Mark Thompson Reaches Ratings Abyss At KGO; No One Is Listening; Former KRON/KFI Host Asks Ronn Owens 'Why Am I Not Connecting?' While Thurston And Rothmann Show Promise, Thompson Gets Crickets; 415 Media Analysis

Left to Right: Mark Thompson, Pat Thurston and John Rothmann

WHILE A FEW OF THE NEW KGO RADIO TALK HOSTS HAVE registered some feedback (mostly positive) its major hire, former KRON weatherman and a KFI Radio personality in LA, Mark Thompson has been a DUD.

"A total disaster", says a KGO source who tells 415 Media Thompson is not only not drawing an audience, worse yet, he's not drawing any feedback whatsoever.

"They might as well hired a canary," said industry figure based in the city. Only the canary would have been cheaper.

How bad is it for Thompson? I LEARNED that Thompson had lunch with former KGO host, Ronn Owens and Thompson repeatedly asked Owens, "Why am I not connecting?" I'd suggest to Mark asking Owens that questions would be like Mel Gibson asking someone "why do the Jews hate me"?

Thompson has a three-year contract worth nearly $350K a year. It's not the kind of money that will make Cumulus CEO, Mary Berner, stewing, which she reportedly is. It was KGO brass that convinced Berner to sign off on the deal in hopes of revitalizing KGO as a legitimate news-talk outlet; sure, not the ratings kingpin it was in the late 90's and 2000's but enough to make it relevant and a soundboard for politics and news. Wrongo.

While Pat Thurston (Noon-3 PM) has registered better than average numbers (the full ratings are not out yet) and John Rothmann (6-9 PM) has cultivated a following amongst SF-based listenership) Thompson's mixture of topics and interviews have been received with near zero significance. Like a capital Z.

Making matters worse, KGO (really Cumulus) spent major bucks on billboards and TV commercials promoting Thompson's return to the Bay Area. Only nobody really listens to Thompson and those few that do have NO IDEA who Thompson is and that he was indeed a highly popular figure at KRON but that was over thirty years ago.

KGO, word on the street says, thought Thompson's Bay Area past would catapult him into a strong morning position and would at least offer a true "live and local" personality that not only was Bay Area centric but had major personality to boot. Wrongo!

Thompson is a disaster but a lot of it is not his fault. He's irritating and insulting with his extended and disingenuous voice emphasis but it's radio, OK, not that big a deal. Only Thompson sounds contrived and phony as if he were on a fourth-tier market audition. Part of what made him popular and engaging at KRON was his genuine humor and shtick --almost making the weather report irrelevant and centering all the attention on him. At KGO he's just another vanilla voice and not that big a deal. When the best thing anybody says about you is, "he's better than Ethan Bearman", then you know there's a problem. Lots.

It's early in the game --Thompson began his KGO stint on March 11, barely three weeks into a long journey and he could get better. But he could get worse too. The problem, and there's many here, is Thompson is trying to force laugh. When you're really not that funny and you're trying to appear as if you are, and the people are not buying it, then you have to change the furniture. Thompson has no idea as to how to reset and altar the game plan.

He was lucky in LA because KFI had a need and he did well for the most part. He was also aided by a popular main cog named Tim Conway Jr; as a second fiddle, Thompson was bearable. He's not only not bearable now at KGO but worse, no one apparently gives a damn because no one is listening and that's the worst and only conclusion.

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Sussman and Green Act Irresponsible on KSFO Morning Show; Speculation on Nia Wilson Murder Case as Possible 'Gang Hit' Shows No Respect for Victim and Family (AUDIO)

Brian Sussman and Katie Green

YOU'VE ALL BY NOW HEARD about the senseless murder of an 18 year-old woman at the MacArthur  BART station Sunday night.

Nia Wilson was stabbed to death and her sister was also attacked but survived.

A suspect was apprehended days later.

On their KSFO Morning Show on Tuesday , Brian Sussman and Katie Green act irresponsible and become home-grown detectives --as if they're experts and clearly they're not.

In the show's second hour, Sussman talks about the incident and says "there's more to this" and makes light of what he calls "gang pictures" of Ms. Wilson, the young lady who essentially bled to death.

(AUDIO) At around 14: 45 of the tape, (SECOND HOUR 6AM) you can hear both Sussman and Green insinuate that maybe Green was an intended target because of her "gang signs on social media"; this despite police saying the stabbing appeared that of a random attack by some nutjob who has a lengthy rap sheet. (I'm not using his name)

Nia Wilson

The discussion; the rambling by Sussman and Green show a total disregard for Nia Wilson and her grief-stricken family, at best. At worse, the armchair analysis insinuates that perhaps because she's seen in pictures with a cell phone case that looks like a gun, maybe she (Wilson) had it coming. That's clearly inferred in the tape. Just listen and by the way, several e-mails from readers suggest the same conclusion.

I asked a lawyer about this on-air hijinks and he said if the Wilson family listens to this that they'd have a "great" case against KSFO and Cumulus. Sussman should know better. An 18 year-old stabbing victim hasn't even been buried and he conducts this crap-fest on the radio.

The 1970's and KFRC; 'Dr Don' Ruled AM Radio DJ Landscape; Bay Area Pop Culture Scene; 'The Big 610' Personality Galore; 'Your Duke, Dave Sholin'; Bobby Ocean; 'Marvalous Mark McKay'; Days on Green at Coliseum; Bill Graham Influence; 415 Media Retro Sunday

THE SUMMER OF '76; Growing up in the Bay Area a ripe, wide-eyed 14 year-old listening to KFRC; AM Radio with personalities galore; Dr. Don Rose in the morning drive; 6-10 AM. It was mandatory listening and appointment radio. Who could forget, "Sacra-tomato!" and …"San-RAQUEL!" --to this day, there is NO ONE, no one, who can even come close to Donald B. Rose (real name, Donald Rosenberg)

Dr. Don was corny funny. He had great timing and great corny jokes, an AM staple. He was unique; he was original; he was hysterical. It wasn't an acquired taste because everyone loved the Doctor. In this case, sound drops worked because Rose played off them and developed a distinct cohesion between listener and host. It was, like I said, corny funny.

But insatiably original.

It's a good thing I was too young to drive back then because I may have driven off the road laughing my ass off. Rose had that aura with me and everyone else. It was a constant.

Dr. Don Rose

I remember something distinct back in the time. Rose was broadcasting from his home in Danville; actually from his bed. He was battling issues with his leg. He was so important to KFRC and listeners loved the Doctor so much that KFRC built a makeshift studio in his bedroom that allowed him to broadcast his show; try doing that today; would never happen; maybe for a Howard Stern but nobody else. It spoke volumes to the popularity and power that was one Dr. Don Rose.

I thought he would live forever but he battled several health issues and hard to believe Rose passed away over a decade ago.

How BIG was Dr. Don? He was one of the most highly-paid DJs in the country making over $400,000. That's big today but even bigger back in the 1970's. Only "Aku" (Hal Lewis) earned in the vicinity what Rose was making.

KFRC, like the old KGO, was a gigantic part of the Bay Area culture scene. It was the pop music equivalent of the old KGO; more than just a radio station and purveyor of bubblegum music, 70's hits--KFRC had a distinct line-up of individual personalities and was constantly on the social Bay Area radar, particularly music and teen culture. In association with Bill Graham, KFRC produced many "Days on the Green" at the Oakland Coliseum Stadium; its contests gave away tickets to lucky listeners trying to score freebies to see the Grateful Dead and Beach Boys (what a combo, eh?)

Friday nights in Summer; listening to Bill Lee on KFRC. Don't forget, "Marvelous" Mark McKay and the always hilarious, Bobby Ocean. Your "Duke", Dave Sholin, was too good to be true. A funny, thought-provoking AM DJ with a gigantic personality and vibe to boot. Sholin would later in life be an editor of the influential industry newsletter, "Gavin Report."

They were all great.

And as crazy as this sounds, the whole 70's/KFRC experience defined an era in Bay Area pop culture. It was distinct and brilliant. Cozy and authentic. It was emblematic of the times and chicken soup for those of us wanting an escape away from some not so cool things taking place in the 1970's miles from the music and culture scene.

We needed it. I needed it. And I loved it too.

It's a special part of Bay Area radio history that made for entertaining, nostalgic days and nights. It broke up boredom and created magical moments. Those of you that were fans of that era and like myself had an affinity for KFRC can relate to my enthusiasm.

Peter Frampton at a "Day on the Green" at Oakland Coliseum, 1976

It's an enthusiasm that is lacking today in the vanilla mainstream abyss known as millennial culture, whatever that is.




*At 415 Media, I am passionate about vintage radio and TV and will occasionally venture back into a time when the appreciation of the electronic media meant something.

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#This column is dedicated to the life and memory of my mom, Anne Landau: 1922-2018.

Trouble In Radio Paradise; KCBS' Top Tater, Corral Mad, Pissed Off At Everyone/Everything; Management Especially; Fears KCBS About To Become Old KGO; 415 Media Exclusive

 YOU WOULD THINK there's universal harmony at the Bay Area's #-1 rated radio station; all-news powerhouse, KCBS but you'd be thinking wrong.

KCBS has been swimming in good news recently, with a new ND, Jack Swanson, and a top-radio constant, but one of its most tenured, veteran news anchor outside of Stan Bunger, is ROYALLY pissed off. At almost everyone and everything --this according to my KCBS Insider.

Longtime newswoman, Rebecca Corral, has been major-gripping. I mean, big time. She's apparently angry at just about everyone at the station, including management, and specifically, Swanson, whom she fears is about to turn KCBS into an old KGO news style, but Corral seems to be a lone wolf. Then again, her influence at the CBS outlet is that of 27 years and many people fear her. If the name, Corral, sounds familiar, it should be. Rebecca Corral is the younger sister of Al Corral, a veteran Bay Area newsman and exec, and ex-husband of former KTVU anchor, Elaine Corral.

Seems Rebecca Corral is mightily worried about the direction and future of KCBS, although, as we said, she's apparently in the minority, but her constant bitching seems to have made for internal discomfort at 855 Battery. Said the Insider:

"Corral is the major troublemaker... Not. Colross, (Melissa)--who is sweet. Corral bitches and moans about management constantly. Evil bitch. She HATES JACK. thinks he is a fraud. Hated Ed (former ND, Ed Cavagnaro who retired in April)--too."

Corral is not some cub reporter picked up off the street. She's a major player at one of the Bay Area's most powerful radio stations therefore her bitterness should not be dismissed as some sort of trivial nuisance.

Swanson is respected throughout the industry and at KCBS even though there's a well-known feeling that he's about to inject some old-time KGO nuances into the CBS station. As I indicated in a previous column, the changes are fairly subtle but according to those in the know, will become more pronounced as the days grow.

That said, Corral's act has been met with the usual twerping--good and bad. Most staffers respect her but a good portion thinks she's also a royal pain in the ass.

"I hate to use this word, but she's a complete bitch. A trouble-maker, " offered one prominent news hound, who asked to remain anonymous.

So far, Corral's state of discontent seems to be contained but many station staffers think a showdown between Corral and Management (read: Swanson) is inevitable.



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Ronn Owens Has Been Away From KGO For Nearly Three Weeks on 'Unusual' Vacation

 Ronn Owens returns from a two-week vacation this morning behind the albatross KGO Radio microphones. His unusual lengthy mid-January respite was planned long ago during the Randall Bloomquist/Renee Bakos run. Of course both Bakos and Bloomquist are gone from the KGO bunker on Hawthorne now.

That being said, many of you plus a prominent industry source asked me if Owen's extended vacation was out of the loop and whether there's anything going on? The rumor mill has been rife too because Owens stay away from the microphone came after early January when he broadcast from Washington DC...so he's been away from the microphone since January 8.

It was common knowledge that Owen's buddy, Bloomquist, who "resigned" for "family reasons", caught Ronn off-guard and made for some testy off-mike encounters with Cumulus suits in Atlanta. I don't know how heated the exchanges were, but I do hear they were "enlightening." An agent explained:

 

It's highly unusual for someone as prominent as him to take two weeks off in the middle of January --I'm sorry but no one does that so I'll just say that something has to be up. You're talking about the morning talk show in the 4th-largest market in the country. Come on, man! 

Again, we're told, (officially), that this vacation was planned long ago and that there's nothing, at least publically, brewing, but we also didn't know about the in-house shouting fest by Owens and Atlanta suits.


We're also told that some behind-the-scenes maneuvering is in place. Oh, by the way, Owens will turn 70 this October and mark his 40th anniversary at KGO.


We anticipate Owens will return to KGO and not say a word about this mystery on Monday morning because we know the drill.


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Bay Area Radio is Dead

 Bay Area radio is dead.

It was on life support until the final KGO excavation on weekends took place.

I was never a weekend KGO fan; outside of a few talk shows, weekend KGO was a certified dump --a place to store the trash. Hawks came down and ate the morsels.

Sad.

Gone now, formally, are the once mighty legacy stations devoured by a corporate broadcasting crime syndicate. They are not radio people. They're not even good business people. They killed KGO, KSFO, KFOG--and they really killed KNBR, took out its heart and soul like a shark on blood. Only because KNBR has phenomenally successful sports clients make KNBR survive the funeral because even mighty Knibber is on life support, figuratively speaking.

Bay Area radio is dead too because almost all the talent have either died, retired, or are just hanging around to get their last dance before sunset. Some sell mattresses and gadgets, others play to a growing crowd of imbeciles and act like sheep. They work to get that last paycheck until even they are kicked to the curb and they will be soon.

The rest are like the torsos in "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"--they look like real people walking around and living life until you discover they have no emotion and are essentially zombies. The zombies mindset was hijacked by the cloud company who use them in their daily morsel, feast on their innate ability to work, make no trouble, and return to their quarters. No fuss. Resignation.

Sleeeep. Go to sleep. Sleeep.

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Would Michael Savage Ever Want to Run for POTUS?

Never...I would not want to shake greased palms, eat greasy food and have to grease the skids for liars and thieves.


Michael Savage--5-2-14...I asked him if he could ever imagine running for President of the US.




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What Jim Eason Thinks of Today's Radio Environment; Former KGO/KSFO Talker Chimes in to 415 Media

  JIM EASON, late of KGO and KSFO Radio speaking via my e-mail line...

I couldn't be happier to be OUT of talk radio, and especially OUT of KGO and KSFO.  

Someone sent me an email recently, pointing out that I came into Bay Area radio just as

"talk shows" were getting very popular -- and I went out of Bay Area radio just as the "talk shows" were going down the tubes. 

It took a few weeks to get out of the habit of listening to talk shows, reading papers and magazines, and watching TV news...but I broke that habit.  I read books that I WANT to read, watch old movies, and spend a lot of time listening to music.  No news, no talk, and I couldn't be happier.  After 30-plus years of talking, listening, and fighting with idiots who ran radio stations without any knowledge or talent or intelligence.

Maybe there is a future in MUSIC radio....but talk is dead.

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415 Media Exclusive: Melanie Morgan Returning to Bay Area Radio; Ex-KSFO Talkie Heads to KSRO as Morning News Anchor and ND

 Melanie Morgan will be joining KSRO Radio in her new capacity as News Director and primary anchor of the Santa Rosa station's morning news program.

The veteran former KGO Radio reporter and KSFO talk host left KSFO last July amid issues involving her business relationship with partner Brian Sussman.

She begins her new position at KSRO Monday morning.

Morgan spent a good part of her Bay Area radio career co-hosting the "KSFO Morning Show" with the late Lee Rodgers.

She also frequently appeared as a guest on the cable shows on CNN, Fox News Channel, and MSNBC as a conservative pundit.

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How 95.7 FM The Game Screwed Up Taking on The KNBR Big Boys; Product Is Still The Missing Equation; Plus Friday Media Notes

 When Entercom's 95.7 FM-The Game debuted in April, 2011, I was intrigued. I always thought sports radio on FM was a clever device and that in this market, it could work. It works in sports-heavy Boston, why not the Bay Area. Moreover, it seemed to me KNBR had worn out its welcome and was largely living on its Giants, 49ers and Warriors affiliations --their talk-radio, for the most part, was mostly meh.




As the latest dynamic duo hits the street, a few things need to be aired, so to speak.




*The Game has never been known to be bold and take a chance. I suggested something fairly radical, but it can't be any worse then their current presentation.




*It continues to mystify me that their, PD, Jason Barrett, is still employed. Barrett's programming menu has been nothing short of a disaster, with experiment after experiment going nowhere.



Barrett's tenure has been largely defined by a knack for bringing in out-of-town unknown loud-mouths who don't know the Bay Area market--this is not exactly rocket science, but SF is not NY. That's not in any way denigrating NY nor the city but the point is what goes in the 212 and 718 doesn't naturally resonate in the 415 and 408/510. Pretty much common sense unless your Barrett and it's still mind-boggling that his boss doesn't see that. I don't know Barrett, never met him, but you can learn a lot from a guy who does contests to get hired hosts literally off the street. That's a wise business model.




It goes on. Hiring human junkets like Brandon Tierney--(boy, that worked well, didn't it?), was a foolish move from the get-go. There's been other puzzling moves too. The concept of originality, I guess, is something that's not on the sticky pad in Barrett's office. And spending globs of money on radio-TV ads making fun and belittling the competition was a ludicrous move at best. What was that all about? "You suck, we don't---you have old, stodgy listeners, we're fresh and new--listen to us, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah!" KNBR was nervous enough to tweak their schedule and pass out a few memos but the bottom line is KNBR still has the dial position and the dominant teams, advantage Cumulus.




Truth be told, I welcome an alternative to the sports leader. But if you're going up against the big boys you have to have a firm, legitimate game plan, (no pun intended); you have to have original ideas and a long-term commitment and business model to implement. A Brandon Tierney, (who lives from radio suitcase to suitcase), is not a well-thought-out hire. Tierney lasted about as long as expected and never registered an ounce of traction on the local sports radar. His blustery was far more pronounced than his results.



Local, fresh, and engaging personalities make for successful radio. By and large, it's not a science but it goes a long way to reaching out to listeners begging for something different, something edgy, something, well, that's not the half-eaten omelet called "Murph and Mac". The Game's "Rise Guys" mostly do it right but the hodgepodge of manufactured shtick and reliance on a curious brand of humor isn't working. I like Dan Dibley, to a degree, but he's not a dominant personality. Of course, sad for the Game, neither are his partners.




The fundamental problem with 95.7 is a lack of original programming, a very lousy signal and extremely poor guidance. You can always help yourself as the flagship of MLB and the NFL because, like KNBR, you build your talk shows around your clients, (although Knibber does it better)--but franchises alone don't automatically lead to ratings nirvana particularly when one of your teams doesn't win a lot of its games. That's where the PD earns his living and in the case of Barrett, he's done nothing to earn any sort of respect let alone job longevity.




FRIDAY MEDIA NOTES...




*That hot microphone that Michael Savage didn't know was hot the other day on his KSFO, (and syndicated), show created quite a storm. Savage was heard ripping another local host, (who frankly deserved it), and lecturing a producer rather, uh, pointedly. It wasn't especially juicy but it was enough to spring a rumor that a head might roll.




*I'll be filling in next Tuesday on KSCO from Noon-2 PM, (following Rush Limbaugh); we'll do some media material and a few surprises. Management is also talking about a weekend show that will concentrate on radio, TV, the Net, sort of a "Reliable Sources", stay tuned and be sure to listen on Tuesday.




*Changes, I'm told by a mole, are coming to KRON faster than you can say Van Ness Ave.


*Speaking of KSFO, have you noticed the frequent amounts of dead air lately? Maybe someone should wake up the engineer dept. On the other hand, the dead air is far more superior to the actual content at times.




*I figured it out: Maybe Raponi over there at KTVU doesn't have a computer.




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Michael Krasny, Broadcast Pioneer at KQED Radio Celebrates 20 Years at 'Forum', (And Can Tell a Great Joke Too)

  Michael Krasny is celebrating his 20th anniversary at KQED. Krasny hosts the morning show, "Forum", (Monday-Friday, 9-11 AM), which is an intellectual island on the mostly-dreck ocean of terrestrial radio. It's a program that is largely devoid of usual present-day broadcast drama. The only drama you hear on Krasny's Forum show is that of pithy novel authors and an occasional call from Robert Redford or Philip Roth.

Krasny is not only a broadcast giant locally; he teaches English and literature classes at SF State. In fact, before KQED, Krasny hosted a weeknight talk show on KGO Radio and it was there where I met him and he was my English professor at State. He started out there back in 1970. Wow, time does fly.

I always knew he had the intellectual and professional insight but at State I saw his comedic side. The Cleveland native is also a Jewish-humor advocate and can tell many hysterical jokes. Trust me.

Here's a grand huzzah to at least 20 more years of success to Michael Krasny.

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Rodgers death gets ignored by local SF Media

Outside of this site, and the radio station where he worked for nearly two decades, not a single Bay Area news org, paper, TV station, etc, gave notice to the passing of longtime broadcaster and talk-radio host, Lee Rodgers.

That is sad. Outrageous too, really, but in the world of local communications, not so surprising. If Lee were alive, he'd kick it to the ground and really not give a damn. Come to think of it, Rodgers would be blase: "And now...if you'll excuse me."

Myself? I'm not shocked anymore by anything.

But Lee Rodgers deserved better.

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Breaking: Former KGO/KSFO Talker Lee Rodgers is Dead

OMG. This is tough.

RIP, Lee Rodgers is dead.

I don't know all the details. I just know he has passed.

UPDATE: 9: 21 PM: Lee underwent a 13 hour operation for a heart by-pass, and his wife said he just couldn't pull through.

I'm at a total loss for words. He was just on my radio show last week.

I'm devastated.

When I know more, I will get back to you. In the meantime, I offer all my condolences to the Rodgers family and wife.

Developing...

UPDATE: Lee's former co-host, Melanie Morgan, from KSFO has this post.

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