KQQL
| Broadcast area | Minneapolis-St. Paul |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 107.9 FM (MHz) (HD Radio)
107.9-2 FM (KQQL2 Kool 10-80's - 80's Hits (HD Radio) |
| Branding | Kool 108 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Commercial; Oldies/Classic Hits |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Clear Channel |
| KDWB, KEEY, KFAN, KFXN, KTCZ, KTLK | |
| History | |
First air date | 1960s |
Former call signs | KTWN, KGBB, KMGW, KMGK |
Call sign meaning | Kool |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 54457 |
| Class | C |
| ERP | 96,000 watts |
| HAAT | 333 meters |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | kool108.com |
KQQL ("Kool 108", 107.9 FM) is an oldies/classic hits music formatted radio station serving the Twin Cities region of Minnesota, licensed to the suburb of Anoka. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications, and primarily plays rock and pop music from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
They are also known as "The Twin Cities' Christmas Superstation" and play Christmas music from after Thanksgiving to midnight on Christmas, competing with 102.9 Lite FM. In 2008, KQQL flipped the Christmas switch earlier than ever, the weekend of November 15. No doubt in response to Lite FM switching earlier in the week.
KQQL also airs classic American Top 40 from the 1970s and 1980s hosted by Casey Kasem. It is one of a handful of stations in the state to broadcast digital radio using iBiquity's HD Radio format.
History
In the 1970s, KTWN-FM cycled through several formats, including beautiful music, a short stint with classical music, then a full-service MOR format, focusing on the northern suburbs of the Twin Cities. From 1978 to 1984, they carried a jazz format. A switch to a light adult contemporary/oldies hybrid followed, first as KGBB ("B108"), then "Magic 108" with the call letters KMGW (later KMGK). The station's signal limitations were a hindrance as they faced competition from the larger WLTE and KS95.
Finally, the station was reborn as KQQL (Kool 108) in September 1988, became the first true FM oldies station in the Twin Cities area.
The oldies format originally spanned the era of the late 1950s through the 1960s. By 2000, they had gravitated toward hits of the 1960s and 1970s (with the occasional early 1980s song thrown in). For a brief time, they were the FM flagship for Minnesota Vikings football (simulcasting with KFAN).
The format was tweaked again in 2006, to a oldies/classic hits hybrid, positioning themselves as "Super Hits of the 60's & 70's", though they include some 1980s hits also. Kool 108 also began airing classic American Top 40 from the 1970s hosted by Casey Kasem. The station started playing less 1980s music starting in September 2007 in response to creation of Love 105. For a short time, Kool 108 also aired classic 1980s American Top 40 shows, but the station dropped the AT40 '80s broadcasts after they cut back on playing '80s music.
April 28th, 2009 KOOL released all of their on-air personalities including Morning Drive host Lois Mae; and radio icon, Dan Donovan. Disk Jockeys on KQQL will now be voice tracked from other ClearChannel Stations with news coming from KOA-AM In Denver, CO.
KQQL HD2
On April 25, 2006, Clear Channel announced that KQQL's HD2 subchannel will carry a format focusing on hit music from the 1980s. The HD2 station, called "Kool 10-80's", is showcasing every song to ever hit the Top 40 in the 80's.
External links
- Kool 108
- KQQL-HD2's "Kool 10-80's"
- Facility details for Facility ID KQQL ({{{2}}}) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- {{{2}}} in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
- Radiotapes.com Featuring historic airchecks of KTWN-FM, B108 and KQQL-FM along with other Twin Cities radio stations.
- Rick Burnett's TwinCitiesRadioAirchecks.com Old recordings and photos of KTWN and other Twin Cities radio stations.