KLSS-FM (106.1 MHz) is a radio station in North Central Iowa airing a Top 40/CHR format. The station is licensed to Mason City, Iowa, and is owned by Alpha Media. Its studios are located on Yorktown Pike in east Mason City, and its transmitter is located on 260th Street, just outside the Mason City city limits.
History.
The concept for KLSS-FM was an idea of country music station KSMN owner Hayward Talley, who filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission to add an FM station in 1966; however, it could not build it at its AM transmitter site due to short-spacing to another station in Waterloo. The new station was approved in May 1967 and planned to broadcast KSMN during daytime hours while extending its service at night. KLSS officially debuted on November 1, 1967, with an easy listening format.
In 1984, Talley sold KSMN and KLSS to Hedberg Broadcasting of Blue Earth, Minnesota. KSMN initially retained its country music format, but began simulcasting KLSS full-time (and also adopted the KLSS call letters, with the "-FM" suffix being added as well) on March 1, 1985. The two stations simulcasted until KLSS (AM) was divested to the University of Northern Iowa and became KRNI in September 1990. This was due to Hedberg reaching a deal to buy KRIB (1490 AM), and FCC rules of the time not allowing ownership of multiple AM or FM stations in the same area.
In March 1997, Three Eagles Broadcasting bought the station. In 2014, KLSS-FM was sold to Digity, LLC. Two years later, Alpha Media acquired Digity, LLC, including KLSS-FM, for $264 million.
Initially, KLSS aired an easy listening format, but over time, it would evolve to adult contemporary, and then hot adult contemporary by the 1990s. By around late 2017 and into early 2018, KLSS evolved to its current Top 40/CHR format, though their playlist was dayparted by featuring more rhythmic songs during the evening and overnight hours. In addition, the station carries the syndicated 80s and 90s versions of Backtrax USA on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and the Hot AC version of American Top 40 on Sunday mornings. The station was formerly an affiliate of "Intelligence for Your Life" with John Tesh, "ON with Mario Lopez", and "XYZ with Erik Zachary."
The current "Star 106" branding was adopted in May 1999.
In May 2024, program director, operations manager and midday host Jared Allen was let go from the station after 18 years due to nationwide staffing cuts initiated by Alpha Media. In addition, morning host Joe Malone and afternoon host Eric Fleming were relegated to primarily off-air roles, and the station went jockless. On June 5, KLSS began airing Westwood One's "Hits Now!" format.
Children's Miracle Network Radiothon.
KLSS hosts the Children's Miracle Network Radiothon each October, which raises money for the Children's Miracle Network and the University Of Iowa Children's Hospital and helps kids and families in need of major medical care.
References.
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