KCJK (105.1 FM, "Power 105.1") is radio station licensed to Garden City, Missouri. Owned by Cumulus Media, it broadcasts an urban contemporary music format serving the Kansas City area. The station's studios are located in Overland Park, Kansas, while its transmitter is located in Independence, Missouri.

KCJK
Broadcast areaKansas City Metropolitan Area
Frequency105.1 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingPower 105.1
Programming
FormatUrban contemporary
SubchannelsHD2: Adult standards "Music of your Life"
Ownership
Owner
KCFX, KCHZ, KCMO (AM), KCMO-FM, KMJK
History
First air date
June 18, 2001 (2001-06-18) (as KFME-FM)
Former call signs
KFME-FM (2001-2004)
Call sign meaning
"Kansas City's Jack FM" (former format)
Technical information
Facility ID87565
ClassC1
ERP72,000 watts
HAAT346 meters (1,135 ft)
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websitepower1051kc.com

History

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e105

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105.1 was originally the frequency for KKJO-FM in St. Joseph, which is now at the frequency of 105.5. KFME ("e105"), with its 1980s hits/hot AC-hybrid format, debuted at 2 p.m. on June 18, 2001, with "You Get What You Give" by the New Radicals being the first song played. The station was initially owned by Jesscom and Susquehanna Broadcasting as part of a joint ownership venture.[1][2] The station was re-licensed to Garden City, Missouri (south of Kansas City). The station had modest results and earned an NAB Crystal Award for Public Service.

Jack FM

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After Susquehanna assumed full ownership, KFME flipped to adult hits, and rebranded as "105.1 Jack FM", on October 7, 2004, at Noon. e105's final song was "Don't Speak" by No Doubt, while Jack FM's first song was "Dancing Queen" by ABBA.[3][4] KFME would later change call letters to KCJK. Jack FM initially debuted with considerable success. Like other Jack stations, KCJK was mostly jockless and stuck to a computerized playlist, highlighted by segments that include the “No-Request Nooner” and liners chastising drivers who slow down to see accidents in the opposite set of freeway lanes.

KCJK and Susquehanna's properties were acquired by Cumulus Media in May 2006. Upon taking over the station, Cumulus added live disc jockeys, a rare move for an adult hits outlet. Most of the station's air talent were let go in 2013, and KCJK returned to being automated and jockless.

Alternative rock

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"X105.1" logo (2016-2019)

On June 15, 2016, at 7:30 a.m., after playing a block of "end"-themed songs (including "Enjoy the Silence" by Depeche Mode, "In the End" by Linkin Park, "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash, "Come Sail Away" by Styx, and "Closing Time" by Semisonic, which then culminated with "The Final Countdown" by Europe), KCJK swapped formats with K273BZ/KCMO-FM-HD2, adopted their alternative rock format, and rebranded as "X 105.1." The first song on "X" was "Uprising" by Muse. KCJK competed with Entercom's KRBZ, who was ranked 6th with a 4.6 in the April 2016 Nielsen ratings report for the Kansas City market (KCJK was ranked 13th with a 3.6 share). The format swap marked the third time a station in the Kansas City market used the "X" moniker, the first being KXXR from June 1990 to June 1991, and KCCX/KNRX from March 1997 to January 1999.[5] Much of the programming originated from other markets, including The Woody Show in morning drive from Los Angeles. The midday and evening shifts were voice-tracked by DJs at WKQX in Chicago.

On February 7, 2019, Afentra, formerly of KRBZ, joined KCJK for afternoons.[6] Eight months later, Afentra left the station.[7]

Active rock

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On October 10, 2019, at Midnight, after playing "Helena" by My Chemical Romance, KCJK relaunched as 105.1 The X, shifting toward a hybrid format with an active rock-leaning presentation that continued to feature an emphasis on alternative rock content alongside other hard rock hits (dubbed "rockternative", with examples spanning from Disturbed, AC/DC and Mötley Crüe, to Pearl Jam, Tool and Panic! at the Disco). The first song after the relaunch was "Plush" by Stone Temple Pilots.[8] The station continued to air the syndicated Woody Show in morning drive, while other dayparts were held by local DJs.

Urban contemporary

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On September 28, 2023, KCJK announced that the “X” format would end later that day, with assistant program director/managing director/midday host Joel Weiss and afternoon host Jaye Powers hosting farewell shows. At 4 p.m. that day, after playing “Touch, Peel and Stand” by Days of the New (which would be abruptly cut off near the end; the last full song played was "Wherever I May Roam" by Metallica), KCJK adopted sister station KMJK’s urban contemporary format, and rebranded as "Power 105.1". The first song on "Power" was "SkeeYee" by Sexyy Red. Both KCJK and KMJK simulcasted until midnight on October 6, when KMJK adopted KCHZ’s Top 40/CHR format as “107.3 The Vibe.”[9][10][11]

References

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  1. ^ Tim Engle, "Radio station makes its debut at 105.1 FM", The Kansas City Star, June 19, 2001.
  2. ^ http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2001/RR-2001-06-22.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  3. ^ Tim Engle, "'Formatless' station", The Kansas City Star, October 8, 2004.
  4. ^ https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2004/RR-2004-10-15.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  5. ^ X105.1 Debuts in Kansas City; Jack Moves to 102.5
  6. ^ Afentra Jumps to X105.1 Kansas City for Afternoons
  7. ^ Afentra Departs "X105.1" After Less Than Eight Months
  8. ^ "KCJK Kansas City Relaunches as Rockternative 105.1 The X". RadioInsight. 2019-10-09. Retrieved 2019-10-10.
  9. ^ KMJK Moves, Rebrands as Power 105.1 as The X Signs Off
  10. ^ YouTube: "Aircheck: KCJK/Garden City, Missouri Flips to Urban "Power 105.1" - September 28, 2023"
  11. ^ Kansas City’s Vibe on the Move
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39°05′28″N 94°28′19″W / 39.091°N 94.472°W / 39.091; -94.472