"Todd and Erin (Collard)" are back on the air after a six-month hiatus. They can be heard weekdays from 5-9 a.m. on KBEE (FM-98.7).
Husband and wife, the Collards are the third married morning show in the market. "We'll be here for five years, so get used to it," Todd said on the air Feb. 14, implying they may have a five-year contract with the station, which is owned by Citadel Communications. "I would like to thank Citadel for believing in us."
Formerly a part of the "Fisher, Todd and Erin Show" on KISN, their "no-compete" contract clause kept them off the air for six months. "It went too fast," Erin said of the time off the air.
"Shamus," the DJ who has been handling mornings on KBEE for the past few months, is the third wheel on this new morning show. Kristi Snow does traffic and news for the program.
If you'd like to see inside the KBEE studio, go online to www.b987.com and check out the "Webcam" view.
DO THE MATH — Two weeks ago I stated that the Salt Lake radio market has more radio stations per capita than anywhere in the nation. Here's some rounded-off statistics to back up that claim:
— The largest radio market in the country by population is New York City with 15.1 million people. It has 65 total radio stations, or one station for every 232,000 people.
— The No. 2 market is Los Angeles, with 10.2 million people and 75 stations, or 136,000 people per radio station.
— Salt Lake is the No. 32 market in size, according to the latest Arbitron figures. It has 66 stations and 1.4 million people, or 21,500 residents for each radio station.
THE REAL JOHN POTTER — My career update information about former KKAT morning DJ John Potter, alias "Kidd Cassidy," last week being in Ohio radio management was incorrect. I had the wrong John Potter.
The Utah-connected John Potter is actually now a TV weathercaster on KTVN in Reno, a CBS affiliate, and also a morning DJ at KHXR (country music) radio there. He previously anchored TV news in Maine and also Waco, Texas, and stills own a condo in Park City, which he visits several times a year.
I also didn't realize Potter did his first morning radio show in Reno, back in 1979. His wife is also from Reno. If you're a fan of the man Utahns will always remember as "Kidd Cassidy" in the mid-1990s, check out his Reno station Web site www.945themountain.com.
MORE RATINGS — The three largest radio station companies in the Salt Lake market control nearly 60 percent of the audience.
Using the most recent Arbitron ratings from the fall, Clear Channel's KZHT, KODJ, KNRS, KISN, KKAT, KURR, KALL-AM and KWLW-AM) combine for a 22.9 percent of the age 12-plus listening audience. Clear Channel is the nation's largest owner of radio stations.
Second in the valley is Simmons Media Group, with a 19.8 percent audience share among its five local stations — KSFY, KQMB, KRSP, KXRK and KZNS-AM.
Third is Citadel Broadcasting, with a 15.6 percent share from KUBL, KBEE, KBER FM and AM, KENZ and KFNZ-AM.
HUGE STUNT — In response to Denver Post columnist Woody Paige's unkind remarks about Utah on Feb. 12, "Chunga and Mister" on KENZ ("The End," FM-107.5) prompted listeners to donate early 10,000 boxes of green Jell-O, which the DJs had delivered to the Colorado newspaper Monday. Chunga said that in his 12 years of radio, this is the most reaction he's ever received from listeners on anything. Many Salt Lake area stores were out of Jell-O last week because of this stunt, and since the DJs were the ones who broke the news locally about Paige's column, it's only fair they gave him a gift he'll never forget.
E-mail: lynn@desnews.com