The station signed on the air on September 1, 1966; 57 years ago (1966-09-01).[4] Its original call sign was KULA and it was a sister station to KVEG970 AM with studios in the Castaways Hotel. Because KVEG was a daytimer, KULA simulcast its country music programming in the daytime and continued it at night when KVEG was off the air.
In the 1970s, AM 970 KVEG began playing oldies while 92.3 FM continued the country sounds as KTRI.[5] It was an affiliate of the ABC Information Network. While the station was powered at 27,000 watts, its tower was only 180 feet (55 m) tall, so it was only heard in and around Las Vegas.
Around 1980, the station became KENO-FM. It aired the same Top 40 format as KENO 1460 AM as management moved the hit music sounds from its AM station to an FM signal. The two stations were affiliated with the ABC Contemporary Network. KENO-FM was granted a construction permit by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to boost its power to 100,000 watts and relocated to a tower at 1,520 feet (460 m).[6]
KOMP
The format flipped to album rock on February 8, 1981. The station's first song in the rock format was The Who's "Long Live Rock." The station's new call sign was KOMP and it was known simply as FM92 K-O-M-P.
Some of the DJs from that era included Big Marty and Leslie Blied, Todd Fowler, Dice Martin and Lark Williams. The station's slogan later became "KOMP 92.3 The Rock Of Las Vegas." Other personalities included: Byrd (later with WDRV Chicago), Craig Williams, Scott "So Hot" Jameson, Charlie Morriss, Freddie Woods, Mike Dailey, Mike Culotta and JD Pig.
In morning drive time, the wake-up show is "BS in the Morning." The current hosts are Graig and Huff. Graig was born in New York City and has been with the program since 2016. Huff was born in Phoenix and was a KOMP DJ since 2011, originally as nighttime host. Sylvia hosts middays and Gooch is heard in afternoons and evenings.
The station launched "BS in the Morning" in the summer of 2014 with radio host Sparks, who relocated to Las Vegas from Cleveland.[7] The show featured Sparks, Graig Salerno and Izzy. [8] BS in the Morning show routines include The Wheel of Punishment, the BS Drunk Line, and I Heard That. The show had its own official day, August 5, 2019, in the City of Las Vegas as declared by Mayor Carolyn Goodman. The now-deceased lead vocalist for Quiet Riot, Kevin DuBrow, co-hosted the morning radio show with long-time morning show host Craig Williams. Other past personalities include Dennis Huff (formerly of KVGS107.9 FM).
Specialty shows include Rock Hard with Kristen, a one-hour metal show Saturday nights at midnight. 92 Minutes of Hair with Mel is heard Sunday mornings. The show was originally 92 minutes, but expanded to 2 hours of ’80s’ hair bands. On Sunday nights, Laurie Steele voices The Home Grown Show, a show playing material from up-and-coming local artists.
