L-A Radio: Former KIIS-FM GM Wally Clark Honored With Award

Wally Clark

Wally Clark, former general manager of KIIS 102.7 FM  and KPRZ (now KEIB 1150 AM) was honored with a Diamond Circle Award by the Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters on June 29, according to the LA Daily News.

The mild-mannered, highly respected Clark oversaw the operations during the record-setting ratings era of the 1980s, when KIIS attracted an audience share of over 10 in the Arbitron ratings — about double what the station earns now — and KIIS was the Top-40 trendsetter throughout the nation.

So popular was KIIS that the station was able to charge a full $2,000 per commercial for advertising time during prime hours while most other stations were charging about one-quarter of that amount.

Under Clark, KIIS became the highest revenue-producing station in the world. He was named Gannett’s top-10 manager, was recognized by Billboard as a Trendsetter of the Year, co-created “The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40,” and created the Satellite Comedy Network, which among other things supplies material for morning shows throughout the country.