KWKY
Encyclopedia
KWKY is a radio station
broadcasting a Talk/Personality format to the Des Moines, Iowa
, USA area. The station is owned by Saint Gabriel Communications and features programming from Salem Communications
and Westwood One
.
which included KIOA
and KCBC
. The owner of KWDM, George Webber had an extensive musical library and KWDM was known for its eclectic mix of international music not heard elsewhere in Des Moines
and talk shows. The station was never a huge ratings success, but had a devoted and loyal following of people who enjoyed their programming. In 1959 Mr. Webber sold the station to 3M
. He would later bring KWDM back on the air at 93.3
in 1964. The call letters stood for "Keep Watching Des Moines
".
completed their purchase of KWDM the switched the call letters to KWKY. They then engaged in 48 hours of stunting by playing Earl Brown
's record Pachalafaka for the entirety of the stunt with a countdown to "Quickie" and the legal ID of "KWDM Des Moines" inserted in between the song. They also when as far as attempting to purchase air time on KSO
and KIOA
to announce that "Quickie is coming". Once the stunting was done, KWKY was introduced as Quickie 1150 and was sporting a Top 40 format. Going up against two well established Top 40 stations with much stronger signals and a larger coverage area was not a successful decision, and by 1960 the station adopted a Middle of the Road format similar to KCBC
. By 1961 they tried the Top 40 format again with similar results to the first attempt.
. This marked the fifth format change in 3 years. It was with this format that KWKY would reach its highest levels of success. They dominated the country
market for the next ten years, as the only player in the market. The decline of KWKY started in 1972 when KSO
switched from Top 40 to Country Music
. With KSO
's higher power and better coverage area, a problem of KWKY due to a complicated directional pattern. KWKY tried to compete for the next 4 years, but in the end conceded defeat to KSO
and 3M
sold the station to the Putbrese Family in 1976.
business leaders and clergy purchased the station through their non profit corporation, Saint Gabriel Communication. While the station still broadcasts religious programming,, it is now targeted towards a Catholic
listening base.
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...
broadcasting a Talk/Personality format to the Des Moines, Iowa
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...
, USA area. The station is owned by Saint Gabriel Communications and features programming from Salem Communications
Salem Communications
Salem Communications is a U.S. radio broadcaster, Internet content provider, and magazine and book publisher specializing in evangelical Christian and conservative political talk radio. It owns 99 commercial radio stations, 65 of which are in the top 25 markets. Salem is the fifth largest U.S....
and Westwood One
Westwood One
Westwood One was an American radio network and was based in New York City. At one time, it was managed by CBS Radio, the radio arm of CBS Corporation, and Viacom and was later purchased by the private equity firm The Gores Group...
.
Early years
KWDM signed on the airwaves at 1150 in 1948. The station was part of a trio of new stations that signed on that year in Des MoinesDes 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...
which included KIOA
KPSZ
KPSZ, "Praise 940", is an Christian radio station serving the Des Moines, Iowa, area. It is located at 940 on the AM dial. The station's studios are located at 1416 Locust Street in Des Moines along with Saga Communications' other Des Moines stations .-The Independent Years: 1948-1957:KIOA signed...
and KCBC
KBGG
KBGG , is a radio station in the Des Moines, Iowa area. It formerly broadcast a Spanish language format and was known as "La Indomable AM." The station is owned by Cumulus Media....
. The owner of KWDM, George Webber had an extensive musical library and KWDM was known for its eclectic mix of international music not heard elsewhere in Des Moines
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...
and talk shows. The station was never a huge ratings success, but had a devoted and loyal following of people who enjoyed their programming. In 1959 Mr. Webber sold the station to 3M
3M
3M Company , formerly known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation based in Maplewood, Minnesota, United States....
. He would later bring KWDM back on the air at 93.3
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 1964. The call letters stood for "Keep Watching Des Moines
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...
".
Top 40 Challenge
Once 3M3M
3M Company , formerly known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation based in Maplewood, Minnesota, United States....
completed their purchase of KWDM the switched the call letters to KWKY. They then engaged in 48 hours of stunting by playing Earl Brown
Earl Brown
-External links:* at College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com...
's record Pachalafaka for the entirety of the stunt with a countdown to "Quickie" and the legal ID of "KWDM Des Moines" inserted in between the song. They also when as far as attempting to purchase air time on 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...
and KIOA
KPSZ
KPSZ, "Praise 940", is an Christian radio station serving the Des Moines, Iowa, area. It is located at 940 on the AM dial. The station's studios are located at 1416 Locust Street in Des Moines along with Saga Communications' other Des Moines stations .-The Independent Years: 1948-1957:KIOA signed...
to announce that "Quickie is coming". Once the stunting was done, KWKY was introduced as Quickie 1150 and was sporting a Top 40 format. Going up against two well established Top 40 stations with much stronger signals and a larger coverage area was not a successful decision, and by 1960 the station adopted a Middle of the Road format similar to KCBC
KBGG
KBGG , is a radio station in the Des Moines, Iowa area. It formerly broadcast a Spanish language format and was known as "La Indomable AM." The station is owned by Cumulus Media....
. By 1961 they tried the Top 40 format again with similar results to the first attempt.
Country, Success, and Decline
In 1962 the format was again changed, this time to Country MusicCountry 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...
. This marked the fifth format change in 3 years. It was with this format that KWKY would reach its highest levels of success. They dominated the country
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...
market for the next ten years, as the only player in the market. The decline of KWKY started in 1972 when 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...
switched from Top 40 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...
. With 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...
's higher power and better coverage area, a problem of KWKY due to a complicated directional pattern. KWKY tried to compete for the next 4 years, but in the end conceded defeat to 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...
and 3M
3M
3M Company , formerly known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation based in Maplewood, Minnesota, United States....
sold the station to the Putbrese Family in 1976.
KWKY Today
After the Putbrese family purchased KWKY the format was switched to a Evangelical Christian talk/music format along with some high school sports. The station became a user supported station at this time. A fire in 1977 caused $70,000 worth of damages to their Norwalk studios. After 30 years of Evangelical Christian programming a local group of CatholicCatholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
business leaders and clergy purchased the station through their non profit corporation, Saint Gabriel Communication. While the station still broadcasts religious programming,, it is now targeted towards a Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
listening base.