Southern California radio station KCAL-FM 96.7 has shifted to an all-music format. The Redlands-based classic rock station began broadcasting a continuous playlist on Saturday, August 1, under the banner of All Music, All the Time. Anaheim Broadcasting Corporation, which owns the station, stated that the change provides a more focused listening experience for the Inland Empire audience by reducing interruptions throughout the day.
While the company describes this as a move toward a consistent classic rock experience, the transition came at a cost to the existing workforce. Multiple on-air hosts confirmed that every staff member at the station received notice of layoff on Friday morning. The station is moving to an automated format that removes live human hosts from the daily rotation entirely.
Veteran hosts shared their departures on social media following the announcement. Daryl Norsell, who spent 42 years at the station and 36 years as the afternoon host, noted his long history with the listeners. He started his career at age 18 and spent his entire adult life with the station. Morning host Patrick Tish also confirmed his departure after a 15-year tenure.
Evening host John DeSantis described the shift as a move to a human-less format. While the station management emphasized the importance of their rock heritage, the layoffs signal a significant departure from the local personalities who defined the station for decades. Anaheim Broadcasting Corporation has not provided additional comment regarding the decision to automate the broadcasts or the termination of the entire on-air team.