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Don Barrett is hanging up his virtual microphone at LARadio.com. He confirmed on Friday what his fans and subscribers have been fearing. "This is the end of a 15 year journey," Barrett posted. "I get to do something most radio people aren’t able to do when their radio station run ends – say goodbye." Since 1996 he has followed the careers and life milestones of what seemed like thousands of radio people, both on-air talent and behind-the-scenes figures whose names were known only within the industry. RadioDailyNews.com quotes Barrett, himself a former station manager who launched the site to market a book he wrote on disc jockeys:
It’s a strange fraternity, the radio business. My journey was always dedicated to those who feel at peace in the solitude of an empty building with a cup of coffee as a friend..Thank you for accompanying me on my labor of love journey for the last 15 years. I wouldn’t have traded the experience for anything but it was time to go dark. Perhaps some young person will come along with equal passion for the radio business and find a way to capture the magic of LARadio. The industry needs a positive spotlight as it goes through the machinations of technological change.
He talks about his decision at AllAccess.com.