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KWSX-1280 Changes Format Again!!!! Back To KFIV Simulcast!!!

M

Madmansam

This morning, KWSX-1280 was back simulcasting the NEWS/TALK format of Modesto Sister Station, KFIV-1360. How long will this last this time? A brief history of 1280: JOSEPH GAMBLE STATIONS has owned this station since the 1950's. They changed the calls from KXOB to KJOY in 1953. The format was MoR. In 1969, KJOY hired DON IMUS and changed the format to TOP 40 to compete with KSTN-1420. DON IMUS doesn't last long, but the TOP 40 format lasts until 1981. In 1981, KJOY tweaked its format towards an ADULT CONTEMPORARY format but returned to TOP 40/CHR in 1984. By 1986, KJOY was back to ADULT CONTEMPORARY but it was more of a OLDIES based AC format. In 1989, JOSEPH GAMBLE STATIONS flip flopped the calls of 1280 and 99.3 (KJOY went to the FM dial while KJAX went to the AM dial). While the ADULT CONTEMPORARY format of KJOY moved with its calls to 99.3, The EASY LISTENING format of KJAX did not. The new KJAX-1280 became NEWS/TALK with mostly Satellite programming but did have local afternoon talk show with RICH DIXON. In 1996, JOSEPH GAMBLE STATIONS sold KJAX-1280 to COMMUNITY PACIFIC BROADCASTING and 1280 simply simulcasted its new Sister Station from Modesto, KFIV-1360. Over the years, COMMUNITY PACIFIC became PACIFIC STAR then AMFM INC and finally CLEAR CHANNEL. In 1999, KJAX-1280 ended it KFIV simulcast and stunted for a couple of months with ALL CHRISTMAS MUSIC as "HO HO HO 1280". A day after Christmas, KJAX became KUYL with 60's/70's OLDIES as KOOL 1280. Blind Radio D.J. MARTY LANSER was the PD and Morning Host. 2 years later, CC killed off KOOL 1280 and it was back to simulcasting KFIV again but only temporary. In January of 2002, KUYL dropped the NEWS/TALK of KFIV and became RELIGIOUS "AM 1280 THE LIGHTHOUSE". MARTY LANSER was again the PD of this CHRISTIAN RADIO STATION. Almost 4 years later, it was time to say BYE-BYE to AM 1280 THE LIGHTHOUSE and HELLO to the New K-SIX. But it wasn't exactly new, it was another simulcast with NEWS/TALK KFIV but with a twist: They would actually acknowledge 1280. If 1360 can be K-FIVE why can't 1280 be K-SIX? Since 1280 came before 1360 on the frequency dial, wouldn't it be smarter to call it K-FOUR instead? ;) A year after this change, CC stopped calling 1280 K-SIX, it was just K-FIVE. This gave me the feeling that changes were coming. And I was right. On June 7, 2007, KWSX-1280 dropped KFIV NEWS/TALK and became SPANISH OLDIES "LA PRECIOSA" this time simulcasting KMRQ-96.7. Then on SEPTEMBER 5 of this year, KMRQ-96.7 dropped LA PRECIOSA and returned to ACTIVE ROCK as ROCK 96.7 but in the process, 1280 became ROCK 96.7 too due to its simulcast with KMRQ. I don't know if this was intentional or not (Did they just forget about 1280 when they made the change?). Anyway, KWSX-1280 was ROCKING until this morning, now they are back simulcasting KFIV NEWS/TALK again. How long will this last now? It has been proven in the ratings that NO ONE CARES about KFIV on AM 1280! I am surprised they just didn't keep LA PRECIOSA going on AM 1280? I know CC has been looking for a buyer of 1280, but there are no takers. They just as well go off the air and surrender its license to the FCC. Nothing is working on AM 1280! Let's see how long this KFIV NEWS/TALK lasts this time?
 
I can't believe it! After simulcasting KFIV-1360 as well as broadcasting THE SAN JOSE SPARTANS most of the day, KWSX-1280 is back to simulcasting KMRQ-96.7 and ACTIVE ROCK as of 9:pM tonight. Hmm, can't figure out what CC is doing with 1280?
 
Madmansam:
Thanks for the great history of KJOY! I was born in Stockton, grew up in Farmington and went to high school in Escalon...so, as a kid in the late 1960s and through the 1970s, KJOY and KSTN were the stations I listened to.

I remember the KJOY and KSTN DJs coming out and spinning records at our Farmington 4-H Club dances! :)

My mother worked at the San Joaquin County Courthouse. Even back then, I liked to star in the window of the ground level studios at KJOY. KSTN was out on a dusty street on the edge of town, as I recall.

While I was in college, I applied for a summer radio job at KSTN. The PD turned me down, and said I was still young enough to change my major and look for another line of work. That's okay, KKIQ in Livermore turned me down, too. I guess I got a little better through the years.

As for what KJOY is up to these days...I'm afraid I've long since lost track of that station. I appreciate your great comprehensive history of the station.

Steve Scott
 
Steve Scott said:
Madmansam:
Thanks for the great history of KJOY! I was born in Stockton, grew up in Farmington and went to high school in Escalon...so, as a kid in the late 1960s and through the 1970s, KJOY and KSTN were the stations I listened to.

I remember the KJOY and KSTN DJs coming out and spinning records at our Farmington 4-H Club dances! :)

My mother worked at the San Joaquin County Courthouse. Even back then, I liked to star in the window of the ground level studios at KJOY. KSTN was out on a dusty street on the edge of town, as I recall.

While I was in college, I applied for a summer radio job at KSTN. The PD turned me down, and said I was still young enough to change my major and look for another line of work. That's okay, KKIQ in Livermore turned me down, too. I guess I got a little better through the years.

As for what KJOY is up to these days...I'm afraid I've long since lost track of that station. I appreciate your great comprehensive history of the station.

Steve Scott
Click to expand...
Thanks For The Kind Comments Steve! I don't know if you still have family in the area anymore but if you are ever in the area, you gotta check out the radio dial. All of the stations on the AM Dial are no longer locally owned. The 4 Stockton Stations are KWG-1230, KWSX-1280, KSTN-1420 and KCVR-1570. (Yes I know that KCVR is technically licensed for LODI but for all practical purposes it is pretty much a STOCKTON station just like KRVR-105.5. That station is licensed for COPPEROPOLIS but actually broadcasts from MODESTO) KWG-1230 is an affiliate of the EWTN CATHOLIC NETWORK with SOME local programming but not much. At least they now use the offices and studios next to the Transmitter in EAST STOCKTON at the SOUTHWEST corner of WEBER & E STREETS. They have been doing Catholic Programming for 9 years now. I already wrote about KWSX-1280. They seem to be CLEAR CHANNEL'S RED HEADED STEP CHILD. They just don't know what to do with it. It is strange though listening to TYPICAL FM oriented HEAVY METAL ROCK MUSIC on the AM dial. Now to KSTN. They have been locally owned since 1949 but now have new owners but you can't tell from listening to them today. They have the syndicated MANCOW'S MORNING MADHOUSE in the mornings with some SPORTS (mostly local sports) but their format is CLASSIC HITS, again the type of music you normally hear on the FM dial. And last but not least, KCVR. Just like KWSX, KCVR is pretty much the neglected RED HEADED HISPANIC STEP CHILD of ENTRAVISION. Just basically simulcasting its FM SISTER STATION from MODESTO with a MEXICAN version of a JACK Adult Hits format but called JOSE-FM.
 
I remember my parents listening to KWG 35 or 40 years ago. "1-2-3 on your radio dial...KWG." Does that ring a bell?

I believe they also listened to an FM beautiful music station called KJAX. "Cloud 99" - is that correct?

The kids listened to KSTN and KJOY. I can still hear the old sung jingles in my head. "1420...KSTN!" and "K...JOY!

I rarely get back to Stockton (although, ironically, I did pass through briefly earlier this year). I have just one elderly aunt and uncle - and a few cousins - left there.

What is now on the site of KJOY's old street level studios?

Although I now work for a large broadcast company (CBS), I hope that local ownership will someday return to small markets, and provide those communities with the service they deserve.
 
Steve Scott said:
I remember my parents listening to KWG 35 or 40 years ago. "1-2-3 on your radio dial...KWG." Does that ring a bell?

I believe they also listened to an FM beautiful music station called KJAX. "Cloud 99" - is that correct?

The kids listened to KSTN and KJOY. I can still hear the old sung jingles in my head. "1420...KSTN!" and "K...JOY!

I rarely get back to Stockton (although, ironically, I did pass through briefly earlier this year). I have just one elderly aunt and uncle - and a few cousins - left there.

What is now on the site of KJOY's old street level studios?

Although I now work for a large broadcast company (CBS), I hope that local ownership will someday return to small markets, and provide those communities with the service they deserve.
Click to expand...
Yes I do remember the old jingle of KWG, that was when they were MoR. As for the Beautiful Music Station, 99.3 KJAX, today they are now KJOY but with an ADULT CONTEMPORARY FORMAT (Light Rock With Less Talk). KJOY-99.3 is now owned by CITADEL BROADCASTING while its Former AM Sister Station on 1280 (KWSX) is owned by CLEAR CHANNEL. As for the former site of KJOY's studios on the main floor of the HOTEL STOCKTON is now an Upscale Restaurant called PARAGARY'S. KJOY vacated that site back in 1998.
 
There was a construction firm in KJOY's old Weber Street studios for a while if I remember right.
Is KSTN still live other than mornings? Is John Hampton still there? I've been intensely curious about KSTN's status ever since the sale but haven't been able to find out much. A few weeks ago, I found a "World Famous 1420 AM" sticker in a box of stuff I was going through. I couldn't resist putting it on the car.
I'm a native of Stockton, alumnus of KWG, KSTN, KWIN, and KJOY/KJAX. Also worked briefly at KFMR. I came up in radio in Stockton. My first gig was at KWIN when the Farrs owned it and it was in the double-wide out in Woodbridge behind KCVR.
I was also the last person to speak on KJOY's air from the Weber Street studios. And I wasn't even actually employed there at the time, I kind of crashed the studio. Long story........>;)
 
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