The 1920's

KOY’s roots reach back to 1921 when Phoenix businessman Earl Nielsen received the operating license for experimental radio station 6 BBH with 10 watts of power. Little did Nielsen realize that his experiment in the storage room of his home would ultimately become the oldest radio station in America’s sixth largest city.

In 1922 the station was moved to Nielsen Radio and Supply Company at 311 N. Central Avenue. During the same year 6 BBH received a commercial license for station KFCB which stood for Kind Friends Come Back. The broadcast philosophy was simple – put on the air what the majority of people like to hear, do it in a good natured way and in good taste, and they’ll keep coming back for more. One of the station’s earliest employees was twelve-year-old Barry Goldwater. His first paying job was sweeping the floors at Nielsen’s combination sporting goods store and radio station.

In 1927, Nielsen moved the station to 621 N. Central Avenue (the old Sands Building) across from the Westward Ho Hotel. He inaugurated a new power level of 250 watts the following spring. Then came 1929 and the stock market crash. Jack Williams, who was to become the voice of Arizona, the mayor of Phoenix and the governor of Arizona, was hired by Nielsen. By way of a major frequency reallocation plan taking place, Nielsen took his case for a three-letter call sign to the FRC (Federal Radio Commission) in Washington D.C. and they authorized a change of call letters to KOY on February, 8th 1929. Nielsen hurried home to put up the KOY sign.

Late in the summer of 1929, power was increased again – now to 500 watts. After 1929 the FRC gave no more three-call letter designations.