What were the top Salt Lake radio-related developments/stories of 2009?
Here's my top 10:
1.Dramatically decreased ad revenue/layoffs.
Bonneville International reported a 15 percent decline in advertising revenue in July. This downturn was typical of most radio companies. Bonneville had already reduced the workforce at its S.L. radio stations with the layoffs of five people in February. Clear Channel laid off 9 percent of its workforce in January.
2.Major broadcast bankruptcy.
Citadel Broadcasting, the nation's third-largest radio company, filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in late December. With nine S.L. area owned/managed radio stations, the local impact of this declaration is yet to be determined.
3.Religious radio gets church specific in Salt Lake City.
The "Mormon Channel," a new radio service of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, launched in May via the Internet and HD radio affiliates.
KIHU, AM1010, Utah's first all-Catholic radio station premiered in August.
4.An "International" division begins.
KSL Broadcasting started the process of becoming a separate, local media company from Bonneville International (but still under the Deseret Management Corporation umbrella). Although Bonneville remains based in Salt Lake City, it now includes 19 radio stations in seven non-Utah cities — Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, Phoenix, St. Louis, Cincinnati and Washington, D.C.
KSL Broadcasting Co. will include KSL radio (AM-1160/FM-102.7) , KSL-TV (Ch. 5), KRSP, FM-103.5 and KSFI ("FM-100"), plus Bonneville Communications and Farnsworth Peak.
5.A trend in more niche programming and less simulcasts.
KACP, AM-570, a new conservation talk radio station, replaced the former simulcast of KNRS, FM-105.7, in September. (Is KSL next, with a possible spin off of AM-1160 from FM-102.7?)
6.Radio veterans/legends pass away.
Joe Lee, former longtime radio newsman, died at age 88 in October; Greg Hilton, 56, general manager of KSOP AM/FM, died unexpectedly in October. In addition, George C. Hatch, 89. who started KALL radio, KUTV and more, died in August; and Allison "Steele" Eagan, Andrew Peters and Tom Jordan — three S.L. radio personalities — all passed away in January. (Also, national legend Paul Harvey, 90, died in February.)
7.Radio personalities depart.
Bob Nelson, a 26-year-veteran on KSFI was laid off; Laura Bedore of KOSY was let go; and Rob Boshard, popular KODJ personality left radio to take a job for the LDS Church.
8.A status quo in radio ratings continue, but do big changes loom with PPM?
KSL radio still solidly led the radio ratings in the S.L. market during 2009. However, the impending arrival of the Personal People Meter in early 2010 could change the landscape of radio station rankings.
9.Radio milestones/anniversaries.
KRCL, Salt Lake's truest independent radio station and boasting the most versatile format, celebrated its 30th anniversary; KSL passes its 87th birthday; KLO turns 65; Dan Jessop, now of KBZN and Salt Lake's most veteran DJ, surpassed 40 years in the S.L. radio market; and "Radio From Hell" on KXRK continued as Salt Lake's longest-running morning radio show at 16-plus years.
10.Format changes continue.
KKAT drops its oldies music format and became "Utah's big talker" and KYMV switched from a "feel good" music format to top 40 music.
e-mail: lynn@desnews.com