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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2001
Boom, ba-boom, ba-boom.
RADIO
We've all heard it. It's the pulsing buzz of music, flowing out of headphones, stereos and cars. And chances are — considering the plethora of stations sending waves out of Lawrence, Kansas City and Topeka — that booming bass is coming from the radio.
Story by Katie Nelson, Kansan feature writer
Where KU students tune in when they spin the FM dial show
In Lawrence, stations catering to almost any style of music can be found up and down the FM dial. It's just a matter of finding out which one tingles your musical taste buds.
University of Kansas student-run station KJHK-FM 90.7 is Joseph Gillespie's favorite place to tune into his favorites — indie rock, electronic and hip-hop.
And although the station's programming is sometimes inconsistent, the Lawrence senior said, it offers a wide variety of independent and underground, urban and alternative music on its rotation shows.
KRBZ-FM 96.5 also plays music somewhat outside of the main stream, but by popular artists.
"There is always a broad range of things being played that you couldn't get outside of a college radio station," he said.
"We don't play pop, rap or dance," said Rees Wendler, director of marketing and promotions at KRBZ. "We are the old Lazer, but grown up. Our station is based on the music, pure and simple."
KRBZ plays fewer commercials than other revenue-driven stations, and focuses on events rather than on airgimmicks and contests, she said
"I try and avoid the morning shows," she said. "I don't like to deal with all the talking in the morning. But I like 104 because they have good music, good contests and good calls.
But some students, such as Heather Chambers, a Kansas City, Kan., senior, enjoy and even participate in radio show contests and discussions. Chambers commutes from Kansas City each day to attend classes, allowing her a lot of time to listen to her favorites - country and classic rock.
"I've never won though," she said, jokingly shaking her head.
KTPK-FM 106.9, KBEQ-FM104.3,
WIBW-FM 97.3, KFKF-FM 94.1 and
MZUZ-FM 100.7 all play country
music. Classic rock stations are
scattered up and down the dial as well,
including KQRC-FM 98.9, KYYS-FM
99.7, and KCFX-FM 101.1.
"If they are getting radio exposure,
Chambers uses the radio to learn about new artists, albums and concerts, she said.
Area FM radio stations
89.1 KJTY — Gospel
89.5 KLJC — Religious
89.3 KCUR — National Public Radio
90.7 JKH — Alternative/Urban
90.9 KTBG — Easy listening
91.5 KANU — NPR/Classical/World
92.3 KSJO — Country
92.3 KMXV — Top 40
94.1 KFKF — Country
94.9 KCMO — Oldies
95.7 KCHZ — Top 40
96.5 KRBZ — Top 40/Rock
98.1KUDL — Adult Contemporary
98.9 KQRC — Rock
99.7 KYYS — Classic Rock
101.1 KCFX — Rock
102.1 KSRC — Adult Contemporary
103.3 KPRS — Urban
105.1 KFME — 1980s and 1990s
105.5 KKJO — Adult Contemporary
105.9 KLZR — Top 40
107.3 MJKJ — R&B oldies
107.7 KMAJ — Adult Contemporary
Photos by Anthony Reyes, Kansan photographer
they have to be good," she reasoned.
Jordan Brock, Fremont, Calif., junior, uses the radio to learn about musicians as well. He prefers R&B, he said, and frequently tunes in to 51-year-old KPRS-FM 103.3. the nation's oldest continually owned and operated African-American radio broadcast.
"It's kind of cool," Brock said. "They play things that tend to have a nice beat and people with good musical talent."
But pop music is what gets Kara Warner, a Fort Collins, Colo., junior, going in the morning.
"Boy bands," she said, laughing. "They are my guilty pleasure."
She said she got her daily fix by listening to the radio in her car. She cites Top 40 format stations KLZR-FM 105.9 and KMVX-FM 93.3 as her favorites. Other Top 40 stations are KCHZ-FM 95.7 and KKJO-FM 105.5.
This summer Warner tapped into the adult contemporary market when she found Kansas City's newest station. KFME-FM 105.1.
"It plays songs I haven't heard in a while," she said. "It's stuff from when I was growing up. Reminds me a lot of all the fun music videos with all the
crazy costumes from when I was little."
KFME's retro play list mainly comes from the 1980s, but also draws from the early 1990s and some of today's Top 40 format. It went on the air this summer at 2 p.m. June 18, said Brad Miller, the station's marketing and promotions manager.
"It's a trip back in time," he said. "We are a lot different than anything out there."
Other adult contemporary, light
The Kansas City, Mo.,-based band Big Jeter laughs along with D.J. Elena, the host of the Lazer Local Music Show for 105.9 the Lazer. Elena was interviewing Big Jeter before the band played a short acoustic set live on the air.
rock and easy listening stations are: KKFI-FM 90.1,KTBG-FM 90.9, KUDL-FM 98.1,and KSRC-FM 102.1.
Even though KFME is relatively new it, as many other stations, frequently taps the Lawrence area as a promotional event site.
"We are just scratcing the surface," Miller said of Lawrence as a market. "We have been there at Abe & Jake's, and we definitely intend to be back."
Likewise, KLZR-FM 105.9 makes an effort to cater to the KU community.
"We just love to be involved with KU activities," said Hank Booth, general manager. "It's a part of our lifestyle."
style. KLZR is heavily involved with KU athletics, featuring football and basketball coach's reports and broadcasting sporting events live.
ing sporting events. "We want to be up and around in the stadiums," Booth said. "We definitely think students are listening to us."
"We do tons of events," she said. "And every promotion we do is catered toward the 18 to 34 age group. That's you guys."
Football games and the Late Night with Roy Williams basketball event are only a few events KRBZ will participate in, Wendler said.
D. J. Elena (right), 105.9 music director, the host of the Lazer Local Music Show and co-host of the morning show, talks with Colby Blanton, 17, Topeka, who works as an intern for Elena.