88.3 KNAI/KPHF
Nat'l Farm Workers/Family Stations Incorporated
SPANISH/CHRISTIAN; Shared frequency
Phoenix
89.1 KLVK
Educational Radio Foundation
Christian Pop "K-Love"
Fountain Hills
Began broadcasting Contemporary Christian music in 2000, switching to "Classic Gospel" in July 2001. KBIE then became "K-LOVE" East Valley translator in 2003 KLVK.
89.5 KBAQ
Maricopa community Colleges
"K-BACH" CLASSICAL
Mesa
90.3 KFLR
Family Life Broadcasting
CHRISTIAN/INSPIRATIONAL
Phoenix
91.5 KJZZ
Maricopa Community Colleges
NPR/TALK/JAZZ
Old call letters: Originally KFCA; then KMCR; Switched to Jazz/Talk format August 1995
Mesa
92.3 KKFR
Bonneville
"Power 92 Today's Hottest Music" HIP HOP
Old call letters: KXTC. 92.3 KXTC was a commercial Jazz station in the early and mid-70's until succumbing to the disco craze round about 1978 or 79. [Disco, later Urban] and then Country. "It actually started country while still KXTC and was KC-92. They brought me to town in August 1980 to be their morning guy. Dennis McBroom was mid-day and programmer Erik Foxx was the afternoon guy. Mike Morgan did nights followed by Charlie Martinez midnight to six." [John Gibson, KOOL 94.5 FM] Calls were changed to KJJJ "KJ-92" until 1984. It remained Country but changed to KEZC "EZ Country" from 1984, and this lasted until 1985. In 1985, it debuted as "The Fire Station" with a CHR/Oldies hybrid format. At some point between 1985 and 1988, they dumped the "Fire Station" name and just called themselves "92.3 KKFR." The Oldies were also phased out. In 1988, they started calling themselves "Power 92." The format had also become Rhythmic CHR. July 4th at 4pm Steve Goddard opened the mic and was the first to utter the words "Power 92" according to Valley radio folklore. On December 16, 1993, under PD Rick Stacy, they dumped Rhythmic CHR and tried a truly awful Alternative-intensive Mainstream CHR format. It bombed. They began to move back towards their roots, and by April of 1995, they were a Rhythmic CHR again. The slogan was the tried-and-true "Today's Hottest Music." In July of 1997, they adopted the hip-hop/R&B format with the "Where Hip-Hop Lives" slogan. In August of 1998, they brought back the "Today's Hottest Music" slogan, but the format is still hip-hop and R&B. Station spun off to EMMIS in the Clear Channel purchase of Chancellor (AMFM) stations.
Glendale
93.3 KDKB
Sandusky
AOR
Old call letters: KMND [Country]
Mesa
LARADIO.COM: KYSR's Danny Bonaduce had a job in Phoenix radio where he had to call himself Danny Partridge on the air. "I tried to get around it by just calling myself Danny, but the pd said, 'You call yourself Danny Partridge four times an hour every day," remembered the "Star" morning man. "He belittled me in front of the staff."
94.5 KOOL
Infinity
60s OLDIES; Purchased by Colfax Broadcasting May 1996, sold to AMFM Inc. [formerly Chancellor] January 1997 Station sold to CBS/Infinity in Clear Channel/Chancellor merger in 2000.
Phoenix
95.5 KYOT
Clear Channel
SMOOTH JAZZ/SOFT ROCK "The Coyote"
Old call letters: KRFM (beautiful music in the 60's/70's); KQYT [Beautiful Music in the mid '80s] Later, Contemporary KOY FM. Switching to Adult Top 40, the moniker "Y-95" and the Adult Top 40 format were adopted on July 10, 1987. Eventually, they evolved from Adult Top 40 to straight ahead Top 40. They were some form of Top 40 right up until September 2, 1993, at 12 Noon. That's the day that Y-95 died, and for the next 24 hours or so, the station stunted with what it called "The American Radio Museum". On September 3, that ill-fated "Rhythm and Rock" format debuted. "The Coyote" Smooth Jazz in March 1994. Purchased by Colfax Broadcasting May 1996, sold to AMFM Inc. [formerly Chancellor] January 1997. Chancellor merged with Clear Channel in 2000.
Phoenix
96.9 KMXP
Bonneville
ROCK AC "MIX 96.9"
Old call letters: KEPI (mid 60s); KMEO [Beautiful Music]; KPSN [Oldies]; KCHT later KHTC [Classic Hits]; KGLQ [Classic Hits] Nationwide Communications sold to Jacor (Clear Channel) 1998 call letters changed to KMXP; Licensed to Emmis in 2000, sold to Bonneville in 2004
Phoenix
97.3 KRXS
Linda Potyka
ROCK & COUNTRY
Globe
97.9 KUPD
Sandusky
AOR
After 20 years, Dave Pratt walked off his morning show in August 2001. Pratt went on to KZON afternoon drive and later KMLE morning drive.
Tempe
98.7 KKLT
Bonneville
ADULT CONTEMPORARY/ALBUM ROCK "The Peak"
Old call letters: KTAR FM; KBBC [Top 40 early '70s]; March 1999 Hearst-Argyle took ownership from Pulitzer; Operating under LMA by Emmis Communications effective July 1, 2000. Became "The Peak" playing 70s-90s rock in 2004 and sold to Bonneville in Summer 2004
Phoenix
99.9 KESZ
Clear Channel
ADULT CONTEMPORARY; Beth & Bill in the morning
Old call letters: KNNN Spanish in 1979 or early 1980. It didn't last too long before becoming "Classy 100" KLZI. Became KESZ January 15, 1988. Jerry Ryan, General Manager under KLZI & KESZ fired by Owens Broadcasting 1998. Ryan GM of Heftel KHOT 105.9 April 1999. KESZ Sold by Owens/MAC to Jacor (Clear Channel) March 1999.
Phoenix
100.3 KMRR
HBC Hispanic Broadcasting Company
Spanish Love Songs "Amor 100.3/106.3"
Old call letters: KIKO; KEYX; KGRX; KZRX [Album Rock]; KHOT [Talkradio] began simulcasting "The Edge" 106.3 in July 1995 as KDDJ. Hispanic Broadcasting bought Big City Radio properties in Phoenix in September 2001 and changed station formats to Spanish programming.
Globe
100.7 KSLX
Sandusky
CLASSIC ROCK
Old call letters: KDOT [Classical]; KOPA; The station dumped KOPA (Top 40) in very early 1986 in favor of KSLX and the Classic Rock format
Scottsdale
101.1 KNRJ
Sierra H Broadcasting
Dance
On the air: December 1998; Classic hits KESP changed calls to KAZL 2/22/2000. Sold by Brentlinger family Sierra H Broadcasting to Marathon Media (Chicago) November 2001 as KAZL Classic Rock "Loop 101". All Commercials, All The Time Stunt 06/19/02 45:00 Before its call letter/format change to KNRJ Energy 101/Dance, KAZL stunted with playing nothing but old radio & TV ads, with a couple of current ones also.
Payson
101.5 KZON
Infinity
ALTERNATIVE
Old call letters: KHEP [Classical in the late '60s]; KONC [Classical] KAMJ [Magic 101 late '80s]; KMXX; 1992 Sundance Broadcasting changed KMXX AC format to KZON Alternative; Purchased by Colfax Broadcasting May 1996, sold to AMFM Inc. [formerly Chancellor] January 1997 Station sold to CBS/Infinity in Clear Channel/Chancellor merger in 2000. Flipped formats from Modern AC to Top 40 (early 2000) and back to Modern AC (August 2000) - then Alternative with HOWARD STERN in the morning
Phoenix
102.1 KAHM
Southwest FM Broadcasting
EASY LISTENING
Sadly, there are fewer than 50 "beautiful music" stations left in the US.
Prescott
102.5 KNIX
Clear Channel
"ARIZONA COUNTRY"
Sold by Buck Owens to Jacor (Clear Channel) March 1999.
Phoenix
Jason,
KNIX was owned by Dick Gilbert (rumored to be
broadcasting from his front porch via tracked lp's and
reel-to-reel tape) until he finally moved the
operation to the top floor of Camelback Towers, in the
room next to the laundry room).
Gilbert would track showtune and original cast
recordings. THE studio was spartan at best, two Altec
mono pa mixers side by side (one for left, the other
for right channel) ancient Sparta cart deck and a beat
to hell reel to reel. The old ribbon mic was pretty
shot too. "Warm" did not adequately describe it.
The transmitter was less than 5 ft from the back of
the board, and the room was rife with RF and various
clicks, pops and hums.
Once Buck Owens bought the operation about '68 or so
(if you remember the '60's, you didn't live it...),
the decision was to try "Freeform Rock".
So at
midnight one Sunday night, KNIX signed off with
showtunes. 6am Monday, it was Zappa, Traffic, Iron
Butterfly, et. al., driving the doctor and dentist
offices who had the 'old' KNIX on crazy. The phones
lit up for literally days, people screaming. But the
kinds loved it!
Andy Moore was the PD of the 'new' KNIX, I remember. I
had the pleasure of midnight-6a, my first full-time
on-air gig.
Dusty Baker
(PS Cool site! )
103.1 KCDX
Classic Rock
Desert West Air Ranchers
Non-stop rock, no commercials, no DJs since 2000.
Florence
103.5 KLNZ
Spanish
Entravision
Old call letters: KCWB and then KTWC, "Twice 103.5" an eclectic mix of pop/MOR, format switched to Smooth Jazz KOAZ 1995 and to an unsuccessful "Wild Country 103.5" KWCY with Tim & Willie on Labor Day Weekend 1997. Purchased by Z Spanish March 1999 as KLNZ "La Zeta".
Glendale
103.9 KEDJ
New Planet
Alternative "THE EDGE"
Old call letters: KQEZ [Country]; KAZR [Satellite delivered Classic Rock]; KBZR "The Blaze" Modern Rock/Top 40 hybrid; "The Blaze" was dumped from 103.9 in either March or April 1996. This is when they first began preparing for the "Party Station" format. They stunted from March/April up through October 30, 1996 with an all "old school" format ("old school" referring to Latino-oriented gold selections from the hip-hop, R&B, disco, and freestyle genres), and a stunt about "S-T-E-V-E" which can be best described as a radio version of "Where's Waldo?" They debuted on October 30, 1996 (3:30 pm) as "The New 103.9, Arizona's Party Station" with a Latino-oriented Rhythmic CHR format. The calls changed to KPTY in the Spring of 1997 to match the moniker. On June 4, 1998, shortly after 12 Noon, they changed to a hip-hop/modern rock hybrid, calling themselves "Party Radio @ 103.9." April 1999, dumped the Hip-Hop for a CHR/Alternative format. January 2000, changed to TOP 40 after stunting with sounds of broken CD machine playing "We Like To Party" (VengaBoys) non-stop for 48 hours. November 2001, THE EDGE format and personalities were brought over to KPTY after Big City Radio sold KEDJ and the other Phoenix properties to HBC. The entire "Party Radio" staff and Hip-Hop format was dumped. Later took KEDJ call letters
Gilbert
104.3 KAJM
Marathon Media
Mega 104.3 "Arizona Jams" R&B/Hip-Hop
Payson
Old call letters: KRIM [Country] KBZG "B-Best" Oldies, Rhythmic Oldies, KBZG changed calls to KAJM 12/23/1999. MEGA 104.3 R&B OLDIES debuted April 20, 2001. Carey Edwards (PD) Sold by Brentlinger family Sierra H Broadcasting to Marathon Media (Chicago) November 2001 as "Arizona Jams" Oldies.
Payson
104.7 KZZP
Clear Channel
"KISS FM"
Old call letters: KTYL [1950, first FM in Arizona and they were also the prime contract supplier when MUZAK came along in the late 50's. It was placed on KTYL-FM's subcarrier. This was before Muzak used leased phone lines to feed to commercial establishments.] KTYL was owned by the Harkins family. They also founded Channel 12; KBUZ [Beautiful Music]; KIOG; KZZP; Station became Mainstream Top 40 in March 1980, and it stayed that away until late April 1991. The KVRY Hot AC format lasted from April 1991 through March 8, 1996. On March 8, 1996, at 3:00 pm, KZZP returned with a Modern AC format. On April 2, 1999, the format shifted to Mainstream Top 40, following about 6 weeks of "evolving." Sold by Nationwide Communications to Jacor in 1998. Jacor acquired by Clear Channel in 1999. Bruce Kelly resigned June 30, 1999 when new PD Marc Summers and Clear Channel took over. New morning team, Ron & Don from San Francisco, along with Jackie West debuted September 10, 1999. Ric Dees morning show debuted September 2000. The slogan was "104-7 ZZP Arizona's Hit Music Channel" It didn't help. Top 40 KZZP "104-7ZZP" relaunched as "104.7 Kiss FM" 4/23/2001. The station brought in Krazy Kid Stevens and Ruben S. to pump up the morning show April 30, 2001 on the NEW "KISS FM" debuted. Stunting had begun Friday April 20th with "KISS" by Prince played ad nauseum.
Mesa
105.3 KHOV
HBC Hispanic Broadcasting
La Nueva 105.9 - 105.3 FM Spanish
Old call letters: KTIM [Country]; KRDS Country/ later Contemporary Christian; Music of Your Life KRDS AM&FM(1190/105.3)changing calls to KMYL AM & FM at noon Friday 3/21/97. KMYL "Music of Your Life" syndicated format from Los Angeles. Station owned by Interstate Broadcasting of Arizona. was purchased by Big City Radio of Los Angeles in July 1999. Call letters switched to KSSL January 2000, Que Buena" (Very Good!) hit the Phoenix airwaves on 105.3fm as Arizona's first Hispanic contemporary hit music station in March 2000. Sold to Hispanic Broadcasting Company fourth quarter 2001 as KSSL "Viva 105.3" KHOV
Wickenburg
105.5 KLVA
Educational Media Foundation
"K-Love" CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN
Casa Grande
105.9 KHOT
Hispanic Broadcasting Company
La Nueva 105.9 - 105.3 FM Spanish
Old call letters: 1996 KXLL [Country]; KBUQ [Young Buck Country] July 1996; "Hot 105.9" debuted shortly after 6:00 pm on October 10, 1997. The format change to Spanish occured on April 5 at 6:00 pm. Heftel had purchased the station. Heftel becomes Hispanic Broadcasting Company April 1999.
Paradise Valley
106.3 KOMR
HBC Hispanic Broadcasting Company
Spanish Love Songs "Amor 100.3/106.3"
Old call letters: KWAO [MOR]; KMZK [Rock/Oldies, Country] PD Jon Town; KONC [Classical, picking up the format and calls when abandoned by 101.5 in 1987]; Became "The Edge" Alternative in 1993. "Howard Stern" show began broadcasting on KEDJ in March 1995. Hispanic Broadcasting bought Big City Radio properties in Phoenix in September 2001 and changed station formats to Spanish programming.
Sun City
1997-- KRDS changes to Music of Your Life and change is about to happen at KHTC. Farther up the FM dial 106.5 KONZ is on the air with Album Rock. Broadcasting from Arizona City, 50 miles SE of Phoenix, the music is a good mix of current AAA/Alternative type songs plus uptempo rockers from the 60's, 70's and 80's, occasional reggae, and jazz influenced songs, and even a couple of longer progressive type selections. The station starts out commercial free with no DJ's. The music is only interrupted at the top of the hour by the legal ID and then every 15 minutes for brief recorded statements like "Real Album Rock, 106.5 Stereo", or "We don't talk much, 106.5 FM", or "Thanks for listening - both of you! 106.5 FM". Michael Hagerty explains: "Station's been dark for 4 years...used to be a repeater for Classical KONC(106.3), the Arizona City signal folded when KONC became Alternative KEDJ in 1993." (From the archives of Broadcast.Net)
106.5 KKMR
HBC Hispanic Broadcasting Company
SPANISH
Arizona City
Old call letters: KONZ-FM. March 22, 1997 the station changed its call letters to KBZR. "The Blaze". KBZR call letters had been used at 103.9 prior to the switch to KPTY at 103.9. Purchased by Big City Radio, KBZR began simulcasting "The Edge" (106.3) in 2000. Hispanic Broadcasting bought Big City Radio properties in Phoenix in September 2001 and changed station formats to Spanish programming.
106.9 KDVA
Entravision
Radio Romantica(simulcasts 107.1 KVVA)
Buckeye Urban "Majik" KMJK sold by to Spanish language programmer Entravision December 2000. Station will simulcast 107.1 KVVA. KMJK changed calls to KDVA 2/1/2001. November 18, 2004--Entravision Radio announced that KVVA and KDVA in Phoenix have begun simulcasting the "Super Estrella" format, giving Phoenix its first Spanish-language Pop station. The format appeals primarily to Latinos ages 18 to 34 and plays artists like Shakira, Ricky Martin and Alejandra Guzman. Entravision also operates KLNZ-FM and KMIA-FM in the Phoenix market.
107.1 KVVA
Entravision
Radio Romantica 107
SPANISH
Old call letters: KSTM "Storm" format ended June 1987 as Spanish format took over. November 18, 2004--Entravision Radio announced that KVVA and KDVA in Phoenix have begun simulcasting the "Super Estrella" format, giving Phoenix its first Spanish-language Pop station. The format appeals primarily to Latinos ages 18 to 34 and plays artists like Shakira, Ricky Martin and Alejandra Guzman. Entravision also operates KLNZ-FM and KMIA-FM in the Phoenix market.
Apache Junction
107.9 KMLE
Infinity
COUNTRY; Dave Pratt in the morning
Changed from Christian programming to Country 1988. June 1996, Tim & Willy leave KMLE for a gig in Chicago. A year later, Chicago station changes format, Tim & Willy return to Phoenix at new Wild Country 103.5 [now defunct] and later KNIX Station sold to CBS/Infinity in Clear Channel/Chancellor merger in 2000.
Chandler
Historical Sources: Bud Wilkinson, longtime AZ Republic Radio columnist; Bob Dreste, and Media Watchers John Adkins, John Davis, Keith Elster, Mike Femyer, Tanim [former Radio MessageBoard moderator], Rick Lewis, Doug Nick, Burt Schneider, Eric Stein, Stanley Vorce, the files of the Arizona Republic & Gazette. I apologize for forgetting anyone. Email me if you have been overlooked.