Bakersfield CA Radio: KRJK Flips To New Country

JackFM Hit The Road at noon Friday as KRJK 97.3 FM flipped formats form Adults Hits to New Country.

The conversion of Jack to the Bull means Buck Owens Productions Co., Inc., which owns market stalwart KUZZ 107.9 FM and its twangy sister station KCWR 107.1 FM , now has three local country stations.

The thinking is that the radio group started by Bakersfield’s first country music legend should corner the market on the genre by offering a different station to all demographics: young 18-34 The Bull, 25-54 KUZZ and Classic Country 35+ KCWR.

“Country is what our company knows best,” said Brent Michaels, program director for the Bull and KUZZ, where he also serves as an on-air personality. “KUZZ is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.”

According to bakersfield.com, the Bull will not use live announcers most of the day, though Toni-Marie, a veteran KUZZ disc jockey, will host a show weekdays from 2 to 6 p.m., starting Oct. 24. And nationally syndicated radio host Bobby Bones will fill the morning programming slot, starting Monday. Bones, based in Nashville, was available in the Bakersfield market on KIX 92.1 until July, when the station switched formats from country to Spanish oldies.

KRJK 97.3 FM (2 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area

The biggest potential for splitting its audience will come in the morning, when the popular KUZZ team of Steve Gradowitz and Geoff Emery goes head-to-head with Bones.

“It’s excellent to have Bobby Bones back in Bakersfield,” Michaels said, “but Steve and Geoff, in my opinion, are the best local morning show team. It’s all about local listeners with them, whereas Bobby Bones will have Luke Bryan on Monday and Chris Stapleton on Friday.”