FM Radio Stations in the Los Angeles Area

Radio tower on Mount Lee in the Hollywood Hills. Photo by 466654 via Pixabay.com.

Also see:
-- AM Radio Stations in the Los Angeles Area
-- Most Popular Radio Stations in the Los Angeles Area

The Los Angeles metro area is the second largest radio-listening market in the nation, following closely behind New York. According to the Southern California Broadcasters Association, 90.2 percent of Angelenos, age 12+, listen to radio each week, more than any other broadcast or cable medium or any particular social media site. Nearly 2 out of every 3 adults in the Los Angeles metro area listen to radio for two hours every day.

List by Call Letters

For stations by dial location and more information, see table below.

STATION DIRECTORY (ordered by Dial Location)

Note: LP or FM-LP stations are low power radio stations with limited broadcast reach. Some share dial locations, but do not broadcast over the same geographic areas.

FM-LP: Denotes low-power FM stations. These stations are authorized by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for non-commercial educational broadcasting only and operate with an effective radiated power of 100 watts (0.1 kilowatts) or less. The approximate service range of a 100 watt FM-LP station is 3.5 miles radius (5.6 kilometers), thus typically limiting the broadcast area for these stations to a local community. LP stations are also not protected from interference that might be received from other classes of FM stations.

In August 1941, KHJ-FM (101.1) began broadcasting as the first FM radio station in Los Angeles. Originally, it simply simulcast its AM 930 counterpart, which, at the time, was a popular music station. In 1973, the station changed its callsign to KRTH-FM (101.1) and began broadcasting its own music programming and went on to become one of L.A.'s most popular stations.

February 28, 2003, was the final day of broadcasting for one of the oldest radio stations in Los Angeles. KFSG ceased broadcasting religious talk and music format to make way for a Spanish language music format. Founded by the famed and flamboyant evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson, KFSG first went on the air on February 6, 1924. McPherson earlier founded Angelus Temple, LIFE Bible College, and the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel (KFSG breaking out to K-Four Square Gospel). She was the first woman to preach by radio.

Larry Mantle has hosted the radio talk program AirTalk (FM 89.3), continuously since April 1985. It is the longest continuously running daily talk program in Southern California.

In 1946, KUSC (FM 91.5) became the first radio station in the nation that was owned and operated by a privately endowed university. It is now the largest non-profit classical music radio station in the nation.