When radio fan Rahjan Gheek of Des Moines heard that one of his local radio stations had hired a nationally-known PD with a multi-major-market resume, he was looking forward to a real shake-up in Iowa radio. But Gheek says so far he's disappointed in his local AC station, J-97 (Dripping Hose Broadcasting's KVJJ/Stalkview-Tassletown-Des Moines).Dripping Hose issued a chest-thumping press release six weeks ago touting the arrival of Nomad "U-Haul's Best Friend" Kardashian as PD, and tongues began wagging about the exciting possibilities for the ratings-challenged J-97. Earlier this week, signs that Kardashian was working his magic began to appear.
For two days, J-97 stunted with amusing decoy formats like all-Gregorian chants and a Polka/country hybrid. And on the third day, they became "Jonas 97," playing all Jonas Brothers, teasing that they'd finally show their hand the next day at 10am. What Gheek heard at the appointed time on Thursday sounded all too familiar to him: "They were back to Rod Stewart, Celine Dion, and Phil Collins again. Yawn."
J-97 did begin calling itself "All star J-97," but that's about all that's different, according to Gheek. A major advertiser in the region echoed the sentiment, saying "They had us going for a minute there but it sounds like they're back to the same s---. I can't tell any difference. F--- them."
All The Excess! tried to reach Kardashian for a comment, but we were told that he was busy escorting the entire air staff out of the building. He apparently never returned to his office. Later, Kardashian's U-Haul truck, fully packed and bearing a crudely painted sign that said "All of the top 100 markets or bust!," was seen on I-80 traveling out of Des Moines and headed west at a high rate of speed.
GM Farley Pushover, now left with a staff of only three, refused to comment on the devastation left behind at J-97, and withdrew into a bottle of Sour Mash. He did agree to show us a note, supposedly from Kardashian, that said simply, "Gotta get down to Funkytown."
A competitor in metro Des Moines who asked not to be identified said, "If this guy Kardashian was a success in major markets, they must have had names like Kroger, Safeway, and Albertsons."
