Airwaves: July 17, 2009
Finally ... Redux
Last weeks Finally a KMET Friday on The Sound (100.3 FM)
was a great tribute to the legendary rocker known as The Mighty Met. Less re-creation
than celebration and remembrance, it helped bring back memories of why KMET
was such a dominant force in album rock radio during its heyday of the mid 70s
to early 80s under the direction of master programmer Sam Bellamy.
From the Fish Report with a Beat to great songs played by Dr. Demento,
the day was an absolute blast, and judging from the e-mails I received, it
went over well with the audience.
So why am I so sad?
I am sad because radio like that doesnt exist any more. Todays
programmers and owners just dont get it. They dont get what KMET
was, and I include former KMET management who essentially destroyed the station
after Bellamy left the programming post.
While today The Sound says its all about the music, KMET
wasnt about music at all. At least not in the traditional sense. Certainly
the album cuts were important, but more important was the personality of the
station - the attitude. The irreverent persona that came from giving the air
and support staff the freedom to be themselves and act as a counter to the
slickly produced stations that formerly dominated the radio scene.
KMET wasnt about the music, it was about the listeners lifestyle.
Personalities treated listeners with respect, shown in just one case when Ace
Young signed off last Fridays morning newscast with the old tag line ...
as KMET informs Southern California. They bent the rules of their own
station, as when Frazier Smith told of being fired for covering the
Rose Parade instead of playing their top-1000 countdown (he was rehired 10
minutes later).
The looser KMET got, the higher the ratings went. Yet through it all, that
one ideal -- respect for the listener -- held firm. Ratings held until corporate
meddling stopped the freedom.
I firmly believe that KMET would still work today. I also believe that The
Sound should move in that direction ... and even consider taking on the calls
if it works. The personalities on Finally a Friday last week all still sounded
topnotch, including Jeff Gonzer, David Perry, Rick Scarry, Billy Juggs,
Rick Lewis, Smith, Young and the good Doctor.
There is absolutely nothing close to it on the radio right now, and I believe
that it would bring credibility back to album rock radio. Thats right,
album rock radio, not classic rock. This format would work -- dare I say would
only work -- playing current music along with classic cuts as the great KMET
once did.
It would also help KLOS (95.5 FM)) recover from the doldrums it finds
itself in, as an interesting paradox often occurs in radio: more than one station
in a format actually brings more listeners to the format and often lifts both
stations to higher ratings. This is due to the friendly rivalry and competition
that makes both stations better.
Even doing it on the HD-2 channel would be nice. Maybe we could convince Bellamy
to program again!
Weenie Roast
Speaking of KLOS, it seems that current management wins the Weenie Award for
not allowing any of its former KMET jocks from attending the Friday event ...
even forbidding them -- Jim Ladd, Bob Coburn, Cynthia Fox and Denise
Westwood -- from going to dinner with the group the night before the event,
according to Gonzer.
Kind of figures, though. KLOS was always more corporate and safe than KMET
even during the height of their competition. But with all due respect -- they
survived and KMET did not -- it showed paranoia by not letting them take part.
///
Copyright © 2009 Richard Wagoner and Los Angeles Newspaper Group.
To subscribe to The Daily Breeze, call (310) 540-5511