KMJ/Fresno Celebrates Its Centennial
• Cumulus News/Talk KMJ-AM/Fresno reached amazing milestone this week — its 100th birthday! The station’s year-long Centennial celebration will include a concert TBA and a documentary film.
KMJ began broadcasting on March 23, 1922, and is the 38th-oldest licensed and continually operating radio station in America. Originally owned by the San Joaquin Light and Power Corporation, KMJ was acquired by the McClatchy Newspaper Company in 1925 and has seen a handful of owners in the past century, leading up to its current owner, Cumulus Media.
Between 1925 and 1932, KMJ operated on a number of other frequencies. In 1932 KMJ moved to its current 580 kHz location, operating with 1 kW non-directional from a building rooftop in downtown Fresno. Today, KMJ operates on 580AM and 105.9FM with 50Kw and a directional antenna array with state-of-the-art towers near Orange Cove and Kerman. At the outset of World War II, the Department of War selected KMJ as the primary medium for alerting Central California residents, and its still used for this purpose today as a primary entry point for the Emergency Alert System (EAS).
Patty Hixson, VP/Market Manager of Cumulus Fresno, said, “I started listening to KMJ in my ’20s. Over the past 33+ years, I’ve had the great honor and privilege to have worked with some of the greatest talent in the business, both on air and in sales. I’m truly grateful and humbled by the fact that I have been so blessed to serve our valued listeners — this is my home! The KMJ brand will continue to serve our community and central California through continued focus on relevant content, philanthropy, and ethical business practices. Every day we aspire to be great… and it’s the men and women that work here every day, and have done so for the past 100 years, who deserve all the credit for achieving such a wonderful milestone.”
KMJ PD Blake Taylor said, “It’s been an amazing run, and it’s far from over. KMJ has covered everything from the Harding administration to the Biden White House. Terrible tragedies to inspirational triumphs and everything in between. The service to the public of Fresno and the entire Central Valley of California will continue to be our sole focus for the next 100 years.”
