Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

Arts & Entertainment

Ousted KLOS DJ Jim Ladd, Denied Farewell Show, Will Say Goodbye on KFI

record-player-needle-close.jpg
Photo by hurricane via Shutterstock

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

When news of veteran radio personality Jim Ladd losing his gig at KLOS broke, foremost from Ladd himself was that he didn't get to say goodbye. "My disappointment is I didn't have a farewell show," he told the OC Register.Ladd, among over a dozen people terminated at KLOS/95.5 FM and KABC/790 AM on October 25, was known as the "the last free-form rock DJ in America," and had been at L.A.'s venerable hard rock station for 14 years, after having worked there twice previously, as well. Ladd was one of the only commercial radio DJs who selected his own playlist, and often took requests from his loyal listeners.

Denied a "farewell" broadcast, there is some upbeat news for Ladd fans today: He will grace the airwaves Saturday from 4-7 p.m. on KFI, having been offered by the station manager to do the "goodbye" show he was not able to do at KLOS.

Trivia: Ladd was the inspiration for the 2002 album and title track The Last DJ by Tom Petty.

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.

If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today