107.5 KGLK Houston PD leaves

First Dean and Rog hit 107.5, then the station becomes 107.5 KGLK The Eagle and now the program director is gone FMQB reports:

Ed Scarborough exits the PD post at Classic Hits KGLK/Houston due to budget concerns. Johnny Chiang, Cox-Houston OM and PD for Country KKBQ and Classic Country KTHT, adds PD responsibilities at KGLK. READ THE REST

Dean and Rog on The New 107.5 The Eagle KGLK

As I have blogged about, Dean and Rog debuted on The New 107.5 The Eagle KGLK. That's the new station I predicted:

Classic Hits KHTC (107.5 K-Hits)/Houston becomes KGLK (The New 107.5 The Eagle). Morning duo Dean and Rog, formerly of Classic Rock KKRW/Houston, have joined the station as well, with their sidekick Suzi Hanks also taking over 10 a.m.-noon. READ MORE

Meanwhile, David Barron of the Houston Chronicle showed more of his email interview with Dean and Rog. READ THAT HERE

"Dean and Rog" break silence since Houston's Eagle firing

The "Dean and Rog" Morning Show issued a statement today for the first time since they were fired from The Eagle 106.9/107.5 KHPT-KGLK Houston in December 2024:

"To our listeners:

As you are probably aware, after nearly 30 years on the air in Houston, the Dean & Rog show mercifully came to an end.  The week before Christmas, we were given an early gift.  Our termination.

We apologize for the delayed response, but want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for your support, loyalty and amazing tolerance.  We also want to thank our great team, Kelly Ryan and producer Rusty.  

We’ll miss sharing mornings with you, but we are off to new adventures!  Rog with his fabulous new boat, and Dean combing the beach with his metal detector.

All the best,

Dean & Rog"

The show, hosted by longtime broadcast duo Dean Myers and Roger Beaty, was known for the Birthday Scam, Redneck Roy, the Dean and Rog Singers, and the Drink of the Week.

Dean and Rog, members of the Texas Radio Hall of Fame, class of 2022, started in Houston at classic rocker 93.7 The Arrow KKRW, now 93.7 The Beat KQBT as of 2013.

They moved to The New 107.5 The Eagle KGLK in 2009 when it signed on the air.

Since the Dean and Rog show exited, 101 KLOL legend Outlaw Dave has been doing mornings on Houston's Eagle. Watch OD in the documentary "Runaway Radio."  Former KLOL DJ Chuck Akers has also joined KHPT-KGLK.

The same week Dean and Rog left The Eagle 106.9/107.5, "The Morning Bullpen with George Mo and Erik" was canceled by 100.3 The Bull KILT Houston.  The "Frito & Katy Show" replaced them in January 2025.

106.9 The Zone gets zapped, will simulcast 107.5 The Eagle KGLK

It appears 106.9 FM is not in 'The Zone' anymore. My bad attempts at clever writing aside, it really appears KHPT 106.9 The Zone's days are numbered. That means Houston is down to two alternative music stations now (94.5 The Buzz KTBZ and 103.7 KHJK).

According to All Access, the station is going to simulcast sister Cox Radio station 107.5 The Eagle KGLK starting this Monday. In fact Wikipedia already lists this has happening on Monday, but in the past tense. The online encyclopedia also erased the KHPT page and re-directed it to KGLK. @serenasays pointed out on Twitter that "The Zone" Facebook page is gone, but I found the station's website and Twitter account still active.

Growing up in Houston, I remember both of the 106.9 and 107.5 frequencies being spotty in certain areas of town. This is why Clear Channel moved The Buzz from 107.5 to 94.5 more than a decade ago. The theory is, now Cox can take the Lake Jackson frequency 107.5 and combine it with the Conroe frequency 106.9 to make The Eagle have a larger, more reliable coverage area. Cox stole Dean and Rog from 93.7 The Arrow KKRW, so they want their morning team to have the best possible signal strength I am sure.

However, I'm not sure how Houston listeners will react to having one station on two frequencies. Heck, many are still recovering from Kidd Kraddick replacing Maria Todd and Brad Booker on Mix 96.5 KHMX!

Cox Radio did not give '106.9 The Zone' very long to succeed. The station only debuted in November 2010. It was always an alternative music format, but the format was tweaked over time. A hot programmer from Miami was even brought in to run the station. The one thing the station did not do is offer a specialty show to a popular Houston McBlogger that covers Houston media (that could have been the saving grace).

So there you have it, Houston loses an alternative station, but gains another classic rock station (sort of). I know a lot of Channel 39 photographers that will be upset.  So enjoy 106.9 The Zone all this weekend, because Monday...it's [zapped].

107.5 The Eagle KGLK's ratings jump after taking over 106.9 The Zone

Monday night I tweeted the latest Houston radio ratings for the July period and I noticed one thing stuck out. Classic rocker 107.5 The Eagle KGLK jumped up in the ratings. The first thing thought was the simulcasting of the station on both the 107.5 and 106.9 frequencies. Last June, The Eagle took over 106.9 The Zone KHPT (formerly The Point).

 Looks like I'm not the only one who thought that.

 "We believe the increase in ratings is a direct result of the simulcast of the Eagle brand on 106.9 and 107.5," Mark Krieschen, Vice President/Market Manager Cox Media Group - Houston, told mikemcguff.com. "The two frequencies provide the largest coverage of any single radio station in southeast Texas. The response from listeners in the northern part of the city has been impressive."

 As I wrote in June, the theory is, now Cox can take the Lake Jackson frequency 107.5 and combine it with the Conroe frequency 106.9 to make The Eagle have a larger, more reliable coverage area. Obviously that plan had some merit. Now The Eagle can be heard clearly in the north and south of the Houston radio market.

 On the other side, you may look at the past few months' ratings before The Zone was zapped by The Eagle and notice that if you add the two stations' numbers together, you get about the same rating as the July one. My question is...is it better to have one station on two frequencies get a higher rating or two separate stations getting lower ratings.

 I don't know the economics behind that question. If I did, I'd be in broadcast sales making a lot of money and driving a luxury car. My radio mentor Frank Fallon always told me if you can fix it or sell it, you have a job in broadcasting. Those words make a ton of sense to me.

The combination of the frequencies also puts KGLK ahead of 93.7 The Arrow KKRW - the other (and longtime) classic rock station in Houston.

 In other news, Classical 91.7 KUHA (former Rice Radio KTRU) came out of hash marks in July to get a rating (under 1).

Texas 2026 NAB Crystal Radio Award Winners

The National Association of Broadcasters today announced the 10 winners of the 39th annual NAB Crystal Radio Awards, including two Texas winners, such as Radio-One Houston's 106.9/107.5 The Eagle KGLK.

"I am so proud of my team for their efforts in the community," Radio-One Houston Director of Operations Travis Moon told mikemcguff.com.   "Our goal is to meet our listeners where their passions are and help is needed. The Eagle isn’t just where Houston rocks, it’s where Houston comes together."  

2026 NAB Crystal Radio Award winners:

KBHP-FM, Bemidji, Minn.

The Eagle 106.9/107.5 KGLK-FM, Houston, Texas

Candy 95 KNDE-FM, College Station, Texas

KXKT-FM, Omaha, Neb.

WCCO-AM, Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minn.

WEEI-FM, Boston, Mass.

WHJX-FM, Jacksonville, Fla.

WIYY-FM, Baltimore, Md.

WOKV-FM, Jacksonville, Fla.

WSB-AM, Atlanta, Ga.

- Texas 2026 Crystal Radio Award Finalists
- Texas 2024 NAB Crystal Radio Award Winners including one from Houston

Since 1987, these awards have recognized radio stations for their exceptional year-round commitment to community service. Recipients were chosen from 50 previously announced finalists.

The finalists were honored, and the winners were announced at the 2026 NAB State Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., where more than 500 broadcasters from across the country gathered to advocate for local stations’ policy priorities.

The winners were chosen by a panel of judges representing the broadcast industry, community service organizations, and public relations firms.

Dean and Rog exit The Eagle 106.9/107.5

The "Dean and Rog" Morning Show, hosted by Dean Myers and Roger Beaty, is apparently no longer on The Eagle 106.9/107.5 KHPT-KGLK Houston according to multiple sources.

UPDATE MARCH 2025
"Dean and Rog" break silence since Houston's Eagle firing

UPDATE FEBRUARY 2025
Former KLOL DJ Chuck Akers joins Houston’s Eagle

ALSO HAPPENING
100.3 The Bull 'Morning Bullpen' signs off

I listened from 5 a.m. to 6:15 a.m. Thursday morning, and it was all music with no Dean and Rog or show IDs. The long-running morning show is no longer listed on The Eagle's website programming schedule.  The show's page has been erased.

UPDATE: On the morning of this post, I heard Eagle night host and 101 KLOL legend Outlaw Dave made an appearance after I stopped listening. Outlaw Dave has since been listed as the morning show host on The Eagle website.  Watch Dave in the KLOL documentary "Runaway Radio."

I contacted The Eagle Wednesday afternoon about the "Dean and Rog" dismissal but have not heard back.  

From what I understand, Kelly Ryan, who is also with the show, is no longer on air either. Ryan has been with Dean and Rog since 2019.

The show is known for the Birthday Scam, Redneck Roy, the Dean and Rog Singers, and the Drink of the Week.

Dean and Rog have been on the air in Houston for 27 years and were inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame, class of 2022. 

The morning longtime radio duo joined the now-defunct 93.7 The Arrow KKRW in 1997. 

In 2009, they moved to The New 107.5 The Eagle KGLK. 

It took me some time, but I finally figured out exactly where Dean and Rog worked before Houston, as they usually just mention the cities. They started together in Flint and moved through the following markets until they landed in Houston.

102.5 WIOG Saginaw/Flint, Michigan

103.5 KRSP Salt Lake City, Utah

106.7 KBPI Denver, Colorado

100.7 KSLX Phoenix Arizona

IN OTHER HOUSTON MORNING RADIO NEWS...

Tessa Barrera leaves 94.5 The Buzz

Steven Tyler stops by Houston's 93Q & The Eagle

Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler drops by 93Q KKBQ and 107.5/106.9 The Eagle KGLK

Rock royalty and Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler is in Houston today...because of country music?

Yes, half of the former Toxic Twins, is waving his microphone scarves for the Nashville crowd [hear his new song here]. But let's face it, there were some 90s Aerosmith tunes that kind of veered in that direction anyway.

With added twang in his voice, Tyler was here to meet 93Q KKBQ program director Johnny Chiang and music director Christi Brooks, plus sit down with the Q Morning Zoo to talk about his move into country music.

A Cox Media Group representative tells mikemcguff.com that Tyler was incredibly nice and even brought his two dogs with him.

And being that this is the lead singer of one of America's greatest rock bands, Tyler did stop in to talk with Dean & Rog over at classic rocker 107.5/106.9 The Eagle KGLK.

UPDATE
Kelly pointed out that after his radio appearances, Steven Tyler headed over to Cafe Express in Uptown Park.

RELATED
- VIDEO: Aerosmith playing in Houston - 1977
- Walk This Way: The Autobiography of Aerosmith review
- Aerosmith & Cheap Trick rock Houston's Toyota Center
- Top pro-shot Houston concerts on YouTube

BREAKFAST W/ @THETIMMCGRAW LOOKS PRETTY GOOD, DONUT?? @THENEW93Q

A photo posted by Steven Tyler (@iamstevent) on Aug 28, 2015 at 8:32am PDT

This is totally going to be my Christmas card the year....#MerryChristmasFromTheTylersSteven Tyler, I <3 u!<3 The Fabulous Jennifer Tyler
Posted by Houston's Eagle on Friday, August 28, 2015

Rapping reporter, WFAA 8 photog attacked and more

A rap song about being a reporter - Mattafact - Camera Tricks

Channel 8 videographer becomes target of southeast Dallas fireworks fight
WFAA 8 photographer finds large, chaotic fireworks fight -- and as he filmed, some of the combatants turned on him.

Texas names in the news
Alicia Dean joins KXAN-TV in Austin, TX, as the Assistant News Director. She’s been working for KNSD-TV in San Diego as a reporter, though she began there as an Executive Producer. Plus Shannon Hammel is going to stay at KXAS-TV in Dallas/Ft. Worth as Managing Editor.

Jennifer Reyna is the parade marshal
KPRC 2's Jennifer Reyna had the honor this Fourth of July to act as Parade Marshal for The City of Meadows Place.

Longhorn Network fills in the blanks
Galindo, Dunn, Steele hired as on-air talent

Jedi Mind Tricks: Most of you forget your reporting skills in the News Director's office
You walk into the office, wondering why you've been stuck with a bad shift, bad stories, whatever. You are all set to unload your frustrations and then the ND lets the air out of your balloon with the magical phrase. You think, "Oh, well I'd better not complain. They have big plans for me."

KTBU sale approved by FCC
The sale of KTBU, channel 55, to Spanish Broadcasting Systems has been approved by the FCC.

106.9 The Zone boss leaves
106.9 The Zone KHPT program director Kevin Vargas leaves Cox Radio after station simulcasts 107.5 The Eagle KGLK.
- 106.9 The Zone gets zapped, will simulcast 107.5 The Eagle KGLK

Halff ran WOAI and several other businesses
San Antonio businessman Hugh Halff Jr., whose family owned and operated WOAI Radio and TV and who led several firms, among them one listed on the American Stock Exchange, died Monday at age 76.

Dallas Radio Icon Linwood 'Cuzzin Linnie' Henderson Passes
DALLAS radio icon LINWOOD HENDERSON, better known as CUZZIN' LINNIE or COUSIN LINNIE, passed away in his sleep.

Reporter LIZ McKERNAN to KOAT, Albuquerque (from KBMT, Beaumont).
Liz is represented by Steve Swienckowski of DCA (The David Crane Agency). http://www.davidcrane.com.

NATIONAL MEDIA
- The Best Of Nancy Grace’s Casey Anthony Coverage
- So how much did ABC News pay this time?
- CNN Cancels ‘In the Arena’ With Eliot Spitzer
- "All My Children" and "One Life to Live" will live on — on the Web
- Times curbs Pogue’s P.R. appearances
- War of the iRoses: David Pogue’s Wife Hits Back in the Press
- TNT will re-do Dallas -- in Dallas
- James Spader Gets a Full-Time Job at ‘The Office’
- Harry Smith to Leave CBS for NBC News
- Tribune Company ‘Deal From Hell’: A Tale of Greed and Hypocrisy

DIGITAL
- Google+ Brand Pages Coming in Two Weeks
- Mixed Signals: Majority Not Ready For Internet-Connected TV
- ‘Page One’ Excerpt: How The New York Times learned to stop worrying and love the blog
- News organizations on Google+
- The team that made ‘The Voice’ a social TV hit

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
- KPRC 2's male staffers have a problem
- Hey Fox 26, I've got your main anchor right here
- Matt Patrick's first day on NewsTalk 740 KTRH
- Former Talk 650 KIKK host Brent Clanton lands at 700 KSEV

"Producer Hoss" in hospital with COVID-19

Radio producer/on-air talent Adrian ‘Producer Hoss’ Perez for Cox Media Group Houston is battling COVID-19

You may have heard Houston radio's Adrian ‘Producer Hoss’ Perez of the Dean & Rog Show on 106.9 & 107.5 The Eagle KGLK or now as Executive Producer of the Q Morning Zoo on The New 93Q KKBQ.

Tonight his station lets us know on Facebook that he is in the hospital due to COVID-19:

One of our own has been hit with the Coronavirus. Producer Hoss has tested positive for COVID 19 and is currently in the hospital. If you have an opportunity, please pray for a quick recovery. We love him and we need him. He also wanted to be on the show to tell his story. Tune into the Q Morning Zoo tomorrow morning at 9:10am...

Please keep him in your prayers.

The only other Houston media figure that I am aware of suffering from the affects of the corona-virus is abc13 KTRK anchor Chauncy Glover. Thankfully he is recovering. In fact, Glover has already hosted a town hall concerning COVID-19 and communities of color.

Perez started his radio career in 2009 as an intern for 104.1 KRBE The Roula & Ryan Show where he became an associate producer.

The University of Houston grad moved to Cox Media Group, owners of KGLK and KKBQ among others, in 2012 where he has been ever since.

Oldies 107.5 HD2 KGLK Houston is gone

Here is what I have learned.  If I like a Houston HD radio station, its days are numbered.

The latest casualty is Oldies 107.5 HD2 KGLK, voiced and programmed locally by Eagle DJ Scott Sparks.  The station that featured 1970s-era AM gold hits, which I guess could be classified as somewhat Yacht Rock, is no more as of this week.

Instead, it's been replaced by an FM station I recently wrote about debuting - The X106.1 K291CE-FM.  Remember, the one that replaced Puro Tejano 106.1 to compete with the void left by 95.7 The Spot KKHH's format flip to 95.7 The Fan KIKK sports talk?  Got all of that?

Now you might ask, why is a station that can be picked up on analog radio also airing on a digital subband? (called DAB in the UK, I just learned)

Well, notice the funny call letters of K291CE-FM associated with the 106.1 frequency?  That is a low-power station, so it can only go so far.  So I guess the thought of going on 107.5 HD2 increases the range and therefore listeners and hopefully advertisers.  It should help, but 107.5 HD2 has moments where I can't get it, even with a good antenna. 

And then there is the age-old question concerning how many Houston radio listeners can even pick up digital HD radio?

Now, let's look at the Houston HD digital graveyard of stations that I have loved that are no longer with us:

- HarD Rock 96-5 HD2 off the air
- 104.1 KRBE HD2 flips to "NASH Icon" country

Oh, and I am never promoting another Houston HD radio station.  It's for their protection. 

Houston radio changes = change in ratings? Plus news radio?

It was a wild ride this past summer for Houston radio. We watched a station dump a format and others dump well known morning show talent.

I've already looked at how 107.5 The Eagle KGLK's ratings jumped after taking over 106.9 The Zone.

Now let's examine what has happened to Mix 96.5 KHMX and 740 KTRH since replacing Maria Todd with Kidd Kraddick and Lana Hughes and J.P. Pritchard with Matt Patrick respectively. I can tell you that both got a huge reaction on my blog from readers.

Let me start by saying I only am looking at the 12+ ratings numbers from Arbitron. They are the only ones released to the public (Nielsen does not offer any Houston TV ratings publicly). That being said, we will not get a full picture of how a radio station is doing in certain demos and time slots (examples of metrics used to sell advertising and make money for the stations).

Luckily for us, David Barron of the Houston Chronicle does see more than just the 12+ Arbitron numbers. He reports that for the first time in his memory, SportsRadio 610 KILT is nipping at the heels of 740 KTRH for top rated AM station in Houston:

KTRH continues to lead KILT in the weeklong persons 12-plus ratings, as reported by Arbitron for September, with a 2.8 percent audience share to 2.2 for KILT (for comparison purposes, Clear Channel's KODA, 99.1 FM, is No. 1 overall at 7.0).

But KILT leads by two-tenths of a point in the weeklong adults 25-54 ratings, and it leads by seven-tenths of a point in morning drive, which reflects KILT's Texans-fueled surge and the KTRH's slump as the Astros dawdled toward 100 losses and also since it ditched longtime news anchors Lana Hughes and J.P. Pritchard in favor of talk show host Matt Patrick. Since the numbers for June, the last full month that Pritchard and Hughes were on the air, KTRH is down more than a point in morning drive share for adults 25-54. KILT is up by about a point. READ MORE

There are currently rumors swirling around town of an all news station replacing an FM station on the Houston radio dial. Connected to the departure of Lana and J.P.? Who knows? Place for former KTRH reporters and anchors to work if rumors are true...maybe.

Next over at Mix 96.5 KHMX, the public 12+ Arbitron numbers over the last three months show a decline in ratings:

KHMX-FM
July 2011 - August 2011  - September 2011
3.2 1,158,300 | 2.9 1,172,500 | 2.2 1,100,200

CBS Houston declined to comment on this. However I talked to an informed source in the broadcast ratings world and was told the station has been declining in the ratings even before Maria Todd was taken off mornings. It might have more to do with the station's format being affected by sister station Hot 95.7 KKHH and across town rivals 104.1 KRBE and Sunny 99.1 KODA.

RELATED
- 740 KTRH replaces Lana Hughes and J.P. Pritchard; KTRH is now NewsTalk 740
- Kidd Kraddick replaces Maria Todd mornings on Mix 96.5 KHMX
- 106.9 The Zone gets zapped, will simulcast 107.5 The Eagle KGLK

93Q alerts you when your favorite song is playing with Q On Demand

You'll hear listener complaints that FM radio station's don't always keep up with technology, but some Houston radio stations are trying to change that.

Starting today, 93Q KKBQ is offering Q On Demand. The radio station's audience will have a chance to choose their favorite songs and get texted or emailed when they are coming on the air.

KKBQ's Cox Media Group owned sister station 107.5 The Eagle KGLK (and 106.9) has already been experimenting with another high tech way to reach out to the audience. The 3 o'clock pick me up turns the station over to the audience at 3pm. Listeners go to the station's site and pick music from an expanded list of songs.

Houston Cox Media Group Vice President/Market Manager Mark Krieschen tells mikemcguff.com that the company has been excited by the feedback from KGLK's 3pm segment and is looking forward to the reaction from KKBQ's new Q On Demand.

Krieschen tells me a Cox station in Tampa, WSUN 97X is programmed by the audience throughout the day.

Dean and Rog closing on Walton and Johnson

David Barron is reporting that Dean and Rog are closing in on Walton and Johnson in the ratings. You might remember that Dean and Rog left for 107.5 The Eagle KGLK and Walton and Johnson replaced them at 93.7 The Arrow KKRW.

Walton and Johnson were the clear winners in the coveted men 25-54 demographic at first. But according to Barron, it looks like things are chaning. READ MORE

RELATED
- Dean and Rog on The New 107.5 The Eagle KGLK

Dean and Rog to land at 107.5 K-Hits KGLK

We can only imagine since 107.5 K-Hits has changed its call letters to KGLK that the station is changing its image. What a perfect time to change when Dean and Rog take over the morning show June 1.

Speaking of Dean and Rog, The Houston Chronicle's David Barron had a long talk with the Houston morning radio show duo:

They do not shrink from the opportunity to spell out the differences between listening to Dean and Rog and to Walton and Johnson. “The problem with the show that has replaced us is that we all have opinions. We all have politics,” [Roger] Beaty said. “But our whole point when we go on the air is we realize there are a number of our listeners that really are dreading going to their jobs. And this is the truth. What is it that we say, Dean? ‘If we can make a few people laugh …’ ”

“We always said that if we could make just one person laugh out there ... we would be fired because it’s not enough,” [Dean] Myers said. “We need more of them laughing. Really, we do try to take people away from the problems of the world. Man, there are a lot of problems in the world, and you don’t want to think about that stuff all day.” READ MORE

Barron says Dean and Rog will run from 5 to 10am followed by Suzi Hanks from 10am to noon.


RELATED
- Dean and Rog getting closer to hitting Houston radio
- Suzi Hanks to 107.5 K-Hits KHTC
- Dean and Rog to move to 107.5 K-Hits KHTC

It's a mikemcguff blog 20 year celebration!

Jennifer Reyna and Mike McGuff

When I started writing this blog in October 2005, I thought it might last a few months.  Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think it would last 20 years.

And believe it or not, we have two events to celebrate the two-decade achievement.

I'm holding a screening of my 101 KLOL Houston documentary "Runaway Radio" at the legendary River Oaks Theatre on October 1, 2025, at 7:15 pm with the reunited Jennifer Reyna and Outlaw Dave.

Michael Garfield, “The High Tech Texan,” serves as event host.

BUY TICKETS

Notice the date? October 1st is 10-1, like the radio dial position of 101 FM! I wish I had come up with that, but the credit goes to Rob Saucedo, the Artistic Director at River Oaks Theatre!

Houston Matters with Craig Cohen on Houston Public Media just aired an interview with me about the documentary this morning!

Obviously, readers of this blog will recognize Reyna as KHOU 11 Houston morning traffic anchor and Outlaw Dave as morning show host for Houston’s Eagle 106.9 and 107.5 KHPT/KGLK. Reyna started her broadcasting career on Dave's afternoon 101 KLOL show!

In honor of Mark Stevens, my mom and Dayna Steele's mother, we will be collecting funds for the Alzheimer’s Association Houston & Southeast Texas Chapter. Even if you don't attend the screening, you can donate here.

Since our last screening, “Runaway Radio” won the prestigious Texas Independent Film Award (TIFA) – for the best film made in Texas – at the Houston Film Critics Society’s 18th Annual Awards. A special ceremony will be held in honor of the occasion at the River Oaks Theatre screening.  Previous TIFA winners include Richard Linklater’s Apollo 10-1/2: A Space Age Childhood and Sean Baker’s Red Rocket.

"Runaway Radio" features interviews with Dusty Hill (ZZ Top), Lyle Lovett, Sammy Hagar (Solo, Van Halen, Montrose, The Circle), Melissa Etheridge (singer-songwriter), Doug Pinnick (King’s X, KXM) and Carmine Appice (Ozzy Osbourne, Vanilla Fudge, Rod Stewart, King Kobra) and the KLOL crew.

The night before

To kick the party off early, the night before on Tuesday, September 30, at 7:30, I will also be at a special screening of The Gardener's Year at the River Oaks Theatre. BUY TICKETS HERE

Houston radio's winners and losers in crazy January

The usually predictable Houston radio world is now all over the place

Most of the time I post the monthly Houston radio ratings in a link post like I did here, but January 2014 was no ordinary month for radio market #6, so it gets its own post!

In the 12+ publicly available January 2014 Portable People Meter report, we saw lots of changes. Naturally the big story was the arrival of 93.7 The Beat KQBT in its first full month on the air. The new station raised the 93.7FM ratings from a 2.2 Arrow rating to a 3.9. While the venerable 97.9 The Box KBXX remained in the top 3 of all stations as usual, it fell from a 7.7 to a 5.4.

The real winner of the flip was Cox's 106.9/107.5 The Eagle KGLK. Houston's new "only classic rocker" jumped from a 3.3 to a 5.2. That soars The Eagle up to the top 5 in Houston which I don't think has ever happened.

You have to wonder if The Beat flip was an attempted beat down by Clear Channel on Radio One. After all, a few years ago, Radio One flipped gospel programmed 92.1 to News 92FM up against Clear Channel's heritage news/talk 740 KTRH. Then at the end of 2013, Clear Channel flips the misguided Arrow to hip hop/R&B against Radio One's The Box. Payback, an opportunity for more listeners or both?

Speaking of News 92, that station hit 1.0 (from a 0.7) for the first time in a longtime (maybe the first time ever). Looks like the all news station just needed some wild weather to get some listener sampling going. But Clear Channel wouldn't be left behind in this format because KTRH jumped from a 3.7 to a 4.5.

In non-Beat news, I had to look twice to notice that Cox's 93Q KKBQ also shot way up. The country station went from a 5.4 to a 6.6 landing it at number two in the market. Looks like it will be riding the bull all the way to the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo next month.

Other station ratings jumpers include Clear Channel's 94.5 The Buzz KTBZ from a 3.7 to a 4.1 and Univision's KOVE from 3.1 to 3.9.

See all the ratings here.

2022 Texas Radio Hall of Fame nominees

The Texas Radio Hall of Fame (TRHOF) has released the names of the fifty (50) nominees for its 2022 Induction Class. 

UPDATE AUGUST 2022
2022 Texas Radio Hall of Fame inductees list

The voting portal will open at Noon CST on Wednesday, July 20th accessible to voting members via www.TRHOF.net through Friday, July 30th.

“We’ve been continually working to refine, streamline, and demystify the nomination and voting process” observes TRHOF Executive Director Doug Harris, “and this rollout represents a major step forward. We are fortunate to have a group of outstanding broadcasters for our voting members to consider and, for the first time, biographical information on the nominees.”

Over 200 broadcast professionals with ties to Texas radio were nominated for consideration by the TRHOF Review Committee, which reached a consensus on the final fifty. Voting members of the TRHOF will now determine the twenty individuals who will be honored in the TRHOF’s Annual Induction Ceremony at the Texas Museum of Broadcasting and Communications in Kilgore, TX.

“This slate of nominees spotlights the talent on both sides of the mic,” says Harris. “From the tower to the board to the conference room, this list of nominees touches every aspect of Texas radio. We have small town and major market representation that connects to a variety of formats and showcases virtually every position of service in the broadcast world.”

Selection of the 2022 Induction Class is the latest organizational milestone in a year that has, so far, included the TRHOF’s monthlong salute to the Pioneers of Black Radio and the launch of its inaugural scholarship program. The commemoration of the TRHOF’s 20th anniversary will reach its zenith during the organization’s Annual Induction and Reunion Weekend, November 4-5,

2022, at the Texas Museum of Broadcasting and Communications in Kilgore, Texas. Information on becoming a TRHOF voting member is available on the organization’s website and interested parties may still join—and vote—in this year’s selection.

TEXAS RADIO HALL OF FAME 2022 NOMINEES-FINAL LIST

1. Debbie Alcocer (KBFM, KZZY, KISS, KKZN, KZPS, KOAI, ABC Radio Networks, KVIL)

2. Roger Allen (KONO, KAJA, KTSA, KLLS, KITY, KSMG, KTFM)

3. Joe "The Godfather" Anthony (Yanuzzi) (KMAC, KISS, KESI, KSAQ, Z-ROCK ABC Network)

4. Albert Calvo (KUKA, KVAR, KMFM, KLVL, KQQK, KSAH)

5. Roula Christie (KHMX/KRBE)

6. James “Moby” Carney (KLOL/KSRR/KEGL)

7. Steve Coffman (KAFM, KZEP, KFAN, KENS)

8. Raoul Cortez (KCOR/The Sombrero Network)

9. Manuel D’avila, Sr. (Founder of Tejano Radio KEDA, KBOP, KESS, KIWW, KEXX, KUKA, KCCT & KBSO)

10. Dave Dillon (KODA)

11. Dean and Rog/Dean Myers and Roger Beaty (KKRW/KGLK)

12. Kandi Eastman (KMJQ)

13. Bob Ford (KZFX; KLOL; KSRR; KAUM; KXYZ, KILE)

14. Mary Lanoue -Gers (KISS, KSMG, KCYY, KONO, KKYX)

15. JD "Bo Leo" Gonzalez (KXTN/KBFM)

16. Harmon and Evans (KPLX)

17. Gladys Hill, aka KYOK's original Dizzy Lizzy, aka Gladys "Gee Gee" Hill (KYOK/KCOH/KZEY)

18. Stan Kelly (KTSA, KLLS, KSMG, KLUP, WOAI, KONO)

19. Lisle and Hahn/John Lisle & Steve Hahn (KISS)

20. “Uncle Funky” Larry Jones (KMJQ/KHJZ)

21. Pam Kelly (KLOL, KSBJ, KILT, KHPT, RFC Media)

22. Laurie Kendrick (KLOL)

23. Mark Masepohl (KTRH/KISS/KLNO)

24. Eddie Martiny (IHeart Houston Region President: KTRH, KPRC, KXYZ, KTBZ, KODA, KQBT)

25. Pam McKay (KASE/KMJQ/Urban One)

26. “The Musers”/George Dunham, Craig Miller, and Gordon Keith (KTCK)

27. George Henry Nelson, aka Brother George Nelson Sr. (KTRH, KYOK, KTSU)

28. John “The Lama” Oakes (KWTX)

29. Mona Parker (KKYX, KIUN, KCOR, KBOP)

30. Dave "Stone" Pinkstone (KSEL, KDAV, KPEP, KZIP)

31. Joe Pogge (KHMX/KILT/KKBQ)

32. David Ranken (KRLD, KLUV, KVIL, KODA, KILT, KSBJ, KLTR, Metro Traffic, Texas State Network)

33. Kelli Raspberry (KHKS)

34. Tom Richards (KRTS/KLEF)

35. Claude "Rick" Roberts (KYOK/KTSU)

36. Rod Ryan (KTBZ)

37. Bill Schoening (KVET/KSAM University of Texas Sports Play by Play)

38. Cindy Scull (KEGL)

39. Clifton "King Bee" Smith (KNUZ/KCOH/KPRC)

40. Ted Stecker (KAJA, KHYS, KSCS, KTYS)

41. Gary B. Stone (KXOL/KIKK/Spanish Broadcasting System Regional Manager)

42. H.F. Stone (KKDA/KMJQ)

43. Hannah Storm (KSRR/C-101 Corpus)

44. Bobby Swinson (KCLW)

45. Bart Taylor (KXYZ, KRLY, KSRR, KLOL, WCKW, XM Satellite Radio)

46. Terri Thomas (KBXX/KMJQ/KROI)

47. Maria Todd (KRBE/KHMX)

48. John Trapane (KILT/KIKK/KKBQ/EMI Records)

49. Dana Tyson (KODA)

50. James White (KYOK KPRC KTRH KMJQ)

Texas 2024 Crystal Radio Award Finalists

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced the finalists for the 2024 NAB Crystal Radio Awards, which has honored radio stations’ outstanding community service efforts since 1987. 

UPDATE APRIL 2024
Texas 2024 NAB Crystal Radio Award Winners, including one from Houston

Texas finalists for the 2024 Crystal Radio Awards are:

The Eagle 106.9/107.5 KGLK Houston

93Q Country KKBQ Houston

94.9 KLTY Dallas-Fort Worth

Candy 95 KNDE College Station

1620AM & 94.5FM WTAW College Station

SEE FULL LIST HERE

According to WTAW, 2024 marks the tenth time since 2010 that the station has been selected as a finalist for the NAB’s Crystal Award and Candy 95’s ninth time as a finalist with wins in 2012, 2016, and 2019.

Ten Crystal Radio Award winners will be chosen from the nationwide finalists by a panel of judges representing the broadcast industry, community service organizations, and public relations firms.

Winners will be announced during the "We Are Broadcasters" ceremony that takes place on the Main Stage at NAB Show on April 16, 2024.

2023 NAB Marconi Radio Texas Award Finalists

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB)  announced the finalists for the 2023 NAB Marconi Radio Awards.

Winners will be announced October 25, 2023 at the Marconi Radio Awards Dinner.

Established in 1989 and named after inventor and Nobel Prize winner Guglielmo Marconi, the NAB Marconi Radio Awards are given to radio stations and outstanding on-air personalities to recognize excellence in radio.

HERE IS THE FULL LIST OF FINALISTS

Here are categories with Texas stations:

NETWORK/SYNDICATED PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Enrique Santos, WZTU-FM Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Erica Campbell, Reach Media, Dallas, Texas

George Noory, Premiere Radio Networks, Inc., Sherman Oaks, Calif.

Katie Neal, Audacy, Nashville, Tenn.

Rich Eisen, Westwood One, Los Angeles, Calif.

MAJOR MARKET PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Boomer Esiason and Gregg Giannotti, WFAN-FM, New York, N.Y.

George Dunham, Craig Miller and Gordon Keith, KTCK-AM, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas

Jason Pullman, KPLX-FM, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas

Lin Brehmer, WXRT-FM, Chicago, Ill.

Mark "Hawkeye" Lewis and Michelle Rodriguez , KSCS-FM, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas

LARGE MARKET PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Billy Madison , KISS-FM, San Antonio, Texas

Chris Carr, Kia Becht and Sam Sansevere, KEEY-FM, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.

Dave Ryan with Falen, Jenny and Drake, KDWB-FM, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.

Lincoln Ware, WDBZ-AM, Cincinnati, Ohio

Paul Castronovo, WBGG-FM, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

MAJOR MARKET STATION OF THE YEAR

KSCS-FM, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas

WALR-FM, Atlanta, Ga.

WINS-FM, New York, N.Y.

WLTW-FM, New York, N.Y.

WWPR-FM, New York, N.Y.

AC STATION OF THE YEAR

KBIG-FM, Los Angeles, Calif.

KODA-FM, Houston, Texas

KOIT-FM, San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif.

WALK-FM, New York, N.Y.

WEZN-FM, New York, N.Y.

CHR STATION OF THE YEAR

KMVQ-FM, San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif.

KNDE-FM, Waco-Temple-Bryan, Texas

WAPE-FM, Jacksonville, Fla.

WHTZ-FM, New York, N.Y.

WWPW-FM, Atlanta, Ga.

CLASSIC HITS STATION OF THE YEAR

KJEB-FM, Seattle-Tacoma, Wash.

KONO-FM, San Antonio, Texas

KRTH-FM, Los Angeles, Calif.

WAXQ-FM, New York, N.Y.

WSRV-FM, Atlanta, Ga.

RELIGIOUS STATION OF THE YEAR

KLTY-FM, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas

WLCC-AM, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Sarasota, Fla.

WMIT-FM, Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C.-Asheville, N.C.

WNNL-FM, Raleigh-Durham, N.C.

WPRS-FM, Washington, D.C.

ROCK STATION OF THE YEAR

KGLK-FM, Houston, Texas

WIYY-FM, Baltimore, Md.

WMMR-FM, Philadelphia, Pa.

WPLR-FM, Hartford-New Haven, Conn.

WXTB-FM, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Sarasota, Fla.

SPANISH LANGUAGE STATION OF THE YEAR

KLOL-FM, Houston, Texas

WLKQ-FM, Atlanta, Ga.

WLZL-FM, Washington, D.C.

WRUM-FM, Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne, Fla.

WYUU-FM, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Sarasota, Fla.

SPORTS STATION OF THE YEAR

KFXN-FM, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.

KTCK-AM, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas

WBZ-FM, Boston, Mass.

WFAN-FM, New York, N.Y.

WJFK-FM, Washington, D.C.