KABQ-FM
iHeartMedia, Inc. | |
KABQ, KBQI, KPEK, KTEG, KZRR, K251AU, K265CA | |
History | |
First air date | 1995 | (as KSVA)
Former call signs | KSVA (1989–1999) KSYU (1999–2010) KLQT (2010–2016) KOLZ (2016–2021) |
Call sign meaning | Albuquerque |
Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 39265 |
Class | C1 |
ERP | 100,000 watts |
HAAT | 132 meters (433 ft) |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Webcast | Listen Live |
Website | Hot 95.1 |
KABQ-FM (95.1
KABQ-FM airs a
History
Religious: 1995-1999
The 95.1 frequency was originally LifeTalk Radio affiliate KSVA (now at 920 AM) when it signed on in 1995.[3]
Adult contemporary: 1999-2002
In 1999, after Clear Channel bought the station from Trumper Communications, they would target Albuquerque as an
Urban adult contemporary: 2002-2009
After airing an all Christmas music format throughout December in 2002, they would flip to an urban adult contemporary format branded as "Hot 95.1" that was patterned after sister station KHHT in Los Angeles on January 1, 2003. Its slogan and format definition was "Old School and Today's R&B". Local morning personalities included Chaz Malibu from 2003 to 2006 and Big Benny from 2007 to 2009 (both are now at KABG). Unlike the current format, this version of "Hot" did not play hip-hop, and featured a more down-tempo format of mostly R&B hits centered around the 1970s and 1980s, and also featured current hits.
Rhythmic adult contemporary: 2009-2010
On May 1, 2009, KSYU switched directions from Urban AC to an upbeat Dance-flavored rhythmic adult contemporary direction, using the same musical approach as their sister stations in New York, Philadelphia, Miami and Ft. Myers, as "The All New 95-1 - Move To The Music."[4]
Adult contemporary: 2010-2012

On May 4, 2010, after a year with the rhythmic AC format, KSYU changed their format to adult contemporary, branded as "Lite 95.1" and on May 5, 2010, changed calls to KLQT.[5] The final song as "95-1" was "Last Dance" by Donna Summer, while the first song on "Lite" was "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" by Starship. KLQT went head-on with Cumulus Media's KMGA for listeners. The station offered "commercial free Mondays", in which the station did not air commercials for 24 hours. During November and December, it aired holiday music. Despite all this, "Lite" drew very low Arbitron ratings and did not seem to have any impact on the long established KMGA.
Top 40: 2012-2014
On May 16, 2012, at Noon, KLQT changed their format to
Personalities on "Channel" were mostly syndicated by Clear Channel to its various stations airing the CHR format. It featured Johnjay and Rich from
Rhythmic oldies: 2014-present
On November 3, 2014, at Midnight, after
On March 30, 2016, KLQT changed their call letters to KOLZ.
K265CA/KLQT/KOLZ had mostly competed with
On May 31, 2021, KOLZ changed their call letters to KABQ-FM; the calls were on what is now KNFZ upon that station's divestment to the Delmarva Educational Association the previous month.[11] Concurrently, the KOLZ call letters moved to sister KAZX in Farmington.
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for KABQ-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ http://www.hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?id=70 Archived May 28, 2016, at the Wayback Machine HD Radio Guide for Albuquerque
- ^ "Format Changes & Updates" (PDF). The M Street Journal. June 21, 1995. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
- ^ Clear Channel Flips A Pair in Albuquerque
- ^ The Lite Turns On in Albuquerque
- ^ KLQT Changes the Channel to CHR
- ^ Old School Gets a 100kW Promotion in Albuquerque
- ^ Beat Launching in Albuquerque
- ^ "Nielsen Audio Ratings".
- ^ Mix 105.1 Debuts In Albuquerque
- ^ KABQ-FM fccdata.org
External links
- KABQ-FM Official Website
- Facility details for Facility ID 39265 (KABQ-FM) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- KABQ-FM in Nielsen Audio's FM station database