Idaho Radio News Etc.

It’s quite a feat – and quite a story.  KSAS/103.3 Kiss FM program director and afternoon host caught the community’s attention in a unique way last year – by staying awake for 175 hours.  Luv stayed behind the mic around the clock, taking calls and talking about a cause: child abuse awareness.

The event paid big dividends for the station — tapping into Boise’s unique community and family spirit, and creating unprecedented watercooler buzz. The event also paid off in the ratings, lifting the station to new heights, and made it one of the area’s most listened-to stations.  So how do you top it?

This year, Luv took the “Live for 175″ concept and expanded upon it — taking it to the streets of Boise.  The DJ ran seven marathons over the course of a week – more than 180 miles in all. Winding through neighborhoods and major thoroughfares, the station took the endurance event straight to listeners.  Everywhere Luv went, folks honked and cheered and yelled “Go KeKe Go!” The station worked with Internet provider Fiberpipe  to live stream the event – with a traveling camera available online.  The chat room averageed 90-120 folks chatting, watching and listening in a dynamic interactive format.  People like KeKe’s mom, sister, and the rest of the KSAS staff interacted with listeners online.  The Fiberpipe rig was even set up so that KeKe’s girlfriend could chat live with folks from the road, provinding updates on location and his condition.

I’ve always loved the saying “do well by doing good.”  This is a prime example of what radio can be.  The station picked a cause, zeroed in, and found a way to grab attention.  KeKe Luv, whose real name is Steve Kicklighter, made a real, personal, physical sacrifice for this event.  To be able to buckle down and commit your mind and body to something this intense is impressive.

When I think of what radio should be — this is it.

Here’s a few photos snagged from the webcam:

Impact Radio continues to beef up its stations and hopes to take a tough economy and make it work to its advantage.  As we’ve chronicled here, the other three major Boise station groups have all let employees go – but Impact has continued to add programming staff, with ten hires over the past six months.

Company senior VP Elliot Klein tells Idaho Radio News that the company is changing its promotional approach to the market — with efforts to promote the stations every month, not just during Arbitron rating periods.

“Most of my experience has been in markets that were surveyed continuously anyway and that’s the way Impact is going to promote its stations in Boise,  on a 24/7/365 basis,” he said. “We can’t afford not to!”

A big piece of that promotional puzzle is a year-round contract with Lamar Outdoor Advertising for billboards.  You’ve likely seen the electronic signs that promote KSRV/96.1 Bob FM, KWYD/Wild 101, KPDA/La Poderosa 100.7 and KQLZ/99.1 Idaho’s True Oldies Channel.  The electronic nature of the boards allows Impact to be nimble with marketing messages and change up the approach quickly.

Klein says another digital approach is also paying dividends — text messaging. More than 12,000 listeners have opted into text messaging products — and he says that’s generating non-traditional revenue for the group.

“On WILD we are receiving more than 160,000 incoming texts per month from our listeners,” Klein said.

Each station is also working in social media applications like Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.

While the stations are emphasizing new ideas, the approach is old-school – with people who focus on broadcasting first, with the hope that the business end will pencil out by doing radio right.

“Impact is now being run by broadcasters not CFOs or CPAs,” he said.

KTHI/107.1 K-Hits just wrapped up a search for Idaho’s next millionaire — a fun bit of radio theater involving Cher, roulette and a $100 bill.  The station gave away a trip to Las Vegas — and provided a $100, to be put down on red 1 on the roulette wheel at Ceasers Palace.  If that $100 hit – that listner would be on their way to a million dollar pay day!  Either way, the station gave the lucky listeners tickets to see Cher in Sin City.  The tag? “From the station where money is no object and the object is no money.”

Next up, K-Hits will hold its 7th birthday bash — hosting another concert Friday June 19th.  The event is will be held at the Taco Bell Arena (TBA) — and the artist is also… TBA.  An announcement is coming soon.

KZDX/99.9 The Buzz has picked up Kurt Kruzer for the morning show – joined by Amber Gold.  The air used to hold down that same fort on the station.

Broc Johnson moves to afternoons, and remains program director.

Boise Weekly has a long feature story on Idaho’a latin music scene – and how radio plays into it.

KSAS/103.3 Kiss FM host Keke Luv will start running seven marathons over seven days this Sunday.  Zach Wolken caught up with Keke for a training preview. Watch it here

Boise Community Radio will host an event at the Linen Building in Downtown Boise on pril 23rd.  Amy Goodman, host of Democracy Now, which is heard on the BCR webcast will be the headliner.  Cost is $10 at the door, or $5 for students.  A pre-fun will be held at the Red Feather Lounge, but it sounds like that’s mostly sold out.  Proceeds benefit the group’s efforts to launch a terrestrial radio station in the Treasure Valley.  Details here

Crazy busy of late, and this site has been neglected a bit. I’m hoping to fire off some blog items later today or Thursday!

Idaho Radio News has added an “Etc.” to its title. When I first launched this site, it was simply called “Idaho Radio” (hence my name in comments – which remains just “Don@IdahoRadio”). I eventually added the “news” to match the domain name. The “Etc.” serves as simple “truth in advertising” for those few non-radio posts. The domain doesn’t change and neither does the content.

I’ve also launched a new look after several weeks of tinkering. I’m on the lookout for a more suitable header image… that’s coming down the road.

One-time Idaho Daily Statesman employee Dave Frazier noticed something in Friday’s printed edition:

“Effective Monday, April 6, we will no longer be able to offer re-delivery of missed papers within the metro area…”

As Dave noted, how can you “re-deliver” something that wasn’t delivered in the first place? The bottom line is simple: If the Statesman screws you over and doesn’t deliver that day’s paper… they aren’t going to try and make it right by getting a paper out to ya. Geez.

UPDATE: Dave didn’t note – and since I didn’t do my own research – I didn’t mention that if you don’t get your paper, they’ll send you a voucher for a free copy of the paper, credit your account or give you an e-edition password. Still not perfect, but at least it’s an attempt.

In that same Friday edition, entertainment writer Mike Deeds decided that a drug reference was a good idea:

Hide your daughters! Hide your daughters’ stashes! Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland is heading out for a solo tour.

Always smart to talk about drug use by kids.

Another note: My very smart mother has been trying to cancel her newspaper (wonder why). While IdahoStatesman.com (the second most popular website in the market) lets you start delivery, put on a vacation stop and a dozen other things… you can’t cancel. As my old boss Mark Danielson used to say: That’ll Hold ‘Em!

The “former Idaho Statesman employees” Facebook group sheds a ton of light on how things work at the paper – with many employees talking about their “last experiences” with the paper:

• Last straw was slinging agate for 22 straight shifts near the end of my term
• Laid off over the phone while on vacation
• Hired just before 9/11 Laid off 3 months later and just two weeks after buying my first home…

Lastly – former Thrive Magazine writer Chad Dryden now has a blog – it’s called “Laid Off Loser” – you can check it out here. It joins Jeane Huff’s excellent “First, the good news…” blog. I’ve added both to the blogroll.

A German DJ stayed on the air for 169 straight hours earlier this month – breaking the previous record of 168 hours set by an Indian DJ. This record counts since they hooked up with the Guinness folks to make it official. KSAS DJ KeKe Luv did 175 hours straight one year ago this week but didn’t follow some of the arcane rules.

The Middleton Library has a fundraiser set for this weekend – and is looking for area DJs to participate in a tricycle race. Details after the jump
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This is my once a quarter or so “got stuff?” post. Send me tips, questions and ideas: idahoradio@gmail.com.

PS: A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to be a presenter at Ignite Boise – which is an awesome event held at the Egyptian Theater downtown. Here’s my five minutes of fast-talking nervousness:

I’ll try to snag a picture this weekend – but KWYD/Wild 101 has a digital billboard on the I-184 Connector that’s quite simple:

DON’T LISTEN TO WILD 101!

Seem like an odd ad? Next to the plain black on white text is a clipart lipstick stain in red…. the international sign for a “kiss.” Hmmm.

From Lost Remote – here are some things I’ve learned about the all-the-rage-these-days Twitter service.

Journal Communications announced it will cut salaries for all non-union employees by six percent.

“There is a high probability that this environment will continue for at least the balance of 2009,” CEO Steven Smith said in a letter intercepted by the AP. “As we manage for the long-term success of the company, we must identify constructive ways to continue to reduce costs.”

But to somewhat soften the blow of the six percent cut, JC will give all employees an extra ten days off this year. Those days will technically be paid, albeit at the lower pay rate. Ten days works out to be about 4% of total work days – so it’s not an even trade… but it certainly isn’t nothing.

Journal says it hopes to restore pay in 2010. Shares jumped almost 60% on the news.

JBG is now the third Boise groups to cut salaries. In February, Citadel cut pay by 5% and Peak made a 10% cut.