KTTU-FM

KXTQ (106.5 FM), known as "Magic 106.5", is a radio station owned by Ramar Communications of Lubbock. The station's community of license is Lubbock, Texas, and it serves the greater Lubbock area at 106.5 MHz with an ERP of 35 kW. Its studios are based from television partner KJTV-TV's (along with other sister TV & radio properties) in south Lubbock, and its transmitter is in Ropesville, Texas.

History

104.3 History

KSTQ, which aired a Rhythmic music format until July 23, 2009, was one of four contemporary stations in the market, the other three being KBTE, KZII and KMMX.

The station began as KKTC in early 1985. The founder-partners were Billy B. Reynolds, Curcey H. "Bud" Andrews, Jr., Charles "Charlie" Wilson, and DRA, Inc., composed of three attorneys from Brownfield, including then State Representative Jim Rudd. The Brownfield FM is now known as 104.3 KTTU-FM. The application had been filed in mid-1980^[1] and was granted after a hearing in 1984. The station signed on as KKTC and the company was known as BBC Brownfield Broadcasting Company. Andrews and Reynolds had worked at KFYO (AM) and had noticed that the former news director of KLVT (AM) Del Kirby had started a station called KHOC (FM) in Levelland (now KJDL-FM). The two broadcasters made an offer to buy the station but were not successful. Other staff at KFYO (Roger Hiveley or Chuck Kinney, or perhaps David Stewart who is known to have worked at KFYO in this timeframe.) made them aware of other FM channels available in other towns (at the time Ralls, Floydada and Brownfield were available) and that Brownfield appeared to be the largest.

KKTC went on air with a country format and studio on the square in Brownfield. The initial ownership was Bud Andrews 26%, Bill Reynolds 26%, Charlie Wilson (electronics teacher at Lubbock Independent School District founder of KLSD (now KOHM) and the engineer who knocked nearby KJAK and KHOC together) 24% and DRA, Inc. (composed of partners of local law firm, including Jim Rudd, 24%.

The station was not an instant success. Costs of start-up were much higher than expected. Partners expected to come up with start up equipment underperformed, and perhaps worst of all, the two partners who actually worked at the station disagreed on how to run the station, whether to live in the town, and one how to actually sell ads on the station. In short order Reynolds bought out Andrews, and Wilson was bought out by Mr. Denison whose son worked at the station and had a car dealership in Hobbs, NM. About a year later Dennison bought out Reynolds and ended up with about 3/4 of the station.

In 1996 Paul R. Beane purchased 104.3, and broadcast as Classic Rock 104.3, KLZK. The studios were co-located with KRFE radio at 6602 Quirt Ave, in the old "Buddy Holly" studio. Music director Chris Holley (Ben Hight) was the night shift air-talent, along with Bobby Gonzales on days.

Later call letters were KLZK until March 30, 2008 when KLZK moved from 104.3 to 97.3, while KSTQ moved from 97.3 to 104.3.

Logo as Hot 104.3, 2008-2009

Logo as Double T 104.3, 2009-2015

Hot 104.3's on-air positioning included "#1 for Hip-Hop, R&B y mas," when it was on the 97.3 frequency. The slogan for KSTQ after moving from the 97.3 frequency was "Lubbock's hottest hits!"

Ramar Communications obtained the rights to Texas Tech sports from GAP Broadcasting. As a result, Ramar announced via Tech Talk on Fox Talk 950 AM that Hot 104.3 will change to an all sports station sometime in the Summer of 2009. On July 23, 2009, at 1 p.m., 104.3 began stunting with the top 15 Texas Tech Football games from the past 10 years (around the start of the Mike Leach era) until 6 a.m., July 27, 2009. The name of the station, "Double T 104.3" refers to Texas Tech's Double T logo. The KSTQ call letters were also dropped and changed to KTTU to associate itself with Texas Tech University. This station also became the flagship station for Red Raider sports.

In addition to Texas Tech sports, KTTU also became the home for Texas Rangers baseball and the Dallas Cowboys.

On August 11, 2015, Ramar Communications agreed with Barton Broadcasting to swap KTTU-FM with Barton-owned KEJS As part of a 5-way format switch, Double T moved to KLZK and KTTU adopted KEJS's Tejano format as "Power 104.3" on December 18th at 10AM.^[2] The station will change the format to Tejano on December 18.^[3] On December 29, 2015 KTTU-FM changed their call letters to KLZK. On January 6, 2016 KLZK changed their call letters to KXTQ.

References

External links

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

Coordinates: 33°25′08″N 102°09′00″W / 33.419°N 102.150°W / 33.419; -102.150