Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Cumulus doesn't care about Bay Area listeners; Go to the Internet/Satellite; Tuesday rant

Stop me if you've heard this before: Cumulus, specifically KGO and its other radio warts, doesn't give a damn about you. The few remaining souls who actually listen to the putrid content that constitutes its programming. As Seinfeld would say, Who are theeese people?

A regular reader here asks, "What does KGO see in the dumb, unfunny, "comedienne" that it doesn't see in 'Stacy Taylor?" The answer seems pretty obvious. The witch woman from back east who is so god-awful is cheaper, willing to bark for pennies, and, according to the doofuses at KGOne, right up their territory. Stacy Taylor is too smart for KGOne and Cumulus. I'm surprised Christine Craft and Pat Thurston are still broadcasting. Tim Montemayor is KGOn'e version of "young talent." That's why he's on in the middle of the day Saturday and Sunday when 16 of KGOne's 500 people are listening.

The Atlanta radio mobsters have total disdain for the Bay Area. They destroyed KGOne, (yeah, that was a 'huge bump in the June book. Go party like it's 1999, morons). The truth is this: I only listen sparingly to terrestrial radio. KGOne is off the radar. I try to get a little Thurston and I like Craft quite a bit. Stacy Taylor was worth the time, but now he's gone, tired of putting up with the bullshit. After that, the station is a broadcast abyss. There's no there there. It's gone, kaput.

KNBR is worthless. A 24/7 promotional tool for its sports clients, the Giants and the 49ers. The Warriors? Please. And when the Giants don't play, they become thoroughly irrelevant. Hell, the Giants are thick in the season, and Knibber still took a drop. That doesn't bode well for the bean counters at 55 Hawthorne. Have you listened to the "Morning Show? Proof that Darwin was wrong. Tolbert is bearable, if not compelling. Shitz and Brooks are perfectly dreadful. Eric Byrnes has farm-animal pictures and everything else is a pile of bile, spots, Giants promos, spots, syndicated minutiae, updates performed by various "producers", interns, lunch gofers and Lee Hammer insects. (How's that morale in the Cumulus sales dept, Bungey? Install a few more cameras).

Folks, go to the Internet. You'll cleanse your soul, not to mention your mind too. And you'll hear decent radio. You want sports? Go satellite. It's so damn better than the dreck here. You'll hear insightful opinion, relevant radio, real talented people that deliver the goods, for the most part. Sure, there's a few duds, it's not perfect, but you won't fall asleep and have to listen to the garbage in this town, and it is, garbage.

News? Local, OK, check. And if you need your local traffic updates, then go to KCBS. And you like KSCM? Great, check out the Boston Symphony on KQED or just google "Boston Internet Radio." Da da.

Sports, News, Politics, Music, Pop culture. All of it on satellite or the Internet. A great variety. Funny people. News opinion. Sports radio off the chart with guys like Dino Costa. It's not perfect, but it sure as hell beats the pile of manure here in the Bay Area.

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46 comments:

  1. I recommend Sirius NFL for NFL fans. All year long, relevant, interesting commentary and news.

    For news, I recommend the BBC and Al Jazeera for radio (Al Jazeera is TV and radio).

    The Guardian and Der Spiegel are far better than The Chronicle and Merc, neither of which report much local news beyond politics and crime and some sports, so you won't be missing much by going to "foreign" media. By the way, The Guardian now has a USA version because so many USA readers have given up on American media.

    You can get 'em all on your iPad or most tablets and smart phones.

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  2. But,the internet isnt local. THAT'S the hangup. And to pay for just Rich Gannon isnt worth it. For all the suck-ess of local media..they talk about what happened in SF or Oakland today. When I hear weekend local sports stations and the ESPN or the horrid Yahoo? when they do mention the bay area they say crazy things like Pablo didn't deserve to go to the all star game AND that -get this- Barry Zito is having a great year...those kind of miss by a mile the local pulse views.
    Bay area radio has to wait until the virus known as Lew Dickey expires.

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    1. Yeah, I get SO MUCH LOCAL news from the Chron and Merc. Oh, yeah.

      You know, all the community news, like what's going on at local schools, youth sports, community groups, city councils, etc.

      My city council news NEVER makes it in the Chron or Merc. It goes uncovered by TV and radio.

      My local Chamber of Commerce never gets covered by the newspapers or TV or radio.

      My local schools and youth sports through senior year in high are not covered by newspapers or TV or radio.

      Community groups such as Rotary and Kiwanis, etc., are not covered by radio or TV news.

      Local businesses are not often covered (unless they are international in scope and based here) by TV, radio and newspapers.

      Oh, yeah, local news organizations give me so much local news I can use. Oh, yeah! They sure do.

      In other words, I DO NOT GET LOCAL NEWS so you are incorrect about Internet not being local because I use the INTERNET to go to other local non-news sources to find out what is going on.

      And I don't listen to Sirius for Rich Gannon, dumbass. I listen for NFL news and occasionally, they talk Niner news and break Niner news far more often than KNBR, The Chron or Merc.

      So, before ya all start writing, I suggest you THINK.

      Not all of us live in San Francisco. There is plenty of news that is NEVER covered because news has been consolidated and many communities are now left out.

      Delete
  3. But-I give you that for music pay radio has to be better. I dont think 103.7 's oldies format should be so limited to endless Supertramp "Long way home"...terrible. It wasnt that big a hit even back when.

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  4. Well I am loving 910 radio from 3:00 on. Latest good news is that Lloyd Lindsey Young is there (I think he starts at noon). 3:00 Len Tillem, 4-7 Gil Gross, spots from John Rothman and one spot at end of Gil's show from Ed Baxter. If you like Bill Wattenberg, he is there Sunday night.
    Also in a.m. until 9:00 KSCO at 1080 (I think)....has an interesting and quirky news show worth checking into.
    If anyone knows how to listen to the internet while gardening, please post instructions. Also how about while driving? Also are there alerts about when and where to hear Christine Craft?

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    1. WiFi Internet radios are becoming more common and cheaper, plus can use pretty much any cell phone. I have 5 acres and my wireless router goes 300-400' from the house so in most cases I have coverage. I downloaded TuneIn, thousands of stations to choose from, something for everyone. It is the only way that I can hear The Game 95.7 as their signal doesn't reach here plus podcasts of Damon (1050 a little weak on one side of my hill)
      Of course, without WiFi you are SOL.

      Delete
    2. There's also iHeart radio, which I discovered because of 910. They carry a TON of stations (including--YUCK!) KGO. You can stream through your smart phone.

      I've got a solar powered Ruckus on order. It charges up via the sun and you can also charge your phone on it. It is Bluetooth enabled, so you can carry your phone around and get the radio and/or music that way.

      I am new to the iPhone but delighted to discover so many apps! I am sure there is a way to get internet radio, although I am not sure of the quality of some of those home-brewed internet shows...

      Delete
  5. KSCO and KRXA (Monterey) are 2 independantly owned, local stations. They are quirky and have limited budgets. I have discovered both since the KGOne implosion. They remind me of the way local radio used to be and that makes them fun! I know many complain of the lack of professional production and that is part of the charm of local radio. The more we support independant stations the stronger they become. Little stations do care how their listeners feel about the product.

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    1. KSCO is fine; however there is no continuity with the hosts. It seems they have a new host everyday, especially during the 2pm to 4pm slot. Besides the old guy from 4 to 7 and MZ's show on Saturdays I have no idea who these hosts are and I am not interested in getting to know them because they will not be on again for a while. It was cool today during the 2pm hour the male and female hosts interviewed former regular KGOne caller ”Charles from Berkeley”. He fancies himself a ”historian of the future”. A blowhard in my opinion but cute nonetheless. Anyway, KSCO needs to get rid of Rush, replace him with Alex Jones and put a local, live host from 7 to 10. Hopefully 910 or KSCO fill that slot with a local show soon.

      Delete
  6. I listen to my podcast more than local radio. As for local news, the patch network is better than the "local" version of BANG or SFGATE.

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  7. Your Radnich update: Lately he's been putting down us common folk for driving Ford Fiestas..he of course is too good for that,no ,he finds it laughable. He has a Bentley..and his other car that he WONT mention on air? Old Gare forgot he said before his wife (and he) drives a Cadillac Escalade.
    Live the stereotype Gary,live the stereotype...

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  8. No offense Rich...but if you "only listen sparingly to terrestrial radio" what's the point of your blog? Isn't it called 415 Media because you cover the Bay Area ? If you're just going to send everyone to internet radio, you might as well shut this thing down.

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    1. "If you're just going to send everyone to internet radio, you might as well shut this thing down."

      That occurred to me, too.

      For the sake, and preservation, of your own "gig," if not for local radio, shouldn't you work with those of us who would love to see an end to the destructive forces of Cumulus, Clear Channel, etc.? Shouldn't you stand up for what's left? Shouldn't you be leading, in that way?

      Delete
  9. AH HA! Finally some signs of intelligent life! The Internet or satellite is the way to go. The sites may not be local, but who cares? Who needs to listen to the self-serving sports BLEEDER known as KNBR? Who wants to listen to KGone? Bay Area radio really really sucks.

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  10. Ronn Owens at 11:30 AM on KGO radio again shows why he isn't the brightest bulb in the box, and confirms that Sociology majors aren't, either. And I do like Ronn.

    The issue was the (supposed) "gender pay inequality".

    Owens made these points several times: "women only make 77% on the dollar compared to men"; and "all of the studies I have read, come to the same conclusion".

    Here are just a few of the problems with Owens comments / lack of logic.

    1) A Math professor called up and explained how they come up with this 77% figure - it is called "aggregation", and it's a huge statistical and logic error. He gave an example I won't repeat, but basically, Owens and those he cites aren't comparing apples to apples. Owens still couldn't comprehend his simple analogy.

    2) Ronn (or Jared Hart), just Google Stanford economics star Thomas Sowell and gender inequity. Don't you read his weekly syndicated column? It would do you good. (Sowell has written over a dozen economic and economic history books.) Others like Dinesh D'Souza likely also cover the topic.

    3) This reveals that Owens reads a limited number of periodicals, and can't think on his feet, particularly when it comes to quantitative issues like this.

    Here is a youtube clip from Thomas Sowell on the Income Disparity Myth. It's only about 3.5 minutes.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EK6Y1X_xa4

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    1. The majority of the news media think, operate and broadcast in terms of aggregation. They are lazy and should spend some time, reading Sunzi the Art of War and understand the art and science of strategic assessment.

      Good post, Rich. You are the best. ...

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    2. Lowenstein is a simpleton. I was onto him 15 years ago. Please do not paint all sociologists with such a broad brush based on Lowenstein's intellectual laziness. I am certain you would not say every Jewish businessman is a crook based on the acts of Bernie Madoff...

      Delete
    3. I've not heard of this sociologist Lowenstein? Was he part of the show or something?

      Delete
    4. to 3:55...Ronn is far from stupid and definitely not a simpleton. As far as intellectually lazy, you might have point, especially now knowing his days at KGO are numbered along with the fact that many of his current listeners don't demand the depth of understanding that you want to hear. If you compare him to Monte, he is Einstein, but perhaps I exaggerate. I still like Ronn much of the time and don't mind lightweight fare if it is interesting which at times it is. When it's not, I do something else because 9a.m. to noon is a tough one with my little portable radio since I won't listen to Rush.

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    5. Anon 4:52 and 7:57: good points. Intellectually lazy is a good way to put it. But you'd figure at $1 million a year, if Ronn Owens (Owenstein) was stumped on a certain topic, he would put a little time into trying to grapple with it. See the other side. Eh?

      Maybe that lack of curiousity on important matters, tweaked the well-respected Michael Jackson of KABC radio in L.A. (when Ronnie tried to replace him, but failed). I only listened to MJ when I was a lad, but it seemed like he had MAJOR chops and a sharp, quick, multi-layered mind.

      I've heard Ronn likewise mentally stumble on the fact that lowering taxes increases tax revenues. First, it is a *fact*, and Ronn has been to lazy to review that fact.

      Secondly, when this topic comes up, he usually says: "If lower taxes help so much, why don't we just have no taxes?" What he doesn't grasp is it is kinda like losing weight. Say Gene Burns used to consume 4,000 calories a day. If Gene cut his caloric intake to 2,000 calories a day, he would make progress on losing weight. Cut it to 1,500 calories a day, and he would make (did make) substantial progress and become healthy. But you can't go to 0 calories, just like you can't go to 0 taxes.

      Owens is too lazt to get his mind around important concepts like this. Kennedy cut taxes, Bush Jr. cut taxes, Reagan cut taxes, and revenues increased! And when taxes are too high, the capital just moves overseas to a lower-tax country.

      Delete
    6. All above make valid points. Ronn Owens loves to discuss his pet topics and hope his listeners will see his way and not dispute his logic or reasoning.
      Gender pay inequity is just one of his pet subjects.
      He should stick to discussing the Kardasian sisters.

      Delete
    7. In his next life, Thomas Sowell will come back as a poor black woman.

      Delete
    8. 9:47 AM - good point. Ronn will spend days figuring out the latest cell phone gizmo, discussing Israeli politics, or knocking Jimmy Carter (who looks good compared to the always-golfing-or-fundraising Obama).

      Delete
    9. If Dr. Thomas Sowell came back as a black woman, he certainly wouldn't be poor... he'd be educated, continue to write great, intellectual books, and maybe be the next Condo Rice?

      Delete
  11. i finally ditched local radio...podcasts are where its at...you can find a ton of compelling podcasts that suit your interest...there are so many out there, and even the mediocre ones are better than the shit on our airwaves

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  12. Pay for radio. F that over

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  13. "KNBR is worthless. A 24/7 promotional tool for its sports clients"

    Yes, how outrageous to promote their sponsors and underwriters!

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  14. Rich,

    Isn't it funny that you who's always condemning the lack of courage of local media are too thin skinned to post the item that Talk Magazine, "The Bible of Talk Radio and the New Talk Media" just published their“Heavy Hundred of Sports Talk – The 100 Most Important Sports Talk Radio Hosts in America” and have listed Radnich and Krueger at #17 in the country and the highest rated local talk show west of the Mississippi.

    Talk about a lack of courage? Look in the mirror!

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    1. I listen to KNBR after 9am. Born and raised here, I do follow the local teams. I appreciate the information and banter. Can't imagine relying on espn and satellite stations for what's going on around here. Sorry, I think they do just fine.

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    2. But if you listen to KNBR for local sports, you don't get much about the A's.

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    3. What a joke. #17. Whoopie. Shows where terrestrial sports talk radio is going: in the toilet with Radnich.

      Give me decent hosts at KNBR and I'll listen. Until then, I'll read the papers as bad as they are and listen to Sirius NFL radio for my NFL addiction, and yeah, Niner fan since before John Brodie and Gene Washington.

      Radnich's junior high school banter doesn't appeal to me and neither do the arrogant asses from noon to 3 or whenever they are on.

      And I'm not too thin-skinned. Spent a quarter-century in print, so kiss my ass. As for Talk Magazine, why don't you link it, putz? Who cares? Talk Magazine. Wow. Shows how bad terrestrial sports talk is, dumbass, if Radnich and Krueger are rated that high. Duh. Duh. Duh. Duh. Duh. Duh. Duh. Read your Bible in friggin' church for all I care. Put it on a friggin' billboard. KNBR sports talk sucks. That's me. That's my opinion. I don't care if the Pope says it's great. Nothing will change my mind. Radnich is a little boy in terms of maturity: "hey, how much is he makin'?" That should be Radie's mantra.

      Mommy, mommy! Talk Radio says Garrrrrry is No. 17 and so is Kruuuuuuegerrrr, Mommy! That makes the ok, doesn't it, Mommy? Say, yes, yes, yes, Mommy! That will make it true! That will make the great talk-show hosts, Mommy! Pleaaaaasse Mommy, make it be so.

      What a friggin' moron.

      Delete
    4. The link is http://www.talkers.com/2012-talkers-heavy-hundred-of-sports-talk/. I guess 2:34 was too lazy or stupid to find it themselves, since there is no such thing as "Talk Magazine." The site is called Talkers.com. This list has been out awhile, not impressed with it either.

      Delete
    5. Definitely a credible list, considering Murph and Mac made the cut. Eric Davis and Tierney too!!

      Of course there's no mention of D Bruce.. 1050? What's that?

      Delete
    6. First, it's TALKERS Magazine. Get your attributions straight.

      Second, I have history with the publisher of that rag. He's an ass-kisser to the powerful (and a jerkwad to those who he assesses aren't of use to him in the immediate moment) who makes up those lists based on who buys advertising in his own little magazine. There's no research behind it, it's all personal bias mixed with commercial calculation.

      Anyone who quotes Talkers as if it's the Bible of Broadcasting needs to get a new student loan and use it to buy a clue.

      Delete
    7. Sad, that you are censoring people who respond to your hissy fit Rich.

      And hysterical that you criticize TALKERS Magazine because of it's "personal bias."

      Delete
    8. Let's see, you have a history with the publisher of that rag (TALKERS) and of course you have your history with Radnich, so it seems like you've got a lot of axes to grind!

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    9. 12:03pm: To clarify, I'm not Rich, and I wrote the 9:54 comment about Talkers and its publisher (Michael Harrison). I knew him back when he was still posing as a hippie progressive rock DJ on Long Island. On the other hand, I have *no* history with Radnich, and have never written anything about him one way or the other. I don't listen to KNBR, ever, and only see Gary occasionally on the station that used to be KRON4.

      I know it's confusing, but you can sometimes tell comments that aren't by Rich. Mine, for example, use proper grammar, spelling and punctuation, and I proofread before hitting send.

      Delete
  15. Dino Costa is awful. There is a reason he has never been given a great shot, great pay, or a great opportunity.

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  16. Speaking of Fitz & Brooks it is amazing that next month Brooks will celebrate 15 years of Polluting the Airways on KNBR. Thank God KNBR took him off the 49er Radio Broadcast as the Sideline Reporter last fall.

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  17. For local news and traffic in the South Bay, KLIV 1590 is my favorite: http://kliv.com/

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  18. I'll take any KNBR show over Murph & Mac. Just dreadful. I had to turn to KCBS to find out how the Dodgers did last night.

    Murphy is just plain unlistenable. His rah! rah! rah! becomes so tiring. And Mac --- the lap dog --- with his idiotic drop-ins and music parodies is just plain bad radio.

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  19. The noon to 3pm show is awful.

    They laugh at every bad joke mentioned, are condescending a-holes, and offer little. They had Spears on last week, and opened with a cringe worthy performance of laughing at bad jokes.

    These guys pathetically think they are relevant, fresh, and funny. Uh, 0 fer 3 fellas.

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  20. So the Game's Brandon Tierney gets a contract extension. Does that mean his original contract was only for 1 year? He moved 3,000 miles with no more than a 1 year guarantee? With their ratings I hope he's just renting.

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    1. Guys like Brandon Tierney don't have a choice and I'm sure the Game's PD doesn't either regarding contracts. The PD of the game is way out of his league and is not a smart guy. Tierney is a fish out of water and will break contract the moment a station from the north east comes calling. I give Tierney credit for working hard but at the station the ratings are beyond his control.

      Delete
  21. The KNBR rundown...and the grades:

    Murph and Mac D plus...barely listenable. Murph would be okay as a second banana, but he still sounds like an amateur who was given a radio show. And his side kick...a joke!

    Radnich and Krueger C minus Somewhat entertaining when Gary goes on his rants, but Larry has reined in it since he got fired for the Felipe Aloud 'brain dead carribean fiasco' back in 2005. But Gary's act has gotten old.

    Fitz and Brooks F Absolutely unlistenable. Fatty Fitz is a Warriors shill who is rude and thinks his own farts don't smell, while Brooks sounds self righteous and angry much of the time.

    Mr T and his mystery guests...lately Eric Brynes- C plus. Tolbert is at least enthusiastic and original, but it isn't the same without Ralph, even though Ralphie was getting old and tired. And when Brynes is on? It sounds like JR High little boys prattle. Embarassing.

    Sportsphone 680 incomplete When Brynes is on, it's a solid F because he yells and tries to do poor impression of Jim Rome and sounds as if he's got attention deficeit disorder. Heknows baseball, but has no concept of how to sound like a real broadcaster. The only time Sportsphone worth listening to is when either Ray Woodson or Marty Lurie are subbing, but both of them need a little more energy. They sometimes sound as if they're doing the midnight to 6am shift.

    KNBR should put Damon Bruce on during morning drive, fire the mid morning crew, and bring in a few new bright young talents like
    Jamie Sire, Brodie Brazil or Roxy Bernstein.

    Damon may be a little too loud and brays a bit but he knows radio and sounds like he's actually a broadcaster, not some pimply face frat boy who idolizes all jocks.

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  22. Hey! I just checked KGO's schedule to see who's on at midnight, and it's not that FBI chick.

    It's Stacy Taylor!

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