Lotus Communications has brought the Classic Country “Hank-FM” brand to its fifth market in just over a year with the debut of “93.3 Hank-FM” K227DX/96.1 KLPX-HD3 Tucson.
Focusing on Country hits from the 80s, 90s and early 2000s, the station features core artists including George Strait, Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson, and Brooks & Dunn. The format is developed and managed by Kroeger Media.
General Manager Debbie Wagner said, “We are excited to bring the HANK format to Tucson – connecting Tucson fans with their favorite and currently under -played Country songs of the ’80s, ’90s, and beyond. There is a loyal audience out there that has been waiting for a station that more closely fits their taste in authentic Country music.”
Tucson becomes the fifth market that Lotus has launched the Classic Country format in since the start of 2024 joining Boise, Reno, Seattle and most recently Las Vegas.
In Tucson, “Hank-FM” targets a pair of current Country stations in Cumulus Media’s 99.5 KIIM and iHeartMedia’s “92.9 The Bull” KHUD. KIIM currently ranks third in the market with Lotus AC “94.9 Mix-FM” KMXZ in first and Classic Rock 96.1 KLPX fourth making its 35+ audience the primary target.
Original Report 4/27: Lotus Communications is preparing to launch a new format on 93.3 K227DX Tucson on Monday, April 28 at 12pm.
The translator had been operating as Spanish AC “Exito 93.3” with that programming remaining on 94.9 KMXZ-HD2 and online. The translator is now being fed by 96.1 KLPX-HD3 Tucson.
Posts on other Lotus Tucson stations are emphasizing songs with name in the title such as Goo Goo Dolls “Name” and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “What’s Your Name”.
The former Spanish AC format had a 0.8 share in the February 2025 Nielsen Audio ratings.
Domain Insight: Tying into the name stunt, Lotus registered CrankTheHankTucson.com in February. Tucson would become the fifth market that Lotus has launched the Classic Country format in since the start of 2024 joining Boise, Reno, Seattle and most recently Las Vegas.
In Tucson, “Hank-FM” would target a pair of current Country stations in Cumulus Media’s 99.5 KIIM and iHeartMedia’s “92.9 The Bull” KHUD. KIIM currently ranks third in the market with Lotus AC “94.9 Mix-FM” KMXZ in first and Classic Rock 96.1 KLPX fourth making its 35+ audience the primary target.
