KPEZ
| City of license | Austin, Texas |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Austin-Round Rock metropolitan area |
| Branding | 102.3 The Beat |
| Slogan | Austin's Hits & Hip-Hop |
| Frequency | 102.3 MHz (also on HD Radio) |
| First air date | August 13, 1976 (as KMXX) |
| Format | Rhythmic contemporary |
| ERP | 26,000 watts |
| HAAT | 209 meters |
| Class | C2 |
| Facility ID | 11935 |
| Callsign meaning | KP EZ, which is a reference to EZ 102, an easy listening format on the frequency in the late '70s - early '80s |
| Former callsigns | KMXX (1976-1982) |
| Owner |
Clear Channel (Capstar TX, LP) |
| Sister stations | KASE, KHFI, KVET-FM, KVET |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | thebeatatx.com |
KPEZ, known on-air as "102.3 The Beat", is a radio station licensed to and serving Austin, Texas, operating a Rhythmic Contemporary format. The station broadcasts with an ERP of 26,000 watts from a transmitter site near Sunset Valley, TX and is owned by Clear Channel Radio.
"The Beat," long synonymous with the Hip Hop/R&B music genre under rhythmic and mainstream urban formats, is in its fifth incarnation in the Austin region. It originated on 104.3 in 1998, first as KQBT, and later KXBT (now KLQB); it later moved to 104.9 before switching formats entirely in 2008 (now KTXX). Clear Channel picked up the branding one year later where it aired on KFMK before the format swap with KPEZ in 2010.
Station history
This frequency was originally occupied by Austin's first full-time Spanish language FM radio station, KMXX. However, KMXX existed for just over a year before the call-letters were changed to KPEZ and the format became easy listening "EZ 102". Later, KPEZ switched formats to classic rock "Z 102". KPEZ became "Channel 102-3" under a classic-leaning "AAA" format (dubbed "World Class Rock") in the fall of 2004, retaining most of its airstaff. Ironically, the change to the current Christian format (and subsequent dismissal of most on-air employees) came in December 2005, just five days before Christmas.
Due to the privatizing of Clear Channel in 2010, FCC ownership regulations required that the Austin cluster spin off one license. There were plans underway to sell ownership of the KFMK (105.9) license to Aloha Trust LLC , but on May 21, 2010 Clear Channel announced that it planned to move KFMK's format to the 102.3 frequency, taking advantage of better coverage and a more powerful signal, beginning May 31, 2010. The Christian Contemporary format, which resided at the 102.3 frequency, moved to 105.9 and would be purchased by Crista Ministries. 105.9 would become contemporary Christian-formatted "Spirit 105.9" in April 2010.[1]
Personalities
Current:
- Kramer
- Frankie V.
- Dreena
- Sonic
- Katrina B.
- Val Santos
Former:
- Ryan Seacrest (Syndicated/ Premiere Radio Networks)
- Jose Brown
- Dustin Drew
- Robin Flores
- Johnny Goyen
- Kidd Kraddick in the Morning (Syndicated / Citadel Interactive (formerly ABC Radio Networks))
- Drew Longoria
- Rachel Marisay
- Don Miller - Traffic Reporter
- Rudy Ramos
- Deana Romero
- Shalonn
- Chuckie T
- Steve Thomas
- Mical Trejo
- Jennifer Washington
- JoJo
- Zannie K.
- DJ 2DQ
Station management
- Program Director - Jay Shannon
Studio location
3601 S. Congress Ave. Austin, TX 78704
The Clear Channel Radio Austin studios are in an industrial, yet trendy business complex in "SoCo" south central Austin within walking distance of St. Edward's University. The complex, Penn Field, was Austin's first military air base. The Clear Channel Radio studios are located in the former hangar building.
KPEZ shares a building with sister stations KASE-FM, KHFI-FM, KVET, and KVET-FM.
References
- ↑ "Clear Channel/Austin Flips KFMK, KPEZ Frequencies" from All Access (May 21, 2010)
External links
- 102.3 The Beat Website
- Query the FCC's FM station database for KPEZ
- Radio-Locator information on KPEZ
- Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for KPEZ
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Coordinates: 30°13′26″N 97°49′41″W / 30.224°N 97.828°W