KFRR
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| KFRR | |
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| City of license | Woodlake, California |
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| Broadcast area | Fresno, California |
| Slogan | "It Just Rocks" |
| Frequency | 104.1 (MHz) |
| First air date | 1992 |
| Format | Modern Rock |
| ERP | 17,000 watts |
| HAAT | 262 meters |
| Class | B |
| Owner | Wilks Broadcasting |
| Sister stations | KJFX, KJZN |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | 1041itjustrocks.com |
KFRR (104.1 FM) is a commercial modern rock music radio station in Woodlake, California, broadcasting to the Fresno, California area.
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[edit] History
KFRR signed on the air in 1992 under the call letters of KFCL, as Fresno's first commercial classical music station. 2 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 4 songs in a row without commercial interruptions. The station had a huge amount of PR with giving away these 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 80's 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 where-as 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.
In late 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.
On April 29, 1996, the station announced it was bringing The Howard Stern Morning Show to Fresno. It would replace the Bob & Tom Show which would be moved to Mondosphere's KJFX station where it fits perfectly with the audience and is still there today. The press release which aired on the station had a heated battle between local Fresno Bee Columnist Lanny Larson and a TV News reporter Michael Golden. The press release ended up making Howard very angry because Michael Golden kept insulting Robyn, and Stern got so furious, he ended that press release right then and there.
In August of 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 of 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 pooked 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 20th, 2001, They dropped Howard Stern for The Kevin & 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 3rd, 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 3rd, 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.
To this day, KFRR has still won out of the "Modern Battle" of Fresno, where the two stations who flipped formats to go against the station ultimately flipped to something else when the market couldn't handle three stations all playing mostly the same music. Today, KFRR is the survivor, and still plays modern rock music from bands like Linkin' Park, Coldplay, Nickelback.
Signaling yet another shift in format, on Monday, September 10th, 2007, KFRR changed their slogan to "104.1, It Just Rocks." The difference is subtle, with more 80's and 90's alternative played. They also threw in some classic rock, which sounds strange on a "Modern Rock" format.
[edit] Current airstaff
- The Adam Carolla Show
- Hammer
- Rash
- Jock
- Juice
- Spot (News during Adam Carolla)
- LoveLine
- Out of Order
- 104.1 Homegrown
[edit] Former airstaff & canceled shows
- Andy
- Carlota (now at KOMP/Las Vegas)
- Chenoa Estrada (weekends/overnights 1998-1999)
- 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, now at KWYE 101.1 morning host)
- Jeff Scott (local news & public affairs 1989-2003)
- Kevin & Bean
- "Rhino" (nights 2003-2005)
- Rob "The Bank" (weekends 1999-2000)
- Robin Lewis (Now Roller Derby star in Los Angeles)
- Roy the Rocket Boy (Now at Clear Channel Fresno)
- Spot's Outlaw 80s
- Shadow Boy/Phat Matt (left in early 2000, returned in late 2000 and left again in March 2001)
- 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/Fresno)
- Tyson "The Gimp"
- Kevin "Kozman" Koske (Nights/Music Director 1996, now doing afternoons at WTMX/The Mix in Chicago
[edit] External links
- KFRR official website
- Query the FCC's FM station database for KFRR
- Radio Locator information on KFRR
- Query Arbitron's FM station database for KFRR
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