KLBJ-FM

KLBJ-FM (93.7 MHz) is a commercial radio station in Austin, Texas. It airs an album-oriented rock radio format and calls itself "The Rock of Austin." KLBJ-FM is owned by Sinclair Telecable Inc. (not related to television broadcaster Sinclair Broadcast Group, who owns CBS station KEYE) and operated under the name Waterloo Media. The station was once owned by the family of President Lyndon Baines Johnson, and still carries his initials as its call letters.

KLBJ-FM
CityAustin, Texas
Broadcast areaAustin metropolitan area
Frequency93.7 MHz
Branding99.7 KLBJ
SloganThe Rock Of Austin!
Programming
FormatAlbum-oriented Rock
Ownership
OwnerSinclair Telecable Inc.
OperatorWaterloo Media
Sister stationsKBPA, KGSR, KLZT, KLBJ, KROX-FM
History
First air date1960 (as KTBC-FM)
Former call signsKTBC-FM (1960-1973)
Call sign meaningK Lyndon Baines Johnson
(The Johnson Family are former owners)
Technical information
Facility ID65792
ClassC
ERP97,000 watts
HAAT320 meters (1050 ft)
Links
WebcastListen Live
WebsiteKLBJfm.com

KLBJ-FM has studios and offices along Interstate 35 in North Austin.[1] The transmitter and broadcast tower are atop Austin's Mount Larson.[2] KLBJ-FM broadcasts in the HD Radio format. Its HD-2 subchannel airs Blues music.

The morning show, "The Dudley & Bob Show" (Dale Dudley, Bob Fonseca and Matt Bearden), is in the Texas Radio Hall of Fame. In 2007, it won a Marconi Award from the National Association of Broadcasters for "Medium Market Personality of the Year."[3] KLBJ-FM holds an annual fishing tournament each year in Jonestown, Texas.

History

Early Years with the Johnson family

The station first signed on the air on in 1960, as KTBC-FM, part of the Johnson Family's broadcasting holdings.[4] In 1943, the future First Lady, known as Claudia T. "Lady Bird" Johnson, invested an inheritance of $17,000 to purchase KTBC (AM). She improved the station by hiring new on-air talent, found commercial sponsors, kept all the financial accounts, and maintained the facility. Using her formal name, Mrs. Johnson served as manager and then as the first ever chairwoman of what later came to be known as KLBJ, for some four decades.[5] (In later years, the president and Lady Bird's children ran the radio stations, while she remained chairman.) Because the stations were owned by Claudia Johnson, Lyndon Johnson did not have to consider divesting the media company, even when he was Senator, Vice President or President.

The Johnson family put Austin's first TV station on the air in 1952, KTBC-TV. The co-owned FM station signed on the air in 1960. In 1972, KTBC-FM switched to a Freeform Rock format and change the call letters into KLBJ-FM the station has a sound that was emerging on the FM dial in many cities in America.[6] Until then, the only rock commonly heard on the radio were a few songs that crossed over onto the Top 40 charts.

Selling the TV and Radio Stations

In 1973, the Johnsons sold KTBC-TV to the Times Mirror Company, a newspaper and broadcasting company that published the Los Angeles Times and the Dallas Times Herald. Times Mirror kept the KTBC call sign for the TV station, while the radio stations became KLBJ AM-FM to reflect the initials of President Johnson, who had died earlier that year.[7] (Currently, KTBC-TV is owned by Fox Television Stations.)

The Johnsons divested their radio stations in 1997, and sold KLBJ AM and FM to LBJS Corporation.[8] The corporation was made up of KLBJ executives. KLBJ (AM) had already shifted from MOR to an newsradio format, while KLBJ-FM transformed into a full-fledged album rock format.

In 2003, KLBJ AM and FM were sold to the Indianapolis-based Emmis Communications Company.[9] Emmis had radio stations in several large markets around the U.S., including New York City and Los Angeles.

Discography

KLBJ-FM has produced a number of albums, focusing mainly on local Austin music. Its "Local Licks Live" series started in 1989 and has showcased dozens of popular Austin musicians.

Year Title Series Label
1990 Local Licks Live 1989 Local Licks Live KLBJ
1991 Local Licks Live 1990 Local Licks Live KLBJ
1992 Local Licks Live 1991 Local Licks Live KLBJ
1993 Local Licks Live 1992 Local Licks Live KLBJ
1994 Local Licks Live 1993 Local Licks Live KLBJ
1995 Local Licks Live '94 Local Licks Live KLBJ
1995 Public Enema #1 Dudley and Bob with Debra calls, bits and sketches KLBJ
1996 Local Licks Live '95 Local Licks Live KLBJ
1996 We're Back and We're Highly Pissed Dudley and Bob with Debra calls, bits and sketches KLBJ
1997 Local Licks Live '96 Local Licks Live KLBJ
1997 Eugene! Don't Hit 'Em in the Head Dudley and Bob with Debra calls, bits and sketches KLBJ
1998 Local Licks Live '97 Local Licks Live KLBJ
1998 Prince Albert...Your Refrigerator Is Running Dudley and Bob with Debra calls, bits and sketches KLBJ
1999 Local Licks Live '98 Local Licks Live KLBJ
1999 Local Licks: Yule Rock! Holiday KLBJ
2000 Local Licks Live 1999 Local Licks Live KLBJ
2001 Local Licks Live XII Local Licks Live KLBJ
2001 Damn It's Early Music from The Dudley & Bob Show KLBJ
2002 Local Licks Live 13 Local Licks Live KLBJ
2003 Damn It's 2 Early Music from The Dudley & Bob Show KLBJ

See also
  • Music of Austin

References
  1. NewsradioKLBJ.com/contact-us
  2. Radio-Locator.com/KLBJ-FM
  3. KLBJfm.com/DMBshow
  4. Enright, J. Scott (March 31, 2005). "Application for Renewal of Broadcast Station License." Consolidated DataBase System, FCC.
  5. Broadcasting Yearbook 1944, page 154
  6. KLBJfm.com/station/history
  7. http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=37
  8. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999, page D-422
  9. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2005, page D-489

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