While the format debuted during the wave of current-driven hip-hop and R&B stations that sprang up nationally in the late 1990s, KBMB's music direction also consisted of soul, blues, funk, old school, gospel, reggae and pop titles (in rare occasions).
It was marketed as a Rhythmic CHR in 1998 as a way to target beyond the core audience and to attract more mainstream advertisers to the station, while still maintaining an unofficial urban format through its ABC Network affiliation and its own music selection.
It also carried the Tom Joyner Morning Show for a short period upon the station's debut, but actually had both on for a while, after moving Banks to middays, mainly due to the latter personality airing in the afternoon drive in Central and Eastern time zones.
In addition, in its early years, KBMB did grab a handful of listeners from KQBR, which shifted its format from smooth jazz to urban AC.
On January 11, 2010, after months of dismal ratings, KBMB dropped "The Bomb," rebranded as "Hot 103.5", and terminated Nikia Moore, the last of its daily African American air talents.
With the rebrand, the station also shifted from a hip hop-focused approach to a broader contemporary hit direction that includes primarily pop crossovers that would not have been played in the past.
The station would make headlines on November 22, 2016, when, just two days after Kanye West cuts short, and after 30 minutes, abruptly ends, a concert performance at the Golden 1 Center (which would be his final stop on his Saint Pablo Tour, as he would cancel it before checking into a facility for medical treatment), KHHM's then-PD/airstaffer Justin "JayMarzz" Marshall announced that they were done with playing West's songs for good as its morning show made that statement by retaliating with cutting off his single "Fade" before Marshall slammed the rapper for criticizing fans, fellow musicians, and bias towards radio not supporting him.
[6] On July 29, 2019, KHHM, along with sister station KCVR-FM in Modesto, changed their formats to a bilingual rhythmic CHR simulcast, branded as "Fuego 103.5".
As a result, KNTY's coverage is limited to mostly Sacramento County proper, although the primary signal basically covers the urban and more populated portion of the market.
Since its shift from Rhythmic to Mainstream in 2011, KHHM's ratings had been low, making them hard to compete with KSFM and KDND (at the time it was on the air), although it improved somewhat slightly by being first and faster on current Pop hits and playing newer artists like One Direction and Capital Cities.
This was probably done for ratings boost and to leave the clustered Top 40/CHR race, which they came in last every month since flipping formats in 2010, although their return had them facing off with Rhythmic AC rival KHYL as well.
[12] On Sunday mornings, KHHM aired Gospel programming from 6 AM to 12 noon with Tommie Goss from the late 1998 until early 2010 when he left the station for KHYL.
In 2011, KHHM revamped its lineup, with the launch of the "Hot 1035 Hot Morning Mess" with JayMarzz and Roxy featuring the Breakfast Club mix with DJ Tosh, PD Pattie Moreno,"The Latin Diva," in mid-days featuring the Caliente Mix at noon with DJ SN1, Short E in the afternoons, Super Mike in evenings, and RayArea in weekends.
This lineup was changed later on, with Short-E returning to mornings, Jay Marzz taking afternoons, Ray Styles succeeding Super Mike in evenings, and weekends are handled by Jillian.