When Larry Crandall left Salt Lake City in the 1960s, talk radio was just taking off and KNAK-AM and KCPX-AM were the big teenage stations. AM radio was still king, and FM had not taken off yet.
Now, about three decades later, Crandall is back in Salt Lake, and his job as program director for KALL (AM-910), KFAM (AM-700) and KISN-AM (570) will be to get people to leave the much more popular FM dial and give the old standby AM a regular listen.After 20 years in Denver helping manage KOA - the Colorado equivalent of KSL radio - and a Jacor station, Crandall is back where he grew up.
Jacor Communications already owns KALL And by sometime this fall it will have official control over KFAM and KISN-AM.
Crandall's excited about Salt Lake radio and believes the market has a great potential. He's also pleased to still be working for Jaycor, a company where radio stations are their only business and where AM radio is held in esteem as high or higher than FM radio is.
Jacor is also on the verge of a new era in Salt Lake radio. Not only will the company be managing a total of seven stations soon, including four FM (KKAT-FM, KODJ-FM, KURR-FM and KZHT-FM) and the three AM stations, but Jacor will also be moving into a new building.
One of the most surprising things Crandall noticed after about three decades of absence in Salt Lake was that the radio presence of Ogden and Provo has decreased.
"It seems the influence of Ogden and Provo stations has diminished," he said, explaining it's all one market now - the Salt Lake market.
Jacor will also have the challenge of finding new call letters for its two new AM stations. KFAM is probably too confusing a name in this market with another station nicknamed "KFAN" (actually KFNZ) and KISN-AM will have to switch names because of the presence of KISN-FM, owned by another company.
- KXRK (alias "X-96.3," FM) has been named as National Finalist in the Silver Microphone Awards for 1997.
The competition seeks the nation's best radio commercials and the station's "X-96 Antenna Balls" is seeking top honors in the media promotion event.
The radio spots for the event were written, directed and produced by Billy Mikelson and Todd Nuke-em. They also provided the vocal talent, along with Bill Allred, morning DJ.
- KBEE (FM-98.7) raised $20,000 in its "Washes for Wishes" fund-raiser at Buffs n' Puffs Car Wash this month. Proceeds will benefit the Make a Wish Foundation.
"The Wakeup Club" did live broadcasts from the car wash and the event beat last year's charity total of $16,000.
- TEN YEARS AGO - KPCW is among 50 finalists for the National Association of Broadcasters' Crystal Award for excellence in broadcasting.
- RADIO HAPPENINGS - KBZN DJ Jeff Lunt will be a special guest and performer Aug. 29, 7 p.m. at the new Sandy Cottontree Inn during the comedy mystery dinner theatre performance - "Alumni For a Bye: A Reunion to Die For" - by the Hunt Mystery & Company . . . Tom Barberi on KALL gave listeners a potpourri of good news Monday, including the high revenues of the U.S. Post Office . . .
"Kerry, Bill and Gina" on KXRK Monday talked to "Louise" about her recent wedding in Wyoming. The DJs also did a spoof on temporary employees . . . "Laurie" won the "Battle of the Sexes" Monday on the "Fisher, Todd and Erin" show on KISN-FM Monday to tie up the male-female series for the first time this year . . .
"The Wakeup Club" on KBEE did some live interviews Monday at bus stops, with kids going back to school . . . It was another "Mad Monday" on the "Mick and Allen" show on KURR. The DJs also had another "Frankly Speaking" segment . . . Jimmy Chunga on KENZ announced this week that his annual golf tournament is set for Sept. 18 . . .
Successful bear hunting was examined by "Mr. Twister" Monday on the jon Carter show on KRSP . . . "Dickie Shannon and the Morning Maniacs" on KODJ Monday provided some cafeteria jokes on what was the first day of school for many kids . . . Cano and Bull Crew" on KUBL gave away backstage passes to the upcoming Brian White-Patty Loveless concert this week . . . "Doc and Diane" on KUMT had another "Is This Stuff True?" segment Monday.