KBON FM 101.1

Broadcasting an Americana format with deep roots in the musical traditions of south Louisiana, this FM station has served rural portions of the Lafayette and Alexandria radio markets since its launch in late 1997. The station was the creation of Paul Marx, a DJ and nightclub owner from Crowley, Louisiana, who sought to replicate the eclectic mix he curated at live events. The format blends Cajun music, zydeco, and swamp pop with traditional country-western, blues, soul, and rhythm and blues. Station DJs have historically broadcast in a mixture of English and Cajun French, reflecting the cultural heritage of the region. Licensed to Mamou, Louisiana, with studios located in downtown Eunice, the station gained national attention in 2003 when a Washington Post reporter traveled specifically to visit its facilities, describing the experience as encountering authentic, community-rooted radio in contrast to the homogenized corporate formats dominant elsewhere. The station was originally assigned the call letters KAHK-FM as a construction permit in 1994 before adopting its current identity shortly before signing on. Online streaming expanded its reach to a worldwide audience of listeners interested in Louisiana's distinctive musical heritage. Marx, who built the station from his passion for regional music, died in 2019 at the age of 71.