Mandatory Fm

Mandatory FM

Mandatory FM, or KCUB, is an independent radio station owned and operated in Stephenville, TX. This station can be heard at either 98.5 or 107.9 in the cross timbers and Ranger/Eastland area. Long time radio veterans John Hollinger and Pamela Stone purchased KCUB in the early months of 2007. The Hollingers decided the Stephenville area needed a chance to hear radio that is not “cookie-cutter” or corporate. They live by two mottos, “Change is Mandatory,” and “We are here for the music.” They explain naming the station Mandatory FM because “it’s strong…powerful, necessary, required, and essential. Plus it sounds cool.”

The folks at Mandatory FM play a wide variety of music. Their website www.mandatoryfm.com calls it “Y’all-ternative” and “Tex-lectic.” The music is a mix of Americana, Texas country, red dirt, blues and rock and roll, both current and classic. Listeners who tune in between 11 am and 1 pm they will hear Pamela Stone hosting the Mandatory Request Show. Most requests are for local Texas country artists. However, an occasional call will come for good classic rock and roll.

Owner and general manager John Hollinger has taught his son Shayne about music and radio his whole life. Shayne has worked for both KSTV and KCUB in Stephenville for many years. When his father purchased KCUB, Shayne became the program director of Mandatory FM. He also has a radio show from 3 pm to 6 pm. The music he presents on weekday afternoons is an assortment of blues and Americana.

Long time Hollinger family friend Jon Mikus also has his own show. From midnight to three in the morning Stephenville and Brownwood’s surrounding areas can tune into Midnights with Mikus. Jon Mikus is a very unique man and his oddball personality is reflected in his show. Those who are up during his show can be entertained with quirky comments and songs from unknown bands. Mikus’s mind seems to be a bottomless pit full of eccentric trivia and independent bands.

On weekends, Mandatory FM hosts a few specialty shows. On Friday evenings from six to seven pm “The Linkster” hosts the Mandatory Classic Rock Hour. The Linkster is a bit of a mystery. He does not speak much but he knows his