Big 98.5 (KABG)

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KABG, commercially known as Big 98.5, is a prominent commercial radio station licensed to Los Alamos, New Mexico, serving the broader Santa Fe and Albuquerque metropolitan markets. The station traces its origins back to 1956 when it first went on the air under the call sign KRSN. Over the decades, the station underwent several call letter and format shifts—broadcasting as KKBR, KRBL, and KTMN—before being acquired by American General Media (AGM). In June 1997, AGM relocated the station's broadcast operations to Albuquerque and officially rebranded it as KABG 'Big 98.5', establishing a dedicated classic hits format to capture the regional market. Big 98.5 plays a high-energy rotation of timeless Top 40 hits primarily from the late 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s. The playlist features iconic pop, rock, and new wave artists such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, Queen, The Police, Prince, and Stevie Nicks. Designed for a broad audience across central and northern New Mexico, the station's broadcast schedule pairs continuous classic hits with engaging morning shows, local community event announcements, traffic updates, and regional contests. Broadcasting on 98.5 MHz, KABG transmits with an effective radiated power of 14,000 watts from a high-altitude tower site located on Sandia Crest at an elevation of 1,242 meters (4,075 ft) HAAT. This strategic transmitter positioning provides extensive signal coverage extending from Santa Fe down through the Albuquerque metro and surrounding valleys. KABG also broadcasts in digital HD Radio (carrying subchannels such as KJFA-FM and KHFM) and streams its programming globally via digital web platforms and mobile apps.

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