KXRZ

Last updated

KXRZ
Broadcast area Douglas County, Minnesota
Frequency 99.3 MHz
BrandingZ99
Programming
Format Hot adult contemporary
Affiliations Westwood One
Ownership
Owner
KXRA-FM, KXRA
History
First air date
April 2, 1984 (as KSTQ)
Former call signs
KSTQ (1983–1999)
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID 6651
Class C3
ERP 12,000 watts
HAAT 85 meters
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen Live
Website Z99 Website

KXRZ (99.3 FM, "Z99") is a hot adult contemporary formatted radio station in Alexandria, Minnesota, United States. [2] "Z99" is owned by Leighton Broadcasting which also owns KXRA-FM and KXRA.

Contents

The station airs Westwood One's Hot AC format at all times besides the morning show. Every Sunday, Calvary Lutheran Church airs their 8:30am worship service at 10:30am.

History

Lakes 99.3 (KSTQ)

The station first signed on the air on April 2, 1984, using the call sign KSTQ at the 99.3 MHz frequency. The station was initially owned by Branstock Communications and operated under the moniker "The Lakes 99.3". In December 1998, the FCC canceled the license of three radio stations: KSTQ Alexandria, KMSR Sauk Centre, and KMGK Glenwood. [3] . The station's license was eventually acquired by Paradis Broadcasting of Alexandria, Inc., which changed the call letters to KXRZ in 2000. [4]

Z99 (KXRZ)

In late 2019, it was announced that KXRZ, along with its sister stations KXRA (AM) and KXRA-FM, would be sold to Leighton Enterprises, Inc. (Leighton Broadcasting) of St. Cloud. The purchase agreement was signed in September 2019, and the deal closed in February 2020.

The sale marked Leighton Broadcasting's expansion into its sixth market in Minnesota, joining its operations in St. Cloud, Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Perham, and Winona. [5] The purchase price for the three-station cluster was reported to be $3.4 million. [6] Following the acquisition, Leighton Broadcasting stated its intention to keep all local programming and retain all existing employees, including former owner Brett Paradis as the General Manager. The station's current offices are located in Alexandria at 1312 Broadway St.

References

  1. "Facility Technical Data for KXRZ". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. "KXRZ". FCC . Broadcast map area
  3. "MBA 80's" (PDF). Minnesota Broadcasters Association / World Radio History. 1991. p. 48. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
  4. "Paradis Broadcasting of Alexandria Company Profile". PitchBook. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
  5. "Leighton Enterprises Expands Into Alexandria MN". RadioInsight. September 23, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
  6. "Leighton Expands to Alexandria (Updated with Price)". Upper Midwest Broadcasting. September 23, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2025.