L-A Radio: KROQ's Kevin&Bean Inducted Into Radio HOF

Kevin & Bean with NAB President Gordon Smith

The long-running morning-show team composed of Kevin Ryder and Gene "Bean" Baxter didn't even know there was such a thing as a Hall of Fame for radio personalities — until they got a call a couple of months ago letting them know they were being inducted during the National Assn. of Broadcasters' annual convention in Las Vegas on Tuesday.

When station director Kevin Weatherly of KROQ 106.7 FM recently told them to report to his office at 10 a.m., "we thought maybe he was going to give us a check and say, 'Thanks, it's been nice,' " Baxter told The LA Times, speaking of their 25-year run at the station that helped rewrite a lot of the rules of radio when it emerged as an L.A. powerhouse in the 1980s.

"The 'Kevin & Bean Show' is a true radio success story," NAB exec John David said. "The morning show has made a huge impact on Los Angeles with its mix of music, entertainment and humor."

They were hired by KROQ in November 1989 during the ascendancy of the "Mark & Brian" morning show at crosstown rival KLO 95.5 FM, and Ryder notes that initially the station's ratings dropped noticeably. They immediately started getting hate mail from KROQ music fans who weren't accustomed to — or particularly interested in — being bombarded with talkative radio personalities in the morning.

"That's when we decided to embrace the hatred," Ryder said. "We started reading the letters on the air," a move that started to endear them to listeners as underdogs in the morning radio wars.

Still, it took about a year before the station's ratings edged back up. Through the '90s their show gradually moved into the Top 10, where it has remained for most of their ride.

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Guys, we survived our day wearing suits! This honor does not happen without your support. Thank you @KROQ fans! https://t.co/F37wOw3dIj
— KROQ's Bean (@clydetombaugh) April 14, 2015