127 Inc. buys KLFJ while Alice goes over The Edge at 95.5 FM

by Melissa Wilson

SBJ Staff

Two Springfield radio stations have recently undergone changes in ownership and format, respectively.

KLFJ Talk 1550 AM was sold Dec. 11 to Branson-based 127 Inc., and Sunburst Media LP-owned KTOZ-FM, Z 95.5 The Edge, became Alice@95.5 Dec. 14 and has changed formats from modern rock to adult contemporary.

Former KLFJ owner Mark Holmes had owned the station since October 1997, when he bought it from the Burrell family, who had owned it since 1977.

General Manager Phil Gibson said KLFJ was not on the market at the time of the sale, but 127 Inc. owner CJ Perme made Holmes an offer he couldn't refuse.

"The radio station was doing very well, programming was doing very well ... (Holmes) didn't necessarily want to sell the business, but under the circumstances, he couldn't refuse," Gibson said.

Originally a southern gospel format radio station, the 5,000-watt KLFJ became Talk 1550 under Holmes' ownership and began news, sports and talk programming, but retained some of its faith-based programming with a gospel music show on Sunday mornings.

Gibson said the Sunday morning gospel show will stay on, and sports will continue to be part of the station's overnight lineup, but the afternoon open-line sports show will not be continued.

KLFJ will continue to broadcast out of its original location, 811 N. Boonville, which Holmes returned the station to after a short tenancy in the Woodruff Building under the Burrells' ownership.

KLFJ has five employees and plans to add a sixth, Gibson said.

KTOZ General Manager Donna Baker said research conducted by Sunburst Media LP revealed there was opportunity for a radio station such as Alice@95.5 in the Springfield-area market.

The new format will feature sounds from this decade and last, Baker said.

"Music that used to be considered alternative, such as REM, Jewell, Sarah McLachlan and Alanis Morrissette are now considered more mainstream and are listened to by an adult audience. That audience, those 18 to 34, also like a little '80s flavoring mixed in, as well," Baker said.

Alice will target the same age group as The Edge; however, it will aim for more of a female audience.

"While Marilyn Manson and Tool were played on The Edge, those bands will not be part of Alice@95.5's programming," Baker said.

"Prince is an example of some of the sounds that will be part of Alice's format that wouldn't have been on The Edge's regular programming," she added.

Alice@95.5 will continue to broadcast out of Sunburst Media LP's location in the old Tower Theater. There are no staff changes planned with the format change, Baker said.

Sunburst Media LP also owns KGBX-FM and AM, KGMY-FM, KXUS-FM and another FM station in Dallas.

The 50,000-watt KTOZ station was bought from Radio 2000 in December 1997 for $3.3 million when it was called Channel Z 95.

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