KTBZ-FM

Infobox Radio station
name = KTBZ-FM


city = Houston, Texas
area = Greater Houston
branding = 94.5 The Buzz
slogan = Houston's New Rock Alternative
airdate = 1964
frequency = 94.5 MHz HD Radio
94.5 HD-2 Indie Rock
format = Modern Rock
power =
erp = 95,000 watts
haat = 585 meters
class = C
facility_id = 18516
callsign_meaning = The BuZz
owner = Clear Channel Communications
sister_stations = KBME, KKRW, KODA, KPRC-AM, KTRH
webcast = [http://www.thebuzz.com/cc-common/streaming_onesite/index.html?refreshed=yes Listen Live]
website = [http://www.thebuzz.com/main.html www.thebuzz.com]
affiliations =

KTBZ-FM, also known as 94.5 The Buzz, is a modern rock radio station licensed to Houston, Texas with studios located in Houston on West Loop South and transmitter facilities located in Missouri City.

History

The current format signed on 107.5 FM on October 31, 1994 at 11:00 CDT. The station called itself "The New Rocket 107.5 - Houston's New Alternative" and changed its call sign to KRQT. Earlier it had been KZFX, a classic rock station. In March 1995, it changed both its calls and format to what it still is today.

Before July 2000, KTBZ broadcasted on 107.5 FM. Following a merger of Clear Channel Communications, Inc. and AMFM, Inc., and the need to stay within the FCC's station ownership cap, KLDE was sold to recent move in Cox Radio and acquired the 107.5 frequency. On July 18, 2000 KLDE Oldies 94.5 and KTBZ 107.5 The Buzz, swapped frequencies to complete the "trade" in ownership. A month before the swap, KTBZ announced that The Buzz would cease operations at 107.5 on July 18 and stunted a "Save the Buzz" campaign, sending Buzz listeners into a frenzy for information on the stations "impending demise". When the true purpose of the campaign was discovered, an online forum maintained by KTBZ was shut down in order to try to keep the word from getting out as listeners began to post their findings. Still, this did not prevent listeners from posting banners around town and painting "Save the Buzz" on their car windows. KTBZ even staged a public rally, in which a representative from parent company, Clear Channel Radio, came to read a statement. The statement effectively read that response to public comments, the Buzz would be saved and would be moved to 94.5 FM, a much stronger signal. Stating it would be a "Bigger, Better Buzz" at 94-5 FM.

The barrage of station promos for the move would immediately follow:"Coming soon, A bigger, better Buzz at 94-5" and "107-5 The Buzz, moving to 94-5, July 18th.

Just before 8pm on July 18th 2000, it began. KTBZ and KLDE each did a pre-recorded lead-in to the change. KLDE had their airstaff riding in a transporter across the dial to 107.5FM, while KTBZ did a one-minute countdown as they "faded" off of the 107.5 frequency. At exactly 8:00pm, the stations switched simultaneously. KTBZ's montage led-in with a "Turn on the juice!" and KLDE's airstaff "crash landed" on 107.5. Both stations celebrated the move with their own "Switch Parties", The Buzz had a free concert with Stone Temple Pilots that was broadcast live from The Aerial Theater in Downtown Houston on "The New 94-5 The Buzz". Oldies 107.5 did 48 hours of non-stop music.

KTBZ began transmitting its HD & HD2 digital signals in January 2006.

KTBZ 94.5-2 HD2 format is "Liquid Buzz" and plays indie rock & pure alternative.

BuzzFest

Twice a year, KTBZ-FM promotes a live concert, called the Buzz Festival but better known as Buzzfest. The 2005 Fall Buzzfest was supposed to be held at Minute Maid Park, but because the Houston Astros advanced to the 2005 World Series that was held at the same time, it was moved to the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands. This turned out to be a major problem for the public, because the Woodlands did not honor the tickets sold for Minute Maid Park. Fans had to turn in their Minute Maid Park tickets for refunds, and then make the additional effort to purchase Woodlands tickets, with the change of venue announced approximately one week before the concert. As a result of this massive error in judgment, turnout for Buzzfest XVI was a great deal lower than Clear Channel hoped it would be.

The Buzzfest XVII was held on June 17, 2006, also at C.W. Mitchell Pavilion. Tickets sold out a little over a week after they went on sale. Several well known bands were in attendance, including: Staind, Hoobastank, Shinedown, Three Days Grace, Blue October, Evans Blue, Candlebox, 10 Years, Buckcherry, People in Planes, Hinder, Trapt, Bril and Hurt, and Huck Jones.

BuzzFest XX was held on October 28, 2007, at C.W. Mitchell Pavilion. Tickets went go on sale on Saturday, September 15th 2007 with no presale. The line-up included: Smashing Pumpkins, Chris Cornell, Evanescence, Finger Eleven, Evans Blue, Alter Bridge, Sum 41, Fuel, Earshot, The Bravery, The Starting Line, Sick Puppies, and Fair To Midland.

Fair to Midland missed the show due to having a show scheduled by Serj Tankian in L.A. the night before. The Buzz wouldn't pay for the airfare so they could not make the show.

BuzzFest XXII was scheduled for October 26, 2008. The extensive artist lineup included such names as The Offspring, Staind, Seether, Papa Roach, Puddle of Mudd, 10 Years and more. However, due to extensive damage to the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion caused by Hurricane Ike, the show was forced to be canceled.

Current staff

KTBZ’s current morning show is the Rod Ryan Show currently led by the title host Rod Ryan, and helped by former mid day DJ Theresa (who recently returned from maternity leave and gave birth to a daughter Brooklyn), Jessica, and Mark Wiggins formerly of sister station, KKRW (The Arrow). Features of the Rod Ryan show include "Free Beer Friday" where 4 cases of beer are given away to a caller every hour, "Tubes-day" where Wiggins does the entire broadcast while speaking through a cardboard tube into the microphone every Tuesday, and the recount of listener's weekend events known as "Sex, Jail, Blood or Fame." The Rod Ryan show also organized the Houston Dodgeball Association, also known as HODA. Since the Rod Ryan show arrived at The Buzz, the station's once waning numbers jumped significantly.

After them was a DJ named Chris Rice who hosted the "All Request Nooner". It is now hosted by Theresa. Succeeding him is Don Jantzen, who is known for his controversial anecdotes.

Into the Midnight Hours, former overnight DJ for the defunct Rock 101 (Now Mega 101) Zakk United hosts the Cage Match, a viewers request poll sometimes between unsigned artists. He also hosts on-air shows featuring local bands. He is known for his catchphrase "What up sinners?!" and has a younger following than most of the DJs at the Buzz and his "Nocturnal Emissions" feature exposes them to Buzz music by new artists. Every Sunday night he hosts the "Texas Buzz" sessions, these showcase a single new artist/band and plays many of their songs throughout the night, concluding with an interview and a LIVE performance from the band.

Other notable staff (or Staph) includes "Captain Cash" Hal Lynde, a local stockbroker providing reports during Ryan's and Jantzen's shows, Karah Leigh, a foil to Jantzen who recently took over as the station's Music Director, Lauren, previously of KRBE, and A.D., the often controversial transplant from New York City who briefly occupied the mid day slot and garnered both big ratings and critical acclaim. He also works with Bam Margera and Tony Hawk at Sirius Satellite radio's punk rock/extreme sports hybrid station, Faction. He remains at the buzz in a weekend and fill in capacity.

Former staff member Travis Bruce Golightly, the Virgin Vegan (also known as TBG, the double-V), was on the Rod Ryan Show through May 11, 2006. He currently lives in Atlanta.

Former airstaff includes "Just Plain" Mark Sutherland, Lanny Griffith (later of KRIV FOX 26), Lisa Kendall, "Shark", Ken Fusion, Brian Blades, Geno Pearson (formerly of KNRJ co-host of Alternative Static), John Leach, David Sadof, Jarod Frank, Steve Robison, "Cruze", Ken Hoffman, Mr. Randy, Johnny Maze, Graeme, Will Pendarvis, Derek Nelson, Rex Oates, "The Whipping Boy", Pam Kelly, "D-Day", Jeff McMurray, Jerry Rohira, and Eric Schmidt.

Competitiors

*KRBE-FM 104.1 FM
*KKRW-FM 93.7 FM
*KHMX-FM 96.5 FM

Callsign History

*KLEF-FM - 03/13/1986
*KJYY - 03/13/1986
*KLDE - 04/29/1988 (Oldies 94.5 KLDE)
*KTBZ - 07/18/2000 (94-5 The Buzz)
*KTBZ-FM - 01/11/2001 (94-5 The Buzz)
*KBEE - 2005 MLB Post-Season in response to the Astros Post-Season Run. (callsign was not actually changed this was only a promotional stunt that coincided with the Houston Astros run to the World Series)

Awards

In 2007, the station was nominated for the top 25 markets Alternative station of the year award by Radio & Records magazine. Other nominees included WBCN in Boston, Massachusetts, KROQ-FM in Los Angeles, KITS, in San Francisco, KNDD in Seattle, Washington, and WWDC in Washington, DC. cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=2007 Industry Achievement Awards | date=Sept 28, 2008 | publisher= | url =http://www.radioandrecords.com/Conventions/con2007/awards/indexFinal.asp | work =Radio and Records]

References

External links

*Official|http://www.thebuzz.com
*FMQ|KTBZ
*FML|KTBZ
*FMARB|KTBZ
* [http://www.rodryanscreepyfansite.com Rod Ryan's Creepy Fansite]
* [http://www.internetclassifieds.ws/ecook/hosted/rodryanarmy/main.html Rod Ryan Army]
* [http://www.tophour.com/audio/Houston%20TX/fm0945_2006-05_ktbz_cstelly.mp3 KTBZ legal ID/May 2006 -from Tophour.com]