Idaho Radio News Etc.

Mellisa Paul – former KQXR mid-day talent and KIVI morning anchor hit the door for the last time today. She’s headed to Sacramento – and the folks at channel 6 put together a funny goodbye video.

Journal Broadcast Group put together a lively TV spot wishing the audience of KIVI and KNIN a happy holiday season. The spot featured KIVI morning anchors Lincoln Graves and Michell Starke, plus the KQXR morning team and KJOT afternoon team passing a present.

Pete and Joe apparently like to spend time in the bathroom together… and trade gifts in the john as well.

KQXR/100.3 The X will hit the road for the 2010 Fiesta Bowl, featuring undefeated teams TCU and Boise State.  Nic & Big J will set up shop a full week before the January 4th game.

“As Bronco Nation prepares to invade the Valley of The Sun, The Morning After will be Idaho’s Recon team,” the station said in a news release.  The team plans to have player and coach interviews, plus tips on where to go and what to do in Phoenix.

This isn’t Big J’s first Fiesta rodeo — he was part of the JBG crew the last time the Broncos hit Phoenix. I seem to remember something about a big hat with pink feathers on it.

KQXR/100.3 The X’s Nic & Big J returned a classic radio feature of yesteryear… Ask a Porn Star.

The station did this once before – and retired the bit. But after 15,000 pageviews for the XRock.com page — the crazy kids decided to return to the feature.

Hear it… here.

What goes around…. usually comes around. In this case, it’s the KF-95 boombox – which has found another life in the hands of a completely different radio station.

This once-blue trailer dressed up like a boombox started life at KFXD/KF-95, at a time in its life when pop music was all the rage, and KZMG/Magic 93.1 hadn’t yet gone pop. The mobile studio allowed talent to broadcast live, and had working speakers mounted in the side. (I used it as a place to change into the KF-95 dragon costume a time or two. I still haven’t wiped off all the germs.)

But now the boombox is in the hands of KWYD/Wild 101. Journal acquired the trailer along with the other KFXJ assets. After sitting behind the old Cassia building for a while – it was painted red and retooled for KQXR/100.3 The X.

So did Journal sell it to Impact? Not really. I’m told the Impact folks purchased it from a guy who bought it from JBG. They then went about making it a little big more modern (really, when was the last time you even saw a good ghettoblaster?). A fresh coat of paint and graphics – as well as an iPod center piece help launch the boombox into its third decade.

Party on Wayne.

KQXR/100.3 The X is allowing listeners to sign up at xrock.com to have The Reverend Ian stalk hang out with them. Here’s how it works: Go here, put in your details – and Ian will … quoting here… “swing by your work, home or where you hang out” and “bring the X Van and some cool stuff with him.”

Michael Deeds, in today’s IdahoStatesman, jabs at KQLZ/99.1 The Virus. Repeatedly. (Bold emphasis is mine)

The temporary cowpoke radio gag may have been amusing, but it felt like a spur in the ear to potential Virus listeners.

When I explained to Statesman sports columnist Brian Murphy that 99.1 wasn’t a country station after all, he wondered why Impact would spend days building up hype to a format change, then confuse us for the first few hours: “Seems brilliant,” Murphy remarked. “I just wiped it off my dial.”

Reception can be iffy in certain parts of Boise.

(W)hat exactly does “alternative” even mean these days?

“Linkin Park,” Fuentes adds, “you’re going to hear on this radio station a lot.”

True, unfortunately. And it feels a little odd to hear Linkin Park back to back with R.E.M. Or within a few songs of the White Stripes.

All that’s left to do is sit back, sample The Virus, and hope for pleasant symptoms of infection. Just be sure it’s not swine flu.

There is a shot at KQXR in the piece – but it’s quickly backed up with a defense.

“There are a lot of radio stations that call themselves alternative. This is not the radio station where you’re going to hear AC/DC,” (Fuentes said).

Zing! The X plays AC/DC. Not so long ago, The X was considered alternative. Nowadays, it’s evolved (or, devolved, depending on your perspective) into what’s known as an active rock format. “We stopped playing that stuff for a reason,” Nicolato says.

If The Virus decides to “come over and twiddle in our territory a little bit, then so be it,” Nicolato adds, before jabbing: “We’ll just have to kick their ass.”

Gotta love it.

Earlier this week, more than 100 Idaho Radio News voters weighed in on the relaunch of KQLZ. In one poll, we asked what format everyone though WOULD launch – and country was the overwhelming answer.

Then for some reason we also asked what format you actually wanted to hear – and modern rock took the day. So I guess everyone gets some satisfaction.

After about three hours of “99.1 The Bronco,” Impact segued to The Virus – which surprised many, but in hindsight the group has a pattern of doing this… so maybe it should not have.

Let’s look at the potential impact of the move. The first and most obvious station in the cross-hairs is KQXR/100.3 The X – which is just up the dial and has similar (for now) call letters to The Virus. KQLZ is making noise about bringing alternative music “back” to the Treasure Valley. I could try and formulate a long in-depth look at the music – but KQLZ’s mix seems to be a bit less hard core. I’ll let you listen and decide for yourself beyond that.

The X has never really seen a serious threat – and with nearly 15 years playing some form of new rock, is the heritage player.

Impact also appears to be using The Virus to put pressure on other competitors to boost its other properties. While KQLZ has no overlap with KWYD/Wild 101 – it has quite a bit of overlap with KSAS/103.3 Kiss FM and KZMG/Magic 93.1. If The Virus can take even a small portion of audience from these stations, it could help increase Wild’s lead over the other pop stations.

The Virus also could take some listeners from KJOT and KKGL/96.9 The Eagle – and that might give KSRV/96.1 Bob FM better positioning among rock stations.

Will this work? Time will tell. The 99.1 frequency has been very unstable over the past decade and has seen very little success. The best number I have for 99.1 is fall 1998, when The Music Monster scored a 3.8 12+ rating, before quickly falling back to a 1.9. The frequency has not broken the 2.0 barrier since then.

The X has seen a general downward trend, with the days of 7.0+ ratings long gone. However, the latest series of moves on the station have moved the needle from a low of 3.1 back to a respectable 4.6 this spring.

KQXR/100.3 The X Rocks took over the Knitting Factory Friday for X Fest 2009. No – not that X Fest — a local version. The station has been dedicating its Cage Match feature to local bands in recent weeks – and five acts went head to head in an all out battle to get the chance to produce a music video.

The acts:

• Kryterium
• Half The World
• Lust Greeds Envy
• Actual Depiction
• The Forgotten

The station started with 16 local bands before pairing it down to the top five. And the winner is? Checking….

Journal Broadcast Group once streamed four of its six Boise stations on the Interwebs – but now the only station to provide its audio over the Internet is KRVB/94.9 The River. KJOT, KQXR and KTHI are now only available for those people with one of those old-school radios.

Mudvayne is the headliner for the annual X Fest event – this year set for August 18th at the Idaho Center. KQXR/100.3 The X puts on the yearly show – and in addition to Mudvayne, Bury Your Dead, Dope, Static X and Black Label Society.

1T – KIDO (up more than 2 points from fall 07)
1T – KIZN (down from fall 07)
1T – KSAS (up from fall 07)
2T – KQXR
2T – KTIK

A couple of interesting notes here – there’s a three way tie at the top, with KIDO seeing a big number, likely partially fueled by BSU football – though the station’s last book with Rush Limbaugh drew a very large share.  Some salce for KIDO: Glenn Beck outrated even Rush.  KSAS shows continued strong results – though the station was down a bit from spring. Lucky has a double-digit share at night, and Keke Luv’s afternoon show grew as well  KIZN is still strong despite falling from last year and last spring.

KQXR saw an improvement though it’s still well of the spring 2007 numbers.  The big surprise is KTIK – which saw very very strong numbers – especially in the afternoon, home to Idaho Sports Talk with Caves and Prater.

Here’s our annual roundup of some of the great things stations are doing for the community.

• KTSY’s Christmas Wish program is underway. From home repair to a new pair of glasses, the station is looking to find people who need a hand – and will connect as many of them as possible to help.
• KIZN/Kissin 92.3 rolls into another year of the outstanding Keep Kids Warm.  The program started 12 years ago with a call to “Rivers and Valley” – the station’s morning show at the time. A young girl called and asked if there was any way her family could get some heating oil for the holiday – because the wanted to be warm for Christmas.  That year, listeners chipped in $17,000 for that girl and many others – and overall the program has racked up a stunning $650,000. This year’s on-air auction will be held December 15-19.
• KRVB/94.9 The River will hold its previously mentioned Concert for Cause later this month, and is also helping collect items for Toys for Tots.
• KSRV/96.1 Bob FM is directing people to the Boise Rescue Mission to make donations for the season.
• KKGL/96.9 The Eagle is also running a Christmas Wish program, this time in connection with the Idaho Youth Ranch. The station is helping collect a wide range of items for teens who are staying at the ranch – everything from cowboy boots to the Twilight book series.
• Starting Monday, the KQFC/Idaho Country 98 will travel the Treasure Valley stopping at five different Walmart locations – each day focusing on a different family that listeners can adopt. Each family has a different story and a different set of needs – and morning hosts Cory and Debi will introduce listeners to the family in need, and provide them with ways to help.
• KQLZ/99.1 Idaho’s True Oldies Channel just wrapped up a turkey drive – and raised $1380 in cash, plus 118 turkeys for the Idaho Food Bank. They are also pointing people to the Boise Rescue Mission.
• KQXR/100.3 The X is collecting toys for Toys for Tots.
• KAWO/Wow Country 104.3 is collecting toys for Toys for Tots.
• KJOT/J-105 is collecting toys for Toys for Tots.
• KCIX/Mix 106 is stuffing the semi for the Idaho Foodbank
• KTHI/107.1 K-Hits is collecting toys for Toys for Tots.
• KXLT/107.9 Lite FM continues its long Christmas Wish program with Home Federal – which has granted hundreds of wishes over the years and continues to find creative ways to help pepole out. You can nominate someone deserving at liteonline.com.
• KBOI/News Talk 670 is giving a boost to the Make a Wish Stories of Light campaign – helping fund wishes for several local kids with severe medical conditions.

KQXR/100.3 The X brought back former morning show host.. and former night guy Ian earlier this month. They parted ways due to budget cuts about six months ago.

He replaces Jac who left the station to do about 30 other things (including fill in work on KCIX…)

Idaho Daily Statesman entertainment writer Michael Deeds featured KQXR/100.3 The X’s changes in his weekly column.  Not much new there, so this link is mostly as a courtesy…  but there’s this line: “I can now name half a dozen FM stations that play Led Zeppelin in the Treasure Valley.”  Well, there’s five at least – KSRV/96.1 Bob FM, KKGL/96.9 The Eagle, KQXR/100.3 The X, KRVB/94.9 The River and KJOT/J-105… so 5/12ths of a dozen… or something.

The Boise Weekly’s annual poll of all the things that are known as the “best” around these parts is out.

In the media categories, KRVB/Idaho’s 94.9 The River snagged the top spot for both best personality and best radio station.  Tim Johnstone and Ken Bass took top honors and got a nice big pic of themselves in the local alt-weekly.  KCIX/Mix 106 hosts Mike Kasper and Kate McGwire took second place, with Big J from KQXR/100.3 The X in third.

Back to the station category, KBSU-FM/NPR News 91 took second place, and KSRV/96.1 Bob FM took third place (too bad my headline couldn’t have been Bob wins BOB!…)

Oddly enough, Boise State Radio took out a nice full apge ad thanking folks for “voting Boise State Radio for Best of Boise.”  I suppose the ad still works – since it is technically thanking those who voted… not for the act of voting them tops…

Elsewhere, KSAS/103.3 Kiss FM program director KeKe Luv took an editor’s pick honor for “Best Breaking a World Record for a Good Cause.”  The props came after Luv’s “Live for 175″ stay-awake-athon last spring.

The love for Kiss continues in the Arts and Entertainment section, as morning host “Hooker” is named “Best Hooker.”  There’s a nice little bit of irony in this: “If you’ve ever been to a function sponsored by KISS 103.3 FM, then you know they have a buttload of promotional material.  If they ever change their point on the dial, they’ll have to spend a fortune on Sharpies.”  Of course, KSAS is moving – to 103.5. It’s part of that weird station swap that will take place… eventually.  Maybe we should start a Sharpie fund for the Kiss kids.

Jon & Chris were named editor’s pick for “Best Talk Soup.” The veteran pair are called “insightful, often irascible, somtimes irritating and occasionally incredible.”

Dropped in on KQXR/100.3 The X lately? You might think you accidentally locked on to sister station KJOT/J-105.  The station has changed its playlist and jettisoned the “New Rock & 90s” tag. New liners, secondary voice and liners touting that “the X rocks.”

I tuned in after 11am and heard Runnin’ With the Devil by Van Halen – the song is just one of a flood of classic hits on the new active rock-sounding station.

New music isn’t gone, but the blend is what a lot of people have been saying one of the Journal stations should do. It could be the way to effectively attack KKGL/96.9 The Eagle, but it looks to spell trouble for J-105. It makes you wonder if more shoes will be dropping from the second floor of 5257 Fairview…

KQXR/100.3 The X mid-day talent Jac is heading away from the X for a variety of self-started versions, including as promoter of Bank (the band) independent voice work and she’s doing some concert promotion to boot.

That’s what this job posting is for.

This magically dropped into my inbox today. It’s a station demo for KQXR/100.3 The X back in 2002. It’s laced with sharp wit, localism… and Byl and Doug.

Cameos from Jacent Jackson, Mellisa Paul, Kallao and the funniest happy holidays promo you’ll hear for a while. Or heard a while ago. Or will hear in the future but you might have heard in the past. Whatever. Download the MP3 and quit reading my crap.

Journal Broadcast Group’s stations had a tough book. The group has one station in the top 10 – perennial winner 107.1 K-Hits with a strong 6.7.

The rest of the stations are in the doldrums.

- KJOT/J-105 down 12% from last year to 3.3
- KQXR/100.3 The X lost a third of its audience for a 3.1
- KRVB/Idaho’s 94.9 The River went up slightly from spring ‘07, but only notched at 2.6

And as a commenter noted, Impact’s automated, unstaffed KSRV/96.1 Bob FM outranked those three stations – despite management upheaval and a fairly weak overall presentation.

- KIZN/Kissin 92.3 is doing a flyaway to Chicago to see Rascal Flatts
- KRVB/Idaho’s 94.9 The River is putting two folks on a plane to Denver to see the Mile High Music Festival with Tom Petty, DMB, Jason Mraz and a bunch of others
- KKGL/96.9 The Eagle is giving away a “Tricked Out Truck” – a 2001 Silverado with all sorts of bells and whistles
- KQFC/98 FM will send two people to see Brooks & Dunn in Seattle
- KQXR/100.3 The X has another free show lined up with Safety Suit
- KJOT/J-105 is loading up a bus with listeners for a Mötley Crüe show in SLC.
- KCIX/Mix 106 is doing a $25,000 home makeover contest. 106 people qualify for a whole list of home-related stuff. Yes, one person will actually win.

KQXR/100.3 The X will throw open the gates on its fourth annual X Fest this August at the Idaho Center Ampitheatre on August 24th. Bands booked and announced include Seether, Shinedown, Sick Puppies, Red, Hurt, In This Moment (seethe, sick, down, red, hurt… sounds uplifting!) The X says more acts will be announced soon. Pre-sale tickets go on sale Wednesday at xrock.com for $29.

KQXR/100.3 The X is throwing a free show featuring Luna Halo Thursday at the Knitting Easy Big Factory. The band will be joined by three local acts picked by X listeners — A Blinding Spyre, Pravda and Malachi. The X gave listeners control – and let them pick the local warm-up acts.

Tickets? Free of course. Gotta listen to newrockand90sonehundredpointthreethex