Previous Format: Alternative “X103.9”
New Format: Variety Hits “My 103.9”
Date & Time Of Change: January 12, 2012 at 5:30am
More Info: RadioInsight, Wikipedia

Related Changes: The Edge Moves To 103.9

Previous Format: Smooth Jazz “95.5 The Coyote”
New Format: Rhythmic AC “Eva 95.5″
Date & Time Of Change: August 31, 2011 at 5:00pm
More Info: RadioInsight, Wikipedia

Previous Format: Rhythmic AC (Stunting with Christmas Music)
New Format: Adult CHR
Date & Time Of Change: December 26, 2010 at 12:00am
More Info: RadioInsight

With the Memorial Day weekend flip of WFNY New York back to Rock and the relaunch of KFRC in San Francisco, the new management of CBS Radio made it clear that the “Free-FM” network of talk stations would not be long for the world. While many of the stations simply drop the Free-FM branding, speculation built that others would drop the format altogether.

At 5:00pm on June 21, 2007 the Tom Leykis show was “taken over” by intern Renaldo proclaiming the station as “Free Paris” playing Paris Hilton’s music with attempts to get her released from jail early. The stunt lasted until 5:00pm the next day when Renaldo’s major announcement was the launch of “101.5 Jamz”. The Rhythmic CHR format was positioned between Clear Channel’s 104.7 Kiss-FM and Riviera’s Power 98.3, which Bonneville had spun-off of its full-powered 92.3 slot to the 98.3 rimshot signal the previous September.

Previous Format: Rhythmic CHR “Power 92″ KKFR
New Format: News/Talk KTAR-FM
Date & Time Of Change: September 18, 2006
More Info: Wikipedia

Related Changes: KZGL Becomes Power 98.3

Previous Format: Alternative “98.3 The Z”
New Format: Rhythmic CHR “Power 98.3″
Date & Time Of Change: September 18, 2006
More Info: Wikipedia

Related Changes: Power 92 KKFR Becomes KTAR-FM

In 1999, the company now known as Sierra H Broadcasting signed on KESP 101.1 FM in Payson, AZ. The format was Classic Hits (a.k.a. a lighter version of Classic Rock) under the name “Loop 101″ (which, probably not coincidentally, is also the name of a then-being-constructed freeway in the Phoenix area.) The call letters changed to KAZL in early 2000, and at some point, K224CJ 92.7 FM (a 10-watt translator broadcasting from South Mountain in Phoenix) and K292DF 106.3 FM (a 10-watt translator located in Flagstaff, AZ) began simulcasting KAZL. The idea was to provide an alternative to Sandusky’s Classic Rock KSLX 100.7 FM. However, Loop 101 rarely made an appearance in the Phoenix ratings.

On June 18, 2002, at 5pm, “Loop 101″ came to an end. It was replaced by a stunt format known as “Commercial 101.1 & 92.7 — All Commercials, All the Time”. It featured a 30-minute loop of classic and current commercials. The “rationale” communicated to listeners (via an “announcement” from PD Steve Szalay) is that because the most successful stations play lots of commercials, a station playing non-stop commercials would skyrocket to the top of the ratings in no time at all.

Then, on Friday, June 21, 2002 (the first day of summer — but of course that doesn’t mean much in Phoenix), at 5pm, “Energy 92-7 & 101-1″ (also called “Energy-Arizona”, which allows the name to include 106.3 FM in Flagstaff) made its debut. Energy offers what is being called a “pure dance” format. It is essentially a clone of Big City Radio’s “Energy 92-7 & 5″ in suburban Chicago, which is not a surprise considering that Chris Shebel (PD of Energy-Chicago) is consulting Energy-Arizona.

Previous Format: Modern Rock “Edge 106.3” KEDJ
New Format: Spanish AC “Amor 106.3” KOMR
Date & Time Of Change: October 30, 2001 at 12:00pm
More Info: Wikipedia, Phoenix New Times

Related Changes: KEDJ Moves To 103.9

Previous Format: Rhythmic CHR “Party 103.9″ KPTY
New Format: Modern Rock “103.9 The Edge” KEDJ
Date & Time Of Change: October 30, 2001 at 12:00pm
More Info: Wikipedia, Phoenix New Times

Related Changes: KEDJ Becomes Amor 106.3

For as long as many people can remember, 104.3 FM-Payson, AZ and its translators across northern and central Arizona (including 99.3 FM in the metro Phoenix area) had consistently been the home of poorly programmed and executed radio. Some of the attempts in the 90′s included Country (despite the presence of the powerful KNIX and KMLE in Phoenix), a bizarre AOR/Modern Rock/CHR format called “The Blaze”, a simulcast of CHR/Rhythmic KBZR-Coolidge (later KPTY-Gilbert), a return of the “Blaze” format (under the new name “CD Rock”), Traditional Oldies as “K-Best”, and an incredibly unfocused 60′s-90′s Rhythmic Oldies format, under the name “Arizona Jamz”, featuring (among other oddities) sweepers with “Beavis and Butthead” sound bytes. Obviously, given the constant changes, none of these formats garnered enough ratings or revenue to satisfy the financial desires of the owners. It doesn’t help that, in many parts of Phoenix, it’s difficult to pick up both 104.3 and 99.3 on an ordinary radio.

It seemed like there was no light at the end of the tunnel. But then Carey Edwards, an established Phoenix air talent who had most recently been programming Rhythmic Oldies KGMG “Mega 106.3″ in Tucson, was brought to the station. Soon after his arrival, allaccess.com reported that KAJM (the stations’ calls from 12/23/1999, up through the time of this writing) would be “relaunched” soon. The question was whether this “relaunch” would be simply an improvement of “Arizona Jamz” or a complete format change. The answer came on April 20, 2001, at 5:00 pm, as Edwards applied the formula from KGMG — KAJM became “Mega 104.3 & 99.3″, with a much more focused playlist, significantly improved production values, and live air talent. While the signal deficiencies remain, these changes give the station an opportunity to maximize its potential.