('''''100.3 The Beat''''') is a
Radio One -owned
Radio Station Licensed to
Los Angeles, California , USA, with a
Mainstream Urban musical format. The station formerly featured the morning team of
Steve Harvey (who was let go on May,
2005 ). KKBT is also broadcasts on K261AB 100.1 MHz. "The John Salley Block Party" is currently the morning show for KKBT, airing Monday through Friday mornings from 5:30 AM to 10:00 AM.
100.3 FM began as playing a
Top 40 format of some sort with lackluster ratings. By
1986 , the station became a Soft Adult Contemporary station. In
1989 , the station was sold to
Westwood One and Scott Shannon would take the station over. In Spring 1989, they became ''"Pirate Radio 100.3"'' '''KQLZ''' playing Top 40 with rock mixed in. While they played a lot of heavy metal they also mixed in some mainstream rock and even a few dance songs by artists like
Madonna . The ratings shot up initially but went back down soon after. The station eventually late 1990 dropped the dance songs and went total rock. Westwood One sold the station to Viacom in
1993 and the format was obliterated. The '''KXEZ''' call letters moved to 100.3 and a Soft AC format playing soft hits of the 60's to 80's signed on. Viacom moved its original station KYSR on 98.7 from AC to a Hot AC and then adult modern rock hits.
In 1996, the station flipped to a Rhythmic Hot Adult Contemporary playing disco, classic dance, R&B oldies, R&B hits, and dance hits. In 1997, Chancellor would buy . They added rap and moved the station to a Rhythmic Contemporary Hit radio station. The first of this kind was named ''"B 100.3"''. In 1998, they flipped the station to Rhythmic Oldies, ''"Mega 100.3"''. The station featured disco, R&B oldies, rhythmic Pop hits from the 70's and early 80's. Chancellor merged with Capstar in 1999 and became known as AMFM Inc.
In the fall of
1999 ,
Clear Channel Communications and AMFM Inc., shocked the world by announcing they would merge. However, in order to get under the government-mandated market ownership limits, some stations were required to be spun-off. One of the full powered FMs in Los Angeles had to go. KKBT the Urban station's intellectual unit from 92.3 was chosen; it was sold off to
Radio One . However, Clear Channel wanted to keep the best possible signals and gave Radio One this less desirable frequency of 100.3. Leading up to the frequency swap, rumors swirled about whether Mega 100's format would survive the move to the new frequencies. Much speculation led to 92.3 going Active Rock, possibly with the calls. It seemed obvious that "The Beat" an Urban Contemporary format would survive being Radio One is an African American owned company known for such a format in markets they have stations. When the switch was made on
June 30 ,
2000 , the formats did come along for the ride with 100.3 becoming '''KKBT''', ''"100.3 the Beat"'' and 92.3 becoming '''KHHT''', ''"Mega 92.3"''. Mega's format on 92.3 moved toward an Urban Adult Contemporary format while "The Beat" Mainstream Urban format previously on 92.3 moved to 100.3 (see KKBT for details). However, soon thereafter, KKBT released their morning team of Dre and Ed Lover plus afternoon drivers
The Baka Boyz .
