KESJ
{{short description|Radio station in St. Joseph, Missouri}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = KESJ
| logo =
| logo_size =
| city = St. Joseph, Missouri
| area = Kansas City area
| branding = Joe Town 107-5
| frequency = 1550 kHz
| translator = 107.5 K298DA (St. Joseph)
| airdate = 1946 (as KRES)
| format = Classic hits
| power = 2,500 watts (day)
500 watts (night)
| class = B
| facility_id = 8767
| coordinates = {{coord|39|42|23|N|94|44|36|W|region:US-MO_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| callsign_meaning =
| former_callsigns = KRES (1946–1961)
KKJO (1961–1988)
KSFT (1988–2009)
| affiliations =
| owner = Eagle Communications, Inc.
| licensee =
| sister_stations =
| webcast = [https://www.joetown1075.com/listen-live/ Listen Live]
| website = [https://www.joetown1075.com joetown1075.com]
| licensing_authority= FCC
}}
KESJ (1550 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a classic hits format, licensed to St. Joseph, Missouri. The station is owned by Eagle Communications, Inc.{{cite web|url=http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?call=KESJ |title=KESJ Facility Record |work=United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division }}
History
KESJ came on air in 1946 as KRES, and was initially on 1230 kHz broadcasting from 113 S. 7th Street. The 1550 frequency debuted as KRES in 1953.{{cite web |url=http://kcradio.robzerwekh.com/1550.html |title=Archived copy |website=kcradio.robzerwekh.com |access-date=23 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200709063058/http://kcradio.robzerwekh.com/1550.html |archive-date=9 July 2020 |url-status=dead}} Missouri Valley Broadcasting owned the station. KRES used AP News.
In 1961, the station was assigned the call letters "KKJO", and it began airing a middle of the road (MOR) format. In 1966, the station adopted a Top 40 format, using a slogan "Tiger Radio".{{cite web |url=http://kcradio.robzerwekh.com/1550.html |title=Archived copy |website=kcradio.robzerwekh.com |access-date=23 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200709063058/http://kcradio.robzerwekh.com/1550.html |archive-date=9 July 2020 |url-status=dead}}
The studios for the station moved to 1101 South Belt Highway. In 1980, the station acquired an FM counterpart on 105.1, from its competitor KUSN. In 1981, the station transitioned from top 40 to adult contemporary and middle of the road programming. In 1988, KKJO and KSFT swapped callsigns, with KSFT landing on the AM frequency. At that time, format was satellite-fed adult standards.
In 1999, the station transitioned to 1950s through 1960s Oldies music.{{cite web |url=http://kcradio.robzerwekh.com/1550.html |title=Archived copy |website=kcradio.robzerwekh.com |access-date=23 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200709063058/http://kcradio.robzerwekh.com/1550.html |archive-date=9 July 2020 |url-status=dead}}
It was known as "Oldies 1550".
On August 24, 2009, the station changed call letters to KESJ and began airing ESPN Radio. It was an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, Missouri Tigers, and Northwest Missouri State University sports. An FM translator came on air in 2019 on 107.5 MHz.
The station adopted its current format and branding on August 22, 2019. The station primarily airs classic hits from the 1980s through 1990s. It gained the slogan "Joe Town 107-5", using the translator dial position.[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/179883/joe-town-arrives-in-st-joseph/ Joe Town Arrives in St. Joseph] Radioinsight - August 22, 2019
Previous logo
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{AM station data|8767|KESJ}}
- {{FCC-LMS-Facility|202774|K298DA}}
- {{FXL|K298DA}}
{{Kansas City Radio}}
{{Classic Hits Radio Stations in Missouri}}
Category:Radio stations established in 1947
Category:1947 establishments in Missouri
Category:Classic hits radio stations in the United States
{{Missouri-radio-station-stub}}