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7 Years Ago Today
Beasing Sounds Off as #5 Best Off-Air LARP of 2015
(July 5, 2015) In the early summer of 2008, Dave Beasing joined the senior management team as program director of 100.3fm/The Sound, a Triple A station launched a year earlier. In 2009, Beasing made his first appearance on the list of the Best Off-Air LARP of the Year. This year he has moved up to #5 Best Off-Air LARP of 2015, from #6 last year. The Sound has made its Classic Rock presence known the past year, consistently showing up in the Top 10.
Dozens of working LA Radio People voted for their peer group, which resulted in the Top 10 Best list. Dave is no stranger to the programming ranks in Los Angeles, having been program director at KYSR and KXEZ in the 1990s. Before joining The Sound, he was a senior consultant with Jacobs Media for 13 years.
When he was appointed pd at The Sound he said: “From the moment I first heard The Sound I knew whoever programmed this brand would experience the opportunity of a lifetime. Thanks to Greg [Solk, Bonneville vice president of programming] for including me in what is shaping up to be an unparalleled team of broadcast professionals. Thanks also to Fred Jacobs, his staff and clients for an incredible 13-year run. They have prepared me well for this assignment.”
Before arriving in the Southland, Dave also programmed KMZU-Carrollton, Missouri, KLIN-Lincoln, KRMG-Tulsa and spent three years with WLTI-Detroit where he had been appointed pd in 1990.
#5 Best Off-Air LARP of 2015 |
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Dave Beasing |
Some of the comments about Dave from those who voted for him:
"Yes, programming an Oldies station can be easy. Beasing is on top of everything, is humble, cares enough to answer emails from listeners personally, knows what all other stations are doing, supports his staff and makes sure The Sound doesn't get stale."
"Beasing's model: You take a station and do Radio the way it's supposed to be done. Partly by taking cast-offs, that 'corporate' deemed expendable from a competitor's station, a competitor whose ass he is currently kicking."
"Steering The Sound in the right direction. The station plays my favorite Southern California Classic Hits."
"Dave has left KLOS and other competitors in the dust with thoughtful music adjustment and the addition of Mark Thompson to mornings."
"Dave is steadily improving the ratings, allowing the talent to have a nice degree of freedom and wonderful spontaneous events, like the tribute to B.B. King, which began just moments after his death was announced. A lot of thought and skill goes into that station."
"Tries his best to program creatively in a PPM world."
"A good guy getting good results."
"One of the few programmers who seems to still understand radio. Answers letters from listeners personally."
"Dave has been a successful programmer and consultant. Despite being up against demographics and having a standalone station, he has done something KMET was never able to do - beat KLOS.'
"If I ever had the chance, I'd like to work for Dave Beasing. You get the feeling that Beasing actually trusts his on-air talent, something that is sadly rare in local radio."
"He's made a commitment to the audience."
“A steady programming hand. He understands the market.”
Memories Of Southern California Radio. Subscribers were offered an opportunity to share some memories of listening to the radio in LA. Larry Hart of Sherman Oaks shares his memories:
Some days ago, when I
heard your site was finishing its run, I thought “again?” Seems like the third
time for a bad April Fool’s joke. But as someone who really enjoys listening to
stations making format changes, you never know what will be in the next day’s
headlines, including what’s happening with LARadio.com.
When I arrived here from
New Jersey in the 1970s, I noticed how much more Top 40 there was on the AM band
here, versus WABC and WNBC in New York. We had KFI, KHJ, and KTNQ, plus KRLA
mixing Top 40 and Oldies. I sure wish I’d made an aircheck of the screaming
1190, KEZY from Orange County, I didn’t know the station would later turn to an
AOR format later in the year. There were two soul stations, KDAY and KGFJ /
KKTT, the latter was certainly interesting.
As for news and talk, I
did have some issues with KNX omitting some live coverage from the CBS Radio
Network, though they were certainly a dependable station. At least the station
offered a complete weather forecast at :06 and :31 past the hour, and
George Walsh would report on the nation’s temperature extremes every
night at 10:06.
The 1980–81 edition
of KMPC featured a most enjoyable talk format, without the commercial clutter.
In addition, the station was a good outlet for the Mutual Radio Network. And
yes, KABC was also enjoyable listening, especially Ray Briem,
as he was a radio freak.
This may be the last
chance I have to tell this story. In 1978, during my first week here, I was
curious about stations running SCA (Subcarrier Communications Authorization,
which allowed fm stations to provide additional programming on a subcarrier
frequency, Muzak was once delivered this way). I called KSRF in Santa Monica,
asking to speak to the Chief Engineer. A quite knowledgeable man came on the
line, who knew a lot about the local radio landscape. That man was – and still
is – Bernie Alan. I happened to phone him again near his last
day at “K-Surf,” when he told me he was leaving for KOST. We continued our
friendship for all of these times, since we were both from back East, we always
have a lot of ground to cover, especially since we’re both DX-ers. He was nice
enough to let me watch the debut of CNN at his home.
One more historical note.
In a recent “Rewind,” there was a mention of KLAC being a Top 40 station, either
as “Formula Radio” in 1958 or “Future Phonic” in 1959. I’m wondering if there
are any airchecks and / or jingles from that station. I counted seven AM
stations (KLAC, KHJ, KFWB, KPOP, KRLA, KGFJ, KDAY) dabbling in some form of rock
and roll around 1959, eight if you count “The Mighty 690” (XEAK, now XETRA)
coming in from Baja, California. That would have been an exciting time to be a
listener.
Lastly, Don, if you are really shutting down the website, are there any plans for a farewell shindig? Thanks so much in advance.”
Who Helped Made You the Person You Are Today?
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Dale Berg Broadcaster |
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Good question. For me it would have to be my psychologist. His name was Dr George Axtell. I started seeing him in 1986 when my first marriage and life fell apart. I thought my radio career was over. When I started seeing him things began to happen. First I realized I was okay. Then my career got a fresh new boost. The next 28 years has been just amazing, both in my life and career. This included two positions as a program director and reconnecting and marrying my next door neighbor Ann who I met in 1967 and lost track of in 1978.
My
doctor has passed
away. I spoke to him about 15 years ago and not only did he still remember me,
but was pleased about my accomplishments and kept going on about them. |
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I got drafted and had to be
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