KCLP (FM)

KCLP
Broadcast areaLuverneRock RapidsWorthingtonMarshallSioux Falls
Frequency101.1 MHz
BrandingThe Rock Farm
Programming
FormatMainstream rock
AffiliationsABC News Radio
Ownership
OwnerChristensen Broadcasting LUV LLC
History
First air date
September 1, 1971 (1971-09-01) (as KQAD-FM at 100.9)
Former call signs
  • KQAD-FM (1971–1983)
  • KLQL (1983–2026)
Former frequencies
100.9 MHz (1971–1983)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID39260
ClassC1
ERP100,000 watts
HAAT162 meters (531 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
43°48′23.8″N 96°12′24.1″W / 43.806611°N 96.206694°W / 43.806611; -96.206694
Repeater106.1 KJOE-HD2 (Slayton)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live

KCLP (101.1 MHz, "The Rock Farm") is an FM radio station broadcasting a mainstream rock format, serving Luverne, Rock Rapids, and Worthington, with rimshot coverage in the Sioux Falls area. The station is owned by Christensen Broadcasting LUV LLC.[2]

History

The station was initially licensed to the six founders of Luverne's AM radio station, KQAD, as its FM sibling. KQAD-FM first broadcast at 100.9 MHz and with a power of 6,000 watts.[3] In 1982, KQAD-FM's ownership group (Paul Hedberg, Al McIntosh, Mort Skewes, Warren Schoon, Rollie Swanson, and Dominic Lippi) learned that they could substantially increase the station's power and range with a slight move up the dial from 100.9 to 101.1 MHz. In his autobiography Paul Hedberg explains the reasoning behind this change: "since FM was surging in popularity we decided to go ahead with this upgrade. We submitted the application for a construction permit to effect the change, and it was granted in late 1982. A new 500-foot tower was built north of Luverne, just west of the community of Hardwick. A 12-bay antenna with a 20 kW Gates transmitter delivered our new 100,000-watt signal, and this more than doubled KQAD-FM's coverage. With this new power and frequency we decided to separate the stations’ programming. We switched our FM to a country and western format, and changed the call letters to KLQL-FM. We wanted to emphasize our new format with a cowboy boot in the logo: KLQL was going to be K101."[4]

On March 16, 2026, KLQL changed its format from country to mainstream rock, branded as "The Rock Farm" under new KCLP call letters.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KCLP". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "KCLP Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  3. ^ Paul C. Hedberg, The Time of My Life (Spirit Lake, IA: University of Okoboji Press, 2014), 99.
  4. ^ Hedberg, The Time of My Life, 101.
  5. ^ Christensen Broadcasting Flips Two and Rebrands Another Recent Acquisition Radioinsight - March 17, 2026