KBLA
Encyclopedia
KBLA is a radio station licensed
to Santa Monica, California
, with an Spanish religious radio format. It broadcasts at 1580 kHz with 50,000 watt
s day and night. Most of this station's signal is dumped over the Pacific Ocean, however, in order not to interfere with radio station KMIK (Ex. KNIX) 1580 in Phoenix, AZ, which is also a (Clear Channel) station and operates 50,000 D/N as authorized by the FCC. Consequently, the station is heard on a regular basis in Hawaii, via AM nighttime skip.
Originally, the facility was daytime-only, first playing pop music, and then, in the 1960s, switching to a soul/R&B format. In the early 1970s, the station gained approval from the FCC to operate at night. At this time, it was featuring a pop-album rock format, designed by Bob Wilson, who would later launch the media magazine Radio & Records
. However, KDAY returned to its soul roots, and became a highly successful AM R&B radio station during the mid-to-late 70s, as "15–80 K-DAY."
In the 1970s, the original KDAY
was the first radio station in Los Angeles area to play continuous hip-hop music. As acts such as Run-DMC, Grandmaster Flash
, and the Beastie Boys
became some of the most popular in the United States, KDAY brought their sounds to a new audience on the West Coast
. In the early 1990s, it was the first station anywhere to play N.W.A, which would become one of the most famous rap acts of all time.
In addition, Lee Marshall, known on-air as "King News," gave news and commentaries relevant to the African-American and Hispanic
communities. He warned about the troubles caused by gang violence.
By the mid-1990s, KDAY could no longer keep up with the FM stations that had co-opted the sound, so it became all-business KBLA. During this time, it was also the flagship station of the Los Angeles Clippers
pro basketball
team.
About 1997, KBLA ended that format and beginning selling air time to broadcasters of different ethnic backgrounds.
On March 31, 2004, KBLA became the original West Coast affiliate of Air America Radio
, airing talk shows hosted by Al Franken
, Randi Rhodes
, and Janeane Garofalo
among others. But on April 14, the shows were no longer available, due to a payment dispute between Air America and KBLA's owner, Multicultural Broadcasting
. Air America shows would not return to the L.A. area until February 1, 2005 on KTLK AM 1150.
. Before it was Radio Zion, this station carried adult standards
music and some talk
programming with hourly news updates from NBC Radio. The station once billed itself as "AM 90 NBC." The call letters were KGRB
-AM (900) formerly owned by Robert Burdett & Associates, Incorporated from September 25, 1963 to December 1995.
City of license
A city of license or community of license, in American and Canadian broadcasting, is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator....
to Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
, with an Spanish religious radio format. It broadcasts at 1580 kHz with 50,000 watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s day and night. Most of this station's signal is dumped over the Pacific Ocean, however, in order not to interfere with radio station KMIK (Ex. KNIX) 1580 in Phoenix, AZ, which is also a (Clear Channel) station and operates 50,000 D/N as authorized by the FCC. Consequently, the station is heard on a regular basis in Hawaii, via AM nighttime skip.
Originally, the facility was daytime-only, first playing pop music, and then, in the 1960s, switching to a soul/R&B format. In the early 1970s, the station gained approval from the FCC to operate at night. At this time, it was featuring a pop-album rock format, designed by Bob Wilson, who would later launch the media magazine Radio & Records
Radio & Records
Radio & Records was a trade publication providing news and airplay information for the radio and music industries. It originally started out as an independent trade from 1973 to 2006 until VNU Media took over in 2006, up until its final issue in 2009.-History:The company was founded in 1973 and...
. However, KDAY returned to its soul roots, and became a highly successful AM R&B radio station during the mid-to-late 70s, as "15–80 K-DAY."
In the 1970s, the original KDAY
KDAY
KDAY in Redondo Beach and KDEY in Ontario are a pair of synchrocasting radio stations based in South Los Angeles that airs an Classic hip-hop format aimed at African Americans in the 18-49 range. The station is owned by Magic Broadcasting, LLC and broadcasts at 93.5 MHz on the FM dial...
was the first radio station in Los Angeles area to play continuous hip-hop music. As acts such as Run-DMC, Grandmaster Flash
Grandmaster Flash
Joseph Saddler better known as King Grandmaster Flash, is an American hip hop musician and DJ; one of the pioneers of hip-hop DJing, cutting, and mixing....
, and the Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
became some of the most popular in the United States, KDAY brought their sounds to a new audience on the West Coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
. In the early 1990s, it was the first station anywhere to play N.W.A, which would become one of the most famous rap acts of all time.
In addition, Lee Marshall, known on-air as "King News," gave news and commentaries relevant to the African-American and Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
communities. He warned about the troubles caused by gang violence.
By the mid-1990s, KDAY could no longer keep up with the FM stations that had co-opted the sound, so it became all-business KBLA. During this time, it was also the flagship station of the Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
pro basketball
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
team.
About 1997, KBLA ended that format and beginning selling air time to broadcasters of different ethnic backgrounds.
On March 31, 2004, KBLA became the original West Coast affiliate of Air America Radio
Air America Radio
Air America was an American radio network specializing in progressive talk programming...
, airing talk shows hosted by Al Franken
Al Franken
Alan Stuart "Al" Franken is the junior United States Senator from Minnesota. He is a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, which affiliates with the national Democratic Party....
, Randi Rhodes
Randi Rhodes
Randi Rhodes is an American progressive talk radio personality, formerly featured on Air America Radio and Nova M Radio and now on Premiere Radio Networks. Her eponymous program, The Randi Rhodes Show, airs live Monday through Friday from 3 pm to 6 pm Eastern Time.-Early life:Rhodes was born in...
, and Janeane Garofalo
Janeane Garofalo
Janeane Garofalo is an American stand-up comedian, actress, political activist and writer. She is the former co-host on the now defunct Air America Radio's The Majority Report. Garofalo continues to circulate regularly within New York City's local comedy and performance art scene.-Early...
among others. But on April 14, the shows were no longer available, due to a payment dispute between Air America and KBLA's owner, Multicultural Broadcasting
Multicultural Broadcasting
Multicultural Broadcasting is a media company based in New York City founded by Chinese-American businessman Arthur Liu. Multicultural caters mostly to the Asian American community and owns television and radio stations in several of the top markets in multiple languages.-History:This company was...
. Air America shows would not return to the L.A. area until February 1, 2005 on KTLK AM 1150.
KALI (AM)
Radio Zion, the current format, is simulcast on KALI AM 900 in the San Gabriel ValleySan Gabriel Valley
The San Gabriel Valley is one of the principal valleys of Southern California, United States. It lies to the east of Los Angeles, to the north of the Puente Hills, to the south of the San Gabriel Mountains, and west of the Inland Empire. It derives its name from the San Gabriel River that flows...
. Before it was Radio Zion, this station carried adult standards
Adult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
music and some talk
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
programming with hourly news updates from NBC Radio. The station once billed itself as "AM 90 NBC." The call letters were KGRB
KGRB (defunct)
KGRB was a 500-watt radio station in West Covina, California. The station featured Big Band music & Swing music from the original 78 rpm recordings. Among the notable disc jockeys over the years were Lyman Jay, Bob Stone, and Tom Murphy....
-AM (900) formerly owned by Robert Burdett & Associates, Incorporated from September 25, 1963 to December 1995.