The 98.9 frequency is the third station in the San Francisco market to use the callsign KSOL. The first was the AM rhythm and blues station at 1450 AM (the current KEST). Sly Stone was influential in guiding KSOL into soul music and started calling the station K-SOUL. The second was a popular soul music station (sans the K-SOUL moniker), at 107.7 FM (now known as KSAN). The current KSOL is unrelated to the previous two stations.
History
The station at 98.9 was established in February 1948 as KJBS-FM, the FM simulcast component of KJBS 1100 (now KFAX) by Julius Brunton & Sons, transmitting from the (still-existing) tower atop Clay Jones Apartments at 1250 Jones Street. As KJBS it had been a full-service station with news, weather, and sports programming, and served as a relay, interrupting programming overnight, to alert police and fire personnel to incidents, prior to the departments' own radio dispatch systems. The FM station was financially unsuccessful, and in 1953 it was sold to CBS. KCBS-FM had been operating with substantially lower power on 103.7 when it made the move to acquire this station.
Under CBS it rebroadcast KCBS until 1968 when it began to use the syndicated CBS automated programming, "The Young Sound". Later, it produced its own locally originated rock programming.
In September 1978, owner CBS wanted a still more powerful FM assignment, so they arranged a three-station swap that enabled them to be heard on a much stronger signal. KCBS-FM, their format and intellectual property moved to KEAR's 97.3 FM frequency, KMPX moved their big band and swing music format and callsign from 106.9 FM to 98.9 FM, and KEAR moved their Christian-based format from 97.3 FM to 106.9 FM.
In 1982, KMPX was sold to a New Jersey investor group, administered by general manager Les Elias and station manager Bob Heymann, and flipped to a mainstream rock format as KQAK, "The Quake FM99", on August 23 of that year. Hosting the morning show was the popular Alex Bennett, who had left KMEL in a disagreement over station direction a few months earlier.
KQAK was a personality-oriented album-oriented rock station for its first eight months of operation, and was partially influenced by the programming of WLUP in Chicago, a station that Elias and Heymann had previously managed.
A talented air staff was assembled for the station. In addition to Bennett was Joe Regelski as co-host, continuing their collaboration from KMEL, and Richard "Big Rick" Stuart, future KROQ jock Jed "Jed the Fish" Gould The 3rd, Mike Koste, Richard Gossett, Belle Nolan, Rob Francis, Oscar "Oz" Medina, Paul "Lobster" Wells, comedian Tim Bedore and others worked at The Quake at one time or another.
A month after KQAK's debut, another Bay Area station, KFOG changed its format from beautiful music to rock. This change left the Bay Area with six very similar-sounding stations (KMEL, KRQR, KQAK and KFOG, plus San Jose stations KOME and KSJO). Until 2019, KFOG was the only one of those stations still carrying a rock format, when it switched to a simulcast of sports station KNBR.[3]
In April 1983, Elias and Heymann decided to reposition the station (under the programming guidance of Rick Carroll from KROQ-FM) as the "Rock of the '80s," emphasizing new wave, punk, reggae, 2 Toneska, first generation Gothic rock, tracks from the 1960s and 1970s by musicians whose work influenced later punk and new wave performers, and the occasional novelty track. The modern rock format of The Quake has become much more memorable than their AOR incarnation, and its later demise was an important catalyst for a shift to a similar but more polished presentation at "Live 105" (KITS) in 1986.
Popular programs on The Quake, in addition to shows like, "The Alex Bennett's Morning Program", "The Quake's Early Tremors", "Midnight Dread" and a syndicated program called "The Rock Over London".
The KQAK broadcast studios were located at 1311 Sutter Street in San Francisco.
The final song broadcast before The Quake went off the air on June 18, 1985 was "Around The Dial" from The Kinks; this featured a re-edited version of the 'radio tuning' intro for the song which made reference to the demise of the station.
Later, another station, progressive talk radio KQKE, went on to use the same "Quake" nickname. Paul "Lobster" Wells has worked for KQKE, which was otherwise not related to KQAK. Today, the station, AM 960, is KNEW.
The KQAK call letters currently reside on a station in Bend, Oregon.
More format and ownership changes
On June 22, 1985, following four days of stunting with all-Brian Eno music, the station became KKCY ("The City"), with an eclectic rock format, partly inspired by another midwestern station, KTCZ in Minneapolis, Minnesota. All of The Quake's on-air staffers left the station, except for Bennett and his morning sidekick, Joe Regelski. Bennett left a short time later when station management insisted he play more music on his show, and later brought his morning show (sans Regelski) to KITS.
The 98.9 frequency then underwent years of turmoil. In late 1986, the station dropped the eclectic freeform rock in favor of Big Band/Adult Standards (shades of the original KMPX); then, on February 1, 1988, they adopted a short-lived CHR format as KHIT.[4] Both of these changes elicited a large outcry from the dedicated following KKCY's format had gathered. A group called "Coalition To Save The City" was formed and the group lobbied KHIT's owners to change the format back.
The format lasted for 3 months and 5 days, as on May 6, 1988, after playing "Shakedown" by Bob Seger, the station dropped its short-lived CHR format and immediately began simulcasting KOFY for 8 days. The station was eventually purchased by Bay Area media mogul James Gabbert, who changed the callsign to KOFY-FM on May 14, 1988, matching the calls of sister station KOFY-TV (channel 20) and KOFY radio (1050 AM, now KTCT). Gabbert returned the station to the previous adult album alternative format, which lasted for two years amid much tweaking.[5][6]
The next owner of KOFY-FM, Viacom, later obtained their neighboring station on the dial, KLRS (99.1 FM) in Santa Cruz. The two stations tweaked KOFY's Triple A format to "Rock Adult Contemporary" and adopted the callsigns KDBK (98.9) and KDBQ (99.1) - "Double 99" on July 30, 1990.[7]
The two stations then shifted to a Hot Adult Contemporary format on March 13, 1993 as “Star 99”. The stations' callsigns were also changed to KSRY and KSRI.[8]
KSOL call letters arrive at 98.9 FM
Logo for Estéreo Sol, 2010-2014
In December 1993, Allen Shaw's Crescent Communications purchased 107.7 KSOL from United Broadcasting, and purchased KSRY and KSRI from Viacom in 1994. Shaw changed 107.7 to KYLD in April 1994, calling it "Wild 107". The callsign KSOL was put on then-co-owned 98.9, with the format switching to urban adult contemporary on April 18, 1994, where Bay Area Hall of Fame (BAHOF) inductee Don Sainte-Johnn served as morning host.[9] The San Jose signal of 99.1 became a San Jose simulcast of "Wild 107" as KYLZ.
KSOL, KYLD and KYLZ were sold by Crescent Communications to Tichner Media and Evergreen Media in August 1996. On August 15 of that year, KSOL then switched to a Regional Mexican music format, and 99.1 became KZOL, again a simulcast.[10]
In April 2002, KSOL swapped callsigns with KEMR Amor (105.7 FM) in San Jose, and shifted toward a Spanish-language adult contemporary direction, with 99.1 becoming KZMR. When 105.7 switched formats and changed callsign to KVVF, the callsign KSOL returned to 98.9, with 99.1 redubbed KZOL.
The two stations have simulcasted since 1990, with 98.9 covering the North Bay, and 99.1 covering the far South Bay.
KJBS-FM: Sign-on February 1, 1948 until 1953, co-owned with KJBS 1100
KCBS-FM: "CBS FM" 1953 until September 1978, co-owned with KCBS 740
KMPX: "Multiplex" September 1978
KQAK: "The Quake" August 1982
KKCY: "The City" June 1985
KHIT: "98.9 K-HIT" May 6, 1988, ends with Shakedown, & Judy Davis's announcement says "and this is the end of K-Hit, for all you who were out there" before launching a then-new format & K-O-F-Y coming in the '50s
KOFY-FM: "Hits 98.9 FM" May 14, 1988, co-owned with KOFY 1050 and KOFY-TV channel 20
KDBK: "Double 99 FM" August 2, 1990, co-owned with KDBQ 99.1 Santa Cruz
KSRY: "Star 99 FM" April 16, 1993, co-owned with KSRI 99.1 Santa Cruz
KSOL: "KSOuL" April 18, 1994, co-owned with KYLZ 99.1 Santa Cruz
KSOL: "Estereo Sol" August 15, 1996
KEMR: "Amor" April 10, 2002
KSOL:"Estereo Sol" January 2, 2003, co-owned with KSQL 99.1 Santa Cruz
KSOL:"Que Buena" June 12, 2015, co-owned with KSQL 99.1 Santa Cruz
It is believed that 98.9 has had more callsign changes than any other radio or TV station in California history.
Related Research Articles
KCBS-FM is a commercial radio station in Los Angeles, California, serving Greater Los Angeles. It is owned by Audacy, Inc., and broadcasts an adult hits music format branded as "93.1 Jack FM".
KNBR-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to San Francisco, California, serving the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Owned by Cumulus Media, KNBR-FM features a sports radio format in a simulcast with co-owned KNBR. Both stations are the San Francisco affiliates for Infinity Sports Network, the flagship stations for the San Francisco Giants Radio Network and co-flagship stations for the San Francisco 49ers Radio Network. KNBR-AM-FM are the radio home of Greg Papa and Tom Tolbert.
KSAN is a commercial FM radio station licensed to San Mateo, California, and serving the San Francisco Bay Area. It is owned and operated by Cumulus Media and it airs a mainstream rock radio format. It also serves as the FM flagship station for the San Francisco 49ers Radio Network. KSAN's studios and offices are located on Battery Street in San Francisco's SoMa district.
KLLC is a commercial radio station located in San Francisco, California, broadcasting to the San Francisco Bay Area. The station is owned by Audacy, Inc. Its transmitter is off Wolfback Ridge Road on Mount Beacon in the Marin Headlands near Sausalito, California. The studios and offices are co-located with formerly co-owned KPIX-TV on Battery Street in downtown San Francisco.
KYSR is a commercial radio station licensed to Los Angeles, California, and owned by iHeartMedia KYSR broadcasts an alternative rock format and is the flagship station of syndicated morning drive time program The Woody Show. The KYSR studios are on West Olive Avenue in Burbank.
KIOI is a hot AC-formatted radio station licensed to San Francisco, California and owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The radio studios and offices are in the SoMa district of San Francisco.
KOME was a commercial FM radio station in San Jose, California, broadcasting at 98.5 MHz. KOME was on the air from 1971 through 1998. Currently, the 98.5 FM frequency is home to KUFX "K-Fox," a classic rock station.
KVVZ is a commercial FM radio station licensed to San Rafael, California, and serving the San Francisco area. The station is owned by TelevisaUnivision, through licensee Univision Radio Bay Area, Inc. It simulcasts a Spanish Contemporary radio format with sister station 105.7 KVVF Santa Clara. The studios are in San Jose.
KVVF is a commercial radio station licensed to Santa Clara, California, and is simulcast on 100.7 KVVZ San Rafael. They are owned by Univision Communications, with studios at 1940 Zanker Road in San Jose. They serve the San Francisco Bay Area with a Spanish CHR radio format, using the slogan "Reggaeton y más." KVVF and KVVZ are the San Jose affiliates for the Uforia Audio Network.
Bennett Gordon Schwarzmann, better known by his on-air name, Alex Bennett, is an American talk radio host, known for his mix of left-wing politics and humor. In the 1970s he made his mark in New York City where he was dubbed "The Youth Guru" by the press for his work on WMCA and WPLJ.
KSQL is a Spanish language radio station in Santa Cruz, California. The station simulcasts the signal of KSOL (98.9 MHz) in San Francisco. KSOL and KSQL program a format consisting of Regional Mexican music and some comedy talk shows. Both stations are owned by TelevisaUnivision. The radio studios and offices are in the Financial District of San Francisco. The KSQL transmitter is in Loma Prieta.
KSRY is a radio station broadcasting an alternative rock format as a simulcast of KYSR in Los Angeles, California. KSRY serves the Antelope Valley from its tower in Tehachapi, California. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc.
KFRC-FM is a commercial radio station in San Francisco, California, serving the San Francisco Bay Area. It currently simulcasts sister station KCBS, which carries an all-news format. The station transmits its signal from Mount Beacon atop the Marin Headlands above Sausalito, California, while studios were shared with formerly co-owned CBS O&O station KPIX-TV in downtown San Francisco.
KMVQ-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to San Francisco, California. It is owned by Salt Lake City–based Bonneville International and it broadcasts a Top 40/CHR format branded as 99.7 Now. The studios are at 2001 Junipero Serra Boulevard in Daly City. KMVQ is one of two Top 40/CHR stations in the San Francisco, the other being iHeartMedia's KYLD.
KFOG is a commercial AM radio station located in Little Rock, Arkansas. It simulcasts the urban contemporary radio format of sister station 92.3 KIPR and is owned by Cumulus Media. The station's studios are located in West Little Rock and the transmitter is located in College Station.
KYLD is a commercial radio station in San Francisco, California, serving the San Francisco Bay Area and owned by San Antonio–based iHeartMedia. The station airs a Top 40 (CHR) format on its analog primary signal. The station has studios located in the SoMa district of San Francisco, and the transmitter is located atop the San Bruno Mountains.
KCVR-FM is a radio station licensed to Columbia, California, and broadcasting to the Central Valley cities of Modesto and Stockton, in addition to the Sierra Nevada foothills surrounding Columbia, where the transmitter site is located. The station is owned by Entravision Communications.
KMEL is an urban contemporary radio station that is licensed to San Francisco, California, serving the San Francisco Bay Area. It is owned and operated by iHeartMedia.
KSSX is a commercial radio station located in San Diego, California, although the station is legally licensed to serve Carlsbad, in nearby North County. The station airs a rhythmic contemporary format, and is one of seven stations in the market owned and operated by iHeartMedia. The station's studios are located in San Diego's Kearny Mesa neighborhood on the northeast side, and the transmitter is atop Mt. Soledad, located in La Jolla.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
