San Diego Radio Tributes to Steve West to Air Sunday, May 17 from 6-10am

photo by Ciro Sepulveda

Last week, we got the sad news that Steve West lost his long battle with cancer. Throughout the week, several radio luminaries took to the airwaves in tribute and to honor his legacy. You can listen to a 91X tribute with Marty & Danielle here and with Hilary and Halloran here. On Sunday, ALT949 will be running a Legends of the Alternative tribute from 6-10am. At the very same time, 91X will be running a special episode or Resurrection Sunday which will be accompanied online with a live Zoom and Facebook Live feed, so fans can chat and share memories. More info from 91X after the jump. Also, take the time to read George Varga's long-form obituary in the U-T if you can get past the paywall and check out Yew!'s podcast.

CoViD-19: Ad Supercut | SoundDiego | Failing To Flatten The Curve | Role of Radio | Comic-Con Museum@Home

Rhino at San Diego Zoo Safari Park (Taken 1.20.2020)

I don't really have much to write about today. I ran out to Big Lots and Grocery Outlet today to pick up some things for us and my parents. I figure the least I can do, if we have to pick up produce and milk and some dry goods, is not take up space in stores on weekends when it might be the only time to do so for people who are actually working. There are still plenty of people out and about living their lives, no face coverings, just living like everything's normal so I grabbed my things and split as quickly as I could. I will say that the Big Lots out on Lake Murray is pretty stocked (minus toilet paper), mostly empty, and the gas station across the street has gas for $2.29/gallon right now if you need to fuel up.
I decided to use a rhino photo today because today's Zoo email reminded me that two rhinos have been born in the past few weeks as well as an endangered retiulated giraffe. Gotta find the good news where you can. Can't wait to see some baby photos.
Some links today after the jump.

Local Radio News: 98/9 TJ-SD To Launch March 31 and other radio tidbits...

You may or may not have heard that More-FM is modifying their format to be a multilingual and 'Borderless' station branded 98/9 TJ-SD. As much as it pains me to link to a KL penned article, The Reader primarily focuses on the fact that Cesar Gonzalez--owner of the now defunct Mama Testa (home of the best salsa ever but never served without attitude)--will be the first on-air personality at the station, then digs in a little on Halloran, who will be playing three hours of cross-border local artists every weeknight from 9pm-Midnight. As someone who has known Hal for years, and worked with station owner Mario Mayan and sales director Randy Phillips for several years back in the day, I'm super excited about a new radio format to stir the San Diego pot.

From a local music perspective, Halloran and crew are trying to build their local music catalog. Bring CDs to Pitbull Audio in National City 2 pm on Saturday, March 31, or April 7 at 2 pm at Secret Garden [Jardin Secreto] on Manuel Doblado in Tijuana. If you plan on submitting music, note that they are specifically requesting CDs. Don't email links or MP3s. If you don't have CDs, burned ones are usually acceptable, but LABEL them. The CD itself and the case should both include your Band Name, a contact phone number and/or email, web address and track titles. On the case, you might suggest one or two "singles" from the record, bio, band photo, and other pertinent or more specific info. (Perhaps my old San Diego Music Thing notes might help in this situation.)

In other radio news, 91X recently launched a new morning show...The Moug Show...and you know I'm not commuting or listening to radio in the mornings (or even awake) to have an opinion about it. Meanwhile, Woods is back on the air at The Mighty 1090 with the Ben and Woods show, offering up morning sports talk weekdays from 6-9am.

 And on Monday night, I was made aware of the disgusting, tacky, and insensitive photo posted on social media by the new Kevin Klein Live show on 97.3, which has flipped from Energy 97.3 to The Machine 97.3, which will be a classic rock format and taking the Padres broadcasts from Alt 94/9.  The dude's morning show starts today. I'm not posting his shit photo here, but I'm sure you've seen it, and you can see the backlash on NBC, the U-T here  and HERE  and even the Padres. If what he wanted was attention, mission accomplished. I'm not the demo so my not listening doesn't mean shit to them, but for the record, fuck that guy and all the assholes defending the post.

If radio news interests you, you should always keep up on SanDiegoRadio.org and you can see press releases, news, and quarterly radio ratings, and marvel at the fact that country is the 3rd ranked station in San Diego, and more people listen to Christian Radio than to your favorite alternative station. Gag.

New Radio in San Diego: Jack-FM flips to KFM-BFM "True Variety That Rocks"

As you may or may not recall, a few weeks back 100.7 Jack-FM announced that Garett Michaels would be returning to the San Diego market as Program Director of the station. This also happened shortly after Midwest and LMA, the group behind 91X, combined promotional and sales forces (kind of), and then they announced the station would be taking a new format, for which we've been  patiently waiting. Today, it was revealed.

For background info, check out this piece on SoundDiego and this one in the Reader and my little blurb from last month.

From this day forward, the station will be known again as 100.7 KFM-BFM (with the pause after the first M). They kicked off with history of the spot on the dial, then played a promo with snippets of Led Zeppelin, The Clash, Green Day, INXS, Guns n Roses, Nirvana, The Cars, White Stripes, and AC/DC with tag lines like "True Variety That Rocks" and "We play whatever, whenever." They kicked off the new format with Rush into The Ramones to Pearl Jam to Modern English into The Who, and Midnight Oil. (Then Tom Petty, The Black Keys, AC/DC, Foo Fighters). This is a dad rock station for your dad bod to chill in your man cave. Don't expect to hear many (any?) female artists on this format aside from maybe some tokens like Joan Jett, Blondie, or The Pretenders.

So there you have it. Let's see how it goes and grows. You can find the station online at KFMBFM.com.

San Diego Radio Shake-up

On Friday I was crammed in the back of my friend's truck on my way to NAMM when I got a press release from 91X with the subject "91X Begins Hunt For New Program Director". Here's the press release.


San Diego’s Heritage Alternative Rock Station
91X Begins Hunt For New Program Director

91X announced this week the departure of Program Director and afternoon drive host Garrett Capone, who has accepted a position as VP of Promotion at Crush Management. Capone ends his almost 5 year run at 91X, leaving the station in the top position in ratings in multiple demographic categories among rock stations in San Diego. Capone’s final day will be February 29th.

91X has already begun the search for his replacement.

“Over the years Capone has made tremendous contributions to the success of 91X on numerous fronts,” says Gregg Wolfson, Vice President and General Manager of Local Media San Diego. “91X and LMSD are grateful to have had him at the helm of 91X during very competitive times.”

91X is owned and operated by Local Media San Diego, a privately held San Diego-based company. LMSD also operates Z90.3 (XHTZ-FM) and Magic 92.5 (XHRM-FM).

This will be an interesting twist at 91X. Now that Halloran is back on the air, will he step back into the position? Will someone jump ship from another local station to fill the slot? Will someone come in from another market to takeover the position? Should I email Wolfy and throw myself into the running? More importantly, will there be sweeping changes at the station or will the new PD just be a figurehead to keep things more or less status quo? As stations have moved further from specialty programming to focus-group decided playlists, will anyone even notice?

As for Capone, I wish him well in his future endeavors with Crush Management. Here's a blip about Crush, according to the company tagline on a recent press-release about a partnership with Crush and Grooveshark:

Jonathan Daniel and Bob McLynn are two former musicians who have been through the major-label wringer and lived not only to tell, but to apply what they've learned to creating one of the most successful and innovative music management companies in the business. They brought the public Grammy-nominated, multiplatinum global superstars Fall Out Boy, reignited Train's success with a Grammy-winning, multiplatinum best selling song of 2010, and have had worldwide hits with Travie McCoy as a solo artist as well as with his band, Gym Class Heroes, not to mention multiple hits from Cobra Starship and more.

In other local radio news, over the weekend John Reis took to Facebook to announce his final show on FM 94/9. After seven years of hosting the Saturday night specialty show, Swami SoundSystem, the reasons for the end are as yet unannounced. Of the 207 comments left on the thread, speculation and snark took over, from people joking that Mikey must've demanded a raise to Reis leaving to focus on a Rocket From The Crypt world tour. It is possible that it is just another of the specialty cuts that took away features like "The Local Member of The Day" and "Desert Island Discs". Let's hope these were just compromises to make the extra hour of commercial free radio from 9-10am possible and that the rest of the station's specialty shows (FTP, The Local Pyle, Big Sonic Chill) stay intact.  Additionally, the stirrings that Reis is focusing on Swami Records and a Hot Snakes tour make me believe that this was a mutual parting.

FM 94/9 + The Mikey Show

It's official. Mikey announced via Twitter, Facebook and his blog that he's going to be on FM 94/9.

SD Radio has the release:

“The Mikey Show” will air weekdays from 6:00-10:00 A.M. beginning on Monday, January 25, 2010.

I don't want to quote any more of that because the God talk just really annoys the shit out of me. Also, I wouldn't recommend actually clicking on Mikey's blog as it can be summed up with "God has a plan for me" accompanied by the most annoying music stream ever. I'm not religious. I also don't hate God. But I have a VERY hard time with people who think God gives a fuck about their careers. Everything doesn't happen "for a reason". This theologic-centrism irks the shit out of me. Good thing I don't listen to morning radio and won't be starting now.

Good things happen to good people and bad things happen to good people. Good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to bad people. Let's let God worry about the bigger picture and not so much about morning radio in San Diego.

ESPN Radio To Move to FM Dial

From the inbox:

ESPN Radio 800am is proud to announce that we will be upgrading our signal to the FM dial 98.9, making us the only FM Sports Radio station in San Diego with all the best Nationally syndicated programming in the marketplace! (click keep on reading for press release)


San Diego’s MEC Network, Inc. has announced that a simulcast of the nationally syndicated ESPN Radio sports talk programming and play-by-play will replace the BLAZIN’ “Hip Hop and More” music format on their XMOR-FM 98.9 frequency effective 12:01am on Monday, October 5th.

In addition to the ESPN Radio regular sports talk programming line up that includes “Mike and Mike in the Morning”, “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” and the “Scott Van Pelt Show”, ESPN Radio San Diego - FM 98.9 and AM 800 will continue to broadcast ESPN’s Major League Baseball Game of the Week, MLB Playoffs, MLB World Series, NBA Game of the Week, NBA Playoffs, NBA Finals, ESPN College Football, The Bowl Championship Series, and various bowl games including the Poinsettia Bowl, and the Holiday Bowl on both stations. ESPN Radio San Diego – FM 98.9 and AM 800 Programming and Operations Director Milton Hines says, “MEC Network is excited to put the ESPN brand on FM radio in the San Diego Market just in time for the start of the Major League Baseball Playoffs and World Series! With ESPN’s superior sports talk jocks along with the best play-by-play lineup in San Diego, now in crystal-clear FM, we look forward to ESPN Radio San Diego – FM 98.9 and AM 800 becoming the number one sports talk radio station in San Diego sooner rather than later!”

ESPN Radio San Diego - FM 98.9 and AM 800 will also broadcast NFL games from the Compass Media Network, American League baseball games from the defending AL West Champion Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Pac Ten Champion USC Trojans Football and UCLA Bruins Basketball.

ESPN Radio sports talk programming and play-by-play will now be available in San Diego on MEC Network’s XMOR-FM 98.9 and XSPN-AM 800 starting at 12:01am on Monday, October 5th.

Radio: Another One Bites The Dust

I haven't been very good about radio updates, since you can get all your info between Chickrawker and SD Radio, but wasn't it just last week Jeff & Jer left their station?

Got this press release today regarding "Blazin 98.9":

Effective Tuesday September 1st, BLAZIN’ 98.9 San Diego’s “Hip Hop & More”, switched to a fully automated music output 24/7 with remaining operations staff, OM/Brand & Marketing Lee Cornell, on-air talent VANYA (Afternoon Drive) and CHRIS LOOS (Morning Drive / Evenings), Promotions Manager JEANICE LEE, Mixer DJ SEPH, and production personnel CHRIS “BAM” MORRISON and NOAH AYALA exiting the station.

Cornell said he expected it wouldn’t be long before high profile San Diego on-air talents VANYA and CHRIS LOOS, and the team members found new station homes elsewhere. “They’re good people; and CHRIS and VANYA are exceptional talents, listener focused, and committed team players. A real asset to a station wanting to build their brand power.”

Way to invest in people.

Changes In San Diego Radio

San Diego radio is got a shake-up on Tuesday, as Clear Channel cuts some of their on-air talent. According to Radio & Records, Star afternoon hosts Rick & Jen are gone. They'll be replaced by Hitman Haze from 933, though he's staying on as APD/MD for 933 and will be doing similar duties for Star.

Last thing, and this is really why I'm posting, is that middays at 933 will be taken over by Sisanie of KIIS-FM in Los Angeles. I know lots of people have been calling radio dead for a while, but I enjoy radio, I still choose radio over my iPod most of the time when I'm in my car, but the advantage radio keeps over my other options is that it is local. Clearchannel is known for 'faking it'...remember when BC and Woody tried to act like they still lived here? But this is a disturbing trend, not only for listeners, but from an advertising perspective, which is, as you know, my day job. I've also heard rumors that Clear Channel might be up for a format change soon, as Talk radio seeks a younger audience, you might start hearing more sports and talk on the FM band.

Chris Cantore Show @ X1FMradio.com

For a long time I've been listening to Indie 103.1 online in the mornings. I'm a huge fan of Joe Escalante, but I also really like radio. Unlike my iPod, a good radio show can give you bits of news and information, make you laugh, and make you feel like a part of a larger community. I've enjoyed Mat Diablo's new morning show at 91X though I only hear about 10 minutes of it because it's over by the time I'm done with my daily conference calls. I like listening to Garrett at 94/9 because he usually tosses in a few songs that aren't standard for your morning commute and he's got immense knowledge of the bands that he plays. But there's a gap in my radio day before I go back to Indie for Jonesy's Jukebox at noon and then Stacy Taylor at 3, and now that gap has closed.

Chris Cantore, who was at 91X for what? 12 years? Something like that anyway. Now he's back on the air and he's free to play a whole bunch of music not normally heard in a radio show, and he even has the freedom to say Fuck. It's like when Bill Maher was fired from CBS and made the jump to HBO and could finally say what he really wanted to say.

This Monday, appropriately on Cinco de Mayo, Chris' broadcast launched officially and there was a little Cinco de Mayo brunch and carne asada to go with it. The studio is in National City, once the offices of The Flash. The station is online only, but the owner also took the time to explain that they were able to break code of the iPhone and iTouch and it can be streamed on both devices when wireless is available. They gave a tour of the studios and explained some of the other launches they have planned in the coming months, but there was so much stuff, I could barely wrap my head around Chris being not only streaming online but with cameras on so you can watch everyone as they do the show, and on top of that, chat with them on a message board. And the bonus for me is that the show runs until noon. I particularly like the cross border influence of the station, with a daily rock en espanol segment, Jen Correia (blogger at SanDiego-ish) doing news, and the chemistry the whole team has on air.

It was a nice way to start of a Monday, but even more, it's another innovation from our little town. Some people would prefer me to pick favorites when it comes to radio, and in this case online radio, but to me, we're pretty damn lucky to have some quality choices, because if you think about it, the more airplay certain artists get between those choices, the more inclined they are to stop here on tour, like how Death Cab did private performances for FM 94/9, 91X, and KPRi all to eventually announce that they'll be here this summer. I love this city, and it's nice to listen to people on-air who feel the same.

This is through the glass from the conference room into the studio:


That's Kallao, who briefly joined Chris in the broadcast (and whose photography you can link to in my list of photo sites)


And for all my radio peeps, here's links to all of stations I've mentioned in this post, and they can all be streamed:

X1FMradio.com
FM 94/9
91X
KPRi
Indie 103.1

Good News For KLSD/Air America Listeners

Starting Jan. 3rd, 2008, Stacy Taylor will be broadcasting from 4pm to 7pm on 1700am.

Chris Cantore Leaves 91X

There are things that I sometimes don't blog. As much as I love news and can succumb to gossip, I feel a responsibility to keep certain things to myself when I hear them, because I value the relationships that I've made because of this blog and it's not my goal to screw with anyone's life. That said, I would be remiss if I didn't comment on the drama happening over at 91X.

First there was this piece in Blurt, back in November.

According to one insider, the next local morning DJ to be replaced by a
syndicated show is Chris Cantore, who has anchored the 91X morning show for 11
years. On November 14, his on-air partner Jennifer White announced that she was
leaving 91X after 2 years. She is set to get her own morning show on Sophie
103.7.

It is rumored that Cantore in the Morning will be replaced by the
L.A.-based Adam Carolla Show in January. Carolla's all-talk show replaced the
syndicated Howard Stern Show in many cities when Stern switched to Sirius almost
two years ago. Locally, the Carolla show was carried on Free FM, the now-defunct
all-talk station at 103.7 FM. Weak ratings prompted 103.7 to switch to the
female-friendly "Sophie" music format.

Then Ken, the most charming man in local journalism, did this piece about Al Guerra leaving 91X's Loudspeaker.

Chris Cantore, host of the 91X morning show for 11 years, signed off on
December 14, saying he was not sure if he would be coming back after a two-week
vacation.

When asked, Manning did not deny looking into replacing Cantore with a
nationally syndicated morning show; however, he says the next 91X morning show
will be live and local. But, Manning says he is looking "outside San Diego" for
morning-show talent.

I had the chance to talk to Chris and Ruggy at the FM 94/9 Holiday Hootenanny and it's no secret that things have been a-changing at 91X for some time now. To me, it's sad to see Kallao and Cantore go, and now Al Guerra, but I know they'll all be well. Sadly for radio listeners, things will probably get a whole lot worse before they get better.

And from Cantore's MySpace:

Aloha.
Yes, it's true.
I will not be returning to 91X in 2008.
I am sorry if you had to find out this way.
Currently, spending time with my family, friends, and surfboard.
I promise, I will tell you EVERYTHING very, very soon. Thank you for 11 years of support and all your well-wishes...melts my soul.

Good luck, Cantore. You will be missed.