KQQL - History

History

In the 1970s, the station was known as KTWN-FM. It cycled through several formats, including beautiful music, a short stint with classical music beginning September 1, 1974, then a full-service MOR format, focusing on the northern suburbs of the Twin Cities. From 1978 to 1983, they carried a jazz format. At the time, the station was operated by Jack Moore, who had previously run WAYL, the market's leading beautiful music station.

The station was sold and the new owners immediately switched to a lite AC/oldies hybrid on September 24, 1983 as KGBB ("B108"). Later, the station became "Magic 108" with the call letters KMGW (later KMGK). The station's signal limitations were a hindrance as they faced competition from the larger WLTE and KS95.

Finally, the station was reborn as KQQL (Kool 108) in September 1988, became the first true FM oldies station in the Twin Cities area. This followed several days of stunting, playing various versions of "Louie, Louie" nonstop.

The oldies format originally spanned the era of the late 1950s through the 1960s. By 2000, they had gravitated toward hits of the 1960s and 1970s (with the occasional early 1980s song thrown in). For a brief time, they were the FM flagship for Minnesota Vikings football (simulcasting with KFAN).

The format was tweaked again in 2006, to a oldies/classic hits hybrid, positioning themselves as "Super Hits of the 60's & 70's", though they include some 1980s hits also. Kool 108 also began airing classic American Top 40 from the 1970s hosted by Casey Kasem. The station started playing less 1980s music starting in September 2007 in response to creation of Love 105. For a short time, Kool 108 also aired classic 1980s American Top 40 shows, but the station dropped the AT40 '80s broadcasts after they cut back on playing '80s music.

On April 28, 2009, KQQL released all of their on-air personalities, including Morning Drive host Lois Mae; and radio icon, Dan Donovan. Disk Jockeys on KQQL were voicetracked from other Clear Channel Stations, with news coming from KOA-AM In Denver, CO. However in mid-2010 KQQL hired new on-air personalities including radio veteran and KARE 11 reporter Lee Valsvik.

On December 27, 2009, the station tweaked to a classic hits format and dropped most 1960s titles, and added some 1990s titles, while emphasizing on 1970s and 1980s music. Direct competition with Cumulus Media's WGVX (Love 105) ended when it switched formats to lite rock in early 2012.