KILT-FM
Encyclopedia
KILT-FM is a Houston, Texas
-based radio station
with a country music
format. It is owned by CBS Radio
. Its transmitter is located in Missouri City, Texas
. The station's callsign is a tribute to the station's former owner, Gordon McClendon, who was known as the "Old Scotchman". It is a sister station of KILT-AM
, which is located at 610 kHz, also in Houston. KILT has been nominated for Country Music Association
Best Large-Market Radio Station.
described Hudson and Harrigan as "the longest-running, most successful morning team anywhere in America". However, that run finally ended when KILT announced the show's termination on March 23, 2010. Fred Olson and Randy Hames, who hosted as Hudson and Harrigan for the last 28 years, were released, and the airstaff show assignments readjusted.
After switching to the country music format, KILT competed directly against KIKK, the only other country music station in the Houston Area. According to the Houston Chronicle
, "after initial success, KILT struggled through an aborted change of call letters and the lack of a strong identity with listeners". In the spring of 1989, KILT finally pulled ahead of KIKK in the Arbitron
ratings. They maintained their lead position for the next two seasons, and at the end of the year Radio and Records rated KILT as the second most-listened-to country radio station in the United States
, with an estimated 542,600 listeners tuned in for at least 15 minutes each week. KIKK was fourth on the nationwide list, with an estimated 508,700 listeners.
KILT serves as a flagship radio station of the Houston Texans
.
. At the time, the $360 million deal was considered the largest ever in radio. To meet federal regulations on radio ownership, Westinghouse sold their Houston station KODA-FM
.
In 1993, Westinghouse purchased KILT's rival, KIKK. At the time, KILT was first in the Arbitron ratings, with KIKK second in the Houston market. A single general manager was assigned to run both stations. According to Dan Mason, president of Westinghouse Radio Broadcasting, "'As they have been fierce competitors in the past, our two Houston radio properties will now join hands to create one of Houston's most unique country music powerhouses, each with its own programming and sales team.'" On November 4, 2002, KIKK stopped playing country music and switched to a Smooth Jazz format. This left KILT as again one of only two Houston country stations (competing against KKBQ). Some of the KIKK promotions, including the 10 Man Jam concerts, were moved to KILT.
KILT was the last Houston radio station to maintain a full-service news department. The department was disbanded in 2004 when KILT decided to drop its afternoon newscasts in the hopes of improving its ratings in the Houston market.
for the award for Major Market Radio Station of the Year. They were beaten out by local rival KKBQ. A similar scenario occurred the following year, when KILT was nominated for Best Station of the Year at the Billboard/Airplay Monitor Radio Awards, but again lost to KKBQ. In 1999, the morning show Hudson and Harrigan was nominated for Country Music Association Major Market Broadcast Personality of the Year.
In 1996, after two prior nominations for the award, KILT's Hudson and Harrigan morning show (featuring Olson and Hames) won the Marconi Award for Major Market Radio Personalities of the Year.
, has shown Arbitron ratings strength comparable with KILT, and the two have often exchanged between first and second place among country stations in some demographics.
Besides involving themselves in a ratings war with KILT, KKBQ has also poked fun at the station for its supposed airing of "the most commercials" in Houston compared with KKBQ, which claims to air the most music of any radio station in Houston. In return, some KILT listeners, and even musicians whose songs are given airplay on KILT, have lauded KILT for not "badmouthing" other stations. However, from June 2009 to at least April 2010, KILT promoted on their website that KILT played "the most music...PERIOD," comparing the number of songs played over a week with those of KKBQ, under the slogan "where T stands for Truth."
(5 am–9 am) is the "Foley & Thunder" show (Corey Foley and Greg Thunder, joined from 5:30 am by Cowboy Dave); the midday show (9 am–2 pm) hosted by Erin Austin; afternoon drive time (2 pm–7 pm) featuring Steve Rixx; weekday evenings (7 pm–midnight) is hosted by Brooke.
22 year KILT vet Leslie T Travis has regular weekend slots and fills in during others' absences.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
-based radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
with a country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
format. It is owned by CBS Radio
CBS Radio
CBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
. Its transmitter is located in Missouri City, Texas
Missouri City, Texas
Missouri City is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas within the metropolitan area. The city is mostly in Fort Bend County with a small portion within Harris County. As of the 2000 U.S...
. The station's callsign is a tribute to the station's former owner, Gordon McClendon, who was known as the "Old Scotchman". It is a sister station of KILT-AM
KILT (AM)
KILT is a Sports/Talk formatted radio station in the Houston, Texas, metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by CBS Radio. KILT shares its call letters with sister station 100.3 FM, a country music station....
, which is located at 610 kHz, also in Houston. KILT has been nominated for Country Music Association
Country Music Association
The Country Music Association was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. It originally consisted of only 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre...
Best Large-Market Radio Station.
History
In the 1970s, KILT-FM had an album rock format (while "The Big 610" KILT-AM continued with its long-running Top 40 format). Both KILT AM and FM changed to country in 1981. Despite the switch of formats, the station maintained its morning radio show, known as Hudson and Harrigan. From its debut in 1967 through 1995, the morning show had eleven different sets of personalities occupying the personas of Mark Hudson and Irv Harrigan. Ken Hoffmann of the Houston ChronicleHouston Chronicle
The Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA, headquartered in the Houston Chronicle Building in Downtown Houston. , it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...
described Hudson and Harrigan as "the longest-running, most successful morning team anywhere in America". However, that run finally ended when KILT announced the show's termination on March 23, 2010. Fred Olson and Randy Hames, who hosted as Hudson and Harrigan for the last 28 years, were released, and the airstaff show assignments readjusted.
After switching to the country music format, KILT competed directly against KIKK, the only other country music station in the Houston Area. According to the Houston Chronicle
Houston Chronicle
The Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA, headquartered in the Houston Chronicle Building in Downtown Houston. , it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...
, "after initial success, KILT struggled through an aborted change of call letters and the lack of a strong identity with listeners". In the spring of 1989, KILT finally pulled ahead of KIKK in the Arbitron
Arbitron
Arbitron is a consumer research company in the United States that collects listener data on radio audiences. It was founded as American Research Bureau by Jim Seiler in 1949 and became national by merging with L.A. based Coffin, Cooper and Clay in the early 1950s...
ratings. They maintained their lead position for the next two seasons, and at the end of the year Radio and Records rated KILT as the second most-listened-to country radio station in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, with an estimated 542,600 listeners tuned in for at least 15 minutes each week. KIKK was fourth on the nationwide list, with an estimated 508,700 listeners.
KILT serves as a flagship radio station of the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Ownership changes
KILT had been owned by LIN Broadcasting Corporation since 1968. In an effort to divest itself of all of its radio stations, in late 1986, LIN Broadcasting Corporation sold KILT-FM and KILT-AM to Legacy Broadcasting Inc. for $36.75 million. Less than three years later, KILT was sold, along with seven other radio stations, by Metropolitan-Legacy to Westinghouse BroadcastingWestinghouse Broadcasting
The Westinghouse Broadcasting Company, also known as Group W, was the broadcasting division of Westinghouse Electric Corporation. It owned several radio and television stations across the United States and distributed television shows for syndication....
. At the time, the $360 million deal was considered the largest ever in radio. To meet federal regulations on radio ownership, Westinghouse sold their Houston station KODA-FM
KODA-FM
KODA, known as "Sunny 99.1", is an FM radio station licensed to Houston, Texas. The station's transmitters are in Missouri City, Texas. It is a mainstream adult contemporary station, marketed to the at-work listener...
.
In 1993, Westinghouse purchased KILT's rival, KIKK. At the time, KILT was first in the Arbitron ratings, with KIKK second in the Houston market. A single general manager was assigned to run both stations. According to Dan Mason, president of Westinghouse Radio Broadcasting, "'As they have been fierce competitors in the past, our two Houston radio properties will now join hands to create one of Houston's most unique country music powerhouses, each with its own programming and sales team.'" On November 4, 2002, KIKK stopped playing country music and switched to a Smooth Jazz format. This left KILT as again one of only two Houston country stations (competing against KKBQ). Some of the KIKK promotions, including the 10 Man Jam concerts, were moved to KILT.
KILT was the last Houston radio station to maintain a full-service news department. The department was disbanded in 2004 when KILT decided to drop its afternoon newscasts in the hopes of improving its ratings in the Houston market.
Award nominations
In 1996, KILT was nominated by the Country Music AssociationCountry Music Association
The Country Music Association was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. It originally consisted of only 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre...
for the award for Major Market Radio Station of the Year. They were beaten out by local rival KKBQ. A similar scenario occurred the following year, when KILT was nominated for Best Station of the Year at the Billboard/Airplay Monitor Radio Awards, but again lost to KKBQ. In 1999, the morning show Hudson and Harrigan was nominated for Country Music Association Major Market Broadcast Personality of the Year.
In 1996, after two prior nominations for the award, KILT's Hudson and Harrigan morning show (featuring Olson and Hames) won the Marconi Award for Major Market Radio Personalities of the Year.
Station rivalry
In recent years, KILT's biggest rival, KKBQKKBQ-FM
KKBQ-FM, "The New 93Q", is a Houston-based Radio station with a country music format. Its transmitter is located in Missouri City, Texas. The station is owned by Cox Radio and is part of the Houston Radio cluster including KGLK, KHPT & KTHT. KKBQ has been nominated twice for Country Music...
, has shown Arbitron ratings strength comparable with KILT, and the two have often exchanged between first and second place among country stations in some demographics.
Besides involving themselves in a ratings war with KILT, KKBQ has also poked fun at the station for its supposed airing of "the most commercials" in Houston compared with KKBQ, which claims to air the most music of any radio station in Houston. In return, some KILT listeners, and even musicians whose songs are given airplay on KILT, have lauded KILT for not "badmouthing" other stations. However, from June 2009 to at least April 2010, KILT promoted on their website that KILT played "the most music...PERIOD," comparing the number of songs played over a week with those of KKBQ, under the slogan "where T stands for Truth."
Airstaff
, the published lineup was as follows: Morning drive timeDrive time
Drive time is the daypart analog to prime time for radio broadcasting. It consists of the morning hours when listeners wake up, get ready, and/or head to work or school, and the afternoon hours when they are heading home and before their evening meal. These are the periods where the number of...
(5 am–9 am) is the "Foley & Thunder" show (Corey Foley and Greg Thunder, joined from 5:30 am by Cowboy Dave); the midday show (9 am–2 pm) hosted by Erin Austin; afternoon drive time (2 pm–7 pm) featuring Steve Rixx; weekday evenings (7 pm–midnight) is hosted by Brooke.
22 year KILT vet Leslie T Travis has regular weekend slots and fills in during others' absences.