KPLZ-FM
Encyclopedia
KPLZ-FM is a commercial radio station
located in Seattle, Washington
. KPLZ-FM airs an adult top 40 music format branded as "Star 101.5".
format. During the 1970s, AM
radio dominated the Seattle airwaves. The major country station was KAYO 1150. Top-40 stations in the city included KOL
-AM, which became country station KMPS
-AM in the mid-1970s. In 1976, Seattle was a two-station battleground between KING-AM
1090 and the legendary KJR 950. The sign-on of KVI-FM at "101 Plus" signaled the beginning of the end for contemporary music on Seattle's AM radio stations. KETO changed formats to Top-40 as KVI-FM "The FM KVI." The station later became "K-Plus 101" and changed its call letters to KPLZ. In the late 1970s, while KJR and KING maintained mainstream Top-40 formats, "K-Plus" became the area's de facto disco
music station. The death of disco combined with the sign-on of Top-40 upstart KBLE-FM ("The New 93") -- today's KUBE
-- signaled a tough ratings environment for KPLZ, but under the leadership of Program Director Casey Keating, the station became the city's dominant Top-40 station during the late 1980s. KUBE struggled for a time, but ultimately adopted a Rhythmic CHR approach. KPLZ's ratings dropped while KUBE ascended the ratings ladder. In 1992, KPLZ finally gave up on Top-40 and became adult top 40 "Star 101.5." The Kent and Alan morning team remained intact and continue on-air to this day.
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 Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. KPLZ-FM airs an adult top 40 music format branded as "Star 101.5".
History
Until 1976, the station at 101.5 was KETO and had a country musicCountry music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
format. During the 1970s, AM
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
radio dominated the Seattle airwaves. The major country station was KAYO 1150. Top-40 stations in the city included KOL
KOL
KOL may refer to:*Kingdom of Loathing, a browser-based multiplayer online role-playing game*Knight Online, a multiplayer online role-playing game*Kings of Leon*Knights of Labor*Key opinion leader, a person performing opinion leadership...
-AM, which became country station KMPS
KMPS
KMPS-FM is a country music station based in Seattle, Washington. The CBS Radio outlet broadcasts at 94.1 MHz with its main transmitter operating at 69 kW effective radiated power and its three auxiliary transmitters operating at 57 kW, 55 kW and 53 kW ERP. All four of its transmitters are located...
-AM in the mid-1970s. In 1976, Seattle was a two-station battleground between KING-AM
KPTK
KPTK is a Progressive talk radio station based in Seattle, Washington, broadcasting at 1090 kHz.Billing itself as "Seattle's Progressive Talk," KPTK broadcasts syndicated progressive/liberal talk programs hosted by personalities such as Ed Schultz, Mike Malloy, Randi Rhodes, Thom Hartmann, Rachel...
1090 and the legendary KJR 950. The sign-on of KVI-FM at "101 Plus" signaled the beginning of the end for contemporary music on Seattle's AM radio stations. KETO changed formats to Top-40 as KVI-FM "The FM KVI." The station later became "K-Plus 101" and changed its call letters to KPLZ. In the late 1970s, while KJR and KING maintained mainstream Top-40 formats, "K-Plus" became the area's de facto disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
music station. The death of disco combined with the sign-on of Top-40 upstart KBLE-FM ("The New 93") -- today's KUBE
KUBE
KUBE is a rhythmic contemporary radio station licensed in Seattle. The station's slogan is "Hits & Hip Hop." KUBE offers a mix of personality-driven DJs and current-based hit driven R&B/Hip-Hop fare...
-- signaled a tough ratings environment for KPLZ, but under the leadership of Program Director Casey Keating, the station became the city's dominant Top-40 station during the late 1980s. KUBE struggled for a time, but ultimately adopted a Rhythmic CHR approach. KPLZ's ratings dropped while KUBE ascended the ratings ladder. In 1992, KPLZ finally gave up on Top-40 and became adult top 40 "Star 101.5." The Kent and Alan morning team remained intact and continue on-air to this day.