KADI-FM

Infobox Radio station
name = KADI-FM


city = Republic, Missouri
area = Sprinfield MO
branding =
slogan = "99 Hit FM"
airdate = 1989-11-13 (as KADI)
frequency = 99.5 MHz
format = Contemporary Christian
power =
erp = 6,000 watts
haat = 100.0 meters
class = A
facility_id = 60709
coordinates = coord|37|9|54.00|N| 93|23|44.00|W|region:GB_type:city
callsign_meaning =
former_callsigns = KADI (1989-2005)
owner = Vision Communications, Incorporated
licensee =
sister_stations =
webcast =
website = [http://99hitfm.com 99hitfm.com]
affiliations =

KADI-FM (99.5 FM), known as "99 Hit FM", is an Alternative Christian Rock radio station in Springfield, Missouri. The station is part of the Vision Media Group, Inc. , along with KADI (AM), Sign Pro, and Equally Yoked Christian Singles. Vision Media Group is owned by RC Amer.

History

"99 Hit FM" first went on the air as "99.5 KADI" in June 1990, the station employed approximately eight people; Chicago-based Snowmen Broadcasting Inc. owned it and RC Amer was a sales representative.

In the years between, Amer moved into the role of sales manager, then station manager, before purchasing KADI through Vision Communications Inc., a company Amer owns with his wife, Karen. The purchase was finalized in 2000, but Vision Communications had a management agreement with KADI since 1994, the year Amer formed the company.

Staff grew to the 20 there today, and 99 Hit FM reached the top spot in Arbitron’s ratings for contemporary Christian stations in the 18- to 34-year-old women category, its target market.

Recent Growth

Some of the station’s biggest points of pride are in its community involvement. The station and its listeners have taken on causes from the Good Samaritans Boys Ranch to Ozarks Food Harvest. 99 Hit FM has sponsored the annual Children’s Miracle Network Radiothon, which raised more than $30,000 in 2006. The station has also sponsored Relay for Life events for the American Cancer Society. 99 Hit FM and was the first Springfield media outlet to promote and broadcast live from the annual "I Love America" Celebration hosted by James River Assembly every Fourth of July.

99 Hit FM has helped bring some of the top names in Christian music to Springfield, including Third Day, Amy Grant, Jars of Clay, Steven Curtis Chapman, The Newsboys, and Michael W. Smith and is known within the industry for breaking new bands and artists like Sixpence, Superchic, Barlow Girl, Caedmans Call, FFH, Decemberadio, By the Tree and Sanctus Real.

On-air obstacles

99 Hit FM had a few obstacles to overcome.

99 Hit FM's target audience is between 18 and 40 years old, and the Springfield area, with its abundance of religious-based universities, a good market for Christian radio.

The station also moved against the tide when industry consolidation became prevalent following the Telecom Act of 1996, which allowed one company to own more than one radio station. 99 Hit FM is one of very few stations of the kind in the country. It's a commercial radio station that plays Christian music. They have advertisers that pay to be on the radio, rather than having listeners pay to keep them on the radio, as is the case with most Christian stations.

Personalities

On-air personalities include: Rod Kittleman, RC Amer, Andy Collins, Mark Hill, Julie Barry, Steve Largent, Jodi plus a cast of others.

External links

* [http://www.99hitfm.com/ KADI-FM official website]
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* [http://www.99hitfm.com 99 Hit FM Live on the Internet]
* [http://www.myspace.com/99hitfm/ Official 99 Hit FM MySpace site]