KPSL-FM
Encyclopedia
KPSL-FM is a radio station
broadcasting a Spanish Contemporary format. Licensed to Bakersfield, California
, USA, the station serves the Bakersfield area. The station is currently owned by Lotus Bakersfield Corp.
Bakersfield signed on-the-air on August 24, 1963, as KIFM. From 1966 to 1969 the KIFM format was Top 40 Rock & Roll. The call letters KIFM
now belong to a radio station in San Diego.
KHIS/KHIS-FM (1975–1996):In September 1975, the call letters were changed to KHIS-FM. 96.5 FM was bought by The Church of the Foursquare Gospel which also operated KHIS (800 AM) in Bakersfield. Format was Religious/Contemporary Christian music
on KHIS-FM. KHIS-FM signed on the air on November 17, 1980, airing as a contemporary Christian radio station until December 27, 1996.
KSMJ (1996–1998):On December 27, 1996, the call letters KHIS-FM were changed to KSMJ. KSMJ
aired a smooth jazz
music format branded as Smooth Jazz 96-5 KSMJ.
KKXX (1998–2004): On July 2, 1998, KSMJ moved up the dial to 98.5 FM and radio station KKXX-FM moved from 105.3 FM to 96.5 FM alternating between a rhythmic top 40 and Top 40 music format until September 3, 2004. The station was branded as X96.5 and at the time was owned by Mondosphere Broadcasting. On August 16, 2000, Mondosphere Broadcasting was sold to Clear Channel Communications
. Clear Channel relabeled KKXX-FM from X96.5 to 96.5 KISS-FM and also stated that no changes were expected at that time.
KBKO (2004–2008):On September 3, 2004, the format was changed to country with the call sign changing to KBKO-FM. The station was branded as Big 96-5. Later, it was rebranded as 96-5 KBKO. On February 15, 2008, the KBKO-FM call letters and the country music
format were briefly moved to 98.5
FM in a frequency swap with KDFO
, a classic rock
station which then became 96-5 The Fox. On Friday, June 20, 2008, the two stations were moved back to their previous frequencies after a four month, swap.
KVMX (2008-2011): On Tuesday, July 29, 2008, KBKO-FM was sold to Lotus Communications
and the station began stunting
before revealing the new format. At noon on August 5, 2008, the station announced a new classic hits
format branded as 96-5 Max-FM. The new format was led off with "Start Me Up
" by the Rolling Stones. On August 13, 2008, the KBKO-FM call sign was changed to KVMX.
KPSL-FM (Present):On September 8, 2011, Lotus Communications
made a frequency change to two of its stations, KVMX
and KPSL-FM which swapped frequencies. KPSL-FM is now at 96.5 FM and is branded as Concierto 96.5 FM and KVMX is now at 92.1 FM.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
broadcasting a Spanish Contemporary format. Licensed to Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
, USA, the station serves the Bakersfield area. The station is currently owned by Lotus Bakersfield Corp.
History
KIFM (1966–1969):96.5 FMFM 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"...
Bakersfield signed on-the-air on August 24, 1963, as KIFM. From 1966 to 1969 the KIFM format was Top 40 Rock & Roll. The call letters KIFM
KIFM
KIFM is a commercial Smooth Jazz/Urban AC/Soft AC music radio station located in San Diego, California, broadcasting on 98.1 FM branded as 98.1 Smooth FM-History:...
now belong to a radio station in San Diego.
KHIS/KHIS-FM (1975–1996):In September 1975, the call letters were changed to KHIS-FM. 96.5 FM was bought by The Church of the Foursquare Gospel which also operated KHIS (800 AM) in Bakersfield. Format was Religious/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...
on KHIS-FM. KHIS-FM signed on the air on November 17, 1980, airing as a contemporary Christian radio station until December 27, 1996.
KSMJ (1996–1998):On December 27, 1996, the call letters KHIS-FM were changed to KSMJ. KSMJ
KSMJ
KSMJ is a commercial radio station located in Shafter, California, broadcasting to the Bakersfield, California, area. The station is owned by Buckley Broadcasting and licensed to Buckley Broadcasting of California, LLC...
aired a smooth jazz
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
music format branded as Smooth Jazz 96-5 KSMJ.
KKXX (1998–2004): On July 2, 1998, KSMJ moved up the dial to 98.5 FM and radio station KKXX-FM moved from 105.3 FM to 96.5 FM alternating between a rhythmic top 40 and Top 40 music format until September 3, 2004. The station was branded as X96.5 and at the time was owned by Mondosphere Broadcasting. On August 16, 2000, Mondosphere Broadcasting was sold to 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...
. Clear Channel relabeled KKXX-FM from X96.5 to 96.5 KISS-FM and also stated that no changes were expected at that time.
KBKO (2004–2008):On September 3, 2004, the format was changed to country with the call sign changing to KBKO-FM. The station was branded as Big 96-5. Later, it was rebranded as 96-5 KBKO. On February 15, 2008, the KBKO-FM call letters and the country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
format were briefly moved to 98.5
KDFO
KDFO is a radio station broadcasting a classic rock music format. KDFO is licensed to Delano, California, and serves the Bakersfield, California, area. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications.-98.5 KDNO:...
FM in a frequency swap with KDFO
KDFO
KDFO is a radio station broadcasting a classic rock music format. KDFO is licensed to Delano, California, and serves the Bakersfield, California, area. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications.-98.5 KDNO:...
, a classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
station which then became 96-5 The Fox. On Friday, June 20, 2008, the two stations were moved back to their previous frequencies after a four month, swap.
KVMX (2008-2011): On Tuesday, July 29, 2008, KBKO-FM was sold to Lotus Communications
Lotus Communications Corporation
Lotus Communications Corp. is a media company that owns numerous radio stations and a few TV stations, and is one of the largest privately owned radio station groups in the United States. Headquarters are located in Los Angeles, and the company's President and CEO is Howard Kalmenson.-Radio:Lotus...
and the station began stunting
Stunting (broadcasting)
In radio broadcasting, stunting occurs when a station abruptly airs programming that is seemingly uncharacteristic compared to what they normally play...
before revealing the new format. At noon on August 5, 2008, the station announced a new classic hits
Classic hits
Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
format branded as 96-5 Max-FM. The new format was led off with "Start Me Up
Start Me Up
"Start Me Up" is a song by The Rolling Stones featured on the 1981 album Tattoo You. Released as the album's lead single, it reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #7 on the UK Singles Chart.-Writing and recording:...
" by the Rolling Stones. On August 13, 2008, the KBKO-FM call sign was changed to KVMX.
KPSL-FM (Present):On September 8, 2011, Lotus Communications
Lotus Communications Corporation
Lotus Communications Corp. is a media company that owns numerous radio stations and a few TV stations, and is one of the largest privately owned radio station groups in the United States. Headquarters are located in Los Angeles, and the company's President and CEO is Howard Kalmenson.-Radio:Lotus...
made a frequency change to two of its stations, KVMX
KVMX
KXJM is a commercial broadcast radio station located in the Portland, Oregon area and broadcasts at 107.5 FM. The transmitter is located in Portland's west hills; the studio is in downtown Portland, and the license location is in Banks, Oregon...
and KPSL-FM which swapped frequencies. KPSL-FM is now at 96.5 FM and is branded as Concierto 96.5 FM and KVMX is now at 92.1 FM.