Sunny 106.5 took over the former KGAY frequency on New Year’s Day (so much for the U2 lyrics “All is quiet on New Year’s Day!) We moved KGAY to a better signal on our co-owned 103.1 frequency and it boasts an HD signal for better sound quality.
That’s the short answer.
I was very fond of MeTV FM on 103.1, but we weren’t getting adequate advertiser support to make it viable long term. The music on that station reflected the first part of my radio career that has now spanned some 50+ years. Back then I was spinning 45s on a turntable in mono (not stereo) at my hometown radio station.
Sunny 106.5 is playing the music that marked my move away from being a “disc jockey” and into managing radio stations. In the 90s, I ran one of the most successful alternative radio stations in the country at the University of Illinois. We changed the format of WPGU from “Rock 107.1” to “The Planet” marking a trend where music had made a departure from hair bands and stadium shows to the bands and artists you’ll now hear on Sunny 106.5.
E.J. Tyler is our Sunny 106.5 program director and has been a part the “gay radio mafia” that KGAY program director and afternoon host Chris Shebel created decades ago when we couldn’t be “out” at work. He founded a secret society of music and radio industry professionals that would meet up when traveling or at conferences. That’s how I met John Taylor, our KGAY morning host.
It was kinda like “Heated Rivalry” for DJs. We competed against each other, and sometimes things went further… (But not with this group – we were more like “The Golden Girls”.)
Now, we can celebrate who we are proudly on KGAY, and have the privilege of being outspoken advocates for LGBTQ+ rights with our worldwide mouthpiece. Gay Desert Guide provides the platform to share the written word and help showcase our beautiful Coachella Valley. And Sunny 106.5 will find its audience with both the LGTBQ communities and our allies to help keep this enterprise afloat.
As we head into 2026, please show your support by backing the advertisers and community partners who make our work possible.
