KCBS-FM

File:KNX FM 93.1.png

On March 30, 1948, the station signed on as KNX-FM.{{cite news |date=April 5, 1948 |title=KNX-FM Starts |url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1948/1948-04-05-BC.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315025636/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1948/1948-04-05-BC.pdf |archive-date=March 15, 2024 |access-date=November 22, 2014 |pages=26 |agency=Broadcasting}} In its early years, KNX-FM was mostly a simulcast of sister station KNX (1070 AM). In the mid-1960s, KNX-FM, along with other CBS-owned FM radio stations, began airing an easy listening format branded as "The Young Sound". It played mostly instrumental cover versions of popular songs, but it was a bit more uptempo than competing beautiful music stations.

In 1973, KNX-FM switched to a mellow rock format, featuring artists airing on other rock stations but choosing softer selections than heard on rivals KLOS and KMET. (Volunteers launched an internet stream recreating the KNX-FM format of the 1973-1983 era in 2019, now calling itself "TheMellowSound.net, a KNX-FM 93 tribute".{{Cite web|url=https://themellowsound.net/|title=The Mellow Sound|website=themellowsound.net|access-date=June 30, 2022|archive-date=May 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220529074144/https://themellowsound.net/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailynews.com/radio-now-you-can-hear-the-groundbreaking-sound-of-an-innovative-radio-station|title=Radio: Now you can hear the groundbreaking sound of an innovative radio station|date=January 16, 2019|website=Daily News|language=en-US|access-date=May 18, 2019|archive-date=March 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315030107/https://mng-prod.auth0.com/authorize?client_id=sUDTpFK4Hvy5e2WqyZCGwtl5AjoyK226&audience=access-extension&scope=openid%20profile%20email%20offline_access&response_type=code&response_mode=web_message&state=LXFtMS1pM3JhdUtoU1dheWFfVjZKTVlLeEpyU1hfWUdsMUxONzVTMkl0LQ%3D%3D&nonce=YkNSSGNnMFZXVmhnSFdfUzFKSWdnQlRaQWhnR0tvYk84OFBLN1c2T3N4NQ%3D%3D&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailynews.com&code_challenge=cEjQWqgt8EysXG_oP_y0YuAD8bxhC2I0N3rvJY7myPE&code_challenge_method=S256&prompt=none&auth0Client=eyJuYW1lIjoiYXV0aDAtc3BhLWpzIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6IjEuMTMuNiJ9|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url = https://www.sgvtribune.com/2019/05/06/radio-how-the-mellow-sound-of-knx-fm-is-sounding-online/|title = Radio: How the Mellow Sound of KNX-FM is sounding online|date = May 6, 2019|access-date = May 18, 2019|archive-date = May 27, 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220527132930/https://www.sgvtribune.com/2019/05/06/radio-how-the-mellow-sound-of-knx-fm-is-sounding-online/|url-status = live}} Another tribute website is simply "mellowrock.com" with a similar mix of mellow rock and classic features.){{Cite web|url=http://knxfm.com/|title=KNX-FM Stream Players|website=knxfm.com|access-date=January 10, 2022|archive-date=October 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003105554/http://knxfm.com/|url-status=live}}

On August 25, 1983, KNX-FM adopted a contemporary hit radio music format, similar to the other CBS Radio FM stations, and branded as "Hitradio 93 KKHR". The heritage KNX-FM call sign switched to KKHR. KKHR was not a traditional top 40 music format of the time, as the playlist was more stringently limited to 30 songs.

The original KKHR disc jockey staff consisted of Lou Simon, Dave Donovan (whose real name is Joe Cipriano), Chris Lance, Todd Parker (replaced by Jack Armstrong several months later), and Mark Hanson. Rich Fields, who would later become the announcer on The Price Is Right for over six seasons, also joined KKHR in the station's last year with the "Hit Radio" format.

The KKHR call sign is now used by an Americana/Texas country/southern rock hybrid station serving Abilene, Texas.

Due to the station's lackluster ratings, the mellow rock format and heritage KNX-FM call letters were returned under the new branding "Quality Rock" in 1986.{{cite web|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=9612&Callsign=KCBS-FM9612|title=Call Sign History for KCBS-FM|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=January 27, 2009|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108040414/https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=9612&Callsign=KCBS-FM9612|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-05-29-ca-7969-story.html|title=KNX-Fm to Return, in a Mellow Mood|website=Los Angeles Times|date=May 29, 1986|access-date=May 18, 2019|archive-date=June 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603033209/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-05-29-ca-7969-story.html|url-status=live}}

KNX-FM struggled with low ratings, and was not able to re-capture its original audience.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-03-03-ca-291-story.html|title=Archives|website=Los Angeles Times|date=March 3, 1989|access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-date=April 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420112639/http://articles.latimes.com/1989-03-03/entertainment/ca-291_1_call-letters|url-status=live}} On March 2, 1989, at 12{{nbsp}}pm, following a day-long stunt with a ticking clock during songs and an announcement from vice president and general manager Charlie Seraphin, an oldies music format was introduced and the heritage KNX-FM call sign was dropped yet again. (The KNX-FM call letters returned to the Los Angeles airwaves on December 21, 2021, when they were picked up by co-owned 97.1, formerly KNOU).

With the new oldies format, the station switched its call letters to KODJ and the branding changed to "Oldies 93.1".{{cite web|url=http://www.mgkelly.com/archive-23.asp|title=KODJ, Los Angeles brings back "The Boss"|publisher=Machine Gun Kelly|access-date=January 27, 2009|archive-date=November 19, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119143259/http://www.mgkelly.com/archive-23.asp|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1980s/1989/RR-1989-03-03.pdf |title=RR-1989-03-03.pdf |website=americanradiohistory.com }} KODJ competed with crosstown oldies rival KRTH, which later came under common CBS Radio ownership when limits were relaxed by the FCC.

KODJ focused more on the 1950s and the early 1960s era of oldies music than KRTH. DJs on KODJ were The Real Don Steele, Charlie Tuna, Rich Fields, Machine Gun Kelly and Jeff Serr. In response to KODJ's debut, KRTH gradually reduced and eventually faded out the number of newer songs from its playlist, focusing mainly on the 1960s decade of oldies with a few songs from the late 1950s. In addition, KRTH brought in Bill Drake as consultant while featuring all new jingles by the Johnny Mann Singers, which helped it reach higher ratings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.reelradio.com/bdrake/index.html|title=REELRADIO: About Bill Drake|website=reelradio.com|access-date=March 15, 2024|archive-date=October 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022002644/https://www.reelradio.com/bdrake/index.html|url-status=live}} The Real Don Steele left KCBS-FM in mid-1992 to join KRTH. Charlie Tuna, the morning host at KODJ/KCBS-FM from 1989 to 1993, would later work at KRTH from 2008 to 2014. After his tenure at The Price is Right, Rich Fields was also on KRTH for a time as well.

On July 12, 1991, at 2{{nbsp}}pm, KODJ changed to its present call sign, KCBS-FM, as part of a re-imaging marketing campaign to bring in new listeners believing the "CBS-FM" call letters had a stronger association with the oldies format.{{Cite web|url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-07-17-ca-2172-story.html|title = Archives|website = Los Angeles Times|date = July 17, 1991|access-date = April 16, 2020|archive-date = April 15, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160415221020/http://articles.latimes.com/1991-07-17/entertainment/ca-2172_1_cbs-radio|url-status = live}} These call letters had previously been used by two CBS-affiliated stations (now KSOL and KLLC) in San Francisco.{{cite web|url=http://www.mgkelly.com/archive-25.asp|title=What are the call letters today?|publisher=Machine Gun Kelly|access-date=January 27, 2009|archive-date=August 21, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821120147/http://www.mgkelly.com/archive-25.asp|url-status=live}} KCBS-FM still kept the oldies format, but shifted its focus mainly to the 1960s decade of oldies with a lesser selection of 1950s oldies, and more early-1970s rock oldies to better compete with KRTH.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-01-04-fi-1231-story.html|title=Archives|website=Los Angeles Times|date=January 4, 1992|access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-date=April 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415231006/http://articles.latimes.com/1992-01-04/business/fi-1231_1_program-director|url-status=live}}

KCBS-FM struggled with low ratings, while KRTH continued to hold the majority share of the oldies market. On September 10, 1993, at 3{{nbsp}}pm, KCBS-FM flipped to a mixed classic rock and classic hits format, and branded itself as "Arrow 93FM, All Rock and Roll Oldies".{{cite web |url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1993/RR-1993-09-17.pdf |title=RR-1993-09-17.pdf |website=americanradiohistory.com |access-date=March 15, 2024 }} The moniker "Arrow" stood for "All Rock and Roll Oldies". The new format focused on the late 1960s and the entire 1970s decade with an emphasis on only classic rock oldies, not including adult contemporary hits, Motown, bubblegum, disco or doo-wop.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/S3UQrrlPsRk Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20190423234205/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3UQrrlPsRk Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3UQrrlPsRk| title = ARROW 93 FM - TV spot #1 | via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

The Arbitron ratings for KCBS-FM went from 18th to 3rd place by the end of 1993, making the new format an immediate success.{{Cite web|url=http://www.arrowfm.com/us/bradwest.shtml|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20000229223046/http://www.arrowfm.com/us/bradwest.shtml|archive-date = February 29, 2000|title = National Leader in Sports, News Radio}} The station kept the KCBS-FM call letters, but would only quickly identify its call sign once at the top of the hour per FCC station identification requirements. The format would later evolve towards classic rock of the late 1960s, 1970s, and early 1980s, and re-branded itself as "Arrow 93FM, All Rock & Roll Classics" in 1996.{{cite web |url=http://www.arrowfm.com/ |title=Arrow 93fm los angeles home page |website=arrowfm.com |access-date=January 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961029055537/http://www.arrowfm.com/ |archive-date=October 29, 1996 |url-status=dead}}

In 2005, Infinity Broadcasting (as CBS Radio was known at the time) won the licensing rights to brand its adult hits music formatted radio stations as "Jack FM". This led to yet another format change for KCBS-FM. On March 17, (St. Patrick's Day), after an all-day stunt with music from U2 (as that band is from Ireland), the classic rock format was dropped, as "93.1 Jack FM" debuted in Los Angeles, airing an adult hits format that started in Canada and was getting picked up in numerous U.S. markets.{{cite web |url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2005/RR-2005-03-25.pdf |title=RR-2005-03-25.pdf |website=americanradiohistory.com |access-date=March 15, 2024 }} The Jack format was a break from the heavily niched formats that had developed beginning in the 1970s. Jack was also unusual in that it employed no DJs, and had a much larger playlist than the typical classic hits or classic rock radio station.

The Los Angeles incarnation of Jack includes more modern rock titles than most Jack outlets, reflecting the local influence of KROQ-FM during its alternative heyday. Initially, KCBS-FM played a blend of pop and rock hits from the late 1960s to late 1980s, with a sprinkling of newer, sometimes almost current, tunes. Eventually, the newer songs and pop songs were phased out in favor of mostly classic rock and classic alternative. KCBS-FM is the longest-serving of all of CBS' Jack stations. CBS also introduced the Jack FM format in New York City, Las Vegas, Chicago, Dallas, Minneapolis, Seattle and Baltimore.

Though the station has no DJs, KCBS-FM will occasionally respond to current events, such as playing all Michael Jackson songs following his death, or spinning a celebratory tune or two following a local sports victory (especially with the Rams).

The "voice" of Jack FM is a real person named Howard Cogan. His quips which are heard between songs are created by a team of writers. As Jack became popular, Cogan moved to Los Angeles to record his comments more easily. He is also the voice-over artist for other "Jack FM" stations around the country.

In October 2008, CBS Radio chose not to move the KCBS-FM call letters to its sister station at 106.9 FM in San Francisco, after that station flipped from classic hits to an all-news simulcast of KCBS. That station remains KFRC-FM, heritage calls in themselves.

On February 2, 2017, CBS Radio announced it would merge with Entercom.{{Cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/116299/cbs-radio-to-merge-with-entercom/|title=CBS Radio To Merge With Entercom - RadioInsight|access-date=November 4, 2017|archive-date=August 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826120259/http://radioinsight.com/headlines/116299/cbs-radio-to-merge-with-entercom/|url-status=live}} The merger was approved on November 9, and was consummated on November 17.{{Cite web |url=http://www.entercom.com/entercom-receives-fcc-approval-for-merger-with-cbs-radio |title=Entercom Receives FCC Approval for Merger with CBS Radio |access-date=November 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117122333/http://www.entercom.com/entercom-receives-fcc-approval-for-merger-with-cbs-radio#.Wg54UWVqaNZ |archive-date=November 17, 2017 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/121072/entercom-completes-cbs-radio-merger/ |title=Entercom Completes CBS Radio Merger |access-date=November 17, 2017 |archive-date=November 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171118222152/https://radioinsight.com/headlines/121072/entercom-completes-cbs-radio-merger/ |url-status=live }} As part of the agreement with CBS, Entercom was given the rights to use the brand and trademarks for KCBS-FM along with sister stations WCBS-AM and WCBS-FM in New York City, KCBS-AM in San Francisco for a 20-year period after which Entercom (or succeeding entity) will be required to relinquish using those call-letters.[https://www.insideradio.com/wcbs-and-kcbs-calls-will-stay-put-at-entercom/article_bbc05cae-ed07-11e6-890e-ab2748f450bc.html WCBS and KCBS Calls Will Stay Put at Entercom] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204193018/https://www.insideradio.com/wcbs-and-kcbs-calls-will-stay-put-at-entercom/article_bbc05cae-ed07-11e6-890e-ab2748f450bc.html |date=February 4, 2023 }} {Retrieved February 4, 2023, from InsideRadio.com}

As part of the merger, the FM radio rights to the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League were moved to KCBS-FM from KSWD, which was sold off as part of the deal when it flipped to Christian adult contemporary format as KKLQ on November 16, 2017. The Rams broadcasts were FM only, and regular programming was exclusive to the Audacy app during game broadcasts, including in Los Angeles.{{Cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/121018/kswd-sets-sign-off-time-rams-to-kcbs-fm/|title=100.3 The Sound Signs-Off; Double The K-Love For Los Angeles – RadioInsight|website=radioinsight.com|language=en-US|access-date=November 15, 2017|archive-date=November 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116025711/https://radioinsight.com/headlines/121018/kswd-sets-sign-off-time-rams-to-kcbs-fm/|url-status=live}}

On March 30, 2021, Entercom rebranded to the corporate name "Audacy". KCBS-FM programming is found on the Audacy.com website and app.

On June 6, 2024, KCBS-FM temporarily rebranded as 93.1 Blade FM in honor of Richard Blade receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.

In addition to the main Jack FM format on HD1, KCBS-FM-HD2 simulcasts KFRG, its co-owned country music station in San Bernardino. Before KLSX switched from talk to CHR in 2009, 93.1 HD2 carried a CHR format with the "AMP Radio" branding.

Former sister station KFWB had been broadcasting on the KCBS-FM HD3 signal, but due to that station's sale, its signal is no longer heard on KCBS-FM. As of December 6, 2018, that signal began simulcasting all-news KNX (AM 1070). It has since carried KFRG/KXFG. On January 25, 2021, KCBS-FM-HD3 started carrying a nationally syndicated sports radio network, the BetQL Network, as "The Bet".{{cite web |url=https://hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?latitude=34.052230834961&longitude=-118.24368286133 |date=August 8, 2017 |title=HD Radio Guide for Los Angeles |access-date=August 7, 2017 |archive-date=August 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808034647/https://hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?latitude=34.052230834961&longitude=-118.24368286133 |url-status=dead }}

• KCBS (AM)
• KCBS-TV
• KCBS-TV/FM Tower
• KFWB (former sister station)

{{Reflist}}

• {{official website|https://www.audacy.com/931jackfm}}

{{FM station data|9612|KCBS}}

• [https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=73427 FCC History Cards for KCBS-FM]
• {{URL|https://web.archive.org/web/20041010222025/http://www.w9wi.com/articles/grand_fm.htm |List of "grandfathered" FM radio stations in the U.S.}}

{{Los Angeles Radio}}

{{Jack FM Radio stations}}

{{Entercom}}

{{Los Angeles Rams}}

Category:1948 establishments in California

Category:Adult hits radio stations in the United States

Category:Audacy, Inc. radio stations

Category:Jack FM stations

Category:Radio stations established in 1948

CBS-FM