KWOF

KWOF is a commercial radio station located in Denver, broadcasting to the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area on 92.5 FM. KWOF airs a country music format branded as "The Wolf". KWOF transmits from a tower near the town of Frederick in Weld County, with studios in Glendale. It is currently under ownership of Wilks Broadcasting, which also acquired sister stations KXKL and KIMN from CBS Radio in 2008.^[1]

History

The station was originally licensed to Greeley, Colorado as KGRE at 92.3 FM (moving to 92.5 FM in 1982) before being relicensed to Broomfield. Prior to February 1989, it broadcast a hybrid country/country-rock format under the call letters KYOU. The calls changed to KDHT on February 17, 1989, and under the programming leadership of Ira Gordon, KDHT became one of the earliest folk/americana/AAA hybrids.

KZDG as "Big Dog/Z92-5"

On January 1, 1993, APB Broadcasting reached a deal to sell the station to Premiere Radio Networks for $3.5 Million. Premiere would change the format to New Country as KZDG, "Big Dog 92.5", and then to "Z 92.5". Chancellor Media would acquire the station in early 1996.

KVOD as Classical

On March 13, 1996, at midnight, KZDG became the home to Denver's classical music station KVOD (the actual call letters would be adopted on March 22). The format was formerly at the 99.5 frequency until it was sold from Henry Broadcasting (it is currently owned by Entercom). Tribune reached a deal with Chancellor to move KVOD over to their newly acquired 92.5 frequency.

KDJM as "Jammin"

In May 1999, Chancellor Media moved KVOD's classical format to 1280 AM. With the emergence of urban oldies stations in markets such as Chicago, Fresno, and Los Angeles, as well as having a diverse ethnic population that the format caters to (Hispanics and African-Americans), Chancellor decided to launch the format in Denver as "Jammin 92-5", with new call letters KDJM adopted on June 25, 1999. The "Jammin' Oldies" format consisted of Classic Soul, Disco and R&B tunes. Core artists included Marvin Gaye, The Gap Band, Prince, Isley Brothers, Michael Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Teena Marie, Earth, Wind & Fire and Chaka Kahn. The station was acquired by AMFM, which was formed under the merge of Chancellor and Evergreen Communications. The station's original moniker was "Denver's Jammin' Oldies."

In 2000, Clear Channel merged with AMFM. This resulted in the sale of the station to meet ownership rules according to the FCC. The station was sold to Infinity Broadcasting, along with KXKL and KIMN. By 2001, the station refocused its format as "Jammin' Hits of the 70s & 80s." By 2003, the station was known as "Jammin' Oldies and More" with a broader playlist consisting of newer R&B music. The station changed its moniker to "Denver's Classic Soul" in 2004. The station became a CBS Radio-owned and operated station with the renaming of Infinity in 2005.

KWLI/KWOF as "Willie-Wolf"

While the station was a success for over 6 years (which is a longer lifespan than most urban oldies stations), the station suffered low ratings later in its life because of poor promotion and marketing, as well as constant format tweaking. On December 14, 2005, the station began stunting with Christmas greetings from soldiers stationed overseas to their families back home. On December 15 at 9 AM, CBS decided to bring the country format back as "Willie 92.5" and the moniker "Wide Open Country". The station played an eclectic mix of old and new Country western music. The call letters were briefly changed to KLWL on December 21, and then to KWLI on January 12, 2006. The rhythmic oldies format would be revived in September 2010 on KJHM (101.5).

In late 2006, the station was renamed "92.5 The Wolf" and began focusing on newer country artists. The former format was moved to KWLI's HD2 sub-channel.

When the 2008 Democratic National Convention was held in Denver, then-KWLI temporarily renamed itself as "92.5 The Jackass", "jackass" being another name for a male donkey, the mascot of the Democratic Party, only to revert back to "The Wolf" after the convention.

On March 6, 2009, 92.5 The Wolf changed its call letters from KWLI-FM to KWOF-FM after being acquired by Wilks Broadcasting.

On January 31, 2014, KWOF briefly rebranded itself as "92.5 The Bronco" in honor of the Denver Broncos participation in Super Bowl XLVIII. ^[2] The station resumed its "Wolf" branding after the Super Bowl.

Today

92.5 The Wolf plays current country music, competing with Denver's heritage country station KYGO.

HD Programming

The station also provides an HD radio subchannel: 92.5 HD2 known as "Willie 92.5" playing Classic Country.^[3]

Current Personality Lineup

• The Wolf Wake Up Show With John & Jaime (John Moug & Jaime Ames): 6am-10am
• Brad Hansen:10am-2pm (Program Director)
• Captain Lee: 2pm-7pm
• Josh Taylor: 7pm-11pm
• Listener Driven Radio: 7pm-11pm
• American Country Countdown

Former 92.5 Personalities

Jammin 92.5

• Dave Otto
• Jennifer Wilde
• Laurie Michaels
• Spike
• JoJo "Cookin" Kincaid (now at WRBQ-FM/Tampa)
• Gloria Neal (now at KCNC-TV/Denver)
• Rafael
• Cha Cha (now at KJHM/Denver)
• KO
• Heather Martinez
• Jackie
• Chase Thomas
• Blake Powers
• Bubbs

92.5 The Wolf

• Howler (Now "Fizz" at KYGO Denver)
• Tracy Taylor
• Jesse & Shotgun
• Jay Cruze
• Erica Cobb ^[4]

References

External links

• Official site
• Query the FCC's FM station database for KWOF
• Radio-Locator information on KWOF
• Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for KWOF

Coordinates: 40°05′46″N 104°54′07″W / 40.096°N 104.902°W / 40.096; -104.902