KKND
Encyclopedia
KKND better known as "Power 102.9" is a Rhythmic Contemporary
outlet serving the New Orleans
area. The Cumulus Media
station is licensed to Belle Chasse, Louisiana
and broadcasts its format at 102.9 MHz with an ERP of 4.7 kW. The station competes with Clear Channel's WQUE
for ratings.
format. By 2004, it modified its format by adding Adult R&B product to its playlist and reimaged itself again as "102.9, Old School & Today's R&B" to reflect the changes—and compete with WYLD-FM and hip hop station WQUE
. Despite being an Urban AC, KMEZ, who, during the fall of 2007
, became the flagship station of the New Orleans Hornets of the National Basketball Association
.
On May 20, 2008, KMEZ began simulcasting sister station KKND, who in turn, dropped their struggling Country format. The simulcast also marked KMEZ's move to the 106.7 frequency. This station received the callsign of KKND from KXOS on May 29, 2008, who changed their callsign to KMEZ, ending the KXOS callsigns run.
On July 1, 2008, Citadel Broadcasting
officially chose Rhythmic Contemporary as the new format for the 102.9 frequency by unveiling the all-new "Power 102.9." The station's logo and Hip-Hop direction is loosely based on KPWR
/Los Angeles
and is expected to challenge WQUE
, who has dominated the R&B/Hip-Hop scene in New Orleans for nearly two decades and has yet to be defeated. Two days later on July 3 at exactly 10:29 AM (CDT), Power 102.9 made its debut by signing on with Lil' Wayne featuring Static Major
's "Lollipop
".
The station carried the syndicated Big Boy's Neighborhood from ABC Radio when it first signed on.. But in March 2010 the program was dropped for a local show hosted by Big Abe & The Power Posse. Despite having a Hip-Hop heavy direction, KKND has adjusted its musical focus to allow some Rhythmic Pop tracks to be played on the station. Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.
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...
outlet serving the New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
area. The Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is the second largest Owner and Operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States, behind Clear Channel Communications, operating 570 stations in 150 markets as of September 16, 2011. The company also owns Cumulus Media Networks...
station is licensed to Belle Chasse, Louisiana
Belle Chasse, Louisiana
Belle Chasse is a census-designated place in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, on the West Bank of the Mississippi River. Belle Chasse is part of the Greater New Orleans Metropolitan area. The population was 9,848 at the 2000 census....
and broadcasts its format at 102.9 MHz with an ERP of 4.7 kW. The station competes with Clear Channel's WQUE
WQUE
WQUE-FM, aka, Q93, is a top-rated Mainstream Urban outlet in New Orleans, Louisiana. The station, which is owned by Clear Channel Communications, operates at 93.3 MHz with an ERP of 100 kW. Its current slogan is "#1 For Hip-Hop & R&B." Its transmitter is located in New Orleans...
for ratings.
History
The station, whose original calls were KMEZ, started off with a Gold-based Urban AC format and was known on-air as "Big Eazy 102.9", only to later re-image as "Old School 102.9" in an effort to capitialize on the growing interest in the Rhythmic/Urban OldiesRhythmic oldies
Rhythmic Oldies is a radio format that concentrates on the rhythmic, disco or dance genres of music. Playlists may span from the 1970s through the early 1990s...
format. By 2004, it modified its format by adding Adult R&B product to its playlist and reimaged itself again as "102.9, Old School & Today's R&B" to reflect the changes—and compete with WYLD-FM and hip hop station WQUE
WQUE
WQUE-FM, aka, Q93, is a top-rated Mainstream Urban outlet in New Orleans, Louisiana. The station, which is owned by Clear Channel Communications, operates at 93.3 MHz with an ERP of 100 kW. Its current slogan is "#1 For Hip-Hop & R&B." Its transmitter is located in New Orleans...
. Despite being an Urban AC, KMEZ, who, during the fall of 2007
2007-08 NBA season
The 2007–08 NBA season was the 62nd season of the National Basketball Association. The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 30, 2007, and ended on Wednesday, April 16, 2008...
, became the flagship station of the New Orleans Hornets of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
.
On May 20, 2008, KMEZ began simulcasting sister station KKND, who in turn, dropped their struggling Country format. The simulcast also marked KMEZ's move to the 106.7 frequency. This station received the callsign of KKND from KXOS on May 29, 2008, who changed their callsign to KMEZ, ending the KXOS callsigns run.
On July 1, 2008, Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting Corporation was a Las Vegas, Nevada-based broadcast holding company. Citadel owned 243 radio stations across the United States and was the third-largest radio station owner in the country...
officially chose Rhythmic Contemporary as the new format for the 102.9 frequency by unveiling the all-new "Power 102.9." The station's logo and Hip-Hop direction is loosely based on KPWR
KPWR
KPWR is a commercial radio station located in Los Angeles, California, broadcasting to the Greater Los Angeles area on an analog signal and in HD Radio...
/Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
and is expected to challenge WQUE
WQUE
WQUE-FM, aka, Q93, is a top-rated Mainstream Urban outlet in New Orleans, Louisiana. The station, which is owned by Clear Channel Communications, operates at 93.3 MHz with an ERP of 100 kW. Its current slogan is "#1 For Hip-Hop & R&B." Its transmitter is located in New Orleans...
, who has dominated the R&B/Hip-Hop scene in New Orleans for nearly two decades and has yet to be defeated. Two days later on July 3 at exactly 10:29 AM (CDT), Power 102.9 made its debut by signing on with Lil' Wayne featuring Static Major
Static Major
Stephen Ellis Garrett also known as Static Major, was a Grammy Award-Winning American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer from Louisville, Kentucky. He was a member of the R&B trio Playa. Static Major gained posthumous fame for appearing on Lil Wayne's 2008 album Tha Carter III on the...
's "Lollipop
Lollipop (Lil Wayne song)
"Lollipop" is the first single from Lil Wayne's sixth studio album, Tha Carter III. The track features the late R&B artist Static Major and is produced by Deezle and Jim Jonsin. The song was released digitally on March 13, 2008. The song is Lil Wayne's & Static Major's most successful to date,...
".
The station carried the syndicated Big Boy's Neighborhood from ABC Radio when it first signed on.. But in March 2010 the program was dropped for a local show hosted by Big Abe & The Power Posse. Despite having a Hip-Hop heavy direction, KKND has adjusted its musical focus to allow some Rhythmic Pop tracks to be played on the station. Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.