On Top Of a Cloud, LLC Takes 20% Stake in KTHO

April 16, 2012 - PRLog -- Following several months of discussion that originated last summer, KTHO owner and long-time Southern California broadcaster Darrell Wampler [The Insane Darrell Wayne] has announced that Coyote Grill owner Leland Faegre, has taken a 20% equity stake in KTHO.

"We are always working on the "next big thing" at K-Tahoe. Being associated with Leland and the Coyote Grill gives us an inspired partner and a wonderful opportunity to expand our on-air presence with a live, local enhancement. I am proud of this new teaming arrangement" Wampler said of the venture.

The announcement comes as the Coyote Grill is in the process of rolling out a strategic expansion of its business model to include entertainment, gaming and an array of coffees and espressos as a compliment to its popular restaurant and bar.

"Although familiar with local radio as an advertiser and producer of my own commercials and for the 'Double Trouble Sports Bash,' I had not met Darrell whose career I had followed 40 years ago in Southern California" said Faegre about the purchase.

After several missed opportunities, Faegre was eventually introduced to Wampler by Tahoe Basin radio veteran Bill Kingman who started his career at KPPC in Los Angeles.

"I met Darrell through Bill Kingman, a regular patron and friend of the Coyote Grill. Bill and I loved to talk about the Los Angeles radio market and radio generally and offered to introduce me to Darrell," said Faegre following the announcement.

Faegre joked that when he finally met 'The Insane Darrell Wayne,' he wasn't nearly as 'insane' as his reputation that preceded him, describing the meeting as "long overdue, fateful and as though we had known each other most of our lives which in a way, we had."

"Leland's experience in the music industry, finance and provocative background will be an enormous asset to the growth of our business" said Paul Middlebrook, Senior Vice-President and General Manager of KTHO Radio.

"KTHO prides itself on being a strong partner with our community and Leland's commitment to this community is well established. We believe that partnership will only grow stronger with the addition of Leland to the KTHO family. I look forward to working with him."

Describing Wampler as "a very impressive and knowledgeable, veteran broadcaster," Faegre said he had followed Darrell's radio career which included his role as Program Director at KROQ in Southern California after graduating from high school.

"As a musician, I followed radio all my life," said the Coyote Grill owner whose father's career in advertising included Los Angeles area media colossus RKO's KHJ AM and KRTH FM.

"I loved radio long before my father entered the business," Faegre recalls. "So when he went into the industry, we always had long conversations about the ever-changing landscape of the Los Angeles area radio market."

Faegre continued on his introduction with Darrell, "Early on in our discussions, Darrell revealed his interest in developing content for a program of live, local performances and the concept was exactly what I was already planning for the Coyote Grill."

KTHO Sales Manager George Alm who has known Faegre since he purchased the Coyote Grill in 2009 said, "I am very pleased to welcome Leland aboard. His knowledge of music, commitment to our community and what a small business owner goes through day to day makes him a perfect fit for the KTHO Family. I see great things ahead for Lake Tahoe & KTHO Radio.

Leland Thomas Faegre, an ASCAP composer with a performance background, who along with his daughter, Deirdre Leah Faegre [a published ASCAP songwriter at the age of thirteen] whose endearing 'Shining In My Hair' underscores Coyote Grill radio commercials, will form the nucleus of the new entertainment model in the Tahoe Basin with professional sound and lighting reinforcement for all performers.

"Darrell and I would like to broadcast from the Coyote Grill several times a week. The contiguous space," Faegre continued, "will facilitate a large designated entertainment area capable of accommodating various professional entertainment, musical and comedy touring acts."

The planned comfortable-seating of the acquired entertainment space will also accommodate catering, large variable group functionality, and long-imagined internet and terrestrial radio and television broadcasting resulting from in-house technical capability, extending value to the Coyote Grill brand and customer loyalty.

Faegre said, "the expansion of the Coyote Grill will serve as the cornerstone of our formative, community-oriented and mutually beneficial business models, attracting new and existing customers by providing attractive performances, extending our hours of operation, originating new revenue streams from gaming not currently possible and will enable the cross-promotion of KTHO and the Coyote Grill."

Located in the Round Hill Square Shopping Center on the Nevada side of South Lake Tahoe, Faegre believes the Coyote Grill will be the Tahoe Basin's "most locally attractive restaurant, tavern, live performance and gaming destination."

"The necessary provisional space for entertainment and gaming," Faegre said, "will also make possible the opportunity for expanded coffee and espresso choices from our Gardnerville-based, strategic partner Blind Dog Coffee, filling an aromatic vacuum created by the vacancy of Not Just Java, a previously popular, coffee-centric business model in Round Hill Square."

The Coyote Grill Sports, Entertainment and Gaming Center will serve a wide demographic spectrum of patronage from Zephyr Cove in Douglas County, Nevada [20,927 people within a five mile radius and an average household income of approximately $109,779 a census-designated place (CDP)].

About On Top Of a Cloud

On Top Of a Cloud, LLC is a broadcast partner, music publisher, record label and recording facility located in Lake Tahoe.

For more information, visit http://www.ontopofacloud.com