Don’t you miss the good ‘ol days when stations used to have “radio wars?” There were at least 2 Contemporary Hit Radio (CHR) stations in most markets. They would compete tooth-and-nail to assemble the best airstaff, play the best music, possess the loudest audio processing, and feature the top contests and promotions.
In the summer of 1983, it was ZZ99 (KZZC) vs Q104 (KBEQ) in Kansas City. ZZ99 had recently moved in from Leavenworth, KS and was taking on Q104 directly. I recorded this aircheck when I was 19, enroute from Minnesota to my first radio gig in Burlington, Colorado. Being the radio geek that I am, I strategically picked Lawrence to stop for the night. From here, I could aircheck both Topeka and Kansas City. Most “normal” 19-year-old guys would be out enjoying the nightlife, just a few days before classes began at KU. Not me! I was more interested in airchecking the stations!
Unfortunately, this was on a Saturday night, so ZZ99 was running “Countdown Summertime.” But I did manage to get their sweepers and promos. Q104 was live all evening. I have included the imaging of both stations.
This recording was made using a Pioneer AM/FM/cassette stereo boombox and TDK D90 tape. If you enjoy this, let me know and I will post additional airchecks of other Kansas City and Topeka stations from this same date.
#1 by Joan on October 19, 2009 - 10:32 am
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Hi! I, too, was 19 in 1983 and quite the radio geek myself. Your post caught my eye because I was an intern (my first radio gig) at ZZ-99 that year when Johnny Rowlands was P.D. Don’t have the time this morning to listen to your classic aircheck but will come back later and listen. Thanks !
#2 by Drew on October 19, 2009 - 8:46 pm
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Hi Joan,
Where did you work? As I mentioned, I was enroute to my first job in Burlington, CO (KNAB AM/FM) when I recorded the ZZ99 vs Q104 aircheck. From there, I went to KWKR in Garden City, KS to learn how to be a screamin’ 7-Midnight CHR jock. LOL!
Drew