KWRY (FM)

KWRY
Broadcast areaPueblo, Colorado
Frequency106.9 MHz
Programming
FormatContemporary worship music
NetworkAir1
Ownership
OwnerEducational Media Foundation
History
First air date
October 30, 1979 (1979-10-30)
Former call signs
  • KAPI-FM (1979–1981)
  • KRMX-FM (1981–1985)
  • KUSN (1985–1988)
  • KCSJ-FM (1988–1989)
  • KGRQ-FM (1989–1993)
  • KNKN (1993–2009)
  • KIQN (2009–2014)
  • KLCX (2014–2025)
Former frequencies
107.1 MHz (1979–2005)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID25526
ClassC1
ERP100,000 watts
HAAT73 meters (240 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
37°56′40″N 104°59′56″W / 37.94444°N 104.99889°W / 37.94444; -104.99889
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitewww.air1.com

KWRY (106.9 MHz) is an FM radio station licensed to Pueblo, Colorado, United States. The station is owned by the Educational Media Foundation and is part of its Air1 network, broadcasting contemporary worship music. The station began broadcasting in 1979 as KAPI-FM and was a Spanish-language station from 1979–1985 and 1994–2009. After several years airing a country music format as KIQN, the Educational Media Foundation acquired the facility in 2014.

History

This station began broadcasting on October 30, 1979, as KAPI-FM 107.1, the sister station to KAPI (690 AM). It brought nighttime Spanish-language radio programming to Pueblo for the first time.[2] In 1981, the KAPI stations changed their call signs to KRMX AM and FM.[3] The KRMX stations—owned by the Denver-based KAPI Inc, a group including KDVR founder George Sandoval[4]—were bought by manager Andrés Neidig in 1984[5]

In April 1985, KRMX-FM split from its AM station to adopt an English-language program schedule. Known as Super X FM 107, the station had country music in the mornings and evenings, easy listening at midday, and an afternoon drive slot run by high school students.[6] That September, the station was acquired by Sunbrook Broadcasting, owner of KCSJ, and became a full-time country station as KUSN "US 107".[7] Sunbrook, which had previously filed to build an FM station and withdrew as part of a settlement, elected to program country over contemporary music because there were only two other country stations in Pueblo.[8]

KCSJ and KUSN were sold in 1987 to Sunbrook Communications, a sister company, as part of a long-term plan to take the firm public.[9] After the flip, KUSN became KCSJ-FM in 1988.[1] The relaunched station rated near the bottom of the market[10] and changed call signs in 1989 to KGRQ-FM.[1] By 1990, when Sunbrook reacquired the stations from Rainbow Communications of Pueblo, it was a contemporary hit radio station.[11]

In 1992, the station, then airing a classic rock format and known as Q107, was in discussions to be acquired by the owner of KCCY-FM, the market-leading country station.[12] Instead, it was sold to Pueblo Broadcasters, owned by Marc O. Hand,[13] and the call sign was changed to KNKN.[1] In September 1994, under the ownership of Cincinnati-based Guardian Communications, the station flipped from country[14] to a Tejano music format.[15] At the time, Tejano was rapidly growing nationwide.[16]

Guardian, owned by Carl Lindner, moved in 1996 to auction its nine remaining radio stations, which included KNKN and KFEL in Pueblo.[17] Metropolitan Radio Group of Flower Mound, Texas, acquired the pair in 1997.[18] Having acquired KRMX, Metropolitan agreed to sell the pair to JaneGary Inc. in 2005, by which time KNKN was broadcasting on 106.9 MHz.[19] The sale never occurred, and Metropolitan arranged in 2007 to sell KRMX and KNKN to United States CP LLC.[20]

That deal fell through, and in 2009 the stations were sold to Exodus Broadcasting.[21] The call sign changed to KIQN,[1] and the station aired a country format.[22] United States CP acquired the station in 2011.[1] On November 1, 2013, All Access reported KIQN would be sold by United States CP, LLC to Educational Media Foundation in exchange for Calhan-based KKCS and $400,000 cash.[23] After the swap, the station changed call signs to KLCX[1] and began airing the K-Love network.[24] KLCX's call sign was changed to KWRY on February 13, 2020; the call sign was moved from sister station KRNX-FM.[25]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Facility Technical Data for KWRY". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ Martinez, Ron (October 31, 1979). "Radio KAPI adds FM broadcasting". Pueblo Chieftain. p. 14B. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  3. ^ "Villa to perform in KRMX concert". Pueblo Chieftain and Star-Journal. August 22, 1981. p. 7B. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  4. ^ Espinosa, Juan (March 19, 1989). "Spanish media leader Sandoval killed in crash". Pueblo Chieftain. p. 10C. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  5. ^ Norton, John (April 4, 1984). "Spanish-language radio KRMX bought by long-time manager". Pueblo Chieftain. p. 1D. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  6. ^ Pettinari, Dave (April 21, 1985). "Airwaves: Teens play big role in KRMX-FM operations". Pueblo Chieftain. p. TV Update 30. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  7. ^ "FM station goes country". Pueblo Chieftain. September 11, 1985. p. 6B. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  8. ^ Pettinari, Dave (October 6, 1985). "Airwaves". Pueblo Chieftain. p. TV Update 7. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  9. ^ Norton, John (July 28, 1987). "'Sister' corporations move assets of 2 radio stations". Pueblo Chieftain. p. 5B. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  10. ^ "Successful, new operation: KRYT nips at KCCY in new Arbitron rating". Pueblo Chieftain. August 3, 1989. p. 5C. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  11. ^ "Transactions". Radio & Records. May 4, 1990. p. 12. ProQuest 1017217346.
  12. ^ Lopez, Chris (August 9, 1992). "Who owns what in Pueblo radio? Stay tuned". Pueblo Chieftain. p. 1E. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  13. ^ "Ownership Changes". Broadcasting. January 4, 1993. p. 78. ProQuest 1505657915.
  14. ^ Simon, Jeremy (March 1, 1996). "Tuned in to Tejano: Two radio stations find success by staying one step ahead of the Tex-Mex musical trend". Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph. p. AA12. ProQuest 268099270.
  15. ^ "Tejano Music: KNKN Radio, 107.1 FM". Pueblo Chieftain (Advertisement). December 16, 1994. p. 4B. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  16. ^ Caltabiano, Hank (November 15, 1995). "Tejano music's growth spreads to Denver". La Voz. ProQuest 368218925.
  17. ^ Harrington, Jeff (September 24, 1996). "Lindner will liquidate rest of radio holdings". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. B10. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  18. ^ "Changing Hands". Broadcasting & Cable. July 7, 1997. p. 34. ProQuest 1016959831.
  19. ^ "Deals". Broadcasting & Cable. December 5, 2005. p. 27. ProQuest 225327383.
  20. ^ "Deals". Broadcasting & Cable. August 13, 2007. p. 40. ProQuest 225318514.
  21. ^ "Deals". Broadcasting & Cable. March 30, 2009. p. 30. ProQuest 225345157.
  22. ^ Venta, Lance (November 7, 2013). "EMF Buys In San Diego & Swaps In Colorado". RadioInsight. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  23. ^ "EMF Swaps In Colorado, Buys San Diego Rimshot". All Access. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  24. ^ Venta, Lance (November 3, 2014). "Station Shuffle In Pueblo, CO". RadioInsight. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  25. ^ Reynolds, Matt (February 3, 2025). "Form 380 - Exchange Request". Retrieved February 13, 2025.
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