Idaho Radio News Etc.

OK — here’s a history question: Does anyone know what KFML radio in the Boise area was? It went dark in December of 1985 — waaaay back.

The calls seem to be assigned to a station in Minnesota somewhere — but I’m looking for info on the station from it’s Idaho days.

Bill Hatch is headed to Pocatello — exiting KBOI afternoons (news guy).

A guy by the name of Curtis Sawyer is in instead.

Chris (not Christ…) Brewer will be paired with Eddie Mistler for the new Brew Crew morning show on KTIK. Starts a week from today — next Thursday at 6am.

Apple’s iTunes today added a feture allowing users to see the top songs played on stations monitored by MediaBase (in Boise: KIZN, KZMG, KRVB, KQFC, KQXR, KSAS and KXLT).

It doesn’t show the total number of spins, but instead ranks the top songs, and allows users to buy the singles.

Pretty cool.

Word is teflon-Chris Brewer will land at KTIK — replacing Don Imus, and beefing up E-S-P-N-Radio-Thirteen-Fifty-K-T-I-K-The-Ticket’s local programming (Always a plus!)

As soon as we get details — you’ll have them.
Update: It sounds like Elvis… er— Uncle Max— has been in the Citadel building several times.

This is the sign on the Pleasure Boutique… right across from Journal Broadcast Group’s World… er… Boise headquarters.

You’ve likely read this post about the long-running country rumor in the Boise market.

In the comments section, someone named “LIPPY” posted this:
I can’t say how I know, but it is true….the rumor that you’ve been hearing that clear channel is flipping a station to country will happen within the next 30 to 45 days. With the change in format, Jocks both in Boise and in Idaho with country experience will also be shifting to the new station, while jocks from the swithced [sic] station will be going to other stations inside the building……. The station will be live during all daytime shifts…..So now you know!

A little cross-referencing shows that the above post was made from within the Clear Channel computer network.

So you’ve got to wonder one of two things: Is it true, or is someone trying to get people talking?

Also being bandied about: did Clear Channel grab all the sponsorships for the 2004 Western Idaho Fair? Even though the slate of performers hasn’t yet been announced, you can bet several will be country acts (and a Pollstar search turns up Jo Dee Messina on the Fair slate).

I just came to a realization — the following Boise-area stations have made some change to their morning show talent in the past six months: KRVB (Ken Bass signs on), KSAS (too many to note), KZMG (again… too many) KIDO (Dave signs on), KJOT (Spuds out, Doug in) and KQXR (Doug out, Big J in). Six stations in six months. Some of these changes took hold toward the end of the last book – but many have rearranged since the end of the Fall Arbs. The three younger-leaning stations (‘ZMG, ‘SAS & ‘QXR) have made wholesale changes — only Byl remains out of three teams.

One morning show is getting some sharp criticism that they aren’t doing enough prep — and instead are coasting a bit.

With another morning shakeup on the horizon at KSAS (and rumor of a big landscape changer with a CC country possible), you can bet that listeners are doing a LOT of sampling right now — but where will they land?

I recieved three identical e-mails for KJOT (J-105)’s Garage promotion in less than 3 hours Friday. I only signed up once — I swear. Too much!

The posters and the X have been dumping a ton of Blink 182 tickets on the listening public over the past few weeks.

Contest names include “Best Clink for Blink” (more on this one in a moment); Stink for Blink… etc. etc.

The contests have been actually relatively creative.

Though it seems to really stir things up whenever praise is put upon the KSAS-FM night show — here’s one little nugget: Best Clink for Blink is great radio.

Callers dial up and hit two objects together — the loudest three sounds go to a vote of the people. It’s fun — you find yourself sitting there giving the mental thumbs up or thumbs down to the best sounds. Mikey & Troy ran the contest the last 2 Friday nights for about 90 minutes — stretching out the impact of a pair of tickets of a long period. Very smart.

Music Monster and Sunny are currently silent — not off-the-air per se, but hours of dead air abounds.

I noticed a banner for KKGL hanging off the roof of the Red Lion Downtowner the other day. It’s BARELY visible from the Connector. But if you squint, you can tell it’s the Eagle logo. Well, the logo they use in their TV spots (for some reason they use the old different design on their website).

Heck… if you don’t have an outdoor budget, this is one way to go.

You’ve probably already read the rumor in our comment threads — It appears Ian… er… Bambi is about to jump back on the air.

It appears that Scotty (the Hottie) was a temporary fix. Bambi’s no longer a Citadel employee (although word is Snow White still has her job). Word is Bambi will hit KQXR Monday night.

OK, here’s a hot, fresh rumor: Some Boise station will soon go country.

What, ‘that’s not fresh,’ you say? OK, you’re right. It’s stale. And actually, I haven’t heard it as much of late (save on a comments thread here about KJOT).

Why is this rumor so prevalent? The first answer has to be that people like stirring the silt a bit — and nothing does that better than spreading the word of a format flop.

Some think that it just makes too much sense. Neither Journal nor CC have a country. With Clear Channel’s Boise cluster going through a rough patch, country seems like an obvious choice.

The last country sign-on wasn’t really a sign-on, but a call letter move and ownership transfer. The older crowd will remember that KIZN used to be at 93.1 on the FM dial (known as kizzz-in 92), and KISS-FM (KIYS, if memory serves; no relation to KSAS) was at 92.3.

KIYS went away, and KIZN moved to that spot on the dial. 93.1 went from KIZN to KZMG (with the famous… ‘bum.. bum bum.. bum… bumb ‘it’sssss cominggggg’ stunt). Magic 93 was born (as an alternative to the then-unstoppable KCIX, or so it seemed for the time). KIZN 92 wasn’t much different than KIZN 93 at the start — but eventually evolved in to Kissin’ 92 (and, ironically, becoming co-owned with KZMG).

After further consolidation, the Wilson family did a lot to strengthen the KIZN/KQFC country combo — before it eventually landed in the hands of Citadel.

Obviously the markets only other country player is KFXD-AM, the Classic Country format owned by CC.

Is there room for a 3rd modern country FM? That’s debatable — it would take a LOT of cash and serious promotion to get folks to move up the dial to Journal or CC country (or territory, as it were). Will it happen? Probably eventually — one of these stations will have one too many books in the gutter, and someone will get the energy to go after the Citadel country cousins. For now though, it seems Citadel has a lock on the format.

What are your thoughts?

I have two banks of six FM presets on my car stereo. I had the misfortune of having all six on the first break be in spots at the same time today. It’s more annoyance than anything else — but it made me hit the CD button that much faster. (In case you’re wondering, the 6 were [not in this order necessarily]: KZMG, KQXR, KRVB, KSAS, KJOT and KCIX).

Add another Boise morning show to the ever-growing junk heap.

Brad & Micky (KSAS-FM) will soon be no more.

Micky’s already out — back to her husband and kids on Salt Lake City.

Word is Brad’s off to greener pastures soon as well (do I hear Mark Cuban calling his name???)

Got the pipes (and the talent)?

Get your e-package to Hoss Grigg (hossgrigg@clearchannel.com) or 827, E. Park #201. The “no calls” rule is in effect…

I think the morning ratings for the spring book are going to be a bit interesting…

Melissa’s back on the X. She was there, then she left, then she came back, then…

Scotty (the Hottie, titter titter) is currently doing nights on KQXR. They are HEAVILY promoting “The New Morning X” with Byl and Big J.

KJOT isn’t promoting mornings at all, that I can tell. Lots of air being given to the garage contest right now instead. Wonder if that situation is still a bit fluid. Also, KJOT is pounding the “never more than 3 commercials between you and more classic rocks that rocks” slogan. It’s a fun little game to count the spots…

I can’t remember a ratings period with so many ads for local stations.

KTHI, KCIX, KSAS and KRVB ads have all hit my radar screen. KCIX’s ad is in HEAVY rotation — running in late newscasts (expensive inventory) and prime-time.

KSAS’s spot has mostly been on CableOne, including MTV.

The KRVB and KTHI spots have been mostly on co-owned KIVI, but they’ve also popped up on other stations.

Shake up at the Journal rockers.

The big headline from this has to be Byl & Doug being split up. Doug H. will head to KJOT to anchor J105’s morning show.

Byl will be joined on KQXR by Big J (current evening slammer), and former mid-dayer Melissa. Rumors indicate that another Xer could be out as well. That’s a lot of change for the second highest rated station in the market…

Million dollar question: Where will Chris Brewer land?

(Mad) Chris (Max) (Delgado) Brewer is out at KJOT-FM. Still working the details — but he is officially out.

Spuds get mashed

Well done site. Whoever is writing the copy for the KRVB site also seems to be doing the KTHI site as well (and for that matter XRock.com). There’s a nice style to it. Very conversational.

Anyway, the site does a great job of reflecting what is on air. Overall, the site is a little shallow right now — but that will come along in time I would imagine.

KJOT is doing a dream garage make-over sort of deal. They are doing the old “win a key that could open the door,” thing, except they are giving out garage codes — cool. Sponsored by Cory Barton Homes, among others.

And how amazing is it that Electric Lunch is still on the air?

This leads me to…

Here are the two oldest I can come up with: Hot 9 at 9 on Magic, and the Electric Lunch on KJOT. What are some others?

Another Floridian joins the KZMG cast. Baylie is the new third wheel on the Magic Morning Show tricycle.

You’ve got to love her bio. Best place to eat in Boise: Johnny Carino’s???? Yeah, a chain — the best. Right.

I wonder if she’s been to Old C’s or China Blue more than once.

Oh, and as we reported first — she’s from Charlotte. A comments poster notes the job was posted for one day in the Statesman. EEO-e-i-e-i-o.

They have also redone the promo shell and the website in time for her arrival.