Phillips Hits That Fork In The Road

• After a remarkable 35-year run at Lotus Hot AC KPLZ (Star 101.5)/Seattle, PD/afternoon talent Kent Phillips announced he will be leaving the station at the end of the year and will become a partner in Tucson-based FMR Associates, one of the nation’s leading radio research companies founded by Bruce Fohr in 1981.

“This was too good an opportunity to pass up,” said Phillips, who joined KPLZ in 1986 when it still owned by cowboy star Gene Autry and rolled through subsequent owners Fisher, Sinclair, and now, Lotus.

Phillips also owns one of the industry’s largest radio consulting companies, TCCPRADIO, which currently boasts more than 150 clients in the U.S. and Canada. He added, “It took a unique opportunity to make the decision to leave KPLZ after three decades, and this was certainly it. The chance to give my consulting clients access to great research and the chance to work with FMR clients is a perfect merger!”

Phillips will be staying on for the next few weeks to usher the station through its annual Christmas music programming.