 | |
| Broadcast area | Lee County, Alabama Columbus, Georgia |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 97.7MHz |
| Branding | 97.7 The Kicker |
| Programming | |
| Format | Country |
| Affiliations | Premiere Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WCJM-FM,WMXA,WPCH,WTLM,WZMG | |
| History | |
First air date | July 8, 1968; 56 years ago (1968-07-08) |
Former call signs | WFRI (1968–1985)[1] WKKR-FM (1985-?) |
Call sign meaning | KKickeR |
| Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 22875 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 3,100watts |
| HAAT | 138 meters (453 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 32°33′54″N85°22′13″W / 32.56500°N 85.37028°W /32.56500; -85.37028 |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | kickerfm.iheart.com |
WKKR (97.7FM) is aradio stationlicensed toAuburn, Alabama, United States. The station, established in 1968, is currently owned bySan Antonio–basediHeartMedia, through licensee iHM Licenses, LLC. In 1988, WKKR became the first Alabama radio station to earn theNational Association of BroadcastersCrystal Radio Award for outstanding commitment tocommunity service.
New radio stationWFRI began broadcasting on July 8, 1968, with 860watts of power on 97.7MHz licensed to Faulkner Radio, Inc.[3] Owner James H. Faulkner Sr. also owned several other Alabama radio stations as well as the newspapersBaldwin Times andFoley Onlooker inBaldwin County, Alabama.[4] Broadcasting amiddle of the road musicradio format, the station upgraded its signal strength to 3,000 watts ofeffective radiated power in 1970.[5] In 1973, the station switched to a "solid gold"oldies andadult standards music format.[6] By 1979, WFRI had changed musical directions again and was programming aTop 40 pop music format.[7] This change would also prove short-lived as WFRI aired aclassic rock format branded as "Rock 97" for most of the early 1980s.
In November 1984, Faulkner Radio, Inc., made a deal to sell WFRI and AM station WAOA (nowWTLM) to Fuller Broadcasting Company, Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on January 7, 1985, and the transaction was consummated on March 18, 1985.[8]
The AM station's format was flipped fromcountry music tooldies and WFRI's format was switched from the "97 Rock"classic rock format to acountry music format branded as "Kicker FM".[9][10] New owner Fuller Broadcasting had theFederal Communications Commission assign current call lettersWKKR to match the branding on March 1, 1985 .[1]
In August 1998, Fuller Broadcasting Company, Inc., reached an agreement to sell this station to Root Communications License Company, L.P., as part of a five-station deal.[11] The deal was approved by the FCC on October 5, 1998, and the transaction was consummated in December 1998.[12] Gary Fuller, president and CEO of Fuller Broadcasting Company, Inc. from 1985 until he sold the company in December 1998, was elected mayor ofOpelika, Alabama, in August 2004.[13]
In March 2003, Root Communications License Company, L.P., reached an agreement to sell this station to Qantum Communications subsidiary Qantum of Auburn License Company, LLC, as part of a 26 station deal valued at $82.2 million.[14] The deal was approved by the FCC on April 30, 2003, and the transaction was consummated on July 2, 2003.[15]
On May 15, 2014, Qantum Communications announced that it would sell its 29 stations, including WKKR, to Clear Channel Communications (now iHeartMedia), in a transaction connected to Clear Channel's sale ofWALK AM-FM inPatchogue, New York toConnoisseur Media via Qantum.[16] The transaction was consummated on September 9, 2014.
In 1988, WKKR and AM sister station WZMG (nowWTLM) became the first stations in Alabama to earn theNational Association of BroadcastersCrystal Radio Award.[17] Established in 1987, the NAB Crystal Radio Awards recognize broadcasters for outstanding commitment tocommunity service.[18]
WKKR is continuously chosen as "Best Of" in the local "OA News"[19] and was awarded the 2008 "National Promotion of Year" Award from the Country Radio Seminar inNashville, Tennessee.[20]
Tige And Daniel Show nationally syndicated radio program. Hosts began their broadcasting careers at WKKR andWMXA.
WFRI, then known as 97 Rock, had great appeal to the students in Auburn. Nevertheless, Fuller decided to take the station in a different direction. A month after he purchased WFRI, he renamed it WKKR. Country music was in; classic rock was out.