Tuned In Talk: From Free-Form FM to Streaming Radio — 50 Years Behind the Music

Presented by Ron Nenni
Saturday, March 20, 2027 | 1:30–2:30 PM — Meet and greet starts at 1:00 PM
California Historical Radio Society – Radio Central

Join the California Historical Radio Society for a fascinating journey through five decades of radio and music programming with Ron Nenni, a broadcasting veteran whose career spans the golden age of progressive FM rock radio to the rise of digital streaming and personalized music.

From the days when DJs had the freedom to discover and introduce new music to an era when algorithms help determine what millions of listeners hear, radio has undergone a remarkable transformation. Ron has experienced that evolution firsthand, working at some of America’s most influential radio stations and helping shape music programming at major streaming platforms, including SiriusXM, Pandora, and AOL Radio.

In this engaging presentation, Ron will share stories and insights from his 50-year career, including his time at legendary rock stations such as KOME in San Jose and LIVE 105 in San Francisco, as well as his transition from traditional broadcasting to the rapidly evolving world of internet radio.

Along the way, he’ll explore how music discovery, audience tastes, programming philosophies, and technology have changed—and what has remained constant in the relationship between radio, music, and listeners.

Topics will include:

• The rise of progressive and free-form FM rock radio
• The role of DJs and program directors in shaping musical tastes
• Behind-the-scenes stories from legendary stations including KOME and LIVE 105
• The transition from terrestrial broadcasting to internet and streaming radio
• How music programming evolved from human curation to personalized algorithms
• The changing relationship between radio stations, artists, and audiences
• Reflections on 50 years of radio and the future of music discovery

Whether you grew up listening to free-form FM, remember the heyday of Bay Area rock radio, or are curious about how today’s streaming services select your music, this presentation offers a rare opportunity to hear from someone who helped shape both worlds.

About Ron Nenni

Ron Nenni formerly served as Senior Director of Music Programming at SiriusXM and Pandora and Executive Director of Radio Programming at AOL Radio. Over his 50-year career, he held programming positions at radio stations across the country, including the legendary KOME in San Jose, where he achieved the highest ratings in the station’s history, and LIVE 105 in San Francisco, where he served as Operations Manager.

Before moving west, Ron was Music Director and nighttime DJ at WDVE in Pittsburgh, WPYX in Albany, and WPDH in Poughkeepsie, New York, where his broadcasting career began. He recently returned to WPDH as a guest DJ for the station’s 50th anniversary celebration, revisiting its progressive free-form roots.

Growing up in New York’s Hudson Valley, Ron was inspired by the Top 40 sounds of WABC and WMCA and the groundbreaking progressive rock programming of WNEW-FM. Those early influences helped launch a career that would take him from traditional radio studios to the forefront of digital music programming.

Register

Tickets are $10 for non-members and free for CHRS members. Please select and check out based on your membership status. There will be no physical tickets to the event.