School Closings, Snow Days and Your Local Stations

By | April 8, 2020
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“No school today. School is closed. Schools will be closing early. Today is a snow day. Buses will be 2 hours late. Buses will be running snow routes only.” Growing up in Minnesota, these were phrases I LOVED to hear! I’d listen to the radio in eager anticipation of hearing my school announced as closed, or at least delayed by an hour or two.

Today, of course, there are alternate sources for this information. Many districts post school closings and snow days on their websites. Sadly, many radio stations are now voicetracked/automated and thus not even capable of relaying this information to the communities they are licensed to serve.

Given the severe weather that is currently gripping the country, I thought it would be a good time to discuss how your local stations are dealing with school and business closings on snow days. Do they have live, local air personalities who deliver updated information as it becomes available? Or are your local stations delivering prerecorded lists of weather closures and delays to their listeners which are often dated and of limited value?

Video: Beaker Street – Clyde Clifford Interview – January 16, 2011

By | April 8, 2020
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As most of us are aware, Clyde Clifford’s Beaker Street will cease to exist on Little Rock’s KKPT-FM 94.1 “The Point” after February 6, 2011. This radio program is an institution in Arkansas, dating back to 1966 when it began airing on KAAY-AM 1090.

This past Sunday night, Little Rock NPR affiliate KUAR-FM 89.1 conducted an interview with Clyde, aka Dale Seidenschwarz. He explains how radio has changed over the past several years, not necessarily for the better. Today’s tight corporate playlists are making it increasingly difficult for unique programs like Beaker Street to be heard on commercial radio outlets. This despite the fact that Beaker Street still enjoys a huge, loyal audience. There has been a huge outpouring of support for Clyde and his show these past weeks on Facebook and elsewhere online.

Thanks to Michael Hibblen for producing this video and making it available on YouTube:

Clyde Clifford’s Beaker Street CANCELLED on The Point 94.1!

By | April 8, 2020
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Just a few minutes ago, Clyde Clifford announced that Beaker Street would cease to exist on KKPT-FM 94.1 just 6 weeks from today. The last Beaker Street show on ‘The Point 94.1’ will air on Sunday, February 6, 2011. This is a great loss for Little Rock radio as well as for those of us who love this program and have enjoyed it throughout the years. Forty years ago, I got my first taste of Beaker Street via the nighttime skywave of KAAY-AM 1090. I was just 6 years old.

From Clyde’s Beaker Street website: “I have really felt at home here at the Point. The staff and especially the audience have been great. I had hoped that someday in the nebulous future that the Point would be where I would finally decide to retire. That is not to be. I have been informed that the last Beaker Street on The Point will be February 6th. Check here often for information, which I will post as I learn it. Keep the faith. I intend to continue Beaker Street as long as I can.”

Let’s help Clyde find a way to keep Beaker Street on-the-air. If you have suggestions as to how and/or where we might accomplish this, please leave your comments below or contact me directly.

Mike Cooper Signs Off After 43 Years at KAYS Hays

By | April 8, 2020
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Today is Mike Cooper’s last day on-the-air. It’s a day many never thought would come. Mike arrived in KAYS way back in 1967. He became host of the morning show and Program Director shortly thereafter. Every fall, we’d see him in the KAYS booth at Oktoberfest. Every weekday morning, we’d hear him on-the-air.

When Mike started, KAYS was THE radio station in Hays. As in the one and only. Now, more than 10 stations serve the area. Times have changed, but Mike Cooper has been the one constant in Hays radio throughout the years. The industry will miss him greatly. Happy Retirement, Mike!

Christmas Music on AM Radio: Who’s Doing it This Year?

By | April 8, 2020
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Call me a relic, but I love the sound of traditional Christmas music on AM radio! Every year, a select few stations carry on the decades-old tradition of playing continuous Christmas music from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day.

What’s REALLY cool is when News/Talk AMs which haven’t played music in years flush their format for a day and broadcast the sounds of the season.

Anyone have a list of stations that are planning on doing this? If not, let’s start one!

Charlie Boone Retires from WCCO-AM 830 After 51 Years

By | April 8, 2020
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The last of the Good Neighbors has left the building. Charlie Boone has finished his final show on WCCO/Minneapolis-St. Paul. This completes a journey that Charlie began back in 1959. He is best known as half of the ‘Boone and Erickson’ morning show which he performed for over three decades with partner Roger Erickson. Along with Howard Viken, Maynard Speece, Steve Cannon, Jergen Nash, Joyce Lamont, Randy Merriman and Franklin Hobbs, Charlie and Roger were part of what many consider ‘the classic lineup’ on WCCO. In those days, The Good Neighbor was always #1. All the other Twin Cities stations fought for second place in the Arbitron ratings.

This is truly the end of an era. Charlie Boone is a Minnesota broadcasting icon. Most likely, his kind of radio will never again be heard on the airwaves. In this era of corporate ownership, his longevity at WCCO will probably never be matched. Those of us who grew up listening to WCCO will miss you, Charlie. You were a master of your craft and a friend to all who heard your voice over the years on Radio 8-3-0.

Five Decades of Clyde Clifford’s Beaker Street

By | April 8, 2020
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As I write this, I am listening to the Beaker Street radio program, hosted by Clyde Clifford. Younger readers are probably wondering “Who?” Those of us in our 40s and beyond are asking “Didn’t that show go off the air YEARS ago?” But the true Radio Geeks among us know that Beaker Street has been going strong for five decades. What a long strange trip it’s been!

Beaker Street began on KAAY-AM 1090 in Little Rock, Arkansas, all the way back in 1966. KAAY was and still is a 50,000 watt clear channel station with a huge nighttime signal footprint. The directional “figure 8” pattern beams north/northwest and south/southeast. KAAY had listeners as far north as Manitoba, Canada and as far south as Cuba. By day, “The Mighty 1090” played a straight Top 40 music format. But during the overnight hours, KAAY aired a blend of progressive album rock. Back in the 1960s, this was often referred to as “acid rock” or “hippie music.” Beaker Street actually began as an experiment. Clyde Clifford (his real name is Dale Seidenschwarz) was also an engineer for the station. In those days, AM stations with directional antenna systems had to have a licensed engineer on duty at all times. Clyde was the overnight engineer, doubling as the late-night DJ. Since he was the engineer on duty, he did his show from the transmitter in Wrightsville, rather than from the main KAAY studios in downtown Little Rock. Because his was the “graveyard” shift, station management allowed Clyde to experiment with this music and basically play whatever he wanted. His unique mix of music caught on with the listeners and Beaker Street was born!

Clyde Clifford left KAAY in 1974, but Beaker Street continued with other hosts until 1977. By this time, FM stereo with it’s superior audio quality had taken control in many markets. The days were numbered for Rock and Top 40 AM radio. Despite being cancelled, the memory of Beaker Street lived on for listeners in Little Rock. It was one of those things that never really went away. Several years later, Clyde resurrected Beaker Street in Little Rock on KZLR-FM 94.9 (KZ-95.) Beaker Street was now a weekly program, airing on Sunday nights from 7PM-Midnight. Later still, the show moved up the dial to KMJX-FM 105.1 (Magic 105.1) where it remained for many years. In 2008, Magic 105.1 changed format and became Classic Country 105.1 The Wolf. Beaker Street again disappeared from the airwaves, only to return just 3 weeks later on KMJX’s crosstown competitor, KKPT-FM 94.1 (The Point 94.1 FM.) This is where it remains today, still occupying the 7-Midnight time slot each Sunday. What a long, strange trip it’s been!

As a young kid growing up in Minnesota, Beaker Street was my introduction to both progressive music and the joys of listening to distant AM stations at night. In 1970, I was given a General Electric AM clock radio for my 6th birthday. I already had a few pocket transistor radios, but this was my first “big” radio with decent sensitivity and selectivity. Tuning across the dial at night, I quickly found KAAY and became interested in the “weird” music they played which I couldn’t hear on any of the local stations. My earliest memories of Beaker Street involve ‘the white bird song’ (“White Bird” by It’s a Beautiful Day), ‘the captain of the Titanic song’ (“The Legend of the U.S.S. Titanic” by Jamie Brockett), and the strange music which was played underneath Clyde Clifford as he spoke (“Cannabis Sativa” by the band Head.) I was much too young to understand the meaning of the lyrics, but I loved the music. I spent many nights listening to KAAY while my parents thought I was sleeping. I find it amazing that 40 years later, the same DJ is still doing the same show in the same city. The music as well as Clyde’s laid back personality are exactly the same now as they were then. Some things never change, and that’s a good thing.

If you get a chance, check out Clyde Clifford’s Beaker Street on The Point 94.1 FM. If you’re not within range of the signal, they stream online at kkpt.com. This is a piece of living radio history that everyone should have a chance to hear. As for myself, I’m off to bed so I can catch the last 20 minutes of Beaker Street before I fall asleep. Just as I did 40 years ago as a boy in the first grade, beginning to develop an interest in radio.

Minnesota Broadcaster Doug Munneke Dead of a Heart Attack at 55

By | April 8, 2020
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Minnesota broadcaster Doug Munneke has died of a heart attack after collapsing while he was snow-blowing his driveway.

Police and emergency responders arrived at his house yesterday (December 11, 2010) at approximately 2:30PM. He had stopped snow-blowing about halfway through the job and entered his home, where he asked for help and then collapsed. Efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful. Police are reporting that Doug had a history of heart problems. He was 55 years old.

Doug Munneke was a longtime employee at the radio stations now owned by Townsquare Media in St. Cloud. He was currently employed as a sales representative, but had also spent time working on the air. Previously, Doug had worked for KSUM/KFMC radio in Fairmont.

Funeral arrangements by Miller Carlin Funeral Home, St. Cloud. At the time of this writing, services had not yet been set.

Product Report: Sony ICF-S10MK2 FM/AM Pocket Radio

By | April 8, 2020
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I was at Walgreens the other day when I saw these little radios on sale for $8.99. I remembered reading somewhere about how they were strong performers and could receive several stations. Curious, I grabbed one. After all, the cost was less than 4 gallons of gas.

I opened the package, inserted the batteries, turned it on, and was simply amazed at what this small receiver was capable of. The AM section is especially impressive. From my current location in Central Arkansas, the initial dial scan brought in Chicago’s WGN, WBBM, and WLS; WCCO from Minneapolis, and Atlanta’s WSB. Plus WSM, WLW, WWL, WHO, WBAP, WOAI, KOA, and several others. Selectivity is very good: I was able to hear Dallas’ KRLD on 1080 with KAAY just 40 miles away, pumping out 50,000 watts on 1090. By using the radio’s inherent directional capability, I can null KRMG/740 from Tulsa and hear Toronto’s CHWO. WLS and the Cuban station on 890 can be separated so each can be heard clearly. The FM section is also strong: I was able to hear a 50,000 watt station 50 miles north of me which is usually only available on car radios and upper tier portables.

This is a radio. It’s not a cell phone, an .mp3 player, or any other sort of high-tech device. It doesn’t have a digital tuner or a CD player. It’s a glorious old-school radio, complte with analog slide rule tuning dial and telescoping antenna. Other features include a tuning knob, an off/on/volume knob, and a wrist strap. That’s all. Just like the old days. The antenna is full-length and swivels. This allows you to hear those distant FM stations. By the way, FM selectivity is also very good. In my area, I have stations on 105.9, 106.1, and 106.3. I was able to separate all of them, simply by reorienting the antenna to the optimum position.

Battery life is amazing. Unlike pocket radios of the past which utilized a 9-volt battery, this Sony takes 2 “AA” cells. Since this equals only 3 volts (or 2.4 when using rechargeables), battery life was a concern. No worries. I’ve had the radio turned on pretty much continuously since I purchased it 3 days ago. The rechargeable NiMH batteries are still going strong.

I only have two complaints about this radio and they’re both minor: First, the earphone jack is mono only. Being of classic design, the Sony is designed to accomodate the old style mono earphone, rather than stereo headphones. But today, most people have stereo headphones or earbuds which they use with their iPod or other portable electronics. Since the headphones used with these devices are stereo and this radio’s jack is mono, you’ll only hear sound in one ear. It would be great if Sony had instead provided a jack which was compatible with stereo headphones. But this isn’t a big deal since you can buy an adapter plug for $2 which will allow you to hear in both ears. My other complaint is that the AM dial only goes to 1600Khz. (I told you this was an old-school radio!) This is a problem since the AM band has been extended to 1700Khz. In actual practice, however, the radio tunes past “16” and all the way to 1685Khz. So, only one channel is missed completely as 1690 can be received, albeit slightly off frequency. Again, not a big gripe for a radio in this price range.

It goes without saying this radio is well worth the money. I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun for less than $10! Laying in bed, scanning the AM dial at night, my mind suddenly flashed back 40 years to when I was a 6-year-old kid, listening for distant stations on my Lloyds 6 Transistor when I was supposed to be sleeping. If you have kids or grandkids whom you’d like to introduce to the radio hobby, this is an inexpensive way to do it. Buy this radio! You cannot go wrong for the money. The Walgreens sale will likely be over by the time you read this, but Amazon.com has these every day for $9.99 with FREE shipping if your order total is over $25. Let us know how you like the Sony ICF-S10MK2!

NPR Fires Juan Williams Over FOX News Comments

By | April 8, 2020
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NPR has fired longtime news analyst Juan Williams over comments he made on FOX News regarding Muslims. The remarks came during Monday night’s edition of “The O’Reilly Factor.” Bill O’Reilly asked Juan for his opinion of O’Reilly’s now-famous appearance on “The View” last week. As you may recall, O’Reilly’s statement that “Muslims killed us on 9/11” caused Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg to walk off the set in protest. Juan replied that he thought O’Reilly was in the right. Here’s what he said:

“I mean, look, Bill, I’m not a bigot. You know the kind of books I’ve written about the civil rights movement in this country. But when I get on the plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous.”

NPR said that it had informed Williams of its decision to terminate his contract on Wednesday night. NPR stated that his remarks were “inconsistent with our editorial standards and practices, and undermined his credibility as a news analyst with NPR.”

Gainesville’s WRUF-FM Drops Rock After 28 Years, Flips to Country

By | April 8, 2020
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Radio friends in the Gainesville/Ocala, Florida market are reporting that WRUF-FM 103.7 (“Rock 104”) has ended the Album Rock format which it had been programming since 1982. At 11AM this morning, the frequency became home to the all new “Country 103.7, The Gator.” The previous Rock format will continue to air online at Rock104.com.

My friend Mark Tillery is a walking encyclopedia on the history of North Florida radio! He sent me the following information regarding the WRUF stations:

Drew, WRUF-FM flipped to Rock 104 at 4AM Monday morning, May 3rd, 1982, so it was Rock 104 for 28 1/2 years. I was working overnights at WGGG-AM 1230 when the flip took place, so I heard it when it happened. The first song Rock 104 played was Steely Dan’s “FM”. WRUF-AM flipped from Top 40 “Music Radio 85” to adult standards/big bands “Unforgettable AM 850” at the same time. The first song on WRUF-AM was Nate King Coles “Unforgettable”. Both songs were very appropriate as the first songs for each respective format change… Just a bit of interesting trivia.

WRUF-FM is owned and operated by the University of Florida.

Jane E. Morgan Named New Operations Manager of Three Eagles Fort Dodge

By | April 8, 2020
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Jane E. Morgan has been named the new Operations Manager of Three Eagles Fort Dodge. She will oversee a 7 station cluster, becoming responsible for these stations:

KWMT-AM 540
KVFD-AM 1400
KZLB-FM 92.1 (“92.1 The Blaze”)
KKEZ-FM 94.5 (“Mix 94.5”)
KIAQ-FM 96.9 (“Hot Country K97”)
KXFT-FM 99.7 (“Sunny 99.7”)
KTLB-FM 105.9 (“105.9FM The Eagle”)

Except for a brief hiatus, Jane E. Morgan has been on Fort Dodge radio since 1981! All of us here at Drew’s Radio Site wish her well in her new position. Congratulations, Jane. You earned it!

CNN: Dr. Laura Schlessinger to End Her Radio Show

By | April 8, 2020
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Los Angeles, California (CNN) — Embattled radio talk-show host Dr. Laura Schlessinger announced Tuesday she will not renew her contract that is up at the end of the year, telling CNN’s “Larry King Live” she wants to “regain my First Amendment rights.”

Schlessinger, 63, has been under fire for using the N-word repeatedly during an on-air conversation last week with a caller.

Read the rest of the article and view the video clip here:

Minnesota Twins Stay With ESPN 1500 (KSTP-AM) for Two More Years

By | April 8, 2020
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After extensive negotiations, the Twins announced today they have agreed to a 2 year extension of the broadcast rights with KSTP-AM 1500. The Hubbards flipped KSTP-AM from a News/Talk station to all-sports “1500 ESPN” last February.

The two other main contenders for Minnesota Twins flagship station status were CBS’ WCCO-AM 830 and one of Clear Channel’s FM stations. Clear Channel’s Sports Talk KFAN-AM 1130 “The Fan” was not one of the bidders. Some had speculated that the Pohlads’ own KHTC-FM 96.3 “96.3 Now” was under consideration. This was not to be, however. KHTC’s Urban Contemporary format would likely be incompatible with the Twins’ broadcasts. Additionally, the 96.3 signal suffers from coverage and penetration issues in parts of the Twin Cities metro area.

Congratulations to the ESPN 1500 folks for submitting the winning bid. Go Twins!

Storms Topple All Three of WWVA/Wheeling’s Towers

By | April 8, 2020
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Yesterday (8/4), severe storms brought down all 3 of the towers belonging to “The Big One”, Clear Channel’s WWVA-AM 1170 in Wheeling, West Virginia. WWVA’s programming has been temporarily diverted to WWBD-AM 1400. Of course, range has been greatly reduced since WWBD is a 1kW “graveyard” AM vs the 50kW regional voice of WWVA.

According to the WWVA website, engineering crews are on the scene and hope to erect temporary towers in place as soon as possible. Here are some pictures of the downed towers and wreckage. Hopefully, WWVA will be able to return to the air quickly.

Fire at Three Eagles Mankato Destroys Vehicle, Scorches Building

By | April 8, 2020
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A fire at Three Eagles Communications’ complex in Mankato, Minnesota has destroyed the “Pavement Pounder”, a promotional vehicle used by 95-7 The Blaze. This “blaze” also torched the side of their studio building.

This facility is home to KQYK-FM 95.7 (95.7 The Blaze), KEEZ-FM 99.1 (Z99), KYSM-FM 103.5 (Country 103.5), and KRBI-FM 105.5 (105.5 The River.) Photos of the fire can be viewed on The Blaze’s Facebook page:

More details here as they become available.