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by Alex Cosper 
One of the reasons I created this project is I worked in the radio industry myself from 1984 to 2006, mainly in Sacramento, but also in San Francisco, Milwaukee and Palm Springs. As the KWOD/Sacramento Program Director, I led the independent company to becoming one of the highest rated alternative stations in America during the format's heyday in the 1990s. I went to several radio conventions and met hundreds of high profile radio industry pros who had great stories to tell about how they used radio to affect their communities. Another reason why I've put this interview series together as a tribute to radio's 100 year anniversary is because so many radio personalities have come and gone who became big names in their towns. Radio hosts traditionally have been friendly familiar voices you can turn to for information and entertainment. But now in the automation age the radio industry has downsized air staffs mainly for economic reasons, as the industry has struggled to deal with big mergers that led to huge debt. Automation has helped these companies cut costs, but at the expense of air talent careers. Between 2010 and 2019 I've noticed many radio personalities who haven't found work following the downsizing have sadly passed away and haven't gotten the credit they deserve for being leaders in their communities. So a big part of this project involves acknowledging their talents at holding the attention of thousands of listeners. Ideally this project will be a reminder to the radio industry that its greatest times were built on the contributions of local air personalities. Past Playlist Research Articles by Alex Cosper Social Music Talk Interviews: Includes 91X/San Diego radio legends Michael Halloran, Max Tolkoff, Bryan Schock, Nicole Sandler, Dwight Arnold, Rob Tonkin and more Interview with All Access Founder Joel Denver Interview with R&R Founder Bob Wilson American Radio History The History of Freeform History of Famous Radio DJs Interview with Radio Legend Dave Sholin Top College Radio Stations in America Rolling Stone Introduces Charts History of the Music Industry KDKA Kicks Off Broadcasting A Brief History of WHFS Timeline of National Radio Networks and Music Shows Rise of Alternative Radio KWODumentary: 90s Alternative Radio Freeform/Rock Radio: The Legend of KZAP/Sacramento 1968-1992 New York City Radio History Los Angeles Radio History Chicago Radio History San Francisco Radio History Interview with Radio Consultant Lee Arnold Interview with Radio Consultant Dennis Constantine Interview with KRXQ/Sacramento Long Stay Rocker Pat Martin Interview with Radio Consultant John Sebastian Interview with Michael Halloran About 91X/San Diego Programming Interview with Radio Host/A&R Executive Bruce Ravid Interview with San Jose Radio Programmer Dana Jang Interview with Radio/Music Pro Roland West Interview with Tony Cox About Radio History Interview with Chris Collins and Kill R Bee of the KSFM Morning Zoo Interview with LA Radio Personality Mimi Chen Interview with Bonnie Stacy-Canelakes on Radio Promotions Interview with San Jose Radio Personality Jona Denz Hamilton Interview with KZAP Cat Logo Designer Bill Styler Interview with Drake-Chenault Music Director Kristi Rohlfing KROY Stories: Interviews with Johnny Hyde, History of Top 40 Radio Interview Series with Dann Shively, KCRA/Sacramento Radio Pilot Interview with Alternative Radio Programmer Bruce McDonald Evidence Playlists Have Replaced Albums History of Offensive Lyrics Anniversary of the Telecom Act Where Have All the Pop Stars Gone? Interview with Beatles Album Cover Designer Kosh The Meaning of Misleading Music Research Seeds of Playlist Industry Have Been Planted How Playlists Could Create a New Industry How Apps Became the New Pop Culture Why Football Is More Popular Than Music In America How Electronic Effects Became Overdone in Pop Music 40 Million Bands Competing for 40 Radio Slots Principles of a Beatles-Based Business Model Why College Radio Still Matters Preparing For the Internet Broadcast Invasion Be Your Own DJ |
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