KEZK-FM
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| Broadcast area | Greater St. Louis |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 102.5 MHz FM (HD Radio)
102.5-2 FM "Christian Contemporary" 102.5-3 FM KMOX simulcast |
| Branding | Fresh 102.5 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Adult Contemporary |
| Affiliations | Westwood One |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KMOX, KYKY | |
| History | |
First air date | 1972 |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 13507 |
| Class | C0 |
| ERP | 100,000 watts |
| HAAT | 309 meters |
Transmitter coordinates | 38°34′24″N 90°19′30″W / 38.57333°N 90.32500°W |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | fresh1025.radio.com |
KEZK-FM (102.5 FM, "Fresh 102.5") is a radio station broadcasting an Adult Contemporary format. Licensed to St. Louis, Missouri, USA, the station serves the St. Louis and southwestern Illinois areas. The station is currently owned by CBS Radio. and features programing from Westwood One.[1] The station is also broadcast on HD radio.[2]
KEZK's HD2 subchannel broadcasts The Spirit, a contemporary Christian music format which includes faith-based music from mainstream artists along with artists from the contemporary Christian genre. The Spirit is also available online on the station's website. The Spirit is programmed by longtime on-air personality Stel Pontikes[who?].
History
KEZK first went on-the-air as an easy-listening standards station owned by Heftel Broadcasting in 1972 (prior to that, the frequency had been occupied by listener-supported KDNA, later reincarnated as KDHX at 88.1 MHz). In 1991, KEZK shifted to its current adult contemporary format, playing music mostly from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, as well as some of today's hits.
Jeff Kapugi became KEZK's Program Director in November 2010, replacing Mark Edwards.[3]
On December 27, 2010, the station rebranded from "Soft Rock 102.5 KEZK" to "Fresh 102.5",[4] adopting the brand used on sister CBS stations WWFS, WCFS-FM, and WIAD. However, while those three stations have playlists more closely resembling hot adult contemporary stations, KEZK continues to feature '70s artists such as Billy Joel and Chicago,[4] indicating that this is more of a rebranding than a format change; sister station KYKY already broadcasts a hot AC format. The station will also be looking for a new morning show host, as Ed Goodman will be departing.[5] Goodman was replaced by former KMOX radio talk show host John Carney.
KEZK-FM is the only Fresh station owned by CBS Radio with an adult contemporary format to not have "FS" in the calls. Although the other three Fresh FM stations (WIAD Washington, D.C., WCFS-FM Chicago & WWFS New York City) of CBS Radio dropped AC in favour of hot adult contemporary in 2011, excluding WCFS-FM as that station transitioned to simulcast all-news station WBBM, KEZK-FM the only AC station using the Fresh branding.
Awards
In 2007, the station was nominated for the top 25 markets Adult Contemporary station of the year award by Radio & Records magazine. Other nominees included WMJX in Boston, KOST in Los Angeles, WALK-FM in Nassau, New York, WLTW in New York, and WBEB in Philadelphia.[6]
Programming
The morning show features Vic Porcelli and Trish Gazall along with traffic from Sue Thomas (5-9am). Other on-air hosts include Steph Duran (middays 9-2pm), and Greg Hewitt with traffic from Sue Thomas (afternoons 2-7pm). Weekends include Laurie Beakley, Elaine Everett, David Myers and Jackie McCoy. KEZK airs the John Tesh radio show on Sunday mornings from 7-10am. KEZK aired the syndicated Delilah 7pm-12am nightly until May 2012, when the station discontinued syndication.
References
- ^ "KEZK-FM Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
- ^ "HD Radio Station Guide". HD Radio. iBiquity.
- ^ http://radiofacts.com/2010/11/22/jeff-kapugi-named-program-director-for-cbs-radio%E2%80%99s-kezk-and-kyky-in-st-louis/
- ^ a b http://kezk.radio.com/2010/12/08/fresh-102-5/
- ^ http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/84741/kezk-st-louis-to-rebrand-as-fresh-102-5
- ^ "2007 Industry Achievement Awards". Radio and Records. Sep 28, 2008.
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External links
- Fresh102.5 official website
- CBS Radio website
- Facility details for Facility ID KEZK ({{{2}}}) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- {{{2}}} in Nielsen Audio's FM station database