Local AM station switches format, adds well-known DJ Monty Jett

Adventure Radio Group is replacing the sports talk of ESPN radio with the familiar voice of longtime local disc jockey Monty Jett and the smooth sounds of Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand and Michael Buble on its 1130 AM station.

The changes, which took effect last week, were sparked when Savannah station 102.1 FM started broadcasting ESPN radio in September.

Faced with an FM competitor in sports radio, Adventure officials decided to refocus their AM station to appeal to island residents, market manager Mark Halverson said.

The six-station group includes 1130 AM and five FM stations: 103.1 The Drive, 107.9 The Coast, Country 106.9, Big 98.3, and Rock 106.1. It has offices on Hilton Head off New Orleans Road and in Savannah.

"We want to fully and totally commit this station to the Hilton Head area," he said.

The station is now spinning "Hilton Head's timeless favorites" -- such as Dean Martin, Neil Diamond and Diana Krall -- and airing Jett's morning show from 6 to 10 each morning.

The switch should allow Jett to devote even more time than he did at his previous station -- the Adventure group's 107.9 FM -- to local news, people, events and interviews, Halverson said.

Of his almost 47 years in radio, Jett has spent 23 on Hilton Head.

"Monty loves the island, and the island loves Monty," Halverson said. "We thought there was nobody better suited."

Jett, 64, said he plans to emphasize local artists such as The Headliners on his show.

"I'm kind of bringing Hilton Head local artists to the world now," said Jett, who grew up in Denmark, S.C., about 50 miles south of Columbia.

The station recently started streaming its content online, so people can tune in over the Internet or with a smartphone. Jett said he's already heard from listeners in Japan and Ireland.

"It's taken off like wildfire," he said.

Adventure officials said 1130 will continue to broadcast Clemson football, Halverson said.

This story was originally published March 16, 2011 at 6:56 PM with the headline "Local AM station switches format, adds well-known DJ Monty Jett."