Radio AM to FM

Radio AM to FM: January 31, 2003

Cold Contest

Industry newspaper Radio and Records reports that a station in Birmingham, England was fined after four listeners taking part in a contest had to be hospitalized for injuries.

It seems the contestants suffered scarring when they sat on dry ice in an attempt to win tickets to a festival. Temperature of the dry ice: negative 78 degrees centigrade (that's negative 108 in good 'ol English, er, American Fahrenheit degrees). Name of the contest: Coolest Seats in Town.

At least you can't charge them with false advertising.

Crummy Host

Joe Crummy is back!

As part of a revised weekend lineup, Joe Crummy will return to KABC's (790 AM) airwaves Saturdays from 6 - 9 PM beginning February 8th..

Formerly heard on KFI (640 AM) as well as KABC, Crummy will offer his unique analysis of headline news stories. But I am told it is not the same Crummy talk show that played well for years until he got a bit burned out on the whole thing. Maybe it will be a return to his roots; regardless, I am looking forward to it.

Other new shows include "Satellite Sisters," five real-life sisters who share their experiences airing Saturdays from 6 - 9 AM; and "Chef Talk with Jamie Gwen" Saturdays 11 AM to 1 PM.

Mas Music

KWRP (96.1 FM), based in Southern Riverside County but heard quite strongly throughout much of Los Angeles County, abruptly switched from adult standards "Music of Your Life" to a regional Mexican format on January 22nd. No explanation was given for the change; KWRP had been running Music of Your Life for a few years.

A message on the station's web site invites listeners to sample the music on "sister stations" 570 AM and 1510 AM. An interesting message, considering that 570 is KLAC -- owned by Clear Channel, and 1510 is KSPA/Ontario -- owned by Art Astor ... hardly sister stations. Astor and Clear CHannel management are not even on speaking terms, as I understand it.

KWRP is owned by Magic Broadcasting.

Play Thing

This Saturday, February 1 from 8 pm - 10 pm., KPCC's (89.3 FM) The Play's The Thing will air "Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting" by Ed Schmidt. Starring Edward Asner, Tommy Hicks, Carl Lumbly, and Charlie Robinson. The story centers on Branch Rickey, General Manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, who summons heavyweight champion Joe Louis, tap star Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, and actor Paul Robeson to his hotel in Manhattan. He wants their support when he taps Jackie Robinson as the first major league Negro ballplayer. The broadcast includes an interview with NPR's Scott Simon, author of "Jackie Robinson and the Integration of Baseball".

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