KRQN

KRQN
Broadcast areaCedar Rapids metropolitan area
Frequency107.1 MHz
BrandingEl Gallo 107.1
Programming
FormatRegional Mexican
Ownership
OwnerGeorge S. Flinn, Jr.
OperatorGorilla Broadcasting Company
History
First air date
2005 (2005) (as KROJ)
Former call signs
KROJ (2002–2006)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID89113
ClassA
ERP4,700 watts
HAAT113 meters (371 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
42°8′56″N 91°52′50″W / 42.14889°N 91.88056°W / 42.14889; -91.88056
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websiteelgallo1071.com

KRQN (107.1 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a Regional Mexican format.[2] Licensed to Vinton, Iowa, United States, the station serves the Cedar Rapids area. The station is owned by George S. Flinn, Jr.,[3] and is programmed by Gorilla Broadcasting Company. KRQN's transmitter is located east of Vinton near Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area.

History

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In June 2005, the station signed on the air under the KROJ call letters and airing a classic country format. Since its sign on, Flinn Broadcasting of Memphis has owned the station, but has outsourced programming operations to other owners via local marketing agreements.[4] The station would later flip to oldies under the KRQN call letters, and would shift to classic hits. On September 9, 2011, at 1:07 p.m., after stunting with clips of top 40 music and liners promoting that "the clock is ticking" and to "lock in a preset" and listen at said time, along with bell tolling sounds and people saying "I", KRQN flipped to Top 40/CHR as i107.1, launching with Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO. With this move, KRQN took on the market's more established Top 40/CHR, KZIA, and later, KOSY-FM upon that station's debut in August 2014.

On August 30, 2013, a deal was announced in which Townsquare Media would acquire 53 Cumulus Media stations, including the local marketing agreement for KRQN, for $238 million. The deal was part of Cumulus' acquisition of Dial Global; Townsquare and Dial Global were both controlled by Oaktree Capital Management.[5][6] The sale to Townsquare was completed on November 14, 2013.[7]

On May 1, 2021, KRQN dropped its top 40/CHR format and flipped to conservative talk, supplied by USA Radio Networks, as a result of its LMA with Townsquare Media ending.[8]

On November 18, 2022, KRQN flipped to Regional Mexican, branded as "El Gallo 107.1". The change came after Gorilla Broadcasting Company (controlled by Steven Lara) began programming the station; Gorilla's other stations (WNMB in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and a local marketing agreement with WLEL in Ellaville, Georgia) also utilize this format and branding.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KRQN". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Spring 2010. Archived from the original on March 1, 2010. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
  3. ^ "KRQN Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
  4. ^ Dave Rasdal, "Vinton radio station a bittersweet listen for E. Iowan," The Cedar Rapids Gazette, July 4, 2005.
  5. ^ "Official: Cumulus Buys Dial Global, Spins Some Stations To Townsquare; Peak Stations Sold To Townsquare, Fresno Spun To Cumulus". All Access. August 30, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  6. ^ "Cumulus Makes Dial Global And Townsquare Deals Official". RadioInsight. August 30, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  7. ^ "Cumulus-Townsquare-Peak Deal Closes". All Access. November 15, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  8. ^ Townsquare Media Ends LMA Of KRQN Radioinsight - May 10, 2021
  9. ^ "El Gallo Wakes Up Cedar Rapids". RadioInsight. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
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