Dan Leaves "The Zone"

SIMMONS - (More News From Another Tip To "The Hotline") KZNS has apparently let morning drive anchor Dan Bammes go. No word as to why, but a possibility could be KSL. Personally, Dan seemed too good of a news anchor to be on a non-Arbitron rated station.

Bye Bye Blaze?

03/25/02 MILLCREEK (MARATHON) - (More News From Another Tip To "The Hotline") According to a tip to the hotline, KWKD (102.3 The Blaze) is going to swap formats soon. To what? How about Adult Contemporary. The rumor is that the station, a rim-shot out of Randolph, UT, will target Utah's number one station, FM 100. Let's be careful though. Espiecially with April 1 (Fool's Day) nearby. Remember "Kickin' Country?"

04/03/02 - Comment: As noted by visitor to the Utah Radio Guide forum, a change at "The Blaze" seems unlikely since they have picked up on their outdoor (billboard) campaign.

"KJQ" Website

SIMMONS - (More News From Another Tip To "The Hotline") KJQ's new website: www.kjq.com.

Changes at 94.9 ZHT

CLEAR CHANNEL - Well, Z100 Portland did not become 100 KISS FM, as feared (or anticipated) by many. With those fears of a systematic change of all of Clear Channel's CHR/Pop stations to KISS-FM behind us, new changes have arised. According to a tipster to the Utah Radio Guide "hotline," Clear Channel was playing "roughly 140 songs on air at any give time during a 30 day period." According to the tipster, Clear Channel will drastically cut back on the number of songs, requiring ALL stations, (yes KISN, KURR, etc.) to only play 90 different titles during a 30 day period. Comment: Is this stupid or what?

Here's one person's response: "Pretty stupid...AND unfounded, at least from the corporate standpoiont. CC does not globally "dictate" playlist length, nor is there a corporate dictate for individual formats or "brands" either (i.e. "Star" or "Kiss"). The structure of "brand managers" has been largely eliminated this year as well, since the programming team(s) of individual stations can better determine what's best for their competitive situations than someone who oversees a couple of dozen stations in multiple markets. Having said that, there MAY be a "requirement" from the programming "gurus" of CC Salt Lake for some reason (Lee Douglas, Sam Elliot and company aren't exactly the brightest bulbs in the box now, are they?). At the end of the day, 140 titles is a pretty tight list for a mainstream CHR station in the first place...it makes no sense to cut it even further."

Bryan Jordan Leaves KUDD

MARATHON - (More News From Another Tip To "The Hotline") Byran Jordan had left to take up an offer back east. Good Luck.

Latest Attacks On Clear Channel May Affect Utah

CLEAR CHANNEL - Clear Channel is under fire in litigation as well as the LA Times for it's "pet" companies, such as Mercury Broadcasting. Current FCC ownership caps limit the number stations Clear Channel and others can own to eight. However, it seems that eight just isn't enough for Clear Channel in some places. The LA Times recently stated that Clear Channel had "misled regulators by taking control of radio stations above the ownership limit in various markets by warehousing them in front companies. Clear Channel, the nations biggest broadcaster claims ownership of 'approximately' 1225 stations and it 'fully complies with federal law'. . .The San Antonio based chain said it has entered various deals to control sales or programming at about 75 statons beyond the ones it already owns." (or in our lucky case, both) They continue that most of Clear Channel's involvement with such marketing "flows through San Antonio lawyer Van H. Archer III. . .In addition, Clear Channel put $2 million in the mid-1990s to guarentee a loan to a firm called Mercury Broadcasting. . .in which Archer has ties to." So now, good old Mercury is being dragged into this. Comment: It'll be fun to see what happens, won't it?

Mad Dog Signs On

MARATHON - (More News From Another Tip To "The Hotline") As of 7:30 PM last night, KCSL "Mad Dog" 103.9 began stunting with a loop of "Who Let the Dogs Out." It may only be days now until we find out the format behind the "hound." (UPDATE) "Mad Dog" signed on at 12:00 with a rock format. And as usual, a "10,000 in a row." This doesn't make sense, since they already own 102.3 The Blaze. Comment: Maybe their going to change The Blaze.