Radio KQRS-FM (Classic Rock KQ92)

KQRS-FM (92.5 FM, KQ92 or 92 KQRS) is one of the most popular radio stations in the Twin Cities region of Minnesota, and primarily broadcasts a classic rock music format.

The original call letters were KEVE-FM and the station was co-owned with sister AM station KEVE-AM 1440. KEVE-AM's history predates the FM by 14 years; it launched in May, 1948 and was owned by Family Broadcasting until mid-1956 and was known until at least then as KEYD, co-owned with KEYD-TV 9 (now KMSP Fox9 and launched by Family Broadcasting in January, 1955). The KEYD Radio studios were located in downtown Minneapolis on 9th Street off of Hennepin Avenue practically next to the Orpheum Theater (see 1953 photo link below). Calls were changed to KADM to complement its AM sister (as in "Adam and Eve") in October 1963. A year later the call letters for both radio stations became KQRS. The KEVE-AM studios had, by 1957, moved to its transmitter site in Golden Valley at 917 Lilac Drive, set back from Minnesota State Highway 100. This location was the first studio and transmitter site for KEVE-FM, today's KQRS-FM.

The KQRS call sign stayed with the AM until 1982 when it switched to an oldies format as KGLD before returning to the simulcast and the KQRS calls less than two years later. In 1996 the AM was again split from the FM to become one of the first affiliates of Radio Disney, a format targeting children (see KDIZ). Both stations were owned by Disney at the time. In early 2001 KQRS and KDIZ (along with sister stations 93X and 105.1/105.3/105.7) moved to studios and offices at 2000 Elm Street SE in Minneapolis, near the University of Minnesota campus.

Initially, KQRS programmed a younger-leaning beautiful music/soft rock format. In addition to this format, Joe Pyne's talk radio show was carried. In the summer of 1968, KQRS started experimenting with freeform progressive rock in the late night hours. This became popular, and by the end of the year this became the primary format.

By 1977, the freeform rock would give way to a tightly programmed rock approach, courtesy of radio consultants Burkhart/Abrams and their "Superstars" format, which was essentially just the hits from AOR. This approach continued into 1986, with respectable, if not spectacular ratings, when KQRS signed a new consultant, Jacobs Media and evolved into its present day classic rock-leaning approach. That, coupled with its massively popular morning show, elevated KQRS to the top of the ratings.

Rival KXXR, then known as "93X", was purchased by then-owners Capital Cities-ABC in the Spring of 1994 and became an alternative rock station (KEGE, "The Edge"). It primarily competed with the growing "REV 105," though KQRS' owners purchased the three signals comprising it in 1997. The stations went through several incarnations, including heavy metal, Urban AC/"jammin' oldies" and for the majority of the time, alternative rock, prior to the current Soft AC/oldies format of "Love 105" which made its debut on May 8, 2007.

With the three formats, Disney initially created what many in the industry refer to as the "wall of rock". It's easy to say that Disney dominated rock music in the Twin Cities, and used 93X and Drive 105/Zone 105 as 'flankers' to ward off competitors trying to knock off the company's cash cow KQRS.

KQRS has been programmed by award-winning programming veteran (and former DJ) David Hamilton, for about 20 years. His airstaff has remained unusually consistent for years as well. Tom Barnard and Terri Pawelk ("Traen/Trainy") in the morning (as well as others such as Pioneer Press sports columnist Bob "Sanny" Sansevere, Mike "Stretch" Gelfand, Phillip "Philly Dawg" Wise, Bryce, Brian Zepp, and Channel 9 news personality Jeff Passolt); Wally Walker-middays; Ray Erick-afternoons and Lisa Miller-evenings and imaging voice of the station.

On-air personality Tony Lee did many comedy bits and parody songs but quit in early 2001 due to differences. Barnard is notorious for not allowing the names of former on-air personalities to be mentioned once they exit the station; loyal listeners were surprised when one day Lee wasn't on the air with the rest of the crew (no explanation of his departure, no mention of his name since). The morning show has become less humor-oriented and more news-oriented since Lee's departure; KQRS "compilation" CDs (most of which proved the morning show to mainly be a vehicle for Tony Lee's bits, skits and songs) from past years bear this out.

In May 2005, KQRS began offering podcasts of its popular morning show through the station's website. KQRS ceased offering the podcast on 10/06/2009, much to the dismay of its fans. However, it began offering the podcasts once again in December the same year.

On June 1, 2007, Citadel Communications closed on its purchase of ABC Radio, acquiring KQRS 92.5. KDIZ, the former KQRS 1440, was retained by Disney.