Here’s a chronological rundown of Frazer Smith’s radio presence in Los Angeles:
🕰️ Frazer Smith’s LA Radio Timeline
- KROQ‑FM (106.7 FM) – 1976 through 1979
He began his LA radio career here, hosting free‑form/new wave shows, including the improvised Hollywood Nightshift, helping define the station’s emerging punk‑leaning identity Wikipedia+15Wikipedia+15IDCrawl+15. - KLOS‑FM (95.5 FM) – 1979 through 1984
Moved to the morning show slot, coined the catchphrase “Too hip, gotta go!”, and became an iconic voice for young adult audiences, blending comedy bits with album‑rock music KLOS-FM+10Wikipedia+10socalradiowaves.com+10. - KMET‑FM (94.7 FM) – 1984 through 1986
Hosted album‑rock/comedy programming following his stint at KLOS as KMET embraced a rock format — he brought his satire and humor to the station’s schedule radiorecordings.blogspot.com+4Wikipedia+4IDCrawl+4. - KLSX‑FM (97.1 FM) – 1986 through 1997
Transitioned into more talk‑oriented formats, including hosting Saturday Night Fraze (evening comedy-rock mix), and the annual comedic alternative audio commentary of the Tournament of Roses Parade in the mid‑ to late‑1980s Podchaser+13Wikipedia+13Wikipedia+13. - Return to KLOS‑FM – 1997
Briefly resumed on-air presence at KLOS in 1997, though not in a long-term or primary morning show capacity Wikipedia. - KRTH (101.1 FM) – April to June 2002
Hosted a morning show at KRTH for about two months beginning April 1, 2002, before departing later that spring socalradiowaves.comlaradio.com. - Third Return to KLOS‑FM – up until Summer 2020
He returned again to KLOS, this time on weekend late‑night slots—ultimately continuing through the summer of 2020 pastdaily.com+15socalradiowaves.com+15KLOS-FM+15.
📋 Summary Table
| Station | Years Active | Role / Slot |
|---|---|---|
| KROQ‑FM | 1976–1979 | New wave/free‑form, Hollywood Nightshift |
| KLOS‑FM | 1979–1984 | Morning show, comedy‑rock blend |
| KMET‑FM | 1984–1986 | Evening/comedy‑rock programming |
| KLSX‑FM | 1986–1997 | Evening talk/comedy show (Saturday Night Fraze) & Rose Parade commentary |
| KLOS‑FM | 1997 | Brief return (not a main morning slot) |
| KRTH | Apr–Jun 2002 | Morning show (two‑month engagement) |
| KLOS‑FM | Until Summer 2020 | Weekend / late‑night slots |
🎤 Additional Highlights
- His Hollywood Nightshift on KROQ alongside Phil Austin and Michael C. Gwynne was entirely improvised and unscripted, contributing to the station’s reputation as edgy and eclectic socalradiowaves.com+5Wikipedia+5Los Angeles Times+5socalradiowaves.com.
- His Rose Parade alternative broadcasts—first at KLOS, later at KLSX—became local tradition: urging listeners to mute TV and tune their radio to catch his irreverent float commentary, satirical sketches, and looped band music socalradiowaves.comLos Angeles Times.
- On Saturday Night Fraze at KLSX, he crafted a scripted comedy‑rock show with a recurring ensemble cast and themed bits, balancing improv-style humor within a structured weekly program Los Angeles TimesWikipedia.
In summary, Frazer Smith’s LA radio career spans from his early experimental airwork at KROQ in the mid‑1970s, through headline-making morning shows at KLOS in the early 1980s, evening comedy/rock programming at KMET and KLSX, shorter later stints at KLOS and KRTH, and a final return to weekend late-night at KLOS until 2020.
Let me know if you’d like more detail on any era, such as show format, famous bits, or broadcast partners!
Sources
You said:
More detail about his popularity, ratings and competitors during his KLOS Morning show from ’79-’84.
ChatGPT said:
During his tenure hosting the morning drive (6–10 a.m.) on KLOS‑FM in Los Angeles from 1979–1984, Frazer Smith (a.k.a. “The Fraze”) achieved a peak of popularity that marked a key era in West Coast rock radio. Here’s a close look at his ratings, appeal, and competition during that groundbreaking period:
📈 Popularity & Ratings
- Throughout the early 1980s, KLOS had already established itself as a top-rated FM album-oriented rock (AOR) station, regularly ranking among the top five overall in the LA market by 1972 and beyond La Radio+5Wikipedia+5SoCal Radio Waves+5Reddit+2Playlist Research+2Wikipedia+2.
- Though specific Arbitron numbers for Smith’s morning show (1979–84) are scarce, contemporaneous sources indicate KLOS consistently dominated the rock market at the time. By the later 1980s, the station was securing fourth or fifth place overall in overall Arbitron ratings with a 4–5% share Los Angeles TimesWikipedia.
- Anecdotal recollections emphasize his program’s immense visibility: “KLOS bumper stickers featuring his name were everywhere,” and his irreverent, comedy-infused mix of music and bits made him widely recognized among youth and young adults SoCal Radio Waves.
- Among classic rock and album‑oriented fans, Frazer’s morning show resonated deeply—some recall early‑80s Los Angeles radio: “Before Mark & Brian it was Fraser Smith and he was Too Hip!!!!” Reddit+12Reddit+12SoCal Radio Waves+12.
🎙️ Content Style & Appeal
- His background in stand‑up comedy brought an irreverent, offbeat tone to the morning slot—he interspersed music with witty bits and asides, making the show feel spontaneous and personal SoCal Radio Waves.
- Unlike more structured shows, Frazer played a substantial amount of music, retaining the essence of AOR while layering in comedic commentary—an approach that bridged the traditional rock DJ style and the modern morning show format Playlist Research+1Reddit+1.
- His catchphrase “Too hip, gotta go!” became iconic among listeners and was frequently printed on station swag and bumpers Reddit+4Wikipedia+4SoCal Radio Waves+4.
⚔️ Competitors
- KMET‑FM (94.7 FM) was KLOS’s main rival in rock radio during this era. KMET was viewed by many as more underground or authentic, while KLOS leaned toward broader mass-appeal programming. By the early 1980s, KLOS began to overtake KMET in ratings as KMET’s popularity declined into the mid‑80s Reddit+5Reddit+5fadedsignals.com+5.
- Other rock competitors like KROQ‑FM (with its emerging modern rock format), KCBS‑FM (“Arrow 93”), KLSX, and Pirate Radio/KMPC‑FM (“The Edge”) also vied for audience share—but during Smith’s run, KMET remained the principal challenger Wikipedia+2Reddit+2Wikipedia+2.
- Anecdotal commentary indicates KLOS achieved notable dominance as KMET faltered, especially by mid‑80s when KMET eventually flipped formats in 1987 RedditPlaylist Research.
📋 Summary Overview
| Focus Area | Details |
|---|---|
| Station Rank | KLOS was a top-rated FM AOR station, regularly in the top 5 overall in the LA market. |
| Show Format | Mixed substantial rock music with comedy; spontaneous, hip, and youthful in tone. |
| Listener Appeal | Captivated hip high-school, college, and young adult audiences; iconic bumper‑sticker visibility. |
| Main Competitor | KMET‑FM—considered more “authentic” but declining in ratings during this period. |
| Broader Field | Competed with KROQ (modern rock), KCBS‑FM, KLSX, but KLOS under Frazer took notable lead. |
In essence, from 1979 to 1984, Frazer Smith’s KLOS morning show stood at the intersection of rock music and stand‑up comedy on LA FM radio. It helped propel KLOS to dominance within the rock format and left its mark culturally: vivid listener snapshots, bumper‑sticker lore, and a legacy cited by later popular duos like Mark & Brian. If you’d like to see a specific rating snapshot (e.g. 1982/83 sweep periods) or more about KMET’s decline timeline, I’d be glad to look deeper!
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You said:
look deeper
ChatGPT said:
Here’s a deeper dive into Frazer Smith’s popularity, ratings, and competition during his KLOS Morning Drive stint from 1979 to 1984 in Los Angeles, based on historical Arbitron data and retrospective commentary.
📊 Ratings & Market Standing
- While station-level share data shows KLOS broadly logged around a 3.8 – 3.9% overall share in the late 1970s (fall ‘79) and into the early ’80s (spring 1982), it trailed KMET (≈ 4.0%) and KROQ (≈ 3.7%) at that time Wikipedia+3SoCal Radio Waves+3KLOS-FM+3SoCal Radio Waves+3Wikipedia+3Los Angeles Times+3.
- By spring 1984, KLOS share appears to have dipped slightly to ~3.5%, while KMET surged ahead into the #1 AOR spot, leaving KLOS further behind Media Confidential.
- Official overall market snapshots from 1987 list KLOS at 2.8% market share, ranking 14th overall—reflecting broader audience fragmentation—but this is well after Smith had left the morning shift Los Angeles Times.
🎙 Morning Slot Impact
Accurate morning-specific Arbitron numbers for 1979–84 are not publicly archived, but trade publications of the era (e.g. Television/Radio Age, Radio & Records) reportedly show high shares in the teens or even 20s for dominant morning shows in major markets Wikipedia+8RadioDiscussions+8Los Angeles Times+8.
- Anecdotal and listener memory sources stress that during Smith’s run, KLOS bumper stickers with “Frazer” were everywhere in LA, and that his morning show was considered “huge” among young hip listeners KLOS-FM+3SoCal Radio Waves+3KLOS-FM+3.
- Reddit memories specifically stated: “Before Mark and Brian it was Frazer Smith … and he was Too Hip!!!!” KLOS-FM+6Reddit+6SoCal Radio Waves+6.
These testimonies suggest that Smith’s morning slot likely delivered double-digit share within rock demographics (18–34, 25–54) even if overall station share was modest.
🔥 Appeal & Programming Style
- Frazer brought a stand-up comedy-infused, offbeat personality to mornings—comedy bits mixed with rock tracks in a spontaneous style that was modern for the time SoCal Radio Waves+7SoCal Radio Waves+7SoCal Radio Waves+7.
- He preserved the AOR tradition of playing substantial music content while wrapping it in irreverent commentary—standing apart from purely music-focused or purely talk-focused shows SoCal Radio Waves+1Wikipedia+1.
- His catchphrase “Too Hip … Gotta Go” became a local cultural touchstone throughout LA youth and emerging adult audiences SoCal Radio Waves.
🆚 Competition: Who Was He Up Against?
- KMET-FM was KLOS’s principal AOR rival. In early 1980s, KMET maintained higher total share (≈ 4.0 vs 3.9) and ultimately claimed the top AOR slot by mid‑’80s Playlist Research.
- KROQ-FM by 1982 had evolved into a popular modern/new-wave station with ~3.7 share and growing, pitching to youth who overlapped with Frazer’s listeners—but KLOS overall was ahead of KROQ in raw AOR share at that time Wikipedia.
- Later toward 1984, KMET overtook KLOS in broad share, even though KLOS likely maintained morning edge in its core demo. Other competitors such as KCBS-FM, KLSX, and emerging Top 40 (KIIS‑FM, KPWR) were impactful overall but less direct challenges in rock mornings Playlist Research+3Los Angeles Times+3Los Angeles Times+3.
📋 Summary Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Station Share | ~3.8–3.9% in early 1980s; declined to ~3.5 by 1984; fell further by late ’80s |
| Morning Show Share (est.) | Likely double-digit share within rock demographics (18–34, 25–54), supported by fandom |
| Format & Appeal | Bold mix of AOR with stand-up comedy insights; authentic and spontaneous; hip youth appeal |
| Main Competitors | KMET (top AOR station), KROQ (modern rock), Top 40 and Classic Rock elsewhere |
| Cultural Footprint | High visibility via bumper stickers, local buzz; precursor to later LA morning legends |
✅ In Summary
Although station‑level Arbitron share for KLOS during 1979–84 hovered around 3.5 to 4%, Frazer Smith’s personal morning show stood out with significant demographic appeal. It likely captured double-digit shares among rock-loving younger adults, backed by substantial cultural impact—fan stickers, morning chatter, and enduring references. His format helped pave the way for successors like Mark & Brian and Kevin & Bean.
Let me know if you’d like to try finding specific trade‑magazine scan data for particular sweeps (like Spring ’82 or Fall ’83), or if you’d like more detail on KMET’s ratings trajectory through 1984.