Clearing the air at KLSX
The Times' Greg Braxton filed this story late Friday on KLSX-FM (97.1). It will appear in Saturday's Calendar section.
The displaced talk jocks of KLSX-FM (97.1) did not go quietly into that good night as the station switched over late Friday afternoon to a Top 40 music format designed to entice younger listeners.
Informed midweek that they would be out of a job in only a few days, the station's personalities -- including Adam Carolla, Tom Leykis, Tim Conway Jr. and the team of Frosty, Heidi &Frank -- spent their final on-air hours saying goodbye to fans with emotions ranging from exasperation to sadness to celebration.
Said Carolla in his last minute to listeners Friday morning: "To you who listen, who get me up every morning and every weekend, I appreciate every one of you. . . . It has been a pleasure to serve you. This is not goodbye, just a brief parting."
As he signed off, co-host Teresa Strasser wiped away tears.
Frosty Stilwell, Heidi Hamilton and Frank Kramer started their last show Friday with Sia's "Breathe Me," the melancholy song that marked the finale of HBO's "Six Feet Under." On Thursday afternoon, Leykis told fans, "On Monday morning, I will wake up for the first time in 15 years with no place to go. I have had a great time doing this job. It's the best job in the world. But I don't get to ride that pony anymore."
Owner CBS Radio had announced Wednesday that at 5 p.m. Friday it would be changing the station to 97.1 Amp Radio, described as an "on-air, online, on-site and mobile audio destination." The music format -- initially with no DJs -- will feature contemporary artists such as Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, T.I., Kanye West and Britney Spears, and it is intended to compete for young adult audiences with top-rated KIIS-FM (102.7).
"At the end of the day, we wanted to better position our cluster of stations to give us better leverage," said Dan Weiner, senior vice president and market manager for CBS Radio. "We've got a very strong collection of stations that delivers ratings with males, and this move will balance it out a little bit. We'll hopefully draw more advertisers by going a little younger than we have with the 25-to-54 male demographic" that has been the core of KLSX's talk audience.
The personalities on KLSX, which was the local broadcast home to shock jock Howard Stern before he leapt to satellite in January 2006, specialized in call-in shows that mostly explored dating, relationships, sex and popular culture. The conversations with callers were often crass, raunchy and filled with innuendo.
Though its overall ratings were not strong, KLSX had a loyal and devoted fan base. Carolla, who took over the morning slot from Stern, has seen his popularity steadily rise in the last several months. He produced, co-wrote and starred in a well-received boxing comedy, "The Hammer," in 2007, and he was a contestant on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" last year.
Leykis, who dispensed advice to men on how to woo women without spending too much money on dates, said his afternoon show was recently rated No. 1 with men ages 25 to 54.
"What's happening had nothing to do with ratings," Leykis said in an interview. "We had great ratings."
One radio industry expert found the switch surprising. "It flies in the face of the general trend, which is for talk radio to go from AM to FM," said Michael Harrison, publisher of Talkers, a radio industry trade publication. "It's the next territory for radio. This is a setback. KLSX was not a ratings giant, but it was a significant platform in terms of talk radio."
Harrison added that he admired the "very colorful personalities" on the station but felt the direction of the format should have aimed a bit higher.
"I really am not belittling the talent, which is awesome," he said. "But it's not the only way to do talk radio to get young people to listen. Instead of reaching for a younger demographic, CBS went for the stereotypical image of what they thought young people wanted. If you aim high, if you appeal to more intelligent listeners, it will be more successful."
Still, the mood of the hosts was mostly upbeat in the final hours (in some instances helped by alcohol). Carolla, Leykis and Conway repeatedly praised their CBS bosses and were particularly grateful that they were allowed to say goodbye to their fans instead of being yanked abruptly off the air, which is the usual case when a station changes formats.
"I'm not angry or bitter. . . . I'm a professional," Leykis told his listeners. "I understand this is not my train set."
The farewells also gave the hosts the chance to speculate about the future. Leykis, a one-time host at KFI-AM (640) who has been on KLSX since 1997, said he had been "solicited by countless people" in the industry and was weighing several possibilities, including television projects or a book. He said CBS Radio had been "generous, and I only have to work if I want to," noting that he was under a "no-cut contract through March 31, 2012."
Carolla said he had "very good offers in the way of TV" and would also start a podcast Monday that listeners could access through his website, adamcarolla.com.
Not all was sweetness and light. Carolla on Thursday riffed on what he called the sad state of Los Angeles radio. "All you're going to hear on L.A. radio now is ranchera music and Top 40," he said.
But the mood of the hosts was mostly celebratory and optimistic. And Carolla wasted little time in making plans with his stationmates.
Calling in to Conway's last show Thursday night, he said, "Tim. Monday at the ArcLight. Matinee of 'Paul Blart: Mall Cop.' See you there."
-Greg Braxton
Photo: Tom Leykis Credit: Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times
I'm really bummed out.... Sitting in L.A. is horrible, and if you have someone to make you laugh, or cringe, or get your mind off of things, the traffic might not seem so bad. I've been listening since '95 and this is a sad day. I will not listen to the new station, I will probably listen to Sirius a bit more. Adam - The Trips - Leykis - Conway - John and Jeff will all be missed, I hope they turn up soon.
Posted by: Bob | February 20, 2009 at 06:50 PM
Who is this tool that was quoted in the article saying the station could do better if they aimed at a more intelligent audience? I and most of my friends are college educated and shows like FHM and Tom's appealed to us. Especially Tom. Beneath the raunch we recognized him as a highly intelligent individual. Yeah, I am sure the new route CBS has taken with this station will draw in the Ivy League crowd.. with more Britney and Kanye. FUNK them!
Posted by: JJ in the IE | February 20, 2009 at 07:53 PM
A truly horrible idea to kill 97.1 FM Talk. Thanks for ruining LA radio.
Posted by: Desi | February 20, 2009 at 08:17 PM
Nothing last forever, I recall the first day of FM talk, not much to speak of, the hosts anyway, kato kaylen, Sam Rubin, the brady girl.
But as time progressed, it got a whole a lot better , and was just about the only station I listen to in the car.
The mighty dollar wins out again........
I recall when KMET went off the air in 1986......it was all mostly all down hill after that.
Noting last forever, cause forever is no time as all.
Posted by: Otis E | February 20, 2009 at 08:19 PM
When I recommended to my young adult son he listen to Tom Leykis, he was totally surprised. His response was "What?! My own mother wants me to listen to him??" That's how much I thought of the talk show. Now...? I'll just have to wait and see what happens. I listened to the beginning of the new format after Tom went off the air. EXCUSE ME??!!! It was an insult to my ears. Starting from 5:10 pm today, I AM NOT turning on 97.1.
Posted by: Elizabeth | February 20, 2009 at 08:49 PM
It is sad. I wanted to replace my old 97.1 pre-set on my car radio and I can't find anything else in LA that I like, so I set it to static. I am sure Leykis will end up somewhere in LA soon! Sorry that all the non contract support staff lost their jobs. Peace out!
Posted by: Dan | February 20, 2009 at 08:54 PM
this is AWFUL.
There was NOTHING like 97.1 It was Entertaining talk NOT political fanaticism or News like ALL the AM stations, It was FUN and lighthearted. LA is a PARKING LOT, it takes HOURS to get from one end of the city to the middle of the next suburb, Ughhh. I am so disappointed. Im getting Satellite, Its worth it now.
Posted by: Leah | February 21, 2009 at 12:08 AM
Another "Top 40" station? This proves radio in Los Angeles really sucks compared to other cities in the US and also affirms why 20 million people and I have migration to Sirius XM, the future of radio music programming where you can listen to any style of music commercial free.
And thank you CBS management, keep up the "great" work you are doing; I shorted your stock at $30 and is currently at $4.89.
Posted by: Bill | February 21, 2009 at 05:11 AM
This is great news I bet Tom will be on sirius soon. Cant wait!
Posted by: jmoore | February 21, 2009 at 02:59 PM
I take issue with the stated "not strong ratings." Most of the KLSX on air staff stated through out recent months they were #1 in their demo and were rewarded with ratings bonus checks. Greg Braxton seems to gloss over this. In radio traditionally demographic share (% of listeners the station is targeting) is a more accurate way of measuring a station's success than overall market share (all possible listners). The fact is the station was a success in its own right but this format change will cost much less for CBS to operate. From a business stand point it is understandable but a very sad day for radiophiles like myself. The final descion came from CBS in New York and I can't help but feel like this same change would never fly in the New York CBS market. The fact that KLSX is in Southern California shows what CBS thinks of its customers in our region.
Posted by: Pm3 | February 23, 2009 at 02:51 PM
Did anyone catch this... "CBS went for a for the stereotypical image of what they thought young people wanted. If you aim high, if you appeal to more INTELLIGENT listeners, it will be more successful". CBS needs to redefine intellegence and there demographics. I'm 50, white male, college educated with an income of very close to $100.000.00 a year. Adam and Teresa, Heidi, Frosty and Frank, Danny and Leykis all brought INTELLEGENT conversation to KLSX.. As for the more INTELLEGENT listening audience now, some techno half rap, half crap, wanna be pop star... What's next? All I have to say is bring em on! If CBS whants to match INTELLEGENCE with someone they might want to try Miley Cirus instead of me. I would never challenge the (intellectually) handicapped which is the current target audience on KLSX... I'd much prefer to save my INTELLEGENCE and match wits with the former KLSX on air personalities.
Adam, Teresa, Heidi, Frosty, Frank and Tom... hopefully you'll find a new network that matches your demographic of a relatively well educated and INTELLEGENT audience. Danny, I left you out because your stuck... stuck with CBS in Philly and a huge alimony. Wish you all well
Posted by: steven lane | February 23, 2009 at 07:22 PM