KUBL bucks its way to the top spot among young adults

Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Feb 7, 2003 by Lynn AraveDeseret News radio editor

The biggest surprise in the latest Arbitron ratings book -- fall 2002 -- is KUBL (FM-93.3), which has leaped to No. 1 among young adults, ages 18-34.

"K-Bull" was second last summer, and although it only rose .2 percent of a share to 7.8, its consistency paid off, as other stations dropped. In fact, among age 12-plus listeners, KUBL's total audience is now estimated to be greater than the combined number of its two competitors -- KKAT and KSOP.

KSL has reclaimed No. 1 among the age 12-plus listeners, while KSFI is still No. 1 among the age 25-54 adult audience.

The return to No. 1 of KSL and also another improvement by KNRS proves AM radio is far from dead. KQMB ("Star 102") also had a strong improvement.

Here are the Arbitron ratings for ages 12-plus, Monday-Sunday, 6 a.m.-midnight:

1. KSL-AM (7.6 percent); 2. KSFI (7.2); 3. KUBL (6.2); 4. KZHT (4.2); 5. KQMB (4.1); 6. KRSP (3.9); 7. KXRK (3.8); 8. (tie) KNRS-AM and KODJ (3.5); 10. (tie) KBEE and KBER (3.3).

12. KUUU/KTCE (3.2); 13. (tie) KOSY and KSOP (3.1); 15. KUDD (3.0); 16. (tie) KCPX and KKAT (2.4); 18. KENZ (2.3); 19. KBZN (2.1); 20. KURR (1.9); 21. KISN (1.7); 22. KALL-AM (1.6); 23. (tie) KWKD and KWLW-AM (1.4); 25. KSGO-AM (1.3); 26. (tie) KKDS-AM and KJQN (1.0); 28. KFNZ-AM (0.8); 29. (tie) KSVN-AM and KBJA-AM (0.6).

Here are the Arbitron ratings for ages 18-34-plus, Monday-Sunday, 6 a.m.-midnight:

1. KUBL (7.8); 2. KXRK (7.0); 3. KSFI (6.6); 4. KZHT (5.8); 5. KQMB (5.7); 6. KBER (4.9); 7. KURR (4.1); 8. KENZ (3.9); 9. KCPX (3.7); 10. KBEE (3.6).

11. KUUU (3.4); 12. (tie) KSOP and KURR (2.9); 14. KKAT (2.6); 15. KWKD (2.4); 16. KISN (2.0); 17. (tie) KNRS-AM, KSL-AM and KRSP (1.9); 20. KALL (1.7); 21. KOSY (1.6).

Here are the Arbitron ratings for ages 25-54, Monday-Sunday, 6 a.m.-midnight:

1. KSFI (7.3); 2. KSL-AM (6.8); 3. KUBL (6.7); 4. KRSP (6.0); 5. (tie) KODJ, KBEE and KBER (4.4); 8. (tie) KOSY and KSOP (3.7); 10. (tie) KNRS-AM and KQMB (3.6).

12. (tie) KISN and KURR (2.6); 14. KXRK and KKAT (2.5); 16. (tie) KALL-AM, KBZN and KENZ (2.3); 19. KSGO-AM (1.8); 20, KJQN (1.5); 21. KCPX (1.6); 22. KUUU (1.2); 23. (tie) KFNZ-AM, KUDD and KSVN-AM (1.0); 26. (tie) KWLW-AM and KZNS-AM (0.8).

OFF THE AIR -- Some radio stations go off the air in the overnight hours more often than you might expect. According to Joey Santarelli of Roy, KALL (AM-910) and KOAL (AM-750, Price) both went off the air late last month for at least an hour each one evening before midnight. He said KLO (AM-1430, Ogden) also went dark overnight occasionally in January.

He believes the advent of automation is most likely to blame because some stations may not have a live person monitoring them overnight in favor of voice tracking. More translator stations than in the past could also be a factor.

RADIO HAPPENINGS -- "Casey Scott," co-host with "Chunga and Mister" on KENZ, received first- and second-degree burns in a fire recently while trying to do some kind of radio stunt in the studio's parking lot. He is healing OK, but this proves that radio stunts can be dangerous.

-- The new Salt Lake City Main Library includes some community/ retail shops as part of its floor space, and one of those spaces will be occupied with a satellite facility for KCPW (FM-88.3/105.1), an NPR/news station.

-- KJQS (AM-1230) is now airing "Imus in the Morning" each weekday, in addition to its sports programming. This show replaces ESPN Radio's "Mike and Mike in the Morning." Imus was last heard in this market a few years ago on AM-1280.

-- "Dickie and Angel," on KODJ's "Married with Microphones" show, have been doing a cooking-recipe segment, "Angel's Kitchen," as part of their Thursday show. Recipes have included "Corn Dog Casserole," "Angel's Sketti Pie" and "Polynesian Shrimp Salad." The DJs also have a new weekend show, "Sunday Morning Magazine," that airs on KODJ at 7 a.m.

E-MAIL: lynn@desnews.com