The frequency had been vacant in Sacramento after KDND, its original user, was taken off the air by owner Entercom in February 2017, with its intellectual property moved to sister station KUDL.

Because any delay associated with the KDND license renewal hearing could derail the timely approval by the FCC of the larger transaction, Entercom moved its format and programming to KUDL (106.5 FM) on February 6, shuttered KDND on February 8, and surrendered the station license to the FCC for cancellation, settling with Media Action Center.

[7] The FCC returned the 107.9 frequency on which KDND was licensed to operate to the agency's inventory of unused channels, to be put up for auction to the highest bidder.

[12] On May 4, 2022, KSTE-FM signed on, beginning a soft launch by stunting with loops of songs relevant to the specific date through May 9, followed by dead air punctuated with cryptic liners themed around listening, interspersed with audio bits pretending to be the results of "listening in" to the queries and discussions of area people using voice assistants.

At the promised time, after airing a one-hour countdown, KSTE-FM debuted a hot adult contemporary format emphasizing 1990s and 2000s hits (as well as some re-currents) as "Kiss 107.9", with "Let's Get It Started" by The Black Eyed Peas being the first song played.