KEZK-FM

KEZK-FM (102.5 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station licensed to St. Louis, Missouri. It broadcasts an adult contemporary radio format and is owned by Entercom.[1] From mid-November through the Christmas holidays, KEZK switches to an all-Christmas music sound. In the evening, KEZK carries the Delilah syndicated radio show. On Sunday mornings, John Tesh is played from 7 to 10. The studios and offices are on Olive Street in Downtown St. Louis.[2]

KEZK-FM
CitySt. Louis, Missouri
Broadcast areaGreater St. Louis
Frequency102.5 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding102.5 KEZK (also referred to as “1025 KEZK”)
SloganSt. Louis' Best Mix of the 80s through Today
Programming
FormatFM/HD1: Adult contemporary
HD2: Contemporary Christian "The Spirit"
HD3: News/Talk (KMOX simulcast)
AffiliationsPremiere Networks (Delilah)
Ownership
OwnerEntercom
(Entercom License, LLC)
KMOX, KYKY, KFTK-FM, WFUN-FM, WHHL
History
First air date
February 8, 1969
Former call signs
KDNA (1969–1973)
Call sign meaning
EZ = Easy (former format)
Technical information
Facility ID13507
ClassC0
ERP100,000 watts
HAAT309 meters (1,014 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
38°34′24″N 90°19′30″W
Links
WebcastListen Live
WebsiteKEZK.com

KEZK has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 100,000 watts, the maximum for non-grandfathered FM stations, covering parts of Missouri and Illinois. The transmitter is in Resurrection Cemetery in Shrewsbury.[3] KEZK broadcasts using the HD radio hybrid format.[4] The HD2 digital subchannel a Christian Contemporary music format known as The Spirit. The HD3 subchannel simulcasts News/Talk sister station 1120 AM KMOX.

History

KDNA and easy listening

The 102.5 frequency in St. Louis had originally been the home of listener-supported free form KDNA from 1969 to 1972. KDNA was a non-commercial station, supported by listener donations, yet it broadcast on a commercial frequency. In 1972, it relocated to the non-commercial part of the FM dial, and now is KDHX at 88.1 MHz.

Heftel Broadcasting paid for the frequency, and in June 1973, it put KEZK on the air.[5] KEZK carried a beautiful music format and its call sign reflected that format with the EZ call letters, referring to easy listening. It was among St. Louis' highest rated FM stations in the 1970s and 1980s. By the mid-1980s, however, listeners interested in the beautiful music format were beginning to age and most advertisers seek a younger audience. In response, KEZK began adding more vocals to its mostly instrumental playlist.

Soft AC

On January 1, 1991, KEZK completed the transition to a soft adult contemporary format, playing music mostly from the 1970s and 1980s as well as some current soft hits.[6] Through the early 2000s, KEZK moved to a mainstream adult contemporary music format.

Jeff Kapugi became KEZK's Program Director in November 2010, replacing Mark Edwards. The current program director is Cat Thomas.[7]

Fresh 102.5

KEZK's logo as "Fresh 102.5", 20102015

On December 27, 2010, the station rebranded from "Soft Rock 102.5 KEZK" to "Fresh 102.5"[8] adopting the brand used on sister CBS Radio stations WWFS New York, WCFS-FM Chicago and WIAD Washington, D.C..

However, while those three stations had playlists more closely resembling hot adult contemporary stations, KEZK continued to feature 1970s artists such as Billy Joel and Chicago.[8] The name "Fresh" was more of a rebranding than a format change, sister station KYKY already features a Hot AC format.

Today's Hits & Yesterday's Favorites

On May 26, 2015, at 7:05 a.m., after stunting the prior weekend with 1980s music (ending with "Kokomo" by The Beach Boys), KEZK dropped the "Fresh" handle, rebranding as "102.5 KEZK, Today's Hits and Yesterday's Favorites." The first song after the relaunch was "P.Y.T." by Michael Jackson.[9] While many AC stations have moved more contemporary, KEZK continues to play artists from the 1980s, such Michael Jackson, Madonna, Billy Joel and Hall & Oates.

On February 2, 2017, CBS Radio announced it would merge with Entercom.[10] The merger was approved on November 9, 2017, and was consummated on the 17th.[11][12] On December 26, 2020, KEZK switched from a balance of 80’s music and popular pop hits to a easy-listening format featuring 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and 00’s music, and their sister station KYKY Y98 playing the pop hits of today in the Hot AC format.


KEZK has been “St. Louis’ Official Christmas Station” since 2003. They switch to Christmas in the 2nd week of November and play until December 25 when the station usually plays 36 hours of commercial-free Christmas music from noon on Christmas Eve until midnight on Christmas Day. KEZK also played Christmas music in late March until early April of 2020 during the first few weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic quarantines, calling it “Christmas In March”. The station also played Christmas music on July 31, 2019 for Christmas in July.

80s Weekends

Since around August of 2019 until November of 2020, KEZK has played 80s music every weekend starting at 5:00 Friday night until midnight Sunday. That changed slightly in June of 2020 when the Delilah show returned to St. Louis, and the weekends ended at 7:00 on Sundays. As of January of 2021, the 80s weekends have ended.

Commercial Free Hours

KEZK played music commercial free from 8:30 until 9:30 for the morning commute, 12:00 until 1:00 for the lunch break, and 5:00 until 6:00 for the evening. These stopped in 2020 after Christmas.

Awards

In 2007, the station was nominated for the top 25 markets Adult Contemporary station of the year award by Radio & Records magazine. Other nominees included WMJX in Boston, KOST in Los Angeles; WALK-FM in Nassau, New York; WLTW in New York City; and WBEB in Philadelphia.[13]

References

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