Country music fans in Los Angeles are in mourning.

KZLA-FM, the city’s last remaining country music station, after 25 years suddenly switched to a pop format last Thursday, under the new name Movin’ 93.9.

The change was not announced in advance, even to station staff, and the move leaves plenty of LA country fans contemplating satellite radio subscriptions.

It seems country music still has a following in LA’s massive metropolitan area, and KZLA consistently ranked about 20th among the city’s radio stations.

However, the Emmis Communications station’s executives apparently felt that urban pop, featuring the likes of Beyonce and Pink, would be a bigger draw to women 25-54.

Emmis President Rick Cummings told the L.A. Times: “The Los Angeles radio market is basically 40% Hispanic, 11% Asian and 8% black, and country fans are about 98% Caucasian. My job is to attract as large an audience as possible. KZLA is now playing music that appeals to Hispanic adult women, and that will hopefully attract other suburban women of different ethnicities.”

Tammy Genovese, COO of the CMA (Country Music Association)), made the following statement: “Obviously CMA is deeply concerned about the format shift at KZLA – especially given that this is such a strong market for Country Music. Our concerts routinely sell out the biggest venues in the city, each year Los Angeles ranks No 1 or 2 in album sales, and several Country stations in the region are doing very well. We want Country Music in L.A .and hopefully someone will emerge with a viable plan to reach this important and attractive consumer fan base.”

KZLA, which has received hundreds of calls and emails protesting the switch, will continue to stream music online.