KLO-FM

Last updated

KLO-FM
Broadcast area Salt Lake City metropolitan area
Frequency 103.1 MHz
BrandingChristmas 103
Programming
Format Stunting (Christmas music)
Affiliations Weber State Wildcats Learfield
Ownership
Owner
  • Capital Broadcasting
  • (KLO Broadcasting Co.)
KBZN
History
First air date
2004 (2004)
Former call signs
  • KPEB (2001–2004)
  • KJQN (2004–2012)
  • KLO-FM (2012–2014)
  • KSQN (2014–2020)
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID 88483
Class C
ERP 89,000 watts
HAAT 647 meters (2,123 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
40°52′16″N110°59′43″W / 40.87111°N 110.99528°W / 40.87111; -110.99528
Repeater See § Boosters
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen Live
Website 1031thewave.com

KLO-FM (103.1 FM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Coalville, Utah, and serving the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. Owned by Capital Broadcasting, it is currently stunting in anticipation of a change in format. The station is the radio home for Weber State University sporting events.

Contents

Its studios are located at the 257 Tower in Downtown Salt Lake City. KLO-FM has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 89,000 watts. (The maximum for most FM stations is 100,000 watts.) The transmitter is atop Humpy Peak, about 21 miles (34 km) east of Coalville. [2] It also operates several booster stations on 103.1 MHz around Northern Utah.

History

Modern rock (1983–1992)

This station began in 1983, licensed to Ogden, Utah, and broadcasting on 95.5 FM. KJQN's Modern rock format was also simulcast on a 1,000-watt AM station on 1490 kHz, which would later become KOGN.

In the late 1980s, KJQN was purchased by Abacus Communications. Abacus decided to make major changes in personnel in 1991. Fired program director Mike Summers, engineered a deal to take over another station, then-top 40 KZOL of Provo, Utah. [3] Re-dubbed "X96" in February 1992, KXRK raided much of KJQ's talent. [4] For a time the stations competed, but as KJQ's ratings eroded and modern rock promoters split their business, management decided to switch formats.

Top 40/CHR (1992–2001)

In early October 1992 KJQN-FM flipped to Top 40 hits, adopting the letters KKBE.

Classic alternative (2002–2005)

In 2001, Simmons purchased stations in Brigham City and Oakley, and acquired the historic call letters. [5] The "classic modern rock" format adopted by Simmons was meant to evoke music played on the original KJQ and the early music video days of MTV. [6] The Chet and Brad morning show featured Chet "The Pinhead" Tapp and Cuzzin Brad of the original KJQ, and the station adopted some of the original KJQ's promotions including the old "Bessie" milk truck. [7] Management went through several program directors including Ian McCain (from KCPX), Dom Casual (from KENZ and veteran of the original KJQ), [8] Lara Jones (a veteran of the original KJQ), interim PD Todd Noker (also PD at sister station KXRK), Music Director Jon Smith (also from KENZ).

Adult hits (2005–2012)

On January 21, 2005, at noon, the station flipped to the adult hits format known as Jack FM. [9] Since the nationally syndicated Jack-FM format doesn't use disc jockeys, the air staff was laid off without advance notice. [9] Management stated the audience "wasn't growing as fast as we wanted." [9]

Frank Bell and Randy Rose programmed KJQN after the station flipped to Jack FM. It stayed with adult hits for more than seven years.

Talk (2012–2014)

On June 29, 2012, the station announced that KJQN would drop the "Jack FM" format on July 16, 2012. It would begin simulcasting the talk radio format of KLO 1430 AM. [10] The FM station switched its call sign to KLO-FM. The change took place at Midnight on that date. The last songs on Jack FM were "Wild Wild Life" by Talking Heads and the first few seconds of "Janie's Got a Gun" by Aerosmith, which was abruptly cut off by the start of the simulcast.

Adult contemporary (2014–2016)

On March 26, 2014, 103.1 changed its call letters to KSQN, sparking rumors of a format change in the following months. On June 5, 2014, KSQN dropped its talk simulcast with KLO. [11] It began playing adult contemporary music, branded as "Sunny 103." [12]

Classic alternative (2016–2025)

On September 30, 2016, Capitol Broadcasting announced that KSQN would flip to 80s hits as "103.1 The Wave" the following Monday, October 3. Promoting itself as "The Next Wave of New Wave", the format featured alternative rock and new wave music from the 1980s. Brad and Chet also returned to the station, hosting mornings and middays respectively. [13]

The KLO-FM call sign returned on November 3, 2020. [14] The change followed Capital Broadcasting's sale of KLO 1430 AM to El Sembrador Ministries, a transaction that did not include the KLO call sign. [15] This change also saw Weber State Wildcats football and basketball move from 1430 AM to 103.1 FM. [16] The AM station became KMES.

In July 2025, the station dropped its airstaff; by then, the station was only recording a 0.9 share in the Nielsen Audio ratings. On October 7, 2025, the station dropped its alternative format and began stunting with Christmas music as Christmas 103. [17]

Boosters

Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) HAAT Class FCC info
KLO-FM2103.1 FM Ogden, Utah 16187850028  m (92  ft)D LMS
KLO-FM4103.1 FM Salt Lake City, Utah 1618752,100313 m (1,027 ft)D LMS
KLO-FM6103.1 FM Provo, Utah 1618741,750−161 m (−528 ft)D LMS
KLO-FM7103.1 FM No. Salt Lake, Utah 165021500−98 m (−322 ft)D LMS
KLO-FM8103.1 FM Park City, Utah 1618763,000832 m (2,730 ft)D LMS
KLO-FM9103.1 FM Bountiful, Utah 1618772,500217 m (712 ft)D LMS

See also

KSQN 103.1TheWAVE logo.png

References

  1. "Facility Technical Data for KLO-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. Radio-Locator.com/KLO-FM
  3. Ross, Sean (May 9, 1992). "Docket '92: Everything Else Is Just A Light? More Fights From Philly, Salt Lake City". Billboard . p. 85.
  4. Ross, Sean (February 22, 1992). "Even More Markets Get LMAs From Hell; WW1 Loses Shannon Countdown, O'Malley". Billboard. p. 75.
  5. Arave, Lynn (July 20, 2001). "Rumors flying about new Wasatch Front radio stations". Deseret News.
  6. Arave, Lynn (January 18, 2002). "KJQ returns to airwaves with adult alternative music". Deseret News.
  7. Arave, Lynn (May 24, 2002). "'Chet and Brad' a good KJQN fit". Deseret News. Archived from the original on October 30, 2008.
  8. Arave, Lynn (July 23, 2003). "Disc jockey finds his way back home to KJQ". Deseret News.
  9. 1 2 3 Griggs, Brandon (February 1, 2005). "'New' radio station serves up the same old stale mix of music". The Salt Lake Tribune.; see also Arave, Lynn (January 28, 2005). "KJQN says 'bye to alternative music". Deseret Morning News. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2007.
  10. http://www.radio-info.com/news/salt-lake-city-standalone-klo-1430-buys-kjqn-fm-1031%5B%5D
  11. "Salt Lake City bar".
  12. Sunny Shines in Salt Lake City
  13. Venta, Lance (September 30, 2016). "Sunny 103 Salt Lake City To Go All 80's". RadioInsight. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
  14. "Call Sign History (KLO-FM)". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission . Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  15. Venta, Lance (July 22, 2020). "El Sembrador Ministries Acquires KLO". RadioInsight. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  16. "WSU radio broadcasts move to 103.1 the Wave".
  17. Venta, Lance (October 7, 2025). "Christmas Arrives In Salt Lake City". RadioInsight. Retrieved October 24, 2025.