Ken Levine’s podcast is essential for radio lovers
If you have not already subscribed to
Ken Levine’s podcast — available on multiple sources including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible and even links at his blog page, kenlevine. blogspot.com — you owe it to yourself to start listening. Right now. Go ahead … . I’ll wait. Levine is a multitalented man, having worked in radio (aka Beaver Cleaver on Ten-q and B-100, among others), written for television and movies, written books and cartoons, and even written plays. His intelligence, humor and humble attitude shine through his writings, and his “Hollywood and Levine” podcast is superb.
Recently he interviewed Dave Beasing, former programmer of The Sound and now a podcast creator and developer himself, regarding all things radio: programming, music, competition, commercials and more. I won’t give away the content, but suffice to say that he talks about much of what is discussed right here … as he does when guesting on the podcast I co-cost with Mike Stark (“Radio Waves,” also available on numerous platforms). Great minds think alike, apparently.
Beasing — and for that matter Levine, Stark and myself — is a huge fan of radio and the potential it still has. Not that he would want to necessarily be directly involved in day-to-day programming right now. But his insight and knowledge of radio and podcasting are tremendous. Look for episodes 333 and 334.
Career-spanning interviews
Speaking of Stark and myself, over the years we have done numerous career-spanning interviews with people both in front of and behind the radio microphone who made huge contributions to our favorite medium.
The series actually goes back many years and includes some greats, including:
■ Los Angeles and surrounding city air personalities Ace Young (KMET), Jeff Gonzer (KMET), Cynthia Fox (KMET), Dr. Demento (KMET), Elliot Mintz (KABC), Mo Kelly (KFI), Geno Michellini, (KLOS), “Shotgun” Tom Kelly (KRTH), Dave “Hullabalooer” Hull, (KRLA), JJ Johnson (KDAY), Ken
Levine (KTNQ, KABC), Poorman (KROQ), Thrasher (KNAC), Phil Hulett (KFWB), “Insane” Darrell Wayne (KROQ) and Lee Marshall (KHJ, KABC) and a tribute to newswoman Liz Fulton (KIIS-FM).
■ Program directors Chuck Martin (KHJ) and Beasing (The Sound).
■ Radio executives Jeff Smulyan and Rick Cummings (Emmis Communications).
■ Radio historian Don Barrett (Laradio.com).
Listen day or night at tunein.com (search “L.A. Radio Studio”) or tell your smart device to “play L.A. Radio Studio.”
The shows will run continuously — and randomly — through mid-august, and will be a regular part of the stream’s programming after that.
We definitely need to do some more of them as well!
Where's Kaplan?
Where is Leon Kaplan, the longtime “Motorman” as heard weekends on KABC (790 AM) for, well, seemingly forever?
Retired, says KPFK (90.7 FM) “The Car Show” host Dave Kunz. Kunz posted on social media, “Congratulations to my friend Leon ‘Motorman’ Kaplan, retiring after an incredible 43 years on the air at ONE radio station.”
No word on if it was his decision or not, but with new management coming in, perhaps he just decided to hang it up.
State of the industry
The news broke with an announcement on its own website July 14: radio and music industry news site Allaccess.com will be shutting down.
“It is with much sadness that we announce that in our 28th year of operation, ALLACCESS. COM will cease publishing at the close of business at 6p (PT), TUESDAY, AUGUST 15th, 2023 due to a marked decrease in revenues that makes moving forward impossible. The site will remain online for an undetermined amount of time.
“This was not a decision that was reached lightly nor without earnest tries to find a path forward. It comes on the heels of major changes in the music industry announced in JANUARY of this year. These strong financial headwinds also extend to our non-music partners as well. Both downturns have greatly affected how ALL ACCESS operates.
The dollars are just not there to support our operation and staff any longer.”
The changes in the music industry mentioned reflect changes in promotions … and the budgets spent on said promotions, which are in decline. With the radio industry itself already having done that years ago, I can see why publisher and site founder Joel Denver is pulling the plug.
But it is a huge loss for both music and radio fans … All Access has been a source of information and research since its founding in 1995. And a class act the entire time. I will miss it a lot.
Richard Wagoner is a San Pedro freelance columnist covering radio in Southern California. Email rwagoner@ socalradiowaves.com.