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KRTH
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| KRTH | |
| City of license | Los Angeles, California |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Greater Los Angeles Area |
| Branding | K-Earth 101 |
| Slogan | The Greatest Hits on Earth |
| Frequency | 101.1 (MHz) (Also on HD Radio) |
| First air date | August 11, 1941 |
| Format | Oldies/Classic Hits |
| ERP | 51,000 watts |
| HAAT | 955 meters |
| Class | B |
| Facility ID | 28631 |
| Callsign meaning | K eaRTH 101 (longtime on air moniker) |
| Owner | CBS Corporation/CBS Radio |
| Sister stations | KCBS-FM, KFWB, KLSX, KNX, KROQ, KTWV part of CBS Corp. cluster w/ TV stations KCBS-TV & KCAL-TV |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | www.kearth101.com |
KRTH is a radio station located in Los Angeles, California broadcasting to the Greater Los Angeles area on 101.1 FM. It airs an oldies music format branded as "K-Earth 101".
KRTH first signed on August 11, 1941 with the call letters K45LA, broadcasting on 44.5 FM. After World War II, when the FCC mandated the 88-108 MHz range, Don Lee had to move this station to 99.7 FM along with the adoption of the KHJ-FM call letters. In 1948, KHJ-FM moved yet again to its current broadcast frequency of 101.1 FM.
In the mid 1960s, KHJ-FM adopted a progressive rock music format briefly before evolving into an adult top 40 music format focusing on rock and roll hits from its beginnings in 1955 to what was present at that time. In the early 1970s, KHJ-FM dropped most of music before 1964 from the playlist. In 1973, KHJ-FM readjusted their playlist adding the pre 1964 music it dropped earlier. A change of call letters to its present day KRTH call sign and change of branding to its current "K-Earth 101" occurred shortly after.
KRTH was owned by RKO over the years continued with its format until 1985 when it began to evolve into an oldies music format. KRTH began to focus on the rock and roll music from its beginnings in 1955 to the late 1970s playing only one newer song per hour. In September of 1985, KRTH dropped all the new music from the playlist and by 1989 the station only played pre 1984 music. RKO was selling all their radio stations to separate owners. KRTH was sold to Beasley Broadcasting.
The courts almost denied KRTH a license, due to the restrictions on the monopoly concerning the play lists of songs, therefore, the hard rock songs, album tracks, Jazz Standards, Country and Western Music, novelty songs, songs that received less airplay, middle of the road songs, and standards were discontinued. For example, songs from Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, the Who, Van Halen, and Woodstock era songs, were switched to the CBS-FM station. The format had to be restricted to oldies that received the most airplay. Even the countdown shows, done around the week before and during the Labor Day Weekend, featuring the complete number 1 and number 2 songs from 1955 through 1984 on the Southern California charts, were discontinued, due to licensing restrictions. Other countdown shows included the Firecracker 500, Memorial Day A-Z Weekend & the Top 10 Weekend around New Years Day.
KRTH dropped all the rock and roll music produced after the late 1970s. The playlist was also reduced to about 600 songs focusing on rock and roll music from the mid to late 1960s. About three to four pre 1964 music was aired per hour and about one song from the 1970s per hour with the rest devoted to the mid to late 1960s.
In 1997, KRTH was purchased by CBS Radio. The programming format remained consistent until 2002. In 2002, KRTH reduced the amount of pre 1964 music to about one or two per hour adding more 1970s music. In 2003, KRTH added a few 1980s songs.
Beginning in November of 2006at Thanksgiving, KRTH mixed Christmas music with the regular format, but playing only adult contemporary holiday songs popular on KOST and no classic Christmas songs. KRTH aired Christmas songs by Air Supply, Madonna, Janes Taylor, Mariah carey, Faith Hill, and even New Kids on the Block. The traditional Elvis, Beach Boys, and the Chipmunk Song, along with other classics were not played until a couple days before Christmas when the station went wall to wall. Strangely enough, the regular playlist was the same, including plenty of non-Christmas Beatles, Four Tops, Beach Boys, and other late 60's artists. This was likely an attempt to compete with KOST's successful all-Christmas format.
Because its audience "was getting too old," KRTH in 2006 announced it would no longer play much music from before 1964. Today's playlist focuses on songs from the 1970s. KRTH is currently airing oldies music from 1964 to 1979. KRTH plans to air an oldies music format that focuses on rock and roll music from its beginnings in 1955 to 1964 on its secondary HD Radio channel once it begins to broadcast in digital.
Today, KRTH plays about a dozen recordings from before 1964 such as Shout, Tequila, La Bamba, Johnny Be Good, Louie Louie, and a few others. This type of song is heard once or twice every several hours.
In November of 2007, around Thanksgiving, KRTH began mixing in Christmas music but is playing the classic songs as well as the adult contemporary songs.
The station has had many famous DJs, such as Brian Beirne "Mr. Rock 'N Roll", Robert W. Morgan, "The Real" Don Steele, Bob Shannon, Charlie Tuna, Joni Caryll, "Shotgun Tom" Kelly[1], Charlie Van Dyke, and Gary Bryan, Dave Hull "The Hullablooer" and Wolfman Jack.
- Official Website
- www.kearthchristmas.blogspot.com
- Query the FCC's FM station database for KRTH
- Radio Locator information on KRTH
- Query Arbitron's FM station database for KRTH
