KXCI

Coordinates: 32°24′54.00″N 110°42′56.00″W / 32.4150000°N 110.7155556°W / 32.4150000; -110.7155556

KXCI
City Tucson, Arizona
Broadcast area Tucson, Arizona
Branding 91.3 KXCI
Slogan Community Radio
Frequency 91.3 MHz(also on HD Radio)
First air date 1983
Format Community radio
ERP 340 watts
HAAT 1,110.0 meters (3,641.7 ft)
Class C2
Facility ID 22167
Callsign meaning XCI, Roman numerals for 91
Owner Foundation For Creative Broadcasting
Webcast Listen Live at KXCI.streamon.fm
Website www.kxci.org

KXCI is a "community radio" radio station that serves Tucson, Arizona. KXCI broadcasts on the frequency of 91.3 MHz. Programs include talk shows, music shows and call-in shows. The call letters come from the Roman numeral for 91—XCI.

History

In the late 1970s, several people began work on the station when it was realized that there was a need for a more eclectic and diverse radio station than many felt was available, and began preliminary work on the idea, which after a frequency search and FCC filings, gained a construction permit in November 1982.

The original idea regarding callsigns was to have a contest to come up with one and see if it was available. However, upon receiving a letter from the FCC regarding the need to select a callsign, a volunteer came up with the 'KXCI' idea, and that was the top submission of five sent to the FCC. Those calls were available and were assigned.

Only one year later, on November 19, 1983, at 7pm, the station went live on the air. After a stunt format of reggae for two days to promote a station benefit concert featuring Eek-A-Mouse, then began a three-week promotion called the 'Big Broadcast of 1983. This was a journey in sound from creation through the present and when music that is known came around it went through just about all the genres, ending on December 5 with a live concert at the studios.

Rumors of final formats were rampant. This included one that the station was going to take an urban contemporary format 24/7, causing KHYT 1330 to bill itself as 'Tucson's First Rock and Soul Station'. KHYT's promotion abruptly died once the true format was known, a 'music mix' during the day, and over 29 musical styles and genres nights and weekends.[1] The station still airs many genres and styles not generally found on other stations in the Tucson market.[2]

The station originally was at 91.7 FM. In the early 90s the station moved to the present 91.3 frequency to permit the station now known as KFMA 92.1 to raise its power so it could cover more of the Tucson area.

Programming

KXCI plays an eclectic mix of musical genres, spinning both independent artists along with bands/musicians on major labels.

The styles of music vary wildly, and range from (and are by no means limited to) alternative to country and Americana to blues, jazz, cumbia, rock & roll, punk rock and folk.[3] In addition, there are many specialty shows (mostly on weeknights and weekends) which focus on particular genres.[2] Its Monday night show, Locals Only!, broadcasting since May 1998,[4] features Tucson's diverse and talented musicians. Locals Only! includes interviews with and live performance by the bands. KXCI is also a local carrier for Democracy Now!.[5]

In 1995, Michael Metzger quoted the station's then board president Shirley Shade in a Tucson Weekly article that illustrates the station's diversity of musical offerings: "If you don't like something that you're hearing at this moment, just wait a minute and something different will be on," says Shirley Shade, president of the Foundation for Creative Broadcasting's board of directors. (The foundation is a non-profit corporation holding KXCI's broadcast license and overseeing the station's operation.) "It's a learning experience, it exposes you to different types of music that you might not normally listen to." [6]

Funding

KXCI is a non-profit organization that operates under the corporation name The Foundation for Creative Broadcasting, Inc. and is designated as a cultural entity, according to the Arizona Corporation Commission website.[7]

Per its non-profit status, and due to FCC and grant regulations, KXCI doesn't air traditional radio commercials. Instead, KXCI’s disc jockeys read underwriters' spots that highlight the underwriters' businesses/events.[8] The disc jockeys also share public service announcements that feature Tucson’s local non-profits and their initiatives/events.[9]

According to its website, “membership is the largest form of support at KXCI.” Memberships range from one-time gifts in any amount to monthly sustaining members in any amount.[10]

Local Media Collaborations

In September 2015, the City of Tucson awarded KXCI, Brink Media and Wavelab Studios a "contract to operate Tucson’s new Community Media Center, officially replacing the now-defunct Access Tucson and City Channel," according to the Arizona Daily Star, which also wrote: "The partners will oversee public-access television broadcasting and local content designed to grow the economy, and provide training in media arts."[11]

KXCI also collaborates with Tucson Weekly and Arizona Public Media's Jim Nintzel by airing the political journalist's show, Zona Politics on Sundays from 5 p.m.-5:30 p.m.[12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ KXCI Survives Rocky Decade. Tucson Citizen, 12/9/93
  2. 1 2 KXCI Website: Programs
  3. ↑ KXCI's Programs page
  4. ↑ Downtown Tucsonan May 2002 "Locals Only Turns Four" (publication is out of print)
  5. ↑ Democracy Now! Website: Arizona stations
  6. ↑ Tucson Weekly
  7. ↑ Arizona Corporation Commission website
  8. ↑ KXCI Website: Underwriting
  9. ↑ KXCI PSA Submission page
  10. ↑ Support KXCI
  11. ↑ Arizona Daily Star
  12. ↑ Zona Politics
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