KFSH-FM
Encyclopedia
KFSH-FM is a radio station in the Los Angeles
metropolitan area broadcasting on the FM dial
at 95.9 mHz with a contemporary Christian music
format full time. It is owned by Salem Communications
and is known as "The Fish
". The branding is a direct reference to the ancient fish icon used by the Christian church from its birth during the Roman Empire to the present, and the icon itself is part of the station logo.
serving the Orange County
listening area. For many years it was known as the sister station to KEZY-AM (now KGBN
). Sometime around 1968-'69, KEZY moved to a larger complex for its studios and offices, located (coincidentally) at 1190 East Ball Road in Anaheim, near the intersection of Ball Road and East Street. It was around this time that KEZY turned to a top-40/pop/rock format, and became the station Orange County teens tuned to in the late-'60s and early-'70s.http://www.socalradiohistory.com/kezyam.html
KEZY-FM had a number of formats, including rock music
and adult contemporary. From 1993 to 1996, it carried most of games of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (now Anaheim Ducks
) National Hockey League team. In the mid 1990's KEZY advertised itself with the slogan "Hits of the 80's and 90's--and no rap!" as an alternative to the rise in popularity of rap and hip-hop music during that decade. In 1998 the station became KXMX, Mix 95.9; Angel and Randy "Ranman" DeWitt, formerly of KHTS-FM
Channel 933 in San Diego, were two of the first DJ's to appear on the rechristened station.
From 1996 to 2000, the station went through a number of ownership changes, first to Anaheim Broadcasting, then to Jacor Communications, which itself was purchased in 1999 by Clear Channel Communications
, the largest U.S. radio broadcasting group. In 2000, as part of conditions set by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission
to approve its merger with AMFM Inc., Clear Channel sold the station, then known as KXMX, and KEZY-AM to Salem Communications.
Salem changed the call letters to KFSH and introduced "The Fish" format of contemporary Christian music, which has since been replicated at other Salem radio stations nationwide.
The studios were moved to the Salem Los Angeles broadcasting studios in Glendale
, about ten miles north of downtown LA, in shared facilities with sister stations KXMX-AM, KKLA-FM
, KRLA-AM and KTIE-AM.
KFSH announces the artist and title at the end of each song played on-air in discreet prerecorded clips of one to two seconds, reminiscent of the "when you play it, say it" practice advocated in the U.S. radio industry in the early 1990s. Now practiced at other Fish-formatted stations owned by Salem, this allows listeners to know the song currently played without breaks in the music sets.
, approximately five to six miles northwest, on the border between Los Angeles and Orange counties.
Prior to its change in city of license, the station's 6,000-watt signal could be heard clearly in most of Orange County
, its primary listening area. The signal reached as far as Norwalk, Whittier and Long Beach in Los Angeles County to the west but was weak in the San Gabriel Valley to the north and the Riverside-San Bernardino area
to the east.
in early summer. The 2011 FishFest is the 10th anniversary edition and will be held June 25, 2011.
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
metropolitan area broadcasting on the FM dial
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
at 95.9 mHz with a contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
format full time. It is owned by Salem Communications
Salem Communications
Salem Communications is a U.S. radio broadcaster, Internet content provider, and magazine and book publisher specializing in evangelical Christian and conservative political talk radio. It owns 99 commercial radio stations, 65 of which are in the top 25 markets. Salem is the fifth largest U.S....
and is known as "The Fish
Ichthys
Ichthys, from Koine Greek: , is the Greek word for "fish"....
". The branding is a direct reference to the ancient fish icon used by the Christian church from its birth during the Roman Empire to the present, and the icon itself is part of the station logo.
Station history
KEZY went on the air on 1190 in 1959 (first with only 1,000 watts), with studios at the Disneyland Hotel. It was first known as K-EZY, or K-easy, likely due to an easy listening music type of formathttp://www.socalradiohistory.com/kezyam.html in Anaheim, CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
serving the Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
listening area. For many years it was known as the sister station to KEZY-AM (now KGBN
KGBN
KGBN is a Korean, brokered time AM radio station licensed to Anaheim, California, and broadcasting at a frequency of 1190 kHz. From 1997 to 2010 it was owned by Salem Communications as a sister station to KFSH and KRLA...
). Sometime around 1968-'69, KEZY moved to a larger complex for its studios and offices, located (coincidentally) at 1190 East Ball Road in Anaheim, near the intersection of Ball Road and East Street. It was around this time that KEZY turned to a top-40/pop/rock format, and became the station Orange County teens tuned to in the late-'60s and early-'70s.http://www.socalradiohistory.com/kezyam.html
KEZY-FM had a number of formats, including rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
and adult contemporary. From 1993 to 1996, it carried most of games of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (now Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
) National Hockey League team. In the mid 1990's KEZY advertised itself with the slogan "Hits of the 80's and 90's--and no rap!" as an alternative to the rise in popularity of rap and hip-hop music during that decade. In 1998 the station became KXMX, Mix 95.9; Angel and Randy "Ranman" DeWitt, formerly of KHTS-FM
KHTS-FM
KHTS-FM, also known as "Channel 933" or simply "nine-three-three", is a Contemporary Hit Radio station in San Diego, California, broadcasting in analog and digital HD Radio...
Channel 933 in San Diego, were two of the first DJ's to appear on the rechristened station.
From 1996 to 2000, the station went through a number of ownership changes, first to Anaheim Broadcasting, then to Jacor Communications, which itself was purchased in 1999 by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
, the largest U.S. radio broadcasting group. In 2000, as part of conditions set by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
to approve its merger with AMFM Inc., Clear Channel sold the station, then known as KXMX, and KEZY-AM to Salem Communications.
Salem changed the call letters to KFSH and introduced "The Fish" format of contemporary Christian music, which has since been replicated at other Salem radio stations nationwide.
The studios were moved to the Salem Los Angeles broadcasting studios in Glendale
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
, about ten miles north of downtown LA, in shared facilities with sister stations KXMX-AM, KKLA-FM
KKLA-FM
KKLA-FM is a Christian talk and teaching radio station serving Los Angeles and owned by Salem Media. During the week from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. the station features Christian call in talk shows. After 7 p.m. and on weekends the station runs ministries and teaching programs such as J. Vernon McGee, John F...
, KRLA-AM and KTIE-AM.
KFSH announces the artist and title at the end of each song played on-air in discreet prerecorded clips of one to two seconds, reminiscent of the "when you play it, say it" practice advocated in the U.S. radio industry in the early 1990s. Now practiced at other Fish-formatted stations owned by Salem, this allows listeners to know the song currently played without breaks in the music sets.
Recent changes
As of November 2008 KFSH's city of license has changed from Anaheim to La MiradaLa Mirada, California
La Mirada is a city in southeast Los Angeles County, California, United States, and is one of the Gateway Cities. The population was 48,527 at the 2010 census, up from 46,783 at the 2000 census....
, approximately five to six miles northwest, on the border between Los Angeles and Orange counties.
Prior to its change in city of license, the station's 6,000-watt signal could be heard clearly in most of Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
, its primary listening area. The signal reached as far as Norwalk, Whittier and Long Beach in Los Angeles County to the west but was weak in the San Gabriel Valley to the north and the Riverside-San Bernardino area
Inland Empire
Inland Empire may refer to:In geography:* Inland Empire , a geographic region in Southern California* Inland Empire , a geographic region encompassing Eastern Washington and North IdahoIn entertainment:...
to the east.
FishFest
Since 2002 KFSH has hosted a contemporary Christian music festival, FishFest, currently held at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine, CaliforniaIrvine, California
Irvine is a suburban incorporated city in Orange County, California, United States. It is a planned city, mainly developed by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. Formally incorporated on December 28, 1971, the city has a population of 212,375 as of the 2010 census. However, the California...
in early summer. The 2011 FishFest is the 10th anniversary edition and will be held June 25, 2011.