How often does your favorite radio station air commercials? Long blocks of advertisements have been a widespread trend in radio and has likely led many listeners to "station hop." However, relief may be on the way.
Clear Channel, one of the Salt Lake radio market's largest companies, has launched a nationwide initiative called the "less is more plan" that will reduce the amount of commercials and promotional inventory on its radio stations.
Affected are the company's seven local stations — KURR (FM-99.5), KZHT (FM-97.1), KODJ (FM-94.1), KCPX (FM-105.7), KOSY (FM-106.5), KNRS (AM-570) and KALL (AM-700) — as well as its many other stations nationwide.
This new policy means the company will air anywhere from 20 percent to 30 percent fewer commercial minutes each hour on all of its radio stations.
"Clutter is a major issue in our industry, and our decision to limit the amount of commercial time and length of breaks, while reducing promotional interruptions, will benefit listeners, advertisers and the industry as a whole," said John Hogan, CEO of Clear Channel Radio.
"Despite radio's great underlying listener trends, and the fragmentation in other media, radio is still discounted relative to other media," Hogan continued. "We are taking this step to close that gap and make radio more competitive, compelling, effective and valuable. And we actively encourage the rest of the industry to do the same."
Salt Lake City market manager Stu Stanek said, "Clear Channel is taking the leadership role in our industry. Today consumers have many more choices of media, such as satellite, Internet and MP3 players. We are taking the lead to add back more programming content and thereby create a more competitive product in the face of changing technology."
Some other radio companies have already cut back their commercial blocks. Does that mean it will be an industry trend? Will listeners notice a difference? Stay tuned.
THE 'MUSIC PROFESSOR' PASSED AWAY — Ed Wright, alias "The Music Professor" for more than 20 years on KODJ (FM-94.1), died Aug. 25 after a long illness.
Ed's knowledge of rock 'n' roll was legendary and his deep voice was one of his trademarks. He had a special passion for sharing his knowledge of oldies music with listeners.
"We will miss hearing Ed on the radio, but, more than that — we will miss his smile and heart of gold," Rob Boshard, KODJ's program director, said.
Most recently, Ed was an evening DJ on the station until he became too ill to work.
ZOOVIVOR 3 ENDS SAFELY — After almost a week in the wilds of Canada, Frankie C. and Dangerboy of KZHT returned safely Monday to Salt Lake City. They started their adventure Aug. 23, when they were dropped off with no money or food in the Yukon town of Whitehorse. They had to scavenge and hitchhike their way home — some 2,500 miles.
They took KZHT T-shirts with them, which they bartered for food.
They got a lot of assistance from a Canadian radio station in Fort St. John, which helped them get rides south. They entered the United States at the northwestern edge of Montana.
They saw three black bears and encountered snow and freezing temperatures.
A more detailed account of their experience as well as photos are available online at: www.971zht.com.
RADIO HAPPENINGS — KUUU (FM-92) evening DJ Pat Clark concluded his "Clark after Dark 2004 Summer Games" last week. These "listener Olympics" included the "round the house relay," "good deed for the gold" and the "mental challenge" (for those not athletically gifted).
The results? Kearns took two gold medals, followed by one medal each for West Valley City, Salt Lake City, Midvale and Ogden.
— "Johnson and Johnson" on KUBL landed a rare radio interview with Olympics wrestler Rulon Gardner last week.
The DJs' producer, "Scotty" got struck with water balloons last week as part of a "Fill The Boot" event to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Deseret Morning News radio editor Lynn Arave can be reached by e-mail at lynn@desnews.com, or by phone at 237-2168.