KEZA (107.9 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station in Fayetteville, Arkansas, broadcasting to Northwest Arkansas, including Bentonville and Fort Smith. KEZA is owned by iHeartMedia and airs an adult contemporary radio format branded as "Magic 107.9." For much of November and December, it switches to all-Christmas music. In the evening, KEZA carries the nationally syndicated Delilah. On Saturday mornings, it carries Ellen K. Both shows are supplied by co-owned Premiere Networks.

KEZA
Broadcast areaNorthwest Arkansas
Frequency107.9 MHz
BrandingMagic 107.9
Programming
FormatAdult contemporary
AffiliationsPremiere Networks
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
September 16, 1983 (40 years ago) (1983-09-16)
Call sign meaning
Easy Arkansas (previous format)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID12702
ClassC
ERP100,000 watts
HAAT384 meters (1,260 ft)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitemagic1079.iheart.com

KEZA has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 100,000 watts. The transmitter is on Skelton Road in Wyola, Arkansas.[2] The signal covers sections of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri. The studios and offices are on East Joyce Boulevard in Fayetteville.[3]

History edit

On September 16, 1983, KEZA first signed on the air.[4] It was owned by Hamden Communications with studios on First Place in Fayetteville. It chose the call sign KEZA because it played Easy Listening music.

The station played quarter hour sweeps of mostly instrumental cover versions of popular songs, as well as Hollywood and Broadway show tunes. In the 1980s, as its audience started to age, KEZA added more soft vocals. However, advertisers usually seek young to middle aged listeners, so management decided to eliminate the instrumentals.

On February 14, 1989, it switched to soft adult contemporary music as "Magic 107.9". In August 2000, the station was acquired by Clear Channel Communications, the forerunner of current owner iHeartMedia.[5] In the early 2000s, KEZA moved to a mainstream adult contemporary format.

References edit

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KEZA". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ Radio-Locator.com/KEZA
  3. ^ Magic1079.com/contact
  4. ^ Information from Broadcasting Yearbook 1985 page B-18
  5. ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 2006 page D-60

External links edit

35°51′11″N 94°01′34″W / 35.853°N 94.026°W / 35.853; -94.026