Sharpe Dunaway Becomes Brand, Program Director of Russellville Radio Station

Sharpe Dunaway

Sharpe Dunaway, ousted as disc jockey for KKPT-FM, 94.1 (The Point), has landed on his feet.

Dunaway took a job last month as program director of classic hits music station KVLD-FM, 99.3 (Oldies 99.3), in Russellville and led the station through a format change last week. On Thursday, KVLD switched to a rock format with the tagline “The River Valley Rocker” and adopted Dunaway as its brand name, becoming Sharpe 99.3.

“They wanted to brand it after me. I was a little taken aback by that,” Dunaway told Outtakes. “I was just honored that they would even think about doing that after me. They’ve given me a freedom that you can only dream of with a radio station.”

Dunaway will DJ on air from 2-6 p.m. every weekday and, on weekends, also appear live on location. Handling music scheduling and building the website, Sharpe993.com, are among his other duties.

The station can be heard in Conway, Russellville, Atkins, Morrilton and Dardanelle, and also online.

Dunaway worked as DJ in Little Rock for about 25 years. KKPT of Little Rock eliminated Dunaway’s position in July, citing low ratings for his morning show.

Dunaway chose then to venture out on his own with R80-o.com, an online radio station with Dunaway appearing on it live from his home in Conway. R80-o.com will continue despite his new gig, Dunaway said, but with much less of his live presence on it.

Max Media LLC in Virginia Beach owns KVLD. In Arkansas, Max Media also owns Russellville/Dardanelle stations KCJC-FM, 102.3, KWKK-FM, 100.9, and KCAB-AM, 980, as well as Morrilton stations KVOM-FM, 101.7, and KVOM-AM, 800.

Rich Moellers, general manager of Max Media Arkansas, said KVLD was veering away from its previous brand and format because “it just didn’t resonate with listeners and advertisers” and it’s “foolish” not to make money with an FM station.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to bring Sharpe in, to give him the opportunity to create a radio station. He has just an army of fans from all over the state,” Moellers said.