Radio AM to FM: August 8, 2003
KFI Gets the Buzz
Every so often, a radio station gets a "buzz" going. Difficult to
pinpoint, that buzz can occur seemingly randomly, but the effect is profound:
people talk about the station, and what was done on the station. Usually ratings
go up as people tune in be part of the buzz.
KFI is that station right now. People are listening, and listening
long. To be sure, KFI has led the talk ratings for years, but now it is the
third most popular station in Los Angeles, and only one point behind the leader.
KFI is on the verge of doing what hasn't been done in years: they are in striking
distance of making an AM station number one in Los Angeles.
How are they doing it? Riding the crest of anger against California Governor
Gray Davis, in part, as well as publicizing the views of the
typical Californian when it came to taxes and crime.
The powerhouse afternoon team of John Kobylt and Ken
Chiampou is one of the key forces behind KFI's buzz. They've been hounding
politicians and suspected wrongdoers for years. They led the revolt against
the Trevor Law Group earlier this year after Trevor filed hundreds of law suits
against auto repair centers and restaurants. The action from John and Ken led
to an investigation against the Trevor Group, eventually leading to harsh penalties.
John and Ken were outside Scott Peterson's house with a bullhorn when he became
the prime suspect in the Lacy Peterson murder case. They've detailed the moves
Governor Davis and the legislature have used to hide tax increases. They are
even two of the plaintiffs in a suit to overturn the increase in the car registration
tax.
At times they may appear silly and over the top, but they go where the news
is, or at least the news that their listeners want to hear, and that's what
helps create a buzz.
While other stations generally forget weekends, KFI is placing a new emphasis
on them, with a variety of hosts that should appeal to almost anyone. From "marginal
legal advice" to food to fine wine, KFI has it on the weekend. If you own
a Macintosh, you can even tune into to Jeff Levy's computer
show to hear about all the problems you never have.
Perhaps that buzz is the reason KFI is the only station in Los Angeles to receive
a nomination for the National Association of Broadcasters Marconi Award for
2003. While most stations in town are bland and forgettable, KFI sticks out
from the crowd.
Anniversary
Another integral part of KFI's success, Rush Limbaugh celebrated
15 years on the national airwaves August 1st.
Originally airing on Sacramento's KFBK in Summer, 1984, Limbaugh moved to New
York in 1988 for the national debut. He was originally heard on 56 stations,
but quickly moved into the hundreds. Now he's found on over 600 stations across
the United States, with a weekly audience of about 20 million -- the largest
audience of any show on the radio.
Limbaugh's show airs weekday mornings from 9 to noon on KFI.
Say What?
Don Barrett's laradio.com reported this week that popular morning
zookeeeper Howard Stern feels that Bob Hope
was not nearly the performer that Stern is.
Im so much more the King of All Media than Bob Hope ever was. The
comparison insults me," Stern said on his show which airs locally from
5 to 10 am, give or take a few hours, on KLSX Apparently Stern feels that Hope
was the king of the one-liner that was written for him, but that he could never
sit in front of a microphone 4-5 hours a day and be funny.
I could mention that Stern can't do that either, for between the numerous commercials
and boring, idle chatter that goes on there is only a few minutes left to be
funny each day on the Stern Morning Zoo. But maybe his quote is best left on
its own.
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Copyright © 2003 Richard Wagoner and The Copley Press.
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