In the century-plus history of this Bay Area frequency, KBFN holds the distinction of being the softest-lived set of call letters.
The station existed from the spring of 1989 until the summer of 1990, preceded (and followed) by KBLX.
The switch from the simulcast of the KBLX-FM signal to a syndicated business news service called Money Radio Network was an acknowledgment that AM stations were facing an existential crisis. By 1989, more than 75% of radio listening was on the FM band. KBLX had a particular problem: listeners could hear the same “Quiet Storm” format in better fidelity on its sister station.
General manager Harvey Stone acknowledged to the Oakland Tribune, “We’re taking a gamble on it. It’s never going to be a number 1 station, but I’m confident the business format will boost my ad revenues and increase my market share.”
At the very least, Money Radio Network programming helped Stone cut costs at KBLX. His arrangement with the service gave Money News six minutes an hour of advertising time it could sell. The content included Investor’s Club of the Air, hosted by Money News Network co-owner Ed “Buz” Schwartz.
It didn’t last long. By the summer of 1990, owner Inner City Broadcasting decided to switch back to the KBLX simulcast (and resume use of the KBLX call letters at 1400 on the dial).
General manager Stone told the San Francisco Chronicle, “The bottom line is that I’m not making any money on it. Radio itself is tough. But the business niche is small.”
On August 6, 1990 the station reverted to KBLX.
