Ghost In The Machine?
• So, last week came to an end… and Kevin Klein Live was still M.I.A. from mornings on Entercom’s Rock-Talk-Sports-Comedy hybrid KEGY (97.3 The Machine)/San Diego, and the silence from anyone remotely connected to the station remains deafening. What will today bring? Here is one strong possibility —
Over the weekend, RadioInsight.com theorized that Entercom is ready to flush the now-tainted “97.3 The Machine” brand and start over — on Friday, April 6, someone (most likely Entercom) privately registered three new domains — 973TheFanSD.com, 973TheFanSanDiego.com and TheFanSanDiego.com “as they prepare to transition KEGY to Sports-Talk built around the Padres broadcast rights and current midday host Dan Sileo.”
No word yet on the fate of erstwhile morning host Kevin Klein, who, as you may hazily recall, was scheduled to debut on Thursday, March 29, but that launch was delayed due to the furor over Klein’s tone-deaf promotional tweet inexplicably tying the launch of his new show to someone jumping off the Coronado Bridge — which holds the unfortunate distinction of being the second-deadliest bridge for suicides in the country.
Shortly thereafter, professional photographer Jesse Cuevas came forward and told The San Diego Reader that Klein had appropriated his photo of the bridge without permission, claiming that Klein’s improper use — and resulting negative publicity — has irrevocably ruined his photo’s future value. Cuevas said he has contacted Entercom’s legal department about the matter.
All in all, a less than stellar first impression for the brand new radio flagship of the clearly irritated San Diego Padres, whose Executive Chairman Ron Fowlertold the San DiegoUnion-Tribune the team would be reevaluating its relationship with The Machine when the Padres’ opening home stand against the Colorado Rockies was complete… that was last Thursday… it feels like we may have some resolution very soon. Stay tuned!
