Damn. Did anyone see this coming?
KLOL, 101.1 FM announced Friday that station has changed formats. The station switched from a rock format to a Latino music format branded as Mega 101.
The station’s web site was listed as under construction, but KLOL’s former morning show hosts Walton and Johnson announced on their web site that they were informed Thursday night of the change.
The radio hosts stated on WaltonandJohnson.com that, “Thursday night Walton and Johnson were informed by lower-level management sources via a last-minute phone call that there would be no Walton and Johnson Show tomorrow. In its place would be Hispanic music programs.”
Walton and Johnson were the #7 rated morning show in the latest ratings. I’m happy to see them go since I think they’re a couple of crapmeisters, but I’m shocked it happened like this.
What this means is that there’s no rock station in Houston which isn’t limited to a time period. You’ve got your Oldies Rock on 107.5, your Classic Rock on 93.7,and your Alternative Rock on 94.5, but no one station that might play anything from the Beatles and Cream to Collective Soul and Green Day, which KLOL used to do. If there’s a better definition of “vast radio wasteland” than that, I don’t know what it is.
Found via Metroblogging Houston.
UPDATE: Various KLOL fans have found this old post and are expressing their angst over the format change. Google’s cache still has the old KLOL web page in it. This discussion thread was complaining about KLOL’s format – one can perhaps see how a change might have been in the works, though clearly what they got was not what they were asking for. I hope Ken Hoffman and.or John Nova Lomax has something to say about why this happened soon.
UPDATE: Pete piles on. Jim D wails. Michael finds a scapegoat. Callie has some words from Walton and Johnson. Kevin examines his non-FM options.
Just think if Clear Channel bought out NASA
wich is another one of Houstons decades old institutions, they could probably sellout again to a latino radio station and replace NASA’s rocket logo with a big taco because what we really care about is money, and we dont really care about preserving our heritage. just Remember everybody there is a certain Chevy Dealership that rhymes with LAND SHARK that to advertise with sellouts.
correction, likes to advertise with sellouts
WTF…I cannot believe the crap mess clear channel has stirred-up again! Walton & Johnson has been off the airwave since Friday and we the people demand explanations. What are this cooporate bastards looking for? Were they afraid of how liberal and expressive these DJ’S (RADIO PERSONALITIES) really are! We as citizens have the right to pick and choose what radio stations we want to listen to and if we propgrammed KLOL in our cars it’s for the reason that we liked what we heard! I’m latino but don’t like that crappy bullshit music that’s taken it’s place. Therefore, I would like and demand answers and plaination as to why KLOL was taken off the air. IT should be want the people want not what those Idiots corporate bastards think “will work”!
Maybe Clear Channel could team up with the U.N.
and France and really do some damage and sell them some more
radio stations, and erase some more of our instutions, since their on a roll, I mean why stop here?
What kind of moron gets rid of one of the first FM stations of Houston!?
My heart is broken over this….I am a native Houstonian, and have been listening to KLOL since I could turn on a radio. A Houston landmark has been destroyed. I hate Clear Channel Communications with all of my soul.
I’ve only been living in Houston for 3 years but I have come to love KLOL so much. No other station has captivated me so much and they literally felt like family. I was lucky enough to meet Outlaw Dave and Loch at a promotion and those guys are great and not worthy of this travesty.Please come back KLOL!
My friends and I are in total shock that our favorite station is now gone. I will turn the radio off in the mornings before I listen to the other morning shows that truly can not compare to Walton and Johnson. I think we should boycott Clearchannel and try not to listen to any of there stations.
Clear Channel’s management is obviously made up of morons! How can they ignore the THOUSANDS of KLOL fans who need to hear pure rock music every day? And what’s happened to the DJs and personalities we all came to know & love? It just makes me sick – the best way to hurt CC is to boycott their advertisers. Money is the only language they understand – certainly it’s not loyalty!
I was shocked Friday. I, like so many others here, grew up on 101. And like so many others have become a loyal 10 %er over the last 3 years. Clear channel, are you f**k-n kid’n me! Even if you don’t like Walton and Johnson, what about all the rock from the last 30 years? Was there no frequency to use? You had to take one of the oldest radio institutions in H-town in flush it. Thanks for nothing. Way to make us all hate corporate radio even more. You are all the reason XM and ipods are taking over. I hope you are all happy with what you are doing to radio. Ya’ll will stangle all the life out of what radio once held. Thanks ASSHOLE’s!
I couldn’t believe it when I turned on my radio fri afternoon and heard a spanish commercial on Rock 101. I wish it had been! This is a nightmare!!!! So many good memories….Stevens and Pruet Holliday Ball, the walking Juke Box, The Steel face with the Lightning Bolt. This is like Deja Vu 93Q. I’ll never forget the morning I switched on the Q Zoo and instead of John Lanern it was country….that was a nightmare and so is this!!!!!
if you are missing your Walton and Johnson, might I suggest switching to 650AM – Howard Stern – where W&J got all their material
I suggest calling the Pat Gray morning show on 950am (clear channel station) and discussing your issues. I’m sure the executives will be listening.
Then, call the Chris Baker show (2:00pm – 6:00pm) on 740am (clear channel station) and discussing your issues.
They may not let you in, but if enough people call in to complain, you can tie up the lines for any other topic they wish to talk about.
Just so you know, Hispanics are the majority in Houston, not the minority.
I believe this is a marketing ploy similar to Coke. Soon, we will have “Classic” Rock101 and everyone will want to listen to it…
if you are missing your Walton and Johnson, might I suggest switching to 650AM – Howard Stern – where W&J got all their material
You so have it backwards son.
I had an 80 mile commute (one way) into Houston every day for two years when W&J started on 101. They saved my mornings from the garbage spewed by Dan and Reg (missp on purpose) along with their endless stream of commercials and that pop crap on the other stations. Now we only get Sweet Home Alabama on 93.7 six times a day, bubble gum on 107.5, and 106.9: all REO Speedwagon all the time! Good thing Baker is still on the air. S&P were good in their day. There is simply no good radio in Houston.
Here is the petition.
I hope every one will sign it! Found it on another site.
http://www.petitiononline.com/KLOL/
I can’t believe this either it’s a travesty 101 not in Houston give me a break. I’m Hispanic and I won’t listen to this ridiculous format whatever it is, give us 101 back. Houston needs a rock station like we had,what are we supposed to listen to now?
no rock stations in houston
we need to start a riot at the mega101 offices
with guns and roses blairing. pelt them with
tortillas. and we are trying to discourage immigration??? what a fucking joke.
no rock stations in houston
no rock stations in houston
what a disapointment, a disgrace. how dare they. surely public opinion does not matter to CC.
WHAT HAPPENED? Are you all nuts..I can’t make the day without my morning guys W & J. BRING THEM BACK!!!!!!!!!! Not fair. We have enough stations that play Tejano music…I don’t need to hear another..We want our REAL 101 back!!!!!!!!NOW !!!
Ok folks..W&J did suck…they were no where near being Radio Gods as Stevens & Pruett with Boner. Let’s no forget about Tubby who is on 97.1 now. This does suck, I have listened to KLOL for 30 years now…I grew with it like most Houstonians, it was passed on from brother to sister and on down the family chain. In my opion KLOL had the best lineup at one time..S&P with Boner, Wendy, OD then Fixx. LOng live KLOL
This is what happens when somebody senior at Clear Channel goes down on Colin’s kid. Of ocurse we get the face shot.
Go to petitiononline.com and click on the two KLOL petitions and sign them. May or may not help.
The Stern comparisons are a waste of time. It’s like Chevy/Ford. If you like one better, good for you. W&J didn’t get all their material from Howard. Com’on, thats absurd. I like W&J because they are from where I’m from, Texas and Louisiana, and they talk about our area. You will never hear Howard talk about the Saints, or bar-be-cue places, or the Astros, or New Orleans politicians, or all the local news going on. Howard has a funny show, but it’s just different from W&J, not better or worse.
I’m afraid KLOL is gone forever, like when they changed KIKK from country to whatever it is now, what, some jazz-Kenny G stuff? I remember listening to it when I was a wee lad. Even though I didnt care for the music, when they changed it, I thought it was sad and pitiful. Just like all the bubbas and bubbettes who got pissed, well, now it’s our turn.
At fmqb.com, it said Wendy Miller will do middays on the Buzz now, and Steve Fixx afternoons on KKRW the Arrow.
Ask Dan Patrick and those KSEV AM-700 guys what they think of CC. When CC took over 950 KPRC, they booted all of them out too. He was able to buy 700 though, so they live on, and are doing quite well for an independent station. They get to choose the programming, not some over-bloated evil corporation which only cares about the dollar bill.
Same thing happened in San Jose, they changed a great rock station to Mexican music, so dont feel like the Lone Ranger here.
I woke up at 5:30 this morning, stared at my radio, which I always turn on to hear Stevie Ray doing “Little Wing”, to have a little enjoyment to begin my workday week, to hear Johnsons smooth voice, to kick-start my day, to get a good feeling that there is at least two guys that “get it”, to get a laugh, to hear about the idiot Hollywood types, to hear the Saints lost again, to get a Britney Spears update for a joke, but she is hot, and W-J helped carry me through my morning in a comforting way. I always knew they were going to say something I wanted to hear. I feel like I’ve lost two friends, like they moved away and left no new address or telephone number.
I stared for a minute, scratched my belly, then sat in silence and had a cup of joe. Didnt even turn the radio on this morning.
That sucks.
I am having withdrawls from W&J. What am I supposed to do, listen to 104 KRBE in the morning? Or am 700? If I listen to any of the other stations, I’m just sending my business to another Clear Channel station. It is a sad time for radio!
I am truly saddened to hear of the loss of a true Houston audio landmark. I have listed to this station almost daily for many years. I came to the Houston area is 1967, and like many, many others felt that this was a wonderful, colorful, local musical icon. A great mistake was made by a faceless corporation.
Myself and many others are very upset about the loss of Walton and Johnson and the rest of the Rock 101 D.J.’s.. I have been listening to rock 101 since I was a kid.. I am not 22 years old.. I listen to W & J from the time i wake up to the time they say, “Bye, bye Billy Ed.” Then as the day progressed, my desk radio would play KLOL until 6:00 p.m. when i was getting off work.. Then i usually listened to it on my way home or a c.d.. Not only was I a true 10%er to W & j, but also to KLOL itself.. Right now I am listening to the arrow, its ok, but i would rather be listening to W & J for my morning antics.. Thanks for ruining my mornings and my work days..
I too am in total shock. I was a die-hard 10%er, and have gotten all my kids, brother, sister, boss, and friends to laugh with the antics in the morning. I knew I could make it through another day if I could laught with W & J in the morning, and my drive home and evening were always better with a VARIETY of rock music to listen to, not toned down or played out over and over again!! What the hell is CC thinking? We now have 6 latino radio stations, not to mention a newly formated newspaper (with spanish advertising, and sports pages in spanish), announcements at the Wal-Mart are even in spanish. When will it end!!!!
I will email the corporate idiots at CC, and sign every petition I can get my hands on. I am all for boycotting the CC advertisors and other stations (which really aren’t worth a crap anyway. Time to spend some money on CD’s, I won’t go the XM route and put more money into CC’s pockets. If someone would like some help organizing a demonstration – feel free to email me for LOTS of help. Also, where can we get a list of all of the companies spending money to advertise on CC?
This new channel is an embarrasment to everyone that is from Houston. I do not understand why everything American is bad… I think that this is also an embarrasment to the Hispanics… Once again the establishment is trying to divide us….
Rock 101 KLOL was always my station as soon as they went on the air in 1970. When I bought a car it was always my preset button 1. It is a dirty rotten shame that Clear Channel Communications is in the position of being able to turn their backs on a very devout and loyal bunch of employees and listeners……
Like we don’t already have enough Latino crap on our radio band!! Where’s the great American rock? Where’s my Mandatory Metallica??!? Who came up with this brilliant idea?
SHOCK, DEPRESSION AND PURE DISGUST ………..that’s how I feel about losing 101. 101 was staple for many of us long term listeners. I was bred, born and raised in Houston, Texas some 48 years ago. No other station compared. I know I’m going to get slammed for this but I wonder if I move to a Latino country, will THEY change their format for me? Doubtful. I’m beginning to feel like a third class citizen. Clear Channel… DON’T EVEN think about mailing me any advertisements about your new format – especially in a language that is FOREIGN to me. I waste enough time trying to find ENGLISH on labels and papers as it is. Last time I checked, I still lived in the gool ol’ U S OF A. Time for me to turn off the radio completely. It’s a sad day indeed. Wonder what Ozzie would think?
What the HELL is the problem? Aren’t there ENOUGH LATINO stations on the air, you guys had to drop one of the best formats in Houston… Where do we go now for the real stuff? Who the hell made this decision? Obviously it was far from informed. There are listeners who jam only to 101 KLOL for the rock, and the old stuff, because it was real! This format SUCKS!
We need a solid rock station not hip-hop!
Put Klol back, I am sixteen and love everything from AC/DC to Green Day. This was my dad’s favorite station and was mine also. Now I don’t know what I am going to listen to. Maybe the buzz but they don’t play any old stuff and they just started playing Metallica now that KLOL is off the air THIS SUX we miss you KLOL
It’s absolutely ridiculous that KLOL switched formats to become a Spanglish Station. But…
A few things. KLOL’s morning show sucked, plain and simple. A couple rednecks trying to be funny, but failing.
As a business person who buys radio, I’ve known for a long time that KLOL’s ratings were bad. Buzzfest sells out, or comes close consistently. When 101 tried to do their own version, they had maybe 4k attendees at the woodlands. The station has been in trouble for years. That said, they didn’t need to switch to Spanglish. Hire a new music director, switch things up a bit, and improve ratings w/o a drastic format change. One thing they had going for them was that they reach a primarily over 21 audience, which is great for many advertisers, especially alchohol. The station could have been saved, w/the right Music Director, and tweaking.
As much as everyone’s mad at Clear Channel, the only place to hear Rock is on 94.5, 93.7, or 96.5 (rarely)….make that switch to Satellite radio as soon as you can!
KLOL is total crap but it’s (was) one of the better pieces of crap on the radio here. I still can’t believe that here in the 4th largest city in Amerika we have such lame radio.
Remember Folks…It all boils down to money! After some research this morning I find that Houston has not 6 but 16!! Hispanic radio stations and they have more combined income from advertisers than any other format. Apparently that is the demographics spending money in Houston??? It is time to boycott those advertisers! We know that Rock KLOL may not have had the largest pull/audience, but you would think that in the 4th largest city there would be room for several different styles of radio programs so everyone could be happy. This could work if one company (Clear Channel) didn’t own them all. In other large cities like Chicago you find hundred of stations that cater to several small-medium niches. This variety wasn’t just about the mighty dollar but offering something to everyone in the city that keeps them in the money. Lets not give up the fight to bring back music and Walton & Johnson for us 10%’s!!!
I have emailed Clear Channel about this mess and I plan to keep emailing them until I get my Outlaw Dave back. If anyone has anything to add to my protest you can send a comment for them the email I set up for this is Rock101Forever@hotmail.com.
Clear Channel- I hope you implode. Greedy bastards. I will truly miss Walton and Johnson. There is no one else like them.
Put that shit back on AM!!!! Viva my ASS!!!
I want my klol back. What has become of Houston when we remove icons in the middle of the night?
Oh, my God, I am so sad right now, I’ve been pissy all weekend. No more Uncle Nasty? No more Mandatory Metallica? 101 is my favorite station. What do we have for rock now? Not a goddamn thing, that’s what. W&J were not homophobic, I’m a lesbian, and they were my favorite morning show. I loved Billy Ed, he cracked me up.
I’m not old either, I’m 23, 101 was listened to by like every demographic there is, even my dad, and my little sister listen to it. What the f**k…Everyone I’ve talked to is pissed about this. We do not need any more crap latino stations. Even if Hispanics are the majority in this city, a fact which I find questionable, there is no call for this, there’s already like a hundred and twenty-seven spanish stations. I hate everybody right now. Man, I want to kick somebody in the freakin face.
I heard Wendy Miller is now on the Buzz from 10-3. Any news on where Outlaw Dave will land?
I actually like the new station. I am 30 yrs old and i have a son. I think this will teach my son how to speak some spanish and teach how to dance. the music has been pretty good. it’s upbeat and i dont really have to listen to any dj’s, which can get really tiring to listen to after a while. sorry for those of you who do not like the change. THAT SOUNDS LIKE A PERSONAL PROBLEM!!!!
Check it out, everyone is pitching a fit because of a damn radio station . I mean all you loyal listeners act like you aren’t ever going to hear the music again. You were loyal listeners right? Go out and buy the music support out artist now and damn with Station. ROCK WILL NEVER DIE RIGHT!! Yeah, Rock 101 was the Shit !!
Get over it and move on to the next best. There was obviously a opportunity for Clear Channel Mega 101 and they took it dont be hatin’ Your, Latina
It’s not about the ROCK. It’s about the institution…..KLOL has been that institution. All the blood drives. All the charitable things that were done by the personalities,That were actualy from HOUSTON. I cannot believe this has happenend. Thanks CC you greedy bastards. And don’t think I’m going out to get XM. The radio is now OFF!!!!!!!