KABG
Encyclopedia
KABG is an American radio station
licensed to Los Alamos, New Mexico
serving the Santa Fe
and Albuquerque
radio markets. It is owned by American General Media and has a classic top 40 classic hits
format playing hits mostly from the 1960s to the 1980s.
The format launched in Summer 1997 as "Big Oldies 98.5", with Craig Collins as PD. It then went on to beat out two other long running oldies stations in the Albuquerque and Santa Fe markets, KBOM 106.7 (moved to 94.7 in 2000, both frequencies which AGM had later purchased) in Santa Fe and KZKL (later changed to KQEO) 101.7
in Albuquerque which dropped the format in 2002 making KABG the only FM oldies station in both markets until its format change in 2007.
For many years the station had been known as "Big Oldies" but in 2007 it rebranded to just "Big 98.5" phasing out the word "oldies" as it has followed most other oldies stations across the country in shifting to a more 1970s focused "classic hits" format in order to improve its audience in the 25-54 age range demographic. It has also changed its website. Despite this, the station still plays a small amount of '50s/early '60s oldies.
Some former on-air staff includes Double C Craig Collins, Barbara Fox and Steve Suttle, and Scooter Sherwood.
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...
licensed to Los Alamos, New Mexico
Los Alamos, New Mexico
Los Alamos is a townsite and census-designated place in Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States, built upon four mesas of the Pajarito Plateau and the adjoining White Rock Canyon. The population of the CDP was 12,019 at the 2010 Census. The townsite or "the hill" is one part of town while...
serving the Santa Fe
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
and Albuquerque
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
radio markets. It is owned by American General Media and has a classic top 40 classic hits
Classic hits
Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
format playing hits mostly from the 1960s to the 1980s.
The format launched in Summer 1997 as "Big Oldies 98.5", with Craig Collins as PD. It then went on to beat out two other long running oldies stations in the Albuquerque and Santa Fe markets, KBOM 106.7 (moved to 94.7 in 2000, both frequencies which AGM had later purchased) in Santa Fe and KZKL (later changed to KQEO) 101.7
KQTM
KQTM is a radio station serving the Albuquerque, New Mexico, area. They are owned by Team Broadcasting and its city of license is Rio Rancho, New Mexico...
in Albuquerque which dropped the format in 2002 making KABG the only FM oldies station in both markets until its format change in 2007.
For many years the station had been known as "Big Oldies" but in 2007 it rebranded to just "Big 98.5" phasing out the word "oldies" as it has followed most other oldies stations across the country in shifting to a more 1970s focused "classic hits" format in order to improve its audience in the 25-54 age range demographic. It has also changed its website. Despite this, the station still plays a small amount of '50s/early '60s oldies.
Programming
Local radio veteran Bobby Box hosts the morning shift on the station. Other local personalities include, Jamie Frye, middays (10a-2p) and most recently Chaz Malibu, afternoons (2p-7p). It also airs several syndicated shows during the weekend.Some former on-air staff includes Double C Craig Collins, Barbara Fox and Steve Suttle, and Scooter Sherwood.
Previous formats
| Call Letters | Format | Name | Time Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| KKBR | Oldies | KKBR | 1986–1990 |
| KRBL | Rock | The Rebel Rocker | 1990–1992 |
| KRBL | Top 40 | Lazer 98.5 | 1992–1993 |
| KTMN | Classic Rock | The Mountain | 1993–1996 |
| KTMN | Adult Album Alternative | The Mountain | 1996–1997 |