KBMB

Infobox Radio Station
name = KBMB


city = Sacramento, California
area = Sacramento
branding = "103.5 the Bomb"
slogan = "Sacramento's Official Hip Hop Station"
airdate = 1996
frequency = 103.5 (MHz) HD Radio
format = Rhythmic Contemporary Hit Radio
owner = Entravision Communications
erp = 6,000 watts
haat = 95 meters
class = A
website = [http://www.1035thebomb.com/ www.1035thebomb.com]
callsign_meaning = K BOM B

KBMB, also known as "103.5 The BOMB", is a Rhythmic Contemporary Hits outlet serving Sacramento, California. The station is owned by Entravision Communications. KBMB has been well known for playing the most hip hop in Sacramento. Although KBMB does have a HD Radio channel, it has yet to sign on a HD2 or HD3 subcarrier [ [http://cbsr.itmftp.com/sacramento.html Sacramento HD radio guide] ] .

History

The station debuted with a Regional Mexican format in 1996 as KRYR and then straight-ahead Urban Contemporary format in 1997 as KBMB, targeting the African-American community at first. Reflecting the market's demographics, 7% of the Sacramento radio market is African American, so the station survived on the format on a Community Radio type of level as it was the only Black-owned station at the time.

In its early days as an Urban formatted station, KBMB once had personalities like Jayare Johnson and DJ Supe, who hosted the Basement Show, and E-Bro who is the current music director at Hot 97 in New York. But by 2004 they shifted their direction and evolved to Rhythmic Contemporary Hits upon change of ownership to Entravision, thus making KBMB a competitor in Sacramento's Top 40 wars, along with Rhythmic Contemporary Hits rival KSFM, mainstream Top 40 rival KDND and Rhythmic AC KHYL.

After Entravision acquired KBMB, the officials there did not want a nationally syndicated morning show anymore for the station. Of note, the Sacramento market has over 125,000 Blacks but is more likely to have a rhythmic station since Blacks represent around 7% of the population overall of the market. As a result, The Doug Banks Show would be dropped for good, along with The Tom Joyner Morning Show (which aired from 3 AM to 6 AM due to the fact it was Eastern/Central Time Zone based). However, since February 2008, KBMB became the affiliate of the Big Boy's Neighborhood morning show.

Ratings and signal coverage

Sacramento has always been a fierce market for Top 40 stations, which has seen more than one competitor claiming the crown. KBMB is no exception, having beaten KSFM and KDND several times since its debut, most recently in the Spring 2006 Arbitrons, where The Bomb was ranked number 4 in Sacramento ratings, ahead of rivals KSFM and KDND. But KSFM has dominated The Bomb overall, mainly due to KSFM's large reception (50 Kw.) and KBMB's small range (6 Kw.). KBMB have also been beaten at times by KDND, a station that plays little hip hop, and like KSFM, also has a powerful signal.

Programming

In 2005, long time 106 KMEL air personality Short-E, and ex-KSFM Davey D both joined the Bomb Family. Both have enjoyed high ratings since their arrival to KBMB, however Davey D's career with KBMB was cut short when he parted ways with the station in January 2008. Currently Short-e is doing his thing in mornings with co-hosts Lady Stephanie and Famous. [http://www.allaccess.com/site/netNews/story.php?bs=sk&ng=industryTools&ag=172&storyID=34236&searchTerm=Sacramento&from=0&to=25] The most recent addition to KBMB in 2007 is Bennie Siegal who holds down the evenings along with DJ MoFo.

References

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/1035thebomb 103.5 Official MySpace]
*FMQ|KBMB
*FML|KBMB