In February 2010, veteran Los Angeles programmer Jhani Kaye, who also programs Classic Hits-formatted sister station KRTH, took over programming of KTWV from the departed Paul Goldstein. Kaye, who previously programmed crosstown mainstream AC competitor KOST, made immediate changes to KTWV's format, increasing the amount of R&B and soft-pop vocals in the station's playlist and reducing the number of smooth jazz instrumentals played (with most of the remaining instrumentals being cover versions of pop hits), transitioning into a smooth adult contemporary direction. In addition, all references to the term "smooth jazz" were eliminated from the station's web site and on-air positioning, as the station reformatted to become more of a competitor to Kaye's former station, KOST.
As of May 28, 2010, longtime on-air personality Don Burns was no longer heard on weekday afternoons. His show had been voice-tracked from his home in the Palm Springs area. The station replaced Burns with Deborah Howell, doing the show live from the KTWV studios.[4][5] Longtime Wave air personality Keri Tombazian was also released as the station made further air staff changes.
KTWV's morning program is hosted by Pat Prescott. Between May 2010 and June 2012, Prescott co-hosted the show with Kim Amidon. Amidon, a former morning DJ at adult contemporary station KOST, replaced departing host and musician Brian McKnight in the summer of 2010. (In turn, McKnight's predecessor on The Wave's morning show was saxophonist Dave Koz, who has a successful syndicated radio show of his own.) Prescott has hosted or co-hosted the morning program since 2001.
In November 2013, the station introduced a revamped logo still utilizing the same font and branding, as well as a format tweak and a slogan change from "Southern California's Place to Unwind and Relax" to "Smooth R&B." As of June 2014, KTWV reintroduced some mainstream AC pop crossovers into the playlist and updated its website, which dropped the "Smooth R&B" tag from its logo. By February 2015, after the flip of KHHT from rhythmic oldies to urban contemporary, KTWV began adding more classic soul and current R&B songs to fill the void of KHHT's departure. At the same time, most of the mainstream AC pop crossovers were dropped. The station also adopted the new "Soul of Southern California" slogan. The moves have seen KTWV's ratings improve, putting the station among the Los Angeles market's top ten statons. As of the May 2015 Nielsen ratings period for the Los Angeles market, KTWV currently holds a 4.4 overall share of the market.
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5670 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90036
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