If you’ve ever sat in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the 405, you know the sound. It’s that familiar crackle of AM airwaves, the rapid-fire delivery of a host losing their mind over a missed free throw, and the deep-seated connection to the boys in blue. 570 Los Angeles radio, known formally as KLAC, isn't just a frequency on the dial. It’s basically the heartbeat of the L.A. sports scene. While everyone keeps saying terrestrial radio is dying, KLAC just keeps leaning into its role as the official home of the Dodgers. Honestly, in a city where everything changes every five minutes, there’s something weirdly comforting about knowing exactly where to find the game.
It's 570 AM. Always has been.
The Identity Crisis That Finally Ended
For a long time, KLAC was a bit of a chameleon. It’s been through the ringer. It did the big band thing, it tried country, and it even flirted with a "Music of Your Life" format back in the day. But the real shift happened when it embraced the "AM 570 LA Sports" branding. That was the moment it stopped trying to be everything to everyone and decided to be the megaphone for the Dodgers, the Lakers (historically), and the Clippers.
They found their lane.
Today, the station operates under the iHeartMedia umbrella, but it feels more local than that corporate badge suggests. Much of that comes down to the personalities. You’ve got guys like Petros Papadakis and Money Smith—the "Petros and Money Show"—who basically redefined what sports talk sounds like in Southern California. It’s not just stats. It’s not just "who are we drafting?" It’s a chaotic, hilarious, and often deeply cynical look at life in Los Angeles, punctuated by some of the most insightful football analysis you'll hear anywhere. They’re the odd couple of the airwaves, and they’ve been the anchor of the station's afternoon drive for what feels like forever.
Why the Dodgers Partnership Changes Everything
Let's talk about the Blue Heaven on Earth. The relationship between the Dodgers and 570 Los Angeles radio is the bedrock of the station's survival. In 2026, where streaming rights are a mess and you need five different subscriptions to watch a game, the radio remains the one constant. It’s free. It’s there. And because the Dodgers actually own a stake in the station (via a partnership between iHeartMedia and the Guggenheim Baseball Management group), the access is unparalleled.
When you tune in, you aren't just getting a syndicated feed. You're getting Dodger Talk with David Vassegh. You’re getting the pre-game hype and the post-game vent sessions that last well into the night.
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Think about the 2024 World Series run. If you were listening to 570 during that stretch, you weren't just a consumer; you were part of a collective nervous breakdown and subsequent celebration. The station doesn't just broadcast the games; it curates the emotional experience of being a fan in this city. They have this way of making a Tuesday night game in June feel like it actually matters, mostly because they’ve built a community of callers who have been dialing in for decades.
The "Petros and Money" Factor
Most sports radio is boring. There, I said it.
Usually, it’s just some guy with a deep voice shouting about "grit" and "hustle." But the afternoon slot on 570 is different. Petros Papadakis is... a lot. He’s a former USC tailback who treats the English language like a playground. He’ll go from a nuanced breakdown of a defensive scheme to a ten-minute rant about a bad taco he had in Ventura. Matt "Money" Smith is the straight man, the pro’s pro who also happens to be the voice of the Chargers.
Their chemistry is the "secret sauce." They aren't afraid to criticize the teams the station actually broadcasts. That’s rare. Usually, if a station is the "official home" of a team, the hosts act like PR reps. Not these guys. If the Dodgers blow a lead because of a questionable bullpen move, Petros is going to scream about it. That honesty builds trust. Listeners know they aren't being sold a sanitized version of the truth.
Beyond the Baseball Diamond
While the Dodgers are the "North Star," 570 Los Angeles radio covers the full spectrum. You’ve got the Clippers, the Chargers, and UCLA Bruins sports. It’s a heavy lift. During the fall, the station becomes a whirlwind of activity. You might have a midday show breaking down the Lakers' latest drama, followed by a live Clippers broadcast, sandwiched between college football updates.
- The Clippers Connection: Even as the Clippers move into the Intuit Dome and carve out their own distinct identity away from the Lakers' shadow, KLAC remains a primary destination for their fans.
- NFL Sundays: With the Chargers, the station taps into that massive NFL market, providing the kind of localized coverage that national broadcasts simply can't match.
- The National Hookup: Because it’s an iHeart station, they also pull in Fox Sports Radio talent. This gives listeners a mix of that "big picture" national perspective and the hyper-local "what’s happening at Chavez Ravine" vibe.
Dealing With the Digital Shift
Is anyone actually still using a "radio"? Well, yeah, mostly in cars. But the station has been surprisingly smart about the digital pivot. They don't just exist on 570 AM. They are massive on the iHeartRadio app. They’ve turned their best segments into podcasts. They realized early on that "570" is a brand, not just a physical location on the electromagnetic spectrum.
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If you miss a David Vassegh interview with Shohei Ohtani, you don't have to wait for a replay. It’s on the app five minutes later. This hybrid model—live broadcast for the "in-the-moment" thrill and digital on-demand for the "I have a job and missed it" crowd—is why the station hasn't faded into obscurity like so many other AM outlets.
The Reality of AM Radio in 2026
We have to be honest: the AM band is facing a bit of an existential crisis. Electric vehicles (EVs) have famously struggled with AM interference, and some manufacturers tried to phase out the tuners entirely. But there’s been a massive pushback, not just from broadcasters, but from the government citing emergency alert concerns.
For a station like KLAC, this isn't just a technical hurdle; it’s a battle for relevance. They’ve countered this by leaning into the one thing the internet can’t easily replicate: immediacy. When there’s a massive trade or a coaching fire, 570 is live. They are taking calls. They are reacting in real-time. Twitter (or X) is great, but it’s a vacuum. Radio is a conversation.
What Most People Get Wrong About KLAC
A common misconception is that 570 is just "The Dodger Station." While they are the flagship, the scope is much wider. They often get pigeonholed because the Dodgers' shadow is so large in L.A. But if you listen during the NFL season or the height of NBA free agency, the conversation shifts dramatically.
Another myth? That it’s only for "old-timers." While the AM dial definitely skews older, the digital numbers tell a different story. Younger fans who grew up on podcasts find the "unfiltered" nature of shows like Petros and Money to be a breath of fresh air compared to the polished, corporate sheen of ESPN’s national TV broadcasts.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Listening
If you’re new to the area or just starting to tune in, don’t just leave it on as background noise. The station has a rhythm.
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- Morning Drive: This is where you get your fast-paced news and the overnight scores. It's the "digest" version of the sports world.
- Middays: This is for the deep dives. This is when the beat writers call in and give the "inside baseball" (sometimes literally) info on injuries and roster moves.
- Afternoon Drive (3 PM - 7 PM): This is the flagship time. Even if you aren't a huge sports fan, the entertainment value here is high. It’s the "water cooler" for the city.
- Post-Game: This is where the raw emotion lives. If the Dodgers lose a heartbreaker, the callers are legendary. It’s part therapy, part comedy.
Actionable Insights for the L.A. Sports Fan
To truly stay in the loop with the L.A. sports landscape, you need to treat 570 Los Angeles radio as a tool, not just a station.
First, download the iHeartRadio app. Don't rely on your car's tuner if you're living in an area with bad reception or if you're driving an EV that gets fuzzy near power lines. The digital stream is crystal clear and includes the same local ads and segments.
Second, follow their social feeds for the "clippings." The station producers are excellent at cutting the best 30 seconds of an interview and posting it to X or Instagram. It’s the fastest way to get the "news" without sitting through a commercial break.
Third, engage with the local shows. If you have a take, call in. L.A. radio thrives on the "regular" callers who become minor celebrities in their own right. It’s a way to feel connected to the city in a way that scrolling through a national sports site will never provide.
Ultimately, 570 AM is the soundtrack of the Los Angeles grind. It’s what keeps you company when the freeway is a parking lot. It’s the voice that tells you it’s okay to be frustrated with your team, and the first one to celebrate when they finally bring home a trophy. As long as people are stuck in traffic and as long as the Dodgers are playing at 1000 Vin Scully Ave, 570 isn't going anywhere.
Check the local broadcast schedule daily, especially during the crossover months of October and November when baseball, basketball, and football schedules collide. Being aware of the "Doubleheaders" and "Tripleheaders" will ensure you don't tune in for a talk show only to find a live game—or vice versa. Bookmark the station's official blog for David Vassegh's "Dodger Insider" posts, which often contain nuggets of information that don't always make it into the brief on-air segments.