Knix Information

KNIX - AM and KNIX- FM are simulcast. Owens son, Buddy Alan Owens becomes KNIX Music Director where he held the position until KNIX was sold in 1999 to Clear Channel Communications. KNIX introduces a new series of television commercials featuring celebrity country music spokespeople inviting viewers to try "Arizona's BEST Country. Artist/spokespeople include some of country's brightest stars...George Strait, Randy Owen of Alabama, Randy Travis, Crystal Gayle, and Clint Black. In April KNIX is named Country Station of the Year by the Academy of Country Music, a Los Angeles- based national trade organization which broadcasts its awards ceremony on network television. In October KNIX is named Country Station of the Year by the Country Music Association, the Nashville-based national trade organization of the country music industry. Never in history has a single station received both ACM and CMA Awards in one year. Arbitron listenership 12+ reports KNIX- FM Number One with a 15.3 share and KNIX - AM earns a 2.1 share. October 1 - KNIX presents its first issue of Tune-In Magazine, a syndicated country music publication. In the succeeding months, KNIX will create a department to customize Tune-In for the KNIX listener. The monthly issues are distributed through over 400 Circle K stores Valley wide. Both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association again named KNIX Country Station of the Year, another "first" in the history of country radio. Now home to over 70 employees in 12,000 square feet of office, production and broadcast space, plus a 3,500 square foot employee gym, KNIX grows again. The new plan includes construction of a new two-story, 25,000 square foot building including offices, studios, and state-of-the-art technical facilities. The station launches another aggressive advertising program with its country music celebrity spokesperson television commercials. In April KNIX stages "Country Jam '89," two days of live music and other family entertainment, featuring numerous local and national artists. The group Alabama headlines on Saturday night to 90,000 enthusiastic fans. Over 150,000 attend the free event over both days. The station enters into a partnership agreement with Dallas-based Satellite Music Network to broadcast a nationwide traditional country music format. The new 24-hour programming service debuts September 1. KNIX announces that it will broadcast the network's programming on its own AM station in January, 1990.