The biggest story in Classic Rock right now is undoubtedly the shift of KCAL/Riverside. The station has been some flavor of Rock for the last sixty years, but the change to Classic Rock represents a major departure. KCAL had been a Mainstream Rock station for a quarter of a century.
The most shocking part of this story isn’t the music itself; it’s the decision to cut the entire airstaff. The station has shifted to a jock-less presentation. Anyone who knows me knows that I am one of the biggest fans of talent on the radio. Frankly, I do not want to downplay how distressing this is.
However, it’s also safe to say that between coverage and commentary in the trades and on social media — which created an avalanche of comments — that topic has been covered. To summarize: it sucks. It’s unfortunate. It’s not a great harbinger for radio. Moreover, no one outside of management knows for sure what financial pressure the station is under…