MASON CITY – KLKK-FM in downtown Mason City has parted ways with a long-time voice of North Iowa, Bruce Wasenius.
If you’ve spent much time in the Mason City area and turned on the radio, Mr. Wasenius would have been hard to miss. He plays all the best classic rock hits and is known for his soft-spoken, friendly voice, reading long lists of names of folks who are listening to his radio station while he’s at work.
Now, NorthIowaToday.com has learned and confirmed that KLKK-FM, located at 201 N. Federal Avenue, has turned off Mr. Wasenius’ microphone.
“I am no longer employed by the station I helped put on the air in 1978,” Mr. Wasenius told NIT this afternoon.
He says “Creative differences between management and myself is what it’s about.”
A friend of Mr. Wasenius says that he may have strayed too far from the radio’s canned playlist, leading to his dismissal.
Mr. Wasenius, however, says he knows what he’s doing during his show.
“My opinion is based on 37 years of feedback from listeners as to what they want to hear and (management) does’t agree. I spend too much time acknowledging my listeners, play music that is unacceptable and don’t follow guidelines. In a nut she’ll that’s it,” he explained.
A call to to the KLKK-FM (641-421-7744) went answered, but a woman on the other end of the phone seemed to be in a hurry to end the conversation. She chuckled when asked about whether Bruce Wasenius had been fired or let go from the station. She put NIT into the voicemail of program director James Shaman, and a message was left. That message was not immediately returned.
Now that Mr. Wasenius is off the air, he is looking into his next move.
“I am looking into other possibilities via the internet,” he said.
I thought the fox knew what it had in Bruce w. A real DJ. live and interesting play list not caned krapola! those of us old schoolers who have followed Bruce sense Kezv days are saddened by his dismissal fox now will just be one of the stations that has a stronger singnal as I spin the tuner dial Tuba.
How will i know when its 4:20 now?
Bruce is a great DJ. He will be missed. From firsthand experience, I will tell you that the type of radio show that Bruce did does not conform with how the Station is run. Bruce’s focus was/is his audience, and he did live interactive radio, no voice tracking. Management’s focus is ad revenue and canned radio shows. Voice tracking is more cost effective, as you can track the breaks for a six hour show in an hour. So, instead of paying someone for six hours work, you pay them for one. Bruce’s old school, living breathing radio show was great. It’s a shame that we won’t be hearing him spilling out of the radio.
Fairwell Bruce, I’ve listen to you from the beginning . When one door closes another door opens ! Thanks for the Great Tunes !
I have been a listener since the 70’s and the friend of Bruce’s since the 80’s. He is a friend and a great mentor…a genuine human being. Not some stuffed shirt that has an overabundant and over grown sense of self worth and all out superiority to most others. Guessing the dumb didn’t fall from the tree. That group seems to value butt kissing far more then God given talent! Ya want proof to that? Listen in the afternoon! Other then the ‘O’….NI’s air is a talentless void.
I’m done with them also.
My real name, why don’t you contact Jay Brooks and talk to him before assuming!! Unless you want to say your name publicly.
I think every business that advertises on KLKK The Fox needs to pull their ads. He was fired for insubordination? Bruce was that station. It will be nothing without him. So please businesses that advertise, speak up, pull your ads, and let’s show the Coloffs just how important Bruce is to their station and how important he is to the community.
So sad. Bruce is a legend in radio in North Iowa. Jay Brooks was at one time the operations manager at North Iowa Broadcasting. He isn’t half the D.J. that Bruce is and never will be. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Mr. Brooks had something to do with getting rid of Bruce. Sorry Bruce, you will be missed!
It is plain and simple…Bruce even said it on his personal page. He was terminated for insubordination. If you don’t follow the rules of your workplace you won’t keep your job.
I nominate LVS as his replacement. A genuine oldies but goodies kinda guy
Wow cares? He’s old and needs to get out. Not that anyone really listens to that station anyways.
Now if the could get rid of Harry O Can’t stand to listen to klss when he’s on.
Well at least NIT’s focus is off of Brett Schoneman for the time being….
It’s the station’s loss. Dumb a**es.
Still got rock 108 thank god !
he played all the cool album cuts not the all the crap we hated 50 yrs ago and still hate today fox u skrewed yourself
I met Bruce in 1987. Worked with him at Rock 103. He is a vast repository of music knowledge that ranges from the Mississippi Delta’s blues to today’s, shall we say, efforts. He is a precious resource to the music community and it would be a wise station to build upon that. Was that found to be a threat? If you knew Bruce, you could not begin to believe such a scenario. He could masterfully spin Huey Lewis, Zepplin and everything in between, coaxing artfully beautiful segues from the basest empty pop songs and weaving them into a cohesive, spine-tingling set that would leave you more knowledgeable than you were before you heard them, as well as with a renewed and gladdened heart. True music lovers recognize this. Bruce needs to be on the air. We need him to be on the air. I hope this is not a scenario such as that laid out in “The Last D.J.,” from the album of that name by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, which I encourage everyone to look up on lyrics.com. “Well, they can’t turn him into a company man, they can’t turn him into a whore, and the boys upstairs just don’t understand anymore.” I hope the powers that be realize this loss to our culture here in North Iowa, and can somehow remedy this situation. Bruce needs to be on the air, and WE need him there. Let The Fox know.
Thanks for all the great music Bruce! And thanks for always remember me way up here in Cold Bay Alaska! Best DJ ever! No more tuning in to that station for me.
Are Skipper bookmeyer any council member involved? If friends of the management of the station then we know why. Hitlers at work. If it ain’t broke…..
Let’s guess….Are Skipper, Bookmeyer, any council memeber involved? Friends with the station? Figures if so. Hitler’s at work. Me me me. The management for the station are being utterly stupid. If it aint broke…..
Oh no! Bruce is the man, probably wont listen to 103.7 anymore since hes gone! We’ll REALLY miss you Bruce! Good luck with whatever you decide to do, keep us informed! Hope youll be within listening distance!!! ROCK ON BUDDY!!!!’
No Bruce, no more KLKK
Best DJ in town. No mare KLKK for me, I will never advertise with them again. Bruce is the man