KSOC-FM
Encyclopedia
KSOC is a radio station
serving the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex in Texas
. The format of the station is urban adult contemporary
with an urban oldies lean. The station is licensed to Gainesville
and is owned by Radio One.
station during the 1980s in the Metroplex, calling itself "Texas' Best Rock". It was frequented by rockers such as Van Halen
and Joe Walsh
. It also promoted the Texxas Jam, an annual summer concert.
In August of 1998, SFX sold the station to AMFM (aka Chancellor Media) after Q102's ratings lagged, and changed it to Magic 102, an urban oldies station playing old school R&B and dance music.
In November, 2000, Clear Channel would purchase AMFM, which put them over current ownership limits and they swapped frequencies with KDGE-FM
and the station's name was changed to Magic 94.5. Radio One would purchase KTXQ and KBFB, and it shifted to the Urban AC format in 2002 as KSOC 94.5 K-Soul, playing current R&B and classic soul
. It was home to two syndicated shows: The Tom Joyner Morning Show
(which previously aired on KKDA/K-104 and then-Urban AC rival KRNB-FM) and Love, Lust and Lies with Michael Baisden
in the afternoons.
On July 18, 2011, KSOC dropped the K-Soul branding after 9 years. However, the K-Soul branding continued to run, although jockless at the time with Michael Baisden dropped from the station's schedule. The staff of KSOC has indicated that changes are coming to the station, and they've accepted feedback from their listeners.
At 5PM (Central) on July 29, 2011
, KSOC underwent rebranding Old School 94.5, although the station's format remained urban adult contemporary
per Mediabase
& Nieslen BDS. The last song of the K-Soul branding was A Change Is Gonna Come
by Sam Cooke
followed by the first song of the new format being Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now
by McFadden & Whitehead
. KSOC's playlist has a diverse mix of classic R&B and soul music
from the 1960s to early 1990s, much similar to its "Magic 102/94.5" predecessors with fewer currents. As of October: Tom Joyner has returned to the morning drive, Janet G DJs between the hours of 9AM and 2PM, and Kenny J handles the 2PM to 7PM drive. It is unknown whether Radio One will change the Call Letters or hire anymore new personnel at this time, however the launch was helped by former radio personalities Skip Murphy & Company (previously on KKDA-FM K104).
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...
serving the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. The format of the station is urban adult contemporary
Urban Adult Contemporary
Urban adult contemporary is the name for a format of radio music, similar to an urban contemporary format. Radio stations using this format usually would not have rap music on their playlists. The format was designed by Barry Mayo when he, Lee S. Simonson and Bill Pearson organized Broadcast...
with an urban oldies lean. The station is licensed to Gainesville
Gainesville, Texas
Gainesville is a city in and the county seat of Cooke County, Texas, United States. The population was 15,538 at the 2000 census.-History:...
and is owned by Radio One.
History
94.5 FM signed on in 1958 as KGAF-FM and AM 1580 as an oldies format. The station was owned by the Leonard Brothers and the transmitter was east of Gainsville. KGAF would last until the 1980s when the 94.5 frequency would be sold off.KDNT
94.5 was then sold to Mel Wheeler, who owned 106.1 (now KHKS). KDNT broadcasted a country format, which was previously on 106.1. The country format would be moved to the newly acquired 94.5 frequency. 94.5 would never claim good ratings in the Dallas-Fort Worth market due to the location of the tower east of Gainesville which would have a rimshot signal into the Metroplex.KZRK
In July 1987, with KSCS and KPLX competing for the country audience and were city-grade signals, KDNT and its country format were dropped and became KZRK "Z-Rock 94-5". Wheeler, owner of KDNT, had passed away and the station was sold once again.KDGE
In 1989, Z-Rock 94.5 was sold to Evergeen Media, who would change the calls to KDGE keeping the rock format as "94-5 the Edge". Evergreen Media would be purchased by Chancellor Media in 1998. Chancellor would look to improve 94.5's current ERP at 78,000 watts. There were plans to move the tower to its current location and increase the power to 98,000 watts.94.5<-->102.1
Before there was KSOC, there was KTXQ Q102 (on frequency 102.1), owned by SFX Broadcasting. Q102 was a popular rockRock 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...
station during the 1980s in the Metroplex, calling itself "Texas' Best Rock". It was frequented by rockers such as Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
and Joe Walsh
Joe Walsh
Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles, and has experienced notable success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B...
. It also promoted the Texxas Jam, an annual summer concert.
In August of 1998, SFX sold the station to AMFM (aka Chancellor Media) after Q102's ratings lagged, and changed it to Magic 102, an urban oldies station playing old school R&B and dance music.
In November, 2000, Clear Channel would purchase AMFM, which put them over current ownership limits and they swapped frequencies with KDGE-FM
KDGE-FM
KDGE is a Dallas, Texas, based radio station operating on FM frequency 102.1. It is owned and operated by Clear Channel Communications and plays 'alternative rock.'...
and the station's name was changed to Magic 94.5. Radio One would purchase KTXQ and KBFB, and it shifted to the Urban AC format in 2002 as KSOC 94.5 K-Soul, playing current R&B and classic soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
. It was home to two syndicated shows: The Tom Joyner Morning Show
Tom Joyner
Thomas "Tom" Joyner is an American radio host, host of the nationally syndicated The Tom Joyner Morning Show, and also founder of REACH Media Inc., the Tom Joyner Foundation, and BlackAmericaWeb.com.-Early life:...
(which previously aired on KKDA/K-104 and then-Urban AC rival KRNB-FM) and Love, Lust and Lies with Michael Baisden
Michael Baisden
Michael Baisden is an American author, motivational speaker, host of the TV One talk show Baisden After Dark, and host of his own nationally-syndicated radio show.-Career:...
in the afternoons.
On July 18, 2011, KSOC dropped the K-Soul branding after 9 years. However, the K-Soul branding continued to run, although jockless at the time with Michael Baisden dropped from the station's schedule. The staff of KSOC has indicated that changes are coming to the station, and they've accepted feedback from their listeners.
At 5PM (Central) on July 29, 2011
2011 in radio
The following events occurred in radio broadcasting in 2011.-Events:*January 1: 2 Knoxville stations change formats as WDLF and WYLV flip to K-LOVE and Air 1 , and a few Pittsburgh station change formats, as ESPN Radio moves from WEAE to WBGG, and Radio Disney moves from WWCS to the renamed WDDZ,...
, KSOC underwent rebranding Old School 94.5, although the station's format remained urban adult contemporary
Urban Adult Contemporary
Urban adult contemporary is the name for a format of radio music, similar to an urban contemporary format. Radio stations using this format usually would not have rap music on their playlists. The format was designed by Barry Mayo when he, Lee S. Simonson and Bill Pearson organized Broadcast...
per Mediabase
Mediabase
Mediabase is a music industry service that monitors radio station airplay in 180 US and Canadian markets. Mediabase publishes music charts and data based on the most played songs on terrestrial and satellite radio, and provides in-depth analytical tools for radio and record industry professionals...
& Nieslen BDS. The last song of the K-Soul branding was A Change Is Gonna Come
A Change Is Gonna Come (song)
"A Change Is Gonna Come" is a 1964 single by R&B singer-songwriter Sam Cooke, written and first recorded in 1963 and released under the RCA Victor label shortly after his death in late 1964. Though only a modest hit for Cooke in comparison with his previous singles, the song came to exemplify the...
by Sam Cooke
Sam Cooke
Samuel Cook, , better known under the stage name Sam Cooke, was an American gospel, R&B, soul, and pop singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He is considered to be one of the pioneers and founders of soul music. He is commonly known as the King of Soul for his distinctive vocal abilities and...
followed by the first song of the new format being Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now
Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now
"Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" is a disco song performed by R&B duo McFadden & Whitehead from their debut album, McFadden & Whitehead. They wrote and produced this along with keyboard player Jerry Cohen. Released from their self-titled debut album in 1979, the song spent a week at number one on the R&B...
by McFadden & Whitehead
McFadden & Whitehead
McFadden and Whitehead were an American songwriting, production, and recording duo, best known for their signature tune "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now"...
. KSOC's playlist has a diverse mix of classic R&B and soul music
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
from the 1960s to early 1990s, much similar to its "Magic 102/94.5" predecessors with fewer currents. As of October: Tom Joyner has returned to the morning drive, Janet G DJs between the hours of 9AM and 2PM, and Kenny J handles the 2PM to 7PM drive. It is unknown whether Radio One will change the Call Letters or hire anymore new personnel at this time, however the launch was helped by former radio personalities Skip Murphy & Company (previously on KKDA-FM K104).