KOMY
Encyclopedia
KOMY is a radio station
broadcasting an Adult Standards
/Big Band
format. Licensed to La Selva Beach
(Santa Cruz County
), California
, USA, the station serves the Monterey Bay Area. KOMY was originally licensed to nearby Watsonville
for many years. Damage occurred to KOMY's original transmitter site as a result of the October 17, 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
, and subsequently, new owners moved the facilities to the Santa Cruz area.
KOMY is owned by the Zwerling family and originates from sister-station KSCO
's 1080 AM's facilities.
KOMY was acquired shortly after the Zwerlings acquired KSCO on January 31, 1991.
, which had changed as a result of recent radio network
mergers. For no more than a few days, KOMY was basically simulcasting sister station KSCO
's talk programming. There was now no Oldies
format station in the Monterey Bay Area AM market.
Then KIDD
(formerly known as 'Magic 63' ) seized on this opportunity and without notice immediately changed its format from an Adult Standards
/Big Band
format to an Oldies format as Oldies 630. Magic 63s listeners were quickly in an uproar over the loss of the only Standards station in the market.
Recognizing a loyal listener demographic, KOMY quickly followed KIDD's change and immediately adopted a hybrid Adult Standards format. The music and formatics adopted by KOMY, including the Magic & Memories imaging, were put in place by David Jackson
of the Bay Area Radio Museum, with voice imaging by KSCO/KOMY production director Bill Graff.
went to a 1950s/1960s 'oldies
' format. For nearly two months, beginning on January 25, the original Oldies programming broadcast on the air by KOMY was fed via the Bay Area Radio Museum's Internet audio server, with custom "KOMY 1340" PAMS jingles that were freshly recorded for the station.
On March 20, 2007, KOMY began 'stunting,' using construction sound effects and promoting roughly every four minutes that KOMY would return with a better signal and programming. Two days later, KOMY adopted the Jones Satellite Networks' oldies format.
This format change was a return to the roots of KOMY 1340, a popular Top-40 station back in the 1960s, when it was very briefly the home of radio legend Robert W. Morgan
early in his career.
affiliate. Thus, KOMY was considered the "liberal
version" of sister-station KSCO
, which primarily aired conservative
programming.
On June 28, 2006, KOMY dropped The Majority Report
with Janeane Garofalo
. According to station owner Michael Zwerling, this decision was because the show had failed to gain a single advertiser during the year that it was on the station. After three consecutive Arbitron
zero ratings periods between January and November in 2006, KOMY would change formats in January 2007.
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...
broadcasting an Adult Standards
Adult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
/Big Band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
format. Licensed to La Selva Beach
La Selva Beach, California
La Selva Beach is a census-designated place in Santa Cruz County, California. La Selva Beach sits at an elevation of . The 2010 United States census reported La Selva Beach's population was 2,843....
(Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County, California
Santa Cruz County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, on the California Central Coast. The county forms the northern coast of the Monterey Bay. . As of the 2010 U.S. Census, its population was 262,382. The county seat is Santa Cruz...
), California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA, the station serves the Monterey Bay Area. KOMY was originally licensed to nearby Watsonville
Watsonville, California
Watsonville is a city in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. The population was 51,199 according to the 2010 census.Located on the central coast of California, the economy centers predominantly around the farming industry. It is known for growing strawberries, apples, lettuce and a host...
for many years. Damage occurred to KOMY's original transmitter site as a result of the October 17, 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
Loma Prieta earthquake
The Loma Prieta earthquake, also known as the Quake of '89 and the World Series Earthquake, was a major earthquake that struck the San Francisco Bay Area of California on October 17, 1989, at 5:04 p.m. local time...
, and subsequently, new owners moved the facilities to the Santa Cruz area.
KOMY is owned by the Zwerling family and originates from sister-station KSCO
KSCO
KSCO is a radio station broadcasting a News/Talk format located in Santa Cruz, California. It can be heard over much of Central California during the day. Since 1991, it has been owned by the Zwerling family...
's 1080 AM's facilities.
KOMY was acquired shortly after the Zwerlings acquired KSCO on January 31, 1991.
History
KOMY began in 1937 as KHUB, "The Hub of the Monterey Bay Area". KHUB became KOMY in 1957.Adult Standards music - 2009
In the first week of April 2009, KOMY management decided that they were no longer satisfied with Jones' oldies formatGood Time Oldies
Good Time Oldies was a 24-hour music format produced by Jones Radio Networks. Ittargeted the "baby boomers" and consists of oldies music from the 1960s to early 1970s by The Beatles, The Kinks, The Beach Boys, Hues Corporation, The Rolling Stones and dozens more artists...
, which had changed as a result of recent radio network
Radio network
There are two types of radio networks currently in use around the world: the one-to-many broadcast type commonly used for public information and mass media entertainment; and the two-way type used more commonly for public safety and public services such as police, fire, taxicabs, and delivery...
mergers. For no more than a few days, KOMY was basically simulcasting sister station KSCO
KSCO
KSCO is a radio station broadcasting a News/Talk format located in Santa Cruz, California. It can be heard over much of Central California during the day. Since 1991, it has been owned by the Zwerling family...
's talk programming. There was now no Oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
format station in the Monterey Bay Area AM market.
Then KIDD
KIDD
KIDD , is a radio station broadcasting a sports format. Licensed to Monterey, California, USA, the station serves the Santa Cruz area. The station is currently owned by Buckley Communications....
(formerly known as 'Magic 63' ) seized on this opportunity and without notice immediately changed its format from an Adult Standards
Adult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
/Big Band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
format to an Oldies format as Oldies 630. Magic 63s listeners were quickly in an uproar over the loss of the only Standards station in the market.
Recognizing a loyal listener demographic, KOMY quickly followed KIDD's change and immediately adopted a hybrid Adult Standards format. The music and formatics adopted by KOMY, including the Magic & Memories imaging, were put in place by David Jackson
David Jackson
David Jackson may refer to:*David Jackson , American physician, Continental Congressman for Pennsylvania*David Edward Jackson , American explorer, frontiersman, and trapper...
of the Bay Area Radio Museum, with voice imaging by KSCO/KOMY production director Bill Graff.
Oldies music - 2007
On Thursday, January 25, 2007, at 10 a.m., KOMY 1340 dropped the progressive talk format andwent to a 1950s/1960s 'oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
' format. For nearly two months, beginning on January 25, the original Oldies programming broadcast on the air by KOMY was fed via the Bay Area Radio Museum's Internet audio server, with custom "KOMY 1340" PAMS jingles that were freshly recorded for the station.
On March 20, 2007, KOMY began 'stunting,' using construction sound effects and promoting roughly every four minutes that KOMY would return with a better signal and programming. Two days later, KOMY adopted the Jones Satellite Networks' oldies format.
This format change was a return to the roots of KOMY 1340, a popular Top-40 station back in the 1960s, when it was very briefly the home of radio legend Robert W. Morgan
Robert W. Morgan
Robert Wilbur Morgan was an award-winning morning radio personality best known for his work at several stations in Los Angeles, California, in particular KHJ-AM....
early in his career.
Liberal Talk - 2005
In the Fall of 2005, following different music and other programming over the years, KOMY began airing a progressive talk format, becoming an Air America RadioAir America Radio
Air America was an American radio network specializing in progressive talk programming...
affiliate. Thus, KOMY was considered the "liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
version" of sister-station KSCO
KSCO
KSCO is a radio station broadcasting a News/Talk format located in Santa Cruz, California. It can be heard over much of Central California during the day. Since 1991, it has been owned by the Zwerling family...
, which primarily aired conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
programming.
On June 28, 2006, KOMY dropped The Majority Report
The Majority Report
The Majority Report is a talk radio program originally on the Air America Radio network hosted by film actress/comedienne Janeane Garofalo, and actor/comedian Sam Seder, until Garofalo left in July 2006. Garofalo was reportedly originally asked by Air America to host the program and suggested Seder...
with Janeane Garofalo
Janeane Garofalo
Janeane Garofalo is an American stand-up comedian, actress, political activist and writer. She is the former co-host on the now defunct Air America Radio's The Majority Report. Garofalo continues to circulate regularly within New York City's local comedy and performance art scene.-Early...
. According to station owner Michael Zwerling, this decision was because the show had failed to gain a single advertiser during the year that it was on the station. After three consecutive 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...
zero ratings periods between January and November in 2006, KOMY would change formats in January 2007.