KQWB-FM

KQWB-FM (105.1 FM, "Q105.1") is an Active rock radio station located in Fargo, North Dakota (licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to Breckenridge, Minnesota), owned by Jim Ingstad's Radio FM Media.

From 1968-2013, KQWB-FM was on 98.7 MHz, but moved to 105.1 MHz on August 16th, 2013.

On air

• Lex and Terry in the Morning (Weekdays and Saturday 5am-10am)

• Rachel Edge (Weekdays 10am-2pm)
• Gunner (Weekdays 2pm-7pm)
• Chow (Weeknights 7pm-Midnight)
• Metal Imperium (hosted by Gunner and Chow, Saturdays 9pm-Midnight)
• HardDrive (Sunday 10pm-Midnight)

History

The station signed on as KKIB in 1983 as the flagship station of contemporary hit radio (Top 40) formatted Superstation Double K FM network, which was also broadcast on KKWS 105.9 FM in Wadena, Minnesota and KKVC in Valley City, North Dakota.

Lite Rock 105 (1984-2004)

In 1984, KLTA flip to an Adult Contemporary format and rebranded as "Lite Rock 105", a name and format they would keep for 20 years. Dan Michaels and Jane Alexander began doing the morning show as the station began to rise in popularity. In 2001, the morning transitioned to Chris, John, and Jane in the morning, and they became one of the top rated morning shows in the market. In 2007, the trio left for KBVB, and still to this day have remained one of the top rated morning shows in the Fargo-Moorhead area,

In 1989, KLTA started the Christmas Wish Program. The station asks for donations throughout the year to their Christmas Wish Charity (mainly at their "Wishburger" event in June and the Wish-a-thon in December), and then gives out $500 gifts to families in need throughout the month of December.

FM 105.1 (2004-2013)

In the early 2000s, KLTA's "Lite Rock" format was starting to turn into a Hot AC format. In January 2004, the station interspersed messages in between songs saying "January 19th, 7:20 AM, Turn off the Lite". At that time, the station thanked Fargo-Moorhead for 20 years of listening, played a package of memories from the station from 1984 to then, and changed their name to FM 105.1 to reflect this change. FM had a dual meaning on this station, not only standing for Frequency Modulation, but also Fargo-Moorhead. Since then, the station's focus was to be an at-work station, playing hits from the 90's and new music currently charting at the time.

Frequency Swap with 98.7

On August 9th, 2013, KQWB-FM announced they would be moving to from 98.7 MHz to 105.1 MHz, replacing sister station KLTA on the dial. The station re-branded as Q105.1, and brought the active rock format and personalities with them from 98.7. The first song to play after Q98's Official last song "Revolution is my Name" by Pantera was "I'll Stick Around" by the "Foo Fighters". On August 16th, 105.1 and 98.7 both simulcasted with the rock format at midnight until 5pm that day, when 98.7 took the KLTA calls and began stunting, effectively completing a call sign swap with KQWB. ^[1] 98.7 debuted with a Top 40 (CHR) format as "Big 98.7", directly competing against long running WDAY-FM "Y94".

Ownership

In May 1999, Triad Broadcasting reached a deal to acquire this station (along with KQWB-AM, KVOX-FM, KLTA (who was then on 105.1), and KPFX from brothers Jim and Tom Ingstad as part of a twelve-station deal valued at a reported $37.8 million.^[2]

On November 30, 2012, Triad Broadcasting signed a Definitive Agreement to sell all 32 of their stations to Larry Wilson's L&L Broadcasting for $21 Million.^[3] Upon completion of the sale on May 1, 2013, L&L in turn sold the Fargo stations to Jim Ingstad, who had just sold his competing cluster to Midwest Communications. An LMA (Local Marketing Agreement) was place so Ingstad could take immediate control of the stations, and the sale became final July 2nd, 2013. The sale was worth $9.5 million.^[4]

Former FM 105.1 logo

Former FM 105.1 DJs

• Kyle Matthews
• Big Dog (now at WDAY-AM)
• Chole D (now at WAZY)
• Mia
• Jim Daniels
• James Rabe (now at KZDX)
• Mike Ray
• Tony Lorino (now at KZPT)
• Chris Hanson (now at KBVB)
• John Austin (now at KBVB)
• Jane Alexander (now at KBVB)

References

External links

• Q98 website
• Query the FCC's FM station database for KQWB
• Radio-Locator information on KQWB
• Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for KQWB

Coordinates: 46°45′36″N 96°36′29″W / 46.760°N 96.608°W / 46.760; -96.608