KBEA-FM

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KBEA
First air date February 1949
Frequency 99.7 MHz
Broadcast area   Muscatine, Iowa; Quad Cities
Style Top 40
Group Cumulus Media

KBEA-FM is a radio station licensed to Muscatine, Iowa, whose format is Top 40. The station's frequency is 99.7 MHz, and broadcasts at a power of 100 kW.

KBEA (commonly known as "B100") is owned by Cumulus Media, with studios located in Davenport, Iowa (along with the co-located KORB-FM, WXLP, KBOB-FM and KJOC).

Contents

[edit] Frequency history

[edit] KWPC-FM (1949-late 1960s) and KFMH-FM (late 1960s-1973)

The Muscatine allocation for 99.7 MHz dates to February 1949, when the station signed on as KWPC-FM, a sister station to KWPC (860 AM). The studios for both stations were located on the outskirts of Muscatine.

Early in its history, KWPC-FM -- like most FM stations of the 1950s and 1960s -- played beautiful, easy listening music. In the late 1960s, the station's call letters changed to KFMH, but easy listening music continued on the frequency for several more years.

[edit] KFMH-FM (1973-1994)

In June 1973, KFMH underwent a major format change, with the station now playing alternative rock, which had gained widespread popularity on the west coast. KFMH ("99 Plus" and "The Pirate FM" was how it was commonly known) soon gained a devoted, fiercely loyal audience, as the station played lesser-known and local artists in a variety of genres -- rock, jazz, blues, folk, etc. Plus, KFMH's disc jockeys played album cuts from popular artists. The station was known for pushing the envelope at times, but it also would change programming at a moment's notice (such as when word spread about the shooting death of John Lennon in 1980).

In 1993, KFMH moved to Davenport, where continued its alternative format for a year.

According to http://home.swbell.net/pjdyer/fmmap/iafmes96.htm (through Dec 31, 1996) the first air date was 07-12-78 and the last air date was 05-08-92.

[edit] KBOB-FM (1994-2000)

In March 1994, the 99.7 MHz frequency was sold to New York-based Connoisseur Communications, which changed the call letters to KBOB and its format to country (as a competitor to the Quad Cities-market's WLLR-FM). These changes outraged many loyal KFMH listeners, who feared there would no longer be a radio outlet for "alternative" music (in lieu of stations programmed by consultants); speculation that the format would move to an AM frequency in the Quad Cities never materialized. More than a decade after KFMH's demise, some fans still sorely miss the station's eclectic blend of music and programming.

KBOB, meanwhile, debuted to promising ratings. Part of what set the new station apart was inclusion of songs WLLR had since removed from its playlist (radio spots pointed this out). However, KBOB -- which later was sold to Cumulus Media -- soon languished behind the powerhouse stations in the Quad Cities market, especially WLLR, despite having the advantage of broadcasting at 100 kW; until March 1998, WLLR broadcast on a frequency whose power was 50 kW.

[edit] KBEA-FM "B100" (2000-current)

In March 2000, KBOB switched to 104.9 MHz, usurping that frequency's light rock format. 99.7 MHz then adopted its current Top 40 format and "B100" call sign.

[edit] External links


Broadcast radio in the Quad Cities market  (Arbitron DMA #143)

[edit] AM radio

KJOC 1170 (talk radio) • WFXN 1230 (Fox Sports Radio affiliate) •
WKBF 1270 ("Truth 1270", Christmas) • WOC 1420 (news/talk)

[edit] FM radio

KALA 88.5 (St. Ambrose University) • WDLM 89.3 (Religious) • WVIK 90.3 (Augustana College, NPR) • KQCS 93.5 ("Star 93.5", adult contemporary hits) • KMXG 96.1 ("Mix 96", adult contemporary hits) • WXLP 96.9 ("97 Rock", hard rock) • WLKU 98.9 ("K-Love", Christian contemporary satellite network) • KBEA 99.7 ("B100", Top 40) • KUUL 101.3 (oldies from the 1960s and 1970s) • WLLR 103.7 ("No. 1 Country," country music) • KBOB-FM 104.9 ("The River 104.9," country music) • KCQQ 106.5 ("Q 106.5", classic rock)
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