LA Radio Waves

Radio: May 4, 2018 Perhaps it is statistically insignificant, but it must be a nice feeling for the staff of KOST (103.5 FM) that the station finally led the Los Angeles ratings outside of the holiday music season. It happened in the March Nielsen ratings released in late April when KOST jumped more than a half point from February (to 5.9 from 5.3) and former leader and sister station KBIG (104.3 FM)dropped almost a half point (to 5.7 from 6.1). Rounding the top five were KRTH at 5.0 and a fourth-place tie between KIIS-FM (102.7) and KTWV at 4.7; each rating is an estimate of the average percentage of radio listeners aged 6 and over tuned to a station between the hours of 6 a.m. and 12 midnight. KFI (640 AM) was the top-rated AM station, coming in 6th place with a 4.2 share. The next closest AM was KNX (1070), which was 10th at 3.2. After that you have to look pretty far for another station from the oldest broadcast band: KRLA (870 AM) was 29th with a 1.1, just ahead of KSPN (710 AM) which tied KLYY (97.5 FM) for 30th with a share of 1.0. As already listed, KIIS-FM was the top-rated hit music station, competitor Amp Radio KAMP (97.1 FM) was almost two full points behind at 2.9. Power 106 KPWR (105.9 FM) was slightly below that at 2.6 but did manage to stay above its direct competition Real 92.3, which earned a 2.4. The top-rated alternative station in town was Alt 98.7 KYSR but just by a hair: Alt’s 2.4 tie with Real was enough to stay above KROQ’s (106.7 FM) 2.2. It was not a good month for country music ... Go Country KKGO (105.1 FM) was down a half point to 2.0 compared with February. This actually makes me think that the March ratings month has a few problems, as the station has been averaging much higher for the past year. I do know that a few changes in the way Nielsen’s Portable People Meters are distributed can have a huge effect on ratings, showing more than anything that the system is inherently flawed. Unfortunately its the best we have right now. KPCC (89.3 FM) was down slightly from from the 3.0 share it had in February, but the April 2.7 gave it a full 1 point lead above KCRW (89.9 FM) and bragging rights to being the most popular noncommercial station in town. The full story: 1. KOST (5.9) 2. KBIG (5.7) 3. KRTH (5.0) 4. KIIS-FM, KTWV (4.7) 6. KFI (4.2) 7. KCBS-FM (3.8) 8. KLVE (3.6) 9. KLAX (3.4) 10. KNX (3.2) 11 KAMP (2.9) 12 KLOS, KRCD (2.8) 14. KPCC (2.7) 15. KPWR (2.6) 16. KRRL, KYSR (2.4) 18. KSCA, KXOL (2.3) 20 KROQ, KXOS (2.2) 22. KKGO (2.0) 23. KBUE (1.9) 24. KCRW (1.7) 25. KJLH, KUSC (1.6) 27. KDAY (1.4) 28. KSSE (1.2) 29. KRLA (1.1) 30. KLYY, KSPN (1.0) 32. KEIB, KWIZ (0.9) 34. KKJZ, KKLQ (0.8) 36. KFWB (0.7) 37. KABC, KFSH, KLAC, KYLA (0.5) 41. KSUR (0.4) 42. KWKW (0.3) 43. KKLA, KTNQ (0.2) Frightening fact: The top-two radio companies, iHeart Media and Entercom, command 48.5 percent of the radio audience.  Bean Back Gene Ryder, aka Bean on KROQ’s Kevin and Bean Show, was back on the air as of last Monday. While he was off the air, rumors were circulating that he was taking a leave of absence in part to protest pay cuts and related issues. Personally I hope that is true. Regardless, it’s nice to have him back.

Radio: April 27, 2018 If you have an HD Radio -- a special radio designed to receive and decode the special digital audio programming sent along with the regular analog radio signal -- you may have noticed that KKGO (105.1 FM) has been sending a total of four digital streams. In addition to the regular HD1 stream that, like all HD stations, duplicates the analog programming, KKGO has long been providing an HD2 (simulcast of 1260 AM’s LA Oldies K-Surf) and and HD3 (recently changed to classic country). But for the past two weeks or so, there has been an HD4, which as of this writing is a second simulcast of the Go Country analog programming. Station owner Saul Levine made mention recently of the fact that stations broadcasting the HD system can have more than the traditional two or three extra sub-stations. But he didn’t say much else on the subject. Now it appears he’s got something planned. And unlike other HD4 streams I have heard, this one audio-wise sounds more than decent. Levine’s engineers must be working a bit of magic here, as the more HD streams you add, the lower the audio quality as you are splitting a finite amount of digital data. Levine is tight-lipped about his plans. Could standards return? Big bands? Heavy metal? Audio Magic I had a chance to hear 1260 in HD last Friday when I attended a Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters luncheon at the Sportsman’s Lodge in Studio City. All I can say is “wow.” The station sounds phenomenal in HD, and I thought the AM sounded better than the simulcast on the FM stream mentioned above. Clean and full-fidelity. And in stereo. Pioneers The Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters is a group of radio and television broadcasters (or a related field) with at least ten years experience related to radio or television. I am, of course, not worthy of membership as I just write about radio, but the organization took pity on me and let me join anyway due to my 31 years writing this column. Founded in 1966, the PPB hosts four luncheons per year celebrating and honoring member achievements. April 20 was devoted to television’s Rich Little who can impersonate almost anyone flawlessly; June 1st will honor Lonnie Anderson who among other things was one of the stars of television’s WKRP in Cincinnati, a fictitious station to which those connected to radio can relate. Through June 30th, the PPB is waiving the initiation fee for new members, a $50 savings. If you or someone you know meets the requirements for membership, consider joining. Go to ppbwebsite.org and click on Join PPB. The New Sound Reader Fred Weidman found a new sound ... down under,! “Enjoy your column always. Also miss The Sound. There is another alternative.  “On TuneIn radio I can listen to stations all over the world. Turns out there is “The Sound” in Auckland New Zealand, which shares the same format (same ownership??); 10 @ 10, vinyl, etc. Great DJs, with a bit of an accent, and interesting commercials. I believe you can stream it too, but TuneIn works very well.” The TuneIn link: https://tunein.com/radio/The-Sound-938-s10999/ You can also hit the station’s website directly at www.thesound.co.nz; by the way ... it is not the same owner, but you’re right - a wonderful station.