WKKD (AM)

WKKD
City Aurora, Illinois
Frequency 1580 AM (kHz)
First air date September 1960
Power 170 watts day[1]
200 watts night[2]
Callsign meaning Will, Kane, Kendall and DuPage
Former callsigns WKKD, WFVR

WKKD 1580 AM was a radio station licensed to Aurora, Illinois. The station was originally owned by Russell G. Salter and began broadcasting in September 1960.[3] The station initially ran 250 watts during daytime hours only with a directional pattern towards Aurora.[4]

The station began simulcasting on 95.9 WKKD-FM in March 1961.[3] The stations initially aired a full service format that focused heavily on Country music.[5][6][7][8] In 1966, veteran Chicago weathercaster Tom Skilling began his career at WKKD, while he attended High School in Aurora.[9]

By the early 1970s the simulcast had ended with WKKD-FM adopting a Beautiful music format. AM 1580's callsign was changed to WFVR, standing for "Fox Valley Radio", and it continued to air the country music format.[4] WFVR's format was later changed to Adult Contemporary-MOR.[10]

In the early 1980s the station's callsign was changed back to WKKD and it again simulcast WKKD-FM. On October 3, 1986, the station was granted a construction permit to broadcast during nighttime hours.[11] By the late 1980s the simulcast had ended, and WKKD AM had begun airing an oldies format.[12][13] In the early 1990s WKKD-FM began simulcasting the oldies format of WKKD AM, and the stations became known as "Pure Gold 96"[14] In March 1995, 1580 left the simulcast and began airing the Real Country country music format.[15] On July 1, 1996, the station adopted a Spanish language Tejano music format as "Viva 1580".[16][17] In 1997, the station's format changed to CNN Headline News.[18] In 2000, Salter Communications, the family run company started by the station's original owner Russell Salter, sold WKKD AM & FM to RadioWorks Inc. of Rockford, Illinois.[19][20] In 2001, the station was sold to NextMedia Group,[21] and it became known as "The Voice of the Fox Valley".[22]

On January 1, 2002, the station was sold to Kovas Communications, and it began simulcasting the ethnic programming of WONX.[23] On January 31, 2005, the station adopted a "Health Radio" format, airing talk shows related to health, wellness and fitness.[24] This format would later be simulcast on 1600 WMCW. In 2007, Kovas Communications applied with the FCC to move WKKD to Silvis, Illinois.[25] In February 2008, the station was granted a construction permit to move WKKD to Silvis, Illinois, and increase its power to 1,000 watts during the day and 1,400 watts at night.[26] In 2009, the station was taken off the air and Kovas Communications surrendered the station's license to the FCC.[27] WKKD's license was surrendered, along with 1600 WMCW's and 1600 WCGO's, in order to enable 1590 WONX (now WCGO) to increase its daytime power from 3,500 watts to 7,000 watts.[28]

References

  1. ↑ WKKD AURORA, IL BL-19891004AD 1580 kHz fcc.gov. Accessed January 2, 2014
  2. ↑ WKKD AURORA, IL BL-19891004AD 1580 kHz fcc.gov. Accessed January 2, 2013
  3. 1 2 Salter Communications:Russell G. Salter wkkd.com. Internet Archive. April 14, 1997. Accessed January 2, 2014
  4. 1 2 Ghrist, John R. "Valley Voices: A Radio History" 1996. (p. 106)
  5. ↑ Folk Talent & Tunes Sachs, Bill. (p. 8) Billboard. July 10, 1961. Accessed January 2, 2014
  6. ↑ Folk Talent & Tunes Sachs, Bill. (p. 38) Billboard. July 18, 1960. Accessed January 2, 2014
  7. ↑ Folk Talent & Tunes Sachs, Bill. (p. 47) Billboard. May 16, 1960. Accessed January 2, 2014
  8. ↑ Nashville Scene Whisenhunt, Elton. (p. 50) Billboard. February 5, 1966. Accessed January 2, 2014
  9. ↑ Tom Skilling Chicago Tribune. Accessed January 3, 2013
  10. ↑ Stations, everywhere: a listeners' guide to the AM and FM bands Chicago Tribune Magazine. March 4, 1979. Accessed January 2, 2014
  11. ↑ Broadcasting; October 20 The Fifth Estate. October 20, 1986. (p. 80) Accessed January 4, 2014
  12. ↑ "Illinois Media '87/'88" Midwest Newsclip, Inc. 1987
  13. ↑ WKKD AM 1580 Radio Chicago. Fall 1989. (p. 18) Accessed January 2, 2014
  14. ↑ Lettermen Bring Valentine Spirit To Norris Todorovich, Lisa. Chicago Tribune. February 12, 1993. Accessed January 2, 2014
  15. ↑ Reporters Have New Assignments On Ch. 2 Mission Nidetz, Steve. Chicago Tribune. March 26, 1995. Accessed January 2, 2014
  16. ↑ What's New @ WKKD Salter Broadcasting wkkd.com. Internet Archive. April 14, 1997. Accessed January 2, 2014
  17. ↑ VIVA 1580 HOT TEJANO RADIO wkkd.com. Internet Archive. April 14, 1997. Accessed January 2, 2014
  18. ↑ WKKD AM 1580 wkkd.com. Internet Archive. October 10, 1997. Accessed January 2, 2014
  19. ↑ Rockford Firm Adds To Its Reach Kirk, Jim. Chicago Tribune. July 28, 1999. Accessed January 3, 2014
  20. ↑ Salter Communications wkkd.com. Internet Archive. October 10, 1997. Accessed January 3, 2014
  21. ↑ What happened to WKKD-FM? New owners change format The Herald News. January 27, 2001. Accessed January 3, 2014
  22. ↑ 1580 AM - WKKD wkkd.com. Internet Archive. April 10, 2001. Accessed January 3, 2014
  23. ↑ WKKD sold to Kovas Broadcasting The Beacon News. October 7, 2001. Accessed January 2, 2014
  24. ↑ Feder, Robert. "Station goes full time as 'Health Radio' outlet". Chicago Sun Times. January 27, 2005
  25. ↑ Health Radio files for move to Silvis Quad Cities Dispatch Argus. December 18, 2007. Accessed January 2, 2014
  26. ↑ Chicago radio station may move to Silvis Burke, David. Quad City Business Journal. February 25, 2008. Accessed January 2, 2014
  27. ↑ Call Letter Changes Medium Wave News. May/June 2009. (p. 11) Accessed January 2, 2014
  28. ↑ WCGO Goes Dark, WONX -- Now WCGO -- Ups Power All Access Music Group. April 13, 2009. January 3, 2014
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