Fresno Forecast: Muy Caliente
• After nearly two decades as an Active Rock station, and “to better reflect the evolving tastes and cultural vibrancy of the Central Valley,” Lotus Communications flipped KKBZ (Rock 105.1)/Fresno to Latin Urban as Caliente 105.1, under the command of PD Jorge Guillen and powered by a wide variety of Latin music genres (Urbano) such as Reggaeton, Dancehall, and Latin Hip-Hop. Core artists include Bad Bunny, Karol G, Rauw Alejandro, Fuerza Regida and Peso Pluma, etc.
As the release states, “With its infectious beats and global appeal, Urbano has become one of the fastest growing and most influential music movements in the world. The Central Valley’s diverse and passionate music fans deserve a station that reflects their energy and cultural pride, and Caliente 105-1 is thrilled to deliver just that.”
Our commitment remains the same — to bring great music, entertainment, and culture to the community we proudly serve. We truly believe that this new format will resonate with a broader audience and bring a fresh, exciting sound to the airwaves.”
And, as expected with a format flip this dramatic, there are the inevitable human casualties — at press time we have confirmed the departure of Rock 105.1 APD/PM drive personality Ryan Oldfield and one part-time employee.
In a statement, management noted, “We want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who was involved in the Active Rock format and was affected by this change. Many talented professionals contributed to making Rock 105-1 a great station, and we sincerely appreciate their hard work and dedication. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors.”
