Sad news out of Santa Fe, New Mexico this evening: legendary broadcaster Larry Lujack has passed away at age 73. Larry had been battling esophageal cancer for the last year and was in hospice care at the time of his death. Larry is best known for his work at Chicago’s WLS-AM 890 and WCFL-AM 1000… Read More »
I noticed this yesterday in Brookings, South Dakota. It’s a Radio Shack Archer 1/2 wave ground plane antenna. This was a popular base station antenna during the 1970s and early 1980s. It features a 4 section vertical radiator, just under 18 feet in length. Three 52″ horizontal radials provide the counterpoise. Top-mounted static dissipators reduce… Read More »
Today, a Twin Cities radio legend hung up his headphones. I remember being 9 years old in the summer of 1973, eagerly tuning the dial on my new Wards Airline 6 Band portable and soaking up every station I could hear. As I approached the right end of the dial, I noticed something new and… Read More »
Sad news out of Western Wisconsin and the Twin Cities: Michael W. Wegner of Osceola, also known as Michael J. ‘Donuts’ Douglas has left us. His was a household name in Minneapolis/St. Paul radio during the 1970s and 80s. I first heard Michael J. when I was about 9 or 10 years old. He was… Read More »
I’ve always been a big fan of Bismarck, North Dakota’s KFYR. Since my maternal grandparents lived near Devils Lake, I became familiar with this station at an early age. With the largest daytime coverage in the United States, KFYR’s massive signal footprint covered parts of 6 states and 2 Canadian provinces. The station boasted of… Read More »
I read an article over the weekend and it’s taken a few days to sink in. Radio Ink Magazine has reported on three automotive industry representatives who appeared at a conference last week. One of their statements attracted immediate attention, followed by shock waves throughout the broadcasting industry: “AM and FM are being eliminated from… Read More »
Rich Hawk, legendary PD of KILO-FM 94.3 (originally on 93.9) in Colorado Springs has died. This follows his lapse into a coma, back on February 19. His career with the station spanned 30 years, beginning in 1976 when it was known as KPIK. Rich retired in 2006. During his tenure, KILO became known as one… Read More »
These past few weeks, I’ve been listening to a new online station: K-ROB. The station promotes itself as “Non Stop 70s and 80s Hits” and they certainly deliver on that promise! KROB is currently running commercial-free. Broadcasting from the Delmarva Peninsula, K-ROB is the creation of veteran radio programmer Rob Walker. If you’re wanting to… Read More »
Another piece of radio history came crashing down today (literally.) The legendary KHJ towers in Los Angeles were demolished on February 27, 2013. Although only one tower is pictured here, there were actually two. The second tower was used to pull in the signal during nighttime directional operation. Tower #2 was taken down a short… Read More »
Speaking of La Crosse, Beth Habeck-Warden tells me the Hit 105-WLXR-WLCX reunion this past summer was a great success. Now, plans are in the works for a similar gathering at then-sister Ingstad stations KKRC and KYKC in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. KKRC/KYKC always sounded much bigger than they were. The AM was just 1,000 watts… Read More »
Sometimes, we even get e-mails from readers here at Drew’s Radio Site. I draw a blank on this one, but perhaps you can help Rebecca identify this 1990s mystery tune (?) “Hey Drew, Came across your website and am hoping you can help me remember a song played on Z93 LaCrosse around the mid 90’s.… Read More »
On October 1st, 1982, CBS Records released the first commercial music compact disc. The album, Billy Joel’s “52nd Street”, went on sale that day in Japan. Since then, billions have been sold. McDonald’s has nothing on the CD when it comes to sales! The first CD to sell a million copies was “Brothers in Arms”… Read More »
BREAKING NEWS: Jim Ingstad’s Radio Fargo Moorhead of Fargo, North Dakota has been sold to Duke Wright’s Midwest Communications, based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. This deal includes all 6 Radio Fargo Moorhead stations: KVOX-AM 740 Fargo, ND (740 The Fan) KFGO-AM 790 Fargo, ND (The Mighty 790) WDAY-FM 93.7 Fargo, ND (Y94 #1 Hit Music)… Read More »
Most of you are aware of Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day, taking place at restaurants across the country today. Organized by former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, it’s a response those who are trying to ban Chick-Fil-A from certain cities, due to their stance against gay marriage. Early reports show Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day to be a success. Photos… Read More »
Shocker of the day: morning man Tony Fly has walked out the door after 11 years with Minneapolis/St. Paul’s 96.3, currently known as K-TWIN. The station is owned by Northern Lights Broadcasting, owned by the Pohlad family. Prior to this, he spent 9 years in nights and then afternoons as Tone E. Fly across town… Read More »
The radio landscape just got a whole lot more interesting in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Duke Wright’s Midwest Communications has agreed to acquire KELO-AM 1320, KELO-FM 92.5, KSQB-FM 95.7, KXQL-FM 107.9, KRRO-FM 103.7, KTWB-FM 101.9 and KWSN-AM 1230 from Backyard Broadcasting. Midwest Communications currently owns 47 stations throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois and Indiana. So,… Read More »
Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by the wildfires in the Colorado Springs area. KRDO AM/FM is providing continuous news coverage and information via this link:
A few days ago, I received this e-mail from a radio friend: “I’m on a mission, so to speak.. of collecting airchecks form small town radio stations. The stations have caught my eye.. my interest for whatever reason. Some simply because of where they are, some because of programming.. or some just because they look… Read More »
Former Fleetwood Mac member and solo artist Bob Welch has died of a self-inflicted gun wound. According to Nashville, Tennessee police spokesman Don Aaron, Welch was found dead with a chest wound by his wife at their home at around 12:15PM local time on Thursday, June 7. In addition to being a guitarist and vocalist… Read More »
If you lived in Southern California during the 1980s, you no doubt remember ‘The Mighty 690’ as the place to tune for the hottest hits! This station was one of America’s last big Top 40 AM outlets, ruling the airwaves with the latest tunes, exciting contests, and strong air personalities. Technically, ‘The Mighty 690’ was… Read More »