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The Crash and Burn of KKDJ

E

ExKynoJox

Strange week at KKDJ. One morning, Dean was doing what sounded to be duck sounds on-air for close to an hour. Friday, a meltdown that seemed to include an attack on White's KKDJ and the Death Stars. Later that day, during Dean's usual afternoon slot, White is back on the air doing the pm drive an a TV simulcast, with some crash sound effects appearing. Saturday night, we've a launch of a new show of, uh, I don't know - electronic something - ok, I understand that's alternative music, although it's like fingernails on a chalkboard with a beat. This morning, we have what had to be the worst syndicated crap, The Crashman, with more screaming Halloween sound effects than found at Hobbs Grove. And this afternoon, the old KKDJ Classic Rock with that same old geezer requesting Divo video, and of course, no Divo, but we do have Sledgehammer. The Divo guy is in high rotation, like anything from Van Halen.

Think I've had enough. Love Dean's knowledge of radio and music beyond the hits and that radio must serve the needs of a community. But, this just seems to be whatever, whenever and I can't see building a format outside of his followers if the default is always to White's Classic Rock, a format that Dean often references as to what's wrong with radio today and is pretty far removed from the music of the original KKDJ. Hope I am proved wrong one of these days.
 
I talked to Dean about 10 minutes before he brought out the soap box and he expressed some of the same feelings to me. His mention about switching to country just dropped me,we have about 120,000 watts of country music and let’s not forget about KJUG AND KUBB to choose from and White wants to run a HAM radio hobby against that ? The powers that be at KKDJ,we don’t want the same old songs that we can get from every station in town,let Dean run with the station and just stay out of his way and make me a pastrami sandwich,heavy on the mustard.
 
Hold on here. "country"?? If by that we mean the same old pretty boy fake 'country' that Nashville spews, well ya, we need NO MORE of that crap. Probably not many here will know what I mean if I say "FAT country", but I've been a proponent of 'FAT music' since the 70s. Call it a 'niche', but in reality the concept is way way way broader than the Nashville crap that all sounds the same- from a wash-n-wear, one size fits all formula. A 100 watt peanut whistle is not going to compete playing thr same stuff as the big boys. Give a few people something unique that they like, that can be found no where else and you'll have loyalty.
If you are going use fake, make believe call letters for imaging just go ahead with KFAT-- Just GET FAT!
VOL559 said:
I talked to Dean about 10 minutes before he brought out the soap box and he expressed some of the same feelings to me. His mention about switching to country just dropped me,we have about 120,000 watts of country music and let’s not forget about KJUG AND KUBB to choose from and White wants to run a HAM radio hobby against that ? The powers that be at KKDJ,we don’t want the same old songs that we can get from every station in town,let Dean run with the station and just stay out of his way and make me a pastrami sandwich,heavy on the mustard.
Click to expand...
 
I know that Patty Hixson or whoever is in charge of the KMRAY cluster F won’t give Dean the time of day,the idiots at ihavenoheart are clueless but mr local radio guy at One Putt who stress’ buy local has a nationally syndicated radio show on morning drive and arguably the most talented radio guy that Fresno will probably ever see comes calling and he passes,somebody please explain!!
 
VOL559 said:
I talked to Dean about 10 minutes before he brought out the soap box and he expressed some of the same feelings to me. His mention about switching to country just dropped me,we have about 120,000 watts of country music and let’s not forget about KJUG AND KUBB to choose from and White wants to run a HAM radio hobby against that ? The powers that be at KKDJ,we don’t want the same old songs that we can get from every station in town,let Dean run with the station and just stay out of his way and make me a pastrami sandwich,heavy on the mustard.
Click to expand...

One of the biggest challenges I faced in programming were the owners and GM's who wanted to relive their glory days by disrupting the format. Whether its playing what they want or playing for their circle of friends, or simply the ego, it's tough when there's a supposed range of freedom. The freedom from not being part of a Corporate deal is more of an illusion than factual. Must imagine that Dean is up against huge odds.

VOL559 said it well, "stay out of his way". White has his Hanford stations to play with and Gary, just dig into your deep pockets and make this happen on something better than a translator. Believe in paradigm shifts. Corporate radio is dead.
 
Just a thought,Gropetthi buys 99.7 (FRESNO) along with the call letters,dumps the Blazy show,puts Dean in charge and changes the calls from KIOO to KKDJ. Would pretty much have coverage VISALIA to FRESNO with maybe a dead spot north of Fowler.
 
Did Verne hijack the station AGAIN?????? He is going to piss them off then we will be left with nothing
 
mofocat said:
Hold on here. "country"?? If by that we mean the same old pretty boy fake 'country' that Nashville spews, well ya, we need NO MORE of that crap. Probably not many here will know what I mean if I say "FAT country", but I've been a proponent of 'FAT music' since the 70s. Call it a 'niche', but in reality the concept is way way way broader than the Nashville crap that all sounds the same- from a wash-n-wear, one size fits all formula. A 100 watt peanut whistle is not going to compete playing thr same stuff as the big boys. Give a few people something unique that they like, that can be found no where else and you'll have loyalty.
If you are going use fake, make believe call letters for imaging just go ahead with KFAT-- Just GET FAT!
Click to expand...

I don't have a clue what "FAT country" is, but I'd love a KFRE tribute station.
 
VOL559 said:
Just a thought,Gropetthi buys 99.7 (FRESNO) along with the call letters,dumps the Blazy show,puts Dean in charge and changes the calls from KIOO to KKDJ. Would pretty much have coverage VISALIA to FRESNO with maybe a dead spot north of Fowler.
Click to expand...

I've thought this was the point all along, build it, get a few listeners and build value to sell to KIOO. Otherwise you would use 102.3 to begin with.
 
Well,apparently Mr.White did not like my opinion that Dean should be left alone to run the station and that the listening public is SOOOO tired of the corporate crap that he insists on playing and to please stop it. He felt inclined to leave me a VM about 8:15 last night accusing me of hiding,so later on this morning I will return his phone call and let him know I’m not hiding and if he would like to talk about it face to face,let’s sit down over coffee in a CIVIL manner.
 
He came on in the 7am hour,but I’m digging the music......and at the risk of ruffling Verne’s feathers, could this be an inside sabotage job (LOL)
 
VOL559 said:
And also the dialogue and all the stories that Dean and JEFF were telling all-around great radio this AM
Click to expand...

and, Smokin' Joe Collins.

Who remembers when "Skip" was at KXTC and KAAT? Tons of memories from those with talent.

Today is an example of how an LP can redefine what radio should be, if only....
 
ExKynoJox said:
and, Smokin' Joe Collins.

Who remembers when "Skip" was at KXTC and KAAT? Tons of memories from those with talent.

Today is an example of how an LP can redefine what radio should be, if only....
Click to expand...

You are so right the show was great with Skip and Dean.Another mistake Kkdj is not an LP FM it is a translator
 
brettbutlerisok said:
I don't have a clue what "FAT country" is, but I'd love a KFRE tribute station.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure he's referring to KFAT - an early alt-country station (sort of) licensed to Gilroy with transmitter on Loma Prieta. They had a pretty big following among silicon valley engineers and all over Northern CA (remember - this was when there weren't many FM stations and lots of good stereos). Sort of the country version of an underground rock station. On the air from 1975 until January, 1983. They could play David Lindley, Patsy Cline, Little Feat, and Cowboy Jazz in the same set and make it sound good. There's lots of airchecks on youtube and archive.org.

Dave B.
 
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