Don Barrett takes over as Register's radio columnist

Don Barrett is the longtime Southern California radio hand and author who has chronicled the trends and comings and goings in local radio at LARadio.com for 16 years. He writes in his first column for the Orange County Register that the paper approached him to take over for Gary Lycan, the columnist who died earlier this month. From Barrett's opener:

For the past 2,000 weeks, radio news has been dispensed to Orange County Register readers by Gary Lycan. Week in and week out, the Register has been the only consistent publication to cover news of the radio world. Earlier this month, radio's biggest ambassador passed away. Today there is a new byline.

The Register reached out to me to take over the radio column. I am humbled to be Gary's successor. For years Gary and I shared stories and resources, so it feels natural to expand my own efforts to Gary's home base, where it will be my honor to continue the work he began at the Register.

My weekly goal will be to make the transition as seamless as possible, taking you behind the scenes and behind the radio dial, providing news about your favorite personalities and stations. As a graduate of Chapman College (now University), I can promise there'll always be an O.C. flavor.

The full column is behind the new paywall that the Register implemented recently. There is a seven-day free trial if you must read something on the website and don't live in Orange County or don't otherwise want to subscribe. Hat tip on the Barrett news to Fishbowl LA.