KEEZ-FM
{{short description|Contemporary hit radio station in Mankato, Minnesota}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = KEEZ-FM
| logo =
| city = Mankato, Minnesota
| country = US
| area = Mankato, Minnesota
| branding = Z99
| frequency = 99.1 MHz
| airdate = April 1, 1968 (as KEYC-FM)
| language = English
| format = Hot adult contemporary
| erp = 100,000 watts
| haat = {{convert|239|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| class = C1
| facility_id = 21193
| callsign_meaning = Z99
| former_callsigns = KEYC-FM (1968–1978)
| affiliations = Westwood One
| owner = Alpha Media
| licensee = Alpha 3E Licensee LLC
| sister_stations = {{hlist|KMKO-FM|KRBI-FM|KYSM-FM}}
| webcast = {{listen live|https://www.alphamediaplayer.com/z99}}
| website = [http://www.z99mankato.com/ z99mankato.com]
| licensing_authority = FCC
}}
KEEZ-FM (99.1 FM, "Z99") is an American radio station licensed to serve the community of Mankato, Minnesota, and serving the Minnesota River Valley. The station broadcasts a hot adult contemporary format. The station is owned by Alpha Media, through licensee Alpha 3E Licensee LLC, along with sister stations KYSM-FM, KRBI-FM and KMKO-FM.
History
The station was granted license on May 15, 1968, as KEYC-FM.{{cite journal |journal=Broadcasting |page=66 |date=27 May 1968}} The station was started by Lee Enterprises, which also owned KEYC-TV. The station was sold in 1977, to Faribault County Broadcasting Co. for $200,000, principally owned by Paul C. Hedberg and his wife. Burke B. Bartell was General manager until 1980's.{{cite journal |journal=Broadcasting |page= 67 |date=16 May 1977}} The station was a CHR/Top 40 station by the mid-1980s, and then shifted to a hot AC format in August 1992. Hedberg Broadcasting sold the station in 1993, to Nolan Broadcast Group.
From January 1993 to the fall of 2000, KEEZ was owned and operated by Nolan Broadcast Group. KEEZ was managed by Michael E. Nolan, who along with his father Philip E. Nolan owned KAUS-AM/KAUS-FM in Austin, Minnesota. In 2000, the station was sold to Three Eagles Communications.
KEEZ's longtime competitor, 96.7 KDOG, was a CHR station from 1984 until shifting to hot AC in 2000. KDOG returned to their CHR roots as "Hot 96.7" in September 2009.
While Z99 was a hot AC format during the daytime (playing a mix of hit music from the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and today), it took a Top 40/CHR format at night, as the station added hip-hop to their playlist, thus it could be considered an adult Top 40. By 2012, Z99 shifted to a full-fledged Top 40/CHR format.
On October 31, 2018, at midnight, KEEZ began stunting with a continuous loop of Michael Jackson's “Thriller” while branding as "Thriller 99.1". The next day, at 9 a.m., KEEZ relaunched with a hot adult contemporary format as "Mix 99.1".{{Cite news|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/171686/z99-mankato-stunting/|title=Z99 Mankato Flips To AC Mix 99.1 - RadioInsight|date=2018-11-01|work=RadioInsight|access-date=2018-11-01|language=en-US}}
In May 2024, Alpha Media let go most on-air staffers in their Mankato cluster, which includes KEEZ, as part of nationwide cuts. The following month, KMKO began airing Westwood One's "Hot AC" format.[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/269522/alpha-media-continues-to-purge-programming-on-air-staffs-in-midwest-markets/ Alpha Media Continues to Purge Programming, On-Air Staffs in Midwest Markets]https://www.keyc.com/2024/05/22/alpha-media-group-lays-off-mankato-on-air-talent/
On November 11, 2024, at midnight, KEEZ reverted back to Top 40/CHR and the "Z99" moniker, with programming coming from Westwood One's "Hits Now!" format.[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/287740/z99-returns-to-mankato/ Z99 Returns to Mankato]
Ahead of the April 2025 discontinuation of "Hits Now!" by Westwood One, on April 8, KEEZ reverted back to hot AC.[https://www.westwoodone.com/formats/music/hot-ac/ Hot AC | Westwood One]
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.z99mankato.com/ Z99 website]
{{FM station data|21193|KEEZ-FM}}
{{Alpha Media}}
{{Contemporary Hit Radio Stations in Minnesota}}
{{Mankato-New Ulm-St. Peter Radio}}
{{coord|44.052|N|94.300|W|type:landmark_region:US_source:FCC|display=title}}
Category:1968 establishments in Minnesota
Category:Alpha Media radio stations
Category:Contemporary hit radio stations in the United States
Category:Radio stations established in 1968
Category:Radio stations in Minnesota
{{Minnesota-radio-station-stub}}