NOW IT’S KLSX (‘CLASSICS’) : ‘K-BEST’ DOES ANOTHER SWITCHEROO

KBZT-FM(97.1), touted as “L.A.’s new radio station” earlier this year, became L.A.’s new radio casualty this week a victim of low ratings and lost advertising revenue.

KBZT (known in billboard ads as “K-BEST”) used to be KHTZ (“K-HITS”) until last January when its format switched from Top 40 to a curious mix of pop oldies and adult contemporary music.

As of Friday at 3 p.m., it became KLSX (“Classics”).

“It’ll be classic rock songs from the ‘60s and ‘70s,” said station promotion director Meredith May Doulton. “Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Crosby, Stills and Nash, the Doors, Jefferson Airplane, Creem . . . “

Doulton said deejay Charlie Tuna, the KHTZ and, later, KBZT morning mainstay, would be moving over to KLSX’s sister station, KRLA-AM (1110) from 5 to 10 a.m. There was no immediate permanent replacement announced for Tuna’s morning slot at KLSX. Both stations are owned and operated by New Jersey-based Greater Media Inc.

Tuna replaces Danny Martinez at KRLA. Martinez left the station some weeks ago and has been temporarily replaced by such unlikely morning drivetime teams as (Emperor) Bob Hudson and Al Lohman, late of the long-time broadcast team of Lohman and Barkley.

Hudson and Lohman are not permanent KRLA deejays, but the addition of Tuna to the staff gives KRLA “one heck of a lineup of radio legends,” Doulton said. In addition to Tuna, the oldies station also features Johnny Hayes, Art Laboe, Wolfman Jack, Humble Harv and (the Real) Don Steele--all one-time top-rated deejays on Southern California radio.

Doulton said the decision to switch from KBZT’s adult contemporary format to KLSX classic rock was partially the result of seeing the format succeed in two other markets. Both KCFX in Kansas City and WCXR in Washington climbed in the Arbitron ratings with the format switch, she said.

Acting KLSX program director Don Hagen put classic rock on the air over WCXR in Washington before coming to Los Angeles.

“I think people in our age group, 25 to 49, were settling for certain formats,” Doulton said. “They liked the Doors and Beatles in some of the formats, but didn’t want to have to put up with ‘Earth Angel.’ Or they liked the classics but not heavy metal.

“Here we’re offering something hip, something cool to that age group. No wimpy songs and no novelty songs. An adult radio station with knowledgeable deejays . . . They know how to pronounce Disraeli Gears and Uriah Heap. It’s a modern presentation of those songs and you’re not going to have to hear Barry Manilow.”