KXRK

Last updated
KXRK
KXRK X96.png
Broadcast area Salt Lake City metropolitan area
Frequency 96.3 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingX96
Programming
Format Alternative rock
Subchannels
Ownership
Owner
KUUU, KNAH, KUDD, KYMV, KALL, KOVO
History
First air date
February 14, 1968 (1968-02-14) (as KFMC at 96.1)
Former call signs
  • KFMC (1968–1976)
  • KAYK-FM (1976–1981)
  • KFMY (1981–1986)
  • KFMY-FM (1986–1988)
  • KZOL (1988–1992)
Former frequencies
96.1 MHz (1968–1996)
Call sign meaning
"X Rock"
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 406
Class C
ERP 22,000 watts
HAAT 1,243 meters (4,078 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
 40°39′34.8″N112°12′7.8″W / 40.659667°N 112.202167°W / 40.659667; -112.202167
Repeater(s) 96.3 KXRK-FM1 (Park City)
Links
Public license information
Webcast
Website x96.com

KXRK (96.3 FM, branded as X96) is a commercial radio station located in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, broadcasting an alternative rock music format to the Provo, Ogden, and Salt Lake City metropolitan areas. Owned by Broadway Media, the station's studios are located in Downtown Salt Lake City and its transmitter site is located southwest of the city on Farnsworth Peak in the Oquirrh Mountains.

Contents

History

KFMC (1966–1976)

KOVO, Inc., received the construction permit for a radio station on 96.1 MHz in Provo on May 9, 1966. The new FM outlet took the call letters KFMC and signed on February 14, 1968. [2] KOVO and KFMC were placed in receivership in 1973, [3] after Glenn C. Shaw sued co-owner Ashley J. Robison asking for a financial accounting of KOVO, Inc.'s operations; when the case could not be settled, the stations were ordered into receivership and bids were accepted to buy the company. Both owners placed bids, but they were beaten out by First Media Corporation of Washington, D.C., whose principal was a former Utah resident [4] and which also had J.W. Marriott Jr. as an investor. [5] However, First Media did not become the owner of KOVO-KFMC until 1976 because the other parties appealed the district court's decision all the way to the Utah Supreme Court. [5]

Adult contemporary (1976–1981)

First Media immediately made a mark on the operations of both stations, changing the call letters of KFMC to KAYK-FM on June 1, 1976. KAYK-AM-FM simulcasted as adult contemporary outlet "K-96". [6] The stations remained a simulcast until 1980, when 960 AM broke off as KDOT. [7]

Top 40 (1981–1988)

The call letters were changed to KFMY in 1981 and the station moved in a contemporary hit radio direction. [8] [9]

In 1987, First Media announced it would sell its 11 radio stations, including KFMY-AM-FM, to a partnership of Cook Inlet Region, Inc., a company principally owned by Alaskan Eskimos, and Whitcom Partners, a group of New York investors led by the Whitney family; this gave First Media a tax break under policies that promoted minority ownership of radio stations. [10]

Oldies (1988–1992)

Under Cook Inlet, KFMY-FM flipped to oldies in 1988 as KZOL. [11] The Great Stock Company of Vast International Import acquired KFMY-KZOL in 1990 from Cook Inlet for $972,000. [12]

Alternative (1992–present)

The slumping KZOL, however, went through a major change in 1992, precipitated as much by events at another Salt Lake City-area station as by its own poor performance. In late 1991, 23 of the 25 disc jockeys at alternative outlet KJQN-FM (95.5), known as "KJQ", quit after the station hired a new general manager, making them question the ownership's commitment to its "modern music" format. [13] The result was that on February 13, 1992, with the financial backing of concert promoter J. C. McNeil, many of the former KJQ airstaff, organizing as the Acme Broadcasting Company, started a new alternative rocker on the former KZOL as KXRK "X96". [14] The Great Stock Company said that because of KZOL's unsatisfactory ratings performance as an adult contemporary outlet, it was willing to entertain brokering the station to Acme, which retained KZOL's sales and office staff but none of its air personalities. [14]

The result was an unusual [13] format war between "new rock outlets" which ended when KJQN-FM flipped to CHR in October. [15] Ex-KJQ DJs on the new X96 included Bill Allred (mornings), Dom Casual (mornings), Andrea Gappmayer (mid-day), Mike Summers (afternoon), Todd Nuke'em (evening) and Chet Tapp (overnight). [16] Acme acquired the station from Great Stock in 1993 for $925,000; the application included a copy of a lawsuit filed by the former KJQN-FM, alleging that its former employees took equipment, including a live truck known as the "Milk Beast", when they defected, and that the ex-KJQ staffers used KJQN-owned trademarks and made defamatory remarks about their former station. [17]

Since fall 1995, X96 has hosted an annual all-day music festival called the Big Ass Show (BASh) featuring nationally touring alternative and punk bands, as well as providing a stage for local bands. In 1996, X96 underwent a major technical overhaul, moving to 96.3 MHz [18] from a transmitter on Farnsworth Peak, increasing its coverage area (particularly in Utah County).

In April 1998, Acme sold KXRK to Simmons Media Group. [19] Simmons moved X96 to studios located on the corner of Broadway and 2nd West in Salt Lake City. In its 2006 summer double issue, Rolling Stone named KXRK one of five "awesome rock outlets" that were thriving in their markets despite a recent contraction in rock radio stations across the United States. [20]

In 2014, Broadway Media acquired Simmons Media Group for $11 million after having taken over operations the previous year. [21] Broadway moved X96 and its sister stations to new studios on 50 W. Broadway (300 S.) in downtown Salt Lake City; the company currently houses seven stations at this location.

See also

Related Research Articles

KLO-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Coalville, Utah, and serving the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. It airs a classic alternative radio format, known as "103.1 The Wave," and it is owned by Capital Broadcasting. The station is the radio home for Weber State University sporting events. The radio studios and offices are at the 257 Tower in Downtown Salt Lake City.

KJQ may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KUPX-TV</span> Independent TV station in Provo, Utah

KUPX-TV, branded Utah 16, is an independent television station licensed to Provo, Utah, United States, serving Salt Lake City and the state of Utah. It is owned by the E. W. Scripps Company alongside Fox affiliate KSTU. KUPX-TV's offices are located on Lawndale Drive in the southern section of Salt Lake City, and its transmitter is located on Farnsworth Peak in the Oquirrh Mountains, southwest of Salt Lake City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KUUU</span> Radio station in South Jordan–Salt Lake City, Utah

KUUU is a radio station licensed to South Jordan, Utah, serving the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. Owned by Broadway Media, the station primarily broadcasts a Rhythmic adult contemporary format during the daytime hours, but transitions to a rhythmic contemporary-based playlist during the evening and overnight hours. The station's studios are located in Downtown Salt Lake City and its transmitter site is located southwest of the city on Farnsworth Peak in the Oquirrh Mountains.

KTCE is a radio station broadcasting a Jazz format. Licensed to Payson, Utah, United States, it serves the Provo area. The station is currently owned by Moenkopi Communications, Inc. The station first became known as KTCE beginning in 1989. Although the station is lower power, it has often been heard as far north as Salt Lake City. Its studios are in Provo, and the transmitter site is on West Mountain west of Payson.

Radio From Hell is an American radio program broadcast weekday mornings on Salt Lake City, Utah's KXRK 96.3FM, simulcast via a live internet audio stream, and available as an iTunes podcast or downloadable MP3. It can also be watched live on YouTube and the X96 website. The show features hosts Kerry Jackson, Bill Allred, and Gina Barberi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KUER-FM</span> Public radio station in Salt Lake City

KUER-FM is a public radio station in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Owned by the University of Utah, its studios are located in the Eccles Broadcast Center on the University of Utah campus, while its main transmitter is located on Farnsworth Peak; an extensive transmitter network rebroadcasts its signal across Utah. KUER-FM features programming from NPR and other public radio distributors as well as local news coverage for Utah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KHTB</span> Radio station in Ogden, Utah

KHTB is a commercial radio station licensed to Provo, Utah, and serving the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. It is owned by Cumulus Media and broadcasts a top 40 (CHR) radio format, simulcast with 94.9 KENZ Provo. The radio studios are in South Salt Lake, near the I-15/I-80 interchange.

KYMV is an adult hits formatted radio station serving the Salt Lake Valley. The Broadway Media outlet broadcasts with an ERP of 88 kW and is currently licensed to Woodruff, Utah. They also use five on-channel boosters in the area to cover the metro due to its transmitter being based on Humpy Peak, located 50 miles east of Salt Lake City. The station's studios are located in Downtown Salt Lake City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KJMY</span> Radio station in Bountiful–Salt Lake City, Utah

KJMY is a commercial radio station licensed to Bountiful, Utah, and serving the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, including Ogden and Provo. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., and it broadcasts a hot adult contemporary radio format, switching to Christmas music for much of November and December. The station's studios are located in West Valley City.

KKLV is an American Contemporary Christian music formatted radio station broadcasting to the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. The station is licensed to serve the community of Kaysville, Utah, and is owned by the Educational Media Foundation. It was previously owned and operated by Wasatch Radio, LLC as trustee which Citadel Broadcasting divested, four months after picking up KHTB in the Salt Lake City cluster. While previously transmitting from Lake Mountain, the station now transmits from Farnsworth Peak, west of Salt Lake City.

KMES is a non-commercial radio station licensed to Ogden, Utah, and serving the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. The station is owned by El Sembrador Ministries and carries Spanish-language Catholic radio programming from its ESNE Radio network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KALL</span> Radio station in North Salt Lake, Utah

KALL is a sports radio station in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area licensed to North Salt Lake, Utah, though in station identifications and the FCC database, the station is listed as being licensed to "North Salt Lake City". The station is owned by Dell Loy Hansen's Broadway Media. The station's studios are located in Downtown Salt Lake City and its transmitter site is located in Legacy Nature Preserve west of Bountiful. Their sister station KOVO is also an ESPN Radio affiliate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KKAT (AM)</span> Radio station in Salt Lake City, Utah

KKAT is an AM radio station broadcasting a talk radio format. KKAT is licensed to Salt Lake City, Utah and is owned by Cumulus Media. The station's studios are located in South Salt Lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KUMT</span> BYU Radio station in Randolph–Salt Lake City, Utah

KUMT is a radio station licensed to Randolph, Utah, United States, and serving the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. The station's transmitter is located on Humpy Peak in the Uinta Mountain range. Under the previous calls, KUDD and prior, the stations transmitter was located near Promontory Point, Utah, in Box Elder County.

KOVO is a radio station broadcasting a sports format. Licensed to Provo, Utah, United States, the station serves the Provo area. The station is currently owned by Dell Loy Hansen, through licensee Broadway Media LS, LLC. It is an affiliate for ESPN Radio, which is also the affiliate of sister station KALL.

KJCB is a radio station broadcasting a Christian radio format. Licensed to Lockwood, Montana, United States, the station serves the Billings area. The station is currently owned by CSN International, Inc.

KYFO-FM is a radio station in Ogden, Utah, United States. The station serves Ogden and Salt Lake City with Conservative Christian programming from the Bible Broadcasting Network. The primary transmitter site is located west of Ogden; a 7-watt booster for the main signal and a translator at 91.3 FM are located on Ensign Peak, improving reception in Salt Lake City itself.

King Niko is an indie rock band from Salt Lake City, Utah, composed of Benjamin Moffat (guitar), Ransom Wydner (vocals), Timothy Rawcliffe (bass), Zachary Sloan (drums) and Reid Laitinen (keys). King Niko has played with bands like Loverboy, Rooney, Say Anything, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Switchfoot, Anberlin, Grouplove, Neon Trees and Panic! at the Disco.

Broadway Media is a radio and digital media company based in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States.

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for KXRK". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ↑ "KFMC(FM)" (PDF). 1970 Broadcasting Yearbook. 1970. p. B-206 (406). Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  3. ↑ FCC History Cards for KXRK
  4. ↑ "Washington-Based Firm Will Get KOVO Station". Daily Herald. February 22, 1974. p. 2. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  5. 1 2 "Licensee Changes At KOVO". Daily Herald. March 7, 1976. p. 43. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  6. ↑ Croft, Dan (May 17, 1976). "Provo's First Radio Station Plans Major Changes". Daily Herald. p. TV16. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  7. ↑ "K-96 Changes AM". Daily Herald. September 29, 1980. p. TV10. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  8. ↑ "1983. On the airwaves,..." Salt Lake Tribune. January 1, 1984. p. E5. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  9. ↑ Arave, Lynn (November 27, 2006). "Glenn Beck not household name — yet". Deseret News. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Radio Deals Go Through Roof" (PDF). Radio & Records. July 17, 1987. p. 1. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  11. ↑ Avlon, Peter (October 17, 1988). "KWCR dials in album-oriented rock format". Signpost. pp. 1, 2 . Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Transactions" (PDF). Radio & Records. February 9, 1990. p. 10. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  13. 1 2 Alexander, Shawn (June 12, 1992). "Chaos In Salt Lake City" (PDF). Radio & Records. p. 74. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  14. 1 2 Buttars, Lori (February 13, 1992). "Radio-Station Staffers Find New Home After Saying No to 'Fat, Corporate Rock'". Salt Lake Tribune. p. B9. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  15. ↑ "Airwaves". Salt Lake Tribune. October 9, 1992. p. C4. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Airwaves". Salt Lake Tribune. February 14, 1992. p. D7. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Transactions" (PDF). Radio & Records. July 30, 1993. p. 8. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  18. ↑ Arave, Lynn (September 20, 1996). "Change is the Name of the Game on Radio". Deseret News. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  19. ↑ Buttars, Lori (January 30, 1998). "Chain Will Buy Independent Radio Station X-96". Salt Lake Tribune. p. B7. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  20. ↑ Serpick, Evan (2006). "Rock Radio's Last Stand". Rolling Stone . Vol. 1, no. 1004 and 1005. p. 20.
  21. ↑ Venta, Lance (January 13, 2014). "Broadway Media Acquires Simmons Salt Lake City". RadioInsight. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
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.