City Springfield, Missouri Slogan The Ozarks' Big Talker First air date 1950 | Branding 1340 AM Frequency 1340 kHz Format News Talk Information | |
KICK (1340 AM) is a conservative talk radio station in Springfield, MO. The station is part of the Vision Communications group, along with KADI-FM, and Sign Pro. Vision Communications is owned by RC Amer.
Contents
Programming
The station features a mostly syndicated lineup, carrying affiliations with Salem Radio Network's "The Answer" conservative talk lineup (providing Morning in America with Bill Bennett, Michael Medved and Dennis Prager), Fox News Radio (carrying Brian Kilmeade), The Dave Ramsey Show, ABC News Radio (top-of-hour news updates), and the USA Radio Network (weekend programs). Local programs include "The Shopping Show" (home shopping), "Business Spotlight" and "The Business Rockstars" (both of which are brokered shows).
History
The station was previously known as KICK and signed on in 1950. Charles McCord, a cast member of Imus in the Morning, worked at the station in the 1960s (his first job in radio) before moving on to larger markets. The station changed call signs to KIDS in 1991.
When Vision Communications first went on the air in June 1990, the AM station was off the air, and the FM station was small, employing approximately eight people. Chicago-based Snowmen Broadcasting Inc. owned it and Amer was a sales representative.
In the years between, Amer moved into the role of sales manager, then station manager, before purchasing KADI through Vision Communications, a company Amer owns with his wife, Karen. The purchase was finalized in 2000, but Vision Communications had a management agreement with KADI since 1994, the year Amer formed the company. In 2001, Amer obtained rights to 1340 AM KADI (formerly 1340 AM KIDS, which was previously 1340 KICK).
Staff grew to the 20 there today, and sister station KADI-FM reached the top spot in Arbitron’s ratings for contemporary Christian stations in the 18- to 34-year-old women category, its target market. 1340 AM KICK has also grown in listenership since adopting the Conservative Talk format.
In summer 2016, KICK began simulcasting at 92.3 FM, K222CT.
Recent growth
Some of the station's biggest points of pride are in its community involvement. The station and its listeners have taken on causes from the Good Samaritans Boys Ranch to Ozarks Food Harvest. 1340 AM KICK sponsors the annual Children's Miracle Network Radiothon, which raised more than $30,000 in 2006. The station also sponsors Relay for Life events for the American Cancer Society. 1340 AM KICK has also participated in the annual "I Love America" Celebration hosted by James River Assembly of God every Fourth of July during the celebration's 14-year duration.