KLOL-FM
Encyclopedia
KLOL is a Spanish
Pop
radio station
in Houston, Texas
that is owned by CBS Radio
. Its transmitter is located in Missouri City, Texas
.
ushered in a new format and callsign to the 101.1 frequency and "The KLOL Legend" was born. In the early days, KLOL was known as "Mother's Family" and later "K101" and utilized what would be termed a "free form format". A major contributor to the early and ongoing success of KLOL was the laid back perennial DJ Maurice "Crash" Collins. KLOL played a good dose of Rock product in the early years, but it was also possible to hear Jazz
, Blues
, and R & B
. In the mid-1970s the main competition to 101 KLOL was the smaller 96.5 KAUM. KAUM eventually went top 40, leaving KLOL and KILT to battle it out. By the late 1970s KLOL had transformed into a full fledged AOR (Album Oriented Rock) station and changed its moniker to 101 KLOL. KLOL achieved victory in early 1981 against format rival KILT-FM
(who changed format to Country and remains so to this day). Shortly thereafter, KLOL would have another rival in 97ROCK (KSRR) and one of the fiercest AOR battles of the 1980s commenced. KLOL once again won the battle as KSRR flipped to Top 40 as KKHT in 1986 (now KHMX). KLOL mellowed somewhat in the 1980s (as did many AOR's), but their playlist remained quite wide.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, KLOL was one of the top rated AOR station in the United States
. KLOL featured legendary morning men Mark Stevens and Jim Pruett and their "Stevens and Pruett Show," chalking up both high ratings and numerous fines from the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC). Dayna Steele anchored mid-days, and the "Steele-workers" were numerous. Moby (not to be confused with the musician
) took afternoons, and in the evenings it was "Outlaw Radio", an Active Rock
show with "a lot of attitude." KLOL was regularly in the Top 3 in that time frame.
Non-Houston ownership bought KLOL and the station began to change. KLOL started relying heavily on either Classic Rock product (KLOL would be almost all Classic Rock from 1996–1998) or current product from artists who were not selling high amounts of CDs. KLOL virtually ignored the exploding grunge rock and new rock bands from 1995 on.
In late 1998, KLOL's Program director
announced that KLOL would become decidedly more current. Many thought Active Rock was finally coming to Houston. Alternative-rock formatted KTBZ
had been neutered due to ownership that wanted to target (the now defunct) KKPN listeners, so the hole for a harder edged Active Rock station was there. Instead, decidedly more current meant songs that were almost a year old began to receive 40 plays a week.
Clear Channel
became the owner of KLOL in 2000, and at the time, Clear Channel retained the Rock format. Many thought Clear Channel would bring back the classic sound of the station during the previous decades. Instead, KLOL carried on in the same vein for another 4 years.
Rumors of a KLOL format change had been heard since at least 1999; urban oldies or Top 40 as "KISS 101" were supposed to be the result. However, the November 10, 2004 edition of the Walton & Johnson Show on KLOL informed listeners that if they wanted to keep listening, they had better learn Spanish
.
On November 12, 2004, after a rerun of the Walton & Johnson Show, KLOL changed its format to Latino hip-hop. The final 6 songs that KLOL played as a Rock station were:
In the fall of 2007, KLOL redesigned their entire look, changing their format to more contemporary latino pop music under the direction of Clear Channel's Senior VP Alfredo Alonso
. This design was made to better compete with other Spanish-speaking stations that also had the same format. The name MEGA 101 was kept, however the logo changed. The website was also redesigned.
On December 15, 2008, Clear Channel and CBS Radio
announced a multi-station swap: KLOL and sister station KHMX would go to CBS Radio, while CBS Radio-owned stations WQSR
in Baltimore, Maryland
, KBKS in Seattle, Washington, KLTH
and KXJM
in Portland, Oregon
and KQJK
in Sacramento, California
would go to Clear Channel. The sale was approved on March 31, 2009 and was consummated on April 1.
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
Pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
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...
in Houston, Texas
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...
that 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...
.
History
The 101.1 frequency signed on in 1947 as KTRH-FM. In 1970, "I'm Free" by The WhoThe Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
ushered in a new format and callsign to the 101.1 frequency and "The KLOL Legend" was born. In the early days, KLOL was known as "Mother's Family" and later "K101" and utilized what would be termed a "free form format". A major contributor to the early and ongoing success of KLOL was the laid back perennial DJ Maurice "Crash" Collins. KLOL played a good dose of Rock product in the early years, but it was also possible to hear Jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, Blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, and R & B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
. In the mid-1970s the main competition to 101 KLOL was the smaller 96.5 KAUM. KAUM eventually went top 40, leaving KLOL and KILT to battle it out. By the late 1970s KLOL had transformed into a full fledged AOR (Album Oriented Rock) station and changed its moniker to 101 KLOL. KLOL achieved victory in early 1981 against format rival KILT-FM
KILT-FM
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...
(who changed format to Country and remains so to this day). Shortly thereafter, KLOL would have another rival in 97ROCK (KSRR) and one of the fiercest AOR battles of the 1980s commenced. KLOL once again won the battle as KSRR flipped to Top 40 as KKHT in 1986 (now KHMX). KLOL mellowed somewhat in the 1980s (as did many AOR's), but their playlist remained quite wide.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, KLOL was one of the top rated AOR station in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. KLOL featured legendary morning men Mark Stevens and Jim Pruett and their "Stevens and Pruett Show," chalking up both high ratings and numerous fines from the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC). Dayna Steele anchored mid-days, and the "Steele-workers" were numerous. Moby (not to be confused with the musician
Moby
Richard Melville Hall , better known by his stage name Moby, is an American musician, DJ, and photographer. He is known mainly for his sample-based electronic music and his outspoken liberal political views, including his support of veganism and animal rights.Moby gained attention in the early...
) took afternoons, and in the evenings it was "Outlaw Radio", an Active Rock
Active rock
Active rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock plays contemporary rock artists with a mix of songs common in the classic rock radio format.-Format background:...
show with "a lot of attitude." KLOL was regularly in the Top 3 in that time frame.
Non-Houston ownership bought KLOL and the station began to change. KLOL started relying heavily on either Classic Rock product (KLOL would be almost all Classic Rock from 1996–1998) or current product from artists who were not selling high amounts of CDs. KLOL virtually ignored the exploding grunge rock and new rock bands from 1995 on.
In late 1998, KLOL's Program director
Program director
In service industries, such as education, a program director or programme director researches, plans, develops and implements one or more of the firm's professional services...
announced that KLOL would become decidedly more current. Many thought Active Rock was finally coming to Houston. Alternative-rock formatted KTBZ
KTBZ
KTBZ may refer to:* KTBZ , a radio station licensed to Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States* KTBZ-FM, a radio station licensed to Houston, Texas, United States...
had been neutered due to ownership that wanted to target (the now defunct) KKPN listeners, so the hole for a harder edged Active Rock station was there. Instead, decidedly more current meant songs that were almost a year old began to receive 40 plays a week.
Clear Channel
Clear channel
A clear-channel station is an AM band Radio station in North America that has the highest protection from interference from other stations, particularly concerning night-time skywave propagation. Usually known as class A stations since 1982, they are occasionally still referred to by their former...
became the owner of KLOL in 2000, and at the time, Clear Channel retained the Rock format. Many thought Clear Channel would bring back the classic sound of the station during the previous decades. Instead, KLOL carried on in the same vein for another 4 years.
Rumors of a KLOL format change had been heard since at least 1999; urban oldies or Top 40 as "KISS 101" were supposed to be the result. However, the November 10, 2004 edition of the Walton & Johnson Show on KLOL informed listeners that if they wanted to keep listening, they had better learn Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
.
On November 12, 2004, after a rerun of the Walton & Johnson Show, KLOL changed its format to Latino hip-hop. The final 6 songs that KLOL played as a Rock station were:
- "Hells Bells" - AC/DCAC/DCAC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
- "Rooster" - Alice in ChainsAlice in ChainsAlice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr...
- "Aqualung" - Jethro TullJethro Tull (band)Jethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967. Their music is characterised by the vocals, acoustic guitar, and flute playing of Ian Anderson, who has led the band since its founding, and the guitar work of Martin Barre, who has been with the band since 1969.Initially playing blues rock with...
- "Who Are You" - The Who
- "Sad, But True" - MetallicaMetallicaMetallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
- "I'm Free" - The Who (also the first song played on KLOL)
In the fall of 2007, KLOL redesigned their entire look, changing their format to more contemporary latino pop music under the direction of Clear Channel's Senior VP Alfredo Alonso
Alfredo Alonso
Alfredo Alonso is a Cuban-born media executive. He has held numerous senior management positions in Spanish-language media publishing, radio, television and event management. He is known as an innovator of new products to reach the U.S...
. This design was made to better compete with other Spanish-speaking stations that also had the same format. The name MEGA 101 was kept, however the logo changed. The website was also redesigned.
On December 15, 2008, Clear Channel and 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...
announced a multi-station swap: KLOL and sister station KHMX would go to CBS Radio, while CBS Radio-owned stations WQSR
WQSR
WQSR is a radio station broadcasting on 102.7 FM. The station is licensed to Baltimore and serves that market. Its transmitter is located in Pikesville, next to the Pikesville Reservoir. It is under ownership of Clear Channel Communications. The station offers an adult rock hits format known as...
in Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, KBKS in Seattle, Washington, KLTH
KLTH
KLTH is an Oldies/Classic Hits formatted radio station located in the Portland, Oregon, area and broadcasts at 106.7 FM. KLTH's studios are located in downtown Portland and its transmitter is located in Portland's west hills...
and 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...
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...
and KQJK
KQJK
KQJK is a commercial adult hits music radio station in Roseville, California, broadcasting to the Sacramento, California, area on 93.7 FM. It is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications, which acquired it along with four stations in Seattle, Washington, Baltimore, Maryland, and Portland,...
in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
would go to Clear Channel. The sale was approved on March 31, 2009 and was consummated on April 1.
Callsign & moniker history
- KTRH-FM - June 30, 1947
- KLOL - 8/1970 (Mother's Family, K101, 101 KLOL, Classic Rock 101 KLOL, Rock 101 KLOL, Rock 101, Mega 101FM, Mega 101)