David's Blog

Ha - that brings back memories! Some of us never won because unlike you we didn't have that fancy new speed redial button. We had to use manual push button, or worse old rotary, phones to keep dialing back after the inevitable busy signal.

Found your blog after Googling K98 Austin. I used to work there from the late 70s-early 80s. You probably won some stuff from me. I enjoyed reading about your radio exploits!

Did you ever get an Arbitron diary? (Ratings). We did all those contests in hopes that people holding those ratings books would stay glued to their radios and increase our numbers.

Back then, K98 had an incredible 15-19% share. By comparison, number one stations now have 7-8 shares. Our morning show had a ridiculous 54 share! We were # in Austin and #6 nationwide for audience share at one point.

Thanks for your entry!
Keith Jacobs
K98

Hi Keith...thanks for posting.

Nope, I never had a Arbitron diary...although I was a Nielsen family for TV ratings during the mid-80's. Sounds like the right people already had the diaries based on the ratings!

I looked at your scrapbook...you were definitely on air when I was in Austin. It's a nice read of radio stations I grew up with.

David

Dave,

Remember when you and I went trick-or-treating in my neighborhood (as semi-adults) and then went down the 6th street?

You harassed the on-site radio station guys until they gave you free passes to U2's "Rattle and Hum" movie. Remember that?

I miss K98 sometimes. I miss the RAFT RACE!
Remember after Return of the Jedi came out they had a Raft Race ad on K98 that sounded like Ewoks singing the song from Jedi but with raft race lyrics? Ahh those were the days with K98 and the raft race. Thanks for the memories!

I won a second phone line in high school from K98 by the way. Thanks K98!

I remember how often Dave would win. I remember going with him to pick something up, late in his career as a prize-winning prize winner. The secretary was very blasé when presenting him with his prize.

I also remember that ROTJ parody song too. Thanks for BRINGING that back.

I can't believe you never won one of our K98 Homegrown Albums! Better check in all your collection and see...Some of us K98 jocks still have copies that we are trying to get rid of!

I miss K98 too. Those WERE the days. Radio was fun and DJs could actually make a decent living at it. Everything has changed now and the same crap is on the air in every city in the U.S. In fact, most stations play one or more "tracked" shows that are pre-recorded and computer-inserted. I know of many that are completely tracked.

It is hard to believe how hard people tried to win swag from us. One time, I nearly started a riot at Zilker Park by giving away t-shirts. Then, we gave away a house one time at another station and the winner seemed bored. It was much better to give away 100,000 t-shirts or pizzas than a 100,000 house.

@ Keith

You mean stations like "Jack" and "Bob"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_FM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_FM

man...i got to your blog b/c of the mention of the raft race ewoks song from 83. EVERY time a song gets stuck in my head or someone mentions that a song is stuck in their head...here comes those GD ewoks. Raft race down on town lake from austin's K98...Raft race August SIIIIxthh.

arrggghhh!