Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "radio"

New Show "Sactown Famous" Highlights Local Talent and Culture

2012-01-25T22:28:53Z

Local producer and businessman Tony Savo announced today he will be hosting "Sactown Famous" a new reality show set to begin production in the Sacramento region late next week. The show will be produced by Savo's Coalition Media Group in association with One Mil Records and will spotlight the areas local talent, events and nightlife as well as feature exclusive interviews with the Capital city's biggest names.

Tony Savo says: "Sacramento's a very diverse and dynamic city and I think it should be celebrated. We got the Kings, the River Cats, the UFC's Urijah Faber and the Maloof's Global Skateboarding Initiative just for starters... there's a lot to take pride in if you call this place your home."

Savo a long time native of Sacramento first made a name for himself as the CEO and Producer of Coalition Fight Music a local band that has been featured on ESPN, Sky Sports (Fox Sports UK) USA Today and Tapout magazine for sponsoring World Champion UFC fighters Nick and Nate Diaz and Jake Sheilds. Last month Savo launched Coalition Media Group after announcing via his twitter account (@statecyde) that he had recently inked a deal with Samsung Web enabled TV and Europe's top fight promotion UCMMA to provide mobile MMA content to over 20 million smart phone subscribers around the globe. For more info contact sactownfamous@gmail.com

Disclosure: Danny Murphy is affiliated with Sactown Famous

Round-up: Recent changes in local news outlets

2012-01-21T02:05:23Z

In a world where nearly everyone has a smartphone or an iPod and news flashes are delivered in 140 characters or less, the landscape of news media is rapidly changing. Here is a quick roundup of recent changes in the local news outlets:

Sacramento News & Review: Looking for a new editor

The Sacramento News & Review has been a print publication since 1989, and Melinda Welsh has been the editor for most of that time. About a week ago, she decided to step down, and now the News & Review is conducting a nationwide search for her replacement.

“I love the job, it’s the coolest job,” Welsh said Friday. “But it’s been long enough. Eighteen years as an editor? It’s time to do something different.”

Welsh said the nationwide search began as soon as she announced her plans to leave, and ads for the position have been appearing in local outlets and across the nation.

Welsh said, so far, there have been some responses to the ads, but the hiring office at News & Review is not yet to the point of conducting interviews.

“We’re targeting other alt(ernative) weeklies and looking for someone with experience in what we do,” Welsh said.

Although the search for an editor is open nationwide, Welsh said the News & Review would prefer someone with ties to Sacramento – especially since the paper focuses on local stories.

Welsh said the News & Review has gone through a number of changes over the years – but that’s the nature of media.

“It’s a time of change,” Welsh said. “I don’t think we’re behind the eight ball. The News and Review is thinner than it’s been, but our readership has increased. It’s just the ever-changing landscape of media.”

Capitol Weekly: Leaving print behind, going to online-only

Jan. 12 saw the print edition of Capitol Weekly – a newspaper devoted solely to politics and governance in Sacramento – delivered to offices in the state Capitol for the last time.

According to the Jan. 17 announcement in Capitol Weekly, the newspaper suspended its print edition in favor of an online-only presence.

Calling it “an essential element of the reorganization of our company,” Editor John Howard said in the announcement that the move was prompted by “challenging economic times coupled with the need for new technologies” to expand the company’s capabilities.

The switch to online-only came with employee layoffs at the newspaper – something
Lilly Fuentes-Joy, former photo editor with Capitol Weekly, said many people hoped would never happen.

“Financially the paper was going through hard times,” Fuentes-Joy said Friday, “but we all thought the paper would pull through.”

Fuentes-Joy said about 10 people were let go from the paper when it halted its print edition.

Howard said in the announcement that “the economy, changing readership habits and increasing demand for speed and access” spurred the change, and the company wants to focus on how to meet the needs of its readers and advertisers.

“I’ve seen Capitol Weekly go through so many changes,” Fuentes-Joy said Friday, “but not keep up with the changing times.”

The social media aspect of journalism has been key to the struggles of Capitol Weekly, Fuentes-Joy said.

“People still like print media,” she said, “but they want quick fixes – immediate news – but there’s no real depth.”

Capitol Weekly will continue to produce a conference series, special events and its television show, “Politics On Tap,” according to Capitol Weekly Publisher Arnold York.

Capital Public Radio: Moving jazz to sister station, focusing on news

Jazz and music lovers will no longer find their favorite music on KXJZ 90.9, because Capital Public Radio is making some changes to its format.

“Over the last several years, our research has shown a growing demand for news information,” Capital Public Radio General Manager Rick Eytcheson said Friday.

“The way people consume music has been evolving, and that rate of change is accelerating. People have so many options, and a lot of radio stations are struggling,” Eytcheson said.

In response to listeners’ requests and research that the organization did, Eytcheson said, the station moved its popular "Excellence In Jazz" program and several other music programs from KXJZ 90.9 to its sister station at 88.9 KXPR to allow more airtime at 90.9 for news and information programming.

“The news side continues to grow on public radio,” Eytcheson said, “and we’ve seen robust ratings growth. We want to build on that.”

Eytcheson said about two years ago, the station started to stream jazz music online, and managers were pleasantly surprised to see the number of people tuning in. Soon, the station began to simultaneously stream classical music to reach a larger audience.

With the newest format changes, Eytcheson said, he hopes no one loses out: Fans of news and information will get full-time programming on one station, and music lovers will get full-time programming on another station.

“Jazz isn’t going away,” Eytcheson said. “It’s just moving down the dial.”

In addition to the format changes, Eytcheson said, the news station will add new shows including, “The Splendid Table,” “Q” from Canadian Broadcasting Company, “Marketplace Money” and others.

Melissa Corker is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCorker.

Editorial Note: Spelling corrections were made to this article after it was posted.

New website focuses on Sacramento videos

2011-12-09T01:46:50Z

SacTV.com, a website aiming to showcase videos that give a “virtual tour of Sacramento” launched Monday, with local radio veteran Alex Cosper at the helm.

“Basically, it’s like the YouTube of Sacramento, minus all the garbage,” he said Thursday.

The 49-year-old founder of the site said that “garbage” consists of videos with bad audio and recording qualities as well as really shaky camerawork.

“It’s a chance for anyone in Sacramento to voice an opinion or post a review that’s relevant to other Sacramentans,” he said.

Videos currently on the site include clips of Mayor Kevin Johnson’s pitch to keep the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento, an aerial video of Folsom Lake and several musical performances.

All videos will actually be hosted on YouTube, but SacTV.com serves as a filter to ensure the videos shown add value to the site.

Topics can be on anything from the local music and arts scene to business and political issues or funny videos. Video reviews of restaurants and music events are some of the things he said he expects will be submitted the most.

Anyone can submit a video via a form on the website, and Cosper then determines if it’s a good fit. His long experience at the now-defunct radio station KWOD 106.5 allowed him to understand the types of things that appeal to locals, he said.

He started at KWOD in 1984 as an intern, then became assistant music director and music director before taking over as program director in 1991, a position he held until 1996 when he left the station.

“In that time, we went from one of the worst-rated stations to a top-five station,” Cosper said.

Cosper said he hopes to take the sense that helped him play a part in the radio station’s success to his current venture.

It’s an idea that’s been in the works for more than a decade, as he bought the domain name in 2000, but he only began building the site from scratch in mid-November.

The films currently on the site are his work, but he is partnering with local videographers and production companies to bring in more content.

One of those partners is the locally owned video production business The Studio Center, which primarily produces TV commercials and informational videos but also works with local creative filmmakers.

“I’ve known Alex from back in the days when he was in broadcast radio and I was in marketing and advertising,” said Frank Casanova, owner of The Studio Center. “He’s one of those creative people in town that’s always looking for where there’s a void that can be filled.”

Cosper approached Casanova earlier this week to talk about bringing some of the films The Studio Center worked with in relation to a cable access film festival called “A Place Like Sacramento.”

“We’ve produced about 30 short films and two feature films,” Casanova said. “He wants to put those films on the site, and it’s really a win-win for all of us, since the filmmakers get their work viewed by a wider audience.”

Casanova added that he thinks the site will be “a wonderful open venue” for Sacramentans to post videos that affect other local residents.

“Alex took KWOD from a nothing radio station to a powerhouse in its day,” Casanova said. “This is going to be something of value into the future. He really knows the Sacramento audience.”

Cosper said he wants the site to serve not only as a resource for locals, but as a place where others can learn about all the city has to offer before traveling to it or, possibly, before deciding to move to the city.

“I really want this site to be a virtual tour of Sacramento,” he said. “This is my hometown, and I know it better than any other city, and it’s a great place to be.”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Photos: Foo Fighters at Power Balance Pavilion

2011-11-03T01:24:42Z

After an original Oct. 20 show date that had to be rescheduled, alt-rock powerhouse Foo Fighters performed at Power Balance Pavilion on Tuesday night for about 10,000 fans.

Opening the show was fantastic L.A. punk band The Bronx, playing as their alter-ego Mariachi El Bronx, which is less a gimmick than you might think.

What started as a lark for the punk band has grown into a love that has seen the band release two mariachi albums and gain a following, and, yes, they stay true to the authentic mariachi style of music as well as wear black charro suits.

The band performs in a variety of ways, sometimes incorporating mariachi into their punk set, sometimes performing as a punk band and mariachi band on consecutive nights, and sometimes having one band open up for the other.

Following Mariachi El Bronx was Cage the Elephant from Bowling Green, Ky. The band found success with their 2009 single "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked" and have been touring constantly since then. Vocalist Matthew Schultz is known for stage diving at Cage performances, and this night was no exception.

"Promise me one thing," Schultz told the crowd from the stage. "If I jump into the crowd and get knocked unconscious, I want you to promise to keep passing my body around and having a good time!"

And then it was time for the rock.

With seven studio albums and tons of singles to their credit, the Foo Fighters had plenty of popular material to draw from.

Excited fans in the house received a high-energy 23-song rock 'n' roll set that lasted over two hours and was worth the wait.

Photos by Steven Chea.

MidLife GridLife - I Was A Radio Groupie

2011-09-30T06:54:44Z

I was a radio groupie.

Much like it sounds, it fell somewhere between teenaged werewolf and rock & roll groupie. I begged for the attention of silky or raspy-voiced radio guys, who, because the internet had not yet been invented, I was free to invent images of for weeks—or even months, until I could stalk them, that is, track them down, in person.

It was the ‘80s. Radio personalities were still allowed that luxury, personality.

They actually went to the State Fair and hung around in the sweltering heat under the tent and talked to people.

They went to clubs like the Shire Road Pub, Eldorado Saloon, Club Can't Tell or Oasis Ballroom and introduced the bands.

Some drank at the bar during the sets, or—if they worked at KROY, which was buried in the basement beneath Fanny Ann’s in Old Sacramento at that time—during the songs.

They answered the request lines.

Often, it was me at the other end.

I had a red princess phone, and a difficult time sleeping. At one or two or three a.m. I could be found with my head under the covers—and how creepy that must have sounded—or covered in an afghan on the family room couch in the dark, receiver pressed tight to my cheek.

Even with thirty years perspective I can’t clearly explain all of the things going on inside of me during those phone calls or how they evolved; it would be professional suicide. I have months of material yet to glean from that era alone!

Lest I digress too far, the point was that I was attached to those voices on the radio. We all were. We felt like we knew them. My father instinctive mistrusted them.

When I had my first really legitimate, long-term relationship with a radio personality, it came about completely by accident. And—through sheer coincidence, because he wandered in and met me at a department store where I was working—it happened that he was the morning host at my mother’s favorite station; my mom has never been as interested in one of the men in my life before or since!

I’m getting ahead of myself, because by then AM Radio was virtually dead, and it had felt like it happened overnight.

I listened to KROY-AM on a clock radio in my bedroom, back when Casey Kasem still counted down the American Top 40 on Sunday mornings, the stations all had 766- numbers, and you still dialed POP-CORN for the time.

I was lonely. I was an insomniac. I really didn’t care about music much.

I told myself—and the guys on the phone—that I was interested in radio. Sometimes, because it sounded less slutty.

Sometimes, because I really was.

I sent away for my Radio-Television Operators Permit when I was 15 or 16, which meant I could actually broadcast on the air. I remember that it pissed off a few guys, who had actual licenses that had to be studied for, and involved engineering. That, of course, just made it more fun to have.

Truth be told, I had no real intention of being a disc jockey. I just wanted to be one of the guys.

Dennis Newhall, who was the Program Director at KROY during the time (see Rock and Radio Redux in today’s Sacramento Press), once told me—years later—that I was one of a select few listeners he would allow to stay on the line more than about sixty seconds, “because you asked intelligent questions.”

Just the other day—Dennis and I have now been friends for over 30 years (apparently he really appreciates decent conversation!)--he confided to me that David Watts Barton, at the ripe old age of 14, was another. Small world.

What I eventually figured out was that I didn’t so much like music or radio as I liked radio people. They were a trip. I liked the conversation. It wasn’t like the conversation I was having anywhere else in my world.

And they got to say some crazy stuff—at least for a little while longer.

Personality was not quite verboten. "More rock, less talk" had not yet spread like the cancer it would become.

We had just flipped the page on the ‘80s, and Morning Zoos were all the rage. Personality was going global, or at least national. And, to my mind, vulgar. But I suppose that was always somewhere.

And then it happened.

Some poor Program Director got suckered into hiring me as a weekend DJ on a recommendation from another longtime pal from KROY.

I got a phone call—out of the blue—on the sales floor at work one day from my friend who was working part-time at a new rock station. He told me they were looking for a female air personality to work weekends and I should come down and talk to his boss, because I’d be perfect for it.

Uh huh.

If I’d had a radio resume, it would have said: Groupie. Mail order license. Dated a lot of DJs. And none of it recent at that point.

Seriously?

Apparently so.

One week I’m selling overpriced designer handbags and looking the other way while wealthy women shoplift costume jewelry at I.Magnin, within two months I was the full-time overnight jock and Promotions Director at 93 Rock.

My first night on the air, my dear, do-you-have-any-idea-what-you’ve-gotten-us-into friend, Rick Shannon, literally stood behind me for the first hour and pointed to which buttons to push.

And so began my illustrious 19-year career in radio.

The last seven were the best.

I did almost everything that can be done on the air at Capital Public Radio, from Classical and Jazz Announcing, to weekend news, entertainment reporting, and six years as film critic (so much fun, and my entrée into writing for Sacramento News & Review). My swan song was a final Thursday evening jazz shift, which, with a certain symmetry, I think, I turned over to Dennis Newhall over five years ago.

People ask if I miss radio. I do.

But the radio I love no longer exists, for the most part.

I didn’t leave it; it left me. In fact, it had one foot out the door by the time I arrived.

Fresh sounds and fun at O:RMF music fest

2011-05-16T06:59:29Z

Woodland, Calif. gave SXSW, Coachella and the Treasure Island Music Festival a run for their money this weekend.

Local dive bar Plainfield Station, located on County Road 98, was host to the 11th edition of Operation: Restore Maximum Freedom, a 12-band music festival put on by Davis radio station KDVS 90.3 FM. The UC Davis Samba School, Produce Produce, Kites Sail High, Alak, Moon Pearl, Gaarth, Charles Albrigt, Nobunny, Ellie Fortune, Appetite, Zach Hill and headliner R. Stevie Moore all graced the bar’s backyard stage.

With KDVS at the helm, O:RMF was brought to fruition back in 2005 as an outlet for “new, creative music of the most sincere artistic scruples,” and has been held twice annually at Plainfield ever since.

“Over the four years I’ve gone to O:RMF, not much has changed, and it’s always been great,” O:RMF veteran Amir Moarefi said.

The festival’s 500 attendees enjoyed a day of music, dancing and comfort food.

Plainfield Station’s kitchen remained busy throughout the day, keeping hungry festival-goers sated with orders of fries, turkey burgers and crispy tacos. The bar staff also had its hands full, serving up pitchers of beer and mixed drinks to its overflowing patronage.

“I think it’s cool to come spread out blankets and hang out,” said UC Davis student and concert-attendee Lily Mills, 21.

Davis band Produce Produce eased O:RMF-ers into the day with their woozy “chillwave” sound, lead by vocalist Simi Sohota’s reverberations.

“Their distorted vocals and instrumentation sounded fresh, and their live performance has improved a lot,” audience member Daniel Harkin said of the group.

Placerville band Alak stirred audience members with its spooky and intense cover of Birthday Party’s “Mr. Clarinet” and the debut of a keyboard-heavy song from their newly released cassette tape entitled “GROUPS.”

Moon Pearl, a nine-person experimental group from Irvine, infused the festival with a shot of exuberant energy as the day’s fifth act. Positioned in the middle of the chaos, drummer Matthew Towles pounded away at his set, as saxophonist Kyle Olson labored away to his right and vocalists Katie Tilford and Michael Mermelstein delivered a shout/sing hybrid through heavily distorted microphones, hopping around like a couple of rambunctious kittens.

Before jumping into their concluding song, Tilford and guitarist Sam Farzin passed out tambourines, silverware and a cow bell, encouraging the audience to become the band’s ad hoc percussionists.

“If you were waiting until the last song to have fun,” Farzin said, “now’s your chance.”

Using electric drums, keyboard, guitar and a loop pedal, Appetite, Teddy Brigg’s one-man band, kicked out grooving, rhythmic jams. When the trickiness of juggling instruments caused a minor hitch, Briggs just laughed and kept the crowd engaged with his sense of humor.

“I’m just gonna let these claves keep playing,” he said.

The theatrical Nobunny delighted the crowd and got them moving with their own brand of scuzzy, spirited rock. Frontman Justin Champlin, in nothing but a furry mask and underpants, earned our rapt attention as a natural performer, leaping effortlessly from stage to the top of a speaker and shooting glitter into the air through a cardboard tube.

R. Stevie Moore, accompanied by a backing band, provided the festival’s finale set. The prolific songwriter took the stage sporting Christmas colors and dark glasses as the day’s moody sky finally gave way to rain. After a short set, the band called it quits to save their equipment from water damage. Of the songs performed, the recluse-anthem “I Like to Stay Home” and rocking “Play Myself Some Music” (sample lyric: “There's nothin' to do/ Just plop down in a chair/ Listen to some tunes”) inspired the most motion from the rain-spattered audience.

Despite the minor weather setback, the festival delivered on its mission to serve up intriguing and under-represented musical talent in an unassuming and laid-back locale.

Shiva Shamir, KDVS events coordinator and sound woman, who, along with fellow KDVS staff and a crop of volunteers, has been planning the event for months, summed up the day in this way: “When you actually get to the day and things come together, it seriously feels like a dream come true, even if things go wrong.”

Journalist Jonathan Mumm retires from News 10

2011-05-13T03:56:06Z

Sacramento TV reporter Jonathan Mumm – host of KXTV News 10's California Postcard and Mumm at the Movies – will retire from the station this month after nearly 30 years.

But don't expect to find him spending afternoons playing checkers just yet.

The five-time Emmy Award-winning journalist is just moving his energy and talent east to Roseville Performing Arts (RPA) Studio, which he owns with his wife, singer and music teacher Roberta Mumm.

About a year after joining News 10 on July 11, 1983, Mumm became the reporter and producer for the station's new travel feature series called California Postcard. The show ran twice a week for 15 years, took an eight-year hiatus and resumed in May 2007.

Mumm interviewed intriguing Californians and visited unique spots such as the Bodega Bay house where Alfred Hitchcock directed the 1963 horror classic, "The Birds." He kayaked whitewater rivers, crawled through caves and flew the Goodyear blimp during the show's 19 years.

"I'd find myself in these positions and think, 'What am I doing here?' But they made great stories for the show," he laughed. "They were often more fun to tell than they were to live through."

Mumm has been obsessed with broadcasting, announcing, and being on the air for TV and radio for most of his life. He first saw broadcasters at work in television reruns of movies from the 1930s featuring the golden age of radio.

Even as a kid, Mumm was more interested in the people and the work that went on behind the scenes than the stars of the movies.

At age 8, he and his brother pretended to have a talk show broadcast in their basement in Lynchburg, Va. The TV camera was made from a metal milk box with "WOWW" scrawled on the side, and a block of wood was their fake microphone. They spent hours watching disc jockeys spin records at a local radio station in the early 1960s.

In high school, Mumm got a weekend job at country music station WBRG. He ran gospel tapes, read headlines from the Associated Press wire and recorded National Weather Service updates. He soon became a country DJ spinning records on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

He got his own time slot, "The Johnny Mumm Show," in his senior year of high school. He raced to the station every afternoon after school and played records until sunset – the station's closing time.

His voice and his name were famous, but his face was not. Once, when his mom paid for groceries with a check, the store clerk asked, "Are you Johnny Mumm's wife?"

"My mom said, 'No, I'm his mother,' " Mumm recalled. "Particularly then, they didn't expect a kid to be on the radio."

Mumm majored in speech and drama at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. – alma mater of Susan Sarandon (a senior when he was a freshman) and Jon Voight.

He worked at radio stations in Washington, D.C., during the school year and at home in Lynchburg during school vacations. Mumm was known as "Good Guy Johnny Mumm" when he became a top-40 DJ at WLLL in Lynchburg the summer after freshman year.

In 1973, he cut his long hair and shaved off his beard to get his first on-camera TV job as the sports director for a station in Lynchburg. He was also the station's only sports reporter and sports camera operator.

"I was a one-man sports department," he said.

Mumm also filled in as a news reporter. He shot his own footage and did standups in front of the camera by setting it on a tripod and running to stand in front of the lens.

The nephew of movie tough guy Claude Akins, Mumm moved to Los Angeles and focused on acting for five years. Mumm did community theater, commercial voiceovers, industrial films and occasional parts on TV shows. His big break came in 1977 when he was cast in one of his uncle's shows, “Nashville 99.” He got 14 lines playing a rookie cop.

"That was big-time stuff," he said. "I thought I was on my way to fame and fortune."

He left acting a year or so later, after marrying and not getting cast in bigger roles. Mumm got a job at a Bakersfield radio station. Six months later, a neighboring TV station hired him to produce and anchor the 11 p.m. newscast. Mumm worked in TV news in Bakersfield for five years.

He joined News 10 as a reporter doing hard news and features. He didn't do any camera work then. That era was much more laid-back for TV news, he said.

Big stories included the Democratic and Republican conventions, floods, political coverage and the second Sacramento bombing by the Unabomber in 1995. He joined a week-long road trip following actor Arnold Schwarzenegger on the campaign trail in his first run for governor.

As the station's movie reviewer, Mumm covered the Academy Awards five times. He interviewed stars including Morgan Freeman, Cate Blanchett, Hilary Swank and Reese Witherspoon.

Mumm will retire May 27, at the end of the spring ratings season. He now plans to focus on writing plays, teaching classes and directing performances at RPA Studio's Little Theatre. He teaches voiceover classes, acting and film history.

In his decades-long broadcast career, he's watched technology grow and change. Cameras are much smaller and recording with videotape or digital video, rather than film, allows journalists to do more with stories through editing and to use more creativity. That also can take more time. Working in news is no longer as laid-back as when Mumm started.

"Each innovation that has happened in the industry has increased the workload and the intensity," he said.

The Internet has also changed the industry drastically. Reporters are writing for online audiences. Live-streaming video online provides opportunities like the early days of TV, he said.

At News 10, his title is now multimedia journalist. For people like him who started at smaller stations, it's a return to a time when journalists wore many hats – reporting, shooting, editing and sometimes anchoring. Aspiring journalists shouldn't be discouraged from pursuing a career in the industry, he said.

"To me, the opportunities are there. But you have to be skilled at more things," he said. "If that's what you want to do, it's something you will succeed at."

Suzanne Hurt is a staff reporter at The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @SuzanneHurt.

WHAT is FEAT?

2011-04-02T09:34:35Z

Throughout my 'radio' years here in Sacramento, people have asked me about my involvement with FEAT--a non-profit organization of parents, family members, and treatment professionals dedicated to providing best outcome Education, Advocacy and Support for the Northern California Autism Community. FEAT stands for Families for Early Autism Treatment. My answer is simple. Someone in the media needed to help. When I first started to help FEAT the term autism was still relatively unknown to the mass audience. Back then, when one would say, autistic--people thought we were saying, artistic. I knew I needed to help with the enlightenment of autism. I realized then, these parents needed more than a bake sale.

My involvement with FEAT started in 1993 when I was with radio station Y92. I was walking by a store front and a few ladies were holding a bake sale. I was curious what the sign, FEAT, meant. They explained the non-profit organization and it's infancy. They enlightened me about autism and it's necessity for early treatment. Having a friend in L.A. who's nephew has autism, I was curious and offered my services to the non-profit organization. Along with Y92's reach to the public, I helped FEAT put on their first "Night of Caring" dinner and auction. I invited local celebrity Tim Busfield to assist me in Master of Ceremonies. From 50 attendees to over one thousand at the annual "A Night of Caring", FEAT's event snowballed year after year and I was honored to be their host.

Now, you hear about the trials of autism everywhere. But, know this--FEAT is not the 'Hollywood" type of non-profit. FEAT are not federally or state funded. FEAT are all volunteer families helping other families. FEAT actually helps families directly here in the greater Sacramento area. FEAT got the UC Davis Mind Institute started. FEAT helps parents better themselves to be advocates for their autistic child. The realities of autism is not fully understood until you talk with a parent who is trying to raise an autistic child. Without FEAT, parents would not know where to go or what to do here in the greater Sacramento area. FEAT of Sacramento has, since their beginning, started numerous chapters throughout the United States. It all started here in Sacramento. These parents, their children and their families are amazing to me.

Feat helps families with the vast spectrum of autism. You can find out more at www.feat.org Oh, and by the way, while visiting the site, you will see that I am currently helping FEAT put on a different kind of benefit-event this year. Sacramento native and superstar guitarist Craig Chaquico will be performing for us. I became friends with Craig while hosting the mid-day show for 12 years on Smooth Jazz 94-7 KSSJ. He graciously agreed to play to help our Sacramento area children with autism have better lives. We will also have Sacramento's premier Santana tribute band, The Rhythm Vandals along with International Food and Wine from Young's Vineyard. We are calling it ROCK'in the Vineyard with 100% of the proceeds going to FEAT!

Join us for a really FUN day Saturday, May 14th. Tickets at www.feat.org

Please share with the greater Sacramento area what FEAT is all about. Share the event, ROCK'in the Vineyard with your friends in every possible network and know that you're loved.

Access Sacramento Celebrates 25 years.

2011-03-13T22:17:09Z

Access Sacramento opened its doors and studios to the public to mark its 25th year of offering community media for Sacramento County.

For 25 years, nonprofit organization Access Sacramento has been “making a difference, one voice at a time,” through its commitment to covering local entertainment, high school sports and cultural events. Saturday’s event will showcase what local media has to offer the community and how attendees can play a major role in community reporting.

I was 'the media covering the media' as I roamed around snapping photos for a couple of hours. Here are some shots:

Many special guests including Assemblyman Roger Dickinson, City Councilman Steve Cohn, Supervisor Phil Serna, and Chris Flores representing Congresswoman Doris Matsui dropped by.

Folks had the chance to meet local media organizations like The Sacramento Bee, KCRA, News 10, FOX 40 and others.

The Media Lab showcased the public launch of the new web site AccessLocal.tv with content from our five "Neighborhood News Bureau" partner organizations.The television studio hosted performing groups to demonstrate studio television productions skills.

Students from Luther Burbank High School in above photo: Vanessa Pagan, Jasmine Owens, Mo Lee and Sebastian Nand promoted March12-18 as a Week of Peace, a collaboration among students from Sacramento area schools, churches, Youth Organizations, After School Programs, City Park and Recreation, and all workplaces.

Access Sacramento is putting together a network of news bureaus in the South Sacramento area. The goal is to get youth to report for their communities, producing news stories about South Sacramento. The effort is based around a website that access Sacramento has set up called accesslocal.tv.

SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

Access Sacramento's 25th Anniversary Celebration March 12

2011-03-10T23:17:04Z

News is no longer designed for idle consumption: It is becoming more and more interactive as bloggers, community journalists, Twitter users and witnesses equipped with smart phones make their mark in distributing news. Access Sacramento will be hosting its 25th anniversary celebration Saturday and invites you to be seen and heard by telling your stories through digital media.

The event also kicks off “Sunshine Week” (March 13 - 19), a national effort promoting the freedom of information and open government. To help celebrate Sunshine Week, Congresswoman Doris Matsui and city, county and state agency representatives will be in attendance.

Access Sacramento is having an open house from noon - 4 p.m., where you’ll have the chance to learn how to make your own TV or radio program, write stories about your neighborhood and meet local media organizations like The Sacramento Bee, KCRA, News 10, The Sacramento Press and others.

Participants can get a taste of streaming radio programs live on the Internet, posing as an anchor in the television studio, recording musical performances and using the new Neighborhood News Bureaus’ website, accesslocal.tv.

Bring your best Ron Burgundy or inner DJ voice while you try out the Access Sacramento equipment and facilities.

Nonprofit organizations are also welcome to attend, as demonstrations will be given on how to create public service announcements using the green studio.

The Sacramento Press will have a booth at the event, encouraging citizen journalism and answering questions about the site and how we operate.

Whether you’re looking to learn more about community journalism, or have been wanting to create your own TV or radio program, or you’d like to meet some of the local news organizations, Access Sacramento is the place to be Saturday, from noon - 4 p.m.

The Coloma Community Center is located at 4623 T St.

For more information, visit www.accesssacramento.org.

Papa Roach: Two-night stand at Ace of Spades this weekend

2011-02-25T01:01:56Z

No discussion on alternative rock circa 2000 would be complete without mention of Papa Roach and their radio-ready hit single “Last Resort,” especially if you were in high school or college during that time.

The Vacaville band (also known for singles “Scars,” “Forever” and “Lifeline”) broke out of Sacramento and went on to sell more than 10 million albums worldwide. They return this weekend for a two-night stand at the recently opened venue Ace of Spades, touring behind their seventh album, "Time for Annihilation."

More alternative rock than nu-metal now, the band can probably still be counted on to deliver a high-energy rock show filled with heavy guitars, sharp hooks and “guy liner.”

Papa Roach performs at Ace of Spades this Friday (with special guests Will Haven and Track Fighter) and Saturday (with special guests Middle Class Rut and Lonely Kings). General admission tickets are $29.95, all fees included. 7 p.m. doors and 7:30 p.m. start. All ages.

Note: Saturday's show appears to be sold out, but tickets are available for Friday.

Spending and being spent for Sacramento

2011-01-04T05:39:55Z

In a tiny, 12-by-10 room cluttered with microphones, headphones, soundboards and telephones, a message will soon escape from the confines of the small studio suite and spread throughout Sacramento and its surrounding regions.

A message that, according to its messenger, transcends its own transmission.

Robert Briggs, 43, a pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church in midtown Sacramento, burns the candle at both ends with one end in mind: that the kingdom of God be furthered in the souls of men and women unfettered.

On this particular December, Wednesday morning, Briggs prepares to record a pair of 24-minute messages from the book of Romans that will subsequently air two consecutive Friday afternoons later this month on KFIA-AM 710.

“I’m use to it now,” says Briggs, reflecting on the radio routine he’s followed every other week for the past three years. “I really don’t get too nervous with it anymore. I did when I first started - I was all over the place!”

As he enters the station, Briggs is warmly greeted by its operations manager, Steve Gasser, and its general manager, Dale Hendry. They both gush about how much they enjoy hearing his thick Scottish accent. Yet they’re also quick to acknowledge there’s far more to admire about Briggs and the weekly broadcast he’s appropriately titled “Declaring the Word.”

“He’s got the history and experience to back up what he says,” says Hendry, calling to mind how faithful and committed Briggs has been during his tenure at the station, not to mention his 19-plus years of pastoral ministry.

“Robert Briggs is a man of God,” Gasser adds. “He’s a man whose given his life to it.”

Briggs was born in Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city, but spent most his adolescence and early adult life near the nation’s capital, Edinburgh. At the age of 9, Briggs believes Christ saved him, but says it wasn’t until he was 17 that God really took hold of his life.

A distinct call to formal ministry came two years later when, at the age of 19, he went to hear a preacher named Stephen Olford speak. The preacher’s text was Ephesians 5:16: “Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”

From that day on, Briggs says he realized there was nothing else he could do with his life but serve Jesus Christ.

“That sermon just broke me,” Briggs recalls. “I was weeping profusely at the end of that sermon. God just melted my soul.”

Another time shortly thereafter, while working for a bank and meditating on a particular portion of Scripture, Briggs remembers praying, “You know what Lord, I could make a lot of money working here, but I don’t want to. I only want to serve you.”

And so, by the grace of God, that’s what he did.

Now comfortably reclining in the sound booth, Briggs engages in some friendly discourse with Hendry then sets his Bible before him and shuffles his notes into place in preparation for the first round of recordings. Through a window Gasser gives the sign from an adjoining booth, and Briggs starts to impart the good news.

“Peace with God is available, access to God is possible, hope in God can be yours, but it’s only available by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ,” Briggs avidly declares.

Gasser is one of many who appreciates Briggs’ straightforward approach.

“He’s enriched my faith,” Gasser says. “He gets into the Bible and says it the way it is. No holds barred.”

As the first session draws to a close, Briggs takes a quick breather and in preparation for part two swaps his first set of notes for a second.

“That’s what I do, that’s it,” Briggs says, “while I’m sitting here on my backside.”

But Briggs would have you know that faithful pastors don’t frequent that posture.

“Some people think we don’t work very hard, that we only work one day a week and play golf the rest of the week,” Briggs half-jests.

A typical week for Briggs goes something like this:

He’ll spend 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday studying for the following Sunday’s services, making phone calls and sending emails. In addition to this, he’ll spend time mentoring a younger Christian and will teach two evening seminary classes at the church.

Tuesday brings with it an elders meeting, several additional hours of study, and at least five hours divided between pastoral oversight, more phone calls and some premarital counseling.

After dropping the kids off at school on Wednesday, Briggs will spend the morning preparing for an afternoon counseling session before leaving for the radio station. Later, he’ll spend time reading and praying, finish preparing that evening’s prayer meeting devotional as well as Thursday morning’s lecture for a gathering of local pastors, and probably see 10 p.m. pass before he’s finished meeting with prospective church members.

And that’s just the first three days of the week.

All in all, Briggs can log upwards of 80 hours a week in service to Christ and the community while also laboring to balance a healthy, happy home life with his wife and four kids - a small price to pay according to Briggs.

As his Wednesday of recording come to an end, Briggs sums up his second message with a passionate plea to his listeners. And in doing so, reveals what motivates him to take on such a heavy workload.

“God has given the greatest gift that will ever be given to mankind in the person of his Son,” Briggs says, “It’s no small thing for a simple human being to be pardoned by an eternally holy God. In fact, it required heaven’s best to accomplish this. And God, giving his best for us, calls us then to give everything for him.”

A new take on old-time entertainment

2010-10-08T00:15:03Z

The stage performance of “Old Time Radio” is a visual recollection of an entertainment era that was rooted deeply in the world of radio broadcasting.

Bob Gerould, of Bob and Ro Productions, was inspired to bring radio to the stage based on his love of old radio shows.

Gerould used to work in live radio during the ‘60s and even performed a segment for children. “I grew up in the era of radio,” Gerould said.

Gerould’s awareness of the entertainment value of old radio shows, and having heard of a theater in Seattle performing some, compelled him to bring his own favorites to a new audience.

“These are original scripts from old-time radio shows,” Gerould said, “We act the whole thing out as if it is being broadcast.”

An actor even plays the role of a stage manager to quiet the audience before the live broadcast begins.

Actors dress in costumes from the ‘40s and perform a variety of sketches ranging from comedy to murder mystery.

The “Fibber McGee & Molly” sketch is a show that Gerould said ran forever on radio and well into the television era. One of the show’s highlights involves a scene where Fibber is overtaken by the contents of his closet with a loud crash.

These noises, and others including walking, running, bells ringing and knocking, will be provided on stage by a sound effects technician.

In addition to the man-made sound effects, music will be provided by singer Mike Branson.

“He looks like Sammy Davis and sings like Frank Sinatra,” Gerould said.

Now that most radio show scripts are out of copyright, Gerould seized the opportunity to reproduce these sketches into live performances.

“Old Time Radio” will be performed at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Studio Theater, 1028 R St.
Tickets are $10 at the door.

Plain White T's Not So Plain

2010-10-01T04:58:37Z

Three members of the Plain White T’s, Tom Higgenson, Tim Lopez and Mike Retond, made an appearance at Café 15L/Park Ultra Lounge Thursday evening and played an acoustic five song set to 100 plus adoring fans. The show was put on by the radio station Now 100.5 and follows similar performances by Colbie Calliat and the Goo Goo Dolls.

The Plain White T’s, which was founded in 1997, made a name for themselves with their Grammy nominated hit single “Hey There Delilah,” which took over the airways in 2008. Together with “1-2-3-4” the band sold over 5 million digital downloads. Now, the Plain White T’s are releasing a new album, ‘Wonders of the Younger’ via Hollywood Records on December 7th.

The Plain White T’s are changing up their style for the upcoming album; ditching the rock style presence for a more down to earth guitar/pop influenced sound. Their new song ‘Rhythm of Love’ has a Hawaiian beach feel that has your feet tapping and head swaying. If the rest of the album is similar, it could make for another successful year for the Plain White T’s.

During the 30 minute set, the Plain White T’s not only sang but also answered questions posed to them by the audience. Once such question was answered by Tim Lopez when he recounted one of his most embarrassing moments: a situation involving alcohol and needing to be carried to bed. The audience really enjoyed the time with the band and appreciated the candid responses. In fact, one audience member stated, “it was nice to see a recognized band so comfortable sitting and chatting with fans – as if there was no barrier.”

For more information on the Plain White T’s click here

For more information on the radio station Now 100.5 click here

For more information on Cafe 15L/Park Ultra Lounge click here.

Photos by Marc McLaughlin.

Marc McLaughlin is a Contributing Writer and Photographer with Sacramento Press

Goo Goo Dolls Rock Sacramento

2010-08-27T17:19:44Z

After nearly 5 years away from the spotlight, the Goo Goo Dolls are releasing a new album titled 'Some For the Rest of Us' (August 31, 2010). To help promote the new album, the band brought their grunge style to the Park Ultra Lounge were they performed for 100 select fans of the radio station - Now100.5.

The Goo Goo Dolls walked on stage at 4:00pm and played for about 20 minutes. They performed three new songs ‘The Sweetest Lie’, ‘Home’, and ‘As I Am’ and an older but fan favorite ‘Slide’. From the bands first appearance to their final song, it was obvious just how much the fans loved them.

Between songs, Brian (the night DJ from Now100.5) asked the band non-scripted fan questions and without hesitation they answered them. It was nice to see an exceptionally well recognized and credited band be so down to earth with the people who listen to them – their fan base. After answering the questions, the band performed their last song and then thanked the crowd for coming.

As the band walked to the courtyard, the fans lined-up for a meet-and-greet. Once again, the band shook hands and thanked the fans for their support. At one point, a woman in a wheelchair wanted a picture and Johnny Rzeznik leaned down and not only helped her stand-up, he also helped to hold her in place. It was just another reminder that they are ordinary guys with an exceptional talent.

When I asked Johnny about the new album he stated, "I am really proud of the new album, we took a leap forward (with this album). We are now dealing with more outside issues; the album is more topical than our other albums. We have never really done anything like this, some of the material looks at the emotional fallout of living in these hard economic times, times of war and the toll they takes on everyday people. The songs look at the pain of the ones who fight the wars but are losing their jobs or are downsized - that is why the album means a lot to me." As Johnny stood their giving his quote, it was obvious that he was really struggling with todays world and the realities many people face in these tough times.

The songs from their upcoming album 'Something For The Rest Of Us' are reminiscent of their past work, but seem to have a more balanced and grown-up feel. The take you to a safe place and allow you just enjoy the music, something most bands and their music don't do any more. The show was one of the best promo shows I have seen in awhile and definitely instilled confidence in their upcoming album.

Click here for more information on the Goo Goo Dolls and their upcoming tour.

For more information on Now100.5 please click here.

Photos by Marc McLaughlin, www.marcmclaughlin.com.
Marc McLaughlin is a Contributing Writer and Photographer with Sacramento Press

Capital Public Radio Unites News & Information Programming, Expands Marketing

2010-05-07T02:53:22Z

With a focus on strengthening and expanding its news, information and public affairs content, Capital Public Radio has named Joe Barr Director of News and Information Programming.

In this new position, Barr, who previously served as Capital Public Radio News Director, will oversee the station’s news and information format, including local news, the daily talk show Insight, the California Capitol Network statewide news service and the Second Opinions health care forums as well as national news programming on CPR.

Capital Public Radio will soon be creating two more News and Information positions: a senior editor and business reporter. The station will be opening a bureau in Stockton later this year.

Capital Public Radio has also expanded its Marketing efforts. Constance Crawford was appointed to the position of Director of Marketing in January. Crawford is developing initiatives to raise awareness of Capital Public Radio in communities across California and northern Nevada.

“Joe and Constance bring essential leadership skills at a time when Capital Public Radio is breaking new ground in community service.” says President & General Manager, Rick Eytcheson. “We’re thankful for the support of our listeners and communities who value a strong and vital public radio station.”

Capital Public Radio serves more than 420,000 listeners per week with classical music, jazz, and in-depth news and information. Capital Public Radio also operates California Capitol Network (CCN) providing California State Capitol news to a network of over 30 radio stations in California, Nevada, and Oregon. The seven listener-supported, non-commercial frequencies: 88.9 FM (Sacramento), 90.9 FM (Sacramento), 91.7 FM (Groveland), 90.5 FM (Tahoe/Reno), 88.7 FM (Sutter/Yuba City), 88.1 FM (Quincy), and 91.3 FM (Stockton/Modesto) are licensed to Sacramento State.

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Capital Public Radio Introduces JazzStream

2010-03-23T20:42:57Z

Capital Public Radio Introduces JazzStream
24-Hour Online Jazz Music

Capital Public Radio today introduced JazzStream. This new resource explores the vibrant artistry of jazz online, 24 hours a day at www.capradio.org/jazzstream.

In addition to the new JazzStream, Jazz fans can find expanded online radio options in the “On Demand” section at Capital Public Radio’s website, capradio.org. Signature programs like Acid Jazz, Classic Jazz and Swing or Mick Martin’s Blues Party are frequently updated. Listeners tuning to Capital Public Radio’s news/jazz stations enjoy public radio’s non-commercial format, and that extends to online and on-demand content.

“At a time when commercial radio stations in Sacramento are no longer offering a jazz option, our listeners are enjoying expanded jazz resources. We’ll continue our high level of integrity in music playlists while we explore even more ways to access the great music our jazz and blues-loving audience expects,” says Capital Public Radio President and General Manager, Rick Eytcheson.

In addition to expanded online Jazz offerings, Capital Public Radio’s Classical Station continues to offer a 24-hour on-air and online stream of soothing classical, opera and chamber music with the same non-commercial format.

Capital Public Radio News/Jazz Stations
90.9 FM Sacramento (KXJZ)
90.5 FM Tahoe/Reno (KKTO)
91.3 FM Stockton/Modesto (KUOP)
88.1 FM Quincy (KQNC)

Capital Public Radio Classical Station
88.9 FM Sacramento (KXPR)
91.7 FM Groveland/Sonora (KXSR)
88.7 FM Sutter/Yuba City (KXJS)

Capital Public Radio serves more than 420,000 listeners per week with classical music, jazz, and in-depth news and information. CPR operates seven listener-supported, non-commercial public radio stations licensed to Sacramento State.

Jennifer Strange Trial Coverage: Market Managers are Like CEO's

2009-10-02T23:37:39Z

In a videotaped deposition of Entercom Communications President and CEO David Fields, he talked about his rise to the Presidency of his father's company at the same time radio consolidation occured. Fields said that they owned about a dozen radio stations in 1988, whereas by 2000, they owned roughly 100. (Today Entercom owns 300 according to their website.) As a result of consolidation, they changed their business model to have three regional Vice Presidents who would oversee the market managers, who were each in charge of about six radio stations. He said that his market managers acted like CEO's.

Fields said it was not the job of Sacramento Market Manager John Geary to be involved in any way with contests or day to day promotion of radio stations. He said they had established a different chain of command for contests, one that bypasses their general, or market managers. The promotions director and the program (station) manager were to go directly to the legal department at Entercom Communications Inc. to vet any contests except "no brainers."

Fields said that as CEO, he had to approve the contest guidelines drafted by his chief lawyer Jack Dunleavy. But he admitted he had not reviewed the Power Point presentation before it went out, because he trusted Dunleavy's judgment on such things. Asked if he were aware that Carmela Masi had drafted the guidelines, not Dunleavy, Fields said that he knew Masi was on Dunleavy's team, and didn't know how the lines were drawn. He said he was not aware of the unwritten policy that any any contest including ingestion or physicality have on site medical personnel.

For more trial coverage, go to www.suewilsonreports.com . To see video of the Jennifer Strange story, go to www.broadcastblues.tv .

KDND Manager: "Wii Contest Typical"

2009-10-02T00:43:26Z

Station Manager not told what Dangerous meant
In a videotaped deposition dated July 12, 2007, KDND station manager Steve Weed testified as to his forty plus year radio career. His role at KDND was to coach on air talent with the goal of entertaining and getting listeners, helping performers improve their craft, and making musical decisions. Part of his job was to listen to the various programs to look for deficiencies and help correct them. He said he punched in and out of the morning Rave the day of the contest, but felt the contest was consistent with those they'd had for the six years of the Morning Rave program.

Although he supervised Pechota, Weed said his responsibility was to supervise on air talent, and Pechota's was to run contests. He did not know who was monitoring the Wii contest, and did not ask as to the health or safety of contestants. He said there he had been no training concerning the health of contestants nor had anyone at Entercom ever instructed him to conduct such training.

Weed said at his previous position at WDBD he had been required to review contests before and after they were conducted, as was customary. At KDND he said he was not involved with contests after they had been planned. He said he did not have a supervisor with regard to contests, and that he was left to his own discretion. "There was no training from Corporate regarding contests," and there had never been a written report about contests for review.

Weed said his job was to make content more entertaining, but that there was no set criteria. He felt he had license to do what he chose, and talked about the vicarious trend, as in Fear Factor or Survivor, to have contestants "go through" something to win a prize, and said he had participated in planning contestsbefore the Wii contest where contestants must "go through" something to win.

Weed said Entercom's legal department in Boston would delineate factors for safety, but when asked which factors, he said he didn't know. He testified he had never seen anything in writing from Entercom Communications regarding safety, and that he had never been given any guidance on that. There was "no criteria to consider whether this contest would pose a health or safety problem."

Weed said he thought at the time the Wii contest was typical of the things they did at KDND, the "last man standing wins" was the kind of thing they did all the time.

Find more trial coverage and commentary at SueWilsonReports.com.

"The End" Isn't Ending, They're Just Dropping Commercials

2009-09-04T23:15:33Z

Fans of a popular Top 40 music station have nothing to worry about -- KDND 107.9 FM "The End" isn't dropping their popular music format, they're just dropping the commercials.

On Tuesday, KDND announced on their Twitter.com page that the station was going to "say goodbye" to something on the station. Fans speculated "The End" was going to change music formats or go off the air altogether.

However, a FOX40 News viewer named Andrew discovered a hidden webpage on KDND's website that spelled out the station's intentions: The End was planning to announce a commercial-free format every Tuesday between 9:30am and midnight.

Shortly after FOX40.com broke the news of "The End's" Tuesday announcement, the station updated their website to reflect the news.

Thursday, a source with the radio station confirmed a "change" would be coming to the station on Tuesday, September 9th. The new commercial-free format will launch the same day Entercom enters a civil lawsuit as a defendant following the death of Jennifer Strange by way of water intoxication during a station contest in 2007.

Earlier this year, Entercom changed formats on alternative station KWOD 106.5 FM. The station, now known as KBZC "The Buzz," now plays music from the 1990s and is fully automated.

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Matthew Keys is an online news writer for FOX40.com and community contributor to The Sacramento Press.

Is "The Buzz" Real? How "Classic" is Radio?

2009-07-03T01:32:23Z

Sacramento radio severely suffered two more steps back in the last six weeks. First KWOD-FM (106.5) stopped playing Alternative music, held on to Nirvana and Green Day, then re-birthed as 106.5 The Buzz -- "Totally 90s."

Anyone Else Puking?

Many former KWOD listeners did their marketing for The Buzz by publicly complaining about the new format. This has put The Buzz in a situation that every radio station would love to be in -- Everyone knows they exist. But do they care? No.

Will it last?

No.

It might adjust to add 80's and/or early 2000's music -- which, I might add, it already plays a little bit of. With time it might adjust to sound more like a KGBY-FM (My 92.5) or even KZZO-FM (100.5 The Zone). But it will not last more than 18 months with an all-90's playlist. The 90s lacked as a decade musically. It was great for those in their teens, but the decade only has approximately 300 songs to choose from. That will get old very fast.

Consider that in the last week The Buzz played 57 of those 300 songs at least 10 times. That's two full days of music. See why this will get old fast? When you can't play new music, you are bound to bury yourself. Hence why I do not think "all 90s" will last more than 18 months.

Classic Clear Channel

Clear Channel did it again. They started up a "radio station in a box" on their new 93.1 FM frequency. Touting "70's and 80's Classic Hits" they decided to start playing music already heard on multiple Sacramento-area radio stations. Many of those of which have local on-air hosts.

"Classic 93.1" does have DJs, and they are pre-recorded from markets around the country, including San Diego and New York. This was blatantly obvious when Michael Jackson passed away last week. Almost every radio station in Sacramento was conducting on-air tributes of some sort. Two of those even received TV coverage for their tributes (KCCL-FM 92.1, KHYL-FM 101.1). But, 93.1 was oblivious.

And this is how Clear Channel is paving the way for the radio industry. Thanks guys!

Feedback Time: Here's a question I'd love to have you post your answer to:

If someone handed you the keys to an FM radio station in Sacramento, what type of programming would you offer? Why?

Six degrees of separation…no longer!

2009-06-10T20:24:47Z

Have you heard of the concept that we are separated by only 6 degrees? It refers to the idea that, if a person is one step away from each person they know and two steps away from each person who is known by one of the people they know, then everyone is at most six steps away from any other person on Earth; A believable concept when contemplating how small the world really is. It is particularly evident these days with all the social media avenues being utilized by young and old alike. There’s Twitter, Facebook, My Space, and a world of other social networking sites for connecting with others. And so was born Only2degrees.com.

Only2degrees.com is an innovative talk radio show created by Darcy Jones and Lisa Vinton after realizing the power within their circle of social networking and the difference their connections made within their community. Knowing the reach of the Internet, they took advantage of “online” social networking. The opportunity to communicate both locally and around the world to provide entertainment, education and a connection to others is the shows premise. Narrowing the gap between business owners, individuals and the communities they serve to only2dgrees.com.

Darcy Jones is a Financial Advisor and Planning Specialist with Smith Barney, a published author, and keynote speaker. She is actively in involved in Rotary International, Murrieta Chamber of Commerce, Professional Women’s Roundtable, and Susan G. Komen Foundation. She has an incredible way of using humor and enthusiasm to encourage individuals to step out of their comfort zone and do something great for both themselves and others.

Lisa Vinton is President/CEO of Services for Success, Inc. and founder of the Southwest Pregnancy Counseling Center. She’s also a published author, keynote speaker, and has recently starred in Worlds Strictest Parents, a reality TV show. She is an active member of Rotary International, Murrieta Chamber of Commerce, and could be considered a “professional” volunteer since she is extremely active in the community in which she lives and desires to improve the lives of anyone in need.

JP Raineri is a TV and Radio personality in Southern California who has taken a step away from the microphone to assist Lisa and Darcy with their vision. He works behind the scenes with only2degrees towards his dream of becoming a top notch player in TV and Radio Production. The show is professionally produced in cooperation with JP’s company, Bad Fish Productions.

Through the show, Lisa and Darcy seek to provide entertainment, education, and connectivity to business owners as well as individuals who are looking for more creative ways to develop relationships both personally and professionally. They offer their world wide listeners segments on wine tasting (one of their favorite past-times), business spotlights, as well as helpful tips on running your own business in the black. They use humor and human interest stories to communicate how we all can better serve each other.

Since Darcy and Lisa live here in California, an idea to go on the road and do a Capitol Cities Tour was formed. What better place to start than in their home state? The weekend of June 20-22 the party begins, here in Sacramento! Only2degrees is working with recommendations from Sacramento365.com and the Convention & Visitors Bureau in showcasing some of Sacramento’s finest establishments. Saturday and Sunday nights there will be Meet and Greets to introduce the hosts during the course of their weekend visit and show tapings (Look out for announcements!). So far, in addition to Sacramento365.com, we’ll be interviewing the owner of Culinary Specialists & Mulvaney’s B&L, Patrick Mulvaney; the CEO of MetroHub Network, Jon Lee; and the Director of Fairytale Town, Kathy Fleming, to name a few.

A follow up with more information regarding the time and location for the meet and greets will be posted as the event nears. Here’s to narrowing the gap right here in Sacramento from 6 to only2dgrees!

For further information, contact Michele Arreguy at chiefcom@rocketmail.com or 916-295-8341.

The language of flowers is being spoken at Capitol Public Radio through watercolor!

2009-06-05T00:48:56Z

Artist, Jennifer J. O'Neill-Pickering is speaking the language of flowers at Capitol Public Radio through watercolors.
Have you ever wondered what the veiled meaning is that is associated with a specific flower? Then, you might want to go view the twenty-three watercolor paintings by artist, Jennifer J. O'Neill-Pickering, on display at Capital Public Radio through June 26th.

Different cultures and different periods of time have assigned various meanings to flowers and some of these are still with us today. During Victorian England, these meanings developed into a language called Floriography. People then selected different flower bouquets to convey various thoughts and feelings to their friends, family members, and to that special someone, sentiments of the heart. For instance, you’d give the calla lily to someone you think is beautiful because it means beauty and a Camellia to thank someone because it signifies gratitude. Even the names of flowers can be playful or ominous. Take the Foxglove, which are also known as Fairy Thimbles, Witch Bells and Dead Men Bells.

The artist has been painting flowers for over thirty years and her watercolors in the lobby and adjacent room of CPR, create a Garden of Eden for the eyes. Indeed many of the flowers represented in the show were painted in the artist’s garden. “Gardening was, a gene I inherited from my mother and grandmother”, she says. The artist paints from life and memory and never from photography because” there is always something lost in the translation and usually the spirit of the subject matter."
The work ranges from small delicate botanical studies to large scale works that are influenced by impressionism and filled with symbolism. Three works from The Mandala Series are also, included in the show because as the artist states "flowers are living mandalas". The artwork affords an opportunity to select a favorite flower that will last a lifetime and runs until June 26th at Capitol Public Radio M-F8:00 AM to 5PM, State University Drive (off Folsom Blvd., Sacramento 916-278-8900. Free to the Public.

KWOD Flips Formats, Becomes "The Buzz"

2009-05-23T02:13:39Z

One of two dedicated rock stations in Sacramento has bid adieu to the alternative music format.

KWOD 106.5 FM, which had been broadcasting alternative music since 1991, relaunched Friday morning under a new format that plays hits from the 1990s — expanding its genre to include rock, pop, alternative, dance, conteporary urban R&B and more. Along with a format flip come new call signs and a new nickname: KBZC 106.5 FM "The Buzz." The format flip isn't so much because people aren't tuning in, but instead because the alternative rock format is failing as a business model.

"The last few years have been very challenging for KWOD," a statement prepared by program director Curtiss Johnson read. "We face the same circumstances as so many other organizations today: The challenge of running a business profitably."

This is not the first time KWOD has flipped formats while in Sacramento. In 1957, the 106.5 FM frequency belonged to KJML, which aired "elevator-like" music. In 1977, the station began experimenting with quadrophonic sound — an enhancement to stereo that broadcast audio through four channels instead of two — and as such, changed their call letters to KWOD and their format to that of adult contemporary mixed in with jazz. Shortly thereafter, the station dropped jazz in favor of pure Top 40 chart hits.

Nearly twenty-five years later, the station would adopt the all-too-familiar pure alternative format at a time when the alternative rock movement was beginning to take momentum.

"Those were the days before the term 'Alternative' was actually coined by some supposed marketing genius somewhere," Johnson wrote. "Then most people just called it Modern Rock and [KWOD] played bands, like the Pixies, The Cure, Depeche Mode, The Smiths and The Clash."

While the radio had a nice run with presenting new and interesting tracks for listeners to hear, people have begun downloading music online or listening to Internet and satellite radio stations, which has left the terrestrial radio market scratching their heads, trying to figure out how to compete. This has led to several station changes nationally and locally.

All three Sacramento radio companies — CBS Radio, Clear Channel Communications and Entercom Communications — have begun implementing new changes to the way radio is produced. The "Big Three" have fired talent in favor of computers, fired programmers and staff in favor of nationally-programmed content, and have begun picking up syndicated talk and music programs.

For example, KGBY 92.5 FM (Clear Channel Communications), which had aired adult contemporary music in competition with KYMX 96.1 "Mix96" (CBS Radio), abandoned the format and fired morning show host Lori Sacco and veteran broadcaster Paul Robins in favor of an adult alternative format. KGBY now competes with KZZO 100.5 "The Zone," another CBS Radio station.

In addition, CBS Radio has struggled to keep an audience for its adult alternative channel "The Zone," which mainly seeks a female audience. The station has shuffled through at least two breakfast shows before settling on the syndicated program "Mark & Mercedes," a program that originates from Nevada. CBS Radio also recently lost KQJK 93.7 FM "Jack FM" to Clear Channel Communications as part of a national station-swapping deal. Clear Channel Communications has announced intentions to launch a new radio station on the 93.1 FM frequency, though it's not clear what the upcoming format will be.

Sacramento's second-largest radio player, Entercom Communications, has also floundered in this downward economy. The company runs five radio stations in the city, including a sports-format station affiliated with ESPN and a Top 40 station that came under fire two years ago following the death of a listener from water intoxication during a station-run contest.

KWOD was marketable — the station could have embraced ideas like social networking to connect with their audience. The station could have offered free music downloads of local independent artists. The station could have solicited for user-generated content in the form of concert photos, videos and listener-run blogs. That idea, along with KWOD, is now gone.

Now, Entercom hopes to cut its losses and begin a new profitable radio station, but it's unclear if KBZC can compete against KGBY, KQJK, KZZO and the company's own Top 40 station KDND. Sacramento now has four contemporary stations to choose from, so it remains to be seen whether the river city will feel "The Buzz" for long.

R.I.P. KWOD

2009-05-22T23:31:42Z

As of Friday, May 22nd, 2009, Sacramento's Alternative Radio Station, KWOD 106.5 is no more.

I've been a native of Sacramento for over 10 years now, and for a majority of that time, KWOD ranked as one of my favorite local stations. Before I discovered other means to enhance my musical knowledge, I found its playlist to span the entire genre of Alternative, from Dave Matthews to Limp Bizkit. This 'Alternative' programming was introduced to the station in 1993, and despite some attempts to change it since, it was largely the format used until it's demise earlier today.

KWOD's heyday by most accounts occurred during the mid 90's, during which time they ranked amongst the highest-rated major-market alternative rock stations in the United States. It's hard to say if this drove their recent decision to drastically change formats and abandon the KWOD brand. Listeners to the station today will hear just how far they've thrown back to this golden age, as KWOD has been replaced with 'The Buzz', and enacted a tremendous change in format to a playlist that is exclusively 90's era music of all genres.

In a letter posted by the station's program manager Curtiss Johnson to its website, KWOD expreses its history, regret, and thanks:

"...it is so difficult to tell you that, after 18 years, KWOD is coming to an end. The last few years have been very challenging for KWOD; as it has been for the world of Alternative music, and the radio stations that play it, in general. ... Some of you may want to blame this decision on some faceless corporation. While KWOD does have a parent company, it’s not how it came down. This was a local decision that was both difficult and personal. We had to finally admit that our best efforts, over a number of years, were not going to produce the results we needed ... Your loyalty to the music, and to KWOD, is more appreciated than any of us can effectively express. So, we will leave it with a simple, genuine 'Thank you'… "

While it's sad to see KWOD bow out for good, I can't say that I'm surprised. Truth be told, I had largely abandoned the station after their failed programming change in March of 2005, during which time they had dropped all hard rock and metal from their playlist. The resulting track load was reminiscent of one of my favorite stations of all time (KEXP). It played an eclectic array of artists, with local talent mixed in with largely unrecognized artists - many of whom are fairly mainstream in the indie music scene. KWOD 2.0 - "Radio without Rules" proved to be short lived for a variety of reasons, not the least of which was an uprising by loyal listeners - many of whom were put off by the stations new 'emo' approach.

Changes with the station's parent company allowed them to switch back to their pre-2.0 rock position in October of 2005, bringing back their familiar Alternative tracklist. They've been suffering a tremendous decline in ratings ever since the early 2000's, and were never able to recapture the glory days of their highest ratings period ever in 1995.

I know of many people who are saddened by the changes at KWOD. They typically did a fair job of promoting local musicians and shows, and were more generous than other commercial stations when it came to playing listener requests. KWOD's demise may have been brought about by a lack of ratings, or it may simply be a sign of the times. Progam Manager Curtiss Johnson said it best - the past few years have been very challenging for the world of Alternative music. I suspect this has alot to do with the broad scope that 'Alternative Music' as a genre entails. Stations like KWOD find themselves attempting to appeal to their masses to stay alive. Sadly, their broad scope prevents them from keeping a loyal following, as someone is always put off by the music that's playing.

The only model of success that I see in the radio business as a whole is KEXP (formerly KCMU), a public radio station based in Seattle, WA. After the demise of KWOD 2.0, I sought to discover what options I had as a music lover, and found myself listening exclusively to KEXP, a station hundreds of miles away. I didn't have to listen to 18 minutes of commercials per hour, or 20 minutes of DJ talking points. I could hear new music every day - amazing stuff I'd never heard before by artists like The Arcade Fire, Ben Harper, Grandaddy, !!!, Death Cab for Cutie, and countless others. I could control my own exposure to the type of music I liked by simply choosing which time of day to tune in. (And regardless of the time of day - as KEXP archives every minute aired in the past two weeks.)

These types of services make KEXP invaluable, and are seldom found with other stations.

KEXP's customers are it's listeners, who not only support the station by spreading word about it, but also finance its efforts as members. During their last pledge drive, the station raised over $500,000 to continue its operations. These donations came from all around the world, including Sacramento. Listeners value the musical experience the station provides, and in some cases, they're willing to pay a premium for it. Single members have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the station in the past to keep it listener powered.

While this may read to some of you as a pitch for KEXP (and it may be...) the overall point is that radio is changing. KWOD's demise is a prime example of that. In successful cases like KEXP, we've seen that a radio station's customers does not have to be its advertisers. We've seen that major advertising conglomerates like Entercom and Clearchannel don't have to be at the reins to make a station thrive. Finally, we've seen that a radio station can make people feel empowered in many ways, and inspire them to fight with their pocket books to keep it alive.

I hope that local stations can find innovative ways to thrive much as KEXP has. That said, I won't be shifting my dial to 106.5 anytime soon - unless I feel the need to hear some Phil Collins or Ace of Bass.

Classic Sacramento radio station stickers

2009-04-26T04:29:28Z

My wife and I spent our Saturday afternoon cleaning out the shed in our back yard. During this process I discovered the sticker collection she got while attending concerts in Sacramento in the middle to late 1980's.

I really enjoyed seeing the dated graphic design and trying to guess what music these stations might have played.

KZAP info

FM 102 info

KROY 97 wikipedia

KPOP info

More on Sacramento radio at http://www.playlistresearch.com/sacramentoradio.htm

Do you remember any of these stations? What staions are missing that were huge during the 80's in Sacramento?

Community discusses role of local media

2009-04-03T05:50:30Z

Representatives of local media outlets and community members came together Thursday night to discuss how to make local media better and more reflective of the community. The meeting was organized by the Sacramento Media Group, California Common Cause and Access Sacramento.

There was discussion and debate about the role and responsibility of our local media. Ron Cooper, executive director of Access Sacramento, summed it up when he said, “Media and your influence over media is really a local issue.”

The event was well attended by a diverse mix of community activists, students, and stakeholders. There were representatives of local broadcast stations, newspapers and online ventures.

The debate was lively, civil and structured. The most contentious issues surrounded bias, balance and facts presented by local media.

Another major topic of discussion was the lack of breadth or depth of local coverage.

Surprisingly, there was a lot of debate about the formation of community advisory boards to help media organizations be more responsive to the needs of the local community. Many thought the boards might have too much influence over coverage, and that their roles would have to be narrowly defined.

There was very little talk of the changes in our local media landscape brought on by technological innovation and the recession. But the structure and form of the discussions kept the focus on constructive criticism of the current state of local media.

The event was held at the Coloma Community Center.

All participants were asked to sit at tables based on their interest or primary media of choice. There were tables for TV, radio, newspapers, internet and general media. Each table had seats for 12, and all were filled.

The format was simple. Each group held structured discussions on public affairs, diversity, political coverage, community input and broadband internet access. Then, after the discussion, moderators from each group presented to all participants. Finally, there was time for individuals to speak to the whole group.

There will be a full report detailing the conversations of each media group, and when it is available, I will link to it.

The night was a great jumping-off point for discussions about local media, particularly the challenges that lie ahead.

More importantly, what do you think? Please continue the conversation below.

What Happens In Vegas Happens in Sacramento Simultaneously

2009-02-13T06:01:31Z

Dare I type this article using the Courier font; I wouldn't want Mercedes to not read my article about her new-to-Sacramento morning show. I also wouldn't want her to karate chop me.

The half Hungarian, half Spanish co-host of Mark & Mercedes in the Morning on KZZO-FM (100.5 The Zone) has been married for nearly nine years, has two kids, and her radio career is going in a direction that many radio folk would love to duplicate. She has been co-hosting a morning show in Las Vegas for the last 12 years, and now she has expanded to two markets.

Mark and Mercedes have a new challenge, and that is to remain relevant with radio listeners in Sacramento and Las Vegas. Is that possible? Mark seems to think so: "What we can do is discuss news stories of national interest and pop culture items that will appeal to both markets." He continues, "We also strive to create compelling content based on the events of our daily lives and the lives of our listeners."

M&M (as I like to call them) aren't the only ones facing this challenge. Sacramento has many radio shows on the air that originate in far away lands, like Rush Limbaugh on KFBK-AM (News Talk 1530) who originates from New York and sometimes Florida, Sean Hannity on KSTE-AM (Talk 650) from New York, Mark and Brian on KSEG-FM (96.9 The Eagle) from Los Angeles, Ryan Seacrest on KGBY-FM (My 92.5) also from LA, among many others.

Not all KZZO listeners have embraced M&M just yet.

"Some of the negative e-mails have indicated a desire for more music," Mark tells me. "Not surprising, given the fact that KZZO was extremely music intensive during (the) morning [commute] prior to the launch of our show."

Mark & Mercedes can be heard weekday mornings from 5:00am until 10:00am. But the question is, do M&M like the type of music they play on KZZO? Well, their favorite performance from Sunday's Grammy award show was Coldplay, if that means anything.

And if you're still wondering about the Courier font and karate talk at the beginning of this article, those are things Mercedes is very vocal about. She hates Courier, and knows karate.

I, too, know karate; and nine other Chinese words.

I Have Bragging Rights

Two stories I reported last week as rumors have happened, so I brag.

KCCL-FM (92.1 K-HITS) is bringing back the Sacramento River Cats this year. The season starts April 9th, and expect away games to be tape delayed as they were in 2008.

Armstrong & Getty, mornings on KSTE, are now also heard from 7:00pm to 9:00pm on sister station KFBK. No, they are not live. Most of the content is re-packaged from their morning show. In all honesty, I like the evening version better. All of the hot air has been taken out and it is nothing but pure news talk and entertaining content.

Talk To Me

I decided to start something new this week to make sure I am delivering information about Sacramento radio that you actually want to know. Each week I will ask a question in the Talk To Me portion of my column. Answer the question simply by posting a comment to this article below.

This week's question: Who is your single favorite radio personality in Sacramento radio? Why?

2009 Starts At The End For Some

2009-02-02T15:27:04Z

Hope was in the air across the nation on January 20th as Barack Obama was being sworn in as our 44th President. Fear, anxiety, and panic was in the minds and hearts of many of those working in the Sacramento Clear Channel building that very same day.

It wasn't an ordinary day for those driving to the Ethan Way broadcast facility. You see, Clear Channel, owner and operator of over 1,000 radio stations nationwide, had previously announced a massive restructuring that would cut their work force by 9%, or 1,850 employees. But who would be shown the door? Sales staff; on-air personalities; management? How about a mix of everything.

Bruce Maiman, the popular host of "Sacramento's Only Local Talk At Night", as KFBK-AM (News Talk 1530) branded it, was one of the casualties. Bruce is a great broadcaster, and probably one of the few genuine hosts that Sacramento talk radio has seen in a long time. You could hear his passion every night as he made his listeners really think with phone call-in topics such as: What is one thing the government would have to do to cause you to go up in arms against your country?

If that doesn't make you think, there may not be much hope for you.

Insiders tell me Maiman's slot is going to be filled by a "best of" Armstrong & Getty from sister station KSTE-AM (Talk 650). (Edit : This report has been confirmed by industry trade magazine, AllAccess)

News Director Drew Sandsor was another victim that will be restructuring his life. As the News Director he oversaw the news staff of anchors and reporters. KFBK has been a market leader for many years so it is safe to say that Sandsor was a valuable asset to the team.

With Clear Channel also owning the 2nd highest-rated News/Talk station in the market, KSTE-AM, there isn't a lot of hope for Maiman or Sandsor, unless they seek another role in the radio industry in Sacramento.

In addition to these two talented staffers it is estimated that approximately half a dozen Account Executives (sales people) were also released; Yes, commission-only employees even saw the boot.

Clear Channel Gets Jacked

On December 15th of last year Clear Channel announced a trade deal with CBS radio (locally owns KSFM-FM 102.5, KYMX-FM Mix 96.1, KZZO-FM 100.5 The Zone, KNCI-FM Country 105.1, KQJK-FM 93.7 Jack FM and KHTK-AM Sports 1140). This agreement would give CBS two of Clear Channel's Houston, TX stations, and would give Clear Channel five of CBS' stations, including KQJK-FM.

This swap is still awaiting regulatory approval, but is expected to be allowed.

It has raised question about whether or not Clear Channel will keep the current "Jack FM" branded format of "Playing What We Want." Clear Channel is not a company that usually licenses brands and formats (which is how CBS uses the JACK-FM name and likeness), but this deal could make KQJK one of the most profitable in the Clear Channel Sacramento cluster.

Whoever Invented Baseball On Oldies Radio Should Be Ashamed Of Themselves

It has been long-rumored, but is now expected, that Oldies KCCL-FM (92.1 K-Hits) would be signing for another year as the flagship station for the Sacramento Rivercats. A source from within the Rivercats organization told me, "It is very likely that our team will be heard on 92.1 again, and management is very excited about it."

A phone call to KCCL's offices for confirmation went unreturned.

Ratings For Fall 2008

Radio ratings for Fall 2008 (October-December) were released two weeks ago. The top ten stations with persons ages 12 and older are as follows:

KFBK-AM, KSTE-AM, KDND-FM (107.9 The End), KRXQ-FM (98 Rock), KSFM-FM, KSSJ-FM (Smooth Jazz 94.7), KNCI-FM, KYMX-FM, KSEG-FM (96.9 The Eagle), KHYL-FM (V101.1).