Idaho Radio News Etc.

Magic 93.1 and program director Jim Allen are parting ways, according to sources.

KZMG will be left with only three FT jocks to cover 7 days worth of shifts.

Also: I’m told the parting was a “mutual decision.” Me thinks there’s a bit of a change on the Citadel horizon…

Bustos media is continuing its push in to the Boise market. The company now oficially owns KQTA, licensed to Homedale. R&S Media now has an extra $2.3 million to spend.

Bustos has been operating the station through a Local Marketing Agreement since June.

Bustos also owns KDBI at 101.9 FM, and KQTA at 106.3 FM.

This from the Idaho Press Tribune:

Jeers
To all the local radio stations. When I turn on the radio, all I hear is talk shows. I do not want to listen to talk shows on the “X” or KISS 103. It has forced me to purchase satellite radio.

- As I reported last month, Trish & Halli are no longer on KID-AM in Idaho Falls. CC dumped the local talkers in favor of Laura Ingraham. IRN reader Randy Stapilus notes on his blog that the pair often got people talking – but it wasn’t always the best kind of talk.
Update: It’s Laura Ingraham not Dr. Laura as I had earlier posted.

OK, nostalgia has been ruling around here — so here’s another past blast.

A friend passed along THIS MP3 from the archive. It’s former KZMG MD Scooter B rapping about KSAS to the tune of Outkast’s Miss Jackson.

Classic lyrics like:
You guys are a chip off the old block/Gonna have to make ya’ flip back to classic rock
…and…
After this the guys at Kiss won’t like me, maybe they’ll send the remote boy Smooch to the studio to try ta fight me.
…or…
99 The Monster got the point and flipped to the 80s, you think you can beat us with no DJs?

Anyone have the Eminem parody MP3? Anyone know where Scoot wound up? Apparantely he was at The Buzz in Twin for a time.

It’s been a while since I posted the rules of the road, so here they are:
- No profanity or coarse language in comments
- Once you pick a username, stick with it. People who change username with every comment will quickly earn a ticket to bansville.

Folks who violate these easy guidelines will get the honor of me approving each comment before it is posted (or if you choose to continue to be a pain – I’ll just dump your comments in to the spam filter).

Nerina Pallot’s “Idaho” song is burning up the charts on KRVB this winter.

The song sounds like it was specifically written for airplay on the River – with a strong, moody underscore and wilting female voice.

Lyrics like “I have packed everything that I own in a bag / And I’m driving, I’m driving to Idaho” pretty much seal the ‘match made in heaven’ deal for the Boise AAA station.

I’m sorta disappointed that there isn’t information on the usually updated riverinteractive.com. It took some Google gymnastics to find the song (since I only knew three things: the word Idaho is the lyrics, the artist is female, and she’s from the UK).

Anyway, you can hear the song on MySpace. Note – it’s NOT the song that starts playing automagically, you’ll have to punch the “Idaho” link.

KRVB currently has the song in heavy (for them) rotation – with about 19 spins per week, according to MediaBase. The River is the only US station currently playing the song.

I’ve heard buzz about the song from a number of places – co-workers, family and friends. The song is not available on US iTunes – but I’m told a few copies are available at the Record Exchange downtown (still true Tim?).

If you’re hoping to hear Pallot live in… Idaho of all places… you have a wait on your hands. She’s set to start a UK-only tour in April, and no US visits are currently planned.

Now the station has a perfect “four at five”: Idaho/Nerina Pallot, Idaho/Train, Private Idaho/B-52s, Idaho Pines/Hot Buttered Rum.

Update:KIVI ran a piece on Pallot Sunday (between a dire bird seed warning and a dancing with the weather guy promo). KRVB’s Tim Johnstone did the questions – and provided an interesting peak in to the song’s genesis. The piece was a bit confusing at first (it wasn’t obvious that Tim was asking the questions). KRVB might be wise to run the audio portion on-air.

KSAS is teasing something about a “new way to listen” involving iPods. Whatever it is, it’s supposed to start on March 6th.

Job Title: Remote Broadcast Talent (FT)

Job Description: We are currently seeking to fill the following employment opening: Remote Broadcast Talent: 1033 Kiss FM, Boise Idaho is looking for a star to host club-nights, live broadcasts, community events and more. Ideal candidates will: · meet people well · have a good driving record · know or able to learn set-up and operation of mobile sound gear · know or able to learn digital studio gear · have an outgoing personality and be comfortable in front of people · be responsible and detail oriented · have a good speaking voice · know and enjoy popular music

Send audition, tapes, resumes and/or other materials reflecting skills to: Aaron Traylor KSAS 827 E. Park Blvd. Boise, ID 83712 No Calls Please E-mail AaronTraylor@clearchannel.com

Remote Broadcast Technician (PT)

Education: High school diploma required

Skills: Strong organizational, time management and multi-tasking skills essential; excellent written and verbal communication skills; computer proficiency; technical ability or aptitude preferred; must be able to lift 50 pounds; must have a valid Idaho driver’s license.

Experience: No experience necessary; will train

Duties: Operate radio station mixers; set up live remote broadcasts; set up and operate PA systems and remote broadcast transmitters; set up tents, tables and hang banners; assist Promotions Department as needed; may also be asked to assist the Engineering Dept. occasionally, under supervision, working on studio equipment and mountain-top transmitters.

E-mail resume and cover letter to:
Cathy Prazenica
Journal Broadcast Group – Boise Radio Operations
5257 Fairview Ave. #260
Boise, Idaho 83706
cprazenica@journalbroadcastgroup.com
The title of the email must contain your name followed by the position title. Please include in the cover letter the name of the organization or website where you found our posting.

One-time Spud Brother Bob Pagani helped pull the woll over the media’s eyes (I hate when that happens) with a little Powerball ploy.

Details.

The rage at the Statehouse is about property taxes. Just about everyone is getting hit with a beefed up tax bill – from private residents to business owners based out of state.

One of those companies is none other than Journal Broadcast Group. While Journal’s Boise offices are now in leased space in Plaza Seven on Fairview Avenue, JBG owns 10 acres of prime real estate right in the middle of town.

The parcel at 5601 Cassia Street is home to an empty building, parking lot and four radio towers. The towers themselves only take up a few square feet, but with guy wires and other factors, the land totals out to just a bit more than 10 acres.

That ten acres stands out in an established area of town. A somewhat similar strip of land down the street will soon sprout an extension to Cassia Street, with businesses, homes – and if voters approve, a new school.

In 2004, the parcel was valued at $530,500 – an increase of about $100k from 2000.

In 2005, that same land was said to be valued at $878,500 – an increase of just more than 60%.

With the increase in assessment comes an big jump in the taxes paid. Journal has forked over half of its $15,502 in taxes on the property.

The building currently on that site sprouted up on that site in 1950, nine years before nearby Borah High School was constructed “in the middle of nowhere.”

By way of comparison, the Clear Channel-owned land at 455 Amity that once was home to KFXJ-FM (and before that KFXD-FM/AM) totals more than 26 acres – but since it’s currently in the middle of nowhere, the asessment is $711,200. That’s a lower value for 2.5 times more land and a bigger, more modern building.

We are seeking a Morning Sports Anchor for KTIK-AM, Boise’s Sports Radio Station.

The ideal candidate must have radio broadcasting experience and a basic knowledge of sports. Responsibilities include gathering, writing and anchoring local sports updates during morning drive. Experience with Scott Studios and Cool Edit is preferred. Part-time position.

Please send tape and resume to Citadel Broadcasting Company, Attn: Andrew Paul, 1419 W. Bannock Street, Boise, ID 83702.

Citadel Broadcasting Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer

KSAS is about to get a weekend makeover… only partly by choice. Claire Day is leaving Kiss & Boise Traffic for a new career out of the business — she’s staying in Boise.

I’m also told the station let new MD/weekend/overnight talent Jackie go. I say new because the station hired her in November.

TheTicketChicks.com

From the Magic e-newsletter tonight:

Dear Don,

Want backstage access at the Relient K concert? Come early to the Big Easy wearing your Magic 93.l gear and it could get you backstage. Be there early to this show! It’s Sold Out!!!

update: The only folks I saw with Magic gear were paid to wear it :)

Mat Diablo is joining KQXR as the station’s new PD, starting at the end of the month. He’ll make the trek up through the Jordan Valley from Reno’s KRZQ – where he held down the same job.

“Mat’s not just a great hand at Alternative – a clear advantage to us in maintaining and growing KQXR,” Journal OM Dan McColly told AllAccess. “But (he) also brings other-format experience which we’re sure will benefit the rest of the BOISE group, over time.”

“Quality of life, excellent cluster – the best crew in Boise, I couldn’t really ask for much more. It’s a perfect fit both professionally and in my personal life,” Diablo told AA.

I’ve got a sneak peek at the cume ratings for the book. You might be surprised at who’s on top: KCIX. It’s the first time the station has topped this chart since the old Kip Guth days I’m told.

Other storylines: KIZN tops KQFC; KZMG tops KSAS.

1 KCIX 60,200
2 KIZN 57,800
3 KBOI 56,000
4 KQXR 52,800
5 KZMG 50,200
6 KKGL 49,100
7 KIDO 47,200
8 KSAS 46,300
9 KQFC 45,300
10 KXLT 44,200

FOR SALE
Used radio station van.
Silver paint job with lettering intact
Own a piece of Idaho history!

OK, so I made the above part up. But that’s right kids and kiddies – the old “J-Van” is on the block. I’m told it is for sale at a car lot on Chinden between 42nd and 43rd.

No word if the KF95/The X/J105 boom box is part of the deal. (Thanks to Jerr for the picture)

Also: Am I crazy, or was the alarm on the X van going off when I walked by it today? Maybe it reads Idaho Radio News. Anyway… nice to see ol’ Plaza Seven has new carpet.

Frank Vandersloot’s Riverbend Communications gets the cluster for $13.5 million.

Oh boy. Busy.

Anyway — here’s a couple items from the notebook:

- Former KZMG morning guy Big Boy is no longer in Memphis — he backed-up and beeped all the way to Detroit’s WKQI. An insider notes that Evan replaces Tic Tak at WKQI- and that Mr. Tak was thisclose to replacing Mike Kasper as Magic’s PD — but dropped out at the last moment (they hired Beau Richards instead).
- Jacent Jackson said “see ya” to his APD/MD job at WKQX. Says AA: “(Jackson is) now extremely available and waiting to hear from you at 773-318-6426 or
heyjacent@hotmail.com.”
Hmm… isn’t there an opening here in B-town somewhere?

OK, so my tease (“A game of ‘what if,’” below) wasn’t very effective.

Here’s the scoop –

Sources say Byl & Doug will join Citadel’s KKGL this spring doing afternoon drive. Journal Broadcast Group split the two long-time KQXR morning hosts almost two years ago — moving Doug to KJOT mornings, and giving Byl a new supporting cast.

Byl was let go in late summer, and Doug was let go late this fall.

Details here