMG - 2.5 - 2.3

KNX - 2.3 - 2.3

KLOS - 2.3 - 2.2

KFWB - 1.9 - 2.1

KCBS-FM - 2.3 - 2.0

KLAC - 1.7 - 2.0

KZLA - 2.1 - 2.0

KABC - 1.0 - 1.9

KLSX - 2.1 - 1.9

KJLH - 1.4 - 1.6

KSSE - 1.9 - 1.5

KMZT - 1.7 - 1.4

KTNQ - 1.4 - 1.4

KHJ - 1.5 - 1.3

KRCD/KRCV - NA - 1.2

KLYY - NA - 1.0

(NA = NOT AVAILABLE)

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