KNOU

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KNOU is a silent station serving the New Orleans area. The station was owned by On Top Communications and broadcasted at 104.5 MHz with an ERP of 7.8kW.

[edit] History

KNOU, whose COL is Empire, Louisiana, signed on the air as a Rhythmic Contemporary Hit (as "U104.5") on June 5, 2001 before evolving to its current format in December of that year. The station was known for going 18 months (June 2001 - January 2003) without a single commercial.

The initial on-air lineup was as follows:

6 a.m. - 11 a.m.: Jay Love (formerly of Mix 104.1, where he worked overnights as Jon Kelly; currently Morning Show Producer for Steve Harvey at 93.5 KDAY, Los Angeles, California)
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.: DJ Superman (PD Michael Knight)
2 p.m. - 7 p.m.: Jammer (formerly of Mix 104.1, where he worked nights under his real name, Darren Stephens; currently middays at Hot 104.9, Tallahassee, Florida)
7 p.m. - Midnight: Oscar Rene

Part-timers were Frank Nitti and Leslie Brown. Brown was a secretary at the station, and eventually moved to middays as a cost-saving measure after Knight relocated to Denver. Nitti worked under the name "Rikk Idol", in order to give the impression that the station had scored a major coup from crosstown B97.

The station was sold to On Top Communications in December of 2002. The transaction was first announced in January, but took almost a year to consummate. Rumor has it that On Top Communications founder Steve Hegwood was paying handsomely in order to keep his option on buying the station.

On January 6, 2003, the station changed its name to 'Hot 104.5' and brought in the syndicated Russ Parr morning show. The station spent money handsomely until On Top Communications declared bankruptcy in August of 2005.

After Hurricane Katrina, Hot 104.5's transmitter was severely damaged. Albeit with an internet stream in order to keep New Orleans' 'hip-hop community' united, the station went silent on April 4, 2006 due to financial troubles.