The station signed on in 1975 as KDJQ at 97.9 FM with an automated Top 40 format. It became KCSJ-FM in October 1978 and KCCY in January 1979, developing into a long-running country outlet.
In 1993 KCCY moved from 97.9 to 96.9 FM. Clear Channel Communications acquired KCCY in 2001; the company later became iHeartMedia. The “-FM” suffix was formally added to the call sign in 2012.
Former White House press secretary and television personality Dana Perino worked an overnight shift at KCCY while attending college in Pueblo.
Studio / Facility Timeline
- 1981–86: KCCY is documented at 3305 N. Elizabeth Street, Pueblo.
- By 1993: KCCY was operating from 106 W. 24th Street, Pueblo.
- By 2004: the actual KCCY on-air studio/microphone was at 2864 S. Circle Drive, Colorado Springs; period cluster records establish the South Circle facility around this era.
- Important distinction: 3185 Janitell Road was used as a business/sales address and is not being treated as a KCCY on-air studio without further evidence.
2024 CBA Awards: Awards of Excellence: Best Station Promotion/Marketing Campaign, “Winning Ticket Fridays” (Aaron Kinnischtzke, Dean Nedens and Shannon Gentile), and Best Sales Event or Live Remote Broadcast, “Y Fest 2024 With Jason Aldean, Shaboozey, Tucker Wetmore and Runaway June” (Lindsey Broyles, Chelsea Thomas and Aaron Kinnischtzke). Official CBA 2024 results.
Sources: Billboard Country Radio Directory; Country Radio Directory; Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook; Radio Business Report; Radio Power Book; M Street; firsthand station recollection.
Awards & Recognitions
Documented awards, honors, and finalist or nomination recognition associated with this station or broadcaster.
- 2024Award of ExcellenceColorado Broadcasters AssociationBest Station Promotion/Marketing CampaignWhere’s Wallen? — Lindsey Broyles, Aaron Kinnischtzke, Shannon Gentile2024 Major Market Radio results
- 2024Certificate of MeritColorado Broadcasters AssociationBest Station Promotion/Marketing CampaignWinning Ticket Fridays — Aaron Kinnischtzke, Dean Nedens, Shannon Gentile2024 Major Market Radio results
- 2024Certificate of MeritColorado Broadcasters AssociationBest Sales Event or Live Remote BroadcastY Fest 2024 With Jason Aldean, Shaboozey, Tucker Wetmore and Runaway June — Lindsey Broyles, Chelsea Thomas, Aaron Kinnischtzke2024 Major Market Radio results
STATION FILE
FROM THE TIMELINE
Moments in KCCY-FM History
KDJQ begins automated Top 40 on 97.9
KDJQ began broadcasting on 97.9 MHz as an automated Top 40 station. This facility later became KCSJ-FM and then KCCY, the ancestor of today's Y96.9.
KCSJ-FM becomes KCCY
KCSJ-FM 97.9 became KCCY, establishing the call identity that survives on Pueblo radio today.
KCCY-FM reaches number one in Pueblo spring ratings
KCCY-FM reached the number-one position in Pueblo's spring ratings. FM's total measured market share reached roughly 61.2 percent, compared with about 34.7 percent five years earlier.
Mike John leaves KCCY for Sacramento
Mike John left KCCY after serving as general manager since 1978, accepting a VP/GM post at Fuller-Jeffrey sister station KDJQ in Sacramento. Earlier in his career he had worked at WLOB Portland, Maine; WCAX Burlington; and WTSA Brattleboro.
KCCY 96.9 construction permit foreshadows frequency move
Contemporary M Street records still list KCCY at 97.9 MHz with 100 kW, but show an authorized construction permit for 96.9 and a further 96.9 application specifying 46.6 kW at 2,168 feet. The filings document the technical transition that ultimately moved KCCY to 96.9 and positioned it for the later Cheyenne Mountain master-antenna project.
1990 Pueblo dial snapshot shows Colorado Springs competition
KGRQ 107.1 was listed as classic AOR, KRYT 107.9 as oldies, KATM 100.7 as CHR/album-oriented rock, KCSJ 590 as news/talk and KCCY 97.9 as country. Duncan's Spring 1990 report noted that several Pueblo FMs were increasingly competing for Colorado Springs listening as well as Pueblo.
KCCY moves from 97.9 to 96.9
KCCY moved from 97.9 to 96.9 MHz as part of the regional FM dial realignment.
Cheyenne Mountain master FM project enables KCCY relocation
KCCY's frequency change cleared the way to relocate its transmitter from a lower Pueblo-area site to Cheyenne Mountain. With existing tower space unavailable, Cheyenne Propagation developed a new multi-station master FM antenna system. Contemporary engineering documentation describes ten Class C FM stations already operating from the mountain and notes structural and RF-exposure constraints affecting some installations.
Dana Perino works overnight shift at KCCY
Dana Perino worked the 2–6 a.m. shift at country KCCY while attending college, a documented Pueblo radio air-staff footnote.
McCoy Pueblo cluster dominates 1993 ratings snapshot
By Spring 1993, McCoy Broadcasting owned country KCCY, oldies KDZA-FM 107.9 and MOR KGHF 1350. KCCY posted a 23.2 12+ share, up from 18.8 in Spring 1992, and ranked first in the source's 18–34, 25–54, 35–64 and AM-drive breakouts. KDZA-FM and KCSJ each posted 5.5; KGHF and KRMX 4.4; newly returned KKPC 1.7.
1996 Southern Colorado station personnel snapshot
Contemporary industry listings document Bob Gourley, Bob Freeman, Charlie Cassidy and Mel Rauh at KIKX; Oleene Greenwood, Gary Dall, Dave Moore and Dan Thomas at KCCY; Nick Donovan at KDZA-FM; Dick Bruso, Larry Myers and Art Pemberton at KGFT; Lee Douglas and Norm Smith at KKPC; Iva Rafferty and Mike Lee at KKNK; Jerry De La Cruz and Diane Young at KRMX; Julio Gutierrez, Hilda Perez and Norm Smith at KRRU; Steve Downes, Lorri Froehlich, Jay Diamond Salas and Norm Smith at KYZX; Dave Harrell at KCSJ; and Greg Hargrove at KGHF.
KKMG maintains double-digit ratings presence
KKMG remained Colorado Springs' leading mainstream CHR outlet while KILO, KKFM, KKCS, KCCY, KVOR, KVUU and KSPZ formed a highly competitive field. Contemporary ratings published the following year show KKMG maintaining double-digit 12+ shares through this period.
February 1998 Colorado Springs ratings snapshot
A February Billboard market table shows KKMG at 10.0 in the latest listed 12+ book, followed by KKCS AM-FM at 8.8, KKFM 8.6, KILO 7.9, KCCY 7.4, KVOR 6.0, KVUU 5.0 and KSPZ/KKLI 4.5. These figures are a specific published ratings snapshot, not permanent rankings.
Bahakel agrees to sell KCSJ and KGHF back to McCoy
Only months after Bahakel acquired KCSJ, KGHF and KYZX for $4.5 million, Bahakel agreed to sell KCSJ 590 and KGHF 1350 to Craig W. McCoy's McCoy Broadcasting for $912,000 cash. McCoy already owned KCCY and KDZA-FM in Pueblo, reassembling a four-station Pueblo group while Bahakel retained KILO and KYZX.
2018: Val Hart returns to KCCY
Sept. 10, 2018 — Val Hart left KATC 95.1 and returned to crosstown KCCY/Y96.9. Dallace Jade took over the KATC midday shift.
2022: iHeartMedia Colorado Springs moves to Mark Dabling Boulevard
2022 — iHeartMedia’s Colorado Springs radio operation moved from its longtime studios at 2864 S. Circle Drive to 5725 Mark Dabling Blvd., Suite 120.
People Who Worked Here
FROM THE ARCHIVE
Photos, Video & Airchecks
Photo · 2004
Chris Austin & Sheena Sandoval
Photo · 2004
Tommy Lee @ Clear Channel Colorado Springs
Clear Channel Colorado Springs crew with Tommy Lee.
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