Early years (1948–2001) The station
signed on the air in 1948. It originally broadcast in
Kennett, Missouri, and used the
call sign KBOA-FM, the
sister station to KBOA 830 AM (now
WUMY in Memphis). Because KBOA was a
daytimer, KBOA-FM could continue broadcasting the station's programming after sunset for listeners with FM receivers. In the 1970s, the station switched its call letters to KTMO and began airing a
country music format. Kennett is about north of Memphis. KBOA-FM and KTMO were powered at 6,900 watts, so the station could not be heard in the Memphis area.
Smooth jazz (2001–2004) In 2001, the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) gave the station permission to move into the more lucrative Memphis
radio market. After its relocation, it began playing
smooth jazz as WJZN "Smooth Jazz 98.9". That lasted three years.
Rhythmic (2004–2006) In November 2004, the station changed to a
rhythmic contemporary format as WMPW, "Power 99", putting it in competition with
urban contemporary WHRK, rhythmic
KXHT and
mainstream top 40 WHBQ-FM.
Adult hits (2006–2010) 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 switched to
Hot AC. The format change still did not draw enough listeners.
'90s hits (2010–2011) 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. By that autumn, the station added some current hits, making it a 1990s/Hot AC hybrid format.
Talk (2011–2015) On April 25, 2011, the station switched to a
talk radio format, branded as "News/Talk 98.9". 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.
Classic hip hop (2015–2017) 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 was the other. (That station has since flipped back to
alternative rock).
Adult contemporary (2017–2021) On October 31, 2017, at Noon, WKIM began
stunting with
Christmas music as "Christmas 98.9." On December 26, at 6 a.m., WKIM flipped to
adult contemporary as "98.9 The Bridge." The switch puts WKIM in competition with
Entercom-owned
WRVR, one of Memphis' leading radio stations. From early November until the
Christmas holidays, WKIM switched to all-
Christmas music. Weekday mornings, WKIM carried the
syndicated Bob & Sheri Show from
WLNK in
Charlotte.
Return to Talk (2021–present) On May 25, 2021, Cumulus Media announced a five-year agreement to carry
University of Memphis Tigers athletics on WKIM. The Tigers had previously been heard on
iHeartMedia's
WREC 600 AM and
WEGR 102.7 FM. Concurrently, it was also announced WKIM would flip back to a talk radio format as "News/Talk 98.9, The Roar of Memphis". WKIM also became the Memphis affiliate for the
Tennessee Titans Radio Network. In addition, WKIM affiliated with
CBS Radio News for world and national coverage. That later changed to
Fox News Radio. ==References==