Fuhr Makes Sure KGAY Stays Gay
• On Christmas Day 2018, radio veteran Brad Fuhr helped launch KGAY 106.5/Palm Springs, serving California’s Coachella Valley, home to the highest concentration of LGBTQ+ residents in the U.S. Today, it was announced that Sunnylands Broadcasting is selling KGAY-AM 1270/Thousand Palms, CA and translator K293CL @ 106.5 to Fuhr (below, left), combining those broadcast assets with Fuhr’s well-established digital and social brand, Gay Desert Guide. LGBTQ+ programming will also be expanded with the welcome return of popular KGAY hosts — John Taylor (below, center) in morning drive and Brand Manager Chris Shebel (below, right) in afternoons.
“KGAY should stay gay and this plan does just that,” said Greg Smith, co-owner of Sunnylands Broadcasting. “We have always been and remain committed to keeping the radio station in the ownership of an LGBTQ+ company. We are thrilled that the radio station will be operated by Brad, who is both an experienced broadcaster and a successful champion of the LGBTQ+ communities.”
“KGAY has been remarkably successful,” says Fuhr, noting that the station has worldwide listeners via its streaming platform and easy discovery as “K-GAY,” the best call letters in the world. “This will only expand and improve with new ownership and our integrated marketing plan.”
KGAY plays dance hits from the disco era to today — a format that Chris Shebel originally concepted nationally. “I was fortunate to be the first programmer of KGAY/Palm Springs and I look forward to resuming that role,” Shebel said. “KGAY is a unique radio station with a strong role in our diverse Coachella Valley communities. I’m excited to return to KGAY to oversee the music we play and help make our performers a strong part of the community. Thanks to the current owners’ desire to keep the station in LGBTQ+ hands, we have an opportunity now to make KGAY a part of our communities for years to come.”
In the coming weeks, new content and features for the combined media portal will be launched, along with a full schedule of programming, all available online at GayDesertGuide.LGBT and KGAYPalmSprings.com.
