By Rick Griffin
First KPRI’s owners sold the famed San Diego rock station to a Christian broadcaster. Now the call letters have been transferred to a small station in the mountain town of Julian.
Christian broadcaster Educational Media Foundation, which operates radio stations in the U.S. using either the K-LOVE or Air1 names, has switched call letters on two stations it operates in San Diego, including a station adored for decades by local rock music fans.
Last year, EMF, based in Rocklin, CA., made news when it acquired legendary rock station KPRI 102.1-FM from Compass Radio owners Jonathan Schwartz and Robert Hughes. KPRI had been on the air in San Diego since the 1980s. Radio industry trade publications quoted Compass’ selling price as $12 million.
Now, EMF has switched the call letters on 102.1-FM from KPRI to KLVJ, which airs K-LOVE programming. In addition, EMF, which also operates 100.1-FM with a low-power transmitter in Julian, has switched that station’s call letters from KLVJ to KPRI, which now airs Air1 programming.
EMF is the leading digital network for Christian Contemporary music as ranked by Triton Digital. Its stations have a weekly audience of more than seven million listeners on more than 400 FM signals in 46 states.
Radio Trade Group Highlights New Sales Reps
The San Diego Radio Broadcasters Association, a local industry trade group of 25 radio stations that promotes the use of radio for advertising, recently announced a group of new sales representatives who have joined three local companies.
At CBS Radio, new sales assistants include Troy Talmadge, Sofia Casillas, Jenn Butler and Gary Bastien. Also, Geri Tovar has rejoined CBS Radio after working most recently for Compass Radio, which owned KPRI 102.1-FM before selling the station last year. CBS Radio operates KyXy 96.5-FM and KEGY Energy 103.7-FM.
At Entercom, Karyn Cerulli is the new director of sales. She was previously with Cox Communications. Entercom operates KSON 97.3-FM and 92.1-FM, KIFM Easy 98.1-FM and KBZT 94.9-FM.
At iHeart Media, new hires include Andrew Gonzalez, Massey Pitts, Melanie Pynappel, Brendon Loucas and Sharon Massey. Massey served the past 18 years as executive director of the SDRBA. She joined iHeart Media San Diego as a senior account executive.
The broadcasters association, founded in 1983, exists to promote the use of radio as a primary advertising medium. It also works towards creating cooperation, professionalism and integrity within the entire radio market and supports civic and charitable causes that benefit the San Diego community.
Nuffer, Smith, Tucker Hires Three Staffers
Nuffer, Smith, Tucker, a San Diego-based public relations and interactive firm, has announced the hiring of three new staff members, including Amanda Whitlock as a senior account executive, Sarah Czarnecki as an account executive and Ventura Olvera as an account coordinator.
Whitlock, with seven years of experience in public relations and marketing, was previously with Clearpoint Agency. She graduated from the University of San Diego with a bachelor’s degree in communications.
Prior to joining Nuffer Smith, Czarnecki worked in the District Office of Congressman Scott Peters. Czarnecki graduated magna cum laude from the University of California San Diego with a degree in political science with an emphasis in public policy.
A native of Tijuana, Olvera is a former Nuffer Smith intern who will now work with both McDonald’s of San Diego County and WD-40 Company. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from San Diego State University.
Nuffer Smith, founded on April 1, 1974, has partnered with or represented many of San Diego’s most notable brands and organizations locally, nationally and internationally.
Press Club’s Newsmakers Series Hosts Fred Maas
The San Diego Press Club will host consultant Fred Maas for its next “Newsmakers” program from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 12, at Dobson’s Bar and Restaurant in the Spreckels Theatre building, 956 Broadway Circle downtown. Cost is free. For more info, contact Terry Williams at(619) 231-4340 or sdpressclub@cox.net.
Maas, special advisor to Chargers’ Chairman Dean Spanos, is expected to discuss the Chargers’ Citizens’ Initiative process, including exploration of possible stadium financing plans, drafting the initiative document and creating the campaign infrastructure necessary to give the Citizens’ Initiative the best possible chance of success.
Chargers team officials are reportedly planning a November ballot measure that would ask San Diego voters to approve raising taxes on hotel stays from 12.5 percent to 16.5 percent to pay for a $1.8 billion combination stadium and convention center next to Petco Park in Downtown San Diego.
Rick Griffin is a San Diego-based public relations and marketing consultant. His MarketInk column appears weekly on Mondays in Times of San Diego.
