This was one of those "biggie" weeks in Wasatch Front radio. Changes took place at three stations. What's so unusual? The changes took place before the release of the latest Arbitron ratings, which is set for today.
The KBER (FM-101.1) fired its morning team and program director, KQMB (alias "Star" 102.7) started using live programming and KTKK (alias "K-Talk," AM-630) made some lineup changes, too.Here's a summary of the changes:
- The KBER morning "Freak Show" (Allen Handy and Mick Martin) lost their jobs April 22, only two hours after the station's new managing company, Citadel Broadcasting, took over.
New station manager Scott Mahalick (also manager of KBEE, KUBL, KAPN and KCNR) said technically Radiowest, the previous KBER operator, fired the morning disc jockeys, and Citadel simply elected not to rehire them.
"Their type of blue, bathroom humor is not the direction we want to go," Mahalick said. "It's too blue for Salt Lake."
While there is no argument Mick and Allen were the most risque DJs on the air, they also had some of the market's most lively interviews, and they were the top-ranked morning show for young adult males and sixth overall among listeners ages 12 and up.
"Granted it (the Freak Show) was No. 1, but it has limited appeal," Mahalick said of the show.
Mahalick said the ratings had nothing to do with the dismissals. He said it simply involves the image of the station and its ability to attract good advertisers.
("Jon and Dan" of Citadel sister station KUBL aren't "G-rated," either, and have been known to be quite blue themselves at times.)
He said all-in-all, counting the sales staff, Citadel probably kept 95 percent of the KBER staff.
Former KBER Freak Show producer Nick Skinner also lost his job but was invited to work weekends for the revised KBER.
Skinner believes the show's high ratings prove that's what many listeners - particularly young adult males - want. He also thought the firings were handled poorly.
Handy was disappointed and surprised by the show's cancellation. He said the show wasn't just blue, it had a wide range of entertainment. He also agrees if he and Mick would have been asked to tone the show down, they probably could have.
Handy and Martin were teamed up in August of 1994; Handy had also been at the station much longer with a different co-host.
Kevin Lewis, KBER program director, also lost his job and has been replaced by Randy Rose.
Alan Bain, only original employee since KBER was founded more than 10 years ago, is keeping his midday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. show.
Evan Lake, formerly of "The Mountain," will handle the 3-7 p.m. shift.
"We're looking at staying with an active rock format," Lake said, indicating that rumors KBER will modify its format to challenge KRSP (FM-103.5) are unfounded.
Mahalick hopes to have a new morning team in place by May 1, and is using Citadel vacation fill-in DJs until that happens.
Citadel will manage KBER in a special marketing agreement until it has FCC approval to purchase the station.
- Over at Utah's newest FM frequency, FM-102.7, KQMB began using live programming late last week for all hours of the day.
Kevin McCormick, formerly KUTQ morning host, is now doing the morning "Star" from 6-10; Brandon Young, formerly of KISN-FM, does middays (10 a.m.-3 p.m.); and Brian Fox, formerly of KUTQ, does the 3-7 p.m. shift.
The station is also sounding a little hotter, with less of yesterday's hits and more top 40 music from before rap music came along.
"Nonstop hit music" is the station's new slogan.
This less rock-music edge should appeal more to the station's core audience, females, 18-40.
Simmons Family Broadcasting, operator of KQMB and other stations, recently hired Randy Rodgers to be the sales manager for that station and sister station KRSP. Rogers was formerly the general manager of KISN-AM and KISN-FM.
At KTKK, the station made some lineup changes. Mills Crenshaw quit - apparently for good - over a cut in pay.
The station's revised schedule is: Mike Steele, 5-7 a.m.; Randy Moore (filling Crenshaw's slot) 7-10 a.m.; Hank Hathaway and Joe Redburn, 10 a.m.-noon; the Chuck Harder Show, noon-2 p.m.; the S.P. Romney Show, 2-4 p.m.; Bob Lesh, 4-7 p.m.; the Michael Reagan network show, 7-10 p.m.; the Lowell Ponte network show, 10 p.m.-midnight.
- KUBL (alias "K-Bull," FM-93.3) - Last week, "Jon and Dan" drove a military tank through the wall of the old Bennett Paint building to begin its demolition. This week, for Professional Secretaries Day, the DJs filled-in for a secretary to climax a contest and stage another spectacle.
Libby Ross, a 21-year veteran secretary at Salt Lake City's Nabisco office, was surprised to find she had been temporarily replaced Wednesday by the DJs. They were dressed as women and did a live broadcast during their work shift.
Ross was nominated for the honor as Utah's best secretary by her co-workers. She could have taken half-a-day off work as her reward but declined. She wasn't too sure the DJs wouldn't mess up the office while she was gone.
- 10 YEARS AGO - Jack Sunday is the morning DJ and Brad Stone the afternoon host on KCPX-FM (FM-98.7). The station moves into new studios on Bear Cat Drive.
- RADIO HAPPENINGS - KISN-FM is a sponsor with Kmart for this year's March of Dimes "WalkAmerica" Saturday, April 27. "Fisher, Todd and Erin" had another "PMS Confessional" Monday. On Tuesday, the DJs accepted more outrageous tales from listeners, and Erin lamented the passing of Erma Bombeck. The station also held its annual secretary's event at the ZCMI Center Wednesday . . . Todd Herman on KCNR was featured in a computer radio segment on the Fox News Sunday night. On Monday, the DJ discussed the custodial rights of parents, and on Tuesday he talked about the court system . . .
"Jon and Dan" on KUBL asked listeners about recycling weird items Monday. They also observed Earth Day. On Tuesday, the DJs had a top 10 list on the best things about living in Sandy . . . "Kerry and Bill" on KXRK talked Monday with Hildy about sex. The DJs also announced a new station contest with a freeloader card. Grand prizes will be a series of car giveaways. On Tuesday, the DJs staged an Olympic Games trivia contest . . . "Dain and Peggy" on KSFI had more "Totally Useless Trivia" Monday, this one about doggie bags. On Tuesday, the DJs debated about how to pronounce the name of the town Hooper . . .
Dickie Shannon on KODJ gave away Lagoon passes this week . . . "Woody and Barberi" on KUTQ had trivia about the old Fun House at Lagoon on Monday, in addition to giving away passes to the park. They made some guesses Tuesday on who the winners at MTV's upcoming movie awards show would be . . . . . "The Wakeup Club" on KBEE told expectant mothers what the sex of their child would be Tuesday by using an old Chinese system. The DJs also played a phone prank on a women by making claims about a former first wife of her husband . . .
"Grant and Chere" on KSL discussed the 10th anniversary Tuesday of when Coca-Cola changed its formula . . . Tom Barberi on KALL examined the high cost of crime in the U.S. Tuesday . . . "Kidd Cassidy" on KKAT asked listeners Tuesday who was the tackiest person they knew. The DJ also took jabs at other radio market personalities, "Jon and Dan" (he usually calls them "Jon and Dean" or some other similar name) and also "Todd and Erin."