Powerful New Music
Power 106 (KPWR, 105.9 FM) is focussing on new music through a new program that made its debut recently: New at Night, which airs every Tuesday through Friday early morning, 12 Midnight to 2 a.m.
The first hour of each show is hosted by personalities Felli Fel and Justin Credible; the second hour by Mando Fresko. The show is programmed and mixed by Few and Credible as well.
“Over the years I have been able to watch artists like Kendrick, YG, Logic, J. Cole and Big Sean grow from our new music platforms to become superstars off their first airplay and discovery on Power 106!” Incredible told All Access Music Group (AllAccess.Com). “I’m excited to help bring two hours of new Hip Hop every night from Soundcloud to the streets! I look forward to breaking more new artists both in LA and around the world.”
While Hip Hop is most definitely not my style, I have to commend Power 106 for adding this show to the on-air lineup. And it is not the only way for new music to hit the station’s airwaves. The Power website, Power106.Com, has a link for artists to submit their songs for potential addition to the station playlist.
As I mentioned recently, it is imperative for at least some stations to focus on new music if young people are going to listen to traditional radio instead of alternatives like Soundcloud, Apple Music, or even discovering new bands on Facebook. Now if we can just get other formats on board …
Cancer Scare
Jillian Barberie, half of KABC’s (790 AM) afternoon (3-7 p.m.) The Drive Home alongside John Phillips, announced last week that she has breast cancer. She told of the diagnosis on Twitter, and her story has inspired other women to tell their own stories or simply have their annual mammograms.
“Results back. It’s cancer in my right breast but also it has spread to my lymph node,” she wrote November 1st. “Appointment at Bedford Breast to assess everything. I’m going to be super aggressive and do double mastectomy and they said I need chemo for the lymph. Thanks for coming on this journey with me!
“Meeting with team this morning to get a game plan,” she said the next day. “To be honest, I just want the boobs gone and the cancer outta me. Then tackle the lymph node. But hey I’m no expert. And all I can think is ……. damnit. I should have done Playboy while I had those beauties.”
Surfing with Allen
Yes, that is Laurie Allen playing the oldies weekday afternoons on K-Surf (1260 AM, 105.1 HD2). Allen has been doing weekends and fillips at sister station Go Country 105 (KKGO, 105.1 FM) for quite some time; it is nice to hear her daily again … I used to work with her as an intern when she did weeknights years ago on Magic 106 (now Power 106).
Speaking of K-Surf, the station will be adding recordings of Dick Clark’s Rock, Roll and Remember starting November 18th. The program will air Sundays from 8 a.m. to 12 Noon.
Write-Back
“I appreciate your articles in the daily breeze on radio, and I’m a fellow San Pedran. I like to listen to Jack-FM 93.1 in the morning. On some days, it is very clear. On others we can hardly hear it. I wondered if you could explain why that is happening.” — Lauren
Absolutely. It is caused by good weather.
What is happening is that the clear weather conditions have allowed stations from San Diego and possibly Northern Mexico to travel up the coast; the signals, which have a nice straight path over the ocean, can at times be quite strong, and they interfere with the signal from Jack-FM. Southern San Pedro is especially vulnerable to such interference as the hills tend to block out the signals from Los Angeles giving San Diego or even Santa Barbara stations to come in as strong or stronger than the locals.
I noticed it last week when KROQ (106.7 FM) was barely receivable on some radios. Interestingly, the digital HD stream was able to push through even when the analog signal was compromised, so I was able to hear it in my truck — I have an HD Radio — fairly consistently.
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