KATO-FM
Encyclopedia
KATO-FM is a radio station
licensed
to New Ulm, Minnesota
and serving the Mankato
area and the Minnesota River Valley. The station flipped to a country music
format on September 24, 2007. KATO is owned by Linder Radio Group
.
in New Ulm. By the early 1980s, as the station increased its power, it moved its broadcasting studios and its primary focus to the larger city of Mankato. It is ran by Brennon Andrew Harris-Williams
As KXLP, they aired an album-oriented rock
format on and off from 1982 to 2007. They flipped to adult contemporary in 1986 as "Lite Rock 93 KXLP" amid a large outcry from loyal listeners. A few years later, they flipped back to rock, shifting toward classic rock in 1995. For many years, they were co-owned with KYSM-FM
and KYSM
, first by James Ingstad
(as Pro Radio Group), then Cumulus Broadcasting, then Clear Channel Communications
.
The station was purchased in August 2007 from Clear Channel by Linder Radio Group
, a.k.a. Minnesota Valley Broadcasting Co., which also acquired sister station KYSM
. Current sister stations include KTOE
, KDOG
, KXAC
and a new sign-on at 94.1 FM
.
At 5:00 PM on September 21, 2007, KXLP's call sign
, on-air staff and format moved from 93.1 FM to the new sign-on at 94.1 FM, which made its on-air debut as the new KXLP. KXLP's former frequency changed call letters to KATO-FM, which launched a country music format three days later.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
licensed
City of license
A city of license or community of license, in American and Canadian broadcasting, is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator....
to New Ulm, Minnesota
New Ulm, Minnesota
New Ulm is a city in Brown County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,522 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Brown County....
and serving the Mankato
Mankato, Minnesota
Mankato is a city in Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 39,309 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest city in Minnesota outside of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The county seat of Blue Earth County, it is located...
area and the Minnesota River Valley. The station flipped to a country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
format on September 24, 2007. KATO is owned by Linder Radio Group
Linder Radio Group
Linder Radio Group is a media company based in Mankato, Minnesota. It owns and operates 16 radio stations in southern Minnesota. The company is owned by the family of John Linder....
.
History
This station was originally KNUJ-FM, and paired with KNUJKNUJ (AM)
KNUJ is a radio station in New Ulm, Minnesota. The station airs a full service news/talk format and is owned by James Ingstad. KNUJ also has a sister station, KNUJ-FM.-History:...
in New Ulm. By the early 1980s, as the station increased its power, it moved its broadcasting studios and its primary focus to the larger city of Mankato. It is ran by Brennon Andrew Harris-Williams
As KXLP, they aired an album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
format on and off from 1982 to 2007. They flipped to adult contemporary in 1986 as "Lite Rock 93 KXLP" amid a large outcry from loyal listeners. A few years later, they flipped back to rock, shifting toward classic rock in 1995. For many years, they were co-owned with KYSM-FM
KYSM-FM
KYSM-FM , better known as Country 103, is a radio station licensed to Mankato and serving the Minnesota River Valley. The station currently airs a country music format....
and KYSM
KYSM (AM)
*See also KFAN Sports Radio NetworkKYSM is a radio station licensed to Mankato, Minnesota and serving the greater Mankato area and the Minnesota River Valley with a sports format. The station is an affiliate of the regional KFAN Sports Radio Network and Fox Sports Radio...
, first by James Ingstad
James Ingstad
James Ingstad is a Fargo, North Dakota resident who owns Radio Fargo-Moorhead, Inc., consisting of KFGO, KMJO, KBVB, KRWK, KVOX, and WDAY-FM, which were formerly owned by Clear Channel Communications...
(as Pro Radio Group), then Cumulus Broadcasting, then Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
.
The station was purchased in August 2007 from Clear Channel by Linder Radio Group
Linder Radio Group
Linder Radio Group is a media company based in Mankato, Minnesota. It owns and operates 16 radio stations in southern Minnesota. The company is owned by the family of John Linder....
, a.k.a. Minnesota Valley Broadcasting Co., which also acquired sister station KYSM
KYSM (AM)
*See also KFAN Sports Radio NetworkKYSM is a radio station licensed to Mankato, Minnesota and serving the greater Mankato area and the Minnesota River Valley with a sports format. The station is an affiliate of the regional KFAN Sports Radio Network and Fox Sports Radio...
. Current sister stations include KTOE
KTOE
KTOE is a radio station licensed to Mankato, Minnesota and serving the greater Mankato area and the Minnesota River Valley with a full service news/talk format....
, KDOG
KDOG
KDOG, better known as "Hot 96.7", is a radio station serving Mankato, Minnesota. The station airs an Top 40 format. They are licensed to North Mankato, Minnesota and serves the Mankato area and the Minnesota River Valley. KDOG is owned by Linder Radio Group.-History:The station went on the air in...
, KXAC
KXAC
KXAC is a radio station serving south central Minnesota with a satellite-fed syndicated oldies format from ABC Radio Networks. The station is licensed to St. James, Minnesota and serves the Mankato area and the Minnesota River Valley...
and a new sign-on at 94.1 FM
KXLP
KXLP is a radio station licensed to Eagle Lake, Minnesota and serving the Mankato area and the Minnesota River Valley. The 94.1 FM frequency went on the air September 21, 2007, airing a classic rock format that migrated from a sister station at KATO-FM...
.
At 5:00 PM on September 21, 2007, KXLP's call sign
Call sign
In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign is a unique designation for a transmitting station. In North America they are used as names for broadcasting stations...
, on-air staff and format moved from 93.1 FM to the new sign-on at 94.1 FM, which made its on-air debut as the new KXLP. KXLP's former frequency changed call letters to KATO-FM, which launched a country music format three days later.