KSOM (Arizona)
{{Short description|Radio station in Tucson, Arizona (1962–1966)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = KSOM
| airdate = {{start date|1962|3|12}}
| last_airdate = {{end date|1966|2|15}} (license renewal dismissed)
| frequency = 92.1 MHz
| city = Tucson, Arizona
| owner = Stanley Prell
| licensee = Prell Enterprises
| erp = 3,000 watts
| coordinates =
| former_callsigns =
| callsign_meaning = "Sound of Music"
}}
KSOM was an FM radio station at 92.1 MHz in Tucson, Arizona, operating between 1962 and 1965. The station was known as the "Sound of Music" with a classical music format.
History
After filing for its construction permit on July 17, 1961,{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33409306/|work=Arizona Daily Star|date=August 1, 1961|title=Notice|accessdate=June 30, 2019}} KSOM went on the air March 12, 1962,{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33408745/|title=FM-Stereo Station Will Begin Operating Monday|accessdate=June 30, 2019|date=March 11, 1962|work=Arizona Daily Star}} from studios and transmitter at 2126 S. Alvernon Way in Tucson, broadcasting 12 hours a day.{{cite news|work=Arizona Daily Star|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33380597/radio_comes_of_age_with_fm_ksom/|date=March 1, 1962|title=Radio comes of age with FM... KSOM|accessdate=June 30, 2019}} It broadcast classical music; the licensee was Prell Enterprises, owned by Stan Prell and his father, Isador.{{r|blaze}} KSOM claimed the distinction of being the first stereo FM station in southern Arizona.{{r|starts}} The station also formed a pact with KEPI in Phoenix to form the "Arizona FM Stereo Network", with combined news programming.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33409051/|work=Arizona Daily Star|date=September 9, 1962|title=Tucson And Phoenix FM Stations Unite|accessdate=June 30, 2019}}
On the night of May 4, 1963, David Paladin, the station's program director, was anchoring a late newscast at about 11:45 p.m. when he noticed a "big blanket of smoke" drift into the studio. After asking listeners to call the fire department, he signed the station off and fled the building; he would be treated for smoke inhalation. While the fire did not damage the studios, the transmitter exhaust system took in smoke and damaged the equipment, causing an estimated $35,000 in damage and taking KSOM off the air.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33380828/35000_blaze_to_put_radio_station_off/|work=Arizona Daily Star|title=$35,000 Blaze To Put Radio Station Off Air|date=May 6, 1963|accessdate=June 30, 2019}} After the fire, KSOM rebuilt its studios in the Mayer-Alameda building at 110 E. Alameda. The new studio was furnished with Schafer automation equipment, the second such installation in Arizona, which was put into service on July 22, 1963.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33380452/fully_automated_fm_radio_station_to/|work=Arizona Daily Star|title=Fully Automated FM Radio Station To Open In City|accessdate=June 30, 2019}}
While the transmitter remained at the former Alvernon studio site, KSOM sought to improve its coverage. In November 1964, the FCC granted a construction permit to move to 92.9 FM and change station classes from A to C, with 38,000 watts of effective radiated power;{{cite news|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1964/1964-11-16-BC.pdf|work=Broadcasting|date=November 16, 1964|title=For the Record|page=142|accessdate=June 30, 2019}} these facilities were never built. KSOM operated through most of 1965, though it twice suffered thefts at its Alvernon Way transmitter facility, in which tape recorders were stolen in May and in September.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33408895/|work=Arizona Daily Star|date=May 8, 1965|title=Burglars Strike KSOM, Store|accessdate=June 30, 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33408914/|work=Tucson Daily Citizen|date=September 9, 1966|title=Burglars Loot Radio Station|accessdate=June 30, 2019}} In a separate May incident, a fire destroyed $3,500 of equipment in KSOM's transmitter room.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33409006/|work=Tucson Daily Citizen|date=May 29, 1965|title=Radio Station Antiques Hit In 2 Fires|accessdate=June 30, 2019}}
On February 15, 1966, the Federal Communications Commission dismissed KSOM's license renewal application for failure to prosecute.{{cite news|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1966/1966-02-28-BC.pdf|work=Broadcasting|date=February 28, 1966|page=88|title=For the Record}}