KKBR (97.1 FM) - branded as Mix 97.1 - is a commercial radio station in Billings, Montana. Licensed to Billings, Montana, United States, the station serves the Billings area. The station is currently owned by Townsquare License, LLC. The station has obtained a construction permit from the FCC for a power increase to 100,000 watts.[1]

KKBR
Broadcast areaBillings metropolitan area
Frequency97.1 MHz
BrandingMix 97.1
Programming
FormatHot adult contemporary
AffiliationsCompass Media Networks
Ownership
Owner
KBUL, KCHH, KCTR-FM, KMHK
History
First air date
December 17, 1963 (as KURL-FM)
Former call signs
KURL-FM (1963–1979)
KKOZ (1979–1981)
KZLS (1981–1993)
Call sign meaning
Kome Kiss Billings Radio (K is a substitute for a C)
K-BeaR (former branding)
Technical information
Facility ID16774
ClassC2
ERP28,000 watts
HAAT122 meters (400 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
45°45′59″N 108°27′19″W / 45.76639°N 108.45528°W / 45.76639; -108.45528
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websitebillingsmix.com

Former programming edit

Notable former personalities on the station on weekdays included:

  • Bwana Johnny/Ed Donohue 6 am-10 am 2000-2001
  • Jonathon Stevens/Ed Donohue 6 am-10 am 2001-2002
  • Ed Donohue/Jackie Bell 6 am-10 am 2003-2007
  • Jackie Bell from 10 am-3 pm
  • Jami Bond from 10 am-3 pm
  • John Thomas from 3 pm-7 pm
  • Tom Leggett from 3 pm-7 pm
  • Jay Brandon from 3 pm-7 pm
  • The Mike Harvey Show from 7 pm - midnight

Notable former personalities on the station on Saturdays included:

  • Major Miller's Great Gold 6 am - noon
  • Mike Harvey's Supergold 7 pm - midnight
  • Charlie Tuna's Back to the 70s

Notable former personalities on the station on Sundays included:

  • Machine Gun Kelly's American Hitlist from 8 to 11 a.m.

Types of music edit

The radio station previously aired classic hits, focusing on the hits from 1968 to 1988, as "97.1 K-Bear". On July 3, 2013, after stunting with Christmas music as "97.1 Santa FM", the station launched a Top 40/CHR format as "PopCrush 97.1" with a weekend of commercial free music, including a contest to be the first person to call the station at the first commercial break.[2] The first 3 songs as PopCrush 97.1 were Pitbull's "Feel This Moment" featuring Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake's "Mirrors", and Rihanna's "Umbrella" featuring Jay-Z. On July 25, 2016 KKBR rebranded as "97.1 Kiss FM".[3]

On August 29, 2022, it was announced that big changes are coming to this station.[4]

On September 16, 2022, KKBR shifted from Top 40/CHR to hot adult contemporary, and rebranded as "Mix 97.1".[4]

Slogans edit

  • "Good Times, Great Oldies"–thru 2004
  • "Super Hits of the 60s & 70s" 2004–2008?
  • "Billings' Greatest Hits for over 20 Years"–2013
  • "Billings' Greatest Hits" 2010–2013
  • "Billings' Hit Music" 2013–2022
  • "Billings' Best Mix of 2K to Today" 2022-present

Ownership edit

In October 2007, a deal was reached for KKBR to be acquired by GAP Broadcasting II LLC (Samuel Weller, president) from Clear Channel Communications as part of a 57-station deal with a total reported sale price of $74.78 million.[5] What eventually became GapWest Broadcasting was folded into Townsquare Media on August 13, 2010.[6]

Previous logos edit

   

References edit

  1. ^ "KKBR Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved 2011-05-26.
  2. ^ "Billings' Pop Crush 97.1 Debuts". RadioInsight. Retrieved 2022-08-29.
  3. ^ "More Secret Format Changes Of 2016". RadioInsight. Retrieved 2022-08-29.
  4. ^ a b 97.1 Kiss-FM Billings Gets Mixed Radioinsight - September 19, 2022
  5. ^ "Deals". Broadcasting & Cable. 2006-06-19.
  6. ^ "Townsquare Media completes roll-up of GAP". Radio Business Report. August 13, 2010. Archived from the original on January 21, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2010.

External links edit