Kroeger Media’s Variety Hits format “Bob FM” is commemorating the 20th anniversary of its launch.
The first “Bob FM” debuted on 99.9 CFWM Winnipeg on March 4, 2002. That station would retain the brand until May 2021, when it and many other Bell Media stations rebranded as “Bounce Radio“. The format would then make its way to the United States in 2003 when it debuted in Honolulu and then Oklahoma City. The competing “Jack-FM” would launch in Vancouver in December 2002.
BOB FM®, the revolutionary 24/7 music format that hit the radio airwaves on March 4, 2002, is celebrating 20 years of playing music from the ‘80s, ‘90s, & whatever. BOB FM® was the first Adult Hits Format of its kind to launch in North America to instant success and acclaim. Currently, BOB FM® is heard on over 40 radio stations from Anchorage, Alaska to Wichita, KS, including, KYMV, Salt Lake City; KBBD, Spokane; and WRRK, Pittsburgh. BOB FM® is available to radio stations exclusively from G Networks.
“BOB FM is not as much a format as it is a Life Group,” according to Howard Kroeger, who created the format. “I attended a 40th birthday party where the music being played was songs that weren’t exactly getting radio airplay at the time — songs that were immensely popular on MTV in its early days when it was all song videos. I conducted an informal focus group right there with the party goers and immediately recognized a void in the music radio space that needed to be filled.”
Kroeger was Operations Director for CHUM Broadcasting’s Winnipeg stations at the time, which gave him access to research and radio signals.
“We did our due diligence, did our research, confirmed the format hole and compiled a library that to this day is made up of over 1000 song titles from alternative rock, album rock, and pop hits from the ‘80s and ‘90s, with a smattering from the ‘70s,” explained Kroeger, who went on to form Kroeger Media Inc. (KMI) in 2006, which produces BOB FM® , as well as HANK FM®, a 24/7 country format.
“BOB FM’s unique mix is best described as one big mix tape for adult listeners who are too young to be considered full-fledged baby-boomers and a little too old to be considered as part of generation X,” added Rich O’Brien, Chief Development Officer for G Networks. “Beyond the music, the BOB FM brand is known for its out of the box presentation where the station becomes a personality and listeners are on a first name basis with the station. Many markets saw their Adults Hits stations debut in the Top Three with Adults 25-54, when switching to BOB FM.”
For more information, radio stations may visit the BOB FM® website athttp://kroegermedia.com/bobfm/ or the G Networks website at https://gognetworks.com/24-7-programming/bob-fm/. For direct contact, stations may reach Rich O’Brien at (o) 212-380-9338, (c) 617-984-9625, or richo@gognetworks.com.
This story first appeared on radioinsight.com