KGRC

KGRC
City of license Hannibal, Missouri
Broadcast area Quincy, Illinois
Hannibal, Missouri
Keokuk, Iowa
Slogan "Real Life, Real Music"
Frequency 92.9 (MHz)
Format Top 40 (CHR)
ERP 100,000 watts
Owner STARadio Corporation
Sister stations KZZK, WQCY, WCOY
Website http://www.real929.com

KGRC (92.9 FM) is a CHR (Top 40) format radio station in the Quincy, Illinois, region owned by STARadio Corporation.

Contents

History

The station was started by STARadio Corporation in early 2004 to compete with KRRY (Y101), which was dominating the Quincy-Hannibal-Keokuk market. No other Top 40/Hot AC station was in the region. Now it is one of the most listened to station in the market, especially by young adults.

Great River Country welcomed KGRC to life in 1968. It was the brain child of Mel Elzea, the stations first GM, and partner Frank Laughlin. They helped create Great River Communications, Inc., and signed the FM giant on air with the Fifth Dimension pop hit, “Up, Up and Away.” The station went on to become the dominant aural medium in the market in the 70’s. Highlights of the early years include a gold record for first airing, “Indian Reservation,” by The Raiders, (Paul Revere and the Raiders featuring Mark Lindsay) and Missouri Broadcasting awards for flood coverage from up, up in a plane with Elzea and Program Director Mark Mathew.

KGRC covered many formats through the 70s and 80s, primarily drifting between some form of Adult Contemporary and Top 40.

The station sponsored Explorer scout "Troop 929" in the early 1970s. Scouts included John Wingate, a long-time television journalist and now a Minneapolis communications consultant and writer, Dan Matticks, a longtime radio broadcaster, video producer Louie Schaefer, IT professional Larry Schaffer, and Paula Dean.

The early 1990s brought the "Hot AC" boom, and a switch to the nickname "Variety 93".

By the year 2000, the station had become "92.9 The River". KGRC currently plays a Top-40 format, and is known as "Real 92.9". Since it plays a mix of hit music such as a Hot Adult Contemporary, but adds hip-hop and Rhythmic Contemporary product to its rotation at night like a Top 40 (CHR), thus it could be considered an Adult Top 40.

Prominent air talent from KGRC's past include:

Mark Matthew
Mel Elzea
Chuck Yates
Kirk McAllister
Larry Wayne
Mike Daak
Glenn Bill
John Rinne
Alan Mossman
Jeff Meyers
Betsy Bean
David P. Norman
Jeanne Robinson
Jim Dewey
Jeff Holliday
Michael O'Conner
Rick O'Shea
Bryan Myles
Reggie Coleman
Deena West

Signal/Coverage

KGRC is one of the primary radio signals of the Tri-State region. The station has 100,000 Watts of power so it covers a wide audience. The station's signal goes from Macon, Missouri, to Jacksonville, Illinois and Troy, Missouri, to Fort Madison, Iowa.

Programming

The Bob and Sheri Show

The Bob and Sheri Show is the daily morning show on Real 92.9 and is a syndicated program from North Carolina which also is broadcasted on other stations throughout the country.

Retro Lunch

The Retro Lunch starts at Noon and features Retro hits of the '80s and '90s. The program lasts about 90 minutes and is usually hosted by DJ Quaid.

Nine @ Nine

The Real Nine at Nine is a program that airs every weekday at 9:00 p.m. and features the Tri-States' 9 most requested songs.

Backtrax USA

Every Saturday morning, KGRC airs the nationwide radio show Backtrax USA, which airs music popular from the 1980s and 1990s. The show is also filled with trivia and famous quotes of the particular eras.

See also

External links