KBZT
Encyclopedia
KBZT is a commercial modern rock
music radio station
in San Diego, California
, broadcasting on 94.9 FM
.
into soft rock
, before being sold to Sandusky Radio and becoming "Y95" in 1987. At about the time, the station launched the local careers of morning show hosts Jeff Elliot and Jerry St. James (Jeff and Jer). In the early 1990s, Jeff and Jer moved to rival B100
, and 94.9 changed its name to "Mix94.9" adding more gold based music, before reverting back to KBest95. Also in the early '90s, the call letters and "KBest" logo moved to Palm Springs
, where it was briefly the number one station in that market. The call letters and logo reverted to San Diego after the Palm Springs station changed format to Spanish
. During that period Sandusky sold the station to Anaheim Broadcasting, which in turn sold 94.9 to Jefferson-Pilot, making KBest95 a sister station
to country-formatted
KSON-FM
97.3. In 2001, after struggling with oldies, the station switched to an "All '80s" format, just a day before rival Mix95.7
dropped Hot AC and adopted the same format. However, this format would also be short lived, and in 2002, KBZT dropped the 80s hits for the Alternative Rock based format it has now as FM 94/9. In 2006, Lincoln Financial Media
bought this station and all the others that were owned by J-P, including Smooth Jazz station, 98.1 KIFM and Country station, 97.3 KSON.
music. However, on its website, FM 94/9 purports to strive to be different from other radio stations by playing diverse music, broadcasting locally produced music and using real deejays. Shows on the station include:
In April 2006, the Lincoln Financial Group completed a merger between themselves and the Jefferson-Pilot Corporation. The media assets of the new merged company (including several San Diego area radio stations) are now called Lincoln Financial Media.
During the October 2007 wildfires in the San Diego area, KBZT became the temporary home of local public radio station KPBS-FM
(89.5) after power to the KPBS-FM/TV transmitter on Mount San Miguel was interrupted on the morning of October 23. Within three hours KBZT had agreed to air KPBS' wildfire coverage until a backup transmitter could be established from the station's studio tower
on the San Diego State University
campus, which occurred the next day.
In January 2010, "The Mikey Show" formerly of San Diegos KIOZ finds a new radio home at KBZT.
In June 2011, Nina Blackwood's Sunday-morning syndicated program, "New Wave Nation," was dropped and replaced by a locally-produced blues program, "Brown Bag Blues," hosted by Mike Hansen.
Modern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
music 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...
in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, broadcasting on 94.9 FM
Frequency modulation
In telecommunications and signal processing, frequency modulation conveys information over a carrier wave by varying its instantaneous frequency. This contrasts with amplitude modulation, in which the amplitude of the carrier is varied while its frequency remains constant...
.
History
During the 1970s and '80s, KBZT was known as "KBest95" but in the 1980s morphed from oldiesOldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
into soft rock
Soft rock
Soft rock is a style of music which uses the techniques of rock music to compose a softer, more toned-down sound. Soft rock songs generally tend to focus on themes like love, everyday life and relationships. The genre tends to make heavy use of acoustic guitars, pianos, synthesizers and sometimes...
, before being sold to Sandusky Radio and becoming "Y95" in 1987. At about the time, the station launched the local careers of morning show hosts Jeff Elliot and Jerry St. James (Jeff and Jer). In the early 1990s, Jeff and Jer moved to rival B100
KFMB-FM
KFMB-FM is a commercial radio station located in San Diego, California, broadcasting on 100.7 FM. KFMB-FM airs an adult hits music format branded as "Jack FM".-History:...
, and 94.9 changed its name to "Mix94.9" adding more gold based music, before reverting back to KBest95. Also in the early '90s, the call letters and "KBest" logo moved to Palm Springs
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 37 miles east of San Bernardino, 111 miles east of Los Angeles and 136 miles northeast of San Diego...
, where it was briefly the number one station in that market. The call letters and logo reverted to San Diego after the Palm Springs station changed format to Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
. During that period Sandusky sold the station to Anaheim Broadcasting, which in turn sold 94.9 to Jefferson-Pilot, making KBest95 a sister station
Sister station
In broadcasting, sister stations or sister channels are radio and/or television stations operated by the same ownership....
to country-formatted
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
KSON-FM
KSON-FM
KSON is a radio station licensed to serve San Diego, California, USA. The station, founded in 1964, is owned by Lincoln Financial Media and the broadcast license is held by Lincoln Financial Media Company of California....
97.3. In 2001, after struggling with oldies, the station switched to an "All '80s" format, just a day before rival Mix95.7
KUSS
KOGO-FM is a news/talk radio station licensed to Carlsbad, California, simulcasting KOGO 600 AM San Diego. KOGO-FM is one of the seven San Diego stations owned and operated by Clear Channel Communications.-History:...
dropped Hot AC and adopted the same format. However, this format would also be short lived, and in 2002, KBZT dropped the 80s hits for the Alternative Rock based format it has now as FM 94/9. In 2006, Lincoln Financial Media
Lincoln Financial Media
Lincoln Financial Media is a subsidiary of Lincoln National Corporation that owns radio stations in the United States.-History:In April 2006, Lincoln Financial acquired Jefferson-Pilot's television and radio operations, which were renamed Lincoln Financial Media. The group owns 14 radio stations in...
bought this station and all the others that were owned by J-P, including Smooth Jazz station, 98.1 KIFM and Country station, 97.3 KSON.
Music Direction
As of October 2007, FM 94/9 is one of at least 5 stations in the San Diego market that plays modern rockModern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
music. However, on its website, FM 94/9 purports to strive to be different from other radio stations by playing diverse music, broadcasting locally produced music and using real deejays. Shows on the station include:
- Big Sonic Chill - Sundays through Fridays 10pm-2am
- The Local 94/9 - Hosted by Tim Pyles - Sundays 8pm-10pm
- The Swami Soundsystem Saturdays 10pm-1am (The Swami is the alter-ego of John ReisJohn ReisJohn Reis is an American musician, singer, guitarist, record label owner, and disc jockey. He is best known as the singer and guitarist for the rock band Rocket from the Crypt, which he formed and fronted for the entirety of its career from 1990 to 2005...
, who is the guitarist of the band Sultans and formerly led Rocket From The CryptRocket from the CryptRocket from the Crypt was an American rock band led by John Reis, formed in 1989 in San Diego, California and disbanded in 2005.The band gained critical praise and the attention of major record labels after the release of their 1992 album Circa: Now!, leading to a recording contract with Interscope...
and Drive Like JehuDrive Like JehuDrive Like Jehu was an American post-hardcore and alternative rock band from San Diego active from 1990 to 1995. Formed by rhythm guitarist and vocalist Rick Froberg and lead guitarist John Reis following the breakup of their band Pitchfork, the band's lineup also included bassist Mike Kennedy and...
, and owns Swami RecordsSwami RecordsSwami Records is a San Diego based independent record label specializing in punk rock, indie rock and garage rock that was founded in 2000 by John Reis...
) - Brunch With BobBob MarleyRobert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
and Friends - Hosted by Tommy Hough - Sundays 9am-12pm
In April 2006, the Lincoln Financial Group completed a merger between themselves and the Jefferson-Pilot Corporation. The media assets of the new merged company (including several San Diego area radio stations) are now called Lincoln Financial Media.
During the October 2007 wildfires in the San Diego area, KBZT became the temporary home of local public radio station KPBS-FM
KPBS-FM
KPBS-FM is a non-commercial public radio station licensed to San Diego State University, broadcasting in San Diego on 89.5 MHz, 89.1 MHz K206AC in La Jolla, and on 97.7 MHz KQVO in Calexico, Imperial County. The station is affiliated with National Public Radio, with programming...
(89.5) after power to the KPBS-FM/TV transmitter on Mount San Miguel was interrupted on the morning of October 23. Within three hours KBZT had agreed to air KPBS' wildfire coverage until a backup transmitter could be established from the station's studio tower
Studio/transmitter link
A studio-transmitter link sends a radio station's or television station's audio and video from the broadcast studio to a radio transmitter or television transmitter in another location....
on the San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
campus, which occurred the next day.
In January 2010, "The Mikey Show" formerly of San Diegos KIOZ finds a new radio home at KBZT.
In June 2011, Nina Blackwood's Sunday-morning syndicated program, "New Wave Nation," was dropped and replaced by a locally-produced blues program, "Brown Bag Blues," hosted by Mike Hansen.