KTEG

For the radio station in Albuquerque, New Mexico at 107.9 FM known as KTEG from 1994-2000, see KBQI.
KTEG
City of license Santa Fe, New Mexico
Broadcast area Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico
Branding 104.1 The Edge
Slogan "The New Rock Alternative"
Frequency 104.1 (MHz) (also on HD Radio)
104.1 HD-2 for Rhythmic Oldies "Hot 100.9"
Translator(s) 100.9 K265CA (Albuquerque, relays HD2)
First air date 1983 (as KLSK)
Format Modern Rock
ERP 100,000 watts
HAAT 572 meters (1878 ft.)
Class C
Facility ID 53652
Transmitter coordinates 35°46′50″N 106°31′35″W / 35.78056°N 106.52639°WCoordinates: 35°46′50″N 106°31′35″W / 35.78056°N 106.52639°W
Callsign meaning K The EdGe
Former callsigns KLSK (1983-2002)
KBAC (2002-2003)
KABQ-FM (2003-2007)[1]
Owner iHeartMedia, Inc.
(Citicasters Licensing, Inc.)
Sister stations KABQ AM & FM, KBQI, KLQT, KPEK, KZRR, K251AU, K265CA
Webcast Listen Live
Website 1041theedge.com

KTEG (104.1 FM, "The Edge") is a radio station broadcasting an modern rock format. Licensed to Santa Fe, New Mexico, it serves the Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. (formerly Clear Channel Communications).[2] Its studios are located in Northeast Albuquerque and the transmitter tower is located west of Los Alamos, New Mexico.

History

104.1 history

This station first began broadcasting in 1983 under the call sign KLSK with a classical music format that would later feature other various forms of music such a jazz and new age. At the beginning of 1991 it would change to a classic rock format becoming the first station in Albuquerque to feature that format full-time. In 1992 KLSK became a cluster mate with KZRR "94 Rock" that would be called "Twin Peaks Radio" with studios on San Pedro NE north of Menual. Both stations were purchased by Trumper Communications in 1996 along with KTEG 107.9 and KHTZ 100.3 and two AM stations. By the mid-1990s KLSK would see a great deal of competition from other stations. Several programming changes would take place over the years including re-branding as "Eagle 104" in 1998. The format on 104.1 ended in late June 2002 moving to 98.1 in Santa Fe. The long-time KLSK call sign was first moved to the Las Vegas station vacated by KBAC but were dropped when the KBAC calls were moved back. They are now on being used on an FM station in Great Falls, Montana.

Clear Channel had attempted to do Adult Album Alternative on this frequency as well when they had moved Santa Fe's KBAC to 104.1 in 2002. That station started out with an eclectic format but attempts to make changes came at the protest of Santa Fe listeners which would result in KBAC moving back to Santa Fe and a more mainstream version of AAA called "World Class Rock" would launch on 104.1 under new callsign KABQ-FM in late 2003 only to generate similar results.

In February 2005 the station changed to a Hispanic Rhythmic format branded as "Mega 104.1" which played hip-hop and reggaeton and was patterned after sister station KLOL in Houston. The station also featured local personalities including Big Benny (now at KIOT 102.5) in the mornings. The format however was not strong competitor in the market.

On September 29, 2006, 104.1 had switched to a Smooth Jazz format programmed by satellite by Broadcast Architecture. On December 13, 2007 the format moved to 104.7 with KTEG moving to 104.1.

From 1986 until August 2013, the programming on 104.1 was also heard in Albuquerque on translator K265CA FM 100.9, which had broadcast at 50 watts from atop Sandia Crest. The translator now runs at 250 watts and relays KTEG's HD-2 subchannel.

KTEG history

1994 - 2000

KTEG launched in October 1994 on the 107.9 frequency (the upper edge of the commercial FM band) with an Alternative rock format that was reaching its peak popularity at that time. It was also active in the local live music scene bringing more all-ages shows to town but particularly with its annual "Edgefest" that began in summer 1995. The first two festivals featured mostly obscure line ups such as the band Cake which played the first festival but was little-known at the time. The Edgefest line-up had gotten stronger in 1997 and in the following years. Some of the bands that would play Edgefest over the years would include The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Marcy Playground, Everclear, Our Lady Peace, Fuel, Limp Bizkit, Kid Rock, Smash Mouth, Nickelback, Incubus, Staind, and P.O.D.. The Edge had also been one of the few local stations to support local bands which would also be part of Edgefest. By the end of the 90's KTEG's format had started to shift from anything labeled 'alternative rock' to harder music due to changing trends in modern rock radio at the time as well as to differentiate from its sister station KPEK-FM "The Peak" which had a modern adult contemporary format whose playlist at the time was featuring many of the same titles as KTEG. It was purchased by Clear Channel in 1999 from Trumper Communications.

2000 - 2007

KTEG logo 2000-2007

In the Summer of 2000, KTEG would move to the 104.7 frequency which Clear Channel had purchased from Continental Communications and previously had a Regional Mexican format as KEXT-FM "Radio Exitos" to make way for a new country music station on the 107.9 frequency to challenge KRST-FM. In a way this marked a new era for the station which was now playing heavier rock music from bands that it had not previously played including Metallica and Pantera while dropping bands such as U2 and No Doubt that were frequently heard on the old format. Currently The Edge sponsors Ozzfest which usually make its way to Albuquerque each summer as well as the Family Values Tour.

2007 - 2009

On December 13, 2007, at 7:30 am, the station relocated to FM 104.1 from 104.7. Reasons cited on the air for the frequency swap are the stronger signal in the Albuquerque market and the Santa Fe, New Mexico area. It was part of a frequency swap with Smooth Jazz clustermate KABQ-FM. KTEG was part of the Active rock airplay panel since its playlist consisted mostly of harder rock artists such as Korn, Godsmack, Disturbed, and Slipknot.

2009 - present

April 2009 brought many changes to 104.1 The Edge, with the loss of midday jock Ralphie, evening jock Sloppy Joe (who voicetracked from California) and all local weekend air staff in favor of national programming from Clear Channel network "The Alternative Project". On weekdays, the midday slot and overnight slot are filled with The Alternative Project programming, while the remainder of the day is for local talent. The music in the evening comes from The Alternative Project, but since the Sixx Sense with Nikki Sixx already airs on sister station KZRR, voiceovers are replaced with a local jock. All weekend programming is The Alternative Project. At the same time, The Edge made a substantial change in the station's programming, going from playing "harder" music, like Slipknot, Korn, and Metallica to contemporary pop artists like Mumford and Sons, Kings Of Leon, Foo Fighters and many 90's acts, such as Bush, The Toadies, and The Offspring. These changes have proven controversial for many listeners; however, the station has seen a rise in ratings since the format changes were made.

Programming

5AM - 10AM The Morning Edge with Buck and Dex (local)
10AM - 2PM Aly (The Alternative Project)
2PM - 7PM Baxter (local)
7PM - 11PM Orio (local)
11PM - 1AM Loveline (syndicated)
1AM - 5AM Charlie (local)

Former DJs
Shred - Saturday and Sunday mornings and fill in from 1999 to April 2009. Still provides the Edge Snowboard and Ski Report Thanksgiving through Easter.
Ralphie- Mornings from 10AM to 2PM until May 2009, now heard at Indie 101.5 in Denver, Colorado
Justin Queso- Also known as Justin Case, a local club DJ in Albuquerque, NM, now on OMG Radio 97.7FM in Albuquerque.
Micheal Moxey- Mornings 1996-2001, last heard at KROX-FM in Austin, Texas
Kit Missile- Morning co-host 1995 1998-2000
Ashton- Morning co-host 1995, Rick Ashton was an integral part of The Morning Edge w/Kit and Ashton. Ashtod succumbed to brain cancer and died in the Spring 2006.
Egghead - Former MD - The Local Edge - Evenings from 6 - midnight Skip Eisly- Former PD afternoons late 90's
Marc Young aka "Young Marc", moved to WKQX "Q 101" in Chicago
Scott Struber - Helped launch station in 1994. Hosted the drive home from 2pm-7pm. Was APD/MD from launch until June '95 when elevated to PD. Now MD/Afternoons at KKSF in San Francisco.

References

  1. ↑ http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=53652&Callsign=KTEG
  2. ↑ http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=KTEG

External links