2005 a busy year for Utah radio

The year has come and almost gone; here are month-by-month highlights of radio happenings in the Salt Lake area:

January: Price's KOAL radio is first in the state to begin broadcasting with a new digital, high-definition radio signal. . . . "Johnson and Johnson" on KUBL support efforts to raise funds for flood victims in southern Utah. . . . KFNZ co-sponsors a local Xbox tournament. . . . Keith Stubbs is added to the existing morning show of Paul Koffy and Peggy Ijams on KEGA. . . . All seven Clear Channel radio stations in Salt Lake combine to raise funds for southern Utah flood victims. . . . "Jack FM" premieres on KJQN, replacing its former alternative-music format. . . . KUUU alters its broadcast frequency. . . . Marie Osmond's radio show is canceled.

February: Jonathan Brown is hired to be an anchor/reporter for KCPW. He will also produce KCPW's "Midday Edition." . . . "Johnson and Johnson" of KUBL stage a "marry-go-round" event on Valentine's Day to marry 20 couples.

March: KSL and KSFI lead the Arbitron ratings. . . . Tom Barberi, formerly of KALL, is honored by the JCI Senate as the "Voice of Reason." . . . "Mick and Allen," a legendary Utah morning team, return to KBER, this time in afternoon drive. . . . "Chunga and Mister" on KENZ stage a contest for U2 tickets. Participants had to physically keep a hand on morning-show sidekick Cort Johnson. . . . KUBL's "Johnson and Johnson" sponsor an Easter Egg Drop and later sponsor a "Speed Dating" contest to help singles meet and mingle. . . . NPR stations have a large increase in their listening audience. . . . Dave Blackwell, pioneer of Utah Jazz talk radio, dies at age 66.

April: April Fools' pranks include the bogus announcement of DJs Pat Clark and Rexxx Loper leaving the air. Clark himself had a four-hour April 1 joke on the air with his "Hurban" format. . . . KALL hosts a junior sportscaster competition and adds Fox Sports to its lineup.

May: KUTR, AM-820, a new station for women, goes on the air, with Kurt Bestor and Rebecca Cressman as its morning team. . . . KZHT "Z-Morning Zoo" has an "Ugly Kids" promotion, with the DJs using their own childhood photos on billboards. . . . KSL celebrates its 83rd birthday. . . "Johnson and Johnson" on KUBL stage a salsa-drinking contest. . . . Jim Sumpter is named the general manager of KTKK. . . . KSRR celebrates its 20th anniversary doing LDS music on Sundays. . . . Jon Carter on KRSP celebrates 25 years on Utah's radio waves. . . . Doug Wright, Gene Pack and Tom Barberi are inducted into the Utah Broadcasters Hall of Fame.