KBON FM 101.1/Eunice-Lafayette

[BLewis]

Greetings from North Carolina!
Though I have ALWAYS wanted to visit Louisiana, I must admit that all the attention from Hurricane Katrina has (believe it or not) made me want to visit the state even more! Hopefully next year...a family trip to LA will happen! OK...all that said! Since the Katrina days, I have gotten to know Paul Marx at KBON by e-mail.
Not being Cajun or not from, or even having visited Louisiana, perhaps; I do not truly understand the apparent deep reach Cajun, Zydeco, and local Louisiana Music still has in the rich Cajun culture of southern and central Louisiana! I appreicate, but know NOTHING about Cajun music. That said, I really enjoy listening to KBON via their stream.
Has anyone taken a look at the Lafayette market's 'Radio and Records' ARBs? Wow...in 2006 a 'local' music station with a #6 in 12-plus!!!! I imagine their 35-64 numbers are even stronger!
The theme to this LONG post is this...it is really inspiring to me to see an independent, local 'mom and pop' station make such an impact on the market! You don't have to listen to them very long to see that business is apparently good!
In this day of BIG, corporate radio...it is wonderful to see this happenning. Having grown up in small market radio and now being the CEO of a small market non-comm. station...I can say from first-hand experience...and from seeing how this station is doing, that independent stations can still make it. In fact, during a time when we have to wonder what impact satellite radio and other forms of receiving programming will have on our industry, KBON inspires me to think it's the stations that truly target their communities...whether it's through cajun music or A/C...that will still be here, doing their thing, in 20 years!
Hats off to KBON!
Best wishes to everyone there in Louisiana, especially those affected by the storms! My families thoughts and prayers are still with you!

Laissez Le Bon Temps Roulez!

B Lewis
North Carolina

 

[dicktriccol]

We can dump on corporate radio all day, but its really great to see something homegrown and unique like KBON. Its not impossible to think that this could happen with a Citadel or Clear station - actually, damn near anything can happen on a Citadel frequency these days! Truly, Louisiana is like no place in the whole country and this station is the local flavor.

> Greetings from North Carolina!
> Though I have ALWAYS wanted to visit Louisiana, I must admit
> that all the attention from Hurricane Katrina has (believe
> it or not) made me want to visit the state even more!
> Hopefully next year...a family trip to LA will happen!
> OK...all that said! Since the Katrina days, I have gotten
> to know Paul Marx at KBON by e-mail.
> Not being Cajun or not from, or even having visited
> Louisiana, perhaps; I do not truly understand the apparent
> deep reach Cajun, Zydeco, and local Louisiana Music still
> has in the rich Cajun culture of southern and central
> Louisiana! I appreicate, but know NOTHING about Cajun
> music. That said, I really enjoy listening to KBON via
> their stream.
> Has anyone taken a look at the Lafayette market's 'Radio and
> Records' ARBs? Wow...in 2006 a 'local' music station with a
> #6 in 12-plus!!!! I imagine their 35-64 numbers are even
> stronger!
> The theme to this LONG post is this...it is really inspiring
> to me to see an independent, local 'mom and pop' station
> make such an impact on the market! You don't have to listen
> to them very long to see that business is apparently good!
>
> In this day of BIG, corporate radio...it is wonderful to see
> this happenning. Having grown up in small market radio and
> now being the CEO of a small market non-comm. station...I
> can say from first-hand experience...and from seeing how
> this station is doing, that independent stations can still
> make it. In fact, during a time when we have to wonder what
> impact satellite radio and other forms of receiving
> programming will have on our industry, KBON inspires me to
> think it's the stations that truly target their
> communities...whether it's through cajun music or A/C...that
> will still be here, doing their thing, in 20 years!
> Hats off to KBON!
> Best wishes to everyone there in Louisiana, especially those
> affected by the storms! My families thoughts and prayers
> are still with you!
>
> Laissez Le Bon Temps Roulez!
>
> B Lewis
> North Carolina
>

 

[RFLA]

> We can dump on corporate radio all day, but its really great
> to see something homegrown and unique like KBON. Its not
> impossible to think that this could happen with a Citadel or
> Clear station - actually, damn near anything can happen on a
> Citadel frequency these days! Truly, Louisiana is like no
> place in the whole country and this station is the local
> flavor.


there are a few stations like this in South Louisiana that feature swamp pop,zydeco, and cajun among other things. But the biggest thing about all of them is that they are local and proud of it. KBON actually has become a bigger player in the Lafayette market in only a short time since it moved it's tower closer to Lafayette. Before it was only a blip due to the main signal covering over the area NW of the city. (KBON I think would have had more issues with Hurricane Rita than it did with Katrina) But is one of the stations I flip thru while traveling thru the area from time to time.

Another of the Live and local and proud of it stations has been KLRZ from Larose that almost got sold to Citadel (but the deal seems to be off post Katrina).
It mainly plays a music format called swamp pop which can be best described as fusing oldies rock with cajun and country music. (try http://www.cajunculture.com/Other/swamppop.htm for a better description)
and also broadcasts worldwide thru their stream http://www.klrzfm.com


So many people think New Orleans is Cajun and stop at that with WWOZ, and never really discover the true music and variety of the music of south Louisiana and Mr. Lewis I hope you enjoy the home grown stuff as some of us do down here

RFLA