Condolences — The Sound: 2008-2017
In case you’ve been, say, submerged under the polar ice cap in a submarine for the past month or so, you know that Entercom Classic Rock KSWD (100.3 The Sound) signed off at 1pm Thursday, making way for the launch of the Christian K-Love format under new owner EMF.
Needless to say, emotions were running high in the hallways and in the control room as the digital countdown clock inexorably ticked down toward zero. On “Uncle Joe” Benson‘s final 10 at 10 feature, each of The Sound personalities got to pick a song. “One per DJ, please!” Benson exclaimed in his unmistakably deep voice. At 12:20pm, the full Sound staff gathered around the studio microphones to lead the audience in one last in-unison recitation of the station’s slogan, “I FOUND THE SOUND!”
A few songs later, Andy Chanley, who was the very first DJ on The Sound when it launched in 2008 dropped the needle onto Side 2 of the Beatles’ iconic Abbey Road album, tracking it all the to “The End,” concluding with those famously poignant lyrics, “And in the end… the love you take… is equal to the love you make.” Chanley (pictured) then cracked the mic one final time to give the Sound’s last Legal ID: “This has been KSWD/Los Angeles.” He then paused, gestured to his colleagues who jammed the studio, and said, “This is The Sound… And this dream will self-destruct in 3… 2…” That final break was captured on video and posted to Facebook.
• During that final emotional hour, Sound PD Dave Beasing sent us a brief note that read, “I know RAMP readers appreciate the funny. I’m smiling, but I just can’t muster a joke at the moment.” He added, “According to the rules of radio, this station shouldn’t have happened. To have had a 9 ½ year run is incredible. We’re grateful.”
• Immediately following the final broadcast, the entire Sound staff gathered in the lobby for this souvenir photo suitable for framing.
• Semi-Fun Fact: Fellow radio geeks couldn’t help but notice that The Sound’s new owner, Educational Media Foundation has applied for hauntingly familiar call letters for its brand new Los Angeles K-Love outlet — KKLQ, which for years belonged to the late, great San Diego Top 40 station, Q106.
