KHBZ-FM is a commercial radio station located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, broadcasting to the Oklahoma City area on 94.7 FM. KHBZ-FM airs a rock music format branded as "94.7 The Buzz".

[edit] History

The station was originally licensed as KOCY-FM as early as 1948 and also had the call letters KEFM. An interesting note about KEFM is that the owner at the time, Williams TV moved the station from its city of license without proper authority from the FCC and consequently lost the license. The station began broadcasting as KEBC (Keep Everybody Broadcasting Country, Ralf Tyler - Owner) in 1967 Ronnie Tutor sold his 10% to Ralph Tyler and friends as ("Keeping EveryBody Country"). The station started life in humble studios in E Moore, OK/ SE OKC consisting of a house with a shaky 150-foot tower next to it with antennas that arced regularly when humidity was in the air. Remote studios were also established at the Diamond Ballroom allowing KEBC to broadcast numerous famous country artists live on the air. Studios were then moved to Tyler/WeedandKiller's Ad agency facilities at 31st and S. Western. After Ralph Tyler bought the rest of the shares of KEBC, the transmitter site was moved to a much better tower that offered decent coverage at about 350 feet and basically established KEBC on its way to becoming a Oklahoma institution in country radio. After enjoying many years of success, KEBC suffered major setbacks when KXXY changed to country and started a very successful and aggressive prize campaign in the early 80s. Tyler sold the station and it was sold many times until it became properity of Clear Channel. The station began its first run as an alternative rock station in July 1996 and it was known as "95X" with the call letters KNRX (K New Rock 95X).

The station switched overnight to an middle of the road soft format on November 21, 1997 and changed calls to KQSR (K Quiet Soft Rock). The station returned to alt-rock on July 8, 2002. The station stunted with a buzzing noise played over the soft rock songs and notified listeners that their "technicians were working to get 'the Buzz' out."

In 2009, KHBZ adopted Clear Channel's Premium Choice rock format, becoming musically identical outside of morning drive to sister stations KIOC in Beaumont, Texas and WHRL in Albany, New York.

[edit] Past DJs

• Tattoo-Rob Ruggeri, 2002-2004
• Matt Garret, 2002-2005
• Ryan Beam 2004-2006
• Barreda-Jimmy Barreda Former Program Director KHBZ AKA Joe Friday now at KTST, 2002-2005
• Corbin, 2006-2007 Now at KTBT in Tulsa
• Joey, 2006-2006
• Callie, 2005-2005 Now doing radio in Egypt
• MO, 2005-2005
• Josh "Bacon" Marconi , 2004-2005 Now at [[[KUFO]]] in Portland
• Cain-David Harris, 2003-2005
• Crystal-2003-2007
• Lacey-2004-2008
• Jeff "JROD" Blackburn 2007-2009 Program Director

[edit] Stunting With All Metallica

On January 11, 2008 at 5pm The station went Jockless with the voice guy saying "KHBZ-FM Oklahoma City" What's The Buzz? Find out Monday morning at 10 and played all Metallica until then. On January 14, 2008 The Buzz returned with a newly-tweaked modern rock playlist at 10am kicking it off with AC/DC's Back In Black. The only song on the station not from an alternative rock-charting artist is Aerosmith's Love in an Elevator. However, the station is still described on the alternative rock panel by Radio & Records, even though they play alternative rock artists not friendly on the active rock chart.

[edit] Controversy

In 2005 The MO Radio Show was canceled by Clear Channel due to a phone bit that aired with a phone sex operator he was let go along with Program Director Jimmy Barreda. Ryan Beam was released from the station in June and Joey was released in December 2006. On February 2007 Corbin announced that he relinquishing his programming responsibilities. Since then Jeff Blackburn, aka JROD from KJ103, has taken over the programming responsibilities. On April 28, 2009 Program Director Jeff Blackburn was released do to the corporate wide budget cuts. Tom Travis is overseeing the Programing for KHBZ from this point forward.

[edit] Monikers

• OK City's New Rock (This was used when the station first signed on but dropped a few weeks after)
• OKC's New Rock (This was used up until 2003 and was still used on the stations RDS display until 2008)
• Rock, Sex, Beer, And Sports. (used for TV promo's for the MO radio show but was dropped after the firing of MO and Barreda)
• Oklahoma City's New Rock Alternative (Used from 2003-2008)
• 947 The Buzz ROCKS! (Used Currently and on the RDS Display)
• Your Rock, minus their bulls***! The slogan mocks the other rock station in the Oklahoma City region, the KATT 100.5 FM. Other slogans include "They say pure Rock! We say YOUR ROCK!", or "Friends don't let friends become PUSSIES!"

[edit] Nothing But 90's Weekends

On summer holiday weekends, especially Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, starting at 5pm on Friday "The Buzz" drops the new current stuff and plays 90's Alternative Rock. In times past "The Buzz" will usually not air "Lex and Terry" or "Loveline" and any other show that usually runs when the current format is on but, in 2007 "The Buzz" aired "Lex and Terry" and "Loveline" during a "nothing but 90's weekend". Since the switch to Active Rock The Buzz has not done a nothing but 90's weekend since.

[edit] Programming

• The Rubber Room A 2 hour long show, hosted by Jay, which plays nothing but Heavy Metal and Hardcore music. It runs every Saturday at 10 pm CT.
• Cock Fight Every weekday at 9 pm CT, it is a segment in which two different songs by two different bands are played, and listeners can vote for their favorite song. Whichever song gets the majority votes is the winner, and will be played until it is outvoted by another song. The segment starts with the current champion first, then is followed by the challenger. The segment is hosted by Chris Mosser.
• 5 Songs That Don't Suck Every weekday at 7 pm CT. It is a countdown of the five most requested songs of the day. It is hosted by Chris Mooser.

B.A.C.A Nation can be heard on The Buzz on Sunday nights from 7-10pm

[edit] Former Radio Shows

• Complete Control An hour long show which played nothing but Punk Rock. It aired every Sunday at 9 pm CT.
• Loveline' No longer airs on The Buzz
• Out Of OrderNo longer airs on The Buzz.

[edit] Office Location

KHBZ-FM is location at 5000 N Pennsylvania Ave Oklahoma City. There request line is 405-460-9470.

[edit] External links

• Official website
• Query the FCC's FM station database for KHBZ
• Radio Locator information on KHBZ
• Query Arbitron's FM station database for KHBZ