More Stations Jumping on Holiday-Concert Bandwagon

Just like Ebenezer Scrooge, it seems that Los Angeles radio executives have had a Christmas epiphany, and this year they are sharing their bounty by stuffing special seasonal concerts into this weekend like gifts under a tree.

In recent years, rock-oriented KROQ-FM (106.7) dominated the holiday landscape with its “Almost Acoustic Christmas” shows, complemented by a handful of lesser events from others. This year the competition’s intensified.

Three seasonal radio concerts will take place on Saturday alone--with another one happening this morning and still another on Monday. On top of that, KROQ has a Sunday show in addition to its Saturday event at the Universal Amphitheatre. And each event is tricked out with a star-studded line-up.

It’s the Christmas spirit, radio-business style.

“These things function as self-liquidating marketing tools,” says Roy Laughlin, who as general manager of Clear Channel-owned pop giant KIIS-FM (102.7), adult pop KYSR-FM (98.7) and oldies KCMG-FM (92.3) is behind three of the events himself. “We’re able to give away a lot of tickets on the air by getting sponsors, and people listen to win. We’ll have ratings, and the thing was paid for by the sponsors and we’ll come out all the better. Bless us, every one--didn’t Tiny Tim say that?”

Not that the fans don’t get a pretty good gift in the deal themselves. The weekend shows in particular are star-studded packages of some of the top names in the pop and rock world.

KROQ’s two “Almost Acoustic Christmas” shows at the Universal Amphitheatre are each topped by No Doubt, with electronica artist Moby and rock bands Papa Roach, Deftones, Incubus and Weezer also playing both nights, and several other acts playing just one night. Simultaneous to the first KROQ night, the Shrine Auditorium will host the first KIIS Jingle Ball with teen popsters Christina Aguilera and 98 Degrees, neo-soulstress Macy Gray, rock band Third Eye Blind and R&B; duo K-Ci & JoJo. And at the same time the Wiltern Theatre will be the site for the inaugural Not So Silent Night sponsored by KYSR, with Dido, Smash Mouth, Bon Jovi, Hootie & the Blowfish--and Gray making a special appearance there as well.

Today, classic-rock station KLOS-FM (95.5) morning team Mark & Brian has its annual holiday show from 5 to 10 a.m. with music by Great White, David Coverdale, Rick Springfield and Randy Travis, plus comedy and a reading of “ ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” by George Kennedy. Monday sees Smokey Robinson headline an evening for KCMG, also at the busy Wiltern.

“If I’m a fan, I want to see the bands I want to see, and if I can see them all in one night, that’s terrific,” says Andy Slater, manager of Macy Gray.

Charities also gain, as some portion of the proceeds are earmarked for nonprofit service entities.

But it’s the benefit to the stations that drives these shows. Laughlin saw the results in ratings and revenues with the massive KIIS Wango Tango shows at Dodger Stadium the last two summers. That led him to add the station’s Jingle Ball at the Shrine Auditorium on Saturday, as well as add shows for KYSR and KCMG, two stations that came under his watch when they were purchased by the Clear Channel ownership group in the last year.

Not everyone’s happy with the phenomenon. There are always complaints that by playing these shows (for free, with expenses generally paid by the record companies), some of the acts harm their ability to sell tickets to their own shows in the market. There are also regular reports that acts that turn down stations’ requests to play these shows can be punished with reduced airplay--something the station executives deny.

Exposure for Artists

But if that’s the downside, the upside is dramatic.

Take No Doubt, which five years ago was a little Orange County ska-pop group that felt lucky to get the opening slot on one of the KROQ nights. This year, the Gwen Stefani-led band is the headlining star both Saturday and Sunday for KROQ.

“It’s a real drag for me as an individual and for my acts when we’re not asked to play these shows,” says Jim Guerinot, who manages No Doubt, as well as the Offspring, which has also played at KROQ Christmas shows in the past, as well as at several of the station’s summer Weenie Roast concerts. “You get a phenomenal amount of promotion from being part of the KROQ world.”

The trick for KROQ, though, is to remain the leader of the pack.

“I didn’t realize there were other shows,” deadpans Weatherly. “Honestly, we’ve been doing this for a long time, and our biggest challenge is to every year try to top what we’ve done before and every year gets more challenging to do that.”

For proof of success, he points to the bands that have started as newcomers at these shows and gone on to major stardom--not just No Doubt, but also Rage Against the Machine, Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead, Beck and Korn.

With KIIS and others in the Christmas-show mix, the new twist is to keep the acts the station has launched in the fold. Smash Mouth, for example, has played KROQ shows before, and this year instead is playing for KYSR, which also made overtures to No Doubt. The consolidation of the ownership groups into huge, powerful corporate entities--Clear Channel, for example, also owns a network of concert promoters and facilities--makes a choice of one over another fraught with potential benefits or penalties.

KLOS, for one, wants to stay out of that fray. Its show is a free event with tickets only given away, not sold, and rather than emphasize current acts, it tends to feature more left-field performers reflecting Mark & Brian’s sensibilities.

“We try to avoid the politics of the business,” says Rita Wilde, station program director. “With [the other stations entering the competition], it will get ugly if it continues like this. Let’s not forget the spirit of the holidays.”

* KROQ-FM (106.7)’s Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Universal Amphitheatre on Saturday and Sunday at 6 p.m.. Remaining tickets available only through station giveaways.

* KIIS-FM (102.7)’s Jingle Ball at the Shrine Auditorium on Saturday at 6 p.m.. Remaining tickets available only through station giveaways.

* KYSR-FM (98.7)’s Not So Silent Night at the Wiltern Theatre on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Remaining tickets available only through station giveaways.

* KCMG-FM (92.3)’s holiday concert at the Wiltern Theatre on Monday at 7:30 p.m. For ticket information, call (213) 480-3232.

* On KLOS-FM (95.5), Mark & Brian’s annual holiday show can be heard today from 5 to 10 a.m.