KBMS

KBMS

City of license	Vancouver, Washington
Broadcast area	Portland, Oregon
Branding	KBMS Radio
Slogan	Portland's Best Music Station
Frequency	1480 kHz
First air date	February 2, 1956 (as KRIV)
Format	Urban Adult Contemporary
Power	1,000 watts day 2,500 watts night
Class	B
Facility ID	11162
Transmitter coordinates
Callsign meaning	K Best Music Station
Former callsigns	KRIV (1956-1958) KPVA (1958-1960) KVAN (1960-1980) KARO (1980-1981) KAAR (1981-1988)
Affiliations	ABC Radio
Owner	Seattle Medium (Christopher H. Bennett Broadcasting of Washington, Inc.)
Webcast	Listen Live
Website	kbmsradio.com

KBMS (1480 AM) is a radio station broadcasting an Urban Adult Contemporary format. Licensed to Vancouver, Washington, USA, it serves the Portland, Oregon area. The studios are in Vancouver, while the transmitter site is in North Portland at the Smith and Bybee Refuge.

On February 2, 1956, 1480 AM began operations as KRIV in Camas, Washington. On December 30, 1961 the transmitter and additional studio were moved from 1916 N.E. 2nd Ave., in Camas, to 12640 N. Farr Rd. on Hayden Island, Oregon. The location was in the N.W. corner parking area at "Jantzen Beach Amusement Park", which today is about where "Video Only" is at 1860 N. Hayden Island Dr. The studio was in a small building which stood a few feet above ground.

The station is currently owned by the Seattle Medium. KBMS is known in Portland's African-American community. KBMS is the only Urban AC station in the Pacific Northwest.

KBMS carries the Tom Joyner Morning Show, "Keeping it Real" with The Reverend Al Sharpton, as well as "Trending Today" with Carl Nelson.

External links

• Query the FCC's AM station database for KBMS
• Radio-Locator Information on KBMS
• Query Nielsen Audio's AM station database for KBMS
• FCC History Cards for KBMS