KTEG launched in October 1994 on the 107.9 frequency (the upper edge of the commercial FM band) with an Alternative rock format that was reaching its peak popularity at that time. It was also active in the local live music scene, bringing more all-ages shows to town, but particularly with its annual "Edgefest" that began in summer 1995. The first two festivals featured mostly obscure line ups such as the band Cake, which played the first festival but was little-known at the time. The Edgefest line-up had gotten stronger in 1997 and in the following years. Some of the bands that would play Edgefest over the years would include The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Marcy Playground, Everclear, Our Lady Peace, Fuel, Limp Bizkit, Kid Rock, Smash Mouth, Nickelback, Incubus, Staind, and P.O.D.. The Edge had also been one of the few local stations to support local bands which would also be part of Edgefest. By the end of the 1990s, KTEG's format had started to shift from anything labeled 'alternative rock' to harder music due to changing trends in modern rock radio at the time, as well as to differentiate from its sister station KPEK, which had a modern adult contemporary format whose playlist at the time was featuring many of the same titles and artists as KTEG. It was purchased by Clear Channel in 1999 from Trumper Communications.