Charlie Tuna says goodbye on KBIG-FM

Longtime L.A. deejay Charlie Tuna bid listeners farewell as KBIG-FM (104.3) modified its format this morning, shifting and expanding its musical playlist in hopes of broadening its appeal among women in the 25-49 age range who, as Clear Channel executive Greg Ashlock put it, “have graduated from KIIS but are not ready for KOST yet.”

The station will operate without on-air personalities this week but expects to introduce a “decidedly different” lineup next week, Ashlock said, although Tuna was the only deejay he would confirm as leaving. Tuna (real name: Art Ferguson), who has bounced around local stations for 40 years, had been morning host there for the past seven years.

The station began calling itself “104.3 MY fm” and is playing a mix of contemporary adult hits by artists such as Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Kelly Clarkson, John Mayer, Shakira, Bon Jovi and Christina Aguilera.

In a posting on his website (charlietuna.com/news), Tuna said, “What I have been told is that Clear Channel wants to talk to me about the future with them and explore a number of new ideas they are still in the process of developing. As a result, I’m still maintaining my office, key card, parking space and coffee cup that I’ve had the past seven years at KBIG. I just won’t be on the air at KBIG anymore.”

lee.margulies@latimes.com