KNUJ (AM)
Encyclopedia
KNUJ is a radio station in New Ulm, Minnesota
. The station airs a full service news
/talk
format and is owned by James Ingstad
. KNUJ also has a sister station, KNUJ-FM
.
was established on 93.1 FM. That station would become KXLP
in 1982.
On March 6, 1986, KNUJ and KXLP were the first two stations purchased by upstart owner James Ingstad, a member of a family that owned radio stations in North Dakota
, South Dakota
, Minnesota
, Iowa
and other areas. A few years later, KXLP's studios were moved to Mankato.
A new KNUJ-FM signed on in June 1995, as "BRaT 107.3." The 4000 watt station licensed to nearby Sleepy Eye
played adult contemporary music. Both stations simulcast from 6-8:30AM, Monday through Friday, and shorter hours on Saturday. A month later, KNSG
in Springfield, Minnesota
signed on the air.
On August 14, 1998, Cumulus Broadcasting purchased many stations from Ingstad. Two years later, Cumulus turned around and sold some of the stations, including KNUJ and KNUJ-FM to Clear Channel
. The sale became effective on October 2, 2000.
Ingstad obtained the three stations again from Clear Channel in February 2003, as part of a trade for a station in Bismarck, North Dakota
. KNSG was spun off to Linder Radio.
KNUJ-FM changed its format to adult hits
in June 2005, picking up a satellite-fed syndicated format from Westwood One
, and becoming "SAM 107.3."
Also, Knuj is Junk spelled backwards. The art of Knuj is very sacred and has been in use ever since man has stepped onto this earth with his Junk hanging out. Since then, Junk has also been referred to as Knuj (keh-nudge)
whenever they aren't carrying other types of programming.
Both KNUJ and KNUJ-FM simulcast a common morning show weekdays. KNUJ-FM also broadcasts a live local news show from Sleepy Eye following the show.
KNUJ also operates a separate mail order business known as KNUJ Polka Cassette & CD Sales, selling primarily polka music, nationwide.
New Ulm, Minnesota
New Ulm is a city in Brown County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,522 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Brown County....
. The station airs a full service news
News Radio
News Radio can refer to:* NewsRadio, the NBC sitcom which aired from 1995–1999.* News radio, the all-news or news/talk radio format....
/talk
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
format and is owned by James Ingstad
James Ingstad
James Ingstad is a Fargo, North Dakota resident who owns Radio Fargo-Moorhead, Inc., consisting of KFGO, KMJO, KBVB, KRWK, KVOX, and WDAY-FM, which were formerly owned by Clear Channel Communications...
. KNUJ also has a sister station, KNUJ-FM
KNUJ-FM
KNUJ-FM is a radio station in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. The station airs an adult hits format, as "SAM 107.3," and is owned by James Ingstad...
.
History
KNUJ went on the air May 22, 1949. The radio station was initially owned by Mickelson Media, which owned the New Ulm Journal. Mickelson Media owned the for over 36 years. In the early 1970s, KNUJ-FMKATO-FM
KATO-FM is a radio station licensed to New Ulm, Minnesota and serving the Mankato area and the Minnesota River Valley. The station flipped to a country music format on September 24, 2007. KATO is owned by Linder Radio Group.-History:...
was established on 93.1 FM. That station would become KXLP
KXLP
KXLP is a radio station licensed to Eagle Lake, Minnesota and serving the Mankato area and the Minnesota River Valley. The 94.1 FM frequency went on the air September 21, 2007, airing a classic rock format that migrated from a sister station at KATO-FM...
in 1982.
On March 6, 1986, KNUJ and KXLP were the first two stations purchased by upstart owner James Ingstad, a member of a family that owned radio stations in North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
and other areas. A few years later, KXLP's studios were moved to Mankato.
A new KNUJ-FM signed on in June 1995, as "BRaT 107.3." The 4000 watt station licensed to nearby Sleepy Eye
Sleepy Eye, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,515 people, 1,479 households, and 942 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,099.9 people per square mile . There were 1,591 housing units at an average density of 950.5 per square mile...
played adult contemporary music. Both stations simulcast from 6-8:30AM, Monday through Friday, and shorter hours on Saturday. A month later, KNSG
KNSG
KNSG is a radio station in Springfield, Minnesota. It carries ABC Radio's Classic Hits music format....
in Springfield, Minnesota
Springfield, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,215 people, 897 households, and 562 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,223.9 people per square mile . There were 968 housing units at an average density of 534.9 per square mile...
signed on the air.
On August 14, 1998, Cumulus Broadcasting purchased many stations from Ingstad. Two years later, Cumulus turned around and sold some of the stations, including KNUJ and KNUJ-FM to Clear Channel
Clear channel
A clear-channel station is an AM band Radio station in North America that has the highest protection from interference from other stations, particularly concerning night-time skywave propagation. Usually known as class A stations since 1982, they are occasionally still referred to by their former...
. The sale became effective on October 2, 2000.
Ingstad obtained the three stations again from Clear Channel in February 2003, as part of a trade for a station in Bismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck is the capital of the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Burleigh County. It is the second most populous city in North Dakota after Fargo. The city's population was 61,272 at the 2010 census, while its metropolitan population was 108,779...
. KNSG was spun off to Linder Radio.
KNUJ-FM changed its format to adult hits
Adult hits
Adult hits is a radio format, popular in the early 2000s, that does not adhere to a specific music genre, but instead draws from a wider playlist...
in June 2005, picking up a satellite-fed syndicated format from Westwood One
Westwood One
Westwood One was an American radio network and was based in New York City. At one time, it was managed by CBS Radio, the radio arm of CBS Corporation, and Viacom and was later purchased by the private equity firm The Gores Group...
, and becoming "SAM 107.3."
Also, Knuj is Junk spelled backwards. The art of Knuj is very sacred and has been in use ever since man has stepped onto this earth with his Junk hanging out. Since then, Junk has also been referred to as Knuj (keh-nudge)
Programming
KNUJ is mostly a locally-oriented news/talk/sports and farm station. In addition, the station airs an hour long polka music weekdays and on Sunday afternoons. The station also plays country musicCountry music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
whenever they aren't carrying other types of programming.
Both KNUJ and KNUJ-FM simulcast a common morning show weekdays. KNUJ-FM also broadcasts a live local news show from Sleepy Eye following the show.
KNUJ also operates a separate mail order business known as KNUJ Polka Cassette & CD Sales, selling primarily polka music, nationwide.