KMEZ (FM)
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| Broadcast area | New Orleans metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 102.9 MHz (HD Radio)
102.9 HD-2 for Regional Mexican |
| Branding | "Power 102.9" |
| Programming | |
| Format | Rhythmic contemporary |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KMEZ, WRKN, WZRH | |
| History | |
First air date | 1992 (as KMEZ) |
Former call signs | KNOK (10/18/89-09/27/91, CP) KMEZ (09/27/91-05/29/08) |
Call sign meaning | The END, which was a slogan for its dial position on the station the callsign used to be on which is now KMEZ |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 12157 |
| Class | C3 |
| ERP | 4,700 watts |
| HAAT | 184 meters |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | power1029.com |
KKND better known as the "Power 102.9" is a Rhythmic Contemporary outlet serving the New Orleans area. The Cumulus Media station is licensed to Belle Chasse, Louisiana and broadcasts its format at 102.9 MHz with an ERP of 4.7 kW. The station competes with Clear Channel's WQUE for ratings. Its studios are located at the Place St. Charles building in Downtown New Orleans and the transmitter site is in Chalmette, Louisiana.
History
The station, whose original calls were KMEZ, started off in 1992 with a gold-based Urban AC format and was known on-air as "Big Eazy 102.9", only to later re-image as "Old School 102.9" in an effort to capitialize on the growing interest in the Rhythmic/Urban Oldies format. By 2004, it modified its format by adding current Adult R&B product to its playlist and reimaged itself again as "102.9, Old School & Today's R&B" to reflect the changes—and compete with WYLD-FM and hip hop station WQUE. Despite being an Urban AC, KMEZ, who, during the fall of 2007, became the flagship station of the New Orleans Hornets of the National Basketball Association.
On May 20, 2008, KMEZ began simulcasting on sister station KKND, who in turn, dropped their struggling country format. The simulcast also marked KMEZ's move to the 106.7 frequency. This station received the callsign of KKND from KXOS on May 29, 2008, who changed their callsign to KMEZ.
On July 1, 2008, Citadel Broadcasting officially chose Rhythmic Contemporary as the new format for the 102.9 frequency by unveiling the all-new "Power 102.9."[1] The station's logo and Hip-Hop direction is loosely based on KPWR/Los Angeles and is expected to challenge WQUE, who has dominated the R&B/Hip-Hop scene in New Orleans for nearly two decades and has yet to be defeated. Two days later on July 3 at exactly 10:29 AM (CDT), Rock with You by Michael Jackson signaled the end of the Old School format, as the song faded into the introduction of Power 102.9, signing on with 10,000 songs in a row, starting with Lil' Wayne featuring Static Major's "Lollipop".[2]
The station carried the syndicated Big Boy's Neighborhood from ABC Radio when it first signed on.[3] In March 2010, due to the possibility of the show being cancelled due to the loss of their syndication deal with ABC, the program was dropped for a local show hosted by Big Abe & The Power Posse.[4] But that only lasted two years, as they were replaced by the Atlanta-based Rickey Smiley Morning Show in October 2012.[5]
Despite having a Hip-Hop heavy direction, KKND has adjusted its musical focus in summer 2013 to allow some Rhythmic Pop tracks to be played on the station. Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.[6]
References
- ^ From R&R
- ^ From Radio-Info Louisiana Board
- ^ From Radio-Online (July 3, 2008)
- ^ "KKND Drops Big Boy, Takes Big Abe For Mornings" from All Access (March 12, 2010)
- ^ http://louisianajusticeinstitute.blogspot.com/2012/10/bounce-nation-holds-protest-at-local.html
- ^ "Cumulus now owns Citadel Broadcasting". Atlanta Business Journal. September 16, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
External links
- Power 102.9's website
- Facility details for Facility ID KKND ({{{2}}}) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- {{{2}}} in Nielsen Audio's FM station database