KMNQ

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KMNQ (1470 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, and serving the Twin Cities radio market. The station previously simulcast the Spanish-language programming of sister station KMNV, playing Regional Mexican music, however since October 2021, has been stunting with a variety format.

KMNQ's radio studios were located on 27th Avenue South and Lake Street East in Minneapolis. Those studios burned in the Minneapolis Riots following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020. Studios were subsequently relocated to Richfield. The station for a time was on air again with help from KFAI.^[3]

The transmitter is located in Brooklyn Park. KMNQ is powered at 5,000 watts using a directional antenna to protect other stations on 1470 AM.

History[]

Since 1994, 1470 has simulcast KLBB (1400 AM), which played big band, lounge and middle of the road (MOR) music (often referred to as adult standards). Both stations were operated as The KLBB Company, a for-profit subsidiary of the Greenspring Company owned by American Public Media Group, which operates Minnesota Public Radio and other properties. MPR announced on May 25, 2005 that it had reached an agreement to sell both KLBB and KLBP to Davidson Media Group, a New York-based broadcaster specializing in multi-cultural, community focused formats. Thereafter, KLBB flipped to a Spanish-language format, while the format on KLBP remained MOR until July 17, 2006, when it switched to a gospel music format from the Buffalo, New York-based Totally Gospel Radio Network with the KZTG call letters. The sale of both stations was approved by the FCC on July 25, 2005, with Davidson Media taking control September 7, 2005.^[4]

Over the years, the station carried various formats under the call letters KANO (standing for "Anoka") (also album rock as KTWN in 1979 and country music as KKKC in 1983) before becoming KBCW in 1991, which played classic country music. Additionally, the station increased its power from 1,000 watts to 5,000 watts and began 24-hour broadcasting. Cargill Communications purchased both KLBB and KBCW in 1993, along with WTCX (105.1 FM) and WLOL (105.3 FM) for the basis of a proposed alternative rock station, soon to become known as "REV105". Cargill was uncomfortable with dropping the much-loved adult standards format of KLBB, so they kept it, updated the music, imaging, promotion and logo of the station, and turned 1470 into a simulcast of KLBB, moving the well-known WLOL call letters (albeit well known on original frequencies 1330 AM and 99.5 FM) to 1470. In 1999, James and Susan Cargill, who two years earlier had sold the three FM stations that made up REV105, donated 1400 and 1470 (soon to be renamed KLBP) to Minnesota Public Radio, where the two frequencies became part of the commercial (MNN). MPR sold off their other station, WMNN, the MNN flagship station, along with the network in 2004, but retained KLBB and KLBP. By now, the "Club 14" simulcast was carrying a mix of local personalities and the "Music Of Your Life" radio network.

KLBB finally transitioned to its long-promised Spanish-language format on November 4, 2005, leaving the adult standards/big band format on KLBP and bringing to an end the long-time "Club 14" simulcast. The KMNV call letters were introduced to AM 1400 on December 16, 2005, just months after its switch to regional Mexican music, while the KLBB call letters moved to sister station AM 1470. Following 1470's switch to gospel music, the KLBB call letters and much of its programming were picked up by 1220 AM in Stillwater on July 25, 2006. On March 7, 2007, the station changed its call letters to KRJJ. The station is also the Spanish-language broadcast partner for the Minnesota Twins, including game coverage.

Davidson Media sold KMNQ and sister station KMNV to Santamaria Broadcasting, Inc. effective May 5, 2016, at a purchase price of $1.2 million.

Citing the COVID-19 pandemic and equipment updates, KMNQ went silent for an extended period of time beginning in March 2020.^[5] KMNV itself went silent on May 27 after its studios were burned in an arson during the George Floyd protests. The station returned to air in 2021, returning to its regional Mexican format. In late 2021, the station broke from the simulcast and began broadcasting music and talk programming different from KMNV.^[6]

See also[]

• KMNV
• KLBB (AM)

References[]

External links[]

• KMNQ in the FCC AM station database
• KMNQ on Radio-Locator
• KMNQ in Nielsen Audio's AM station database

Coordinates: 45°05′17″N 93°22′59″W / 45.08806°N 93.38306°W / 45.08806; -93.38306