KSTZ

KSTZ
City of license Des Moines, Iowa
Broadcast area Des Moines, Iowa
Branding Star 102.5
Slogan Today's Best Variety
Frequency 102.5 (MHz) (also on HD Radio)
First air date 1970 (as KRNT-FM)
Format Hot Adult Contemporary
ERP 92,000 watts
HAAT 384 meters
Class C
Facility ID 58541
Callsign meaning K STZ short for "Stars" as in "Superstars"
Former callsigns KRNT-FM (1970-1974)
KRNQ (1974-1993)
Owner Saga Communications
Webcast Listen Live
Website star1025.com

KSTZ (102.5 FM, "Star 102.5") is an FM radio station based in Des Moines, Iowa. The station plays Hot Adult Contemporary music. KSTZ is part of Saga Communications' Des Moines Radio Group, along with KPSZ, KRNT, KAZR, KIOA, and KMYR.

History

The station signed on the air in 1970 as KRNT-FM under the ownership of the Cowles family, publishers of the Des Moines Register. During those early years, Drake-Chenault's Hit Parade format was aired. In 1974 the station became KRNQ ("Q-102");[1] that year, Cowles sold KRNQ and KRNT (AM) to Stauffer Communications of Topeka, Kansas. The two stations were sold to Saga Communications in August 1988. KRNQ was originally an automated Top 40 station, but in 1984, the station began using local personalities. By the end of the 1980s, KRNQ was at or near the top of the local Arbitron ratings.

In 1991, due to Saga's decision to reach older listeners, what was known as Q102 with a contemporary hit radio format changed to a Hot Adult Contemporary format and was known as "Q102/KRNQ Today's Hits and Yesterday's Favorites". Q102/KRNQ promised to play no rap (even though it was rarely played on the station after Saga's purchase in 1988) or hard rock, both of which were very much a part of popular music at the time. This format change left Des Moines with no contemporary hit radio for nine years, until KKDM's flip from Alternative to Top 40/CHR in 1999. KRNQ became KSTZ on June 25, 1993.[2] (The KRNQ call letters are now used for a station in Keokuk, Iowa.)

When the station reimaged itself to adult contemporary in 1993, the positioning statement the station used was "Superstars of the 70s 80s and 90s" (with the 'STZ' in the call letters forming an abbreviation for 'stars'). The station later switched to "The Best Variety of the 80s, 90s and Today". In 2001, the station began using the current positioning statement of "Today's Best Variety" with a Hot AC format. With KKDM becoming more of a factor since its 1999 debut, KSTZ has adjusted their playlist and adopted an Adult Top 40 direction by adding a limited amount of rhythmic and rap with artists such Rihanna and The Black Eyed Peas to the mix. In addition, KSTZ also has competition with KKDM's sister station KPTL, who has adjusted their direction from Adult Album Alternative to Modern AC.

On-air staff and programming

KSTZ's current morning show is the Big Ken & Colleen show with Ken Auge and Colleen Kelly, along with "Producer Kurt" Van Auken.[3] Other current hosts (as of 2010) include Karess Carter,[4] Jimmy Wright,[5] and Luke Matthews.[6]

Big Ken & Colleen in the Morning

The Big Ken & Colleen show includes some regular segments that occur each week.

References

  1. ↑ Des Moines Station Timeline, DesMoinesBroadcasting.com, accessed February 11, 2006
  2. ↑ Federal Communications Commission. "KSTZ Call Sign History". Retrieved 2006-10-15.
  3. ↑
  4. ↑
  5. ↑
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ STAR 102.5...Today's Best Variety!
  8. ↑ STAR 102.5...Today's Best Variety!

External links

Coordinates: 41°48′00″N 93°36′29″W / 41.800°N 93.608°W