Document text
Station to try Top 40 programs By DAVID PRESZLER Instead of the "80s at 8," a Medford radio station has decided that Rogue Valley listeners want more N'Sync, SmashMouth, Will Smith, Backstreet Boys and Christina Aguilera. FM radio station KKJJ 107.5 will change its format at noon today, abandoning adult contemporary music for Top 40 pop, according to program director Chris Sargent. The station will change its name -- and eventually its official call letters -- to KISS 107 FM, though it will remain at 107.5 on the dial. "We've done some research and feel that the marketplace is in need of another kind of radio station," he said. The change will move the station into more direct competition with Medford's other Top 40 pop station, "The Beat" KTMT 93.7 FM. Sargent said the station felt "it was time for someone to lead the charge and do a real Top 40 radio station." "There's a big market there," he said. "It's a McDonald's vs. Burger King battle. We're just trying to serve a better burger.'' He said the station will court a female audience. "That's who we are targeting and we feel we can serve it well," he said. Sargent said the station had been considering the move for some time. "We had a loyal audience with KKJJ but we just feel we can serve a wider audience," he said. The move will also end KKJJ's locally hosted morning show with "George and Michelle." Sargent said the hosts of that show will stay with the company. In its place, the station will offer the Rick Dees morning show, a syndicated show out of Los Angeles. That show will begin April 10. Dees is best known for his "Weekly Top 40" countdown show. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications, which also owns country station KRWQ 100.3 FM, rock station KZZE 106.3 FM, oldies station KOOL 103 FM, and adult standards station KMED AM 1440. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA