KMIA (AM)


KMIA is a radio station broadcasting a regional Mexican format. Licensed to Auburn–Federal Way, Washington, United States, it serves the Seattle metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by Amador and Rosalie Bustos, through licensee Bustos Media Holdings, LLC.

History

Edward and June Garre were the founders of this station, which began as KASY in 1958, running an MOR format until October 1989. After Viacom bought the station, 1210 became simulcast of KBSG-FM as KBSG . Entercom bought the stations in 1996. This lasted until around 2002, before changing to a business format as KNWX that lasted until 2003, when it switched to an all-news format. In December 2004, after Bustos Media bought the station, 1210 switched to a regional Mexican format, first as KWMG and later as KTBK.
In September 2010, Bustos transferred most of its licenses to Adelante Media Group as part of a settlement with its lenders.
The station switched to a Spanish popular hits format on November 7, 2011, calling itself "Latino 1210" and operating under the call letters of KMIA.
Effective December 10, 2014, Bustos Media reacquired KMIA, along with eight other stations and a translator, from Adelante Media for $6 million.
On December 31, 2014, KMIA changed their format to regional Mexican, branded as "La Zeta 1210".
On November 29, 2016, KMIA was granted a Federal Communications Commission construction permit to move the night transmitter to the day transmitter site and reduce night power to 220 watts.
In March 2020, Bustos Media made KMIA silent, notifying the FCC that the COVID-19 pandemic made it economically unviable to keep the station on the air. Bustos characterized the shutdown as temporary.