Houston Radio: Goes 'Boom' On 92.1 FM

The station previously known as 'News92' in Houston is now 'Boom 92.1 FM' airing "Classic Hip-Hop".

KROI 92.1 FM  Monday at 5pm after several days of stunting with All-Beyonce music.

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Radio One calls it the first major market throwback Hip Hop station of its kind in the country.

“We couldn’t be more excited about bringing Classic Hip Hop back to listeners who grew up on the lyrics, beats and rhythm of this genre of music,” said Terri Thomas, Operations Manager, Radio One of Texas. Radio One research supports that Houston has an appetite for Classic Hip Hop.

“Radio One is known for firsts.” said Jay Stevens, Senior Vice President, Programming, Radio One.

“This is classic – throwback Hip Hop and you can only hear it all-day, every day on the BOOM.”


Station management is looking to heavily engage its new audience with good ole’ fashion events and programming features highlighting the artists and music that ‘take you back,’ according to The Houston Chronicle.

News 92 FM, which until last week was the home of veteran newscasters J.P. Pritchard and Lana Hughes, is now home of Geto Boys, Beastie Boys, Snoop Dogg and Run-D.M.C.

It's the newest entry in what remains a competitive but fragmented Houston radio marketplace in terms of dominant formats, and the second urban entry to debut this year, joining IHeartMedia's KQBT 93.7 FM, which replaced classic rocker KKRW in January.

From Beyonce's "If I Were A Boy," the station moved into the new format with "Mind Playing Tricks on Me" by the Houston group Geto Boys.

KROI 92.1 FM (21.36Kw) 60dBu Coverage

Radio One also operates urban formats at KMJQ 102.1 FM and KBXX 97.9 FM, which ranked No. 2 and No. 4, respectively, among all Houston stations among listeners 12-plus in the most recent Nielsen Audio ratings, so the addition of a third urban format was not a surprise.

"We went from one Houston legend to another Houston legend," Doug Abernethy, Radio One's Houston general manager told The Houston Chronicle.

Abernethy expects Boom 92.1 FM to be strongest among listeners ages 25-44, at the younger end of the adults 25-54 demographic that is one of the key buying markets.