WQPM (1300 AM) is a radio station airing a classic country format.[3] Licensed to Princeton, Minnesota, United States, the station serves the St. Cloud area. The station is currently owned by Dennis and Lucas Carpenter, through licensee Milestone Radio LLC.[4]
Radio station KPCS 89.7 licensed to Princeton, shares its tower with WQPM.[5]
History
WQPM signed on June 28, 1967. It was initially licensed for 500 watts, but upgraded to 1,000 watts in 1968.[6]
In the 1980s, WQPM AM was simulcast on FM at 106.3 (now KLCI on 106.1). WQPM-FM at the time, was licensed for 3,000 watts, covering much the same area as its AM counterpart.[7] The format at the time was much the same as it is today.[8]
On September 13, 2018, WQPM changed formats from The Big Q (oldies) to classic hits, branded as "Killer Bee Radio".[9]
On December 21, 2019, the station began stunting.[10] On January 1, 2020, the station returned to The Big Q, playing oldies music once again. It was at the time a simulcast of WLKX-FM in Forest Lake.[11]
On February 13, 2022, WQPM changed its format from oldies to a simulcast of classic country-formatted KLCI 106.1 FM Elk River, branded as "Total Country Bob FM".[12] Big Q Radio, however, continues streaming oldies on the internet: Big Q Live, as well as on KDDG & KLCI 105.5 & 106.1 HD3.
Sister station WLKX in Forest Lake also joined the BOB-FM network.[13]
The station is an affiliate of the Minnesota Lynx basketball team, and games are broadcast on KLCI, as well as its sister stations.[14]
References
- ^ "History cards for WQPM" (PDF). United States Federal Communications Commission audio division.
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WQPM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Winter 2010. Retrieved February 18, 2010.
- ^ "WQPM Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved February 18, 2010.
- ^ "Princeton, MN's Sole Radio Tower". www.ubstudios.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "History cards for WQPM" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission audio division.
- ^ Drew Durigan. "WQPM-FM 106.3 Princeton MN Todd Melby 1982".
- ^ "Broadcasting Cablecasting Yearbook". Broadcasting Publications. 1988. p. 153.
- ^ Big Q Evolves to Killer Bee in Minneapolis Suburbs Radioinsight - September 13, 2018
- ^ North Metro Stations Drop Format, Promise “Big Changes” Jan. 1
- ^ Jason DeMoe (April 8, 2016). "Big Q brings fun lovin radio to the north metro and beyond". Forest Lake Times.
- ^ Bob Expands To Five Minnesota Stations Radioinsight - February 14, 2022
- ^ Jon Ellis (February 13, 2022). "Bob FM Adds Several More North Twin Cities Metro Signals". NorthPine.com.
- ^ "Minnesota Lynx Radio Affiliates". Minnesota Lynx. Women's National Basketball Association.
External links
- Facility details for Facility ID 59618 (WQPM) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WQPM in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- Facility details for Facility ID 141749 (W298CE) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- W298CE at FCCdata.org