KO93 Returns To Modesto On 93.1 (Sort Of...)

[Madmansam]

From 1979 until about 1998, KOSO-93.1 was known as "KO93" until it became "B-93". Well KO93 has returned, but only if you have an HD Radio. On KOSO's HD-2, The Classic Hits format is known as "KO93". However if anyone from the area knows, The Original KO93 started out as Top 40 in 1979, eventually evolved into CHR then became Adult Contemporary (The Light Rock Variety)around 1988. In 1997, they switched formats to "Hot AC" then became B-93 in 1998. The music played on its HD-2 really isn't what the Original KO93 was, but it is nice to hear the KO93 name again. Listening to them now online.

 

[amfmmodman]

Dont know who you are madmansam but I can assure you the format you are hearing is what the Hot AC KOSO became in the 80s. I should know I was the PD????? We were the #2 Classic Hits Station in the US and had a 20 share in the Modesto/Stockton books...after a change in Gm's and PD's that followed the format died and became B-93

 

[tobedawg]

I thought KO 93 became B 93 in 1995?! I remember distinctly in late 1995 B-93.1 playing Chris Isaak, Hootie, Alanis Morrissette, The Bodeans, Etc... They also did "80's at 8", similar to the 90's at 9 that the current B-93 does and was like a lighter version of the Alternative KDJK at the time..

 

[Madmansam]

Dont know who you are madmansam but I can assure you the format you are hearing is what the Hot AC KOSO became in the 80s. I should know I was the PD????? We were the #2 Classic Hits Station in the US and had a 20 share in the Modesto/Stockton books...after a change in Gm's and PD's that followed the format died and became B-93

You are probably right, my brain cells are dying because of old age ;D This is only a guess, but is your first name "Greg"? I am almost sure I met you years ago. My first name is"Sam". I worked at the original KDJK-95.1 back when Joe and Anne operated it in the 1980's and Beaver Brown was the pd. I was recently listening to KOSO HD-2 online, and it seemed that there were some songs that I don't recall being on KO93, but since you were the pd, I have to be wrong. I do recall KO93 being Top 40/CHR from 1979 until sometime in the mid 1980's. They competed with "Stereo 104" KHOP. I thought KO93 switched to Adult Contemporary. When I was growing up in Manteca, I remember when KOSO was "Beautiful Music" in the 1970's, back in the days when ALMOST every FM seemed to be Beautiful Music. And you are right. KO93 was a top rated station back in the days. I had met the DJ who did the Sunday Night Oldies Show (Playing if I remember, 50's and 60's Oldies), I THINK his name was "Mike Lewis", though I might be wrong. At the time both KOSO and KHOP were Top 40/CHR rivals and both stations had Sunday Night Oldies Shows(KHOP's dj was definately Blas Vallejo, but was later replaced by syndicated Wolfman Jack and Dick Clark). I don't know how long KO93's Sunday Night Oldies lasted? Thanks amfmmodman for bringing back KO93!

 

[Madmansam]

I thought KO 93 became B 93 in 1995?! I remember distinctly in late 1995 B-93.1 playing Chris Isaak, Hootie, Alanis Morrissette, The Bodeans, Etc... They also did "80's at 8", similar to the 90's at 9 that the current B-93 does and was like a lighter version of the Alternative KDJK at the time..

I am almost sure that B-93 came in after "The Alternative KDJK" was blown up in 1996? I think they became Hot AC in 1997 but continued to be called KO93 but changed its moniker to "B-93". I know that KOSO was not B-93 in 1995, because there was a station called "K-Bee 970" KBEE at the time and I doubt there was 2 "Bees" in 1995? Maybe amfmmodman could answer this question?

 

[DavidSC]

I worked weekends at KO93 from 1990 to about 1994. It was a Hot AC when I started working there. One of the liners said, "no Barry Manilow." Presentation had a lot of energy and community involvement and as stated earlier it had a lot of listeners. Worked for a couple of good PDs there.

Later it lost some of its fire. One slogan had DJs saying, "Not too hard, Not too soft" and adding off mike "not too interesting" The music was blander and the Djs only cracked the mike two to three times and hour.

 

[Madmansam]

I worked weekends at KO93 from 1990 to about 1994. It was a Hot AC when I started working there. One of the liners said, "no Barry Manilow." Presentation had a lot of energy and community involvement and as stated earlier it had a lot of listeners. Worked for a couple of good PDs there.

Later it lost some of its fire. One slogan had DJs saying, "Not too hard, Not too soft" and adding off mike "not too interesting" The music was blander and the Djs only cracked the mike two to three times and hour.

I remember the "No Barry Manilow" liners, but I thought they were just AC? ??? I must be really losing it? ;D Didn't Max Miller work as pd at the time? It seemed that KO93 played some alternative music after the demise of "The Alternative KDJK". Didn't "Cruise And Goode" go to KOSO around 1999, some 3 years after the demise of "The Alternative KDJK"? I just recently found some vintage KOSO-93.1 aircheck (as well as KHOP) back when it was Top 40/CHR from 1983. I am thinking about donating it to The Modesto Radio Museum? I have lots of airchecks (both scoped and unscoped) of Modesto and Stockton Radio of the 1980's and early 1990's such as Easy Listening KBEE-970 and 103.3, Classical KHYV-970, Oldies KHYV-970 (before its call switch to KOOK), Oldies KWG-1230, Oldies KQOD-100.1, some KDJK-95.1. And more!

 

[Max Miller]

When I got to KO93 in 1990, consultant Dan Vallie had just taken taken the station back to a AC, following a short run as a Hot AC. Since Sunny 102 had already captured the AC position in the market, we segued from AC to a conservative Hot AC by 1991. The ratings were pretty good, but KO93 (the 90's version) never really caught on with younger demos. By 1995, KO93's cume was primarily 35+ and we were struggling in the format's natural 25-34F core. After Gene & Julie (now at KVIL/Dallas) arrived, we decided to change the name to KISS-FM. In the 11th hour, our GM got nervous about the KISS moniker, so we compromised and called it B93. KOSO was still a huge regional biller, so a call letter change was postponned.

We started flirting with Modern AC in 1996 and by February '97 (with no more Alternative KDJK in the market,) we went full-blown Modern. The station's ratings were awful in our first Modern AC book. That summer, Space Center sold KOSO to Capstar. While researching a format hole for The Fox, Capstar had inadvertantly discovered that KOSO's Modern AC format was about to take off. By fall 1997, it did. It was a fun ride! MAX

 

[Madmansam]

When I got to KO93 in 1990, consultant Dan Vallie had just taken taken the station back to a AC, following a short run as a Hot AC. Since Sunny 102 had already captured the AC position in the market, we segued from AC to a conservative Hot AC by 1991. The ratings were pretty good, but KO93 (the 90's version) never really caught on with younger demos. By 1995, KO93's cume was primarily 35+ and we were struggling in the format's natural 25-34F core. After Gene & Julie (now at KVIL/Dallas) arrived, we decided to change the name to KISS-FM. In the 11th hour, our GM got nervous about the KISS moniker, so we compromised and called it B93. KOSO was still a huge regional biller, so a call letter change was postponned.

We started flirting with Modern AC in 1996 and by February '97 (with no more Alternative KDJK in the market,) we went full-blown Modern. The station's ratings were awful in our first Modern AC book. That summer, Space Center sold KOSO to Capstar. While researching a format hole for The Fox, Capstar had inadvertantly discovered that KOSO's Modern AC format was about to take off. By fall 1997, it did. It was a fun ride! MAX

Welcome to Radio-Info Max!!!! I hear that Modesto misses you and Donna big time! And thanks for THE Official history of KOSO during your tenure. I had read a rumor on the Sacramento Board that you are now working at Salem. If So, Good Luck!!!

 

[Hunter]

I just discovered this thread and I see it's a couple of months old. I hope it gets rediscovered by some of my old friends and former coworkers from the KO93 days....which include Max & Greg. Hope you guys are doing well.

Max outlined a great history of the format from the time he arrived there, but I'll cover a little ground on the station in the early KO93 years and before, starting when it was an MOR station. It originally went on the air, I believe in the 60's with the calls KHOM - which signified House of Music. There may have been some moving of the station and changes in the very early years, but eventually - and up until about '86 - the studios were located in a house at the corner of Carpenter Ave and Crows Landing Road. I'm not sure when the calls were changed, but KOSO were chosen, most likely because the transmitter, pumping out a whopping 1500 watts, sat 3000 feet above the valley on Mt. OSO. The station was built on a shoe string. The transmitter building was the enclosure of the back of a Granny Goose potato chip truck....minus the truck. Not sure where sales/management offices started, but by the late 70's they were in Modesto in what my memory wants to call Sealy Tower....but don't quote me on the name of it.

The format in the late 70's was MOR when the station was sold in '78 to Frank Imburg, who also ran it on a shoestring. He brought Walter Kosnitzke out from Bay City Michigan to program who took it Soft AC. That's when I started my tenure there. We all pitched in and built new modest studios in the little house. The station couldn't get sales or ratings and Frank ran out of cash. Eventually our new control board was repossed, Walt left and the station nearly went off the air. By '79 Frank struck a deal with Walt Richie in at Space Center in Minneapolis to save him and buy the station for $250,000. The good times were about to roll.

This time things were done right. Bill Johnson came out as the new GM and he like to do things in big way. He hired Rob Sherwood to program who took the station in a hot AC/Top 40 mix and KO93 was born. The studios remained in the house, but this time they were built state of the art, with BMX modular console boards - standard now, but cutting edge at the time. No turntables, we were the first in the market to go live all cart. New processing from CRL had just completed testing on KLOS in L.A. and we were the first station to put it on. The power was doubled to 3KW. The company bought the current building on Lancey Dr for Traffic and Sales and styled out the offices with high end oak furniture. The station was now really top drawer. Rob and I did mornings, Gary DeMaroney, middays, Kenny Roberts in PM and Vince Garcia 7 - 12m. Several months later, Rick Austin came in to do 9am - Noon. For the first year or so, I actally worked on air from 12M - 6 alone, then joined Rob for mornings. God, that was brutal. Later, I was moved to mornings only.

The ratings and revenue really took off. About '81, Rob left to program K101 in SF and Greg Austin (no relation to Rick) came in to program and took 9a - Noon. Rick Austin moved to mornings with me. Greg brought in great call-out research and a tighter musicmix. Ratings had been great, but now they really took off, especially in AM Drive. Sometimes...often, Rick and I didn't get along, but we didn't let it show on air, even the times we nearly came to physical blows. Either way, the chemistry worked and our numbers were huge. Stan Main came in for evenings and got evenings cooking. The station was on fire.

KO93 was very dominant all the way around through the early - mid 80's. But by '86 the station started a revolving door of direction and programmers, especially after Bob Clark came in as GM. After Greg Austin moved on, programmers included Mike Novak, Brian Casey, Greg Edwards, Gary Michaels and Russ Novack. Not that some of them weren't good programmers, I think Bob wanted a quick fix, but would always be looking for a new idea/direction. Max Miller came on board reluctantly in 1990, and eventually with new GM Jim Krebsbach, the station was able to get back on track as B93.

Sorry for the long winded history....just reliving some fond memories.

 

[pbf1]

Speaking of Rob Sherwood

You can see his story (in progress) at robsherwood.com

 

[philjock]

thanks for the link

 

[dgendvil]

Do you have any of these airchecks available to be posted:

Casanova, no last name (KHOP-FM, Aug. 1991)

Marco, no last name (KHOP-FM, Aug. 1990)

Doctor Dave (KHOP-FM, June 1995)

Easy Ed (KMIX-FM, June 1989)

Stan the Man (KOOK-AM, Apr. 1989)

More KHOP airchecks from 1992ish.

Thanks. Let me if you try to get them posted.

 

[Tube Shortwave]

I have lots of airchecks (both scoped and unscoped) of Modesto and Stockton Radio of the 1980's and early 1990's such as Easy Listening KBEE-970 and 103.3, Classical KHYV-970, Oldies KHYV-970 (before its call switch to KOOK), Oldies KWG-1230, Oldies KQOD-100.1, some KDJK-95.1. And more!

If you have some KWG from the mid 80's through early 90's, you might have some tape of me in there. Would LOVE to hear what you have. In my last move to my permanent home, an entire box of tapes and CDs disappeared (dang movers!!). In that box were almost every aircheck I had.

I worked weekends for Max Miller on B93 during the time RCS was first installed.

Funny story, I never actually MET Max! I never got interviewed, never talked to him, nothing. One day I sent a tape to Max via a friend who was working there. My friend called me up and asked if I could do a shift the following weekend. I did the shift and was put on the schedule EVERY weekend. At the time I was working for another station full time, so I used a different name on B93.

The first time I saw the RCS system was when I came flying in there one day just seconds before my shift started. I was in full panic mode! I instinctively grabbed carts and stuffed the Tomcats full so I wouldn't crash and burn. Good thing I stuffed the decks... About 1 hour into my shift, the screens went to 'blue screen of death', and I freaked. I called Max (his number was on the wall) and actually spoke with him for the first time ever. Max told me to just go to carts for the rest of the shift, so I did. The next weekend, RCS was back up and was solid from there on.

Ahhh... Memories!!

 

[Madmansam]

I have lots of airchecks (both scoped and unscoped) of Modesto and Stockton Radio of the 1980's and early 1990's such as Easy Listening KBEE-970 and 103.3, Classical KHYV-970, Oldies KHYV-970 (before its call switch to KOOK), Oldies KWG-1230, Oldies KQOD-100.1, some KDJK-95.1. And more!

If you have some KWG from the mid 80's through early 90's, you might have some tape of me in there. Would LOVE to hear what you have. In my last move to my permanent home, an entire box of tapes and CDs disappeared (dang movers!!). In that box were almost every aircheck I had.

I have tapes mostly of Dirk Kooyman and Matt Foor. I lost my airchecks of Bill Jeffries though. Bummer So unless you are either Dirk or Matt, I am sorry.

 

[Tube Shortwave]

Nope, not Matt or Dirk. I thought my 'real name' was in my profile. Just looked, its not. PM me and I will discuss.

BTW, Dirk Kooyman is a stellar human being. Ultra good guy. Matt Foor was working as a P.R. guy for the Weberstown Mall in Stockton last time we talked.

 

[Madmansam]

Nope, not Matt or Dirk. I thought my 'real name' was in my profile. Just looked, its not. PM me and I will discuss.

BTW, Dirk Kooyman is a stellar human being. Ultra good guy. Matt Foor was working as a P.R. guy for the Weberstown Mall in Stockton last time we talked.

Hi Tube Shortwave, When I have a chance, I'll PM you later. I have a lot of KWG memories, I remember when they used to be on Center Street, but i also remember when they were on Stratford Circle near Dave wong's on Pershing before that. KWG was Easy Listening/MOR until 1981 when they switched to DELTA COUNTRY 1230. they remained Country until 1982 when they switched to OLDIES (guessing it was on June 25, 1982). They remained OLDIES until around July of 1996 then they switched to SPANISH AC (LA BONITA).SILVERADO BROADCASTING really screwed up a legendary radio station. Hard to think of them as a CATHOLIC RADIO STATION today (yes I do know KWG was briefly owned by SUSAN CARSON from 1997-99). During the oldies era, I remember DJ's such as KEVIN MANNA (The original Morning Man before being replaced by BILL JEFFRIES), MATT FOOR, DIRK KOOYMAN, CANDY STEVENS, JENNY WEST, MAGIC MIKE DAVIS, ROBERT BERTANI, CHRYS FRAISER, LEE PITT, DAVE BOWLING and many others that escape my mind at the moment. I vividly remember the stunt that BILL JEFFRIES did back around either 1988 or 1989 where he supposedly lost a bet with CANDY STEVENS and had to broadcast in the nude. Boy those are cherished memories!!! ;D

 

[Tube Shortwave]

You forgot Matt Dillon!

Yea, I remember all of Bill's stunts. The nude thing wasn't that big a deal. I did the nights nude 90% of the time. The A/C was on a timer and it got dang hot in there until about 5 AM when the A/C would kick on again.

I remember camping out in the mall while Bill was 'buried' the the coffin. We had assigned shifts to guard the thing while he was sleeping. Paranoid!

 

[Tyler Durden]

Nope, not Matt or Dirk. I thought my 'real name' was in my profile. Just looked, its not. PM me and I will discuss.

BTW, Dirk Kooyman is a stellar human being. Ultra good guy. Matt Foor was working as a P.R. guy for the Weberstown Mall in Stockton last time we talked.

Hi Tube Shortwave, When I have a chance, I'll PM you later. I have a lot of KWG memories, I remember when they used to be on Center Street, but i also remember when they were on Stratford Circle near Dave wong's on Pershing before that. KWG was Easy Listening/MOR until 1981 when they switched to DELTA COUNTRY 1230. they remained Country until 1982 when they switched to OLDIES (guessing it was on June 25, 1982). They remained OLDIES until around July of 1996 then they switched to SPANISH AC (LA BONITA).SILVERADO BROADCASTING really screwed up a legendary radio station. Hard to think of them as a CATHOLIC RADIO STATION today (yes I do know KWG was briefly owned by SUSAN CARSON from 1997-99). During the oldies era, I remember DJ's such as KEVIN MANNA (The original Morning Man before being replaced by BILL JEFFRIES), MATT FOOR, DIRK KOOYMAN, CANDY STEVENS, JENNY WEST, MAGIC MIKE DAVIS, ROBERT BERTANI, CHRYS FRAISER, LEE PITT, DAVE BOWLING and many others that escape my mind at the moment. I vividly remember the stunt that BILL JEFFRIES did back around either 1988 or 1989 where he supposedly lost a bet with CANDY STEVENS and had to broadcast in the nude. Boy those are cherished memories!!! ;D

Here are some more names:

MATT DILLON, PAT KELLEY, TIM ANTHONY, LANCE BALANCE, ED GARCIA, RODNEY BOND, TIM ROBINSON, BUD KRESS and some others. They were all there when the stations moved to Pacific Avenue.

Where are a lot of the old KWG jocks? No idea where most of them are now. Where is Bill?

 

[Madmansam]

The Whereabouts of Former KWG Employees

Nope, not Matt or Dirk. I thought my 'real name' was in my profile. Just looked, its not. PM me and I will discuss.

BTW, Dirk Kooyman is a stellar human being. Ultra good guy. Matt Foor was working as a P.R. guy for the Weberstown Mall in Stockton last time we talked.

Hi Tube Shortwave, When I have a chance, I'll PM you later. I have a lot of KWG memories, I remember when they used to be on Center Street, but i also remember when they were on Stratford Circle near Dave wong's on Pershing before that. KWG was Easy Listening/MOR until 1981 when they switched to DELTA COUNTRY 1230. they remained Country until 1982 when they switched to OLDIES (guessing it was on June 25, 1982). They remained OLDIES until around July of 1996 then they switched to SPANISH AC (LA BONITA).SILVERADO BROADCASTING really screwed up a legendary radio station. Hard to think of them as a CATHOLIC RADIO STATION today (yes I do know KWG was briefly owned by SUSAN CARSON from 1997-99). During the oldies era, I remember DJ's such as KEVIN MANNA (The original Morning Man before being replaced by BILL JEFFRIES), MATT FOOR, DIRK KOOYMAN, CANDY STEVENS, JENNY WEST, MAGIC MIKE DAVIS, ROBERT BERTANI, CHRYS FRAISER, LEE PITT, DAVE BOWLING and many others that escape my mind at the moment. I vividly remember the stunt that BILL JEFFRIES did back around either 1988 or 1989 where he supposedly lost a bet with CANDY STEVENS and had to broadcast in the nude. Boy those are cherished memories!!! ;D

Here are some more names:

MATT DILLON, PAT KELLEY, TIM ANTHONY, LANCE BALANCE, ED GARCIA, RODNEY BOND, TIM ROBINSON, BUD KRESS and some others. They were all there when the stations moved to Pacific Avenue.

Where are a lot of the old KWG jocks? No idea where most of them are now. Where is Bill?

Let's see.. LANCE BALLANCE went to work at a radio station in Los Angeles. Don't know if he is still there? I think PAT KELLEY is working at Citadel's KESP-970 Modesto on a Golf Talk Show? Last I heard, BILL JEFFRIES is in Tucson Arizona. Out of the radio business of course. I believe CANDY STEVENS is in Oregon. Is she still in the business? ROBERT BERTANI got in the culinary arts business and is out of radio. JENNY WEST went south to Merced to cohost a morning oldies show at KABX-97.5. Is she still there? I know CHRYS FRASIER worked briefly at KJOY-99.3 doing the evening show. MATT FOOR worked at Weberstown Mall. KWG C.E. ALAN GRAFT passed away some time ago. How about the others?