Griffin Media is swapping call letters on its two Tulsa Country brands to better match their products.
Country “98.5 The Bull” will take on the KXBL call letters that have been on 99.5 since 2001, while KVOO-FM moves to Classic Country “Big Country 99.5“. The change is effective on Monday, January 5.
The move comes as the company is planning to celebrate the centennial of the KVOO call letters in Tulsa in 2026 as 1170 KVOO signed-on in June 1926. One of the early stalwarts of the Country format, 1170 KVOO had been Country until flipping to Talk in 2002 with the brand continuing on 98.5 until it relaunched as “98.5 The Bull” in December 2020. 99.5 dropped its former “99.5 The Bull” identity to take on the “Big Country” moniker that had been used by 1170 when it flipped to Classic Country in 2003.
Griffin Media Director of Radio Operations & Programming Don Cristi said, “It’s an incredible honor to help carry forward the legacy of KVOO — the first station to broadcast live from Cain’s Ballroom with Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys, the home of Country Music Hall of Famer Billy Parker, and the station that helped launch the careers of legends like Reba, Garth, Toby, Brooks & Dunn, Blake, and so many more. Being part of this 100-year tradition is truly special.”
99.5 Brand Manager Tanner Messer stated, “KVOO has been a part of Oklahoma for 100 years, and I’m honored to play a role in celebrating such an incredible milestone. I grew up listening to KVOO, so getting to help shape its next chapter feels truly special. I’ve been working closely with KVOO alumni to make sure we honor the legacy the right way, and we’ve put together some meaningful, fun, and really cool things to celebrate our listeners and our history.”
