Jump to content

KMNB

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
KMNB
Broadcast areaMinneapolis-St. Paul,Minnesota/Hilltop, Minnesota
Frequency102.9MHz(HD Radio)
Branding102.9 The Wolf
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatCountry
SubchannelsHD2:Talk radio(WCCO)
AffiliationsMinnesota Twins Radio Network
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
1969;55 years ago(1969)
Former call signs
  • WCCO-FM (1969–83)
  • WLTE (1983–2011)
Call signmeaning
"Minnesota Buz'n" (former branding)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID9641
ClassC0
ERP100,000watts
HAAT315 meters (1,033 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
45°03′30″N93°07′28″W/ 45.05833°N 93.12444°W/45.05833; -93.12444
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live(viaAudacy)
Websitewww.audacy.com/1029thewolf

KMNB(102.9MHz,"The Wolf" ) is an AmericancommercialFMradio stationinMinneapolis-St. Paulthat carries acountryradio format.KMNB is owned byAudacy, Inc.Its main transmitter is located on theKMSP TowerinShoreview, Minnesota,with backup facilities on the nearbyTelefarminstallation. The station's studios are located on Second Avenue South inDowntown Minneapolis.

History

[edit]

Early years as WCCO-FM

[edit]

The station began as WCCO-FM in1969.[2]It was the FM counterpart of local powerhouseWCCO,owned by Midwest Communications. As the station was hampered by its limited signal of only 2,700watts,it had to temporarily transmit from theFoshay Towerat reduced power pending the completion of theTelefarmtower facility inShoreview.It carried programming separate from the AM, with a mix ofBeautiful MusicandMORalbum cuts and soft vocals, not unlike the pre-rockKQRS.The station later added two DJ shifts separate from the AM, hosted by Denny Long and Lou Lattson, playing afree-formrock music format, which included someunderground rocktracks, along with full-service elements such as news and weather.

Until1973,the station only operated for the minimum amount of time required to keep the license. In August 1973, when the transmitter was upgraded to full power at 100,000 watts, a broad-based music format was launched. By 1975, the format evolved toadult contemporary music,though WCCO-FM continued to play deeper album tracks than most AC stations. In that same year, WCCO-FM picked up thesyndicated"Dr. DementoShow "for weekends. Personalities included Paul Stagg, Carl Lensgraf, Terri Davis, Tom Ambrose, Curt Lundgren, Johnny Canton, Peter May and Pat O'Neill.Tim Russell,who went on to be a cast member onNPR's "A Prairie Home Companion,"hosted middays and created memorable characters like traffic reporter" Captain Buzz Studley. "

Switch to Top 40

[edit]

WCCO-FM was a modestly successful station until new IDS Center transmitters for competing stations were built in1979.That caused interference to WCCO-FM's broadcast signal. In addition to the interference, the station was affected by a strike at about the same time. The striking FM air staff was temporarily replaced with announcers with little experience, making the station sound unpolished compared to its usual presentation. The station also began to face formidable competition after a relaunch ofKSTP-FM"KS95," with a comparable live AC format. The station gravitated to a stricterplaylistas the 1980s wore on.

In1983,Top 40became a very popular format across the country.WLOL,which picked up the format by 1982, was one of the most successful stations in the market, andKDWBhad moved from AM to the FM band. WCCO-FM also made the switch to Top 40 under Program Director John Long that year. However, results were dismal, and both the format and Long lasted just a few months.

WLTE (1983–2011)

[edit]
Logo as "102.9 Lite FM"

The "Lite" format was introduced later in 1983, along with newcall lettersWLTE.[3]In addition to thesoft adult contemporaryformat, the station switched to all-Christmas musicfrom mid-November to midnight onChristmas,billing itself in that period as "The Official Christmas Music Station". RivalKool 108,anoldiesstation, also programs nothing but Christmas music during this period.

In 1998, the ownership of WLTE, along withsister stationWCCO, went to theInfinity Broadcasting Corporation,asubsidiaryofCBS Radio.[4]

Until the early 2000s, the station had been known as "W-Lite" and "Lite Rock 103 FM," having rounded the frequency up to "103" since the WCCO-FM days. The frequency approximation worked in the days before digital tuners, and it eliminated confusion withKEEY,on 102.1. The station became "102.9 Lite FM" in the mid-2000s, as digital tuners became standard on most FM radios, displaying a station's exact dial position.

Country era (2011–present)

[edit]
Logo as "Buz'n"

In December 2011, WLTE became the subject of format change rumors, amid falling ratings. On December 16, 2011, the station dismissed its entire on-air staff, effective December 23, while also dropping the use of the "Lite FM" moniker, and began promoting "Something Fresh Coming to the Twin Cities." CBS announced on December 19 that the station would switch to acountry musicformat, to be known as "Buz'n 102.9," effective December 26 at 8:00 a.m.[5]However, 102.9 switched to country at 6:00 p.m. on December 25, about 14 hours earlier than originally planned. The final song on "Lite FM" (and as WLTE) was "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer"byElmo & Patsy,while the first (and ultimately last) song on "Buz'n" was "My Kinda Party"byJason Aldean.

On December 26, 2011, WLTE changed its call letters to KMNB to reflect the new branding. WLTE was the last of four CBS Radio stations to drop the AC format in2011after March's flip ofWIADinWashington, D.C.from AC tohot adult contemporary(WWFSinNew York Cityfollowed suit on October 12) andWCFS-FMinChicagoon August 1 that year, when they flipped toall-newsto simulcastWBBM.

At the same time as the format flip, the former "Lite FM" AC format moved to co-ownedKZJK104.1-HD2, replacingsmooth jazz.

On February 2, 2017, CBS Radio announced it would merge withEntercom.[6]The merger was approved on November 9, 2017, and was consummated on the 17th.[7][8]

On November 23, 2018, KMNB began running promos pointing to a change on December 3 at 7 a.m., under the tagline 'the Buzz has worn off'. At that time, KMNB rebranded as “102.9 The Wolf”, keeping its country music format, but slightly tweaking it to be include “yesterday’s country hits”.[9][10][11]

On March 3, 2020, Entercom and theMinnesota Twinsbaseball club announced that all games, in addition to being aired on flagship WCCO, would be simulcast on KMNB for the 2020 baseball season. This arrangement will continue at least through the 2023 season.[12][13]

HD Radio

[edit]

KMNB broadcasts using theHD Radioformat. Itsimulcaststhenews/talkformat of co-ownedAM 830WCCOon the station's HD2 sub-channel, and formerly airedCBS Sports Radioon its HD3 sub-channel.

References

[edit]
  1. ^"Facility Technical Data for KMNB".Licensing and Management System.Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^Broadcasting Yearbook 1964 page B-85
  3. ^Broadcasting Yearbook 1984 page B-138
  4. ^Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2001 page D-240
  5. ^"New country station BUZ'N 102.9 to replace WLTE".Star Tribune.2011-12-19.Retrieved2011-12-19.
  6. ^CBS Radio to Merge with Entercom
  7. ^"Entercom Receives FCC Approval for Merger with CBS Radio".Entercom.November 9, 2017.RetrievedNovember 17,2017.
  8. ^Venta, Lance (November 17, 2017)."Entercom Completes CBS Radio Merger".Radio Insight.RetrievedNovember 17,2017.
  9. ^Buz'n 102.9 Rebrands as "The Wolf"; Adds Thunder
  10. ^Domain Insight 11/29: What's Next for 102.9 Minneapolis?
  11. ^Audio of KMNB's Relaunch as "The Wolf"
  12. ^Minnesota Twins to Air on WCCO & 102.9 The Wolf
  13. ^102.9 The Wolf will simulcast the 830 WCCO radio broadcast of Twins baseball
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=KMNB&oldid=1233092614"