KRBZ

Infobox Radio Station


name = KRBZ
airdate = August 17, 2000
frequency = 96.5 MHz
area = Kansas City, Missouri
format = Alternative rock
erp = 98,500 watts
class = C0
owner = Entercom
branding = 96-5 The Buzz
slogan = "The Alternative"
webcast = [http://webclust1.liquidcompass.cc/entercom/video_gateway.php?id=KRBZ Listen Live]
website = [http://www.965thebuzz.com www.965thebuzz.com] |

KRBZ, FM 96.5 in Kansas City, is an alternative rock radio station. The station uses the brand name 96-5 The Buzz. At night it broadcasts the syndicated program "Loveline". The station is owned by Entercom Communications, and is based in Mission, Kansas. The radio station was nearly pulled off of the air when plans for sports station KCSP forced longtime country station WDAF to look for an FM home. Fans gathered to "Save the Buzz", showing a huge turnout and solidified the station's alternative format. Instead, WDAF moved to 106.5 fm, dispacing KCIY, a smooth jazz station.

The Buzz, since displacing classical station KXTR in August 2000, has floated between degrees of alternative music. By 2002, the Buzz registered in the Arbitron ratings as a Top-40 station, with pop acts dragging the station through the ratings. Later that year, the station refocused its brand, dumping anything that made the station sound like KMXV, whom they often parody in liners. In 2005, the station reduced the length of all commercial breaks to two minutes or less. KRBZ has gone from the bottom of the ratings to one of the top stations in the 18-34 demographic. The station has been recognized by Billboard magazine for its ability to break new artists.

In April 2006, the station began broadcasting live over the internet.

On June 1, 2006, popular afternoon host/program director Lazlo announced that he was leaving the station to become program director of KNDD "The End" in Seattle, KRBZ's sister station. His wife, Afentra, host of morning show "Afentra's Big Fat Morning Buzz", worked her last day from the studios in Kansas City on August 4, 2006, but continued hosting mornings at KRBZ via satellite from her home in Seattle until November. Her co-hosts remained in Kansas City. Operations Manager Greg Bergen has taken over as program director in the wake of Lazlo's exit. On September 8, 2006, morning co-host Danny Boi announced plans to leave the show and the station. He was replaced as co-host by Slim Fast.

On November 10, 2006, it was announced that Lazlo, Afentra, and Slim Fast will reunite on air for "The Church of Lazlo," which will broadcast from Seattle on KNDD and simulcast on KRBZ. On February 12, 2007, The Dick Dale show with Jessica Chase debuted as the new morning show. Less than a month later, Chase quietly departed the station. On July 9, 2008, the morning show was disbanded with the firing of Dick Dale from the station. The station reverted to "MyList Mornings," which was used to fill the void when Afentra left mornings in 2006.

On July 17, 2008, Lazlo, Afentra, and Slim Fast announced plans to end The Church of Lazlo's run on KNDD. This came shortly after the announcement that former KRBZ Program Director Mike Kaplan would take over programming duties at KNDD. On August 25, 2008, both "Afentra's Big Fat Morning Buzz" and "The Church of Lazlo" returned live to Kansas City.

Airstaff History

Mornings: Ryno's Morning Madhouse (2000-2001), Doc Reno and the Buzz Home Team (2001-2002), The Kenny and Afentra Showgram (2002-2003), Afentra's Big Fat Morning Buzz (2003-2006), The Dick Dale Show (2007-2008), Afentra's Big Fat Morning Buzz (2008-Present)

Middays Valorie Knight (2000-2002), Misty Mundae (2002-2003), Todd Violette (2003), Jason (2003-Present)

Afternoons Todd Violette (2000-2003), The Church of Lazlo (2003-2006), Slimfast's After School Special (2006), The Church of Lazlo (2006-Present)

Nights Stash (2000-2002), Lazlo (2002-2003), Danny Boi (2003-2004), Travis (2004), Brian (2004-Present)

Late Nights Loveline (2003-Present)

Annual Festivals

* "Afentra's VD Party"
** February 14, 2005:
*** Tegan and Sara, and DJ C-Vaughn
** February 14, 2006:
*** Straylight Run, Blackpool Lights, and Vibrolux.

* "Buzz Prom"
** April 5, 2006:
*** The Dresden Dolls, The Zeros and DJ Bucho
** April 7, 2007:
*** The Zeros
** April 5, 2008:
*** The Zeros

* "Buzz Beach Ball"
** July 5, 2005:
*** Weezer, Cake, Story of the Year, Straylight Run, Embrace, and in Lazlo's VIP tent The Fray.
** July 29, 2006:
*** 311, Dashboard Confessional, Soul Asylum, Yellowcard, Hawthorne Heights, 30 Seconds to Mars, Matchbook Romance, Damone, Morningwood, People in Planes, Eagles of Death Metal, Pepper, and Rock Kills Kid. Also scheduled was Elephant who did not appear due to weather related flight delays. Special VIP Guest performance by Kill Hannah.
**August 19, 2007:
***LifeInJersey, Plain White T's(Canceled due to weather related flight delays), Shiny Toy Guns, Satellite Party, and The Used.

* "Buzz Under The Stars"
** Summer of 2007:
*** May: The Killers, Hot Hot Heat
*** July: Incubus
*** August: Modest Mouse, Band of Horses, Love as Laughter.
** Summer of 2008:
*** May: Death Cab for Cutie, The Kooks, Rogue Wave, and The Morning Benders
*** July:Gnarls Barkley, The Black Keys, The Ting Tings (canceled the week before due to "routing conflicts") [http://965thebuzz.com/pages/2635174.php]

*"Rock the Vote"
** 2008: Ludo. Carolina Liar, The Wombats, Waiting for Signal, The Belated

*"Halloweenie Roast"
** 2002: Good Charlotte and SR-71.
** 2003: Pete Yorn (acoustic), Kill Hannah, Billy Talent, and The Elevator Division.
** 2004: The Dresden Dolls and Sonic Youth. Also scheduled was PJ Harvey who canceled due to flight delays.
** 2005: Bloodhound Gang, Stellastarr*, and Morningwood.
** 2006: Social Distortion, She Wants Revenge, Placebo, Blackpool Lights, and The Architects.
** 2007: HIM, Lovers In Transit, Beautiful Bodies, Mercury Mad and the Plastic Bitches.
** 2008: TV on the Radio, Shiny Toy Guns, Beautiful Bodies.

* "The Night the Buzz Stole Christmas" (formerly known as the "Happy Birthday Jesus Christmas Party")
** 2002: Jimmy Eat World, Good Charlotte, okgo, sr71 The Distillers, and Anything But Joey.
** 2003: Jane's Addiction and Story of the Year.
** 2004: Jimmy Eat World, G Love and the Special Sauce, The Donnas, Elefant and The New Amsterdams.
** 2005: Death Cab for Cutie, Psychedelic Furs, Hot Hot Heat, Alkaline Trio, Against Me!.
** 2006: Angels & Airwaves, Pete Yorn, Sparta, Conner, Josephine Collective.
** 2007: Jimmy Eat World, Coheed and Cambria, Pinback, Life and Times.

* "The Night Afentra's Big Fat Morning Buzz Stole Christmas"
** 2005: Coheed and Cambria, Living Things, The New Amsterdams and Flee the Seen.

References

External links

* [http://www.965thebuzz.com Official Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/thechurchoflazlo The Church of Lazlo]
*FMQ|KRBZ
*FML|KRBZ
*FMARB|KRBZ