Townsquare Media flipped CHR “97.1 Kiss-FM” KKBR Billings MT to Hot AC “Mix 97.1” on Friday afternoon.
Now positioning as “Billings’ Best Mix of 2K to Today”, the move shifts KKBR from directly competing with Radio Billings’ CHR “Hot 101.9” KRSQ to Desert Mountain Broadcasting Hot AC “Planet 106.7” KPLN. In the July 2022 Eastlan ratings, KKBR was third in the market with a 9.5 share, while KRSQ was second with a 15.0 and KPLN was ninth with a 3.6 share.
With the flip, KKBR has replaced the syndicated Brooke & Jeffrey show in mornings with a locally originating show hosted by Michael Foth and Nikki Vega. Foth has been with Townsquare Billings since 2019 as PD/afternoon host at Classic Rock “103.7 The Hawk” KMHK, and has previously worked at KRSQ, KPLN, and Rock “96.3 The Zone” KRZN in the market. He has also programmed “94.9 The Blaze” KHTB Salt Lake City. Vega previously hosted nights for Westwood One’s Country network as Nikki Walker from 2017 until January 2022.
The remainder of the new “Mix 97.1” lineup will feature WPST Trenton NJ afternoon host Austyn in middays, WJLK Asbury Park NJ midday host Nicole Murray in afternoons, while switching from the CHR to Hot AC version of Townsquare’s “Pop Crush Nights” in evenings.
Original Report 8/29: Changes appear to be amidst at Townsquare Media CHR “97.1 Kiss-FM” KKBR Billings MT.
KKBR’s social media pages (which feature an Under Construction banner) have begun teasing the recruitment of “The Big J Show”, which has anchored mornings on Radio Billings’ “Hot 101.9” KRSQ Laurel MT for the past two decades.
That video quickly brought a comment from Radio Billings operator Jessica Clampitt-Bickham who wrote, “Attention Billings, Townsquare Media’s fake post with fake news is laughable, The Big J show is coming up on 20 years soon and loves it’s home with Radio Billings. However, it does show that Townsquare Media is worried about losing their DJ’s and ratings that have plummeted so much so, that they need to use our stations for promotion!!”
“Big J” host Jason Harris would chime in quickly as well to dispel whatever Townsquare was trying to accomplish.
KKBR would continue to make additional posts alluding to its competitor’s morning show throughout the remainder of last week.
What is the end result here? We reported in late July on multiple domains for new brands registered for KKBR and sister 95.5 KCHH Worden, which has begun relocating its audience to 970 KBUL/103.3 K277DS Billings ahead of debuting a new format. The “construction” of KKBR will potentially result in a new brand or format for that station as well.
In the June 2022 Eastlan Ratings, KKBR ranked third in the Billings market with a 9.1 share. KRSQ was second with a 15.0, just behind Townsquare’s “Cat Country 102.9” KCTR’s 15.5 share.
