Z106.7 is now 106.7 The River ***UPDATED***

Z106.7 is now 106.7 The River UPDATED

Posted on 01. Oct, 2009 by Scott P. in 106.7's Rock Talk, News

As of noon today (Thusday, October 1), Journal Broadcast Group changed the format of 106.7 FM. Z106.7, the main competition in the modern-rock segment with Q102.1 FM, has now been replaced with 106.7 The River. The River will be a jockless, music-intensive station that will play the largest variety of any station in Springfield, with songs spanning 5 decades from the 60’s to now. We have more details about the switch after the break.

***UPDATE: We’ve included the official press release from the station after the break, as well.***

Journal Broadcast Group had been conducting a number of listener surveys recently. In these listeners asked for more variety and more music with fewer ads. That’s exactly the goal of The River. The station will play songs from the ’60s until now, will be jockless all the time and will have commercial-free weekends. The station will also feature online streaming, perfect for the workplace (see their website: http://www.1067theriver.com/). It will have five direct competitors in 104.7 The Cave, Star 105.1, Alice 95.5, 105.9 KGBX and US 97.3.

In other news, Z106.7 program director Simon Nytes will now be the new program director of Power 96.5. The station is keeping all Z106.7 staff at this time to work other positions within the company. Former 96.5 program director Valerie Knight will be the new program director for 106.7 The River. And–get this–they will even have the area’s first “now playing” billboard that will display the song currently playing on the station on Southbound Highway 65 near Chestnut Expressway. (It’ll make like a cool game to see how accurate it will always be, haha.)

The very sad news is that our two-hour local show, Rock Talk, that would air every Sunday night, is currently cancelled due to the format switch. We are grateful for the two years Journal Broadcast Group has allowed the local show to run. They even allowed us to extend it to two hours last year. We are very proud of the show and all the music we were able to promote. That’s all we know for now, but if and when we find out more we’ll keep you posted.

Here’s the official press release, courtesy of Journal Broadcast Group:

Journal Broadcast Group – Springfield Operations
Launches The New 106.7 The River

Springfield, Mo. - The Springfield Operations of the Journal Broadcast Group announced today that The New 106.7 The River began operations at 12 p.m. on October 1, 2009. In making the change, 106.7 moves from a “Hard Rock” station to a “Variety” format. The format change is designed to appeal to listeners who want a wide range of music genres and artists without annoying DJ chatter and many interruptions. The best hits from the past 5 decades will be featured. Artists ranging from John Mayer to Madonna to Styx. Springsteen to Cher to 3-Doors Down. Abba to Bob Seger to Kellie Clarkson. Chicago to Nickleback to The Beatles. A question many listeners will have is, “What Will They Play Next?”

Valorie Knight, Operations Manager for the Springfield Operations five-station-cluster is the new Program Director for The New 106.7 The River. Simon Nytes, previously Program Director for KZRQ-FM 106.7, assumed Knight’s former duties as Program Director of sister station KSPW Power 96.5.

In making the announcement, Springfield Operations Vice President and General Manager Rex Hansen said,

“With a library of more over 2,000 songs, The New 106.7 The River now provides REAL music variety unlike any other station in the market. We’re confident listeners and advertisers will appreciate and enjoy the variety offered on the station.”

Valorie Knight added, “We’re really excited about the new format. It’s new to our area, and we’re thrilled that we’re able to bring it to our community. We know it’s going to be a big ‘hit’ with listeners and advertisers.”

The New 106.7 The River is one of five radio stations in Springfield owned by Journal Broadcast Group.

About Journal Broadcast Group

Journal Broadcast Group owns and operates 35 radio stations and 13 television stations in 12 states and operates an additional television station under a local marketing agreement. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, it is the broadcast business of Journal Communications Inc., a diversified media company with operations in publishing, radio and television broadcasting, interactive media and printing services.

Tags: 106.7, 106.7 the river, alice, journal broadcast group, kgbx, missouri, mo, radio, simon nytes, springfield, star, the cave, US97, Valerie Knight, Z106.7

36 Responses to “Z106.7 is now 106.7 The River UPDATED”

thederosh

01. Oct, 2009

I wanna take a second and clarify something: Rock Talk is gone because it doesn’t fit with the new jockless format. Local music, it isn’t a reflection on you. You had A LOT of love in that building, from the Z crew and the rest of the staff. Please know that.

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Katie

01. Oct, 2009

So… they seriously had to get rid of a perfectly fine station for “decades” music? I’m outraged.

Rock Talk needs to live on!!!

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Trent Wilson

01. Oct, 2009

I don’t think people realize how unfriendly radio is to the local guys and gals. It is so frustrating. In a perfect world my suggestion would be for us to start a pirate station, but I know how difficult and time consuming that can be. Oh wait a second……. MAYBE WE COULD HAVE AN FM COLLEGE RADIO STATION LIKE EVERY OTHER UNIVERSITY IN THE WORLD???????????????? This pisses me off every time I think about it. ARRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Matt Rogers

01. Oct, 2009

This sucks. I wonder how long the format change will last. I know they did something similar for a radio station here in Dallas and I don’t think the format change lasted more than a year. They should have just created a new radio station.

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Katie

01. Oct, 2009

Listing Abba and Nickelback as some of the main artists examples in the press release doesn’t seem promising to me…

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Erik McGreevy

01. Oct, 2009

This reminds me of Airheads.

Please some band hijack the station with waterguns.

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Matt Rogers

01. Oct, 2009

and they couldn’t even spell Kelly Clarkson right in their press release. fail!

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Pissed at Journal

01. Oct, 2009

This is the worst.

I’d rather have someone punch my erect penis in the middle of a Walmart than have this be my reality.

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reverend jeff

01. Oct, 2009

WHORES! THEY’RE ALL WHORES!
Who fills out listener surveys? DOUCHEBAGS, that’s who. 5 COMPETITORS, REALLY? When there used to be 2? You know the DOUCHEBAGS that filled out the surveys aren’t going to listen. They’re already listening to one of the 5 COMPETITORS… What fucking genius made this decision? I’m sorry- I meant STUPID WHORE. What STUPID WHORE made this decision?

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Krissy

01. Oct, 2009

This really sucks…had to go and ruin a perfectly good station….and it isn’t like there aren’t hundreds of stations that play decade musics…who exactly did they survey? I mean seriously, I am so not listening to that crap.

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What the FUCK.

01. Oct, 2009

How the hell could a station or company or what ever think this is a good idea? Going from splitting a target audience of lets say 13-40y/o in half with 102.1 to dividing listeners 35-55 five plus ways. I really want someone to explain to me how this was a smart business decision, maybe I am just to bias to understand.

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Kane

02. Oct, 2009

The decision made to change the station like that is utterly retarded. if people want variety that much, then they can stop being lazy and change the station to one of the many different stations that exist in springfield. As a frequent listener of radio I am very upset that they have cut my ability to listen to new rock on the radio by 50%! and also without warning! I am very displeased with the change, and feel completely betrayed. But who really cares, right? they’ll do whatever it takes to make their pockets deeper and their bank accounts larger.

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mike

02. Oct, 2009

this is so sad. it was the only cool station there was around here that didnt play sucky music. now its even worse than the stations that sucked in the first place that brought me to this station. theres too many oldies and pop stations already. i`m very unhappy and wont listen to this radio station any more. what a sad day for rock. your ” what will we play next?” who cares, what your playing blows. i dont care for 5 hour talk shows, but compared to your new format i`d rather have a talk show

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alf

02. Oct, 2009

Yeah, this sucks. Between losing Todd & Tyler in the mornings and Rock Talk, it really sucks. If I want to hear “five decades of music” I’ll just listen to my IPod and not risk hearing Madonna or Cher. 106.7 was the ONLY station remotely cool to local music, and now that’s gone.

And I’m with Erik M. Airheads was the first thing I thought of.

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mike

02. Oct, 2009

check out Q102.2, they are rockin!!!

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C.H.

02. Oct, 2009

Dear 106.7 The River,

I want you to know: you are a traitor, ya hear?

You timidly ventured out to try a mere fraction of the artists & albums that have been created since 1999; and now you’re turning tail, running for the safety of the Variety backyard?!

How can I convince you that there is music RIGHT NOW that needs to be played? People need to stop focusing on the fucking past. People DO NOT need to hear “Dream Weaver” again. Where is the gusto, the persistence to succeed without settling for mediocrity?

Reconsider. Today. Last night you played Boston and I forgive you.
Please….

WAKE THE FUCK UP‼

~Caleb Haas

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Kalt

02. Oct, 2009

This sucks majorly. I’ve left my feedback on their comment form, everyone else here needs to WRITE THEM AND TELL THEM WHAT A F#UP THIS IS!

As far as pirate radio goes…that would be cool but not possible in today’s age. There’s a cool movie based on pirate radio from the 60s/70s called “The Boat That Rocked” I suggest you all check it out.

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Devlin Pierce

03. Oct, 2009

um…anyone have a few hundred thousand buckaroos so we can just start our own station. an actually good station with DJs who have the freedom to choose the music and play what they know is good and what the listeners really want to hear. a station where local rock is part of the rotation just like everything else, instead of being relegated to the hall closet of radio late on sunday night. a station where there is no “playlist”, just a shit-ton of great music that can be played at any time. is anybody in? chris, scott- you guys in?

come on, someone must have a jar of quarters lying aroung or something! maybe a few hundred stacks?

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Discouraged

07. Oct, 2009

I hate, hate, HATE this change. I’ve been listening to this station since it started.. no more. I switched to Q102.1 They aren’t as good as what 106.7 used to be, but they are a FAR sight better than what it has become… which is pathetic.

BOOOOO Journal Broadcast Group.. you took a great station and made it suck.

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YOUR GAY NOW

07. Oct, 2009

What a load of shit i live to far from springfield to get 102.1 and 106.7 was the only THE ONLY new rock station i got for years loved it and now i gotta spend my days at work listening to 93.3 listening to the same 5 songs everyday and not having a clue as to when new rock music is out some hard working people cant afford DTV or Dish. your station is a joke now ___FROM me and the 13 or so guy i work with and use to rock out with everyday at work …. GAYNESS I TELL U !!!!

<>

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Discouraged

08. Oct, 2009

@YourGayNow.. I don’t know where you live, but you might try 107.1. If it will tune in for you, it’s a decent station

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DJ

11. Oct, 2009

Great cool format!!!! Kudos to 106.7 The River!!! Been listening since that other crappy airhead teen-agers only format went off!!! If you don’t like it quit complaining and go somewhere else and get over it. Try that crappy Q102.1 or better yet just give it all up and tune in 94.7 KTTS.

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Gwen

11. Oct, 2009

WOW!! I love this new station!! Its about time Springfield got something worth listening to! No more flipping through the dial trying to find great tunes! That Z106.7 was just awful.

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Spike

11. Oct, 2009

This is truly a great station Springfield has now. I read some of the negative feedback. Most of which is poorly written with cussing and just plain stupidity. If that was Z106.7’s audience I can see why a format change was needed!!!

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Marissa

12. Oct, 2009

I just moved to Springfield a month ago and was happy to finally find 106.7 The River which is just like a station in Dallas I used to listen to. I was switching back between Alice 95.5 and Star 105.1, not anymore.

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Chris

12. Oct, 2009

Good job Journal Broadcast Group!!! You finally got rid of a crappy fomat that played sucky music. Long live 106.7 The River!!! Now that you play something worth listening to, I noticed that the station only puts out 19,000 watts, will there be any plans to increase the power possibly to 50,000 watts for a better coverage area? I can’t think of any other station near by that also broadcast at 106.7 that would be interfered with.

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Will Trenton

14. Oct, 2009

Alright!! Finally got a great new format!! That Z106.7 just plain sucked and that crappy Q102.1 is just as bad. Great move Journal Broadcast Group!! Now to just increase the stations power a little bit would be even better!!

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Truck

14. Oct, 2009

I heard that Tank over at Q102.1 loves this new format and is sick of playing crappy sucky music on his graveyard shift at the station. His dream job is to be a DJ at KTXR!!!!!

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Charlie Rosenbury

19. Oct, 2009

Apparently a lot of people are passionate about The River.

Reply to this comment
- WTF!!
  
  02. Dec, 2009
  
  UM no sorry Charlie if u happen to read ALL the comments, ppl are royally pissed it has been changed. Apparently you like the sound of wisteling with your head up your ass.
  
  Reply to this comment
Devlin Pierce

21. Oct, 2009

So either there are a lot of sarcastic people out there, or The River is working overtime to spam the message boards they think they might be able to affect. I suppose there could be that many people who really like The River….but…..I highly doubt more than two or three people who like the river actually even know what this website is….think about it…

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C.H.

21. Oct, 2009

Shite! The change was not about music, it was about the station’s image, & as per usual, the subsequent $£¥¢’s that came in tandem. But eh, they aren’t going back.

And all of you freedom-hating muppets; if you like the new format so much, then why not can grab your battery radio, pitch a tent next to the broadcast tower & freeze!

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Kalt

21. Oct, 2009

I definitely see some questionable comments about how lovely the new format is…ZROCK was more than just a station that spun tunes…they supported the local music scene hardcore.

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Sten

28. Oct, 2009

Looks like the format change was the best thing that ever happened to 106.7 judging by all of the dumb juvenile comments about how great Z106.7 was. No wonder the station was losing revenue because of the uneducated audience that listened to it. Its best to go for an audience that helps support the community rather than try and entertain a bunch of losers!!! Good job to Journal broadcast group!!
By that one dumb comment of that one poor guy, he must have froze his ass off a lot in his tent when listening to that other format?! And I highly doubt if this other mooron knows anything about anything either, go have a SPAM sandwich and get over it!! And who needs hardcore covered music? Grow up!!

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Zephyr

28. Oct, 2009

I like some of the new music I’ve heard around Springfield, but Z106.7 was crap. It was great for listening to when doped up or drunk, who cared how bad the station sucked. Now that I’m out of high school its time to get serious about life. This new River 106.7 is alright I guess. I listen now more to Q102.1 and Alice 95.5.

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godMoney

17. Dec, 2009

I suppose it’s okay to vent on a message board, but know that your comments will have no effect on what is. What’s done is done. There are way too many stations that play popular music, and the reason is… Money. The demographic is larger. Invest in an iPod or smartphone that will stream pandora or jango. Those on the “pro” side of this change, should watch who they are referring to as uneducated and juvenile; especially when you are following trends just the same as anyone else. Everyone is entitled to their opinions. Only an educated, juvenile would find the need to lash out at someone expressing their own voice.

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TheFourFour