Idaho Radio News Etc.

Dave Tester is rejoining the Citadel family — as General Manager of the company’s seven Spokane stations (KDRK-FM, KGA-AM, KZBD-FM, KJRB-AM, KEYF-FM, KEYF-AM and KYWL-FM.)

He checked out of a similar job at New Northwest Broadcasters’ Billings cluster.

Dave used to kick around the sales department of Citadel Boise… and of course — as sports director of KIVI for a number of years.

“If every radio station that adopts a slogan containing one or more overlapping words, which describe the music they play, is brought to court, only the lawyers will benefit,� Judge Morton Denlow wrote.

That pretty much sums up Denlow’s decision to allow a number of Bonneville Communications stations to use slogans like “70’s, 80’s… whatever we want,â€? “70’s, 80’s… whatever we feel like,â€? and “today’s new music… and whatever we want.â€?

SparkNet said those positioners were confusingly similar to the Jack FM branding of “playing what we want.” The judge disagreed, and ruled in favor of Bonneville.

More from Billboard Radio Monitor.

The talks over ABC Radio are still marching on – Reuters reported September 1 that Citadel, Entercom and Emmis are all in the hunt. Disney is working to audit financial data — which could push back a final sale agreement in to the fourth quarter.

Emmis will soon be cash-flow positive — as it liquidates most of its TV portfolio. Also of note, the Entercom/Citadel merger rumors have quieted down over the summer. I don’t think anyone would be surprised if Citadel buys — or is bought in the next year.

Twin Falls Times-News on Radio Relief: Read the rest of this entry »

For Just One Day, 35 Idaho radio stations serving listeners from all walks of life came together — rallied around — and raised TENS of THOUSANDS (if not hundreds of thousands) of dollars for people who need it.

People who not only lost things like their homes — their photos — and their “stuff…” people who lost their entire community, their beloved pets, and in all too many cases — people they loved.

YOU made it happen. YOU gave your time — your efforts — your energy — and your passion. In nine days flat, this went from idea, to reality.

Radio is a powerful tool — that was put to its best possible use today. The signals in the Boise & Twin Falls markets are like a bunch of scattered light bulbs oftentimes — all pointed at something different. For Just One Day, each of those lights came together — and put that combined wattage on one thing — and made a huge difference.

Individually, we each may have donated a few dollars to the Red Cross — whatever we could afford. Together, we helped raise much much more.

Thank you all for making Idaho just a little bit greater. I can’t wait to come home.

Here’s a bunch of photos provided by Locally Owned’s Larry Johnson.

Read the rest of this entry »

Photos by David Day/Boisee.com

Read the rest of this entry »

From my unofficial survey of the landscape — Radio Relief was recognized in Friday’s Idaho Statesman, on KTVB and KIVI, and on the websites of Billboard Radio Monitor, All Access, Radio & Records and the NAB

From Aaron at KSAS:

Words cannot express the excitement our staff is feeling at this moment but I will try and do my best.

Moments after we received last nights fundraiser check from Ted Challenger (owner of China Blue, Roddy’s and the Bistro) for $5400, two separate KSAS listeners stopped by to drop off checks for $5100 AND $9100!!!!!

UPDATE: Kuna High School just made a donation at the KISS table for $2300 as well!

And we still have two hours to go!!!

Incredible! Hats off to this community and the employees that brought this fundraiser to life!!!

From Rich @ Citadel:

KIZN and KQFC both had on-air auctions this morning to kick-off the Radio Relief Effort. Each station had front row seats and backstage passes for Keith Urban tonight (Fri) at the Idaho Center. The Country listeners responded very well, and by 10am, between the two stations $8,150 was raised.

Pretty good start to the day I think!

From the Magic Valley folks:

Magic Valley has raised over $20,000 at 11:00AM
All stations working together beautifully. It’s an amazing event.

Send any more success stories!

ABC Radio Networks has worked out a deal to package and sell SparkNet Communications’ Jack FM product to statations across the country. ABCRN will produce and distribute the Jack FM/Playing What We Want format starting October 1 — calling it a “Turn Key Package.”

Boise
The event will be held at the Boise Towne Square Mall, from 10am-6pm. Citadel Broadcasting, Clear Channel Communications, Journal Broadcast Group, KTSY and KBXL will participate. All stations will point toward a central phone number, manned by a local call center (you very likely know what organization that is – I’ll announce it as soon as I receive word it’s official). All donations will go to the American Red Cross, via the Idaho chapter — earmarked for Hurricane Katrina disaster relief operations.

Stations will be set up at center court near Williams Sonoma. Local Red Cross volunteers, donors and dignitaries will be available to chat – and folks can make a donation in person.

Twin Falls
Stations from Clear Channel Communications, Chaparral Broadcasting, Locally Owned Radio and Lee Family Broadcasting will broadcast live from the Fred Meyer on Blue Lakes from 6am-7pm. Nearly 40 Magic Valley businesses have donated prizes and other “donation incentives.” Donations will be taken in person at Fred Meyer during the broadcast — and all month long. Donations will also be taken by phone.

Ontario
KSRV-FM and KSRV-AM (Locally Owned) will broadcast live from a location yet to be announced. They will tie in to some of the Boise and TF efforts as well. (More from Dale here)

Other
Everyone here — from the on-air talent, promotions folks, management and sales areas deserve major kudos. You all have a chance to make a huge difference in the lives of people who need it very badly. A few people deserve a bit of extra recognition — James Tidmarsh, J Allen, Rich Summers, Teri Tate, Dale Jeffries, Dan McColly, Lee Schafer, Casey Fisher, — and several others who have just gone way above and beyond the call of duty. I’m certain I’m forgetting folks — so please, drop their names in comments below.

A couple of good RAB/Red Cross promos for download here

From Mike Kasper at KCIX:

The Mix morning show with Mike and Kate on Mix 106 will broadcast their show live Thursday morning 9/8 at the busiest intersection in Idaho…..Eagle and Chinden at the Stinker station. They will be raising money for the relief efforts in the Gulf states with all Money raised will go directly to the Red Cross through Clear Channels’ Storm Aid which has already raised millions of dollars including a half million dollars from the Hogan family. Stinker stations will match the money raised by Mike and Kate Thursday morning. Everyone that stops and donates will get donuts and coffee, if people don’t have time to stop, the Mix crew will come to your car and get your donations.

Again, if your station is doing something I haven’t noted yet — let me know.

Update: The event raised more than $10,000!

These stations will participate:
KART-AM (Lee Family)
KBAR-FM (Lee Family)
KBOI-AM (Citadel)
KCIX-FM (Clear Channel)
KEZJ-FM (Clear Channel)
KFTA-AM (Lee Family)
KFXD-FM (Clear Channel)
KIDO-AM (Clear Channel)
KIKX-FM (Locally Owned)
KISY-FM (Locally Owned)
KIZN-FM(Citadel)
KJOT-FM (Journal)
KKGL-FM (Citadel)
KKMV-FM (Lee Family)
KLIX-AM (Clear Channel)
KLIX-FM (Clear Channel)
KLTB-FM (Clear Channel)
KMVX-FM (Lee Family)
KQFC-FM (Citadel)
KQXR-FM (Journal)
KRVB-FM (Journal)
KSAS-FM (Clear Channel)
KSKI-FM (Chaparral Broadcasting)
KSNQ-FM (Clear Channel)
KSPD/KBXL (Independent)
KSRV-AM (Locally Owned)
KSRV-FM (Locally Owned)
KTFI-AM (Locally Owned)
KTHI-FM (Journal)
KTIK-AM (Citadel)
KTPZ-FM (Locally Owned)
KTSY-FM (Independent)
KXLT-FM (Clear Channel)
KZDX-FM (Lee Family)
KZMG-FM (Citadel)

It’s official — Clear Channel/Boise is joining in our Radio Relief effort — as is KBXL. The particpation of those stations brings our overall total number of stations to 35 in Sun Valley – Twin Falls – Boise and Ontario, covering a huge chunk of Idaho’s population.

I’ll have some other details to share later in the day.

James Tidmarsh at CC Twin Falls tells me that the Idaho Congressional delegation is on board — and will cut non station specific appeals for Fridays event. He also understands that Governor Kempthorne is on board to lend his support.

We have 28 stations on board — I hope another five or so will sign on and help make the “roadblock” complete.

This spot gives me chills: Magic Valley Radio Relief promo.

It is indescribable how amazing it is to hear familiar voices from across “party lines” in one promo — for one purpose.

Incredible work.

From the mailbag:

Hello, I’d like to advertise a job opening at KVFX FM (mainstream CHR) in Logan, Utah. We are in need of a Program Director/Jock. Please mail air-check and resume to Lynn Simmons, KVFX 810 West 200 North Logan, Utah 84321. No phone calls or emails please. Thanks.

> KRVB turned its free show with Melissa Ferrick & Ben Taylor in to a benefit: tix in exchange for a Red Cross donation (with the help of the Boise Co-Op). The idea sprang up Friday — and listeners immediately began snapping up the tix.

> KTSY is teaming with KSBJ/Houston for “Cards for Katrina.” Listners are encouraged to purchase a gift card from a national retailer and drop it by the KTSY studios, any Valley Wal-Mart, or the Olan Mills inside K-Mart in Twin Falls.

> The KTIK crew has been taking the KZMG donation buckets to Hawks games — I understand that $900 was collected on the first night — and the buckets should be out at the Sunday and Monday games as well.

> KTIK, KQXR & KBOI now have prominent Red Cross links online.

> I’m still hoping to encourage the Journal/Boise and Clear Channel/Boise groups to join with Citadel, KTSY, KSAS and all 14 major Twin Falls stations particpating in Radio for Relief. Anyone willing to help with this effort, again — contact me and I will put you in touch with the right people.

> If you know of any other station effort, let me know — I would like to highlight it here.

With the addition of KDJQ – the Boise market has five Spanish language stations (with KWEI 99.5 FM, KDBI 101.9 FM, KQTA 106.3 FM and KWEI 1260 AM).

One e-mailer wonders how a market with just more than 400,000 persons can possibly support that many Spanish language stations?

Most folks in Boise media know the name John Anderson. He is a Boise State student with special needs who is a frequent caller to area TV, radio and newspaper newsrooms.

I’ve had countless conversations with John — he really is a bright kid, with a passion for Boise State sports. At times, it’s hard to get him off the line.

The highlight of each edition of Bronco Game Night with Chris & Brett – is the inevitable John Anderson call. He unknowingly needles Chris… and it makes great radio. Maybe just for me…

The Music Monster is hosting Hip Hop Fest this Saturday at Lucky Peak Park in TF — with our old friend Ready Starr and his Streetwize Crew – plus a group called “Untouchable” and nine other groups.

I’m returning to Boise full time next month. So Idaho Radio News will again be written by someone who lives in Idaho. There’s a concept.

Bonneville International Corp. is dumping its Eastern Idaho cluster (KTHK- KFTZ – KCVI – KLCE – KBLI). The announcement came to the staff this week. The new owner should be announced by the end of the month.

Update: Also includes KSSL & KSLJ.

Rich Summers at Citadel wrote to say that the Citadel group is ready and willing. Anyone else wishing to particpate can contact Rich. You can contact me at idahoradio@gmail.com for the address if you need it.

Aaron Traylor at KSAS is also ready to join in the effort.

Update: Add KTSY to the list of the willing.