WLTE
Encyclopedia
WLTE is a radio station
in Minneapolis-St. Paul that carries a "Lite rock" adult contemporary format and has done so for more than two decades. WLTE is owned by CBS Corporation
, which also owns WCCO radio today. Its main transmitter is located on the KMSP Tower
in Shoreview, Minnesota
, with backup facilities on the nearby Telefarm installation.
The station is one of the most popular in the Twin Cities, since they, like many similar stations, aim heavily at workplace environments (WLTE calls itself, "Your Station at Work").
, the FM broadcast of local powerhouse WCCO 830 AM, but was hampered by its limited signal and never carried 'CCO's signal very far. It also carried programming separate from the AM, with a mix of Beautiful Music
and MOR album cuts and soft vocals, not unlike the pre-rock KQRS. The station later added two DJ shifts separate from the AM, hosted by Denny Long and Lou Lattson, playing a free-form rock music format, which included some underground rock tracks, along with full-service elements such as news and weather.
Until 1973
, the station only operated for the minimum amount of time required to keep the license. However, when the transmitter was upgraded full-power full-time to 100,000 watts in November of 1973, a broad-based music format was launched. By 1975, the format evolved to Adult Contemporary, though they continued to play more deeper album tracks than most AC stations. This approach was essentially an early example of Adult Album Alternative
(AAA). In that same year, WCCO-FM picked up Dr. Demento
. Personalities included Paul Stagg, Carl Lensgraf, Terri Davis, Tom Ambrose, Curt Lundgren, Johnny Canton, Peter May and Pat O'Neill. Tim Russell
, currently a cast member of "A Prairie Home Companion
," hosted middays and created memorable characters like traffic reporter "Captain Buzz Studley.
WCCO-FM was a successful station until new IDS Center transmitters for competing stations were built in 1979
, causing damaging interference to the station's broadcast signal. In addition to the interference, the station was affected by a strike, at about the same time. The striking FM airstaff was temporarily replaced with staff with little experience, making the station sound unpolished compared to its usual presentation. The station also began to face formidable competition after a relaunch of KS95
with a comparable live AC format. And it gravitated to a stricter playlist
as 1980s wore on. In 1983
, Top 40 became a massively popular format across the country. WLOL
, which picked up the format by 1982, was one of the most successful stations in the market, and KDWB
was just returning to the FM band. WCCO-FM switched to Top 40 under Program Director John Long that year. Results were dismal, and both the format and Long lasted just a few months.
The "lite" format was introduced later that year, along with new call letters WLTE. In addition to the adult contemporary format, in recent years the station switches to all-Christmas music
from mid-November to midnight on Christmas
, billing itself in that period as "The Official Christmas Music Station". Rival Kool 108
, an oldies
station, also programs nothing but Christmas music during this period.
, on 102.1. It became "102.9 Lite FM", following a trend of abandoning the practice of frequency rounding to make stations easier to find on digital tuners.
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...
in Minneapolis-St. Paul that carries a "Lite rock" adult contemporary format and has done so for more than two decades. WLTE is owned by CBS Corporation
CBS Corporation
CBS Corporation is an American media conglomerate focused on commercial broadcasting, publishing, billboards and television production, with most of its operations in the United States. The President and CEO of the company is Leslie Moonves. Sumner Redstone, owner of National Amusements, is CBS's...
, which also owns WCCO radio today. Its main transmitter is located on the KMSP Tower
KMSP Tower
KMSP TV Tower is a 446.8 metre high guy-wired aerial mast for the transmission of FM radio and television programs in Shoreview, Minnesota at...
in Shoreview, Minnesota
Shoreview, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there are 25,377 people, Males: 12,303 , Females: 13,074 , 9,965 households, and 7,021 families residing in the city. The population density is 2,315.9 people per square mile . There are 10,127 housing units at an average density of 919.2 per square mile...
, with backup facilities on the nearby Telefarm installation.
The station is one of the most popular in the Twin Cities, since they, like many similar stations, aim heavily at workplace environments (WLTE calls itself, "Your Station at Work").
History
The station began as WCCO-FM in 19691969 in radio
Significant events in radio broadcasting in the year 1969 included the debuts of two documentaries on rock and roll.-Events:*21–23 February: The History of Rock and Roll, a comprehensive 48-part documentary, debuts on KHJ in Los Angeles...
, the FM broadcast of local powerhouse WCCO 830 AM, but was hampered by its limited signal and never carried 'CCO's signal very far. It also carried programming separate from the AM, with a mix of Beautiful Music
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
and MOR album cuts and soft vocals, not unlike the pre-rock KQRS. The station later added two DJ shifts separate from the AM, hosted by Denny Long and Lou Lattson, playing a free-form rock music format, which included some underground rock tracks, along with full-service elements such as news and weather.
Until 1973
1973 in radio
The year 1973 saw a number of significant events in radio broadcasting.-Events:*15 October – Dutch public-broadcasting station Hilversum 3 begins round-the-clock transmission....
, the station only operated for the minimum amount of time required to keep the license. However, when the transmitter was upgraded full-power full-time to 100,000 watts in November of 1973, a broad-based music format was launched. By 1975, the format evolved to Adult Contemporary, though they continued to play more deeper album tracks than most AC stations. This approach was essentially an early example of 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....
(AAA). In that same year, WCCO-FM picked up Dr. Demento
Dr. Demento
Barret Eugene Hansen , better known as Dr. Demento, is a radio broadcaster and record collector specializing in novelty songs, comedy, and strange or unusual recordings dating from the early days of phonograph records to the present....
. Personalities included Paul Stagg, Carl Lensgraf, Terri Davis, Tom Ambrose, Curt Lundgren, Johnny Canton, Peter May and Pat O'Neill. Tim Russell
Tim Russell
Tim Russell is an American radio announcer and voice actor in Minneapolis – Saint Paul. He is most widely known as one of the actors on the long-running radio show, A Prairie Home Companion...
, currently a cast member of "A Prairie Home Companion
A Prairie Home Companion
A Prairie Home Companion is a live radio variety show created and hosted by Garrison Keillor. The show runs on Saturdays from 5 to 7 p.m. Central Time, and usually originates from the Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul, Minnesota, although it is frequently taken on the road...
," hosted middays and created memorable characters like traffic reporter "Captain Buzz Studley.
WCCO-FM was a successful station until new IDS Center transmitters for competing stations were built in 1979
1979 in radio
The year 1979 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*September - KDWB-FM in Minneapolis, Minnesota breaks away from their Top 40 AM sister, becoming album-oriented rock as "K101"...
, causing damaging interference to the station's broadcast signal. In addition to the interference, the station was affected by a strike, at about the same time. The striking FM airstaff was temporarily replaced with staff with little experience, making the station sound unpolished compared to its usual presentation. The station also began to face formidable competition after a relaunch of KS95
KSTP-FM
KSTP-FM is a radio station serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota area. It is one of the flagship stations of Hubbard Broadcasting, which also owns several other TV and radio stations across the United States, along with other properties...
with a comparable live AC format. And it gravitated to a stricter playlist
Playlist
In its most general form, a playlist is simply a list of songs. They can be played in sequential or shuffled order. The term has several specialized meanings in the realms of radio broadcasting and personal computers.-In radio:...
as 1980s wore on. In 1983
1983 in radio
The year 1983 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*August 2 - WHTZ in New York City debuts, soon becoming one of the most influential CHR stations in the US...
, Top 40 became a massively popular format across the country. WLOL
KSJN
KSJN is the flagship station of Minnesota Public Radio's classical music network, serving the Twin Cities region. Prior to 1991, 99.5 was known as WLOL, best known as a top-rated CHR station during the 1980s.-KSJN intellectual unit:...
, which picked up the format by 1982, was one of the most successful stations in the market, and KDWB
KDWB
KDWB-FM is an American commercial radio station broadcasting in the Twin Cities region of Minnesota, the radio format was known for over fifty years as a major contemporary hit radio Top 40 pop music outlet. Its transmitter is located in Shoreview, Minnesota. It broadcasts in 5.1 cinema-quality...
was just returning to the FM band. WCCO-FM switched to Top 40 under Program Director John Long that year. Results were dismal, and both the format and Long lasted just a few months.
The "lite" format was introduced later that year, along with new call letters WLTE. In addition to the adult contemporary format, in recent years the station switches to all-Christmas music
Christmas music
Christmas music comprises a variety of genres of music normally performed or heard around the Christmas season, which tends to begin in the months leading up the actual holiday and end in the weeks shortly thereafter.-Early:...
from mid-November to midnight on Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
, billing itself in that period as "The Official Christmas Music Station". Rival Kool 108
KQQL
KQQL is a classic hits music formatted radio station serving the Twin Cities region of Minnesota, licensed to the suburb of Anoka...
, an oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
station, also programs nothing but Christmas music during this period.
Image Change
Until the early 2000s, the station has been known as "Lite Rock 103 FM", having rounded the frequency up to "103" since the WCCO-FM days. The frequency approximation worked in the days before digital tuners, and it eliminated confusion with KEEYKEEY
KEEY-FM is a country music formatted radio station serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul market of Minnesota. It is the most popular country station in the area, and often comes in just below area powerhouses KQRS-FM and WCCO in overall ratings. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications...
, on 102.1. It became "102.9 Lite FM", following a trend of abandoning the practice of frequency rounding to make stations easier to find on digital tuners.
External links
- WLTE 102.9 Lite FM
- Radiotapes.com Historic airchecks of Minneapolis/St. Paul radio stations dating back to 1924 including WCCO-FM (including an aircheck from May 1969 when the station first went on the air) and other Twin Cities stations.
- TwinCitiesRadioAirchecks.com This site has some recent photos of Glen Olson, Beth Kidd and Johny Canton at the control board and on the air. The site also has many airchecks of Twin Cities radio from the 1970s, including WCCO-FM, WLTE's predecessor.