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Yahoo!On the 99.99 FM radio station Friday morning, the usually laughter-filled KTYD Early Show was overcome with tears. After 10 years of hard work in bringing the program to the top of the charts, the show’s main man Matt McAllister was signing off and moving up the media-market ladder to Phoenix’s KNIX. For four-plus hours, fans called in and emailed their words of thanks and heartfelt goodbyes in a genuine emotional display that, on any other morning, McAllister and his cohorts Hayseed and Julie Ramos would have poked fun at. (See an Independent cover story on the crew here.) He starts at his new station on Monday, January 7.
“It’s been a great run,” said McAllister later that afternoon over the phone. “I really owe a lot to this community, which has been awesome to me and my family.”
Paul Wellman
Anyone who’s tracked McAllister’s skyrocketing career trajectory — the Early Show has long reigned atop the morning slot in Santa Barbara and McAllister was even on the Late Show with David Letterman doing a T-shirt stunt last year — could see a move like this coming. In radio and television broadcasting, the money follows the market share, and so do the most popular deejays. Santa Barbara’s market size is rated in the 200s, so McAllister had plenty of room to grow.
“My wife and I always kinda figured that this day would come,” he said. “We were so lucky to get 10 years here. Everything else that’s come along I pretty much have said no to—it wasn’t great enough to pull us away.”
Paul Wellman
Julie Ramos
But with Phoenix being an impressive 16th in market size, it was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. “I don’t want this to sound like an insult,” said McAllister, “but when you look at market size, [Santa Barbara radio] is like pitching in the minor leagues. And yea, it’s the best city in the minor leagues, but finally, when the Yankees call, you don’t say, ‘No.’”
McAllister says that he wasn’t looking for a new job, but that in the same week, stations from both San Francisco and Phoenix called. Phoenix’s KNIX seemed like the best fit, albeit the music format is country and not the classic rock of KTYD.
“I never thought I would work for a country station,” admitted McAllister, “but country today is a lot different than it used to be, like when I grew up listening to country with Billy Bob in the morning. It’s mainstream music now, especially there. They don’t want a redneck morning show. They don’t want an old country bumpkin morning show. They want a contemporary, hip show.” Though he admits reluctantly, “We won’t be talking about Led Zeppelin as much.”
According to McAllister, KNIX came looking when the station’s longtime morning show deejays couldn’t come to a contract agreement. “It left a really big opening on a really big radio show,” said McAllister, and from there, “things moved pretty fast.” Since his new partner was scheduled to start on Monday, January 7, McAllister figured it would be best to start the new show together.
Most Santa Barbarans found out about the news over the holidays via their Google News search engines, or through Edhat.com, which aggregates such news stories related to Santa Barbara. Those sites picked up a story from Phoenix’s Valley PR Blog, which broke the news on December 27 when the hiring was announced.
Paul Wellman
Hayseed
So what’s going to happen with the KTYD Early Show? “Julie and Hayseed are going to spread their wings for awhile,” said McAllister. “Whether they bring in another person as the leader remains to be seen. It depends on how they do and whether they get comfortable as hosts rather than sidekicks. They’re excited to try it, and I’m excited to see what they do.”
As for producer Joe Wallace, McAllister is trying to bring him along to Phoenix. “My producer Joe is hopefully coming with me,” he said. “They need a producer for the show, and he’s right on top of their list. He’s interviewing next week, so hopefully they pick him. I have a very good feeling about him getting that job.”
Paul Wellman
Joe Wallace
As for his relations with his former employer KTYD, McAllister said that they’ve had their ups and downs over the years, but they are separating on good terms. “Honestly, I could have given more notice,” he admitted. “I wanted to give them a month, so I kinda short-sighted them. But they were very gracious about that, very supportive.” So much so, he said, that they even let him out of his contract early.
And keeping things copasetic is rather important to McAllister because, as he explained, “Santa Barbara is always a place you want to leave open in case you want to come back.”
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Good riddance you sellout. Mr. Santa Barbara, HA! It would be one thing if your were trading this all in for a better quality of life for your family, but Phoenix? And your justification that Country is somehow okay now; you should just drop the radio and go straight into politics. Your arrogance won't be missed, especially now knowing that all of it was just hot air.
As for leaving the show in Hayseed's hands, well your competitor's must be drooling.
rdldog (anonymous profile)
January 5, 2008 at 10:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
its a little too late, talk about water under the bridge, I am lettin' go while I am still strong enough to.its got a little too sad, it was a lttle too good. I am big time over you baby Adios!
ala Toby Keith
paperorplastic (anonymous profile)
January 5, 2008 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What are you, bitter because you weren't Caller Number Twelve? Let the first comment above stand as proof of how rare it is to find someone who can charm and engage an audience, rather than repel and and irritate us. Matt McAllister is a consummate and compassionate professional who served both local listeners and countless nonprofits for a decade. He'll be missed by thousands, including me. Best of luck in the big leagues, Matt.
Starshine (anonymous profile)
January 5, 2008 at 3:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Matt, you're making the move that's right for you - you don't owe this community a thing. You'll be missed but we'll get over it. We do expect to hear the occasional guest spot on The Early. Good luck.
(PHOENIX????)
vwalton (anonymous profile)
January 7, 2008 at 7:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
rdldog, you bitter bastard--who are you? Why would you take the time to even write such a nasty, say-nothing comment? Would it have made any difference to you if Matt were leaving for, say, Hawaii? I had the privilege of working with Matt for two years, and I can't begin to imagine how much he will be missed by this community. Not just by his actual friends, who know and love him, but by the thousands of locals he entertained every single day, as well as the countless organizations he supported. I can see why you're bitter, but perhaps if you looked really hard you could find a more constructive outlet for it. Just a thought.
Jenna (anonymous profile)
January 7, 2008 at 7:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Congradulations Matt!! Market 196 is too small for you! I hope Phoenix works out for you and your family. Personally I would have taken the gig in SF but Phoenix is probably more family friendly. Good luck!
Golgo13 (anonymous profile)
January 8, 2008 at 9:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks Jenna & Starshine for putting this idiot in his place.
The first time I listened to Matt he was about to get suspended. I don't remember why, but they were talking about something the management was against. He was talking with Mike and Taylor on air, and then suddenly it would be silent, and I could tell he hit the kill button. I thought it was so cool to hear someone break the rules, and take on their manager. The following Monday he was indeed off the air, and I was a loyal listener.
Sometime later I met him at one of the Soho patio parties, and yes, I developed a little mancrush on him. How could you not like the guy? Tall, handsome, great voice, (like Jenna) and I felt like he gave me his undivided attention in the few conversations we had.
I still have my photo of the 6,000 people at La Playa stadium. Was that a great day? I'll think of Matt the same way I think of Pasqual's and Jimmy's. There all gone, but those were some great years.
lowerwestie (anonymous profile)
January 8, 2008 at 12:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The real reason some people hate Matt is because they are jealous that he can put on more T-shirts than them. It's just their insecurity coming to the fore.
billclausen (anonymous profile)
January 9, 2008 at 2:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sheesh~ I leave town for 10 days and come home to No More Matt! How bittersweet...sad for us who loved the 3-way Early Show banter, and yet of course, thrilled for Matt who is doing what he needs to do for himself, his family, and their future. ( I did inwardly groan about the Country format, I must admit!)
I join the myriads who will miss you...disregard any mean-spirited comments, please. Any of us would no doubt do exactly the same as you, given the opportunity! Good Luck, Matt~ and Joe too, if you also stay in Phoenix.
Chenheart (anonymous profile)
January 9, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why do radio stations feel the need for morning talk shows? How about music and traffic updates? I haven't listened to KTYD in the morning for years. The show wasn't funny and it was painful listening to Julie read the news and stumble over words and have no sense of delivery. More music, less talk. Good luck in Phoenix.
Carpreader (anonymous profile)
January 9, 2008 at 10:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Matty,
I wish you the best. It is hard to shake SB. After ten years of working as a reporter in SB, I have been gone ten months and still miss it everyday. But I don't miss being in minor leagues...or paying rent.
Congrats.
MC (anonymous profile)
January 10, 2008 at 4:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Matt:
My wife and I are sure going to miss waking up to your wit and intellect that has made the Early Show a hit over the past ten years. Life is full of tough career decisions, but in the end one must consider what is in their own best interests and that of their family.
I recall a few years ago, I was picked by Hayseed in a KTYD drawing for a round of golf at Rancho, and had the pleasure of playing in your foursome. It was a great afternoon of golf and laughter in spite of you winning all the money on the par 3’s. On this day, I learned that we both shared another passion, that of surfing. I am sure that you aware that it will be a long commute between Phoenix and Rincon.
Santa Barbara has not only lost a big-time radio host, but one who really cared about this community. Your ongoing volunteerism and generosity were second to none. Donating your prized classic Ford Mustang to raise money for Child Abuse Listening & Mediation (“CALM”) comes to mind as one of your generous undertakings. I wish you the best of luck at your new position. Who knows, maybe we will run into each other again someday at Rancho or at Rincon. Kent
SURFRINCON (anonymous profile)
January 10, 2008 at 7:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Way to go, Matt! It's refreshing to see people with talent get rewarded for their talent. Good luck in Phoenix. But, please NO Diamond Rio for God's sake! And a little Johnny Cash or Dwight Yokum once in a while would be nice, too. As for that first comment, it saddened me greatly. Why can't people just be happy when good people do well? I just don't get it. :(
-M-
Mark_Hilands (anonymous profile)
June 12, 2008 at 7:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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