Last week I wrote about the demise of KIKK, which suddenly switched from its longstanding country music format to a "smooth jazz" playlist. That entry drew several comments from locals, so I thought I'd do a followup.
First, to answer the question about KHJZ's web page: They don't have one yet. In fact, their corporate parent Infinity Broadcasting still lists 95.7 FM as Young Country KIKK. My search for a KHJZ web page answered my own question as to where all these readers came from: that November 5 entry is the first English language result of a Google search for "KHJZ".
I think this ties in to the answer to the question about why there are no DJs as yet. When 106.9 FM became KHPT, the all-80s station The Point, they went a long time - I mean several months - before they had any DJs. I actually kinda liked it, because there were fewer interruptions. I think this is a combination of cost savings and the suddenness of the change - Infinity hasn't had time to find any DJs yet. I also suspect that a fair number of people don't miss DJ chatter all that much, so this may help build their audience.
It also wasn't until KHPT had some DJs in place that they announced their station web page. I suspect fans of the new KHJZ will have a similar wait.
Finally, regarding the station's new format, I have to agree with those who question whether Michael McDonald and Christopher Cross qualify as "jazz" under any reasonable definition. To me, this is an Easy Listening station, which means they've gone from one tough market to another, since Sunny 99 is the king of that format. Not that it matters much to me - I'll stay within my own demographic niche of Classic Rock and All 80s, as if that's something to be proud of.
Posted by Charles Kuffner on November 15, 2002 to Elsewhere in Houston | TrackBackHa! 106.9 in Birmingham also changed, from oldies to eighties, though they kept their DJs. They call themselves "The Point", too. Does yours run those commercials saying that the point is John Cougar Mellencamp and Duran Duran, too? Those always convinced me that there was no point at all.
Posted by: Mac Thomason on November 15, 2002 1:52 PMThey probably run those ads, but I can't recall seeing any recently. That's certainly the sort of ad they'd run, though. Their own promos are a lot like that.
Posted by: Charles Kuffner on November 15, 2002 2:09 PMI wish the Point would go back to the no DJs format. They also had a better playlist before they got the DJs, including Peter Godwin, which is waaaaaay too outre for them now.
My biggest wish for Houston radio is that it would clear enough of the spectrum that the short-range transmitter for my iPod uses that I could just give up schlepping CDs to the car altogether. We all have our fantasies.
Posted by: Ginger on November 15, 2002 4:38 PMYeah, the Point's playlist has definitely shrunk. Too bad, really - in the early days, when they were totally commercial-free, I listened for weeks without hearing the same song twice. Alas.
Posted by: Charles Kuffner on November 15, 2002 6:50 PMIt's a shame my husband, "Tony aka David Gold, AM-950 KPRC **not to be confused by David Gold of Dallas**, Chris Stevens, KQUE, & Kramer Haas, 97-TALK" a former NEWS/traffic anchor from Metro Networks can't find a DJ position in Houston Radio? I'm Vietnamese and like American radio. Why, I listened to Adrian Cronauer (Good Morning Vietnam) during the Vietnam War. He was my hubbies radio wartime hero. Perhaps we should have a call-in campaign on KHJZ's new call-in line?? Naaaa! My husband wouldn't allow it, he's too professional. Besides he want's to move back to California and persue a talk-show career.... But if the campaign should happen, we in the Vietnamese community and the American population in Houston in general would appreciate it.......
Posted by: Nancy Myrick on January 1, 2003 7:45 PMIt's a shame my husband, "Tony aka David Gold, AM-950 KPRC **not to be confused by David Gold of Dallas**, Chris Stevens, KQUE, & Kramer Haas, 97-TALK" a former NEWS/traffic anchor from Metro Networks can't find a DJ position in Houston Radio? I'm Vietnamese and like American radio. Why, I listened to Adrian Cronauer (Good Morning Vietnam) during the Vietnam War. He was my hubbies radio wartime hero. Perhaps we should have a call-in campaign on KHJZ's new call-in line?? Naaaa! My husband wouldn't allow it, he's too professional. Besides he want's to move back to California and persue a talk-show career.... But if the campaign should happen, we in the Vietnamese community and the American population in Houston in general would appreciate it.......
Posted by: Nancy Myrick on January 1, 2003 7:48 PMis Kramer Haas originally from Vicksburg, MS? I remember him in a radio station set up in the Aeolian Apartments. I went to St. Francis across the street and would stop in in the afternoons. I have been wondering what happened to him.
thanks, Libby Hess
Posted by: libby hess on June 18, 2003 10:06 AMis Kramer Haas originally from Vicksburg, MS? I remember him in a radio station set up in the Aeolian Apartments. I went to St. Francis across the street and would stop in in the afternoons. I have been wondering what happened to him.
thanks, Libby Hess
Posted by: libby hess on June 18, 2003 10:06 AM