https://twitter.com/manofbird/status/416246244814512128
It wasn’t exactly kept super-secret, but after a “‘big tease’ social media campaign,” Ted Bird has confirmed he will be returning to the airwaves, reuniting with buddy Java Jacobs as the morning men for KIC Country 89.9 in Kahnawake, from 6am to 9am starting Jan. 6.
KIC (CKKI-FM) launched as KKIC Radio in 2011 after operating as a pirate (or perhaps just licence-challenged) station. Since then it has had a revolving door of morning personalities, including Brian Moon, Sheldon Harvey and most recently Chris Reiser, who have volunteered their time in exchange for a share of any advertising they could drum up. (Bird says he and Jacobs will be paid for their work at this station, though.)
Bird and Jacobs worked together as the morning team (with Paul Graif) at Kahnawake community station K103 from 2010 to 2012, when Bird left to join TSN Radio. He was let go from that job in September. Jacobs stayed on until last month, when he was let go and replaced by Lance Delisle.
Bird and Jacobs have been hinting about the new job for a while now, with Bird rediscovering country music to prepare for his new job. It’ll be his first stint at a commercial music station since he left CHOM.
Unlike K103, KIC Country is a private station focused on country music. It has a low-power signal and very few resources, so much of its schedule is music with no DJ. They’ll need to help turn things around dramatically for this station if they’re going to turn this into long-term or even medium-term career moves.
UPDATE (Jan. 8): Here’s 10 minutes of excerpts from their first show on Monday morning:
I for one am ecstatic that Ted and Java are back. I loved them in the morning when they were on K103.
I switched to K103 because of Ted Bird and I stayed because Java is incredibly entertaining. Once Java left the station, so did I.
I tried finding a new show to listen to but couldn’t so I went back to my iPod.
Now that they’re back I’ll be listening.
Way to Go Ted and Java.. cant wait for the laughs to start. keep up the good work and Fuck what the critics say and all the negative people.. keep the positive energy with you cause it is the morning shows that get us people going.. 89.9 just got a huge boost especially since their tower reaches further then K103..
Yup, and who knows, perhaps over time they can even apply to the CRTC to get a little better signal, and make it go big time.
I find it interesting that the biggest moves and the most activity in the Montreal radio market is in the smaller stations, and not at Bellgeco.
Not unless CKUT goes off the air. The CRTC wasn’t kidding when it said in 2007 that there aren’t any more full-power FM frequencies available covering the Montreal area. And because CKKI is licensed to cover Kahnawake, not Montreal, an application to increase power or otherwise change technical parameters to better cover Montreal would probably be denied by the CRTC anyway.
I guess it depends on what you define as “biggest moves”. Certainly firing Ted Bird is as big a move as hiring him, no?
The three music stations haven’t made many changes, probably because they think if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
“I guess it depends on what you define as “biggest moves”. Certainly firing Ted Bird is as big a move as hiring him, no?”
No, firing is an easy deal, one that can be done either through spite or mismanagement (not sure which applies in Bird’s case). Hiring not one but two experiences people for a radio station with with no real profile is a pretty big deal, their first full on air team.
I was just thinking that between all the changes at Mike, at the two Kahnawake, and the various off island AM stations, it’s been a wild year.
Hey, maybe they can buy out the other country station and take over the AM transmitter… wrong language though, right?
“The three music stations haven’t made many changes, probably because they think if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Nahh, more like “since there is so little competition, we have no real need to make a move”.
CJMS says it already has a buyer, but hasn’t said who that is. And in any case you’re right, CJMS is licensed as a French station.
Those statements are not mutually exclusive.
“The three music stations haven’t made many changes, probably because they think if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
That would all depend on who you ask. From my perspective, there is allot to be fixed at those three stations. Mind you for one of those stations I do not fall into their target market so I guess that one does not count.
There is plenty to fix, but no need to fix it. If you live where it never rains, you don’t worry too much about the holes in the roof. In what is essentially a captive marketplace, there is little motivation to make huge changes that cost money, because those changes won’t add to the global bottom line. They trade around the same listeners, and for Bell, 75% of the time they leave one Bell property to another one, so it’s not really a big deal on the bottom line.
That’s why you see things like more expensive on air talent disappearing, or for entire sports departments to disappear as a result of mergers. It’s all bottom line stuff done by companies only interested in the bottom line, not radio per se.
What CKKI is doing is stepping up their game and joining the bigger leagues. They are going out to try to snare a few listeners from Bellgeco, and to squeeze out a space on the band with their english language station. I think it’s great to see them step up.
Glad to hear Ted Bird will be back on the airwaves !
Fantastic talent on the air again. From that great publicity photo i’d say they are the Asterix and Obelix of local radio.
Steve, you say KIC 89.9 has a low-power signal. It is low in comparison to the big blowtorch signals of Montreal, but they far outreach and outperform CKRK K-103 when it comes to coverage area. Resources though, as you say, are a whole other story. Perhaps recognizable names on the air may draw in more advertising dollars. The overhead of the station is extremely low as it operates out of one of the owners’ home.
Unless something has dramatically changed though, I don’t know how much, or more likely, how little they will be able to pay in salary to Ted and Java. A lot of money has been put into the station but, as far as I know, there has not been a lot of return to this point.
I still strongly believe though that the potential audience is out there, both in the English and French market, for country music. After I departed, the station dedicated itself to predominantly new country. I personally would still like to see some of the playlist dedicated to classic country. I think they isolate a large number of potential listeners by ignoring the roots of country and only focusing on new country.
We’ll see how things go. I wish them the best.
I am so glad the 2 are back together. Now there is a really good reason to listen to the station in the morning. I am a big fan of the station but this just makes it better. Can’t wait till their first show. This should help with the advertising that seems to be very low. Don’t hear much. When Ted Bird when to K103 the advertising followed so it should also follow him one again . Keep up the good work 89.9 Kic Country!
Every building starts with a cornerstone. In a radio station, that’s the morning show. If you build it they will come. Good luck 89.9 KIC!
I have already set the radio in my car to 89.9.
They appear to be putting in a big effort to try to get listeners and I do believe that this move to bring Ted and Java back together will work for the station.
I was saddened when Ted left K103 to go to TSN and sadder still when Java left K103. I will be listening to Ted and Java on Monday even though I’m not a country fan. I didn’t listen to K103 for the music. I listened to K103 because Ted and Java made me laugh and I had fun on my way to work. Montreal radio is missing that element right now and I think this will fill that void. Good luck!
I Agree With Charlie. Every Building Needs A Cornerstone And We Have That Now With Java & Ted.
Along With Radio Veteran Johnny Jordan ( Honolulu, Seattle, San Jose), Myself (Honolulu, Montreal, Boston) . Veronique Labe, An Accomplished French Country Music Artist Who Hosts A Bilingual Show Wednesdays And Saturday Nights, Plus Long Tall SalLy With Cornbread Country On Sunday Morning, Ted Rupe’s Canadian Country Artist Spotlight And A Great New Countdown Show Saturday And Sunday At NoOn, We Have A Better ROster Than You Might Think.
89.9 KiC Country. Independent Radio For Montreal.
Hi there ,
Enjoying your programming very much. When I discussed you guys with our other friends who also love your program—I discovered that I was not the only one with the sound problem we’re receiving from your station in the morning especially . What happens is that I have to put the sound higher when you guys talk (because it’s too low) , but, the music comes in its real loud.
We’re in Lasalle. Thought you would like to know….Keep up the good work!