KOOO (101.9 FM, "101.9 The Keg") is a radio station broadcasting a variety hits music format.[2] Licensed to La Vista, Nebraska, United States, the station serves the Lincoln and Omaha areas. The station is currently owned by NRG Media, LLC.[3] Its studios are located at Dodge Street and 50th Avenue in Midtown Omaha, and its transmitter site is located southwest of Springfield, Nebraska.
 | |
| Broadcast area | Lincoln–Omaha, Nebraska |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 101.9 MHz |
| Branding | 101.9 The Keg |
| Programming | |
| Format | Adult hits |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KMMQ, KOIL, KOPW, KOZN, KQKQ-FM, KZOT | |
| History | |
First air date | June 22, 1958 |
Former call signs |
|
Former frequencies | 95.3 MHz (1958–1973) |
Call sign meaning | "The Big O" (former station branding) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 35067 |
| Class | C |
| ERP | 100,000 watts |
| HAAT | 365 meters (1,198 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 41°03′1.00″N 96°11′33.00″W / 41.0502778°N 96.1925000°W |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | 1019thekeg.com |
History
editKOOO was founded in 1957. Harold Soderlund was the founder and principal owner until he sold it in 1959. Soderlund spent much of his working life in radio advertising, owning his own radio advertising company, and working for KFAB.[4] The station was assigned the call sign KFMQ-FM beginning in 1958, and was located on 95.3 FM. In 1973, KFMQ moved to 101.9 FM. The station was initially licensed to Lincoln.
Rock (1973–1992)
editBeginning in 1973, 101.9 FM was known as "Q102, Nebraska's Rock & Roll Legend", carrying an Album Rock format.
Country (1992–1995)
editThe country format lasted until October 3, 1992, when, without warning, the format was dropped and flipped to "Omaha's Young Country, 101.9 KYNN".[5] While the "Hit Kicker" began to gnaw its way up the ratings chart, the station failed to make money, with Midwest Communications selling the station to Mitchell Broadcasting, owner of KKAR, KOIL, and KQKQ.
Alternative (1995–1998)
editOn February 17, 1995, at Midnight, KYNN began stunting with an automated countdown. At 6 p.m. on February 21, KYNN became Nebraska's first alternative rock station as "101.9/107.7 The Edge", with a translator on K299AK 107.7 FM to better cover Omaha (at the time, the station's transmitter was located southeast of Eagle, Nebraska; the transmitter would be moved to its current location in late 2001, while K299AK would later simulcast KBLR-FM's then-urban contemporary format until 2007, when that format moved to KCTY and the translator was discontinued due to a new sign-on from Malvern, Iowa), with the new call sign KGDE.[6][7][8] (
Classic hits (1998–2002)
editOn April 10, 1998, at 3 p.m., "The Edge" signed off and began stunting by playing "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" by R.E.M on a loop until 7 p.m. that evening, then went into a simulcast of Sweet 98, before flipping to classic hits as "101.9 The Fox" on the 13th at 5:30 a.m., with new call sign KZFX adopted on April 24. While classic hits, the main focus was on "second generation" album rock hits from 1976-1985.[9][10][11][12]
Adult contemporary (2002–2007)
edit"The Fox" ended on February 1, 2002, as 101.9 began stunting with the song "Winter Wonderland" on a loop until flipping to adult contemporary as "Lite Rock 101.9" on the 4th at 9 a.m., with new call sign KLTQ to go along with the change.[13]
Adult hits (2007–2014)
edit
The format lasted until 3 p.m. on December 26, 2007, when 101.9 flipped to Adult Hits as "101.9 The Big O", and adopted its current call sign two days later.
Classic rock (2014–2020)
editOn August 11, 2014, 101.9's website was replaced by a picture of a genie's lamp, with the words, "WHAT'S YOUR WISH?". At the same time, KOOO removed all imaging on the former "Big O." The new format, according to website registration, was to be country as 101.9 The Hog.[14] These rumors were confirmed, as 101.9 began running liners the following day saying that the following day at 4 PM, "your wish will come true". 1019thehog.com also ran a countdown clock to the same time, saying the similar "Your Wish Comes True [*] days [*] hours [*] minutes [*] seconds August 13, 2014". However, in a similar way as WLTQ in Milwaukee did so in 2004, KOOO instead flipped to 80s-based Classic rock as 101.9 The Keg at the promised time. The last song on "The Big O" was "Goodbye" by Night Ranger, while the first song on "The Keg" was "Kickstart My Heart" by Mötley Crüe.[15][16] The station has since evolved towards a more broad-based rock hits direction (similar to its previous adult hits format) with the addition of 1980s' pop, and 1990s' and early-2000s' rock tracks.
Adult hits (2020–present)
editOn January 13, 2020, KOOO shifted their format back to a straight forward variety hits direction, while retaining the "Keg" moniker.[17]
References
edit- ^ "Facility Technical Data for KOOO". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "KOOO Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
- ^ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Archived from the original on March 1, 2010.
- ^ "Harold Soderlund". Nebraska Broadcasters Association. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ Jeff Bahr, "Country Music Options Expand," The Omaha World-Herald, October 10, 1992.
- ^ Jim Delmont, "Station Drops Country," The Omaha World-Herald, February 25, 1995.
- ^ Jim Minge, "Edge, K-Rock Compete," The Omaha World-Herald, March 11, 1995.
- ^ http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1995/RR-1995-02-24.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ Jim Minge, "Edge Loses Its Edge," The Omaha World-Herald, April 11, 1998.
- ^ Jim Minge, "Teen Listeners to the Edge Not Happy With Format Change," The Omaha World-Herald, April 16, 1998.
- ^ Jim Minge, "Edge Ends With a Bang," The Omaha World-Herald, April 18, 1998.
- ^ Jim Minge, "Edge's End Leaves Modern-Rock Fans Hanging," The Omaha World-Herald, April 19, 1998.
- ^ Kristi Wright, "101.9 the Fox softens edge," The Omaha World-Herald, February 5, 2002.
- ^ "Big O Departs; Keg Launches In Omaha". August 13, 2014.
- ^ Bob Fischbach, "101.9 FM, now 'the Keg', dials up '80s tunes," The Omaha World-Herald, August 14, 2014.
- ^ "KOOO Becomes The Keg". August 13, 2014.
- ^ 101.9 The Keg Taps Into Variety Hits Radioinsight - January 13, 2020
External links
edit- Facility details for Facility ID 35067 (KOOO) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- KOOO in Nielsen Audio's FM station database