"Rock 103" has been replaced by "Arrow 103.5," shifting the focus of KRSP (FM 103.5) to rock 'n' roll oldies instead of album rock.
"This transition is the result of months and months of music testing, research, focus studies and in-depth analysis of the Salt Lake radio market," Craig Hanson, president of the Simmons Radio Group, said in an exclusive to the Deseret News."Arrow 103.5 will target a rock 'n' roll oldies enthusiast like no other station in Utah. Rock 103 was Utah's first rock 'n roll station. Most Utahns grew up with Rock 103," Hanson added. "This takes us into the final phase of pure rock 'n' roll oldies."
Arrow 103.5 will feature only the biggest rock artists from the 1970s and early 1980s.
"No disco. No bubble gun. No doo-wop," said general manager Steve Johnson.
The station is retaining the historic KRSP call letters and, pending FCC approval, the Simmons Group will officially purchase KRSP from Carlson Communications.
KRSP spokesman Ken Bell said the music on Arrow 103.5 won't duplicate KLZX but will play more rock from the 1970s.
He said KRSP will be playing many artists that oldies fans have a hard time finding on the radio, including the Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Beatles, Cream, Peter Frampton and Boston.
Station officials hope the changes will help KRSP achieve the success of sister KSFI (alias "FM-100").
In fact, the transition and new sound of Arrow 103.5 are similar to KSFI's surprising move in 1990 from "beautiful" (elevator) music to its current all-vocal style.
"People in the industry thought we were nuts," Hanson said. "But our research showed this was a trend we should consider. The timing was critical. We followed the research and it paid off."
KSFI has been ranked among the top three stations out of the 43 in this market ever since.
The new delivery on KRSP will also resemble KSFI's.
"The music is the focus," Johnson said. "Our announcers will be trained in delivering friendly, short tidbits of information. There will be more rock 'n' roll oldies played per hour than at any other station."
The Arrow style is already a success in Los Angeles, Houston and Dallas. Arrow targets adults ages 25-49 with a slant toward men. Because KSFI caters to women, Simmons Radio will attract both genders.
Bell said Arrow is not a satellite format. All music is arranged and played locally from KRSP's studios. KRSP's former lineup of DJs is also expected to remain the same.
KRSP began as an AM station in 1967 with an FM counterpart added about one year later. Simmons Radio started operating KRSP under an LMA lease agreement in October 1992.
- KKAT (FM-101.9) - The FCC recently fined the station $3,500 for a July 1992 incident in which some of a man's comments aired without his consent.
Dana Horner, KKAT general manager, said the incident happened during Cano and Simmons' coverage of the July 24 parade and that the person later filed a complaint with the FCC.
The DJs, who no longer host the morning show, believed the conversation had already been cleared to go on the air by other station personnel, but it hadn't.
Horner said KKAT takes strong precautions to prevent such incidents. The FCC had reduced the initial fine because of extenuating circumstances.
- KRCL (FM-90.9) is raising funds to build a translator station in Park City.
So far the station has raised $2,200 but needs another $3,800 by May.
The latest stage of this fund-raising campaign is "For the Love of Community Radio." For a $25 donation, the station will air a 15-word Valentine message on Monday.
A messenger will even deliver a small bouquet of roses to your valentine to let him or her know when to listen.
Valentines must be paid in advance by Feb. 11 by calling 363-1818 and using a credit card.
KRCL hopes to clear $750 from the campaign toward purchase of the translator.
Kris Liszkowski, KRCL development director, is also looking for other ways to receive the money for the translator station.
KRCL is a community- and listener-supported radio station.
- KSL (AM-1160) - Jana Carl-son will join the KSL News Services Group as a radio/TV reporter in mid-February. She spent two years at KIFI-TV in Idaho Falls and had also worked at KKDS Radio. Most recently she has worked in public relations for the Granite School District. A University of Utah graduate, she served an internship at KSL in 1988.
- KUER (FM-90.1) will present a broadcast of violinist Oleh Krysa in concert at Idaho State University in Pocatello at 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 18. KUER can be heard on FM-107.7 in Pocatello.
- KUMT (alias "The Mountain," FM-105.7) presents the "Eleventh Hour CD" program every Sunday night at 11 p.m. It features great albums of the past or present - without interruption.
- KMXB (alias "The Mix," FM-107.5) - "Michael G" Kavanagh, evening DJ, will host an ice-skating party Saturday, Feb. 12, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Seven Peaks Resort in Provo. He'll give away prizes for most falls, best skating, etc.
- MORNING RADIO HAPPENINGS - KVRI is giving away tickets to the upcoming Janet Jackson concert in the Delta Center. On Monday "The Wakeup Club" invited couples to call in and kiss on the air in a pre-Valentine's Day stunt . . . Tim Hughes filled in for "Country Joe" Monday on KSOP. The station is giving away $100 cash awards to lucky listeners through its Country Club Card during February . . .
Ron Harrison of "Ron and Allen" on KBER was crusading to get a speeding ticket dismissed this week. He finally got six months' probation and no points on his record if he doesn't receive any more speeding tickets between now and August. But that settlement cost him $75 in court costs. An appropriate new promotional slogan - "Point of the Mountain Rock on the `Ron and Allen' Radio Network" also aired this week. The DJs were giving away a wedding trip to Las Vegas for Valentine's Day, and the radio personalities said they'll attend the wedding of the lucky couple . . .
"Mike (Stocker) and Mike (Slater) in the Morning" on KZHT gave anti-crime tips this week for National Crime Prevention Week. They also had interviews with the Village People on Friday and gave away Janet Jackson tickets this week . . .
During "Love Week" on the "Jon and Dan" show on KLZX, they gave away their own "Love Packages" to lucky listeners and took call on such things as the best opening lines when meeting the opposite sex . . . "Fisher and Todd" on KISN-FM had a crusade Monday to find out from KUTV when "Seinfeld" and "Frasier," which were pre-empted for a Ute basketball game Feb. 3, would be broadcast. As it turned out, they aired late Sunday night - unknown to most people. So, the DJs hosted a special TV party Wednesday at the University Park Hotel with 170 listeners to see a replay of the shows. They even invited the Ute basketball coach . . .
Peggy Ijams of "Scott and Peggy" on KSFI said Tuesday one of the worst movies she's ever watched was "Body of Evidence" . . . Jim and Kevin on KKAT took listener calls Tuesday, hoping to find someone who could recite the Scout Oath correctly . . .
Wednesday was a big ticket giveaway day for McCormick and Scotty on KUTQ, including Utah Jazz tickets and admissions to several movie premieres . . . "Laura" went 0-3 during the "Flash or Trash" quiz on the "Tom and Robin" show Tuesday on KMXB . . .
Kerry and Bill on the KXRK "Radio from Hell" show Tuesday found out a rival station claimed all of KXRK's listeners were gay. So the DJs took an "X-96" survey and only two gay listeners called the station vs. 13 non-gays. Ben Reed of KOVO was a guest on the Kerry and Bill show earlier this week.
- KBZN (alias "The Breeze," FM-97.9) - The group Geodesium will be the guest on "Musical Star-streams" Sunday, Feb. 13, 8-10 a.m. Later in the day, David Benoit will be featured on "Jazz Trax," 7 p.m.-midnight.
- Here's a schedule of the station's "10 O'Clock CD" show in the coming week:
Monday, Feb. 14: "Yes, Then Yes," by Nelson Rangell
Tuesday, Feb. 15: "Every Act of Love," by William Aura
Wednesday, Feb. 16: "Heart's Horizon," by Al Jarreau
Thursday, Feb. 17: "The Best of Silver Wave, Volume One"
Friday, Feb. 18: "Trust," by Boney James