Remembering my first FM listening
A couple weeks ago, I wrote of some of my favorite radio stations I listened to as I was growing up … discovering radio itself, as it were. All AM at the time, due in part to the fact that all of my radios were AM — be them transistor portables or plug-in tube radios. But AM was where it was at back then anyway, at least as far as popular music. Most of the top stations were on AM; it would still be a few years before FM truly became a thing.
I also stayed with AM longer than most of my friends … something that can still be said today … even listening to the Car Radio format on KHJ (930 AM). Apparently I was the only one.
Sometime around 1972 or ’73, though, I discovered an FM tuner in my brother’s closet. It was a Harman Kardon Citation III built from a kit. This one wasn’t stereo, but I didn’t have much knowledge of that anyway. I connected it to my brother’s guitar amplifier, because I was erroneously told that the other parts of the system did not work.
It was here that I found KKDJ (now KIIS-FM, 102.7) and K-100 (KIQQ, now KKLQ, 100.3 FM). I can’t say that I was “hooked,” as I played around with the tuner for a while and then put it away. But I was intrigued.
Eventually, in the coming years and especially when I bought my first stereo receiver from Wallach’s Music City, I’d discover Dr. Demento on KMET (now KTWV, 94.7 FM), mellow rock on KNX-FM (now KCBS-FM, 93.1) and KEZY-FM (now KFSH, 95.9 FM) and later on KZLA (now KLLI, 93.9 FM) which went by the simple moniker of “94 FM.
Even later was KIQQ once more, this time when they embraced the second British Invasion and played much of the same music as KROQ (106.7 FM). I preferred KIQQ, and to this day consider it among the best formats ever on radio. Of course I, like so many others, embraced KRTH (101.1 FM), especially when Bob Hamilton was in charge of programming and played primarily new music, with special oldies weekends such as the great “Souvenir of the ‘70s.”
From San Diego I discovered KFMB-FM (B-100) and a few others. But it was when Chuck Martin launched The New K-WEST (now KPWR, 105.9 FM) in the summer of 1981 that I was hooked. This was truly KHJ on FM, and I loved it. Unfortunately it didn’t last; just about the time that it changed to Magic 106 in 1983, KIIS-FM relaunched as top-40 and set the world on fire. By this time with rare exception, there was really nothing left to listen to on AM anyway.
I know I am missing a few. In fact, I remember listening to K-HITZ 97.1 (now KNX-FM, the all news simulcast of KNX 1070 AM) a lot. At the Sears Surplus Store in San Pedro we played KOST (103.5 FM) a lot as well, though in the back receiving area I was glued to K-WEST. My friends listened to KROQ (106.7 FM) but I was too top-40-ish to appreciate it at the time.
If I had to pick my absolute favorites of my all-time FM radio listening, I’d have to include KIQQ, KKDJ, KIIS-FM, B-100, KRTH, and of course K-WEST. Today my favorites are Alt 98.7 and Go Country 105.1 FM.
I bring all of this up for no other reason than to spark your own memories. My plan is to periodically feature a remembrance of stations that either are no longer here, or were of a different focus than today … and I want your ideas so it’s not just a history of my own listening. It can be FM or AM, popular or not. Let me know and I’ll do my best to uncover fun facts about your favorites in addition to my own.
The Mail Bag
“Always like to read your column. Something has bothered me for a long time — the ratings always seem to be for listeners age 6 and above. Why in the world would adults care what a small child listens to? I don’t care and would probably NOT listen to a station a 6 year old likes. Just my thought. Thanks for listening (reading).” — Linda Rosenthal
I always wondered that myself. In fact, the starting age varies by market and the ratings collection system used; in smaller markets that still use diaries for people to write their listening habits, the age is 12 and over. Larger markets including Los Angeles use Portable People Meters that are worn by selected participants, and in these areas the starting age of note is six.
So I asked an expert, a local program director who explained that it may sound a bit crazy, but there is a method behind the madness.
“The truth is they’re just trying to get the broadest number to reflect the biggest population – basically everybody in the universe of potential listeners,” said the program director. “I think they chose six because somebody theoretically is in kindergarten at that time but who the heck is depending on kindergartners for ratings?”
I should check with ratings company Nielsen to find out how many 6-year olds wear the meters. That would make for a fascinating Show and Tell segment.
“There is one station you left out the week before last. When I moved here in 1965 I discovered KWIZ in Santa Ana. It was the first oldies station I ever heard. I remember they had some contest about making suggestions and I sent one in and got $50 for it! I believe they also had a sister station like it in San Jose.” — Ron Karam, Fullerton
I left out many stations. I wasn’t a big listener of KWIZ, but I do remember it. Yes/No Radio was the format I recall, and it was similar to what you describe. I believe that KLOK was the Bay Area sister, which ran the same format.
Richard Wagoner is a San Pedro freelance columnist covering radio in Southern California. Email rwagoner@socalradiowaves.com
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