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|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Greater Quad Cities |
| Frequency | 101.3MHz |
| Branding | 101-3 KISS FM |
| Programming | |
| Format | Top 40 (CHR) |
| Affiliations | Premiere Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KCQQ,KMXG,WFXN,WLLR-FM,WOC | |
| History | |
First air date | February 23,1976 (as WEMO) |
Former call signs |
|
Call sign meaning | reference to former "Kool" branding |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 43208 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 50,000watts |
| HAAT | 152 meters (499 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 41°37′10.1″N90°17′41.4″W / 41.619472°N 90.294833°W /41.619472; -90.294833 |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live (viaiHeartRadio) |
| Website | 1013kissfm |
KUUL (101.3FM, "101-3 KISS FM") is an AmericancommercialTop 40 (CHR)radio station serving theQuad Cities area. They are owned byiHeartMedia, Inc. with studios located inDavenport, Iowa, and a transmitter located nearPort Byron, Illinois.
The station began life in February 1976 as WEMO ("EMO" standing for East Moline) and playing adult contemporary music. The station was owned by Upper Rock Island County Holding Corp.
In November 1978, the station was sold to BJM Broadcasting, and the station adopted acountry format, with the call letters WZZC. The format change took effect December 3, 1978, and during this time, the station also featured local high school and college sports, as well asSt. Louis Cardinals games. The station was also known for sponsoring country music concerts at Palmer Auditorium in Davenport, Iowa; the first show featuredDonna Fargo andTom T. Hall, and comedianGeorge Lindsey.[2]
A change in station ownership came in late 1982 to Sconnix Broadcasting, and in January 1983, the station — while retaining the country music format — changed its call letters to WLLR. During this time, WLLR began a slow climb toward becoming the Quad Cities market's top-rated radio station, a goal achieved in the late 1980s.
On March 2, 1998, WLLR's country format swapped frequencies with103.7 FM'soldies format. At the time of the switch, KUUL's format consisted of rock oldies from the 1950s through early 1970s, but the emphasis gradually shifted toward hits of the 1970s, and at one time, the 1980s, although the station always retained part of its 1960s library.
From 2001 to 2007, KUUL carriedThe Bob & Tom Show during its morning programming block after originally airing onWHTS, but the show has since been switched toKCQQ. The move coincided with a new morning show teaming Steve Ketelaar and Mark Manuel.[3] Following the 2002 holiday season, the station began adding 1980s hits to its library, dropping nearly all of its pre-1964 music, thereby tweaking the format to an oldies/classic hits hybrid similar toKQQL. That music mix remained in place through 2009, when – after a series of layoffs – the station began automating most of its programming throughiHeartRadio'sPremium Choice programming; the playlist was shortened to only 1960s and 1970s hits, with approximately two dozen 1980s titles remaining. The only live on-air talent remaining were morning show hosts Mark Manuel and Steve Ketalaar.
During the holiday season (roughly, Thanksgiving to Christmas Day) from 2002 to 2007, KUUL switched to an all-holiday music format.[4] The holiday format moved toKMXG after the 2008 holiday season.
On February 20, 2012, KUUL flipped to CHR as "101-3 KISS FM". The last song played on "KUUL 101.3" was "Rock Your Baby" byGeorge McCrae, while the first song played on "KISS FM" was "Turn Me On" byDavid Guetta andNicki Minaj.[5] Programming includesElvis Duran and the Morning Show, one of only two in Iowa to air the show. With the demise of the oldies format, several of KUUL's former programs were moved to sister station KMXG, includingAmerican Top 40: The 70s,Into the 70s with John Landecker andThe 70s with Steve Goddard. In addition, the morning show, hosted by Manuel and Ketalaar, was moved to sister stationWOC. KUUL's programming is made up from Premium Choice lineup.