KJQN

Infobox Radio Station
name = KJQN
airdate = 1983
frequency = 103.1 (MHz)
city = Coalville, Utah
area = Salt Lake City metro area
format = Adult Hits
owner = Simmons Media Group
coordinates = coord|40|52|16|N|110|59|43|W|region:US_type:city
erp = 89,000 watts
haat = 647 meters
branding = 103.1 Jack FM
slogan = "Playing What We Want"
class = C1
facility_id = 88483
webcast = [http://www.streamaudio.com/stations/asx/KJQN_FM.asx Listen Live]
website = [http://www.1031jack.com/ www.1031jack.com]

KJQN is a radio station in Salt Lake City, Utah which currently plays the Jack FM radio format. It broadcasts at 103.1MHz.

Previously known as Classic Alternative KJQ, the station flipped to Jack FM in January 2005.cite news |title= 'New' radio station serves up the same old stale mix of music |last=Griggs |first=Brandon |date=2005-02-01|publisher=The Salt Lake Tribune; see also cite news |title= KJQN says 'bye to alternative music |url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600107755,00.html |last=Arave |first=Lynn |date=2005-01-28|publisher=Deseret Morning News]

KJQN is licensed to Coalville, Utah, and KNJQ to Manti, Utah. KNJQ ceased to simulcast the station in late 2005 and went off-air shortly after a brief stint of running Simmons' KZNS 1280 sports-talk format. The station is now on-air as KAUU and simulcasting MillCreek owned "U92" through a mutual agreement between the companies.

History

KJQN began as a modern rock station from Ogden, Utah in 1983. At that time, the station broadcast on 95.5 FM and was also heard with a 1000-watt simulcast from 1490 AM, which would later become KOGN.

In the late 1980s KJQN was purchased by Abacus Communications, which fired much of the high-ranking staff in 1991. Fired program director Mike Summers, engineered a deal to take over another station, then-top 40 KZOL of Provo, Utah. [cite news |title=Docket '92: Everything Else Is Just A Light? More Fights From Philly, Salt Lake City |last=Ross |first=Sean |date=1992-05-09|publisher=Billboard|page=85] Re-dubbed "X96" in February 1992, KXRK raided much of KJQ's talent. [cite news |title=Even More Markets Get LMAs From Hell; WW1 Loses Shannon Countdown, O'Malley |last=Ross |first=Sean |date=1992-02-22|publisher=Billboard |page=75] For a time the stations competed, but as KJQ's ratings eroded and modern rock promoters split their business, management decided to switch formats. In early October 1992 KJQN-FM switched formats to top 40, adopting the letters KKBE. Soon thereafter KJQN-AM became a religious-themed station, changing its call letters as well. [cite news |title=Changes Send Waves Thru Salt Lake City Market |last=Boehlert |first=Eric |date=1992-11-07|publisher=Billboard] In May 1993 the Abacus sold KKBE, which became a satellite format for "Super Gospel Country." [cite news |title=Two WKBQ Jocks Raise The Ire Of NAACP; WBOB On 1st-Name Basis; Murphy Resigns |last=Stark |first=Phyllis |date=1993-05-22|publisher=Billboard]

In 2001 Simmons purchased stations in Brigham City and Oakley, and acquired the historic call letters. [cite news |title=Rumors flying about new Wasatch Front radio stations |last=Arave |first=Lynn |date=2001-07-20|publisher=Deseret News] The "classic modern rock" format adopted by Simmons was meant to evoke music played on the original KJQ. [cite news |title= KJQ returns to airwaves with adult alternative music |last=Arave |first=Lynn |date=2002-01-18|publisher=Deseret News] The morning show featured veterans of the original KJQ, "Chet and Brad," and the station adopted some of the original KJQ's promotions including the old "Bessie" milk truck. [cite news |title= 'Chet and Brad' a good KJQN fit |url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20030725/ai_n11407738 |last=Arave |first=Lynn |date=2002-05-24|publisher=Deseret News] Management went through several program directors including Ian McCain (from KCPX), Dom Casual (from KENZ and veteran of the original KJQ) [cite news |title= Disc jockey finds his way back home to KJQ |last=Arave |first=Lynn |date=2003-07-23|publisher=Deseret News] , Lara Jones (a veteran of the original KJQ), interim PD Todd Noker (also PD at sister station KXRK) and APD/Music Director Jon Smith (also from KENZ).

On January 21, 2005, the station switched to the adult hits Jack FM format at noon, and the staff was laid off mid-shift without advanced notice. The station, which competed for a slightly older audience than Simmons' KXRK had much lower ratings than Citadel's KENZ. Management stated the audience "wasn't growing as fast as we wanted."

References

*See also: List of Salt Lake City media

External links

* [http://www.1031jack.com/ 103.1 Jack FM - Salt Lake City, UT]
*FMQ|KJQN
*FML|KJQN
*FMARB|KJQN
* [http://www.kjqonline.com Classic Alternative KJQ Tribute site]
* [http://www.classicalternative.blogspot.com The Classic Alternative Blog - Edited by a fan of both incarnations of KJQ, and featuring news on the artists who were frequently played on KJQ.]