KXXM
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Broadcast area | San Antonio, Texas |
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Frequency | 96.1 MHz (HD Radio) |
Branding | 96.1 NOW |
Programming | |
Language(s) | English |
Format | 96.1: Rhythmic Adult Contemporary HD2: Hot AC “Mix” |
Ownership | |
Owner |
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KAJA, KQXT-FM, KRPT, KTKR, KZEP-FM, WOAI | |
History | |
First air date | May 5, 1964 (as KMFM) |
Former call signs | KMFM (1964–1983) KSLR (1983–1986) KSAQ (1986–1993) KSJL-FM (1993–1998) |
Call sign meaning | XXM ("Mixx" in reverse, previous branding) |
Technical information | |
Facility ID | 28668 |
Class | C1 |
ERP | 99,000 watts |
HAAT | 182 m (597 ft) |
Links | |
Webcast | Listen Live |
Website | 961now.iheart.com |
KXXM, "961 NOW" is a Rhythmic Hot AC station based in San Antonio, Texas, owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. (formerly Clear Channel Communications until September 2014). Its studios are located in the Stone Oak neighborhood in Far North San Antonio, and the transmitter site is in Frederich Wilderness Park on the city's northwest side.
Station History
On May 5, 1964, KMFM signed on 96.1 MHz. It was a classical music station owned by the Pennington family, broadcasting from studios at 134 E. Agarita Ave.
In 1976, Harry Pennington, Jr. died, and his wife Rosa Lee took over the station before selling it to Classic Media in 1977. Classic built a new, 100 kW facility for the station. Six years later, the station was sold to C&W Wireless, which programmed a Contemporary Christian format known as "Son Light Radio FM 96" and changed the callsign to KSLR to match the new moniker.
Inner City Broadcasting, which already owned KSJL 760 AM, bought KSLR in 1986. The two stations began simulcasting as Super Q 96 FM and Super Q 76 AM, with the callsign changed to KSAQ on the FM side. In 1988, the simulcast was split, with 96.1 FM becoming known by the short name Q96 FM. During this time, a long segment of news known as "Cruz News" aired weekday mornings at 7 on Q96. On March 17, 1991, the format was changed to rock under the 96 Rock name. It was the only FM rock station in San Antonio for a year, until Oldies 99.5 KISS reverted to its rock format in 1992.
In 1993, Inner City sold 760 AM to Clear Channel Communications and moved its format of Urban Adult Contemporary music to 96.1 FM, with the station changing its calls to KSJL-FM. Unlike KSJL at 760 AM, the new KSJL-FM did not use "The Touch" format from Satellite Music Networks, and it added more mainstream Urban Contemporary tracks as well as "The Mix Show" with Ricco and D-Street, which would air Monday-Saturdays from 7-10p.m.
In 1998, another series of shuffles occurred when Inner City sold KSJL-FM to Clear Channel for $10 million. The Mix show was dropped on July 4 of that year, and the station reverted to a more adult-based Urban Contemporary format. The format was simulcast on a leased station, 810 AM KCHG, which would soon change its calls to KSJL itself. In addition, KTXX-FM, a rimshot located in Devine, Texas, increased its power to reach San Antonio proper, becoming the new FM home of KSJL.
All this movement made way for a new format on 96.1. At 5p.m. on September 3, 1998, Mix 96.1 debuted, and shortly after the callsign changed to KXXM. The first song aired was "The Way" by Fastball. KXXM would play artists like Will Smith, Jewel, Nsync, Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears and other Adult Top 40 artists.[1]
On June 30, 2017 at 5p.m., after playing "Be the One" by Dua Lipa, the station rebranded as "96.1 NOW", launching commercial free through the July 4th weekend. The first song on "NOW" was "I'm the One" by DJ Khaled and Justin Bieber.[2]
Morning shows on 96.1 NOW
- Deb & Dean (1998–2002)
- The Woody Show (2002–2004)
- The Kidd Kraddick Morning Show (2004–present)
Current On-Air Staff
- Michelle Fay
- Russell Rush
- EJ
- Dino
- Ryan Seacrest
- DJ Sticky Boots
- Romeo (Most Requested Live with Romeo)
- Enrique Santos (On The Move with Enrique Santos)
Former MIXX 96.1 On-Air Staff
- Kidd Kraddick (July 2013 death)
- Dean
- Deb
- Louu (Now with Fox Sports Networks)
- Woody
- Jamie Martin (The Woody Show)
- JJ & JoJo the "Olsen Twins" (The Woody Show) (Jojo - formerly of The Woody Show, The Russell Rush Show, and The JoJo Show - now at KTDR)
- Baby Lou (Cactus Lou formerly from KJ97)
- Tony Cortez (now at KTFM)
- Spoon
- Jett MacKenzie
- Jay Mykel
- Crystal Stone (now at KSMG)
- Krash Kelly (former Program Director, now at KBPA - Austin)
- Nadia (former Music Director/Promotions Director)
- Jazmine
- Duncan James (former Music Director)
- John A. Canales (former Stunt Guy) "Country bros John & Tom"
- Tomas Meek (former Stunt Guy) "Country bros John & Tom"
- Tony Travatto
- Robert "Dj AK" Hill (Formally KSJL- Street Party)
- Mark "Marqee Marq" Ruff (Formally KSJL- Street Party)
Station Logos
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KXXM logo, 1998 - 2003
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KXXM logo, 2003 - 2013
-
KXXM logo, 2013 - 2017
References
External links
- 96.1 NOW Facebook
- 96.1 Now's website
- Facility details for Facility ID KXXM ({{{2}}}) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- {{{2}}} in Nielsen Audio's FM station database