KMNV
Encyclopedia
KMNV is a radio station
in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota
that airs a Spanish-language music and entertainment format.
furniture retailer Edward Hoffman began broadcasting at 1370 kHz. WMIN was reassigned to the 1400 kHz frequency in 1941 when an international treaty
was negotiated to reduce interference between American
radio stations and those from other regions. Noted jazz
announcer Leigh Kamman
started his career in broadcasting at the station around this time.
For many years, the station's transmitter and single tower have enjoyed an enviable location in the center of the metro area. Since at least the late 1970s/early 1980s, if not earlier, KMNV's technical plant has been located within a block of the city limits separating Minneapolis and St. Paul just east of the Mississippi River at 611 West Frontenac Place in St. Paul. It is plainly visible to travelers on Interstate Highway 94. The studios, at least in the 70s and 80s, were also located at this address.
at 99.5 MHz in 1945, which operated until being purchased by the owners of AM station WLOL and given those call letters in 1956. WMIN would eventually sign on another sister station, at 102.1 FM
.
In addition to FM, WMIN went into television as well, applying for a television license in 1952 for channel 11. WTCN
radio had also applied for this frequency, so the stations arranged to divide the broadcast day between the two stations. The stations soon merged as WTCN, which eventually became today's KARE
.
In 1954, the call sign for 1400 AM briefly changed to WMNS, reflecting a change to a full service
format of music, news
and sports. The format remained, but the station returned to being WMIN later that year. As WDGY
, WLOL and KDWB
enjoyed success playing Top 40 music in the late 1950s, WMIN joined the fray.
In July 1962, WMIN adopted an all-news
format, adopting the KTWN call letters the following November. They were changed back to WMIN the following August. In 1967, after dabbling with country music for the past three years, they took on the format full time.
The station changed their call sign again in 1972 to KEEY, to match that of their FM sister station
, and installed a soft rock
format separate of the FM, which aired beautiful music
.
Cargill Communications purchased KLBB in 1993, along with KBCW (1470 AM), WTCX-FM (105.1 FM) and WLOL-FM (105.3) for the basis of a proposed alternative rock
station, soon to become known as "REV105
". The new owners were uncomfortable with dropping the much-loved MOR format of KLBB, so they kept it, updated the music, imaging, promotion and logo of the station, and simulcast KLBB's programming on 1470 AM, now assigned the WLOL call letters.
. In 1999, the Cargills donated both KLBB and WLOL (soon to be renamed KLBP) to Minnesota Public Radio
, where the two frequencies became part of the for-profit Minnesota News Network (MNN). The stations continued the standards format.
In 2004, MPR sold off MNN and the statewide network's flagship AM station, WMNN, but retained KLBB and KLBP for the time being. By now, the "Club 14" simulcast was carrying a mix of local personalities and the "Music Of Your Life
" radio network
. The two stations were operated as The KLBB Company, a for-profit subsidiary
of the Greenspring Company
, which, like MPR, were under the umbrella of the American Public Media Group
.
, a New York
-based broadcaster specializing in multi-cultural, community focused formats. Thereafter, KLBB acquired a Spanish-language format, while the format on KLBP remained MOR until July 17, 2006, when it switched to a gospel music
format with the KZTG (later KRJJ) call letters. The sale of both stations was approved by the FCC on July 25, 2005, with Davidson taking control on September 7.
KLBB finally transitioned to its long-promised Spanish-language format on November 4, 2005, leaving the Adult Standards/Big Band format on sister station KLBP and bringing to an end the long-time Club 14 simulcast. The KMNV call letters were introduced to AM 1400 on December 16, 2005, just months after its switch to Regional Mexican, while the KLBB call letters moved to sister station AM 1470.
-based WMGT (1220 AM) on July 25, 2006.
The former WMIN
call sign was located for many years at 1030 AM
, then at 740 AM in the Twin Cities until the call sign was picked up by AM 1010 in Sauk Rapids, MN. KEEY-FM
continues with those call letters at 102.1 FM, with a country format.
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...
in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
that airs a Spanish-language music and entertainment format.
History
The station began as WMIN in the summer of 1936, when Saint PaulSaint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
furniture retailer Edward Hoffman began broadcasting at 1370 kHz. WMIN was reassigned to the 1400 kHz frequency in 1941 when an international treaty
Treaty
A treaty is an express agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations. A treaty may also be known as an agreement, protocol, covenant, convention or exchange of letters, among other terms...
was negotiated to reduce interference between American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio stations and those from other regions. Noted jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
announcer Leigh Kamman
Leigh Kamman
Leigh Kamman is an American radio host who has focused bringing jazz music to the airwaves for his career, which spans more than six decades. Kamman began his career in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, but spent time in other places such as at WOV radio in New York City...
started his career in broadcasting at the station around this time.
For many years, the station's transmitter and single tower have enjoyed an enviable location in the center of the metro area. Since at least the late 1970s/early 1980s, if not earlier, KMNV's technical plant has been located within a block of the city limits separating Minneapolis and St. Paul just east of the Mississippi River at 611 West Frontenac Place in St. Paul. It is plainly visible to travelers on Interstate Highway 94. The studios, at least in the 70s and 80s, were also located at this address.
Moving into FM, TV
WMIN set up a sister station, WMIN-FMKSJN
KSJN is the flagship station of Minnesota Public Radio's classical music network, serving the Twin Cities region. Prior to 1991, 99.5 was known as WLOL, best known as a top-rated CHR station during the 1980s.-KSJN intellectual unit:...
at 99.5 MHz in 1945, which operated until being purchased by the owners of AM station WLOL and given those call letters in 1956. WMIN would eventually sign on another sister station, at 102.1 FM
KEEY
KEEY-FM is a country music formatted radio station serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul market of Minnesota. It is the most popular country station in the area, and often comes in just below area powerhouses KQRS-FM and WCCO in overall ratings. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications...
.
In addition to FM, WMIN went into television as well, applying for a television license in 1952 for channel 11. WTCN
WWTC
WWTC is a long-standing radio station serving the Twin Cities region. Despite its up-and-down history, the station spawned two of the area's major television stations and had some very innovative and unusual periods in its history...
radio had also applied for this frequency, so the stations arranged to divide the broadcast day between the two stations. The stations soon merged as WTCN, which eventually became today's KARE
KARE
KARE, digital channel 11, is an NBC-affiliated television station licensed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota and portions of western Wisconsin. It also operates KARE WX NOW, formerly known as NBC Weather Plus on its second digital subchannel...
.
In 1954, the call sign for 1400 AM briefly changed to WMNS, reflecting a change to a full service
Full service
Full service is a term that has many different uses. In general the term implies that the customer will receive as much service as is reasonably possible.-Gas station:...
format of music, news
News
News is the communication of selected information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth to a third party or mass audience.- Etymology :...
and sports. The format remained, but the station returned to being WMIN later that year. As WDGY
WDGY
WREY is a Spanish-language radio station with studios located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is licensed to Saint Paul, Minnesota, although it was licensed to Hudson, Wisconsin from 1997 to 2005. It is a full market coverage radio station of Minneapolis/St.Paul...
, WLOL and KDWB
KDWB
KDWB-FM is an American commercial radio station broadcasting in the Twin Cities region of Minnesota, the radio format was known for over fifty years as a major contemporary hit radio Top 40 pop music outlet. Its transmitter is located in Shoreview, Minnesota. It broadcasts in 5.1 cinema-quality...
enjoyed success playing Top 40 music in the late 1950s, WMIN joined the fray.
In July 1962, WMIN adopted an all-news
News Radio
News Radio can refer to:* NewsRadio, the NBC sitcom which aired from 1995–1999.* News radio, the all-news or news/talk radio format....
format, adopting the KTWN call letters the following November. They were changed back to WMIN the following August. In 1967, after dabbling with country music for the past three years, they took on the format full time.
The station changed their call sign again in 1972 to KEEY, to match that of their FM sister station
KEEY
KEEY-FM is a country music formatted radio station serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul market of Minnesota. It is the most popular country station in the area, and often comes in just below area powerhouses KQRS-FM and WCCO in overall ratings. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications...
, and installed a soft rock
Soft rock
Soft rock is a style of music which uses the techniques of rock music to compose a softer, more toned-down sound. Soft rock songs generally tend to focus on themes like love, everyday life and relationships. The genre tends to make heavy use of acoustic guitars, pianos, synthesizers and sometimes...
format separate of the FM, which aired beautiful music
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
.
KLBB
In 1982, the two stations were split up as KEEY-FM became the sister station of WDGY and the AM station struck out on its own. The call letters were changed to KLBB in February 1982, with a staff consisting of many former employees of WCCO Radio. They aired a full-service format consisting of talk, big band and MOR music.Cargill Communications purchased KLBB in 1993, along with KBCW (1470 AM), WTCX-FM (105.1 FM) and WLOL-FM (105.3) for the basis of a proposed 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...
station, soon to become known as "REV105
WGVX
WGVX, WGVY and WGVZ is a trimulcast serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul region, and an area of central Minnesota to the north. The three stations are now owned by Cumulus Media, along with sister stations KQRS-FM and KXXR....
". The new owners were uncomfortable with dropping the much-loved MOR format of KLBB, so they kept it, updated the music, imaging, promotion and logo of the station, and simulcast KLBB's programming on 1470 AM, now assigned the WLOL call letters.
Sale to MPR
KLBB, along with WLOL, eventually separated once again from their FM sisters. James and Susan Cargill, who had also acquired a third FM station at 105.7, sold all three of the FM stations that made up REV105 to ABC Radio, owners of KQRS-FM and KEGEKXXR
KXXR is an active rock radio station broadcasting to the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. It is owned by Cumulus Media, which also owns KQRS-FM and the three station trimulcast known as "Love 105"...
. In 1999, the Cargills donated both KLBB and WLOL (soon to be renamed KLBP) to Minnesota Public Radio
Minnesota Public Radio
Minnesota Public Radio , is the flagship National Public Radio member network for the state of Minnesota. With its three services, News & Information, Classical Music and The Current, MPR operates a 42-station regional radio network in the upper Midwest serving over 8 million people...
, where the two frequencies became part of the for-profit Minnesota News Network (MNN). The stations continued the standards format.
In 2004, MPR sold off MNN and the statewide network's flagship AM station, WMNN, but retained KLBB and KLBP for the time being. By now, the "Club 14" simulcast was carrying a mix of local personalities and the "Music Of Your Life
Music of Your Life
Music of Your Life is a satellite-delivered radio network featuring the Adult Standards music format. Created by record executive and jingle writer Al Ham, and now under the direction of Marc Angell, Music of Your Life has more than 50 AM, FM and HD-2 radio station affiliates, and has been in...
" radio network
Radio network
There are two types of radio networks currently in use around the world: the one-to-many broadcast type commonly used for public information and mass media entertainment; and the two-way type used more commonly for public safety and public services such as police, fire, taxicabs, and delivery...
. The two stations were operated as The KLBB Company, a for-profit subsidiary
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
of the Greenspring Company
Greenspring Company
The Greenspring Company is the for-profit subsidiary of the non-profit American Public Media Group, and the parent company of the for-profit organization Greenspring Media Group, publishers of Minnesota Monthly and other publications...
, which, like MPR, were under the umbrella of the American Public Media Group
American Public Media Group
American Public Media Group , formerly Minnesota Communications Group, is the non-profit organization that is the parent of non-profits Minnesota Public Radio, Southern California Public Radio , and Classical South Florida , along with the for-profit Greenspring Company, as well as MPR's Fitzgerald...
.
KLBB sold again, becomes KMNV
MPR announced on May 25, 2005, that it had reached an agreement to sell both KLBB and KLBP to Davidson Media GroupDavidson Media Group
The Davidson Media Group is a New York based broadcaster specializing in multi-cultural, community focused formats. In four years the company has grown into a network of 40 stations in a 16 state region...
, a New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
-based broadcaster specializing in multi-cultural, community focused formats. Thereafter, KLBB acquired a Spanish-language format, while the format on KLBP remained MOR until July 17, 2006, when it switched to a gospel music
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
format with the KZTG (later KRJJ) call letters. The sale of both stations was approved by the FCC on July 25, 2005, with Davidson taking control on September 7.
KLBB finally transitioned to its long-promised Spanish-language format on November 4, 2005, leaving the Adult Standards/Big Band format on sister station KLBP and bringing to an end the long-time Club 14 simulcast. The KMNV call letters were introduced to AM 1400 on December 16, 2005, just months after its switch to Regional Mexican, while the KLBB call letters moved to sister station AM 1470.
Whereabouts of former call letters
Following 1470's switch to gospel music, the KLBB call letters and much of its programming were picked up by StillwaterStillwater, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,143 people, 5,797 households, and 4,115 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,340.0 people per square mile . There were 5,926 housing units at an average density of 915.7 per square mile...
-based WMGT (1220 AM) on July 25, 2006.
The former WMIN
WMIN
WMIN is a radio station licensed to serve Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, USA. The station is part of the Tri-County Broadcasting group and the broadcast license is held by Herbert M. Hoppe.-Programming:...
call sign was located for many years at 1030 AM
WCTS
WCTS is a radio station licensed to Maplewood, Minnesota, and serving the Twin Cities metropolitan area with a non-commercial fundamentalist Christian format...
, then at 740 AM in the Twin Cities until the call sign was picked up by AM 1010 in Sauk Rapids, MN. KEEY-FM
KEEY
KEEY-FM is a country music formatted radio station serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul market of Minnesota. It is the most popular country station in the area, and often comes in just below area powerhouses KQRS-FM and WCCO in overall ratings. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications...
continues with those call letters at 102.1 FM, with a country format.
