In an interesting twist on perception versus reality, it appears that the investment made by The Soros Fund Management into Audacy may help stabilize the company.
When Soros first announced interest in Audacy, it raised the possibility that it planned to align the company with the political views of chairman George Soros, who often contributes to liberal candidates and causes.
Audacy is known for carrying right-leaning talk programming, though its bread and butter is music radio and news. Audacy’s Los Angeles stations, for example, include KRTH (101.1 FM), KTWV (94.7 FM), KROQ (106.7 FM) and Jack FM (93.1) in addition to KNX Newsradio (1070 AM, 97.1 FM).
What appears to be happening is that the Soros influence is more of stabilization, by reversing some of the decisions made by former Audacy CEO David Field. Jerry Del Colliano of InsideMusicMedia.Com calls it a “strategic and cultural pivot.”
As Del Colliano points out, significant positive changes are being made at Audacy:
• Some of the people who made CBS Radio successful before it merged with Entercom and changed its name to Audacy are coming back or being promoted after being let go or marginalized. One example is newly promoted Chief Operating Officer Chris Oliviero, a former CBS Radio programming executive with “deep ties to top-performing talent and market managers,” is now in charge of bringing back good people to leadership roles.
• Audacy CEO Kelli Turner is bringing back former CBS executives whohad kept CBS golden before the merger.
• The company is working to stabilize operations by allowing managers to do their jobs rather than having to have every decision approved by upper executives. Importantly, Del Colliano says, Audacy leaders being brought back “understand talent-driven formats.”
• Major talent is seeing contract extensions.
Not that everything is perfect. People are still being let go in order to stabilize cash-flow issues. But it does appear that stabilization, rather than liquidation, is a long-term goal. And while competitor iHeart focuses on podcasts, Audacy appears to be investing in traditional radio.
If this holds, it can only be a good thing.
KIIS Diamond Mine
My friend and column reader David Schwartz sent me a link to an aircheck of Dave Diamond on KIIS (1150 AM). Not KIIS-FM, but the AM radio predecessor circa 1972, in the days when 102.7 FM was still called KKDJ. You can find the recording at https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=SFe8RD8UeoM.
Dave Diamond is well-known among Los Angeles radio historians and fans. He was the second DJ on Boss Radio KHJ in 1985, signing on after The Real Don Steele. He was also heard on other local stations such as KRLA (now KWVE, 1110 AM), KBLA (1500 AM, now dark), and, of course, KIIS.
This version of KIIS is interesting. My sister Jackie absolutely loved the station. We listened to it constantly as she drove me around in our 1964 Impala wagon. It’s mellow with a wide playlist and most definitely marketed to women.
You’ll hear a great Sav-On drug store jingle and election news updates — it was Election Day as incumbent President Richard Nixon sought re-election — but the primary focus is music and mood. This station was made to help you feel relaxed. There is no hype to this station at all; even the commercials are mellow. Interspersed occasionally between songs are inspirational quotes and uplifting messages. And a full newscast gives the important issues of the day, proving that the more things change, the more they remain the same.
That newscast, by the way, is given by Charleye Wright, who would later become sportscaster/sidekick to Rick Dees on KIIS-FM!
Diamond – who unfortunately passed away in May of 2014 – pulls it all off perfectly. His voice is so smooth and friendly, creating an atmosphere that perhaps was needed while we were still fighting in Vietnam. I didn’t appreciate it at the time, but this lifestyle station should be worth considering as a basis for today … something to take your mind off the chaos of the fast-moving world today. I would listen every day.
Perhaps I should add this format to my chain of AM stations I plan to own in retirement …
Richard Wagoner is a San Pedro freelance columnist covering radio in Southern California. Email rwagoner@socalradiowaves.com