WQPM (1300 AM) is a radio station airing a classic country format.[3] Licensed to Princeton, Minnesota, United States, the station serves the St. Cloud area. The station is currently owned by Dennis and Lucas Carpenter, through licensee Milestone Radio LLC.[4]

WQPM
Simulcasting KLCI Elk River
Broadcast areaSt. Cloud, Minnesota
Frequency1300 kHz
BrandingBob Total Country
Programming
FormatClassic country
AffiliationsCompass Media Networks
Westwood One
Minnesota Lynx
Ownership
Owner
  • Dennis and Lucas Carpenter
  • (Milestone Radio LLC)
KLCI, KDDG, WLKX-FM, KASM, KBGY
History
First air date
June 28, 1967[1]
Call sign meaning
W Q Princeton Minnesota (previous format and city of license)
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID59618
ClassD
Power1,000 watts day
83 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
45°32′58″N 93°34′52″W / 45.54944°N 93.58111°W / 45.54944; -93.58111
Translator(s)107.5 W298CE (Big Lake)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websitemybobcountry.com

Radio station KPCS 89.7 licensed to Princeton, shares its tower with WQPM.[5]

History

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WQPM signed on June 28, 1967. It was initially licensed for 500 watts, but upgraded to 1,000 watts in 1968.[6]

In the 1980s, WQPM AM was simulcast on FM at 106.3 (now KLCI on 106.1). WQPM-FM at the time, was licensed for 3,000 watts, covering much the same area as its AM counterpart.[7] The format at the time was much the same as it is today. [8]

On September 13, 2018, WQPM changed formats from The Big Q (oldies) to classic hits, branded as "Killer Bee Radio".[9]

On December 21, 2019, the station began stunting.[10] On January 1, 2020, the station returned to The Big Q, playing oldies music once again. It was at the time a simulcast of WLKX-FM in Forest Lake.[11]

On February 13, 2022, WQPM changed its format from oldies to a simulcast of classic country-formatted KLCI 106.1 FM Elk River, branded as "Total Country Bob FM".[12] Big Q Radio, however, continues streaming oldies on the internet: Big Q Live, as well as on KDDG & KLCI 105.5 & 106.1 HD3.

Sister station WLKX in Forest Lake also joined the BOB-FM network.[13]

The station is an affiliate of the Minnesota Lynx basketball team, and games are broadcast on KLCI, as well as its sister stations. [14]

References

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  1. ^ "History cards for WQPM" (PDF). United States Federal Communications Commission audio division.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WQPM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Winter 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-18.
  4. ^ "WQPM Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved 2010-02-18.
  5. ^ "Princeton, MN's Sole Radio Tower". www.ubstudios.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  6. ^ "History cards for WQPM" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission audio division.
  7. ^ Drew Durigan. "WQPM-FM 106.3 Princeton MN Todd Melby 1982".
  8. ^ "Broadcasting Cablecasting Yearbook". Broadcasting Publications. 1988. p. 153.
  9. ^ Big Q Evolves to Killer Bee in Minneapolis Suburbs Radioinsight - September 13, 2018
  10. ^ North Metro Stations Drop Format, Promise “Big Changes” Jan. 1
  11. ^ Jason DeMoe (April 8, 2016). "Big Q brings fun lovin radio to the north metro and beyond". Forest Lake Times.
  12. ^ Bob Expands To Five Minnesota Stations Radioinsight - February 14, 2022
  13. ^ Jon Ellis (February 13, 2022). "Bob FM Adds Several More North Twin Cities Metro Signals". NorthPine.com.
  14. ^ "Minnesota Lynx Radio Affiliates". Minnesota Lynx. Women's National Basketball Association.
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