Things have not been good in the radio industry for many years, but today, October 26, 2011, just might become known as Black Wednesday in the business. The largest of all radio conglomerates, Clear Channel Communications, has been handing out pink slips like Halloween candy in almost every market it infects. However, the biggest insult might have come from Cumulus Media which recently bought out Citadel Broadcasting and grabbed control of famed rock station KLOS in Los Angeles.
Pictured is Jim Ladd who was perhaps the last disk jockey left on any commercial station of any format that was allowed to select his own music. Pink Floyd fans would recognize him as the DJ on the Roger Waters solo album, Radio K.A.O.S.. Tom Petty fans might know that Ladd was the inspiration for The Last DJ. He has been a staple of the Los Angeles rock radio scene since the 1970’s and was just as relevant and sharp today as he was when he started.
Jim Ladd was unceremoniously fired today by Cumulus. He was not given a chance to say goodbye or do a farewell show…