Can Doug Clifton save Denver radio from itself? One of the major behind- the-scenes laborers in the Denver market, Clifton today becomes program director for KCUV 102.3-FM, a station that has been through multiple format and management changes in its 3 1/2 years.
It’s about more than just bringing stability to KCUV, which began in October 2003 as an “Americana” station, playing a gumbo of musical styles from folk to country to blues, a format that never caught on with the public, other than a few musical misfits like myself. It’s also about breathing some air into an industry where creativity has flat-lined and local stations, most now owned by conglomerates, stick to narrower and narrower playlists.
Clifton, who made KBCO 97.3-FM a music powerhouse from 1982 to 1993, is fighting back. “It’s going to be a fallback to the old progressive- radio days,” he said. “What will set us apart is we will pay a lot of attention to music that’s been forgotten by the local radio community. Radio stations are dictated to by what record companies want them to play. We don’t care what the record companies want us to play. We want to play what we think the audience wants to hear.”
What a revolutionary concept.
Clifton, who also will take a turn on the air, is quick to point out that he isn’t reliving his glory days at KBCO. “We’re trying to distance ourselves” from other stations in the market.
Instead, KCUV will dig into its library of 8,000 titles. If it’s not a return to the “free-form” days of KFML or KTCL, it’s a step in the right direction. “We’re going to focus on rock music and rock genres that have touched people over the past 35-40 years. We’re a baby-boomer station. It’s important to bring back a lot of things that will evoke memories for people.”
KCUV also announced promotions for on-air hosts Benji McPhail, who will become music director, and G Brown, who will be special-projects director.
Around the dial
Starz InBlack celebrates its 10th anniversary with “Conversations,” interviews with Jasmine Guy, Phylicia Rashad, Juanita Moore, Harry Belafonte and Nick Cannon (5:45 tonight, Comcast Channel 537). … Where were you? When Apollo 8 zipped around the moon on Christmas Eve 1968, the telecast drew one of the biggest audiences in history. The story is retold on “Race to the Moon” (8 tonight, KRMA-Channel 6). … For those who were asking, Rick Jackson’s “Country Hall of Fame” now carried at 11 p.m. Sundays on KYGO 98.5-FM. … Call in, help ’em: KUVO 89.3-FM, the jazz station, in the midst of its first membership drive of the year, looking to raise $134,000 at 303-480-9272. … Quotable: “The old days of radio were truly a lot of fun. It’ll be fun to listen to.” Doug Clifton
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-954-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
