KBBD (103.9

MHz The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose expression in terms of SI base units is s−1, meaning that one he ...

, "103.9

BOB-FM BOB FM is the on-air brand of a number of FM broadcasting, FM radio stations in the United States and formerly in Canada. The BOB FM format mostly concentrates on album rock, alternative rock and pop music, pop hits from the 1980s and 90s, especi ...

") is a

commercial Commercial may refer to: * a dose of advertising conveyed through media (such as - for example - radio or television) ** Radio advertisement ** Television advertisement * (adjective for:) commerce, a system of voluntary exchange of products and s ...

radio station Radio broadcasting is transmission of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based radio ...

Spokane, Washington Spokane ( ) is the largest city and county seat of Spokane County, Washington, United States. It is in eastern Washington, along the Spokane River, adjacent to the Selkirk Mountains, and west of the Rocky Mountain foothills, south of the Canada ...

. It is owned by the

Stephens Media Group Stephens Media Group is an Oklahoma based radio broadcaster that owns 75 radio stations particularly in small to mid-size markets. Its flagship stations are at its headquarters in Tulsa. Stephens refers to itself as "A portfolio of People", ref ...

and broadcasts an adult hits

radio format A radio format or programming format (not to be confused with broadcast programming) describes the overall content broadcast on a radio station. The radio format emerged mainly in the United States in the 1950s, at a time when Radio broadcasting, ...

with the slogan is "We Play Whatever". The offices and

radio studio A recording studio is a specialized facility for sound recording, mixing, and audio production of instrumental or vocal musical performances, spoken words, and other sounds. They range in size from a small in-home project studio large enoug ...

s are on East 57th Avenue. KBBD's

effective radiated power Effective radiated power (ERP), synonymous with equivalent radiated power, is an IEEE standardized definition of directional radio frequency (RF) power, such as that emitted by a radio transmitter. It is the total power in watts that would hav ...

(ERP) is 34,000

watt The watt (symbol: W) is the unit of power or radiant flux in the International System of Units (SI), equal to 1 joule per second or 1 kg⋅m2⋅s−3. It is used to quantify the rate of energy transfer. The watt is named after James Wa ...

s. The

transmitter In electronics and telecommunications, a radio transmitter or just transmitter is an electronic device which produces radio waves with an antenna (radio), antenna. The transmitter itself generates a radio frequency alternating current, which i ...

is on South Park Road in Spokane, amid the

towers A tower is a tall structure, taller than it is wide, often by a significant factor. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires and are therefore, along with tall buildings, self-supporting structures. Towers are specifica ...

for other Spokane-area FM and TV stations.

History

The station first

signed on Signing may refer to: * Using sign language * Signature A signature (; from la, signare, "to sign") is a handwritten (and often stylized) depiction of someone's name, nickname, or even a simple "X" or other mark that a person writes on do ...

the air in 1985 as KVXO. During the period from approximately 1985–1988, KVXO was known as "Power 104", a

Mainstream CHR Mainstream may refer to: Film * ''Mainstream'' (film), a 2020 American film Literature * ''Mainstream'' (fanzine), a science fiction fanzine * Mainstream Publishing, a Scottish publisher * ''Mainstream'', a 1943 book by Hamilton Basso Mu ...

of the same ilk as "Zoo FM",

KZZU KZZU-FM (92.9 MHz 92.9 ZZU) is a commercial FM radio station in Spokane, Washington. The station airs an Adult Top 40 radio format which the station describes as "Today's Modern Hit Music". KZZU-FM is owned by Morgan Murphy Media, with the li ...

, its main format competitor. Notable personalities on "Power 104" included Lee St. Michaels and Rob Fisher (Leroy & the Pepper); Tracie Lee; Jeff Melton; Jim "The Bod" Larsin; Greg "The Blade" Young; TJ Collins & "Midnight" Mike Houck. In 1986, Collins began a show called "''The Power Switch''" where he "switched" the format and played hip hop and R&B not played on other radio stations in Spokane at the time; thus, becoming the first DJ to play hip-hop on commercial radio in Spokane. Collins also featured local and regional unsigned rap artists and began airing mixes by local DJ, GrandMixer GMS. ''The Power Switch'' was a very popular show that originally aired for two hours every Sunday night. Conflict over the show developed due to the dislike of rap music by another employee so in the fall of 1987, the show was moved to 11:30 p.m. to midnight, Monday through Friday. "Power 104" went dark on December 24, 1988, as then Program Director Ed Donohue pulled the plug on the transmitter. It was previously known as KYWL ("Wild 103.9"), which played hip hop and R&B and called itself "Spokane's party station". “103.9 The Hawk” KWHK played

classic rock Classic rock is a US radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock (AOR) format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format comprises rock music ranging generally from the mid-1960s through the mid 1990s, primar ...

, and before that,

active rock Active rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock stations play a balance of new hard rock songs with valued classic rock favorites, normally with an emphasis on the harder edge o ...

(when the station was known as "Z-Rock"). In the late 90s, KNJY “Z-Rock” was up against stiff competition with Rock 94 1/2. 103.9 started out in the 80s playing an adult contemporary leaning pop format as KVXO. In 2004, it was owned by Citadel Radio. Mapleton bought it in 2007. In the Summer 2011 Arbitron ratings survey, BOB-FM rated #1 12+.

External links

103.9 BOB FM official website

References

BBD Adult hits radio stations in the United States Bob FM stations Radio stations established in 1988 1998 establishments in Washington (state) {{Washington-radio-station-stub