96.9 Turns On The Fun

As promised, Cumulus LMA KQOB (Classic Rock 96.9) unveiled its new format Monday morning  (Dec. 28). The station ended its run of playing Christmas tunes at 6 a.m. with Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock and Roll,” unveiling Fun 96-9 FM, a classic hits station.

The station promises “just the right mix of pop and rock hits from the `60s, `70s, and `80s” and is built around longtime morning duo “Jack and Ron” who moved to the station in early December after spending 21 years at Hot AC sister station KYIS (98.9 KISS FM).

When KQOB was born in 2003 as 96-9 Bob FM, the station was branded as a classic hits station. Over time, the station moved towards classic rock, competing with a heritage station in KRXO. When Tyler sent the KRXO brand and format to a low-power translator at 104.5 (K283BW) in 2013 to make room for sports 107.7 The Franchise, KQOB’s classic rock focus continued. Earlier this summer, the Bob moniker was replaced by the catchy “Classic Rock 96.9.”

Inzinga and Spinozi will continue in afternoon drive. Longtime rock jock Leo Cage continues in middays. There’s no word whether longtime OKC programmer Jeff Couch (who programmed KRXO and Tyler Adult Contemporary KMGL (Magic 104.1) in the past) will be on the air. Couch had been at reins for 96.9 and was on the air on Bob.

Longtime radio vet Fred Hendrickson announced on his Facebook page that he was joining KQOB for weekend duty. Hendrickson whose career includes stops at WKY, KATT, KRXO and KOQL just to name a few, just completed a lengthy run at classic hits KOMA.

The format could be described as hit-based classic rock. First observations include a lack of R&B songs instead playing guitar-based pop and rock hits. Unlike classic rocker KRXO, the station is focused on hits and avoiding album cuts made popular by rock stations in 1970s.

The station plays mainly 70s and 80s tunes, with occasional late 60s thrown in. KQOB did spin Tom Cochrane’s “Life Is A Highway” on Monday — a 1992 song. But, songs like that seem to fit the sound of the station, despite being newer.

Obviously, KOMA is the main target for “Fun.” Whether KOMA will scale back its 80s music to match the older skewing KQOB is to be determined. KRXO and to a certain degree KMGL are also competitors.