Phoenix debates Valley’s best radio stations in spirited online sesh

Yes, Virginia, people still listen to the radio. Even in the age of Spotify, podcasts, and endless streaming options, millions of Valley residents keep traditional terrestrial stations on their dials.

Ratings may dip, but listeners still crave the quirks, surprises, and personalities only live radio can deliver. They also have halcyon memories of local radio’s glory days and the best Phoenix radio stations from back in the day.

Local Reddit users shared memories of Valley radio stations, past and present, in a recent r/Phoenix thread. Current stations like KJZZ and Alt-AZ 93.3 were mentioned, while responses leaned heavily toward now-defunct favorites such as The Edge, KUKQ and The Zone.

Here’s a look at some of the beloved Valley radio stations, past and present, that were mentioned by Phoenix Reddit users.

KUKQ

KUKQ broadcast for only five years, but became one of the Valley’s seminal alternative stations. It launched in 1989 on 1060 AM with co-founder and program director Jonathan L. steering the sound. KUKQ jocks spun The Pixies, Dramarama and other era-defining artists, giving many Valley listeners their first taste of alternative. “KUKQ was how I first found punk rock,” said Reddit user chocolate_party. Another Redditor recalled, “They introduced me to Sublime and Smashing Pumpkins before they hit it big.”

KDKB 93.3

KDKB 93.3 has been a staple of the Phoenix airwaves for decades. It launched in 1971 as a freeform station by the late broadcaster Dwight Tindle. Several talents from landmark Valley station KCAC were involved, including the late William Edward “Bill” Compton. By the ‘80s, KDKB became a classic-rock powerhouse. Local howlincoyote2k1 remembered being a regular listener. “This was the radio station that forever defined my musical taste,” they stated. “I was kind of bouncing around between The Zone, KZZP, a little bit of Party Radio 103, but when I landed on KDKB in the late ’90s, I discovered I enjoyed ’70s/’80s/’90s rock.” The station became Alt-AZ in 2014.

KJZZ

Despite its call letters literally spelling out “jazz,” KJZZ went all talk last year. Music all but disappeared from the station, save for Bob Corritore’s “Those Lowdown Blues” on Sundays. The NPR affiliate now offers news, interviews and analysis, carving out its niche in the Valley’s radio scene. One Redditor summed it up: “The only thing I listen to is KJZZ, and usually only in the morning. The general news programs during the week, and on the weekend, Planet Money, Freakonomics, etc.”

The Edge 106.3/100.3

From the mid-’90s through the 2000s, countless Phoenix residents tuned into The Edge, the Valley’s iconic alt-rock radio station. Signing on the air in 1993 via 106.3 FM, the station spanned three frequencies, multiple rebrandings and various ownership changes. It was home to personalities like Robin Nash and Dead Air Dave, as well as Craven Moorehead’s weekly “SkaPunk” show. “(The) SkaPunk show was the best,” recalled u/orangepaperlantern. “I still have tapes I recorded of songs from it, including the very last broadcast of the show.”

KCDX 103.1

Florence’s KCDX is famous for blasting classic rock deep cuts without commercials. The station spins obscure album tracks to forgotten gems, giving East Valley listeners a trip through the deepest corners of rock history. Free from ads, KCDX thrives on the musical tastes of its owner, who reportedly treats the station like his personal iPod. “It’s still on the air, although reception is sketchy,” notes u/Electrical-Raisin281. “I’ve been listening for years. They have a few commercials now, but it’s still the same offbeat mix of classic rock.

KNRJ Energy Radio

Phoenix got its first EDM station at the tail end of the genre’s early-2000s boom. Energy Radio launched in 2002, simulcasting trance, house, club bangers and pop remixes on 92.7 and 101.1 FM. DJs included Alex Santa Maria, Lysa D. and the late “Pistol” Pete Kelly. KNRJ served up weekly shows like “GrooveSessionz” and syndicated programs like Paul Oakenfold’s “International BPM Sunday Nights.” Local Redditor guyhabit725 was an Energy Radio fan. “They were so cool with their music,” they wrote. “During the day into evenings (it) was the common EDM sound. Then at night and weekends, (it was) the underground stuff.” The station flipped formats to old-school in 2008.

KWFUCC

Phoenix’s notorious, now-defunct KWFUCC got a few shout-outs in the Reddit discussion. The pirate station broadcasted on and off at 87.9 FM in the central Phoenix area starting in 2014. Helmed by the mysterious Captain Hook, it played weirdo rock, indie, EDM and other sonic oddities. “I found KWFUCC when my car battery died, and it was the first station on the dial,” recalled one Redditor. By 2017, the pirate station went silent, becoming an infamous part of local legend.

Power 92.3

Before it moved to its current frequency, KKFR could be heard at 92.3 FM. Many consider it to be the station’s glory days, back when its slogan was “Where hip-hop lives.” Local Reddit user ChoppyOfficial, who authored the post, remembered Power 92.3’s heyday. “This station was so popular that it wiped out Y95 and KZZP in the ‘90s,” they wrote.

95.5 KYOT

Back in the ‘90s and 2000s, KYOT was a vibe. The station once defined smooth jazz in the Valley and broadcast sultry sax to mellow grooves 24/7. Launching as “The Coyote” in 1994, it provided a laidback soundtrack for late nights and Sunday drives. Artists like Sade, George Benson and Anita Baker got regular airplay. It also had a memorable station ID, which one local Redditor recalled: “Smoooooooooth Jazz: 95.5 KYOOOOOOOOOT.” These days, the station is now 95.5 The Mountain and plays adult hits.

101.5 The Zone

KUKQ and The Edge weren’t the only Phoenix stations blasting alternative in the ’90s. KZON carved its own lane as 101.5 The Zone from 1992 into the 2000s, courtesy of deejays like Mary McCann, better known as “The Bone Mama,” and Leah Miller. It even began airing Howard Stern’s legendary morning show in 2002 until he left the terrestrial airwaves three years later.

104.7 KISS FM

KZZP has been a Valley radio staple at 104.7 on the FM dial since the 1980s. These days, it’s known as KISS FM and spins up Top 40 hits on the regular and is the flagship station of popular morning hosts Johnjay and Rich. “104.7 Kiss FM big time played biggest hits from Maroon 5, Nickelback, Hinder, Daughtry, Carrie Underwood and early Taylor Swift before she went full pop,” ChoppyOfficial recalls.