KNZR-FM

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Radio station in Shafter, California

title: "KNZR-FM" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["radio-stations-established-in-1978", "1978-establishments-in-california", "talk-radio-stations-in-the-united-states", "radio-stations-in-bakersfield,-california", "connoisseur-media-radio-stations", "conservative-talk-radio"] description: "Radio station in Shafter, California" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KNZR-FM" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Radio station in Shafter, California ::

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

FieldValue
nameKNZR-FM
logoFile:KNZR_FM.jpg
cityShafter, California
areaBakersfield metropolitan area
brandingKNZR AM1560 & FM97.7
frequency97.7 MHz
repeater
airdate(as KQEZ)
formatConservative talk radio
erp4,100 watts
haat121 m
classA
facility_id8109
coordinates
former_callsigns
affiliations
networkFox News Radio
ownerConnoisseur Media
(Sale to Frequency Media pending)
licenseeAlpha Media Licensee LLC
sister_stations
webcast
website
licensing_authorityFCC
::

| name = KNZR-FM | logo = File:KNZR_FM.jpg | logo_size = | city = Shafter, California | area = Bakersfield metropolitan area | branding = KNZR AM1560 & FM97.7 | frequency = 97.7 MHz | repeater = | airdate = (as KQEZ) | format = Conservative talk radio | erp = 4,100 watts | haat = 121 m | class = A | facility_id = 8109 | coordinates = | callsign_meaning = | former_callsigns = | affiliations = | network = Fox News Radio | owner = Connoisseur Media (Sale to Frequency Media pending) | licensee = Alpha Media Licensee LLC | sister_stations = | webcast = | website = | licensing_authority = FCC

KNZR-FM (97.7 MHz) is a commercial radio station licensed to Shafter, California, and broadcasting to the Bakersfield radio market. Along with sister station KNZR (1560 AM), KNZR-FM simulcasts a conservative talk radio format. They are owned by Connoisseur Media, through licensee Alpha Media Licensee LLC. The studios and offices are on Pegasus Drive in Bakersfield.

KNZR-FM has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 4,100 watts. It is a Class A FM station, limited to the communities in and adjacent to Bakersfield. The transmitter is off Warehouse Road in Oildale.

Programming

KNZR-AM-FM's weekday schedule features one local talk show heard in late mornings, hosted by Terry Maxwell, a former Bakersfield City Council member and restaurateur. The rest of the weekday schedule is nationally syndicated conservative talk shows: The Glenn Beck Radio Program, The Sean Hannity Show, The Larry Elder Show, The Mark Levin Show, The O'Reilly Update with Bill O'Reilly, The Ramsey Show with Dave Ramsey and Coast to Coast AM with George Noory.

On weekends, syndicated shows include At Home with Gary Sullivan, Bill Handel on the Law, Tom Gresham's Gun Talk, The Mike Gallagher Show, Somewhere in Time with Art Bell and Rich DeMuro on Tech. Most hours begin with an update from Fox News Radio.

History

Early years

The station signed on the air on March 3, 1978. The original call sign was KQEZ. It carried an easy listening format of soft instrumentals and a few vocals per hour. The following year, it switched its call sign to KMGN, airing a country music format. The station was owned by Brandon-Dorsey Communications.

In 1986, Community Service Broadcasters took over as debtor in possession. The call letters switched to KKBB and the station featured an album rock sound, using NBC Radio's "The Source" young adult network for news and features. In 1996, the station switched to a Regional Mexican format as KRME, when it was owned by Spanish-language broadcaster Eduardo Caballero.

The station was assigned the KSMJ call letters by the Federal Communications Commission on February 6, 2001. As the call sign implied, the station carried a smooth jazz format.

Changes in ownership

Buckley Broadcasting acquired KSMJ in 2001. On November 22, 2011, KSMJ dropped its adult contemporary "Mix 97.7" format and began simulcasting KNZR (1560 AM), to give Bakersfield listeners the choice to hear the talk programming on KNZR on either AM or FM. KSMJ changed to its current KNZR-FM call sign on September 11, 2013.

In 2014, Buckley Broadcasting sold its California stations, including KNZR-AM-FM, to Alpha Media of Portland, Oregon. Alpha Media Chairman Larry Wilson said, "The Buckley clusters in California will be a great addition to the West Coast footprint. Bakersfield is a rich and vibrant city full of live and local opportunities." Alpha Media merged with Connoisseur Media on September 4, 2025.

On October 14, 2025, Connoisseur Media Announced the Bakersfield cluster had been sold to Danny and Kait Hill’s Frequency Media.

Racial controversy

On January 18, 2018, midday host Jaz McKay was told that due to budgetary concerns he would be replaced the next week with Sean Hannity in the noon to 3pm slot which he had occupied for 14 years. McKay then took to social media and used derogatory language to describe Hispanic radio broadcasts in the area. McKay claimed the large number of Spanish language radio stations in Bakersfield made it increasingly difficult for English speaking announcers to find employment. At 45.5%, Hispanics comprise the largest demographic group in Bakersfield. On January 24, McKay’s time slot was indeed taken over by the syndicated radio show from Sean Hannity. On the same day, it was also reported that McKay’s fellow conservative talk show host Inga Barks was, for unspecified reasons, no longer associated with the station. McKay was later hired for the midday time slot on KERN in December 2018.

Former programming

  • The station was once home to Chris Squires. He had been Program Director for KKXX-FM, KRAB, KKDJ, and KSMJ when they were owned by Mondosphere Broadcasting, and was known as on-air name "Spydee". He was also program director for Mix 97-7.
  • Kristin Jacobs was former;y on the mid-day shift, and had been on the radio in Bakersfield doing the same shift on Clear Channel-owned KKDJ (when it was "K-LITE 105.3").
  • Erik Daniels was on in the afternoons, and had been a Buckley Radio employee for many years, also serving on KLLY, and doing production director duties for the company.
  • The Beacon Radio program with Austin Harris once aired Sunday mornings.
  • Weekends Fill/In included Rogers Brandon.
  • Brent Michaels hosted the morning show until August 22, 2008.
  • The syndicated morning program The Bob and Sheri Show debuted September 2008.
  • The station carried the syndicated John Tesh radio program on weekday evenings and Sunday mornings until January 2011. He is now on KBFP-FM

References

References

  1. [https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=73092 History Cards for KNZR-FM], fcc.gov. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  2. [http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=8109 Call Sign History], fcc.gov. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  3. [https://www.knzr.com/contact/ KNZR.com/contact]
  4. [https://radio-locator.com/info/KNZR-FM Radio-Locator.com/KNZR-FM]
  5. "Shows".
  6. [https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1980/C%20Radio%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201980.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1980 page C-31]
  7. [https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1989/BC-YB-1989-All-Radio.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1989 page B-44]
  8. (November 22, 2011). "KNZR Bakersfield Adds FM Simulcast". RadioInsight.
  9. "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
  10. [https://news.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/rol.exe/headline_id=b14154 RadioOnline.com "Alpha Media to Purchase Buckley California Outlets" Oct. 10, 2014]
  11. (September 4, 2025). "Introducing The New Connoisseur Media". RadioInsight.
  12. (17 November 2025). "Connoisseur Media Offloads Bakersfield Cluster.". Insideradio.com.
  13. (21 November 2025). "Additional Details On Frequency Media’s Acquisition Of Connoisseur Media Bakersfield". RadioInsight.
  14. [http://www.bakersfield.com/news/facebook-ablaze-over-racist-comment-by-local-talk-radio-host/article_e46271c2-fd43-11e7-8b66-439f36281aff.html “Facebook ablaze over racist comment by local talk radio host”], ‘’Bakersfield Californian’’, January 19, 2018
  15. [https://statisticalatlas.com/place/California/Bakersfield/Race-and-Ethnicity Race and Ethnicity in Bakersfield at ''Statistical Atlas'']
  16. [http://www.knzr.com/sean-hannity-back-bakersfield/ “Sean Hannity Is Back In Bakersfield”] {{Webarchive. link. (January 27, 2018 , KNZR.com, January 24, 2018)
  17. "[http://www.bakersfield.com/news/two-conservative-radio-talk-show-hosts-lose-jobs-at-knzr/article_e198126c-012b-11e8-ab79-7b14548adf59.html “Two conservative radio talk show hosts lose jobs at KNZR]", ''[[Bakersfield Californian]]'', January 24, 2018
  18. [https://www.turnto23.com/news/community/vista-semanal/local/jaz-mckay-set-to-return-to-radio-following-racist-video "Jaz McKay set to return to radio following racist video"], 23ABC News, December 19, 2018

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radio-stations-established-in-19781978-establishments-in-californiatalk-radio-stations-in-the-united-statesradio-stations-in-bakersfield,-californiaconnoisseur-media-radio-stationsconservative-talk-radio