Commander Chuck Street Out at KIIS-FM

After 28 years, "Commander" Chuck Street is out at KIIS-FM, reports the Orange County Register. The longtime traffic reporter had been out of his helicopter and grounded since the start of the year, after Pepsi pulled its sponsorship. That led KIIS and Clear Channel to lay him off last Friday. Street tells the newspaper:

"Greg Ashlock (market manager for Clear Channel) called last Thursday afternoon to say that he could no longer afford to pay me my daily rate to continue doing the traffic reports from the ground. My current pay was not in his budget. He indicated that he was getting pressure from 'corporate' to lay me off until something could be resolved with Pepsi or some other sponsor."

Street added in his e-mail, "I have been providing traffic reports on KIIS-FM for over 28 years. Pepsi-Cola has been my sponsor for just over 20 years. It has been a 'great run!' I have worked with some incredibly talented people on a legendary radio station KIIS-FM.

"Our multitudes of listeners have allowed my voice to be a part of the sound track of their daily lives. I know that people have listened to my traffic reports from their cars, their kitchens, their bedrooms, and bathrooms. And I recognize this as a privilege and have enjoyed the appreciation from listeners for so many years."

Commander Chuck Street was a KIIS institution, going back to the early days of Rick Dees' morning show... but I guess in this era of belt-tightening, having a helicopter reporter was a luxury item.

Breaking: Rick Dees Returns to L.A. Radio, This Time at Hot 92.3

Rick Dees is taking another stab at local radio, and this time it's with Clear Channel -- the company with which he bitterly parted ways in 2004.

Dees will host mornings on Clear Channel's R&B oldies outlet KHHT-FM (Hot 92.3) beginning Wednesday, May 4. Here are the details:

n making this announcement, Clear Channel Los Angeles Market Manager/President, Greg Ashlock said, “Rick is synonymous with radio in Los Angeles and this genre of music is perfect for him as he introduced many of these artists that ultimately paralleled his career path of popularity.”

Clear Channel Los Angeles head of Programming, John Ivey commented, “We asked Hot 92.3 listeners who their favorite radio personalities were and the two most mentioned were Art Laboe and Rick Dees!” Ivey continued, “So, with Rick starting the day with his infectious humor and old school hits and Art ending the day with requests and dedications, we are going to have some very happy listeners.”

Dees commented, “I am proud to be welcomed back into the number one radio market in the world, playing some of the best music ever recorded and especially getting the opportunity to reunite with a long list of Clear Channel friends.”

Rick will begin his mornings at Hot 92.3 on Wednesday, May 4th with a naming rights partner, Valley View Casino & Hotel, already in place. To celebrate his return, Dees will be throwing out the first pitch for the Dodgers/Cubs game at Dodger Stadium at 12:10pm after his debut show.

I guess all is forgiven between Dees and Clear Channel. Dees was shown the door at KIIS-FM -- and replaced with Ryan Seacrest -- seven years ago after he and the radio behemoth (which owns KIIS) couldn't come to terms on a new deal. His more than two decades at KIIS came to a sudden close.

Later, Dees joined Emmis' new "Movin' 93.9" in 2006 after the station dumped its country format. But three years later, Movin' 93.9 signed off and flipped to country. Since then, Dees has focused on his Internet and syndication businesses.

PREVIOUSLY ON FRANKLIN AVENUE:

Another One Bites the Dust: Movin 93.9 Signs Off (April 2009)

Rick Dees Loses Radio Home: "Movin 93.9" To Go Spanish (April 2009)

Rick Dees to Open Street-Level Radio Studio (February 2007)

BREAKING NEWS: KZLA Dumps Country and Goes Dance/Rick Dees (August 2006)

Dees Sleaze (February 2006)

Dees-Nied (February 2004)

And here's my Variety piece from 2006 on Dees, who was candid in how upset he was over what happened at KIIS in 2004. A clip:

"It was a nightmare," Dees says. "It's one thing to retire. It's another thing to have to stay off radio involuntarily."

Dees' contract at KIIS-FM was up, and although both sides were negotiating a new deal, the San Antonio-based owners at Clear Channel had other ideas. The company had been grooming "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest to eventually fill Dees' KIIS-FM chair. And although it came sooner than expected, KIIS and Clear Channel ultimately opted to part ways with the man who helped put that station on the map.

For Dees, it was a surreal moment. Seacrest, who patterned his radio career after Dees', was not just taking over his gig; everything else about the show -- even Dees' sidekick Ellen K -- was remaining.

"I heard my show being taken over, but still with all the players who I had hired," Dees says. "To take me out, stab me in the back and stick someone else on there because he's on a TV show ... it felt horrible. But I got over it.

"I slashed their tires," he quips. "But I got over it."

What Happened, KROQ? Rival 98.7 Delivers A Smackdown

What happened, KROQ?

The "World Famous" alt rocker is getting hit by increased competition from 98.7 KYSR-FM, the station once known as "Star 98.7." In the January Arbitron ratings, 98.7 posted a cume of 2.2 million listeners -- compared to KROQ's 2.1 million.

KROQ wins in certain demos, and still dominates in the morning -- but the fact that one-time also-ran 98.7 is now beating KROQ among total listeners 6+ is still surprising and a concern for tge legendary station.

Ever since moving away from modern adult contemporary music, and more into a heavy mix of 1980s and 1990s alternative gold that KROQ has mostly dumped, 98.7 has become a more solid competitor.

98.7, which also plays new music, also began to see its fortunes rise after Indie 103.1 left the airwaves. (98.7 even picked up a few old Indie shows, including "Complete Control Radio.")

Ironically, Clear Channel -- which owns KYSR -- originally helped launch Indie 103.1 as a "KROQ killer." But once it had to divest its management of Indie (which it ran for owner Entravision), Clear Channel turned its attention to making over 98.7 into a stronger competitor.

Since then, 98.7 has added harder alt rock to its mix -- although still softer and more mainstream than CBS Radio-owned KROQ.

"It's the result of a very focused music strategy and plan to win the lion’s share of the alternative rock audience in Southern California," Greg Ashlock, Clear Channel/LA market president, told LARadio.com. "The secret sauce is authenticity. The 98-7 staff from top to bottom passionately believes in this station and treats work like a playground. There is no hype, just genuine interest in delivering good product to the alternative rock lovers."

Authenticity? No hype? Then what's with the most annoying -- and most corporate-sounding -- marketing campaign I've ever seen for a rock station? 98.7 still insists on calling its audience "Rock-a-holics" -- which sounds like a term a 1970s-era album rock station would use ("HEY, ROCK-A-HOLICS, HERE'S STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN!"). No self-respecting, genuine alt rock station would go with the marketing and image campaign that 98.7 has (including that font -- are they trying to be tongue-in-cheek? If so, I can't tell -- or maybe I just can't fathom Clear Channel having a sense of humor). But I guess it's working.

KROQ isn't sitting down. The station just brought Ted Stryker back to KROQ (from sister top 40 KAMP) to host afternoon drivetime. The station has weathered several competitors through the years, but this may be its toughest challenge yet.

Conflicting Messages for Motorists out of Sacramento

Let's get this straight:

The Governatorhas signed a bill outlawing texting or reading your wireless device while driving:

He signed legislation banning drivers from sending, writing or reading messages on electronic devices starting in January.

Two months ago, drivers were barred from talking on cell phones except with hands-free devices.

“Building on legislation already helping save lives in California,” said Schwarzenegger in a press release, “I am happy to sign this bill because it further encourages safe and responsible driving.”

The bill, SB 28 by Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), imposes a $20 fine for a first offense and $50 fine for each subsequent violation.

We're all guilty of doing this -- well, I, ahem, have been known to check my email on the road. BUT, always at a red light. Does this outlaw that too? I guess it's hard to make a distinction between driving while texting and idling while texting. And I reluctantly agree, this is a good idea, and will prevent many a fender bender.

So....

It's mighty confusing to read that state legislators are mulling a plan that would cause bigtime freeway distractions, cause traffic jams and perhaps even accidents.

The difference: The Driving-While-Texting industry doesn't have much sway in Sacramento. The outdoor advertising industry, on the other hand, has become BFFs with lawmakers in recent years.



In this case, outdoor advertisers have proposed new, colorful LED freeway signs. The catch? They want to use the billboards for advertising in between Amber Alerts and Caltrans messages. The skinny:

The money-making scheme, already broached to federal officials who allocate highway funds, would allow businesses to post ads on California's 674 electronic roadside message boards.

State officials figure the cash-strapped highway fund could make millions by allowing ads when the signs are not in use for emergencies.

But some traffic safety advocates say the potential revenue is not worth the costs of tempting drivers to take their eyes off the road.

"The biggest issue with digital billboards is they are enormously distracting to motorists," said Kevin E. Fry, a traffic safety advocate and longtime billboard opponent.

Others express concern that ads would add visual blight and change the purpose of a system meant to save children and help drivers.

The idea for the signs came from Clear Channel Outdoor, a billboard company that potentially stands to gain from the proposal.

Aha, Clear Channel. Why am I not surprised?

Another L.A. Radio Shakeup Is On The Way

Expect a format change soon on R&B "V100" 100.3 FM, KRBV-FM -- the station that was once hip-hop "The Beat." Since becoming a more mellow urban AC, the listenership on 100.3 has plunged.

Enter Bonneville, the radio group (owned by the Mormon church) that once had a presence here in L.A., owning outlets such as KBIG-FM 104.3 and country KZLA 93.9. Bonneville is back in L.A. and the new owner of 100.3, in a $137.5 million transaction.

Early rumors have hinted that Bonneville might flip 100.3 FM to a news/talk format. The company has had success with FM news/talk in other markets, including D.C.

If that happens, expect some real shuffling, as pundits believe Clear Channel would be prepared to put KFI on FM, dumping one of its music formats (such as Hot 92.3 or Star 98.7) in the process. Clear Channel would want to protect its news/talk franchise, the scuttlebutt goes -- and the idea of a KFI-FM has been floating around for years.

But the message boards over at Radio-Info wonder if Bonneville will go news/talk, given how saturated L.A. already is with two news stations and countless gabbers.

That's why another rumored format is making the rounds: Country. Would Bonneville bring some twang to the 100.3 frequency? And if so, what would independent owner Saul Levine do with his KKGO-FM 105.1, which flipped to country when KZLA 93.9 dropped the format?

With all this mixing and moving, perhaps there's an opportunity for an underserved radio format to also return to L.A. airwaves. What would you like to see -- a real album-oriented rock station? Dance? Adult alternative?

Ryan Seacrest's New BFF, Rocky Delgadillo

Quote of the week has to come from this excellent piece in the L.A. Times about a lobbyist who's helping throw a big party for City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo.

Ken Spiker and Associates also just happens to be the lobbyist that represented Clear Channel Outdoor as it fought the city over billboard regulation -- and ultimately managed to stop the city from investigating illegal billboards. Not only, in a joke of a compromise, were those billboards grandfathered in, but Clear Channel was allowed to turn 420 of its signs into those big, flashing, dangerous LED billboards you're now seeing all over town.

Coincidentally, Clear Channel Outdoor gave $425,000 to promote Rocky's candidacy on billboards. Rocky -- the guy who represented the city in its fight against... yes, Clear Channel Outdoor (and the other billboard companies). Cozy, no?

So back to that quote of the week. Reporter David Zahniser points out that critics of Delgadillo are calling this party a not-so-subtle "thank you" from the lobbyist for being such a good pal.

Ryan Seacrest -- who hosts mornings on Clear Channel's KIIS-FM -- will emcee the event.

Delgadillo's people say it's actually Seacrest who's spearheading the event, Zahniser writes:

Delgadillo spokesman Nick Velasquez also downplayed the significance of the event, saying it is not a fundraiser but a "meet and greet."

"Apparently, Mr. Seacrest heard some good things about Rocky and wanted to hold a 'meet and greet' to introduce him to some of his friends," he said.

Hey, that makes perfect sense to me!

Hope You Like Daughtry, Because The New "104.3MyFM" Sure Does

The long-expected rumors were true: Clear Channel's Hot Adult Contemporary station 104.3 KBIG flipped this morning, to the new moniker "104.3MyFM."

Anyone else tired of the "My" reference? MySpace, MyNetworkTV, etc. But hey, we live in narcissistic times, so why not.

The station itself doesn't sound too different -- it mostly strips the disco from KBIG (which, in its most recent retooling, started referring to itself as "The New K-B-I-G" as opposed to "K-Big.")

Also stripped from the station: Morning drive DJ Charlie Tuna, who announced his departure this morning during one final show. (Listen to the transition from Tuna and KBIG to the new "104.3MyFM" here.)

Tuna later wrote on his website:

Clear Channel management has new plans for this dial position at 104.3FM and I’m not part of that plan. What I have been told is that Clear Channel wants to talk to me about the future with them and explore a number of new ideas they are still in the process of developing. As a result, I’m still maintaining my office, key card, parking space and coffee cup that I’ve had the past 7 years at KBIG. I just won’t be on the air at KBIG anymore.

Can't say there's anything new or exciting about the "My104.3" sound; here's a sample of what the station is playing:

1. Daughtry - Home
2. Fergie - Big Girls Don't Cry
3. Beyonce - Irreplaceable
4. Bon Jovi - Livin On A Prayer
5. Rascal Flatts - What Hurts the Most
6. Norah Jones - Don't Know Why
7. Carrie Underwood - Before He Cheats
8. Nickelback - Photograph
9. Kelly Clarkson -Breakaway
10. Justin Timberlake - Sexy Back

One Clear Channel exec said the station is meant to be positioned between its softer AC KOST and its more modern AC KYSR (Star 98.7). Of course, rumors persist that Clear Channel may soon find a new format for Star as well -- such as an Adult Album Alternative sound (like the old FM 101.9 or Channel 103.1) or a harder rock playlist.