K-Car's Launch at 1260 AM Disrupted by Technical Glitches and Format Swings
Saul Levine's new oldies station in Pasadena has cycled through classical and holiday music since its October 30 debut.
By Fatou Kim ·
The launch of a new oldies radio station in Pasadena has been marked by inconsistent audio output since the format changed on October 30. Saul Levine renamed KMZT (1260 AM) to KKAR, branding it as K-Car. The station's new lineup features records from 1955 through soft tunes from the 1970s. The transition was originally accompanied by fanfare, but the first week of operation has been characterized by instability.
Listeners in Southern California have encountered a station that shifts genres without warning. Since the rebrand, the broadcast has alternated between the intended oldies format, classical music, and Christmas playlists. At the time of reporting on November 9, the signal was again carrying classical music after playing oldies earlier in the day. The station was also off the air for a period during this initial week.
Levine attributed the recent instability to technical problems at the facility. He specifically noted vandalism at the transmitter site. While the on-air signal fluctuates, the digital stream for KKAR remains stable and accessible through live365.com. The online feed continues to provide the K-Car programming despite the issues affecting the AM broadcast.
The station's team has been difficult to reach during this period. Attempts to contact the staff by telephone and email have not yielded a response. This is a departure from their usual communication style, which is typically prompt. Once the situation is clarified, the station plans to update the public on the status of the broadcast.
The turbulence at 1260 AM coincides with other developments in the local radio market. Brian Beirne, a former host on KRTH (101.1 FM), recently released a memoir titled "Eleven Down from Elvis." The book details his six decades in the industry and his interactions with more than 300 artists. Beirne, known as Mr. Rock and Roll, includes stories about his early life and his career in radio.
In the book, Beirne recounts a childhood incident where doctors told his parents he had 48 hours to live due to a heart condition. He survived to build a career that included working with figures like Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and Ray Charles. The book's title references the position of his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame relative to Elvis Presley's star.
Meanwhile, listeners in the region are waiting for the shift to holiday music on other stations. KOST (103.5 FM) is currently playing soft hits, with a format change expected around 8 a.m. on November 13. This timing aligns with the station's schedule from the previous year. Until that switch occurs, alternative sources for holiday programming are available.
Some listeners are turning to digital streams for festive music. KKGO's 105.1 FM sent holiday content to an HD3 stream, which remains available online. KMEE (92.1 FM) in Palm Springs began playing holiday music on Election Day. The Relevant Radio app, owned by KHJ (930 AM), also offers two dedicated Christmas streams for download on major app stores.
These options provide immediate access to holiday playlists for those who do not wish to wait for the scheduled changes on commercial FM dial. The availability of these streams ensures that holiday music remains accessible across the Southern California region despite the delays on the traditional radio dial.
