Let the Revolution Begin!
Soon after the Visions of Sound series ended, the only alternative rock station in the market, KJJO-FM 104.1, changed ownership and music format. The majority of staff was laid off, including Brian Turner.
During a chance meeting and discussion between Brian and James Cargill II, board member of and an heir to the Cargill fortune, an innovative plan was introduced. Backed by the personal finances of James and Susan Cargill, recruiting another KJJO-FM alum and iconic First Avenue nightclub DJ, Kevin Cole, the team set out to purchase radio properties in the Twin Cities.
When Cargill Communications Inc. was established, Brian invited me to join the team as Technical Operations Managers, to help design and install the technical infrastructure while helping to produce and engineer content for the station.
After months of planning and prep, including construction of state-of-the-art recording and broadcast studios in Downtown Minneapolis, REV105 went on the air April 29, 1994.
Critically acclaimed by artists, music fans, and industry experts world-wide… the intrinsic passion and expertise of the entire REV105 staff helped establish the purist representation of what a true music lover’s radio station should be.
Once the station was on-the-air, my role shifted. I started developing a new television show to promote and support alternative music and REV105. Before finishing a deal with the Twin Cities PBS station, management was streamlined, and my position eliminated. The Cargill’s provided a very generous severance package, including amazing letters of recommendation and personal references for a photojournalist position with WCCO Television News. After one interview, I landed the new position.
After three-years of fierce completion in the Twin Cities radio market, on March 11, 1997 at 12pm the alternative music revolution was over. James and Susan Cargill sold REV105 to Disney/ABC/Capitol Cities radio group.
The following clips from REV105 offer an idea of how amazing the concept and music programming was. I'm honored to have been part of the greatest music lovers radio station of all time.
