KBEQ
Encyclopedia
KBEQ-FM is a country
radio station that broadcasts in the Kansas City
media market
. Prior to adopting its "young country" format in 1993, KBEQ was Kansas City's sole Top-40 station.
AM station KBEA (1480 AM). Starting in 1960, KBEY (as it was called at that time) played big band and easy listening music. In the late 1960s, the format switched to underground rock, playing primarily album cuts. In 1973, with the growing popularity of FM radio, KBEQ debuted the popular Super-Q format, and gradually chipped away at AM powerhouse WHB
's longtime popularity with the slogan "Super-Q plays favorites." Public service announcements were called "Q Tips."
Many deejays would take their turn playing hits at Q-104's Country Club Plaza
studios, including Shotgun Tom Jackson, Mike O'Brien, Steve Garrett, Johnny (Rockin') Rowlands, Grady McRae, Bobby Ocean, Bobby Day, Chuck Nasty, Doug Billings, and Randy Miller. Fending off other FM upstarts, KBEQ achieved Top-40 dominance in Kansas City when WHB turned to an oldies format in 1985. By the end of the decade, KBEQ was Kansas City's only Top-40 outlet.
However, country music's popularity increased in Kansas City and throughout the nation. In February 1993, KBEQ made the surprise decision to adopt a country format, leaving the area without a full city-grade Top-40 station and entering a crowded country market. Today that market is still crowded, and KBEQ competes against fellow Wilks station KFKF
, and Entercom's WDAF.
KBEQ's studios were a fixture in the Plaza area until November 2007, when the Wilks stations moved to Westport in Kansas City.
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...
radio station that broadcasts in the Kansas City
Kansas City Metropolitan Area
The Kansas City Metropolitan Area is a fifteen-county metropolitan area that is anchored by Kansas City, Missouri and is bisected by the border between the states of Missouri and Kansas. As of the 2010 Census, the metropolitan area has a population of 2,035,334. The metropolitan area is the...
media market
Media market
A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area , Television Market Area , or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same television and radio station offerings, and may also include other types of media including newspapers and Internet content...
. Prior to adopting its "young country" format in 1993, KBEQ was Kansas City's sole Top-40 station.
History
Like many FM stations in the 1960s, KBEQ served as a counterpart to Mission, KansasMission, Kansas
Mission is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States. The population was 9,727 at the 2000 census. The city is a first-tier suburb in the Kansas City Metro. In 2003, Mission absorbed the neighboring city of Countryside.- History :...
AM station KBEA (1480 AM). Starting in 1960, KBEY (as it was called at that time) played big band and easy listening music. In the late 1960s, the format switched to underground rock, playing primarily album cuts. In 1973, with the growing popularity of FM radio, KBEQ debuted the popular Super-Q format, and gradually chipped away at AM powerhouse WHB
WHB
WHB is a commercial sports radio station in Kansas City, Missouri, and is known as the first full-time Top 40 station in the country...
's longtime popularity with the slogan "Super-Q plays favorites." Public service announcements were called "Q Tips."
Many deejays would take their turn playing hits at Q-104's Country Club Plaza
Country Club Plaza
The Country Club Plaza is an upscale shopping district and residential neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. It was the first shopping center in the world designed to accommodate shoppers arriving by automobile...
studios, including Shotgun Tom Jackson, Mike O'Brien, Steve Garrett, Johnny (Rockin') Rowlands, Grady McRae, Bobby Ocean, Bobby Day, Chuck Nasty, Doug Billings, and Randy Miller. Fending off other FM upstarts, KBEQ achieved Top-40 dominance in Kansas City when WHB turned to an oldies format in 1985. By the end of the decade, KBEQ was Kansas City's only Top-40 outlet.
However, country music's popularity increased in Kansas City and throughout the nation. In February 1993, KBEQ made the surprise decision to adopt a country format, leaving the area without a full city-grade Top-40 station and entering a crowded country market. Today that market is still crowded, and KBEQ competes against fellow Wilks station KFKF
KFKF
KFKF-FM , known as "Country 94.1", is a country music radio station licensed to Kansas City, Kansas. The outlet operates at 94.1 MHz with an ERP of 100 kW under ownership of Wilks Broadcasting....
, and Entercom's WDAF.
KBEQ's studios were a fixture in the Plaza area until November 2007, when the Wilks stations moved to Westport in Kansas City.