KNON is a radio station broadcasting a community radio format. Licensed to Dallas, Texas it serves the Dallas-Fort Worth area and is owned by Agape Broadcasting Foundation, Inc. KNON is a non-profit, listener-supported radio station, deriving its main source of income from on-air pledge drives, underwriting or sponsorships by local small businesses, and benefit events. KNON was picked Best Radio Station in Dallas in 2011 by The Dallas Observer and D-Magazine. In 2012 KNON was picked Best Radio Station for Music by the Dallas Observer. KNON is on the air 24 hours, seven days a week. The volunteerdisc jockeys play their own music or conduct talk shows during programs targeted to various demographic profiles. KNON has a small paid staff of 4 full-time people. KNON broadcasts in HD.
History
KNON began broadcasting in 1983 using 90.9 MHz. Its predecessor on the frequency was KCHU, a non-commercial station that began broadcasting on August 28, 1975. KCHU operated until August 1977, when it went off the air owing to financial shortfalls. The 90.9 frequency was transferred to Agape Broadcasting as KNON in 1979. The station remained silent through 1980, which was then a license renewal year in Texas. By 1984, Criswell Bible Institute had begun operating KCBI-FM from a downtown Dallas rooftop with 1,500 watts on 89.3 FM. They aspired to raise power and height and to relocate to the Cedar Hill, Texas tower farm, and faced limitations. By the mid-1980s, a number of groups, among which the Criswell Bible Institute was the most prominent, petitioned the FCC to have the 90.9 FM frequency assigned to another broadcaster. Criswell had cited past operational deficiencies on KNON's part as justification for the frequency reallocation. The end result was a swap of frequencies between KCBI and KNON in May 1988. The KNON online history museum can be found On the night of October 20, 2019, the KNON studios and offices suffered a direct hit from a tornado, and were heavily damaged. There were no injuries at the station.
Programs
KNON carries over 60 different shows, all of which are hosted by local volunteer D.J.s. Music formats include:
Gospel
The KNON Morning Blend
Including recently nominated for a 2016 Dallas Observer Award, The Tuesday Morning Blend with host Nil Ferrin, and co-host and booking producer