KZON

KZON (Live 101.5 FM) is a Top 40 (CHR) radio station in Phoenix, Arizona. Its studios are located in downtown Phoenix, and its transmitter is in South Mountain Park.

History

Early years (1964–2005)

In July 1964, the station signed on the air as KHEP-FM and aired a classical music format. In 1985, the station was sold to the owners of the Boston Globe and took the calls KONC ("Concert 101"). In 1986, the station abandoned classical music for satellite-delivered soft rock as KAMJ ("Magic 101"), using the Transtar 'Format 41' network, with a local morning show anchored by Mike Del Rosso.

By 1989, EZ Communications had taken the station completely live and local with a Hot AC format as "The All New Magic 101." In May 1990, it moved to an AC format as KMXX ("Mix 101"). It was later sold to Sundance Broadcasting in 1992, and on July 31st of that year, it switched to AAA as KZON ("The Zone"). The "Zone" moniker would carry throughout its incarnations of modern rock, Modern AC, Adult Top 40 and back to modern rock in 2000 up until its flip to hot talk in January 2006.