KPSL-FM (96.5

MHz The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), often described as being equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose formal expression in terms of SI base u ...

) is a

radio station Radio broadcasting is the broadcasting of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based rad ...

broadcasting a

Spanish variety Regional Mexican music refers collectively to the regional subgenres of the country music of Mexico and its derivatives from the Southwestern United States. Each subgenre is representative of a certain region and its popularity also varies by ...

format. Licensed to

Bakersfield, California Bakersfield is a city in and the county seat of Kern County, California, United States. The city covers about near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, which is located in the Central Valley region. Bakersfield's population as of th ...

, United States, the station serves the Bakersfield area. The station is currently owned by

Lotus Communications Lotus Communications Corporation is a media company that owns numerous radio stations and a few TV stations, and is one of the largest privately owned radio station groups in the United States. Headquarters are located in Los Angeles, and the co ...

History

;KIFM (1963–1975):96.5 FM Bakersfield signed on-the-air on August 24, 1963, as KIFM. From 1966 to 1969 the KIFM format was

Top 40 In the music industry, the Top 40 is a list of the 40 currently most popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "To ...

. In 1969 the station was purchased by Faith Center, Glendale, California. The format was

Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...

. Part of the time the station simulcast with KHOF 99.5 Los Angeles. The call letters

KIFM KIFM (1320 AM broadcasting, AM) is a radio station in West Sacramento, California, that has been affiliated with ESPN Radio since February 2007. Owned and operated by Audacy, Inc.. Its studios are located in North Highlands, California, North ...

now belong to a radio station in

West Sacramento West Sacramento (also known as West Sac) is a city in Yolo County, California, United States. The city is separated from Sacramento by the Sacramento River, which also separates Sacramento and Yolo counties. The population was 53,915 at the 2 ...

. ;KHIS/KHIS-FM (1976–1996):In 1975, 96.5 FM was bought by the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. On January 1, 1976, the call letters were changed to KHIS and to KHIS-FM on January 3, 1977, when the church bought 800 AM KUZZ and turned it into KHIS (now KBFP). KHIS-FM aired a

religious Religion is a range of social- cultural systems, including designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relate humanity to supernatural ...

Contemporary Christian music Contemporary Christian music (CCM), also known as Christian pop, and occasionally inspirational music, is a genre of modern popular music, and an aspect of Christian media, which is lyrically focused on matters related to the Christianity, Chri ...

format until December 27, 1996. ;KSMJ (1996–1998): On September 30, 1996, Foursquare sold KHIS-AM-FM to Hemisphere Broadcasting of Bakersfield for $2.65 million. On December 27, 1996, the call letters KHIS-FM were changed to KSMJ. KSMJ aired a

smooth jazz Smooth jazz is commercially oriented crossover jazz music. Although often described as a "genre", it is a debatable and highly controversial subject in jazz music circles. As a radio format, however, smooth jazz radio became the successor to e ...

music format branded as ''Smooth Jazz 96-5 KSMJ''. ;KKXX (1998–2004): On July 2, 1998, KSMJ moved up the dial to 98.5 FM and radio station KKXX-FM moved from 105.3 FM to 96.5 FM alternating between a

rhythmic top 40 The Rhythmic chart (also called Rhythmic Airplay, and previously named Rhythmic Songs, Rhythmic Top 40 and CHR/Rhythmic) is an airplay chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine. The chart tracks and measures the airplay of songs played on ...

and Top 40 music format until September 3, 2004. The station was branded as ''X96.5'' and at the time was owned by Mondosphere Broadcasting. On August 16, 2000, Mondosphere Broadcasting was sold to

Clear Channel Communications iHeartMedia, Inc., or CC Media Holdings, Inc., is an American mass media corporation headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It is the holding company of iHeartCommunications, Inc., formerly Clear Channel Communications, Inc., a company founded by ...

. Clear Channel relabeled

KKXX-FM KKXX-FM (93.1 Hertz, MHz, "Hits 93.1") is a radio station broadcasting a Contemporary hit radio, Top 40 (CHR) music format. KKXX-FM is licensed to Shafter, California, and serves the Bakersfield, California area. The station is owned by Americ ...

from ''X96.5'' to ''96.5 KISS-FM'' which was modeled after its sister station

KIIS-FM KIIS-FM (102.7 FM broadcasting, FM, "102.7 KIIS FM") is a commercial radio station licensed to Los Angeles, California, United States, and broadcasts to the Greater Los Angeles area. The station airs a contemporary hit radio format. Owned by i ...

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

and also stated that no changes were expected at that time. ;KBKO (2004–2008): On September 3, 2004, the format was changed to country with the call sign changing to KBKO-FM. The station was branded as ''Big 96-5.'' Later, it was rebranded as ''96-5 KBKO.'' On February 15, 2008, the KBKO-FM call letters and the

country music Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...

format were briefly moved to 98.5 FM in a frequency swap with

KDFO KDFO (98.5 FM broadcasting, FM, "98-5 The Fox") is a commercial radio, commercial radio station broadcasting a classic rock radio format, format. KDFO is city of license, licensed to Delano, California, and serves the Bakersfield metropolitan a ...

, a

classic rock Classic rock is a radio format that developed from the album-oriented rock (AOR) format in the early 1980s. In the United States, it comprises rock music ranging generally from the mid-1960s through the early-1990s, primarily focusing on comm ...

station which then became ''96-5 The Fox.'' On Friday, June 20, 2008, the two stations were moved back to their previous frequencies after a four-month, swap. ;KVMX (20082011): On Tuesday, July 29, 2008, KBKO-FM was sold to

and the station began stunting before revealing the new format. At noon on August 5, 2008, the station announced a new classic hits format branded as ''96.5 Max-FM''. The new format was led off with "

Start Me Up "Start Me Up" is a song by the English rock band the Rolling Stones from their 1981 album '' Tattoo You''. Released as the album's lead single, it reached number one on Australian Kent Music Report, number two in Canada, number two on the ''B ...

" by the

Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for over six decades, they are one of the most popular, influential, and enduring bands of the Album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the band pione ...

. On August 13, 2008, the KBKO-FM call sign was changed to KVMX. ;KPSL-FM (2011present):On September 8, 2011,

made a frequency change to two of its stations, KVMX and KPSL-FM which swapped frequencies. KPSL-FM is now at 96.5 FM and is branded as ''Concierto 96.5 FM'' and KVMX is now at 92.1 FM. On July 31, 2018, KPSL-FM changed their format from Spanish adult hits to regional Mexican, branded as "La Ley 96.5".La Ley Enters Bakersfield
Radioinsight - July 31, 2018 On February 11, 2025, KPSL-FM rebranded as "96.5 Ritmo FM", and shifted to a Spanish rhythmic format.

Programming

Programming on this station includes Alex "El Genio" Lucas on mornings, Rosmar Vega on mid-days, El Fantasma on afternoons, and ''Concierto 96.5 Music'' overnights, and weekends. ''Show De Thalia'' is on Saturday evenings.

Previous logo

References

External links

* {{Lotus Communications PSL-FM Radio stations established in 1963 1963 establishments in California PSL-FM Lotus Communications stations