KROQ-FM
Broadcast area | Greater Los Angeles |
---|---|
Frequency | 106.7 MHz (HD Radio) |
Branding | 106.7 KROQ |
Programming | |
Language(s) | English |
Format | Alternative rock |
Subchannels | HD2: New wave; classic alternative |
Ownership | |
Owner |
|
History | |
First air date | April 23, 1962 |
Former call signs | KPPC-FM (1962–1973) |
Call sign meaning | Taken from KROQ (1500 AM), originally billed as "The ROQ (rock) of Los Angeles"[1] |
Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 28622 |
Class | B |
ERP | |
HAAT | 423 meters (1,388 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 34°11′49.21″N 118°15′32.07″W / 34.1970028°N 118.2589083°W |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Webcast |
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Website |
KROQ-FM (106.7 MHz) is a commercial radio station licensed to Pasadena, California, serving the Greater Los Angeles. Owned by Audacy, Inc., it broadcasts an alternative rock format known as "The World Famous KROQ" (pronounced "kay-rock").
The station has studios at the intersection of
History
KPPC
On April 23, 1962, KPPC-FM signed on at 106.7 MHz.[4] It was owned by the Pasadena Presbyterian Church as a companion to its KPPC, a limited-hours AM radio station that had broadcast since 1924.
In 1967, the Pasadena Presbyterian Church sold KPPC-AM-FM to Crosby-Avery Broadcasting for $310,000. The church had been attempting to sell the radio stations for a year; station manager Edgar Pierce said the church found commercial radio incompatible with the noncommercial nature of its other efforts.
Hosts during KPPC's "underground" format included B. Mitchel Reed,[7] Tom Donahue, Les Carter, Ed Mitchell, Steven Clean, Outrageous Nevada, novelty music historian Dr. Demento, Charles Laquidara, Elliot Mintz, blues archivist Johnny Otis, Barbara Birdfeather, and more.
In 1969, Crosby sold KPPC-AM-FM and KMPX to the National Science Network for $1.2 million.[8][9][10] Crosby used the funds to buy a then-silent San Francisco television station, KEMO-TV.[11] National Science Network's management of the KPPC stations was turbulent, capped by an October 1971 mass firing of the air staff,[12] but the period also included technical upgrades. NSN moved the studios out of the church basement and to 99 Chester Street in Pasadena and the transmitter to Flint Peak, with a slight power increase to 25,700 watts.[13]
In 1971, Ludwig Wolfgang Frohlich, founder of the National Science Network and previous owner of an ad agency, died.[14][15][16][17][18][19] Upon his death, control of the estate was transferred to Ingrid and Thomas Burns.[20][21]
KROQ AM and KROQ-FM
Beginnings and brief closing (1972–1974)
Country music station KBBQ (1500 AM) in Burbank became KROQ in September 1972, changing its format to Top 40 and hiring established disc jockeys from other stations.[22] The new KROQ called itself "K-ROCK, the ROQ of Los Angeles".[1] In 1973, with National Science Network's estate selling off its assets, KROQ's owners bought KPPC-AM-FM (immediately divesting the AM station to meet then-current ownership limits), changed the calls to KROQ-FM and hired Shadoe Stevens to create a new rock format described as high-energy "all-cutting-edge-rock-all-the-time" and began simulcasting as "The ROQs of L.A.: Mother Rock!" Meanwhile, KPPC on 1240 AM was sold to Universal Broadcasting, a religious broadcaster, and remained on the air with its limited-schedule of Wednesday evening and Sunday operation until subsequent owners took the station off the air permanently in 1996.
The two stations (KROQ-AM/FM) were wildly successful initially with the new format, but poor money management plagued the enterprise. When concert promoter
By 1974, the station's finances were already untenable following a year of commercial-free programming — a stunt implemented in an effort to gain market share.[23] The stations' debt load reached $7 million;[23] paychecks began to bounce and Shadoe Stevens and the bulk of the staff walked out, shutting the stations down. The closure would last for nearly two years.
Rebirth and increasing popularity (1975–1989)
In late 1975, the FCC ordered KROQ to return to the airwaves or surrender the stations' licenses.
Ken Roberts returned to the reborn station in a more forceful ownership role, buying out his partners one by one until he remained the sole owner of the station.[23]
KROQ's rebirth was simultaneous with the emergence of punk rock in the late 1970s and new wave, and KROQ quickly became the voice of the burgeoning Los Angeles punk and new wave scene. Disc jockey Rodney Bingenheimer introduced many new bands on his show. As punk expanded its hold on the music scene during the mid to late 1970s, and KROQ steadily adding more of it to their freeform format, this cemented their place in the Los Angeles market.[25]
In 1979, Shadoe Stevens once again left the station, with
By 1982, Billboard Magazine reported that KROQ Arbitron numbers of 3.7 were closing in on AOR leaders KMET at 4.0 and KLOS at 3.9.[26]
Carroll, as a consultant, took the "Rock of the 80s" format to other stations, including
, among a few others on the US West Coast in the 1980s.In 1986, KROQ was purchased at a then-record $45 million by
KROQ in the 1990s and continued popularity (1990–1999)
Throughout the 1990s, KROQ's format focused on mainly alternative rock (or
The 1990s also saw a continuation of the weekday morning
In June 1990, Kevin and Bean secretly arranged for a friend to pretend to confess to killing his girlfriend during their "Confess Your Crime" segment. The hoax resulted in investigations by the Sheriff's Department, the
In 1997, KROQ/Infinity merged with CBS, later changing its name to CBS Radio.
Later history (2000–2016)
Originally located at 117 S. Los Robles Avenue in Pasadena, the station moved to 3500 W. Olive Avenue in Burbank in 1987 as part of the purchase agreement and to be closer to the music industry. In 2002, the station was moved to a facility at 5901 Venice Boulevard in the Crestview neighborhood in West Los Angeles.
Unlike most other (Class B, but with grandfathered greater than B facilities) FM stations in Los Angeles whose transmitters are atop Mount Wilson, KROQ's (Class B) transmitter is located on Tongva Peak in Glendale at an altitude of 2,650 ft., which results in somewhat weaker signal coverage.
KROQ's format had varied throughout the 2000s and 2010s. The radio station's format had repeated much of the same formula as the 1990s, mixing heavier acts like Linkin Park, Staind, P.O.D., Seether, Velvet Revolver, Cold and Saliva, with punk rock like Rise Against, Sum 41, AFI, Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, Jimmy Eat World, Panic! at the Disco and Thrice, and with alternative/indie/garage rock acts such as Muse, Queens of the Stone Age, The Strokes, The Bravery, Arcade Fire and The Killers.[41][42][43] This new crop of rock acts found considerable popularity on the radio station while sharing airspace with many KROQ veterans such as Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, Foo Fighters, Weezer, Green Day, The Offspring, Blink-182, No Doubt, System of a Down, Korn, Jane's Addiction, the Beastie Boys, Sublime, Bad Religion, Stone Temple Pilots, Incubus, Nine Inch Nails, Social Distortion and Cypress Hill.[41][42][43]
In 2004, KROQ began broadcasting in HD Radio. On February 20, 2006, KROQ added streaming music from the radio station to its website. On June 9, 2006, KROQ launched an HD sub-carrier, KROQ HD-2, which airs new wave and alternative tracks from the 1980s which were popular during KROQ's heyday (and is also branded "KROQ 2: Roq of the 80s").
In February 2010, CBS Radio, which controlled the live stream, blocked access for listeners outside of the United States.
In February 2015, KROQ severed ties with Boyd "Doc on the Roq" Britton and Lisa May after deciding to drop news and traffic. The news came as a shock for longtime listeners as Doc on the Roq had been reporting news for the station for 27 years while Lisa May had been reporting traffic for the past 24 years. Fans took to Facebook to boycott the station for not renewing their contracts.[45]
Management and audience changes (2017–present)
On February 2, 2017, CBS Radio announced it would merge with
After a 28-year run at the station, Senior VP of Programming Kevin Weatherly exited the station to start a new role as Spotify's new Head of North American Programming. Mike Kaplan replaced Weatherly at KROQ in February 2020.[49]
On March 18, 2020, Kevin Ryder announced on Twitter that he, Allie MacKay, Jensen Karp, producer Dave Sanchez and contributor Jonathan Kantrowe, had all been let go from the morning show.[50][51] The show would be replaced by afternoon hosts Ted Stryker and Kevin Klein.[52] In September 2020, the show would be added on sister stations KVIL in Dallas, KITS in San Francisco, and KRBZ in Kansas City via syndication as part of a company initiative to expand networked programming among the company's alternative stations due to COVID-19 pandemic-related cutbacks and layoffs.[53]
The firing of Ryder marked a new chapter for KROQ under the leadership of brand manager Mike Kaplan. Kaplan previously served as program director of iHeartMedia's KYSR from 2013 [54] to 2018.[55]
By the end of the Weatherly era, KROQ had essentially shifted to a
Weatherly would return to KROQ as Senior Vice President of Programming in May 2022. Since then, the station has greatly reduced its focus on alternative pop and has increased airplay of classic alternative tracks from the 1990s and 2000s.
Awards
KROQ was awarded Radio Station of the Year in 1992 and 1993 by Rolling Stone magazine readers poll issues.
In 2007, the station was nominated for the top 25 markets Alternative station of the year award by Radio & Records magazine. Other nominees included
KROQ was the recipient of an Alternate Contraband Award for Major Market Radio Alternative Radio Station of the Year 2012.
KROQ was inducted into the Rock Radio Hall of Fame in 2014.
HD Radio
KROQ broadcasts a second HD Radio subchannel, with KROQ-HD2 airing The ROQ of the 80's, which features classic rock from the 1980s. In August 2018, Entercom announced it would re-launch the subchannel, adding former KROQ personalities Freddy Snakeskin and Tami Heide as DJs.[58] In 2020, KROQ activated an HD3 subchannel, which aired a new alternative rock format branded as "New Arrivals." On September 23, 2022, the HD3 channel was dropped from the broadcast lineup entirely.
Notable staff
- Rodney Bingenheimer (1976–2017)
- Raymond Banister (1980–2004)
- Richard Blade (1982–2000)
- Adam Carolla, Loveline, "Mr. Birchum" on the morning drive time Kevin and Bean Show (1995–2005)
- Michael Catherwood (2003–2016)
- Carson Daly (1996)
- Doc Nemo (1977–1982)
- Raechel Donahue (1980–1986)
- Mike Evans (1980–1990)
- Ralph Garman (1997 – November 30, 2017)
- Mark Goodman (1990s)
- Jed the Fish (Edwin "Jed" Gould, III), week-day drive time show (1978–1984, 1985–2011)[59]
- Chris Hardwick (1994–1998)
- Tami Heide (1991–2004, 2018–2022 HD2)
- J. J. Jackson (1987)
- Kennedy (1991–1992)
- Kevin and Bean (1990–2020)
- Jimmy Kimmel "Jimmy the Sports Guy" on the morning show (1994–1999)
- Farley Malorrus (1984–1992) KROQ ASTROLOGER, Love Line Doctor, Astrology Forecast, Entertainment Reporter
- "Spacin'" Scott Mason (1979–2000), former Director of Engineering; West Coast at CBS Radio
- Kevin McKeown (1976–1978) GM, exec. prod. Hollywood Niteshift, future Mayor Santa Monica [60]
- Frank Murphy, producer of Kevin and Bean[61]
- Cassandra Peterson "Elvira Mistress of the ROQ" (1982–1983)
- Dr. Drew Pinsky, Loveline[38]
- Riki Rachtman, Loveline (1993–1996)[38]
- Doug "Sluggo" Roberts[62]
- Frazer Smith (1976–1980)
- Matt "Money" Smith "KROQ Sports Guy" (1994–2005)
- Shadoe Stevens (1973–1980) First air personality and founding program director.
- Dusty Street (1979–1989), on-air host
- Stryker
- Swedish Egil 1982- 1991[63]
- Jim Trenton "The Poor Man" (1982–1993), creator and host of Loveline, also host of the show for many years with co-host Dr. Drew Pinsky[64]
- Ian Whitcomb (Weekends – early 1980s)
- Stanley Sheff (1977–1982)
Festivals
- KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas, first held in December 1989. The festival was initially called KROQ Xmas Bash. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were no editions of the Almost Acoustic Christmas for 2020 and 2021.
- KROQ Weenie Roast, first held in June 1993; however, this festival had been presented in May from 2005 to 2009 and again from 2012 to 2018. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been no editions of the Weenie Roast since 2019.
- KROQ LA Invasion, held from 2001 to 2007.
- Epicenter, held from 2009 to 2015, although there was no 2014 edition of this festival.
- KROQ Calendar & New Music, a compilation of new singles that premiered in the subsequent year (1995–present)
- Rodney on the ROQ, Vol. 1 a classic punk compilation from KROQ's Rodney Bingenheimer
- Rodney on the ROQ Volume 2more good punk from KROQ's Rodney Bingenheimer
- Rodney on the ROQ Vol IIIeven more punk from KROQ's Rodney Bingenheimer
- At KROQ (1991), a CD-single by Morrissey
- On KROQ's Loveline, CD by Hagfish
- The Best of KROQ's Almost Acoustic Christmas (1999), a compilation of concerts recorded at the Acoustic Christmas
- Kevin & Bean's Super Christmas (2006)
- Kevin & Bean's Christmastime In The 909 (2004)
- Kevin and Bean: The Year They Recalled Santa Claus (2003)
- Kevin and Bean: Fo' Shizzle St. Nizzle (2002)
- Kevin and Bean: Swallow My Eggnog (2001)
- Kevin and Bean: The Real Slim Santa (2000)
- Kevin and Bean: Last Christmas (1999)
- Kevin and Bean: Santa's Swingin' Sack (1998)
- Kevin and Bean: A Family Christmas in Your Ass (1997)
- Kevin and Bean: Christmastime in the LBC (1996) – cassette tape
- Kevin and Bean: How the Juice Stole Christmas (1995) – cassette tape
- Kevin and Bean: No Toys for OJ (1994) – cassette tape
- Kevin and Bean: Santa Claus, Schamanta Claus (1993) – cassette tape
- Kevin and Bean: We've Got Your Yule Logs Hangin' (1992) – cassette tape
- Kevin and Bean: Bogus Christmas (1991) – cassette tape
- Kevin and Bean: Feel the Warmth of Kevin and Bean's Wonderful World of Christmas (The White Album) (1990) – LP
- KROQ Locals Only Vol. 1 (2019)[65]
- Kroqing in Pasadena, a single from XTC (1989)
- Richard Blade's Flashback Favorites, Volumes 1–6 (1993)
See also
Further reading
- Pierce, Dave (2008). Riding on the Ether Express: a memoir of 1960s Los Angeles, the rise of Freeform Underground Radio, and the legendary KPPC-FM. Lafayette, Louisiana: OCLC 144548083.
References
- ^ a b "New LA Rock Station Looms", Billboard. September 2, 1972. p. 16. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for KROQ-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "The Young Marquis and Stanley". youngmarquis.com.
- ^ "KPPC Begins FM Radio Broadcasts". Pasadena Independent. April 24, 1962. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
- ^ "Church Sells Radio Station for $310,000". August 12, 1967. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
- ISBN 978-0-8129-2546-3. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ^ "DJ Barbara Birdfeather dies at 69". Variety. April 30, 2009.
- ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ^ "Google Groups". groups.google.com. Archived from the original on 2011-01-22. Retrieved 2018-11-13.
- ^ "Pasadena Stations Up for Sale". Pasadena Independent Topics. June 4, 1969. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
- ^ Wilson, Jim (January 22, 1971). "Fremont radio station founder sole owner of defunct KEMO". The Argus. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
- ^ McAlister, John (October 27, 1971). "Pasadena Radio Firings Revealed". Pasadena Independent Topics. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
- ^ FCC History Cards for KROQ-FM
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-01-04. Retrieved 2018-11-13.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "MAHF Inductees". Medical Advertising Hall of Fame. 18 October 2013. Archived from the original on 2018-11-14. Retrieved 2018-11-13.
- ^ "The Gay Jewish Immigrant Whose Company Sells Your Medical Secrets". The Forward. 13 January 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-07-16. Retrieved 2018-11-13.
- ISBN 978-0-8070-3334-0.
- ^ Dougherty, Philip H. (3 March 1970). "Advertising: Frohlich in General Practice". The New York Times.
- ^ "Industry Chronology". Medical Advertising Hall of Fame. 18 October 2013. Archived from the original on 2018-11-14. Retrieved 2018-11-13.
- ^ "~Los Angeles Radio People, Remembering KPPC". 13 November 2018. Archived from the original on 13 November 2018.
- ^ "L. W. Frohlich; Led Ad Agency". The New York Times. 29 September 1971. Archived from the original on 2018-11-14. Retrieved 2018-11-13.
- ^ "Historic Los Angeles Hilltops". gallery.bostonradio.org. Archived from the original on 2006-08-31. Retrieved 2006-08-29.
- ^ a b c d e f Elaine Woo, "Ken Roberts Dies at 73; Promoter Transformed KROQ-FM into a Powerhouse," Archived 2012-10-06 at the Library of Congress Web Archives Los Angeles Times, July 4, 2014.
- ^ Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications. January 1982. p. 102. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ^ ISSN 1522-9149. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ^ KROQ Surge stirs L.A. AOR Scene. Billboard Magazine, July 10, 1982
- ^ Himmelsbach, Erik (December 3, 2006). "The alternative revolution". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2012-08-10. Retrieved April 8, 2011.
- ^ "KROQ Flashback 500 (1988)". Rocklists.com. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
- ^ "KROQ Flashback 500 (1989)". Rocklists.com. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
- ^ "KROQ Flashback 500 (1992)". Rocklists.com. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
- ^ "KROQ Top 106.7 Songs of 1986 Countdown List". Rocklists.com. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
- ^ "KROQ's Still Popular, But Does It Rock?". LA Weekly. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
- ^ "It's the End of the World Famous KROQ as We Know It". Variety. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
- ^ "The KROQ Top 166 Artists of 1980-2008". radiohitlist.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
- ^ "The KROQ Top 300 Songs of the 90s (1999)". radiohitlist.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
- ^ "KNAC A to Z Listing". people.delphi.com. Archived from the original on 2000-03-05. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
- ^ "KROQ-FM Gains in Ratings, Ties for No. 2". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
- ^ a b c https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Other-Documments/LA-Radio-Guide/LA-Radio-Guide-1994-10-11.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ Puig, Claudia (24 September 1994). "The Fall and Rise of Kevin and Bean : KROQ's Morning Duo Has Survived Tough Times and Is Climbing in Ratings". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
- ^ Judge, Phoebe. "Episode 199: Ghostwatch" (PDF). Criminal - Podcast. VoxMedia. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
- ^ a b "KROQ's 500 Most Requested Songs Of All-Time (Memorial Day 2006)". Rocklists.com. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- ^ a b "KROQ's Labor Day 90's 500 (2007)". Rocklists.com. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- ^ a b "KROQ Memorial 500 (Memorial Day 2008)". Rocklists.com. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- ^ Roberts, Randall (October 6, 2010). "Steve Jones and "Jonesy's Jukebox" to return to the LA airwaves -- via KROQ". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2012-07-18. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
- ^ "Media Confidential: L-A Radio: Report..Lisa May, Doc Forced Out By Kevin&Bean". Media Confidential. 2015-03-05. Archived from the original on 2015-11-17. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
- ^ "CBS Radio To Merge With Entercom". 2 February 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-08-26. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
- ^ "Entercom Receives FCC Approval for Merger with CBS Radio". Archived from the original on 2017-11-17. Retrieved 2017-11-17.
- ^ "Entercom Completes CBS Radio Merger". 17 November 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-11-18. Retrieved 2017-11-17.
- ^ "Radio Industry News, Radio Show Prep, Radio Promotions, Radio Station Data, Podcast News".
- ^ Official Kevin Ryder Twitter March 18, 2020
- ^ KROQ Cuts Kevin in the Morning with Allie & Jensen
- ^ Ted Stryker & Kevin Klein to Move to KROQ Mornings
- ^ Entercom's New Alternative On-Air Lineups
- ^ "Media Confidential: Mike Kaplan Moving to LA to PD at CCM+E KYSR". 19 March 2013.
- ^ "Kaplan Official as SVP/PD of ALT92.3/NYC". 7 May 2018.
- ^ "When a Format Loses Its Flagship". 3 January 2022.
- ^ "2007 Industry Achievement Awards". Radio and Records. September 28, 2008. Archived from the original on May 11, 2008.
- ^ "Revolutionize Your Ears, The Roq Of The '80s is Set To Reboot On KROQ-HD2/Los Angeles". All Access. Archived from the original on 2018-09-02. Retrieved 2018-09-02.
- ^ "Where are they now?". laradio.com.
- ^ "Bio - Santa Monica Councilmember Kevin McKeown".
- ^ Borzillo, Carrie (1994-12-24). KROQ Holiday Bauble Decorates Album Chart. Billboard Magazine. Nielsen Business Media. p. 16. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
- ^ "Doug "Sluggo" Roberts".
- ^ "Swedish Egil".
- ^ Puig, Claudia (February 18, 1994). "Live-Wire Jim Trenton Does Radio With Pictures : Television: In his new life as a feature reporter on KTTV-TV's 'Good Day L.A.,' the Poorman draws on the loopy style that was his signature on KROQ-FM". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2012-07-15. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
- ^ "Kroq Locals Only Vinyl | Audacy".
External links
- Official website
- History of KROQ 1968–1979
- KROQ: An Oral History
- List of KROQ Top 106.7 countdowns with a searchable archive
- KROQ/KPPC Reunion held August 4, 2001. Mainly just pictures available.
- Listing of Former KROQ/KPPC jocks and info on where they are now
- Pictorial tour of the transmitter facility on Verdugo Peak
- Collection of KROQ jingles from the 70s and ROQ of the 80s
- KROQ in the FCC FM station database
- KROQ in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
- Collection of KROQ jingles from the 70s and ROQ of the 80s
- Listen to KROQ online