KLYC
Broadcast areaYamhill County, Oregon
Frequency1260 kHz
Programming
FormatOldies
Ownership
OwnerRichard Mason
History
First air date
June 1949 (as KMCM)
Former call signs
KMCM (1949-1979)
KCYX (1979-1990)[1]
Call sign meaning
K Leading Yamhill County
Technical information
Facility ID6322
ClassB
Power1,000 watts (day)
850 watts (night)
Transmitter coordinates
45°14′04″N 123°07′57″W / 45.23444°N 123.13250°W / 45.23444; -123.13250
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websiteklyc.us

KLYC (1260 AM) is a radio station licensed to serve McMinnville, Oregon and surrounding areas such as the state capitol, Salem, United States. The station's broadcast license is held by Richard Mason.

KLYC Radio sports the theme of the "new AM Radio, Always Mobile" broadcasting reports from the street of news and community events. The station is also heavily involved in video streaming and podcasting.

Programming

Since 2001, KLYC, which began broadcasting in June 1949, had a 1960s/1970s-based oldies music format.[2] In addition to its usual music programming, KLYC also carried select news from CNN Radio, local high school football games, Yamhill High Flyers IBL basketball games, plus the Linfield College Wildcats college football and men's basketball games.[3] Original specialty programming on weekends included a cooking program called "At the Table With Jack Czarnecki" which claimed to be the "only food radio show in Oregon".[4]

History

Launch as KMCM

Work on this station began when the Federal Communications Commission issued a construction permit for a new AM station to McMinnville Broadcasting Company on September 9, 1948.[5][6] The new station was authorized to broadcast with 1,000 watts of power, daytime-only, on a frequency of 1260 kHz as KMCM.[6] McMinnville Broadcasting owner Jack B. Bladine was also the publisher of the Telephone-Register newspaper in McMinnville.[7] The corporate name on the permit was changed to Yamhill Broadcasters in December 1948.[8]

Physical construction of the broadcast tower began in January 1949 with work on the radio studio building commencing in March 1949. KMCM began testing its transmitter on June 11, 1949, and started regular broadcast operation at 11:00am on June 18, 1949, with a ceremonial first broadcast at a local theater inaugurated by McMinnville mayor R.H. Windisher.[7] The station's initial format was a mix of local and syndicated block programming under the slogan "Always good listening".[5] KMCM was authorized to add nighttime service with a 1,000 watt directional signal on November 4, 1949.[8]

The station joined the Keystone Broadcasting System on March 1, 1950, but dropped it in favor of Gordon McLendon's Liberty Broadcasting System on October 2, 1950.[9][10] This radio network affiliation lasted until Liberty went out of business in May 1952, and KMCM resumed its previous Keystone affiliation.[11][12]

Sale and changes

On August 22, 1959, Yamhill Broadcasters, Inc., announced that it had agreed to sell KMCM to the Yamhill Radio Company for a reported sale price of $80,000. The deal was approved by the FCC on October 1, 1959. The station's format was changed in mid-1962 to a middle of the road sound.[5]

The new ownership was short-lived as KMCM was sold again on April 1, 1963, to Ray Andrew Fields for a reported $100,000.[7] After a few more years of MOR operation, the station flipped to Top 40 music in January 1967. One year later, on January 1, 1968, KMCM became a charter affiliate of ABC Radio's "American Information Network" which featured newscasts at the top of every hour.[13]

On October 29, 1968, Ray Andrew Fields committed to sell KMCM to Norjud Broadcasting, Inc., for a reported title price of $97,500. Norjud Broadcasting, owned by Norman and Judith Aldred, gained FCC approval for the sale on November 16, 1968.[7][14] The new owners moved the music format back to the middle of the road.[5]

However, change became the constant as in October 1971 the station added country & western to the music mix with the station becoming a purely C&W station by October 1972.[15] The station's on-promotions claimed that the "MCM" in KMCM stood for "More Country Music". But by late 1976, KMCM returned some MOR music to its schedule and in early 1977 flipped to an entirely adult contemporary music format. In 1978, the station re-introduced Top 40 music to its mix, but only in the evenings.[5]

Switch to KCYX, 1980s

The station was assigned the KCYX call sign by the Federal Communications Commission on June 6, 1979.[1]

In March 1980, Norjud Broadcasting, Inc., reached an agreement to sell this station to Radio 1260, Inc., for a reported $475,000. The deal was approved by the FCC on May 21, 1980.[16] The new owners dropped the Top 40 block and spread the adult contemporary format to all dayparts.

In July 1987, Radio 1260, Inc., reached an agreement to sell this station to Matrix Media, Inc., for a reported sale price of $681,812. The deal was approved by the FCC on July 31, 1987, and the transaction was consummated on September 15, 1987.[17] Matrix Media shifted the format to a successful mix of adult contemporary music and talk radio. On-air talent included Program Director/Music Director Rich Patterson, morning man Steve Kenyon, News Director Ben Gutierez, Marty Lanser, KC McCormick, John Hugill, Glenn Nobel, Mark Lacy, Sports Director Tom Lockyear & Loren Engel.

KLYC in the 1990s

In April 1990, as part of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings involving Matrix Media, the broadcast license for KCYX was transferred to trustee Thomas A. Huntsberger. The involuntary transfer was approved by the FCC on May 14, 1990, and KCYX went off the air.[18] Two weeks later, in late May 1990, trustee Huntsberger arranged a sale of KCYX and its assets to Larry and Stella Bohnsack, doing business as Bohnsack Strategies, Inc., for a reported $120,000.[7] The deal was approved by the FCC on October 2, 1990, and the transaction was consummated on October 31, 1990.[19] The new owners had the FCC change the station's call sign to KLYC on June 20, 1990.[1] KLYC returned to the air in October 1990 with a format blending adult contemporary and oldies music.

The station increased its broadcast power to 1,000 watts on May 1, 1996.[20] The station shifted to an all-oldies format, focused on the hits of the 1960s and 1970s, in 2001. Although now largely automated, this remains the station's current music format.[7]

The station continues to carry high school sports as of 2015. They have increased their coverage of McMinnville, Amity and Newberg football as well.[21]

Haunted studios

In 1991, KLYC's news director documented a "presence" of something paranormal in the station's equipment room, especially while the broadcast transmitter was being warmed up for the day's operation.[22] A clairvoyant named Erin Lasell was brought in to investigate in October 1991 and she confirmed the "presence" at the station.[23] The station's owners confirmed that this "presence" had been reported by a number of other employees over the years as well.[23] KLYC occupied this building until moving to a new radio studio building in 1993.[23] The station relocated its broadcast tower in 2000 and the former studio building is now a daycare facility.[22] Staff at the daycare have also reported paranormal activity in the same part of the building.[22]

KLYC to go off the air

On March 18, 2013, it was announced that KLYC would cease broadcasting on March 22 at 1 pm (advertised as 12:60 pm in reference to the station's broadcast frequency.[24] As of June 2013, the station has returned to the air.

As of February 17, 2014, the station was sold Celebrate Life Media, LLC, owned by David and Norma Adams; the purchase price was $50,000. The format is oldies, hit music of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s. The station continues to provide local news and event coverage and music of the 50s, 60s, and 70s. KLYC Radio also provides podcasting and a companion company, the Oregon Pulse Network provides internet radio channels, podcasting, and streaming video[25]

Effective December 3, 2019, the station's license was assigned to Wesley Simkins' ProMedia Partners LLC. Effective May 24, 2023, the station's license was assigned to Richard Mason in exchange for assuming KLYC's debt.

The New KLYC "Always Mobile Radio"

In order to be more competitive with emerging technology, namely social media and the internet, the new station owner has started to use more streaming video and podcasting. A new company has been formed, The Oregon Pulse Network. The Oregon Pulse Network has also birthed the Oregon Grapevine Media network which includes podcasting and video as well.[26]

the station also live streams McMinnville and Newberg city council meetings and other community items of note.[27]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
  2. ^ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron.
  3. ^ "Sports Broadcasting". Linfield Athletics. Archived from the original on December 5, 2008. Retrieved April 28, 2009.
  4. ^ "Oregon Truffle Festival Cooking Class". Oregon Truffle Festival. Archived from the original on April 27, 2009. Retrieved April 30, 2009. Currently Jack hosts his own radio show, "At the Table With Jack Czarnecki," the only food radio show in Oregon on KLYC-1260 Radio in Yamhill County.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Oregon Radio History". Retrieved April 29, 2009.
  6. ^ a b "Directory of Standard (AM) Broadcasting Stations of the United States". Broadcasting-Telecasting 1949 Yearbook. Washington, DC: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1949. p. 214.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Klooster, Karl (January 10, 2009). "Watts on the air". Yamhill Valley News Register.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ a b "Directory of AM, FM, and TV Stations of the United States". Broadcasting-Telecasting 1950 Yearbook. Washington, DC: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1950. p. 249.
  9. ^ "Directory of the AM and FM stations of the United States". 1951 Broadcasting Yearbook. Washington, DC: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1951. p. 255.
  10. ^ "Watch Liberty Grow". Time. August 20, 1951. Archived from the original on July 13, 2007.
  11. ^ "Directory of the AM and FM stations of the United States". 1952 Broadcasting Yearbook. Washington, DC: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1952. p. 239.
  12. ^ "End of Liberty". Time. June 9, 1952. Archived from the original on November 25, 2010.
  13. ^ Jones, David R. (December 30, 1967). "4 Radio Networks to Start on A.B.C.; F.C.C. Approves Option Plan for Monday Scheduling". The New York Times.
  14. ^ "Directory of Radio Stations in the United States and Canada". Broadcasting Yearbook 1979. Washington, DC: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1979. p. C-181.
  15. ^ "Directory of AM and FM Radio Stations in the U.S.". Broadcasting Yearbook 1972. Washington, DC: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1972. p. B-172.
  16. ^ "Application Search Details (BAL-19800324HT)". FCC Media Bureau. May 21, 1980.
  17. ^ "Application Search Details (BAL-19870710EF)". FCC Media Bureau. September 15, 1987.
  18. ^ "Application Search Details (BAL-19900416EH)". FCC Media Bureau. May 14, 1990.
  19. ^ "Application Search Details (BAL-19900529EA)". FCC Media Bureau. October 31, 1990.
  20. ^ "Application Search Details (BMP-19950530AC)". FCC Media Bureau. May 1, 1996.
  21. ^ "KLYC signing off creates flood of sports memories". News-Register. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2023 – via Wayback Machine.
  22. ^ a b c King, Tim (October 29, 2007). "Ghosts and Haunted Places in Oregon and Beyond". Salem News.
  23. ^ a b c King, Tim (October 25, 2006). "Haunted Oregon Radio Station Still Restless Decades Later". Salem News.
  24. ^ N-R Staff (March 18, 2013). "KLYC 1260 radio to sign off Friday". News-Register. Archived from the original on June 26, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2023 – via Wayback Machine.
  25. ^ 25 First hand account, LLC member Dave Salter-Adams
  26. ^ 25 first hand account, LLC member Dave Salter-Adams
  27. ^ 27 First hand account, LLC Member Dave Salter-Adams

External links

Oldies radio stations in the state of Oregon
Categories