PRESERVING RADIO HISTORY ACROSS COLORADO

Archives: Stations

  • KKFM-FM

    KKFM (98.1 FM) is Classic Rock 98.1 KKFM, Colorado Springs’ go-to station for the music you grew up on. If you ever sang along to Zeppelin in a pickup on Academy Boulevard, this was probably the station. It’s owned by Cumulus Media, carries the Bob & Tom Show in morning drive and is affiliated with Westwood One.

    How KKFM got to 98.1

    KKFM signed on May 2, 1959, at 96.5 MHz. In 1986 it moved from contemporary hits to a classic-rock sound promoted as “Colorado Classics.” At 5:30 a.m. on September 14, 1992, the station jumped to 98.1 MHz, which opened up 96.5 for KXPK in Denver and made room on 96.1 for KBIQ. KKFM has stayed on 98.1 ever since.

    In 1991, KKFM and contemporary station KKMG started a lease-marketing arrangement. Citadel Broadcasting later bought KKMG, and by 1999 it owned KKFM, KKMG and KKLI in Colorado Springs. Cumulus completed its purchase of Citadel on September 16, 2011, and KKFM has been in the Cumulus family since.

    Who owned it

    • 1959 to 1998: earlier owners are still being tracked down
    • By 1999 to September 16, 2011: Citadel Broadcasting Corporation
    • September 16, 2011 to today: Cumulus Media

    The signal

    KKFM puts out 71,000 watts from 698 metres above average terrain. The FCC facility ID is 11237, and the licensee is Radio License Holding CBC, LLC. Online, it lives at kkfm.com.

    Where the studios have been

    Over the years KKFM has been listed at 225 S. Academy Boulevard and at 411 Lakewood Circle, with the Lakewood Circle address showing up in industry listings through the mid-1990s. Today the studio is at 6805 Corporate Drive, Suite 130, Colorado Springs, CO 80919.

    Awards

    At the 2025 Colorado Broadcasters Association awards, Chris Austin took an Award of Excellence for Best Regularly Scheduled Entertainment Program for “Chris Austin’s Ass Slaps.”

    Sources

  • KKMG-FM

    KKMG (98.9 FM) is 98.9 Magic FM, the contemporary hits station for the Colorado Springs, Pueblo and Denver area. If you grew up with Top 40 on in the car, Magic has probably been part of your soundtrack since 1983. It’s licensed to Pueblo and owned by Cumulus Media.

    From KVMN to Magic

    98.9 FM signed on as KVMN on January 1, 1967, playing beautiful music and easy listening. It became KPLV (“Love 99”) in 1978, then KRQY in 1981. In 1983 the station took the KKMG calls and a “Magic” Top 40 format. Studios moved from Pueblo to Colorado Springs in 1988, and the station grew a rhythmic-leaning sound that went head to head with local rivals KIKX and KATM.

    In 1991, KKMG started a lease-marketing arrangement with KKFM, and KKFM’s parent, Citadel Broadcasting, bought KKMG several years later. The station eventually drifted back to a more pop-oriented sound. In July 2023 it briefly became “Taylor FM” for Taylor Swift’s Denver tour stop.

    Who owned it

    • 1967 to 1974: Pueblo Stereo Broadcasting Company
    • 1974 to 1978: Recreation Broadcasting of Pueblo
    • From 1978: Horwin Broadcasting
    • By 1999 to September 16, 2011: Citadel Broadcasting Corporation
    • September 16, 2011 to today: Cumulus Media

    The signal

    KKMG runs 57,000 watts from 695 metres above average terrain. The FCC facility ID is 11229, and the licensee is Radio License Holding CBC, LLC. Online, it’s at 989magicfm.com.

    Where the studios have been

    The station moved from Pueblo to Colorado Springs in fall 1988. A 1990 M Street directory lists it at 411 Lakewood Circle in Colorado Springs. Today it’s at 6805 Corporate Drive, Suite 130, Colorado Springs, CO 80919.

    Remembering the 1980s in Pueblo

    A former KKMG employee remembers Dave Steele, who went by Dave Fox on the air, working weekends and daytime fill at KKMG from about 1985 to 1989, when the station was still on Elizabeth Avenue in Pueblo. They recall Lee Reynolds as program director and Max Miller as operations manager. Steele has also talked about starting at KKMG in 1985 as a teenager, working weekends and learning from Reynolds and Miller.

    Awards

    • 2025 (Colorado Broadcasters Association): Awards of Excellence for Best Community Service Campaign (“Take A Turkey To Work Day,” a shared award); Best Station Sponsored Community Event, Best Station Promotion/Marketing Campaign, Best Sales Event or Live Remote Broadcast and Best Use of Digital/Social Media (all for “98.9’s Magical Mystical Moonbeam Ice Cream”); and Best On-Air Contest (“98.9 MAGIC FM’s Galentine’s Day Dinner”). The station also collected Certificates of Merit in a long list of categories, including Best Midday Show (“Midday Magic with Dallace Jade”), Best Afternoon Show (Jeff Haber) and Best Evening Show (“The Late Night Debrief with Soliyah Sage”).
    • 2024: Award of Excellence for Best Midday Show, “The Dallace Jade Show.”
    • 2023: Awards of Excellence for Best Station Imaging Campaign (“98.9 Taylor FM,” Jeff Haber and Alex Waters) and Best Use of Digital/Social Media (“Magic FM What’s That Colorado Sound (Taylor’s Version),” Jeff Haber and Alex Waters), plus a Certificate of Merit for Best Midday Show.

    Sources

  • KKPK-FM

    KKPK (92.9 FM) is 92.9 Peak FM, the adult contemporary station for Colorado Springs and Pueblo. If you’ve ever entered the “Peak FM Pantry Raid,” you’ve met this station in person. It’s owned by Cumulus Media.

    From KVOR-FM to Peak

    The station signed on February 1, 1960, as KVOR-FM, simulcasting its AM sister KVOR with middle-of-the-road music, news and sports. In 1974 it became KSPZ and adopted the “Z93” identity with contemporary hits. It later turned to adult contemporary, then in January 1990 switched to oldies as Oldies 92.9, and by 2005 had moved toward classic hits.

    In 2006, Citadel bought “Peak 95.1” KRDO-FM and moved its Peak name and adult contemporary format over to 92.9. On October 5, 2006, the station took the KKPK calls and relaunched as The New Peak FM, announced at 9:29 a.m. from Pikes Peak. Cumulus acquired Citadel in 2011, and Peak FM has carried on with adult contemporary music and local community campaigns ever since.

    Who owned it

    • 1960 to the 1990s: earlier owners are still being tracked down; the station was part of the Colorado Springs group later run by Triathlon Broadcasting
    • By 1999 to about 2000: Triathlon Broadcasting
    • By 2000 to September 16, 2011: Citadel Broadcasting Corporation
    • September 16, 2011 to today: Cumulus Media

    The signal

    KKPK runs 60,000 watts from 670 metres above average terrain. The FCC facility ID is 62038, and the licensee is Radio License Holding CBC, LLC. Online, it’s at 929peakfm.com.

    Where the studios have been

    By the 2000s, 92.9 was listed at 6805 Corporate Drive. Today the studio is at 6805 Corporate Drive, Suite 130, Colorado Springs, CO 80919, home of the Cumulus Colorado Springs stations.

    Awards

    • 2025: Award of Excellence for Best Midday Show, Woody Powers.
    • 2023: Certificate of Merit for Best Morning Show, “Peak FM Mornings with Woody & Bobby” (Woody Powers and Bobby Adan).
    • 2022: Certificate of Merit for Best Morning Show, “Peak FM Mornings with Woody & Bobby.”

    Sources

  • KILO-FM

    KILO (94.3 FM) is the active rock station for Colorado Springs and Pueblo. If you grew up cranking guitars in the Springs, there’s a good chance 94.3 KILO was on your radio. It’s owned by Bahakel Communications and still goes by “94.3 KILO.”

    From KLST to KILO

    The station signed on August 22, 1962, as KLST on 94.3 FM, owned by Little London Broadcasting, with studios at 802½ East Fillmore Avenue. In 1966, Western Broadcasting Company, the owner of KPIK 1580 AM, bought the FM and changed the calls to KPIK-FM. The AM and FM played country together, which made KPIK-FM one of the early full-time country stations on FM in the whole country.

    In 1977, the FM split from its AM sister, became “Super K-94” and moved to 93.9. A year later, KILO Broadcasting Corporation bought it, changed the calls to KILO and switched to album-oriented rock. Bahakel took over in 1984, and the sound eventually shifted from album rock to active rock. In 1994, KILO moved back to 94.3, where it has stayed ever since.

    Who owned it

    • 1962 to 1966: Little London Broadcasting (KLST-FM)
    • 1966 to 1978: Western Broadcasting Company (KPIK-FM)
    • 1978 to 1984: KILO Broadcasting Corporation (KILO)
    • 1984 to today: Bahakel Communications, licensed through Colorado Springs Radio Broadcasters, Inc.

    Where to find it

    The signal runs 79,000 watts from a transmitter 670 metres above average terrain, on Facility ID 12367. KILO’s online home is kilo943.com.

    Where the studios have been

    • 802½ East Fillmore Avenue: the studio when the station signed on in 1962 as KLST-FM.
    • 707 South Tejon Street: the published business address through at least 1990.
    • 1805 East Cheyenne Road, Colorado Springs 80905: listed by 1993, and still the studio today, shared with sister station KRXP.

    Sources