KPTL
Encyclopedia
KPTL, "Capital 106.3," is a Modern Adult Contemporary radio station serving the Des Moines, Iowa
, area. It is located at 106.3 on the FM dial. The station's studios are located at 2141 Grand Avenue in Des Moines along with Clear Channel Communications
' other Des Moines stations (KDRB
, KKDM
, KXNO
, and WHO
).
community. On May 2, 1981, the station was sold by the Ankeny Broadcasting company to Fuller-Jeffrey Broadcasting. After Fuller-Jeffrey acquired the station, the call letters were changed to KJJY
and the format to country music
.
As KJJY, the station slowly built a following taking on the market's current country giant KSO
, which had been the market's country leader on the AM band since 1972. KJJY also fended off a challenge from KKXI
in 1986, asserting its dominance in the FM country market. To further compete in the market, KJJY moved to 92.5 (MHz) in 1988 and received a power upgrade to 50,000 watts. The 106.3 frequency went silent at this time.
/easy listening
format. The station was not a huge success, but it maintained a loyal following of listeners. On June 1, 1998, KMXD was acquired by Clear Channel Communications
. Upon acquiring KMXD the call letters were moved to its new sister station KLYF
, which was known at the time as "Mix 100". The 106.3 frequency received the new call letters KYSY, known as "Sunny 106" and was reprogrammed to follow an adult contemporary
format.
Sunny 106 was never a top performer in the market, not once beating main rival KLTI-FM
. On October 1, 1999, the calls changed to KLYF while keeping the adult contemporary format. The thought was to bring back a historic name to the market in hopes of turning around the station's fortunes. In the two years that the station was KLYF, it did quite a bit better than KYSY, but still never lived up to expectations.
After the failure of two AC formatted stations, Clear Channel decided to go in a totally different direction and bring the Des Moines market a format it had never had before, smooth jazz
/new adult contemporary. The change was made on September 4, 2001. The new calls were KVJZ and the station was known as "Smooth Jazz, V106.3". Much like when the station was KMXD, this format never attracted huge numbers, but had a loyal following. In the end, though, that following was not enough to keep the station from changing formats again.
and the station became known as "106.3 The Beat" (KDRB). With the hip hop
, R&B
, and dance music
played, this format became the most successful to grace the 106.3 frequency since KJJY. The only problem was that this format did not result in any new listeners for Clear Channel; it just took listeners from their other CHR
station, KKDM
. Due to this, on April 1, 2005, the format was changed to an "iPod shuffle
" format, similar to Jack FM
, that was renamed "106.3 the Bus." Ironically, it would be seven years before another outlet would take the Rhythmic Top 40 format as KZWF
, which is located next door to the 106.3 signal (at 105.9) filled the void in March 2011.
This format did moderately well on the station, picking up a very loyal fanbase while also maintaining decent ratings. On May 25, 2006, sister station KMXD started simulcasting The Bus and became known as "100.3 and 106.3, The Bus". This arrangement was short-lived, and at noon on June 12, 2006, the KDRB
calls and "The Bus" format migrated solely to 100.3, replacing KMXD. The 106.3 FM frequency became KPTL, "Capital 106.3", programmed with an adult album alternative format. KPTL is the first triple-A station in Des Moines since the demise of KFMG in 1996. (KFMG was resurrected on a low-power FM station at 99.1 FM that signed on February 26, 2007; it also has an adult album alternative
format).
As of 2011, KPTL has shifted its direction from AAA
to Modern AC (a variant of the Hot AC format), this in a effort to compete with Hot AC rival KSTZ
, although it continues to add several AAA songs. This move resulted in KPTL being moved from Mediabase
's AAA panel to the Adult Top 40 panel.
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
, area. It is located at 106.3 on the FM dial. The station's studios are located at 2141 Grand Avenue in Des Moines along with 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...
' other Des Moines stations (KDRB
KDRB
KDRB, "100.3 The Bus," is an adult hits radio station similar to Jack FM serving the Des Moines, Iowa, area in the USA. It broadcasts at 100.3 FM. The station's studios are located at 2141 Grand Avenue in Des Moines along with Clear Channel Communications' other Des Moines stations...
, KKDM
KKDM
KKDM is a contemporary hit radio station based in Des Moines, Iowa. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications.-History:KKDM was established by local businessman Rich Eychaner as Midwest Radio, Inc...
, KXNO
KXNO
KXNO is a sports radio station based in Des Moines, Iowa. It is located at 1460 on the AM band.-History:KXNO's roots can be traced back to KSO , a station that first broadcast from Clarinda, Iowa, on November 2, 1925...
, and WHO
WHO (AM)
WHO is a clear channel radio station broadcasting 50,000 watts on 1040 AM with a news/talk format. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications and is located in Des Moines, Iowa. The station can be heard over most of the continental United States during nighttime hours...
).
KANY/KJJY: The First 106.3
The first station to occupy the 106.3 frequency was KANY, which signed on in 1978 with 3,000 watts of power. The station had a full service format and focused heavily on the AnkenyAnkeny, Iowa
Ankeny is a city in Polk County, Iowa, United States. The population was 45,562 in the 2010 census, an increase of 68% from the 27,117 population in the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
community. On May 2, 1981, the station was sold by the Ankeny Broadcasting company to Fuller-Jeffrey Broadcasting. After Fuller-Jeffrey acquired the station, the call letters were changed to KJJY
KJJY
KJJY is a commercial radio station licensed to West Des Moines, Iowa, broadcasting on 92.5 FM. KJJY airs a country music format and is under ownership of Cumulus Media, who also owns the market's other country music outlet, KHKI.-History:...
and the format to 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...
.
As KJJY, the station slowly built a following taking on the market's current country giant KSO
KXNO
KXNO is a sports radio station based in Des Moines, Iowa. It is located at 1460 on the AM band.-History:KXNO's roots can be traced back to KSO , a station that first broadcast from Clarinda, Iowa, on November 2, 1925...
, which had been the market's country leader on the AM band since 1972. KJJY also fended off a challenge from KKXI
KIOA
KIOA, "93.3 KIOA," is a classic hits radio station serving the Des Moines, Iowa, area. It is located at 93.3 on the FM dial. The station's studios are located at 1416 Locust Street in Des Moines along with Saga Communications' other Des Moines stations .-KWDM-Part 2:The 93.3 frequency got its...
in 1986, asserting its dominance in the FM country market. To further compete in the market, KJJY moved to 92.5 (MHz) in 1988 and received a power upgrade to 50,000 watts. The 106.3 frequency went silent at this time.
KMXD through KVJZ: The Revived 106.3
On May 17, 1991 106.3 signed back on as KMXD. This incarnation was owned by Van Oort Communications in Ankeny and was programmed with a beautiful musicBeautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
/easy listening
Easy listening
Easy listening is a broad style of popular music and radio format that emerged in the 1950s, evolving out of big band music, and related to MOR music as played on many AM radio stations. It encompasses the exotica, beautiful music, light music, lounge music, ambient music, and space age pop genres...
format. The station was not a huge success, but it maintained a loyal following of listeners. On June 1, 1998, KMXD was acquired by 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...
. Upon acquiring KMXD the call letters were moved to its new sister station KLYF
KDRB
KDRB, "100.3 The Bus," is an adult hits radio station similar to Jack FM serving the Des Moines, Iowa, area in the USA. It broadcasts at 100.3 FM. The station's studios are located at 2141 Grand Avenue in Des Moines along with Clear Channel Communications' other Des Moines stations...
, which was known at the time as "Mix 100". The 106.3 frequency received the new call letters KYSY, known as "Sunny 106" and was reprogrammed to follow an adult contemporary
Adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music is a broad style of popular music that ranges from lush 1950s and 1960s vocal music to predominantly ballad-heavy music with varying degrees of rock influence, as well as a radio format that plays such music....
format.
Sunny 106 was never a top performer in the market, not once beating main rival KLTI-FM
KLTI-FM
KLTI-FM is an American radio station broadcasting an adult contemporary music format. Licensed to Ames, Iowa, USA, the station serves the Des Moines area...
. On October 1, 1999, the calls changed to KLYF while keeping the adult contemporary format. The thought was to bring back a historic name to the market in hopes of turning around the station's fortunes. In the two years that the station was KLYF, it did quite a bit better than KYSY, but still never lived up to expectations.
After the failure of two AC formatted stations, Clear Channel decided to go in a totally different direction and bring the Des Moines market a format it had never had before, smooth jazz
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
/new adult contemporary. The change was made on September 4, 2001. The new calls were KVJZ and the station was known as "Smooth Jazz, V106.3". Much like when the station was KMXD, this format never attracted huge numbers, but had a loyal following. In the end, though, that following was not enough to keep the station from changing formats again.
KDRB: Success? Almost!
On October 31, 2003, the format was changed once again to rhythmic contemporary hitsContemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
and the station became known as "106.3 The Beat" (KDRB). With the hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
, R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
, and dance music
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
played, this format became the most successful to grace the 106.3 frequency since KJJY. The only problem was that this format did not result in any new listeners for Clear Channel; it just took listeners from their other CHR
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
station, KKDM
KKDM
KKDM is a contemporary hit radio station based in Des Moines, Iowa. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications.-History:KKDM was established by local businessman Rich Eychaner as Midwest Radio, Inc...
. Due to this, on April 1, 2005, the format was changed to an "iPod shuffle
IPod shuffle
The iPod Shuffle is a digital audio player designed and marketed by Apple Inc. It is the smallest model in Apple's iPod family, and was the first to use flash memory...
" format, similar to Jack FM
Jack FM
JACK FM is the alternative name and on-air brand of 60 radio stations in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia. Jack stations play a mix of 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s hits with some current hot adult contemporary singles. Jack's slogan "playing what we want" can also be...
, that was renamed "106.3 the Bus." Ironically, it would be seven years before another outlet would take the Rhythmic Top 40 format as KZWF
KZHZ
KICP is a radio station licensed to Patterson, Iowa. KICP serves the Central Iowa-Des Moines area. A sale of KICP and sister station KICL to Iowa State University was completed in early November 2011...
, which is located next door to the 106.3 signal (at 105.9) filled the void in March 2011.
This format did moderately well on the station, picking up a very loyal fanbase while also maintaining decent ratings. On May 25, 2006, sister station KMXD started simulcasting The Bus and became known as "100.3 and 106.3, The Bus". This arrangement was short-lived, and at noon on June 12, 2006, the KDRB
KDRB
KDRB, "100.3 The Bus," is an adult hits radio station similar to Jack FM serving the Des Moines, Iowa, area in the USA. It broadcasts at 100.3 FM. The station's studios are located at 2141 Grand Avenue in Des Moines along with Clear Channel Communications' other Des Moines stations...
calls and "The Bus" format migrated solely to 100.3, replacing KMXD. The 106.3 FM frequency became KPTL, "Capital 106.3", programmed with an adult album alternative format. KPTL is the first triple-A station in Des Moines since the demise of KFMG in 1996. (KFMG was resurrected on a low-power FM station at 99.1 FM that signed on February 26, 2007; it also has an adult album alternative
Adult album alternative
Adult album alternative is a radio format. A spinoff from the album-oriented rock format, its roots trace to the 1960s and 1970s from the earlier freeform and progressive formats....
format).
As of 2011, KPTL has shifted its direction from AAA
Adult album alternative
Adult album alternative is a radio format. A spinoff from the album-oriented rock format, its roots trace to the 1960s and 1970s from the earlier freeform and progressive formats....
to Modern AC (a variant of the Hot AC format), this in a effort to compete with Hot AC rival KSTZ
KSTZ
KSTZ, known as "Star 102.5," is an FM radio station based in Des Moines, Iowa. The station plays Hot Adult Contemporary music. KSTZ is part of Saga Communications' Des Moines Radio Group, along with KPSZ, KRNT, KAZR, KIOA, and KLTI-FM.-History:...
, although it continues to add several AAA songs. This move resulted in KPTL being moved from Mediabase
Mediabase
Mediabase is a music industry service that monitors radio station airplay in 180 US and Canadian markets. Mediabase publishes music charts and data based on the most played songs on terrestrial and satellite radio, and provides in-depth analytical tools for radio and record industry professionals...
's AAA panel to the Adult Top 40 panel.