KQPS

KQPS (103.1 FM) is a commercial radio station that is licensed to Palm Desert, California, United States and serves the Palm Springs-Coachella Valley radio market. The station broadcasts a national hybrid Talk and EDM format targeted to the LGBTQ community. Hosts include Jai Rodriguez, John Duran and Shira Lazar. The station also serves as the flagship station for the national Channel Q service, which is heard across a number of Entercom's HD Radio subchannels across the country, along with Radio.com.

KQPS
CityPalm Desert, California
Broadcast areaPalm Springs-Coachella Valley
Frequency103.1 MHz
BrandingChannel Q
SloganWe are Channel Q (primary)
Giving Everyone a Voice (secondary)
Programming
FormatLGBTQ Talk/EDM
AffiliationsChannel Q
Ownership
OwnerEntercom
(Entercom License, LLC)
History
First air date
November 28, 1977 (as KCMS)
Former call signs
KCMS (1978–1983)
KEZN (1983–2018)
Call sign meaning
K Channel Q in Palm Springs
Technical information
Facility ID11747
ClassA
ERP1,900 watts
HAAT180 meters (590 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
33.866°N 116.433°W / 33.866; -116.433
Links
WebcastListen live
Websitewearechannelq.radio.com

KQPS is owned by Entercom and is the company's smallest station in terms of market size. KQPS's transmitter is off Varner Road in Cathedral City, amid other Palm Springs-area FM and TV towers.[1]

History

Classical KCMS

On November 27, 1977, the station signed on as KCMS, playing classical music.[2] The station was founded by broadcast engineer Paul Posen under his company, Classic Broadcasting. The original studios were located in Indio. Its relays were KCBI 97.3, when it was affiliated with CBS Radio, and KECI 97.7, broadcasting into the Imperial Valley/Imperial County.

In October 1983, the station changed its call sign to KEZN.[3] By 1987, the studios were moved to a new facility in Palm Desert.

Switch to soft AC

In the early 1990s, the station switched to the nationally syndicated "Format 41" soft adult contemporary service of the Unistar Radio Network. In 1994, KEZN became the only AC station in the Palm Springs market when KPLM flipped to a country music format. Noted Los Angeles broadcaster Russ O'Hara teamed with local personality Kayla Stone for the "Russ and Kayla" morning drive time show, as the station eliminated the Format 41 service to go with local programming.

Another local DJ, Debra Kaye Ahlers, occupied the midday shift, while program director Dale Berg, a noted personality from Orange County, handled afternoon drive. Later, former Nashville Network announcer Dan McGrath took over morning drive, while former KCLB personality John O (John Ostrum) assumed the afternoon slot. In 1996, Gary Bell arrived from KCBS-FM in Los Angeles. Ryan Yamanaka also served as an on-air personality from 2000 to 2001 working the overnight shift. He was also the last personality to drive KEZN's "Mr. Frosty". The early personalities helped propel KEZN to be among the top rated stations in Palm Springs.

CBS ownership

In June 1998, Posen sold his interest in the station to CBS Radio (which would later merge with Infinity Broadcasting, and would rename under the Infinity banner).[4] Through the early 2000s, the station's format was moved from Soft AC to mainstream adult contemporary. Each year from mid-November to December 25, KEZN switched to all-Christmas music. Infinity would be renamed CBS Radio in December 2005.

On December 26, 2014, after its annual Christmas format wrapped up, KEZN rebranded as "103.1 Sunny FM", with no other changes.[5] During its Sunny FM years, the station each weekend aired the syndicated program America's Greatest Hits hosted by Scott Shannon.

Entercom ownership

On February 2, 2017, CBS Radio announced it would merge with Entercom.[6] The merger was approved on November 9, 2017, and was consummated on November 17.[7][8] Also in 2017, KEZN relocated to the old R&R Broadcast building in Palm Springs, located on Tahquitz Canyon Way.

On November 1, 2018, KEZN flipped to Entercom's LGBTQ-targeted Talk/EDM network branded as "Channel Q", marking the first analog FM station adopting the format (as Channel Q is carried on HD Radio subchannels of Entercom-owned radio stations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Phoenix and Seattle, the latter broadcasting on a FM translator). The next day, KEZN changed call letters to KQPS.[9][10] The station is a reporter in Billboard's Dance/Mix Show Airplay panel.

References

  1. Radio-Locator.com/KQPS-FM
  2. Broadcasting Yearbook 1979 page C-20
  3. "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications Inc. October 10, 1983. p. 112. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  4. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999 page D-54
  5. KEZN Rebrands as Sunny 103.1
  6. Venta, Lance (February 2, 2017). "CBS Radio to Merge with Entercom". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  7. "Entercom Receives FCC Approval for Merger with CBS Radio". Entercom (Press release). November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  8. Venta, Lance (November 17, 2017). "Entercom Completes CBS Radio Merger". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  9. KEZN Flips to LGBTQ Talk/Dance “Channel Q”
  10. FCC.org/KQPS
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