KLLZ-FM (99.1 FM, "Z99") is a

radio station Radio broadcasting is transmission of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based radio ...

broadcasting from

Bemidji, Minnesota Bemidji ( ) is a city and the county seat of Beltrami County, in northern Minnesota, United States. The population was 14,574 at the 2020 census. According to 2021 census estimates, the city is estimated to have a population of 15,279, making it ...

(licensed to

Walker, Minnesota Walker is a city in Cass County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 941 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Cass County. Walker is part of the Brainerd Micropolitan Statistical Area. Minnesota State Highways 34, 200, an ...

), and airs a

classic rock Classic rock is a US radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock (AOR) format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format comprises rock music ranging generally from the mid-1960s through the mid 1990s, primar ...

format. It has a wide coverage area across northern Minnesota, and enjoys a huge listening audience. KLLZ is owned by

Hubbard Broadcasting Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc. is an American television and radio broadcasting corporation based in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was founded by Stanley E. Hubbard. The corporation has broadcast outlets scattered across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri, ...

, Inc. The Bemidji studios are located at 502 Beltrami Avenue, downtown Bemidji. The original transmitter site was along Highway 71, near Lake George. At the same time as the Hubbard sale, a new transmitter and antenna were installed at the existing

KBHP KBHP (101.1 FM, "KB101") is an FM radio station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to serve the community of Bemidji, Minnesota, which is located in northwestern Minnesota. KBHP plays country music and is owned and operated ...

transmitter site. Z99 is the official radio station of

Moondance Jam Moondance Jam is an annual rock and classic rock festival held in mid-July in the Leech Lake/ Chippewa National Forest Area near Walker, Minnesota. It is recognized as Minnesota's largest rock festival and a major classic rock festival in the Unit ...

, a four-day outdoor concert held in

every July.

History

The station signed on the air in May 1984 with the call sign KLLR-FM, licensed to Michael C. Steele. It was originally assigned the frequency 99.3 MHz, operating at maximum Class A station effective radiated power of 3 kW. In May 1988 Edward De La Hunt acquired the station. In March 1990, KLLR-FM was authorized to change to 99.1 MHz and increase power to 50 kW. In April 1991, KLLR-FM was acquired by Sioux Valley Broadcasting Co. In July 1991, the station's call sign was changed to KLLZ. In May 1994, the "-FM" suffix was added. In July 1994, KLLZ-FM was acquired by Ingstad Broadcasting, Inc. In April 1996, KLLZ-FM was acquired by Kommerstad Communications Co.,LLC., from Ingstad Communications, Inc., as part of a $4.1 million deal that also included stations in Brainerd, Wadena, and Staples, Minnesota On December 31, 2000, KLLZ-FM was acquired by

Omni Broadcasting Omni Broadcasting was a small-market radio broadcasting company that operated for 25 years from headquarters in Bemidji, Minnesota. Organized in 1988, the company was owned and operated by Louis H. Buron, Jr., and Mary Campbell. They relocated fro ...

subsidiary BG Broadcasting, Inc. The purchase price was $560,000. Hubbard Broadcasting announced on November 13, 2014 that it would purchase the

stations, including KLLZ-FM. The sale was completed on February 27, 2015, at a purchase price of $8 million for the 16 stations and one translator.

Programming

Live programming begins at 6 am with Scott Williams. The show features sports reporting with Kevin Jackson and local news with Larissa Donovan. Scott was also the voice of Bemidji State Hockey on (Lakeland Public Television) KAWE channel 9, covering Beaver Football and Basketball for the campus television station KBSU channel 17, and is a co-host of "High Noon" on KBUN AM 1450.

References

External links

Z99 Website
Radio stations in Minnesota Classic rock radio stations in the United States Radio stations established in 1984 Hubbard Broadcasting {{Minnesota-radio-station-stub