The classic-rock music format is back!
KSOS-FM has switched from oldies music to a format very similar to the old "Z93" style. The station made the change June 11.The main KSOS frequency is FM-106.9, but it also has three translators, found on the FM dial at 92.1 and 96.7 for parts of Salt Lake County and 98.3 for Utah County. KSOS-AM (800) has retained the 1960s oldies music format.
According to Dana Horner, station co-owner and manager, KSOS had been considering such a change for the past three months - even before KLZX dropped classic rock and became the country station KBUL. The KLZX format change prompted KSOS to move ahead.
"Utah's rockin' radio network" is the slogan for the new programming, which Horner said fills the gap between KBER (FM-101.1) and KRSP ("Arrow 103.5").
He said his station will be music intensive - so much so that he didn't even name any DJs. The KSOS approach will be laid-back, and it will be a "straight-ahead classic-rock station."
"I hope listeners find us," Horner said, explaining he wants to double the station's audience by retaining half of KSOS' former oldies audience and winning over 60 percent of KLZX's old audience.
"It's also been my favorite format," Horner said. "Classic rock is a real good format."
Although Horner was general manager at KKAT from 1990 to 1994, he also managed a rock station many years ago in Detroit.
Horner said he hasn't seriously talked to former KLZX DJs "Jon and Dan." (However, it sounds as if KSOS may be so music-intensive the DJs might not fit in with the format. Also, KSOS would likely be unable to pay the DJs the kind of money they're used to.)
- CRENSHAW COMING BACK - Mills Crenshaw is returning to talk radio.
After more than five months off the air, Crenshaw will be back on KTKK (alias "K-Talk," AM-630), Monday, June 26, doing a 7-10 a.m. weekday show.
Hank Hathaway, the previous morning-drive talk show host, will move to a new time starting Monday - 5-7 a.m.
KTKK is still finalizing the remainder of its weekday lineup.
Why is KTKK bringing Cren-shaw back?
"Mills has a very strong and loyal audience," said Starley Bush, KTKK general manager, explaining he's had more requests to bring Crenshaw back than to keep him off the air.
With so many loyal fans, Bush believes Crenshaw's presence will increase KTKK's strength in the local talk radio market.
What will Crenshaw's new show be like?
"I'll still be barbecuing sacred cows," Crenshaw promised.
He was previously on KCNR until January, when he was let go during a major station-lineup shuffle. Prior to that, Crenshaw was with KTKK, where he made his name a household word in talk radio.
Crenshaw said his show will cover a wide range of issues on current topics. Crenshaw also said he knows a morning drive show must be faster paced and lighter, as well as include news, weather and traffic. He'll fit those things in and will be looking to add a female co-host sometime in the future.
Bush said that despite rumors, Crenshaw has not seriously negotiated to purchase a portion of KTKK himself.
- KBUL (FM-93.3) had its new personality lineup in place on Tuesday, June 20, with "The Breakfast Flakes" - Ray Edwards, Gina Micciulla and Simone Seikaly - doing mornings 6-9.
Edwards formerly worked for WOKI in Knoxville, Tenn., while Micciulla previously was on the air at "US-99" in Chicago and worked in Phoenix radio prior to that. Seikaly, the news anchor, previously worked for sister station KCNR.
The traffic reporter on KBUL is "Super Dave," alias Dave Candland of Aerotraffic.
The remainder of the weekday lineup on KBUL is: Randy Rose, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; John O'Rourke, 1-3 p.m.; Travis Moon, 3-7 p.m.; Pat Garret ("The Outlaw"), 7 p.m.-midnight; and Dave Evans, overnights.
KBUL is planning a big billboard and media-advertising campaign, beginning later this month.
- KSL (AM-1160) - Talk-show host Bob Lee hit the big time on June 12, when he was featured in Time magazine.
- KSL has been nominated a second time for a "Legendary Station of the Year" award by the National Association of Broadcasters.
- The station's news department recently received a first-place award for a radio promotion spot from Promotion and Marketing Executives in Electronic Media. The honor was for an African Photo Safari contest spot, produced by Penny Goodwin and Creative Services.
- KCNR (AM-1320) - The marriage between station talk-show hosts Todd Herman and Rick Taylor is apparently for real.
According to Taylor, this same-sex marriage will likely happen on the air during the noon hour of a Friday in early July. The DJs have a minister lined up, even though same sex marriages are illegal in Utah.
Taylor stressed this marriage is no joke and that the two have known each other for a long time.
He also said the marriage has the full support of the radio station's management.
Herman is the morning host on KCNR and Taylor does after-noons.
- 10 YEARS AGO - KCPX-FM was planning the largest fireworks display ever in Utah for the Fourth of July in Rice Stadium. KUTR was planning to start up July 1 with an LDS music format. Utah talk-show host Jim Dabakis was spending two months in the Soviet Union on a "working vacation."
- RADIO HAPPENINGS - "Dain and Peggy" on KSFI were on vacation earlier this week. Jim Strickland and Tammy Kikuchi filled in for them. The station is giving away a trip for four to San Diego this month . . . "Ray and Gina," the new morning DJs on KBUL, did a "Phone Olympics" Tuesday; they wanted to hear the sound of listeners diving into a swimming pool . . .
"Fisher, Todd and Fraser" on KISN-FM had another "Battle of the Sexes" Tuesday. The day's contest ended up in a tie, with neither contestant being able to answer any of the questions. That meant females lead the series by one game. The DJs also asked listeners about urban folktales they've heard. They gave away a hot tub for the weekend as a prize in a romantic tale contest . . .
"Mick and Allen" on KBER gave away tickets to the KISS convention to listeners this week. On Tuesday, they tried to get a couple to come in and kiss steadily until the end of the show in order to win tickets. On Wednesday, the DJs had a telephone interview with actor Robert Conrad and had Camille for their win-a-date contest . . . Todd Herman, morning host on KCNR, proclaimed Tuesday that he had a solution to today's prevalent abortion and adoption problems. On Wednesday, he asked truck drivers about the most shocking things they have ever seen on the road . . .
"Kidd Cassidy and the Mornin' Posse" on KKAT had a live interview with country star Marty Stewart from Nashville on Tuesday. The DJs also asked listeners about what topic they think the "Oprah" show should discuss, and Kidd gave pregnant listeners predictions on what sex their child will be by using his Chinese birth chart. On Wednesday he asked listeners about their worst dates ever . . .
KSL will give away tickets to its July 1 "Stadium of Fire" production next week. On June 26 it will be "Blue Chip Card" day at Provo's Seven Peaks Resort. Show your card after 5 p.m. and a family of five will be admitted for $25. Doug Wright, host of the "Movie Show," did his program live June 23 from the Heber Valley Historical Railroad and talked with Curtis Briggs, who helped make "Into the Paradise" . . .
Charlee Simons and sidekick "Dan the Vacuum Man" of KZHT did live broadcasts last week from downtown for the Winter Olympics bid. A local TV station kicked the DJs off their broadcast site, but they moved and still managed to stay on the air . . .
"Cano and McCormick" on KUTQ had another top 10 list Wednesday, this one ranking "other" KSL-TV people . . . "Bill and Kerry" on KXRK did an "X-Poll" Wednesday on possible Utah mascots for the 2002 Winter Olympics. Bill also reminisced about trying to be on the old "Romper Room Show" when he was a kid . . . Len Allen and Arnie Wheeler on KLO discussed the latest TV ratings Wednesday . . .
Tom Barberi on KALL Wednesday once again pointed out what he called a weakness of the State Liquor Commission in having only one member who drinks . . . Kelly Monson on KUMT gave away tickets to a Francine Reed concert . . . Wednesday was Western Night for KSOP at the Salt Lake Buzz game . . .
KODJ awarded Sundance Summer Theater tickets to lucky listeners Wednesday . . . "The Wakeup Club" on KBEE sent its producer, Judd, to Bally's Spa one day this week to try to get people working out to eat a doughnut. He got a dozen people to eat the junk food. The station also premiered the new "Pocahontas" movie in Utah County this week.