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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