KKDA-FM

Infobox Radio station
name = KKDA_FM


city = Dallas, Texas
area = Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex
branding = "K-104" "Hip-Hop 104"
slogan = "K-104 is Hip-Hop
#1 For Real"
"The New Music Boss"
airdate = 1947 as KIXL
frequency = 104.5 MHz
format = Mainstream Urban
power =
erp = 99,000 watts
haat = 508 meters
class = C
facility_id = 59702
callsign_meaning = K K104 DAllas
former_callsigns = KIXL (1947-1972), KEZT (1972-1975)
owner = Service Broadcasting Corporation
webcast =
website = [http://www.k104fm.com/ www.k104fm.com]
affiliations =
sister_stations = KKDA-AM, KRNB

KKDA-FM, "K-104"", has been the leading radio station in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex for the last decade. Fact|date=April 2007 It is a longtime heritage urban-formatted station that broadcasts on 104.5 MHz frequency. It is owned by Service Broadcasting Corporation alongside with its AM counterpart KKDA-AM and KRNB-FM. It's studios are located in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Its longtime morning drive show "Skip Murphy and the Morning Team" was ranked #1 during the morning drive timeslot for nearly a decade, according to the Arbitrons. Over the last two years, several popular personalities on the #1 ranked morning show, such as comedian Nannette Lee and Wig, have moved on. The most recent personality to jump ship was Thomas "Skip" Murphy. He announced in July that he was moving to sister radio station KRNB (105.7) to work weekdays from the 3 p.m. to 7.pm slot. Murphy says that he outgrew the rap format that K104 is known for. Nationally syndicated personality, Tom Joyner, became recognized as the "Fly Jock" because he hosted the morning drive slot on "K-104" and traveled regularly to host an afternoon drive slot on WGCI-FM Chicago. His show was heard later on KRNB and now airs on KSOC-FM ("94.5 K-Soul").

History

The station that became "K-104"" began operation on June 8, 1947 as KIXL. KIXL (pronounced "Kicksil") aired a successful Beautiful Music format, simulcast on both 104.5 FM and 1040 AM ("104 on both dials"). The station maintained the KIXL call letters until 1970 when it changed to KEZT, continuing to play easy-listening musical fare but with much lower ratings.

In 1976, KEZT changed formats and calls to Urban Contemporary KKDA-FM, "K-104". K-104 was initially the FM counterpart to KKDA-AM ("Soul 73"), which aired R&B and soul music during the day and gospel music at night. "K-104" was primarily a Disco station at first, then shifted to more mainstream Urban Contemporary fare after the end of the disco era while maintaining high ratings.

Through the mid-1990s, K-104 skewed its format more towards the Mainstream Urban consisting of a hip-hop and current R&B-heavy playlist with slower R&B and soul songs at night and urban contemporary gospel on Sunday mornings. This current format has help project K-104 to being the highest-rated radio station in the Dallas/Fort Worth DMA, where it has remained to this day.

Competition-wise, KKDA also has a crosstown rivalry with KBFB-FM ("97.9 The Beat"), who has taken advantage of KKDA's 'traditional' Urban direction and used that to their advantage, resulting in the two fighting it out for R&B/Hip-Hop dominance in the Metroplex. In addition, they also have a competitor in Rhythmic Contemporary rival KZZA ("Casa 106.7"), which just shifted from a Hispanic Rhythmic direction, since KKDA also has a sizable share of Hispanic listeners.

Controversy

In May 2006, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that Program Director/current morning personality Skip Cheatham and night deejay Cat Daddy appeared in part 2 of the "Aggtown Fightz" underground video series, seemingly to promote the violent teen-fight DVDs. The two radio personalities explained that while attending a music conference in the past year, they were asked by a listener to do a shout out for his video, which they thought were MC battles. Cheatham told the newspaper he thought he was "helping out a young entrepreneur. I would never endorse or condone any type of violence against our youth." Since the news broke, the station waged a war of words with the Arlington, TX police department, who investigated the videos. KKDA Station Manager Ken Dowe told the Star-Telegram in a follow-up story that because the police and community leaders have not been able to stop the teenagers from fighting, they are now "looking for a fall guy." Police and community leaders claim KKDA has been slow to step up and publicly condemn the videos. Dowe also told the newspaper, "We're going to do what the police were unable to accomplish. We're going to get this stopped." The story reports that Dowe will meet with Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck and the police department to claim "irreparable harm" to the station and demand a public exoneration. Dowe also stated, "K104 will track down the DVD's producer and sue to stop sales."

[Skip Murphy] is NOT with a rival station, he is with the sister station of K104, KRNB 105.7 hosting afternoon 3pm-7pm.

Logos

ee also

*KKDA-AM (Classic soul)

External links

* [http://www.k104fm.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.dfwradioarchives.com DFW Radio Archives]

*FMQ|KKDA
*FML|KKDA
*FMARB|KKDA
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