KLFE

History

1590 went on the air in 1958 as KTIX with a full-service format that operated only during daytime hours (and would upgrade to full-time status two years later). In 1961, the station flipped to a country format and took the call letters KETO. The station also launched an FM counterpart on 101.5 (now KPLZ-FM). The station then shifted to Adult Contemporary as KSND. During the 1970s, the callsign changed to KUUU, and the format shifted to lite rock as "KU16". At the time, a daytime transmitter in South Seattle and a nighttime transmitter on Bainbridge Island was needed, due to the need of a shaped antenna pattern so as to not interfere with a station on the same frequency in Oregon. The station later became KZOK in 1977 with an Oldies format as "Solid Gold 16 KZOK", though it would simulcast its new FM sister station. On Memorial Day (May 30), 1982, at Midnight, 1590 became KJET with an Alternative Rock format, which was starting to emerge in popularity at the time. The first song on "KJET" was "I Love Rock & Roll" by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts. The station gained immediate popularity with its primary target audience of young adults, as the market did not have an alternative station on FM radio, which was where most music formats were migrating towards. In addition, the station also had a following outside of Seattle, particularly at night, due to its signal strength, where it was receivable in Eastern Washington and as far north as Alaska. However, due to financial troubles, KJET signed off on September 23, 1988 with "We're Through Being Cool" by Devo as the final song. After that, the station became KQUL, with a 1950s/60s oldies format before changing its call letters back to KZOK on February 2, 1990, and becoming Seattle's home for the Z-Rock network, and then a simulcast of KZOK-FM in October 1993. On September 8, 1994, the station was sold and became KPOZ with a "positive Country" format, which would later transition to Christian music. The KLFE call letters came into effect on August 1, 1995. Brokered Russian programming would be added in 2000.

On November 15, 2010, KLFE switched to its current conservative talk format, featuring hosts such as Bill Bennett, Mike Gallagher, Dennis Prager, Dennis Miller, Hugh Hewitt, and Mark Levin. Salem's own Michael Medved, based in Seattle, is not heard on the station due to his existing contract with KTTH. In August 2014, Salem Radio announced a name change to "AM 1590 The Answer", following suit with most of the other conservative talk radio stations operated by Salem nationwide.