New country station two-steps onto Fairbanks airwaves
Published Sunday, April 6, 2008
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Stumble It!A new country music radio station, 93.5 CHET FM, has hit the Fairbanks airwaves, aiming to distinguish itself from 102.5 KIAK-FM by peppering its contemporary country format with old school favorites, such as Johnny Horton, Merle Haggard and the Pure Prairie League.
Using the slogan “Everything Country,” the station began transmitting March 30 from a tower in Ester, station manager Terry Walley said.
KIAK was the sole country music station in Fairbanks until now.
“We thought, first of all, there’s a big audience for country music in this market,” Walley said. “And there’s room for a country station that’s a little bit different than what’s already out there.”
The station promises to play plenty of country classics, such as “Take This Job and Shove It,” the 1977 hit by Johnny Paycheck, and songs by country music legends, including Johnny Cash and Tanya Tucker.
That’s music to some country music listeners’ ears.
Rick Mensik has owned a country music bar, Kodiak Jacks, for the last five years.
“We’re all excited here because the radio station is giving an opportunity for other kinds of country tunes to be heard,” Mensik said. “I think it’s exciting to be able to get some of our projects and events on a new station that appeals to the local community.”
Jeff Stepp is a concert promoter and disc jockey on KSUA’s long-running show, The Eat @ Joe’s Show, which features folk, blue grass, rockabilly and other country music genres not normally heard on commercial radio.
“I know for sure that there are a lot of people very committed to classic country, alternative country, roots music and rockabilly,” Stepp said. “If there is a station that can bring that kind of music to a bigger audience than we are able to do at KSUA, I think that’s great and I would be a dedicated listener.”
A consultant in Seattle is designing CHET FM’s playlist, Walley said.
“We spent a lot of time looking for a format we thought would be appealing to a Fairbanks audience,” he said. “Our plan is to have DJs as soon as we can hire the right people.”
The station can be indistinguishable from KIAK at times, playing mainstream hits by artists such as Phil Vassar and Kenny Chesney. But then a song such as “Pickin’ Up Strangers” by Johnny Lee will come on. KIAK also plays some old school favorites, such as George Jones.
“This town is definitely ripe for another country station,” said Glen Anderson, a comedian, radio personality and 25-year veteran in the Fairbanks radio business.
Anderson is the operations manager for New Northwest Broadcasters, a competitor of Tanana Valley Television and Radio, which owns CHET FM, 96.9 KYSC-FM and the television stations FOX7 and CBS13. Walley’s brother, Perry, works for New Northwest.
“If they do it well, they’ll be very successful,” Anderson predicted of CHET.
The station is gearing itself toward male listeners between the ages of 25 and 45, the manager said.
“The Rick & Bubba Show,” recorded in Birmingham, Ala., will be broadcast Mondays through Saturdays on CHET FM from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. The nationally-syndicated morning show features commentary — often humorous — on sports, politics and current events, Walley said.
“They try to keep the comedy clean,” he said. “Both gentleman have a deep belief in God. They talk about God a lot in the show.”
The CHET FM Web site is due to debut in May, Walley said.
The name CHET has no special meaning. The station’s call letters are actually KDJF.
“There’s kind of a movement with radio stations to have a one-word name,” Walley said. “A lot of stations are using Bob, Hank, Jack and of course there’s TED FM here in Fairbanks. I just though Chet was something different.”
An official with KIAK FM deferred comments to a manager who was not available.
“I hope the people making the programming choices have the conviction to play the good stuff,” Stepp said of the new radio station. “And anybody who listens to Johnny Cash and Loretta Lynn knows what I mean.”
Community Discussion
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I'm very disappointed in CHET so far. Seems like 95% of the songs are just new fake-country garbage, and then they'll throw in an old song, which might or might not be a good 'er (as Lester "Road Hog" Moran would say). If I want watered-down rock with lyrics that insult my intelligence, I'll listen to KIAK. CHET: Go ahead and be a country station, please. People will listen.
My husband called me today and told me he discovered this station. He likes it. Great! thanks CHET!!!
I've actually noticed the opposite of what "babylon" has. I like some of the newer stuff but it'll be nice to not have the same 20-50 songs played each day, I wish other stations would give more of a variety. Its kinda sad when the same song can be heard on 2 stations at once. I think CHET(i heard it as "jed") will do good here.
Slow news day?
Thank God for MP3s. But I guess this is a plus for the Arctic Cowboys out there. Bullwhips in the back of Chevrolets. Pretty funny. But in this town one more option is a plus!
now if we just had a classic rock station like we used to have in KXLR....
It's great to have the oldies on the air again. I sent this article to Ed Daily in Pasco Wash. who has radio progam Legends of Country on http://www.1027kord.com/main.html
I listen Live on the computer every Sunday 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM. I hope he can Stream his program here. Go to edscountry.com and see what he is about.
Terry:
Glad to see you're going for this.
Please, please, please, don't fall into the rut of crappy music.
I have a serious case of radio rage in this town.
I had high hopes when locally owned 96.9 came on...but now it is about the worst.
I can't understand the playlist thing. Will someone enlighten me?
Why, if a DJ is there anyway, must we suffer with a playlist?
Is it because there isn't enough CD's or albums for variety or what?
Oh wait--except for public radio there isn't much variety.
And--oh yeah--we'll only ever hear the "top" hits anyway.
Good luck with this--I hope it works out. We sure need better radio.
I grew up in Alabama with Rick and Bubba, they're great!!! I'm glad their show is coming to Fairbanks....ROLL TIDE!!!
That last comment was supposed to read "I grew up in Alabama LISTENING to Rick and Bubba.." I guess I hit the 'with' key on accident!!!
Also, I'm not sure what "the name CHET has no special meaning.." is supposed to mean. Chet Atkins was a very integral part of country music recording and managing. He also consulted with a guitar manufacturer or two and helped create some of the greatest instruments used in the country music industry. Unfortunately, he's no longer with us, but his legacy will remain in country music forever.
Nash Vegas has ruined country music. Dale Watson (a great country singer consistently ignored by Nashville) put it best: "That's country my..." Well, my comment will get pulled if I put Dale's last word in there, but ya'all get the idea. I'll stick to internet stations like Boot Liquor Radio (http://bootliquor.com/) where they play the real thing.
I used to DJ a little local show somewhere else, and this is the kind of music I played, people liked it. That would be cool if I could work there, but I want to stay home with my baby. hmmmmm.
I discovered CHET last Friday when I scaned on my radio,
I LOVE IT!!
The best of the new and the older songs I grew up with as well.
Babylon & Corrine you hit it on the head! I hope CHET FM doesnt' fall into the same format as 90% of the other stations in town. These stations know who they are, and the listeners can surely predict the music being played by the DJ who's on the air. They play the same Columbia House Top 40 cd or home burned cd day after day... How original! Once in a blue moon the listening public get's lucky when the music gods send us "fresh meat!" A new DJ who gets out of his or her chair and pops a "never heard over the airwaves of Fairbanks" tune into player. PLEASE CHET FM don't fall victem to the same predictable music and for gosh sakes play music that's unpredictable! Leave the Top 40 cowboy tunes to the other station.
now if we just had a classic rock station like we used to have in KXLR....
Hey PolarMark, I am with you!!! We need a rock station that plays late 60s and 70s rock!!!
3 rock stations in one "small" market would be a stretch. With CC and NNW owning both big rock stations in town, I doubt they'll program another "classic" rock station that competes with their already existing male demographic rock stations. "Classic" rock is only going to happen if one of them tweak their formats.
That's my opinion.
Hi...
I am enjoying listening to the oldies on CHET FM. Like this Freddy Fender song that is on while I send this message. (Wasted Days and Wasted Nights.) It's been fun to hear an occasional CCR (Credence Clearwater Revival) song on CHET FM too.
The good things about KIAK though is their morning show which has had national acclaim in the past. AND right now I'd really like to win a set of tickets to the Trace Adkins concert.
dee99709
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