KBLV

Infobox Radio Station
name = KBLV
branding = 99-7 The Boulevard
slogan = "Kansas City's Quality Rock"
airdate = 1974
frequency = 99.7 MHz
city = Kansas City, Missouri
area = Kansas City, Missouri
format = AAA
erp = 98,500 watts
haat = 335 meters
class = C0
callsign_meaning = K The BouLeVard (on-air name)
facility_id = 6379
owner = Entercom
webcast = [http://wmc1.liquidviewer.net/KYYS Listen Live]
website = [http://www.997theboulevard.com/ www.997theboulevard.com]

KBLV (99.7 MHz) is a Adult Album Alternative radio station in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area.

KBLV (2008- Present)

On January 10, 2008, the entire on-air staff of KYYS was terminated in preparation for a format change. Entercom management stated that the change was necessary because too many stations in the market were playing the same music. These stations include KCFX, KCJK, KQRC, and KCMO.

On January 11, 2008, the station flipped formats to AAA (Adult Album Alternative) as "99-7 The Boulevard". The last song played as KY was "In the Dark" by Billy Squier. The first song played under the new brand was "The Boulevard" by Jackson Browne. The station launched with 5,000 songs in a row. As of January 17, 2008, the station has started using KBLV as its official identification. Subterranean radio, a channel which plays deep album cuts on the HD2 station, appears unaffected at this time. However, on March 13, 2008, the HD2 station switched to "The Delta", which plays blues music.

At the same time the call letters KBLV took effect, Entercom successfully assigned the KYYS letters to their Hispanic music station at 1250 AM.

KYYS (1974-2008)

Until January 18, 2008, 99.7 was known as the call letters of KYYS. KYYS originally debuted in 1974 at 102.1 FM (now KCKC-FM) and enjoyed a large fanbase. It promoted itself as "KY-102", and featured a sunglasses-wearing-hippo in its logo. The name "KY" was chosen to represent the first and last letter in the spelling of Kansas City.

In 1997, its owner, American Radio Systems, decided to replace KYYS with a short-lived modern adult contemporary music format, prompting dismayed fans to convince rival company Entercom to bring back the format. And with their adult contemporary station KLTH "Lite 99.7" faring even worse than KOZN's "102.1 The Zone", 99.7 became the new home for KYYS, which, no longer being on 102.1 FM, began promoting itself simply as "99-7 KY". The first song heard on the new KY was "Back in Black" by AC/DC. Former KY-102 personalities Max Floyd, Tanna Gutherie, Larry Moffitt, Doug Meddlock, and Marty Wall made the move as well. Later, KY alums Slacker, Vaughn Mac, TJ Price, and Frankie also made the switch.

In 2005, the station began playing "Nights with Alice Cooper", a nationally broadcasted radio show hosted by the longtime rocker. The station broadcasted the Dr. Demento show at midnight on Monday morning/Sunday nights. KY hosted an annual tribute to Elvis Presley, encouraging Elvis impersonators to parade around Barney Allis Plaza in Downtown Kansas City on his birthday.

In 2000, KYYS became the sister station of KQRC, which plays a more modern and heavier mix of rock.

In 2007, KYYS started advertising its attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records world record for Most Guitars Played at Once. The planned song was Deep Purple's Smoke on the Water. Pre-registration was offered on the station's website. In exchange for participating, commemorative t-shirts were offered. Online registration ceased around June 1, 2007. Finally, on Sunday, June 3, 2007, the attempt to break the record (previously held in Vancouver, Canada with 1,322 people) was made. The old record was beat with approximately 1,721 people.

External links

* [http://www.997theboulevard.com 99-7 The Boulevard official website]