KODM

KODM ("The New 97.9 Lite FM") is a radio station that serves the Midland–Odessa metropolitan area with Soft rock music. The station is under ownership of Townsquare Media.

Personalities

Current on-air personalities include Spencer Bennett (Workday Wakeup Show, and program director 1993 to present), Rick Dees (March 2011), John Moesch (Afternoon Drive; Operations Manager; joined 2009).

Former on-air personalities include Kris Moore, Justin Tate, Dina Fuentes, Ron Jeffries, Karen Carter, Lance Braden, Jim Brewer, Mark Bairrington, Keri Teegarden, Will Wallace, Dany Mojica, Rodney Scott, Steve Dimmler, Elaine Lee, Marc Gleeson, Larry Williams KUFO (1980-1982 Highest 12 week ratings sweep), J. Michael Scott,(KUFO founding program director), and Tom Wall (who died on June 4, 2008).

History

Before it became KODM, the Odessa, Texas station was known as KOYL-FM then later, KUFO-FM at a frequency of 97.9. The FM was an offshoot of 1310 AM KOYL. It was called KOYL-FM, and first went on the air April 1, 1966. Power was 34,000 watts horizontal polarization at 100 feet above average terrain. KOYL-AM was a daytimer founded in 1957 by Edward Roskelley and his brother. This station was used to extend the day format into the night hours. In 1979 the station was sold by the Roskelleys (Mid Cities Broadcasting) to Stream Broadcasting (Harold H. "Spook" Stream III who was married at the time to country singer, Lynn Anderson.) Stream also owned an FM station in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

While KOYL AM/FM had its studios, AM & FM transmitters at one site in north west Odessa, Stream leased space in a newly constructed bank building in Odessa and built new studios and production spaces, and built a new FM transmitter site (used to this day by KODM) that boasted better coverage (100,000 watts horizontal and vertical, 360 feet above average terrain, and more centrally located between Odessa and Midland. The new KUFO-FM became a popular album-oriented rock station. The manager and chief architect was Frank Hall. The Program Director was J. Michael Scott. The relocation of equipment was handled by Paul Easter (Houston Christian Broadcasters and Fort Bend Broadcast Services).

In the fall of 1985, KUFO FM was sold by Stream to East/West Broadcasting (Partners Steve Horowitz, Bill Gruber, Dick Warren). The new team changed the call letters to KODM (for Odessa / Midland), and gave it the nickname, "FM98". The audience that KUFO had built over the years was very loyal to its format, Album Oriented Rock (AOR). When the new KODM ownership announced it was going to re-structure the music, much pressure was put on them to somehow save the format. So, to keep the peace, a deal was made with KBAT FM to donate all of the AOR albums in the KODM library to KBAT FM which was struggling with their ratings at the time.

Within a few months, KODM was moved from the bank building to new facilities in a strip mall called Market Place, located at University and Parkway in Odessa. Program consultant Lee Randall was contracted to re-format the programming and to position it for a broader audience with wider advertiser appeal. One of the more positive changes made was the teaming of Dave Perkins and Kathy Redwine as hosts of the morning show. Rodney Scott, an overnight DJ who stayed on from KUFO, made several "after work" morning show appearances. His contribution became so popular that he relinquished his overnight duties and became a permanent member of the morning team. Other staff disc jockeys included Kacey Caldemeyer, Keri Teegarden (from KUFO), Program Director, Brad Holcomb and Will Wallace. Brad's bother, Gordon, served as Sales Manager. Sadly, Brad was killed in a car accident in Odessa in 2013. His brother, Gordon, passed several years earlier.

During its four-year run as an East/West Broadcasting property, "FM98" dominated the Arbitron ratings and enjoyed massive popularity among adults, particularly women. At a Business Appreciation luncheon held in May, 1987, the Odessa Chamber of Commerce honored KODM with the Business Excellence Award for 1986 citing KODM's "...firm belief in Odessa and the area's economic future." The award was presented to station partner and manager, Bill Gruber by Bill Griffin, then President of the Odessa Chamber. KODM was again sold in May 1989, to D&F Broadcasting (KROD/Klaq El Paso) based in New York. At that time, many of its staffers moved on to other ventures. Dave Perkins was hired by WGAR FM in Cleveland, Ohio. Dave's morning show became one of the top five in the Cleveland market.

KODM(FM) is now owned by Townsquare Media who also own, KBAT(FM), KNFM(FM), KZBT(FM), KGEE(FM), KMND(AM) and KRIL(AM). The Program Director is Spencer Bennett.

External links

• KODM official website
• Query the FCC's FM station database for KODM
• Radio-Locator information on KODM
• Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for KODM

Coordinates: 31°47′38″N 102°10′44″W / 31.794°N 102.179°W / 31.794; -102.179