It’s not an unusual occurrence when a radio station flips format and brings in new on-air people to reflect the change. It’s far less often you hear about a station changing format, firing every single staff member and then not replacing any of them - or tell listeners what they've done.
 
I guess the recent Rogers shutdown of 6 stations across the country didn’t make much news in the U.S., but one of their legendary California radio outlets went the way of all flesh last week, leaving almost everyone but perhaps the janitor out of work. The story got noticed beyond the L.A. market, including a full article in the New York Post and other places far removed from the station.
 
KCAL-FM was a scrappy rock station just outside of L.A. that has been around for years. So when they suddenly announced a format change last week, it came with a surprise. Not only did they axe every single member of their on-air staff – including an afternoon host who’d been there for 42 years straight – they decided not to replace any of them.
 
Effectively, management chose to turn the place into a classic rock jukebox, mentioning in their announcement of the change that they would be playing “more music” with “less interruptions,” but saying nothing of the loss of all those personalities.
 
According to a statement:

“We rebuilt KCAL around the music our listeners grew up on, the songs and the artists that made classic rock, and we built it right here at home. KCAL will deliver a focused, consistent listening experience with broader appeal for both our audience and advertising partners.” 

The change, the company’s release reportedly says, “expands the station’s musical focus and will have fewer interruptions and more music throughout the day.”  
 
But not a word about letting every live person on the station go. The new lifeless format officially debuted on Saturday, while the now unemployed talent took to social media to say the goodbyes they never got to on-air. Oh well, unlike Big Red, at least the station still exists.
 
I love radio, but sometimes, it’s a terrible business.

KCAL-FM lays off all on-air staff in switch to all-music radio station