KKRZ

The station first signed on as KGW-FM, in 1946 It originally broadcast on 95.3 MHz.[7] KGW-FM moved to 100.3MHz, on September 22, 1947. It mostly simulcast its AM counterpart, 620 KGW (now KPOJ). The two stations were owned by Portland's top daily newspaper, The Oregonian.[8] KGW-AM-FM were network affiliates of the NBC Red Network, carrying its dramas, comedies, news, sports, soap operas, game shows and big band broadcasts during the "Golden Age of Radio."

The call sign changed to KQFM on December 1, 1954.[9] At first, KQFM aired a "good music" format of softer popular songs. This evolved over time to an easy listening format known as "Q-Music." The station played mostly instrumental cover versions of popular songs, as well as Broadway and Hollywood showtunes.

In 1978, KQFM switched to a progressive rock sound under the name "Q-100". The following year, the station was acquired by Golden West Broadcasting, owned by singer-actor Gene Autry. Golden West already owned KEX, so the two stations were managed and operated together. KQFM's format was changed to oldies on March 16, 1981 as "Solid Gold FM-100."[10]

On November 2, 1983, the station changed to the KKRZ call letters and switched to a Hot Adult Contemporary format as "The Rose," playing off of Portland's nickname as "The Rose City." KKRZ began its current Top 40 format on March 16, 1984, widely mirroring co-owned WHTZ in New York City (including the moniker familiar "Z100" name).[11]

In 1986, the station adopted a more rhythmic-leaning format due to the lack of an existing urban contemporary station in Portland. In 1999, KKRZ picked up competition from Adult Contemporary-formatted KXL-FM, who flipped to rhythmic CHR, becoming KXJM, "Jammin 95.5." This competition between the two would last for nine years, as KXJM (whose playlist favored Hip-Hop/R&B and some Dance product) would overtake KKRZ (who shifted back to a more mainstream direction) in the Portland Arbitrons.

KXJM saw its ratings decline by 2007 and switched to Sports Talk as KXTG in May 2008. In response, KKRZ would add more Rhythmic crossovers to its playlist again, but later faced new competition from CBS Radio outlet KVMX, who dropped its Rhythmic Adult Contemporary format and picked up KXJM's Rhythmic CHR format and intellectual property, including the KXJM call letters and "Jammin'" branding, from Rose City Radio Corporation, the owners of KXTG. KKRZ's playlist later returned to the center and became a more balanced Top 40/CHR.[12][13]

former logo

On April 1, 2009, Clear Channel Communications took over ownership of KXJM from CBS, thus making KKRZ and KXJM sister stations. At first, both stations retained their respective formats. In March 2010, KXJM relaunched as "WiLD 107.5", but kept its Rhythmic Top 40 format. Despite the fact that both KKRZ and KXJM are under the same ownership, and being programmed by the same program director, KKRZ continues to focus on Mainstream Pop/Rock hits.

On September 16, 2014, Clear Channel renamed itself iHeartMedia to bring its corporate name in line with its iHeartRadio internet platform.[14]