KFRR
Encyclopedia
KFRR is a commercial modern rock
music radio station
in Woodlake, California
, broadcasting to the Fresno, California
area.
station. Two years later, the format
was changed to adult contemporary with a change of call letters to KFRR K104-In-A-Row (where the station plays four songs in a row without commercial interruptions. The station had a huge amount of PR with giving away plastic "credit card style" cards which were branded with a unique number. The station would call out for a numbered card, and if that listener called in within 10 minutes, they'd receive a cash prize. If nobody called in, the cash prize amount would increase until someone won it. The called it the "Cash Call Jackpot". The jackpot always started at $104.01 when it was reset. The station's main competitor at this time was Cross Town KTHT
(Mix 102.7).
In 1995, the format was changed again to a modern rock
format branded as "New Rock 104" with the station slogan being "This Is Not For You". This was the first modern rock
station in Fresno after the failed KKDJ "105.9 The Edge" changed formats. The new format played much of the New Wave 1980s hits (labeled as "Retro-Flashbacks"), as well as the new sound (at the time) modern rock format to include major artists such as Nirvana
, Smashing Pumpkins, Jewel
, and Counting Crows
.
There was no competition in this market against the station until Cross-Town KVSR "Star 101" debuted as a Modern adult contemporary format. While it played most of the artists KFRR played, it remained more towards the pop side of music whereas KFRR took a more rock approach. Shortly afterwards the competition increased yet again when Cross-Town KTHT
flipped formats to KALZ
as "Alice 102.7" to go up against KVSR as a modern adult contemporary format.
Soon after sign-on 1995, the station brought The Bob & Tom Show to Fresno. It was a horrible match. The Bob & Tom Show was really for an older audience. It was part of (then-owner) Mondosphere's greater plans.
In October 1995 Rob Frazier (aka Robnokshus) took over the morning show with Aandy as his co-host. It replaced the Bob & Tom Show which was moved to Mondosphere's KJFX
station where it fits perfectly with the audience and is still there today.
The Robnokshus Show was short lived however as on April 29, 1996, the station announced it was bringing The Howard Stern
Morning Show to Fresno. The press conference which aired on the station featured a heated battle between Howard Stern and TV news reporter Michael Golden. Stern became angry because Michael Golden kept insulting Robyn, and Stern got so furious, he ended that press conference right then and there.
In August 1999, KFRR made some noticeable changes to their playlist format, adopting a harder rock style format that played well known rock "hits" over lesser known songs, also many artists that KFRR had played that were also heard on rival stations KVSR and KTHT such as Goo Goo Dolls, The Verve Pipe, Dave Matthews Band and so on were no longer played on KFRR. Instead, KFRR opted to play more songs that were heard on hard rock station KRZR. KFRR had also launched many branding commercials that poked fun of KRZR such as "the competition claims to have been on the air for 10 years...that sure is a long time to suck."
On April 20, 2001, they dropped Howard Stern for The Kevin and Bean
Show. They also changed the name of the station to 104.1, dropping the name "New Rock 104", and replacing the station slogan officially with "The Valley's Alternative".
On January 3, 2005, Wilks Broadcasting announced it was purchasing KFRR, KJFX
, and KTSX from Mondosphere Broadcasting with customary conditions and FCC approval (it was later approved).
On January 3, 2006, Kevin & Bean was replaced with the new Adam Carolla
show that was created when Howard Stern's radio show ended and he went to Sirius Satellite Radio
.
Signaling yet another shift in format, on Monday, September 10, 2007, KFRR changed their slogan to "104.1, It Just Rocks" featuring more 80s and 90s mainstream rock.
On February 19, 2009, it was announced that due to a format change on the parent radio station of the Adam Carolla Show, it would be cancelled as on February 20, 2009. KFRR continued to broadcast "best of" editions of the Adam Carolla Show, distributed by Westwood One
, while an online poll and phone calls to KFRR were to determine what would be played on the station on weekday mornings. On April 20, 2009, it was announced that KFRR would again be broadcasting the Kevin and Bean Show from KROQ-FM
in Los Angeles, starting with the Kevin & Bean Rewind, live broadcast started on May 4, 2009.
On October 13, 2010, reacting to the format change by a competitor Clear Channel's KRZR 103.7, which dropped rock to install the company's new 90s-focused “Gen-X rhythmic” format that became KFBT-FM, KFRR began to focus into a broader rock stance, and dropped the syndicated Kevin & Bean morning show, thus they began playing more music. As KFRR remains alternative rock
per Nielsen BDS, Mediabase
most recently moved it to the active rock
panel. It is currently one of two alternative rock
station on Mediabase
's active rock
panel, the other being WTZR.
On December 10, 2010, KFFR debuted The Morning After, a local morning show featuring Skippy, who was a fixture on KRZR afternoons before the format change.
Modern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
music radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
in Woodlake, California
Woodlake, California
Woodlake is a city in Tulare County, California, United States. The population was 7,279 at the 2010 census, up from 6,651 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Woodlake is located at ....
, broadcasting to the Fresno, California
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
area.
History
KFRR signed on the air in 1992 under the call letters of KFCL, as Fresno's first commercial classical musicClassical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
station. Two years later, the format
Radio format
A radio format or programming format not to be confused with broadcast programming describes the overall content broadcast on a radio station. Radio formats are frequently employed as a marketing tool, and constantly evolve...
was changed to adult contemporary with a change of call letters to KFRR K104-In-A-Row (where the station plays four songs in a row without commercial interruptions. The station had a huge amount of PR with giving away plastic "credit card style" cards which were branded with a unique number. The station would call out for a numbered card, and if that listener called in within 10 minutes, they'd receive a cash prize. If nobody called in, the cash prize amount would increase until someone won it. The called it the "Cash Call Jackpot". The jackpot always started at $104.01 when it was reset. The station's main competitor at this time was Cross Town KTHT
KTHT
KTHT 97.1 "Country Legends 97.1" is a 100,000 watt FM station licensed to Cleveland, TX, that includes service to Houston and Beaumont TX with its Classic Country format. The station is owned by Cox Radio and is co-owned with KGLK, KHPT, and KKBQ...
(Mix 102.7).
In 1995, the format was changed again to a modern rock
Modern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
format branded as "New Rock 104" with the station slogan being "This Is Not For You". This was the first modern rock
Modern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
station in Fresno after the failed KKDJ "105.9 The Edge" changed formats. The new format played much of the New Wave 1980s hits (labeled as "Retro-Flashbacks"), as well as the new sound (at the time) modern rock format to include major artists such as Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
, Smashing Pumpkins, Jewel
Jewel (singer)
Jewel Kilcher , professionally known as Jewel, is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, actress and poet...
, and Counting Crows
Counting Crows
Counting Crows is an American rock band originating from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1991, the group gained popularity following the release of its debut album in 1993, August and Everything After, which featured the hit single "Mr. Jones"...
.
There was no competition in this market against the station until Cross-Town KVSR "Star 101" debuted as a Modern adult contemporary format. While it played most of the artists KFRR played, it remained more towards the pop side of music whereas KFRR took a more rock approach. Shortly afterwards the competition increased yet again when Cross-Town KTHT
KTHT
KTHT 97.1 "Country Legends 97.1" is a 100,000 watt FM station licensed to Cleveland, TX, that includes service to Houston and Beaumont TX with its Classic Country format. The station is owned by Cox Radio and is co-owned with KGLK, KHPT, and KKBQ...
flipped formats to KALZ
KALZ
KALZ is a commercial radio station located in Fowler, California, broadcasting to the Fresno, California, area. KALZ airs a hot adult contemporary music format. Initially, the station broadcast on 102.7 MHz from 1998 to early 2006...
as "Alice 102.7" to go up against KVSR as a modern adult contemporary format.
Soon after sign-on 1995, the station brought The Bob & Tom Show to Fresno. It was a horrible match. The Bob & Tom Show was really for an older audience. It was part of (then-owner) Mondosphere's greater plans.
In October 1995 Rob Frazier (aka Robnokshus) took over the morning show with Aandy as his co-host. It replaced the Bob & Tom Show which was moved to Mondosphere's KJFX
KJFX
KJFX is a commercial radio station located in Fresno, California, and owned by Wilks Broadcasting, LLC. KJFX airs a classic rock music format.-History:...
station where it fits perfectly with the audience and is still there today.
The Robnokshus Show was short lived however as on April 29, 1996, the station announced it was bringing The Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
Morning Show to Fresno. The press conference which aired on the station featured a heated battle between Howard Stern and TV news reporter Michael Golden. Stern became angry because Michael Golden kept insulting Robyn, and Stern got so furious, he ended that press conference right then and there.
In August 1999, KFRR made some noticeable changes to their playlist format, adopting a harder rock style format that played well known rock "hits" over lesser known songs, also many artists that KFRR had played that were also heard on rival stations KVSR and KTHT such as Goo Goo Dolls, The Verve Pipe, Dave Matthews Band and so on were no longer played on KFRR. Instead, KFRR opted to play more songs that were heard on hard rock station KRZR. KFRR had also launched many branding commercials that poked fun of KRZR such as "the competition claims to have been on the air for 10 years...that sure is a long time to suck."
On April 20, 2001, they dropped Howard Stern for The Kevin and Bean
Kevin and Bean
Kevin and Bean is the morning show on KROQ-FM, an alternative rock-format radio station in Los Angeles, California. It is hosted by Kevin Ryder and Gene "Bean" Baxter. The show has been on the air since 1990 and intersperses music and news with comedy bits, celebrity interviews, listener call-ins,...
Show. They also changed the name of the station to 104.1, dropping the name "New Rock 104", and replacing the station slogan officially with "The Valley's Alternative".
On January 3, 2005, Wilks Broadcasting announced it was purchasing KFRR, KJFX
KJFX
KJFX is a commercial radio station located in Fresno, California, and owned by Wilks Broadcasting, LLC. KJFX airs a classic rock music format.-History:...
, and KTSX from Mondosphere Broadcasting with customary conditions and FCC approval (it was later approved).
On January 3, 2006, Kevin & Bean was replaced with the new Adam Carolla
Adam Carolla
Adam Carolla is an American radio personality, television host, comedian, and actor. He currently hosts The Adam Carolla Show, a talk show distributed as a podcast on the ACE Broadcasting Network...
show that was created when Howard Stern's radio show ended and he went to Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
.
Signaling yet another shift in format, on Monday, September 10, 2007, KFRR changed their slogan to "104.1, It Just Rocks" featuring more 80s and 90s mainstream rock.
On February 19, 2009, it was announced that due to a format change on the parent radio station of the Adam Carolla Show, it would be cancelled as on February 20, 2009. KFRR continued to broadcast "best of" editions of the Adam Carolla Show, distributed by Westwood One
Westwood One
Westwood One was an American radio network and was based in New York City. At one time, it was managed by CBS Radio, the radio arm of CBS Corporation, and Viacom and was later purchased by the private equity firm The Gores Group...
, while an online poll and phone calls to KFRR were to determine what would be played on the station on weekday mornings. On April 20, 2009, it was announced that KFRR would again be broadcasting the Kevin and Bean Show from KROQ-FM
KROQ-FM
KROQ-FM — branded 106.7 KROQ — is a commercial modern rock radio station licensed to Pasadena, California serving the Greater Los Angeles. The call sign is pronounced "kay rock." It is the flagship station of Loveline hosted by Dr...
in Los Angeles, starting with the Kevin & Bean Rewind, live broadcast started on May 4, 2009.
On October 13, 2010, reacting to the format change by a competitor Clear Channel's KRZR 103.7, which dropped rock to install the company's new 90s-focused “Gen-X rhythmic” format that became KFBT-FM, KFRR began to focus into a broader rock stance, and dropped the syndicated Kevin & Bean morning show, thus they began playing more music. As KFRR remains alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
per Nielsen BDS, Mediabase
Mediabase
Mediabase is a music industry service that monitors radio station airplay in 180 US and Canadian markets. Mediabase publishes music charts and data based on the most played songs on terrestrial and satellite radio, and provides in-depth analytical tools for radio and record industry professionals...
most recently moved it to the active rock
Active rock
Active rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock plays contemporary rock artists with a mix of songs common in the classic rock radio format.-Format background:...
panel. It is currently one of two alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
station on Mediabase
Mediabase
Mediabase is a music industry service that monitors radio station airplay in 180 US and Canadian markets. Mediabase publishes music charts and data based on the most played songs on terrestrial and satellite radio, and provides in-depth analytical tools for radio and record industry professionals...
's active rock
Active rock
Active rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock plays contemporary rock artists with a mix of songs common in the classic rock radio format.-Format background:...
panel, the other being WTZR.
On December 10, 2010, KFFR debuted The Morning After, a local morning show featuring Skippy, who was a fixture on KRZR afternoons before the format change.
Former airstaff & canceled shows
- Aandy (Now program director and afternoons at KKBZ)
- Carlota (now live on KOMP/Las Vegas & "voice-tracking" at KKBZ)
- Chenoa Estrada (weekends/overnights 1997-2001)
- Crissie the Goddess (Overnights 1996-1999)
- Don-O (Program Director 1994-1998)
- James (Local news during Howard Stern 1997-2000)
- Jason Lee (a.k.a. Jason Hurst, moved to KSKS, then to KWYE 101.1 as morning host, now unknown)
- Jeff Scott (local news & public affairs 1989-2003)
- "Rhino" (nights 2003-2005)
- Kevin & Bean Show
- Rob "The Bank" (weekends 1999-2000)
- Robin Lewis (Now Roller Derby star in Los Angeles)
- Roy the Rocket Boy (Now at Clear Channel Fresno)
- Russ Parsley (Weekends KFRR '94-'96 - Moved to KVSR Star 101 '96-'02) (Metro Traffic '02-'03 for KJFX, KABX & as Craig Allen on KFRR)
- Spot's Outlaw 80s
- Shadow Boy/'Phat' Matt Ganssle (1997-2000, 2001; now at KUPL/Portland and CMT Radio Live with Cody Alan)
- The Adam Carolla Show
- The Howard Stern Show
- The LoveSponge (Voice and Production Director, 1995-2003)
- The Real Bruce Wayne (Program Director 1998-2000, now at KRAB/Bakersfield)
- The Reverend (Now mornings at KRZR)
- Tyson "The Gimp"
- Kevin "Kozman" Koske (Nights/Music Director 1996, now doing afternoons at WTMX/The Mix in Chicago