KSTP-FM
Encyclopedia
KSTP-FM is a radio station
serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
area. It is one of the flagship
stations of Hubbard Broadcasting, which also owns several other TV and radio stations across the United States
, along with other properties. They have long been known on-air as "KS95".
Twin Cities stations were experimenting with frequency-modulated
transmissions in the late 1930s. KSTP engineers had started running W9XUP at 29.95 MHz by 1938
. This "ultra-short-wave
" station continued regular broadcasts until at least 1944
. Other Twin Cities stations also experimented with FM, but not as extensively. WCCO operated a low-power station, but it apparently went off the air quickly. WTCN
's FM transmission stayed around longer, but remained intermittent.
Hubbard launched KSTP-FM originally at 102.1 FM in 1947. The station shut down in 1952 and the license was cancelled, but it was re-established in 1965 on its present day 94.5 FM
frequency.
The station occasionally simulcast its AM sister's MOR format, and aired a beautiful music format until 1977. That year, KSTP-FM switched to soft rock
as "KS95", later evolving into adult contemporary and their current Hot AC
format.
The station dropped 1980s
music in July 2010 and imaging was changed from "80s, 90s and Today" to "90s, 2K and today."
KSTP-FM served the radio flagship for the Minnesota Vikings
from 1985-1987.
The station's studios are located on University Avenue at the western edge of St. Paul, just a few steps away from neighboring Minneapolis. There is a large transmitter tower behind the station, though it is not directly used for broadcasts today. Instead, the station broadcasts from the Telefarm paired tower setup in Shoreview
(shared with KSTP-TV
, WCCO-TV
, KARE
, and WUCW
).
The station was one of 10 stations awarded the 2007 Crystal Radio Award for public service awarded by the National Association of Broadcasters
. Winners were honored at the Radio Luncheon on April 17, 2007, during the NAB Show in Las Vegas, Nevada
.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul, 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...
area. It is one of the flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
stations of Hubbard Broadcasting, which also owns several other TV and radio stations across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, along with other properties. They have long been known on-air as "KS95".
History
Frequency modulation
In telecommunications and signal processing, frequency modulation conveys information over a carrier wave by varying its instantaneous frequency. This contrasts with amplitude modulation, in which the amplitude of the carrier is varied while its frequency remains constant...
transmissions in the late 1930s. KSTP engineers had started running W9XUP at 29.95 MHz by 1938
1938 in radio
The year 1938 saw a number of significant events in radio broadcasting.-Events:*13 March: CBS carries the first-ever point-to-point news roundup, including Edward R. Murrow's first live report, as part of its coverage of the Anschluss in Austria...
. This "ultra-short-wave
Very high frequency
Very high frequency is the radio frequency range from 30 MHz to 300 MHz. Frequencies immediately below VHF are denoted High frequency , and the next higher frequencies are known as Ultra high frequency...
" station continued regular broadcasts until at least 1944
1944 in radio
The year 1944 saw a number of significant happenings in radio broadcasting history.-Events:*11 January: Fireside chat: State of the Union Message to Congress....
. Other Twin Cities stations also experimented with FM, but not as extensively. WCCO operated a low-power station, but it apparently went off the air quickly. WTCN
WWTC
WWTC is a long-standing radio station serving the Twin Cities region. Despite its up-and-down history, the station spawned two of the area's major television stations and had some very innovative and unusual periods in its history...
's FM transmission stayed around longer, but remained intermittent.
Hubbard launched KSTP-FM originally at 102.1 FM in 1947. The station shut down in 1952 and the license was cancelled, but it was re-established in 1965 on its present day 94.5 FM
KSTP-FM
KSTP-FM is a radio station serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota area. It is one of the flagship stations of Hubbard Broadcasting, which also owns several other TV and radio stations across the United States, along with other properties...
frequency.
The station occasionally simulcast its AM sister's MOR format, and aired a beautiful music format until 1977. That year, KSTP-FM switched to soft rock
Soft rock
Soft rock is a style of music which uses the techniques of rock music to compose a softer, more toned-down sound. Soft rock songs generally tend to focus on themes like love, everyday life and relationships. The genre tends to make heavy use of acoustic guitars, pianos, synthesizers and sometimes...
as "KS95", later evolving into adult contemporary and their current Hot AC
Adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music is a broad style of popular music that ranges from lush 1950s and 1960s vocal music to predominantly ballad-heavy music with varying degrees of rock influence, as well as a radio format that plays such music....
format.
The station dropped 1980s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
music in July 2010 and imaging was changed from "80s, 90s and Today" to "90s, 2K and today."
KSTP-FM served the radio flagship for the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
from 1985-1987.
The station's studios are located on University Avenue at the western edge of St. Paul, just a few steps away from neighboring Minneapolis. There is a large transmitter tower behind the station, though it is not directly used for broadcasts today. Instead, the station broadcasts from the Telefarm paired tower setup in Shoreview
Shoreview, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there are 25,377 people, Males: 12,303 , Females: 13,074 , 9,965 households, and 7,021 families residing in the city. The population density is 2,315.9 people per square mile . There are 10,127 housing units at an average density of 919.2 per square mile...
(shared with KSTP-TV
KSTP-TV
KSTP-TV, channel 5, is the ABC affiliate for the Twin Cities. Its transmitter is located at the Shoreview Telefarm. It is the flagship station of Hubbard Broadcasting, which also owns several other broadcasting properties across the United States....
, WCCO-TV
WCCO-TV
WCCO-TV, is the CBS owned and operated television station that serves the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota. Its transmitter is at the Telefarm complex in Shoreview, Minnesota.- History :...
, KARE
KARE
KARE, digital channel 11, is an NBC-affiliated television station licensed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota and portions of western Wisconsin. It also operates KARE WX NOW, formerly known as NBC Weather Plus on its second digital subchannel...
, and WUCW
WUCW
WUCW is an affiliate of The CW serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota. The station is currently owned and operated by the Sinclair Broadcast Group....
).
Awards
KSTP-FM has also won numerous Marconi and Crystal Awards from the National Association of Broadcasters, noting the station's dominance in its format and dedication to community service.The station was one of 10 stations awarded the 2007 Crystal Radio Award for public service awarded by the National Association of Broadcasters
National Association of Broadcasters
The National Association of Broadcasters is a trade association, workers union, and lobby group representing the interests of for-profit, over-the-air radio and television broadcasters in the United States...
. Winners were honored at the Radio Luncheon on April 17, 2007, during the NAB Show in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
.
Club95
In March 2008 along with a new website KS95 launched Club95, a social networking site for both the listeners and the on-air personalities.External links
- KSTP-FM official website
- Club95
- Radiotapes.com Historic Minneapolis/St. Paul airchecks dating back to 1924 including KS95 and other Twin Cities radio stations.
- Rick Burnett's TwinCitiesRadioAirchecks.com Historical recording of KSTP and other Twin Cities Radio stations.