Journal-owned KMXZ (94.9 MIX FM) led the pack with a 9.2 share among listeners 12 and older from 6 a.m. to midnight, the demographic most easily accessible in terms of overall numbers. (A share represents the percentage of people listening to the radio at a specific time.) Citadel's KIIM FM 99.5 placed second with a 9.0, while Lotus-run Spanish-language KCMT FM 102.1 locked down the third spot with a 6.4.
Clear Channel had four stations in the Top 10, and occupied the four, five and six spots with KRQQ FM 93.7 (6.0), KNST AM 790 (4.8) and KOHT FM 98.3 FM (4.4).
KFMA FM 92.1 (4.4), KLPX FM 96.1 (4.3), KHYT FM 107.5 (3.8) and KWMT FM 92.9 (3.1) rounded out the Top 10.
Overall, the movement was relatively slight. Tucson is notorious for major ratings swings.
Per company, Clear Channel's four-station representation was the most in the Top 10. Lotus garnered three stations, while Citadel managed two. Market leader KMXZ is the only Journal station to crack the upper echelon.
Citadel rocker KHYT might have registered the book's most significant move: It improved from a 3.0 to 3.8 and cut its ratings deficit to rival KLPX by a half-share.
Meanwhile, KQTH FM 104.1 The Truth disappointed in its first book as an FM talker following its format change from "the Point." Its .9 rating was the worst among FMs in the market.
THE MIX-UP: BOBBY AND (TBA) IN THE MORNING?
Despite another strong ratings performance, KMXZ FM 94.9 MIX FM announced the departure of half of its morning show namesake last Friday, Oct. 19. Brad Behan, the Brad part of Bobby and Brad, is gone after a two-term stint on the hugely popular morning entry.The reasons for Behan's departure remain publicly unclear; Journal representatives aren't talking.
"Brad and I had a great run," said morning show host Bobby Rich on the MIX Web site. "We had many really good years together. We've been lucky, because you don't always stay together that long in the radio business. This station, with Tucson's best listeners, has been very good to us. We'll all miss Brad."
Behan, who teamed with Rich from 1993-1995 and for a second stint that started in 1997, conducted his portion of the show from his home in Colorado.
"In the last 10 years, he has built a wonderful life for himself and his family in Colorado--while doing his part of our show from his house--and I wish him nothing but the best," said Rich in the statement. "I am committed to Tucson and doing the best morning radio show possible. I promise that we'll continue the 'good, clean fun' approach that you have come to love and expect. We'll do our best to keep you engaged with Mrs. Grant, Big Al and me."
FREQUENCIES PLAY MUSICAL CHAIRS
Cochise Broadcasting LLC and Desert West Air Ranchers Corp. have convinced the Federal Communications Commission to move a couple of FM frequency community of license agreements.Desert West's KRDX 98.5 FM, which was licensed to Vail, is now licensed to Corona de Tucson, with additional permission to broadcast at 104.5.
A construction permit issued for Corona de Tucson at 101.3 FM will be licensed to Tanque Verde instead. Additionally, a construction permit moved from Lordsburg, N.M., to Vail for a station at 103.7 has received FCC approval.
Radio tech nerds can read all about the moves at the FCC Web site.
ROSE LEAVES KGUN, GOES TO THE DOGS
KGUN Channel 9 general assignment reporter Jenny Rose left the local ABC affiliate and accepted the position of community relations manager at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona. It brings an end to Rose's five-year relationship with KGUN."It sounded like a great opportunity, and I jumped on it," Rose said. "It's great to hang out with all these animals and help them find new homes."
A Tucson native, Rose joined KGUN as an intern before landing a paid producer position. She was on the air for three years.
"I'm really proud of what I accomplished at KGUN," said Rose. "It's not every day some little intern starts in Tucson and manages to make a name for herself and get a position right off the bat without having to go to a smaller market."
In her three years as a reporter, Rose showed steady improvement, to the point where she became one of the more accomplished and reliable field reporters on local television--good enough to study the possibility of pursuing a more lucrative paycheck elsewhere.
"I'm very proud of the work I did at KGUN," Rose said. "Leaving Tucson wasn't really an option for me. I've grown up here. This community is very important to me. I have family here; I have people I care very deeply for in town. It was one of those things where I had to sit down and analyze where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do. I could have chased the career, and I think I could have been really successful at it, but to me, a career is something I want to be personally rewarding as well as giving me the opportunity to lead the life I want to lead. It's very important to be with family and be with loved ones, so I didn't want to leave Tucson. I wanted to stay. This job offered the opportunity to give back to the community and serve the people I care about, yet still be able to stay where my home is."
From a work environment standpoint, Rose sees many of the same positive attributes at the Humane Society that she encountered during her TV reporting days at KGUN.
"The atmosphere here is very similar to KGUN," Rose said. "Everyone's a team; everyone's a family, and we have great respect for each other. That made the transition easier."
