KAJM

KAJM

Camp Verde, Arizona
Broadcast area	Phoenix, Arizona
Frequency	104.3 MHz
Branding	Mega 104.3
Programming
Format	Rhythmic oldies
Affiliations	Compass Media Networks
Ownership
Owner	Sierra H Broadcasting
Sister stations	KZCE
History
First air date	1984 (as KKJJ at 103.9)
Former call signs	KKJJ (1984–1987) KAFM (1987–1988) KRIM (1988–1998) KBZG (1998–1999)
Former frequencies	103.9 MHz (1984–1987)
Call sign meaning	Arizona JaMz (Moniker used during the late 90s/early 00s and from 2022-present)
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	52818
Class	C
ERP	40,000 watts
HAAT	807 meters (2,648 feet)
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS
Webcast	Listen Live
Website	www.mega1043.com

KAJM (104.3 FM) is a commercial rhythmic oldies-formatted radio station in Camp Verde, Arizona, broadcasting to Phoenix, Arizona. Owned by locally based Sierra H Broadcasting, its studios are located on Central Avenue in Midtown Phoenix, and its transmitter is in Crown King.

History

The station began in the summer of 1984 as KKJJ 103.9, a Class A station licensed to Payson, and would remain until 1987, when they got the approval and completed the move to 104.3. The original format was country.

Callsigns since then included first KAFM then KRIM then KBZG which were in use during part of the KBZR simulcast. The KRIM calls once dropped for KBZG were picked up later when KRIM-LP took them.

Previous formats include country, an 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 a ’60s-’90s Rhythmic Oldies format, under the name "Arizona Jamz", featuring sweepers with "Beavis and Butt-Head" sound bytes.

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 would be "relaunched" soon. On April 20, 2001, at 5:00 pm, as Edwards applied the formula from KGMG — KAJM became "Mega 104.3 & 99.3". ^[2] Since then, the station has shifted towards a gold-based Urban Adult Contemporary direction in part due to having a sister station in KNRJ, whose playlist and direction features an Urban Contemporary direction with a heavy emphasis on Classic Hip-Hop. As of June 2011, KAJM has picked up competition from Gold-based Rhythmic AC KYOT-FM, a move that prompted KAJM to rechristen its slogan to "Arizona's #1 Old School Station" to counter KYOT-FM's library of R&B/Pop/Dance classics (KYOT-FM has since flipped to adult hits). ^[3]

In July 2022, the station revived the "Jamz" moniker it had used before rebranding to "Mega", and began to be alternatively branded as "Mega 104.3 Jamz", with no change made to its format.

Move

In June 2007, KAJM moved its signal at 104.3 MHz from a location north of Payson, to Wildflower Mountain near Crown King, and changed its city of license to Camp Verde. Despite a power reduction, this location gives the station better coverage in the Phoenix metropolitan area, mainly in the western suburbs. The 99.3 translator would become part of KNRJ.

References

1. "Facility Technical Data for KAJM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
2. ""Arizona Jamz" KAJM relaunches as "Mega 104.3 & 99.3"". Format Change Archive. 2001-04-20.
3. "First Listen: Phoenix's Jammin' Oldies Battle" Archived 2011-06-10 at the Wayback Machine from Radio-Info.com (June 7, 2011)

External links

• Official website
• Facility details for Facility ID 741697 (KAJM) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
• KAJM in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
• Audio : "Arizona JamZ" becomes "Mega"

34°13′47″N112°21′06″W / 34.22975°N 112.351528°W / 34.22975; -112.351528