While listening to 970 on Friday, I noticed that they dumped the "Solid State Radio" monicker in favor of "The Talker."

It's also changed on the 970.am website.

As Rick put in on the air one day, the powers that be at CBS didnt like "Solid State Radio". They didnt think the average moron radio listener would be able to figure out what the station was all about.

I think this is the third time it has changed since Rick started working there.

It's been "The Talker" for a few weeks now.
That's okay though, Radio-Locator still has them listed as a comedy format and 1010 AM as Spanish. Sure wish they would get with the program and do updates.

1010 is Spanish part of the time.

"I think this is the third time it has changed since Rick started working there."

No, here's a short history:

Feb 1, 2005 - KUPL becomes KCMD "Johnson 970".

Mar 6, 2006 - Rick Emerson is announced as KCMD Program Director.

May 1, 2006 - "Johnson 970" becomes "AM 970, Solid State Radio."

Jan 29, 2007 - KCMD studio move from KOIN Center to 1st Ave.

June 23, 2008 - "AM 970, Solid State Radio" becomes "AM 970, The Talker".

Call me a moron...I didn't get the monicker "Solid State Radio." When I think "Solid State," I think of electronic equipment that doesn't use vacuum tubes. In my opinion, "Hot Talk 970" might have been a better choice than the current or previous monickers.

I don't think Emerson would have any desire to reinstate the "Hot Talk" moniker.

I always thought "Solid State Radio" was a non-starter as a moniker. The Talker isn't great either. At least Johnson 970 made you laugh.

The talker? some day they will pick a good one.

Me too...Solid State Radio is IMHO a somewhat lame attempt at a double entandre'..type of thing that most people dont really "get" to start with. I agree with CBS on this one.

Might have been some techie type that thought that one up, thought it sounded slick and with it. At least "The Talker" has more little familiarity and a "center" to the listener or a potential cumer that might be scanning through.

So, someone enlighten me , what was up with this 'Johnson 970"...I have been away from the PDX market for many years with only an occasional visit a few times a year...Johnson?? refering to what??? I am almost afraid to ask !!

I think a spanish comedy station is a great idea.

Wait, alot of them are!

Johnson 970 referred to the length, the wavelength, yeah, that's the ticket!

So, someone enlighten me, what was up with this 'Johnson 970"...
A few years back, All Comedy Radio Network was programmed on 970 24/7, and the name of the station was "Johnson 970." This is also how the call letters became KCMD - CoMeDy.

Oh ok...thats it Comedy radio. I get it...guess you would had have 'been there"...huh?

It is really strange...This station hardly shows its face in the rating books....but everyone I know tunes in this station for unique shows.

Stoner, you are right. Maybe it's almost more of an "insider" station? I listen to Rick every day. I tune in to Mike O'Meara when I'm in the car at that time.

So I guess we'd say they have a small, but loyal following, eh?

"Johnson" was dumb... but at least it was memorable, and that's something. "Solid State Radio" actually managed to be dumber than Johnson in that it was cumbersome and meant nothing. "The Talker" just might be the dumbest name yet. It's like naming KGON "The Music". Somehow, they managed to find a name for the station that means less than the previous name which meant nothing at all in terms of what the station put on the air.

Honestly, the name of this station should just be AM 970. If it absolutely positively must have a cheesy radio name... maybe, in honor of George Carlin, they could name it BLEEN. Why not? A name based on an obscure joke is perfect for an obscure station.

Yes, TheJohnsonSolidStateTalker is a total insider station. That's a tragedy because Rick Emerson is a phenomenal air talent.

Correction. Bleen wouldn't work because it's a number between 7 and 8, whereas The Talker is between 9 and 10 on your AM dial. It's a quarter after 10, 10:15, good evening everybody... and I'm out.

I'm still partial to "Hot Talk." Seems kind of retro now but I still miss "Hot Talk 1080." Better than the names KCMD has had...

Andrew

How about 970 "The Beat"?

It worked 15 years ago, it could work now.

How 'bout THE VOICE OF THE VALLEY

Solid State Radio is stupid. That tells the listener absolutely NOTHING! Johnson 970 was at least funny, and would get people talking because it is MEMORABLE! Solid State Radio is forgettable!

Why would you not want a name that sticks out like a soar thumb? Even if People are making fun of it, at least they are remembering it, and when they get a diary in the mail they will mark it down. Top of mind awareness is all it is. Nobody will remember solid State Radio, NOBODY! Very stupid Move CBS!

How about "Boner 970"? Considering the fact that "boner" can mean two different things!

Brain storming liners for 970....

" Voice of Sylvan Summit " "in the middle of the " Portland Metro " in more ways than one"....We straddle your fence on AM970 centered in all things for Portland " 300 meters on the medium wave band..AM970....

They could name it after the river in a catchy way...

How about

970 The Willy

Hard Talk 970 The Willy

Penetrating Portland... 970... The Willy

Probably wouldn't work, since Willamette Week is known by some as "Willy Week."

(sarcasm follows)
Hey, I have an idea! How about "Extreme Talk 970 - The Talk That Rocks?!" LOL!
(end sarcasm - I'm not bashing the station or have anything against anyone, but when the thought entered my brain it made me laugh for a few minutes so I thought I'd share. And hey, I liked the "Musicology" show on Sunday night. If only Rick/the station could bring back the one show I really miss being on broadcast radio... "I'm Clyde Lewis, and this is GROUND ZERO!")

From what Rick has said on the subject, "The Talker" is a 3rd or 4th choice compromise with the corporate lawyers - all the better ideas were already taken, or too close to something else, or unacceptable to the suits for some other reason. So we end up with something bland and uninteresting... just like in every other corporate environment.

The Rick Emerson show is definitely a niche appeal - but that niche happens to be heavily weighted in a very valuable demo.

And speaking of ratings, can anybody break down how the ratings look in more specific demos? 18-34 perhaps?

I wish Clyde would come back but Rick will not talk about bringing him back --he won't answer e-mails.. and I would laugh when clyde wasn't being scary-- he really is quite funny

Last I heard, Clyde is still doing the Monday night live show at Dante's, and this newer streaming outfit Ideocast broadcasts a Friday night show along the same lines of the old show.
I haven't been able to listen, however, as it's DSL/cable only.

The flaw of the Rick Emerson show is that we can get the same content everywhere, the willamette week, liberal media, oregonian, far left professors so is there really a market for him and is he really needed. I just wished he would take a risk and try something no one is doing or done but he's too corporate to do that.

What, no points for style? Give me an example of what you mean.

To me you can get a very similar product in Willamette Week as Rick Emerson with the news, liberal slant, trendy culture, movie reviews and weird sex stuff. He has CNN guys as regular guest but is that really necessary if CNN is available all day. He could do more bits no one else is doing something similar too.

What are you talking about?? How are a newspaper and a radio show a "similar product"??

If all of those things fit in the same category for you, that strongly implies that you are FAR off the deep-end of the right end of the pool.

Rick & Co. are not leftists, they are (left of) centerists. If you disagree that just shows (again) how far to the right you are.

What's an example of 'something that no one is doing'?

Rick's interaction with the CNN folks is NOTHING like the "CNN [that] is available all day".

Also how about an example of how corporate he is? In my (well informed) opinion he's just barely corporate enough to keep his job (for now).

Willemette week and the Rick Emerson show is practically the same content it may come in a different form but it's the same stuff. If he wasn't corporate he wouldn't be on the air for as long as he has with his ratings and you can be leftist and corporate look at CNN.

CNN is left of FoxNews, but far right of NPR and many other news content providers. If anything, CNN is pretty centrist.

Emerson primarily comes across as left because his content inlcudes a lot of pop culture, and that is what confuses the issue. If the Rick Emerson Show were purely political, I think you might find emerson is quite libertarian, and he's against most things affect his wallet or reduces rights.

I don't care if someone's liberal because I can live with a contrarian opinion. What I want is good content that you couldn't get in the Willamette Week.

Then don't read Willamette Week and don't listen to Rick Emerson.

Why shouldn't I read Willamette Week or listen to Rick Emerson and why shouldn't I have an opinion that Rick Emerson could help himself if he tried something different no one else is doing

What topics are there that don't get sufficient coverage in Willamette Week, in your opinion? I don't read Willamette Week frequently enough to have a feel for what is missing from that paper.

Nothing against Rick Emerson but the Willamette Week does a better job at it's thing

Rick Emerson could help himself if he tried something different no one else is doing.

Isn't that what Rick's whole show is about? being different. If you can find somebody in Portland that sounds the same as Rick please let me know.

Tell me what Rick Emerson does that I've never heard before

Could you vague that up any more?
I mean, what does ANY radio personality do that nobody has done before?

"Tell me what Rick Emerson does that I've never heard before"


He is Oregon's Entertainer of the Year, three years running.

Who else has done that?

Kevin, I asked you a question. Only after you answer mine will I answer yours.

"He is Oregon's Entertainer of the Year, three years running."

He made that up. There is no such award. He had to remove it from his wikipedia entry.

I'm not interested Inthemiddle

" He made that up. There is no such award. He had to remove it from his wikipedia entry."

There you go; Something that I haven't heard anyone do before.

Which points out one thing about Emerson that seems to be true - most days; You can usually know pretty quick if this is your type of show. It's not that you have to " get it " or " it'll grow on you." You usually know right away - in my experience with trying to get others to listen.

So sometimes, it just ain't for you. And yet that brings up yet another thing that makes him different; He knows that it's not for everyone. So when he DOES get you to enjoy listening, he makes sure that he expresses his gratitude for it. And that seems genuine.

So yes. There are some relatively intangible qualities about his show that make him different. He's got a style that is self-effacing and humble - but quite focused and in control. He's got a good brand behind his name. It's subversive without being over-the-top. It's subtle at times.

All in all though, I've found that he talks about things I like to listen to; Music ( and I mean to a degree that music station DJs simply don't - for all sorts of reasons, they just don't. ) Pop culture. A dash of politics. Local businesses and his personal experiences with them. He likes the same things about Portland that I like. Doesn't like many of the same things about Portland that I do not like. He asks good questions about why things are the way they are - the seemingly mundane topics are elevated in a way that makes them interesting to at least discuss for a segment or two, take a few calls, then move on. More often than not, he knows when to STOP talking about a given mundane topic. ( That counts for a lot to me ).

He gives things an appropriate amount of weight, talks about them, moves on.

It's not that he or his show is without flaw. But knowing that HE knows that, makes for a decent show.

To me.

Rush Limbaugh made up the "Excellence in Broadcasting" award. A&E did a documentary on Limbaugh that included airchecks of him as "Jeff Christie." In one of the airchecks, he is talking up the intro to "Crocodile Rock," and he says something like, "...some have asked me about the award that I won. That award is the Award for Excellence in Broadcasting."

Who cares about awards and whether it is made up or not. Bottom line....if you like listening to a program/person, listen to it. If you don't, then don't.
Life is so much simpler that way.

Thanks Kevin once again not contributing anything worth out our time.

It's showbiz people.

Nowhere is it written that you must feel the same about a show as anyone else.

while you self-absorbed types blabber endlessly about some pointless moniker, us listeners are scrambling for the dial to find something engaging to listen to........that would be really swell if it worked the way you all think it does......"wow, that name of the station Johnson 970 just stopped me in my tracks"........ of course never mind the content sucks........the industry's sensitivity to it's impending doom is even starting to get to the most hardened in a most public manner, namely Tom Leykis whose ultra-thin skin was punctured by a listener this week who called the content "a snoozer" which it was. Leykis pounced on her and said "what are you a program director?" That proves my point. Radio bozos can sit around all day long and think they know better than the audience and that we are too stupid to know boring crap when we hear it. Given that, the boring crap will never end. And you all can't figure out whats wrong............jeezus christ

But as Tom himself would say, "you WERE listening, weren't you."

I've always thought Rick's banter with the CNN people is pretty unique. I haven't heard others, even the supposed shock jocks, do quite the schtick that he does with these people. I would venture to guess that, the CNN reporters also feel differently about Rick than a huge majority of the other personalities around the country they talk to daily. He certainly humanizes them. Some of my favorite parts of the show are when he talks to the CNN people.

yes, listening in between twirling the dial

seems to me if i'm not an arbitron family and i don't patronize the advertisers, then whether i
listen does not matter anyway

Regarding the CNN reporters: I doubt they are invited to participate in local listener social events as they are here. Two of these very straight-laced reporters have been guests of honor at Emerson listener parties.

I've been an Emerson listener since he started in Portland 10 years ago and even I have a hard time wrapping my brain around a drunken horde cheering wildly at their favorite political reporter making his/her way on stage. We are truly geeks and truly love every bit of it.

This has to be one of the dumbest things I've ever seen.

http://www.cafepress.com/rickemerson.301936589

Do people buy this stuff

Yes...

But I prefer the "Tim Riley is my God" t-shirt.

People will buy anything, even if it's practically disposable crap. Any politics-based product falls into the "practically disposable crap" category. I don't know how many 'countdown to inauguration day' clocks, posters, t-shirts, etc. I've seen since around 2006.
It's all going to be in the bins at Goodwill come February anyhow.

Who owns 970? I bet they don't have many listeners. It has a decent signal. I wish Pamplin would take it over. Didn't it used to have the Music of your life formant? would it make sense for 970 and 1550 to change formants?
That way baseball and talk could be on the same station.

1 CBS, 2 Yes, 3 Welcome back!

970 was classic country and then changed formats to "Cruisin' Oldies." The latter was an early Rock&Roll format similar to Super-62.

I remember the crusin format at 970, but it didn't have a lot of variety. I wish some am station would put on KD radio which is on the internet. I listen to that all the time. They play the 50's to the 80s and they have the largest library of anyone, except for the Stoner.

970, in one of its KYTE incarnations was MOYL for several years, quite some time before it was taken over by KUPL.

KYTE had MOYL after KUPL dropped it

970 was also classical for awhile after KYTE-FM became "The City."

101 fm played classical for years. Didn't they switch formats? Except that 970 had something besides jazz

KYTE-FM (Classical 101) was classical from maybe mid-1985 until maybe 1989...but I'm obviously guessing...(between KRCK and The City)

I want my KB101

I used to listen to Bill Schonley on 970 KOIN. My day would listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Show every Sunday morning on 970 KOIN, even though he wasn't Morman.
Then there was the group in the mornings with the live KOIN orchestra and Art Kirkham.

I remember going to their studios in the '50's in the old building with all the homebrew equipment in it. Also the old CH6 studios. Back when radio was live and local.

and the transmitter was home build. and was the backup into the nities i believe.

My dad loved the Tabernacle Choir. I wonder if they still are on the radio somewhere. I remember coming home from lunch and having the "come and get it" show on from 12 to 1. KOIN 970 had a huge audience in those days.

> and the transmitter was home build.

Whoever built that was an engineer's engineer!!!

The KOIN transmitter was designed & supervised by Technical Director of KOIN, Louis S. Bookwalter. It was constructed by Victor C. Carson, KOIN Chief Engineer with KOIN Technicians: Lloyd Weddell, Byron Paul, Earl Denham, Bud Rasmussen & L. Mathews.

The KOIN transmitter was dedicated on November 18, 1934 at 3:45pm with at 30 minute program featuring Portland Mayor Carson.

Craig_adams:

Do you have a similar list of the early TV engineers that put together the Ch 6 facility ?

Jr_tech: Louis S. Bookwalter was KOIN-TV Chief Engineer when channel 6 began operation on October 15, 1953. I believe technician, Lloyd A. Sutherland was also working for KOIN Radio & TV by this time.

Just like the on air personalities that moved from Coin Radio to KOIN-TV, the Engineers were also working for both operations since both Radio & TV transmitters were at one location.

KOIN was one of the last stations to give up block programming. I rememember the early 60's Oregonian Radio-TV page when there was still a radio listing grid next to the TV grid. By '64 or so, KGW, KEX and KWJJ all showed big blocks of time devoted to one name (the jock) while KOIN's grid was sliced into 30 and even 15 minute blocks for things like Gary Moore, Art Linkletter's House Party, Come 'n Get It and other local and CBS programs.
If memory serves (help me, Craig), it came to an end around '71 or '72 when CBS cancelled the last of its short-form network shows and KOIN morphed into yet another MOR/AC Full-Service station with little success.
One KOIN must-hear in our home (mom's orders): The Metropolitan Opera on Saturday mornings. It was very cool decades later to go to the Met and see the radio booth in the back of the orchestra level!

On April 30, 1972 "Arthur Godfrey Time" was canceled by The CBS Radio Network. "Art Linkletter's House Party" had ended its run on October 13, 1967. KOIN canceled "Koin Klock" on August 25, 1972. This was the KOIN transition date, as Coin was preparing for the Fall book. Slogan: Coin's flipped, Radio 97.

I just now checked out the Nielsen threads for 1959 and 1960 that you put in and they are fascinating.

Thanks!

Not only did they air all that programming but also employed a live orchestra as late as 1970! There's a thread here somewhere that shows some ratings from 1960 in the 40 share range and nearly as much in ALL dayparts! I listened to KOIN occasionally when it was FS/AC and it was certainly personality oriented but way too old for me. KEX was too old for me too but nothing like KOIN!

Yes, The KOIN Orchestra ended on August 26, 1972.

Craig_adams,

Thanks for the info! I hope that Mr. Bookwalters' creation was proudly displayed on the main floor of the transmitter building, rather than being stuck in a dark corner of the basement like the recent 970 transmitters!

It was in fact next to the east wall. Around the corner from the Ch 6 gear. Across from the Harris MW 5. The only thing in the basement was the giant modulation transformer and an oversized blower cooling the RCA BTF 20.

"both Radio & TV transmitters were at one location"
As was both the radio and TV studios at one location.

"This was the KOIN transition date, as Coin was preparing"
So KOIN transitioned at the same time as Canadian COIN did? Interesting how they planned that.

Bookwalter liked home brew stuff. Much of the studio equipment was also home made.

>>Canadian COIN

Actually, CO call signs are Cuban.

International Call Sign Prefix Allocations

I worked at KOIN in the mid '70's. The only modern pieces of equipment on the TV side were RCA video tape machines and a brand new RCA video cart machine. The money was spent on the equipment that played spots; the source of all of their revenue.

While finishing up last minute research on the KXL History at the Multnomah County Library, (Hope to post the history in late October or November) had some free time before the Library closed to look at The Oregonian listings on KOIN.

October 1965 is the latest I could find a complete listing. After looking at the "Nielsen Radio Ratings" thread in the history section of pdxradio, there were some changes. Larger blocks of local programing which I will mention here:

The Bob Hazen Show - 7:45am to 8:00am continued in this time slot.
Rick Mertz -9:15am to 9:45am & 11:45am to Noon.
Blaine Hanks - 1:15pm to 2:45pm.
Banker's Hour - 4:15pm to 4:45pm.
Concert Hall - 8:00pm to 10:00pm.

That's pretty funny that "Banker's Hour" was only a half hour, given the old adage!

Yes, a lot of radio shows back in the block programming era would have names like "The Frolic Hour" and would run 15 or 30 minutes! Never understood this.

I think its because at that time an "hour" was referred to as time spent with a certain host or program. It wasn't a literal hour of content.

15 minute shows were the original reason for ratings services to measure listening in quarter hour segments!

My dad drove me to high school every morning at 7:45 and he had the Bob Hazen show on. I HATED the theme song he had called "the Hot Canary". Does anyone know who did that? I don't remember anything else from the show besides that.

I have about the same recollection but was in the first grade. My babysitter switched from KISN over to KOIN to hear Bob Hazen talk about "The Benjamin Franklin".

Bob Hazen wow now that's a name I haven't in a long time and as of for the tune... the hot canary - I haven't a clue but could find out. I myself was stuck on KISN at the time and nobody dare touch my transistor radio.

"The Hot Canary" was a million seller in 1951 by Florian Zabach on Decca 9-27509 (Billboard #13).

It was originally recorded by Paul Weston with Paul Nero on violin in 1949 on Capitol 15373 (Billboard #12).

Hi Gary, Welcome to the board!

Florian Zabach? now thats not exactly a houusehold name!

Thanks Craig for that info... Thanks Semoochie and Hi to you to. I agree on Florian Zabach on not being a household name.

Just found this vintage 1929 piece of KOIN memorabilia on the web. It's a reception letter card of some kind. Note: KOIN is owned by "The Portland News". This was KOIN's original owner, although under the calls previously as KQP it was put on the air by owner Harry Read. "The Oregon Journal" would later purchase KOIN on February 28, 1931.

Something also to note is Art Kirkham as Program Director. Up to now I always thought he was Chief Announcer only in 1929, joining the KOIN staff on November 4, 1928. Also note the picture of Mischa Pelz, the original conductor of The KOIN Orchestra beginning in 1926.

http://www181.pair.com/otsw/QSL_BCB/KOIN.jpg

And it said studios were at the New Heathman Hotel, where the studios were until they moved into the same building as the tv station when it started. The studios were on the Mezzanine level of the New Heathman Hotel and there were big KOIN letters on the roof of the building which, at the time, could be seen from everywhere. Buildings weren't very tall then. You can see the rooftop sign in old pictures from the era.

Nice find Craig!

And, I assume the New Heathman hotel is where the current Heathman is today? Is the mezzanine still around?

First I want to state, yes I work for the same company that owns KCMD but after reading what's posted below by All Access about the debate, I Am Sold! I won't be on any channel but AM 970:

-------KCMD To Cover Veep Debate With Simultaneous Commentary-------

CBS RADIO Talk KCMD-A (AM 970, THE TALKER)/PORTLAND will cover THURSDAY's BIDEN-PALIN debate with live commentary during the event from PD/midday host RICK EMERSON and News Director TIM RILEY along with musician STORM LARGE. The three will riff on the debate while it happens.

"In a true example of multitasking, AM 970 will not only give you the debate, we'll simultaneously tell you what to think about it," said EMERSON. "After all, why wait a full 90 minutes to hear spin, ridicule, praise, and critique? STORM, TIM and I are excited to give this slice of information overload to a media-hungry world."

I thought for a minute you weren't on K-Hits anymore!

620 can comvert back to oldies now !!!910 also!!too many talk shows on radio!!We need more music formats on AM band!!!

KXL should be the first to go to music. Music on KXL would be a nice change over the non-sense that's on it now!!!!!
KPAM should be second. SUPERPAM! Oldies the right way!!
The only thing left after that would switching KEX to Death Metal.....

Rick, Tim and Storm did a great job with the debate.

1410 should be music. Who cares about what they have on now? Maybe 970 should be the second choice. How about 1080? I mean do we need 2 sports talk stations?

Maybe 970 should be the second choice.
Do you have a wish to receive thousands of unsolicited coffee mugs from Rick Emerson fans, Wayne?

how about doing Crusin'Oldies insteadon 970 ? instead??

KXL would be a better fit. Their format is horrible!

Maybe 970 should be the second choice.
Do you have a wish to receive thousands of unsolicited coffee mugs from Rick Emerson fans, Wayne?

they could always move his show somewhere else. I mean how many talk shows are there in Portland anyway? too many. Maybe 1080?

KPAM should be second. SUPERPAM! Oldies the right way!!

I think a better idea would be if KKAD and KPAM exchanged formats. That way talk and sports could both be on 1550. And the music at 1550 could move to 860. Long time no see.

Bring back super 62 KGW on 620 and yes move KKAD format to KPAM. Once you done with that how about buying 102.7 in Newport and changing those call letters to something else and bring back KYTE on 970. 1080 back to KWJJ and run classic country.

Gary...
You ok?

which local station ran The "War of the Worlds" when that happened many years ago on a Halloween I think??

Was it not the cbs mecury theater. probley a cbs station. possibly koin. not sure if they were cbs affiliate then. craig a. do you know?

Craig_adams nailed it a year ago:

http://feedback.pdxradio.com/show.cgi?tpc=208652&post=205837#POST205837

Remember the war of the worlds done back in the early 70s on KJIB that came from KFOG San Francisco version. Yes I'm OK. I do get carried away with trying to bring back radio the way it use to be. I do agree on the too many talk stations.