KKGO
MHz (HD Radio) | |
Branding | Go Country 105 |
---|---|
Programming | |
Format | Country |
Subchannels |
|
Ownership | |
Owner | Mount Wilson FM Broadcasters |
KMZT | |
History | |
First air date | February 18, 1959 | (as KBCA)
Former call signs | KDBX (1956–1958) KBCA (1958–1979) KKGO (1978–1988) KKGO-FM (1988–2000) KMZT-FM (2000–2007) |
Call sign meaning | The word "GO" |
Technical information | |
Facility ID | 43939 |
Class | B |
ERP | 18,000 watts |
HAAT | 880 meters (2,890 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 34°13′44″N 118°04′08″W / 34.229°N 118.069°W |
Links | |
Webcast | Listen Live Listen Live (HD2) |
Website | gocountry105 kmozart |
KKGO (105.1
KKGO is notable in being the lone remaining full-power commercial FM signal licensed to Los Angeles that is still independently owned and operated.[1][2]
History
Jazz (1959–1989)
Saul Levine launched the station at 105.1 FM in February 1959 as KBCA, one of the first FM stations to broadcast from Mount Wilson. In 1979, the station changed its call sign to KKGO.[3] This was prompted by a court challenge from KABC, according to one local podcaster.[4] In 1988 the call sign was modified to KKGO-FM.[5] A traditional jazz music format was aired until 1989.
Classical (1989–2007)
After Evergreen Media's record-setting purchase of
Mount Wilson FM Broadcasters chairman Saul Levine made an initial bid for KFAC's music library, one which dated back to the 1940s, but withdrew his bid when presented with an asking price upwards of $1 million; a combination of KUSC, the Los Angeles Public Library, and Stanford University acquired it instead.[11] In the time between KFAC-FM's switch on September 20, 1989, and KKGO's switch the following January 1, KKGO offered classical programming for part of the day, with former KFAC host John Santana hired as a part-time announcer.[12]
KKGO celebrated the complete conversion to classical by playing selections from Franz Lehár's operetta The Land of Smiles. Another KFAC programming staple would be revived on KKGO that March: the Gas Company Evening Concert, which ran on KFAC and KFAC-FM between 1940 and 1989; former KFAC announcer Tom Dixon was hired as host of the new program's incarnation.[13]
In 2000, the
Country (2007–present)
When longtime country music station KZLA (93.9 FM) flipped formats in August 2006, it left the two largest media markets in the United States and three of the top four without a full-time country music station. The New York City market had been without a country station following the format change of WYNY and three repeaters in 2003, while the San Francisco Bay Area was without one following KZBR's 2005 format change. The other top-three market, Chicago, is served by WUSN.
On February 26, 2007, at 5:00 a.m., in a surprise move announced only three days earlier, Mount Wilson Broadcasters flipped KKGO from K-Mozart to country as "Go Country 105".
KKGO brought country music back to the FM dial after a six-month absence, much to the delight of Southern California country fans who had spent that time petitioning the radio community to restore country radio in Los Angeles. Such activity included writing letters, making phone calls, wearing "I Want My Country Music Back" shirts, and distributing ribbons reading "Save Country Music".
K-Mozart returned to KKGO on April 4, 2011, this time on the HD2 subchannel.[17] As of March 2017, K-Mozart is heard on KKGO-HD4 while KKGO-HD2 airs an oldies format.
On May 8, 2013, KKGO began limiting access to the online stream of Go Country 105 to listeners in California due to rising royalty rates from the exponential growth of the streaming audience. KKGO's sister stations and HD subchannels did not restrict their respective streams.[18] As of 2015, this restriction has been lifted; access to the stream is available throughout the United States via the KKGO website as well as through iHeartRadio.
Until 2015, KKGO was simulcast on KGIL in Johannesburg, California, extending Go Country 105's reach into the Mojave Desert. The simulcast ended after Mount Wilson's sale of KGIL to Adelman Broadcasting closed.[19]
In addition to its K-Mozart AM sister stations, KKGO also had an AM radio station on 540 AM.
Christmas music
On November 15, 2016, KKGO began its annual tradition of airing Christmas music around the clock in November and December, rebranding itself as "105.1 Your Christmas Destination". With this move, the station competes directly with KOST, which also switches to a 24/7 Christmas format. During this time, KKGO's regular, non-seasonal country music remains available on their HD channels and online. Although the station is formatted as a country music station year-round, KKGO plays Christmas songs from both country and non-country artists.[20] The station reverted to its basic country format on December 26, 2016. It has continued switching to Christmas music every November–December 26 since.[21] KKGO often has notable music figures host Christmas programming, past guests have included Jordan Davis, Dan + Shay, Chris Young, Mitchell Tenpenny, Carrie Underwood, Idina Menzel,[22] and Martina McBride.[23]
HD Radio
KKGO began broadcasting an HD Radio digital signal in 2005. As of 2023, KKGO broadcasts on four subchannels:
- KKGO-HD1 is a digital simulcast of the analog signal.
- KKGO-HD2 carries a classical music format branded as "K-Mozart" as a simulcast of KMZT 1260 AM.
- KKGO-HD3 airs an adult standards format branded as "Unforgettable FM"
- KKGO-HD4 broadcasts an oldies format branded as "L.A. Oldies K-SURF".[24]
Unforgettable
In 2005, Mount Wilson Broadcasting started
In March 2015, the HD3 subchannel began airing Unforgettable, flipping from
On July 28, 2023, KKGO-HD3 dropped the "Unforgettable" standards format and began stunting with all-Taylor Swift format in anticipation of her Eras Tour shows in LA, with a new format to launch at a to-be-determind time.[27]
References
- ^ "Saul Levine: FM Radio Pioneer". The Telos Alliance. Cleveland, Ohio: TLS Corp. July 31, 2004. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
- ^ Satzman, Darrell (May 5, 2003). "Little guy won't fold in format scrap with Clear Channel station". Los Angeles Business Journal.
- ^ "Chuck Niles, 76; Voice of L.A.'s Jazz Radio". Los Angeles Times. March 17, 2004.
- ^ "Smooth Jazz In Los Angeles".
- ^ a b FM 105.1 Call Sign History (Facility ID: 43939)
- ^ Sandoval, Rick (January 18, 1989). "L.A. classical music station sells for $63.7 million". UPI. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
- ^ "A New Radio Mystery". Los Angeles Times. August 11, 1989. p. 21. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
- ^ "For the Record: Changing Hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 18, 1988. p. 73. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
- ^ "For the Record: Ownership Changes" (PDF). Broadcasting. August 29, 1988. p. 68. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
- ^ Wagoner, Richard (July 28, 1989). "Changes likely at KFAC, but new owners remain mum". San Pedro News-Pilot. pp. E8-E14. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
- ^ Puig, Claudia; McQuilkin, Terry (August 24, 1989). "KFAC Parcels Out Classical Library". Los Angeles Times. pp. V1, V4-V5. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
- ^ Pasles, Chris (September 21, 1989). "KFAC Refugees Look for a New Place to Call Home on Radio Dial". Los Angeles Times. pp. V10–V11. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
- ^ Puig, Claudia (January 30, 1990). "Gas Company Show to Return". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
- ^ "Johnny Cash Would Have Been Proud -- KKGO 105.1 Flips Over to Country". PRWeb. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- ^ "Martina McBride Replaces Mozart" (PDF). Radio & Records. March 2, 2007. p. 3. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
- ^ "Save Country Music Ribbons".
- ^ Venta, Lance (March 28, 2011). "K-Mozart Returns To Los Angeles". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
- ^ "LA's KKGO Limits Online Stream Coverage". All Access. All Access Music Group. May 8, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
- ^ Venta, Lance (October 20, 2015). "The Secret Format Changes Of 2015". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
- ^ Venta, Lance (November 15, 2016). "Go Country 105 Los Angeles Goes All-Christmas". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
- ^ "KKGO/Los Angeles Set for All-Christmas Flip on November 20th". All Access. All Access Music Group. November 16, 2017. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
- ^ "Underwood to Guest Host Afternoons on KKGO Los Angeles". news.radio-online.com. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
- ^ "KKGO (Go Country 105)/Los Angeles Goes All-Christmas". All Access. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
- ^ Venta, Lance (April 25, 2018). "Domain Insight 4/25: Who's Turning On A Lite In Los Angeles?". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
- ^ Venta, Lance (March 29, 2015). "KNRY Flips To Adult Standards". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
- ^ "HD Radio Guide for Los Angeles (Archived copy)". Archived from the original on January 28, 2017. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ KKGO Launches All-Taylor Swift HD3 Radioinsight - July 28, 2023
General references
- Countryboards.com — Country music message board set up as a command center for fans to get country music back on FM radio after losing KZLA
- Fybush, Scott (May 23, 2007). "Levine's KKGO/KMZT Embrace HD Radio". Radio World. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
External links
- Official website
- KKGO in the FCC FM station database
- KKGO in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
- List of "grandfathered" FM radio stations in the U.S.
- FCC History Cards for KKGO (covering 1956-1981 as KDBX / KBCA / KGGO)