KYYY

{{Redirect|Y-93|the isotope of yttrium (Y-93 or ⁹³Y)|Yttrium-93}}

{{Infobox radio station

| name = KYYY

| logo = 250px

| city = Bismarck, North Dakota

| area = Bismarck–Mandan

| branding = Mix 92.9

| format = Adult contemporary

| frequency = {{frequency|92.9|MHz}}

| airdate = {{start date and age|1966|08|15|p=y|br=yes}} (as KFYR-FM)

| erp = {{val|100000|u=watts|fmt=commas}}

| haat = {{convert|301|m|ft|sp=us|lk=on}}

| class = C0

| facility_id = 41424

| licensing_authority = FCC

| coordinates = {{coord|46|56|31|N|100|41|38|W|type:landmark_region:US_source:FCC}}

| callsign_meaning = Supporting "Y93" moniker, derived from former KFYR call letters

| former_callsigns = KFYR-FM (1966–1978)

| owner = iHeartMedia, Inc.

| licensee = iHM Licenses, LLC

| sister_stations = {{hlist|KBMR|KFYR|KQDY|KSSS|KXMR}}

| webcast = {{iHeartRadio|mix-929-4794}}

| website = {{URL|https://bismarcksmix.iheart.com}}

}}

KYYY (92.9 FM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Bismarck, North Dakota, and serving the Bismarck–Mandan region.

Owned by iHeartMedia, the station has an adult contemporary format under the "Mix 92.9" banner. For 45 years, the station was known as "Y93" in various blends of contemporary hit radio (CHR) and adult contemporary. During some of this period, it was Bismarck's highest-rated radio station.

The KYYY studios are located on Rosser Avenue in Bismarck, while the transmitter resides north of the city in Burleigh County. In addition to a standard analog transmission, KYYY streams online via iHeartRadio.

History

On November 24, 1965, Meyer Broadcasting, owner of KFYR radio and television, received a construction permit for a new FM station on 92.9 MHz in Bismarck.{{Cite web|url= https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=79483 |title= History Cards for KYYY|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}} (Guide to reading History Cards) The station launched August 15, 1966, as the first FM in the central North Dakota area, airing a fine music format and calling itself "Royalty in Music".{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88416119/|title=KFYR-FM to Start Aug. 15|page=18|work=The Bismarck Tribune|date=August 4, 1966|access-date=November 5, 2021|archive-date=November 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105235621/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88416119/kfyr-fm-to-start-august-15/|url-status=live}} In 1973, the station was moved to the KFYR-TV mast at Mandan and adopted the Hit Parade format from Drake-Chenault.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88416270/|title=Power Hike Asked: KFYR-FM Plans Major Changes|work=The Bismarck Tribune|page=15|date=June 23, 1973|access-date=November 5, 2021|archive-date=November 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105235622/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88416270/power-hike-asked-kfyr-fm-plans-major/|url-status=live}} The "Y93" name was instituted in late 1975, and the call letters were changed to KYYY on February 2, 1978.{{r|hc}} The station's Top 40 format was similar to that on KFYR, which had more service elements such as news and programs. In 1985, KYYY surpassed KFYR in the ratings; that year, the two Meyer stations accounted for just under half of all radio listening in Bismarck,{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88416661/|title=Y-93 boosts its radio dominance|first=Janell|last=Cole|date=August 27, 1987|page=1B|work=The Bismarck Tribune|access-date=November 5, 2021|archive-date=November 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105235622/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88416661/y-93-boosts-its-radio-dominance/|url-status=live}} and the stations were number one and two in the market from 1984 to 1992, with KQDY and a resurgent country format breaking the grip.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88416772/|first=Peter|last=Salter|title=Country soars to top: KQDY smashes Meyer's stranglehold on ratings|page=1B|date=August 19, 1993|access-date=November 5, 2021|archive-date=November 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105235622/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88416772/country-soars-to-top-kqdy-smashes/|url-status=live}}

KYYY tweaked to a satellite-delivered hot AC format in January 1996, and dumped morning man Bob Beck, who had been heard on the station for 14 years.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88416900/|title=Y-93 radio personality out of a job|first=G. Troy|last=Melhus|work=The Bismarck Tribune|page=2B|date=April 3, 1996|access-date=November 5, 2021|archive-date=November 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105235623/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88416900/y-93-radio-personality-out-of-a-job/|url-status=live}} Ratings dropped nearly 50 percent.{{Cite news|title=Morning listeners hold the key to station's success|page=1F|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88417005/|date=September 15, 1996|first=Chris|last=Stembach|work=The Bismarck Tribune|access-date=November 5, 2021|archive-date=November 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105235623/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88417005/morning-listeners-hold-the-key-to/|url-status=live}}

After a long and successful run in North Dakota broadcasting—dating back 73 years to the launch of KFYR—Meyer exited the business in 1998. Sunrise Television acquired KFYR-TV, while Meyer initially negotiated with Cumulus Media to purchase the radio properties.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88417090/|title=Sunrise to continue tradition|date=April 29, 1998|first=Joe|last=Gardyasz|work=The Bismarck Tribune|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88417136/ 12A]|access-date=November 5, 2021|archive-date=November 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105235625/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88417090/sunrise-to-continue-tradition/|url-status=live}} However, those talks collapsed, and Jacor ultimately agreed to purchase KFYR and KYYY for $4.8 million in September 1998.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88417159/|title=Meyer sells two radio stations|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88417237/ 8A]|first=Joe|last=Gardyasz|work=The Bismarck Tribune|access-date=2021-11-05|archive-date=2021-11-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105235625/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88417159/meyer-sells-two-radio-stations/|url-status=live}} Clear Channel Communications—today's iHeartMedia—then entered into an agreement to buy Jacor less than a month later.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88417309/|title=Communications company acquires major rival|page=4A|work=The Bismarck Tribune|agency=Associated Press|date=October 9, 1998|access-date=November 5, 2021|archive-date=November 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105235626/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88417309/communications-company-acquires-major/|url-status=live}} The Bismarck stations were to have been included in the proposed $452.1 million sale of small market properties to GoodRadio.tv LLC in 2007, which ultimately never occurred.{{cite news|url=https://www.rbr.com/epaper/pages/may07/07-96_3m1.html|title=GoodRadio.TV paperwork filed|work=Radio Business Report|date=May 2007|access-date=2021-11-05|archive-date=2012-02-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210134644/http://www.rbr.com/epaper/pages/may07/07-96_3m1.html|url-status=live}}

File:KYYY Y93 logo.png

After KKCT (97.5 FM) flipped from country to CHR as "Hot 97.5", KYYY tweaked to a full-fledged CHR format in 2004. This lasted until 2005, when it changed to an adult contemporary format playing Christmas music during the holiday season annually. After playing Christmas music for the 2011 holiday season, KYYY tweaked its format again towards a hot AC format due to a growing abundance of Bismarck stations sharing the 1970s and 1980s music that KYYY played. On September 14, 2012, KYYY shifted back to CHR; it also replaced the John Tesh morning show (a holdover from the adult contemporary era) with Elvis Duran and the Morning Show, broadcast from Z100 in New York City.{{cite news|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/70507/y93-bismarck-returns-to-chr/|work=RadioInsight|date=September 17, 2012|title=Y93 Bismarck Returns To CHR|first=Lance|last=Venta|access-date=November 5, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126214706/https://radioinsight.com/headlines/70507/y93-bismarck-returns-to-chr/|url-status=live}}

On November 5, 2021, iHeart flipped more than 80 stations to Christmas music for the season, including KYYY—which, unlike in past years, dropped its "Y93" branding after more than 45 years to go by "Christmas 92.9". At the time, KYYY was pulling half the rating of KKCT in the Bismarck market.{{cite news|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/215018/after-46-years-y93-bismarck-gives-way-to-christmas-92-9/|date=November 5, 2021|title=After 46 Years, Y93 Bismarck Gives Way To Christmas 92.9|first=Lance|last=Venta|work=RadioInsight|access-date=November 5, 2021|archive-date=November 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105235625/https://radioinsight.com/headlines/215018/after-46-years-y93-bismarck-gives-way-to-christmas-92-9/|url-status=live}} On December 27, KYYY adopted the "Mix 92.9" moniker and a mainstream adult contemporary format, with the first song being "Apologize" by Timbaland featuring OneRepublic.{{Cite web|title=KYYY Brings A Mix To Bismarck|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/217265/kyyy-brings-a-mix-to-bismarck/|access-date=2021-12-27|website=RadioInsight|language=en-US}}

References

External links

{{Official website|https://BismarcksMix.iheart.com/}}
{{FM station data|41424|KYYY}}

YYY

Category:Radio stations established in 1966

Category:IHeartMedia radio stations

Category:1966 establishments in North Dakota

Category:Mainstream adult contemporary radio stations in the United States