KMAJ (AM)

KMAJ (1440 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station in Topeka, Kansas. It is owned by Cumulus Media and it broadcasts a talk radio format, calling itself "The Big Talker." The studios and offices are South Kansas Avenue.

KMAJ
Broadcast areaTopeka metropolitan area
Frequency1440 kHz
BrandingThe Big Talker 93.5 FM / 1440 AM
Programming
FormatTalk radio
NetworkFox News Radio
AffiliationsNBC News Radio
Compass Media Networks
Premiere Networks
Westwood One
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
July 1947 (1947-07) (as KJAY)[1]
Former call signs
  • KJAY (1947–1962)
  • KEWI (1962–1980)
  • KSKX (1980–1986)
  • KEWI (1986–1990)
Call sign meaning
from its sister station KMAJ-FM
Technical information
Facility ID42014
ClassB
Power
  • 5,000 watts day
  • 1,000 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
39°01′17″N 95°34′15″W
Translator(s)93.5 K228FW (Topeka)
Links
WebcastListen live
WebsiteOfficial website

By day, KMAJ is powered at 5,000 watts. But at night, to protect other stations on 1440 AM from interference, it reduces power to 1,000 watts. It uses a directional antenna with a four-tower array. The transmitter is on SE Ratner Road near SE 29th Street in Tecumseh, Kansas.[2] Programming is also heard on 250-watt FM translator K228FW at 93.5 MHz in Topeka.[3]

Programming

Most weekday programming is nationally syndicated talk shows. Mornings begin with America in the Morning followed by Armstrong & Getty, The Chris Plante Show, The Dan Bongino Show, The Ben Shapiro Show, The Mark Levin Show, The Michael Knowles Show and Red Eye Radio. Weekends feature specialty shows on money, health, real estate, movies and repeats of weekday shows. Most hours begin with an update from Fox News Radio.

Beginning with the 2014–15 season, KMAJ and KWIC became the home of the Kansas Jayhawks football and basketball (men/women's) teams.[4] Previously, the games had been aired on WIBW 580 AM.[4] In addition, KMAJ also carries local high school football and basketball games.

History

KJAY

The station signed on the air in July 1947 (1947-07). The original call sign was KJAY and it called itself "The Jayhawker Station" representing the Kansas Jayhawks sports teams of the University of Kansas. KJAY was owned by S.H. Patterson with studios at 908 Kansas Avenue.[5] Other stations in Topeka and Kansas City had taken the major network affiliations. So KJAY was an independent station, coming up with its own programs.

In the 1950s and early 60s, KJAY featured a full service format of middle of the road (MOR) music, along with personalities, sports, farm information and news. In March 1962, Fred Reynolds, dba Midland Broadcasters, Inc., acquired KJAY. He immediately changed the call letters to KEWI and flipped the format to Top 40 hits.

KEWI and KSXX

Reynolds brought in some of consultant Gordon McLendon's "Raiders" (high-energy DJs) to make a big splash on "Big KeeWee". By the late 1960s, these "KeeWee Good Guys" had made KEWI the city's top-rated station. The weekly Top 20+20 Tunedex survey evolved into a Fab 40 Tunedex to go with the British Invasion and then to a Top 14+40 Tunedex to match its dial position at 1440 kHz.

By the 1980s, young people were tuning in FM stations to hear their favorite hits. In September 1980, KEWI changed its format to country music. It used the slogan "Kix Country" with the call letters KSKX. Then, to capitalize on the popularity of the "Retro" craze, the KEWI call letters came back in November 1986.

KMAJ

By 1990, most music formats had moved to the FM dial. So KEWI changed call letters to KMAJ (Magic) to simulcast its FM sister station, KMAJ-FM.

Cumulus bought KMAJ-AM-FM from Midland Broadcasters in February 1999 and began simulcasting syndicated talk shows and programming with KMBZ 980 AM, a popular talk station in Kansas City.

Former logo

See also

References
  1. KMAJ (AM) History
  2. Radio-Locator.com/KMAJ-AM
  3. Radio-Locator.com/K228FW
  4. KWIC and KMAJ AM pick up rights to the KU football and basketball games
  5. Broadcasting Yearbook 1950 page 151, Broadcasting & Cable
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