KKRZ
Encyclopedia
KKRZ is a commercial broadcast radio station
in Portland, Oregon
, also known as Z-100, broadcasts CHR
music.
format (as "Q-Music") and then in 1978 switched to a pop AOR format under the name "Q-100". The format was changed to oldies on March 16th, 1981 as "Solid Gold FM-100". The station changed to the KKRZ call letters and changed to what is considered a Hot AC format as "The Rose" (hence the KKRZ call letters) in 1983. KKRZ began its current heritage Top 40 format on March 16th, 1984, widely mirroring sister station WHTZ
/New York City
(down to the name "Z100").
In 1986, the station adopted a more rhythmic leaning format due to the lack of an existing Urban Contemporary
FM. That move would pay off and make KKRZ a dominant success in the ratings in its first 15 years. That was until 1999, when it picked up competition from Rhythmic Top 40 rival KXJM who took advantage of the market's rhythmic void and filled it. This competition between the two would last for nine years, as KXJM (whose playlist favored Hip-Hop/R&B and some Dance product) would overtake KKRZ (who shift back to a more mainstream direction) in the Portland Arbitron
s. After KXJM, who saw their ratings decline by 2007, announced their format flip to Sports Talk as KXTG in May 2008, KKRZ started to lean towards Rhythmic crossovers again, but would end up facing new competition from CBS Radio
outlet KVMX
, who ironically, dropped their Rhythmic Adult Contemporary
format and picked up KXJM's Rhythmic format and intellectual property, including the KXJM calls and "Jammin'" slogan, from Rose City Radio Corporation
, the owners of KXTG. KKRZ would later move towards the center again and became a more balanced Top 40/CHR, which helped regain their foothold in the ratings again as well.
In April 2009, Clear Channel took over ownership of KXJM from CBS, thus making KKRZ and KXJM sister stations. Both stations retained their respective formats. However, in March 2010, KXJM
was "relaunched" as "WiLD 107.5" but kept its Rhythmic Top 40 format intact. Despite the fact that both KKRZ and KXJM are under the same ownership, being programmed by the same program director and sharing some of the same music, KKRZ continues to focus on Mainstream Pop/Rock hits. In addition, both stations continue to place among the top 10 in the Portland Arbitrons.
Less than six months after the T-Man show debuted in Portland, it was pulled from KKRZ, for yet undisclosed reasons (presumably due to low ratings). The T-Man could still be heard in Seattle and San Francisco until T-man retired and the show ended in 2009. The replacement morning show is the Arizona
-based Johnjay and Rich show.
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...
in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, also known as Z-100, broadcasts CHR
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
music.
History
What is now KKRZ first signed on May, 7, 1946 as KGW-FM on 95.3 MHz and moved to 100.3 MHz on September 22, 1947. The call letters changed to KQFM on December 1, 1954 and broadcasted a beautiful musicBeautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
format (as "Q-Music") and then in 1978 switched to a pop AOR format under the name "Q-100". The format was changed to oldies on March 16th, 1981 as "Solid Gold FM-100". The station changed to the KKRZ call letters and changed to what is considered a Hot AC format as "The Rose" (hence the KKRZ call letters) in 1983. KKRZ began its current heritage Top 40 format on March 16th, 1984, widely mirroring sister station WHTZ
WHTZ
WHTZ — branded Z100 — is a commercial pop/contemporary hit radio radio station licensed to Newark, New Jersey serving the New York metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications...
/New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
(down to the name "Z100").
In 1986, the station adopted a more rhythmic leaning format due to the lack of an existing Urban Contemporary
Urban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
FM. That move would pay off and make KKRZ a dominant success in the ratings in its first 15 years. That was until 1999, when it picked up competition from Rhythmic Top 40 rival KXJM who took advantage of the market's rhythmic void and filled it. This competition between the two would last for nine years, as KXJM (whose playlist favored Hip-Hop/R&B and some Dance product) would overtake KKRZ (who shift back to a more mainstream direction) in the Portland 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...
s. After KXJM, who saw their ratings decline by 2007, announced their format flip to Sports Talk as KXTG in May 2008, KKRZ started to lean towards Rhythmic crossovers again, but would end up facing new competition from 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...
outlet KVMX
KXJM
KBFF is an Adult Top 40 radio station licensed to Portland, Oregon, USA, and serving the Portland area. The station is currently owned by Alpha Broadcasting.-Current Lineup:* Mornings 6a-10a: More Music Mornings with CJ & Nikki...
, who ironically, dropped their Rhythmic Adult Contemporary
Rhythmic Adult Contemporary
Rhythmic adult contemporary is a format used on stations in the United States and Canada. It usually gears toward an older audience, ages 25 to 54. Stations using this format play disco from the 1970s and early 1980s, dance/pop music, adult-friendly hip hop/old school tracks, R&B, dance/freestyle...
format and picked up KXJM's Rhythmic format and intellectual property, including the KXJM calls and "Jammin'" slogan, from Rose City Radio Corporation
Rose City Radio Corporation
Rose City Radio Corporation was the owner of two radio stations in Portland, Oregon, NewsRadio 750 KXL and KXTG-FM 95.5 The Game, until those stations were sold to Alpha Broadcasting. Rose City also owns the Radio Northwest Network which airs programming on KXL to 17 affiliates throughout Oregon...
, the owners of KXTG. KKRZ would later move towards the center again and became a more balanced Top 40/CHR, which helped regain their foothold in the ratings again as well.
In April 2009, Clear Channel took over ownership of KXJM from CBS, thus making KKRZ and KXJM sister stations. Both stations retained their respective formats. However, in March 2010, KXJM
KXJM
KBFF is an Adult Top 40 radio station licensed to Portland, Oregon, USA, and serving the Portland area. The station is currently owned by Alpha Broadcasting.-Current Lineup:* Mornings 6a-10a: More Music Mornings with CJ & Nikki...
was "relaunched" as "WiLD 107.5" but kept its Rhythmic Top 40 format intact. Despite the fact that both KKRZ and KXJM are under the same ownership, being programmed by the same program director and sharing some of the same music, KKRZ continues to focus on Mainstream Pop/Rock hits. In addition, both stations continue to place among the top 10 in the Portland Arbitrons.
Morning shows
Z100 has had several morning shows throughout its history. The Z Morning Zoo started in 1984 (the year Z100 signed on) and lasted until 2000, when it was replaced with Chet & Nicole. They too, were dumped in 2002 for The BuckHead Show. The BuckHead Show had a successful 5 year run until August 15, 2007. In the same week that BuckHead received the Edison's Media Top 30 under 30 Personality award, KKRZ management Brian Bridgman, Tony Coles and Robert Dove began running short, cryptic spots about "T-Man" coming to Portland. On August 31, 2007, BuckHead's morning fill-in host Brooke Fox announced that indeed, "The T-Man Show" was coming to Z100 mornings on Tuesday, September 4, 2007. The T-Man show was based out of Seattle and syndicated in San Francisco. Buck Head can now be heard on WDZH in Detroit, MI.Less than six months after the T-Man show debuted in Portland, it was pulled from KKRZ, for yet undisclosed reasons (presumably due to low ratings). The T-Man could still be heard in Seattle and San Francisco until T-man retired and the show ended in 2009. The replacement morning show is the Arizona
KZZP
KZZP, 104.7 KISS-FM, is a Top 40 radio outlet serving the Phoenix, Arizona area. The Clear Channel Communications station broadcasts at 104.7 MHz with an Effective radiated power of 100 kW and is licensed in Mesa, Arizona. Due to its 100 kW tower located atop South Mountain, the station can...
-based Johnjay and Rich show.