KOME
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| City | San Jose, California |
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| Frequency | 98.5 MHz |
| Format | Rock |
| Former callsigns | KRPM (1959–1971) KOME (1971–1998) |
KOME was a radio station in San Jose, California, heard at 98.5 FM from 1971 through 1998. Currently, the 98.5 FM frequency is home to KUFX ("K-Fox").
In 1959, Edward W. Meece, one of the founders of Pacifica Radio, formed The Audio House, Inc and started a new radio station, KRPM at 98.5 FM in San Jose, California. KRPM's format was classical music.
Meece sold The Audio House, Inc, with KRPM, for roughly $300,000 in February 1971 to Mel Gollub of Pennsylvania and Ron Cutler. The station's call letters were changed to KOME, and the format became free-form rock. KOME first originated from studios in the Pruneyard Shopping Center in Campbell in the Tower building on the 13th floor. Later, it moved to an old house on The Alameda in San Jose. DJs included Cese McGowan, Uncle Jack Tossman, J. William Weed, Gary T., Phil Charles, Victor Boc, Wolf, Wapaho Joe, Joe Kelly, Captain Reif/Jim Reifschnieder, Mark Sherry, and Mother Deal. In 1973 a group of New Yorkers led by former Metromedia executives Michael A. Wiener and Gerald Carrus, who later assumed themselves as Infinity Broadcasting acquired KOME as the first of many stations to come. They hired radio veteran Bob Simmons to become their Program Director and moved the station to a location on Winchester Blvd near Payne Avenue in San Jose.
KOME attracted a loyal South Bay rock audience throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s, against original San Jose FM rock rival KSJO. Both stations managed to attract listeners within neighboring San Francisco against Tom Donahue's well-known KSAN.
KOME's diamond shaped stickers were a common sight on vehicles and high school lockers around the area. Several on-air slogans suggested the sexual connotations of its call letters, probably the most memorable being "Don't touch that dial, it's got "KOME" on it!" as well as others saying things like "K-O-M-E all over your radio dial," "You've got KOME... oozing out of your speakers," "Wake up with KOME in your ear," and "The KOME spot on your radio dial." Not surprisingly, Playboy magazine found this newsworthy enough to mention the station.
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