Classical and Easy Listening

The station signed on the air on October 28, 1961 (1961-10-28).^[2] The station's original call sign was KEPI and it was owned by Ward James Atkinson. He sold within months to Golden Sounds, Inc. It had studios in the Adams Hotel and it aired classical music as part of the WQXR Network, based at New York's premiere classical station.

In the 1960s, most radios in homes and cars could receive the FM band. And with a classical format, KEPI found it hard to stay on the air. In January 1964, Golden Sounds asked for authority to go silent for up to six months. Ultimately, in the time needed to sell the station, it was off the air for nine months as a new owner was sought. When 96.9 returned to the air in October 1964, it was KMEO, broadcasting easy listening music and marketed as "Cameo," a moniker it held through several different owners. It played quarter hour sweeps of soft, instrumental music, with an occasional soft vocal. Beginning in 1967, it was simulcast with KMEO 740 AM. During this time, 96.9 used an FM suffix, as KMEO-FM, with its easy listening sounds offered on both AM and FM radio.

Soft AC, Oldies and Classic Hits

KMEO-AM-FM had good ratings. But by the 1980s, the easy listening audience was starting to age, while most advertisers seek young to middle-aged clients. So KMEO began to add more vocals and decrease the instrumentals in an effort to attract a younger audience. By the late 1980s, it had evolved to a soft adult contemporary sound. But several other Phoenix stations were also playing Soft AC, crowding the field.

In 1991, 96.9 FM became oldies-formatted "Sunny 97", switching its call letters to KPSN. That was followed by a whirlwind of format and call sign changes. On November 28, 1994, it became classic hits KCHT (later KHTC).^[3] It first was called "96.9 K-Hits FM", then "The New 96.9 Classic Hits". It rebranded to KGLQ ("Eagle 96.9") in September 1997.^[4] In April 1997, the station was bought by Nationwide Communications, a subsidiary of the Nationwide Insurance Company. The price tag was $34 million.^[5]

Hot AC KMXP

On September 4, 1998, at midnight, after playing "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions" by Queen, KGLQ began stunting with the sound of a ticking clock and messages advising listeners a big change would take place. The messages also poked fun at competing radio stations.

At 3 p.m. that day, 96.9 adopted its current format, hot adult contemporary, as KMXP “Mix 96.9”. The first song on "Mix" was "New Sensation" by INXS.^[6]

In May 1999, the station was acquired by San Antonio-based Clear Channel Communications.^[7] In 2014, Clear Channel changed its name to the current iHeartMedia, Inc.