101.1/92.7 KNRJ - Energy 92-7 & 101-1
KNRJ (Energy 92.7 & 101.1) – Payson/Phoenix, AZ – 1/10/04 – Pistol Pete
“If you can’t hear us at work…get a new job…”
In January 2001, Big City Radio launched all-Dance formatted “Energy 92-7 & 5″ on a trio of signals in suburban Chicago. A year and a half later, Sierra H Broadcasting debuted the very similar “Energy 92-7 & 101-1″ on KAZL (eventually KNRJ) in Payson, AZ — with a simulcast on 10-watt K224CJ in Phoenix.
With Big City Radio in financial dire straits, Energy 92-7 & 5 ended in early January 2003. But its Arizona spinoff managed to survive for 6 years — which is about 5 1/2 years longer than most people would probably have predicted.
This aircheck was recorded 12 years ago yesterday, and (in my opinion) represents the era in which the station sounded best.
When I lived in Phoenix, I loved Energy Arizona and had both 101.1 and 92.7 preset on the car radio. 92.7 was the stronger signal in Central Phoenix where I lived but in the northern and eastern reaches of the Valley, a quick flip to 101.1 kept the beat going.
Thanks for posting this!!! I remember this time in Energy’s history and I enjoyed it tremendously. I sure miss Energy and wish it would return to the airwaves on 101.1. However, glad to know that at least there are two dance outlets on the air in Phoenix – 92.7 Pulse Radio and WOW 99.1