What is Salt Lake's most long-lived morning radio show? A lot depends on the formula you use.
If it's based on the number of years two or more people have been on the air together at the same radio station, then KXRK's "Radio From Hell," with core members Bill Allred and Kerry Jackson, is No. 1.
Allred and Jackson started at "X-96" in October 1993 — 12 1/2 years ago. (That doesn't count their almost six years together at the original KJQN in Ogden.) In 1996, Gina Barberi came aboard.
In an industry where 18 months is considered to be the average life span of a morning radio show, Allred, Jackson and Barberi are a rarity. Their show relies on a lot of spontaneous chatter, which has served them well over the years.
The second-longest-running, morning-show team is KODJ's "Married with Microphones" with Dickie and Angel Shannon. They started in May 1995 and prove married couples can work well together.
The next spot is jointly held by three teams: Grant Nielsen and Amanda Dickson on KSL, "Johnson and Johnson" on KUBL, and "Frankie and Dangerboy" on the KZHT "Z-Morning Zoo." All have been on the air since the fall of 1997.
Sixth-place goes to KBER's "Bob and Tom" (a syndicated show from Indiana), which has been on the air since Janurary 1998; seventh is "Chunga and Mister" on KENZ, who have been together since October 1999.
It is worth noting that KRSP's Jon Carter has been doing his morning show solo since April 1997. This is his second stint doing mornings as he had a show on FM-103.5.
FIRST BIRTHDAY — KUTR (AM-820), one of the nation's first stations aimed at women, celebrated its first anniversary last week.
"We are pleased with the response from our listeners," Amanda Dickson, KUTR program director, said. "They just love the station, and they tell us it is the most positive thing on the radio dial."
KUTR features Kurt Bestor and Rebecca Cressman in the morning as well as a variety of other programming. For more information, go to www.utaham820.com.
RADIO HAPPENINGS — Tom Barberi and Holly Braithwaite on KFMS (FM-97.5) had fun last week suggesting possible ways for Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson to save the $20,000 he budgeted for a portrait of himself.
— The Metropolitan Opera will celebrate the career of general manager Joseph Volpe, who retires at the end of July after 42 years at the Met, with a star-studded gala concert. KBYU (FM-89.1) will air the concert May 27 at 11:30 a.m. A special pre-show, hosted by Classical 89's Reg Pontius and Eric Glissmeyer, begins at 10 a.m.
— KZHT has a Spanish-language billboard. This could be the start of a trend as Arbitron estimates Hispanics make up 9.5 percent of the Salt Lake radio market.
E-mail: lynn@desnews.com