Editing KSTP-FM

{{short description|Radio station in the Twin Cities region of Minnesota}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
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{{original research|date=October 2015}}
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{{Infobox radio station
| rds              = PI: 4185<br>PS: KS95 Title Artist<br>RT: Now Playing Title by Artist on KS95
| name             = KSTP-FM
| logo             = KSTP-FM 2019.png
| image            = KSTP Studio.jpg
| caption          = Entrance to the KSTP studios on [[University Avenue (Minneapolis-St. Paul)|University Avenue]] in [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]]
| city             = [[St. Paul, Minnesota]]
| area             = [[Minneapolis-St. Paul]]
| branding         = ''KS95''
| frequency        = {{Frequency|94.5|[[MHz]]}} {{HD Radio}}
| airdate          = November 1, [[1965 in radio|1965]]
| language         = [[American English|English]]
| format           = [[Hot adult contemporary]]
| subchannels      = HD2: [[KSTP (AM)|KSTP]] [[simulcast]] ([[Sports radio|Sports]])
| erp              = 95,000 [[watt]]s<br />100,000 with [[beam tilt]]
| haat             = {{convert|372|m|ft|sp=us}}
| class            = C
| facility_id      = 35642
| callsign_meaning = Saint Paul
| former_callsigns =
| owner            = [[Hubbard Broadcasting]]
| licensee         = KSTP-FM FCC License Sub, LLC
| sister_stations  = [[KSTC-TV]], [[KSTP (AM)|KSTP]], [[KSTP-TV]], [[KTMY]]
| webcast          = [https://live.ks95.com/listen/ Listen Live]
| website          = [https://www.ks95.com/ ks95.com] 
| licensing_authority= [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]]
}}

'''KSTP-FM''' (94.5 [[Hertz|MHz]]) is a [[commercial radio|commercial]] [[radio station]] in [[St. Paul, Minnesota]], serving the [[Minneapolis-St. Paul]] [[media market|radio market]]. It is the [[flagship]] FM station of [[Hubbard Broadcasting]] and airs a [[hot adult contemporary]] [[radio format]]. The station has long been known on-air as "KS95". The [[radio studio|studio]]s and offices, located on University Avenue, along the boundary line between St. Paul and [[Minneapolis]], are shared with [[sister station]]s [[KSTP (AM)]], [[KSTP-TV]], [[KTMY]], and [[KSTC-TV]]. There is a [[Radio masts and towers|broadcasting tower]] behind the station, though it is only used as an emergency back-up, in case there are problems with the main tower (which is located in [[Shoreview, Minnesota]]).

KSTP-FM has an [[effective radiated power]] (ERP) of 95,000 [[watt]]s (100,000 with [[beam tilt]]).<ref>[https://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=KSTP&arn=&state=&city=&freq=0.0&fre2=107.9&serv=&vac=&facid=&asrn=&class=&list=0&ThisTab=Results+to+This+Page%2FTab&dist=&dlat2=&mlat2=&slat2=&NS=N&dlon2=&mlon2=&slon2=&EW=W&size=9 FCC.gov/KSTP-FM]</ref>  The [[transmitter]] is located at [[Telefarm Towers]] in [[Shoreview, Minnesota]], off County Road F West.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://radio-locator.com/info/KSTP-FM|title=KSTP-FM 94.5 MHz - Saint Paul, MN|website=radio-locator.com}}</ref>  KSTP-FM broadcasts in the [[HD Radio]] hybrid format; the HD-2 subchannel carries the [[sports radio|all sports]] programming heard on KSTP (AM).

==History==
The current KSTP-FM began broadcasting in November 1965. It was founded by Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc., which already had extensive broadcasting experience, including sister station [[KSTP (AM)]]. In 1938 and 1939 KSTP (AM) had also operated a high-fidelity AM [[Apex (radio band)|Apex]] "experimental audio broadcasting station", W9XUP, originally on 25,950&nbsp;kHz and later on 26,150&nbsp;kHz.<ref>[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Electronics/30s/Electronics-1939-05.pdf#page=36 "Shunt-Excited Antenna Used by U-h-f Station"] by Conald M. Miller, KSTP. ''Electronics'', May 1939, pages 44-46.</ref>

In 1946 an FM station, also with the call sign KSTP-FM, [[sign-on|signed on]] at 102.1&nbsp;MHz.<ref>[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1950/RADIO%20&%20TV%20ALL%20YB%201950%20B&W-11.pdf#page=114 "Directory of AM, FM and TV Stations of the United States"], ''Broadcasting Yearbook'' (1950 edition), page 182.</ref> This first KSTP-FM was shut down in 1952 and the license was cancelled, due to management not believing that FM radio would be profitable. It mostly [[simulcast]] the AM station, which was an [[network affiliate|affiliate]] of the [[NBC Red Network]], and the stations carried NBC's schedule of dramas, comedies, news and sports. The vacated 102.1 assignment is now home to [[KEEY-FM]].

As more stations added FM counterparts in the 1960s, the current KSTP-FM debuted on November 1, 1965, now on its present-day frequency of [[94.5 FM|94.5&nbsp;MHz]].<ref>[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1967/B%20all%20Radio%201967%20YB.pdf#page=86 "Directory of AM and FM Radio Stations in the U.S."], ''Broadcasting Yearbook'' (1967 edition), page B-88</ref> This new KSTP-FM also simulcast its AM sister's programming, a [[full service radio|full service]] [[middle of the road (music)|middle of the road]] format of popular music, news and sports.  In the late 1960s, the FM station began separate programming, airing a [[beautiful music]] format.  With several other Twin Cities FM stations also devoted to [[easy listening]] music, Hubbard would flip KSTP-FM to [[Adult Contemporary]] branded as "KS95" in 1975. By 1991, KSTP-FM had evolved into a [[hot adult contemporary]] format.

KSTP-FM served as the [[flagship (broadcasting)|radio flagship]] for the [[Minnesota Vikings]] [[NFL|football team]] from 1985 to 1987.

==HD Radio==
KSTP-FM began [[HD radio]] broadcasting in 2013, and in December of that year added a simulcast of [[sports radio|all-sports]] sister station [[KSTP (AM)|KSTP]] [[1500 AM]] on its HD2 subchannel, a simulcast moved from another Hubbard-owned station, [[KTMY|KTMY-HD2]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.northpine.com/index.html|title=NorthPine.com|website=www.northpine.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Stations |url=https://hdradio.com/stations/ |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=HD Radio |language=en-US}}</ref> The station added an HD3 subchannel, affiliated with the Spanish-language [[ESPN Deportes Radio]] in September 2016. The HD3 subchannel was discontinued in September 2019, after [[ESPN Inc.|ESPN]] discontinued ESPN Deportes Radio.

==Awards==
KSTP-FM has won numerous Crystal Awards, [[NAB Marconi Radio Awards|Marconi Award]]s and Service to America Awards from the [[National Association of Broadcasters]] (NAB), noting the station's dominance in its format and dedication to community service.

KSTP-FM's first Crystal Radio Award, which is given annually by the NAB to stations that demonstrate outstanding community service, was won in 2004. The station won Crystal Awards again in 2007 and 2014.<ref name="nab2">{{cite web|work=National Association of Broadcasters|title=NAB Announces Crystal Radio Awards Winners|date=2007-04-17|url=http://www.nab.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Search&template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=8638|access-date=2018-09-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107034341/http://www.nab.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Search&template=%2FCM%2FHTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=8638|archive-date=2015-11-07|url-status=dead}}</ref> 
KSTP-FM has been honored with several Marconi Awards from the National Association of Broadcasters recognizing the top performing radio stations in America. 
2000 - Adult Contemporary Station of the Year,
2007 - Large Market Station of the Year,
2012 - Legendary Station of the Year, 
2012 - Large Market Personality of the Year-Moon and Staci,
2013 - Large Market Station of the Year,
2014 - Large Market Personality of the Year-Ryan and Shannon,
2015 - Large Market Station of the Year,
2018 - Adult Contemporary Station of the Year.

The National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation awarded KSTP-FM the prestigious Service to America Award in 2001, 2008, 2010 and 2014. This award recognizes outstanding community service by local broadcasters.

In 2013 KSTP-FM won an Upper Midwest Regional [[Emmy Award]] for Musical Composition/Arrangement for the song "Clouds".

==Past slogans==
* "KS95, for the great ones. In stereo." (mid-1970s)
* "Gentle is KS95" (mid-1970s)
* "Always 95 And Sunny, KS95" (1981–1991)
* "80s, 90s and Today" (1991–2010)
* "Variety... 90s, 2K and Today" (2010–2014)
* "Today's Variety" (2014–2019)
* "Today's Variety from 2K to Today" (2019-)

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[https://www.ks95.com/ KSTP-FM official website]
*{{FM station data|35642|KSTP-FM}}
*[https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=77493 FCC History cards for KSTP-FM] (covering 1965–1981)
*[https://radiotapes.com/kstp Historic Minneapolis/St. Paul airchecks dating back to 1924 including KS95 and other Twin Cities radio stations.]

{{Minneapolis-St. Paul Radio}}
{{Adult Contemporary Radio Stations in Minnesota}}
{{Hubbard Broadcasting Corporation}}

{{coord|45.062|N|93.140|W|type:landmark_region:US_source:FCC|display=title}}

[[Category:Hubbard Broadcasting]]
[[Category:Radio stations in Minneapolis–Saint Paul]]
[[Category:Hot adult contemporary radio stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1965]]