Airwaves: July 21, 2006
Perfect Weather
It may be too hot and humid outside, but the weather's been perfect for radio
reception. Most areas of the South Bay have been receiving more stations more
clearly than in quite some time.
If you get a chance, tune around the FM dial. Compare San Diego's Jack-FM (100.7)
with L.A.'s version (93.1). Check out Star 94.1 with our own Star 98.7.
See if you like country on US 95.7.
On the South/South-West side of the Peninsula as well as at Torrance Beach, you
can usually pick up KRUZ 97.5 and well as some other prime choices out
of Ventura and Santa Barbara.
Just a fun way to beat the heat. Or at least have some radio fun, even in the
heat.
Reading the Mail
After last week's column on American Samoa's version of KHJ -- which features
a DJ name Charlie Tafuna, a tongue-in-cheek tribute to KBIG's morning
man Charlie Tuna -- I received this letter from the real Charlie Tuna,
reminding me that radio today can be great:
"I look back on the past fondly with some great memories of 93/KHJ, starting KROQ-AM with
my morning show in 1972, then moving to KKDJ and becoming the morning
man and PD as we started KIIS AM & FM in 1975, and then starting KHTZ in
the early 80s when we hit #1, and I had a great deal of fun in the early
90s at KODJ. KMPC sports talk was terrific in the 90s, KIKFM country
the best and I loved KLAC, but given all those past moments, KBIG is doing
more creative and fun things involving our audience than any of those in the
past.
"For instance, besides giving away a free car every week for a year, this
past Friday we started the first of a monthly live performance and catered breakfast
in the KBIG Guitar Center Studio down the hall from our regular studio. Deborah
Gibson was our special guest and performed 2 songs on the air live with our
listeners, then we returned to our main studio to continue the show while our
listeners stayed to hear two more songs live with Deborah, who then hung around
for pictures and autographs.
"As fun and creative as KHJ was, Im having more fun than ever doing
mornings on KBIG and its far more interesting and interactive with the
listeners than it ever was in the good old days. I know you are a
big fan of radio days gone by, but as my sons and daughters in their 20s
and 30s remind me, one of the reasons Im still on the air after 39
years in Los Angeles playing the hits is that Ive embraced all the new
technology and evolved my show with the changing times. KHJ was a great radio
station with a 20+ share in the morning Hooper ratings and a 15 in the Pulse
when I left there in 1972, but there wasnt the competition that we have
today from all sorts of media.
"I love that you revere the past, but youre really missing out on
the present which is a lot more fun and interesting than radio ever was. Remember
I was there doing it, not just listening on the outside looking in. Just sit
down with our PD Chachi and hell tell you some new upcoming interactive
listener features on our website that will blow your mind."
Programming note: A feature on Tuna and KBIG is in the works.
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Copyright © 2006 Richard Wagoner and The Copley Press.
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