The X KXRX

According to the SeaTac Radio Blog[1] The X derived its name in homage to the now silent KXRX 96.5 FM Seattle which debuted January 5, 1987 with the largest entry level ratings share in Seattle market history.

KXRX's relatively short tenure in the Seattle market was a momentous one, with "The X" establishing itself as one of the first major radio stations to play "grunge," a wave of popular music originating in the Pacific Northwest and soon spanning the globe. The station helped launch the careers of groups such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains, and featured a high-profile corps of deejays that included Mike West, Robin Erickson, John Maynard, and British-born Norman B. (Batley), who introduced listeners to "Seattle Blues," a Sunday night show that drew a large and devoted following.[2]

Bart Becker of The Seattle Weekly wrote that Norman B. was "stirring up the Sunday night radio waves" and "breaking the sound barrier."[3] Prompted by the success of "Seattle Blues," KXRX unveiled a new weekly new music show hosted by Norman B. called, "The Xtra Hour."[4]

After seven years of "feisty, personality-oriented album rock," KXRX was sold by Shamrock Broadcasting to Alliance Broadcasting.[5]

Streaming costs are subsidized by private donations and Rockstar Multimedia in an effort to keep The X as commercial free as fiscally possible. Technology services such as the web site and related IT services have been provided through a strategic partnership with PacWest Media.[6]

For the bulk of its schedule KXRX (The X) broadcasts a commercial free mix from a variety of rock genres which include Alternative, Classic, Indie, Modern, and Metal. The station also offers several content driven shows.

The band Green Jellÿ owes its big break to The X KXRX. The station in Seattle, Washington, played "Three Little Pigs" as a joke, but instead the station's phones lit up and it became a local hit. This caused Zoo to issue the EP Green Jellö SUXX, consisting of four songs from Cereal Killer, which in turn led to "Three Little Pigs" becoming a hit on The Box (A pay-per-play cable-TV jukebox network). By early 1993, the song was gaining airplay around the country, and after appearing on MTV Headbanger's Ball, everything exploded. MTV added the video and the full-length audio album Cereal Killer Soundtrack was finally released in April 1993.