KZLT-FM

KZLT-FM (104.3 MHz, "Cities FM") is a radio station broadcasting an adult contemporary format. Licensed to East Grand Forks, Minnesota, it serves the Grand Forks, North Dakota metropolitan area. It first began broadcasting in 1979 under the call sign KRAD-FM. The station is currently owned by Leighton Broadcasting.

KZLT-FM
Broadcast areaGrand Forks, North Dakota
Frequency104.3 MHz
Branding104.3 Cities FM
Programming
FormatAdult contemporary
Ownership
OwnerLeighton Broadcasting
KGFK, KNOX, KYCK, KZGF
History
First air date
December 3, 1979 (as KRAD-FM at 103.9)
Former call signs
KRAD-FM (1979–1981)
KRRK (1981–1985)
Former frequencies
103.9 MHz (1979-1981)
Call sign meaning
EZ (easy) LiTe (describes the AC music format)
Technical information
Facility ID35509
ClassC1
ERP100,000 watts
HAAT139.5 meters
Links
WebcastListen Live
Website1043citiesfm.com

History

The station signed on December 3, 1979 as a Class A on 103.9 as KRAD-FM, simulcasting KRAD AM 1590 (now KGFK), and was owned by Dave Norman.

The station flipped to Country Music in the 1980s as KRRK "Double R 104", and KZLT in the spring of 1985 on the 104.3 frequency. Station owner Dave Norman changed the format to light Adult contemporary (AC) as "K-Lite" under the KZLT call sign, increased power to 100,000 watts from a transmitter west of Fisher, Minnesota. KZLT and KCNN were moved from the transmitter/studio complex in East Grand Forks to the Cass Gilbert designed Great Northern Railway Depot in downtown Grand Forks.

Formats of KZLT
Name (call signs)Format
KRAD-FM 103.9News/Talk (1979–1981)
(simulcast of KRAD AM 1590)
Double R 104 (KRRK)Country (1981–1985)
K-Lite 104 (KZLT-FM)Adult contemporary (1985–1999)
Cities 104.3Hot adult contemporary (1999–2001)
Z104Classic rock (2001–2003)
Breeze 104.3Adult Contemporary (2003–2005)
More Music 104.3Hot Adult Contemporary (2005–2006)
CHR/Top 40 (2006–2007)
Lite Rock 104.3Adult Contemporary (2007–2012)
104.3 KZLTAdult Contemporary (2012–2013)
Lite Rock 104.3Adult Contemporary (2013–2014)
104.3 Cities FMAdult Contemporary (2014–present)

In late 1999, the station repositioned itself with a Hot AC format as "Cities 104.3". Lightning struck KZLT's transmitter on May 31, 2001, keeping the station off-air for a week. Cities 104.3 began broadcasting again at low-power until a new transmitter was completed in October 2001, when an 80's based classic rock format as "Z104" was introduced. Norman sold KZLT and KCNN to Leighton Broadcasting in 2003, and later KZLT changed back to an adult contemporary format as "Breeze 104.3".

In December 2005, KZLT tweaked to a hot adult contemporary, and rebranded as "More Music 104.3", which later tweaked to Top 40 (CHR) competing with Clear Channel's heritage Top 40 station KKXL-FM "XL93".

former 104.3 KZLT logo

Due to inadequate ratings, KZLT reverted formats back to adult contemporary as "Lite Rock 104.3" on March 26, 2007. The station plays Christmas music annually from Thanksgiving to Christmas Day. In April 2012 the station rebranded itself using its call letters, "104.3 KZLT". In March 2013, the station reverted to the "Lite Rock 104.3" identity.[1]

On April 11, 2014 KZLT-FM relaunched as "104.3 Cities FM".[2]

References
  1. "Format Changes". Your Midwest Media. Archived from the original on March 17, 2013.
  2. KZLT Relaunches as Cities FM

47.814°N 96.930°W / 47.814; -96.930

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