Jump to content

XETRA-FM

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
XETRA-FM
Broadcast areaSan Diego-Tijuana
Frequency91.1MHz
Branding91X
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatClassic alternative
Ownership
OwnerComunicación XERSA, S.A. de C.V.
OperatorLocal Media San Diego, LLC
KFBG,XHITZ-FM,XHRM-FM
History
First air date
1968(at 91.3 MHz)
Former frequencies
91.3 MHz (1968–1978)
Call signmeaning
Disambiguation of "Extra"
Technical information
ClassC
ERP100,000watts[1]
HAAT179 meters (587 ft)
Links
WebcastListen Live
Website91x.com

XETRA-FM(91.1MHz), branded as91X,and sometimes identified asXTRA-FM,is an English-languageradio stationlicensed toTijuana, Baja California,Mexico.It airs analternative rockradio format.The studios and offices are on Cornerstone Court inSan Diego'sSorrento Valleyneighborhood.[2]The station is one of three Mexican outlets programmed by Local Media San Diego LLC, along withXHITZ-FMandXHRM-FM,in which an affiliated company owns a 49 percent non-voting stake; LMSD also ownsKFBG.It is Mexico's first alternative radio station, and has influenced other radio stations (includingXHMORE) to create theSpanish-language rock radioformat in 1994[citation needed].

As a Mexican station, XETRA-FM must carry mandated public service announcements, most of which are translated into English by 91X, electoral advertising, theMexican National Anthemat midnight and 5 a.m. daily, andLa Hora Nacionalon Sunday nights. The station is powered at 100,000watts.[1]It is considered aborder blaster,covering the majority ofSan Diego County,as well as southwesternRiverside County,from its tower located atop Mount San Antonio in Tijuana.

History[edit]

Formation and early years[edit]

On November 20, 1968, Radiodifusora del Pacífico, S.A. de C.V., then-owner ofAM 690XETRA (nowXEWW), received a concession for a new FM station with thecall sign,XETRA-FMon 91.3 MHz. At first, the station broadcast with 3,000 watts from the AM transmitter site inPlayas de Rosarito.

Album-oriented rock (1978–1983)[edit]

In 1978, XETRA-FM's programming and sales rights were purchased by the San Diego-based Noble Broadcast Group. On September 5, 1978, XETRA-FM moved to 91.1 MHz and began broadcasting with 100,000 watts from a new transmitter site atop Mount San Antonio.[3]The signal was aimed squarely at the San Diegoradio market.XETRA-FM programmed analbum-oriented rock(AOR) format. Initially, programming was recorded at the downtown San Diego studios in theHarcourt, Brace, JovanovichBuilding and driven across the border to the transmitter site several times a day. That proved to be unworkable.[4]Disc jockeysthen began commuting from San Diego to Tijuana for each shift.

In 1979, Frank Felix started consulting programming at 91X. His format was based on a highly rated concept he developed as Programming Director atKBPI.His programming list consisted of 239AORtracks and deemphasized DJ personality and station promotions. "Every time a jock opens his mouth, he runs the chance of alienating someone," Felix said. "Most promotions are designed to sell a record album or record company, or to help out the sales department, none of which are my concerns. My concern is Arbitron."[5]Ultimately, AOR would not last on 91X, and then-Executive Vice President and General ManagerJohn Lynchwould again reformat the station a few years later.

Introduction of modern rock format (1983–1985)[edit]

On January 11, 1983, at 6 p.m., 91X followed in the footsteps ofKROQ-FMinLos Angelesand flipped to the "Rock of the 80s"modern rockformat. KROQ Program DirectorRick Carrollwas hired as station consultant. 91X played "Stairway to Heaven"byLed Zeppelinas the final song of the AOR format. Immediately afterward, John Lynch made the announcement of the format change, and DJ Todd Ralston went right into "Sex (I'm a...)"byBerlin.Former 91X on-air personality Jim LaMarca recounts the transition:

"The day 91X (then known as XETRA-FM) went" Rock of the 80s, "almost no one knew it was coming, so there was no speculation. An air staff meeting was called for 3 pm. These really straight liner-card jocks were sitting around the conference room when in walks wild Rick Carroll with a cardboard box. He dumps it on the table and says, 'I'm Rick from Los Angeles and this is your new format.' The first song was played at 6 p.m. by Todd Tolkoff who was given the name Mad Max. He said, 'This is 91X" Rock of the 80s "and this is" Sex "from Berlin.' Everyone at the station (remember, he is now in Mexico 30 minutes away) thought this song was too weird. It seemed slow and goofy, but hey this was all new to us. It also took forever. Well no wonder, he was playing a long-play version so the LP should have been playing at 45 rpm. Since we had never heard the song no one knew. This happened a lot."[6]

The "Rock of the '80s" format eventually evolved to thealternative musicformat of today. Towards the end of the 1980s, 91X dropped the "Rock of the '80s" branding in favor of a new tagline, "The Cutting Edge of Rock." The format would remain largely unchanged.

Ownership and programming changes[edit]

John Lynch/Noble Broadcasting (1985–1996)[edit]

In 1985, Noble Broadcast Group's owner, Ed Noble, passed away. Following this, Lynch, who had continued to manage 91X's programming operations, purchased the company.[7]Under Lynch's management, 91X was one of the top-rated and most influential alternative stations in America throughout the 1980s and 1990s.[8]

Jacor Communications (1996–1999)[edit]

On February 6, 1996,Jacor Communicationsannounced plans to acquire Noble Broadcast Group Inc, including the U.S. marketing and operating rights to 91X, for $152 million.[9]The acquisition was completed later the same year; simultaneously, the Mexican concession was transferred to XETRA Comunicaciones, S.A. de C.V.

Clear Channel Communications (1999–2005)[edit]

In 1999, Jacor was acquired byClear Channel Communications.The modern rock format of 91X was retained, but tweaked to prevent overlap with Clear Channel's other San Diego rock outletsKIOZandKGB-FM.

In 2005, the FCC amended its ownership rules to make leases of foreign stations attributable to ownership within the U.S. market they serve; this placed Clear Channel over the FCC's 8-station limit for the San Diego market.[10]This also includedLMAdeals on domestic stations. Because of this, Clear Channel was forced to spin off the operating rights to 3 of its Mexican stations.

A new entity was formed to operate XETRA-FM, along with sister stationsXHRM-FMandXHITZ,and a wall was put up in Clear Channel's San Diego office to physically separate studios, operations, and staff of the newly formed cluster. A new entrance was built at the back of the building to access the studios for the divested stations.[11]

Return to local ownership[edit]

Finest City Broadcasting (2005–2009)[edit]

Finest City Broadcasting, a new company under the direction of former Clear Channel San Diego VP/Market Manager Mike Glickenhaus, took over operations of three of the four Mexican stations; Clear Channel temporarily retained the fourth,XHOCL-FM,before selling it toMVS Radio.Simultaneously, the concession was transferred to a new company, Comunicación XERSA, S.A. de C.V., owned 51% by silent Mexican investors and 49% by a Mexican company owned by Finest City (Controladora Finest City, S. de R.L. de C.V.).[12]Glickenhaus left FCB in May 2007.

Local Media San Diego acquisition (2010)[edit]

In December 2009, Finest City, faced with considerable debt and foreclosure, was forced to put the entire cluster up for sale after defaulting on a loan.[13]On January 7, 2010, Local Media of America LLC, backed by private equity firm Thoma Bravo, emerged as the buyer in the foreclosure sale.[14]John Lynch,who had previously owned and operated XETRA-FM and its sister station XETRA (nowXEWW-AM), was named CEO of Local Media and took control of operations for XETRA-FM,XHITZ,andXHRM-FM.Lynch simultaneously owned Broadcast Company of the Americas, another cluster of border blaster stations in the San Diego/Tijuana market. Operations between the two companies were combined during this period of time, essentially creating a single larger cluster.[15]Later the same year, the partnership dissolved and the two companies split operations.[16]LMA then rebranded itself as Local Media San Diego LLC to reflect its focus on the San Diego market.

As of 2022, Local Media San Diego continues to operate 91X and its sister stations.

Joint operating agreement with Midwest Television (2015–2016)[edit]

On October 6, 2015, Midwest Television (owners ofKFMBandKFMB-FM) announced that it had entered into ajoint operating agreementwith Local Media San Diego LLC, forming an entity known as SDLocal, to manage their collective cluster of stations. The intent of this short-lived agreement was to "[preserve the] local ownership and operation of San Diego's top-rated radio stations".[17]The agreement ended at the end of 2016.[18]Local Media San Diego eventually acquired KFMB and KFMB-FM outright fromTegna, Inc.on March 17, 2020, with KFMB (AM) being concurrently divested to Clear Channel's successor,iHeartMedia;[19]Tegna had purchased Midwest Television's stations in 2018.[20]

Later history[edit]

In early 2019, XETRA-FM changed their slogan to "Local. Independent. Alternative." to further solidify its continued local operations, and noticeably leaned towardsAAA.However, it continued to air currents in thealternative radioformat.

Transition to classic alternative (2022–present)[edit]

On February 14, 2022, XETRA-FM began running an "A to XYZ" alphabetical music marathon of the station's biggest hits from its nearly 40-year run, beginning with"A Forest"byThe Cure,and concluding with“Zooropa”byU2.[21]On the evening of February 23, following the marathon's conclusion, XETRA-FM shifted its format to one focused more on 1980/1990s classic alternative while keeping the "91X" moniker, with the new slogan "The Original"; the move was officially announced on-air at 10 a.m. the following day. The revised format continues to incorporate some current music, but otherwise de-emphasizes songs newer than the early 2000s. The "official" first song after the on-air announcement was "Once in a Lifetime"byTalking Heads.[22]

Past programming and personalities[edit]

WhenHoward Sternwas hosting asyndicatedmorning show onterrestrial radio,91X was his original San Diegonetwork affiliate.He was pulled from XETRA-FM in 1997 and moved to then-sister stationKIOZafter Stern's discussions ran afoul of theDirección General de Radio, Televisión y Cinematografía,Mexico's broadcast content regulator. RTC threatened to sanction XETRA-FM for airing Stern's program, which on several occasions in late 1996 included what the Mexican government believed were anti-Mexican remarks that violated the Federal Radio and Television Law.[23]

On December 27, 2007, Chris Cantore was let go from the alternative rocker after a decade of service.

On April 1, 2008 "The 91X Morning Show", hosted by Mat Diablo, debuted after a month-long marketing campaign that centered on the question "Who is Mat Diablo?" On May 7, 2010 the "91X Morning Show" was canceled after control of XETRA-FM was transferred to BCA.[24]

"Music In The Morning" was hosted by Oz Medina, who previously worked as 91X's Music Director and Afternoon Host from 1987 to 1993. Medina was later replaced by Matt Stone.

Until 2008, 91X airedReggae Makossa,a program featuringreggaeand roots music that is now heard onXHUAN-FM.The program was originally hosted by Makeda Dread and Demaja Le. Demaja Le left in 1998 to programKSDS.Makeda Dread still hosts the show.

Up until January 2012, 91X carried the syndicatedLoveline,heard on weeknights.

References[edit]

  1. ^abInstituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones.Infraestructura de Estaciones de Radio FM.Last modified 2018-05-16. Retrieved 2015-06-25. Technical information from theIFT Coverage Viewer.
  2. ^"91X - Contact".
  3. ^"Broadcasting Battle Rages Over Border".Los Angeles Times.October 29, 1978.Retrieved4 July2018.
  4. ^"Always On The Mark"(PDF).Inside Radio.2007-08-09. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2007-08-09.Retrieved2017-11-05.
  5. ^Gelb, Jeff (19 Oct 1979)."AOR (Album Oriented Rock)"(PDF).Radio & Records.No. 304. p. 48.
  6. ^"Radio Broadcasting History, Radio People, Favorite Radio Stories (Xs)".www.440int.com.
  7. ^"Radio entrepreneur John Lynch hopes to expand station stockpile".Archived fromthe originalon 2012-03-24.
  8. ^"San Diego Radio History".
  9. ^"Company News; Jacor Communications to Buy Noble Broadcast Group".The New York Times.1996-02-06.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved2019-07-22.
  10. ^"Spanish firm buys operating rights for 690 AM, heard from Baja to L.A."San Diego Union-Tribune.Archived fromthe originalon May 15, 2007.
  11. ^"A selection from a decade of visits to tower and studio sites in the Northeast and beyond: KGB and KOGO, San Diego".
  12. ^RPC: SCT Nov. 24, 2005 Letter - Concession Transfer - XETRA-FM
  13. ^"91X, Magic 92.5 and Z90 radio stations up for sale - The San Diego Union-Tribune".San Diego Union-Tribune.Retrieved24 November2022.
  14. ^"Local Media of America Buys San Diego Radio Stations - PE HUB".PE HUB Staff.Retrieved24 November2022.
  15. ^"Lynch Gains Control of San Diego's 91X, Z90 And Magic 92.5 - All Access".All Access.Retrieved24 November2022.
  16. ^"Local Media Of America/San Diego Ends Services Deal With BCA - All Access".All Access.Retrieved24 November2022.
  17. ^"Local Media, KFMB Stations announce joint-operating agreement".San Diego Union-Tribune.Retrieved6 October2015.
  18. ^"KFMB-A, KFMB-F (100.7 KFM-BFM)/San Diego, Local Media San Diego To End Joint Operating Agreement".All Access.September 28, 2016.RetrievedFebruary 15,2018.
  19. ^Venta, Lance (March 17, 2020)."Local Media San Diego Closes KFMB AM/FM Purchase; Sells 760 To iHeartMedia".RadioInsight.RetrievedMarch 17,2020.
  20. ^Miller, Mark K. (February 15, 2018)."Tegna Completes KFMB San Diego Purchase".TVNewsCheck.RetrievedMarch 17,2020.
  21. ^"91X A to XYZ Playlist".Retrieved2 May2024.
  22. ^"91X Moves To Classic Alternative".RadioInsight.24 February 2022.Retrieved2022-02-24.
  23. ^Freeman, John (1997-05-27). "91X lost Stern after rants stirred Mexico's rancor".San Diego Union-Tribune.
  24. ^"Local Media of America acquires Finest City Broadcasting in Foreclosure Sale".Retrieved22 May2011.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=XETRA-FM&oldid=1224403452"