KBON
 | |
| Broadcast area | Lafayette metropolitan area, Alexandria |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 101.1 MHz |
| Branding | KBON 101.1 FM |
| Programming | |
| Format | Americana |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Rose Ann Marx |
| History | |
Former call signs | KAHK (never aired, 1994-1997) |
Call sign meaning | BON temps (Good times in French) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 60867 |
| Class | C3 |
| ERP | 25,000 watts |
| HAAT | 100 meters (330 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 30°29′50.00″N 92°15′59.00″W / 30.4972222°N 92.2663889°W |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Website | kbon.com |
KBON (101.1 FM) is an American radio station broadcasting an Americana format, deeply rooted in the music of south Louisiana, including swamp pop, zydeco, and cajun-French music mixed in with some traditional oldies, country-western, and R&B music. Licensed to Mamou, Louisiana, the station serves rural portions of both the Lafayette and Alexandria radio markets. Its studios are located in downtown Eunice, Louisiana.
History
[edit]KBON went on the air in late 1997, the brainchild of Paul Marx, a DJ and nightclub owner from Crowley, Louisiana.[2] Marx wanted a mix of music that resembled what he played at DJ gigs — a core of Louisiana music like Cajun, zydeco, and swamp pop, with sides of country, blues, soul, and R&B.[2] Station DJs also broadcast in a mix of English and Cajun French.
Online streaming introduced KBON to a worldwide audience. In 2003, a reporter for The Washington Post wrote about a pilgrimage he made to its Eunice studios:
Wow. This was no test-marketed format. This was no committee-scripted patter beamed by satellite from corporate HQ and squeezed between certified safe hits. This was...radio. From a real place. With real people doing the talking, who clearly knew the people doing the listening.[3]
KBON was originally assigned the calls KAHK-FM as a construction permit in 1994, but changed to KBON shortly before signing on.[4] Paul Marx died in 2019 at age 71.[5]
History of call letters
[edit]The call letters KBON previously were assigned to an AM station in Omaha, Nebraska. It began broadcasting March 1, 1941, on 1400 kHz with 250 W power (full-time).[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "Facility Technical Data for KBON". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ a b Fuselier, Herman (June 1, 2017). "KBON celebrates 20 years of breaking the rules". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ Hendrix, Steve (23 September 2003). "Sounds like...Cajun Country". NBC News. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ "KBON Call Sign History". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
- ^ Lakin, Matthew (March 25, 2019). "Cajun KBON music founder dies after brief illness". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ "KBON Goes MBS March 1" (PDF). Billboard. February 28, 1942. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
External links
[edit]- Facility details for Facility ID 60867 (KBON) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- KBON in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
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