Can a radio station be beloved?
I don’t really know the answer to that question, but the closest I’ve seen was probably KY-102.
From the moment it signed on in 1974 until the plug was pulled by a new ownership group in 1997, KYYS-FM—complete with its sunglasses wearing Hippo mascot—was the Kansas City lifestyle connection for a generation.
The super station super-served them well.
Not that its ratings were always top notch, but KY’s sales staff was able to overcome even extended periods of down ratings books against new competitors who came knocking at the door.
Why?
Because it worked for advertisers seeking out the station’s loyal audience.
Jack Goes Knuckleheads
Later, in 1997, Entercom market manager Robert Zuroweste convinced its ownership to resurrect the heritage station at 99.7 FM—hence 99.7KY. The move extended the life of the classic rock station’s call letters until the final curtain came down in 2008.
So why am I writing a KY-102 story today?
Because of the tremendous outpouring I witnessed Friday night at Knuckleheads.
Billed as KY-102’s 40th Anniversary Bash—some 17 years after KY-102 and 6 years after 99.7KY left the airwaves—the event was produced by former KY jock Randy “Rocko” Raley and drew a near capacity crowd estimated at 800 people.
The love-fest started with 90 minutes of former stationalities mingling with fans, followed by live performances by THE SNOT ROCKETS and SHOOTING STAR.
Bob Zuroweste
However the highlight of the night came in the form of the break between bands.
That’s when emcee Randy Raley introduced: “Everyone KY.”
Behind the scenes staffers included receptionists, sales reps, former program directors, office personnel, promotion people and station managers. And the love shown by fans towards these mostly unseen, unheard and unknown people was incredible.
Then came a fabulous memory trip video of KY highlights on Knuckleheads monitors and monster big screen. Including a sad tribute to members of the air staff no longer with us.
Uh, they couldn’t make it
Finally the introduction of many of the station’s former air personalities.
WOW!
What a reception each one of them got—with several of them dating back to the very beginning of the legendary rock station. Last to be presented was the “General,'” Max Floyd who received a standing ovation.
Even I was introduced for hosting the long-running Jack Goes To The Movies feature on both 102.1 and 99.7 and received a heartfelt welcome.
We all told a story or two of some of the stranger and wilder moments behind the mic and soaked up the love.
KY’s live talent was on-air around the clock.
You woke up with them, took them to work, drove home with them. And in many instances spend evenings and nights with them—not to mention enjoying them at concerts and other station sponsored events.
‘KY-102 Blow-Outs, anyone?
The station truly was Kansas City’s Lifestyle Connection.
May it rest in peace.
times change jack….the world has changed…many people are at Pandora..
or Sirius or mp 3….no matter what the “numbers” say radio is
flailing.
its just a matter of time…maybe 5…maybe 10….years.
but to put a station on now takes big bucks…and the wall street backers can
make a million a minute instead of risking it on a radio staton.
800 people…wow….then to get the listeners to switch to a new station….
time changes…and so does peoples attitude.
We’ve all work or ran a business we wished we could recreate…loved the
employees…had a blast…ran the town…spent thousands a nite at
capital grille….but like everything else…times change.
we already have a ky ……its call the fox. the same music it seems that
ky played. We’ve got skid…great talent…
and you jack like the rest of us wish we could get a “redo” on the great
parts of our lives.
Unfortunately we’re here for ashort time …..and I learned…never drive
a car on the street looking in the rear view mirror.
KY hadsome great days….lets just keep the memories alive for those
people….you can’t turn back time but it would be fun to be
a part of max’s army…and see the always charming and beautiful
Frankie grace our lives. But people and times change.
The memories never do.
nice idea….who knows…maybe Herndon hits the powerball and says
‘lets roll the dice one more time”….or fields or saul or the old car salesman
decides that theres money in old rock n roll…and it all changes.
good luck…glad it worked out…
your friend and favorite non-german
Harley
oh an mr. z….and his smile…ws that before or after the hot comb?????????????????
hahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
harley, despite the presence of Slacker and Skid on 101 (whom I think are great in their own right), and even Frankie for awhile, the Fox was never and will never “be” KYYS, even if the music is similar.
Well put, Mike.
KY was always edgy—musically speaking and every other way. That’s something the FOX really didn’t persue.
porbably right mikey…but that was 20 years ago….when you get 50
theres no looking back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and ky always had great seats to concerts…the fox are cheap f***ckeers.
I hear what you’re saying Jack and have thought the same over the past few years, but I know it’s just a dream. The magic that made KY-102 work is gone and will never be brought to life again. What made KY-102 work all those years ago were the listeners and we have grown up, developed other music tastes and scattered with the four winds of this country. I talked with Max Floyd long time ago about this and not too long ago with Kelly Urich. Plain and simple you can’t do that type of radio anymore, the public won’t allow it. You can’t do the things on air today that KY was famous for doing anymore. Too many people have developed thin skin and forgotten how to laugh.
Sure getting everyone together for a one night event was fun and exciting, but paying the bills day in and day out, it won’t happen. It takes a lot of hard work to make a station such as KY-102 work as it did and many of the old staff would relate to that fact. I for one am very thankful I have all the memories of KY-102 that I do along with being a part of it the years it was alive and rocking.
Good points. Well said. But hey…thanks for the memories…..
99.7KY came t h i s close to picking up THE CHIEFS—until the government got involved claiming the cluster would have too large a share in male demographic.
(I remember seeing completed sales presentations promoting 99.7KY AS The Chiefs station.)
Curious whether landing the Chiefs would have saved the station?
thoughts anyone??????
As a whole no.
You could say the government got involved…or you could say that Bob Z. and his corporate masters failed at the fine art of due diligence.
It’s hard to get lightning to strike twice…99.7 KY was the perfect example, while it WAS KY, it really wasn’t. KY died in September of 97, but for one night, it….was…ALIVE!!!
FM radio is near-dead and most of what is on is awful. Deregulation in the 90’s killed it. Think about how cool the radio used to be, now not so much. All that is left is the Fox playing Tom Petty and Boston for the billionth time. What is called “alternative” is fat guys with beards playing ukuleles. I remember and miss the days when this town had KY, Fox, the Lazer, 106.5 and so on. There just isn’t enough good music to fill as many radio stations. Music is reverting back to the 50’s when bands just released singles, not albums. I know I’ll get called old but why are the arena acts still bands from the 70’s & 80’s? Yeah there is few Katy Perry’s and Black Keys that can play arenas but not many. That is why there are so many festivals now. Not too many bands can stand alone on their own and sell enough tickets.
Thanks again Randy for putting that together. Good to see you at Ringo the following night as well. Hope you got to see Robin Trower on Sunday…one hell of a good weekend.