Phoenix
“Arizona Jamz” KAJM relaunches as “Mega 104.3 & 99.3”
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 an...
550 KGME Becomes NewsRadio 550 KFYI
Previous Format: Sports “SportsRadio 550” KGME New Format: News/Talk “NewsRadio 550” KFYI Date & Time Of Change: September 25, 2000 More Info: Wikipedia As part of the historic merger between Clear Channel and AMFM, Clear Channel elected to keep both KGME 550 (Sports) and KFYI 910 (News/Talk) as part of its AM portfolio in Phoenix. On September 25, 2000, KFYI moved from its longtime home at 910 to Arizona’s best AM signal, 550. KGME, which had moved from 1360 to 550 only about 16 months earlier, found itself at 910. KFYI changed its moniker from “Talk Radio 910, KFYI” to “News Radio 550, KFYI” — a name that sounded very much like its longtime competitor and now neighbor: Emmis-owned News/Talk/Sports-formatted “News Radi...
103.9 KPTY relaunches as Rhythmic CHR “Party Radio @ 103.9”
Following the change from “Arizona’s Party Station” to “Party Radio @ 103.9”, KPTY’s ratings fell into the dreaded 1-share range. There were numerous reasons for the mediocre ratings. Format-wise, Party Radio @ 103.9 began as what was described as “Extreme CHR” — playing hip-hop and modern rock (including a lot of cutting-edge selections) without the “in-between” music that defines most regular Mainstream CHRs (i.e. “pure pop” and dance music). It eventually dropped the hip-hop product in favor of “Extreme Rock”. Mancow Mueller’s syndicated “Mancow’s Morning Madhouse” show was also brought aboard. After dipping to a low 1 share, the end was near. During the final week of 1999, ...
105.9 KHOT flips from Rhythmic Oldies to Mexican “La Nueva 105.9”
Hot 105.9″ (first KBUQ, later KHOT) debuted on October 10, 1997 with a mix of mostly R&B Oldies plus some R&B and AC currents. Eventually, the currents were dropped and the station sounded similar to the “Jammin Oldies” format that was popping up all over the country. However, unlike most Jammin’ Oldies stations (which become popular quickly, only to have the novelty wear off soon thereafter), Hot 105.9 never caught fire in the ratings. On April 5, 1999, following a sale from New Century Arizona to Heftel, KHOT became “La Nueva 105.9”, offering a Regional Mexican format. Some will say that Hot 105.9’s limited signal was the culprit in its low ratings. However, La Nueva 105.9 has gotten better numbers, consistently, than Hot 105.9. Further...
“Eagle 96.9” KGLQ flips from Classic Hits to Hot AC “Mix 96-9”
The debut of “Mix 96-9” (KMXP) marked the end of the numerous permutations of the Classic Hits format on 96.9 (the last being “Eagle 96.9”) that previous owner Nationwide had attempted over the years. “Mix 96-9” was one of the first “Mix” Rock Hot AC outlets which Jacor (now Clear Channel) brought to numerous markets across the country. KMXP debuted with a slogan of “The Best Mix of the 80’s, 90’s and 70’s” (yes, in that order). After the turn of the century, in order to continue positioning itself as a station offering some currents, the slogan changed to “The Best Mix of the 80’s, 90’s, and Today”, which is much more common.
“The New 96.9 Classic Hits” KHTC evolves to “Eagle 96.9” KGLQ
Through the mid-90’s, Nationwide Communications seemed determined to make the Classic Hits format (which sounded a lot like a “lite” version of a Classic Rock format) work on 96.9 FM. It began with “96.9 K-Hits FM, Superstars of the 70’s and More”. Next in line was “The New 96.9 Classic Hits”. The start of the third and final attempt — “Eagle 96.9” — is featured here. One week after this name change, Eagle 96.9’s new morning show — featuring market legend Charlie Van Dyke plus the well-known and respected Michael Hagerty (also of KTVK-TV Channel 3, at the time) — made its debut. The announcement of this morning show change is heard on the audio. Just about one year after the debut of Eagle 96.9, Natio...
103.9 KBZR becomes Arizona’s Party Station
The seeds of “Arizona’s Party Station” were planted 6 months before the actual sign-on date. Prior to the Spring of 1996, KBZR was one of the many frequencies statewide that was carrying “The Blaze”. “The Blaze” was a bizarre Alternative/AOR/CHR hybrid format. In either March or April 1996, KBZR broke off from the other frequencies and began airing “old school” music…i.e., Hispanic-oriented Gold selections from the R&B, Hip-Hop, Rap, Freestyle, and Disco genres. As it turns out, the music selected and the audience it targetted were both premonitions to the eventual format and target audience. There were no jocks, but an interesting stunt that is best described as a radio version of the “Where’s Waldo” book s...
Stunting: “Steve” 103.9 KBZR Moves Into Phoenix
Prior to the Spring of 1996, KBZR was one of the many frequencies statewide that was carrying “The Blaze”. The Blaze was a bizarre Alternative/AOR/CHR hybrid format. In either March or April 1996, KBZR broke off from the other frequencies and began airing old school music i.e., Hispanic-oriented Gold selections from the R&B, Hip-Hop, Rap, Freestyle, and Disco genres. As it turns out, the music selected and the audience it targeted were both premonitions to the eventual format and target audience. There were no jocks, but an interesting stunt that is best described as a radio version of the “Where’s Waldo” book series. Promos and sweepers (voiced by station owner Jerry Clifton) claimed that the station was looking for “Steve” as they were movin...
104.7 KZZP Returns After 5 Year Hiatus
KZZP. During the 80’s, those call letters were synonymous with what was great about Phoenix radio. KZZP was the market’s legendary CHR during that decade. However, in April 1991, like many CHRs across the country, KZZP was forced to make big changes due to declining ratings and the polarization of the CHR format; they flipped to Hot AC as KVRY. Almost 5 years later, with KVRY on its death bed, owner Nationwide Communications decided to bring back the KZZP calls. But the format, while positioned as a CHR (the slogan was “Your Hit Music Station”), was actually a Modern AC — one of the first Modern ACs in the country. At the time, the move made sense. KKFR (Power 92) was a broad Rhythmic CHR that played a lot of the songs that KZZP as a CHR would have played. Ins...
