KIIS 102.7, KWST 105.9, KIQQ 100.3 Top 40 dates

[thebeach33445]

Hey Guys:

As I was going through my notes I noticed I didn't have these. Would anybody know what the exact sign on dates for:

1. KIIS Top 40 in 1981

2. KWST Top 40 in 1981

3. KIQQ Top 40 in 1972

I am curious to know did KIIS or KWST start Top 40 first in 1981.

Thanks for your help

T.J.

 

[michael hagerty]

Hey Guys:

As I was going through my notes I noticed I didn't have these. Would anybody know what the exact sign on dates for:

1. KIIS Top 40 in 1981

2. KWST Top 40 in 1981

3. KIQQ Top 40 in 1972

I am curious to know did KIIS or KWST start Top 40 first in 1981.

Thanks for your help

T.J.

1. The closest I can come to a date for KIIS-FM is Rick Dees' first show..July 11, 1981. But remember that KIIS could have transitioned from Dance to CHR over a period of time and Dees could have arrived at the beginning, in the middle or at the end.

2. KWST flipped at 6PM on June 24, 1981.

3. KIQQ was more of an Adult Contemporary when it hit in 1972. Its debut as a Top 40 (consulted by Bill Drake, programmed by Bill Watson, with Robert W. Morgan, Mike Novak, The Real Don Steele, Billy Pearl and Jerry Butler) was December 1, 1973.

 

[rwagoner]

I loved K-WEST as top-40 (KHJ on FM ...) I still think if Chuck Martin had been given more time, they may have jumped ahead of KIIS. Tim Sullivan was an idiot for bringing in Salgo and changing to light AC.

 

[calguy]

KWST, great sounding Top 40 that never had a chance to catch on...

 

[michael hagerty]

I never got to hear KWST as a Top 40 live. Heard airchecks recently from the early days of it and was very impressed.

Surprised to see in back issues of Billboard (thanks, Google Books!) that Chuck Martin had only 9 months before he was blown out. Apparently happened in March, 1982 and Salgo didn't get in the building until June 1.

Salgo told Billboard in late May that he'd be doing some "fine tuning" to get the ratings up. He flipped it to "Magic 106" by September. Billboard says Salgo's research showed people still thought of Album Rock when they heard the name "K-West".

 

[Bryan Simmons]

I have a composite aircheck of K-West's change from AOR to CHR. I had a friend living in LA at the time who recorded several days worth of audio and I edited it down a week or so later. I've been thinking of giving it to Richard Irwin at Reel Radio for exhibit. They entered the new format with a bang, that's for sure.

 

[michael hagerty]

I have a composite aircheck of K-West's change from AOR to CHR. I had a friend living in LA at the time who recorded several days worth of audio and I edited it down a week or so later. I've been thinking of giving it to Richard Irwin at Reel Radio for exhibit. They entered the new format with a bang, that's for sure.

Bryan:
Please do! Reelradio has no KWST at this time...and it would be great for people to hear.

 

[rwagoner]

I have a composite aircheck of K-West's change from AOR to CHR. I had a friend living in LA at the time who recorded several days worth of audio and I edited it down a week or so later. I've been thinking of giving it to Richard Irwin at Reel Radio for exhibit. They entered the new format with a bang, that's for sure.

Imagine having the unedited versions!

 

[Bryan Simmons]

I have a composite aircheck of K-West's change from AOR to CHR. I had a friend living in LA at the time who recorded several days worth of audio and I edited it down a week or so later. I've been thinking of giving it to Richard Irwin at Reel Radio for exhibit. They entered the new format with a bang, that's for sure.

Imagine having the unedited versions!

I've been searching for the original cassettes with that thought in mind, but no luck so far. It's been a long time and I'm not even sure I have them anymore, just the finished product, but I'll keep looking.