KROQ Duo inducted into Radio Hall of Fame

One of the worlds most successful breakfast shows has just celebrated its 25th Anniversary and has been inducted into the USA Radio Hall of Fame.

Kevin Ryder and Gene ‘ Bean ‘ Baxter came together back in 1989. KROQ Los Angeles has been a great success for a long time, but its ratings success took over a decade to build.

And the same for its breakfast show  Kevin & Bean

The breakfast show took over 10 years to establish itself as a market leader in one of the most competitive radio markets in the world. They have competed against iconic shows like Rick Dees and Ryan Seacrest on KIIS, the legendary Howard Stern, successful duo KLOS’s Mark and Brian and Satellite radio.

Clear Channel stations KISS, KOST and KBIG are the  number 1,2 and 3 stations in the market overall but Kevin and Bean’s show is the number 1 Breakfast show in LA.

Kevin Ryder has lived in Seattle, an 18 hour drive away, and has done the show remotely, for the past decade.

It shows, that whilst there has been a tendancy to replace shows at around the 10 year mark here in Australian metro markets, longevity has proven to be a winner for the top rating Kevin and Bean.

It also shows that an older skewed breakfast show (their average age is now over 50), can rate well on a younger format. KROQ as a Modern Rock / Alternative Rock station targets under 40’s. KROQ’s been number 1 18-34 and 25-54.

KROQ’s one of the best programmed and best crafted radio stations in the US.

The LA Times reports that the pair will be inducted at the NAB conference on Tuesday.

 Brad March is a Director of Radio Today and a former Group Program Director and CEO of Austereo. He is Director of Marchmedia.