KCCQ
Encyclopedia
KCCQ is a commercial radio station
located in Ames, Iowa
, broadcasting to the Des Moines, Iowa
area on 105.1 FM
. KCCQ airs an Alternative rock
music format branded as "New Rock 105.1". KCCQ is owned by Clear Channel Communications
and licensed to Citicaster Licenses LP.
, the station was known as "Hot 105 KCCQ" with a contemporary hit radio
format. Many years in the 1990s, KCCQ was the only contemporary hit radio
station broadcasting in central Iowa, including the Des Moines metro area. The signal in Des Moines itself was relatively weak prior to 1998 when the station moved frequencies to 105.1 from 107.1 and the wattage was increased. Much of the time the station occupied 107.1, listeners in Des Moines and other parts of the southern fringe of KCCQ's coverage area could often hear interference from KJJC of Osceola, Iowa
, which was broadcasting at 106.9 with higher wattage than KCCQ.
Previous to 1998, the station only targeted the Ames, Iowa
area and was known as "Hot 107 KCCQ" and before that "107 KCCQ Ames' Hot FM". Ames Broadcasting Company
owned KCCQ along with KASI
in Ames, Iowa
, and KIKD-FM
in Lake City, IA
until 1999 when KASI & KCCQ were sold to Jacor
, which, at the time recently merged with Clear Channel Communications
.
After the purchase by Clear Channel, the company swapped KCCQ's CHR format with the alternative rock
format of new sister station KKDM
. KCCQ was then known as "Channel Q".
On August 23, 2010 KCCQ rebranded as "New Rock 105.1".
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
located in Ames, Iowa
Ames, Iowa
Ames is a city located in the central part of the U.S. state of Iowa in Story County, and approximately north of Des Moines. The U.S. Census Bureau designates that Ames, Iowa metropolitan statistical area as encompassing all of Story County, and which, when combined with the Boone, Iowa...
, broadcasting to the Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
area on 105.1 FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
. KCCQ airs an Alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
music format branded as "New Rock 105.1". KCCQ is owned by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
and licensed to Citicaster Licenses LP.
History
Prior to the switch to Alternative rockAlternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
, the station was known as "Hot 105 KCCQ" with a contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
format. Many years in the 1990s, KCCQ was the only contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
station broadcasting in central Iowa, including the Des Moines metro area. The signal in Des Moines itself was relatively weak prior to 1998 when the station moved frequencies to 105.1 from 107.1 and the wattage was increased. Much of the time the station occupied 107.1, listeners in Des Moines and other parts of the southern fringe of KCCQ's coverage area could often hear interference from KJJC of Osceola, Iowa
Osceola, Iowa
Osceola is a city in Clarke County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4,659 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Clarke County.-Geography:Osceola is located at , at the junction of Interstate 35 and U.S. Routes 34 and 69...
, which was broadcasting at 106.9 with higher wattage than KCCQ.
Previous to 1998, the station only targeted the Ames, Iowa
Ames, Iowa
Ames is a city located in the central part of the U.S. state of Iowa in Story County, and approximately north of Des Moines. The U.S. Census Bureau designates that Ames, Iowa metropolitan statistical area as encompassing all of Story County, and which, when combined with the Boone, Iowa...
area and was known as "Hot 107 KCCQ" and before that "107 KCCQ Ames' Hot FM". Ames Broadcasting Company
Ames Broadcasting Company
Ames Broadcasting Company, also "Lake City Broadcasting" was formed under the owner Betty Baudler Horras, who started out as a bookkeeper before becoming the first woman to own a radio station in Iowa. The small company owned and operated 3 radio stations in West Central Iowa. KCCQ-FM, KASI-AM,...
owned KCCQ along with KASI
KASI
KASI is a radio station licensed to serve Ames, Iowa. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications and licensed to Citicasters Licenses, Inc. It airs a News/Talk radio format....
in Ames, Iowa
Ames, Iowa
Ames is a city located in the central part of the U.S. state of Iowa in Story County, and approximately north of Des Moines. The U.S. Census Bureau designates that Ames, Iowa metropolitan statistical area as encompassing all of Story County, and which, when combined with the Boone, Iowa...
, and KIKD-FM
KIKD
KIKD, known as "Kick 106.7," is an FM radio station based in Carroll, Iowa. The station plays Country music. KIKD is part of Carroll Broadcasting, along with KKRL, KCIM, and cable TV station CBTV.- History :KIKD-FM signed on in St...
in Lake City, IA
Lake City, Iowa
Lake City is a city in Calhoun County, Iowa, United States, founded in 1856. The population was 1,787 at the 2000 census. The sign coming into town proudly proclaims that Lake City has "Everything but a Lake."...
until 1999 when KASI & KCCQ were sold to Jacor
Jacor
Jacor Communications was a media corporation which owned a large number of radio stations in the United States. Inside the radio industry, Jacor was seen as one of the most competitive broadcast companies in history. Jacor's re-image in 1996 created the slogan "The Noise You Can't Ignore".Jacor was...
, which, at the time recently merged with Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
.
After the purchase by Clear Channel, the company swapped KCCQ's CHR format with the alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
format of new sister station KKDM
KKDM
KKDM is a contemporary hit radio station based in Des Moines, Iowa. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications.-History:KKDM was established by local businessman Rich Eychaner as Midwest Radio, Inc...
. KCCQ was then known as "Channel Q".
On August 23, 2010 KCCQ rebranded as "New Rock 105.1".
Programming
- The syndicated programs, Scratch N' Sniff, Out of Order, Complete Control, and Passport Approved.
- "The Garage", a show dedicated to music from Midwest-area bands on Sunday nights, and local artists on the show can be heard throughout the week on KCCQ.