 | |
| Broadcast area | Greater Austin |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 102.3MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | 102.3 The Beat |
| Programming | |
| Format | Rhythmic Top 40 |
| Subchannels | HD2:Pride Radio |
| Affiliations | iHeartRadio Compass Media Networks Premiere Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| History | |
First air date | August 13, 1976 (1976-08-13) |
Former call signs | KMXX (1976–82) |
Call sign meaning | Reference to a prior easy listening format |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 11935 |
| Class | C2 |
| ERP | 26,000watts |
| HAAT | 209 meters (686 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 30°13′26″N97°49′41″W / 30.224°N 97.828°W /30.224; -97.828 |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live (viaiHeartRadio) Listen live (HD2) |
| Website | thebeatatx |
KPEZ (102.3FM "102.3 The Beat") is acommercialradio station inAustin, Texas. It is owned byiHeartMedia and airs arhythmic contemporaryradio format. It shares studios with four other iHeart stations in the Penn Field complex in theSouth Congress district (or "SoCo") of south central Austin, nearSt. Edward's University. KPEZ has aneffective radiated power of 26,000watts, broadcasting from atransmitter site off Brodie Lane inSunset Valley, Texas.
"The Beat" station brand has for many years been associated with theR&B andhip hop music genres in the Austinradio market. It originated on 104.3 in 1998, first as KQBT, and later KXBT (nowKLQB). It later moved to 104.9 (nowKTXX) before that station switched formats in 2008. Clear Channel Communications picked up the branding one year later and placed it on 105.9 KFMK before swapping formats with KPEZ in 2010.
On August 13, 1976, the 102.3 frequency firstsigned on as KMXX[2] It was owned by Dynamic Communications of Austin and playedRegional Mexican music. KMXX was Austin's first full-time Spanish language radio station on the FM dial. The president and general manager was Roberto C. Villanueva, making it a rare FM station in a large market under the control of Hispanic management.
KMXX's Spanish-language format lasted only about a year before the station switched tourban contemporary music. With less than 1,000 watts ERP, KMXX had a hard time competing with other stations in Austin, some of them running up to 100,000 watts ERP.
In 1982, the station was bought bySan Antonio-based Clear Channel Communications, the forerunner to present day owneriHeartMedia.[3] Thecall sign was changed to KPEZ and the format switched toeasy listening music as "EZ 102". In the 1980s, power was increased to 3,000 watts, but the signal was still weak in parts of Austin and its suburbs.
In the late 1980s, KPEZ switched formats toclassic rock, becoming "Z 102." In 1989, it increased power to 26,000 watts from a new tower off Brodie Lane in Southwest Austin, providing better coverage of the city and its suburbs. In the fall of 2004, KPEZ became "Channel 102-3" airing a classic-leaningadult album alternative (AAA) format, dubbed "World Class Rock." On December 16, 2005, the AAA format was dropped, and afterstunting withChristmas music, KPEZ flipped to aChristian Contemporary music format as "102.3 The River."[4]
In 1998, Clear Channel launched 105.9 KFMK, a new stationlicensed toRound Rock, Texas. In 2010, as Clear Channel was going into private ownership, FCC ownership regulations required that the Austin cluster spin off one of its stations. There were plans underway to move KFMK into theAloha Trust LLC for a future sale.[5] On May 21, 2010, Clear Channel announced that it would move KFMK's urban format to the 102.3 frequency, taking advantage of its more powerful signal. The switch took place on May 31, 2010. The Christian Contemporary format, heard on the 102.3 frequency, moved to 105.9. KFMK was later purchased byCrista Ministries, which specializes in contemporary Christian radio stations. KFMK became Contemporary Christian "Spirit 105.9" in April 2010.[6]
Until 2018, KPEZ's HD2 channel carried continuous rebroadcasts ofAmerican Top 40 countdown shows from the era whenCasey Kasem was the host. The HD2 subchannel currently carries iHeart'sPride Radio, a mix of pop anddance music andEDM, aimed at Austin's gay community.
Current: