Las Vegas Weekly

December 31, 2008 · 11:41 AM

Mitchell’s Breakfast With the Beatles headed for “The Q”

By John Katsilometes

Talk about going retro: The Beatles are back on AM radio.

Dennis Mitchell, one of the good guys in Las Vegas media, announced this morning that as of Saturday at 10 a.m. his long-running syndicated show Breakfast With the Beatles will air on KMZQ AM-670, “The Q.” As Mitchell says, it’s the “newest and most fun radio station in the city.” BWTB will be “The Q’s” first syndicated program, and Mitchell’s show (which debuted locally 18 years ago) now airs on 47 stations nationwide.

But AM? True, the original early Beatles singles and albums were recorded in mono for AM distribution. But today, AM is largely home to the endless droning of political commentary programs, sports punditry, Latin dance music and static. I once had a radio-industry veteran tell me that most teenagers today don’t even know AM exists. Yet Mitchell says he made the move from NPR affiliate KUNV 91.5-FM, the show's home for the past three years, because, “The switch to a commercial station allows me to pursue promotional opportunities that I couldn’t before, because of KUNV’s non-profit status.” He praised the folks at KUNV, saying, “The management of KUNV was characteristically understanding, professional and supportive.” (Disclosure: I am affiliated with those understanding, professional, supportive and dare I add unfailingly comedic folks at KUNV as host of Our Metropolis.)

The move also sends BWTB into the Phoenix market, as KMZQ is simulcast in that area. “The Q” replays the show at 5 p.m. Sundays, and as always, you can still catch the show in stereo on beatlesradioshow.com. Just a hunch, but I am thinking that the show’s future in Vegas, long-term, will be on FM. The way God intended it.

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