KCHZ

Infobox Radio Station


name = KCHZ
airdate = 1997
frequency = 95.7 MHz HD Radio
city = Ottawa, Kansas
area = Kansas City, MO-KS
format = Rhythmic Contemporary
owner = Cumulus Broadcasting
sister_stations = KCFX, KCJK, KCMO-FM/AM, KMJK
erp = 96,000 watts
branding = "95.7 The Vibe"
slogan = "The Beat of Kansas City"| "10 Songs In A Row!"
class = C
website = [http://www.957thevibe.com/ www.957thevibe.com]
callsign_meaning = CHannel Z (former brand name)
former_callsigns=|

KCHZ (95.7 FM), known as "95.7 The Vibe", is a Rhythmic Top 40 radio station serving the Kansas City metropolitan area from Ottawa, Kansas. The Cumulus Broadcasting outlet operates at 95.7 MHz with an ERP of 96 kW. Its transmitter is located near Linwood, Kansas.

History

KCHZ began targeting Kansas City as a Modern Rock outlet in the mid-1990s, but by 1997 it would begin a see-saw like, back and forth journey as a Top 40, stating out as a Mainstream, then shifting to Rhythmic by 1998, only to go back to Mainstream in 2000, followed by a return to Rhythmic in 2002, only to return to Mainstream by late 2003.

But by November 2005 (and after years of confusing listeners over what direction the station was taking) the former Z95.7 would finally make Rhythmic Top 40 the official format by changing its moniker to 95-7 The Vibe, "The Beat Of Kansas City".

During the transition to a Rhythmic station, KCHZ switched over to an all-Christmas music, and billed itself as "Jingle 95.7", from November 1 to November 3, 2005, jumping the gun a week before KUDL or KCKC would even start broadcasting Christmas music. Following completion, "95.7 The Vibe" debuted, and Christmas music has never aired again on the station.

The Vibe started their online streaming on October 18, 2007.

The Vibe has a few specialty shows they air during the 4th of July and New Year's. On the 4th starting at 6 am and all weekend long, they air their entire song library from A-Z. On New Year's Eve & Day, the station airs the Top 95 songs of that year.

Criticism

The Vibe has been criticized by their listeners for not being "a full Rhythmic Top 40 station". Most of time, the station plays a lot of old school rap, while they hardly play all of the Rhythmic Top 40 hits that are on rival KPRS. When the station normally airs a song, they keep the song on for a very short time, then remove it from their playlist. The Vibe airs the Weekend Top 30 Countdown on Sundays. The countdown plays the hits that are the current 30 Rhythmic Hits that are normally aired on rival KPRS and other Rhythmic Top 40 stations. However, during regular hours, the station never airs any of those hits except for those that are on their playlist. Also, the station is criticized for having content limits.

Current Programming Lineup as of November 28, 2007

Monday-Friday
*Midnight-6 am: Vibe Music (usually commercial-free)
*6 am-10 am: The Morning Vibe w/ Shorty and The Boyz
*10 am-2 pm: Maurice DeVoe
*2 pm-7 pm: EZ
*7 pm-Midnight: Sweet LennySaturday
*Midnight-7 am: Vibe Music
*7 am-10 am: Shorty and The Boyz Rewind
*10 am-2 pm: EZ
*2 pm-6 pm: Sweet Lenny
*6 pm-9 pm: DJ Twiggy
*9 pm-Midnight: Saturday Night Vibration w/ DJ TwiggySunday
*Midnight-7 am: Vibe Music
*7 am-10 am: Weekend Top 30 Countdown w/ Hollywood Hamilton
*10 am-2 pm: Scott Parker
*2 pm-6 pm: BJ
*6 pm-10 pm: Cameron from Shorty and The Boyz
*10 pm-2 am: Sunday Night Slow Jams w/ R. Dub
*2 am-6 am: Vibe Music

External links

* [http://www.957thevibe.com/ 95.7 The Vibe's Web site]
*FMQ|KCHZ
*FML|KCHZ