 | |
| Broadcast area | Kansas City Metropolitan Area (Missouri-Kansas) |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 103.3MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | Hot 103 Jamz |
| Programming | |
| Format | Urban Contemporary |
| Subchannels | HD2:Urban Oldies "RNB 106.9" |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Carter Broadcast Group |
| KPRT | |
| History | |
First air date | 1963; 62 years ago (1963) |
Former call signs | KPRS-FM (1963-October 15, 1974) |
Call sign meaning | Kansas City'sPeoplesRadioStation |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 35495 |
| Class | C |
| ERP | 100,000watts |
| HAAT | 303 meters (994 ft) |
| Translator | HD2: 106.9 K295CH (Kansas City, Kansas) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live Listen Live (HD2) |
| Website | kprs.com rnb1069.com (HD2) |
KPRS (103.3FM) is acommercialradio stationlicensed toKansas City, Missouri, owned by the Carter Broadcast Group. It airs anurban contemporaryradio format, includinghip-hop,R&B and Sunday morningurban gospel music. According to theFederal Communications Commission (FCC), it has been continually owned by anAfrican American family longer than any other radio station.[1] The studios and offices are on Colorado Avenue, nearInterstate 49 in South Kansas City.[2]
KPRS has aneffective radiated power (ERP) of 100,000watts, the maximum for most American FM stations. Thetransmitter is on East 63rd Street nearInterstate 435 in South Kansas City.[3] KPRS broadcasts usingHD Radio technology.Urban oldies music is heard on its HD2subchannel, which feeds 250-wattFM translator K295CH at 106.9 MHz.
In 1950, Andrew "Skip" Carter began operating KPRS as the nation's first radio station west of theMississippi River programmed for black listeners. Its transmitter was donated by formerKansas governorAlf Landon.[1] KPRS debuted as a 500-wattdaytimer at 1590 AM, with aplaylist ofR&B andsoul music along with news and talk of interest toAfrican-Americans. Thecall letters were chosen to represent the "People's Radio Station." In 1951, KPRS opened its first studio at 12th and Walnut Street in Kansas City. By 1952, Carter and Ed and Psyche Pate became business partners and purchased the station for $40,000 from theJohnson County Broadcasting Corporation. They moved KPRS to a new site at 2814 East 23rd Street in Kansas City.
KPRS applied for an FM license on May 22, 1961, which was granted on December 20, 1961. KPRS-FM received its first license on May 16, 1963, and went on the air later that year.[4][5] While most people did not yet own FM receivers in 1963, the FM band was gaining in popularity.
In 1969, the Carter Family had controlling interest in the station. In 1971, KPRS (AM) moved its programming to the 103.3 frequency under the KPRS-FM call letters and moniker “K103” (which would later be rebranded as "Hot 103 Jamz" in the 1990s). The 1590 frequency became anurban gospel-formatted station. The studios and offices moved to theCrown Center and the Carters moved to Florida to open a new corporate headquarters.
KPRS-FM dropped the -FMsuffix on October 15, 1974, when its sister AM station changed its call sign toKPRT that same day.[6][7] In 1975, KPRS became one of the first fullyautomated radio stations in theMidwest.[5] DJs such as Chris King and Freddie Bell read news updates, while also announcing songs. (Bell called himself "Frederick" during newscasts.)
Ensuring the business would remain a family-run entity, Michael Carter, Andrew's grandson, was named president of the company. One of his first moves was to take both stations back to "live" formats with less reliance on automation. Michael Carter, who made his radio debut at age 8 on KPRS, also programmed KPRS for 24-hour a day service.
In January 1988, original station owner Andrew Carter died at his Florida home. To honor the black radio pioneer's legacy, the KPRS Broadcasting Corporation changed its name to the Carter Broadcast Group in 1993. His widow, Mildred Carter, became chairperson of the board. The stations continued to serve the African-American community with outreach programs and charitable promotions. In 1990, KPRS jumped from 8th to 5th in the Kansas City market, according toArbitron ratings. Also in the 1990s, KPRS stopped playing what it perceived as negative hip-hop organgsta rap along with explicit and overtly sexual lyrics. In 1995, KPRS won the "Crystal Award" from theNational Association of Broadcasters. As the Carter Broadcast Group celebrated its 45th anniversary in 1995, KPRS had its highest ratings ever, reaching number one that year. In 2000, the company celebrated its 50th anniversary. In 2005, the station began carrying theSteve Harvey Morning Show.
The Carter Broadcast Group, owners of KPRS and KPRT, along with The Sherman Broadcast Group, were co-owners of anUrban Contemporary station known as KSJM, “107-9 Jamz”, inWichita, Kansas. In late 2007, the two groups sold KSJM to The Ag Network Group, which dropped the Urban format forCountry asKWLS "US-107.9" on January 19, 2008.
In fall 2009, KPRS added more rhythmic/pop crossover titles from artists likeJustin Bieber,Miley Cyrus,Iyaz,Kesha,Katy Perry, andJason DeRulo. This was most likely due to the implementation ofPortable People Meters (PPM) in the Kansas City Arbitron ratings. This caused significant controversy, as the only black-owned Hip Hop/R&B station in the Kansas City market was, in the eyes of many of its long-time listeners, attempting to appeal to a new audience. The station has since ended this tactic.
In August 2010, the station dropped Steve Harvey, replacing him with "More Music In The Mornings" with J.T. Quick. In April 2011, management made a change within the programming department by replacing operations manager Andre Carson with longtime music director Myron Fears.
In July 2011, KPRS repositioned its DJ lineup to help improve its ratings. The morning show changed from "More Music In the Mornings" to "The Morning Jam", and was now hosted by station veterans Tony G and Sean Tyler. Julee Jonez hosts the mid-day show, while J.T. Quick moved from morning drive to afternoon drive, and the night show is rotated by Brian B. Shynin', Brooklyn Martino and Playmaker. In June 2012, KPRS returned to the #1 position in the Kansas City Arbitron ratings.
In 2023, KPRS received direct competition whenKCJK, owned byCumulus Media, flipped to urban contemporary as "Power 105.1."[8] This has caused a drop in ratings for KPRS, although it usually leads KCJK.
In 2016, KPRS launched anHD2digital subchannel, which aired aclassic hip hop and old-school R&B format as "K-103.3 HD-2".
On May 15, 2023, KPRS-HD2 shifted tourban adult contemporary as "RNB 106.9", and began simulcasting onFM translator K295CH (106.9 FM).[9]
39°00′57″N94°30′24″W / 39.01583°N 94.50667°W /39.01583; -94.50667