2017 Fun With Formats
• iHeartMedia Dallas officially launched its new Mainstream AC outlet Star 102.1 on December 26. As we reported back in mid-November, the company pulled the plug on former longtime Alternative KDGE (102.1 The Edge) and played Christmas music through the holidays. Star 102.1’s new personality lineup include 20-year radio vet Ryan Lovett from 6am-noon, market vet Rick O’Bryan from noon-6pm, and DFW radio newcomer Amanda Flores from 6pm-midnight.
“The early feedback on Star 102.1 has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Patrick Davis, SVP of Programming for iHeartMedia Dallas-Fort Worth. “Our Star 102.1 team, led by PD Jay Shannon, has been working around the clock to get the new Star 102.1 ready to launch at the stroke of midnight on December 26. We are very excited to get the station on the air and fill a void that DFW radio has been missing.”
• Alpha Media AC KBAY/San Jose made some major changes during the holidays — on Christmas Day the station flipped to Classic Hits as 94.5 Bay FM. VP of Programming/PD Ronnie Stanton commented, “This is a hugely exciting moment in the history of these call letters. We will continue to play the artists that made us famous for years as well as adding the best music of the ’70s to create an upbeat blend of music’s finest decades.”
GM John Levitt added, “I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate Christmas. The new 94-5 Bay FM will be a gift to our listeners, advertisers and staff that will be enjoyed for a long time to come.” Concurrent with the flip, KBAY parted ways with morning duo Sam Van Zandt and Lisa Kriesler. Van Zandt is reportedly retiring.
• Back on December 13 we reported that Beasley Media’s WBRN (No Rules Rock)/Tampa had dropped Bubba The Love Sponge from mornings. After a brief, palate-cleansing foray into Christmas music as “Santa 98.7,” the station recently returned to playing Rock, this time rebranded as “Donald 98.7 FM,” operating under the fairly predictable temporary slogan, “Making Radio Great Again.” You are hereby advised to stay tuned for further developments….
• Alpha Media cranked up the Rock quotient in its Columbia, SC cluster with the Dec. 27 launch of translator-powered Rock 99.7 under the command of Hunter Meyer, PD of Classic Rock sister WMFX (Fox 102.3). Meyer said, “We live in a very vibrant and educated town, and it was kind of silly that Contemporary Rock didn’t have a place on the dial. Rock 99.7 will now fill a very sizeable 20-year void. We are going to have a ton of fun with this thing.” SVP/Market Manager Mike Hartel added, “This is really about providing the local community with options, and up until today there was not an option to hear some incredible rock music from the last 20 years on the radio. Our town has been very vocal about wanting a Contemporary Rock option back, and we are thrilled to be able to accommodate that request. We really couldn’t wait to get started!”
• One Putt Broadcasting in Fresno made several ambitious 2017 moves, starting with Triple A KJWL, which migrates up the dial from 99.3 to 105.5. Unfortunately, that move marks the end of Classic Hip Hop KJZN (Rewind 105.5). Back on 99.3, the company has launched a new Top 40 player — 99.3 Now FM.
And to answer the musical question, “Hey, where did former KLLY (Energy 95.3)/Bakersfield PD Miggy Santos (pictured) end up?” the answer is: he’s the new PD/morning guy on 99.3 Now FM, where he — and the new format — debuted at 7:20 yesterday morning. Santos is already familiar with the Fresno market, having previously done mornings on KWYE (Y101) a few years back. Former KLLY midday personality DJ Jess is now doing afternoons and Nicole Giordano is doing nights.
