KIBT (96.1 FM), branded 96.1 The Beat, is a commercial rhythmic contemporary radio station serving Colorado Springs and nearby communities in southern Colorado. It is licensed to Fountain, Colorado, and owned by iHeartMedia. Its HD Radio subchannel carries a classic R&B format.
History
The 96.1 MHz signal began broadcasting in 1993 as KBIQ, a Christian adult contemporary station owned by The Word in Music. Salem Communications acquired it in 1996 and moved the KBIQ call sign and format to 102.7 FM after acquiring that station. The 96.1 frequency then became KPRZ, “Praise 96,” with praise and worship programming.
In 1999, AMFM acquired the station in a swap with Salem and relaunched it as KMOM, “Mother 96.1,” initially with a classic rock format. In October 2004, Clear Channel changed the station to rhythmic contemporary and adopted the KIBT call sign and “96.1 The Beat” name. Clear Channel became iHeartMedia in 2014.
Ownership
- 1993–1996: The Word in Music, Inc.
- 1996–1999: Salem Communications.
- 1999–approximately 2000: AMFM Inc., following a station swap with Salem.
- By 2000–2014: Clear Channel Communications.
- 2014–present: iHeartMedia, following the company’s rebranding.
Technical information
- Frequency: 96.1 MHz FM
- Transmitter power: 460 watts ERP
- Height above average terrain: 661 m
- FCC facility ID: 66669
- Licensee: iHM Licenses, LLC
- Official website: beatcolorado.iheart.com
Studio locations
Former: As KBIQ, KPRZ and KMOM, the 96.1 operation used Colorado Springs studios before its 2004 format change; a separately verified street address for those earlier studios has not been found. Clear Channel/iHeart’s Colorado Springs cluster was later listed at 2864 S. Circle Drive, Suite 150. Current: 5725 Mark Dabling Boulevard, Suite 120, Colorado Springs, CO 80919.
Address sources: 96.1 The Beat official contact page; Colorado Broadcasters Association, KIBT-FM; Colorado Radio Archive’s station-cluster address records.
2023 CBA Awards: Award of Excellence: Best Station Promotion/Marketing Campaign, “Beat’s Best Seats Summer of Concert Tickets” (Cheeba Hopkins and Aaron Kinnischtzke). Certificates of Merit: Best Station Sponsored Community Event, “Beats Eats and Sneaks/Beat Down Producer Battle” (Cheeba Hopkins, Aaron Kinnischtzke and Jack Gelley), and Best Station Promotion, “The Box State Mic Drop” (Cheeba Hopkins and Aaron Kinnischtzke). Official CBA 2023 results.
Sources: Wikipedia, “KIBT” (station history and technical summary); 96.1 The Beat official website; FCCInfo, facility 66669 (licensed technical data).
CBA Awards of Excellence (2025)
- Best Sales Campaign for an Advertiser (Award of Excellence): “Beat’s Best Seats Sponsored by Drive In Auto Sound – 96.1 The Beat,” Aaron Kinnischtzke and Lindsey Duran.
Source: Colorado Broadcasters Association, 2025 major-market radio awards.
Awards & Recognitions
Documented awards, honors, and finalist or nomination recognition associated with this station or broadcaster.
- 2011WinnerColorado Broadcasters Association Radio AwardsBest Afternoon ShowAngela Cortez2011 CBA Radio Winners
- 2011WinnerColorado Broadcasters Association Radio AwardsBest Evening ShowCheeba2011 CBA Radio Winners
- 2011WinnerColorado Broadcasters Association Radio AwardsBest Station PersonalityAngela Cortez2011 CBA Radio Winners
- 2008Award of ExcellenceColorado Broadcasters AssociationRadio Station of the Year — Major MarketKIBT-FMCBA Awards of Excellence archive
- 2008WinnerColorado Broadcasters Association Radio AwardsBest Evening ShowMadboy Radio2008 CBA Radio Award Winners
FROM THE TIMELINE
Moments in KIBT-FM History
2004: Bob Richards takes over Clear Channel Colorado Springs operations
October 2004 — Longtime KBPI/Denver Program Director Bob Richards is named Operations Manager of Clear Channel's Colorado Springs cluster, overseeing KCCY, KIBT, KKLI and KVUU. He succeeds Don Schaffer.
2006: Bob Richards becomes Clear Channel Colorado Springs Market Manager
April 1, 2006 — Bob Richards becomes Market Manager of Clear Channel/Colorado Springs, replacing retiring Bob Gourley. Later career biographies describe Richards as VP/Market Manager over eight stations between Colorado Springs and Pueblo.
2008: Pickett and McKee lead My 99.9 as Rameen Madani begins
2008 — KVUU/My 99.9 is documented with Chris Pickett as Program Director and Darren McKee as Music Director. Rameen Madani begins his Clear Channel career in Colorado Springs working with KVUU and KIBT, launching a market tenure that continues into 2013.
2008–2013: Rameen Madani leads digital work for Clear Channel Colorado Springs
2008-2013 — Rameen Madani begins his Clear Channel/iHeart career in Colorado Springs, working with KVUU/My 99.9 and KIBT/96.1 The Beat. Later industry coverage identifies Madani's local role as Digital Director, documenting the growing importance of web, streaming and digital programming within the Colorado Springs cluster.
2010: Cheeba Hopkins joins KIBT-FM
2010 — Hopkins joined KIBT-FM /96.1 The Beat in 2010 after roughly a decade working for Citadel’s Colorado Springs operation.
2011: Glynn Alan takes over Clear Channel Colorado Springs
March 2011 — Clear Channel names Glynn Alan Market Manager for its Colorado Springs stations. Alan comes from KOSI/Denver, where he had been General Sales Manager, and previously worked in sports sales for Clear Channel Denver.
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
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