Adventures In Amplitude Modulation!
• The greatest hits of the ’60s and ’70s have returned to the Alamo City, as Cox Media Group flushes its three-year-old Sports format on KONO-AM/San Antonio and resurrects The Big 86, playing those familiar hits from Santana, The Doobie Brothers, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Tommy James and the Shondells, The Supremes, Chicago, Marvin Gaye and The Spinners, etc.
KONO dates back to 1927, originally sporting the call letters KGRC (which stood for “Gene Roth Company”) when Eugene Roth launched a radio station above his bicycle shop and garage in downtown San Antonio. He later changed the call letters to KONO, and by the late ’50s the station became famous for playing rock and roll and pioneering the Top 40 format. Through the ’60s and into the ’70s the Big 86 led the ratings and became known as the Top Dog among local radio stations. Prior to its foray into Sports in early 2014, KONO-AM simulcast Classic Hits sister KONO-FM.
Roger Allen, Director of Branding and Programming commented, “This is the radio station three decades of San Antonians and South Texas residents grew up with when Rock and Roll was just beginning! It’s an honor to bring a historic era of radio and music back into service.”
• After nearly two decades with Cumulus News-Talk WVLK-AM/Lexington, KY, Dave “Kruser” Krusenklaus has been upped to the PD chair, succeeding Scott Johnson, who assumes a new role as News Director for WVLK-AM and the Cumulus Lexington cluster. Kruser (left), who has been on the air at WVLK-AM since 1999, was previously a PD and morning host in both Rock and Classic Hits formats.
Scott Frazier, VP/Market Manager of Cumulus Media Lexington, said, “I look forward to Kruser delivering the same powerful analysis and spirited attitude he has brought as an on-air personality to programming central Kentucky’s heritage News Talker, 590 WVLK!” Kruser, who also moves up from middays to afternoon drive, added, “I’m thrilled and honored to be named Program Director at News Talk 590 WVLK, a legendary radio station in a city that I love. It will be challenging and fun to take this institution into the Trump era and beyond and make Talk Radio ROCK again!”
