Over the last decade, we’ve gotten used to thinking of Adult Top 40 as a format that rarely launches with big numbers. But two years ago, CKNO (Now 102.3) Edmonton, Alberta, became a quick success with the sort of ’80s/’90s/Now format that was decidedly out of favor. Now, Alpha’s just-launched ’90s-through-today Hot AC KBFF (Live 95.5) Portland, Ore., has gone 1.9–3.6–5.4 6-plus since May (when we took our First Listen) under new PD Keola Lui-Kwan.

There are similarities between the two stations. Both launched with low spotloads—Live 95.5 is imaged heavily around commercial free hours and its Commercial Free Monday and teases three-minute stopsets. Both have a noticeable jock presence somewhere between the “morning show in every daypart” that had taken hold at Hot AC for a while and the completely stripped-down post-PPM presentations heard elsewhere.

Presentationally, Live95.5 has a similar mix of straightforward and attitude liners of the sort heard on WSTR (Star 94) Atlanta recently. One stager suggests that the station’s jocks are “standing by… because with all the commercial-free hours, we can’t afford a chair.” Live 95.5 also talks about being locally owned and operated—a liner that has been used by other stations, but hasn’t always registered with the audience.

Here’s KBFF at 1 p.m., while South African-born middayer Revin is on, with some help from Nielsen BDSRadio:

Nickelback, “Rockstar”
Pink, “Raise Your Glass”
Train, “Hey, Soul Sister”
Orianthi, “According To You”
Foster The People, “Pumped Up Kicks”
Del Amitri, “Roll To Me”
Onerepublic, “Good Life”
Hot Chelle Rae, “Tonight Tonight”
Outkast, “Hey Ya” (with the “just wanna make you come-a” line obscured)
Lifehouse, “Falling In”
Miley Cyrus, “The Climb”
Coldplay, “Viva La Vida”
Rob Thomas, “Lonely No More”
Gwen Stefani, “The Great Escape”
Maroon 5, “Never Gonna Leave This Bed”
Shawn Mullins, “Lullaby”