94.7 KRML Enters a New Era: Tech Veterans Acquire Beloved Monterey Bay Radio Station to Champion Human Curation Over Algorithms
Rhonda Howard-Vachon and Craig Vachon, KRML’s new owners!
Santa Cruz Works member and serial entrepreneur Craig Vachon has announced the acquisition of 94.7 FM KRML, the Monterey Bay's premier destination for curated music and community connection. Vachon and his wife Rhonda Howard-Vachon officially took ownership on June 12, 2026.
Listeners can expect a seamless transition — there will be no changes to programming, DJs, or musical direction. The station's signature sound are staying exactly where they are.
Human Curation in an Algorithmic Age
For Vachon, the acquisition is a deliberate statement about the value of human connection in a media landscape increasingly shaped by algorithms.
"After 40 years in high tech, buying a terrestrial FM radio station probably makes me look even more like a knucklehead to my peers," said Vachon. "But that's the point. In a world obsessed with frictionless, algorithmic echo chambers, something human, local, relevant, and genuinely alive matters more than ever."
KRML's programming is curated by people who live on and love the Central Coast — people who know the local venues, the emerging artists, and the cultural pulse of the region before the rest of the world catches on. It's a model that stands in direct contrast to the recommendation engines dominating music consumption today.
"Algorithms treat music like a frozen dinner — predictable, optimized for mass consumption, and fast," Vachon added. "KRML is your neighborhood restaurant. We serve comfort, yes, but our real specialty is introducing you to a new favorite you didn't even know you were craving."
Community First
Rhonda Howard-Vachon was equally clear about the couple's commitment to the station's roots.
“The voices our listeners have grown to trust and love—Jasmine and Jeff, who guide that discovery—and the spirit of the station aren't going anywhere. We’re simply here to support it, grow it, and invite the community to become even closer.”
Looking ahead, the new ownership team plans to expand KRML's digital and social presence, deepen partnerships with local artists, venues, and nonprofits, and develop new opportunities for community participation both on-air and off. The goal is to grow KRML into a multichannel civic and cultural engagement hub for the Central Coast that listeners can take with them wherever they go.
KRML has long been more than a radio station. It's a connector of people, music, and place — and under new ownership, that mission gets a broader canvas. We're proud to see a longtime member of our community take the helm.
Tune in at 94.7 FM or follow KRML online to stay connected.
Media Contact:
Craig Vachon: craig.vachon@gmail.com
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