KBIG-FM
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| KBIG-FM | |
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| City of license | Los Angeles, California |
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| Broadcast area | Greater Los Angeles |
| Branding | 104.3 My fm |
| Slogan | Your at work radio station |
| Frequency | 104.3 (MHz) (Also on HD Radio) |
| First air date | 1965 |
| Format | KBIG-FM: Adult Top 40 KBIG-HD2: Pride Radio |
| ERP | 65,000 watts |
| HAAT | 928 meters |
| Class | B |
| Owner | Clear Channel |
| Sister stations | KFI, KHHT, KIIS, KLAC, KOST, KTLK, KYSR |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | www.1043myfm.com |
KBIG, 104-3 MY FM is an FM radio station in Los Angeles, California owned by Clear Channel. The station plays a Adult Top 40 format.
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[edit] History
At one time KBIG was one of the highest-rated Beautiful music stations in the country. KBIG began broadcasting in 1952 as an AM radio station originating from Catalina Island off the coast of California. The call letters were named in honor of the station's original disc jockey, Carl "Mr. Big" Bailey. They originally broadcast Big band and new music of the times. The AM station was sold to religious broadcasters and now operates as KBRT.
In the mid-1960s, KBIG began simulcasting its AM signal on the 104.3 FM frequency (where KBIG continues to broadcast today). As an FM station, KBIG broadcast the format for which the station is best known, Beautiful music, playing lush instrumentals and occasional vocal performances. KBIG also had its staff of "KBIG Singers", who would sing the station's jingles and also record their own albums to offer to listeners. One of the "KBIG Singers" was session singer Sally Stevens, who began her career at KBIG. The station was owned by Bonneville International for many years.
The Beautiful music format continued until 1987. At that time the station dropped its instrumentals and became a Soft AC (adult contemporary) station. In 1988 KBIG began mixing in more rock and roll oldies from 1964-1969 as well as hotter AC artists. They were still Gold Based AC at that point.
Currently, KBIG's digital song information shows KBIG as KDBK-FM on select devices.
The station had a format flip on September 17, 2007 and is now called "104.3 MY FM".
[edit] Logos
 KBIG-FM logo from 1995 to 1999 |
 KBIG-FM logo from 1999 to 2005 |
 KBIG-FM logo from 2005 to 2007 |
 104.3 MY FM logo - 2007 to present |
[edit] The 'Upbeat' evolution
By 1990 KBIG began playing more current hits and less '60s music. By 1992 the '60s songs were dropped and KBIG was more of a Hot AC station. By 1995 KBIG moved toward a mainstream AC format to compete against rival KOST. Nicknamed K-BIG 104, KBIG was home to morning host Charlie Tuna and to Disco Saturday Night, an all-night disco music program. However, Bonneville decided to sell KBIG to Chancellor in 1996. Chancellor had too many other stations so they sold KZLA 93.9 to Bonneville. In 1997 KBIG moved toward a Hot AC format. When Chancellor acquired Modern AC station KYSR and AC station KOST they kept KBIG a Hot AC format with a lean on uptempo Pop, '70s and '80s gold, uptempo AC currents, and Rhythmic pop.
In 2000 Chancellor merged with Clear Channel. KBIG became a Clear Channel station. On July 18, 2005, KBIG made major changes by cutting back on commercial time (concentrating on 30 minute music sweeps), dropped the jingles and the top of the hour IDs (i.e."...It's 4 O'Clock In The West..." would no longer be heard), and tweaked their musical direction by focusing on less currents and more recurrents from the 1980s and 1990s, with most of the music leaning towards a rhythmic approach. They also began to read out the individual letters of the stations ID, K-B-I-G, instead of the K-BIG (kay-big), although briefly in the summer of 2007, the "KBIG 104" slogan would sometimes be used.
In July 2006 KBIG also began expanding their Dance mixes to weekends. Usually the mixes were featured on its nightly programs "Boogie Nights" (7PM to 10PM Monday-Thursday and 7PM to 12AM Fridays) and "Thump Radio" (12Mid to 5AM Friday-Saturday). While some suspected a shift to a Dance direction, KBIG management insisted that there were no changes in the works at the time.
On August 17, 2006, KBIG picked up new competition as Emmis Communications changed longtime Country music rival 93.9 KZLA to Adult Rhythmic Contemporary as "Movin' 93.9 (KMVN)." The move gave Los Angeles two stations with the same Rhythmic-sounding direction aimed at Adults, even though KBIG was technically an Adult Top 40. In 2007, Emmis launched a $5 million dollar marketing campaign which has had little effect on KBIG. CFO Pat Walsh says it's the "single largest marketing program in Emmis history." CEO Jeff Smulyan seemed unsure of KMVN, saying rhythmic AC MOViN' "may or may not be right", but after a shaky start in its first two arbitron books, KMVN did move up in the Spring 2007 period, while KBIG saw a dip, which would be a sign of things to come with their direction.
Despite having been a Rhythmic based radio station (at the time), KBIG was a loyal affiliate to the legendary Casey Kasem and his weekly Hot AC countdown, American Top 20, which ran Sunday morning from 7:00am-10:00am. Former KBIG morning man Charlie Tuna is also Kasem's regular substitute host.
In 2003 David "Chachi" Denes became KBIG's Program Director, beginning his reign at the age of 28. At the time, he was the youngest PD in LA radio history.
In February 2007 KBIG added "Delilah" to its lineup. The news of having the program air on KBIG generated a lot of talk because her show is geared toward a mainstream AC audience, which was viewed as out of place on KBIG because of its Rhythmic direction. However after adding Delilah KBIG began adding more Mainstream AC product into the playlist.
[edit] "104.3MY FM"
During the first week in September 2007, there was talk about KBIG flipping formats and several domains had been registered. On September 17 Charlie Tuna confirmed a change was coming when he announced that he was out as morning host on his website, but will continue to work within the Clear Channel/Los Angeles cluster. At 10 a.m. on September 8, 2007 the station began identifying itself as "My FM." The Rhythmic elements had been eliminated in favor of a mainstream Adult Top 40 direction. Denes describs the new approach as "Contemporary Adult Hits." In an interview with "R&R" Clear Channel L.A. VP of programming Michael Martin said, "With today’s consumer wanting to custom tailor everything to their liking the name MY is a perfect brand for radio. This is a station designed by the listeners to play music they tell us they want to hear. How do we know what THEY want to hear? Extensive market research and continual weekly music information to keep the station familiar, fun and family friendly." Martin continued, "MY is designed to sit right in the middle of STAR 98.7 (which has evolved to Alternative) and 103.5 KOST, playing a great mix of music styles and eras. The MY playlist is deep, filled with contemporary music from all genres. It’s a mix that is not currently heard in L.A. radio."
Denes added in the same article, "104.3MYfm will play adult hits like Kelly Clarkson, Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, Fergie, Justin Timberlake, John Mayer, Shakira, Madonna, Santana and much more. Every song we play is or was at the top of the charts."
With the move, Delilah was once again dropped, leaving Los Angeles once again without a Delilah affiliate.
Sean Valentine, who had been at 102.7 KIIS-FM, is the current morning host. The station throws and annual New Years Party at Disneyland's California Adventure.
Due to listener demand, My 104.3 has re-introduced American Top 20 with Casey Kasem as of Sunday, February 24, 2008. The show airs in the same timeslot it aired prior to the "My" flip, Sunday Morning from 7am-10am.
[edit] Shows
Valentine In The Morning
Disco Saturday Night (Host: Mark Kriski) 6PM - 3AM Saturdays. The program is a holdover from KBIG's previous incarnation.
[edit] KBIG-HD2
On January 23, 2006, KBIG launched a HD2 subcarrier called Studio 104, which focused on Disco Hits. The station had been programmed by Blake Florence since its inception. However, on June 4th at Noon KBIG's HD-2 dropped the all Disco format to introduce an LGBT-oriented HD radio station called Pride Radio. It plays Dance and Rhythmic Hits.
[edit] External links
- Official My104.3 website
- Official KBIG HD2 Pride Radio website
- Query the FCC's FM station database for KBIG
- Radio Locator information on KBIG
- List of "grandfathered" FM radio stations in the U.S.
