101.9 FM history

[34james]

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't 101.9 play adult contemporary music under Gene Auntrys era as owner of this station.
Don't rely on Wikipedia because it has gaps on its history. Thanks in advance for any reaponses.

 

[Kent]

I'm not sure exactly when, but I know 101.9 was, at one time, AC as "K-Lite" before switching to alternative as KSCA, which it still uses today. As K-Lite, it had some of my favorite call letters ever, KLIT!

 

[davideduardo]

I'm not sure exactly when, but I know 101.9 was, at one time, AC as "K-Lite" before switching to alternative as KSCA, which it still uses today. As K-Lite, it had some of my favorite call letters ever, KLIT!

There are stories about how vandals would "steal" the hyphen in the raised metal letters of K - L I T on the front of the building they shared with KMPC and the Golden West TV operations. The radio manager threatened to fire anyone found responsible, which resulted in further removals of the hyphen.

I guess they bough hyphens by the box.

KMPC-FM became KSCA in May, 1989. The soft AC ran until July 1994 when the AAA format began, with calls changing in September after FCC approval. So K-light ran for five years.

Southern California's Album Alternative until February 5, 1997 when new owner Heftel Broadcasting played a song by Marco Antonio Solis as that singer and morning host Renán Almendariz Coello kicked off La Nueva 101.9 with a regional Mexican format. La Nueva was #1 in LA in its first full book, Spring of 1997.

 

[michael hagerty]

There are stories about how vandals would "steal" the hyphen in the raised metal letters of K - L I T on the front of the building they shared with KMPC and the Golden West TV operations. The radio manager threatened to fire anyone found responsible, which resulted in further removals of the hyphen.

I guess they bough hyphens by the box.

KMPC-FM became KSCA in May, 1989. The soft AC ran until July 1994 when the AAA format began, with calls changing in September after FCC approval. So K-light ran for five years.

Southern California's Album Alternative until February 5, 1997 when new owner Heftel Broadcasting played a song by Marco Antonio Solis as that singer and morning host Renán Almendariz Coello kicked off La Nueva 101.9 with a regional Mexican format. La Nueva was #1 in LA in its first full book, Spring of 1997.

And---KMPC-FM became K-LITE after KIQQ gave up the format to become KQLZ, Pirate Radio on March 17, 1989. Autry's people (specifically GM Bill Ward) saw the opportunity to have an FM that would complement KMPC-AM, which at the time was doing an Adult Standards format. The K-Lite format (which I believe was supplied by Century 21), was very soft with gold that went back to the 50s (the last song in the format on KIQQ was Earl Grant's "The End" from 1958).

Of course, within three years of making that switch, Ward took KMPC from Standards to Sportstalk.

 

[davideduardo]

There are stories about how vandals would "steal" the hyphen in the raised metal letters of K - L I T on the front of the building they shared with KMPC and the Golden West TV operations. The radio manager threatened to fire anyone found responsible, which resulted in further removals of the hyphen.

I guess they bough hyphens by the box.

KMPC-FM became KSCA in May, 1989. The soft AC ran until July 1994 when the AAA format began, with calls changing in September after FCC approval. So K-light ran for five years.

Southern California's Album Alternative until February 5, 1997 when new owner Heftel Broadcasting played a song by Marco Antonio Solis as that singer and morning host Renán Almendariz Coello kicked off La Nueva 101.9 with a regional Mexican format. La Nueva was #1 in LA in its first full book, Spring of 1997.

And my friend K M Richards let me know I had oversimplified the history...

• August 1985: Golden West buys KUTE from Inner City. Format remains "The Quiet Storm" (Urban A/C and smooth jazz).
• September 1987: Call letters change to KMPC-FM, running new Transtar "Niche 29" format (Adult Hits).
• February 1988: KMPC-FM goes live AOR under Sam Bellamy (ex-KMET PD). J.J. Jackson becomes PD in August.
• March 1989: Call letters change to KEDG ("The Edge").
• May 1989: Call letters change to KLIT, format switches to Transtar "Format 41" which KIQQ had dropped a few months previous when they became KQLZ ("Pirate Radio").
• September 1994: Format change to Triple-A, call letters to KSCA.
• February 2000: Sale to Heftel, format to Regional Mexican.

 

[davideduardo]

And---KMPC-FM became K-LITE after KIQQ gave up the format to become KQLZ, Pirate Radio on March 17, 1989. Autry's people (specifically GM Bill Ward) saw the opportunity to have an FM that would complement KMPC-AM, which at the time was doing an Adult Standards format. The K-Lite format (which I believe was supplied by Century 21), was very soft with gold that went back to the 50s (the last song in the format on KIQQ was Earl Grant's "The End" from 1958).

Of course, within three years of making that switch, Ward took KMPC from Standards to Sportstalk.

I remember, in late 1996, sitting in Bill Ward's office at KSCA... just half a block down from the entrance to Forest Lawn... and hearing him tell Richard Heftel and me that 101.9 had been proven not to be a competitive signal in the LA market due to its low power.

Right.

Note: corrcted frequency with thanks to SuperRadioFan.

 

[SuperRadioFan]

I remember, in late 1996, sitting in Bill Ward's office at KSCA... just half a block down from the entrance to Forest Lawn... and hearing him tell Richard Heftel and me that 103.9 had been proven not to be a competitive signal in the LA market due to its low power.

Right.

I know you meant "101.9" and not "103.9"(KACE) haha. When 101.9 was KMPC-FM/KEDG they mentioned their format on air as "Full-Spectrum Rock and Roll"; I really liked the old KUTE 101.9 The Quiet Storm where you could hear not only Anita Baker type music but songs that fit the format like songs by Heart ("These Dreams") and Dire Straits ("Your Latest Trick")

 

[ChannelFlipper]

I know you meant "101.9" and not "103.9"(KACE) haha. When 101.9 was KMPC-FM/KEDG they mentioned their format on air as "Full-Spectrum Rock and Roll"; I really liked the old KUTE 101.9 The Quiet Storm where you could hear not only Anita Baker type music but songs that fit the format like songs by Heart ("These Dreams") and Dire Straits ("Your Latest Trick")

Looking at the timeline above, KMPC-FM/KEDG only had the KEDG calls for three months or less at the end. I knew from memory that it was not a long period of time but I had no idea it was that short. Just confirms that they were full speed ahead with the station - until one day they were not.

When the end came I had a bit of a preview (I am guessing perhaps a month or so) because I was serving tables at a restaurant one day when two older gentlemen who were obviously local radio execs came and sat at my table. Being a huge radio fan and particularly fascinated by the business aspects of the industry, I started talking them up about various radio topics of the day. They asked me what my favorite station was and I told them and they both gave out a cynical snort and snicker. I knew immediately what that meant but pressed them anyway and they informed me that I should get all my listening in very quickly. Of course they were right.

 

[34james]

KLIT never did too well going up against KOST. That's what sank the format.

 

[davideduardo]

I know you meant "101.9" and not "103.9"(KACE) haha. When 101.9 was KMPC-FM/KEDG they mentioned their format on air as "Full-Spectrum Rock and Roll"; I really liked the old KUTE 101.9 The Quiet Storm where you could hear not only Anita Baker type music but songs that fit the format like songs by Heart ("These Dreams") and Dire Straits ("Your Latest Trick")

Yeah, having worked with both 101.9 and 103.9 in LA I did put the "3" where the "1" belongs.

I kinda' like Lucky Pierre on KUTE. Just strange enough to be interesting.

 

[Signal Geek]

101.9 had been proven not to be a competitive signal in the LA market due to its low power.

True, 101.9 is far from the highest-powered FM in L.A. But David, how were they allowed to increase their signal? In the 1970's, they were at conforming Class B power for that elevation (around 600 watts, same as KPPC 89.3, which is also on Mt. Wilson). Then sometime in the 1980's I believe, 101.9 stepped up to about 2.3kw. Now (per RadioLocator.com) they're at 4.8kw. How was that allowed?