| Broadcast area | Phoenix metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 95.1MHz |
| Branding | 95.1 & 94.9 The Wow Factor |
| Programming | |
| Format | Oldies/Classic hits |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KKFR,KMVA,KZON | |
| History | |
First air date | 1996 (as KFMR) |
Former call signs | KFMR (1996–2005) KVIB (2005–2014) |
Call sign meaning | KOAsIs (former station branding) |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 16770 |
| Class | C |
| ERP | 41,000watts |
| HAAT | 849 meters (2785 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 34°14′5.00″N112°22′2.00″W / 34.2347222°N 112.3672222°W /34.2347222; -112.3672222 |
| Translator(s) | 94.9 K235CB (Chandler, relaysKZON-HD2) |
| Repeater(s) | 103.9 KZON-HD2 (Gilbert) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live (may be restricted) |
| Website | 951thewowfactor.com |
KOAI (95.1FM) is acommercialradio station,licensed toSun City West, Arizona, and serving thePhoenix metropolitan area. The station is owned by Riviera Broadcasting, asubsidiary of theYucaipa Companies. It broadcasts anoldies andclassic hitsradio format, featuring mostly hits from the 1960s, 70s and 80s. It primarily competes withAudacy-owned 94.5KOOL-FM, which concentrates on 1980s hits, with some 70s and 90s titles.
KOAI has aneffective radiated power (ERP) of 41,000watts. Thetransmitter is inCrown King, Arizona, about 50 miles northwest of Phoenix, giving KOAI arimshot signal in the metro area. Programming is also heard on 250-wattFM translator 94.9K235CB inChandler. The translator is fed by 103.9KZON-HD2. Thestudios and offices are on 7th Street inMidtown Phoenix.
95.1 went on the air in 1996, licensed toWinslow, broadcasting from Mingus Mountain and covering areas of Northern Arizona. It was owned by Ted Tucker's Desert West Air Ranchers Corporation. Tucker moved the station in 2000 to the Crown King site (along with a change of city of license to Mayer, later changed again to Sun City West). It was sold in 2004 to Sun City Communications for $18.7 million.[1] The new ownership flipped KFMR from a simulcast of Tucker'sKCDX to theHispanic rhythmic ("hurban") format asKVIB "Latino Vibe". As Latino Vibe, KVIB played a youth-oriented radio format playing both Spanish-language and English-language pop. The station's mix of music targeted the Valley's burgeoning young Latino population, particularly long-time residents who can speak English but prefer Spanish.
On January 23, 2014, KVIB changed its format toSpanish languageadult contemporary, branded as "Solamente Éxitos" with a bilingual presentation.[2]
On August 13, 2014, at noon, 95.1 flipped toSoft Adult Contemporary as95.1 The Oasis, and nine days later, the station changed itscall sign toKOAI. The last song of the Spanish AC format was "Royals" byLorde with the first song on The Oasis beingCool Change by theLittle River Band.[3][4] The station played aChristmas music format for the 2014 holiday season, the second station in Phoenix afterKESZ.
On April 9, 2015, 95.1 gained an FM translator, K235CB 94.9 on South Mountain, (licensed toChandler), and also began simulcasting on theHD2digital subchannel ofKEXX.
In May 2015, KOAI adjusted itsplaylist to include more up-tempo selections from the 1990s through the present time, while still retaining a gold/soft AC-lean.
On June 5, 2015, while it was still a soft AC station, KOAI picked upDelilah'ssyndicated evening radio show. Delilah continued on the station through two additional format changes, first to a mainstreamadult contemporary station, and then toclassic hits. Delilah was discontinued on August 25, 2017, with evenings featuring more music.
On September 30, 2019, at 5PM, after playing "Addicted to Love" byRobert Palmer, KOAI changed its format from classic hits to a new format concept forbaby boomers developed by veteran radio programmer John Sebastian. It originally blended pop, rock, soul, and country from a seven-decade span and branded as "The Wow Factor". The first song on The Wow Factor was "Ride My See-Saw" byThe Moody Blues.[5][6]