Its original owners were Hugh G., Charles A., and Mareby Cardella Shurtliff, and Cleo Agnes Center.

[5] On July 13, 1948, Santa Maria Broadcasting sold KSMA to John M. Poole for $20,750; the deal was approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) December 9.

[10] It was one of the original stations of the San Francisco 49ers radio network that began airing games during the inaugural 1949 All-America Football Conference season.

Following Groom's death in 1976, in accordance with his will, the FCC granted Hagerman complete control of the licenses of KSMA and its FM sister station KSMA-FM.

[12] In January 1980, Hagerman and Nona Groom sold KSMA AM and FM to Bayliss Broadcasting Company for $1.4 million.

[19] In July 2007, KSMA and KSNI-FM were among 16 Clear Channel stations in California and Arizona purchased by El Dorado Broadcasters for $40 million.