KWOD Says Goodbye To Alternative After 18 Years

KWOD/Sacramento R.I.P. 1991-2009

ALL ACCESS has learned that ENTERCOM Alternative KWOD/SACRAMENTO will change formats TOMORROW (5/22) at 9a.

The following message from KWOD PD CURTISS JOHNSON was posted on KWOD's MYSPACE page:

Our Last Goodbye
KWOD has been playing Alternative music for SACRAMENTO since 1991. Those were the days before the term "Alternative" was actually coined by some supposed marketing genius somewhere. Then most people just called it Modern Rock and we played bands, like the PIXIES, THE CURE, DEPECHE MODE, THE SMITHS and THE CLASH.

There have been many great years, like the explosion of the Grunge era and the creativity of the late 90’s. There have also been many passionate and talented people sitting behind the microphones at KWOD, turning you on to new artists and songs, playing your favorites of the years past and letting you know about what was going on with those bands and the people like you, who loved them.

That is why it is so difficult to tell you that, after 18 years, KWOD is coming to an end. The last few years have been very challenging for KWOD; as it has been for the world of Alternative music, and the radio stations that play it, in general. The severe downturn in the economy over the last year has affected many people and companies. I’m not telling you something that you don’t already know. But, perhaps you didn’t know that, while we are a radio station, we face the same circumstances as so many other organizations today, the challenge of running a business profitably. We have taken many steps over the last few years to improve things, but in the end they have not been enough. We’re proud of what KWOD has stood for over the years. And, we’ve had fun being part of it.

Some of you may want to blame this decision on some faceless corporation. While KWOD does have a parent company, it’s not how it came down. This was a local decision that was both difficult and personal. We had to finally admit that our best efforts, over a number of years, were not going to produce the results we needed.

So, on FRIDAY, MAY 22nd at 9am, KWOD will be no more.

Your loyalty to the music, and to KWOD, is more appreciated than any of us can effectively express. So, we will leave it with a simple, genuine "Thank you!"

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