KXCI
Encyclopedia
KXCI is a "community radio
" radio station that serves Tucson, Arizona
. KXCI broadcasts on the frequency of 91.3 MHz. Programs include talk shows, music shows and call-in shows. The call letters come from the Roman numeral
for 91—XCI.
The original idea regarding callsigns was to have a contest to come up with one and see if it was available. However, upon receiving a letter from the FCC regarding the need to select a callsign, a volunteer came up with the 'KXCI' idea, and that was the top submission of five sent to the FCC. Those calls were available and were assigned.
Only one year later, on November 19, 1983, at 7pm, the station went live on the air. After a stunt format of reggae for two days to promote a station benefit concert featuring Eek-A-Mouse, then began a three week promotion called the 'Big Broadcast of 1983. This was a journey in sound from creation through the present and when music that is known came around it went through just about all the genres, ending on December 5th with a live concert at the studios.
Rumors of final formats were rampant. This included one that the station was going to take an urban contemporary format 24/7, causing KHYT 1330 to bill itself as 'Tucson's First Rock and Soul Station'. KHYT's promotion abruptly died once the true format was known, a 'music mix' during the day, and over 29 musical styles and genres nights and weekends. The station still airs many genres and styles not generally found on other stations in the Tucson market.
The station originally was at 91.7 FM. In the early 90s the station moved to the present 91.3 frequency to permit the station now known as KFMA 92.1 to raise its power so it could cover more of the Tucson area.
to country
to blues
to jazz
, often within a short time. In addition, there are many specialty shows (mostly on weeknights and weekends) which focus on a particular genre. KXCI is also the local radio carrier for Democracy Now!
.
The station does not have traditional commercial
s, although the disc jockey
s will occasionally read public service announcement
s and plug the station's sponsors.
Community radio
Community radio is a type of radio service, that offers a third model of radio broadcasting beyond commercial broadcasting and public broadcasting. Community stations can serve geographic communities and communities of interest...
" radio station that serves Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
. KXCI broadcasts on the frequency of 91.3 MHz. Programs include talk shows, music shows and call-in shows. The call letters come from the Roman numeral
Roman numerals
The numeral system of ancient Rome, or Roman numerals, uses combinations of letters from the Latin alphabet to signify values. The numbers 1 to 10 can be expressed in Roman numerals as:...
for 91—XCI.
History
In the late 1970s, several people began work on the station when it was realized that there was a need for a more eclectic and diverse radio station than many felt was available, and began preliminary work on the idea, which after a frequency search and FCC filings, gained a construction permit in November 1982.The original idea regarding callsigns was to have a contest to come up with one and see if it was available. However, upon receiving a letter from the FCC regarding the need to select a callsign, a volunteer came up with the 'KXCI' idea, and that was the top submission of five sent to the FCC. Those calls were available and were assigned.
Only one year later, on November 19, 1983, at 7pm, the station went live on the air. After a stunt format of reggae for two days to promote a station benefit concert featuring Eek-A-Mouse, then began a three week promotion called the 'Big Broadcast of 1983. This was a journey in sound from creation through the present and when music that is known came around it went through just about all the genres, ending on December 5th with a live concert at the studios.
Rumors of final formats were rampant. This included one that the station was going to take an urban contemporary format 24/7, causing KHYT 1330 to bill itself as 'Tucson's First Rock and Soul Station'. KHYT's promotion abruptly died once the true format was known, a 'music mix' during the day, and over 29 musical styles and genres nights and weekends. The station still airs many genres and styles not generally found on other stations in the Tucson market.
The station originally was at 91.7 FM. In the early 90s the station moved to the present 91.3 frequency to permit the station now known as KFMA 92.1 to raise its power so it could cover more of the Tucson area.
Programming
KXCI generally plays what may be termed an eclectic mix, featuring both lesser-known acts alongside well-known acts. The type of music varies wildly, ranging from (but by no means limited to) alternativeAlternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
to country
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...
to blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
to jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, often within a short time. In addition, there are many specialty shows (mostly on weeknights and weekends) which focus on a particular genre. KXCI is also the local radio carrier for Democracy Now!
Democracy Now!
Democracy Now! and its staff have received several journalism awards, including the Gracie Award from American Women in Radio & Television; the George Polk Award for its 1998 radio documentary Drilling and Killing: Chevron and Nigeria's Oil Dictatorship, on the Chevron Corporation and the deaths of...
.
The station does not have traditional commercial
Radio commercial
Commercial radio stations make most of their revenue selling “airtime” to advertisers. Of total media expenditures, radio accounts for 6.9%. Radio advertisements or “spots” are available when a business or service provides valuable consideration, usually cash, in exchange for the station airing...
s, although the disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
s will occasionally read public service announcement
Public service announcement
A public service announcement or public service ad is a type of advertisement featured on television, radio, print or other media...
s and plug the station's sponsors.