Lubbock Radio: 'Red Dirt Rebel' Wins Fans And Awards

“Our cross-town rivals said we wouldn’t last six months because Texas country is a passing fad,” Jess Walker, program director and vice president of operations for KJDL 105.3 FM, better known as Red Dirt Rebel tells lubbockonline.com.

“This is our fifth year. The talent has only gotten better, and other radio stations across the state have followed in our footsteps.”

What’s more, Walker’s radio station and on-air employees have earned support in the form of Texas Regional Radio Music Awards, announced annually at the end of March.

The awards find the state’s market sizes separated into Super-Size (an example being the DFW metroplex), Large, Medium, Small and Out-Of-Region.

In 2011 and 2012, Lubbock’s Red Dirt Rebel earned a Texas Regional Radio Music Award as the Best Radio Station playing Texas music in a large market.

Those same years found KJDL deejay Neely Yates named Best On-Air Personality in a Large market.

In 2013, neither earned an award. The Best Large Market prize instead was earned by “KKCN, Kickin Country in San Angelo,” said Walker.

KJDL 105.3 FM (23.5Kw) 60dBu Coverage

KJDL 105.3 FM and mid-day (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) personality Yates enjoyed huge comebacks this year, emerging victorious on March 29 in, once again, the categories of Best Large Market Station and Best On-Air Personality, respectively.

So KJDL and Yates are back on top, winners in three of the past four years.

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