KCJK
KCJK (branded as "105.1 The X") is radio station licensed to Garden City, Missouri. Owned by Cumulus Media, it broadcasts a rock music format serving the Kansas City area. The station's studios are located in Overland Park, Kansas, while its transmitter is located in Independence, Missouri.
| City | Garden City, Missouri |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Kansas City Metropolitan Area |
| Frequency | 105.1 MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | 105.1 The X |
| Slogan | Kansas City's Rock. Alternative |
| Programming | |
| Format | Analog/HD1: Active Rock/Alternative rock HD2: Adult standards |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Cumulus Media (CMP Houston-KC, LLC) |
| Sister stations | KCFX, K279BI, KCHZ, KCMO (AM), KCMO-FM, KMJK |
| History | |
| First air date | June 18, 2001 (as KFME-FM) October 7, 2004 (as KCJK) |
| Former call signs | KFME-FM (2001-2004) |
| Call sign meaning | Kansas City's JacK FM (former format) |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 87565 |
| Class | C1 |
| ERP | 72,000 watts |
| HAAT | 346 meters (1,135 ft) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | x1051kc.com |
History
105.1 was originally the frequency for KKJO-FM in St. Joseph, which is now at the frequency of 105.5. KFME ("e105"), with its 1980s hits/Hot AC-hybrid format, debuted on June 18, 2001, with "You Get What You Give" by the New Radicals being the first song.[1][2] The station was re-licensed to Garden City, Missouri (south of Kansas City). The station had modest results. After Susquehanna assumed ownership, KFME flipped to adult hits, and rebranded as "105.1 Jack FM", on October 7, 2004, at Noon. e105's final song was "Don't Speak" by No Doubt, while Jack FM's first song was "Dancing Queen" by ABBA. KFME would later change call letters to KCJK. Jack FM initially debuted with considerable success. Like other Jack stations, KCJK was mostly jockless and stuck to a computerized playlist, highlighted by segments that include the “No-Request Lunch Hour” and liners chastising drivers who slow down to see accidents in the opposite set of freeway lanes.
KCJK and Susquehanna's properties were acquired by Cumulus Media in May 2006. Upon taking over the station, Cumulus added live disc jockeys, a rare move for an adult hits outlet. Most of the station's air talent were let go in 2013, and KCJK returned to being automated and jockless.
On June 15, 2016, at 7:30 a.m., after playing a block of "end"-themed songs (including "Enjoy the Silence" by Depeche Mode, "In the End" by Linkin Park, "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash, "Come Sail Away" by Styx, and "Closing Time" by Semisonic, which then culminated with "The Final Countdown" by Europe), KCJK swapped formats with K273BZ/KCMO-FM-HD2, adopting their alternative rock format, and rebranded as "X 105.1." The first song on "X" was "Uprising" by Muse. KCJK will now be in competition with Entercom's KRBZ, who was ranked 6th with a 4.6 in the April 2016 Nielsen ratings report for the Kansas City market (KCJK was ranked 13th with a 3.6 share). The format swap also marks the third time a station in the Kansas City market has used the "X" moniker, the first being KXXR from June 1990 to June 1991, and KCCX/KNRX from March 1997 to January 1999.[3]
On February 7, 2019, Afentra, formerly of KRBZ, joined KCJK for afternoons.[4] Eight months later, Afentra left the station.[5]
On October 10, 2019, at Midnight, after playing "Helena" by My Chemical Romance, KCJK relaunched as 105.1 The X, shifting towards a hybrid format with an active rock-leaning presentation that continues to feature an emphasis on alternative rock content alongside other hard rock hits (dubbed "rockternative", with examples spanning from Disturbed, AC/DC and Motley Crue, to Pearl Jam, Tool and Panic! at the Disco). The first song after the relaunch was "Plush" by Stone Temple Pilots.[6]
References
- Tim Engle, "Radio station makes its debut at 105.1 FM", The Kansas City Star, June 19, 2001.
- http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2001/RR-2001-06-22.pdf
- X105.1 Debuts in Kansas City; Jack Moves to 102.5
- Afentra Jumps to X105.1 Kansas City for Afternoons
- Afentra Departs "X105.1" After Less Than Eight Months
- "Format Shift Imminent At X105.1 Kansas City". RadioInsight. 2019-10-09. Retrieved 2019-10-10.
Related links
- KCJK in the FCC's FM station database
- KCJK on Radio-Locator
- KCJK in Nielsen Audio's FM station database