96.5FM Bakersfield signed on-the-air on August 24, 1963, asKIFM. From 1966 to 1969 the KIFM format wasTop 40. In 1969 the station was purchased by Faith Center, Glendale, California. The format wasChristian. Part of the time the station simulcast with KHOF 99.5 Los Angeles. The call lettersKIFM now belong to a radio station inWest Sacramento.
KHIS/KHIS-FM (1976–1996)
In 1975, 96.5 FM was bought by the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. On January 1, 1976, the call letters were changed toKHIS and toKHIS-FM on January 3, 1977, when the church bought 800 AM KUZZ and turned it into KHIS (nowKBFP). KHIS-FM aired areligious/Contemporary Christian music format until December 27, 1996.
KSMJ (1996–1998)
On September 30, 1996, Foursquare sold KHIS-AM-FM to Hemisphere Broadcasting of Bakersfield for $2.65 million.[4] On December 27, 1996, the call letters KHIS-FM were changed toKSMJ. KSMJ aired asmooth jazz music format branded asSmooth Jazz 96-5 KSMJ.
KKXX (1998–2004)
On July 2, 1998, KSMJ moved up the dial to 98.5 FM and radio stationKKXX-FM moved from 105.3 FM to 96.5 FM alternating between arhythmic top 40 and Top 40 music format until September 3, 2004. The station was branded asX96.5 and at the time was owned by Mondosphere Broadcasting. On August 16, 2000, Mondosphere Broadcasting was sold toClear Channel Communications. Clear Channel relabeledKKXX-FM fromX96.5 to96.5 KISS-FM which was modeled after its sister stationKIIS-FM inLos Angeles and also stated that no changes were expected at that time.[5]
KBKO (2004–2008)
On September 3, 2004, the format was changed to country with the call sign changing toKBKO-FM. The station was branded asBig 96-5. Later, it was rebranded as96-5 KBKO. On February 15, 2008, the KBKO-FM call letters and thecountry music format were briefly moved to98.5 FM in a frequency swap withKDFO, aclassic rock station which then became96-5 The Fox.[6] On Friday, June 20, 2008, the two stations were moved back to their previous frequencies after a four-month, swap.[7]
KVMX (2008–2011)
On Tuesday, July 29, 2008, KBKO-FM was sold toLotus Communications and the station beganstunting before revealing the new format. At noon on August 5, 2008, the station announced a newclassic hits format branded as96.5 Max-FM. The new format was led off with "Start Me Up" by theRolling Stones.[8] On August 13, 2008, the KBKO-FM call sign was changed toKVMX.[9]
KPSL-FM (2011–present)
On September 8, 2011,Lotus Communications made a frequency change to two of its stations,KVMX andKPSL-FM which swapped frequencies.KPSL-FM is now at 96.5 FM and is branded asConcierto 96.5 FM and KVMX is now at 92.1 FM. On July 31, 2018, KPSL-FM changed their format from Spanish adult hits to regional Mexican, branded as "La Ley 96.5".[10] On February 11, 2025, KPSL-FM rebranded as "96.5 Ritmo FM", and shifted to a Spanish rhythmic format.
Programming on this station includes Alex "El Genio" Lucas on mornings, Rosmar Vega on mid-days, El Fantasma on afternoons, andConcierto 96.5 Music overnights, and weekends.Show De Thalia is on Saturday evenings.
