Post by Jeremiah Kubiak on Jan 13, 2007 4:36:26 GMT -5
K102 (KEEY 102.1 FM) is a country music station serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul market of Minnesota. It is the most popular country station in the area, and often comes in just below area powerhouses KQRS and WCCO in overall ratings. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications. Its transmitter is located in Shoreview, Minnesota.
History
The original call letters for 102.1 were KSTP-FM, and the station was partnered with Hubbard Broadcasting's AM station of the same name. Hubbard would eventually sell the station and relocate KSTP-FM to its present day location at 94.5.
Much of 102.1's early history is intertwined with former sister station WMIN 1400 AM. KEEY ("Key") took off in 1968 by programming Drake-Chenault's automated "Hit Parade '68", an adult version of the format found on KHJ in Los Angeles. Drake's promotional materials indicate it was targeted to the 18-49 age group, for "those people who may not like Top 40 as a steady diet, and those who are not particularly fond of some of the outdated middle of the road (MOR) stations".
In 1971, KEEY-FM switched to beautiful music, along with their AM sister station of the same name. The FM station was later co-owned with another AM station, WDGY. They switched to their current country music format in 1982, and quickly became a dominant force in the market.
KEEY HD2
On April 25, 2006, Clear Channel announced that KEEY's HD2 subchannel will carry a format focusing on new hits from today's and up-and-coming Country music stars.
History
The original call letters for 102.1 were KSTP-FM, and the station was partnered with Hubbard Broadcasting's AM station of the same name. Hubbard would eventually sell the station and relocate KSTP-FM to its present day location at 94.5.
Much of 102.1's early history is intertwined with former sister station WMIN 1400 AM. KEEY ("Key") took off in 1968 by programming Drake-Chenault's automated "Hit Parade '68", an adult version of the format found on KHJ in Los Angeles. Drake's promotional materials indicate it was targeted to the 18-49 age group, for "those people who may not like Top 40 as a steady diet, and those who are not particularly fond of some of the outdated middle of the road (MOR) stations".
In 1971, KEEY-FM switched to beautiful music, along with their AM sister station of the same name. The FM station was later co-owned with another AM station, WDGY. They switched to their current country music format in 1982, and quickly became a dominant force in the market.
KEEY HD2
On April 25, 2006, Clear Channel announced that KEEY's HD2 subchannel will carry a format focusing on new hits from today's and up-and-coming Country music stars.