KZSN (102.1
FM, "102.1 The Bull") is a
radio station broadcasting a
country music format. Licensed to
Hutchinson, Kansas, the station serves the Wichita area. The station is currently owned by
iHeartMedia, Inc. Its studios are located on East Douglas Avenue in Downtown Wichita, and the transmitter is located outside
Colwich, Kansas.
History
The station began in Hutchinson in 1969 as
KSKU and played a
Beautiful Music format. It was owned by Margurite Sours and managed by Sam Kahalewai. The station also aired live area high school football and basketball games with Kansas sportscasting legend and
Kansas Association of Broadcasters
The Kansas Association of Broadcasters is a group supporting broadcasters in Kansas, United States, primarily through lobbying and coordination.
History
The Kansas Association of Broadcasters began in 1951 as the Kansas Association of Radio Broa ...
Hall of Fame member Hod Humiston providing the play-by-play. The syndicated "
Hawaii Calls" program of Hawaiian music was also aired. In 1973, KSKU became one of a very few radio stations in America that broadcast in
Quadrophonic stereo (four-channel sound).
In 1976, the station switched to a
Rock 40
Contemporary hit radio (also known as CHR, contemporary hits, hit list, current hits, hit music, top 40, or pop radio) is a radio format that is common in many countries that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by ...
format, later onto a
Mainstream Top 40
Pop Airplay (also called Mainstream Top 40, Pop Songs, and Top 40/contemporary hit radio, CHR) is a 40-song music chart published weekly by Billboard (magazine), ''Billboard'' Magazine that ranks the most popular songs of pop music being played o ...
direction. In 1983-84, KSKU upgraded its signal for better coverage over Wichita to compete against then Top 40 stations
KEYN (Now
Oldies) and KKRD (now
Alternative Rock KTHR) in three-way Top-40 battle.
In the late 1970s, the station was sold to Jack Sampson and Sampson Communications. In early 1986, the station's studios were moved to Wichita, and on February 14, 1986, at 3 p.m., the station's call letters were changed to KZSN and flipped to a
country music format as "Kissin' 102" to compete with longtime Wichita ratings leader
KFDI AM/FM. The final song on "KSKU" was "
American Pie" by
Don McLean, while the first song on "Kissin' 102" was "
Sweet Country Music" by
Atlanta. In the mid-2000s, the station rebranded slightly to "Kissin' Country 102.1".
On February 8, 2013, at Noon, KZSN rebranded as "102.1 The Bull".
The final two songs on "Kissin' Country" were "
How Country Feels" by
Randy Houser and "
These Days" by
Rascal Flatts, while the first three songs on "The Bull" were "
Anywhere with You" by
Jake Owen, "
Even If It Breaks Your Heart
"Even If It Breaks Your Heart" is a song written by Will Hoge and Eric Paslay in April 2009 and originally recorded by Hoge on his seventh studio album, '' The Wreckage''. The song was made popular by American country music group the Eli Young Band ...
" by
Eli Young Band and "
Pirate Flag
Jolly Roger is the traditional English name for the flags flown to identify a pirate ship preceding or during an attack, during the early 18th century (the later part of the Golden Age of Piracy).
The flag most commonly identified as the Jolly ...
" by
Kenny Chesney. The station is home to "The Bobby Bones Show" from 5-10am, Jim Dorman 10-3, and Michelle Buckles from 3-7pm.
Previous logo
(KZSN's logo under previous "Kissin' Country" branding)
References
External links
*
{{IHeartMedia
ZSN
Radio stations established in 1969
1969 establishments in Kansas
Country radio stations in the United States
IHeartMedia radio stations