WLLR-FM
Encyclopedia
WLLR-FM is a radio station licensed to Davenport, Iowa
, whose format is modern country music
. The station's frequency is 103.7 MHz, and broadcasts at a power of 100 kW.
WLLR (commonly known as "No. 1 Country") is owned by Clear Channel Communications
, with studios located in Davenport, Iowa. Other stations located in the same complex are KMXG
, KUUL-FM
, KCQQ-FM
, WFXN and WOC.
– dates to October 1948, when the station signed on as WOC-FM, a companion to its AM sister station, WOC (1420 AM). The station was owned by the Palmer family, a well-known Quad Cities
family that started the Palmer College of Chiropractic
.
As with most FM radio stations in the 1950s and 1960s, WOC-FM played mostly easy listening
and classical music.
The frequency's first major format change came in February 1972, when WOC-FM became the Quad-Cities market's first full-time FM rock station. Adopting a contemporary hit radio
format, the station's call letters changed to KIIK, and was known to fans as "KIIK 104." KIIK quickly became very popular with Quad City-area listeners, and soon became the market's top-rated station.
By the late 1980s, with new competitor station WPXR-FM
("Power 98.9") having taken over the CHR/Top 40 market, KIIK changed to a rock oldies station. As KUUL-FM
, the station played music from the 1950s through early 1970s. The format change became effective in May 1989, and fans soon identified the "KUUL Red Radio" (a jumbo-sized boombox
replica) with the station at its live remote broadcast sites.
The most recent change to the station came in March 1998, when KUUL and WLLR (which had used a country format at 101.3 FM since 1983) swapped frequencies. KUUL's 50s and 60s format moved to 101.3 FM, while the country format took over 103.7 FM.
WLLR - which already had been the Quad-Cities market's top-rated station for a decade - strengthened its dominance in the Quad-Cities market.
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
, whose format is modern country music
Country 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...
. The station's frequency is 103.7 MHz, and broadcasts at a power of 100 kW.
WLLR (commonly known as "No. 1 Country") 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...
, with studios located in Davenport, Iowa. Other stations located in the same complex are KMXG
KMXG
KMXG is a radio station licensed to Clinton, Iowa, whose format is adult contemporary. The station broadcasts at a power of 100 kW. Its transmitter is located on 225th Street in rural LeClaire in Scott County....
, KUUL-FM
KUUL
KUUL is a radio station licensed to East Moline, Illinois, whose format is oldies. The station's frequency is 101.3 MHz, and broadcasts at a power of 50 kW. Its transmitter is located in Port Byron, Illinois....
, KCQQ-FM
KCQQ
KCQQ is an FM radio station licensed to Davenport, Iowa with a classic rock format. The station's frequency is 106.5 MHz, and broadcasts at a power of 100 kW, with transmitter located in rural LeClaire in Scott County....
, WFXN and WOC.
History of 103.7 MHz
The Davenport allocation for 103.7 FM – representing the second FM station in the Quad CitiesQuad Cities
The Quad Cities is a group of five cities straddling the Mississippi River on the Iowa–Illinois boundary. These cities, Davenport and Bettendorf and Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline , are the center of the Quad Cities Metropolitan Area, which, as of 2010, had an estimated population of...
– dates to October 1948, when the station signed on as WOC-FM, a companion to its AM sister station, WOC (1420 AM). The station was owned by the Palmer family, a well-known Quad Cities
Quad Cities
The Quad Cities is a group of five cities straddling the Mississippi River on the Iowa–Illinois boundary. These cities, Davenport and Bettendorf and Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline , are the center of the Quad Cities Metropolitan Area, which, as of 2010, had an estimated population of...
family that started the Palmer College of Chiropractic
Palmer College of Chiropractic
Palmer College of Chiropractic is a chiropractic school located in Davenport, Iowa. It was established in 1897 by Daniel David Palmer and is considered "The Fountainhead" as it was the first school of chiropractic in the world. For many years, Palmer College of Chiropractic was the world's largest...
.
As with most FM radio stations in the 1950s and 1960s, WOC-FM played mostly easy listening
Easy listening
Easy listening is a broad style of popular music and radio format that emerged in the 1950s, evolving out of big band music, and related to MOR music as played on many AM radio stations. It encompasses the exotica, beautiful music, light music, lounge music, ambient music, and space age pop genres...
and classical music.
The frequency's first major format change came in February 1972, when WOC-FM became the Quad-Cities market's first full-time FM rock station. Adopting 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, the station's call letters changed to KIIK, and was known to fans as "KIIK 104." KIIK quickly became very popular with Quad City-area listeners, and soon became the market's top-rated station.
By the late 1980s, with new competitor station WPXR-FM
WLKU
WLKU is a radio station licensed to Rock Island, Illinois, with a Christian contemporary format. The station's frequency is 98.9 MHz, and broadcasts at a power of 39 kW.WLKU is owned by the Educational Media Foundation.-Early history:...
("Power 98.9") having taken over the CHR/Top 40 market, KIIK changed to a rock oldies station. As KUUL-FM
KUUL
KUUL is a radio station licensed to East Moline, Illinois, whose format is oldies. The station's frequency is 101.3 MHz, and broadcasts at a power of 50 kW. Its transmitter is located in Port Byron, Illinois....
, the station played music from the 1950s through early 1970s. The format change became effective in May 1989, and fans soon identified the "KUUL Red Radio" (a jumbo-sized boombox
Boombox
Boombox is a colloquial expression for a portable cassette or CD player. Other terms known are ghetto blaster, jambox, or radio-cassette. It is a device capable of receiving radio stations and playing recorded music , usually at relatively high volume...
replica) with the station at its live remote broadcast sites.
The most recent change to the station came in March 1998, when KUUL and WLLR (which had used a country format at 101.3 FM since 1983) swapped frequencies. KUUL's 50s and 60s format moved to 101.3 FM, while the country format took over 103.7 FM.
WLLR - which already had been the Quad-Cities market's top-rated station for a decade - strengthened its dominance in the Quad-Cities market.