Radio One is reshaping its Dallas/Fort Worth cluster starting Monday. The company closes on a $22 million purchase of KKDA-FM and KRNB while divesting KZMJ for $6 million.
What We Know: Radio One acquires Hip Hop “K104” 104.5 KKDA-FM Dallas and Adult R&B “105.7 Smooth R&B” KRNB Decatur from Service Broadcasting. Simultaneously, it sells Adult R&B “Majic 94.5” KZMJ Gainesville to Fuzion Dallas LLC, an Encouragement Media Group entity. The Rickey Smiley Morning Show moves from KZMJ to Hip Hop “97.9 The Beat” KBFB Dallas effective today. Smiley originally launched on KBFB in 2004 before departing in 2017.
What They Said: KZMJ Program Director and middays host Queen Indy Bee addressed listeners directly ahead of the format’s final day. “This is not goodbye, it’s see ya later,” she wrote on Instagram. “To every loyal listener across DFW, thank you for making us part of your days, your drives, and your lives.” She added, “Majic 94.5 — the magic isn’t gone… it’s just getting ready for its next chapter.”
What Remains Unclear: KZMJ’s transition timeline to Spanish Christian “Fuzion” has not been formally announced. It’s also unknown whether any KZMJ air talent will move to other Radio One properties. Additionally, programming details for the newly acquired KKDA-FM and KRNB remain unconfirmed.
What It Means: Radio One is strategically consolidating its DFW presence around Hip Hop and R&B formats. Meanwhile, the return of Smiley to KBFB closes a full circle — he first built his Dallas audience there. The cluster restructuring signals a deliberate push to maximize reach across the market’s Black audience. DFW radio is about to look noticeably different.
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David Hill serves as a Music Radio Editor, Columnist and Features writer for Barrett Media. A radio lifer with more than 30 years behind the mic, in the control room, and in the program director’s chair, David’s career spans influential stops at brands such as WIYY 98 Rock, WBAL-AM, and 99X. He has worked across multiple formats and ownership groups, including iHeartMedia and Cumulus Media, developing talent, breaking music, and navigating every major industry shift from diary to PPM and terrestrial dominance to streaming disruption. When he’s not writing or analyzing the industry, Dave runs The Tune Farm, a marketing firm built to help artists and brands grow audience the same way great radio always has—by creating connection, not just impressions. He can be reached at David@BarrettMedia.com.