18 Jan 26th–Feb 1st, 2023 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times | music | cafe | film | culTuRe | NighT+Day | feaTuRe | NeWs | OPiNiON | feeDBacK | cONTeNTs | had an opening on air and I went for it. Robin Nash, KEDJ DJ, 1994-2012: I was going to ASU and John Clay called [campus station KASR] and said, “I’m looking for one female.” It was between me and another girl, but John liked me better. My shifts were crazy: Sundays from 2 to 6 a.m. Jayn Sayd, morning show co-host, 1994- 1995: Willobee was a character. Rough around the edges, but a really funny guy. He left, and Dead Air Dave and I hosted Coffee Ground Zero. We’d play dumbass games with listeners and had an absolute blast. In July 1995, KEDJ began broadcasting top shock-jock Howard Stern’s nationally syndi- cated morning show and simulcasting on 100.3 [KZRX’s former frequency] in the east Valley. Ratings spiked. Clay: It was a major deal. I was hesitant at first, based on his reputation. Then I called program directors who had him on. Every single one said, “It’s the best thing you can do. You won’t believe the ratings boost.” That Damn Boom Period The Edge’s parent company, Resource Media, made other big moves. The studio relocated to a high-rise at Seventh Street and Highland Avenue. In December 1995, it partnered with Seattle-based Century Management to form New Century Management. As is typical with ownership changes in radio, turnover in management followed. Clay: When a new company comes in, they bring their own people. And their VP of programming wanted to promote the program director of their Seattle hip-hop station, which was Shellie Hart. [It] meant my departure. Nash: Shellie came in, looked at me, and went, “What are you doing on nights? You need to be midday.” She gave me my big break and everything took off after that. It wasn’t the only thing taking off. The Edge began its boom period. Its yearly festival, now rebranded as That Damn Show, had an ever-growing attendance, including 20,000- plus people in 1996. Gregg Paul, KEDJ promotions, 1993-1999: We had That Damn Show, listeners had That Damn Card and put out That Damn Magazine. I remember Smilin’ Marty on the cover of one. Simone Yavar, Phoenix resident: That Damn Show was one of the first big music events I [attended]. Beef Vegan, KWSS DJ, 2008-2016: The Edge was my station in high school. It was everywhere, and you wanted to be a part of it. Skanks for the Memories In 1997, Hart brainstormed with Larry Mac to create Ska-Punk for Sundays, which became the station’s longest-running program. Mac: I was doing promotions at Edge’s sister station KBUQ, and Shellie goes, “You want to do a specialty show over here?” We shot around ideas and the name Ska-Punk came up. The ska-punk genre had become a bigger thing around then. Diana Welsch, former Valley resi- dent: I used to tape songs off Ska-Punk. [It] gave me a big shove down the weird music rabbit hole. Craven Moorehead, KEDJ DJ, 1998-2012: I started in promotions and went with Larry when he DJ’d around town. And we’d talk about our love for punk. When he left for KUPD, he told Shellie, “Give this kid a shot.” Nu-Metal Madness In September 1999, New Century Media sold to NYC-based Big City Radio for $22 million, and Hart departed KEDJ. Meanwhile, alternative radio had shifted toward rap-rock and nu-metal. Paul Kriegler, program director, 1999 to 2001: About [three] months after starting with Big City Radio, the guy that hired me got fired. We ended up with another CEO who took over the radio group in December. They switched our L.A. sister stations to Spanish formats. It didn’t seem like things were going in the right direction. Dave: Those days, you could hardly tell the difference between Edge and KUPD. We were playing those same artists, like Static X and Incubus. Kriegler: It was an odd time for alterna- tive. For the format to go off in a different direction and take on all this rock stuff, to me, was just gross. I held my nose and played it. Moorehead: I never really got deep into nu-metal. Kriegler: Howard Stern was good for a 20 share. The rest of the station? Not so much. The problem was getting that huge audience to listen at other times of the day. Edge of Extinction In September 2001, Big City Radio sold to Hispanic Broadcasting Corp. who planned to flip 106.3/100.3 to Latin music that Nov– ember. New program director Nancy Stevens reached out to Scott Fey, owner of Scottsdale- based New Planet Radio and Party 103.9. As negotiations stretched on, KEDJ inched towards extinction before an 11th-hour deal was struck on Halloween night. Nash: Nancy somehow convinced him to switch formats and take the entire Edge staff. She saved us. Dave: I grabbed a stack of CDs and my headphones. Robin was on the air, and I said, “Keep playing music. I’ll call guy. He left, and Dead Air Dave dent: Ska-Punk left for KUPD, he told Shellie, “Give this kid a shot.” Edge from p 17 >> p 20 C ou rt es y o f J o h n C l a y
