KDON-FM

Infobox Radio Station


name = KDON
airdate =
frequency = 102.5 MHz
area = Monterey/Salinas/Santa Cruz, California
format = Rhythmic Top 40
owner = Clear Channel Communications
sister_stations = KABL, KOCN, KPRC-FM, KTOM
"TV stations KCBA, KION and KMUV-LP pending sale to Providence Equity Partners"
erp = 15,000 watts
haat = 723 m
branding = "102.5 K-Don"
slogan =
class = B
website = [http://www.kdon.com/ 102.5 KDON]
callsign_meaning =

KDON (102.5 FM) is a Rhythmic Top 40 station licensed to Salinas, California. They are owned by Clear Channel Communications .

History

In its early years, this radio station was KSBW, playing middle of the road and beautiful music.

KDON became a mainstream Top 40 station in the early 1980s with no disk jockeys, in stark contrast to other Top 40 stations at the time. This may have been a gimmick at the time as the fledgling station fought to gain a foothold in the market. As the years progressed, on-air personalities were added.

The format evolved into Rhythmic Top 40 by 1988 and since then has remained one of the highest rated stations in the Monterey/Santa Cruz radio market.

In the early nineties, Mancow Muller hosted a local morning show on KDON. Other talent that has come out of KDON include MTV's "Lucious Liz", Art Bell from Coast To Coast AM, and many others who have gone on to bigger radio markets working the early part of their careers at KDON.

KDON currently plays mainly Hip Hop and R&B, with some Pop, and Old School influence. Its signature yearly concert "The Freestyle Explosion" is one of the biggest events in Salinas each year. The station is known for its heritage, and strong signal which has been heard from King City to as far north as Santa Rosa. It is the strongest signal in the Monterey Market with full signal into the San Jose market, and covering many other parts of the Bay Area. (The latter can sometimes cause interference with Sacramento station KSFM, which has the same format -- and the same frequency, as their signals collide midway in the Bay Area).

In the past few years KDON has evolved into a very successful station consistently as most of the staff who previously worked at sister station KYLD/San Francisco have brought a major market "feel" to the medium Monterey market. KDON is widely recognized by its "Phone Jack at the 50" in the morning where jocks prank call people in different character voices. They are also known for having a very active Promotions team, and Mixshow roster which consists of DJs that are at all the local clubs. Each year KDON is involved in many community events from Food Drives, Raising Money for the Relay For Life foundation, and Christmas Tree deliveries.

The current DJ lineup includes: The Morning Madhouse with Sam Diggedy, Showbiz and Boy Toy Bobby 6-10amMia Amor 10am-2pmEric the Funky1 2pm-6pmVisa on the Radio 6pm-10pmNight Moves with Solrok 10pm-2am

Notable past DJ’s include: Afro Chad AKA Chad Manes Heard Now On Channel 933, San Diego & 102.7 KIIS FM, Los Angeles.

Notable Past DJ's

* Mancow Muller (Syndication)
* Luscious Liz (Power 106/MTV)
* Renee Taylor
* Lisa St. Regis
* Steve Wall a/k/a "Monterey Jack"
* Rick Chase

External links

* [http://www.kdon.com/ 102.5 KDON's website]
*FMQ|KDON
*FML|KDON