KZLT-FM (104.3

MHz The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), often described as being equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose formal expression in terms of SI base u ...

, "Cities FM") is a

radio station Radio broadcasting is the broadcasting of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based rad ...

broadcasting an

adult contemporary Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the 1980s to the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul ...

format.

Licensed A license (American English) or licence (Commonwealth English) is an official permission or permit to do, use, or own something (as well as the document of that permission or permit). A license is granted by a party (licensor) to another part ...

East Grand Forks, Minnesota East Grand Forks (also known as EGF) is a city in Polk County, Minnesota, Polk County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 9,176 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it Polk County's largest community. It is in the Red ...

, it serves the

Grand Forks, North Dakota Grand Forks is a city in and the county seat of Grand Forks County, North Dakota, United States. The city's population was 59,166 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of cities in North Dakota, third-most populous ...

metropolitan area. It first began broadcasting in 1979 under the

call sign In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign (also known as a call name or call letters—and historically as a call signal—or abbreviated as a call) is a unique identifier for a transmitter station. A call sign can be formally as ...

KRAD-FM. The station is currently owned by Leighton Broadcasting.

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 Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the 1980s to the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul ...

(AC) as "K-Lite" under the KZLT call sign, increased power to 100,000 watts from a transmitter west of

Fisher, Minnesota Fisher is a town in Polk County, Minnesota, Polk County, Minnesota, United States. It is part of the Grand Forks, North Dakota, Grand Forks-North Dakota, ND-Minnesota, MN Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 422 at the 2020 United ...

. 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. In late 1999, the station repositioned itself with a

Hot AC Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the 1980s to the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul, ...

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 Classic rock is a radio format that developed from the album-oriented rock (AOR) format in the early 1980s. In the United States, it comprises rock music ranging generally from the mid-1960s through the early-1990s, primarily focusing on comm ...

format as "Z104" was introduced. Norman sold KZLT and KCNN to Leighton Broadcasting in 2003, and later KZLT changed back to an

format as "Breeze 104.3". In December 2005, KZLT tweaked to a

hot adult contemporary Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the 1980s to the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul ...

, and rebranded as "More Music 104.3", which later tweaked to Top 40 (CHR) competing with Clear Channel's

heritage Heritage may refer to: History and society * A heritage asset A heritage asset is an item which has value because of its contribution to a nation's society, knowledge and/or culture. Such items are usually physical assets, but some countries also ...

Top 40 In the music industry, the Top 40 is a list of the 40 currently most popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "To ...

station

KKXL-FM KKXL-FM (92.9 MHz) is a contemporary hit radio station serving the Grand Forks, North Dakota area. It first began broadcasting in the 1970s as KKDQ. The station is owned by iHeartMedia (formerly Clear Channel Communications until September ...

"XL93". Due to inadequate ratings, KZLT reverted formats back to

as "Lite Rock 104.3" on March 26, 2007. The station plays

Christmas music Christmas music comprises a variety of Music genre, genres of music regularly performed or heard around the Christmas and holiday season, Christmas season. Music associated with Christmas may be purely instrumental, or in the case of Christmas ...

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. On April 11, 2014 KZLT-FM relaunched as "104.3 Cities FM".KZLT Relaunches as Cities FM
/ref>

Previous logo

References

External links

104.3 Cities FM websiteLeighton Broadcasting
{{coord, 47.814, N, 96.930, W, type:landmark_region:US_source:FCC, display=title ZLT-FM Mainstream adult contemporary radio stations in the United States Radio stations established in 1979