Legendary classic rock station KCAL 96.7 has laid off its entire on-air staff as it prepares to switch to a fully automated, music-only format. The changes will take effect on August 1, according to parent company Anaheim Broadcasting Corporation.
Chief Operating Officer Kelly Sanders stated that the move to a DJ-less format will result in fewer interruptions and more continuous classic rock music. "KCAL has a longstanding history in the Inland Empire, and this next chapter builds on the station’s strong rock heritage," Sanders said in a news release, as reported by the Orange County Register. "We rebuilt KCAL around the music our listeners grew up on, the songs and the artists that made classic rock, and we built it right here at home."
The station aims to provide a consistent listening experience with broader appeal for both its audience and advertising partners.
This decision impacts over a dozen on-air personalities, including veteran DJ Daryl Norsell, who had been with KCAL for 42 years. Norsell expressed his shock on social media, noting that the entire air staff, including weekend and fill-in DJs, was let go. "After an amazing 42 year run with the station, the last 36 in the Afternoon show, I can’t be anything but grateful," Norsell wrote.
Other affected personalities include John DeSantis, Nikki Preston, Patrick Tish, Syeda Jafri, Jeremiah Paul, and Rogelio Orozco, among others. DeSantis described the layoffs as "shocking" and stated he had much to process but thanked listeners for allowing him to be part of the KCAL family. Jafri, who worked as a weekend and fill-in DJ for 20 years, acknowledged that "even radio has a shelf life."