KNOU/LA Drops Top 40 For News
• UPDATED: The party’s over for “Southern California’s Party Station,” as Audacy pulled the plug on Top 40 KNOU (97.1 NOW)/Los Angeles and in its place launched KNX News 97.1, an FM simulcast of KNX 1070 Newsradio, Southern California’s only 24-hour local news and traffic station. The flip was scheduled for 3pm local time on Monday.
“For over 100 years, KNX has been the station Southern California has depended on for breaking news, important events and life-changing moments,” said Jeff Federman, Regional President, Audacy. “With spoken word audio consumption at an all-time high, this move allows us to significantly upgrade the existing KNX brand and create a news destination for a new generation. KNX is a powerful and trusted brand in this market, and we look forward to delivering the same award-winning content on crystal-clear FM radio.”
• The Top 40 format was originally installed on 97.1 in early 2009, when then owner CBS Radio dropped FM Talk from KLSX and launched 97.1 AMP Radio with new calls KAMP. In April 2021 Audacy rebranded the station as 97.1 NOW, changing calls to KNOU.
We understand that the current KNOU staff is safe, as most are regionally syndicated personalities based in other markets — and we are told that 7-midnight talent Yesi Ortiz has been offered another position TBA.
