Radio AM to FM: August 26, 2005
Sirius Musings
As radio falls over itself trying to keep listener deflections to a minimum through
the use of formats such as Jack, I've decided that except for a few exceptions
and this column, I really don't need radio any more.
Or more accurately, I've decided that radio no longer wants me as a listener.
Otherwise, they would treat me with more respect.
I recently took the family on a vacation to Pismo Beach. Much of the way we listened
to Sirius satellite radio, as we usually do whenever we are in my truck or in
the back yard. Along the way, though, I did sample some local stations. Here's
what I found:
KFI still rules when it comes to news and traffic. Not that the reports
are necessarily the best (though KFI is among the best radio news sources in
the country), but they are absolutely dependable. News every 30 minutes and traffic
every break. It's been this way since KFI played music, and probably dates back
to the station's beginnings. And the weekend computer show on KFI is so much
better than the competition.
KYSR -- Star -- could actually be a decent station if they'd loosen up
the playlist just a bit (hiring former Mix programmer Craig Carpenter as PD could
help here) and dump the morning show. Morning host (for lack of a better word
that can be printed in a family newspaper) Jamie White is to radio what oil is
to water: they don't mix and the result is a big mess that people want to avoid.
The best rock station I heard is in Ventura: KRUZ. Unfortunately it's
97.5 FM frequency is shared by a Riverside station that overpowers it in most
of Los Angeles, but programmers in Los Angeles could -- should -- learn a lot
from this station. It is so much better than anything in Los Angeles, that LA
programmers should hide in shame. KRUZ, in fact, is the only station that allowed
me to turn off Sirius for long stretches.
I like the music on Jack, but I can't listen to the bad presentation. "We
play what we want" ... as if that's not what all stations do. I want to
hear what I want; stop reminding me that you're doing it for you. And hire some
intelligent DJs so you can drop the stupid copycat "voice of Jack." Otherwise
an iPod does much better, thank you. Jack would be trampled in the ratings if
Star worked a little harder.
Overall, though, I'm glad I had Sirius and didn't have to rely on local radio.
Not that Sirius is without problems. Not the least of which is the '70s Channel's
Barry Williams (aka The Brady Bunch's Greg Brady) who is absolutely awful. Why
does XM get people like Bobby Ocean and Sirius gets Barry Williams? At least
Sirius has J.J. Walker. he tends to make up for the lameness of Williams. This
is, by the way, a channel on which I would thrive. I just can't figure out how
to apply.
Mighty Quinn
Speaking of Sirius, word just came in that the satcaster has hired former MTV
VJ Martha Quinn for Saturday nights on the '80s Channel. Her weekly show, Gods
of the Big '80s, starts tomorrow at 8 AM and will be repeated throughout
the week at seemingly random times.
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Copyright © 2005 Richard Wagoner and The Copley Press.
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