City: | Mexia, Texas |
KBHT | |
Area: | Waco metropolitan area |
Branding: | Kicker 99.3[1] |
Format: | Classic country |
Owner: | M&M Broadcasters, Ltd. |
Licensee: | Gary L. Moss |
Airdate: | May 23, 1956 (as KBUS) |
Callsign Meaning: | K Bellmead HoT (city of license and former format at 104.9) |
Licensing Authority: | FCC |
Facility Id: | 21493 |
Class: | D |
Power: | 2,500 watts day 65 watts night |
Coordinates: | 31.6861°N -96.455°W |
Translators: | See § Translator |
Webcast: | Listen Live |
KBHT (1590 AM "Kicker 99.3") is a commercial radio station, paired with an FM relay translator, broadcasting a classic country radio format.[2] Licensed to Mexia, Texas, the station serves the Waco metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by M&M Broadcasters, Ltd.[3] Its studios are in Waco, and its transmitter is located in Mexia.
On May 23, 1956, the station signed on as KBUS.[4] It was owned by Bi-Stone Broadcasting, and was a 500 watt daytimer, required to leave the air after sunset.
On February 29, 2012, the then-KLRK changed its format to adult hits, branded as "101.3 Bob FM", also broadcasting on FM translator K267AI 101.3 FM in Moody, Texas.[5]
On February 28, 2013, KLRK changed its format to Regional Mexican music, branded as "La Caliente."[6]
On April 18, 2014, KLRK changed back to dance hits, branded as "101.3 Party".[7]
On February 3, 2015, KLRK changed its format to adult contemporary music and rebranded as "Mix 101.3".
On August 20, 2016, KLRK switched to a simulcast of adult contemporary-formatted KBHT 104.9 FM in Bellmead. 1590 switched again to adult hits, as "Bob-FM" simultaneously with 104.9 FM. Ironically, 1590 and 104.9 were reunited as a result, having once been independently programmed AM and FM sister stations, owned by the Groveton Family, and still broadcasting from Downtown Mexia.[8]
During the summer of 2018, KLRK began airing the national Fox Sports Radio feed and reimaged as "Fox Sports 1590."
The station changed its call sign to KEKR on November 28, 2019.
On January 19, 2020, KEKR changed its format from sports (which moved to KBHT-HD3) to classic country, branded as "Kicker 99.3".[9]
On July 2, 2023, KEKR began simulcasting its classic country format on KBHT 104.9 FM Bellmead/Waco and rebranded as "Kicker 104.9".[10]
On July 15, 2024, "Kicker 104.9" reverted to "Kicker 99.3", remaining on this station and its translator, while 104.9 broke away from the simulcast to assume the format of 92.9 KRMX, after that facility was sold to new ownership.