Rock radio in Rapid City
- Details
- Published on Thursday, May 12, 2016
By Sheila Runions
Banner Staff
Darrell Jones moved to Rapid City because he was tired of living in a hotel in Souris and he heard about a 鈥渃heap apartment鈥� in that town.
鈥淚 came here knowing no one.鈥�
Is boredom the mother of invention? Perhaps, but in this case boredom led to an Internet project. The former radio announcer had the idea for online radio brewing in his brain for years. After months of planning, creation and testing, he launched the station on Monday, May 9.
鈥淢y broadcasting training goes back to university, National Institute of Broadcasting out of Winnipeg, and later graduation from Ryerson University in 1991. I was hired at a Winnipeg radio station from 1988-94. Eleven years ago Ray Walker, a friend of mine who used to be the program director at KX 96 in Brandon, needed some help to put an Internet radio station together himself; I worked with him for five years. About six years ago after leaving him, I had the idea in the back of my mind and I slowly put things together. A year ago April I became more serious about it and thought, 鈥榃hy not see what happens?鈥� I started it because I was bored. I wanted to see if I could do it.鈥�
Strictly Internet tunes from the 1960s-90s, you can log in at kickfm.ca to listen live, view a calendar of community events and request a song. The website tells people to, 鈥淪it back and relax to the sounds of classic rock that will take you to the innocence of youth and a carefree time. Kick FM classic rock is new to Rapid City, Rivers, Minnedosa, Newdale, Oak River and surrounding areas; we will keep the listener informed with news tips, sports updates and weather.鈥�
His site has only been advertised by word of mouth, Facebook, an email to three friends and a story in Minnedosa Tribune. Thus, Darrell was very impressed with his morning statistics on opening day.
鈥淲e had over 500 logged in during the morning show. To be brand new and have that many listeners鈥� We鈥檝e been on the air since 5 a.m. Friday, May 6; this was my first morning show. I only had 100 listeners on Friday morning at 5 a.m. and it didn鈥檛 climb all weekend; I didn鈥檛 hit over 150 but this morning [May 9], to get over 500 and keeping nearly 400 listeners, it鈥檚 dropped to 390 now, I think it鈥檚 very good for the first full day of broadcasting. The weekend was basically working out the kinks.鈥�
He鈥檚 also been encouraged by comments received from, literally, around the globe.
鈥淚 have listeners in Canada, United States, Phillipines, Hong Kong, Australia, Azerbaijan. I was just contacted by Hershey Chocolates North America; they logged on and listened in New York City! They wanted to know my listener numbers and to talk about advertising slots. Right now I鈥檓 commercial-free and praying for advertising to make some money at this. The web page template I found was free but to get everything technical鈥� A company in Los Angles streams my music over the net, which costs $50 American a month, and there鈥檚 an annual fee for the company in Winnipeg that looks after my web page to make sure it鈥檚 up and running and I know what I鈥檓 doing.鈥�
During his first four-hour morning show which runs weekdays 6-10 a.m., he and 鈥淛unior鈥� (another DJ) chat about news, weather, sports and events in the 鈥減rimary listenership which is Rapid City, Rivers, Newdale, Oak River and Minnedosa. Even though right now I have over 100 listeners out of Brandon, 10 in Miniota, close to 100 in Winnipeg, Virden has five, Neepawa, four鈥�.鈥� According to the website, the morning show also plays the 鈥済reatest classic rock of the 60鈥檚, 70鈥檚, 80鈥檚 and 90鈥檚.鈥� Darrel said, 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of things happening during the morning show that aren鈥檛 always going to be promoted. I plugged Rockin鈥� the Fields and mentioned some confirmed acts and ones I鈥檇 like to see there. I got an email from one of the acts and the tour manager of Cheap Trick.鈥� Despite this immediate success, he is 鈥渟till looking for other members on the morning show. If you want to come down between 6 and 10 a.m. to do news, I鈥檓 open for it. I was talking to several people in town and they said, 鈥楥an we come in and promote whatever is going on?鈥� My door is always open at 6 a.m. and here鈥檚 an open invitation for businesses or media people to climb the stairs of the old bank building in Rapid City to the second floor and come say hello, on air. If anyone has anything to promote, even weddings, I鈥檒l do it and it鈥檒l appear on my web page 鈥� I have a free calendar there.鈥�
Besides the morning show, there is 鈥�90s at 9鈥� during weekday evenings, 鈥淪aturday Night Lost Classics鈥� which feature rare dance hits, deep album cuts and B-side takes, 鈥淪unday Morning Blues鈥� 6-8 a.m. and 鈥淛unior at Night.鈥� According to the website, this program starts at 7 p.m. and concludes at midnight; Junior will 鈥減ut his special touch on your evening, which includes the 90s at 9. You鈥檒l be intrigued by his wit and sarcasm with updates in the sports world and weather.鈥�
If you would like to talk to Darrell about advertising opportunities, chat during the morning show, promote your event on his website or request a song, you can call 204-826-5425 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . You can also visit kickfm.ca and leave a message there. In the meantime, he says, 鈥淟og on and crank the tunes!
