KTNF
Encyclopedia
KTNF is a radio station
licensed to St. Louis Park, Minnesota
, and serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The station brands itself as "The Voice of Minnesota," and offers a combination of locally produced and nationally syndicated progressive talk programming.
In the summer of 2004, the station was purchased by Janet Robert, former Democratic-Farmer-Labor
candidate for the US House of Representatives
, to provide a local outlet for syndicated programming from the former Air America Radio
network
(the station was originally known as "Air America Minnesota"). KTNF also carries shows from Dial Global
.
. At one point, both stations were owned by Red Owl Stores. In October 1972, the two stations moved to what is now the AM station's current studio and transmitter facility in Eden Prairie
.
The 950 AM frequency has been home to many formats. KRSI was one of the first Top-40 stations in the Twin Cities in the late 1950s. In its most popular incarnation, from 1968 to 1972, it was simulcasting with KRSI-FM (104.1) as "all request radio".
Over the years the station has been through many formats, including:
AM 950 simulcast its sister FM station
during a number of periods in its history.
The station was running a combination format of news, sports and business news (as KDOW, KCCO, then KSNB) when it was sold by previous owner CBS Radio
in 2004. The company that purchased KTNF was founded by Minnesota
attorney
Janet Robert and former Minnesota Congressman Bill Luther
in November 2003, in anticipation of syndicated efforts to start up viable progressive talk radio programming. When Air America Radio
made its debut on March 31, 2004, WMNN, where the group leased airtime, became one of the new network's original affiliates with Al Franken
's show, as well as Democracy Radio
's Ed Schultz
. Eventually, more syndicated and local shows were added. After the sale of WMNN six months later, the format split to broadcasting on both 740 AM
and 1530 AM. In October 2004, 950 AM was purchased, and became the permanent home of "Air America Minnesota".
The station has gotten more and more of its programs from Dial Global, as popular programs left Air America for rival distributors, especially Dial Global. Along the way, Air America filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, reorganizing under new investors. By 2008, Air America was KTNF’s source for only one weekday show and a handful of weekend programs with the majority of programming being supplied by Dial Global. Air America ceased operations in January, 2010.
Al Franken
, a former St. Louis Park, Minnesota resident, moved his radio show from New York City
to downtown Minneapolis, originating his show from studios in the Foshay Tower
, rather than from KTNF. This was rumored among local radio sources to be due to a stormy relationship between the station manager and Air America's management, but was officially ascribed to Franken's desire to work close to his former home, and due to the lack of space for Franken's staff at the KTNF studios.
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 to St. Louis Park, Minnesota
St. Louis Park, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 44,126 people, 20,782 households, and 10,557 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,122.5 persons per square mile . There were 21,140 housing units at an average density of 1,975.0 per square mile...
, and serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The station brands itself as "The Voice of Minnesota," and offers a combination of locally produced and nationally syndicated progressive talk programming.
In the summer of 2004, the station was purchased by Janet Robert, former Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party is a major political party in the state of Minnesota and the state affiliate of the Democratic Party. It was created on April 15, 1944, with the merger of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Farmer–Labor Party...
candidate for the US House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, to provide a local outlet for syndicated programming from the former Air America Radio
Air America Radio
Air America was an American radio network specializing in progressive talk programming...
network
Radio network
There are two types of radio networks currently in use around the world: the one-to-many broadcast type commonly used for public information and mass media entertainment; and the two-way type used more commonly for public safety and public services such as police, fire, taxicabs, and delivery...
(the station was originally known as "Air America Minnesota"). KTNF also carries shows from Dial Global
Dial Global
Dial Global is a radio syndication company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Triton Media Group and is a sister company to Townsquare Media, both of which are owned by Oaktree Capital Management....
.
History
The station signed on as KRSI in 1957, with studios located at 4500 Excelsior Blvd. in St. Louis Park. In 1967, it started an FM station at 104.1 MHz, which, following many format changes, is now KZJKKZJK
KZJK is a radio station broadcasting the adult hits "Jack FM" format in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region of Minnesota. The current format took to the air on the morning of April 21, 2005, following more than four years of a 1980s-centered playlist...
. At one point, both stations were owned by Red Owl Stores. In October 1972, the two stations moved to what is now the AM station's current studio and transmitter facility in Eden Prairie
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 54,901 people, 20,457 households, and 14,579 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 21,026 housing units at an average density of 649.2 per square mile...
.
The 950 AM frequency has been home to many formats. KRSI was one of the first Top-40 stations in the Twin Cities in the late 1950s. In its most popular incarnation, from 1968 to 1972, it was simulcasting with KRSI-FM (104.1) as "all request radio".
Over the years the station has been through many formats, including:
- Top 40/MOR formats ("Music You Remember") - 1957-1968
- Top 40 as "Request Radio" - 1968-1973 (began 24 hour operation)
- Country musicCountry musicCountry 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...
(satellite-delivered) - 1973-1979 - RockRock musicRock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
/New WaveNew Wave musicNew Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
(known as "Musicradio I-95") - 1979-1980 - Adult standardsAdult standardsAdult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
(Music of Your LifeMusic of Your LifeMusic of Your Life is a satellite-delivered radio network featuring the Adult Standards music format. Created by record executive and jingle writer Al Ham, and now under the direction of Marc Angell, Music of Your Life has more than 50 AM, FM and HD-2 radio station affiliates, and has been in...
, simulcast with KRSI-FM) - February 1980-1982 - Country music (satellite-delivered) - 1982-1984
- CHRContemporary hit radioContemporary 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...
(satellite-delivered) ("Hot Rock 950 KRSI") - 1984 - All-request CHR - 1985
- Simulcast with FM as KJJO - 1986-1988
- Hard rockHard rockHard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
(Z-Rock) as KZOW - 1988-1990 - Business Radio (KJJO) - 1990-1992
- Simulcast with FM (KJJO) - 1992-1995
- R&B oldies as KSGS ("Solid Gold Soul") (satellite-delivered except for morning drive time) - 1995-1999
- Urban Adult ContemporaryUrban Adult ContemporaryUrban adult contemporary is the name for a format of radio music, similar to an urban contemporary format. Radio stations using this format usually would not have rap music on their playlists. The format was designed by Barry Mayo when he, Lee S. Simonson and Bill Pearson organized Broadcast...
("The Touch") (satellite-delivered) - 1999-2001 - Business Radio as KDOW, then KCCO - 2001-2004
- NewsNews RadioNews Radio can refer to:* NewsRadio, the NBC sitcom which aired from 1995–1999.* News radio, the all-news or news/talk radio format....
/TalkTalk radioTalk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
as KSNB - 2004
AM 950 simulcast its sister FM station
KZJK
KZJK is a radio station broadcasting the adult hits "Jack FM" format in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region of Minnesota. The current format took to the air on the morning of April 21, 2005, following more than four years of a 1980s-centered playlist...
during a number of periods in its history.
CBS Radio
CBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
in 2004. The company that purchased KTNF was founded by Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
Janet Robert and former Minnesota Congressman Bill Luther
Bill Luther
William Paul "Bill" Luther is an American politician. Luther was a Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party member of the United States House of Representatives from January 3, 1995 to January 3, 2003, serving in the 104th, 105th, 106th, and 107th congresses, representing Minnesota's 6th congressional...
in November 2003, in anticipation of syndicated efforts to start up viable progressive talk radio programming. When Air America Radio
Air America Radio
Air America was an American radio network specializing in progressive talk programming...
made its debut on March 31, 2004, WMNN, where the group leased airtime, became one of the new network's original affiliates with Al Franken
Al Franken
Alan Stuart "Al" Franken is the junior United States Senator from Minnesota. He is a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, which affiliates with the national Democratic Party....
's show, as well as Democracy Radio
Democracy Radio
Democracy Radio was an organization founded in 2002 by Tom Athans and Paul Fiddick dedicated to creating political balance on America's commercial radio airwaves. The concept was to develop and incubate progressive oriented talk programming and enlist radio networks to market the programs to...
's Ed Schultz
Ed Schultz
Edward Andrew "Ed" Schultz Is an American television and radio host and a liberal political commentator . He is the host of The Ed Show, a daily news talk program on MSNBC, and The Ed Schultz Show, a talk radio show, nationally syndicated by Dial Global, promising "straight talk."-Early...
. Eventually, more syndicated and local shows were added. After the sale of WMNN six months later, the format split to broadcasting on both 740 AM
WMIN
WMIN is a radio station licensed to serve Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, USA. The station is part of the Tri-County Broadcasting group and the broadcast license is held by Herbert M. Hoppe.-Programming:...
and 1530 AM. In October 2004, 950 AM was purchased, and became the permanent home of "Air America Minnesota".
The station has gotten more and more of its programs from Dial Global, as popular programs left Air America for rival distributors, especially Dial Global. Along the way, Air America filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, reorganizing under new investors. By 2008, Air America was KTNF’s source for only one weekday show and a handful of weekend programs with the majority of programming being supplied by Dial Global. Air America ceased operations in January, 2010.
Programming
The station provides a mix of programming between locally produced programs and programs syndicated by Dial Global.Minnesota connections
In the winter of 2005-2006, U.S. SenatorUnited States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Al Franken
Al Franken
Alan Stuart "Al" Franken is the junior United States Senator from Minnesota. He is a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, which affiliates with the national Democratic Party....
, a former St. Louis Park, Minnesota resident, moved his radio show from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to downtown Minneapolis, originating his show from studios in the Foshay Tower
Foshay Tower
The Foshay Tower, now the W Minneapolis – The Foshay hotel, is a skyscraper in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Modeled after the Washington Monument, the building was completed in 1929, months before the stock market crash in October of that year. It has 32 floors and stands high, plus an antenna mast...
, rather than from KTNF. This was rumored among local radio sources to be due to a stormy relationship between the station manager and Air America's management, but was officially ascribed to Franken's desire to work close to his former home, and due to the lack of space for Franken's staff at the KTNF studios.
External links
- KTNF official website
- Radiotapes.com Airchecks of KRSI and other historical data about the station