 | |
| Broadcast area | Boise metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 97.9MHz |
| Branding | Magic 97.9fm |
| Programming | |
| Format | Soft AC |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KBOI,KBOI-FM,KIZN,KKGL,KTIK | |
| History | |
First air date | November 1, 1960; 64 years ago (1960-11-01) (as KBOI-FM) |
Former call signs | KBOI-FM (1960–1985) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 51217 |
| Class | C |
| ERP | 48,000watts |
| HAAT | 828 meters (2,717 ft) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | magic979boise.com |
KQFC (97.9FM, "Magic 97.9") is acommercialradio station inBoise, Idaho. It airs asoft adult contemporaryradio format and is owned byCumulus Media.Studios and offices are on West Bannock Street in Boise.[2] Thetransmitter is off North Bogus Basin Road, amid other TV and FMtowers, north of Boise.[3]
On November 1, 1960; 64 years ago (1960-11-01), the stationsigned on the air asKBOI-FM.[4] It was the FM counterpart toKBOI, owned by Boise Valley Broadcasters. The company was asubsidiary ofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
At first, KBOI-FM mostlysimulcast thefull service,middle of the road format on KBOI, consisting of popular music, news and sports. By the late 1960s, KBOI-FM broke away with its ownbeautiful music format. It played quarter hour sweeps of mostly instrumentalcover versions of popular songs, as well asBroadway andHollywood show tunes.KBOI-TV was also co-owned with KBOI-AM-FM, although the TV station today is owned by theSinclair Broadcast Group.
On January 1, 1986, the station switched itscall sign toKQFC, flipping to acountry music format. Cory Mchals and Debi McCallister, longtime radio veterans, joined KQFC in August 2002 from theMonterey, California,radio market to host morningdrive time. Other announcers include Spencer Burke (middays), Tommy Collins (PM drive), Scott Cruize (evenings), and Ron O'Brian (weekends).
In October 2011, Cumulus took over the ownership of Citadel's Boise operations, placing KQFC under the same ownership asKIZN, one of its country music rivals. The change in ownership meant cuts in KQFC's air staff, as McCallister and Burke were let go from their contracts as part of a reduction in workforce throughout the company. It was also speculated that with Cumulus having two Country outlets in Boise, either KIZN or KQFC would be poised for a possible format flip in the future.[5]
On May 24, 2013, KQFC rebranded asNash FM 97.9, using Cumulus' national branding for many of its country stations. In February 2014, thenationally syndicatedAmerica's Morning Show replaced the localQ Waking Crew with Cory Mchals after more than 10 years. Mikhals was relocated to co-owned KIZN.
On April 3, 2017, KQFC dropped the "Nash FM" branding and flipped to aclassic country format as "97.9 KQFC."[6] On April 3, 2017, Steve Shannon became the morningDJ after hosting afternoons on sister station KIZN.[7]
On October 11, 2019, KQFC begansimulcasting KIZN. Three days later, KQFC dropped its longtime country format and flipped tosoft adult contemporary as "Magic 97.9".[8][9] The Soft AC format had scored sizable ratings inSan Francisco andSeattle, leading Cumulus to try it in Boise.
43°45′22″N116°05′56″W / 43.756°N 116.099°W /43.756; -116.099