Cumulus Takes California Coastal KRUZ
• As we hinted earlier today, Cumulus Media has brought the legendary KRUZ call letters back to California’s Central Coast with today’s launch of Classic Hits KRUZ 103.3/Santa Barbara. The calls swap places with former Classic Hip Hop KVYB, as those call letters migrate down the coast to the Oxnard-Ventura market with the simultaneous launch of Top 40 106.3 The Vibe, Oxnard’s Hit Music Station. Both stations are under the command of new PD Brandon Young (pictured, below), who most recently worked for Redrock Broadcasting as PD/Content Director and afternoon personality for Top 40 KURR (Mix 103.1)/St. George, UT. Before that he programmed Alpha Media Country KYKX/Tyler-Longview, TX.
Sommer Frisk, Regional VP/Market Manager of Cumulus Oxnard-Ventura, said, “Everything good takes time. And, after more than a decade, it’s time we bring KRUZ 103.3 FM back to the Central Coast! It’s also the right time to move 106.3 The Vibe to Oxnard to give the fans what they’ve been begging for. With the combination of KRUZ 103.3’s powerful signal, along with the synergy of its legendary sister brand 106.3 The Vibe, we will provide new and exciting ways for our listeners and marketing partners to engage with the fans up and down the Central Coast.” Frisk added, “We could not be happier to welcome Brandon Young to our superstar programming team headed by Operations Manager, Justin Taylor. This duo is unstoppable and are ideal for this huge project.”
Taylor commented, “It’s been really exciting to put together and build the stations that people all along the coast are going to absolutely LOVE! From the great programming to the dynamic on-air personalities, these are going to be stations that people will be talking about.”
Young’s radio resume also includes a stint as OM of Cherry Creek’s seven-station cluster in Wenatchee, WA and PD of Country KYSN (Kissin’ 97.7) and Hot AC KQBG (99.5 The Bridge). He’s probably best known for his lengthy history in the Salt Lake City market, including a stint as PD/afternoon personality (as “Shotgun Jackson“) on Broadway Media Country KEGA (101.5 The Eagle)and on-air stops at KUBL, KZHT, KKAT, KBEE, KISN and KCPX. He also programmed Leighton Country KYCK/Grand Forks, ND.
Young remarked, “I’m absolutely thrilled to join the amazing Oxnard-Ventura, Santa Barbara team of Cumulus Media! I have no doubt that we will take KRUZ 103.3 and 106.3 The Vibe to incredible new heights. Sommer Frisk and Justin Taylor, thank you for this tremendous opportunity.”
