KDMX
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Broadcast area | Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex |
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Frequency | 102.9MHz(HD Radio) |
Branding | The NEW Mix 102.9 |
Programming | |
Language(s) | English |
Format | Hot Adult Contemporary |
Affiliations | Premiere Networks |
Ownership | |
Owner |
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History | |
First air date | 1960 |
Former call signs |
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Call signmeaning | "Dallas' Mix" |
Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 47739 |
Class | C |
ERP | 100,000watts |
HAAT | 1,788 feet (545 m) |
Transmitter coordinates | 32°34′54″N96°58′32″W/ 32.58167°N 96.97556°W |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Webcast | Listen live(viaiHeartRadio) |
Website | mix1029 |
KDMX(102.9FM) is aradio stationserving theDallas–Fort Worth metroplexinTexas.It is currently owned and operated byiHeartMedia,and airs ahot adult contemporaryformat. The station's studios are located alongDallas ParkwayinFarmers Branch(although it has a Dallas address), and the transmitter site is inCedar Hill.
History
[edit]Classical (1959–1965)
[edit]This station first began broadcasting as KQRO on October 15, 1960 (although license was granted on July 2, 1959). It wentsilenta year later, then returned to the airwaves in 1962. For that time, KQRO's format consisted mostly ofclassicalandorchestralmusic.
Middle of the Road (1965–1971)
[edit]In 1965, the callsign was changed to KEIR after being purchased by trade school Elkins Institute of Radio and Electronics. The station was used for training by Elkins with a two-room studio and transmitter located in the Life Building on Jackson Street in downtown Dallas, although the school was located near Love Field on Inwood Road. The station's Effective Radiated Power (ERP) was9,700 wattsand was difficult to receive outside Loop 635 around Dallas. The station's format was "Middle of the Road" featuring easy listening vocal and instrumental album tracks from 11 a.m. to 11 pm. daily. The station was sold by Elkins when the school obtained a license for a non-commercial FM station in 1971.
Religious (1971–1977)
[edit]In 1971, the call letters were changed once again to KDTX, this time with areligiousformat. Six years later, the callsign was changed to KMGC (theKDTXcall letters were later used on a local TV station in 1987, with Christian programming) and the Christian contemporary format continued up until September 1977.
"Mellow/Magic 102.9" (1977–1991)
[edit]It was then changed to anadult contemporaryformat asMellow 102.9and a month later toMagic 102.9.Prior to that, a mass distribution of door-hanger flyers announced the station is coming.
"Mix 102.9" (1991–2012)
[edit]The station enjoyed a loyal following until May 9, 1991, when, after Nationwide Communications bought the station, KMGC beganstuntingwith a series of formats ranging from rockoldies(as "Cool 102.9" on May 9) tocountry(as "Kickin' Country" on May 10) to an all-Beatlesformat (also on May 10), and then party cocktail noise on May 11 and 12, before changing to its current callsign and settling on its long-runninghot adult contemporaryformat as "Mix 102.9" on May 13 at 5:30 a.m.[2][3]Program Director Pat McMahon, Assistant Program Director Steve Knoll and Production Director Dave Kay planned the stunting. In 1997, Nationwide was sold (including KDMX and sisterKEGL) toJacor.[4]In 1999, Jacor merged with Clear Channel Communications.
In 2009, Clear Channel (nowiHeartMedia) laid off over 2,000 employees to lower costs and forced its "Mix" branded stations tovoice trackmost of their airtime, leaving very few live personalities across the nation.[5]Among laying off in Dallas, the voices of midday personality Lisa Thomas was replaced with fellow Clear Channel stationKUSS's midday personality, Cindy Spicer. Late night personality Joe Kelley was replaced with voicetracking. Morning co-hostTony Zazzawas replaced with weeknight personality Jen Austin and Program Director Rick. Zazza then became the morning host at former competing stationCBS Radio-owned 103.7KVIL,which flipped full-time to Hot AC/Adult Top 40 in early 2014. Later that year, Jen Austin was laid off as well. With afternoons, shortly hosted by PD Rick, but was later replaced by thesatellite-fedOn Air with Ryan Seacrest.
In 2011, in response to changing listener habits, KDMX began adding more hip-hop and EDM titles to its playlist, and was briefly marketed as "The New Sound of Mix 102.9".[6]
"102-9 NOW" (2012–2023)
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/98/1029_Now_DFW.png)
On May 18,2012,KDMX rebranded as102.9 Now,[7]dropping mostmodern ACartists, and shifted to anadult top 40format heavy on currents and recurrents. However, as of October 2012, KDMX returned to Hot AC. Some of the Modern AC artists have returned to the station's playlist, and dropped some hip hop tracks, though the station still has a current-heavy focus with less dependence on gold tracks. The switch back to Hot AC was likely due to low ratings, as well as to avoid playlist overlap with sisterTop 40KHKS.Starting in 2014, the station aired the syndicated "Bert Show" in morning drive, which originated fromWWWQin Atlanta.[8]The show was later dropped and replaced with a music-heavy morning show.
Return to "Mix" (2023–present)
[edit]On June 9, 2023, at 2 p.m., after playing "When I Was Your Man"byBruno Mars,KDMX returned to the "Mix 102.9" branding; the first song under the revived "Mix" brand was "Please Don't Leave Me"byP!nk.A new morning show hosted by Billy the Kidd and Candice Lopez launched on June 26.[9][10]
KDMX-HD2
[edit]KDMX originally launched a secondaryHD Radio(HD2) subchannel known as "The Music Summit", broadcasting anAAAformat. It has since then moved toKZPS 92.5-HD2to make way forPride Radio(previously onKHKS-HD2) with a format intended for theLGBTcommunity. On March 28, 2011, 102.9-HD2 flipped to a SoftOldies/AC Goldformat as "Sunny 102.9-HD2", shifting "Pride Radio" back to 106.1-HD2. Beginning January 8, 2014, KDMX-HD2's format has been changed to a syndicatedDelilahnighttime love songs program that was previously dropped by KVIL.[11][12]
In September 2018, "Delilah" was replaced with KDMX's former "Mix" branding, following a similar move at sister KDGE, which relaunched their former alternative format under the long-time "Edge" branding.
As of February 2021, KDMX-HD2 ceased operations, leaving no programming replacement.
References
[edit]- ^"Facility Technical Data for KDMX".Licensing and Management System.Federal Communications Commission.
- ^"Magic 102.9 fires several staffers to change format".Dallas Morning News.April 15, 1991.
- ^"New radio station joins adult contemporary fray".Dallas Morning News.May 13, 1991.
- ^"Jacor deal includes KEGL-FM; Nationwide also selling KDMX to broadcaster".Dallas Morning News.October 28, 1997.
- ^[1]
- ^"102.9 NOW Music (playlist)".102.9 NOW.RetrievedFebruary 28,2021.
- ^Venta, Lance (May 18, 2012)."KDMX Dallas Revamps NOW".RadioInsight.Archivedfrom the original on November 26, 2020.RetrievedFebruary 28,2021.
- ^"The Bert Show nabs prime morning radio slot on 102.9 NOW KDMX-FM".January 15, 2014.
- ^Venta, Lance (June 9, 2023)."Mix 102.9 Returns To Dallas".Radioinsight.RetrievedJune 27,2023.
- ^Venta, Lance (June 26, 2023)."Billy The Kidd & Candice Lopez Debut In Mornings On Mix 102.9 Dallas".Radioinsight.RetrievedJune 27,2023.
- ^KVIL adds Blake Powers as evening DJ-DFW(released January 21, 2014)
- ^http://hdradio /station_guides/widget.php?id=10ArchivedNovember 23, 2015, at theWayback MachineHD Radio Guide for Dallas-Ft. Worth
External links
[edit]- Facility details for Facility ID 47739 (KDMX)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
- KDMXinNielsen Audio's FM station database
- DFW Radio/TV History
- DFW Radio Archives