WKIM
| Broadcast area | Memphis metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 98.9 MHz |
| Branding | 98-9 The Bridge |
| Programming | |
| Format | Adult contemporary (Nov.-Dec.) Christmas music |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WGKX, WRBO, WXMX | |
| History | |
First air date | 1958 (as KTMO) |
Former call signs | KTMO (1958–2001) KXMI (4/2001–5/2001) WJZN (2001–2004) WMPW (2004–2006) |
Call sign meaning | KIM FM (former format) |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 33671 |
| Class | C1 |
| ERP | 100,000 watts horizontal 98,100 watts vertical |
| HAAT | 187 meters (614 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 35°09′18″N 89°49′19″W / 35.155°N 89.822°W |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | 989thebridge.com |
WKIM (98.9 MHz, "98-9 The Bridge") is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Munford, Tennessee, and serving the Memphis metropolitan area. It is owned by Cumulus Media and airs an adult contemporary radio format. From early November until the Christmas holidays, WKIM switches to all-Christmas music. Weekday mornings, WKIM carries the syndicated Bob & Sheri Show from WLNK Charlotte.
The studios are located on Murray Road at the Memphis Radio Group building in East Memphis. The transmitter site is in Cordova, Tennessee, off Raleigh-Lagrange Road.[1] WKIM has an effective radiated power of 100,000 watts horizontal, the maximum for non-grandfathered FM stations.
History
The station was originally located in Kennett, Missouri, and used the call sign KTMO prior to its move-in to the Memphis radio market in 2001. The station then began targeting Memphis with a smooth jazz format as "Smooth Jazz 98.9" WJZN. In November 2004, the station changed to a rhythmic contemporary format as WMPW, "Power 99", putting it in competition with urban contemporary 97.1 WHRK, rhythmic 107.1 KXHT and mainstream top 40 107.5 WHBQ-FM.
On September 15, 2006, at 2 p.m., WMPW flipped to a female-leaning adult hits format as "98.9 Kim FM" under new call letters WKIM. The first song on "Kim FM" was Like a Prayer by Madonna. After several books of substandard ratings, about a year later, the station flipped formats to Hot AC. The change still did not draw enough listeners.
On March 31, 2010, at 5 p.m., the format was flipped to 1990s hits as Gen X 98.9. The first song on "Gen X 98.9" was Losing My Religion by R.E.M.[2] By that autumn, the station added some current hits, making it a 1990s/Hot AC hybrid format.
On April 25, 2011, the station switched to a talk format, branded as "News/Talk 98.9".[3] Because the station is owned by Cumulus Media, many of the shows heard on News/Talk 98.9 were from the co-owned Westwood One Network.
On February 27, 2015, at Noon, WKIM flipped to classic hip-hop, branded as "98.9 The Vibe." The first song on "The Vibe" was "Hip Hop Hooray" by Naughty by Nature. WKIM was one of two stations in the market airing the format. WIVG "Bumpin' 96" was the other. That station has since flipped back to alternative rock).[4]
On October 31, 2017, at Noon, WKIM began playing all Christmas music as "Christmas 98.9." On December 26, at 6 a.m., WKIM flipped to adult contemporary music as "98-9 The Bridge." The switch puts WKIM in competition with Entercom-owned 104.5 WRVR, one of Memphis' leading radio stations.[5]
References
External links
- 98.9 The Bridge official website
- Facility details for Facility ID WKIM ({{{2}}}) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- {{{2}}} in Nielsen Audio's FM station database