Madeleine Brand, who quit KPCC Sept. 21, told Current that “outside offers just became too attractive” for her to remain at the Pasadena station.
Her hourlong morning Madeleine Brand show, which premiered on KPCC in September 2010, morphed last month into Brand & Martinez, when former ESPN sportscaster A Martinez signed on as co-host. The show also grew into a two-hour program for national distribution and will include a mix of segments intended to appeal to minority audiences.
Madeleine Brand (Photo: KPCC)
The changes were backed by a $1.8 million CPB grant to Southern California Public Radio in December 2011 as part of the One Nation Media Project, bolstering reporting and programming for and about Latinos and other people of color in the diverse Los Angeles area.
“I am totally in favor of those goals,” Brand said. “I think it’s a great idea to increase minority audiences that are not being served by public radio. Two thumbs up for that. It’s great to have resources to make the show more appealing to more people.”
Brand said she remains proud of the program; she cites a 2.6 ratings share for the last three months, topping the station’s numbers for Morning Edition and All Things Considered. During its run, The Madeleine Brand Show won awards for reporting, writing, features and use of sound, including the 2012 Golden Mike award for best news and public affairs program from the Radio & Television News Association of Southern California.
“The station gave us absolute freedom to do what we wanted to do,” Brand said. “They let me create what I wanted to, and it worked. And we had a staff that worked well together.”
Brand declined to discuss specifics of her next gig, but did say it will be in Los Angeles, her hometown. “I’m going to be doing stuff I’ve never done before,” she said. “I’m excited to try new things.”
Replacing her on KPCC is Alex Cohen, the station’s local anchor for All Things Considered and Marketplace. KPCC has yet to officially announce the new name of the show, which is currently known as Alex Cohen & A Martinez.
The Brand & Martinez revamp isn’t CPB’s first effort to reach more Latinos in Los Angeles with public media. In 2006, CPB funded SCPR research into creating a Latino-focused service. The broadcaster then competed with Radio Bilingüe, a Spanish-language service based in Fresno, for CPB’s backing in developing the service.
The two broadcasters attempted to negotiate a partnership, but SCPR withdrew. Radio Bilingüe went on to start L.A. Public Media, but the web-based service folded after two years when the broadcaster was unable to get onto an FM signal in Los Angeles.
Read the inside story on Brand’s departure, from the Oct. 9 issue of Current.
THIS IS THE BEST NEWS I’VE HAD ALL WEEK!!!! Can’t wait to find out where Madeleine lands.
100% agree.
how about AA for the new KPPC show, since that’s where I’ll end up after this anyway
I am looking forward to Madeleine’s next project, though I will miss her in the mornings. She doesn’t just INTERVIEW, she ENGAGES. She’s also got a BRIGHT PERSONALITY, which seems lacking from the majority of the KPCC hosts.
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I hope Madeleine is able to grab some of her regulars to come with her wherever she lands! Her show had a great mix of news, politics and film!!
I will totally miss you on KPCC Madeleine. You are so cheery, insightful and fun.
Technically speaking, as a Caucasian living in the state of California, I am a minority, if minority is based on size of population. Not nationally, of course, but in California. So can we have Madeleine back?
Better opportunities, that was the pull. Maybe this link (below) explains the push? Hint: jock-talk radio, steroids are great, get buff and wow the chicks, etc.
http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=6771655
Goodbye and good ridddance. Disliked Day to Day and only tolerated the “I’m so hip and cutesy” MB Show. Anyone can read between the lines—- she didn’t like the addition of A. Martinez and the new direction of the show.
I couldn’t agree more. Listening to the MB Show was pure torture. I’m happier with Alex Cohen and A Martinez.
You’re both unnecessarily unkind–reevaluate your tone. You’re also absolutely wrong. Madeleine Brand was the best radio host I’ve found in that format and will be happy when she’s back on the air.
I wish her well, but I can’t say I was a fan. Honestly, I don’t think the content of the Madeline Brand Show was of the same quality as the rest of KPCC. The interviews weren’t as informative as shows like The Pat Morrison Show or Air Talk, and the news segments lacked depth and, occasionally, balance. That said, I think she would make a good anchor on a show where she had less control because she does have a way of making guests comfortable.
I must say I’ve really been enjoying Cohen and Martinez this week.
I will miss Madileine. My morning drive is not the same. I look forward to seeing what her new project will be and wish her well.
I really liked the MB Show. It was a nice departure from the more serious programming. When A was added, I felt that I was being pandered to, so it did not feel genuine. It would have been better to give him his own hour. In my opinion, Alex loves talking about herself way too much, so if I continue to tune in, it will be mostly for the other visiting cast (Sklar Bros, etc.). This change = less fun on KPCC.
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Madeline used to make my drive to work fun,will miss her,in the mean time am looking for alternative.
Sorry to see MB go. My morning commute isn’t the same. Alex and Abe don’t bring the same sensibility, I feel like Abe is not well informed when interviewing guests and often stumbles through the program. Alex is always good but her point of view and demeanor is always more serious and I miss the upbeat tone of MB and guests getting me through traffic.