City Port Arthur, Texas Format Regional Mexican | Branding La Raza Radio Language(s) Spanish | |
Broadcast area Beaumont-Port Arthur/Houston Frequency 98.5 MHz (also on HD Radio) | ||
KTJM (98.5 FM) and KJOJ-FM (103.3 FM) are radio stations simulcasting a regional Mexican format under the branding "La Raza". Licensed respectively to Port Arthur, Texas and Freeport, Texas, the two stations serve the Houston-Galveston area. The stations are currently owned by Liberman Broadcasting.
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KTJM station history
The station signed on in 1963 as KPAC-FM owned by Port Arthur College (hence the callsign PAC, which was also on its sister 1250 AM). The station was originally the FM counterpart to 1250 KPAC. Afterwards, the station became an automated Beautiful Music format with a 3000 watt signal on a 500-foot tower it shared with 1250 AM. The station changed its call sign to KHYS in 1977 with an album rock format after the AM and FM pair were bought by then Clear Channel Communications. In the mid 1980s, the format changed to Urban Adult Contemporary as "Y98.5, The Best Variety Of Hits and Dusties." In 1988, a 2000-foot tower was built near Devers for the station. The format changed to Urban Contemporary as "Kiss 98.5" going head to head with KMJQ, "Majic 102".
When "Yo 1590 Raps!" came about on KYOK 1590 AM in response to their flip from Gospel to Rap, in February 1991, the format changed back to "Y98.5 Is Back, playing the best variety of Hits and Dusties." In 1993, 103.3 KJOJ-FM and KYOK began simulcasting "Y98.5". KJOJ-FM has been simulcasting since. The station would play Smooth Jazz on Sundays.
On March 8, 1995, the simulcast flipped to Smooth Jazz, known as "Smooth FM 98.5 and 103.3".
On February 24, 1997, after stunting with a loop of the song Kiss by Prince, the format changed to Rhythmic CHR as "Kiss 98-5, Kiss Again 103-3", targeting the Hispanic teenage market playing heavy doses of Freestyle and House music, mimicking the style of Power 96 in Miami. In June 1998, the "Kiss 98-5, Kiss Again 103-3" format was tweaked again to rival "104 KRBE", by playing Rock/Pop based Top 40.
On January 1, 1999, the station jumped on the Rhythmic Oldies bandwagon as "98.5 The Jam". Their call letters changed to KTJM. During 1999 to 2001, only the station's moniker would change to "Houston's Jammin' Oldies" then to "Houston's Jammin' Hits".
In July 2001, the station would make its flip to the current Regional Mexican "La Raza" format after being bought by Liberman Broadcasting.
KJOJ-FM station history
The station signed on as KGUL. Its call sign changed to KGLF-FM in 1985. In 1990, the station's call sign changed to KJOJ (which had moved from 106.9 licensed to Conroe). In 1991, the call sign changed to its current KJOJ-FM as 880 AM in Conroe had the KJOJ callsign, which had been on 106.9 FM (now KHPT) for many years under ownership by Jimmy Swaggart. Swaggart sold 106.9 to US Radio after the sex scandal that caused him to leave his pulpit for some months. The simulcast with 98.5 FM began in 1993 after Swaggart sold 103.3.