Houston Radio Platinum is now Classic Hits

This morning (7-6-2020) Houston Radio Platinum made the big switch from Soft Rock to Classic Hits!

Now you will hear your favorites from Paul McCartney, Bee Gees, Sheryl Crow, Fleetwood Mac, Chicago, The Eagles, Earth, Wind & Fire, Nelly Furtato, Train, Tina Turner, Journey, Lionel Richie, Bryan Adams, Smash Mouth, Maroon 5, Neil Diamond, ELO, Doobie Brothers, The Temptations, James Taylor, Carly Simon, Abba, Matchbox 20, Huey Lewis & The News, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Janet Jackson, John Mellencamp, The Carpenters, The Culture Club, Air Supply, Linda Ronstadt, Barry White, Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and MORE!

Houston Radio Platinum Owner/Operator Joey Kovacik said "The playlist will span from the 1960s to 2000s with bonafide hits from every music genre! We're very excited about the change!"
Yes, Houston Radio Platinum will brighten your day with some TIMELESS music!

Houston Radio Platinum features "The Jimbo Show" mornings from 5am to 10am.

Hosted by Houston Radio Veteran Jim "Jimbo" Kovacik (KBXX, KFMK, WPHI), "The Jimbo Show" is all about making listeners laugh, having a good time and playing the best songs available.

The Jimbo Show is loaded with his off-beat features, crazy characters, prank calls and his signature parody songs. Jimbo says his goal is "to provide listeners with the fun radio they grew up with…with a modern twist…Yeaahh!"

As for the rest of the schedule, join Gary Mac every weekday from 10am to 3pm.

In the afternoons, Joey & Barry handle your ride home from 3pm to 7pm.

The afternoon show is followed by 70's at 7 and 80's at 8. Then, it's "Love Songs with Donna" from 9pm to Midnight.

Throughout the day, specialty features include "Cooking With Chef Daniel," which features quick fix meal ideas, "Words of Inspiration" with Pastor Dale Young and "Reflections Of Houston" hosted by Texas Radio Hall of Fame member Johnny Goyen.

But that's not all!

Specialty shows on the weekend include Texas Hall of Fame member Andy Waldrop and his "Solid Gold Sunday Night," and The Saturday Night Block Party.

HOW TO LISTEN:
Stream us at: www.houstonradioplatinum.com

Alexa....download our skill from Amazon, and ask Alexa anytime to play us. You can search for us on the My Tuner Radio App! And make us your favorite.

(This post was taken from a press release sent to me by Houston Radio Platinum)

TNCRadio wants to be Houston's online driving online station

New Internet Radio Station Founded by “Dream Team” of Radio Personalities IT, Finance, and Radio Pros Combine to form new company


HOUSTON, TX, June 25, 2020 — TNCRadio.LIVE, announced today that some well-known radio personalities along with others have come together to help create a new Internet Radio and Mixed-media company focused on those who spend their day driving the streets of Houston.

TNCRadio.LIVE an Internet Radio station launching July 1, 2020, provides Houston TNC, delivery, repair service and other full-time drivers up-to-the-minute details they need to be safer, smarter, and more successful. They do this by providing accurate and timely traffic, weather, and emergency information along with driver-designed programming throughout the broadcast day.

Managing Partner, Tom Kelley said, “This team came together in a remarkable way. We have IT professionals, social media experts, and finance support all focused on the same goal. We are also
excited that several radio personalities have joined the team. As a mixed-media information distribution company, we hope to disrupt the Houston Internet Radio market in a way that is positive for our listeners and our advertisers.”

Kelley went on to discuss some of the on-air personalities who have joined the company as partners. Jim Kovacik, Vice President of Programming (formerly, ‘Jimbo,’ 97.9 The Box) has been a ratings leader in the Houston market for years. Author, on-air personality and mixed-media journalist, Shelley Johnson is the Vice President of Business Development. Additionally, Houstonians will recognize the strong and trusted voice of Vice President of Operations, Ron Samuels.

“Combined, that’s nearly 100 years of broadcast experience right there. It is a real ‘Dream Team’ of radio broadcasters moving into the new world of Internet Radio and mixed-media communications. As the market moves to an Internet based format, these radio greats have kept up with the times and made the move as well,” said Kelley.

Jim Kovacik, who also manages the station’s strategic business relationships, announced the new station has developed partnerships with a variety of companies. “We have teamed with WAZE to
power our Traffic Navigation Center. Plus, we are working closely with TranStar and other digital broadcasters to create a system that provides information and entertainment across multiple
formats focused on our core audience.”

Shelley Johnson said, “We are positioned to be a strong leader in the Houston Mixed-media advertising market. It is not like the old days at all. While our goal is to allow drivers to keep their
‘eyes on the road and their ears on us,’ much of our advertising and our information content is available on our app, videos, website, podcasts, and streaming. Our advantage is that we can bring
real-time information across multiple platforms while concentrating on the health and safety of our drivers. This brings a level of security that they have not had in the past. It also gives our
sponsors a place to deliver their message directly to those who need their goods and services.”

Known for his powerful voice on several San Francisco and Houston area radio stations, Ron Samuels is no stranger to the Houston market. When asked about why such a well-known radio
personality would jump into the world of Internet Radio at this point in his career, Samuels said, “My family keeps asking me when I plan to retire. I’m not sure that’s in my nature. These guys
have done their research and we are almost ready to launch. I am excited to be part of something that brings the power of Radio to the Digital age."

Our audience delivers people, car-parts, food, furniture and groceries. Others drive from site-to-site doing repairs, etc. It won’t be long before the professional drivers of Houston have a new
favorite radio station.”

TNCRadio.LIVE, scheduled to launch July 1, 2020, provides on-going weather, traffic, and emergency information to Houston area drivers. The station is privately owned.

TNCRadio.LIVE is a DBA of IMSICO, LLC, a Texas Company and can be accessed via Alexa, a number of Internet Radio Directories or by visiting the company website.

(This post was taken from a press release sent to me by TNCRadio)

Madd Hatta interviewed on "The Jimbo Podcast"

There have been lots of questions about what happened to the Madd Hatta Show on 97.9 The Box (2001 to 2019) at the end of 2019?

The show just disappeared followed by the premiere of "Good Morning H-Town" with Jerrel ‘Hardbody Kiotti’ Brown and Keisha Nicole in January.

Longtime Madd Hatta Morning Show player Jim Beazy, now going by Jim "Jimbo" Kovacik, is giving us a few more answers with his new "The Jimbo Podcast."

The first episode featured an interview with none other than Madd Hatta himself (partial transcript below) where the two talk about the last years of the show:

Jimbo: You know, I do miss these, these great conversations we used to have everyday we still talk and text but uh...

Madd Hatta: The conversations weren't really that good.

Jimbo: {Laughs}

Madd Hatta: Here's the truth, man. We just threw some stuff up against the wall and hoped we did out best and hoped it stuck. Sometimes it would stick, sometimes it didn't.

Jimbo: What do you miss about doing the everyday thing?

Madd Hatta: This is the sad part, Jim, and I don't miss...you know what I miss...I miss getting my check every month. But that's the way I was always anyway. I was on a spinning wheel, as we all were. And all these years, I had been on a spinning wheel of go to work, take care of your family, do your community and that's all I knew. I didn't ever even one...you know...the decision was made...I made the decision to just walk away from it...I didn't even anticipate people really liked us. You know what I'm saying? I never thought about it until we were we were gone one day and then we took that picture and people were going, 'Oh, we miss ya'll.' Like, 'Oh they liked us.'

Jimbo: It's that don't know what they've got till it's gone thing, you know?

Madd Hatta: Well, no, it's not even that. I think we were so...I think as a crew...because some of the bad things that happened, we were so drawn to the negativity.

Jimbo: Yeah, yeah.

Madd Hatta: Several, several years we were only...we were only into the negative. So we didn't think about the love, so to speak. We only...we wrapped ourselves in this blanket of hate. So we could only see when somebody would say something negative, something bad was happening. And we really...well I'm going to speak for myself. So I didn't really enjoy the last two years. The last two years weren't a big joy for me. I wasn't getting joy out of it because the last 10 years were just miserable, worrying about people hating you and, you know, just this bad stuff. So the joy that I had once got in it for back in the 90s and the early 2000s, it just wasn't there no more. So to answer your question, what do I miss? I don't miss any of that. I really don't. I don't miss any of that. I do...here's what I miss. And I said this on my Instagram page, and I know, you know, I miss us being there when things like the virus.

Jimbo: Yeah, that's the thing.

Madd Hatta: Or Kobe passing. Even what's my man, Curly Neal, passing away. That hurt. You know, we were the source of information that, you know, and I know there was some programmers that didn't believe that we needed to give that information, but I'd always fight to give certain information and we did that. And so during these times, I expect me and you and Mac to be at work while everybody else is taking care of their families. And we are sacrificing and being the voice of reason during...I mean...just the the truth of it, Jim, I would have been dumb enough to still probably still been at the station every day through this virus and probably never would have got home. Just make sure that my kids were OK.

Jimbo: I know. I know that's true.

LISTEN TO THE REST

--------end of partial transcript--------
Madd Hatta told Jimbo he has a new album ready to go but said he doesn't think during the pandemic is the right time to release music.

Other Jimbo Podcast interviews include actor and Howard Stern favorite Ike Barinholtz, musician/comedian/impressionist/legend and former co-worker Jay Lamont, Houston radio legend Shelley Wade and Texas Radio Hall of Famer Johnny Goyen.

Speaking of Goyen, Jimbo recently replaced the hall of famer during the morning shift on Houston Radio Platinum, an online radio station.

Madd Hatta Show on 97.9 The Box?

UPDATE DECEMBER 2020
Jerrel ‘Hardbody Kiotti’ Brown leaves 97.9 The Box

UPDATE August 03, 2020
Madd Hatta to advise KTSU The Vibe

UPDATE MAY 2020
Madd Hatta interviewed on "The Jimbo Podcast"


The Madd Hatta Morning Show appears to be off the air after nearly 20 years - replaced by "Good Morning H-Town" with Jerrel ‘Hardbody Kiotti’ Brown and Keisha Nicole


I'm beginning to think 97.9 The Box KBXX is taking a play from director JJ Abrams and introducing "mystery boxes" to confuse the audience and get them excited about changes with the station's new morning show.

Last week, I blogged that longtime Madd Hatta Morning Show player Jim Beazy announced he was leaving the show. I actually saw his brother's post about it and tried calling Beazy over the weekend, but did not hear back from him.

Then there was talk across the Twitter-verse that the entire Madd Hatta Morning Show was off the air. The actual show staff was very quiet about it on social media. Many just posted inspirational messages that suggested something big had just happened and they were looking to move on.

A mutual friend reach out to Madd Hatta for me, but no information was offered. I contacted both KBXX and owner Radio One and never heard anything back.

Then I started getting emails and Facebook message asking me what was going on with the very popular morning show.

At the time of me writing this post, the Madd Hatta Morning Show is still listed on the KBXX website and on the programming schedule.

So what's going on with Madd Hatta and 97.9 The Box?

"Good Morning H-Town" with Jerrel ‘Hardbody Kiotti’ Brown and Keisha Nicole morning show on 97.9 The Box KBXX

In this case, we can get some answers from Lance Venta of the leading radio trade site Radio Insight and from tuning in January 6th.

Monday, Venta posted: "Without any promotion or internal marketing, KBXX debuted its new morning show this morning hosted by former night host Jerrel ‘Hardbody Kiotti’ Brown and midday host Keisha Nicole."

Been up for a few hours & may as well stay up. Gotta catch my sis on her first day as she takes over the AM show in Houston. A road paved in integrity may seem longer but longevity is forever. So proud, love you girl! @KeishaNicole ✊🏾❤️ pic.twitter.com/LIwUTJT91E

— DurtyGotIt (@Durtygotit) January 6, 2020

Kiotti has been hosting the “The Radio Boss Show” 7pm to 11pm weeknights and Saturday Mornings from 10am-2pm on 97.9 The Box. The Houston native was formerly signed to Asylum Records. Venta reported Kiotti also hosted nights at “Party 104.9” KPTY before he joined The Box in 2010.

"As far as the behind the scenes, I really see how much stuff that we do for the community," Kiotti told rollingout in 2019. If you grew up in Houston, 97.9 was your station. If you were able to play for the dynasty in any sport, 97.9 is the dynasty. PERIOD."


Keisha Nicole came to KBXX in 2017 from Hot 96.3 WHHH Indianapolis. She also worked for B96.5 WGZB Louisville and KDAY Los Angeles.

The only schedule change on the KBXX website is that Young Jas from the Hatta Show is now in the night slot taking over for Kiotti.

The Madd Hatta Morning Show

While the Madd Hatta Morning Show has had various lineups through the years, the most recent group was as described on the KBXX website:

The Madd Hatta (Host), J-Mac (Freestyle King), Jimbo (News, Goofy stuff), Kooper (Producer) and Young Jas (Entertainment News).

Benjamin Thompson (aka Madd Hatta, Da Madd Hatta, Mista Madd) has been with KBXX since 1995 when he worked the afternoon shift. The rapper and producer moved to the morning shift in 2001 when then KBXX program director Robert Scorpio left the "Box Morning Playas" show for Los Angeles. The North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University grad is also the Assistant Program Director at Radio One sister-station Majic 102.1 KMJQ and host of "Super Throwback Party." Madd Hatta was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame in 2013.

Jim Kovacik (aka Jim Beazy) has been with the morning show longer than anyone. He even pre-dates KBXX being a station. The University of Houston grad worked for 97.9 KFMK in the research department. But in 1991, the then oldies-heavy adult contemporary format (my Mom listened to it) flipped to KBXX The Box. Beazy worked overnights and on the Box Morning Playas where he continued with Madd Hatta.

On his bio, J-Mac is listed as an entertainer, comedian, musician and award-winning radio personality. A fixture on Houston’s airwaves for nearly two decades, first at KMJQ and as a key player on the highly-rated Madd Hatta Morning Show at KBXX.

Contact me if you have more info. Stay tuned.

UPDATE
A petition at change.org was created asking for support in getting Donnie Houston added to the 97​.​9 The Box Morning Show:

Donnie Houston has long been a stalwart in the Houston entertainment community. Whether he’s been producing hits for your favorite rappers (Slim Thug, Paul Wall, Sauce Walka, etc), DJ’ing your favorite night spots (Faces, 5015, Alley Kat, Heinke & Pilot and Phil and Derek’s) or entertaining you with ground breaking interviews and content on his popular “The Donnie Houston” podcast and WeWork “Heart of a Hustler” series, he’s been actively keeping his ear to the streets and giving us content that is not only entertaining but informative. Which leads me to this, the 97.9 The Box morning show is going through a transition from the old to the new, yet there’s something missing. That something is Donnie Houston. The resumé speaks for itself, now it’s time for the streets to speak for Donnie so he can in turn speak for us on 97.9! Please sign this petition in support of getting Donnie Houston on the 97.9 The Box Morning Show.