KEZE (96.9
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 ...
"Hot 96.9") 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 ...
FM 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 ...
licensed to
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
Morgan Murphy Media
The Evening Telegram Company, d/b/a Morgan Murphy Media, is an American television and radio company based out of Madison, Wisconsin. The company is named for publisher Morgan Murphy, who expanded the business after he took over from his grandfathe ...
, with the license held by QueenB Radio, and it airs a
rhythmic contemporary
Rhythmic contemporary, also known as Rhythmic Top 40, Rhythmic CHR or rhythmic crossover, is a primarily American music-radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip hop and upbeat R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary never uses ...
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, ...
.
The studios and offices are on West Boone Avenue in Spokane. 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 located in the Antoine Peak Conservation Area in
Otis Orchards, Washington
Otis Orchards-East Farms is a census-designated place (CDP) in Spokane County, Washington, United States, near the county's border with Idaho. The population was 6,220 at the 2010 census. The CDP includes the unincorporated communities of Otis Or ...
.
KEZE history
KSPO
On Christmas Day 1992, the station
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 ...
as 96.9 KSPO. It was owned by Melinda Boucher Read and it aired a
Christian radio
Christian radio is a Christian media radio format that focus on programming with a Christian message. Many such broadcasters play contemporary Christian music, though many programs include sermons, radio dramas, as well as news and talk progra ...
format. It also carried news from the
Mutual Broadcasting System
The Mutual Broadcasting System (commonly referred to simply as Mutual; sometimes referred to as MBS, Mutual Radio or the Mutual Radio Network) was an American commercial radio network in operation from 1934 to 1999. In the Old-time radio, golden ...
. In an era where few women were in charge at radio stations, Read served as the general manager and
CEO
A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...
of the station.
On March 4, 1996,
KSPO
KSPO (106.5 MHz) is an FM radio station licensed to Dishman, Washington, and serving the Spokane metropolitan area. It broadcasts a Christian talk and teaching radio format and serves as the flagship station for the American Christian Netwo ...
moved to 106.5 FM, clearing 96.9 for KEZE to take over the frequency. KSPO is now the
flagship station
In broadcasting, a flagship (also known as a flagship station or key station) is the broadcast station which originates a television network, or a particular radio or television program that plays a key role in the branding of and consumer loyalt ...
for the "American Christian Network."
Easy Listening and Rock
The KEZE
call sign
In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign (also known as a call name or call letters—and historically as a call signal—or abbreviated as a call) is a unique identifier for a transmitter station. A call sign can be formally assigne ...
started out in 1979 at 105.7 MHz, using the identification "KEZE, E-Z listening." It aired
beautiful music
Beautiful music (sometimes abbreviated as BM, B/EZ or BM/EZ for "beautiful music/easy listening") is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in North American radio from the late 1950s through the 1980s. Easy listening, elevator musi ...
. In 1979, KEZE-FM was acquired by Kaye-Smith Enterprises.
Kaye-Smith already owned
Top 40
In the music industry, the Top 40 is the current, 40 most-popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "Top 40" or " con ...
AM 790
The following radio stations broadcast on AM frequency 790 kHz: The Federal Communications Commission classifies 790 AM as a regional broadcast frequency.
In Argentina
* LR6 Mitre in Buenos Aires
* LRA22 in San Salvador de Jujuy, Jujuy
* ...
KJRB
KJRB (790 AM) is a commercial radio station in Spokane, Washington. KJRB is owned by Stephens Media Group, through licensee SMG-Spokane, LLC, and airs a classic rock radio format. It calls itself "94.1 The Bear".
KJRB has a daytime power of ...
, so the FM station flipped to a format that would also bring in young listeners,
album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock (AOR, originally called album-oriented radio) is an FM radio format created in the United States in the 1970s that focuses on the full repertoire of rock albums and is currently associated with classic rock.
Album-oriente ...
. KEZE called itself "Rock 106 - Spokane's Best Rock." In 1989, KJRB and KEZE were acquired by Apollo Broadcasting. Under Apollo, KEZE leaned more toward
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 ...
, with plenty of harder-edged rock acts on its
playlist
A playlist is a list of video or audio files that can be played back on a media player either sequentially or in a shuffled order. In its most general form, an audio playlist is simply a list of songs, but sometimes a loop. The term has sever ...
. Some of the core artists include
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. With a heavy, guitar-driven sound, they are ci ...
,
Night Ranger
Night Ranger is an American hard rock band from San Francisco formed in 1979 that gained popularity during the 1980s with a series of albums and singles. Guitarist Brad Gillis and drummer Kelly Keagy have been the band's only constant members, ...
,
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the gritty, rhythmically d ...
,
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne (born 3 December 1948) is an English singer, songwriter, and television personality. He rose to prominence during the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, during which period he adop ...
, and
Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1976 in Sheffield. Since 1992, the band has consisted of Rick Savage (bass, backing vocals), Joe Elliott (lead vocals), Rick Allen (drums, backing vocals), Phil Collen (guitar, backing vocals), a ...
.
With the emergence of
grunge
Grunge (sometimes referred to as the Seattle sound) is an alternative rock genre and subculture that emerged during the in the American Pacific Northwest state of Washington, particularly in Seattle and nearby towns. Grunge fuses elements of p ...
and "the Seattle sound" in the late 1980s and early 1990s, KEZE adopted heavy guitar-based
alternative rock
Alternative rock, or alt-rock, is a category of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1970s and became widely popular in the 1990s. "Alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from Popular culture, mainstre ...
, including
Soundgarden
Soundgarden was an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1984 by singer and drummer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil (both of whom are the only members to appear in every incarnation of the band), and bassist Hiro Yamamo ...
,
Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains (often abbreviated as AIC) is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1987 by guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell and drummer Sean Kinney, who later recruited bassist Mike Starr and lead vocalist Layne ...
and
Nirvana
( , , ; sa, निर्वाण} ''nirvāṇa'' ; Pali: ''nibbāna''; Prakrit: ''ṇivvāṇa''; literally, "blown out", as in an oil lampRichard Gombrich, ''Theravada Buddhism: A Social History from Ancient Benāres to Modern Colombo.' ...
. On October 20, 1995, the station moved to
adult album alternative
Adult album alternative (also triple-A, AAA, or adult alternative) is a radio format. See pages 9 and 10Mills, Joshua. "A New Radio Music Format: Rock for Prosperous Adults" New York Times, Feb 28 1994, p. 2. ProQuest. Web. Accessed September 4, 2 ...
(AAA) as
KAEP
Kaep is a traditional type of double-ended Proa sailboat native to Palau. Some of the essential design elements have also been adopted as a modern smaller multihull prototype variant.
Larger context
The Pacific Ocean and particularly Micronesia ...
, "105.7 the Peak".
KEZE Moves to 96.9
The rock format and KEZE call letters moved to 96.9 FM on March 4, 1996. As the public appeal of guitar-based alternative waned in the mid-'90s, KEZE attempted a "back to our roots" campaign as a
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 ...
station in 1996. Classic rock lasted about three years. In March 1999, KEZE flipped to an all-1980s hits format, known as "Star @ 96-9."
In 2003, KEZE began adding some 1990's music. In 2004, it evolved to an
Adult Top 40
The Adult Pop Airplay (formerly known as Adult Pop Songs and Adult Top 40) chart is published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine and ranks "the most popular adult top 40 as based on radio airplay detections measured by Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems ...
format. The morning show on the station was well-known local hosts "The Breakfast Boys," Dave Sposito and Ken Hopkins. They are now on
sister station
In broadcasting, sister stations or sister channels are radio or television stations operated by the same company, either by direct ownership or through a management agreement.
Radio sister stations will often have different formats, and somet ...
KZZU-FM
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 ...
.
Rhythmic Hits
On October 12, 2005, the station flipped to
Rhythmic Top 40
The Rhythmic chart (also called Rhythmic Airplay, and previously named Rhythmic Songs, Rhythmic Top 40 and CHR/Rhythmic) is an airplay chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine.
The chart tracks and measures the airplay of songs played on ...
, a move that might have been spurred by rumors that another station might move into the Spokane
radio market
A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area (DMA), television market area, or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same (or similar) television station, television and radio broadcasting, ra ...
to fill the void after
KYWL dropped the rhythmic format in 2004. Those rumors became reality in December 2005 when
KQQB
KQQB is a broadcast radio station airing Brokered Programming. The station is licensed to Stockdale, Texas and serves Stockdale and the southeastern portion of the San Antonio metro area in Texas. KQQB is owned and operated by The Raftt Corporat ...
signed on with the same format as KEZE's, even though KEZE had an advantage over KQQB in terms of signal coverage of
Spokane County
Spokane County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, its population was 539,339, making it the fourth-most populous county in Washington. The largest city and county seat is Spokane, the second largest cit ...
. KQQB evolved into a
Mainstream Top 40
Pop Airplay (also called Mainstream Top 40, Pop Songs, and Top 40/contemporary hit radio, CHR) is a 40-song music chart published weekly by Billboard (magazine), ''Billboard'' Magazine that ranks the most popular songs of pop music being played o ...
direction, thus leaving KEZE as the only Rhythmic Contemporary station in the market.
During this time, KEZE was known as "Wired 96-9" with the slogan "Blazin' Today's Hottest Music!" It was Spokane's home for the
Portland
Portland most commonly refers to:
* Portland, Oregon, the largest city in the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States
* Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state of Maine, in the New England region of the northeas ...
based morning show
The Playhouse. Wired was a generally successful station. However, ratings began to decline in early 2008.
Switch to Country
On November 20, 2008, KEZE began playing
Christmas music
Christmas music comprises a variety of genres of music regularly performed or heard around the Christmas season. Music associated with Christmas may be purely instrumental, or, in the case of carols or songs, may employ lyrics whose subject ma ...
. This format change to Christmas music left Spokane without a Rhythmic Top 40 station. It also led to speculation that when the holidays ended, KEZE would switch to another format. The holiday music continued through Christmas Eve of that year.
On Christmas Day 2008, KEZE switched to
country music
Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...
, branding itself as "Coyote Country." This made KEZE the fourth station in the Spokane area to broadcast a country format on the FM band, along with
KDRK
KDRK-FM (93.7 FM, "The Mountain") is a country music radio station serving the Spokane, Washington area. The station broadcasts at 93.7 MHz with an effective radiated power of 64,000 watts. It is owned by Stephens Media Group, through licen ...
"The Cat,"
KIXZ-FM "KIX 96" and
KICR
KICR (102.3 FM) is a commercial radio station broadcasting a country music radio format. Licensed to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, the station serves the Spokane metropolitan area. It is owned by Blue Sky Broadcasting and calls itself "K102."
KICR has ...
"K102 Country." Shortly after the flip, KEZE's ratings improved, despite the four-way competition.
On May 15, 2009, Coyote Country added ''The Jay and Kevin Show'' in morning
drive time
Drive time is the daypart in which radio broadcasters can reach the most people who listen to car radios while driving, usually to and from work, or on public transportation. Drive-time periods are when the number of radio listeners in this c ...
. Jay and Kevin had previously aired on "The Cat"
KDRK
KDRK-FM (93.7 FM, "The Mountain") is a country music radio station serving the Spokane, Washington area. The station broadcasts at 93.7 MHz with an effective radiated power of 64,000 watts. It is owned by Stephens Media Group, through licen ...
for 11 years. Jay and Kevin were joined by Sean "Slim" Widmer, formerly of ''Spokane's Sports Show'', as their producer.
Adult Alternative
On January 1, 2010, KEZE's owner, Morgan Murphy, switched formats on two of its Spokane stations, KEZE and
KXLY-FM
KXLY-FM (99.9 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station in Spokane, Washington, that airs a country music radio format. The station is owned by Morgan Murphy Media, with the license held by QueenB Radio, Inc. KXLY-FM calls itself "The Big 99.9 Coy ...
. It moved the Coyote Country format to 99.9, while KXLY-FM's modestly successful AAA format took over 96.9 as "The River." On November 12, 2010, the station flipped to all-Christmas, making it the second time in the station's history that 96.9 has switched to Christmas music.
The AAA format returned after the holidays. But after the temporary holiday music phase, it was obvious that the Morgan Murphy/Spokane management had not found a successful formula for bringing the station decent ratings.
Return to Rhythmic
On April 20, 2011, station management announced that KEZE would return to a Rhythmic Top 40 format. It had already set u
Facebookan
Twitteraccounts ahead of the switch, which revealed the station's new logo and moniker.
"Spokane’s River Gets Hot"
from Radioinsight (May 2, 2011)
On May 4, 2011, at 3:05 p.m., "The River" signed off with "Tree by the River" by Iron and Wine
Samuel "Sam" Ervin Beam (born July 26, 1974), better known by his stage name Iron & Wine, is an American singer-songwriter. He has released six studio albums, several EPs and singles, as well as a few download-only releases, which include a li ...
. The station then launched "Hot 96.9" with " Roll Up" by Wiz Khalifa
Cameron Jibril Thomaz (born September 8, 1987), better known by his stage name Wiz Khalifa, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. He released his debut album, ''Show and Prove'', in 2006 and signed to Warner Bros. Records in 200 ...
. With the return to Rhythmic Contemporary, KEZE faced another Rhythmic station, 104.5 KGZG, whose signal coverage requires a booster in Spokane (and who responded to KEZE's switch by setting up a website called "Not969.com" to direct listeners to its station.) Since its return to Rhythmic, KEZE has seen its two competitors, KGZG and KPXR-FM, leave the format in 2014: KGZG went dark on April 7, 2014, (and would later return as KNHK-FM
KNHK-FM (101.9 FM, "101.9 Hank FM") is a radio station broadcasting a classic country music format. Licensed to Weston, Oregon, United States, the station is currently owned by Alexandra Communications.
History
The station signed on the air in ...
), and KPXR dropped Top 40/CHR to return to Country on May 8, and later as Alternative KFOO-FM
KFOO-FM (96.1 FM, "Alt 96.1") is an alternative rock radio station serving the Spokane area of Washington, United States. It broadcasts at 96.1 MHz with an ERP of 60,000 watts and is licensed to Opportunity, Washington. It is owned by iHear ...
. With those flips, KEZE became the market's only Rhythmic Contemporary outlet.
References
External links
{{coord, 47.726, N, 117.169, W, type:landmark_region:US_source:FCC, display=title
Morgan Murphy Media stations
EZE
Eze (pronounced ) is an Igbo word which means King. Such words as Igwe and '' Obi'', plus others, are used by Igbo people as titles of respect and homage to the Eze. Igwe is derived from the Igbo word ''Igwekala'' or ''Eluigwekala'', "the sky or ...
Rhythmic contemporary radio stations in the United States
Radio stations established in 1991
1991 establishments in Washington (state)