KBFB-FM
Encyclopedia
KBFB is a Dallas
/Fort Worth
-based radio station
with a rhythmic contemporary
musical format, although with an urban lean (another urban-leaning rhythmic station is WPGC-FM
in Washington, D.C.
). It is owned by Radio One with sister station KSOC-FM
94.5. Its transmitter is located in Cedar Hill, Texas
.
) were sold by A.H. Belo Corporation, which retained ownership of the Dallas Morning News and WFAA-TV
(channel 8). Three years later KZEW switched formats to a light rock station, changing both calls and branding to KKWM (Warm 97.9). A year later, the station changed its callsign and station nickname again to KLRX (Lite 97.9) while maintaining its light rock format.
to Infinity
/CBS Radio
and formats were switched back to progressive rock and re-branded KRRW (Arrow
97.9). In 1997, the station switched formats back to soft rock/adult contemporary music and renamed to the current KBFB, and the slogan became B-97.9. Programming during this soft rock incarnation included Delilah
during the nighttime hours via satellite before she was shifted to its former sister station KVIL.
rival KZZA, which just shifted from a Hispanic Rhythmic
direction and in early 2007 lured KBFB staffer DJ Miracle over to their station for nights. KZZA is a rimshot, and therefore only targets part of the Metroplex, meaning KBFB had been always the Metroplex's default rhythmic since they not only rival KKDA-FM, but they rival rhythmic-leaning contemporary hit radio
rival KHKS (the top-rated radio station in the Metroplex) & mainstream top 40 rival KLIF-FM. Another rival, KJKK, during their KRBV tenture as Wild 100.3, also had the contemporary hit radio
format up until 2004
, when they became their current adult hits
format.
And despite its Urban format, KBFB leaned more Rhythmic until recently; however, Mediabase
continues to list the station on the rhythmic panel (along with sister station WPHI-FM
in Philadelphia through 2011
, but WPHI-FM is now an urban station again due to WRDW-FM
serving as the rhythmic station in that area), making KBFB the only rhythmic station in Dallas due to KZZA going back to Hispanic Rhythmic in 2008
, and the only rhythmic station owned by Radio One (along with WCKX
in Columbus, Ohio
& WHHH
in Indianapolis, Indiana
). In the beginning, the station was home to Russ Parr
in the Morning (of whom he started his radio career at defunct KJMZ in the Metroplex). Later, it was home to Steve Harvey
in the mornings from 2003-2005 through a syndicated simulcast from its sister station in Los Angeles, KKBT
(also nicknamed "The Beat"). Eventually, Radio One let Harvey go due to contract disputes (he is now on KRNB
), and now KBFB is the flagship of the Rickey Smiley
Morning Show.
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
/Fort Worth
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
-based radio station
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...
with a rhythmic contemporary
Rhythmic Contemporary
Rhythmic contemporary, also known as rhythmic top 40, rhythmic contemporary hit radio or rhythmic crossover, is a music radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary rarely uses rock music or country music in its airplay, but it may...
musical format, although with an urban lean (another urban-leaning rhythmic station is WPGC-FM
WPGC-FM
WPGC-FM is one of the most popular among Washington, D.C.'s urban format radio station's, and has been ranked as one of its top rated radio stations for over 20 years, according to the Arbitron ratings. It has a city of license of Morningside at the 95.5 MHz frequency on the FM dial...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
). It is owned by Radio One with sister station KSOC-FM
KSOC-FM
KSOC is a radio station serving the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex in Texas. The format of the station is urban adult contemporary with an urban oldies lean. The station is licensed to Gainesville and is owned by Radio One.-History:94.5 FM signed on in 1958 as KGAF-FM and AM 1580 as an oldies format...
94.5. Its transmitter is located in Cedar Hill, Texas
Cedar Hill, Texas
Cedar Hill is a city in Dallas and Ellis Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. It is located approximately sixteen miles southwest of downtown Dallas and is situated along the eastern shore of Joe Pool Lake and Cedar Hill State Park. The population was 32,093 at the 2000 census...
.
The Belo/Anchor Media/Cox Years
Before the Urban music began, it started out WFAA-FM, initially simulcasting its AM sister station WFAA (570 AM) before adopting an automated beautiful music format by the middle 1960s. In September 1973, WFAA-FM changed its call letters to KZEW and played classic and progressive rock music for 17 years with the on-air slogan The Zoo. In 1987, KZEW and KRQX (the former WFAA radio, now KLIFKLIF
KLIF is a commercial radio station licensed to serve Dallas, Texas, USA. The station is owned by Cumulus Media. KLIF broadcasts a conservative-leaning news/talk radio format to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.-Call sign history:...
) were sold by A.H. Belo Corporation, which retained ownership of the Dallas Morning News and WFAA-TV
WFAA-TV
WFAA, channel 8, is an ABC-affiliated television station serving the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex, one of the top ten media markets in North America. The station is the flagship of Belo Corporation and the largest ABC affiliate not owned and operated by the network...
(channel 8). Three years later KZEW switched formats to a light rock station, changing both calls and branding to KKWM (Warm 97.9). A year later, the station changed its callsign and station nickname again to KLRX (Lite 97.9) while maintaining its light rock format.
The Infinity/CBS Years
In 1993, the station was sold by Cox EnterprisesCox Enterprises
Cox Enterprises is the successor to the publishing company founded in Dayton, Ohio, United States, by James Middleton Cox, who began with the Dayton Daily News. He was the Democratic candidate for the President of the United States in the election of 1920...
to Infinity
Infinity Broadcasting Corporation
Infinity Broadcasting Corporation was a radio company that existed from 1972 until 2005. It was founded by Michael A. Wiener and Gerald Carrus. It became associated with popular radio personalities like Howard Stern, Don Imus and Mike Francesa. Infinity merged with CBS Corporation in 1997 and later...
/CBS Radio
CBS Radio
CBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
and formats were switched back to progressive rock and re-branded KRRW (Arrow
Arrow (radio format)
Arrow is a radio format that plays "classic hits" from the late 1970s through the early 1980s among other selections. The format was briefly popular in a number of markets.The word "Arrow" is an extended acronym for "All Rock-and-Roll Oldies"....
97.9). In 1997, the station switched formats back to soft rock/adult contemporary music and renamed to the current KBFB, and the slogan became B-97.9. Programming during this soft rock incarnation included Delilah
Delilah Rene
Delilah Rene Luke , almost always known mononymously as Delilah, is an American radio personality, author, and songwriter, best known as the host of a nationally syndicated nightly U.S...
during the nighttime hours via satellite before she was shifted to its former sister station KVIL.
97.9 Today
KBFB made the change to mainstream urban as 97.9 The Beat in 2000 after the station was sold to Radio One. Since The Beat's launch, the station has been in direct competition against longtime heritage Urban station KKDA. In addition to KKDA, they also had a competitor in former Rhythmic ContemporaryRhythmic Contemporary
Rhythmic contemporary, also known as rhythmic top 40, rhythmic contemporary hit radio or rhythmic crossover, is a music radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary rarely uses rock music or country music in its airplay, but it may...
rival KZZA, which just shifted from a Hispanic Rhythmic
Hispanic rhythmic
Hispanic rhythmic, also known as Hispanic urban or "Hurban", is an American radio and format genre that features a Spanish-language musical mix of Latin hip-hop, Mexican hip-hop, reggaeton, dancehall, Latin pop, dance, tropical and salsa hits, all geared towards a bilingual audience, most of them...
direction and in early 2007 lured KBFB staffer DJ Miracle over to their station for nights. KZZA is a rimshot, and therefore only targets part of the Metroplex, meaning KBFB had been always the Metroplex's default rhythmic since they not only rival KKDA-FM, but they rival rhythmic-leaning contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
rival KHKS (the top-rated radio station in the Metroplex) & mainstream top 40 rival KLIF-FM. Another rival, KJKK, during their KRBV tenture as Wild 100.3, also had the contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
format up until 2004
2004 in radio
The year 2004 saw a number of significant events in radio broadcasting history.-Events:*30 October - In the UK a 163-metre-high radio mast at Peterborough collapses in a fire.-Debuts:...
, when they became their current adult hits
Adult hits
Adult hits is a radio format, popular in the early 2000s, that does not adhere to a specific music genre, but instead draws from a wider playlist...
format.
And despite its Urban format, KBFB leaned more Rhythmic until recently; however, Mediabase
Mediabase
Mediabase is a music industry service that monitors radio station airplay in 180 US and Canadian markets. Mediabase publishes music charts and data based on the most played songs on terrestrial and satellite radio, and provides in-depth analytical tools for radio and record industry professionals...
continues to list the station on the rhythmic panel (along with sister station WPHI-FM
WPHI-FM
WPHI-FM, " Hot 107.9", is a radio station owned by Radio One, that airs a Urban Contemporary format. The station is licensed to Pennsauken, New Jersey and serves the Philadelphia market. When WPHI was on 100.3, it was known as "100.3 The Beat". On August 27, 2011, the "Beat" moniker was dropped...
in Philadelphia through 2011
2011 in radio
The following events occurred in radio broadcasting in 2011.-Events:*January 1: 2 Knoxville stations change formats as WDLF and WYLV flip to K-LOVE and Air 1 , and a few Pittsburgh station change formats, as ESPN Radio moves from WEAE to WBGG, and Radio Disney moves from WWCS to the renamed WDDZ,...
, but WPHI-FM is now an urban station again due to WRDW-FM
WRDW-FM
WRDW-FM, also known as Wired 96.5, is a Philadelphia radio station owned by Beasley Broadcast Group that plays a Rhythmic Top 40 musical format. Although they lean towards R&B/Hip-Hop, Wired also adds Rhythmic Pop tracks to their playlist...
serving as the rhythmic station in that area), making KBFB the only rhythmic station in Dallas due to KZZA going back to Hispanic Rhythmic in 2008
2008 in radio
Several events occurred in radio in 2008.- Events :* January 2: WWFT finished Christmas music stunting, rolling out the red carpet for Adult contemporary music branded as "Warm."...
, and the only rhythmic station owned by Radio One (along with WCKX
WCKX
WCKX is a radio station broadcasting an Rhythmic Contemporary format. The station is licensed to and serves the Columbus, Ohio metropolitan area. It first began broadcasting in 1993 under the call sign WJZA. The station is currently owned by Radio One...
in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
& WHHH
WHHH
WHHH is a rhythmic contemporary radio station in Indianapolis, although it is an urban contemporary reporter per Nielsen BDS. It is at 96.3 FM also known as "Hot 96.3: Interactive Hip-Hop and R&B." Along with four other Indy stations, WTLC , WTLC-FM, WNOU and TV station WDNI they are owned and...
in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
). In the beginning, the station was home to Russ Parr
Russ Parr
Russ Parr is an American radio and television personality.-Career:Parr began as a Production Services Director at ABC TV....
in the Morning (of whom he started his radio career at defunct KJMZ in the Metroplex). Later, it was home to Steve Harvey
Steve Harvey
Broderick Steven "Steve" Harvey is an American actor, comedian, entertainer, television and radio personality and best-selling author. He is best known as the star of the WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show, and as one of the four comedians featured in the Spike Lee film The Original Kings of Comedy...
in the mornings from 2003-2005 through a syndicated simulcast from its sister station in Los Angeles, KKBT
KKBT
KSWD is a Bonneville International-owned radio station licensed to Los Angeles, California, USA. The station currently broadcasts a wide-ranging classic rock format...
(also nicknamed "The Beat"). Eventually, Radio One let Harvey go due to contract disputes (he is now on KRNB
KRNB
KRNB is an urban adult contemporary-formatted radio station in the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex. It is owned by Service Broadcasting Corporation alongside its sister stations KKDA-AM-FM. Its studios are located in Grand Prairie, Texas.-History:...
), and now KBFB is the flagship of the Rickey Smiley
Rickey Smiley
Rickey Smiley is a standup comedian, television host, actor, and radio personality best known for his prank phone calls. The calls feature Smiley disguising his voice and carrying on a conversation with the recipient of the call....
Morning Show.