Conversations.buzz Dave Williams

In 1973 I was Program Director of K-Earth in Los Angeles, formerly KHJ-FM. Automated at the time, it was the oldies music creation of the legendary Bill Drake. Shortly after I started working there Drake was fired as Programming VP for RKO. KRTH GM Hal Rosenberg and I hired GUY ZAPOLEON to create new music lists and recordings to replace the Drake/Chenault package. In my recent conversation with Guy we drifted into our Paul Drew stories. He was, as we say with deep respect, a piece of work.

Guy Zapoleon is a modern music savant. For the past fifty years he has guided contemporary music radio stations and corporations in identifying the right songs to play at the right time to achieve their target audience goals. Along the way, he discovered a generalized pattern in which contemporary music trends rise from innovation to mass appeal and ultimately to a downturn he calls doldrums. Then, the cycle starts again. He's a music scientist and journalist; he's the ultimate source for radio music directors, artists, and producers everywhere.

If WALTER SABO (aka Walter Sterling on WABC) was a baker he wouldn't own a cookie cutter or a recipe book. Walter is an innovator. For all of his decades of creating and consulting media programming, he has never relied on a formula. When I asked him what's wrong with the radio business these days he had answers I didn't expect. He also emphasized what's right: "(Radio is) the most elegant distribution system in mass media. It's elegant, it's incredible."Walter is full of surprises and brilliant insights. Have a listen. Then subscribe to this podcast. I hope Walter and I can talk again soon.
Dave Williams, November 4, 2023

JOHN KOBYLT has been half of the most popular talk radio show in Los Angeles for 36 years. Now his partner, Ken Chiampou, has announced his retirement. The famous John and Ken Show is about to become the John Kobylt Show. That's where we start this conversation, with the obvious questions: when and what can we expect?

KEN CHIAMPOU and John Kobylt electrified Los Angeles with their brash, clear-spoken brand of talk radio when they arrived at KFI 36 years ago and they haven't stopped. It's the longest-running talk show in radio history that changed the direction of the talk radio industry. In this exclusive conversation, Ken tells Dave Williams why he's retiring and looks back on 40 years of friendship with John, and the lightning they've held together in a bottle. L.A. radio will never be the same.

MARK AUSTIN THOMAS is his real name. It's a beaut, ain't it? Well, so is the man behind it. MAT, as he's sometimes known to friends and colleagues, has made the most of his deep native intellect, his curiosity, and his passion for journalism. Now retired but by no means old, Mark shares his insights and philosophies.