WLKX-FM

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WLKX-FM
Simulcasting KLCI Elk River
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Broadcast area
Northeastern Twin Cities area
[[Frequency|FrequencTemplate:Pluralize from text]]95.9 MHz
BrandingTotal Country Bob-FM
Programming
FormatClassic country
AffiliationsCompass Media Networks
Westwood One
Minnesota Lynx
Ownership
OwnerPage Template:Plainlist/styles.css has no content.
  • Dennis and Lucas Carpenter
  • (Carpenter Broadcasting LLC)
KBGY, WQPM, KLCI
History
First air date
1978
Call sign meaning
derived from "Lakes"
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
36404
ClassA
ERP6,000 watts
HAAT100 meters (330 ft)
Links
Public license information
Template:FCC Licensing and Management System facility
WebcastListen Live
Websitemybobcountry.com

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WLKX-FM (95.9 MHz) is a commercial radio station licensed to Forest Lake, Minnesota, and serving the northern suburbs of the Twin Cities.[2] It is owned by Dennis and Lucas Carpenter, through licensee Carpenter Broadcasting LLC. Their holdings include WQPM in Princeton, KLCI in Elk River, and KBGY in Faribault.

The station airs a classic country radio format, and has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 6,000 watts.

History

WLKX-FM traces its origins to 1978, when the Forest Lake-area station signed on at noon. A Forest Lake local-history timeline states that the first official broadcast opened with the announcement, "Good Afternoon. This is the first official broadcast of WLKX FM coming to you from Forest Lake, Minnesota," followed by the National Anthem. Early programming included news, weather, a "Pet Patrol" segment, and Sunday-morning religious programming.[3] FCCdata lists the station as WLKX-FM on 95.9 MHz, with Facility ID 36404, and shows that its license to cover was granted on May 23, 1979.[4]

In its early years, WLKX was operated by Lakes Broadcasting Co. A Minnesota broadcast directory listed Ed Cary as president and Joanne Rusch-Cary as vice president, and described WLKX-FM's format as AC/MOR, with NBC, Talknet, and UPI affiliations.[5] By the mid-1990s, WLKX was known as "Lakes Country 95.9", serving the northern Twin Cities metro area.[6]

In 1995, Billboard reported that WLKX changed from ABC/Satellite Music Network's country format to Morningstar's "Today's Christian Music" format.[7] The Christian format was later known first as "Spirit 95.9" and then as "Hope 95.9".[8]

A major ownership change followed in 2000. Broadcasting & Cable reported a $1.9 million stock sale of WLKX-FM from Lakes Broadcasting Co. to Polaris Communications LLC, associated with Daniel Peters and HomeNet Inc.; the sellers were identified as Lakes Broadcasting Co., with Eddie S. and Joanne M. Cary owning 98 percent of the company.[9] FCCdata shows a transfer from Eddie S. Cary and others to Polaris Communications LLC granted in September 2000, followed by a transfer from Polaris to HomeNet Inc. granted in October 2000.[4]

WLKX continued with its Christian format until 2013, when the station changed to a Spanish-language format mixing Regional Mexican and Tropical music as "La Neta". NorthPine reported that some weekend English-language programming remained on WLKX, including NDSU Bison football and "Bear Facts and Fish Tales", while the former "Hope" Christian format continued on KLCI-HD2.[8] In 2014, KDDG 105.5 began a nighttime simulcast of WLKX's "La Neta" programming from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.[10]

By the late 2010s, WLKX was part of an oldies format known as "The Big Q". In September 2018, the group changed to a rock-based classic hits/classic rock format called "Killer Bee". After a Christmas-music interlude in December 2019, "The Big Q" returned at midnight on January 1, 2020, on WLKX, WQPM 1300 Princeton, translator W298CE Big Lake, KLCI-HD3, and KDDG-HD3.[11]

In 2021, WLKX and co-channel KQCL Faribault completed coordinated upgrades. NorthPine reported that the two short-spaced 95.9 MHz stations had to agree to the upgrades so both could increase from 3,000 watts to 6,000 watts. For WLKX, the upgrade pushed its 60 dBu contour closer to Interstate 694.[12]

In February 2022, WLKX joined the classic country "Bob FM" simulcast. NorthPine reported that WLKX, WQPM, and W298CE began carrying Bob FM, while "The Big Q" became an HD Radio and online-only format on KLCI/KDDG HD3.[13]

Later in 2022, following the death of Daniel Peters, the D.M. Peters Family Trust sold WLKX-FM, KBGY, and the remaining 75 percent interest in KLCI/WQPM to Carpenter Broadcasting LLC for $2.2 million.[14] The FCC approved the transaction in August 2022,[15] and Carpenter closed on the purchase on September 15, 2022.[16] FCCdata lists Carpenter Broadcasting LLC as the station's licensee and lists WLKX as a Class A facility with 6,000 watts ERP and 100 meters HAAT.[4]

Previous logos

File:WLKX2.jpg File:WLKX WQPM logo.png

References and notes

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  1. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Facility Technical Data for WLKX-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ Coverage Map
  3. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Forest Lake City History". Norhart. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  4. ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."FCCdata.org - WLKX-FM". FCCdata.org. REC Networks. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  5. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Minnesota Anniversary & Directory (PDF). Minnesota Broadcasters Association. WLKX-FM listing. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  6. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Ellis, Jon (July 30, 2022). "Broadcast History: The Sound of Twin Cities FM Radio in 1994". NorthPine: Upper Midwest Broadcasting. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  7. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Billboard, February 25, 1995". Billboard. February 25, 1995. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  8. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Ellis, Jon (October 2013). "Broadcasting News - October 2013". NorthPine: Upper Midwest Broadcasting. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Changing Hands" (PDF). Broadcasting & Cable. August 14, 2000. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  10. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Ellis, Jon (May 2014). "Broadcasting News - May 2014". NorthPine: Upper Midwest Broadcasting. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  11. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Ellis, Jon (January 1, 2020). "The Big Q Returns to Minnesota Airwaves". NorthPine: Upper Midwest Broadcasting. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  12. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Ellis, Jon (August 3, 2021). "Stations On Edge of Twin Cities Metro Complete Upgrades". NorthPine: Upper Midwest Broadcasting. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  13. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Ellis, Jon (February 13, 2022). "Bob FM Adds Several More North Twin Cities Metro Signals". NorthPine: Upper Midwest Broadcasting. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  14. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Ellis, Jon (June 6, 2022). "FCC Monitor: Tegna Info Request; FM's Go Silent in Grand Marais, Waukesha". NorthPine: Upper Midwest Broadcasting. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  15. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Ellis, Jon (August 29, 2022). "FCC Monitor: More Details on Wisconsin Public Radio Network Plan". NorthPine: Upper Midwest Broadcasting. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  16. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Ellis, Jon (September 19, 2022). "FCC Monitor: Three New TV Stations Formally Granted". NorthPine: Upper Midwest Broadcasting. Retrieved May 16, 2026.

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