KYMS-FM Gives Christian Music Format a ‘Tuneup’

ORANGE — Christian radio station KYMS-FM (106.3) is launching a series of format revisions today designed to broaden the station’s appeal and give it a new face for the ‘90s, spokesman Warren Duffy announced Thursday.

The station is bolstering its contemporary Christian music format by layering in hourly Christian-oriented news spots, a church community bulletin board and by introducing elements of talk radio. Special promotional events, contests and giveaways also are in the works.

“It’s not so much a format change, but a tuneup for the ‘90s,” Duffy said. “Ten years ago KYMS was the first station in America to start playing contemporary Christian music 24 hours a day. Now you can hear Christian music all over. Essentially, what we’re trying to do is set ourselves apart by offering more services and news to the Christian community.”

Anchoring the new format are hourly spots featuring local, national and world news of interest specifically to Christians.

“There’s a lot of positive stuff happening out there right now. The church is growing, and we want to report it to our listeners,” explained Duffy. “You can hear generic news everywhere you turn, but it’s hard to find news specifically about Christians.”

In addition, the station is introducing an hourly community bulletin board with information about Christian-oriented concerts, lectures, special screenings and other events.

Hoping to cash in on the current popularity of talk radio, the station also is hoping to initiate dialogue between its deejays and listeners.

“We’re hoping to get our announcers more involved on the air,” Duffy explained. “With a lot of stations you’re never really sure if the person you’re listening to is live. At KYMS there will be no doubt that there is a live person on the air, talking about what’s going on right now in the Christian community and chatting with listeners about what’s going on in their lives.”