KFAM (AM-700) is no longer the place for easy listening music. On June 23, the station was officially sold to Jacor Communications and has temporarily become a simulcast of sister station KODJ-FM ("Oldies" 94.1) until plans for a new radio format are ready.
"We're fine-tuning our format for the station," said Larry Crandall, director of AM programming for Jacor in Salt Lake City.He declined to say what the new format would be, but it will likely be talk radio, since Jacor loves that style and knows how to package it. The new format may also include some sort of sports programming, according to rumors.
When it will be ready is uncertain. The station is under no time deadline.
Meanwhile, longtime KFAM listeners may miss the former musical format on AM-700.
"It was wonderful," one former KFAM listener said. "Now you don't know where to go."
- TODD AND ERIN WILL BE BACK: Despite rumors that "Fisher, Todd and Erin" of KISN-FM have broken up, the full three-person show is expected to return to the air Monday.
Todd and Erin, the husband-wife team of the show, have been off the air and on vacation since June 22. Scott Fisher has been on the air with fill-in DJ Eric Taylor.
Patrick J. Reedy, general manager of KISN, said he hadn't heard the rumors of a breakup, but as far as he knows, they are not true.
He agreed it is unusual for DJs to have more than one week of vacation at a time, but due to Todd's longevity (he's been at the station for nearly 13 years), he has the vacation time coming.
"Fisher and Todd" is Utah's longest running morning show, at nearly 121/2 years. Erin joined the team in 1994.
- REALAUDIO is the way to listen to the radio on your computer. Although I've never dabbled in it, I'm told by fans that there are at least seven Utah stations offering this new technology - KSL, KBYU, KLOV, KYCC, KSOS, KUMT and the LDS Radio Network.
- KBYU (FM-89.1) - If you want some real patriotic music on the morning of July 4, check out "The 1998 July 4th Spectacular, with Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra." It will air at 8 a.m.
At 6 p.m., the station will broadcast "Voices of the West," a show that will commemorate Independence Day from the Grand Canyon.
- TEN YEARS AGO: KCPX stages its annual "Sky Concert" and fireworks at Rice Stadium.
- RADIO HAPPENINGS: Bill Allred of the "Kerry, Bill and Gina" morning show on KXRK has had such vision improvement since his recent laser eye surgery that's he helped persuade Gina Barberi to also have the surgery next week . . .
"Abby and Wren" on KUMT discussed pro wrestling Tuesday . . . "Mick, Allen and Roxy" on KURR Tuesday talked about Neil Diamond, and Mick was even able to sing some of his songs quite well . . .
Scott Fisher, doing solo mornings on KISN-FM again this week, had TV news anchor Randall Carlisle on the air for a long interview. Among the subjects discussed were Carlisle's ties.