Broadcast area Des Moines, Iowa ERP 100,000 watts Class C1 City of license Pella Owner Saga Communications Branding Lazer 103.3 | First air date 1976 (as KPLL) HAAT 227 meters Frequency 103.3 MHz Format Active rock Area Des Moines Slogan Everything That Rocks | |
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Translator(s) 104.5 K283CC (Des Moines, relays HD2) | ||
KAZR is an FM radio station licensed to Pella, Iowa, with studios in Des Moines, Iowa. It is part of the Des Moines Radio Group, along with KPSZ, KRNT, KIOA, KMYR, and KSTZ. Despite being an active rock reporter to Mediabase, they are a mainstream rock reporter to Nielsen BDS.
Contents
History
KAZR is an FM radio station licensed to Pella, Iowa, with studios in Des Moines, Iowa and part of the Des Moines Radio Group, along with KPSZ, KRNT, KIOA, KMYR, and KSTZ. Despite being an active rock reporter to Mediabase, they are a mainstream rock reporter to Nielsen BDS. The station signed on as KPLL in 1976 with studios and transmitter located in Otley, near Pella, Iowa. It was owned by the Meyer family with a varied format of music and religious programming. In 1980, its call letters changed to KXJX in 986 to KFMD, and to 'KDMG in 1988. KDMG, owned by Beta Broadcasting, had a "gold" format until 1989 and then followed various "classic oldies" formats until late-1990.
From January 1991 to April 1992, KDMG followed a AAA (adult alternative) "Where The Music Comes First" format, similar to WXRT in Chicago or KBCO in Boulder before becoming KFMG in 1992. During the era of 1990-1996, nighttimes 103.3 tended to be harder-edged, following an alternative/modern rock/new rock format. KFMG's format consisted of modern/alternative rock, blues, and variety shows such as "The Grateful Dead Hour". In the early 1970s, owner and program director Ron Sorenson had operated a station with those call letters on 94.9 FM, now KGGO. In August 1996, KFMG became KAZR after Sorenson sold the station to Saga Communications. In September 2013, Saga applied to have a KAZR translator relay on 104.5, originating from the KIOA tower in Altoona, Iowa. The 104.5 frequency is currently an all talk format known as "Talk 104.5 The Conversation Station."
Personalities and programming
Current local personalities include Ryan Patrick, the station's Program Director, who hosts Mid-Days during the week between 10am and 2pm, Andy Hall, the Assistant Program Director and Music Director, who hosts Afternoon Drive during the week between 2pm and 7pm, and "Moose", the morning show host, "B-Sox", the morning show co-host, and Suzi, who hosts nights during the week between 7pm and Midnight. Other local part-time personalities include Sarah Greene, and "Gunner". KAZR runs two syndicated shows airing on the weekend, HardDrive, hosted by Lou Brutus, and House of Hair, hosted by Dee Snider of Twisted Sister fame.
Until March 2007 KAZR carried the syndicated Mancow's Morning Madhouse;station management dropped the show due to a perceived decline in the show's quality.
Lazerfest
In August 2002, KAZR created and organized a music festival known as Lazerfest. The inaugural festival took place at in Water Works Park (Des Moines), but subsequently moved to the Indianola Balloon Grounds in Indianola, Iowa in 2003. In 2012 Lazerfest moved to its new home at the Central Iowa Expo in Boone, Iowa. Lazerfest 2010 was the first Lazerfest to completely sell out, selling 25,000 tickets.