KQPR (96.1 FM, "Power 96") is a radio station broadcasting a classic rock/full service format. Licensed to Albert Lea, Minnesota, United States, the station serves the Albert Lea-Austin area. The station is currently owned by Daniel and Barbara Massman, through licensee D&Z Media, LLC.[2]
History
KQPR first went on the air on August 14, 1989.[3] Sometime in the 1990s, it became a satellite station of KQCL, which originates out of Faribault.
On December 13, 2001, KQPR began broadcasting independently again from its own studios in Albert Lea, its city of license.[4]
On March 29, 2004, KQPR increased its effective radiated power from 5,000 to 25,000 watts.[5]
In August 2018, it was announced that Hometown Broadcasting was selling KQPR to D&Z Media.[6] The official transfer of ownership was effective on January 2, 2019. Operations Manager Reggie Bauer was brought in with the new ownership,[7] having previously worked for KDWA (the other station owned by Massman) as a teenager. After Reggie departed, programming an operations were picked up by long time Program Director and Operations Manager Ron Hunter-Budrik. Ron has been part of KQPR for over 22 years. Long time morning host Jay Paul resigned and Ron was moved into the morning slot focusing on more music and community leader interviews.
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for KQPR". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "KQPR Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
- ^ @power96mn (August 14, 2021). "We're 32 years old today! Power 96 first went on the air on August 14th, 1989!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Power 96 now locally owned". December 17, 2001.
- ^ @power96mn (March 29, 2021). "ON THIS DAY in 2004: Power 96 got an upgrade...we increased our transmitter power from 5,000 to 25,000 watts! Can you hear us now? 👂📻" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Southern Minnesota FM Sold".
- ^ "Reggie Bauer on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on April 30, 2022.[user-generated source]
External links
- KQPR official website
- Facility details for Facility ID 54473 (KQPR) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- KQPR in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
43°36′58″N 93°12′47″W / 43.616°N 93.213°W