| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Mankato, Minnesota |
| Frequency | 99.1MHz |
| Branding | Z99 |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Format | Contemporary hit radio |
| Affiliations | Westwood One |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
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| |
| History | |
First air date | April 1, 1968 (as KEYC-FM) |
Former call signs | KEYC-FM (1968–1978) |
Call sign meaning | Z99 |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 21193 |
| Class | C1 |
| ERP | 100,000 watts |
| HAAT | 239 m (784 ft) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | z99mankato.com |
KEEZ-FM (99.1 FM, "Z99") is an American radio station licensed to serve the community ofMankato, Minnesota, and serving the Minnesota River Valley. The station broadcasts aTop 40/CHR format. The station is owned byAlpha Media, through licensee Alpha 3E Licensee LLC, along withsister stationsKYSM-FM,KRBI-FM andKMKO-FM.
The station was granted license on May 15, 1968, as KEYC-FM.[2] The station was started byLee Enterprises, which also ownedKEYC-TV. The station was sold in 1977, to Faribault County Broadcasting Co. for $200,000, principally owned by Paul C. Hedberg and his wife. Burke B. Bartell was General manager until 1980's.[3] The station was aCHR/Top 40 station by the mid-1980s, and then shifted to ahot AC format in August 1992. Hedberg Broadcasting sold the station in 1993, to Nolan Broadcast Group.
From January 1993 to the fall of 2000, KEEZ was owned and operated by Nolan Broadcast Group. KEEZ was managed by Michael E. Nolan, who along with his father Philip E. Nolan ownedKAUS-AM/KAUS-FM inAustin, Minnesota. In 2000, the station was sold to Three Eagles Communications.
KEEZ's longtime competitor,96.7 KDOG, was a CHR station from 1984 until shifting to hot AC in 2000. KDOG returned to their CHR roots as "Hot 96.7" in September 2009.
While Z99 was a hot AC format during the daytime (playing a mix of hit music from the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and today), it took a Top 40/CHR format at night, as the station added hip-hop to their playlist, thus it could be considered anadult Top 40. By 2012, Z99 shifted to a full-fledged Top 40/CHR music station.
On October 31, 2018, at midnight, KEEZ beganstunting with a continuous loop ofMichael Jackson's “Thriller” while branding as "Thriller 99.1". The next day, at 9 a.m., KEEZ relaunched with ahot adult contemporary format as "Mix 99.1".[4]
On November 11, 2024, at midnight, KEEZ reverted back toTop 40/CHR and the "Z99" moniker.[5]
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