Yee-haw!

For two years, Sacramento has been a one-country-music-station town - the modern equivalent, some would say, of being a one-horse town.

That'll change on July 4 when KCCL (101.9 FM) changes formats from “Boss Radio” – oldies rock from the 1970s and '80s – to “The Wolf,” which will feature a contemporary country playlist.

That will put the station in competition with “New Country” KNCI (105.1 FM).

“Competition is always good for the marketplace,” says Larry Lemanski, general manager of Sacramento's Entravision stations, which includes KCCL. “The opportunity is a good one, and we just figured, ‘Why not now?’”

Still, challenging KNCI might be an uphill task. KNCI was the market’s top FM station in the latest Arbitron ratings in May and was second overall behind only KFBK (1530 AM).

Late last summer, KCCL dropped its “traditional oldies” (songs from the 1950s and '60s) format for the not-as-old “Boss Radio” oldies. But it failed to make a ratings dent, finishing 18th overall.

"The competition is fierce in adult contemporary radio," says a seemingly wistful Lemanski.

"We liked Boss."

-- Sam McManis