Long Beach Radio Celebration
Long Beach community radio station KLBP (99.1 FM) is gearing up for a celebration and fundraising event in anticipation of a relaunch highlighting all the changes that have been happening both in front of and behind the microphone.
Before you start tuning in at 99.1, keep in mind that this is a low-power FM signal designed to be heard in and around Long Beach. If you are outside the coverage area, the signal may not reach your radio and you’ll hear instead KGGI/Riverside. The fix? Download the station’s app, listen online, or use a something like iHeartRadio, TuneIn, or MyTunerRadio.
It’s called the “Our Voice” Celebration, and will take place Saturday May 3rd from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Edison Theatre, 217 E Broadway in Long Beach. On hand will be KLBP air personalities, along with local poets, songwriters, storytellers and musicians … plus plenty of food and drinks making for what station personality and Board of Directors member Mike Stark calls “a huge party.”
There will also be a silent auction to help raise funds to cover operational expenses at the station, which is run 100% by volunteers.
Stark will broadcast live from the event the first and last hour, and says he will feature highlights of some of the station’s current programming. The main stage event, hosted by station general manager and event Master of Ceremonies Danny Lemos, will air live from 8 to 9 p.m.
Lemos explained that “the theme of our event mirrors the mood of the country at the moment, keeping all our voices strong and united as one powerful voice for action, which is the platform KLBP provides in our community.” Added Stark, “We’re excited to present this as a way to introduce ourselves to the community and showcase what we have to offer.”
The event is co-sponsored by the Port of Long Beach; tickets are available through Eventbright, and more information can be found on the station website at KLBP.org.
April Fools
Last week’s feature on KLOS (95.5 FM) changing formats to Yacht Rock for April Fools’ Day brought memories of other station pranks in years gone by. One I had not heard of was remembered by retired radio production genius Douglas Brown: the year KRTH (101.1 FM) went all-news.
I looked for airchecks of this and could find none … send some my way if you happen to have them. Brown told me it was absolutely convincing, with a teletype machine sound in the background, special news “sounders” and promos … even special jingles. The all-news format ran all day, much like this year’s prank on KLOS.
Brown places it about 1986. “It was well produced and played straight,” he said adding “it melting down the request lines.”
Huntington Tango
Huntington Beach will be the host city for KIIS-FM’s (102.7) Wango Tango 2025, to be held on Saturday, May 10th. Hosted by morning man Ryan Seacrest, the lineup of performers includes Doja Cat, Meghan Trainor, DJ David Guetta, Katseye, and more … plus a special performance at sunset by Orange County’s own Gwen Stefani.
This is the first Wango Tango in three years, the last being held in Carson in 2022.
The concert will be held right at at Huntington City Beach, 21301 East Pacific Coast Highway; gates will open at 4 p.m. and tickets are available at AXS.com or through a link at the KIIS-FM website at kiisfm.iheart.com/
The very first Wango Tango was held way back in 1998 at Edison Field in Anaheim. Von Freeman and Roy Laughlin — station marketing director and general manager, respectively, at the time — came up with the idea, and it has been a mainstay ever since. Venues have included those already mentioned as well as Dodger Stadium, the Rose Bowl, Angel Stadium, the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, and even Staples Center … or whatever some of these are called now.
Musically, the concerts have always reflected both the current and future staples of songs as heard on KIIS, running the gamut from Mariah Carey, Will Smith, Paula Cole, Shaggy, and the Goo Goo Dolls to Pitbull, Usher, Bruno Mars, Big Time Rush, Ed Sheeran, and of course, this year’s lineup of KIIS stars.
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