KFMK
Encyclopedia
KFMK is an Austin, Texas
radio station operating a Contemporary Christian format. It is licensed to Round Rock, Texas
with an ERP of 4,500 watts from a transmitter
site near West Lake Hills, TX, and is currently owned by CRISTA Broadcasting
after being owned by Clear Channel Communications
and the Aloha Station Trust. .
formatted station, after initial stunting as alternative rocker "The Planet 105.9". From the inception it played mostly R&B, Classic Soul, Motown, and Disco from the 1960s and 1970s only. In 2003, the station gradually added more songs from the 1980s and 1990s to the playlist, while at the same time having the 60s and 70s R&B in heavy rotation. Even then it occasionally debuted new music, though this was rare.
Finally in 2006, KFMK revamped the playlist and dropped the 60s and 70s music altogether and instead played more music from the 1980s to present, more along the lines of a Rhythmic Adult Contemporary
direction. This was done to accommodate the Kidd Kraddick in the Morning
Show that aired on KFMK. On October 13, 2006, the station rebranded as "The New Jammin' 105-9" and dropped all on-air personalities, except for Kidd Kraddick in the Morning. Part of the rebranding included former tweaking of the format to one inspired by the "MOViN'
format created by Alan Burns & Associates.
In the Fall of 2008, KFMK began playing current Rhythmic fare on weeknights and on weekend afternoons/nights, including current Hip-Hop product, trying to improve ratings. This failed, as the station was ranked #16th overall. On September 15, 2009, at 5 AM, after playing Jammin's last song "Dance and Shout" by Shaggy, the station stunted for four hours playing rock using "The Planet" moniker (formerly used during its sign on in 1998), but also aired music of other genres, as well as airing "change" soundbites. At 9 AM, the station officially flipped formats to a hip hop-leaning Rhythmic Contemporary
station branded as "105-9 The Beat". The station dropped Kidd Kraddick's morning show, but kept airing Ryan Seacrest
, most likely due to a contract issue (this ended on May 19, 2010).
On May 21, 2010 Clear Channel announced that it planned to move KFMK's Hip Hop
format to the 102.3 frequency, where it has better coverage and a more powerful signal, starting May 31. Sister station KPEZ, known as "The River", which resided at the 102.3 frequency, moved its format over to the 105.9 signal.
On June 9, 2010 it was announced that Crista Broadcasting, a division of Crista Ministries
has reached an agreement to purchase KFMK.
On July 26th, 2010, the station changed ownership from Clear Channel Communications
to Aloha Trust LLC
.
On September 20, 2010, at 4:20 PM, KFMK fully shifted to a contemporary Christian format and rebranded as "Spirit 105.9". Currently, Spirit is low in the Arbitron ratings.
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
radio station operating a Contemporary Christian format. It is licensed to Round Rock, Texas
Round Rock, Texas
Round Rock is a city in Travis and Williamson counties in the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the metropolitan area. The 2010 census places the population at 99,887....
with an ERP of 4,500 watts from a transmitter
Transmitter
In electronics and telecommunications a transmitter or radio transmitter is an electronic device which, with the aid of an antenna, produces radio waves. The transmitter itself generates a radio frequency alternating current, which is applied to the antenna. When excited by this alternating...
site near West Lake Hills, TX, and is currently owned by CRISTA Broadcasting
Crista Ministries
CRISTA Ministries is a collection of Christian ministries located in the Richmond Highlands neighborhood of Shoreline, Washington, just north of Seattle...
after being owned by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
and the Aloha Station Trust. .
Station history
KFMK was launched in 1998 as a Rhythmic OldiesRhythmic oldies
Rhythmic Oldies is a radio format that concentrates on the rhythmic, disco or dance genres of music. Playlists may span from the 1970s through the early 1990s...
formatted station, after initial stunting as alternative rocker "The Planet 105.9". From the inception it played mostly R&B, Classic Soul, Motown, and Disco from the 1960s and 1970s only. In 2003, the station gradually added more songs from the 1980s and 1990s to the playlist, while at the same time having the 60s and 70s R&B in heavy rotation. Even then it occasionally debuted new music, though this was rare.
Finally in 2006, KFMK revamped the playlist and dropped the 60s and 70s music altogether and instead played more music from the 1980s to present, more along the lines of a Rhythmic Adult Contemporary
Rhythmic Adult Contemporary
Rhythmic adult contemporary is a format used on stations in the United States and Canada. It usually gears toward an older audience, ages 25 to 54. Stations using this format play disco from the 1970s and early 1980s, dance/pop music, adult-friendly hip hop/old school tracks, R&B, dance/freestyle...
direction. This was done to accommodate the Kidd Kraddick in the Morning
Kidd Kraddick in the Morning
Kidd Kraddick in the Morning is an American morning radio show hosted by Kidd Kraddick on Cumulus Media Networks...
Show that aired on KFMK. On October 13, 2006, the station rebranded as "The New Jammin' 105-9" and dropped all on-air personalities, except for Kidd Kraddick in the Morning. Part of the rebranding included former tweaking of the format to one inspired by the "MOViN'
Movin' (brand)
"Movin'" is a brand name used for a variety of rhythmic AC and top 40 radio stations in numerous broadcast markets in the United States...
format created by Alan Burns & Associates.
In the Fall of 2008, KFMK began playing current Rhythmic fare on weeknights and on weekend afternoons/nights, including current Hip-Hop product, trying to improve ratings. This failed, as the station was ranked #16th overall. On September 15, 2009, at 5 AM, after playing Jammin's last song "Dance and Shout" by Shaggy, the station stunted for four hours playing rock using "The Planet" moniker (formerly used during its sign on in 1998), but also aired music of other genres, as well as airing "change" soundbites. At 9 AM, the station officially flipped formats to a hip hop-leaning Rhythmic Contemporary
Rhythmic Contemporary
Rhythmic contemporary, also known as rhythmic top 40, rhythmic contemporary hit radio or rhythmic crossover, is a music radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary rarely uses rock music or country music in its airplay, but it may...
station branded as "105-9 The Beat". The station dropped Kidd Kraddick's morning show, but kept airing Ryan Seacrest
Ryan Seacrest
Ryan John Seacrest is an American radio personality, television host, network producer and voice actor. He is the host of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, a nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show that airs on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles and throughout the United States and Canada on Premiere Radio Networks,...
, most likely due to a contract issue (this ended on May 19, 2010).
On May 21, 2010 Clear Channel announced that it planned to move KFMK's Hip Hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
format to the 102.3 frequency, where it has better coverage and a more powerful signal, starting May 31. Sister station KPEZ, known as "The River", which resided at the 102.3 frequency, moved its format over to the 105.9 signal.
On June 9, 2010 it was announced that Crista Broadcasting, a division of Crista Ministries
Crista Ministries
CRISTA Ministries is a collection of Christian ministries located in the Richmond Highlands neighborhood of Shoreline, Washington, just north of Seattle...
has reached an agreement to purchase KFMK.
On July 26th, 2010, the station changed ownership from Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
to Aloha Trust LLC
Aloha Station Trust, LLC
Aloha Station Trust, LLC is a privately owned trust company that owns radio and television stations previously owned by Clear Channel Communications....
.
On September 20, 2010, at 4:20 PM, KFMK fully shifted to a contemporary Christian format and rebranded as "Spirit 105.9". Currently, Spirit is low in the Arbitron ratings.