KSMA-FM
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| logo = KSMA-FM station logo.jpg
| name = KSMA-FM
| airdate = 1980 (as KOSG)
| frequency = 98.7 MHz
| city = Osage, Iowa
| area = Mason City-Clear Lake
Austin-Albert Lea
| format = Country music
| owner = North Iowa Broadcasting (Coloff Media, LLC)
| erp = 25,000 watts
| haat = 100 meters
| branding = 98-7 Kiss Country
| facility_id = 41099
| coordinates = {{coord|43|21|53|N|93|02|54|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| class = C3
| former_frequencies = 92.7 MHZ (1980-1993)
103.7 MHz (1993-1999)
| former_callsigns = KOSG (1979-1989)
KCZY (1989-1998)
KWMM (1998-2001)
| webcast = [http://socialstreamingplayer.crystalmedianetworks.com/radio/ksma Listen Live]
| website = http://www.987kisscountry.com/
| callsign_meaning =
| sister_stations = KCHA, KCHA-FM, KCZE, KHAM, KIOW, KLKK
| licensing_authority= FCC
}}
KSMA-FM is a radio station airing a country music format licensed to Osage, Iowa, broadcasting on 98.7 MHz FM. The station serves the areas of Mason City, Iowa, and Austin, Minnesota, and is owned by North Iowa Broadcasting.[http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?list=0&facid=41099 KSMA-FM] fcc.gov. Retrieved December 17, 2012
KSMA-FM's studios are located on North Federal Avenue in downtown Mason City, while its transmitter is located near Grafton.
History
A construction permit was issued for a radio station serving Osage in 1979. On July 9, 1980, the station went on the air on 92.7 FM with an easy listening format under the KOSG call letters. On July 1, 1989, KOSG changed call letters to KCZY, and was part of a four station simulcast that included KCZQ in Cresco, KCZE in New Hampton, and KCHA-FM in Charles City. In the fall of 1993, KOSG moved to 103.7 FM. On January 1, 1998, KCZY changed calls to KWMM, and flipped to a nostalgia format as "Memories 103.7." In May 1999, the station changed frequencies to 98.7 FM. Also in 1999, James Ingstad Broadcasting sold the station to Cumulus Broadcasting. Clear Channel Communications then bought the station the following year. For many years, the station exclusively targeted Osage and Mitchell County."Osage radio station moves; will change broadcast format," The Globe-Gazette, August 12, 2001.
On August 13, 2001, at 7:30 p.m., KWMM flipped to Top 40/CHR as "98.7 Kiss FM". The new format competed against hot adult contemporary-formatted KLSS, which served as the default contemporary hit music station for North Iowa, and Rochester, Minnesota-based KROC-FM, whose signal covers much of the area.Kristin Buehner, "Radio station changes home city and format," The Globe-Gazette, August 16, 2001.{{cite web | url=https://northpine.com/broadcast/archive/news0801.html | title=Broadcasting News-August 2001 }} The current KSMA-FM call letters were adopted on October 2, 2001. In February 2002, the station's power was increased to 25,000 watts, in order to improve its coverage into Mason City and Clear Lake.{{cite web | url=https://northpine.com/broadcast/archive/news0202.html | title=Broadcasting News-February 2002 }}
“Kiss FM” was the North Iowa affiliate for Rick Dees in the Morning, which was followed by "Valentine in the Morning"; both shows were based in Los Angeles. In addition, the station also carried Carson Daly, the Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 and the Pop Culture Countdown. Local hosts during this time include Eric Fleming (who later went to KLSS), Patrick Gwin and Fish & the Freakshow.
In 2007, Clear Channel sold off many of their small market stations, including KSMA-FM and sister stations KGLO, KIAI and KLKK, to Three Eagles Broadcasting. Due to market ownership limits, as Three Eagles already owned KLSS, KRIB, and KYTC, KSMA-FM and KLKK were immediately spun off to Coloff Media, which is based in nearby Forest City, along with their Charles City and New Hampton stations KCHA, KCHA-FM and KCZE.Dick Johnson, "Radio stations change hands," The Globe-Gazette, April 11, 2007.Dick Johnson, "Radio stations change ownership, locations," The Globe-Gazette, September 7, 2007. After a weekend of stunting, KSMA-FM flipped to Country as "98.7 Kiss Country" on October 2, 2007.{{cite web | url=https://northpine.com/broadcast/archive/news0907.html | title=Broadcasting News-September 2007 }}{{cite web | url=https://northpine.com/broadcast/archive/news1007.html | title=Broadcasting News-October 2007 }}
On-air staff
Current on-air staff includes J. Brooks and the Morning Rush, Rob Getz and Chris Berg.
Weekend programming includes syndicated shows Powered By Country, The Road, Thunder Road, and American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.987kisscountry.com/ KSMA-FM's official website]
- {{FM station data|41099|KSMA-FM}}
{{Mason City Radio}}
{{Austin-Albert Lea Radio}}
{{Country Radio Stations in Iowa}}