KRBZ
Broadcast area | Kansas City metropolitan area |
---|---|
Frequency | 96.5 MHz (HD Radio) |
Branding | Alt 96.5 |
Programming | |
Language(s) | English |
Format | Alternative rock |
Subchannels | HD2: Channel Q |
Ownership | |
Owner |
|
History | |
First air date | September 3, 1959 |
Former call signs | KXTR (1959–2000) |
Call sign meaning | "Kansas Radio Buzz" (refers to former branding) |
Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 57119 |
Class | C0 |
ERP | 100,000 watts |
HAAT | 335 meters (1,099 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 39°01′19″N 94°30′50″W / 39.022°N 94.514°W |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Webcast | Listen live (via Audacy) |
Website | www |
KRBZ (96.5 FM, “Alt 96-5”) is an alternative rock station, licensed to Kansas City, Missouri and serving the Kansas City metropolitan area. The station is owned by Audacy, Inc., with studios located in Mission, Kansas and a transmitter site in Kansas City's East Side.
History
1959-2000: Classical KXTR
KRBZ began broadcasting on September 3, 1959, as classical music station KXTR, and was owned by Telesound Broadcasting, and initially operating at 58,500 watts. Stereo Broadcasters, Inc. bought the station in 1962, and Senthesound Broadcasting bought it three years later. Robert Ingram took over the station in 1976, and KXTR upgraded to 100,000 watts in 1981. Ingram would then sell the station to Heritage Media (and then Sinclair Broadcast Group) in 1997, followed by Entercom (the forerunner to the present-day Audacy) in 2000. By the mid-1990s, KXTR replaced much of its live, local airstaff with satellite-fed programming; only mornings were local, as well as "Night on the Town" on Saturdays (which would become syndicated). By the Spring of 2000, KXTR's ratings were tied for 12th place in the 12+ age demographic, with a 3.8 share of the market (and ranked even lower in the 25-54 demographic, though ranked 9th in the 35-64 demographic).[2]
2000-2020: 96.5 The Buzz
On August 17, 2000, at 10 a.m., KXTR was moved to 1250 AM, displacing
By 2002, KRBZ moved towards a
On
Also in 2003, KRBZ was nearly pulled off the air when plans for sports station KCSP forced longtime country station WDAF to look for an FM home. Fans gathered to "Save The Buzz", showing a huge turnout and solidifying the station's alternative format. Instead, WDAF moved to 106.5 FM, displacing KCIY, a Smooth Jazz station.[10][11]
On June 1, 2006, afternoon host/program director Lazlo announced he was leaving the station to become program director of sister station
On November 10, 2006, it was announced that Lazlo, Afentra, and Slimfast would reunite on-air for "The Church of Lazlo", which broadcast from Seattle on KNDD and simulcast on KRBZ.[16] On February 12, 2007, "The Dick Dale Show with Jessica Chase" debuted as the station's new morning show.[17] Less than a month later, Chase quietly departed the station, ultimately being replaced by Kevin Quinn. On July 9, 2008, the morning show was disbanded with Dick Dale being let go from the station.[18]
On July 17, 2008, Lazlo, Afentra, and Slimfast announced plans to end The Church of Lazlo's run on KNDD. This came shortly after the announcement that former KRBZ Program Director Mike Kaplan would take over programming duties at KNDD.[19][20]
On August 25, 2008, both "Afentra's Big Fat Morning Buzz" and "The Church of Lazlo" returned live to Kansas City.[21]
In 2014, the station was forced to pay $1 million in a defamation lawsuit that spawned from comments made on the morning show.[22]
Afentra abruptly left the station on August 1, 2018, due to her contract not being extended. Her co-hosts, Danny Boi and Mark Van Sickle, continued the morning show as "Danny and Mark in the Morning".[23] In 2022, Afentra would file an Equal Pay and Discrimination lawsuit against KRBZ for her termination.[24]
On September 24, 2018, Jordin Silver joined Danny Boi and Mark on the morning show, and it was renamed "Mornings with Jordin Silver and Friends". Silver previously worked at KYSR in Los Angeles and KNDD. Danny Boi and Mark eventually left the station.[25]
2020-present: Alt 96.5
On September 14, 2020, KRBZ rebranded as "Alt 96.5.” The move came after Entercom initiated airstaff cuts at their country and alternative formatted stations nationwide, which included morning host Jordin Silver (who would return to the station in April 2022 to host middays remotely from Los Angeles) and night host/"The Church of Lazlo" producer Hartzell Gray (now at
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for KRBZ". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "R&R Magazine Spring '00 Page 83" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
- ^ Christopher Hearne, Jr., "KXTR moves to the AM dial", The Kansas City Star, August 18, 2000.
- ^ "R&R Magazine 2000-08-25 Page 3" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
- ^ "Buzz Killers". thepitchkc.com. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ "Call Sign History".
- ^ "R&R Magazine 2002-1" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
- ^ "R&R Magazine 2002-04-05 Page 20" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ "The Main Street Tattler" (PDF). Main-st.net. September 20, 2002. Retrieved 2016-08-03.
- ^ "Buzz Off?". thepitchkc.com. 3 June 2002. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
- ^ "Radio station to drop 'smooth jazz' format", The Kansas City Star, July 19, 2003.
- ^ "KNDD/Seattle Names Lazlo As PD". AllAccess.com. 2006-06-01. Retrieved 2015-10-12.
- ^ "The Church Of Lazlo Is Coming To KNDD". allaccess.com. 7 November 2006. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
- ^ "KRBZ Morning Co-Host Danny Boi Exits". allaccess.com. 8 September 2006. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
- ^ KRBZ's Slimfast On Fast Track To Mornings
- ^ KRBZ Teasing 'The Second Coming of Lazlo'
- ^ KRBZ Brings In 'The Dick Dale Show' For Mornings
- ^ Dick Dale Plays On The Beach
- ^ Lazlo Exiting KNDD To Return To KC
- ^ Mike Kaplan Moving To KNDD PD Post
- ^ Afentra's Big Fat Morning Show & The Church Of Lazlo Return To KRBZ
- ^ "Jury Awards $1 Million to Woman Defamed by Entercom's 96.5 the Buzz Kansas City".
- ^ "Longtime KRBZ/Kansas City Morning Host Afentra Exits". AllAccess.com. 2018-08-01. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
- ^ "Afentra Bandokoudis' Equal Pay & Discrimination Suit Against Audacy Kansas City to Proceed to Trial".
- ^ "KRBZ (96.5 The Buzz)/Kansas City Adds Jordin Silver To Mornings". AllAccess.com. 2018-09-18. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
- ^ "The Buzz budget cuts deprive KC of Jordin Silver, others". 11 September 2020.
- ^ Entercom Sets Programming Plans for Alternative & Country
- ^ Entercom Rebrands Alternative Stations in Buffalo, Kansas City, Las Vegas & Richmond
- ^ Widespread Entercom RIF in Progress; Memo to Staff
- ^ Audacy Makes Alternative Lineup Changes in Dallas & Kansas City as Klein & Ally Go Back to Los Angeles Only
- ^ KRBZ Adds Elliot in the Morning
- ^ "Church of Lazlo to Depart Detroit & Las Vegas".
- ^ Alt 96.5 Kansas City Drops Elliot in the Morning
External links
- Official website
- KRBZ in the FCC FM station database
- KRBZ in Nielsen Audio's FM station database