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{{Multiple issues|
{{Infobox Radio station
{{original research|date=October 2015}}
| name = KTCZ
{{more citations needed|date=October 2015}}
| image = [[Image:KTCZ logo.jpg|200px|Cities 97 logo]]
{{Cleanup bare URLs|date=August 2022}}
| city = [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]]

| area = [[Minneapolis-St. Paul]]
}}
| branding = Cities 97
{{Infobox radio station
| slogan = ''Quality Music From Then And Now''
| name = KTCZ-FM
| airdate = [[1969]]
| logo = [[File:Cities971.png|200px]]
| frequency = 97.1 [[FM band|FM]] ([[Megahertz|MHz]]) {{HD Radio}}<br><small>97.1-2 FM (KTCZ2 ''Studio HD'' - [[Acoustic music|Acoustic]] ([[HD-Radio|HD Radio]])</small>
| city = [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]]
| format = [[Commercial radio|Commercial]]; [[Adult album alternative]]
| area = [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul]]
| power = 100,000 [[watt]]s
| branding = ''Cities 97.1''
| erp =
| language = [[American English|English]]
| class = C
| frequency = {{Frequency|97.1|[[Hertz#SI multiples|MHz]]}} {{HD Radio}}
| callsign_meaning = '''T'''win '''C'''itie'''Z'''
| translators = {{ubl|{{Radio Relay|92.1|K221ES|[[Albertville, Minnesota|Albertville]]|HD2}}|{{Radio Relay|97.7|K249ED|Albertville|HD2}}|{{Radio Relay|99.9|K260BA|[[Coon Rapids, Minnesota|Coon Rapids]]|HD2}}|{{Radio Relay|105.5|K288GR|[[Bayport, Minnesota|Bayport]]|HD2}}|{{Radio Relay|102.5|[[K273BH]]|Minneapolis|HD3}}}}
| former_callsigns = KTCR (1969-1984)
| airdate = January [[1947 in radio|1947]] (as WTCN-FM)
| owner = [[Clear Channel Communications|Clear Channel]]
| format = [[Modern adult contemporary|Modern AC]]
| webcast = [http://www.cities97.com/pages/stream.html Listen Live!]
| subchannels = {{ubl|HD2: [[K-Love]] ([[Contemporary Christian music|Contemporary Christian]])|HD3: [[K273BH|Hot 102.5]] ([[Mainstream urban]])}}
| sister_stations = [[KDWB]], [[KEEY]], [[KFAN (AM)|KFAN]], [[KFXN]], [[KQQL]], KTCZ, [[KTLK-FM|KTLK]]
| erp = 100,000 [[watt]]s
| website = http://www.cities97.com/
| haat = {{convert|315|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| affiliations =
| class = C
| facility_id = 10142
| callsign_meaning = Twin Cities
| former_callsigns = WTCN-FM (1947–1954)<br />KWFM (1954–1969)<br />KTCR-FM (1969–1984)
| affiliations =
| owner = [[iHeartMedia, Inc.]]
| licensee = iHM Licenses, LLC
| sister_stations = {{hlist|[[K244FE]]|[[K273BH]]|[[KDWB-FM]]|[[KEEY-FM]]|[[KFXN-FM]]|[[KQQL]]|[[KTLK (AM)|KTLK]]|[[W227BF]]|}}
| webcast = Analog/HD1: [https://www.iheart.com/live/cities-971-1221/ Listen Live]<br />HD3: [https://www.iheart.com/live/hot-1025-6913/ Hot 102.5 Listen Live]
| website = Analog/HD1: [https://cities971.iheart.com/ cities971.iheart.com]<br />HD3: [https://hot1025.iheart.com/ hot1025.iheart.com]
| licensing_authority= [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]]
}}
}}
'''Cities 97''' ('''KTCZ''' 97.1 [[FM band|FM]]) is an [[adult album alternative]] (AAA or "Triple-A") [[radio station]] broadcasting to the [[Minneapolis-St. Paul|Twin Cities]] market of [[Minnesota]] and neighboring [[Wisconsin]]. The station is well-known for creating the ''[[Cities 97 Sampler]]'' series of recordings, produced since 1989, which are now so popular that they typically sell out within hours of being released.


'''KTCZ-FM''' (97.1 [[Hertz|MHz]]) is a [[commercial radio|commercial]] [[radio station]] [[city of license|licensed]] to [[Minneapolis|Minneapolis, Minnesota]] and serving the [[Minneapolis-St. Paul]] [[media market|radio market]] and Western [[Wisconsin]]. KTCZ airs a hybrid [[modern adult contemporary]] [[radio format]].<ref name="yourmidwestmedia.net">{{cite web |url=http://www.yourmidwestmedia.net/mainsite/markets/msp.html |title=Your Midwest Media - Minneapolis-St. Paul Dial Guide |website=www.yourmidwestmedia.net |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130805234023/http://www.yourmidwestmedia.net/mainsite/markets/msp.html |archive-date=2013-08-05}}</ref> The station is owned and operated by [[iHeartMedia]] and has [[radio studio|studio]]s and offices on Utica Avenue South in [[St. Louis Park, Minnesota|St. Louis Park]].
Cities 97 is owned by [[Clear Channel Communications]]. Its transmitter is located in [[Shoreview, Minnesota]].

KTCZ's [[transmitter]] is located on the [[KMSP Tower]] located off Ramby Avenue near [[Interstate 694]] in [[Shoreview, Minnesota|Shoreview]].<ref>[https://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=ktcz&fileno=&state=&city=&freq=0.0&fre2=107.9&serv=&status=&facid=&asrn=&class=&list=0&ThisTab=Results+to+This+Page%2FTab&dist=&dlat2=&mlat2=&slat2=&NS=N&dlon2=&mlon2=&slon2=&EW=W&size=9 FCC.gov/KTCZ]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?sr=Y&s=C&call=Ktcz&nav=|title=KTCZ-FM 97.1 MHz - Minneapolis, MN|website=radio-locator.com}}</ref> KTCZ broadcasts in the [[HD Radio]] hybrid format. The HD2 subchannel carries [[contemporary Christian music]] from the [[K-Love]] network, and feeds four [[FM translator]] stations, while the HD3 subchannel carries an [[urban contemporary]] format known as "Hot 102.5", and feeds FM translator [[K273BH]] (102.5 FM).

KTCZ has an auxiliary transmitter with an [[effective radiated power]] (ERP) of 40,000 [[Watt|watts]] located at the [[IDS Center]] in [[Downtown Minneapolis]].


==History==
==History==
===WTCN-FM===
The frequency of 97.1 in Minneapolis is one of the oldest FM stations in the Twin Cities, having been established in the late [[1940s]]. The original call letters were '''WTCN''', and its owners eventually started the local [[television]] station with the same name on [[KARE|channel 11]]. By the late-[[1950s]], 97.1's call letters were '''KWFM'''.
The 97.1 frequency was home to one of the first FM stations in the Twin Cities, [[sign-on|signing on]] the air in 1947 as '''WTCN-FM'''.<ref name="collections.mnhs.org">{{Cite web |url=http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=151085 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-06-28 |archive-date=2012-03-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320114656/http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=151085 |url-status=live }}</ref> It was co-owned with WTCN (now [[WWTC]]), one of the oldest radio stations in Minneapolis-St. Paul, having signed on the air in 1925.


In 1949, [[WCCO-TV|WTCN-TV]] was launched on channel 4 with studios at Radio City Theater at 9th Street and LaSalle Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. WTCN's radio studios moved to the TV facility in September 1949, with WTCN-FM joining them by February 1950.<ref name="collections.mnhs.org"/> All three stations were sold in 1952. The TV station was spun off to a new company, [[Midwest Radio and Television]], which also purchased a majority share of [[WCCO (AM)|WCCO Radio]] from [[CBS]] that same year. Midwest changed the call letters to match its newly acquired WCCO, while WTCN-TV was sold to the Minnesota Television Service Corporation headed by St. Paul businessman Robert Butler, a former ambassador to Cuba and Australia. Butler's company quickly applied for a new TV license on channel 11, but had to negotiate for the frequency with the owner of [[KMNV|WMIN]], who also applied for the channel. The two stations, WTCN and WMIN, arranged to share the TV broadcast day, alternating every two hours. This became the area's third TV station on September 1, 1953. The WTCN call sign remained with it until 1985, when it became [[KARE (TV)|WUSA]].
Al Tedesco purchased the station in [[1968]] and operated it as '''KTCR-FM''', mated with its AM sibling of the same name (690 AM). Al Tedesco and his two brothers were inducted into the [http://www.pavekmuseum.org/tedesco.htm Pavek Museum of Radio Hall of Fame]in 2005. Also, some additional history and old off the air recordings (airchecks) of Tedesco's KTCR AM and FM are available at at no cost at the not for profit [http://www.twincitiesradioairchecks.com/ktcrfmtapes.html Twin Cities Radio Airchecks].


===KWFM and KTCR-FM===
In the early 1980s, KTCR-FM was a struggling [[country music]] station. KTCR-FM was up against aggressive competition in the late 1970s and early 1980s, most notably [[KEEY]], and Al Tedesco decided to sell the stations. The stations' new owner, John Parker, dropped the Country format on [[February 8]], [[1984]], and a unique new format was introduced. '''KTCZ''' ("Cities 97") was a different kind of station, featuring [[progressive rock]], [[alternative rock]], [[new age music]] and even [[jazz]]. The station's approach was similar to stations such as [[WXRT]] in Chicago and [[KBCO]] in Denver. KTCZ's other influences reach back even farther, to progressive FM rock stations from the [[1960s]] and [[1970s]], particularly the [[Freeform (radio format)|freeform]] days of [[KQRS]].


WTCN-FM became '''KWFM''' in 1954. Al Tedesco purchased KWFM in [[1968 in radio|1968]], mating it with [[daytimer]] [[KFXN (AM)|KTCR]]. As a result of the sale, the FM station became '''KTCR-FM'''.<ref name="al1">{{cite news |url=http://www.kansas.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/politics/4683054.htm |title=Radio station founder Al Tedesco dies. |agency=Associated Press |date=2002-12-06 |access-date=2005-01-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050525172951/http://www.kansas.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/politics/4683054.htm |archive-date=2005-05-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Tedesco and his two brothers were inducted into the [http://www.pavekmuseum.org/tedesco.htm Pavek Museum of Radio Hall of Fame] in 2005.
[[Image:KTCZold.gif|thumb|right|150px|Former Cities 97 logo]]


In the early 1980s, KTCR-FM was a struggling [[country music]] station, and was up against aggressive competition during this time, most notably from [[KEEY-FM]].
Back then, the term '[[adult album alternative|Triple-A]]' did not even exist. It was a relatively eclectic rock format, far different than any other rock station around. Cities 97 has continued to thrive, building and sustaining a dedicated listening audience. Over time, the jazz and new age music was dropped, and the station went through a few different phases, at various points leaning more toward [[classic rock]] or [[alternative rock]]. Although Parker Communications sold the station back in the early [[1990s]], today's Cities 97 is still similar to the version that debuted in the fall of 1983, though the influence of its current owner can be felt heavily. Until recently, the station surprisingly carried the syndicated talk show "[[Loveline]]", which had gotten strong ratings on the former [[KRXX|KEGE]]. This was considered to be an odd move, since "Loveline" is geared toward a much younger demographic than KTCZ's, and conflicted heavily with their "more music" mandate.


===KTCZ===
On Sunday nights, Cities 97 airs a specialty show featuring local music. Some local music does make its way into fairly regular rotation, but many consider some of the area's [[public radio]] stations to be better sources of music by local artists.
On February 8, 1984, after Tedesco decided to sell his stations to John and Kathleen Parker, KTCR-FM dropped the country format and became '''KTCZ''', "Cities 97" with a mix of [[progressive rock]], [[alternative rock]], [[jazz]] and [[new-age music]], an approach similar to stations such as [[WXRT]] in [[Chicago]] and [[KBCO]] in [[Denver]]. KTCZ's other influences reach back even further, to progressive FM rock stations from the 1960s and 1970s, particularly the [[Freeform (radio format)|freeform]] days of [[KQRS-FM]].<ref>Nick Coleman, "WCCO, KSTP go for the advertising gold at the Winter Olympics," ''The Star Tribune'', February 7, 1984.</ref>


In the 1980s, the term "[[adult album alternative]]" or AAA did not exist. It was a relatively eclectic format, different from any other rock station in the Twin Cities, designed for female as well as male listeners. Over time, the jazz and new-age was dropped, and the station went through a few different phases, at various points leaning more toward [[classic rock]] or [[alternative rock]].
==KTCZ HD2==
On [[April 25]], [[2006]], Clear Channel announced that KTCZ's HD2 subchannel will carry a format focusing on stripped down original acoustic music by today's Triple-A and Rock artists.


Parker Communications sold the station in 1994 to Chancellor Broadcasting.<ref>[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1996/B-Radio_All-BC-YB-1996.pdf Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook page B-224]</ref> In 2000, Chancellor was merged into [[Clear Channel Communications]]. In 2014, Clear Channel was renamed as [[iHeartMedia, Inc.]]
*[http://www.cities97.com/ Cities 97]


The station's original studios and transmitter were located at 38th Street and Minnehaha Avenue in south Minneapolis from at least the mid-1950s until 1985. The tower was short for a full-power FM station, at a [[height above average terrain]] (HAAT) of approximately 150 feet. In 1985, the transmitter was moved to the site of co-owned [[KFXN|KTCJ (AM)]] in [[New Hope, Minnesota|New Hope]], where it was positioned on one of the three AM towers. Later, KTCZ's transmitter was moved to the [[KMSP-TV]] tower in [[Shoreview, Minnesota|Shoreview]], from where most of the other Twin Cities FM stations transmit. [[KMWA]] now uses the New Hope tower.
*[http://www.TwinCitiesRadioAirchecks.com/ TwinCitiesRadioAirchecks.com has old radio airchecks and photos from the 1970's of KTCZ's predecessor, KTCR-FM, at the time, the Twin Cities only country FM station]==External links==

In 2012, the station dropped its longtime "Quality Music from Then and Now" positioner in favor of "Discover New Music", as the format evolved into [[modern adult contemporary]].

On August 20, 2018, at 12 p.m., after promoting a "major announcement" through the prior weekend, the station rebranded slightly to "Cities 97.1", re-adjusting its format to play more songs from its longtime [[adult album alternative]] format, adding music from artists like [[Leon Bridges]] and [[Amy Shark]], and reducing the number of hot AC recurrents. With the changes, KTCZ introduced a new slogan, "Uniquely Twin Cities". The first song under the adjusted format was "[[Beautiful Day]]" by [[U2]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/170049/cities-97-minneapolis-returns-to-aaa-roots/|title=Cities 97 Minneapolis Returns To AAA Roots - RadioInsight|first=Maytableinc|last=Says|date=August 20, 2018|access-date=August 20, 2018|archive-date=August 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821031953/https://radioinsight.com/headlines/170049/cities-97-minneapolis-returns-to-aaa-roots/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/blogs/170068/first-listen-cities-97-1-minneapolis/|title=First Listen: Cities 97.1 Minneapolis - RadioInsight|date=August 23, 2018|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703210615/https://radioinsight.com/blogs/170068/first-listen-cities-97-1-minneapolis/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On February 4, 2019, KTCZ-FM announced its new morning show featuring Hunter Quinn and Mollie Kendrick. Quinn was formerly with [[Seattle]] country station [[KPNW-FM|KNUC]], while Kendrick was promoted from her evening air shift at KTCZ. At the same time, interim morning host Paul Fletcher would return to afternoons. The morning show had been without a permanent host since Keri Noble's exit in November 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/174234/hunter-quinn-mollie-kendrick-take-mornings-at-cities-97-1/|title=Hunter Quinn & Mollie Kendrick Take Mornings At Cities 97.1|date=2019-02-04|website=RadioInsight|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-04|archive-date=2019-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207015025/https://radioinsight.com/headlines/174234/hunter-quinn-mollie-kendrick-take-mornings-at-cities-97-1/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==HD Radio==
{{See also|K273BH}}

===HD2===
On April 25, [[2006 in radio|2006]], Clear Channel Communications announced that KTCZ's HD2 subchannel would broadcast "Studio HD," featuring original [[acoustic rock]] and [[Chill out music|chill music]]. On December 23, 2012, KTCZ-HD2 changed its format to [[sports radio]], branded as "The Score." By Autumn of 2013, "The Score" was replaced by a simulcast of the
"New Music" specialty channel found on the [[IHeartRadio]] online/mobile platform.<ref>[http://www.northpine.com/broadcast/audio/ktczhd2_11302013_1100.mp3 KTCZ-HD2 Legal Identification] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214010417/http://www.northpine.com/broadcast/audio/ktczhd2_11302013_1100.mp3 |date=2013-12-14 }} dated 11/2013 from Northpine.com</ref>

In June 2014, following the flip of co-owned [[KQQL]]'s HD2 channel, KTCZ-HD2 adopted their 1980s music format, branded as "Kool 1-0-80s." It later switched to the [[Educational Media Foundation]]'s "[[Air 1]]" [[Christian rock]] format. At first, Air 1 was simulcast on [[FM translator]] W225AP at 92.9 FM in [[St. Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul]]. It later added two other translators, K221ES (92.1 FM) and K249ED (97.7 FM), both in [[Albertville, Minnesota|Albertville]].

===HD3===
On June 5, 2015, '''KTCZ-HD3''' launched a [[classic hip hop]] format, branded as "Hot 102.5." The HD3 subchannel feeds translator [[K273BH]] at 102.5&nbsp;MHz.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/netgnomes/92893/a-hot-time-coming-in-minneapolis/|title=Classic Hip-Hop Hot 102.5 Minneapolis Debuts - RadioInsight|date=June 5, 2015|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703210604/https://radioinsight.com/headlines/netgnomes/92893/a-hot-time-coming-in-minneapolis/|url-status=live}}</ref> The format shifted to [[urban contemporary]] on February 12, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/134644/hot-102-5-minneapolis-flips-urban/|title=Hot 102.5 Minneapolis Flips To Urban - RadioInsight|date=February 18, 2018|access-date=February 18, 2018|archive-date=February 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219090547/https://radioinsight.com/headlines/134644/hot-102-5-minneapolis-flips-urban/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>http://hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?id=16 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918012507/http://hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?id=16 |date=2016-09-18 }} HD Radio Guide for Minneapolis-St. Paul</ref>

==Studio C==
{{See also|Cities 97 Sampler}}
Studio C is a room located at the radio station, with equipment used to record bands and singers, as well as chairs to accommodate a small audience. Many acts who come to the Twin Cities are invited to Studio C to play a few songs and have some brief fan interactions.

From 1989 to 2018, KTCZ each holiday season would release an [[album]], [[cassette tape]] and/or [[compact disc|CD]], known as the ''[[Cities 97 Sampler]]''. Proceeds would benefit Minnesota charities. Most of the ''Cities 97 Sampler'' tracks were recorded in Studio C in front of a small audience, with the remaining tracks recorded live at local clubs in and around the Twin Cities. Some recordings that did not make the cut for the Cities 97 Sampler can be found on the KTCZ webpage.


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
* (December 6, 2002). [http://www.kansas.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/politics/4683054.htm Radio station founder Al Tedesco dies.] [[Associated Press]].

==External links==
*[https://cities971.iheart.com/ Cities 97.1 official website]
*{{FM station data|10142|KTCZ-FM}}
*{{FCC-LMS-Facility|142406|W225AP}}
*{{FXL|W225AP}}
*{{FCC-LMS-Facility|141753|K260BA}}
*{{FXL|K260BA}}
*{{FCC-LMS-Facility|140150|K273BH}}
*{{FXL|K273BH}}
*{{FCC-LMS-Facility|145809|K288GR}}
*{{FXL|K288GR}}
*[http://radiotapes.com/ Radiotapes.com] - Airchecks of KTCR-FM / KTCZ-FM along with an aircheck of the format switch from country to Cities 97 (plus airchecks and videos of other Twin Cities radio stations)
*[http://www.twincitiesradioairchecks.com/ktcrfmtapes.html TwinCitiesRadioAirchecks.com] - Old radio airchecks and photos from the 1970s of KTCZ's predecessor, KTCR-FM and other Twin Cities radio stations
*[http://radiotapes.com/WWTC/WTCN-FM_1947.pdf Program log from January/February 1947 at Radiotapes.com]
*[http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=113054 WTCN TV & Radio billboard, 1949] from the Minnesota Historical Society
*[http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=151085 WTCN TV & Radio billboard, 1950] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320114656/http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=151085 |date=2012-03-20 }} from the Minnesota Historical Society

{{Minneapolis-St. Paul Radio}}
{{IHeartMedia}}

{{coord|45.058278|N|93.124361|W|type:landmark_region:US_source:FCC|display=title}}


[[Category:Radio stations in Minneapolis–Saint Paul]]
{{MSP FM radio}}
[[Category:Clear Channel radio stations]]
[[Category:Adult album alternative radio stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Adult album alternative radio stations]]
[[Category:HD Radio stations]]
[[Category:HD Radio stations]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1947]]
[[Category:1947 establishments in Minnesota]]
[[Category:IHeartMedia radio stations]]
[[Category:Modern adult contemporary radio stations]]

Latest revision as of 05:48, 5 December 2024

KTCZ-FM
Broadcast areaMinneapolis–Saint Paul
Frequency97.1 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingCities 97.1
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatModern AC
Subchannels
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
January 1947 (as WTCN-FM)
Former call signs
WTCN-FM (1947–1954)
KWFM (1954–1969)
KTCR-FM (1969–1984)
Call sign meaning
Twin Cities
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID10142
ClassC
ERP100,000 watts
HAAT315 m (1,033 ft)
Translator(s)
Links
Public license information
WebcastAnalog/HD1: Listen Live
HD3: Hot 102.5 Listen Live
WebsiteAnalog/HD1: cities971.iheart.com
HD3: hot1025.iheart.com

KTCZ-FM (97.1 MHz) is a commercial radio station licensed to Minneapolis, Minnesota and serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul radio market and Western Wisconsin. KTCZ airs a hybrid modern adult contemporary radio format.[2] The station is owned and operated by iHeartMedia and has studios and offices on Utica Avenue South in St. Louis Park.

KTCZ's transmitter is located on the KMSP Tower located off Ramby Avenue near Interstate 694 in Shoreview.[3][4] KTCZ broadcasts in the HD Radio hybrid format. The HD2 subchannel carries contemporary Christian music from the K-Love network, and feeds four FM translator stations, while the HD3 subchannel carries an urban contemporary format known as "Hot 102.5", and feeds FM translator K273BH (102.5 FM).

KTCZ has an auxiliary transmitter with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 40,000 watts located at the IDS Center in Downtown Minneapolis.

History

[edit]

WTCN-FM

[edit]

The 97.1 frequency was home to one of the first FM stations in the Twin Cities, signing on the air in 1947 as WTCN-FM.[5] It was co-owned with WTCN (now WWTC), one of the oldest radio stations in Minneapolis-St. Paul, having signed on the air in 1925.

In 1949, WTCN-TV was launched on channel 4 with studios at Radio City Theater at 9th Street and LaSalle Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. WTCN's radio studios moved to the TV facility in September 1949, with WTCN-FM joining them by February 1950.[5] All three stations were sold in 1952. The TV station was spun off to a new company, Midwest Radio and Television, which also purchased a majority share of WCCO Radio from CBS that same year. Midwest changed the call letters to match its newly acquired WCCO, while WTCN-TV was sold to the Minnesota Television Service Corporation headed by St. Paul businessman Robert Butler, a former ambassador to Cuba and Australia. Butler's company quickly applied for a new TV license on channel 11, but had to negotiate for the frequency with the owner of WMIN, who also applied for the channel. The two stations, WTCN and WMIN, arranged to share the TV broadcast day, alternating every two hours. This became the area's third TV station on September 1, 1953. The WTCN call sign remained with it until 1985, when it became WUSA.

KWFM and KTCR-FM

[edit]

WTCN-FM became KWFM in 1954. Al Tedesco purchased KWFM in 1968, mating it with daytimer KTCR. As a result of the sale, the FM station became KTCR-FM.[6] Tedesco and his two brothers were inducted into the Pavek Museum of Radio Hall of Fame in 2005.

In the early 1980s, KTCR-FM was a struggling country music station, and was up against aggressive competition during this time, most notably from KEEY-FM.

KTCZ

[edit]

On February 8, 1984, after Tedesco decided to sell his stations to John and Kathleen Parker, KTCR-FM dropped the country format and became KTCZ, "Cities 97" with a mix of progressive rock, alternative rock, jazz and new-age music, an approach similar to stations such as WXRT in Chicago and KBCO in Denver. KTCZ's other influences reach back even further, to progressive FM rock stations from the 1960s and 1970s, particularly the freeform days of KQRS-FM.[7]

In the 1980s, the term "adult album alternative" or AAA did not exist. It was a relatively eclectic format, different from any other rock station in the Twin Cities, designed for female as well as male listeners. Over time, the jazz and new-age was dropped, and the station went through a few different phases, at various points leaning more toward classic rock or alternative rock.

Parker Communications sold the station in 1994 to Chancellor Broadcasting.[8] In 2000, Chancellor was merged into Clear Channel Communications. In 2014, Clear Channel was renamed as iHeartMedia, Inc.

The station's original studios and transmitter were located at 38th Street and Minnehaha Avenue in south Minneapolis from at least the mid-1950s until 1985. The tower was short for a full-power FM station, at a height above average terrain (HAAT) of approximately 150 feet. In 1985, the transmitter was moved to the site of co-owned KTCJ (AM) in New Hope, where it was positioned on one of the three AM towers. Later, KTCZ's transmitter was moved to the KMSP-TV tower in Shoreview, from where most of the other Twin Cities FM stations transmit. KMWA now uses the New Hope tower.

In 2012, the station dropped its longtime "Quality Music from Then and Now" positioner in favor of "Discover New Music", as the format evolved into modern adult contemporary.

On August 20, 2018, at 12 p.m., after promoting a "major announcement" through the prior weekend, the station rebranded slightly to "Cities 97.1", re-adjusting its format to play more songs from its longtime adult album alternative format, adding music from artists like Leon Bridges and Amy Shark, and reducing the number of hot AC recurrents. With the changes, KTCZ introduced a new slogan, "Uniquely Twin Cities". The first song under the adjusted format was "Beautiful Day" by U2.[9][10]

On February 4, 2019, KTCZ-FM announced its new morning show featuring Hunter Quinn and Mollie Kendrick. Quinn was formerly with Seattle country station KNUC, while Kendrick was promoted from her evening air shift at KTCZ. At the same time, interim morning host Paul Fletcher would return to afternoons. The morning show had been without a permanent host since Keri Noble's exit in November 2018.[11]

HD Radio

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See also: K273BH

HD2

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On April 25, 2006, Clear Channel Communications announced that KTCZ's HD2 subchannel would broadcast "Studio HD," featuring original acoustic rock and chill music. On December 23, 2012, KTCZ-HD2 changed its format to sports radio, branded as "The Score." By Autumn of 2013, "The Score" was replaced by a simulcast of the "New Music" specialty channel found on the IHeartRadio online/mobile platform.[12]

In June 2014, following the flip of co-owned KQQL's HD2 channel, KTCZ-HD2 adopted their 1980s music format, branded as "Kool 1-0-80s." It later switched to the Educational Media Foundation's "Air 1" Christian rock format. At first, Air 1 was simulcast on FM translator W225AP at 92.9 FM in St. Paul. It later added two other translators, K221ES (92.1 FM) and K249ED (97.7 FM), both in Albertville.

HD3

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On June 5, 2015, KTCZ-HD3 launched a classic hip hop format, branded as "Hot 102.5." The HD3 subchannel feeds translator K273BH at 102.5 MHz.[13] The format shifted to urban contemporary on February 12, 2018.[14][15]

Studio C

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See also: Cities 97 Sampler

Studio C is a room located at the radio station, with equipment used to record bands and singers, as well as chairs to accommodate a small audience. Many acts who come to the Twin Cities are invited to Studio C to play a few songs and have some brief fan interactions.

From 1989 to 2018, KTCZ each holiday season would release an album, cassette tape and/or CD, known as the Cities 97 Sampler. Proceeds would benefit Minnesota charities. Most of the Cities 97 Sampler tracks were recorded in Studio C in front of a small audience, with the remaining tracks recorded live at local clubs in and around the Twin Cities. Some recordings that did not make the cut for the Cities 97 Sampler can be found on the KTCZ webpage.

References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KTCZ-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "Your Midwest Media - Minneapolis-St. Paul Dial Guide". www.yourmidwestmedia.net. Archived from the original on 2013-08-05.
  3. ^ FCC.gov/KTCZ
  4. ^ "KTCZ-FM 97.1 MHz - Minneapolis, MN". radio-locator.com.
  5. ^ a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-20. Retrieved 2010-06-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ^ "Radio station founder Al Tedesco dies". Associated Press. 2002-12-06. Archived from the original on 2005-05-25. Retrieved 2005-01-25.
  7. ^ Nick Coleman, "WCCO, KSTP go for the advertising gold at the Winter Olympics," The Star Tribune, February 7, 1984.
  8. ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook page B-224
  9. ^ Says, Maytableinc (August 20, 2018). "Cities 97 Minneapolis Returns To AAA Roots - RadioInsight". Archived from the original on August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  10. ^ "First Listen: Cities 97.1 Minneapolis - RadioInsight". August 23, 2018. Archived from the original on July 3, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  11. ^ "Hunter Quinn & Mollie Kendrick Take Mornings At Cities 97.1". RadioInsight. 2019-02-04. Archived from the original on 2019-02-07. Retrieved 2019-02-04.
  12. ^ KTCZ-HD2 Legal Identification Archived 2013-12-14 at the Wayback Machine dated 11/2013 from Northpine.com
  13. ^ "Classic Hip-Hop Hot 102.5 Minneapolis Debuts - RadioInsight". June 5, 2015. Archived from the original on July 3, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  14. ^ "Hot 102.5 Minneapolis Flips To Urban - RadioInsight". February 18, 2018. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  15. ^ http://hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?id=16 Archived 2016-09-18 at the Wayback Machine HD Radio Guide for Minneapolis-St. Paul
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45°03′30″N 93°07′28″W / 45.058278°N 93.124361°W / 45.058278; -93.124361

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