K-Earth gets a Marconi … and a Schatz
KRTH (101.1 FM) got some good news last Thursday (9/27) when the members of the National Association of Broadcasters got together for their annual Marconi Radio Awards dinner gala in Orlando. The celebration for broadcasting excellence singled out the station as the Classic Hits Station of the Year.
Classic hits? Yes, as the term “oldies” has taken on a negative connotation in the radio world even though the entire non-broadcast world still calls the music they play “oldies.” Purists of course say that oldies has to come from the 1950s, ‘60s, or perhaps even ‘70s … and of course KRTH plays music from as recently as the ‘90s.
But consider: KRTH in 1972 played music only as old as 1955, or a maximum of 17 years old. Today, 17 years ago would be 2001. Kind of makes you feel old, doesn’t it? That movement of music into the 1980s and (gasp!) 1990s on the KRTH playlist has allowed the station to remain relevant as well as extremely popular. Indeed, KRTH has been toward the top of the ratings for years.
New Face
That’s not all the KRTH news … local boy Kevin Schatz – formerly heard on sister station Amp Radio (97.1 FM) – has moved down the hall to handle weekends at the classic rock station. He can be heard Saturdays from 6 – 11 p.m. and Sundays 3 – 8 p.m.
Schatz is a South Bay native who has been working at the Entercom – formerly CBS – cluster of stations for a few years. Previous experience includes background work at KROQ (106.7 FM) as well as his on-air work at Amp.
“It’s surreal to join a station as historic and beloved as this one, Schatz wrote on his Facebook page. “K-Earth is the first station I can remember listening to as a kid; my mom always had it on when she drove me and my siblings to school in the morning. It was also the favorite station of my late Uncle George who I know would’ve been beyond thrilled for me.”
PPB Luncheon
Patrick Duffy will be the guest of honor at the next Pacific Pioneer Broadcaster Luncheon October 5 at the Sportsman’s Lodge in Studio City. On the dais will be Linda Gray, Suzanne Summers, James Duff, Conor Duffy, Pedraic Duffy, Mike Robin and Bill Bickley.
None of those are radio guys, of course. Patrick Duffy is best known for his portrayal of Bobby Ewing on the popular 1980s CBS television program Dallas. What makes this luncheon special is that it marks the first luncheon under the direction of new PPB president Shotgun Tom Kelly.
Kelly is radio. He was heard locally on KRTH (what … is this KRTH Day?) for over 20 years, spent much of his career in San Diego at legendary stations such as KCBQ, KGB and B-100, and is currently hosting afternoons (3 – 7 p.m.) on SiriusXM satellite radio’s Sixties on Six, Channel 6. He knows radio’s history and is personal friends with numerous personalities and managers. Consider him a walking radio encyclopedia.
“We’re making a lot of changes,” Kelly told me about the luncheons. I want the program to move faster and put increased focus on the guests of honor.” This will be a good year.
Have ten years experience in the broadcasting industry (radio, television, or an allied field)? You should join. Hey, they let me in due to this very column and of course my extensive on-air experience at UCLA’s campus station, KLA … as well as the amazing announcing I do in my car. 47 new members joined the PPB as Summer began.
///