Valley radio station changes its tune

Nevada Appeal News Service

Gardnerville radio station KGVM changed its format and call letters to KCMY "My Country" after 20 years of playing adult contemporary music.

The change came about at 7 p.m. Monday, a little more than a year after the station was acquired by Genoa resident, Jerry Evans.

The format will be mainstream country with a three-hour Sunday show from 7-10 featuring classic country and western music from the '40s, '50s and '60s, hosted by announcer Dan Fielder.

"I think we can attract a whole lot more listeners with this format," said Evans. "I think it will be well received."

Evans said he didn't take the decision lightly. He studied what listeners wanted for about a year before making the switch. He noticed that the station KBUL has a following, but found some of the material broadcast distasteful.

"I think we can provide the same quality of on-the-air music," said Evans. "I hope to appeal to adults who are not interested in the locker-room humor."

Evans described "mainstream" as country and western, minus some recent songs that don't sound so much like country.

"You can still hear stuff from the '70s and '80s, as well as the newer stuff," said Evans. "A lot of country today sounds like rock music."

Evans had another reason for changing over to country. With the war going on in Iraq, he disliked how some rock musicians, such as Chrissy Hines of the Pretenders who made anti-American comments at her show, seemed anti-patriotic.

His son, Henry Evans, a scout in the U.S. Army, is stationed in Iraq. After serving for five years in Special Forces he is scheduled to come home in March.

"There are really good singers and songwriters in country western music," said Evans. "They're pro-America."

KGVM signed on the air in 1985 and since then has been the only radio station in the Carson Valley. It is the sister station to AM 1300 KPTL which was acquired by Evans in May 2004. KPTL changed formats almost immediately to talk with Tony Snow, Nevadans Jerry Doyle and Ernie Brown as well as Hugh Hewitt, Lars Larson and Phil Hendrie.

Both stations are Fox News affiliates. KCMY will continue to carry Fox News, as well as cover local sports and Douglas County Building Industry Association news. In addition, the County Manager's Report with Dan Holler will continue at 8 a.m. Sundays.

KCMY (KGVM Minden) is broadcast on 99.1 and KCMY (KGVM Carson City) is at 93.5.