 | |
| Broadcast area | Phoenix metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 96.9MHz (HD Radio) 96.9 HD2: PRIDE Radio |
| Branding | Mix 96.9 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Modern adult contemporary |
| Subchannels | HD2:Pride Radio (LGBTQTop 40/Dance) |
| Affiliations | Premiere Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KESZ,KFYI,KGME,KNIX-FM,KOY,KYOT,KZZP | |
| History | |
First air date | October 28, 1961; 63 years ago (1961-10-28) (as KEPI) |
Former call signs | KEPI (1962–1964) KMEO (1964–1967) KMEO-FM (1967–1991) KPSN (1991–1994) KCHT (1994–1995) KHTC (1995–1997) KGLQ (1997–1998) |
Call sign meaning | Mix Phoenix |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 6361 |
| Class | C |
| ERP | 100,000watts |
| HAAT | 475 meters (1,558 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 33°20′02″N112°03′40″W / 33.334°N 112.061°W /33.334; -112.061 |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | mix969 |
KMXP (96.9FM) is acommercialmodern adult contemporaryradio station inPhoenix, Arizona. It is owned and operated byiHeartMedia, Inc., withstudios on East Van Buren Street nearSky Harbor International Airport. KMXP carries thesyndicatedOn Air with Ryan Seacrest show in early afternoons.
KMXP has aneffective radiated power (ERP) of 100,000watts, the maximum for most FM stations. Thetransmitter is inSouth Mountain Park amid other FM and TVtowers, south of Phoenix.[1] KMXP broadcasts usingHD Radio technology. Its HD2digital subchannel carries iHeart's "Pride Radio," aimed atLGBTQ listeners.
The stationsigned on the air on October 28, 1961; 63 years ago (1961-10-28).[2] The station's originalcall sign was KEPI and it was owned by Ward James Atkinson. He sold within months to Golden Sounds, Inc. It had studios in the Adams Hotel and it airedclassical music as part of theWQXR Network, based at New York's premiere classical station.
In the 1960s, most radios in homes and cars could receive the FM band. And with a classical format, KEPI found it hard to stay on the air. In January 1964, Golden Sounds asked for authority to gosilent for up to six months. Ultimately, in the time needed to sell the station, it was off the air for nine months as a new owner was sought. When 96.9 returned to the air in October 1964, it was KMEO, broadcastingeasy listening music and marketed as "Cameo," a moniker it held through several different owners. It played quarter hour sweeps of soft, instrumental music, with an occasional soft vocal. Beginning in 1967, it wassimulcast withKMEO (740 AM). During this time, 96.9 used an FMsuffix, as KMEO-FM, with its easy listening format offered on both AM and FM radio.
KMEO-AM-FM had good ratings. But by the 1980s, the easy listening audience was starting to age, while most advertisers seek young to middle-aged clients. So KMEO began to add more vocals and decrease the instrumentals in an effort to attract a younger audience. By the late 1980s, it had evolved to asoft adult contemporary sound. But several other Phoenix stations were also playing similar music, crowding the field.
On July 4, 1991, 96.9 FM becameoldies-formatted "Sunny 97", switching its call letters to KPSN.[3] That was followed by a whirlwind of format and call sign changes. On November 28, 1994, it becameclassic hits KCHT (later KHTC).[4][5] It first was called "96.9 K-Hits FM", then "The New 96.9 Classic Hits". It rebranded to KGLQ ("Eagle 96.9") in September 1997.[6] In April 1997, the station was bought by Nationwide Communications, asubsidiary of theNationwide Insurance Company. The price tag was $34 million.[7]
On September 3, 1998, at 3 p.m., after playing "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions" byQueen, KGLQ beganstunting with the sound of a ticking clock and messages advising listeners a big change would take place. The messages also poked fun at competing radio stations.
At 3 p.m. that day, 96.9 adopted its current format,hot adult contemporary, as KMXP, “Mix 96.9”. The first song on "Mix" was "New Sensation" byINXS.[8][9][10]
In May 1999, the station was acquired bySan Antonio-basedClear Channel Communications.[11] In 2014, Clear Channel changed its name to the current iHeartMedia, Inc.
Sometime in mid to late June 2024, KMXP tweaked its format to amodern adult contemporary format, emphasizing pop/alternative crossovers.[12] The station playlist was altered, with a number of songs that were played before the format change being removed from the playlist, and a number of songs that were previously played on the station (e.g. "SNAP" byRosa Linn and "Shattered (Turn The Car Around)" byO.A.R.) were added back on the station, along with some songs normally played onalternative rock stations and the AAA format.
Mix 96.9'sHD Radio signal is multiplexed. The main signal is a simulcast of Mix 96.9's hot adult contemporary programming. The second channel carriesiHeartMedia'sPRIDE Radio programming for the LGBTQ community featuring a mix of dance and dance-leaning pop music.
