KOST
Encyclopedia
KOST is a radio station
licensed
to Los Angeles, California
, with an adult contemporary musical format. It is one of three adult contemporary formatted radio station in the Los Angeles/Orange County area, the others being sister station KBIG and CBS-owned KTWV
. The station is one of the top rated radio stations in Los Angeles and one of the top revenue billing radio stations in the United States. According to the radio industry website, RadioStats.Net, KOST's site is the most visited Adult Contemporary radio station website in America. KOST also has translators at 103.9 FM in Thousand Oaks, CA and at 105.5 in Ridgecrest, CA.
in 1960s. In 1973, Cox Communications
purchased KOST and sister station KFI
. KOST also aired a Beautiful Music
format until November 15, 1982, when they switched to an all-hit Adult Contemporary format. Former Sacramento radio personality Bryan Simmons was KOST's first host when the station signed on with its new format.
On February 3, 1986, Mark Wallengren and Kim Amidon made their debut as KOST's new morning hosts. The "Mark and Kim" morning show was one of the longest running shows on Los Angeles radio.
In 1999, Cox Communications sold KOST and sister station KFI to AMFM, Inc., which was then purchased by Clear Channel Communications
in 2000. Over the years, the station has had solid ratings. Until recently there had been little turnover among the airstaff. On November 29, 2007, morning show co-host Kim Amidon exited the station, followed by KOST's original midday host Mike Sakellarides and longtime traffic reporter Mike Nolan (who has since been rehired).
In October of 2008, former San Diego radio personality Kristin Cruz joined Mark Wallengren as co-host of KOST's morning show. In 2009, the midday shift was voicetracked by former WLTW
/New York personality Karen Carson. In February 2011, Karen Carson resigned and joined WWFS/New York. Both Christine Martindale and Ted Ziegenbusch (see below) filled in on the midday show until August 2011, when former KBIG midday host Kari Steele took over.
The radio station jingles were produced by JAM Creative Productions
from 1985 until 2009 and had become an integrated element of KOST's stationality. They used jingles from Reelworld Productions, from 2009 through 2010. In 2011, KOST switched back to JAM Creative Productions for their jingles along with the classic musical signature sound that JAM created for the station.
On August 26, 2011, longtime KOST afternoon personality Bryan Simmons exited the station. The afternoon show is currently being hosted by Ted Ziegenbusch.
, LeAnn Rimes
, Phil Collins
, and Enrique Iglesias
. It is also one of the oldest and softest leaning AC stations in the Clear Channel Portfolio.
KOST features "Love Songs on the Coast" evenings from 7PM to midnight. The show is hosted by Karen Sharp Monday through Saturday. As of Setpember 30, 2010, entertainer Donny Osmond
was the Sunday evening host.
During the holiday season, the station switches to a Christmas music
format, however, some regular soft rock songs are played during the evening Love Songs program. It also operates its "Christmas Wish" program to help those less fortunate. The station usually begins playing holiday music from the week before Thanksgiving
until December 26, when it resumes its regular format.
Christine Martindale hosts "Sunday Journal" every Sunday morning at 6:30 as part of KOST's Public Affairs programming.
magazine.
Other nominees included WMJX
in Boston, WALK-FM
in Long Island, New York, WLTW
in New York City, WBEB
in Philadelphia, and KEZK-FM in St. Louis.
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...
licensed
City of license
A city of license or community of license, in American and Canadian broadcasting, is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator....
to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, with an adult contemporary musical format. It is one of three adult contemporary formatted radio station in the Los Angeles/Orange County area, the others being sister station KBIG and CBS-owned KTWV
KTWV
KTWV is a commercial radio station located in Los Angeles, California, broadcasting to the Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside–San Bernardino and Ventura County areas on 94.7 FM. KTWV airs a hybrid Smooth AC radio format branded as "94.7 The Wave"...
. The station is one of the top rated radio stations in Los Angeles and one of the top revenue billing radio stations in the United States. According to the radio industry website, RadioStats.Net, KOST's site is the most visited Adult Contemporary radio station website in America. KOST also has translators at 103.9 FM in Thousand Oaks, CA and at 105.5 in Ridgecrest, CA.
History
KOST was owned by radio icon Gordon McLendonGordon McLendon
Gordon Barton McLendon was a radio pioneer and pirate radio broadcaster. He has been coined the Maverick of Radio. McLendon is widely credited for perfecting, with great commercial success, the Top 40 radio format during the 1950s and 1960s which was first invented by Todd Storz and for developing...
in 1960s. In 1973, Cox Communications
Cox Enterprises
Cox Enterprises is the successor to the publishing company founded in Dayton, Ohio, United States, by James Middleton Cox, who began with the Dayton Daily News. He was the Democratic candidate for the President of the United States in the election of 1920...
purchased KOST and sister station KFI
KFI
KFI is an AM radio station in Los Angeles, California. It received its license to operate on March 31, 1922 and began operating on April 16, 1922 as one of the United States' first high-powered, "clear-channel" stations...
. KOST also aired a Beautiful Music
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
format until November 15, 1982, when they switched to an all-hit Adult Contemporary format. Former Sacramento radio personality Bryan Simmons was KOST's first host when the station signed on with its new format.
On February 3, 1986, Mark Wallengren and Kim Amidon made their debut as KOST's new morning hosts. The "Mark and Kim" morning show was one of the longest running shows on Los Angeles radio.
In 1999, Cox Communications sold KOST and sister station KFI to AMFM, Inc., which was then purchased by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
in 2000. Over the years, the station has had solid ratings. Until recently there had been little turnover among the airstaff. On November 29, 2007, morning show co-host Kim Amidon exited the station, followed by KOST's original midday host Mike Sakellarides and longtime traffic reporter Mike Nolan (who has since been rehired).
In October of 2008, former San Diego radio personality Kristin Cruz joined Mark Wallengren as co-host of KOST's morning show. In 2009, the midday shift was voicetracked by former WLTW
WLTW
WLTW is a radio station with an Adult Contemporary format in New York City.The station is often number one or close to it in Arbitron ratings for New York City. From 2002 to 2004, the station generated more revenue than any other radio station in the New York market...
/New York personality Karen Carson. In February 2011, Karen Carson resigned and joined WWFS/New York. Both Christine Martindale and Ted Ziegenbusch (see below) filled in on the midday show until August 2011, when former KBIG midday host Kari Steele took over.
The radio station jingles were produced by JAM Creative Productions
JAM Creative Productions
JAM Creative Productions, Inc., is an American company that produces radio jingles, promo music for television, and commercial jingles for advertisers. It has made more radio jingles than any other jingle company and has become part of American pop culture....
from 1985 until 2009 and had become an integrated element of KOST's stationality. They used jingles from Reelworld Productions, from 2009 through 2010. In 2011, KOST switched back to JAM Creative Productions for their jingles along with the classic musical signature sound that JAM created for the station.
On August 26, 2011, longtime KOST afternoon personality Bryan Simmons exited the station. The afternoon show is currently being hosted by Ted Ziegenbusch.
Programming
KOST's format features a variety of music from the late 1960s to the 2000s, with artists including Elton JohnElton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes is an American country/pop singer. She is known for her rich vocals and her rise to fame as an eight-year-old champion on the original Ed McMahon version of Star Search, followed by the release of the Patsy Cline-intended single "Blue" when Rimes was only age 13, resulting in her...
, Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
, and Enrique Iglesias
Enrique Iglesias
Enrique Iglesias is a Spanish pop music singer, a son of singer Julio Iglesias.Enrique started his musical career on Mexican label Fonovisa...
. It is also one of the oldest and softest leaning AC stations in the Clear Channel Portfolio.
KOST features "Love Songs on the Coast" evenings from 7PM to midnight. The show is hosted by Karen Sharp Monday through Saturday. As of Setpember 30, 2010, entertainer Donny Osmond
Donny Osmond
Donald Clark "Donny" Osmond is an American singer, musician, actor, dancer, radio personality, and former teen idol. Osmond has also been a talk and game show host, record producer and author. In the mid 1960s, he and four of his elder brothers gained fame as the Osmond Brothers on the long...
was the Sunday evening host.
During the holiday season, the station switches to a Christmas music
Christmas music
Christmas music comprises a variety of genres of music normally performed or heard around the Christmas season, which tends to begin in the months leading up the actual holiday and end in the weeks shortly thereafter.-Early:...
format, however, some regular soft rock songs are played during the evening Love Songs program. It also operates its "Christmas Wish" program to help those less fortunate. The station usually begins playing holiday music from the week before Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
until December 26, when it resumes its regular format.
Christine Martindale hosts "Sunday Journal" every Sunday morning at 6:30 as part of KOST's Public Affairs programming.
Weekday Lineup
- Mark and Kristin 5:00AM – 10:00AM
- Kari Steele 10:00AM – 2:00PM
- Ted Ziegenbusch 2:00PM – 7:00PM
- Karen Sharp 7:00PM - Midnight
Awards
In 2007, the station was nominated for the top 25 markets Adult Contemporary station of the year award by Radio & RecordsRadio & Records
Radio & Records was a trade publication providing news and airplay information for the radio and music industries. It originally started out as an independent trade from 1973 to 2006 until VNU Media took over in 2006, up until its final issue in 2009.-History:The company was founded in 1973 and...
magazine.
Other nominees included WMJX
WMJX
WMJX is a radio station licensed to Boston, Massachusetts. It has an Adult Contemporary format. The station's transmitter is located atop the Prudential Tower in Downtown Boston...
in Boston, WALK-FM
WALK-FM
WALK-FM, known on-air as "WALK 97.5," is a radio station on Long Island with an adult contemporary format. Located on 97.5 FM, the station is licensed to Patchogue, New York...
in Long Island, New York, WLTW
WLTW
WLTW is a radio station with an Adult Contemporary format in New York City.The station is often number one or close to it in Arbitron ratings for New York City. From 2002 to 2004, the station generated more revenue than any other radio station in the New York market...
in New York City, WBEB
WBEB
WBEB is a radio station broadcasting a Soft Rock/Adult Contemporary format. Licensed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, it serves the Greater Philadelphia metropolitan area. It first began broadcasting in 1963 under the call sign WDVR. The station is currently owned by Jerry Lee...
in Philadelphia, and KEZK-FM in St. Louis.