KZLA’s Success Story

There are a couple of references in your Aug. 18 Around the Dial column that leave an inaccurate impression. Steve Hochman wrote of “such failed experiments as trying to mix such country-influenced classic-rock acts as Jimmy Buffett and the Eagles into the programming.” Then later, he referred to “R.J. Curtis, who oversaw the station’s peak time circa 1994. . . .”

As operations manager-programmer during the “failed experiment” time from 1996 to ‘98, I must protest the above categorizations. My years as programmer of KZLA were the most successful in the 22-year history of the station.

KZLA rose from 482,000 total weekly listeners at its low point just before I was hired to a high of 735,000, making it the No. 1 country station in the nation. Among adults age 25-54, the most important demographic in radio, and specifically country radio, we experienced three 2.9 share results, one 2.8 and never dipped below a 2.5!

Before our time at KZLA, the station never had such consistently good ratings. And since I’ve left, it’s never scored better than a 2.5 share among adults 25-54.

Those of us who were part of KZLA circa 1996-98 are proud of the unprecedented success we achieved during those years.

JOHN SEBASTIAN

Phoenix