KQDS-FM (94.9 FM, "95 KQDS") is 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 ...

music formatted

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 ...

located in

Duluth, Minnesota , settlement_type = City , nicknames = Twin Ports (with Superior), Zenith City , motto = , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top: urban Duluth skyline; Minnesota ...

. Established in 1976 as KAOH-FM, the station is owned by

Midwest Communications Midwest Communications is a Wausau, Wisconsin-based radio broadcasting company. It owns 82 radio stations located primarily within the Midwest United States, in Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Illinois and ...

, and follows a format similar to that of the well-known

KQRS-FM KQRS-FM (92.5 FM, KQ92 or 92 KQRS) is a Classic Rock radio station in the Twin Cities region of Minnesota. The station is licensed to suburban Golden Valley, transmits from the KMSP-TV tower in Shoreview, and is owned by Cumulus Media, wit ...

in the

Twin Cities Twin cities are a special case of two neighboring cities or urban centres that grow into a single conurbation – or narrowly separated urban areas – over time. There are no formal criteria, but twin cities are generally comparable in statu ...

. The studios are located in downtown Duluth, along with KDAL,

KDAL-FM KDAL-FM (95.7 FM, "My 95.7") is an American radio station in Duluth, Minnesota airing an adult contemporary format. KDAL-FM is owned by Midwest Communications, which also owns KDKE, WDSM, WDUL, KDAL, and KTCO in Duluth. All the Duluth stations ...

KDKE KDKE (102.5 FM, "Duke FM") is a classic country radio station located in Duluth, Minnesota (licensed to Superior, Wisconsin). KDKE is owned by Midwest Communications, which also owns WDSM, WDUL, KDAL, KDAL-FM and KTCO in Duluth. All the Duluth st ...

KTCO KTCO (98.9 FM, "Kat Country 98.9") is a radio station in Duluth, Minnesota, airing a country music format. KTCO is owned by Midwest Communications, which also owns KDKE, WDSM, WDUL, KDAL, and KDAL-FM in Duluth. All the Duluth stations share the ...

WDSM WDSM (710 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Superior, Wisconsin, serving the Duluth-Superior area of Northeastern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin. WDSM is owned and operated by Midwest Communications and broadcasts a sport ...

, and

WDUL WDUL (970 AM) is a radio station licensed in Superior, Wisconsin. The station is owned and operated by Midwest Communications, which owns six stations in Duluth, Minnesota. All the Duluth stations share the same studio location at 11 East Superio ...

. KQDS-FM is

simulcast Simulcast (a portmanteau of simultaneous broadcast) is the broadcasting of programmes/programs or events across more than one resolution, bitrate or medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at exactly the same time (that is, simultane ...

WMFG-FM WMFG-FM (106.3 FM broadcasting, FM) is a radio station licensed to Hibbing, Minnesota. The station serves the Hibbing area. The station is currently owned by Midwest Communications. Sister Stations Midwest also owns six radio stations on the Ir ...

(106.3) in

Hibbing Hibbing is a city in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 16,214 at the 2020 census. The city was built on mining the rich iron ore of the Mesabi Iron Range and still relies on that industrial activity today. At th ...

. Prior to Midwest selling the stations, KQDS-FM was also simulcast on WXXZ (95.3 FM, now WFNX) in Grand Marais and KAOD (106.7 FM, now KZJZ) in

Babbitt Babbitt may refer to: Fiction *Babbitt (novel), ''Babbitt'' (novel), a 1922 novel by Sinclair Lewis **Babbitt (1924 film), ''Babbitt'' (1924 film), a 1924 silent film based on the novel **Babbitt (1934 film), ''Babbitt'' (1934 film), a 1934 film ...

. KQ 95's main competitor is Townsquare Media's WWPE (92.1 FM). KQDS-FM is probably best known for "''The KQ Morning Show''" which for the last decade has been rated first among adults 25-54 and Men 25–54. The show's longtime host, Bill Jones left the station, the broadcast industry and the city of Duluth December 15, 2009. Jones' Co-host, Jason Manning has returned to KQ with a "revamped" morning show with new co-host Frank Befera. In 2011, Befera was let go and the Morning Show switched to its current line-up of Jason Manning and longtime afternoon DJ Scott Savage.

History

The station signed on April 1, 1976 as KAOH-FM, a

country music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...

station. In 1980, the station became KQDS-FM, a

progressive rock Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog; sometimes conflated with art rock) is a broad genre of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom and United States through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early 1970s. Init ...

station. The original on-air staff included Stu Taran, Big G Walters, Annie Steamer, Dan Culhane, Jonathon Hanley, Tony Jasmin, Bruce MacGregor,

Marty Essen Marty Essen is an American naturalist, author, photographer, and professional speaker. He has written seven books, ''Cool Creatures, Hot Planet: Exploring the Seven Continents,'' ''Endangered Edens: Exploring the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Cos ...

, and Lisa Barr. The general manager was Mark Alan. On August 1, 1981, the station boosted its power to 100,000 watts and became a classic rock station. On August 24, 2016, Midwest Communications announced that it was purchasing KQDS-FM, WXXZ, and KAOD from

Red Rock Radio Red River Broadcasting is a television broadcasting company based in Fargo, North Dakota. It operates Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox affiliates in the Fargo, North Dakota and Duluth, Minnesota–Superior, Wisconsin television markets. Curtis Squi ...

in a deal that also included sister stations

WEVE-FM WEVE-FM is a radio station on 97.9 FM in Eveleth, Minnesota. The station is programmed with an adult contemporary format targeted towards the 25-54 age group. Established in 1978, WEVE-FM is owned by Midwest Communications. Although the station ...

in Eveleth and KGPZ in Coleraine, as well as translators W221AU, W252AN, and W288AI; the sale was completed on December 31, 2016, at a purchase price of $5.625 million. Effective September 22, 2017, Midwest sold KQDS-FM's simulcast partners WXXZ and KAOD, along with translator W288AI, to Aurora Broadcasting L.L.C.

References

External links

* * Radio stations in Duluth, Minnesota Classic rock radio stations in the United States Radio stations established in 1976 1976 establishments in Minnesota Midwest Communications radio stations {{Minnesota-radio-station-stub