KMXP

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Modern adult contemporary radio station in Phoenix

title: "KMXP" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1961-establishments-in-arizona", "adult-album-alternative-radio-stations-in-the-united-states", "iheartmedia-radio-stations", "nationwide-communications", "radio-stations-established-in-1961", "radio-stations-in-phoenix,-arizona"] description: "Modern adult contemporary radio station in Phoenix" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KMXP" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Modern adult contemporary radio station in Phoenix ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox radio station"]

FieldValue
nameKMXP
logoKMXP_Mix969.png
cityPhoenix, Arizona
countryUS
areaPhoenix metropolitan area
brandingMix 96.9
frequency
airdate
formatModern adult contemporary
subchannelsHD2: Pride Radio
erp100,000 watts
haat475 m
coordinates
classC
licensing_authorityFCC
facility_id6361
callsign_meaningMix Phoenix
former_callsigns
owneriHeartMedia
licenseeiHM Licenses, LLC
affiliationsPremiere Networks
sister_stationsKESZ, KFYI, KGME, KNIX-FM, KOY, KYOT, KZZP
webcast
website
::

| name = KMXP | logo = KMXP_Mix969.png | city = Phoenix, Arizona | country = US | area = Phoenix metropolitan area | branding = Mix 96.9 | frequency =
| airdate = | format = Modern adult contemporary | subchannels = HD2: Pride Radio | erp = 100,000 watts | haat = 475 m | coordinates = | class = C | licensing_authority = FCC | facility_id = 6361 | callsign_meaning = Mix Phoenix | former_callsigns = | owner = iHeartMedia | licensee = iHM Licenses, LLC | affiliations = Premiere Networks | sister_stations = KESZ, KFYI, KGME, KNIX-FM, KOY, KYOT, KZZP | webcast = | website =

KMXP (96.9 FM) is a commercial radio station in Phoenix, Arizona, featuring a modern adult contemporary format as "Mix 96.9". It is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., with studios on East Van Buren Street near Sky Harbor International Airport. KMXP carries the syndicated On Air with Ryan Seacrest show in early afternoons.

KMXP has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 100,000 watts, the maximum for most FM stations. The transmitter is in South Mountain Park amid other FM and TV towers, south of Phoenix. KMXP broadcasts using HD Radio technology. Its HD2 digital subchannel carries iHeart's "Pride Radio," aimed at LGBTQ listeners.

History

Classical and easy listening

The station signed on the air on October 28, 1961. The station's original call sign was KEPI and it was owned by Ward James Atkinson. He sold within months to Golden Sounds, Inc. It had studios in the Adams Hotel and it aired classical music as part of the WQXR Network, based at New York's premiere classical station.

In January 1964, Golden Sounds asked for authority to go silent for up to six months. Ultimately, in the time needed to sell the station, it was off the air for nine months as a new owner was sought. When 96.9 returned to the air in October 1964, it was KMEO, broadcasting easy listening music and marketed as "Cameo," a moniker it held through several different owners. It played quarter hour sweeps of soft, instrumental music, with an occasional soft vocal. Beginning in 1967, it was simulcast with KMEO (740 AM). During this time, 96.9 used an FM suffix, as KMEO-FM, with its easy listening format offered on both AM and FM radio.

Soft AC, oldies and classic hits

KMEO-AM-FM had good ratings. But by the 1980s, the easy listening audience was starting to age, while most advertisers seek young to middle-aged clients. So KMEO began to add more vocals and decrease the instrumentals in an effort to attract a younger audience. By the late 1980s, it had evolved to a soft adult contemporary sound. But several other Phoenix stations were also playing similar music, crowding the field.

On July 4, 1991, 96.9 FM became oldies-formatted "Sunny 97", switching its call letters to KPSN. That was followed by a whirlwind of format and call sign changes. On November 28, 1994, it became classic hits KCHT (later KHTC). It first was called "96.9 K-Hits FM", then "The New 96.9 Classic Hits". It rebranded to KGLQ ("Eagle 96.9") in September 1997. In April 1997, the station was bought by Nationwide Communications, a subsidiary of the Nationwide Insurance Company. The price tag was $34 million.

Hot AC KMXP

On September 3, 1998, at 3 p.m., after playing "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions" by Queen, KGLQ began stunting with the sound of a ticking clock and messages advising listeners a big change would take place. The messages also poked fun at competing radio stations.

At 3 p.m. that day, 96.9 adopted its current format, hot adult contemporary, as KMXP, “Mix 96.9”. The first song on "Mix" was "New Sensation" by INXS.

In May 1999, the station was acquired by San Antonio-based Clear Channel Communications. In 2014, Clear Channel changed its name to the current iHeartMedia, Inc.

Shift to modern AC

Sometime in mid to late June 2024, KMXP tweaked its format to a modern adult contemporary format, emphasizing pop/alternative crossovers. The station playlist was altered, with a number of songs that were played before the format change being removed from the playlist, and a number of songs that were previously played on the station (e.g. "SNAP" by Rosa Linn and "Shattered (Turn The Car Around)" by O.A.R.) were added back on the station, along with some songs normally played on alternative rock stations and the AAA format.

HD Radio

Mix 96.9's HD Radio signal is multiplexed. The main signal is a simulcast of Mix 96.9's hot adult contemporary programming. The second channel carries iHeartMedia's PRIDE Radio programming for the LGBTQ community featuring a mix of dance and dance-leaning pop music.

Former logo

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/Mix969logo.jpg"] ::

References

References

  1. [https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1964/BC-YB-1964-New.pdf ''Broadcasting Yearbook 1964'' page B-9], [[Broadcasting & Cable]]. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  2. Julie Newberg, "Dick Clark 61? He swears to it", ''The Arizona Republic'', July 3, 1991.
  3. (1994-12-02). "KPSN/Phoenix Goes All-'70s".
  4. Julie Newberg, "'70s hits still hot stuff in nostalgia-loving '90s", ''The Arizona Republic'', December 5, 1994.
  5. (1997-09-18). "Rumbles, Pt. 1".
  6. [https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1998/D-Radio-All-BC-YB-1998.pdf ''Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1998'' page D-24. Retrieved July 5, 2023.]
  7. Michael Clancy, "Harper eyes return to Valley screen", ''The Arizona Republic'', September 5, 1998.
  8. (1998-09-11). "'Eagle' Extinct: KGLQ Goes HAC".
  9. (5 April 2020). "KGLQ 96.9 Phoenix - format change - September 1998".
  10. [https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/2010/D-2010-BC-YB-7.pdf ''Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2010'' page D-62. Retrieved July 5, 2023.]
  11. [https://radioinsight.com/headlines/274108/mix-96-9-phoenix-moves-in-adult-alternative-direction/ Mix 96.9 Phoenix Moves in Adult Alternative Direction] RadioInsight - July 3, 2024

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

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