Sleepy KOCM Wakes Up as Dance-Music Station MARS

Once-sleepy radio station KOCM (103.1 FM), which was known for a soft-hits format and regular marine weather forecasts, was reborn today as MARS-FM with an adventurous playlist that boasts such contemporary dance and new-music acts as Happy Mondays, C & C Music Factory, Fishbone and De La Soul.

The Newport Beach station was purchased last month by former KROQ-FM owner Ken Roberts, who also bought a Santa Monica station in a $17.8-million package deal. In a move that station officials say is a first for Southern California, the new MARS-FM is being simulcast on both stations.

Fans of rock station KROQ-FM will recognize some of the names attached to the new venture. Former KROQ disc jockey Freddy Snakeskin is the MARS-FM program director, while on-air personalities include KROQ alums Egil Aalvik (“The Swedish Eagle”) and Raechel Donahue.