Radio KNCQ-FM (Todays Country Q97FM)

KNCQ (97.3 FM, "Q-97") is a commercial radio station in Redding, California. KNCQ has aired a country music format since 1985.

KNCQ (Q97FM) signed "on-the-air" on October 29, 1985. The station was built from the ground up by the late Craig McCarthy along with his brother and father as partners of McCarthy Wireless, Inc. The station's original studios and offices were located at 2551 Park Marina Drive in the old circular Daniels Furniture Building, in Redding. Craig McCarthy was the first "weather man" the station had. In an effort to add more voices to the station's airwaves, McCarthy would pre-record weather updates in the morning that would air throughout the day. Circa 1990, Q97 relocated to studios in a building McCarthy constructed at 1588 Charles Drive in North Redding. The station, along with its sister stations, remain at this location.

KNCQ-FM 97.3 (Q97), is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as a Class "C" signal with a maximum permissible radiated signal of 100,000 watts at an elevation at no more than 2,000 feet height above average terrain (HAAT). Since the transmitter is actually at close to 3,570 feet HAAT, the effective radiated power output is capped at 28,000 watts which produces Equivalent Effective Radiated Power (EERP) of a full 100,000 watts. KNCQ-FM is among the top 25 strongest FM signals in the United States and reaches all or part of 17 counties in California and Oregon.

Q97 has been billed many ways over the last 22 years. It has been called "KNCQ-FM," "Q97FM," "The Country Giant," and "Today's Country Q97." The station currently plays a mix of "The Superstars of Today's Country" and "Your All-Time Favorites." Gary Popejoy helmed the Q97 morning show as well as serving as operation manager and program director for about 9 years, from the very beginning in 1985 to about 1994, when he came off the air and turned the morning show over to Dave Tappan & Bob Thomas (Dave & Bob). In 1999 Dave and Bob moved over to one of Q97's sister stations. Bob Thomas died of natural causes on May 26, 2007. Dave Tappan went on to host other morning shows on Star 107.1 & Red 103.1 & 93.3. Dave also co-hosted a mid-morning TV show called "Your Show Live" on KNVN (NBC) & KHSL (CBS) with former Mrs. California, Shaye Leeper. On March 3, 2010, Dave Tappan began as the afternoon host on KNCQ, Q97. Another popular local morning show, Billy Pilgrim & Patrick John, formerly the "Red Eye Ranch" on KEWB-FM, came onboard as "Billy & Patrick Mornings on Q97", and continue to rank number one in the market's 12+ ratings according to the Arbitron Company . Having worked together for over 14 years, "Billy & Patrick Mornings" is the longest running morning show team in Redding. Q97 has always had a strong local presence in Northern California due to its massive signal and continued belief in a local, live staff, as most stations now air mostly pre-recorded or syndicated programs.