Adam Carolla rips KLSX's change in format

KLSX morning talk show host Adam Carolla riffed on what he called the sad state of Los Angeles radio on the penultimate show Thursday for the station, which on Friday will replace its all-talk platform with a Top 40 format geared to younger listeners. As previously reported, KLSX-FM (97.1) will cease to exist in its current state at 5 p.m. Friday.

Carolla didn't mince words when discussing the changeover. “All you’re going to hear on L.A. radio now is ranchera music and Top 40,” he said.

He denounced the state of local radio, where “now you’ll hear more Justin Timberlake and Rihanna.”

Carolla also said he understood the decision by the station’s parent company, CBS Radio, to be a business one. “I don’t take this personally. I have nothing bad to say about CBS.”

Carolla also announced Thursday that he would start podcasting "The Adam Carolla Show" beginning Monday at adamcarolla.com.

The Times will file more on the station's format change this week.

-- Greg Braxton

Photo: Associated Press

Comments

[Diego]

In other words someone at CBS is going to plug-in their iPod to the broadcast antena and push play.

This is really sad. I’ve been a listener of KLSX for over 8 years and this has come to a shock for me.

I think this is just lazy work from CBS. They were the only game in town when it came to FM talk radio. CBS has shown how incompetant they are if they can’t sell advertising for the only Los Angeles all FM talk radio.

[Rick Stelow]

This is so sad, but it's always sad to find that you are worthless. The shows on KLSX had a huge listener base (and a worldwide one - Adam Carolla's show is apparently one of the most podcasted), but apparently it wasn't enough. As an intelligent person in my late-30's, with first Indie 103.1 and now 97.1 going off the air, I feel like I'm just at an irrelevant age (30's - 40's) for advertisers. My parents generation was huge in numbers, the younger generation outnumbers even them, so we are not attractive for number crunchers. Never mind that culturally we invented Punk Rock and great minds like Carolla, sadly our future is going to filled with horrible pop music and mindless TV Shows. Hope you suckers really really like The Jonas Brothers and American Idol, because pretty soon all 500 TV Channels and all your radio stations will be just that. Sorry (most) kids, we are "old", but you are dumb. (Except for the few smart ones who know better - don't want to leave you out.) Good job corporate America!

I also saw a commentator who said something about the station being mindless middle age frat-boy Howard Stern rip-offs. You obviously just watched The Man Show and never actually heard Adam's show, which was as intelligent and insightful as anything heard on public radio while managing to be entertaining at the same time, which I rarely find public radio to be. Ugh.

I have reverted back to being 15 in the 1980's when I was just listening to my Black Flag records - culturally disenfranchised and angry :)

[Miguel]

This truly is a sad day for radio in Los Angeles. First, Indie 103.1 went off the air to be replaced by ranchera music. Now this.

[OSweet]

He defined a Los Angeleno as dumb, Mexican, or both.

[Rachel in Portland]

I can NOT believe this. Adam Carolla and Teressa Strasser brought radio to a new level that others could only dare to aspire to. I personally feel completely rocked by this ridiculous decision by CBS radio. I'm sure that more top 40 songs is exactly what this society needs.

[Rick]

OSweet, you say Adam Carolla defined a Los Angeleno as dumb, Mexican, or both. But he didn't. He is saying that that is how corporate radio programmers see us. And it's sadly true, because those are the biggest demographics - a Hispanic, Spanish-speaking audience or a dumb audience. Both are being served well in this market, so I guess I'll have to learn to speak Spanish to hear anything intelligent, because the dumb demographic doesn't cover me :)

[sal]

Friday is when LA Radio is truely dead. With Indie gone, KROQ is back to Rock of 90's, and with the top 40...what is the average person going to do? Be forced to listen to S? I cant understand why CBS would do this. being 27th over all in a market? so what. So, then you are going to fill it will more of the same S, force people to listen, then have inflated numbers to show that's work??? God damn you all at CBS!

[W]

Off goes my radio. I can play Adam's podcasts, and whatever Tom does from my car stereo. Until then, I'll be using my USB Key filled with what I want to listen to, without commercials. This is quite possibly the dumbest move I've ever heard of. Business decision? To throw your hat in the ring with stations that have been around for decades? Are you retarded? At FM Talk, you were untouchable :P Stupid stupid stupid.

Killing the radio, one station at a time. WTG CBS.

[JAM]

This sucks! Thank God, I was curious about the Carolla meal list that I click on it and was shock to see that not only was he gone, but eveyone at the station by Friday! The one thing about radio that I find disrespectful, is that when a show is on the air for 10+ years, they just dissapear the next day with no announcement. Thankfully I heard Tim Conway's show for one last time on the air with some great guest like Stecklet returning. I am dissapointed in Viacom ....again. I just pray they won't take Kroq away or the Kevin and Bean show.

This is bad business, especially when as a shareholder, the stock has been sliding for months. It's time to get rid of Redstone and replace the board with some young blood to run the company. Imagine, Viacome decides to go with a top 40 concept like most stations in LA and give ammunition to their rivals, because Leykis and Carolla are not going to be off the air for long. Once the stock recovers,somewhat, I am selling.

[Scott]

Just another example of the dumbing down of mass media. Rupert Murdoch must be proud.

[Joe]

Hey, I'm a dumb mexican who listens to Carolla and Leykis. Yet I know CBS is FOS! But what do I know right? I just have a cow sticker on the side of my beat up pick up, own 3 properties, have a successful career and would probably buy whatever product or service their advertising on a radio station that didn't play the same song 200 times a day. Thanks, thanks a lot pendej...

[Andy]

Simply put... the majority of people in Los Angeles are dumb. Now let's give those people what they want - top 40 nonsense and Ranchera music. Let's continue to widen the the gap of the rich and the poor by keeping our stupid people stupid and our smart people away from those people.

[Jack]

Radio is a filler. Doesnt matter whats on.
CBS decision makes sense in financial terms.
Although Adam's show was showing improvement, the "talent" on the air wasnt very good at all.
I dont think the ratings are as good as they were claiming
Im surprised by not shocked by this.

[Rastus]

As a listener in England who downloads the podcasts I find this really sad. Adam is the only decent alternative to Howard Stern and as Howard's show is starting to decline someone needs to fill that gap. Hopefully Adam will be back somewhere and as long as there is the internet we will still be able to share his wit.

[Bill]

Adam Carolla is one of the most brilliant comedy minds working today. I'm extremely bummed. All I can say is one word. "Loveline"?

[Mike Gee]

I'm glad Adam Carolla is leaving the air. All he does is complain about everything. He hates his dad, he hates Mexicans, Arabs, LA. You were raised in LA you moron, show some freakin' pride hypocrite. If you don't like anything about LA than do something about it. Run for Mayor instead of blowing your money on making B-Movies. Oh yeah 1 more thing...your Stripper-DJ impression sux! What's next Kimmel's sidekick. You suck at that too!

[Fell Swoop]

I jumped into the Beamer this morning and remembered it was before 10 am and I could catch some of Adams show. I couldn't believe my ears! At first I thought just Teresa was leaving. But then it hit me .. .I had to pull the car over.... felt like John Lennon had just been shot. A day to live in infamy. CBS don't you know the reason anyone even knows you are in radio is CBS stands for C-orolla B-rings S-exyiness? Go ahead CBS. Drift away into mediocrity amongst all the rest of the same sounding top 40 dime a dozen radio stations. Don't dare to be different whatever you do. Now, do what you're told, quit smoking drugs and but Mr. Carolla back on the air where he belongs. Thank you.

[Sam]

I've listened to 97.1 since it carried Howard Stern, when they went through hosts like dirty socks. The station has really struggled with boring shows and diminishing ratings. That's a shame, because they were the only game in town for fun talk.

It is indeed a sad day, but there is hope: discover for yourself an Internet talk station that is both fresh and original: LA Talk Radio.

Yes, I happen to own the station, but I think you'll agree that irreverent, entertaining talk is still alive and well in LA, or the world for that matter. If you love TALK RADIO, I think you may find the radio station as the cure for boring radio.

[carlos cordova]

so, mr. carolla's parting shot is "ranchera music"? good riddance. carolla represents a dying breed, along with rantel, elder, o'reilly, and every other HATE RADIO dj who made their living off of attacking mexicans/central americans. i will not miss him or any of his ilk. i just wish that "john and ken" and mcintyre were added to the mix. once those hate-filled voices are done, i will surely rejoice.

[Peter]

I live far from LA but I just sent KCRW $$ for podcasts of Harry Sherer and Left RIght and Center. Adam, paypal or VISA?

[Danny Fan]

I stopped listening when he did that Pearl Harbor job on Danny Bonaduce. That was the beginning of the end. Who did he think he was. That was cruel, Danny deserved better. Adam just didn't have any substance.

[Encinoman]

I enjoyed Carolla's show and will miss it every morning. However, a couple of weeks ago he hated on Steve Miller, a hardworking musician who's been pleasing fans for 40 years. Can't help but think how ironic that Carolla will now be replaced by pop music like Millers...

[Ryan]

Thank God I live in Las Vegas so I don't have to listen to the new station. Sorry for all ACS listeners in LA who have to put up with ANOTHER top 40 station where they play the same songs over and over and over.

I've been listening to the ACS for three years, and it was the best!

RIP Adam Carolla Show 2/20/09.

[Matt]

The Adam Carolla Show has gotten me through the work day for about 2 years now, and I honestly got a rumbling in my stomach when I read the headline today that his show was being bumped.

... And then I had to read the whole article to get to the good news -- that he's going to podcast the show now. Whew.

Gotta get it on!

[rocky]

First Indie 103.1 is taken away and now 97.1?! This blows chunks.
I like both Adam Carrolla + Tom Lykis. I'm a 40 year Mexican-American college educated woman and yes I found both shows refreshing. Adam is intelligent. He knows what it is to struggle and grow up in the 70's/early 80's when disposible income wasn't around. When you weren't automatically sent to summer camp because the reality is, sometimes our parents didn't have the $$$. Kids nowadays think they are entitled to a BMW and a $90K job out of college.
Our commutes to work and from work will now really be sketchy. KLSX & Indie offered an alternative to KROQ and the top 40 pop-tart crap on the radio. I can't stand the pretentious KCRW or KPFK.
-rocky