Friday, June 29, 2007 by SDRadio.

Dave Palet and Jeff Dotseth return to the AM airwaves. The former host of 103.7 Free FM will get a two-day try out on KOGO.

Dave writes: “Jeff and I had a meeting with Cliff Albert at KOGO and he’s giving us a
chance to do two shows Thursday July 12th and Friday, July 13th from 6:00 - 8:00 PM.”

Vera, their biggest fan, will be “most happy”.

Pictured are Dave Palet, baseball great Dave Winfield, and Jeff Dotseth in a hideous and painful Raiders shirt..

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Friday, June 29, 2007 by SDRadio.

Mark Larson fills in for Michael Reagan today at 3 p.m. He can be heard online at Reagan.com or on both satellite radio services.

Mark writes about the events in the Senate this week: “The demise (thank God) of the ill-advised immigration bill in the Senate. Yes, talk radio played a role. But it didn’t swing the whole thing. No one media person caused Senators to come to their senses. The American people are smart enough to learn what’s right and wrong and do the correct thing, lobbying elected officials (much to the irritation of those bureaucrats) without being “told” what to do.”

Mark adds: “If there’s one thing that makes me sick about radio is the current crop of hosts who don’t really care about core issues. They only care about ratings and personal promotion and will adjust their “beliefs” anytime. Here’s to people who stick to what they really believe.”

More reading avail at LarsonBlog.com

Photo: Mark talking with Larry King about the White House talk radio day in 2006. Mark is the one with the better hair cut and is always on the right.

Thank you Mark, see you on the radio.

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Thursday, June 28, 2007 by SDRadio.

Traffic in San Diego will make anyone wimper, cry and bark like a dog. Tori Peck at KSON had some in studio help earlier this week. Gria was the prognostic pooch from the Helen Woodward Animal Center. Trisha Lord St. George of the Animal Center reports that Gria picked the Padres to win — which they did.

Need a new barker or another pet that is purr-fect? Animal Center has your next best friend waiting for you.

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Wednesday, June 27, 2007 by SDRadio.

KyXy 96.5 FM has started HDRadio transmission. Their sister station Radio Sophie at 103.7, has been HDRadio for at least two weeks.

Stay Tuned

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Tuesday, June 26, 2007 by SDRadio.

Laura Cain rejoined the Jeff and Jer Showgram today shortly after 7:30 a.m.

Laura told the Star 94.1 audience that “I’m not ashamed, I’m grateful!” She told of her battles with alcohol and addiction and her recovery started on March 7.

“Now I’m free!”, she said in a prepared statement to the audience. She spent 28-days in a facility in Oregon, and indicated the real test came in the following personal building at Newport Beach. That is where she built on the framework — and as she said, “Kept my eye on the prize.”

As she indicated, “I’m not ashamed, and I’m grateful.”

Welcome back Laura, see you on the radio!

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Tuesday, June 26, 2007 by SDRadio.

Mark Larson opted out of his KOGO contract in recent weeks, unhappy over the Clear Channel move of his show from 12-3 to 6-8PM. As he “mulls” the congressional run (he will announce his decision no later than July 4) and other new local opportunities, he’s also stepping up the national platform. In the last couple of months Mark’s become the “prime guest host” on Michael Reagan’s national radio show… over 200 stations and on XM and Sirius satellite. He’ll host again this Friday from 3-6PM Pacific. Also heard on www.reagan.com

Laura Cain returns to the Jeff and Jer Showgram today.

Stay Tuned!

A who’s who of Internet Radio Broadcasters will go silent on today in protest of the increase in royalty rates paid by on-line radio stations. In an effort led by Yahoo!, Apple, MTV and San Diego’s own X1FMRadio.com thousands of U.S. Broadcasters plan to go silent in protest of an increase that they consider not only unfair but as intended to shut-down independent web-casters and prolong the crumbling control of Major Corporations over media-outlets.

“What we are seeing is a clear example of how Independent broadcasters are faced with dim prospects for survival if these royalty fees become law. The result will be a creative vacuum in which only traditional, well-funded companies will be able to utilize new media. This is not only unfair to independent broadcasters like X1FM, but would be extremely detrimental to emerging artists who can not get their music exposed through more traditional mediums” said Kevin Stapleford, Program contributor and Music consultant for X1FM Radio. X1FM is a part of BBCI a San Diego based company established since 1995 that has pioneered the Internet Radio Industry and leads the ‘Movement for Freedom of Music’ a user supported initiative based right here in San Diego with the intention to promote what Mr. Stapleford calls “fair treatment for independent web-casters” through the Internet Radio Equality Act, a bill that would equal the fees paid by web-casters to those paid by Satellite Radio Broadcasters a fee already higher than those paid by Terrestrial Radio. “The music industry is already being eaten alive by on-line piracy, so it only makes sense that legitimate Web broadcasters are given a fair chance to thrive and help introduce artists to the millions of music fans who no longer listen to terrestrial radio.” concluded Mr. Stapleford.

X1FMRadio.com plans to limit the music programming during what other are already calling the ‘Day of Silence’ and serve as an outlet for information regarding this initiative through its own ‘Movement for Freedom of Music.’

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Sunday, June 24, 2007 by SDRadio.

SDRadio is moving web hosting companies. The transistion should be complete by Wednesday.

Stay Tuned

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Friday, June 22, 2007 by SDRadio.

K-Surf with Art Michaels lasted two hours and boom, there it is. Radio Sophie rolls into San Diego at 103.7, on-line and also in HDRadio.

From CBS Radio San Diego:

Sophie@103.7, a new cutting-edge, adult contemporary radio station, debuted today at 5 p.m, kicking-off a weekend of commercial-free music. Broadcast on-air and streamed online at RadioSophie.com , the station will feature an eclectic mix of today’s popular adult contemporary, alternative music that caters to the 18-49 year old, active adult.

Hyper-targeted towards women 25-35, Sophie@103.7’s music includes many of today’s most popular artists, like John Mayer, The Killers, Maroon 5, Amy Winehouse and Snow Patrol, along with favorites from the recent past like U2, Dave Matthews Band and Green Day.

“Sophie@103.7 is the first glimpse of the future of modern adult contemporary radio. With a music library predominantly rooted in the present, the station will distinguish itself as a platform for emerging artists and great new music,” says Charlie Quinn, Vice President, Adult Contemporary Format, CBS RADIO and Operations Manager, CBS RADIO San Diego. “The station’s music mirrors our listener’s priorities - music with meaning and artists with integrity.”

Peter Schwartz, Vice President/Market Manager, CBS RADIO San Diego, adds, “It’s a pleasure to work with so many talented people to help launch San Diego’s next great radio station. ‘Sophie’ promises to build a relationship with its listeners focused on the personal connection they have with their favorite music. Their feedback will drive the soundtrack of the station and help us to deliver what’s ‘Now, New and Next’.”

Sophie@103.7 will also feature personalities that live the targeted demographics’ lifestyle. Announcements will be made in the coming weeks.

KSCF is owned and operated by CBS RADIO, one of the largest major-market radio operators in the United States. A division of CBS Corporation, CBS RADIO operates 144 radio stations, the majority of which are in the nation’s top 50 markets. CBS RADIO also owns and operates KyXy in San Diego.

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Friday, June 22, 2007 by SDRadio.

Welcome K-SURF 103.7 to San Diego.

Art Michaels kicks off Oldies San Diego style.
Stay Tuned

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Friday, June 22, 2007 by SDRadio.

Spin the format wheel at 3 p.m. TODAY!

Today is the final day for Free FM as a talker.

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Friday, June 22, 2007 by SDRadio.

Thursday was a day — just like anyday. I check my email at noon and Boom: There It Is. A strange numeric web address pointing to 103.7 K-Surf San Diego.

The Street Buzz the past month was that CBS was going to re-tool their San Diego outlet and move it a new direction. Fans hoped that Free FM would hold on (I for one). However the short of it was felt in the cash flow. Free FM, while good, wasn’t carrying it’s weight in San Diego according to the folks at CBS Radio.

When stories like this cross my e-mail desk, I very carefully check it out. I will tell you this that as this broke wide open, no one from Kearney Mesa told me. In fact, the first hint of change came from a phone call asking to help build their press list.

I’m an internet hound and went on a whois search for the owner of 1267441-65.com was in Florida, I used caution. However, it was in the code the revealed the actual hosting was at CBSRadioSD.com. Then, I hit the daily double. 1037KSURF.com points back to CBS Radio.

I did make one phone call to CBS San Diego and while not outright denying it, it was suggested that another station group was behind the web site.

Sorry Charlie, this one had hook, line, and sinker on it. I struck music gold.

I did independent confirmation; and at 12:30 p.m., the first posting at SDRadio was up, complete with graphic.

Rest assured, all items here are verified from trusted sources ‘deemed reliable’. What’s my secret? Keep your ear to the ground, and the eyes on the antenna, and always Stay Tuned.

See you on the radio!

Update: A check at the web sites listed above have a “parking page” or “host not found”. A whois search has CBS Radio as the owner of 1037KSURF.

Stay Digitally Tuned

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Thursday, June 21, 2007 by SDRadio.

Registered on July 19.

San Diego’s K-Surf 103.7

Slated …. very soon. Launch codes have been entered.

Give Free FM a Chance

Update: 4:30 p.m. 1037KSURF.com The web site splash page is missing from the CBSRadioSD.com web server. Previously, the page pointed to the graphic.

Stay Digitally Tuned

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Thursday, June 21, 2007 by SDRadio.

Welcome to SDRadio! Hello summer!

The world-famous GelderHead Thought Of The Day: Before you speak, ask yourself, is it kind, is it necessary, is it true, does it improve on the silence? ~Sai Baba

Join KSON’s Cliff and Company in Oceanside tomorrow! They’ll head out to Grubbie’s Diner at 1034 South Coast Highway. Bring a new, unwrapped toy or a Gift Card to this Hometown Handshake Tour for the The Christmas You Missed. This is where the entire Christmas experience is restaged for military and family members who were deployed during the 2006 Holiday Season.

KSON presents Dance Under The Stars! Starring Ty Herndon with special guests Luke Bryan and Crossin Dixon. Tickets are only $5 and are ON SALE NOW online or during regular business hours. See the KSON.com for ticket locations.

Dance Under The Stars happens Saturday, July 28 at the Lakeside Rodeo Grounds, Highway 67 and Mapleview in Lakeside. Gates open at 5 p.m., music begins at 6 p.m.

Earlier this week, I wrote how the Apple iPhone is understood by the public more than HDRadio. RadioDailyNews.com’s Larry Shannon offers his thought on HDRadio: “Part of the HD Radio problem is that radio stations aren’t taking advantage of the HD2 channel and HD3 channel. It’s the same way it was when FM reared its head in the late 60’s and early 70’s. The broadcasters didn’t want to lose their numbers to other channels. It’s a slowly evolving thing.”

HDRadio is not an elixir, it can be utilized by the industry to promote a station, give alternative programming. It’s not a floor wax, nor is it a desert topping — some of the HDRadio ads are misleading, however. You won’t get a hundred stations on a HDRadio receiver. You’ll get about seven in the San Diego market. You’ll discover that KOGO’s Dave Mason and LaDonna Harvey continue to give the newscast in the morning on KOGO and the audio quality better. Jeff and Jer remain on the air at Star 94.1’s HD-1 station — yet the hidden station is at HD2. The alternative music is non-stop with no commercials.

The two best examples of how HDRadio could work start at KPBS. The HD2 multicast offers Groove Salad, a corn-syrup free offering of great music. You won’t hear anything like it on the San Diego airwaves. Likewise up the dial at 101.5 KGB, it is Dave, Shelly and Chainsaw all day and night. There’s hope in the limited offering of multicast stations. Ponder this: realistically, a station could offer four programming choices on one FM station. Analog, HD1, HD2 and HD3.

I have reported the reception issues of the multicast stations, yet as technology moves forward, those should become moot as new generations of transmitters, FCC rules, and receivers make the bits and bytes easier to get. I don’t expect analog to disappear like television will do shortly.

Now it is up to the station to exploit a new offering on the airwaves. Serve the public with another outlet. Radio has always been under the prediction it is going to fail, yet here we are in the 21st century listening to radio. Radio audiences want more choices and radio stations could give them the chance.

No vacuum tubes in radio receivers today. I hope station owners are not living in a vacuum missing the technology jump to the future.

Back to the Apple iPhone that hits the streets next week. A lot of buzz, and two million handsets are expected to be at the fingertips of consumers shortly. There’s much excitement about Steve Job’s new tech-entry. I can’t say the same of the HDRadio product that radio is trying to sale.

Stay Digitally Tuned.

XM and Sirius are about split on listeners in the paid radio area. While the companies are talking up the proposed merger, they are also gearing up to remain seperate service providers. XM remains the stronger of the two financially. Sirius had to grab $250 million in financing recently. Interesting when the fed agencies will rule on what the providers will do ….stay tuned skyward.

Who is Alice and why is she considering San Diego?

Thank you for making SDRadio part of your internet travels. See you on the radio today and here early next week!

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Tuesday, June 19, 2007 by SDRadio.

KSON’s Prognosticating Pooch for Wednesday

SIT!  STAY!  Listen to Cliff & Company on KSON!

At left is our Prognosticating Pooch for this week – "APHRODITE" – is a 2 month old, Collie/Labrador Retriever Mix. She’s 13 ½ pounds now and will grow into approx. 55-65 pounds of pure Greek Goddess love and beauty! Mighty "Aphrodite" is full of puppy perfection and ready to be your new best friend! Adopt an orphaned Greek Goddess today from Helen Woodward Animal Center!

Our featured Prognosticating Pooches have enjoyed a 100% adoption rate! Adopt your new best friend today! Call the Helen Woodward Animal Center at 858-756-4117 or visit www.animalcenter.org!

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Tuesday, June 19, 2007 by SDRadio.

Neil Ross will do the voice over for tonight’s KPBS broadcast of NOVA. He’ll be the announcer for Bone Diggers. “As this one takes place in Australia, I guess it’s technically a voice-under [rim-shot],” wrote Neil. Program airs tonight on channel 15 over the air, or channel 11 on most cable systems in San Diego county.

Neil’s website is NeilRoss.com.

Did anyone catch the Dr. Laura moment in last week’s Rescue Me on FX? The good doctor was heard on the radio as Denis Leary’s character denied tuning in. Classic.

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Tuesday, June 19, 2007 by SDRadio.

From Kurt Hanson’s RAIN: “In response to a impending royalty rate increase that, if implemented, would lead to the virtual shutdown of Internet radio in the U.S., thousands of webcasters plan to go silent next Tuesday, June 26, to draw attention to their industry’s plight.

This “Day of Silence” is an encore of a successful media event that small webcasters organized on May 1, 2002 in response to a similarly royalty rate ruling from a Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel (CARP) five years ago. That event garnered national attention and was subsequently followed by a rate cut by the Librarian of Congress and the passage of the Small Webcaster Settlement Act for the period 1998-2005. [Previous RAIN coverage here.]

Webcasters will be alerting their listeners that “silence” is what Internet radio may sound like on or shortly after July 15th, the day on which 17 months’ worth of retroactive royalty increase payments are due to the SoundExchange collection organization under the terms of a recent Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) decision.

See the RAIN for the complete article.

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Monday, June 18, 2007 by SDRadio.

Jeff Gelder was the MC for a recent event for the San Diego Men’s Chorus Sing For A Cure. Attending the festivities was Nichelle Nichols best known for her roll as Lt. Uhura, on Star Trek. Jeff said, “She is a gracious and humble lady, and her sister is very nice as well!”

Thanks Jeff!

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Monday, June 18, 2007 by SDRadio.

“On its face, we believe that sanctioning the marriage of the only competitors in the satellite radio market would create a monopoly which would be devastating to consumers.”

That’s part of the letter seventy-two Congress members signed and forwared on to the Federal Communications Commission on Monday.

The letter was written by Reps. Gene Green of Texas (D) and Jim Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin (R) along with the signatures of 47 Democrats and 25 Republicans.

XMRadio and Sirius have proposed a merger, however the outlook remains dim that the alliance will happen.

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Sunday, June 17, 2007 by SDRadio.

Welcome to SDRadio for Monday, June 18

The world-famous GelderHead Thought Of The Day: We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. - Kurt Vonnegut

Long time San Diego vixen, Robin Roth is making noise at Rock 105.3 in the evenings.”Every Friday night I host The 11th Hour on Rock 105.3. I’ve been doing it since the beginning of February and due to popular demand, the show has been expanded to two hours. Starting Friday, June 1st, it’s on from 10pm to midnight. Thanks for all your input over the past few months. I really appreciate it.

“The 11th Hour is devoted to the industrial and goth music scene. Tune in to hear KMFDM, Bauhaus, Rammstein, Project Pitchfork, Killing Joke, Skinny Puppy, Ministry and more. You can make your requests via robin@rock1053.com and then tune in to my show every Friday night from 10pm to midnight.”

Call that a night cap!

Where’s the hook?: More consumers have heard of the upcoming Apple iPhone and know something about the product than HDRadio. Radio is misstepping on the new technology and in July, more consumers will be using the iPhone than listening to HDRadio receivers. Apple has 2-million units ready to roll out and most likely will be snapped up before the end of the year. HDRadio will be gathering dust in the warehouses as the hook of having an improved reception is lost in the sea of consumer confusion. Stay digitally tuned.

San Diego’s Smooth Jazz and ratings leader writes: “We are bringing Jazz at the Beach back to the Oceanside Pier Ampitheatre on Sunday, July 15th from 4:30pm ’til Sunset. The show stars Brian Culbertson, reunited with Steve Cole, plus special guest Down to the Bone featuring Shilts!

Tickets are on sale NOW through our website, or by calling 877-77-CLICK.” Tickets are expected to sell out.

Life After Larson: KOGO is expected to announce their new lineup today. Mark Larson decided to opt out of his evening show. Mark writes at his blog: “It was no secret that I disliked the 6-8PM slot, though I gave it my best. The local KOGO/Clear Channel people have been great but the out of town “experts” made decisions that didn’t make sense to me. There’s a point where you have to say, “Hey, I didn’t just fall off a turnip truck and get into radio”. Well, I know a thing or two about the media biz, and it was clear that I could have stuck in with my new contract for another one and two-thirds years and been miserable, working under the whims of VP’s in the company. I’m a big believer in local radio, local control…. and that’s changing along with much of the industry.

“So it is what it is. I needed to make a dramatic change to be true to myself, and get my health and family time (and other business interests) back in line.” More info on Mark at LarsonBlog. Also expected: an announcement soon on Mark’s plans for the next election. Stay Tuned.

KOGO’s Roger Hedgecock will fill in for Rush Limbaugh on Wednesday and Thursday this week. Roger will do double-duty: National show on the EIB Network from 9 to noon; and then locally from 3 to 6 p.m. I’m sure Jimmy Valentine will have enough hooch and smokes for the entire broadcast.

Soap Box: Republican Trent Lott was quoted in the New York Times: “Talk radio is running America. We have to deal with that problem.” What a nice problem that is. In a time that political officials claim that they do not receive any position from their district or state, the same politicians are having their ear turned by political action committees, and registered lobbyists, the elected officials cringe when their offices are over flooded with upset voters. Locally, Roger Hedgecock at KOGO and John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou of KFI are doing more than holding their feet to the fire. They are going on a full frontal assault by having listeners raise the rackles in Washington, D.C., and in Sacramento.

As one who is tired of special interest groups, PACs, and lobbyists having the upper hand in the capitals, Talk Radio is indeed, holding more than their feet to the fire — it’s democracy in action.

KFI’s Captain Dale Dye is taking a yearlong leave of absence from the station to work on an HBO companion piece to “Band of Brothers.”

The ten-part film is being shot in Australia with Captain Dye working as a unit director shooting the Marines’ major battles in the Pacific including Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, Peleliu, Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

Captain Dye, retired from the USMC, has been used as a technical director and unit director on many films. His Sunday show on KFI was popular, especially with the Camp Pendleton military members.

Semper Fi.

Thank you for making SDRadio part of your internet travels. More news later in the broadcast week. See YOU on the radio!

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Saturday, June 16, 2007 by SDRadio.

The Federal Communications Commission has fined the landlord of a San Diego pirate radio operator. The fine, posted at the FCC web site, is $750. The station has not been on the air for sometime. The station is Free Radio San Diego 96.9.

Rrrr! Stay tuned you limeys.

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