KZZP
Encyclopedia
KZZP, 104.7 KISS-FM
, is a Top 40 radio outlet serving the Phoenix, Arizona
area. The Clear Channel Communications
station broadcasts at 104.7 MHz with an Effective radiated power
(ERP) of 100 kW and is licensed in Mesa, Arizona
. Due to its 100 kW tower located atop South Mountain
, the station can be easily picked up in most parts of Tucson
. The station plays a large variety of hip-hop
, pop
and rock tracks, as well as the flagship station of the Johnjay and Rich in the Morning.
, Dave Otto, and Steve Goddard.
Brandmeier later made a huge name for himself in Chicago at WLUP. His show on KZZP featured prank phone calls, parody songs which Brandmeier himself usually wrote, sang and recorded, and a cast of regular characters. When Brandmeier went to Chicago's WLUP, Western Cities won an injunction to keep him off the air in the Windy City until his contract with KZZP had officially expired.
KZZP enjoyed a spectacular run from 1985 until early 1990 as one of America's leading Contemporary Hit Radio stations, led by legendary program director Guy Zapoleon. During Zapoleon's era, the station played mass appeal hits along with some adventurous dance and alternative releases. Zapoleon hired morning man and right hand Bruce Kelly
from Boston in July 1985 and teamed him with Maggie Brock, former partner of Chicago radio star Steve Dahl
, to form the nucleus of the show that would propel KZZP into unheard of Arbitron
double digit ratings for almost five years. Kelly and Company would become a household name and included other talents like Rob Izenberg (The Iceman), who would go onto greater fame at Premiere Comedy Network and Mark Davis, now known as parody lounge artist Richard Cheese.
"KZZP 104.7 FM The Number One Hit Music Station" also produced a long list of future stars in the radio business including Kevin Weatherly, Gene Baxter, Kevin Ryder (now Kevin and Bean
on KROQ/Los Angeles), Todd Fisher (now GM, KSTP Minneapolis), Clarke Ingram, Nick Sommers (Nick Sommers Productions) Michelle Santosuosso, Jimmy Kimmel
, Bill Stewart "Stu" (now PD - KGOT, Anchorage, AK), Carey Edwards(Programmed KHPT, Tucson, and more recently MD, APD/PM Drive at KAMX Austin), Kent Voss (now a news sidekick with Brandmeier on WLUP), William "Bud" LaTour (KZZP's Production Director, weekend on-air personality, currently Production Director at CBS Radio
Chicago) who launched an electronic music career under the name LaTour
, Mike Elliot, John O'Rourke and Susan Karis (who started in sales at the station in 1981 and now oversees it as a Clear Channel executive vice president).
In December 1989, a new team of Nationwide managers (Zaploeon had been promoted to National PD) signed Kelly to a five year contract, then fired him weeks later. Kelly sued for wrongful termination and won, allowing him to cross the street to longtime CHR competitor Edens' KOY-FM (Y-95). Within three months, KZZP's rating has plunged from # 1 to # 15, while Y-95 skyrocketed from # 15 to # 2.
KZZP dropped the famous call letters in favor of KVRY, but in 1996, returned to KZZP because of strong brand recognition in the Phoenix market. Brandmeier made a brief return, via syndication, in mornings), in 1996, but to no ratings success. Kelly returned in August 1998 for a brief, successful one year run in mornings, then left to become part of the launch team of XM Satellite Radio
in Washington, D.C.
In April 2007 he returned to terrestrial radio as morning host of WMXJ
, MAJIC 102.7 in Miami-Fort Lauderdale.
The station is now branded on-air as KISS-FM
, the KZZP call letters are only used as hourly station identification as required by the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC).
On April 20, 2001, KZZP began playing Prince's
song Kiss
consecutively for three days straight. This was done to promote the new name of the station, KISS-FM. Now owned by Clear Channel, the station's music moved in a more Rhythmic direction. Although they would broaden up to include mainstream Pop product by 2004, KZZP's playlist still leaned heavily towards Rhythmic, similar to many Top 40 stations in large cities. Through 2007 their playlist is less Rhythmic leaning though they still add more rhythmic tracks than the usual CHR.
Competition-wise, KZZP is also one of three Top 40 stations battling for listeners in the Phoenix market, the other two being Rhythmic rivals KKFR
and KZON
, as well as new top 40 rival KMVA.
. From 2007 to 2008 it featured an all-Hip-Hop format called "Da Block." Prior to June 2007, programming came from Clear Channel's satellite-delivered "La Preciosa" Spanish Oldies network.
KISS-FM (brand)
KISS-FM is the brand name of a Top 40 music format heard on FM radio stations in many cities in the United States . Clear Channel Communications claims ownership of the KISS-FM brand and operates most KISS-FM formatted stations, though not KISS-FM in San Antonio, Texas itself .-Origin and...
, is a Top 40 radio outlet serving the Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
area. The Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
station broadcasts at 104.7 MHz with an Effective radiated power
Effective radiated power
In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
(ERP) of 100 kW and is licensed in Mesa, Arizona
Mesa, Arizona
According to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%...
. Due to its 100 kW tower located atop South Mountain
South Mountains (Arizona)
The South Mountains , known locally as simply South Mountain, is a mountain range in central Arizona in south Phoenix, Arizona. It is on public land managed by the city of Phoenix as South Mountain Park...
, the station can be easily picked up in most parts of Tucson
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
. The station plays a large variety of hip-hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
, pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and rock tracks, as well as the flagship station of the Johnjay and Rich in the Morning.
History
KZZP was originally KTYL-FM (calls now used by a station in Tyler, Texas), co-owned with 1310 AM in Mesa. Western Cities Broadcasting purchased KZZP in 1980 and flipped it to a Top 40 format, with personalities like Jonathon BrandmeierJonathon Brandmeier
-Career:Born John Francis Brandmeier to a German father and a Lebanese mother, Brandmeier started his radio career in 1973 at WFON in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin...
, Dave Otto, and Steve Goddard.
Brandmeier later made a huge name for himself in Chicago at WLUP. His show on KZZP featured prank phone calls, parody songs which Brandmeier himself usually wrote, sang and recorded, and a cast of regular characters. When Brandmeier went to Chicago's WLUP, Western Cities won an injunction to keep him off the air in the Windy City until his contract with KZZP had officially expired.
KZZP enjoyed a spectacular run from 1985 until early 1990 as one of America's leading Contemporary Hit Radio stations, led by legendary program director Guy Zapoleon. During Zapoleon's era, the station played mass appeal hits along with some adventurous dance and alternative releases. Zapoleon hired morning man and right hand Bruce Kelly
Bruce Kelly
Bruce Kelly is an American radio personality.According to Alexander Zaitchik at Salon.com, "Kelly is a flamboyant master of publicity stunts as well as a top-rated morning jock".-Career:...
from Boston in July 1985 and teamed him with Maggie Brock, former partner of Chicago radio star Steve Dahl
Steve Dahl
Steven Robert Dahl has been an American radio personality and humorist for more than thirty years. He is currently podcasting, and releases the podcasts for download daily from his own website as well as the iTunes store...
, to form the nucleus of the show that would propel KZZP into unheard of Arbitron
Arbitron
Arbitron is a consumer research company in the United States that collects listener data on radio audiences. It was founded as American Research Bureau by Jim Seiler in 1949 and became national by merging with L.A. based Coffin, Cooper and Clay in the early 1950s...
double digit ratings for almost five years. Kelly and Company would become a household name and included other talents like Rob Izenberg (The Iceman), who would go onto greater fame at Premiere Comedy Network and Mark Davis, now known as parody lounge artist Richard Cheese.
"KZZP 104.7 FM The Number One Hit Music Station" also produced a long list of future stars in the radio business including Kevin Weatherly, Gene Baxter, Kevin Ryder (now Kevin and Bean
Kevin and Bean
Kevin and Bean is the morning show on KROQ-FM, an alternative rock-format radio station in Los Angeles, California. It is hosted by Kevin Ryder and Gene "Bean" Baxter. The show has been on the air since 1990 and intersperses music and news with comedy bits, celebrity interviews, listener call-ins,...
on KROQ/Los Angeles), Todd Fisher (now GM, KSTP Minneapolis), Clarke Ingram, Nick Sommers (Nick Sommers Productions) Michelle Santosuosso, Jimmy Kimmel
Jimmy Kimmel
James Christian "Jimmy" Kimmel is an American television host and comedian. He is the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, a late-night talk show that airs on ABC. Prior to that, Kimmel was best known as the co-host of Comedy Central's The Man Show and Win Ben Stein's Money...
, Bill Stewart "Stu" (now PD - KGOT, Anchorage, AK), Carey Edwards(Programmed KHPT, Tucson, and more recently MD, APD/PM Drive at KAMX Austin), Kent Voss (now a news sidekick with Brandmeier on WLUP), William "Bud" LaTour (KZZP's Production Director, weekend on-air personality, currently Production Director at CBS Radio
CBS Radio
CBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
Chicago) who launched an electronic music career under the name LaTour
LaTour
William LaTour, better known by his stage name LaTour and also known as "Bud" Latour, is an American singer, songwriter, and voice over artist...
, Mike Elliot, John O'Rourke and Susan Karis (who started in sales at the station in 1981 and now oversees it as a Clear Channel executive vice president).
In December 1989, a new team of Nationwide managers (Zaploeon had been promoted to National PD) signed Kelly to a five year contract, then fired him weeks later. Kelly sued for wrongful termination and won, allowing him to cross the street to longtime CHR competitor Edens' KOY-FM (Y-95). Within three months, KZZP's rating has plunged from # 1 to # 15, while Y-95 skyrocketed from # 15 to # 2.
KZZP dropped the famous call letters in favor of KVRY, but in 1996, returned to KZZP because of strong brand recognition in the Phoenix market. Brandmeier made a brief return, via syndication, in mornings), in 1996, but to no ratings success. Kelly returned in August 1998 for a brief, successful one year run in mornings, then left to become part of the launch team of XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio is one of two satellite radio services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Radio. It provides pay-for-service radio, analogous to cable television. Its service includes 73 different music channels, 39 news, sports, talk and entertainment channels, 21 regional...
in Washington, D.C.
In April 2007 he returned to terrestrial radio as morning host of WMXJ
WMXJ
WMXJ is an oldies/classic hits music formatted radio station that broadcasts from Miami Gardens, Florida. The station is owned by Lincoln Financial Media, which was previously known as Jefferson-Pilot Communications.-History:...
, MAJIC 102.7 in Miami-Fort Lauderdale.
The station is now branded on-air as KISS-FM
KISS-FM (brand)
KISS-FM is the brand name of a Top 40 music format heard on FM radio stations in many cities in the United States . Clear Channel Communications claims ownership of the KISS-FM brand and operates most KISS-FM formatted stations, though not KISS-FM in San Antonio, Texas itself .-Origin and...
, the KZZP call letters are only used as hourly station identification as required by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC).
On April 20, 2001, KZZP began playing Prince's
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
song Kiss
Kiss (song)
In 1988 Art of Noise released a cover of the song, featuring Tom Jones on vocals. The song became the band's biggest hit to that point, reaching number eighteen on the U.S. dance charts and number five on the UK Singles Chart, higher than the original in that country...
consecutively for three days straight. This was done to promote the new name of the station, KISS-FM. Now owned by Clear Channel, the station's music moved in a more Rhythmic direction. Although they would broaden up to include mainstream Pop product by 2004, KZZP's playlist still leaned heavily towards Rhythmic, similar to many Top 40 stations in large cities. Through 2007 their playlist is less Rhythmic leaning though they still add more rhythmic tracks than the usual CHR.
Competition-wise, KZZP is also one of three Top 40 stations battling for listeners in the Phoenix market, the other two being Rhythmic rivals KKFR
KKFR
KKFR "Power 98.3" is a Rhythmic Contemporary Hit Radio outlet in the Phoenix, Arizona, radio market. The station broadcasts at 98.3 MHz on the FM dial with an effective radiated power of 41 kW. Its COL was Mayer, Arizona. The station is owned and operated by Riviera Broadcast Group...
and KZON
KZON
KZON is a commercial radio station located in Phoenix, Arizona, broadcasting on 101.5 FM. KZON airs a Rhythmic CHR format branded as "101.5 Jamz".-Before 101.5:In the 1960s the station signed on the air as KHEP-FM and aired a classical music format...
, as well as new top 40 rival KMVA.
KZZP HD2
As of 2008 KZZP's HD2 subchannel carries music from Pride RadioPride Radio (HD)
Pride Radio is a dance top 40 radio network launched by Clear Channel Communications and their online division, CCRD in 2006. This service targets listeners in the LGBT community...
. From 2007 to 2008 it featured an all-Hip-Hop format called "Da Block." Prior to June 2007, programming came from Clear Channel's satellite-delivered "La Preciosa" Spanish Oldies network.