 | |
| Broadcast area | Santa Fe, New Mexico |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 102.9MHz |
| Branding | Fuego 102.9 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Hispanic rhythmic |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | American General Media |
| KABG,KIOT,KKRG-FM,KKSS,KLVO | |
| History | |
First air date | 2002 (as KENC) |
Former call signs | KTRL (1999–2002, CP) KENC (2002–2003) KLBU (2003–2015) KSFE (2015–2017) KSFE-FM (2017) |
Call sign meaning | KJeFA (former branding) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 83297 |
| Class | C3 |
| ERP | 3,700watts |
| HAAT | 209 meters (686 ft) |
| Repeater(s) |
|
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | fuego1029.com |
KJFA-FM (102.9MHz) is aradio station licensed toPecos, New Mexico, branded asFuego 102-9, and serving theSanta Fe area. It broadcasts a bilingualHispanic rhythmic format.
102.9 FM signed on in August 2002 asKENC, "Enchantment FM 102.9", under Meadows Media, programmed by Jim Duncan, which aired an eclectic music format made up of jazz (without much smooth jazz), classical, world music, blues, folk, and bluegrass, as well asAdult Album Alternative. Jim Duncan's goal was to create a radio station which featured music not heard on most commercial radio stations.[2] The signal was very poor throughout its coverage area; it suffered interference fromKRGN inAmarillo, Texas andKAZX inKirtland, New Mexico. Many adjustments and minor modifications were made to the transmitter site, however the signal never improved satisfactorily. A 2,400 watt booster was added in May 2003 on a cellsite about 1 mile northwest of Santa Fe.
Will Sims, the managing partner of KENC, began searching for a buyer for 102.9 FM. Ken Christensen, chief operating officer of Blu Ventures based inFort Myers, Florida, was looking to buy a Santa Fe radio station. Blu Ventures owns a chain of three sushi bars in Florida namedBlu Sushi, which are known for theirChill inspired atmosphere. Blu Ventures also ownsradioio.com, an internet radio site. Santa Fe was the chosen market because of its eclectic mix of people and its "unique creative energy that radiates outwardly across the US". In November 2003, KENC and the office on Cordova Road were sold to Blu Ventures.
"Enchantment FM" came to an end at midnight on November 19, andBlu 102.9 was launched. Karen Sanchez became KLBU's general manager. The call letters were changed toKLBU and the format still containedJazz andWorld Music, but was adjusted to includeChill,Lounge,Acid Jazz,Trip hop,House, and softerDance Hits, as well asSmooth Jazz andBossa Nova. With the format shift, all of the classical, blues, folk, and bluegrass was removed from the playlist. Chill, of course, was the most dominant genre in the new format. The music played on "Blu" had a bit more energy than music played on a traditionalsmooth jazz radio station. Many of the songs played were instrumental, but some tracks contained vocals as well. Other songs featured vocal sound samples. "Blu" was given the sloganSanta Fe's Choice for Chill.
"Blu" also aired a replay ofBBC Radio 1's "Gilles Peterson Worldwide" on Sunday and Wednesday nights, hosted by British DJGilles Peterson. "Blu" also began to broadcast live from a local nightclub; the program was called "The Blu Room", which featured local and international mix DJ's who spun live on the air on Friday nights. "Blu" also had several daytime personalities, including Joann Orner (also known as "The Lunch Lady").
In July 2005, General Manager Karen Sanchez was fired.
Just before the summer of 2007, KLBU began operating under Hutton Broadcasting via LMA while still under ownership of Blu Ventures. After the LMA began, KLBU discontinued airing any programming and began running on automation full-time. As it was running on automation, the format slowly began changing, including moreJazz andRhythmic titles, and lessElectronica. At this point, it was known that KLBU would be sold to Hutton Broadcasting. In September, KLBU stopped streaming online and song titles were no longer displayed on the station's website.
In October 2007, KLBU was officially sold to Hutton. Management stated that no big changes were planned, but the format would "evolve" to include other genres.[3] Hutton also purchased KWRP-FM (formerly "Indie 101.5", nowKVSF-FM) andKBAC. KLBU also moved out from its original location on Cordova Road to Hutton Broadcasting's building on Camino Estrada.
In September 2010, the format changed to playing various rhythmic sounds including pop, urban, dance, rhythmic alternative, and rhythmic hits from the 80's through today. It had also begun streaming its live broadcast on the internet again. The new slogan was "The Beat of Santa Fe".
On June 1, 2013, the station changed formats to Spanish-language adult hits, branded as "Juan 102.9", featuring hits from the 1970s–2000's. The format was programmed bySparkNet Communications.[4]
In April 2015, Hutton and American General Media agreed to swap stations, withKKIM-FM (a stronger 100 kW signal) going to Hutton and KLBU going to AGM. It was speculated that this would give AGM more flexibility in upgrading translator K275AO in Albuquerque, which currently simulcasts the same format fromKARS.[5] However, on June 30, 2015, the callsign on the booster for 102.9 in Santa Fe was changed to KSFE-1, while KLBU-1 was assigned to the 94.7 booster; KLBU remained the callsign for 102.9 and KKIM-FM for 94.7 until July 31. References to "Juan 102.9" had also been removed from santafe.com.
On July 31, 2015, KLBU changed their call letters toKSFE and changed their format to a simulcast of regional Mexican-formattedKLVO, branded as "Radio Lobo".[6]
On September 18, 2017, KSFE switched from a simulcast of KLVO to one of KARS (also on translator K275AO (102.9 FM) in Albuquerque) with the same format, branded as "La Jefa", which moved fromKJFA in Albuquerque following American General Media's acquisition of the Univision Radio cluster.[7] On October 18, 2017, KSFE changed their call sign toKSFE-FM, and on October 25, 2017, toKJFA-FM.[8]
On February 26, 2018, the trimulcasts of KJFA-AM/FM and K275AO flipped to Spanish Top 40/CHR as “Exitos 102.9.” The move was done to help serve as a flanker for KLVO, and to reduce the overlapping of two Regional Mexican outlets, thus giving KLVO exclusivity to the latter.[9]
On August 30, 2019, at Noon, KJFA-FM and KJFA flipped to Spanish language rhythmic, branded as "Fuego 102.9".[10]
35°39′07″N105°33′18″W / 35.652°N 105.555°W /35.652; -105.555