WKKO

WKKO is a commercial FM radio station in Toledo, Ohio broadcasting on 99.9 MHz with a country music format.

History

The 99.9 MHz spot on the FM dial in Toledo, Ohio was originally populated by WTRT, known as one of the nation's first FM-band Top-40 format radio stations. In the late 1960s the station became WKLR, playing soul music, later known as "Kooler 99". During the summer of 1981 the station changed to country, kept the WKLR call letters, and changed its "name" to K100. Joe Hill, now retired of Family Life Radio- Tucson AZ was the announcer on the air when K-100 (Then WKLR) went from 8,000 watts to 50,000 watts in the summer of 1982. After the power up, the station was heard in Detroit. In 1986 it changed the call letters from WKLR-FM to WKKO. The station was owned by Booth American of Detroit for some 30 years, then Fritz Broadcasting (also from Detroit) beginning in 1994. It was then sold to Cumulus Broadcasting in 1997. Cumulus, (originally a Toledo company) now based in Atlanta, still owns WKKO.

WKKO has consistently been not only a market leader in the Toledo Metro area, but its share of the market ranks among the highest nationwide. Longtime morning duo Mitch and Mary Beth left WKKO for WRVF (101.5) in 2000 and were replaced by WKKO Program Director Gary Shores and Assistant Program Director Harvey J. Steele, together known as Shores & Steele. The two had previously done afternoons for some six years, and were named Broadcast Personalities for medium markets by the Country Music Association. Shores & Steele continue to be Toledo's number one ranked morning show both in overall and the advertiser-friendly 25-54 demographics.

Ironically, longtime Toledo radio newsman London Mitchell, who once declined to hire Gary Shores in 1971 at 105.5 - WGLN, Home of the Jones boys, instead opted for Jim "Dr Gold" Bayer, because Jim had some albums the station could use. In addition to London Mitchell's news on K-100, WTVG-TV Meteorologist Bill Spencer is also a part of the K-100 shows.

In 2007, WKKO-FM began continuous IBOC HD RADIO digital radio broadcasts, but has no HD2 channel at this time.

For the last 30+ years "K 100" has been the only local station with the country format in the Toledo market with very little competition from out-of-market station's like Findlay's "Buckeye Country 103.7" WCKY-FM and Ann Arbor's "102.9 W4 Country" WWWW-FM.

As of December 2007, "103.7 WCKY-FM" had dropped the "Buckeye Country" identifier and started identifying simply as "103-7 CKY." WCKY-FM has also changed its city of license to Pemberville in the hopes of better targeting the Toledo market, where it currently has a minimal ratings presence competing with "K 100".

In October 8, 2010 Toledo Radio LLC started up "107.7 The Wolf" WPFX, now giving "K 100" real competition with the country music format in Toledo.

Previous callsign usage

From 1952 through 1984, WKKO was an AM radio station at 860 kHz, broadcasting from Cocoa, Florida.^[1]

Airstaff

The current lineup (as of May 31, 2014) Starting out the day on the morning drive is Shores & Steele with Gary Shores & Harvey J. Steele with London Mitchell with news and "Blizzard" Bill Spencer. During the mid-day its Amy Davis. On the afternoon drive its Mark "Mookie" Andrews!. Wrapping up the lineup on nights is Nash Nights Live with Shawn Parr, and on overnights is Kickin' It with Kix with Kix Brooks.

References

External links

• K100 Country - Official Site
• Query the FCC's FM station database for WKKO
• Radio-Locator information on WKKO
• Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for WKKO

Coordinates: 41°40′05″N 83°27′11″W / 41.668°N 83.453°W / 41.668; -83.453