KBTE signed on the air as KDOA in 1988. The station has aired a Rhythmic music format since 2003, with a heavy emphasis on R&B/Hip-Hop hits. Before the station acquired the urban contemporary format, KBTE was an active rock station as "The Bat"; however the station began stunting with loops of The Go-Go's1980s song "We Got The Beat" before the launch of The Beat.