WDAF-FM
Encyclopedia
WDAF-FM is a country music
radio station
based in Kansas City, Missouri
, in the United States
. Its current assignment to Entercom's 100,000 Watt facility licensed to Liberty, Missouri
, combines the history of both the frequency (106.5 MHz) and the WDAF call letters.
. The Kansas City Star received authorization to broadcast on May 16, 1922, days after WHB. The two shared the 730 kHz frequency until 1928, when they settled at 610 AM. WDAF-AM was in the network of stations that carried the first presidential broadcast address. WDAF came under the ownership of Taft Broadcasting in 1963 with Taft's purchase of Transcontinent Broadcasting.
In 1971, WDAF upgraded their FM station , which had been around for many years, being one of the oldest in the area, to 100,000 watts, putting the antenna atop the television tower,and calling it Super Sterio 102.1 MHz, which changed its call letters to KYYS in 1974, while WDAF continued at 610 kHz. The Star gained authorization to begin operating a television station, WDAF-TV
(an NBC
-turned-Fox
affiliate, but was forced to give up all three stations when ordered by the Federal Communications Commission
.
), but a "Save the Buzz" campaign waged by fans prompted WDAF to instead move to 106.5, replacing a jazz station. WDAF was simulcast on both AM and FM until 2003, when KCSP
debuted on 610.
, first broadcast on 106.5 FM in 1978 with a Top-40 station, KFIX. The relative infancy of the high-end frequency, plus the format instability on their AM counterpart, resulted in a new format every 2-3 years, ranging from album rock to soft adult contemporary.
In 1992, rhythmic station X-106 swapped frequencies with a country station broadcasting from Lexington, Missouri
at 107.3 FM. Like its predecessors, "Country Junction" only lasted three years before a smooth jazz station, "The City", debuted. Despite its apparent popularity in the workplace over soft rock stations KUDL, KLTH and KSRC
and Kansas City's place in jazz history, the format was yanked in 2003 to make way for WDAF. In 2006, Entercom announced that a smooth jazz format will debut on a high definition subchannel of WDAF. The Smooth Jazz format also aired Sunday mornings on KUDL.
On January 10, 2007, months after moving to its new Mission, Kansas
studios, WDAF-FM changed branding to 106.5 The Wolf.
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
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...
based in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Its current assignment to Entercom's 100,000 Watt facility licensed to Liberty, Missouri
Liberty, Missouri
Liberty is a city in Clay County, Missouri and is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. At the 2007 population estimate, the city population was 29,993...
, combines the history of both the frequency (106.5 MHz) and the WDAF call letters.
The Early Days
WDAF was one of the first four radio stations in Kansas City, alongside WOQ, WPE (now sister station KMBZ) and WHBWHB
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...
. The Kansas City Star received authorization to broadcast on May 16, 1922, days after WHB. The two shared the 730 kHz frequency until 1928, when they settled at 610 AM. WDAF-AM was in the network of stations that carried the first presidential broadcast address. WDAF came under the ownership of Taft Broadcasting in 1963 with Taft's purchase of Transcontinent Broadcasting.
In 1971, WDAF upgraded their FM station , which had been around for many years, being one of the oldest in the area, to 100,000 watts, putting the antenna atop the television tower,and calling it Super Sterio 102.1 MHz, which changed its call letters to KYYS in 1974, while WDAF continued at 610 kHz. The Star gained authorization to begin operating a television station, WDAF-TV
WDAF-TV
WDAF-TV, virtual channel 4.1, is the Fox-affiliated television station serving the Kansas City, Missouri-Kansas designated market area. The station is owned by Local TV LLC, the media arm of private equity firm Oak Hill Capital Partners. Its studios and transmitter are located in the Signal Hill...
(an NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
-turned-Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
affiliate, but was forced to give up all three stations when ordered by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
.
The move to FM
WDAF remained a respected country station until 2002, when owner Entercom sought to develop a rival sports station to WHB, who dropped country in 1999. Entercom originally eyed the fledgling "alternative" station at 96.5 (KRBZKRBZ
KRBZ, FM 96.5 in Kansas City, is an Alternative rock station. The station uses the brand name 96-5 The Buzz. It is the Kansas City market's home for the syndicated program Loveline. The station is owned by Entercom Communications, and is based in Mission, Kansas.-History:KRBZ began broadcasting in...
), but a "Save the Buzz" campaign waged by fans prompted WDAF to instead move to 106.5, replacing a jazz station. WDAF was simulcast on both AM and FM until 2003, when KCSP
KCSP (AM)
KCSP is a sports/talk radio station located in Kansas City, Missouri. The Entercom-owned station broadcasts on 610 kHz. Beginning March 31, 2011, its programming is simulcast on KMBZ-FM's 98.1-HD2 subchannel....
debuted on 610.
106.5 FM
Strauss-Abernathy Broadcasting, owners of Liberty's AM station KCXLKCXL
KCXL is a locally-owned talk/oldies station that serves the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. From its tower in Liberty, Missouri, KCXL broadcasts all hours of the day. Despite the "daytimer" correlation with Class D stations, KCXL's six nighttime watts continue the station's operation within Clay...
, first broadcast on 106.5 FM in 1978 with a Top-40 station, KFIX. The relative infancy of the high-end frequency, plus the format instability on their AM counterpart, resulted in a new format every 2-3 years, ranging from album rock to soft adult contemporary.
In 1992, rhythmic station X-106 swapped frequencies with a country station broadcasting from Lexington, Missouri
Lexington, Missouri
Lexington is a city in Lafayette County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,453 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lafayette County. Located in western Missouri, Lexington lies about 40 miles east of Kansas City and is part of the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
at 107.3 FM. Like its predecessors, "Country Junction" only lasted three years before a smooth jazz station, "The City", debuted. Despite its apparent popularity in the workplace over soft rock stations KUDL, KLTH and KSRC
KCKC-FM
KCKC is an adult album alternative station based in Kansas City, Missouri that operates at 102.1 MHz with an ERP of 100 kW. The station is licensed to and operated by Wilks Broadcasting. Its transmitter is located in Independence, Missouri...
and Kansas City's place in jazz history, the format was yanked in 2003 to make way for WDAF. In 2006, Entercom announced that a smooth jazz format will debut on a high definition subchannel of WDAF. The Smooth Jazz format also aired Sunday mornings on KUDL.
On January 10, 2007, months after moving to its new Mission, Kansas
Mission, 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 :...
studios, WDAF-FM changed branding to 106.5 The Wolf.
Airstaff
The current lineup (as of June 13, 2011) is as follows:- Morning Show (5:30am-10am): Roger Carson & Laurie Abore
- Mid-Days (10am-2pm): Wes Poe
- Afternoon Drive (2pm-7pm): Shotgun Jaxon
- Nighttime (7pm-12am): The Wolf After Dark - Natalie Puhr