KLLC

Last updated
KLLC
Broadcast area San Francisco Bay Area
Frequency 97.3 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingAlice @ 97.3
Programming
Language(s) English
Format Hot adult contemporary
Subchannels HD2: Channel Q
Ownership
Owner
KCBS, KFRC-FM, KGMZ-FM, KITS, KRBQ
History
First air date
September 14, 1947
Former call signs
  • KWBR-FM (1947–1949)
  • KGSF (1949–1952)
  • KXKX (1952–1956)
  • KEAR (1956–1978)
  • KCBS-FM (1978–1982)
  • KRQR (1982–1996)
Call sign meaning
"Alice"
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 9624
Class B
ERP 82,000  watts
HAAT 309 meters (1,014 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
 37°51′3″N122°29′51″W / 37.85083°N 122.49750°W / 37.85083; -122.49750
Repeater(s) See § FM Booster
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen live (via  Audacy)
Website www.audacy.com/radioalice

KLLC (97.3 FM, Alice @ 97.3) is a commercial radio station located in San Francisco, California, broadcasting to the San Francisco Bay Area. The station is owned by Audacy, Inc. Its transmitter is off Wolfback Ridge Road on Mount Beacon in the Marin Headlands near Sausalito, California. [2] The studios and offices are co-located with formerly co-owned KPIX-TV on Battery Street in downtown San Francisco.

Contents

History

The 97.3 MHz frequency signed on the air as KWBR-FM, dedicated September 14, 1947. The station was owned by the Warner Brothers of Oakland (of no relation to the film studio), with studios and transmitter on the side of Twin Peaks. It was a sister station of KWBR AM (earlier known as KLS and the current day KMKY 1310 AM. [3] After changing its call letters to KGSF in 1949, the station was sold in 1952 to the Electronic Service Corporation and managed by Stephen Cisler, who also owned KEAR (1550 AM) in San Mateo, and renamed KXKX. The two stations broadcast the same classical music format. In 1956, struggling financially, Cisler sold KEAR but retained KXKX and the KEAR call letters, moving the KEAR call letters to the FM frequency.

Family Radio acquired KEAR in 1959 and aired its Christian religious programming on the frequency for nearly 20 years. On September 13, 1978, Family Radio purchased a much stronger frequency, which saw KEAR and the religious format move to 106.9, as part of a three-way deal that also saw KCBS-FM move from 98.9 MHz to 97.3 MHz. KCBS-FM, known as "97K", programmed a hot adult contemporary format. Over the years, the station evolved in more of a classic hits direction. For a time, 97K aired the syndicated American Top 40 , a countdown show starring Casey Kasem.

On January 25, 1982, at midnight, KCBS-FM became KRQR "The Bay Area Rocker", with a hard-edged album-oriented rock (AOR) format, to compete against leading rock station KMEL. The first song played under the KRQR call sign was "I'm a Rocker" by Bruce Springsteen. KRQR's harder approach helped start a long run as a dominant rock station.

1982 was a busy year for Bay Area rock stations. In May of that year, KSFX dropped rock and went to a talk format as KGO-FM. A month later, on August 23, KQAK switched to rock as "The Quake". The following month, KFOG dropped beautiful music for a more eclectic mix of rock. Even with four AOR stations in San Francisco, in addition to two more in San Jose, KRQR still dominated amidst the stiff competition. KQAK was the first to give up, dropping AOR for modern rock in April 1983. [4] KRQR and KFOG then competed with the tightly-formatted KMEL, which flipped to CHR in 1984.

KRQR's rock format continued throughout the 1980s and up to 1993, when it moved to more of a classic rock direction. By 1995, the hard rock format was in decline across the country, as modern rock was on the rise. To combat this, the station evolved back to a more current direction in February 1996. [5] However, this failed to turn around ratings; at 3 p.m. on June 5, 1996, KRQR flipped to KLLC, "Alice 97.3," with a Modern AC format. The flip to "Alice" made the station one of the first in the U.S. to air the format. KLLC gradually evolved into Hot AC by 2010. [6]

On February 2, 2017, CBS Radio announced it would merge with Entercom. [7] The merger was approved on November 9, 2017, and was consummated on November 17. [8] [9]

KRQR logo - mid 1980s KRQR1986.JPG
KRQR logo - mid 1980s
KRQR logo - early 1990s KRQR1989.png
KRQR logo - early 1990s

Sarah and Vinnie

The station's most popular show has been in weekday morning drive. Originally known as "The Sarah and Vinnie Show", it was hosted by Sarah Clark (also known as Sarah Emily Lyman) and Vinnie Hasson (then known as Vinnie Crackhorn), until he was fired in 2002 due to problems with alcohol. After a several month search for a replacement for Vinnie, the station selected Mike Nelson (also known as "The DJ with No Name," to become the co-host of the renamed "Sarah and No-Name Show." [10] After 6 years, Nelson was let go by station management on July 17, 2008, who announced that Vinnie would re-team with Sarah starting on August 4, 2008, returning the show's name to "The Sarah and Vinnie Show." [11] Nelson later returned to his previous station, Live 105, as the host of the morning show before becoming a part of KFOG's morning show in 2015. [10]

Booster

KLLC is rebroadcast on the following FM Booster:

Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) HAAT Class FCC info
KLLC-FM297.3 FM Pleasanton, California 1784084,800 (Vert.)−55  m (−180  ft)D LMS

HD Radio

KLLC broadcasts in the HD Radio format. Its HD2 subchannel originally carried an automated chill music format, known as "Chill with Alice." According to the radio industry website RadioStats.Net, KLLC has the most-visited site of its kind in the United States.

On October 11, 2018, KLLC-HD2 switched to Radio.com's LGBTQ talk and EDM dance music format, branded as "Out Now." [12] On November 1, 2018, the station rebranded as "Channel Q".

Off-Air Activities

The station sponsors three seasonal concerts each year: the free "Summerthing" show in June and the "Now and Zen Fest" in September, both in Golden Gate Park, and "Alice in Winterland" in December. Featured acts have included Alanis Morissette, Duran Duran, Five for Fighting, Smash Mouth, and Train. Up until 2009 recordings from the concerts and other live appearances on the station were collected into the annual "This is Alice Music" CD, which was sold to raise funds donated to Breast cancer research and treatment charities.

Summerthing lineups

Now and Zen Fest lineups

Alice in Winterland / Alice @97.3 Green Christmas Hosted by Sarah and Vinnie lineups

Alice's Mad Hatter Birthday Bash!

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WZGC</span> Sports radio station in Atlanta

WZGC – branded 92.9 The Game – is a commercial sports radio station licensed to serve Atlanta, Georgia, covering the Atlanta metropolitan area. Owned by Audacy, Inc., WZGC is the Atlanta affiliate for Infinity Sports Network; the flagship station for the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta United FC radio networks; and the radio home of Randy McMichael. The WZGC studios are located at Colony Square in Midtown Atlanta, while the station transmitter is located in Atlanta's North Druid Hills neighborhood. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WZGC broadcasts over one HD Radio channel, and is available online via Audacy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KITS</span> Alternative rock radio station in San Francisco

KITS is a commercial radio station in San Francisco, California. Owned by Audacy, Inc., it broadcasts an alternative rock radio format known as "Live 105". The studios and offices are co-located with formerly co-owned KPIX-TV on Battery Street in the North Beach district of San Francisco.

KNBR-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to San Francisco, California, serving the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Owned by Cumulus Media, KNBR-FM features a sports radio format in a simulcast with co-owned KNBR. Both stations are the San Francisco affiliates for Infinity Sports Network, the flagship stations for the San Francisco Giants Radio Network and co-flagship stations for the San Francisco 49ers Radio Network. KNBR-AM-FM are the radio home of Greg Papa and Tom Tolbert.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KNX-FM</span> Radio station in Los Angeles, California

KNX-FM is a commercial radio station in Los Angeles, California, United States. The station is owned by Audacy, Inc. and airs an all-news radio format in a full-time simulcast with KNX. The station has studios at the intersection of Wilshire and Hauser Boulevards in the Miracle Mile district of Los Angeles, and the transmitter on Mount Wilson.

KSOL is a Spanish language radio station in San Francisco, California. KSQL simulcasts the station in Santa Cruz. KSOL and KSQL program a format consisting of regional Mexican music and talk shows. Both stations are owned by TelevisaUnivision USA. Its studios are located at 1940 Zanker Road in San Jose, and the KSOL transmitter is on Mount Sutro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KOME</span> Radio station in San Jose, California

KOME was a commercial FM radio station in San Jose, California, broadcasting at 98.5 MHz. KOME was on the air from 1971 through 1998. Currently, the 98.5 FM frequency is home to KUFX "K-Fox", a classic rock station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KHMX</span> Hot adult contemporary radio station in Houston

KHMX is an American commercial hot adult contemporary radio station in Houston, Texas. It is owned by Audacy, Inc. and serves the Greater Houston metropolitan area. The KHMX studios are located in Houston's Greenway Plaza district, while the station transmitter is located in the Houston suburb of Missouri City. In addition to a standard analog transmission, KHMX broadcasts using HD Radio technology, and is available online via Audacy.

KZDG is a commercial radio station licensed to serve San Francisco, California, and services the San Francisco Bay Area. Owned by Satish Chandra, through licensee Factorial Broadcasting, LLC, the station broadcasts a South Asian format known as "Radio Zindagi". Its transmitter facilities are located in the nearby suburb of Belmont. In addition to a standard analog transmission, KZDG is available online.

KEAR (610 kHz), is a non-commercial Christian AM radio station in San Francisco, California and is the flagship station of the Family Radio network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WREW</span> Radio station in Fairfield, Ohio

WREW is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Fairfield, Ohio, and serving the Cincinnati metropolitan area. The station broadcasts an adult contemporary radio format and is owned by Hubbard Broadcasting. The studios and offices are on Kennedy Avenue, in the Oakley neighborhood of Cincinnati where they have been since August of 2021.

The Cities 97.1 Sampler was a series of albums, cassette tapes and CDs containing "live in studio" recordings from Studio C located at radio station Cities 97.1, KTCZ-FM in Minneapolis at 97.1 MHz. It occasionally contained live tracks recorded from local concerts in the Twin Cities. It was released annually during the holidays from 1989 to 2018. New volumes would appear each November at local Target stores in time for Christmas gifts. In later years the sampler was also available on Target.com. Proceeds benefited Minnesota charitable organizations. The albums, cassettes and CDs usually generated over $500,000 every year for Minnesota charities. In the last several years, the recordings sold quickly, disappearing within minutes in many stores.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WZNE</span> Radio station in Brighton, New York

WZNE – branded 94.1 The Zone – is a commercial alternative rock radio station licensed to Brighton, New York, serving the Rochester metro area. WZNE is owned by the Stephens Media Group. Its studios are located in Rochester and its transmitter is located on Pinnacle Hill in Brighton. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WZNE broadcasts over two HD Radio channels, and is available online.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KFRC-FM</span> All-news radio station in San Francisco

KFRC-FM is a commercial radio station in San Francisco, California, serving the San Francisco Bay Area. It currently simulcasts sister station KCBS, which carries an all-news format. The station transmits its signal from Mount Beacon atop the Marin Headlands above Sausalito, California, while studios were shared with formerly co-owned CBS O&O station KPIX-TV in downtown San Francisco.

KMVQ-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to San Francisco, California. It is owned by Salt Lake City–based Bonneville International and it broadcasts a Top 40/CHR format branded as 99.7 Now. The studios are at 2001 Junipero Serra Boulevard in Daly City. KMVQ is one of two Top 40/CHR stations in the San Francisco, the other being iHeartMedia's KYLD.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WKXJ</span> Radio station in Walden, Tennessee

WKXJ is a commercial radio station licensed to Walden, Tennessee, United States, and serving the Chattanooga, Tennessee, area. The station operates a Top 40 (CHR) music format and is branded as "103.7 KISS FM." It is owned by Audacy, Inc. Its studios are located on Old Lee Road in Chattanooga, and its transmitter is located in Red Bank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KRBQ</span> Radio station in San Francisco, California

KRBQ is a classic hip hop radio station in San Francisco, California and owned by Audacy, Inc. The station transmits its signal from Mount Beacon atop the Marin Headlands above Sausalito, California, while studios are located in the KPIX-TV building in the North Beach district of San Francisco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KMEL</span> Urban contemporary radio station in San Francisco

KMEL is an urban contemporary radio station that is licensed to San Francisco, California, serving the San Francisco Bay Area. It is owned and operated by iHeartMedia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WGFE</span> Radio station in Glen Arbor, Michigan

WGFE is a radio station licensed to serve the community of Glen Arbor, Michigan. The station is owned by Black Diamond Broadcasting. The station airs an active rock format, simulcasting 105.1 WGFM in Cheboygan, Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KSON (FM)</span> Radio station in California, United States

KSON is a commercial radio station licensed to San Diego, California. Owned by Audacy, Inc., the station broadcasts a country music format.

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for KLLC". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ↑ Radio-Locator.com/KLLC
  3. ↑ "Warner Bros.' KWBR-FM (97.3 mc) Is Dedicated" (PDF). Broadcasting. September 22, 1947. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  4. ↑ KQAK FM 99 - The Quake - August 23, 1982
  5. ↑ http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1996/R&R-1996-02-01.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  6. ↑ http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1996/R&R-1996-06-14.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  7. ↑ CBS Radio to Merge with Entercom
  8. ↑ "Entercom Receives FCC Approval for Merger with CBS Radio". Entercom. November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  9. ↑ Venta, Lance (November 17, 2017). "Entercom Completes CBS Radio Merger". Radio Insight. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  10. 1 2 "Get to Know No Name « Live 105". Archived from the original on May 28, 2010.
  11. ↑ Sarah & Vinnie: Back Together Again On Radio Alice - San Francisco - News - The Snitch
  12. ↑ Entercom Debuts Out Now LGBTQ HD Radio in Five Markets Radioinsight - October 11, 2018
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.