Beloved Bay Area classic rock station leaves 98.5 FM, replaced by country
The Bay Area radio landscape saw a major shift this week as 98.5-FM KFOX leaves the standard airwaves. A classic rock staple for decades, the station is moving to the HD Radio digital format. This change marks the end of an era for local listeners who tuned into 98.5 for bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Pink Floyd, and Fleetwood Mac.
Taking its place on the primary frequency is Bay Country, a format previously heard at 94.5-FM. Owner Connoisseur Media intends to leverage the growing popularity of country music by placing the brand on a station with a stronger signal and broader reach. Listeners on 98.5 will now hear artists such as Morgan Wallen and Chris Stapleton.
Fans who still want to access the KFOX classic rock programming have options. The station is available through HD Radio at 98.5 KUFX-HD2 in San Jose and 99.7 KMVQ-HD3 in San Francisco. It also remains available for streaming via the official station website.
The transition stems from a larger restructuring of radio assets in the region, including the sale of the 94.5-FM license to the Christian music network K-LOVE. Brian Figula has been named the Regional Operations Manager to oversee the company's San Jose, San Francisco, and East Bay properties during this period of change.
While the current KFOX air talent will transition into different roles, the station will operate without DJs on its HD feed for now. Management plans to review options for talent later in the year, while the existing Bay Country team remains in place to serve their audience.