Idaho Radio News Etc.

It blows me away I have to say this, but: there’s a new rule – no name calling.

Make your point, whatever it is — but don’t hurl insults at people. Period.

I’ve worked for more 2 and a half years to build this as a welcoming place to talk about the industry in Idaho – please don’t wipe mud on my hard work.

Also: I keep a pretty light touch with editing or removing comments, but that will change if we can’t all play nice.

Our Clear Channel friends have seen this many times, but here’s a peek for every one else. These are the letters featured in this photo. They now reside inside Clear Channel’s Boise HQ.

The plaque next to the sign reads:

This landmark neon sign was built in 1937 for the studio building in Nampa. It was the first of its kind in Idaho. After years of disrepair it was taken off the building in the mid-1960s and later discarded. We found the sign lying in the mud behind an old transmitter building in the Fall of 2004, deteriorating and in need of repair after decades of neglect. The sign was expertly rebuilt and reinstalled by LYTLE SIGNS of Boise for CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS in early 2005.

Kudos to the Clear Channel folks for restoring a piece of Idaho history. (Thanks to the friend of IRN who sent the photos in!)

More from the KFXD files.

Those wall pictures I was sniffing around for a few weeks ago do exist, and our friend RDS was kind enough to scan them for me.

I always loved this passage:

Hey KFXD
– you should call your station
K-Fixed — the station that saved the world
or fixed it.

Here’s the images – click to enlarge.

Rexburg’s Sunny 94.3 has dropped it’s heritage KADQ calls (dating to the 1970s) – and has picked up KSNA (K-Santa???). Sunnayy!

I found myself in range of KZDX/99.9 The Buzz today. The station plays a solid pop mix, with very little hip hop – almost a little Hot AC sounding. Mountain Home residents might possibly have the largest selection of Pop/AC stations of any people in a similar sized city across the country. Along with KZDX, folks in the Air Force town have access to good strong signals from KTPZ/Music Monster 99.1, KZMG/Magic 93.1, KSAS/103.3 Kiss FM, KCIX/Mix 106 and KXLT/Lite 108.

KZDX’s imaging and station sound is solid – much different than the last time I had a chance to listen (waaay back in August 2004. I believe that KZDX, KSAS & KIDO all share a Voice of God… anyone know if that’s the case?

This week’s local entertainment review by Michael Deeds zeroes in on KQXR/100.3 The X. There are a number of good nuggets about the station, including an interview with new PD Mat Diablo. Deeds hands out kudos for recent playlist changes – including the addition of Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, Arctic Monkeys and the Raconteurs.

I’ve been critical in the past about his lack of direct disclosure of the tie between KRVB and other stations, but he was straightforward and direct in this latest column.

It’s a big week for local artists — and several of them are getting play on… gasp… local radio!

KRVB/94.9 The River is playing the awesome, addictive Douglas Cameron song “Half Bottle.” Cameron’s CD hit store shelves this past Tuesday (available at the Record Exchange). The Moscow native is formerly of the band Stranger Neighbor, and he’s cobbled together a band consisting of Jacob Florence, Chris Riches, Dave Manion – plus John Fricke and Rusty Tinder. Cameron is doing a live show this Thursday at 8am on the River. “Half Bottle” has a very Barenaked Ladies feel. You’ll start hearing it throughout the week on The River.

It’s a good week for local guys named Doug. Journal sister KQXR/100.3 The X is set to start spinning tracks from local favorite Built to Spill and bandleader Doug Martsch. That group’s new album hits the streets this Tuesday (it will land in the Record Exchange of course, but will also likely see shelf space at the evil Sam Goody, right next to the bubble gum and Us Weekly). Michael Deeds & Tim Johnstone played a preview of the new cut – which is longer than most radio singles. The band has a radio edit ready to go. I think I may have found a new favorite song in “Conventional Wisdom.”

Arcturus of Mad Ro has a new single – “Nasty,” from his solo effort “Word.” It’s getting some rotation on KTPZ/Music Monster 99 – and on KSAS/103.3 Kiss FM. I’m kinda losing my taste for hip-hop of late, but the song has a decent hook, and good production value.

And what would we do without MySpace? Hear from Douglas Cameron, Built to Spill or Arcturus.

That’s four local stations playing three local acts. GOOD local acts. Here’s to more!

Idaho’s oldest call letters currently reside in the hands of Clear Channel Communications, as an AM classic country station.

As many folks know, Idaho’s first radio station didn’t actually start in this state – but in Utah. KFXD first hit the airwaves of Logan in 1922. It moved to Jerome in 1926, then to Nampa in 1929. Of Compton’s Encyclopedia’s list of oldest radio stations by state – only KFXD began its history in another state.

KFAU began on July 18, 1922, as part of Boise High School – not as part of a communications program, but instead as 1920s-era experiment of the physics department. The station went commercial in 1928 – and traded in its calls for the shiny, new “KIDO.”

Much later, KFXD put up a stick on the current property at 455 W. Amity. Friend of Idaho Radio RDS shared these amazing archive photos:

The KFXD “house” and tower.

A closer view

KFXD’s studios on 12th Street in Nampa.

I’m still looking for any available photos of the walls by the men’s restroom in the last Amity building – if you have any, send them to idahoradio@gmail.com, I’d love to share them.

(Thanks to RDS for the old photos)

Job Description: ***Position closes May 4th, 2006*** 580 News Radio KIDO-AM is in search of an outstanding Morning Person or team. Our lineup includes the biggest names with Rush, Dr. Laura and Glenn Beck. We need an engaging news show to lead off the day. Great facility, great staff, spectacular city. Can you connect with an adult news-hungry audience? Do you make good decisions on what material is perfect for the target audience? Do you understand today`s news and bring a sense of humor to the job? This may be the opening you`ve been waiting for. Salary is negotiable depending on experience. Equal opportunity employer (EOE M/F/D/H/V).

Magic 93.1 KZMG-FM is seeking new weekend talent looking to get a foot in the door in Boise. You gotta be a fun communicator who can connect to the Boise listeners, the music, the pop culture and basically the world that is today’s Top40 format. Be familiar, or at least not afraid of, computers and other radio technology. Ideal candidate will be a real “people person” and a joy to be around!

Please send T & Rs to Brad Collins, PD
KZMG-Magic 93.1
1419 W. Bannock Street
Boise, ID 83702

I understand there are TWO openings

Account Executive

FM Idaho Co. LLC / KSRV AM/FM in Ontario has an immediate opening for an Account Executive.

That’s great if you know about “TSL” “AQH” “CUME” or any of those other terms; what we care about is your desire to work in an environment that is fun, rewarding, and building relationships are your main focus.

If you want to learn about how you can make a good living, live in a great place in Eastern Oregon, and enjoy radio without the Corporate BS. Then pack the station wagon. Please send us your resume and work history right away.

Write to us today, tell us about your experiences and what you want for yourself personally and professionally, let’s see if you fit our team.

FM Idaho Co. LLC is an equal opportunity employer

FM Idaho Co. LLC
ATTN. AE Position
PO BOX 129
Ontario, Oregon 97914

Email your resume to:

gina@ksrv.com

- Are there issues with Bob & Tom airing in Boise? Are engineers working to fix it?
- Is KIOV off the air? Does anyone know what that station is supposed to “be” anymore?
- Was the new morning show hire at KSAS posted through the normal means? If not, where?
- If Clear Channel could get anyone to do the morning show gig at KIDO – who would it be?
- When will Byl & Doug appear on KKGL?
- How close is KJOT to hiring a PD?
- Did Jon Duane’s mention of this site live on KBCI drive any traffic?

The answer to the last question is… no. This site reaches more than 1,000 people each day. The KBCI morning show averaged 800 viewers each day in the February book – see boisetvratings.com for the data. I’m just saying is all.

KTVB.COM has posted a 7 minute interview with Jon & Chris – several good tid-bits.

See it here

KTMY/My Country 104.3 brought out-of-town morning hosts Big D & Bubba to town for the station’s recent “That’s My Truck” giveaway.

There’s been a lot of “news” coming out of KSAS/103.3 Kiss FM of late — explaining the crazy volume of posts on the station.

But: It appears the carousel of change isn’t stopping just yet. As we first reported this weekend, Kidd Kraddic is out. The syndicated show is being replaced by local programming – with John Hooker (or, just — “Hooker”). That ball got rolling this morning.

Also, it appears a new noon time mix show has been launched (noon? really?) with DJ OSO Fresh from Portland. He mixes with Z100 mid-dayer Kelly. Oh, and she does mid-days for KSAS too.

Annnnd finally — I understand Kane is no longer VTing nights. My e-mail asking about the shakeup went unanswered… I’ll have to put a pair of ears on the station tomorrow to sort it all out.

And to think… I was just thinking about how quiet it was in radio land. Everytime I do that something odd happens…

Clear Channel has launched a search for a morning show to replace Jon & Chris on KIDO. Sources tell me that CC has been working for a while on “something” — something that would closely resemble a new morning show for the AM talker.

Jon Duane and Chris Kelly are no longer with KIDO-AM.

A CC insider says there has been a struggle over control of the show. I’m also told the pair gave two weeks notice today, but were instead shown the door.

Dave Burnett held down the fort today. A few “Jon, Chris & Dave” bumpers continued to sneak through. I caught a round-robin update at about 8:45am, and it was a little scattered. Obviously no mention of the change on the air.

Also: The station’s website was updated before our eyes in the past 30 minutes – removing Jon & Chris. If you are counting at home, that’s three CC morning shows on ice since the begining of the year (KTLB, KSAS & KIDO).

It’s a big day over at CC Boise. As we reported earlier this weekend, KSAS dumped syndie morning show Kidd Kraddick.

Listeners this morning got a big breath of fresh… music. A whopping 13 cuts an hour!

No word on a permanent replacement.

WGTS/Washington DC is hoping to grab some of the KTSY magic – by hiring KTSY’s Ty McFarland as new PD, according to AllAccess. His last day at KTSY was Friday.

If the MPAA and RIAA merged, they’d be… this.

WinCo Foods is now on MySpace.

Its top 8 friends are Albertsons, Safeway, HEB, The Home Depot, Meijer, Wal-Mart, Petco & Lowe’s.

Damn grocery store cliques.

Word has it that Smooch is back in at KSAS. Maybe he’s taking the morning show. Ha. Ha.

The Treasure Valey has a whole roster of decent concerts on deck for spring/summer.

Spring Jam – April 14th/Taco Ballerina
Black Eyed Peas/Pussycat Dolls – May 19th/Idaho Center
Nine Inch Nails – May 28th/Idaho Center
Diamond Rio – June 30th/Idaho Center
Warped Tour – July 14th/Idaho Center
Faith Hill/Tim McGraw – August 6th/Idaho Center

…and it’s only April 1

Who’s playing the most country songs in Boise? On a spot check Thursday March 30th, the answer is… KSRV.

3/30/06 – 9am-5pm
KTMY – 109 cuts, 13.625/hr
KIZN – 103 cuts, 12.875/hr
KQFC – 105 cuts, 13.125/hr
KSRV – 114 14.25/hr

Of the three “Boise” stations, KTMY is still averaging more music than the Q or Kissin’ – but the ratio is down slightly from a spot check in January. We’ll check in again later this week.

Must be frustrating to do a web search for Boise’s newest radio station.

If you google “My Country 104.3″ or “KTMY” and the top hit is… this website. In fact, KTMY doesn’t show up in the first page.

As I noted earlier this year, mycountry1043.com and mycountry104.com go to KIZN’s website.

Googling “My Country” gives you a whole list of non-radio stuff, and punching in My Country Boise gives you KIZN’s website.