Rainbow, Inc., owner of KRBO 1050 AM (later KXST 1140 AM), obtained a construction permit for a new FM radio station in Las Vegas on March 22, 1961. The unbuilt station, originally dubbed KRBO-FM, was sold along with the AM station to Meyer (Mike) Gold the next year. The AM station switched its call sign to KLUC, standing for "Lucky," a popular word in the gambling city of Las Vegas.
The FM station signed on the air as KLUC-FM in 1963; 61 years ago (1963).[5] In its early years, KLUC-FM largely simulcast its AM sister station, which was a daytimer. When KLUC 1050 had to go off the air at night, KLUC-FM continued broadcasting. KLUC-FM was powered at less than 6,000 watts, a fraction of its current output. The studios were on Industrial Road and the stations were network affiliates of CBS Radio.[6]
Top 40
The two stations were acquired by the KLUC Broadcasting Company in 1970.[5] The company was renamed Western Cities Broadcasting in 1979 to reflect its station holdings in Las Vegas; Tucson, Arizona; and Sacramento, California.[5] As more people acquired FM receivers, KLUC-FM grew in popularity. Western Cities was able to make the station's Top 40 format a ratings and revenue leader, starting in the late 1970s.[7][8]
In 1996, KLUC-FM and KXNO (the former KLUC AM) were sold by Nationwide for $11 million to American Radio Systems of Boston. At the time, Nationwide noted that owning stations in Las Vegas did not fit its corporate strategy of concentrating on owning broadcast properties in the nation's 25 largest media markets.[10]
KLUC-FM continued to play a slightly broader mix than a typical Top 40 station. It was also the recognized primary commercial outlet for urban contemporary and rhythmic music in the city, playing more rap in the evenings.[11] In 1998, American Radio Systems merged with CBS Radio. Around the same time, KLUC-FM returned to a more mainstream Top 40 sound.
On February 2, 2017, CBS Radio announced it would merge with Entercom.[12] The merger was approved on November 9, 2017, and was consummated on November 17.[13][14] In 2021, Entercom changed its name to Audacy, Inc.
Personalities
Weekdays begin with Chet Buchannan and Mikalah Gordon. Buchanan has done wake-ups on KLUC-FM since 1999. Gordon had previously hosted mornings on Channel Q, Audacy's LGBTQ channel and is a former American Idol contestant.[15] In afternoon drive time, Bru is heard.
The station carries two nationally syndicated programs on weekdays. The Julia Show with Julia Lepidi is in middays.[16] And the Tino Cochino Show airs in the evening.
^"Business In Brief". Las Vegas Review-Journal. March 18, 1996. p. 1D. ProQuest260085707. "Our company's current strategy is to own and operate stations in the nation's top 25 radio markets, and Las Vegas, a fast-growing area, doesn't fit that profile," Nationwide Communications owner Steve Berger said.
